The present study analyzed the methanol extract and tincture obtained from the spontaneous Romanian Cichorium intybus species, in order to evaluate polyphenols content and some biological properties. Chromatographic and spectrophotometric methods were used for the analysis of polyphenols and the antioxidant capacity was assessed in vitro with DPPH● (2,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazil) and FRAP (ferric-reducing antioxidant power) tests. The cardio-protective effects of Cichorii herba tincture on myocardial ischemia induced by isoprenaline and nephroprotection on renal failure induced by gentamicin were evaluated on rats. Also, aspartate aminotrasferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and creatinine clearance (CrCl) were measured. The antioxidant effect was evaluated by determining total oxidative stress (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondyaldehide (MDA), total thiols (SH) and total nitrites and nitrates (NOx). Cichoric acid was the main polyphenolic compound. The extracts had moderate in vitro antioxidant activity but the in vivo antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects were significant and associated with myocardial and renal dysfunction improvement. The results were attributed to the content of polyphenols in the extracts, for which reason C. intybus may be considered an important raw material for pharmaceuticals formulations recommended in the prevention or treatment of heart or kidney diseases.

The Rooibos tea, known as well as red tea, has lately gain attention due to its reported rich antioxidant composition. The aim of this research was to determine the polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity of 6 commercial types of Rooibos tea available on the Romanian market. The analyses of polyphenolic compounds were carried out using chromatographic and spectrophotometric methods. The total polyphenol content (TPC) was assessed by the Folin-Ciocâlteu method and some polyphenols were identified by HPLC: ferulic, sinapic acids, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, rutin, quercitrin, quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol etc. The results showed qualitative and quantitative differences between the samples. The evaluation of antioxidant capacity was performed using DPPH (α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl) and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) methods, and a moderate activity has been highlighted for all the analysed samples. RezumatCeaiul de Rooibos, care mai este denumit ceai roșu, a devenit cunoscut prin compoziția bogată în principii active antioxidante. Studiul a avut ca scop determinarea conținutului în polifenoli și a capacității antioxidante a 6 sortimente de ceaiuri de Rooibos existente pe piața românească. Analiza polifenolilor s-a realizat prin metode cromatografice și spectrofotometrice. Conținutul de polifenoli totali a fost evaluat prin metoda Folin-Ciocâlteu, iar prin HPLC s-au identificat compuși polifenolici: acid ferulic, acid sinapic, hiperozida, izoquercitrina, rutozida, quercitrina, quercetin, luteolina, kempferolul etc. Rezultatele au arătat diferențe calitative și cantitative între probe. Evaluarea capacității antioxidante s-a realizat prin metodele DPPH şi FRAP, toate probele analizate având o activitate moderată.

Taraxacum officinale (L.) Weber ex.F.H.Wigg. (dandelion) is a medicinal herb from the Asteraceae family, with a complex chemical composition. The purpose of this research was to determine the polyphenolic profile of Taraxaci herba tincture and to evaluate the antioxidant capacity and the nephroprotective activity. The polyphenolic compounds: total polyphenols content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC) and total caffeic acid derivates content (TCAD) were analysed by spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods. Some polyphenols were identified and quantified by HPLC-MS method, with cichoric acid as major compound. The evaluation of the in vitro antioxidant activity was performed using the DPPH• and FRAP methods. The nephroprotective activity of T. herba tincture was evaluated on a rat model with acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by gentamicin. Serum oxidative parameters (total oxidative stress -TOS, oxidative stress index -OSI, total antioxidant capacity -TAC, total nitrites and nitrates -NOx, malondyaldehide -MDA and total thiols -SH), kidney functional parameters (serum creatinine -SCr, serum urea -SU, urinary creatinine -Ucr, urinary urea -UU and creatinine clearance -ClCr) and the transcription factor (Nuclear Factor Kappa B) NF-kB were determined. Although the in vitro test results were modest, in vivo experiments showed a pronounced antioxidant capacity, associated with an important nephroprotective activity. RezumatTaraxacum officinale L. (păpădie) este o plantă medicinală din familia Asteraceae, cu o compoziție chimică foarte complexă. Scopul prezentei cercetări a fost determinarea profilului polifenolic al tincturii obținută din Taraxaci herba, precum și evaluarea capacității antioxidante și a activității nefroprotectoare. Compușii polifenolici -conținutul de polifenoli totali (TPC), conținutul de flavonoide totale (TFC) și conținutul de derivați de acid cafeic (TCAD) au fost analizați prin metode spectrofotometrice și cromatografice. Prin HPLC-MS s-au identificat și cuantificat compuși polifenolici, acidul cicoric fiind compusul majoritar. Evaluarea activității antioxidante in vitro s-a realizat prin metodele DPPH• și FRAP. Activitatea nefroprotectoare a tincturii de T. herba s-a evaluat pe șobolani de laborator cu insuficiență renală acută (AKI) indusă cu gentamicină. S-au evaluat parametri ai stresului oxidativ (status oxidativ total -TOS, index al stresului oxidativ -OSI, capacitatea antioxidantă totală -TAC, nivelul de nitriți și nitrați -NOx, malondialdehida -MDA, tioli -SH), parametri funcționali renali (creatinina serică -SCr, urea serică -SU, creatinina urinară -UCr, urea urinară -UU și clearance-ul creatininic -ClCr) și factorul de transcripție NF-kB. Deși rezultatele testărilor in vitro au fost modeste, experimentele in vivo au arătat o acțiune antioxidantă bună, asociată cu o importantă activitate nefroprotectoare.

The present research investigated the in vivo anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective activities, as well as the antioxidant potential of Taraxacum officinale tincture (TOT), in relation to the polyphenolic composition. Chromatographic and spectrophotometric techniques were used to determine the polyphenolic profile of TOT and the antioxidant activity was preliminarily assessed in vitro by DPPH• and FRAP spectrophotometric methods. The in vivo anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective activities were studied in rat turpentine-induced inflammation and in rat isoprenaline-induced myocardial infarction (MI) models. The main polyphenolic compound identified in TOT was cichoric acid. The oxidative stress determinations showed the capacity of the dandelion tincture not only to decrease the total oxidative stress (TOS), the oxidative stress index (OSI), and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), but also the malondialdehide (MDA), thiols (SH), and nitrites/nitrates (NOx) levels both in inflammation and MI models. In addition, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatin kinase-MB (CK-MB), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) parameters were decreased by the administration of the tincture. The results show that T. officinale could be considered a valuable source of natural compounds with important benefits in pathologies linked to oxidative stress.

BACKGROUND Malnutrition is frequently encountered in patients with cirrhosis and appears to significantly impact their prognosis. While evaluating the burden of malnutrition in cirrhosis is gathering momentum, as suggested by multiple recently published reports, there is still a persistent scarcity of solid data in the field, especially with regards to the role of nutritional interventions. AIM To assess the prevalence of malnutrition in patients with advanced cirrhosis and to evaluate its impact on survival. METHODS One hundred and one consecutive patients with advanced cirrhosis were screened for malnutrition using the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) criteria and the mid-arm circumference (MAC). Malnutrition was defined as SGA class B and C and MAC < 10 th percentile. All patients were interviewed regarding their food intake using an adapted questionnaire. Subsequently, total energy intake was calculated and further subdivided in main nutrients. The data were then compared to the available recommendations at the time of analysis to assess adherence. RESULTS 54/79 patients (68.4%) in the decompensated group had malnutrition, while only 3/22 patients (13.6%) were malnourished in the compensated group. After a median follow-up time of 27 mo (0-53), the overall mortality was 70%. Survival was significantly lower among patients with malnutrition. The mortality rates were 50% at 1 year and 63% at 2 years for the patients with malnutrition, compared to 21% at 1 year and 30% at 2 years for patients without malnutrition ( P = 0.01). On multivariate analysis, the factors independently associated with mortality were age, creatinine level and adherence to the protein intake recommendations. The mortality was lower in patients with the appropriate protein intake: 8% at 1 year and 28% at 2 years in the adherent group, compared to 47% at 1 year and 56% at 2 years in the non-adherent group. CONCLUSION The prevalence of malnutrition is high among patients with advanced cirrhosis and might be related in part to a low adherence to nutritional recommendations, especially with regards to protein intake.