No abstract

In rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis, the effect of (+)-catechin (CA) and 0-(beta-hydroxyethyl) rutosides (HR) on the crosslinking of collagen was studied. Compared with controls the arthritic group showed an increase in the reversibility of neutral salt-soluble collagen gel, solubility of acid-insoluble collagen to denaturing agents and the ratio of alpha/beta subunits of neutral salt-soluble collagen. These results suggest an impaired maturation of collagen in arthritic animals. Administration of CA or HR to the arthritic animals caused a decrease in the reversibility of collagen gel and in the solubility of acid-insoluble collagen to denaturing agents and to pronase. In addition, the electrophoretic patterns of neutral salt-soluble collagen on SDS polyacrylamide gels also showed a decrease in the alpha/beta ratio. All these results may collectively indicate that both flavonoids promote the crosslinking of collagen in arthritic animals.

No abstract

Availability of magnesium and some trace elements in Indian diets has been studied in human adults. Absorption of trace elements from the diets as a percentage of intake was: chromium 60, copper 18, magnesium 34, manganese 14 and zinc 16. Daily dietary intakes of 51.5 µg of chromium, 1.73 mg copper and 4.1 mg of manganese were found to be necessary to keep the subjects in balance in respect to these elements.

No abstract