This study was done to identify the content compounds of Achillea wilhelmsii (A. wilhelmsii) and to evaluate its hypoglycemic and anti-hypercholesterolemic activity and effect on inflammatory mediators. The extracts and fractions of A. wilhelmsii were thoroughly analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the total content of phenols and flavonoids was determined. The hypoglycemic activity was evaluated in vivo using alloxan-induced diabetic mice. The effect upon inflammatory mediators was evaluated in vitro using the human monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1). The anti-hypercholesterolemic activity was evaluated in vitro using the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase assay kit. The water extract (WE)-treated group showed the highest reduction in the fasting blood glucose levels (FBGL). The chloroform fraction (CF) and ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) both showed a significant ability to reduce the secretion of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). The EAF, however, also attenuated the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). The CF showed the most significant 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) inhibition activity. The five main compounds in the CF were isolated and identified. Out of the five compounds in the CF, 1β,10β-epoxydesacetoxymatricarin (CP1) and leucodin (CP2) showed the highest anti-hypercholesterolemic potential. A molecular docking study provided corresponding results.

The antiurease activity of the aqueous extracts of 42 plants growing in the Czech Republic was investigated. A phenol-hypochlorite reaction was used for the determination of ammonia produced by urease. The inhibitory activity of the extracts at a concentration of 0.2 mg/mL varied from 17.8% to 80.0%. Extracts from six Potentilla species expressed inhibitory activity against jack bean urease. They were further investigated for their phenolic constituents and the major compounds were subjected to molecular docking. The results revealed that both jack bean urease and Helicobacter pylori urease were inhibited by quercetin-3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside-6″-gallate (1), myricetin-3-O-β-D-glucuronide (2), tiliroside (3) and B-type procyanidin (4). The antiurease activity of the investigated Potentilla species is probably due to the presence of complex phenolic constituents such as flavonoid glycosides and catechin dimers.

The aim of this study was to implement the determination of cardiac markers in preclinical research at our department. For this purpose, the pathophysiological model of acute cardiotoxicity induced by high doses of isoproterenol was used. Isoproterenol hydrochloride was intraperitoneally administrated to 42 Wistar male rats at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight. Cardiac injury was determined by assessing the concentrations of the cardiac markers (cTnI -cardiospecific troponin I and CKMB -cardiac isoenzyme creatine kinase) in the blood at predetermined time-intervals (2, 4, 6, 12, 24 and 36 h), and confirmed by ECG. Isoproterenol hydrochloride caused an elevation in the plasma concentrations of both markers. The results showed a significant difference (P < 0.01) in the concentrations of cTnI between the experimental and control groups at 2, 4, 6 and 24 h with a maximum peak between the fourth and sixth hour. However, the difference in the concentrations of CKMB between the experimental and control groups was non-significant. This experiment confirmed that cTnI is more cardiospecific than CKMB. It also revealed the possibility to use this marker in preclinical testing.