Essential oils of Coriandrum sativum L. and Carum carvi L. fruits were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and assayed for their in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective effect against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) damage. The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated as a free radical scavenging capacity (RSC), measured as scavenging activity of the essential oils on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH(*)) and OH radicals and effects on lipid peroxidation (LP) in two systems of induction. Some liver biochemical parameters were determined in animals pretreated with essential oils and later intoxicated with CCl(4) to assess in vivo hepatoprotective effect. Tested essential oils were able to reduce the stable DPPH(*) in a dose-dependent manner and to neutralize H(2)O(2), reaching 50% neutralization with IC(50) values of <2.5 microL/mL for Carvi aetheroleum and 4.05 microL/mL for Coriandri aetheroleum . Caraway essential oil strongly inhibited LP in both systems of induction, whereas coriander essential oil exhibited prooxidant activity. In vivo investigation conferred leak of antioxidative capacity of coriander essential oil, whereas the essential oil of caraway appeared promising for safe use in folk medicine and the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Abstract:The antioxidant properties of methanol extracts of Lady's Bedstraw (Galium verum L., Rubiaceae) herb from two different localities in Serbia were evaluated. Antioxidant activity was assessed in four different model systems. Free radical scavenging capacity (RSC) was examined by measuring the scavenging activity of extracts on 2,2-diphenyl-1-pycrylhydrazil (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical (OH), as well as on hydrogen peroxide. In addition, the protective effects of lipid peroxidation (LP) in corn oil were evaluated by the TBA-assay using the Fe 2+ /ascorbate system of induction. The amount of dried extract, the content of total phenolics, flavonoids and chlorophylls was also determined. Extracts from both locations expressed very strong scavenger activity, reducing the DPPH• (IC 50 =3.10 μg/ml and 8.04 μg/ml) and OH radical formation (IC 50 =0.05 μg/ml and 0.54 μg/ml) and neutralising H 2 O 2 (IC 50 =4.98 μg/ml and 3.80 μg/ml), in a dose dependant manner. Also, examined extracts showed notable inhibition of LP (IC 50 =11.69 μg/ml and 19.47 μg/ml). The observed differences in antioxidant activity could be partially explained by the levels of phenolics (2.44-4.65 mg and 4.57-5.16 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dry extract), flavonoids (6.38-10.70 μg and 15.56-17.96 μg quercetin equivalents/g dry extract) and chlorophylls in the investigated Lady's Bedstraw extracts. © Versita Sp. z o.o.

Parameters of oxidative stress in amniotic fluid could be altered in certain pathological conditions. Their use as clinical biomarkers is limited due to great variations of amniotic fluid volume between patients which gives favor to hemolysate or serum of pregnant women.

Although, biomarkers of antioxidant activity are present in the amniotic fluid, they are not different between women with and without bacterial vaginosis.

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