Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, and Antimicrobial Activity of Alnus incana (L.) ssp. incana Moench and A. viridis (Chaix) DC ssp. viridis Extracts

Tatjana Stević,Katarina Savikin,Gordana Zdunic,Tatjana Stanojkovic´,Zorica Juranic,Teodora Jankovic,Nebojsˇa Menkovic 한국식품영양과학회 2010 Journal of medicinal food Vol.13 No.3

Antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial activities of leaves, bark, and cone extracts of Alnus incana (L.) Moench ssp. incana and endemic species A. viridis (Chaix) DC ssp. viridis were evaluated. All extracts were found to be strong 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavengers, exhibiting 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 3.3–18.9μg/mL, and also showed activity in inhibition of lipid peroxidation with IC50 values ranging from 38.5 to 157.4μg/mL. A. incana and A. viridis extracts exhibited significant cytotoxic effects toward HeLa cells, with IC50 values ranging from 26.02 to 68.5μg/mL. The most active extract of A. incana bark also contained great amounts of total phenolics (316.2mg of gallic acid equivalents/g). In our experiment all extracts were virtually nontoxic on brine shrimps. Extracts were screened for activity against 15 microorganisms, and all extracts investigated showed antimicrobial activity. The most active were dry extracts of cones of A. incana and A. viridis with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 0.117 to 0.129mg/mL.

Biochemical Properties of the Fresh and Frozen Black Currants and Juices

Boban Djordjevic,Katarina S ˇ avikin,Gordana Zdunic,Teodora Jankovic,Todor Vulic,Dejan Pljevljakusˇic,Cedo Oparnica 한국식품영양과학회 2013 Journal of medicinal food Vol.16 No.1

Thirteen black currant varieties (Ribes nigrum L.) cultured in Serbia were characterized for their pomological properties and chemical composition (total phenolics, total anthocyanins, anthocyanin aglycones, sugars, and vitamin C). The average amount of vitamin C varied from 122.4 to 193.2 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW), while concentration of invert sugars ranged from 6.3% to 11.1%. The highest amounts of total phenolics and anthocyanins were detected in variety Ometa (278.9 mg of gallic acid equivalents per 100 g of FW [mg GAE/100 g FW] and 135.4 mg/100 g, respectively). Quantitative analyses of anthocyanin aglycones in berries were performed using high-performance liquid chromatography, and delphinidin was found to be dominant compound in 11 varieties. Total phenolics and anthocyanins contents decreased during the processing of berry fruits to juices, and the reduction of anthocyanins was more pronounced, 12%–80%. The radical scavenging activity of black currant juices was investigated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, and the IC50 value ranged from 1.9 to 4.0 mg/mL. Our results also showed that freezing as a way of preservation and storage could save important phytochemicals and health benefits of berries and berry juices. The amount of total phenolics in berries increased during 1 year of storage by 46.09%–171.76% and in juices by even 107.58%, while the amount of total anthocyanins in berries and juices decrease by 5.63%–52.76% and 13.04%–36.82%, respectively.

Beneficial Effects of Polyphenol-Rich Chokeberry Juice Consumption on Blood Pressure Level and Lipid Status in Hypertensive Subjects

Nevena Kardum,Branislav Milovanovic,Katarina Savikin,Gordana Zdunic,Slavica Mutavdzin,Tatjana Gligorijevic,Slavica Spasic 한국식품영양과학회 2015 Journal of medicinal food Vol.18 No.11

Epidemiological studies have shown a positive association between intake of foods rich in antioxidants and lower incidence of cardiovascular disease development. Polyphenols are considered the most abundant and important dietaryantioxidants. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of polyphenol-rich chokeberry juice consumption on 24-h ambulatory monitored blood pressure (BP) level in subjects with no pharmacologically treated high normal BP or grade I hypertension. Twenty-three subjects (12 men and 11 women) aged 33–67 were enrolled and instructed to consume 200mL of juice daily for 4 weeks. Participants were divided in two groups, based on prevalence of sympathetic or parasympatheticactivity. Measurements of biochemical parameters and heart rate variability analysis were also applied. At the end of the intervention period, average 24-h and awake systolic and diastolic BP were significantly decreased (P < .05). This was more pronounced in the group with prevalence of sympathetic activity. Significant reduction in triglyceride level (P < .05) and a reducing effect on total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were also found. Obtained results indicate a positive impact of regular chokeberry juice consumption on BP and lipid status in pharmacologically untreated hypertensive subjects.

Acute Effects of Black Currant Consumption on Salivary Flow Rate and Secretion Rate of Salivary Immunoglobulin A in Healthy Smokers

Aleksandra Konic´-Ristic,Katarina Savikin,Gordana Zdunic,Irina Besu,Nebojsˇa Menkovic,Marija Glibetic,Tatjana Srdic´-Rajic 한국식품영양과학회 2015 Journal of medicinal food Vol.18 No.4

The role of saliva in maintaining oral health and homeostasis is based on its physicochemical properties and biological activities of its components, including salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA). Both salivary rates and immunological status of saliva are found to be compromised in smokers. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute time-dependent effect of smoking and black currant consumption on the salivary flow rate (SFR) and salivary IgA secretion rate (sIgA SR) in healthy smokers. SFR, sIgA levels in saliva, and sIgA SRs were determined in healthy smokers (n = 8) at eight times of assessment within three consecutive interventions: at the baseline; 5, 30, and 60 min after smoking; 5, 30, and 60 min after black currant consumption (100 g), followed by smoking; and 5 min after black currant consumption. Smoking induced a significant delayed effect on SFR measured 60 min after smoking (P = .03), while black currant consumption preceding smoking prevented that effect. Salivary IgA concentrations and sIgA flow rates were not acutely influenced by smoking. Black currant consumption preceding smoking induced a significant decrease in sIgA concentrations 5 min after the intervention compared with the baseline (P = .046), with a further increasing trend, statistically significant, 60 min after the intervention (P = .025). Although smoking cessation is the most important strategy in the prevention of chronic diseases, the obtained results suggest that the influence of black currant consumption on negative effects of tobacco smoke on salivary flow and immunological status of saliva could partly reduce the smoking-associated risk on oral health.

Spasmolytic Activity of the Ethanol Extract of Sideritis raeseri spp. raeseri Boiss. & Heldr. on the Isolated Rat Ileum Contractions

Suzana Brankovic,Dusanka Kitic,Mirjana Radenkovic,Slavimir Veljkovic,Teodora Jankovic,Katarina Savikin,Gordana Zdunic 한국식품영양과학회 2011 Journal of medicinal food Vol.14 No.5

Sideritis raeseri spp. raeseri Boiss. & Heldr., known as “mountain tea,” has been widely used in the Mediterranean region as a spice and in folk medicine as a very popular decoction because of its anti-inflammatory, carminative, analgesic, antitussive, stomachic, and antimicrobial properties. The study was aimed to investigate the effects of an ethanol extract of S. raeseri on intestinal activity. Air-dried and powdered aerial parts were extracted with 96% ethanol. The rat ileum preparations were incubated in Tyrode's solution gassed (95% O_2/5% CO_2) at 37°C. The ethanol extract of S. raeseri (0.03–0.3 mg/mL) relaxed spontaneous contractions in isolated rat ileum, similar to that produced by papaverine. The plant extract in a concentration-dependent manner (0.015–0.15 mg/mL) significantly inhibited the contractile response to acetylcholine (P<.01). Atropine inhibited the response to acetylcholine. A similar relaxation-inducing effect of the S. raeseri extract was observed on the precontracted ileum by histamine and barium chloride. Plant extract (0.03–0.3 mg/mL) significantly shifted the histamine concentration–response curve to the right and down (P<.01). The S. raeseri extract (0.03–0.3 mg/mL) significantly inhibited the contractions induced by barium chloride (P<.01). The results show that the ethanol extract of S. raeseri can produce inhibition of the the spontaneous rat ileum contractions and contractions induced by different spasmogens. These data indicate that S. raeseri acts as a spasmolytic on intestinal smooth muscle, which justifies its use in gastrointestinal disorders.

Cytotoxic and Cell Cycle Effects Induced by Two Herbal Extracts on Human Cervix Carcinoma and Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Tatjana P. Stanojković,Aleksandra Konic´-Ristic,Zorica D. Juranic,Katarina S ˇ avikin,Zorica D. Juranic,Katarina S ˇ avikin,Gordana Zdunic,Nebojsˇa Menkovic,Milka Jadranin 한국식품영양과학회 2010 Journal of medicinal food Vol.13 No.2

In recent times interest has increased in the complementary medicine of cancer patients. Two herbal mixtures were prepared from 17 and 12 plants, respectively. The goal of this study was to examine the in vitro cytotoxic and cell cycle effects of the aqueous-ethanol extracts (Extract 1 and Extract 2) obtained by maceration of the mixtures. The two extracts investigated exhibited significant antiproliferative activity toward two human breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-361 and MDA-MB-453) and a human cervix carcinoma cell line (HeLa) with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values ranging from 9.92 to 17.38μL/mL. The extracts did not exert any significant cytotoxicity toward healthy human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In vitro antitumor activites were accompanied by an important apoptotic fraction of all cell lines after treatment with the extracts. The amount of total phenols was similar in both extracts, whereas the concentration of total tannins was significantly higher in Extract 1. Extract 1 was also found to be a stronger free radical scavenger, with an IC50 value of 13.4μg/mL. Both extracts contained rosmarinic acid, while ursolic acid was identified in Extract 2.