The foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) is sensitive to acids and can be inactivated by exposure to low pH conditions. Spraying animals at risk of infection with suspensions of acid-forming microorganisms has been identified as a potential strategy for preventing FMD. Kombucha is one of the most strongly acid-forming symbiotic probiotics and could thus be an effective agent with which to implem...

BACKGROUND Methylglyoxal (MG) is one of the most reactive glycating agents, which result the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) that have been implicated in the progression of age-related diseases. Inhibition of MG-induced AGE formation is the imperative approach for alleviating diabetic complications. The objective of this study was to investigate the MG-trapping abilities of ...

BACKGROUND Skin forms an important part of human innate immune system. Wrinkles, thinning and roughening of skin are some of the symptoms that affect the skin as it ages. Reactive oxygen species induced oxidative stress plays a major role in skin aging by modulating the elastase enzyme level in the skin. Extrinsic factors that affect skin aging such as UV radiation can also cause malignant mela...

Maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity is crucial for preventing inflammatory bowel 15 diseases (IBDs) onset and exacerbations. In this work we study the effect of a fixed combination of 16 Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus acidophilus and herbal extracts in an in vitro inflammation 17 experimental model. Caco-2 cell monolayer was exposed to INF-γ+TNF-α or to LPS; Trans Epithelial 18...

Daily use of an efficient anti-plaque compound, especially a formulated form in toothpaste, can be very beneficial in plaque control. Some groups of antimicrobial compounds have been studied thus far. The most important of these compounds are herbal extracts, metallic salts and phenol compounds. Each of these three groups has demonstrated positive results in clinical and laboratory studies. Her...

This paper discusses the identification of kava lactones and related compounds by gas chromatography (GC) and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOFMS) with an electron ionization source. Three herbal preparations from different sources were analyzed by both GC-low-resolution MS and GC-high-resolution MS. The exact mass measurements generated with a research QTOFMS with mass accuraci...

Ancient Chinese herbal texts as far back as the 4th Century Zhou hou bei ji fang describe methods for the use of Qing Hao (Artemisia annua) for the treatment of intermittent fevers. Today, the A. annua constituent artemisinin is an important antimalarial drug and the herb itself is being grown and used locally for malaria treatment although this practice is controversial. Here we show that the ...

The objective of the study was to search for the appropriate herbal extracts by comparative analysis of their estrogenic and cytotoxic activities. Some potentially estrogenic activity of herbal extracts in the management of female disorder symptoms was investigated by E-screen assay. The extracts having a promising activity were further evaluated in vitro for their cytotoxic activity. Of 13 her...

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrine diseases and its type 2 is the major form of diabetes, accounting for 90% of cases worldwide. One of the complications of diabetes is post-prandial hyperglycemia (PPHG). The inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes such as α-amylase can be an important in the control of blood glucose levels and managing PPHG in patients with type 2 dia...

The use of herbal preparations for staunching blood flow and reducing the risk of vascular thrombosis is common worldwide. In this study, aqueous and methanolic extracts of plants used to treat blood-associated complaints were investigated to determine their effects on red blood cell haemolysis and coagulation. The extent of haemolysis was determined spectrophotometrically. Prothrombin time (PT...