In Vitro Study of Cyano-Phycocyanin Release from Hydrogels and Ex Vivo Study of Skin Penetration.

Background: This study explored the most suitable materials for incorporating cyano-phycocyanin (C-PC) into hydrogels, focusing on maintaining the C-PC's long-term structural integrity and stabilityNext, the release of C-PC from the hydrogels and its skin penetration were investigated.

Methods: A series of 1% (/) C-PC hydrogels was prepared using various gelling agents and preservatives. Spectrophotometric measurements compared the amount of C-PC in the hydrogels to the initially added amount.

Determination of Heavy Metal Content: Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead in Cyano-Phycocyanin Isolated from the Cyanobacterial Biomass.

Cyano-phycocyanin (C-PC) is a light-absorbing biliprotein found in cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae. Due to its antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties, this protein is a promising substance in medicine and pharmaceuticals. However, cyanobacteria tend to bind heavy metals from the environment, making it necessary to ensure the safety of C-PC for the development of pharmaceutical products, with C-PC isolated from naturally collected cyanobacterial biomass.

L. (Moench) Hemagglutinin Effect on Immune Response In Vivo.

L. (Moench) is used in traditional and conventional medicine. However, there is lack of data on the biological activities of primary plant metabolite lectins.

Flavonoids as Anticancer Agents.

Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds subdivided into 6 groups: isoflavonoids, flavanones, flavanols, flavonols, flavones and anthocyanidins found in a variety of plants. Fruits, vegetables, plant-derived beverages such as green tea, wine and cocoa-based products are the main dietary sources of flavonoids. Flavonoids have been shown to possess a wide variety of anticancer effects: they modulate reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging enzyme activities, participate in arresting the cell cycle, induce apoptosis, autophagy, and suppress cancer cell proliferation and invasiveness.

Evaluation of Beeswax Influence on Physical Properties of Lipstick Using Instrumental and Sensory Methods.

The aim of this study was to optimize the lipsticks formulation according to the physical properties and sensory attributes and investigate the relationship between instrumental and sensory analyses and evaluate the influence of the main ingredients, beeswax and oil, with analysis of lipsticks properties. Central composite design was used to optimize the mixture of oils and beeswax and cocoa butter for formulation of lipsticks. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH free radical scavenging method spectrophotometrically.

Triiodothyronine accelerates and enhances the antipsychotic effect of risperidone in acute schizophrenia.

In acute psychotic schizophrenia patients we investigated if the combination of triiodothyronine (T3) plus risperidone was more effective when compared to risperidone monotherapy. Thirty-two in-patients meeting the DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia and without thyroid disease received risperidone (flexibly adjusted dose for tolerability) and were randomized to additionally receive either T3 (25 μg daily; risperidone plus T3 group) or placebo (risperidone plus placebo group). Treatment lasted until meeting the response to treatment criteria defined as score of ≤ 3 on the Clinical Global Impression Severity and Improvement scales.

Fractionation and evaluation of proteins in roots of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench.

Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench, a member of the Asteraceae family, is a plant rich in flavonoids, essential oils, phenolic compounds, saponins, polysaccharides and glycoproteins. The aim of the study was to evaluate the protein content in dried roots of Echinacea purpurea (L.

The prevalence of self-reported underuse of medications due to cost for the elderly: results from seven European urban communities.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of self-reported underuse of medications due to procurement costs amongst older persons from seven European urban communities.

Methods: The data were collected in a cross-sectional study ("ABUEL, Elder abuse: A multinational prevalence survey") in 2009. Randomly selected people aged 60-84 years (n = 4,467) from seven urban communities: Stuttgart (Germany), Athens (Greece), Ancona (Italy), Kaunas (Lithuania), Porto (Portugal), Granada (Spain) and Stockholm (Sweden) were interviewed.

Alternative preparation of propolis extracts: comparison of their composition and biological activities.

Background: Propolis is the bee product noted for multiple biological effects, and therefore it is widely used for the prevention and treatment of a variety of diseases. The active substances of propolis are easily soluble in ethanol. However ethanolic extracts cannot be used in treatment of certain diseases encountered in ophthalmology, pediatrics, etc.

In vitro permeation studies of phenolics from horse chestnut seed gels prepared with different polyacrylic acid polymer derivatives.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of polyacrylic acid polymers (Ultrez 10, Ultrez 20, Carbopol 980, and Carbopol 940) on the viscosity and the in vitro permeation of phenolic compounds from the gel prepared from natural horse chestnut seed extract. Experiments were performed in the presence and in the absence of peppermint oil (Mentha piperita). Our results showed that peppermint oil decreased the viscosity of the gels and permeation of phenolic compounds from all gel samples.

Experiences of community pharmacists advising pregnant women.

Background: Recent studies have shown that pharmacists provide healthcare advice to pregnant women, and that they can play an important role in maternal care. However, pharmacists have faced challenges in advising mothers and coordinating with physicians.

Objective: To explore the experiences of community pharmacists in advising pregnant women at Lithuanian community pharmacies.

Direct effects of (-)-epicatechin and procyanidin B2 on the respiration of rat heart mitochondria.

Flavonol (-)-epicatechin and its derived dimer procyanidin B2, present in high amounts in cocoa products, have been shown to exert beneficial effects on the heart and cardiovascular system; however, their mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated. We studied effects of (-)-epicatechin and procyanidin B2 on the oxidative phosphorylation of isolated rat heart mitochondria. (-)-Epicatechin and procyanidin B2 had stimulating effect (up to 30% compared to control) on substrate-driven (State 2) mitochondrial respiration.

Effect of Acanthopanax senticosus on the accumulation of cadmium and on the immune response of spleen cells.

Exposure to cadmium (Cd) is known to alter immune responses. Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.

The effect of Leonurus cardiaca herb extract and some of its flavonoids on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in the heart.

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) possesses antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities, and is used as a complementary remedy to improve heart function and blood circulation. Since cardiovascular diseases are often associated with an alteration of mitochondria, the main producers of ATP in cardiac muscle cells, the aim of our work was to determine bioactive constituents present in motherwort aerial parts extract in ethanol and investigate their effects on the functions of cardiac mitochondria. Quantitative determination of polyphenols in L.

A combination of grapefruit seed extract and concentrated cranberry juice as a potential antimicrobial preservative for the improvement of microbiological stability of hypromellose gel.

Aqueous hypromellose gels are not microbiologically stable - they show signs of microorganism growth during storage. To extend the shelf-life of the gels, antimicrobial preservatives are needed. Some substances of plant origin are known for their antimicrobial properties, and thus they may be used as an alternative to synthetic preservatives.

New formula herbal pellets demonstrate a uniform and stable release of the active ingredients in vitro.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different capsule filling manufacturing techniques and storage conditions on the release of the active ingredients from herbal capsules during the dissolution test in vitro. Different techniques for the preparation of the original mixture of dry extracts were applied, and subsequently capsules with six different fillings were prepared. The stability of the capsules was evaluated in different long-term storage conditions, registering changes in the water content (loss of drying), capsule disintegration time, and phenolic compounds dissolution test in vitro.

Uncoupling and antioxidant effects of ursolic acid in isolated rat heart mitochondria.

Ursolic acid (1), a pentacyclic triterpene acid, is one of the major components of certain traditional medicinal plants and possesses a wide range of biological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and cytotoxic activities. Furthermore, 1, when present at 1.6-5 ng/mL concentrations in commercial herbal preparations used for patients with cardiac disorders, may also exert pro-cardiac activities.

Analysis of the antimicrobial activity of propolis and lysozyme in semisolid emulsion systems.

Propolis as an active natural substance is attractive due to its antimicrobial and antimycotic properties. Lysozyme was added to semisolid dermatological preparations as a complementary substance capable of potentiating their antimicrobial and antimycotic effect; this substance has been used for several decades as a preservative in food industry. The aim of this study was to model a semisolid emulsion system (o/w) for cutaneous use with moisturizing and antimicrobial properties, where the active substances would be propolis and/or lysozyme.

Pharmacy specialists' attitudes toward pharmaceutical service quality at community pharmacies.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to analyze pharmacy specialists' attitudes toward the quality of pharmaceutical services at Lithuanian community pharmacies.

Material And Methods: Between April and June 2009, a total of 471 Lithuanian community pharmacy specialists completed a questionnaire designed to evaluate their attitudes toward the quality of pharmaceutical services at community pharmacies. The main dimensions of pharmaceutical service quality were extracted by principal component analysis.

Analysis of content of phenolic acids in Lithuanian propolis using high-performance liquid chromatography technique.

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to analyze phenolic acids in Lithuanian propolis and to compare it with the composition of propolis in neighboring countries (Latvia and Poland) according to the predominant flora in the collecting places. The study was also aimed at the evaluation of the effect of the layer thickness (mm) of the harvested propolis on the quality of the raw material in determining the amount of phenolic acids.

Materials And Methods: The object of the study was propolis collected in Lithuania, Poland, and Latvia in late July of 2006 and 2007.

Estimation of the combined effect of Eleutherococcus senticosus extract and cadmium on liver cells.

Cadmium (Cd) is an important industrial pollutant, even though its mechanism of toxicity has not been completely clarified. Cd(2+) is toxic to a wide range of organs and tissues. Liver and kidneys are the primary target organs of cadmium toxicity.

The comparison of anti-oxidative kinetics in vitro of the fluid extract from maidenhair tree, motherwort and hawthorn.

The aim of the study was to perform a quantitative analysis of fluid extracts of maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba L.), motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca L.) and hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna Jacq.

[Antimicrobial activity of soft and purified propolis extracts].

Objective: To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of soft and purified propolis extracts. STUDY OBJECT AND METHODS: Antimicrobial activity of soft and purified propolis extracts was determined with reference cultures of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 33499, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Proteus mirabilis ATCC 12459, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Bacillus cereus ATCC 8035, and fungus Candida albicans ATCC 60193. Microbiological tests were performed under aseptic conditions.

Free radical-scavenging activities of Crataegus monogyna extracts.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to investigate antiradical activity of aqueous and ethanolic hawthorn fruit extracts, their flavonoids, and flavonoid combinations.

Material And Methods: Total amount of phenolic compounds and the constituents of flavonoids were determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography. The antioxidant activity of Crataegus monogyna extracts and flavonoids (chlorogenic acid, hyperoside, rutin, quercetin, vitexin-2O-rhamnoside, epicatechin, catechin, and procyanidin B(2)) quantitatively was determined using the method of spectrophotometry (diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH.

The qualitative analysis of ethanol extracts of herbal raw materials by method of high pressure liquid chromatography.

The article describes the qualitative analysis of ethanol extracts from St. John's wort, cinnamon bark, rosemary leaves, lavender flowers, and ginger rhizomes, and the extract of their mixture using the method of high pressure liquid chromatography in order to identify flavonoids. The aim of the study was to identify the amounts of rutin, hyperoside, quercetin, and other flavonoids in the multi-component extract as well as in the control extracts of its compositional parts using the method of high pressure liquid chromatography, by evaluation of the correlation between the amounts of flavonoids in the extracts.