Effects of preoperative flavonoid supplementation on different organ functions in rats.

Background: Previously it has been reported that preoperative feeding preserves heart function in rats after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion. To further improve postoperative organ function, bioactive nutrition compounds were selected in vitro against the xanthine oxidase radical cascade, an enzyme suggested to play a key role in the induction of single- or multiple-organ dysfunction.

Methods: Flavonoids were selected in vitro for their capacity to (1) inhibit xanthine oxidase, (2) scavenge superoxide, and (3) scavenge peroxylradicals.

Preoperative feeding preserves heart function and decreases oxidative injury in rats.

Objective: The nutritional status of a patient has been implicated as an important factor in the development of postoperative complications. Fasting before an operation may have detrimental effects on the metabolic state. We hypothesized that there was a positive correlation between preoperative nutritional status and postoperative organ function.

Accurate prediction of xanthine oxidase inhibition based on the structure of flavonoids.

The flavonoid family shows a high potential for inhibition of xanthine oxidase. Currently, more than 4,000 flavonoids are known. The data of this study indicate that a planar structure is necessary for high inhibitory activity towards xanthine oxidase.