In vivo investigation of antihyperalgesic and antinociceptive effects of peat formulations.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the antihyperalgesic and antinociceptive effects of two formulations containing peat water extracts using a model of carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia, combined with a test with a mechanical stimulus, and a hot plate test. Rats were divided into seven groups (n = 6) and received local treatment with two peat formulations and two diclofenac formulations dissolved in carbopol gel and Wolff® basis creme, respectively. Carbopol gel, Wolff® basis creme and 0.

Investigations into the specific effects of rosemary oil at the receptor level.

Rosemary oil is used frequently in phytotherapy. The objective of the present study was to investigate the extent to which rosemary oil shows other effects on the smooth muscles than the familiar spasmolytic effects. The effects of rosemary oil on the spontaneous contractile activity were investigated in in vitro experiments with circular smooth-muscle strips of the guinea pig stomach.

Effect of Thymol on the spontaneous contractile activity of the smooth muscles.

Effects of Thymol on the spontaneous contractile activity (SCA) have been found in in vitro experiments with circular smooth-muscle strips (SMAs) from guinea pig stomach and vena portae. Thymol was found to possess an agonistic effect on the alpha(1)-, alpha(2)- and beta-adrenergic receptors. Its spasmolytic effect is registered at doses higher than 10(-6)M.

[The influence of the initial humidity of balneological peat on its pharmacological features].

The viscosity of balneological peat got special meaning according to its thermical features. Until now, there has been no answer on the question in how far balneological peat, which is prepared with different degrees of humidity, can vary the pharmacological character. Aim of this work was, on the one hand, to examine which initial degree of peat-humidity is necessary to get the wished viscosity in therapy when diluted with water.

Comparative study of the thermal properties of mud and peat solutions applied in clinical practice.

Different peloids as e.g. mud and peat have been traditionally used for therapeutic purposes successfully, especially of there thermal actions.

Evaluation of the permeation of peat substances through human skin in vitro.

Peat and various peat extracts have been successfully applied for a variety of clinical indications. Quite apart from the physico-thermal effects, new studies point towards the so-called "chemical effects" of peat containing substances. These effects include a stimulatory response of the spontaneous contractile activity (SCA) of smooth muscle (SM) tissue.

Isolation of biologically active fractions from the water soluble components of fulvic and ulmic acids from peat.

With a view to clarifying the excitatory action of aqueous peat extract (APE) on the spontaneous contractile activity (SCA) of the smooth muscles, in vitro studies were made of the influences of the water-soluble HPLC-fractions of fulvic and ulmic acids separated from peat on smooth-muscle preparations of guinea-pig stomach. The results obtained show that peat contains a large number of water-soluble components, which possess agonistic or partial agonistic actions on the alpha2-adreno- and D2-dopamine receptors. These are chemically stable substances, which retain for months their biological activity unchanged in aqueous solution.

Metal distribution and binding in balneological peats and their aqueous extracts.

Binding of metals in typical bath peat samples ("Grosses Gifhomer Moor", Sassenburg/North Germany) and their aqueous extracts was characterized by means of a multi-method approach. For that purpose a sequential extraction procedure based on peat-filled chromatography columns was developed. Water-soluble metal and DOM (dissolved organic matter) fractions were subdivided by use of a stepwise increased pH gradient (pH 3.

The effect of peat components on endocrine and immunological parameters and on trace elements--results of two pilot studies.

Peat and different peat preparations are successfully used in clinical therapies for different indications (as, for instance, in the field of gynecology). New studies show the biochemical effects of peat components which they have aside from their physical-thermal effects. This is of extraordinary interest with regard to the medical use of peat, because considerable concentrations of trace elements and heavy metals have been found in different kinds of peat.

[Mechanism of the effect of aqueous peat extract on spontaneous contractile activity of smooth muscles].

Background: There are reports in the literature about the effects of peat and its products on spontaneous contractile activity (SCA) of smooth muscles. In our earlier work we showed that the aqueous peat extract is a stimulus for SCA of smooth muscle fibres. After longstanding (4-5 h) influence from aqueous peat extract, a self-blocking effect of these influences can be observed.

The influence of fulvic and ulmic acids from peat, on the spontaneous contractile activity of smooth muscles.

The aim of the presented studies was to evaluate which classes of compounds of peat ingredients could be responsible for the partial agonistic effect of aqueous peat extract on the alpha2 adreno and D2 dopamine receptors of smooth muscles, which we have reported from former investigations. Based on the different solubility of peat ingredients, water-soluble components of fulvic and ulmic acids were separated according to the pH-value and chemical structure of the solvent. The biological activity of these acids was examined in peat baths using smooth muscle fibers of guinea pig stomach.

Effect of fractions of water extract from peat with a specific molecular weight on the spontaneous contractile activity of guinea pig stomach smooth muscles.

Objective: Peat and water extracts from peat have been reported in the literature to have an effect on the spontaneous contractile activity of certain smooth muscles. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of organic substances of various molecular weight contained in the water peat extracts on the spontaneous contractile activity of smooth muscles.

Methods: Using Amicon Centriprep molecular filters the substances contained in the water extracts from peat were separated into fractions of various molecular mass.

The ethosuximide-induced hyperpolarization of smooth muscle tissues--a cause of functional changes in the gastrointestinal tract of rats--is provoked by CA(2+)-dependent K(+)-efflux.

Ethosuximide is an antiepileptic drug successfully used in the treatment of petit mal especially in childhood. Clinical investigations reveal that ethosuximide has a number of adverse side effects on the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of patients which may include heaviness, anorexia, pains in the region of the stomach, accompanied sometimes with nausea and vomiting. In the present study we attempt to explain the mechanisms of some of the drug's adverse side effects using an experimental animal model.

Effect of sodium valproate on the spontaneous contractile and bioelectric activity of smooth muscle fibres isolated from experimental animals.

Experiments were carried out with smooth muscles preparations of 24 rats (gastric corpus) and 36 guinea pigs (gastric corpus and taenia coli). Their contractile responses were recorded isometrically using tensile transducers. The bioelectric activity was determined by the single sucrose-gap method.

Effects of the medium chain octanoic fatty acid on the contractile activity of vascular smooth muscle tissues.

Multiple elevation of the octanoic fatty acid level in human sera is often observed in some hepatic diseases which are accompanied by cardiovascular disorders, hypotension, and increased cardiac stroke volume. Different experiments reveal the hypotensive effect of octanoate. The present study investigates the octanoate action on the bioelectric and contractile activity of vascular smooth muscle tissues.

Influence of short-chain fatty acids on vascular tone.

Results from research on the influence of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) (C3-C6) on vascular tone are reported. Isolated vascular smooth muscle strips were studied in vitro and the arterial blood pressure of guinea-pigs injected with SCFA was taken. On the basis of results from these first two methods, the level of PG F2 alpha was determined by radioimmunoassay.

Determination of certain physical and chemical characteristics of the activating serum factor from preparturient women and women with habitual abortions.

Follow-up investigation of the blood sera from preparturient women and women with habitual abortions showed the presence of a factor which has an activating effect on smooth muscle preparations because it causes the release of prostaglandins. Gel-chromatographic counter flow separation and microelectrophoresis of the blood sera have shown that the isolated serum factor is a water soluble glycopeptide with a molecular weight of about 2000.