Publications by authors named "Ute Widowitz"

In vitro anti-inflammatory activity of 4 extracts with different polarity from the basidiomycete Navisporus floccosus was evaluated by determination of the inhibition of prostaglandin E2 formation catalyzed by purified cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 enzymes, and of the inhibition of leukotriene (LT) B4 formation in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The n-hexane extract showed the highest activity in all 3 assays. Through analysis by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), 9 fatty acids and fatty acid esters were identified as the major constituents of this extract.

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Interest in the anti-inflammatory effects of Ligustrum vulgare L., which has been used traditionally in China and Japan prompted us to determine antiinflammatory effects of the plant's compounds in leukocytes. The leaves of L.

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Quinones are compounds frequently contained in medicinal plants used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Therefore, the impact of plant-derived quinones on the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway is worthy of investigation. In this study, twenty-three quinone compounds of plant origin were tested in vitro for their potential to inhibit leukotriene B4 (LTB4) biosynthesis in activated human neutrophil granulocytes with 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) activity.

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Our study aimed at the identification of anti-inflammatory activities of different fractions of C. sadleriana extract after per os administration in rats, the identification of the active compounds of the plant and the investigation of the in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of Centaurea species native to or cultivated in the Carpathian Basin. The aerial parts of Centaurea sadleriana Janka have been used in Hungarian folk medicine to treat the wounds of sheep.

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Context: In traditional Chinese medicine, Aconitum (Ranunculaceae) roots are only applied after processing. Nevertheless, several cases of poisoning by improperly processed aconite roots have been reported.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a reliable analytical method to assess the amount of toxic aconite alkaloids in commercial aconite roots, and to compare this method with the commonly used total alkaloid content determination by titration.

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The roots of Krameria lappacea are used traditionally against oropharyngeal inflammation. So far, the astringent and antimicrobial properties of its proanthocyanidin constituents are considered to account for the anti-inflammatory effect. The aim of the present study was to characterize pharmacologically a lipophilic extract of K.

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The term lipo-alkaloid is used for C19 aconitane alkaloids containing one or two long-chain fatty acid residues. Lipo-alkaloids are transesterified derivatives of the most toxic and highly effective diester-type diterpene alkaloids, such as aconitine, hypaconitine, mesaconitine. Lipo-alkaloids are native minor compounds of aconite drugs, but their amount significantly increases after traditional processing, which is a general method in the Far Eastern traditional medicinal systems.

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Processed aconite drugs are widely used in Eastern medicine as painkillers and antirheumatic agents. It is known that the traditional processing of aconite drugs increases the amount of lipo-alkaloids. In order to obtain information about the pharmacological potential of these compounds, semisynthesis of 9 aconitine-derived lipo-alkaloids was carried out and their COX-1, COX-2 and LTB(4) formation inhibitory activities were investigated.

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