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Pycnogenol® (PYC) has already being used as a food supplement and herbal medicine due to its potent antioxidant properties. The aim of the present study was to examine the protective effect of PYC on acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury in rats. The effect of PYC on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats was examined by determining biochemical parameters, in vitro antioxidant activity, histological assessment, and oxidative status in liver homogenates. The best antioxidant properties were demonstrated in methanolic extracts. Seven-day pretreatment with PYC suppressed elevation of CYP2E1 protein expression induced by administration of toxic dose of acetaminophen. PYC at 50 mg/kg showed the ability to significantly decrease malondialdehyde (MDA) level compared with the group received acetaminophen. Xanthine oxidase (XOD) enzyme activity was significantly elevated in acetaminophen-treated group compared with control, whereas concomitant administration of PYC in a dose of 50 mg/kg significantly reduced activity of this enzyme. Significant decrease of glutathione (GSH) hepatic content in acetaminophen-intoxicated rats compared with the control rats was improved by concomitant administration of PYC at 50 mg/kg. Protective effect of PYC on acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury in rats has showed the best in vitro antioxidant potential expressed in methanolic extract and consequent histological assessment and oxidative status in liver homogenates., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Aniseed (Pimpinella anisum L., Apiaceae) and its essential oil (EO) have been widely used. Because there are some data about the impact of aniseed EO on drug effects, this survey aimed to assess the potential of pharmacokinetic herb-drug interaction between aniseed EO and acetaminophen and caffeine in mice. The chemical analysis (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) of aniseed EO has confirmed trans-anethole (87.96%) as the main component. The pharmacokinetic studies of intraperitoneally (i.p.) and orally applied acetaminophen (200 mg/kg) and caffeine (20 mg/kg) were performed in mice after 5 days of oral treatment with human equivalent dose of aniseed EO (0.3 mg/kg/day). The analysis of pharmacokinetic data showed that in the group treated by aniseed EO, the significant decrease in the peak plasma concentration of acetaminophen after oral application (p = 0.024) was revealed when compared with control group and the reduction of systemic exposure to the drug after oral application (74 ± 32% vs. 85 ± 35% in the control) was noted. The bioavailability of orally applied caffeine was also significantly decreased (p = 0.022) after the EO treatment in comparison with the control (57 ± 24% vs. 101 ± 29%). Therefore, the compromised therapeutic efficacy of acetaminophen and caffeine during the usage of aniseed EO preparations should be considered., (Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Purpose: The aim of this study was to measure the consumption of serum lipid reducing drugs in Serbia from 2004 to 2008, to compare this data with that from Scandinavian countries, and to compare the consumption of lipid lowering drugs and the rate of mortality from cardiovascular diseases in these countries., Methods: A population-based study was undertaken to analyse lipid lowering drug consumption using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical/Defined Daily Dose methodology. Cause-specific mortality rates were obtained from the WHOSIS annual report for the year 2009., Results: In 2008, a total of 1207.44 DDD/1000 inh/day of all drugs, was used in Serbia, of which 38.89% belonged to drugs for cardiovascular diseases. While in Scandinavian countries 17.03-24.80% of drugs for cardiovascular diseases belonged to lipid-lowering drugs, in Serbia it was substantially lower (3%). In 2004 in Serbia, 1.50 DDD/1000 inh/day of statins were used. In 2008, this value was 14.24 DDD/1000 inh/day. In every investigated country, simvastatin made up more than 50% of the consumption of statins. After simvastatin, the next most frequently used statin was atorvastatin, with 5.52, 11.00, 11.17 and 24.82 DDD/1000 inh/day, in Serbia, Denmark, Finland and Norway, respectively. In 2004 Serbia has the highest mortality rate for cardiovascular diseases among investigated countries with 762/100.000 inhabitants and Norway has the lowest rate with 158/100.000 inhabitants., Conclusion: The use of lipid lowering drugs is 6-8 times lower in Serbia than in Scandinavian countries but there is an evident rise in lipid lowering drugs consumption in Serbia during years., (Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)