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There are numerous phytochemicals (isoflavones, flavonoids, catechins, anthocyanins, carotenoids, polyphenols, phenolic acids), which are largely used in the pharmaceutical industry. This research describes the process through which, one can obtain medicinal extracts from mistletoe (Viscum album L.) and garlic (Allium sativum L.) while giving an exact characterisation of the two extracts. The HPLC/MS analysis was employed in order to identify and evaluate the presence of phenolic acids (gentisic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid and sinapic acid) and of flavonoids (hyperoside, isoquercitrin, rutin and luteolin). The results suggest that these medicinal extracts could replace the chemical compounds used in various therapies and which unfortunately have side effects on patients.

Ethnopharmacology is a new interdisciplinary science that appeared in Europe of the ‘90, in France, as a necessity claimed by the return to the traditional remedies of each nation. The aim of this study is to identify and quantify the active ingredients of the species Viscum album and Allium sativum, in order to provide a complex chemical characterisation, which is necessary for the use of these plants’ extracts as natural ingredients in the pharmaceutical industry. The following methods were used: (1) the plant material was harvested from the west-side of Romania (Europe) in July 2014; (2) it was dried quickly and the main active principles were extracted using ethylic alcohol solution (50%); (3) the quantitative analyses of the flavonoids and polyphenols were performed according to a procedure described in the Romanian Pharmacopoeia. FT-IR results showed that the Viscum album extract had the highest content of polyphenolic compounds, for both flavonoids and polyphenols. This is the reason why it can be concluded that alcoholic extracts of mistletoe must be used as supplements for diabetics who require diets with flavonoids or for patients with cancers, degenerative diseases, and particularly cardiovascular diseases, who need an increased amount of polyphenols.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/icpj.v4i5.22861 International Current Pharmaceutical Journal, April 2015, 4(5): 382-385

The objective of this study is to determine flavonoids and polyphenols content and antioxidant activity of extracts of figs growing in Romania. The content of flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds was determined according to the Romanian Phar?macopoeia, the 10th edition, using the standard rutin for flavonoids, catechol for polyphe?nols and HPLC for flavonoids quantification. Determination of antioxidant activity was done by DPPH scavenging method and at cellular level by attenuation of oxidative damage in human erythrocytes. The experimental results reveal that Ficus carica extracts may be a potential source of natural antioxidants.

Background Melanoma is known as the most dangerous form of skin cancer; whereas the malignant choroidal melanoma is an orphan disease known as the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. Literature suggests that the consumption of garlic and mistletoe leads to a reduced risk of developing cancer. Objective The aim of this study was the obtaining and the characterization of polymer structures containing mistletoe or garlic extract. Methods The structures were obtained in a polyaddition process combined with a spontaneous emulsification; they were characterized by pH, size, Zeta potential and DSC measurements, evaluation of encapsulation efficacy, penetrability through membranes and in vitro cytotoxicity tests. Results The microstructures present sizes between 1.05 and 2.60 µm and Zeta potentials between -7 and +36 mV. A good encapsulation was observed on different evaluations (88-92%). It was determined that approx. 30% of polymer microstructures containing vegetal extracts pass through an artificial membrane in 4 days. An in vitro cytotoxicity test revealed that these products are safe for administration. The analysis of antitumor efficacy indicates that garlic extracts have important effects after 48 and 72 hours on A375 cells; however, polymer microstructures with herbal extracts did not reveal antiproliferative activities on A375 cells because these polymer structures present a slow degradation. Conclusion Sterile eye drops solutions based on polymer microstructures containing garlic or mistletoe extracts were obtained; the sample based on garlic extracts may be used in the pharmaceutical field as drug carrier with an antiproliferative effect which occurs after a prolong period.

In 1974, the "Ariadne's thread" (from Greek Mythology, pick one's way through the Labyrinth) of autoimmunity leading to the immunogenetic theory of type 1 diabetes mellitus made it possible to conclude that in this phenotype there exists an unsolved conflict between β-cells and the body's autoreactive immune system. In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the "Ariadne's thread" links obesity to pancreatic β-cell biology. Unfortunately, beginning from a wrong interpretation of the relationship between plasma glucose and plasma insulin, the insulin resistance hypothesis was born and claimed as the main defect of T2DM. Overlooking obesity, the understanding of T2DM pathogenesis was delayed by almost half a century. Fortunately, the adipobiology, particularly adipocytes was able to reach the "drawing board" of researchers, and has all the chances these cells to become the "cell of the century", just as the pancreatic β-cell was last the cell of century. The association of diabetes and obesity has motivated us to put pancreatic β-cells and adipocytes head-to-head, that is, we moved from the T2DM-obesity couple to the β-cell-adipocyte couple, appreciating their main secretory products, insulin/proinsulin, C-peptide, amylin (for β-cells), and adiponectin, as well as other numerous adipokines (for adipocytes). We thus propose that the proinsulin-to-adiponectin ratio could become the earliest predictor of dysfunction of these two cell types. Adipobiology 2012; 4: 41-50.

Background In the last years pectin and other hydrocolloids were tested for improving the color stability and the retention of bioactive compounds in gelled fruit-based products. In line with these concerns, our study has been directed to quantify the changes in antioxidant status and color indices of blackberry jam obtained with different types of pectin (degree of esterification: DE, degree of amidation: DA) and doses in response to processing and storage for 1, 3 and 6 months at 20°C. Results Blackberry jam was obtained by a traditional procedure used in households or small-scale systems with different commercial pectins (HMP: high-methoxyl pectin, LMP: low-methoxyl pectin and LMAP: low-methoxyl amidated pectin) added to three concentrations (0.3, 0.7 and 1.0%) and investigated in terms of total monomeric anthocyanins (TMA), antioxidant capacity expressed as ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total phenolics (TP), color density (CD) and percent of polymeric color, PC (%). Thermal processing resulted in significant depreciation of analyzed parameters reported to the corresponding values of fresh fruit as follows: TMA (69-82%), TP (33-55%) and FRAP (18-52%). Biologically active compounds and color were best retained one day post-processing in jams with LMAP followed by samples with LMP and HMP. Storage for 6 months brings along additional dramatic losses reported to the values recorded one day post-processing as follows: TMA (31-56%), TP (29-51%) and FRAP (20-41%). Also, both processing and storage resulted in significant increases in PC (%). The pectin type and dosage are very influential factors for limiting the alterations occurring in response to processing and storage. The best color retention and the highest TMA, TP and FRAP were achieved by LMAP, followed by LMP and HMP. Additionally, a high level of bioactive compounds in jam could be related to a high dose of pectin. LMAP to a level of 1% is the most indicated to provide the highest antioxidant properties in jam. Conclusions The retention of bioactive compounds and jam color stability were strongly dependent on the pectin type and dosage. By a proper selection of pectin type and dose could be limited the losses recorded in response to processing and storage.