Ioannis Toliopoulos

Effects of catechin and epicatechin on superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity, in vivo

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of catechin and epicatechin on the activity of the endogenous antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (as well as the total antioxidant capacity (TAC)) of rats after intra-peritoneal (i.p.) administration. Methods Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group which was administered daily with a 1:1 mixture of epicatechin and catechin at a concentration of 23 mg/kg body weight for 10 days and the control group which was injected daily with an equal amount of saline. Blood and urine samples were collected before and after the administration period, as well as 10 days after (follow-up). Results Intra-peritoneal administration of catechins led to a potent decrease in GPx levels and a significant increase in SOD levels. TAC was significantly increased in plasma and urine. Malonaldehyde levels in urine remained stable. In the animals treated with catechins, SOD activity showed a moderate negative correlation with GPx activity. Discussion Boosting the activity of the antioxidant enzymes could be a potential adjuvant approach for the treatment of the oxidative stress-related diseases.

Stimulation of natural killer cells by homoeopathic complexes: an in vitro and in vivo pilot study in advanced cancer patients.

The present study was designed in order to evaluate the effects of five homoeopathic complex preparations on functional activity natural killer cells (NKCs) in advanced cancer patients. We examined the effects of Coenzyme Compositum®, Ubichinon Compositum®, Glyoxal Compositum®, Katalysatoren® and Traumeel® on the functional activity of NKCs. Experimental procedures included in vitro and in vivo trials. The in vitro trials were performed in NKCs isolated from 12 healthy volunteers (aged 44 ± 4 years) and incubated with the five homoeopathic complex preparations. The in vivo trials were performed in 15 advanced cancer patients (aged 55 ± 12 years) supplemented for 3 months with the homoeopathic preparations. All five homoeopathic preparations significantly increased the cytotoxic activity of the NKCs at the lowest NKCs/target cell ratio 12:1 (p < 0·05). The order of activity was: Ubichinon Compositum® > Glyoxal Compositum® > Katalysatoren® > Traumeel® > Coenzyme Compositum®. In the advanced cancer patients, the homoeopathic preparation significantly increased NKCs cytotoxic activity (p < 0·05). The homoeopathic complex preparations tested in this study can be used as an adjuvant immunotherapy in advanced cancer patients. Copyright

OXIDATIVE STRESS INCIDENCE ON THE SEVERITY OF KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

The aim of the study was to examine the incidence of oxidative stress on the severity of knee osteoarthritis (OA). Data were obtained from a previous pilot controlled trial among patients, diagnosed with OA in one or both knees, that were randomly assigned into two different treatment groups and were either supplemented with ascorbic acid and Vitamin E daily per os or treated with meloxicam. The following markers were estimated: A. Clinical markers: functionality of the knee (WOMAC index), pain (using a pain visual analogue scale) and severity of OA (Kellgren–Lawrence grading scale) B. Laboratory markers: total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) levels in the synovial fluid. The TAC of the knees was moderately correlated with the severity of OA and the level of pain whilst MDA concentration was weekly correlated. An average change of 5mM of a-tocopherol in TAC (4.6–5.5mM of a-tocopherol) defines the shift among stages of OA and the level of pain experienced by the patients. Neither TAC...