Milka Nashar

Agrimonia eupatoria tea consumption in relation to markers of inflammation, oxidative status and lipid metabolism in healthy subjects

Phytotherapy reports strong anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory potential of agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria L.). However the effects of agrimony tea consumption are not scientifically proven in humans. We investigated the effects of one month’s consumption of agrimony tea in healthy volunteers. Significant elevation of plasma total antioxidant capacity was observed and interleukin 6 levels were significantly lowered at the end of the intervention. An improved lipid profile as estimated by increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was established upon agrimony tea supplementation and HDL cholesterol correlated with adiponectin levels. The results presented in this first human intervention study with agrimony tea indicate that the plant has potential in improving markers of lipid metabolism, oxidative status and inflammation in healthy adults.

Subchronic Toxicity Study of Aqueous Infusion from Cotinus coggygria Leaves in Wistar Rats

The Eurasian smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) is used by the Balkan folk medicine for its antiseptic and antimicrobial properties as well as for treatment of gingival and throat inflammations. Although C. coggygria has been applied mainly externally because of the large gallotannins content, there are few reports for internal use of its leaves against gastric ulcer, diarrhoea, nephritis, anthrax, asthma, cardiac and urinal diseases and even diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study is to examine the toxicity of C. coggygria leaves aqueous infusion in experimental animals. Male Wistar rats were treated by stomach gavage with different concentrations of herb infusion (1, 2 and 4%) or distilled water at doses of 10 ml/kg b.w. After 30 days of treatment, the animals were sacrificed and the blood and organs were collected for biochemical and histopathological analyses. Results showed that treatment with aqueous infusion from C. coggygria did not cause subchronic toxicity on liver and kidney. Histological investigation did not detect pathological deviations in the organs of treated groups compared with control. No significant changes were observed in the serum levels of hepatic enzymes, urea, creatinine, triacylglycerols and total The financial support from the Medical Science Fund of the Medical University of Varna is greatly acknowledged.