WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants - travolekar.ru

<strong>WHO</strong> <strong>monographs</strong> on selected medicinal plants
glycosides: myricetin 3-alpha-arabinofuranoside, quercetin 3-xyloside,
3-methoxyquercetin 3-beta-galactoside (isorhamnetin), myricetin 3-betagalactoside,
quercetin 3-beta-galactoside, quercetin 3-alpha-arabinofuranoside
and quercetin 3-alpha-rhamnopyranoside were evaluated for 1,1-
diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging activity and ability to
inhibit low-density lipoprotein oxidation in vitro. Most of the flavonol
glycosides had antioxidant activity comparable to or superior to that of
vitamin E. Cyanidin 3-galactoside showed activity superior to that of the
flavonoids as well as vitamin E or of a water-soluble vitamin E analogue
in both antioxidant assays (35).
In another in vitro study, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects
of cranberry anthocyanins and hydroxycinnamic acids were measured
against hydrogen peroxide- and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-
induced damage to human microvascular endothelial cells. Polyphenols
from the crude drug were absorbed into endothelial cells and subsequently
reduced the vulnerability of endothelial cells to increased oxidative
stress in the membrane and cytosol. Furthermore, the polyphenols also
reduced TNF-induced up-regulation of various inflammatory mediators
(interleukin-8) involved in the recruitment of leukocytes to sites of
damage or inflammation along the endothelium. Maximum inhibition for
all treatments was observed at a concentration of 0.1 mg/ml for 2 hours
(p < 0.001 in all cases) (36).
Clinical pharmacology
Numerous clinical studies have assessed the effects of the fruit and of fruit
juice preparations in humans, but only 18 clinical trials have assessed the
effects of cranberry juice on urinary pH and urinary tract infections (8–20,
37). Of these 18 trials assessing the safety and efficacy of cranberry for the
prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs), only four
were controlled and of sufficient scientific quality (8, 14, 16, 19, 38).
A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 376 elderly patients
in hospital assessed the prophylactic effects of cranberry juice (30% pure
juice, 300 ml per day) against the onset of urinary tract infections (37).
Although the results suggested that cranberry supplementation may be
protective, these results were not statistically significant.
A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial compared the effectiveness
and cost-effectiveness of concentrated cranberry tablets (1:30 pure
dried juice), cranberry juice, and a placebo used as prophylaxis against
lower urinary tract infections in adult women. One hundred and fifty
sexually active women aged between 21 and 72 years were randomly assigned
for one year to one of three groups receiving prophylaxis: placebo
juice + placebo tablets; placebo juice + cranberry tablets; or cranberry
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