Modulating Properties of Vilcacora in the Experimentally-Induced Local Pneumonia of Calves
Summary

The study was performed on 20 white and black lowland breed calves, divided into two equal groups. The calves from group I were treated orally with 3600 mg/claf/day powdered Vilcacora in a form of 200 ml decoction for 17 consecutive days. The calves in group II received placebo. A series of haematological parameters, eicosanoid concentrations and immunophenotype of peripheral blood leukocytes were assayed in the whole blood and serum of calves. Significant changes caused by progress of pneumonia process and regulating influence of vilcacora decoction oral application were found in the behaviour of the animals concerning rectal body temperature, breathing, heart rate, appetite and vitality, and also in remaining laboratory indexes tested. The rectal temperature significantly increased after 5 days of the study in untreated animals compared to the group of treated calves and it had the higher level up to 9 days. Similar changesw were also observed concerning remaining investigated clinical parameters (breathing and heart rate). Examination of the surface marker expression on lymphocytes from whole blood of calves from group I revealed a significant increase in total number and percentage of CD2- (T-lymphocytes) and CD4- (positive cells (T helper lymphocytes) as the result of vilcacora treatment. On the other hand a systematic decrease of nutrophil and MID-cell number in peripheral blood of the treated calves was observed. Finally the values at the last day of the experiment were statistically significantly lower compared with the initial values. The distinct inhibiting influence of vilcacora treatment was noted regarding eicosanoid synthesis and releasing of the proinflammatory mediators, and also nutritional inflammatory markers such as Fe, Zn and Cu. In conclusion, vilcacora seems to be safe for haematopoetic system and useful as a modulator of inflammatory process in calves suffering lung disorders.



Immunomodulating Effect of Vilcacora in Calves
Summary

The study was performed on 20 white and black lowland breed calves, divided into two groups. The calves from group I were treated orally with 4200 mg/claf/day powdered Vilcacora for 8 consecutive days. The calves in group II received placebo. A series of haematological parameters, parameters of non-specifical immunity and immunophenotype of peripheral blood leukocytes were assayed in the blood of calves. No significant changes caused by oral application of vilcacora were noticed in the behaviour of the animals concerning typical clinical symptoms (rectal body temperature, breathing and heart rate), appetite, vitality and effectivity of digesting process, and also in haematological indexes tested. The phagocytic index, a pecentage of cells involved in phagocytosis, and random migration of neutrophils were significantly higher in treated calves in comparison with control group. The percentage of neutrophils reducing nitroblue tetrazolium salt was also higher, but the difference was not statistically significant. Examination of surface marker expression on lymphocytes from whole blood of calves revealed an increase in total number and percentage of CD2- (T lymphocytes) and CD4- positive cells (T helper lymphocytes) and a decrease in the percentage of WC4-positive cells (B lymphocytes) and granulocytes as a result of vilcacora treatment. In conclusion, vilcacora preparation seems to be safe for haematopoetic system and useful as an enhancer of non-specific immunity in calves.



AN ATTEMPT TO USE MACA (LEPIDIUM PERUVIANUM, LEPIDIUM MEYENII) IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN
SUMMARY

An attempt has been made to observe the effect of maca in alleviation symptoms of menopausal discomfort on a selected group of 20 postmenopausal women. Clinical observations were conducted under gynaecologist's instructions with women exposed for one month period to placebo, followed by two month of taking encapsulated powder from Maca root which previously was subjected to proprietary treatment (application of pressure and moisture) which increased its density and allowed pre-gelatinisation of the powder, thus making it easier to digest (Maca-G). Maca-G and placebo, which were administered in the from of 500 mg hard gel capsules, were taken twice daily (2 in the morning and 2 in the evening). With start and at the end of each phase of treatment, all woman answered a set of standard questionnaire according to Greene's as well were tested for four hormones: LH, FSH, Oestrogens and Progesterone.
In comparison to placebo, after 60 days using Maca capsules, levels of both gonadotropins FSH and LH substantially increased (27% SE ą 2.5 and 21% SE ą 2.3 respectively), with the ratio between these two hormones maintaned at the level between 2.2-2.3 which is typical to one observed in early menopausal stage (> 1.1). On the other hand, levels of Oestrogen and Progesterone decreased slightly below the pre-trial period (45% SE ą 5.4 and 3% SE ą 2.6 respectively). In personal subjective interviews conducted by a gynaecologist after two months of using Maca supplement, majority of women (7 of 13 which concluded the three month trial) observed reduction in feeling discomfort typical to observed in the early postmenopausal stage. According to responses given in 20 questions Greene's questionnaire, only some tendencies confirmed the above, while majority of subjective responses of were inconclusive due to a strong placebo effect. Obtained results may suggests that Maca is acting as a toner of hormonal processes which may alleviate discomfort felt by women during early postmenopausal stage. This preliminary observations justify further clinical study on use of maca in postmenopausal women to assess effectiveness of Maca as a non-hormonal therapeutic treatment, which may help women to reduce discomfort associated with menopause as an alternative to HRT programs.



EFFECT OF MACA ON SEXUAL DESIRE AND ITS ABSENT RELATIONSHIP WITH SERUM TESTOSTERONE LEVELS IN ADULT HEALTHY MEN
SUMMARY

This study was performed in Peru. It was a 12-week double blind placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel trial in which active treatment with different doses of Maca was compared with placebo. The study aimed to demonstrate if effect of Maca on subjective report of sexual desire was because of effect on mood or serum testosterone levels. Men aged 21-56 years received Maca in one of two doses: 1500 mg or 3000 mg or placebo. Self-perception on sexual desire, score for Hamilton test for depression, and Hamilton test for anxiety were measured at 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment. An improvement in sexual desire was observed with Maca since 8 weeks of treatment. Serum testosterone and oestradiol levels were not different in men treated with Maca and in those treated with placebo. Logistic regression analysis showed that Maca has an independent effect on sexual desire at 8 and 12 weeks of treatment, and this effect is not because of changes in either Hamilton scores for depression or anxiety or serum testosterone and oestradiol levels. In conclusion, treatment with Maca improved sexual desire.



PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF THE SUBSTANCES CONTAINED IN THE PREPARATIONS AND THE STUDIES OF THE CROTON SPP. EXTRACTS WITHOUT ISOLATION OF THE ACTIVE SUBSTANCES: IN VITRO, ON ANIMALS AND IN CLINICAL TESTS
SUMMARY

In the folk medicine, especially in the countries of the Central and South America, various kinds of Croton spp. are widely used and quite intensively studied due to their numerous properties potentially useful therapeutically. Those preparations are admissible for use and commercially accessible. They can be administered orally, as well as the components of the external medications. They have hemostatic and wound healing properties (they are effective in stoppage of bleeding and they enhance cicatrization, including healing of Herpes simplex lesions etc.), as well as anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, potentially antiviral, and antibacterial abilities. Sangre de Drago extracts show anti-inflammatory properties, activating wound healing, as well as inhibiting the activity of the reversed viral transcriptase. The Croton lechleri juice is non - cytotoxic in the in vitro tests. A number of simple phenolic compounds and diterpenes with strong antibacterial properties were isolated.
The studies of the antibacterial activity (against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichtia coli) of Croton lechleri resin, as well as of its extracts: chlorophormic, acetonic, metanolic, and the one prepared from the ethyl acetate, and also about the number of isolated from the resin substances were published in 1994 [Chen & others, 1994]. The results show that both chlorophorme extract and the number of substances received out of it (1,3,5-trimetoxybensine; 2,4,6-trimetoxyphenol; crolechine acid, coberin A, coberin B) are quite strong (even almost 30 times stronger than chloramphenicole or peniciline V, used as the control) bacteriostatic in relation to one or two bacteria species. The main component of the resin, proanthocyanidins, after the isolation are only weakly active towards the tested bacteria, however, they can have quite significant impact on the resin's anti-microbe activity in relation to various other micro-organisms, since the inhibiting their growth effect is well known. In the studies of the isolated abilities for the stimulation of proliferation of endothelial cells, important in the process of wound healing, extracts of the Croton lechleri resin, as well as isolated from them pure substances, did not have the stimulating activity. However, the studies of the poliphenol fraction of the Croton lechleri resin in vitro in rats showed that it has a high efficacy of enhancing wound healing.



MANAYUPA. TOXICOLOGY AND SAFETY OF USAGE. THE SAFE DOSES AND THE ROUTINE DOSES.

There is a relatively small number of published information on toxicological properties of Desmodium adscendens plant and biologically active substances contained within. The preparations of Desmodium adscendens are used widely in the whole strip of Central and South America, where they are used as the thirst quenching drink, in individual daily doses, similar to the common usage of tea. The popular literature and works of producers and distributors of Desmodium adscendens preparations equivocally express opinion, that these preparations are non-toxic and when administered in indicated doses do not have any side effects. There is lack of studies contradicting this information. In the in vitro tests (Ames' test) Desmodium incanum (related to Desmodium adscendens) did not reveal any mutagenic properties (Vargas V.M. & others, 1991). Only in case of very high doses, like in other preparations containing tannins, the potential danger lies in their anti-nutritional effect inhibiting influence on assimilation of proteins from the alimentary tract. In spite of the above fact, it seems that due to the lack of clinical experiments of the usage of Desmodium adscendens preparations with young children and pregnant women, before conducting appropriate clinical tests, it should not be applied to pregnant women and children under three years of age. However some studies show some relaxant properties effecting the gastroinetestinal disorders and tend to support the ethnomedicinal use of the plant.



MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF THE FLOR DE ARENA. PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES
ABSTRACT

The phytochemical studies were carried out on the following extracts prepared earlier from the raw material: hexane, methanol, ethanol, octane, and aqueous. Since the recommended application of the herb is usually in the form of the aqueous-alcohol extract or the water infusion, the aqueous extract was studied particularly meticulously. The chromatographic studies conducted with TLC (thin-layer chromatography) method revealed in the aqueous and alcohol extracts the presence of flavonoid compounds (quercetin, rutoside and hyperoside) and polyphenolic acids (rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid). Presence of the rosmarinic acid was confirmed by quality and quantity studies with application of HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography). Besides the TLC method studies were conducted to identify the presence of steroid compounds. The studied alcohol and aqueous extracts revealed the presence of ß-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol, and their quality and quantity presence was proved by the gas chromatography and mass spectrometry methods (GC/MS).
The studied raw material of Tiquilia paronychioides (Phil.) A.T. Richardson belongs to the Boraginaceae family. It is known that there are raw materials in this family that contain harmful for the health pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Therefore particular attention was paid to possibility of occurrence of these compounds in the flor de arena. The conducted pharmacopoeial test, however, ruled out their presence in the studied material. The additional study was carried out by means of the thin-layer chromatography method and by the Reoder and Mattocks's quantitative methods. Neither of the methods gave positive results.
The assessment of acute toxicity was also conducted with regard to aqueous extract obtained from flor de arena, as this kind of application is prescribed by phytotherapists, usually in the 24 hours dose: 1 litre of the aqueous extract obtained from 3.5 g of the raw material. The aqueous extract was dried, yielding 7g of dried extract from 100g of raw material. The study of the acute toxicity of the dried aqueous extract was carried out on rats after the application to the stomach. LD50 value (LD50 - dosis letalis50 - means such a dose of the substance that causes death of 50 % of animals from the studied group) was higher than 15g/kg BM (g/kg BM stands for grams per kilogram of body mass), meaning that the aqueous extract of flor de arena is practically harmless to human beings. It has to be mentioned that 15g of the dried aqueous extract equals about 215g of the raw material. It means that man would have to consume at once as much as 215g of flor de arena inflorescence in order harmful effects occurred.

Short characteristics of the discussed raw material constituents and their influence on human health is presented below.The rosmarinic acid has anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antioxidant properties.
The caffeic acid reveals bacteriostatic, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activity.
The presence of the quercetin with similar properties enhances this activity - mainly the properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, as well as modestly hypoglycaemic, anti-aggregative and it also alleviates the radiotherapy effects.
The rutoside is a valuable plant constituent due to its antioxidant and blood vessel protective properties. The hyperoside besides having the anti-inflammatory effect has diuretic properties (which supports cleansing of the body).
The sterols contained within flor de arena also enhance the anti-inflammatory properties of the raw material as well as they have the anti-fever properties and support healing of the prostate inflammatory conditions. Fatty acids influence positively the skin condition, protect blood vessel walls and support lipid management.