Kynurenic acid content in anti-rheumatic herbs
Journal Title: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine - Year 2013, Vol 20, Issue 4
Abstract
Introduction: The use of herbal medicines is common among people living in rural areas and increasingly popular in urbanized countries. Kynurenic acid (KYNA) is a metabolite of kynurenine possessing anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and pain reliving properties. Previous data indicated that the content of KYNA in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis is lower than in patients with osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder affecting about 1% of the world’s population. Aim: The aim of the presented study was to investigate the content of KYNA in 11 herbal preparations used in rheumatic diseases. Materials and methods: The following herbs were studied: bean pericarp, birch leaf, dandelion root, elder flower, horsetail herb, nettle leaf, peppermint leaf and willow bark. An anti-rheumatic mixture of the herbs Reumatefix and Reumaflos tea were also investigated. The herbs were prepared according to producers’ directions. In addition, the herbal supplement Devil’s Claw containing root of Harpagophytum was used. KYNA content was measured using the high-performance liquid chromatography method, and KYNA was detected fluorometrically. Results: KYNA was found in all studied herbal preparations. The highest content of KYNA was found in peppermint, nettle, birch leaf and the horsetail herb. The lowest content of KYNA was found in willow bark, dandelion root and in the extract from the root of Harpagophytum. Conclusion: These findings indicate that the use of herbal preparations containing a high level of KYNA can be considered as a supplementary measure in rheumatoid arthritis therapy, as well as in rheumatic diseases prevention.
Authors and Affiliations
Wojciech Zgrajka, Monika Turska, Grażyna Rajtar, Maria Majdan, Jolanta Parada-Turska
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP80708
- DOI -
- Views 117
- Downloads 0
Assessment of adequacy of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy
Introduction. Deficiency of vitamin D in pregnancy leads to higher incidences of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, bacterial vaginosis, and also affects the health of the infants. According to Polish rec...
Therapeutic significance of curcumin and its role in cancer treatment
Curcumin has been used for thousands of years in traditional Indian medicine. Recent in vitro and in vivo animal studies have demonstrated its numerous properties such as: anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, ant...
Effect of exercise on Special Aviation Gymnastics Instruments on blood serum levels of selected biochemical indices in cadets
Introduction. Aim of this study was the training effect evaluation on the Special Aviation Gymnastics Instruments (SAGI) on blood metallothionein (MT), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), protein, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and...
Vibration energy absorption in the whole-body system of a tractor operator
Many people are exposed to whole-body vibration (WBV) in their occupational lives, especially drivers of vehicles such as tractor and trucks. The main categories of effects from WBV are perception degraded comfort interf...
Responses of growth of lady’s fingers ([i]Abelmoschus esculentus [/i]L.) to different treatments methods of dairy wastewater
Introduction and objective. Water is one of the most important precious resources found on the earth, and are most often affected by anthropogenic activities and by industry. Pollution caused by human beings and industri...