Characterization and antimicrobial activity of the volatile components of the flowers of Magydaris tomentosa (Desf.) DC. collected in Sicily and Algeria
The essential oils of the flowers of Magydaris tomentosa (Desf.) DC. (Apiaceae) collected in Sicily (MSi) and Algeria (MAl), respectively, were obtained by hydrodistillation, and their compositions were analysed. The analyses allowed the identification and quantification of 23 components in MSi and 60 compounds in MAl, respectively, showing a very different profile in the composition of the two populations. The main components of MSi were cembrene (28.2%), α-springene (17.5%) and β-springene (14.8%), also present in MAl but in lesser amount (0.4%, 1.8% and 0.9%, respectively), whereas the principal constituents of MAl were (E)-nerolidol (35.4%), α-costol (13.3%) and β-costol (6.8%). Both MS…
Effects of sodium fluoride on the mechanical activity in mouse gastric preparations.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the responses induced by sodium fluoride (NaF) on gastric mechanical activity, using mouse whole-stomach preparations. The mechanical activity was recorded in vitro as changes of intraluminal pressure. In most of the preparations, NaF induced a tetrodotoxin-insensitive biphasic effect characterized by early relaxation followed by slowly developing contractile response. The contraction was dependent on the concentration of NaF, whereas the relaxation was observed at only 10–30 mmol/L NaF. The contractile effect was significantly reduced by nifedipine (an L-type Ca2+channel blocker), ryanodine or ruthenium red (inhibitors of Ca2+release from sar…
Relaxant effects of flavonoids on the mouse isolated stomach: structure-activity relationships.
Flavonoids are a large heterogeneous group of benzo-gamma-pyrone derivatives, which are abundantly present in our diet. In this study we investigated the effects of six flavonoids (apigenin, genistein, quercetin, rutin, naringenin and catechin) on the gastric tone in mouse isolated stomach. The mechanical activity was recorded as changes of intraluminal pressure. All flavonoids tested produced a concentration-dependent relaxation, which was reversible after washout. The relative order of potency of the flavonoids was apigenin> or =genistein>quercetin>naringenin> or =rutin>catechin. Analysis of the chemical structure showed that the relaxant activity was progressively diminished by the prese…