The effects of pleuran, ß-1,3 glucan isolated from Pleurotus ostreatus, were studied in a model of acute colitis induced by intracolonic administration of acetic acid. There was a reduction of the colonic damage score, colonic wet weight and wet/dry weight ratio 48 h after single luminal 2 % pleuran suspension pretreatment. Similar results were obtained after repeated intraperitoneal administration of pleuran in doses of 30 and 100 mg/kg. Pleuran given orally as a 10 % food component over 4 weeks was effective in reducing the extent of mucosal damage, but did not prevent the increase of myeloperoxidase in the injured colonic segment. In the segment without macroscopic evidence of inflammation, myeloperoxidase activity was significantly lower as documented by histological examination. The results indicate a possible role of this immunomodulator in the treatment of ulcerative colitis., V. Nosáľová, P. Bobek, S. Černá, Š. Galbavý, S. Štvrtina., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Hepatoprotective properties of rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis) were investigated in a rat model of liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Rooibos tea, like N-acetyl-L-cysteine which was used for the comparison, showed histological regression of steatosis and cirrhosis in the liver tissue with a significant inhibition of the increase of liver tissue concentrations of malondialdehyde, triacylglycerols and cholesterol. Simultaneously, rooibos tea significantly suppressed mainly the increase in plasma activities of aminotransferases (ALT, AST), alkaline phosphatase and billirubin concentrations, which are considered as markers of liver functional state. The antifibrotic effect in the experimental model of hepatic cirrhosis of rats suggests the use of rooibos tea as a plant hepatoprotector in the diet of patients with hepatopathies., O. Uličná, M. Greksák, O. Vančová, L. Zlatoš, Š. Galbavý, P. Božek, M. Nakano., and Obsahuje bibliografii