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At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Optimization of solid-state enzymatic hydrolysis of chestnut using mixtures of alpha-amylase and glucoamylase.

Solid-state hydrolysis of starch present in chestnut was assayed in a single step with a mixture of a thermostable alpha-amylase and glucoamylase at three temperatures: 17 and 30 degrees C, for simultaneous hydrolysis and ethanol fermentation, and 70 degrees C, the optimal temperature for these enzymes. Total hydrolysis was only reached at the highest temperature, leading to a more concentrated hydrolysate than in submerged hydrolysis. Mass transfer limitations and starch retrogradation appear as the main causes for the incomplete hydrolysis of chestnut starch in solid-state operation at 17 and 30 degrees C. Even accepting that this limitation causes a 15% reduction of the yield of the hydrolysis with respect to the submerged process or the solid process at high temperature, solid-state hydrolysis at low temperatures seems to be adequate for simultaneous solid-state hydrolysis and fermentation processes.

Aesculus↗
PubMed2004

An ex-vivo angiogenesis assay as a screening method for natural compounds and herbal drug preparations.

Angiogenesis is a fundamental component of complex biological processes, including oncogenesis. The aim of this work was to optimise and validate an ex-vivo angiogenesis assay as a quantitative (PC image) biological method for testing promising natural compounds and herbal drug preparations for their pro-/anti-angiogenic activity. The bioassay is based on the principle of wound healing and quantifies the effect of angiogenic agents on neovessel outgrowth of human placental vessels embedded in a three-dimensional fibrin matrix. The assay was validated by using known, well characterised pro- and anti-angiogenic effectors (basic fibroblast growth factor and carboxyamidotriazole, respectively), and an angiogenesis inhibitor of plant origin (green tea leaves extract) was used as a reference product to demonstrate the applicability of the assay for plant extracts. Other standardised plant extracts prepared from olive tree leaves and horse chestnut seeds were tested for their angiogenic potential, but showed only slight inhibitory or no activity, respectively. The results presented here indicate that this human ex-vivo angiogenic assay is "ready to use" for screening of herbal drug preparations and pure compounds.

Aesculus↗
PubMed2005

Saponins from Chinese Buckeye Seed reduce cerebral edema: metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials.

To evaluate the effects of saponins from Chinese Buckeye Seed in the treatment of cerebral edema in patients with stroke or cerebral trauma, a metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted. Randomized trials that compare the effects of treatment with saponins from Chinese Buckeye Seed to placebo treatment, to lack of treatment, to non-specific treatment, or to mannitol treatment for cerebral edema were identified with electronic and manual searches. No blinding and language limitations were applied. The methodological quality of trials was assessed with the Jadad scale plus allocation concealment. The metaanalysis was performed where data were available. Forty-one randomized controlled trials involving 4066 patients were identified. The methodological quality of the trials was generally low. The combined results showed that intravenous administration of saponins from Chinese Buckeye Seed increased the total effective rate, reduced the mortality and the incidence of renal function impairment in comparison to control treatment. No serious adverse event was reported. Based on the metaanalysis, saponins from Chinese Buckeye Seed can reduce cerebral edema in patients with stroke or cerebral trauma. However, the evidence is not sufficient due to the generally low methodological quality of the studies. Further trials are needed with sufficiently numerous group size and rigorous design.

Aesculus↗
PubMed2003

Isolation and characterization of a cDNA from Quercus robur differentially expressed in juvenile-like and mature shoots.

A full-length cDNA clone named QRCPE (Quercus robur crown preferentially expressed) that is differentially expressed during in vitro culture of mature and juvenile-like shoots of Quercus robur L. was identified by differential display. The deduced amino acid sequence showed that the encoded protein is small, contains a predicted N-terminal hydrophobic signal peptide that targets the protein to the cell wall, and is rich in glycine and histidine residues. Accumulation of QRCPE mRNA was higher in oak microshoots derived from crown branch shoot cultures than in oak microshoots derived from basal shoot cultures at the end of the multiplication and rooting period. Among organs, the highest accumulation of QRCPE transcripts was detected in roots, followed by stems and leaves, with preferential accumulation in specific organs of ontogenetically older shoots. Although QRCPE mRNA was abundant in oak zygotic and somatic embryos, almost no QRCPE mRNA accumulation was detected in nodular callus cells, suggesting a possible role of this gene in embryonic development. In proliferating shoot cultures of two chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) clones, the QRCPE homolog was preferentially expressed in crown-derived shoots. On the other hand, expression analysis of QRCPE in juvenile and mature material from soil-grown oak plants indicated that this gene is expressed from the embryonic to mature phases, but is progressively down-regulated during plant maturation. In vitro culture conditions induced changes in QRCPE transcript abundance in both basal and crown shoots in a phase-dependent manner. We conclude that QRCPE expression in oak is correlated with the ontogenetic stage of shoots, and thus this gene may be useful as a potential molecular marker for maturation-related characteristics.

Aesculus↗
PubMed2004

Biological control of chestnut blight with hypovirulence: a critical analysis.

Most hypovirulence in the chestnut blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica, is associated with infection by fungal viruses in the family Hypoviridae. Hypovirulence has controlled chestnut blight well in some locations in Europe and in Michigan in the United States. In contrast, with few exceptions, biological control has failed almost completely in eastern North America. Therapeutic treatment of individual cankers is successful in most cases, but the success of hypovirulence at the population level depends on the natural spread of viruses. Characteristics of three interacting trophic levels (virus, fungus, and tree), plus the environment, determine the success or failure of hypovirulence. Vegetative incompatibility restricts virus transmission, but this factor alone is a poor predictor of biological control. Any factor reducing the rate of chestnut blight epidemics enhances hypovirus invasion. Overall, however, not enough is understood about the epidemiological dynamics of this system to determine the crucial factors regulating the establishment of hypovirulence in chestnut forests.

Aesculus↗
PubMed2001

Rational therapy of chronic venous insufficiency--chances and limits of the therapeutic use of horse-chestnut seeds extract.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: We report two clinical studies, one already published, performed in patients with early and advanced chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). In both, compression therapy and oral therapy with horse-chestnut seeds extracts (HCSE) were compared to placebo. RESULTS: The published study in early CVI (Grade I) showed HCSE and compression to be superior to placebo and to be equivalent to each other in reducing lower leg volume, a measure for oedema. In the study, in advanced CVI (Grade II and IIIa), compression appeared to be superior to placebo, whereas HCSE was not. HCSE fared better in Grade II than in Grade IIIa patients. These results are discussed in the light of data from an in vitro model, where HCSE has been able to close the intercellular gaps in the venular endothelium. Not fully specified factors lead to an opening of these gaps, resulting in oedema as well as in local coagulation and thrombosis. The subsequent inflammation keeps these gaps open and initiates and maintains a chronic disease process, which may be the starting point of CVI. CONCLUSION: Due to its ability to close the venular endothelial gaps, HCSE seems to be a suitable and protecting therapy during the early stages of CVI. In later more severe stages compression therapy is indicated. Taking into account the observed negative impact of compression on quality of life, pharmacological CVI therapy should start early to avoid progress and to spare patients compression therapy.

Aesculus↗
PubMed2006

Clinical efficacy of horsechestnut seed extract in the treatment of venous ulceration.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of orally administered horsechestnut seed extract in the treatment of venous leg ulcers. METHOD: In a prospective triple-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial, 54 patients with venous leg ulcers from a large South Australian community nursing service were randomly allocated to receive horsechestnut seed extract (n=27) or placebo (n=27) for 12 weeks. Ulcers were assessed at weeks 0, 4, 8 and 12 utilising a wound assessment tool and the Alfred/Medseed Wound Imaging System. RESULTS: The difference between groups in the number of healed leg ulcers and change in wound surface area, depth, volume, pain and exudate was not statistically significant. However, horsechestnut seed extract did have a significant effect on the percentage of wound slough over time (RM-ANOVA F=2.76, p=0.045) and on the number of dressing changes at week 12 (t=-2.71, p=0.009). CONCLUSION: Even though horsechestnut seed extract is likely to attenuate the pathogenesis of venous insufficiency and, in turn, facilitate venous ulcer healing, the current study did not statistically support such a claim. However, taking into account the small sample and insufficient power of the trial, and the significant improvement in wound slough and visit frequency, it appears that it may be useful in the management of venous leg ulcers.

Aesculus↗
PubMed2003

Barriers to conducting randomised controlled trials: lessons learnt from the Horsechestnut & Venous Leg Ulcer Trial (HAVLUT).

The RCT is considered the gold standard for testing a therapeutic intervention. However, the conduct of an RCT is not without numerous obstacles. As illustrated through the recent Horsechestnut and Venous Leg Ulcer Trial (HAVLUT), these barriers can be attributed to randomisation, recruitment, retention, blinding and sampling procedures, and to gate keeping. These obstacles, together with strategies to prevent and overcome them, are detailed throughout this article, and are aimed at ameliorating the future design and conduct of RCTs.

Aesculus↗
PubMed2002

Efficacy, routine effectiveness, and safety of horsechestnut seed extract in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and large observational studies.

BACKGROUND: Safe and effective oral therapies for chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) would provide an important alternative to mechanical compression treatment. Several narrative reviews and one systematic review have summarized the efficacy of horse chestnut seed extract (HCSE), but to our knowledge no systematic review has included data from both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and large-scale observational studies regarding outcomes as well as adverse events. METHODS: Using a systematic literature search, we identified 13 RCTs of CVI (1,051 patients) and 3 observational studies (10,725 patients) that met our inclusion criteria. Examined outcomes were leg volume, ankle and calf circumference, edema, pain, sensation of tension, swelling, leg fatigue/heaviness, calf cramps, and itching. Random and fixed effect models were used to pool outcomes and adverse events separately for RCTs and observational studies. RESULTS: Overall, the RCTs indicated that HCSE improved symptoms in patients with CVI. Compared to placebo, HCSE reduced leg volume by 46.4 ml (95% CI, 11.3-81.4 ml) and increased the likelihood of improvement in leg pain 4.1-fold (95% CI, 0.98-16.8). Similarly, improvement probabilities were increased 1.5-fold (95% CI, 1.2-1.9) for edema and 1.7-fold (95% CI, 0.01-3.0) for itching. There was insufficient evidence to demonstrate HCSE's effect on leg fatigue/heaviness or calf cramps. Observational studies showed significant effectiveness regarding pain, edema, and leg fatigue/heaviness. No severe adverse events were reported, and HCSE did not significantly increase mild adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Based on meta-analyses of RCTs and observational studies, HCSE appears to be an effective and safe treatment for CVI. Further RCTs and carefully conducted large-scale observational studies are required to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and safety of HCSE in routine settings.

Adolescent↗