I read this book the same weekend that the Packers took on the Rams, and the experience of the latter event, obviously, colored my judgment. Although I abhor anything that smacks of being a handbook (like, \"How to Earn a Merit Badge in Neurosurgery\") because too many volumes in biomedical science already evince a boyscout-like approach, I must confess that parts of this volume are fast, scholarly, and significant, with certain reservations. I like parts of this well-illustrated book because Dr. Sj6strand, without so stating, develops certain subjects on technique in relation to the acquisition of judgment and sophistication. And this is important! So, given that the author (like all of us) is somewhat deficient in some areas, and biased in others, the book is still valuable if the uninitiated reader swallows it in a general fashion, realizing full well that what will be required from the reader is a modulation to fit his vision, propreception, adaptation and response, and the kind of problem he is undertaking. A major deficiency of this book is revealed by comparison of its use of physics and of chemistry to provide understanding and background for the application of high resolution electron microscopy to problems in biology. Since the volume is keyed to high resolution electron microscopy, which is a sophisticated form of structural analysis, but really morphology in a modern guise, the physical and mechanical background of The instrument and its ancillary tools are simply and well presented. The potential use of chemical or cytochemical information as it relates to biological fine structure , however, is quite deficient. I wonder when even sophisticated morphol-ogists will consider fixation a reaction and not a technique; only then will the fundamentals become self-evident and predictable and this sine qua flon will become less mystical. Staining reactions (the most inadequate chapter) ought to be something more than a technique to selectively enhance contrast of morphological elements; it ought to give the structural addresses of some of the chemical residents of cell components. Is it pertinent that auto-radiography gets singled out for more complete coverage than other significant aspects of cytochemistry by a high resolution microscopist, when it has a built-in minimal error of 1,000 A in standard practice? I don't mean to blind-side (in strict football terminology) Dr. Sj6strand's efforts for what is \"routinely used in our laboratory\"; what is done is usually well done. It's just that …

Methods in Enzymology.

Male circumcision for HIV prevention in young men in Kisumu, Kenya : a randomised controlled trial. Commentary

Diabetes mellitus is one of the major health problems in the world, the incidence and associated mortality are increasing. Inadequate regulation of the blood sugar imposes serious consequences for health. Conventional antidiabetic drugs are effective, however, also with unavoidable side effects. On the other hand, medicinal plants may act as an alternative source of antidiabetic agents. Examples of medicinal plants with antidiabetic potential are described, with focuses on preclinical and clinical studies. The beneficial potential of each plant matrix is given by the combined and concerted action of their profile of biologically active compounds.

https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/9/10/551/pdf

Antidiabetic Potential of Medicinal Plants and Their Active Components.

Introduction: The increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and the negative clinical outcomes observed with the commercially available anti-diabetic drugs have led to the investigation of new therapeutic approaches focused on controlling postprandrial glucose levels. The use of carbohydrate digestive enzyme inhibitors from natural resources could be a possible strategy to block dietary carbohydrate absorption with less adverse effects than synthetic drugs. Areas covered: This review covers the latest evidence regarding in vitro and in vivo studies in relation to pancreatic alpha-amylase inhibitors of plant origin, and presents bioactive compounds of phenolic nature that exhibit anti-amylase activity. Expert opinion: Pancreatic alpha-amylase inhibitors from traditional plant extracts are a promising tool for diabetes treatment. Many studies have confirmed the alpha-amylase inhibitory activity of plants and their bioactive compounds in vitro, but few studies corroborate these findings in rodents an...

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Antidiabetic effects of natural plant extracts via inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolysis enzymes with emphasis on pancreatic alpha amylase

In this study, in vitro antioxidant activity, total phenolic content and concentration of flavonoids of five different extracts, from the whole herb of Marrubium peregrinum L. (Lamiaceae) were determined using spectrophotometric methods. Antioxidant activity of extracts were expressed as percentage of DPPH radicals inhibition and IC50 values (μg/ml). Values in percentage ranged from 27.26 to 89.78%. The total phenolic content ranged from 27.26 to 89.78 mg/g of dry weight of extract, expressed as gallic acid equivalents. The total flavonoid concentrations varied from 18.72 to 54.77 mg/g, expressed as rutin equivalents. Methanolic exstract of M. peregrinum showed the highest phenolic and flavonoid concentration and strong antioxidant activity. The significant linear correlation was confirmed between the values for the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of plant extracts. The high contents of phenolic compounds indicated that these compounds contribute to the antioxidant activity. The M. peregrinum can be regarded as promising candidates for natural plant sources of antioxidants with high value.

/pdf/total-phenolic-content-flavonoid-concentration-and-26stlhmpk5.pdf

Total phenolic content, flavonoid concentration and antioxidant activity of marrubium peregrinum l. extracts

The potential antioxidant activity of Marrubium peregrinum methanol extracts, collected from three different locations [Backo Gradiste - Rimski Sanac (No.1), Novi Knezevac (No.2) and Senta (No.3)], was assessed by the corresponding in vitro tests. In these experiments crude methanol extracts were tested as potential scavengers of free 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH • ), super oxide anion (O2 •− ), NO • and OH • radicals, as well as inhibitors of liposomal peroxidation (LPx). The results obtained showed that all examined extracts act as good scavengers of free radicals and reduce the intensity of LP, which points to their protective (antioxidant) activity. The strongest inhibitory effect was achieved by using methanol extract of M. peregrinum collected from Senta locality. The same result was obtained in investigation of extracts impact on LP.

Sanja Vlaisavljevic

Papers

In vitro effect of marrubium peregrinum l. (lamiaceae) leaves extracts