Biochemical activity of extracts from specia Taraxacum officinale G.H. Weber ex Wiggers: Summary of doctoral thesis in medical sciences: 315.01 – Medical biochemistry

Abstract

Actuality and importance of the researched problem. Oxidative stress is considered one of the key mechanisms of many pathological processes, such as neoplasms, diabetes, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular diseases, etc. Pro-oxidants are frequently associated with damage to proteins, lipids and nucleic acids, and the prevention or treatment of these processes depends on the mobilization of the body's own antioxidant systems or the external use of substances capable of improving the situation in oxidative stress [1]. The use of synthetic antioxidant agents is often faced with the development of adverse reactions. The latter can be considered a norm in the chemotherapy of neoplasms, widely causing genetic mutations, myelosuppression, immunosuppression, cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, renal toxicity, etc. Thus the development of new drugs, characterized by targeted functions and minor adverse problems remains a challenge for contemporaneity. Natural compounds can exert prophylactic or therapeutic functions, the effectiveness of which has been proven throughout the evolution of mankind. In the specialized literature, multiple substances are described, generously provided by nature, such as flavonoids, carotenoids, vitamins, phenolic acids (caffeic, ferulic, gallic), which alone or in combination show antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antitumor properties, etc. Taraxacum officinale G.H. Weber ex Wiggers (TO) is a plant, whose chemical content and therapeutic applications prompt modern medicine for in-depth investigations in oncology, gastroenterology and hepatology, nephrology, geriatrics, etc. Being considered a simple weed, thanks to the presence in its composition of flavonoids, polyphenols, vitamins and minerals, it has proven its effectiveness not only in traditional medicine, but also as a generous source of substances with antitoxic, antioxidant, antitumor functions [2–5]. All the component parts of the plant have proven to be beneficial for health: the root, the leaves, the stem, the flower and the seeds, whose chemical content is extremely variable, depending on the climatic conditions, the harvest season, the quality of the soil, etc. This plant represents a promising source of drugs thanks to its involvement in multiple signaling mechanisms through its action on interleukins, NF-κB, Akt, MEK, ERK, sVCAM-1, MAPK, MMP, TNF, etc. [1-7]. Due to the multitude of components, the content of which is influenced by multiple factors, the results of the TO action presented in the specialized literature often refer to a single component part of the plant, to a single type of extractant and mechanism of action. At the moment, there is a lack of a comprehensive study, which would highlight and compare simultaneously several mechanisms of action of TO extracts, made from various component parts of the plant with various solvents. The aim of the research was to study the chemical composition and in vitro action of TO extracts in order to elucidate the biochemical mechanisms of action and the therapeutic potential. The objectives: 1. Determination of the chemical composition of Taraxacum officinale extracts by quantifying the total content of flavonoids, phenols, phytosterols and hydroxychoric acids; 2. Evaluation of the action of Taraxacum officinale extracts on antioxidant enzymes and thiol-disulfide homeostasis; 3. Elucidation of the action of Taraxacum officinale on markers of oxidative stress, free radical potential, total antioxidant capacity, mass and average activity of antioxidants; 4. Study of the action of Taraxacum officinale extracts on cell viability in glial tumor cultures; 5. Establishing correlations between the chemical content and the mechanism of action of Taraxacum officinale extracts. [...]