title: New insights into the effects of formulation type and compositional mixtures on the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of dietary supplements based-on hepatoprotective plants.
abstract: Artichoke (A), borututu (B) and milk thistle (M) are included in several supplements to provide beneficial effects. Different formulations (infusions, pills and syrups), with different proportions of A, B and M (1 : 1 : 1, 2 : 1 : 1, 1 : 2: 1, 1 : 1 : 2) within each formulation, were assayed to optimize the desired benefits. The antioxidant activity, anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity, hepatotoxicity and bioactive compound contents were evaluated. Syrups tended to be the formulation with highest antioxidant activity and total phenolic and flavonoid content; otherwise, pills were the worst formulation. In what concerns A : B : M ratios, the results did not reveal so pronounced differences. None of the assayed mixtures resulted to be toxic (up to the maximum assayed dose) for liver primary cells (PLP2), but some samples, especially infusions, showed toxicity for the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2). With no exception, the mixtures for all formulations showed synergistic effects on antioxidant activity, when compared to the activity of single plants.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), ESA, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, apartado 1172, 5301-855 Bragança, Portugal. iferreira@ipb.pt.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: João C M
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Barreira
authors.forename: Ricardo C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Calhelha
authors.forename: Maria João R P
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Queiroz
authors.forename: Lillian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.forename: Isabel C F R
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D031212:Bixaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D031943:Cynara scolymus / Q000737:chemistry*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D004304:Dosage Forms; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020944:Silybum marianum / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004304:Dosage Forms; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents