title: Multiple pathways are responsible for anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular activities of Hordeum vulgare L.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hordeum vulgare L. (HV or barley) is used by traditional healers to treat various inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases, without the knowledge of pharmacologic rationale behind its actions. This study was designed to explore the potential scientific mechanism(s) that could explain the use of Hordeum vulgare in traditional medicine as a treatment for various inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  A crude extract and its three fractions were prepared from HV and screened for the inhibition of platelet aggregation and various metabolites of cyclooxygenase (COX), lipoxygenase (LOX) pathways of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism as well as for its effects on certain antioxidant enzymes. Platelet aggregation was monitored using turbidometric principle, AA metabolism through radioimmunoassay and antioxidant enzymes by commercial kits using spectrophotometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results show that HV exhibited activities against all human platelet agonists used except adenine diphosphate, and inhibited both COX and LOX pathways of AA metabolism. It also elevated the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). However, these activities were distributed in various fractions of HV. Aqueous fraction was most potent in elevating SOD activity; chloroform fraction had concentrated compounds responsible for COX inhibition while n-hexane seems to possess compounds responsible for LOX inhibition as well as the only fraction enhancing the activity of GPx.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest the likely mechanisms responsible for observed anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular effects of HV in traditional medicine.
authors.affiliation: PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, University Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE1410, Bander Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. saimaa.gul@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Saima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gul
authors.affiliation: PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, University Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE1410, Bander Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. sagheer.ahmed@ubd.edu.bn.|Department of Pharmacy, Kohat University of Science & Technology, Kohat, 26000, Pakistan. sagheer.ahmed@ubd.edu.bn.
authors.forename: Sagheer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, University Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE1410, Bander Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. nurolaini.kifli@ubd.edu.bn.
authors.forename: Nurolaini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kifli
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Khyber Medical University Institute of Medical Sciences, Kohat, 26000, Pakistan. qazitahiruddin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Qazi Tahir
authors.initials: QT
authors.lastname: Uddin
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Khyber Medical University Institute of Medical Sciences, Kohat, 26000, Pakistan. dr.nafisa.tahir@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nafisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Batool Tahir
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology & Informtics, Baluchistan University of Information Technology, Engineering & Management Sciences, Quetta-87300, Quetta, Pakistan. abrarbangash176@gmil.com.
authors.forename: Abrar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University Putra Malaysia, 43400, Selangor, Malaysia. hawazej@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hawa Z E
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Jaafar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Specialities, Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, Romania. moga.og@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moga
authors.affiliation: The Patent Office, Karachi, Pakistan. ahirzia@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zia-Ul-Haq
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001467:Hordeum / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts