ALBERT

Description: Purpose   The goals of this study were to monitor the effect of drinking of herbal tea from Sideritis clandestina subsp. clandestina for 6 weeks on behavioral and oxidant/antioxidant parameters of adult male mice and also to evaluate its phytochemical composition. Methods   The phytochemical profile of the Sideritis tea was determined by liquid chromatography-UV diode array coupled to ion-trap mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization interface. The effects of two doses of the herbal infusion (2 and 4% w/v, daily) intake on anxiety-like state in mice were studied by the assessment of their thigmotactic behavior. The oxidant/antioxidant status of brain (-Ce), liver and heart of adult male Balb-c mice following the consumption of Sideritis tea was also evaluated via the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels using fluorometric assays. Our study was further extended to determine the antioxidant effects of the herbal tea on specific brain regions (cerebral cortex, cerebellum and midbrain). Results   The identified compounds were classified into several natural product classes: quinic acid derivatives, iridoids, phenylethanol glycosides and flavonoids. Our results showed that only the 4% Sideritis tea exhibited anxiolytic-like properties as evidenced by statistically significant ( p  〈 0.05) decrease in the thigmotaxis time and increase in the number of entries to the central zone in comparison with the control group. Consumption of both tea doses (2 and 4% w/v) elevated GSH (12 and 28%, respectively, p  〈 0.05) and decreased MDA (16 and 29%, p  〈 0.05) levels in brain (-Ce), while liver and heart remained unaffected. In regard to the effect of herbal tea drinking (2 and 4% w/v) on specific brain regions, it caused a significant increase in GSH of cerebellum (13 and 36%, respectively, p  〈 0.05) and midbrain (17 and 36%, p  〈 0.05). Similarly, MDA levels were decreased in cerebellum (45 and 79%, respectively, p  〈 0.05) and midbrain (50 and 63%, respectively, p  〈 0.05), whereas cerebral cortex remained unaffected. Conclusions   Mountain tea drinking prevents anxiety-related behaviors and confers antioxidant protection to rodent’s tissues in a region-specific, dose-dependent manner, and its phytochemical constituents are shown for the first time. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Contribution Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00394-011-0292-2 Authors Catherine G. Vasilopoulou, Laboratory of Human and Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece Vassiliki G. Kontogianni, Department of Chemistry, Section of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece Zacharoula I. Linardaki, Laboratory of Human and Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece Gregoris Iatrou, Department of Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece Fotini N. Lamari, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece Alexandra A. Nerantzaki, Department of Chemistry, Section of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece Ioannis P. Gerothanassis, Department of Chemistry, Section of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece Andreas G. Tzakos, Human Cancer Biobank Center, Department of Chemistry, Section of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece Marigoula Margarity, Laboratory of Human and Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece Journal European Journal of Nutrition Online ISSN 1436-6215 Print ISSN 1436-6207