Influence of natural polyphenolic fractions on cellular respiration

Abstract

We have studied the influence of two polyphenolic fractions – methanolic (PMF) and ethanolic (PEF) – extracted from the leaves of the medicinal plant Asclepias syriaca upon cellular respiration. Experiments were performed in vitro on the cells from liver, sartorius striated muscle and stomach smooth muscle of frog (Rana ridibunda, Pall.), determining the cellular oxygen consumption by the Warburg micromanometric method. Polyphenol effects were different, depending on the nature of used fraction and cellular type. Therefore, after 90 minutes of experiencing on liver, the both polyphenolic fractions stimulated cellular respiration, compared to the untreated control. The striated muscle PMF has inhibited and PEF has stimulated respiratory processes. In stomach muscle, reverse effects were noticed: PMF has stimulated and PEF has slightly inhibited cellular respiration. The results pointed out the specific action of these polyphenolic agents on cellular respiration and energetic metabolism processes, also allowing the estimate of their useful pharmacological properties.