Natural Micronised Clinoptilolite and Clinoptilolite Mixtures with Urtica dioica L. Extract as Possible Antioxidants

Višnja Šverko¹*, Sandra Sobočanec¹, Tihomir Balog¹, Miroslav Colić² and Tatjana Marotti<sup>1

1</sup>Rudjer Bošković Institute, Division of Molecular Medicine, Bijenička 54, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
²Molecular Technologies Inc., 6512 Segovia, Goleta, CA 93117, USA

Article history:
Received January 21, 2004
Accepted July 6, 2004

Key words:
clinoptilolite, Urtica dioica L., antioxidant capacity

Summary:
In this study the in vivo effect of natural micronised clinoptilolite and clinoptilolite forte (clinoptilolite + 40 % extract of pulverised dried leaves of Urtica dioica L.) on the lipid peroxidation and antioxidative capacity in mice was examined. This was done by measuring the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and total superoxide dismutase content in the liver homogenate, and total antioxidant status in the plasma. The results obtained showed that the 12.5 % of tribomechanically micronised mineral zeolite forte supplemented to food during 3 weeks significantly reduced lipid peroxidation process in the liver. This was paralleled with a significant increase of total superoxide dismutase content, which was observed with both clinoptilolite and clinoptilolite forte. This study demonstrates that clinoptilolite forte might be a novel class of lipid peroxidation inhibitors and potent antioxidant.

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