Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine最新文献

Introduction: Despite the global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, limited access, vaccine hesitancy, and the emergence of viral variants continue to underscore the need for complementary antiviral strategies. Propolis, a resinous bee product widely used in traditional medicine, has attracted scientific interest due to its reported antiviral, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant properties.

Content: This narrative review examines the therapeutic potential of propolis as a candidate adjunctive treatment for COVID-19, focusing on mechanistic, in vitro, and clinical evidence. A comprehensive review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Europe PMC (January 2020 to May 2025), covering molecular docking reports, in vitro assays, and human clinical studies evaluating propolis or its key constituents against SARS-CoV-2. In silico reports describe interactions of more than forty propolis constituents with key host and viral targets, providing mechanistic context. In vitro evidence demonstrates inhibition at entry and replication targets alongside attenuation of inflammatory signaling. Limited clinical data, spanning seven studies and two case reports, suggest milder symptoms and shorter hospital stays, with no serious adverse events observed.

Summary and outlook: Preclinical and early clinical evidence suggest propolis may be a useful adjunct in COVID-19 therapy. Large, placebo-controlled trials with well characterized and standardized extracts are needed to confirm efficacy and safety.

Objectives: Panax ginseng is rich in ginsenosides, which possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ethanolic extract P. ginseng roots (GSNG) on memory deficits, inflammation, and oxidative damage in the hippocampal tissue of male rats subjected to hypothyroidism.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: Control, PTU, PTU-GSNG 50 (50 mg/kg), and GSNG100 (100 mg/kg). Over 42 days, PTU was provided in drinking water at a concentration of 0.05 %. GSNG was administered via gavage during the PTU treatment and throughout the behavioral testing phase. In fifth week the behavioral tests including water maze and shuttle box were conducted. After 42 days, hippocampal tissues were harvested post-euthanasia for analysis of oxidative stress markers and interleukin-6.

Results: Administration of GSNG significantly ameliorated memory impairment and reduced oxidative damage and inflammation in the hippocampus of hypothyroid rats. Behavioral assessments using the water maze and shuttle box indicated marked improvements in memory impairment induced by hypothyroidism (p<0.01 and p<0.001). Biochemical analyses revealed significant modulation of oxidative stress markers, including MDA, total thiol groups, SOD activity, catalase levels, and interleukin-6, with both doses of Ginseng demonstrating beneficial effects. Notably, the higher dose (100 mg/kg) exhibited superior efficacy compared to the lower dose (50 mg/kg) across all measured parameters.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that P. ginseng effectively mitigates hypothyroidism-induced memory impairment by attenuating oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent for cognitive deficits associated with thyroid dysfunction.

Introduction: The objective was to synthesise existing qualitative research on patients' experiences and perspectives regarding medicinal cannabis and cannabis-based prescription medications.

Content: A systematic search of EMBASE, Scopus, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library identified peer-reviewed articles. Characteristics and findings were organised using a predesigned data charting form. Thematic analysis identified key themes. Reporting followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines.

Summary: From 849 records, 40 met inclusion criteria. Themes highlighted therapeutic potential and tolerability across various conditions. Patients described diverse administration methods and dosing strategies tailored to individual needs. Barriers included stigma, high costs, and bureaucratic delays in access and reimbursement. Facilitators involved support from healthcare providers, family, peers, and communities. Patients expressed a need for more education, information, and research. Many viewed prescription cannabis as superior to conventional medicines, though concerns about safety persisted.

Outlook: A gap exists between generally positive patient-reported experiences and the cautious stance of the medical community, which calls for more definitive research. Patients often face stigma and bureaucratic hurdles, though support from physicians and social networks can ease access. Views on safety and effectiveness vary, as some see medicinal cannabis as natural and safe, while others remain sceptical.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the expression of arachidonic acid (ARA)-metabolizing cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes and their metabolites, as well as the effects of resveratrol, a compound known for its cardiovascular benefits, on these enzymes in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Methods: HUVECs were cultured and treated with 10 µM resveratrol for 24 h. The mRNA expression of key ARA-metabolizing CYP450 enzymes was analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. ARA metabolites produced by CYP450s were identified and quantified in cell culture media and lysates using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. In addition, in silico docking was done to evaluate the effect of resveratrol on the identified CYP450s in HUVECS.

Results: CYP2J2, CYP2U1, and epoxide hydrolase were expressed in HUVECs; however, their mRNA expression levels were not significantly altered following resveratrol treatment. The metabolite 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) and its synthesizing CYP450 genes were not detected or below the lower limit of detection in HUVECs. Additionally, several epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) and dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids (DHETEs) were present in significantly higher amounts in the cell culture media compared to the cell lysates. Resveratrol treatment significantly reduced (p<0.05, t-test) the levels of EETs and DHETEs. In addition, in silico analysis showed resveratrol has a moderate affinity to interact with CYP2J2, the major EETs producer.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that resveratrol significantly reduces the levels of EETs and DHETEs possibly through direct interaction with CYP2J2. Furthermore, HUVECs may not be a suitable in vitro model for studying ARA metabolism to 20-HETE.

Objectives: Favism is a severe hemolytic anemia, while avocado oil has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The objective is to determine if avocado oil can improve blood parameters, liver function, gastric antioxidants, inflammatory cytokines, and the apoptotic genes p53 and bcl-2 in favism-induced rats.

Methods: Thirty-six male albino rats were divided into two main (normal and favism-induced) groups. Normal group (18 rats/group) subdivided into three subgroups (6 rats/group); control, avocado oil (1.5 mL/rat)-treated, and avocado oil (3 mL/rat)-treated subgroups: normal rats orally administrated once with 1 mL distilled water/rat, 1.5 mL of avocado oil/rat, and 3 mL of avocado oil/rat, respectively. Favism-induced group (18 rats/group) subdivided into three subgroups (6 rats/group); Favism, avocado oil (1.5 mL/rat) + favism, and avocado oil (3 mL/rat) + favism; favism-induced rats orally administrated once with 1 mL distilled water/rat, 1.5 mL of avocado oil/rat, and 3 mL of avocado oil/rat, respectively prior to favism induction.

Results: Favism reduced blood parameters, liver function, gastric NADPH oxidase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, interleukin-10, and ATPase levels but increased gastric malondialdehyde, conjugated dienes, oxidative index, tumor interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, nuclear factor kappa B values, and necrosis factor-α compared to the control group in the male rats that were induced with favism. After four weeks of oral administration of avocado oil, all of these measures approached control levels in favism-induced rats, suggesting that a higher dose was more beneficial than a smaller one.

Conclusions: Avocado oil improved blood parameters, liver function, gastric antioxidants, inflammatory cytokines, and the apoptotic genes p53 and bcl-2 in favism-induced rats. These findings indicate that avocado oil may help reduce gastric damage associated with favism by lowering oxidative stress and inflammation, suggesting a need for further clinical investigation.

Objectives: Disordered eating during pregnancy can impact maternal and fetal health. Disordered eating has been linked to higher cardiovascular risks including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). Interoceptive awareness, the ability to perceive and respond to bodily sensations, is reduced among people with disordered eating and may be associated with blood pressure (BP). This study tested these associations in pregnant women at risk for HDP.

Methods: Ninety-five pregnant women at risk for HDP participated in the study. At ∼18 weeks' gestation we measured 24-hour BP, interoceptive awareness, and disordered eating. Linear regression analyses were used to test associations, adjusting for covariates (BMI, education, income, race).

Results: Greater interoceptive awareness-specifically lower anxiety about bodily sensations ("Not Worrying")-was significantly associated with lower daytime diastolic BP (B=-0.21, p=0.05), lower uncontrolled eating (B=-0.52, p<0.001), and lower emotional eating (B=-0.51, p<0.001). Higher scores on the "Not Worrying" subscale were associated with less Uncontrolled Eating (B=-0.52, p<0.001) and less Emotional Eating (B=-0.51, p<0.001). Higher scores on the "Attention Regulation" subscale were associated with less Uncontrolled Eating (B=-0.24, p=0.02) and less emotional eating (B=-0.25, p=0.02). Cognitive Restraint was associated with higher nighttime diastolic BP (B=0.27, p=0.04) but not interoceptive awareness.

Conclusion: Increased interoceptive awareness was associated with both healthier eating behaviors and lower BP in pregnant women at risk for HDP. Interventions that enhance interoceptive awareness may offer a promising strategy for reducing risk for cardiovascular complications in pregnancy.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of chronic oral administration of commercial guava (Psidium guajava L.) leaf extract on biochemical markers and liver histology in a model of metabolic syndrome in rats.

Methods: 35 Wistar rats were assigned to five independent groups (n=7 per group): the control group (CG), which received a diet with standard rodent food (Nutri-Cubos^®) and water ad libitum; the metabolic syndrome group (MS), MS + P. guajava (Pg) low-dose (PgL; 100 mg/kg), MS + Pg medium-dose (PgM; 200 mg/kg), and MS + Pg high-dose (PgH; 300 mg/kg) groups. MS was induced with a rich diet of fat and carbohydrates, in addition to the intake of a 30 % sucrose solution ad libitum for 14 weeks. From week 15 onward, guava leaf extract or vehicle was administered orally every 24 h for 30 consecutive days without changing the experimental diet. At the end of the treatment, biochemical tests, liver histopathological analysis and adipose tissue analysis were performed.

Results: The MS group presented levels above the reference ranges for biochemical tests, weight gain, waist circumference gain, arterial hypertension, atypical liver cells and aberrant appearance in adipose rat tissue. The PgM and PgH groups presented opposite effects of MS on biochemical parameters, such as increased blood pressure and liver damage.

Conclusions: Chronic treatment with Pg leaf extract attenuated MS in Wistar rats, restoring the levels of biochemical parameters and exerting hepatoprotective effects. These findings suggest that guajava extract could be used in the development of therapeutic agents to improve the biochemical and histological alterations induced by MS.

Objectives: Vanari Gutika (VG), an Indian traditional formulation containing Mucuna pruriens as a principal component, is traditionally used for the management of male reproductive disorders. However, there is a significant lack of evidence-based research validating its effects on male fertility and testosterone biosynthesis. This study aimed to investigate the impact of VG on testicular steroidogenesis, lipid peroxidation, and sperm quality in male mice.

Methods: Adult male mice were orally administered VG at 75, 150, or 300 mg/kg body weight/day for 35 days. Testicular function was assessed through sperm morphology and viability, lipid peroxidation and expression of key steroidogenic and oxidative stress-related proteins.

Results: VG at 150 and 300 mg/kg significantly increased testis weight and serum testosterone, with a concurrent reduction in estradiol. VG (150 mg/kg) improved normal sperm morphology and reduced abnormalities. Markers of oxidative stress status improved, evidenced by reduced LPO and increased Nrf-2 expression. VG treatment enhanced the expression of steroidogenic markers (SF-1, CYP11A1, 3β-HSD, StAR, and 17β-HSD) at higher doses.

Conclusions: Higher doses of VG (150 and 300 mg/kg BW) promote testicular androgenesis, reduces oxidative stress, and improves sperm quality. Consequently, our results provide robust and compelling evidence supporting its potential as a dietary supplement for boosting the testosterone level and sperm quality.

Objectives: Medicinal cannabis (MC) has recently been legalized in a growing number of countries. While MC is considered a potentially safe alternative or add-on to conventional treatments for pain, spasms, neuropathy, and chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting, evidence of its effectiveness and safety remains limited. This study aimed to assess patients' perceived benefits and side effects of MC and explore patterns in side effect experiences.

Methods: We conducted a Danish nationwide online survey in 2020 among two groups of MC users: one with predefined diagnostic indications (neuropathic pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting, or painful spasms from multiple sclerosis/paraplegia) (n=258) and one with other indications (n=786). Perceived benefit and side effects were measured using self-reported responses. We compared perceived benefit to the number of side effects and used a heat plot correlation matrix and exploratory factor analysis to identify patterns. Predicted factor scores were used to compare perceived benefit relative to side effect profiles, stratified by indication group.

Results: Most patients (67 %) reported a moderate to large effect of MC. Over half experienced side effects, with more than 10 % reporting three or more. Side effects were equally common among patients reporting a moderate to large vs. no to minor effect (p=0.27 and 0.68 for predefined and other indications). Side effects clustered into four groups: cognitive dysfunction, dizziness, xerostomia, and feeling "high." These were not related to perceived benefit.

Conclusions: Most patients reported a moderate to large effect from MC. Over one in ten experienced three or more side effects, which were unrelated to perceived treatment effect.