Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a major cause of cervical cancer, particularly types 16 and 18, which are responsible for 70% of cases. The current study’s main aim is to evaluate the impact of using herbal medicine extract for the management of HPV-related cervical and gynaecological pathogenesis.
A systematic literature was accomplished and 2007 patients with HPV-related diseases were recruited to the current studies; 1 089 of them were treated with herbal extracted products, and 918 were control groups. The inclusion criteria of the current study recruited only randomised clinical trials with a comparison-based design.
Using herbal extracts for the treatment of HPV-related pathogenesis showed a significant improvement in short- and long-term using several plant-based preparations. Improved parameters were the rate of HPV clearance (P < 0.001), rate of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (P < 0.001), and adverse events (P > 0.05). In contrast to the significant difference between the intervention group and control regarding efficacy-related parameters, there were no significant differences regarding adverse events occurrence rate. The heterogeneity of different model levels was assessed by I2 and ranged from 0% to 86.6%.
Using herbal medicine for the management of HPV-related cervical pathogenesis showed a beneficial impact regarding the clearance rate of high-risk HPV and a higher rate of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia regression. In addition, herbal medicines showed high safety rates compared to control.
This study highlights the diverse roles of polysaccharides in health, focusing on their potential applications in inflammatory bowel disease. Polysaccharides are complex biopolymers consisting of bonded monosaccharides that possess branching or linear forms.
As potential natural antioxidants and diabetes ameliorators, the study aimed on exploring the therapeutic applications of polysaccharides, particularly focusing its role in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
Electronic bibliographic databases like PUBMED and Google Scholar were used to find relevant peer-reviewed studies in English from 2008 to 2024. Finally, 51 studies were included in the analysis.
In inflammatory bowel disease, which is marked by mucosal inflammation and gut microbial dysbiosis, the interaction of genetics, environment, and gut microbiota highlights the significance of comprehending and treating dysbiosis for mucosal immunological health. Through their modulation of intestinal flora, the immune system, and inflammatory cytokines, polysaccharides significantly impact ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The intricate involvement of Toll-like receptors and downstream signalling pathways, including MAPK, GPCR, JAK-STAT and NF-κB, presents therapeutic opportunities for mitigating IBD complexities and restoring immune homoeostasis.
Polysaccharides demonstrate multifaceted benefits including anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and immunomodulatory effects. By regulating cytokine signalling and supporting gut health, polysaccharides present promising avenues for developing therapeutics targeting inflammatory conditions, particularly inflammatory bowel diseases.
The COVID-19 pandemic observed during 2019–2021 challenged healthcare systems, making the infection a global public health emergency. Diabetes emerged rapidly as a major comorbidity for COVID-19 severity, increasing the risk of negative outcomes in diabetics if infected with COVID-19. The pandemic has prompted extensive research into potential therapies, including the investigation of natural products as repurposing drugs. They have unrivalled benefits, including a wealth of experience, diverse biological activity, and unique diversity.
This updated review aims to emphasise on some of the plants and their metabolites that are known to offer therapeutic benefits against diabetes mellitus towards increased inflammation, blood coagulation and vascular complications and can be used as potential adjuvant therapy in diabetics with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.
The reported literature was sourced from PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, Clinical Trials.gov, and Wiley online library with a focus on peer-reviewed English-language publications that exclusively addressed type 2 diabetes and COVID-19 interaction, clinical implications, and the anti-diabetic effects of natural products and traditional medicine.
The anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anticoagulant and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) modulating potential of several of these plants laid down a strong rationale for their use in developing therapies against SARS-CoV-2 infection, and may represent a beneficial contributory step in the management of COVID-19 in diabetics.
The prevalence of oral diseases has been rising, presenting a significant challenge exacerbated by the increasing resistance of bacteria due to the inappropriate use of antibiotics. Given the typical financial challenges encountered in developing nations, there is an urgent requirement for alternative approaches and materials to address and manage these diseases. This study aims to investigate the chemical composition and antimicrobial properties of Psidium guajava leaf essential oil (PGL-EO) against specific oral bacterial species.
The extraction of PGL-EO was conducted using a Clevenger apparatus, and the chemical composition of PGL-EO was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Various microbial strains from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and clinically obtained oral strains were selected, and the antibacterial activity was assessed using the microdilution broth technique.
The GC-MS analysis indicated the existence of 28 chemicals in PGL-EO, representing 97.76% of the total oil composition. The primary constituents found in this material consisted of l-limonene (31.70%), caryophyllene (27.31%), and caryophyllene oxide (6.90%). In addition, the major phytochemical class was sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (42.35%), followed by monoterpene hydrocarbons (32.30%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenoids (21.51%). PGL-EO exhibited remarkable antimicrobial efficacy against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus sanguinis, Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Candida albicans..
The findings of this study strongly suggest that PGL-EO holds potential as an effective anti-plaque and anticary agent. Furthermore, the results obtained in this study consider PGL-EO a promising anticandidal agent in that it can contribute to treating and preventing oral diseases.
Health issues affecting males remain a public health challenge due to the limited treatments and male health-seeking behaviour. In South Africa, local communities have relied on plant-based therapies to address health issues including those affecting males. This review explored the ethnobotanical and indigenous knowledge of plants used for managing male urogenital and sexual-reproductive conditions in South Africa, to establish the existing status and identify gaps for further research.
Following a systematic search, 51 eligible studies were extracted from electronic databases.
A total of 337 plants belonging to 83 families were collated across seven provinces in South Africa. Fabaceae (37) and Asteraceae (37) were the most represented plant families. Hypoxis hemerocallidea Fisch., C.A.Mey. & Avé-Lall. (18 citations), and Entada elephantina (Burch.) S.A.O’Donnell & G.P.Lewis (synonym: Elephantorrhiza elephantina (Burch.) Skeels) (12 citations) were the commonly used plants. Roots (33.4%) and leaves (17%) were the most commonly used plant parts. Decoction (44%) and oral-based (53%) were the dominant preparation and administration method, respectively. The two major health conditions had 18 sub-categories as derived from the eligible studies. Particularly, aphrodisiac and erectile dysfunction were the most encountered conditions and were managed with 133 plants. Provinces such as the Northern Cape and North West had limited studies on plants used for male healthcare needs.
We highlighted the importance of plants in meeting the primary healthcare needs of males. This suggests the need to promote additional research into the cultural, therapeutic, and dynamic trends in the use of plants for meeting the healthcare needs of males, especially in rural areas.