Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy最新文献

Ayurveda, the indigenous holistic healing system of India, is a holistic approach to health and lifestyle management that incorporates diet, exercise, life activity routines, psychotherapeutic practices, massage and botanical medicine. Ayurveda focuses on prevention, applying techniques of self-care to restore health balance quickly and effectively. Ayurveda is one of the four large, long-practiced ethnic herbal medicine systems with large extant literatures (along with Western, Chinese and Unani). It affords valuable clinical insights in its own right. Acquiring a basis in Ayurveda will enhance access to south Asian herbs and indigenous medicinal preparations.

In spite of the considerable development in contraceptive technology, search for male antifertility agents in plants continues to be a potential area of investigation. Many plants have been known to possess antifertility activity, but limited attempts have been made to scientifically evaluate these claims. Hence the purpose of this study was to evaluate the antifertility and reproductive toxicity potential of Dendrophthoe falcata (Loranthaceae) in male Wistar rats. An oral 70% methanolic extract of stem of D. falcata at a dose level of 100 mg/kg wt/day fed to male albino rats for 60 days did not decrease body weight, while the testes and epididymides were significantly reduced, and the seminal vesicles and ventral prostate also showed a significant reduction (P < 0.01). Treated animals showed a notable depression of spermatogenesis. As a result of 100 mg/kg extract feeding, the preleptotene spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes, step-19 spermatids and the mature Leydig cells decreased by 74.36%, 80.03%, 79.87%, 32.37%, respectively. At this dose Leydig cell nuclear area and cytoplasmic area, as well as the cross sectional surface area of Sertoli cells, were significantly reduced (P < 0.001) when compared to controls. The reduced sperm count and motility resulted in 100% negative fertility at 100 mg/kg dose level. A significant fall in the total protein and sialic acid content in the testes, epididymides, seminal vesicle and ventral prostate, as well as in the glycogen content of testes was also observed. The level of serum protein, cholesterol, billirubin, SGOT, SGPT, blood urea, and hematological indices were unaltered. In conclusion, Dendrophthoe falcata brought about the inhibition of spermatogenesis.

The inhibition or induction of hepatic cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzyme associated with herbal medicines such as I'm-Yunity (Coriolus versicolor) can result in clinically significant herb-drug interactions. The active ingredient of I'm-Yunity is believed to be polysaccharopeptide polymer (PSP). Drug interactions between I'm-Yunity and other medications or supplements are yet to be investigated. The objective of this single-treatment, one-period, three-phase, open-labeled study was to evaluate the ability of I'm-Yunity to inhibit or induce CYP3A4 in 12 healthy adult volunteers (8 women and 4 men) aged between 23 and 54 years through the use of a CYP3A4-specific assay, the erythromycin breath test (EBT). EBT measurements are reported as percentage of 14C-Erythromycin metabolized/hr. Participants were given a 14-day supply of I'm-Yunity and instructed to take 1200 mg, three times daily with meals. Comparisons of all subjects' mean CYP3A4 activities were performed with the EBT before and after taking I'm- Yunity. Results revealed a mean EBT change (SD) from baseline of 0.08% (0.56%) 14C-Erythromycin metabolized/hr, which was not significant (p = 0.63). Therefore, 14 days of exposure to I'm-Yunity was not associated with clinically significant CYP3A4 inhibition or induction, suggesting that short-term administration of I'm-Yunity with medications primarily metabolized by CYP3A4 is safe and not expected to be associated with significant herb-drug interactions. However, it is still unknown whether interactions exist between I'm-Yunity and other medications metabolized by other CYP450 isozymes or enzyme/transporter systems.

The male albino rat testis and liver showed tissue modification upon exposure to phenobarbitol (PB), 24 mg/100 g of body weight, for about 3 weeks and upon staining of their sections with hematoxylin and eosin. In this procedure, the control liver showed normal hepatocytes with centrally placed nuclei, and the PB-treated hepatocyte showed degeneration of cytoplasm and nucleus, necrosis and fragmentation of nucleus, and pushing of nucleus to periphery. The control rat testis showed epithelial layer having broad seminiferous tubules, spermatids, mature spermatozoa, and lumen of seminiferous tubules, and the PB-treated rat testis showed degenerative and necrotic changes in seminiferous tubules and clumping of seminiferous tubules. These changes almost returned to normal conditions in rat liver and testis upon the oral administration of an antioxidant that is present in Azadirachta seed-kernel extract (ASKE, 100 mg/kg body weight). In the case of enzymes, glutathione transferase and glutathione peroxidase were induced upon PB or ASKE treatment and the combination of both the treatments. The lipid peroxides were reduced in all the three cases in both liver and testis. The histological studies and enzymatic analysis revealed that the potential role of ASKE in the protection of the testis and liver tissues from PB-induced damage.

The study objective was to compare the prevalence of herbal product use between El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, the largest U.S./México border population. 500 households on each side of the border were randomly selected following a strict procedure for household and participant selection. 1001 adult residents of selected households participated. Trained bi-lingual interviewers conducted semistructured interviews using a bi-lingual questionnaire. A chi-square test was used to compare populations when considering discrete variables and a t test was used for continuous variables. There was no significant difference in the overall prevalence of herbal product (HP) use between the El Paso (68%) and Ciudad Juárez samples (65%). El Paso residents used a greater number of HPs compared to Ciudad Juárez residents (P = 0.001). The most common HPs used in El Paso were chamomile, aloe vera, garlic, peppermint and lime. In Ciudad Juárez, they were chamomile, eucalyptus, garlic, linden tree flower and peppermint. In addition, intra-city variation in the use of HPs was observed. On both sides of the border, relatives were the most common source of advice regarding HP use, and most HPs were reportedly used in raw form. While participants in both groups believed that the HPs were effective and safe, a large number of HPs that could potentially be responsible for drug interactions, and side effects were identified. Very low disclosure rates to physicians were reported (33% in El Paso and 14% in Ciudad Juárez). A high prevalence of HP use was documented on both sides of the U.S./México border. Some significant variations in HP use were also identified. The possibilities of HP-related problems combined with low disclosure rates are of significant concern.

Fatty acid composition of seeds from the fruits of Butea monosperma, Jatropha glandulifera and Portulaca oleracea of three different families, namely Papilionaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Portulaceae were determined through Gas Liquid Chromatography to find novel natural sources of essential fatty acids for human health and of economic interest. Comparative studies were also performed to ascertain the utilization of each species for domestic as well as industrial purpose and the quality parameters developed can be utilized as marker characters for the aforesaid seeds used by the pharmaceutical industries.

Background: Although many adults in the United States use herbs, little is known about the personal use of herbs by health care professionals (HCPs) and factors associated with use.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of HCPs prior to their enrollment in an online course about herbs and dietary supplements between September 2004 and May 2005. We used multivariable logistic regression to analyze demographic and practice factors associated with herb use.

Results: Of the 1249 health care professionals surveyed, 51% reported using an herb in the last week. The rates of use were highest among physician assistants or nurse practitioners (PA or NP) (63%), clinical nurses (59%), and HCP students (52%), while physicians (48%), dietitians (40%), and pharmacists (37%) had lower rates. Among health care professionals who reported herb use, the most common herbs taken were green tea (24%), flax seed (18%), chamomile (11%), and aloe vera (8%). Factors associated with herb use included older age, being a nurse, a HCP student, an NP or PA compared with being a physician, being non-Caucasian, living outside of North Carolina and having increased knowledge of herbs and dietary supplements.