Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy最新文献

Momordica charantia Linn. fruit powder, in the form of an ointment (10% w/w dried powder in simple ointment base), was evaluated for wound-healing potential in an excision, incision and dead space wound model in rats. The rats were divided into three groups of control, treatment and reference in all three wound models, each group consisting of six rats. Wound-contraction ability in excision wound mode was measured at different time intervals on days 4, 8, 10, 12 and 14 , and the study was continued until the wound had completely healed. Tensile strength was measured in 10-day-old incision and granuloma wound. Histological studies were performed on 10-day-old sections of regenerated tissue. Powder ointment showed a statistically significant response (P < 0.01), in terms of wound-contracting ability, wound closure time, period of epithelization, tensile strength of the wound and regeneration of tissues at wound site when compared with the control group, and these results were comparable to those of a reference drug povidone iodine ointment.

Objective: To sample dietary supplements (DS) labeled as ephedra-free to evaluate whether products met their labeling claim.

Methods: One control DS product containing ephedra alkaloids and 29 DS labeled as ephedra-free were purchased from various retail locations in San Francisco. All products were sent to the California Department of Health Services (CDHS), Food and Drug Laboratory for content and quantity analysis. All laboratory personnel were blinded to product names and labeled contents. All DS products were screened for the presence of undeclared drugs, ephedra alkaloids, and heavy metals including lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury. All products were also evaluated for compliance with the labeling requirements of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994.

Results: None of the DS labeled as ephedra-free tested positive for the presence of ephedra alkaloids; as expected, the control product did test positive. Heavy metals were detected in three ephedra-free labeled DS products. All 24 products that tested positive for caffeine listed caffeine or a botanical source of caffeine on the DS label. All but two products were in compliance with DS labeling as required by DSHEA.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that manufacturers met their labeling claims for ephedra-free products. Special attention should be given to the presence of heavy metals and other drugs like caffeine, synephrine, and botanical sources of caffeine as these ingredients have replaced ephedra.

Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disorder worldwide. To date, there have been no reports on the frequency of use of herb medicines in the managements of diabetes mellitus in Jordan. This cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing 310 diabetic patients visiting two medical centers in Jordan: Jordan University of Science & Technology Medical Center and Sarih Medical Center between December 2003 and August 2004. It is found that 31% of interviewed patients have used herbal products (96 patients). The results revealed that the most commonly used herbs by diabetic patients in Jordan were Trigonella foenumgraecum (22.9%), Lupinus albus (14.6%), Allium sativum (11.5%), Allium cepa (5.2%), Nigella sativa (7.3%), Zea mays L. (6.3%), Urtica dioica L. (8.3%), Eucalyptus globules LA (9.4%), Olea europea L. (3.1%), Cumminum cyminum (9.4%), Coriandrum sativum (10.4%), Salvia officinalis L. (3.1%), and Tilia cordata (1%). Furthermore, it is found that 47.9% of the patients used herbs according to advice from their friends on a daily basis. The side effects were reported by 36.5% of the patients and include headache, nausea, dizziness, itching, palpitation, and sweating. Among the patients, 72.9% used the herbs as adjunctive therapy along with their anti-diabetic drugs and 80.2% of the patients informed their physicians about their use. A 79.2% of the sample confirmed their intention to re-use these herbs as 86.5% of them were satisfied with their diabetes control. There was a significant relationship between the use of herbs, the patient's place of residence and his/her level of education. The main conclusion of this survey is that the use of medicinal herbs among diabetic patient in Jordan is common. Therefore, it is essential to increase the level of awareness among diabetic patients and health care providers regarding the efficacy and toxicity of these medicinal herbs.

Adhatoda vasica Nees (Acantheceae), commonly known as Vasaka, is a well-known plant in indigenous systems of medicine and is used for its beneficial effects, particularly in bronchitis. The present investigation was carried out to study the anti-ulcer activity of Adhatoda vasica leaves using two ulcer models (1) Ethanol-induced, and (2) Pylorus ligation plus aspirin-induced models. Adhatoda vasica leaf powder showeda considerable degree of anti-ulcer activity in experimental rats when compared with a control. The highest degree of activity (80%) was observed in the ethanol-induced ulceration model. Results of the study suggest that in addition to its classically established pharmacological activities, the plant also has immense potential as an anti-ulcer agent of great therapeutic relevance.

Background and objectives: Curcuma caesia (family Zingiberaceae) is widely used in India as both an anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatic in Ayurvedic medicine. However, there are no published pharmacological data on Curcuma caesia on its potential anti-asthmatic activity. Hence, the objective of the present investigation is to study the mechanisms by which the hydroalcoholic extract of Curcuma caesia relaxes the smooth muscle in the bronchioles and vasculature of the respiratory tract.

Methods: The hydroalcoholic extract of Curcuma caesia (CC extract) was tested for its per se relaxant effect in guinea pig trachea and also in the presence of various receptor antagonists and enzyme inhibitors namely propranalol, 2', 5'-dideoxyadenosine, methylene blue, glibenclamide, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) and alpha-chymotrypsin. Furthermore, the possible role of hydroalcoholic extract in calcium channel modulation was investigated in depolarized rabbit aorta.

Results: The CC extract concentration dependently relaxed the carbachol (1 microM)-induced pre-contractions; the IC50 value was found to be 239.36 microg/ml and the incubation of either receptor antagonists or enzyme inhibitors did not exhibit any effect on the relaxation. In the isotonic Ca2+-free high-K+ (60 mM) depolarized aorta, CC extract (30 microg/ml) inhibited concentration-response curves of cumulative Ca2+ (0.1-30 mM) and the PD'2 value was found to be 4.11 microg/ml.

Interpretation and conclusion: The extract showed a dose-dependent, non-specific relaxation of pre-contracted isolated guinea pig trachea. The non-specific relaxant effect of the extract may be due to its ability to modulate calcium activity.

Most of the studies indicate that there is as yet no complete cure for X-ALD. However, methods of the treatment seem to slow rather than treat the disease. One method is the use of Lorenzo's oil in conjunction with a low fat diet, which may help in cerebral X-ALD. X-ALD is in very close resemblance to another neurodegenerative disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). One of the believed pathomechanisms of ALS is oxidative stress; therefore, this article's emphasis on the role of reactive oxygen species in X-ALD. The aim of the present study was to review the literature concerning the advances in the treatment of X-adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD, OMIM # 300100) in the last two decades and to shed more light on the link between oxidative stress and X-ALD. This review article may point to a deficit in reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and/or ROS overproduction being involved in the aetiopathology of these neurodegenerative diseases. Consequently, one of the useful neuronal rescue strategies could be the treatment with antioxidant agents.

Pepticare, a herbomineral formulation, was administered orally to rats at the dose levels of 125, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg to investigate its effect on isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction and cisplatin-induced renal damage. The drug reduced the levels of serum creatine kinase (CK), glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and uric acid in isoproterenol-induced cardiac damage. In cisplatin-induced renal damage, Pepticare reduced the serum levels of creatinine, urea, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and uric acid. It was further found that administration of Pepticare increased the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), membrane bound enzymes like Ca2+ ATPase, Mg2+ ATPase and Na+ K+ ATPase and decreased lipid peroxidation (MDA) in heart and kidney, respectively. Thus it can be concluded that Pepticare possesses antioxidant activity and protects the heart and kidney from damage caused by isoproterenol and cisplatin, respectively.