Recent herbal abstracts from Medline

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Hi All,

 

See these recent herbal abstracts from Medline.

 

Phil

 

 

Ann Intern Med 2003 Mar 18;138(6):468-71 The relative safety of ephedra

compared with other herbal products. Bent S, Tiedt TN, Odden MC, Shlipak

MG. San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 111-A1, 4150 Clement

Street, San Francisco, CA 94121. BACKGROUND: Ephedra is widely used in

dietary supplements that are marketed to promote weight loss or increase

energy; however, the safety of this product has been questioned because of

numerous case reports of adverse events. OBJECTIVE: To compare the risk for

adverse events attributable to ephedra and other herbal products. DESIGN:

Comparative case series. SETTING: American Association of Poison Control

Centers Toxic Event Surveillance System Database Annual Report, 2001.

MEASUREMENTS: The relative risk and 95% confidence interval for

experiencing an adverse reaction after ephedra use compared with other herbs.

This risk was defined as the ratio of adverse reactions to ephedra versus other

products, divided by the ratio of their relative use in the United States.

RESULTS: Products containing ephedra accounted for 64% of all adverse

reactions to herbs in the United States, yet these products represented only

0.82% of herbal product sales. The relative risks for an adverse reaction in

persons using ephedra compared with other herbs were extremely high, ranging

from 100 (95% CI, 83 to 140) for kava to 720 (CI, 520 to 1100) for Ginkgo

biloba.

CONCLUSIONS: Ephedra use is associated with a greatly increased risk for

adverse reactions compared with other herbs, and its use should be restricted.

PMID: 12639079 [PubMed - in process]

 

Arch Intern Med 2003 Mar 24;163(6):699-704 Echinacea and truth in labeling.

Gilroy CM, Steiner JF, Byers T, Shapiro H, Georgian W.

HealthONE/Presbyterian St Luke's Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine,

1719 E 19th Ave, Suite 5CE, Denver, CO 80218. cgilroy

BACKGROUND: Echinacea sales represent 10% of the dietary supplement

market in the United States, but there is no guarantee as to the content,

quality, variability, or contamination in Echinacea preparations. OBJECTIVE: To

qualitatively and quantitatively assess the contents of Echinacea-only

preparations available in a retail setting. METHODS: One of each single-herb

Echinacea preparations that were available in August 2000 was obtained from

several stores in the Denver, Colo, area. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was

used to determine species and measure quantity. From this information,

accuracy of species labeling and comparison of constituent to labeled content

were assessed. The samples were stratified by whether they were labeled as

standardized, and the standardized and nonstandardized samples were

compared by ratio of constituent to labeled content. RESULTS: Of the

samples, 6 (10%) of 59 preparations contained no measurable Echinacea. The

assayed species content was consistent with labeled content in 31 (52%) of

the samples. Of the 21 standardized preparations, 9 (43%) met the quality

standard described on the label. Labeled milligrams were weakly associated

with measured constituent (r = 0.35; P =.02). CONCLUSIONS: Echinacea from

retail stores often does not contain the labeled species. A claim of

" standardization " does not mean the preparation is accurately labeled, nor does

it indicate less variability in concentration of constituents of the herb. PMID:

12639203 [PubMed - in process]

 

Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2003 Mar 24;13(6):1045-9 Anastatins A and B, new

skeletal flavonoids with hepatoprotective activities from the desert plant

Anastatica hierochuntica. Yoshikawa M, Xu F, Morikawa T, Ninomiya K,

Matsuda H. Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Misasagi, Yamashina-ku, 607-

8412, Kyoto, Japan New skeletal flavonoids, anastatins A and B, were isolated

from the methanolic extract of an Egyptian medicinal herb, the whole plants of

Anastatica hierochuntica. Their flavanone structures having a benzofuran moiety

were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence.

Anastatins A and B were found to show hepatoprotective effects on D-

galactosamine-induced cytotoxicity in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes and

their activities were stronger than those of related flavonoids and commercial

silybin. PMID: 12643908 [PubMed - in process]

 

Drug Metab Rev 2003 Feb;35(1):35-98 Interactions of herbs with cytochrome

P450. Zhou S, Gao Y, Jiang W, Huang M, Xu A, Paxton JW. Department of

Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Republic of

Singapore. phazsf A resurgence in the use of medical herbs in the

Western world, and the co-use of modern and traditional therapies is becoming

more common. Thus there is the potential for both pharmacokinetic and

pharmacodynamic herb-drug interactions. For example, systems such as the

cytochrome P450 (CYP) may be particularly vulnerable to modulation by the

multiple active constituents of herbs, as it is well known that the CYPs are

subject to induction and inhibition by exposure to a wide variety of

xenobiotics.

Using in vitro, in silico, and in vivo approaches, many herbs and natural

compounds isolated from herbs have been identified as substrates, inhibitors,

and/or inducers of various CYP enzymes. For example, St. John's wort is a

potent inducer of CYP3A4, which is mediated by activating the orphan

pregnane X receptor. It also contains ingredients that inhibit CYP1A2, CYP2C9,

CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4. Many other common medicinal herbs also

exhibited inducing or inhibiting effects on the CYP system, with the latter

being

competitive, noncompetitive, or mechanism-based. It appears that the

regulation of CYPs by herbal products complex, depending on the herb type,

their administration dose and route, the target organ and species. Due to the

difficulties in identifying the active constituents responsible for the

modulation of

CYP enzymes, prediction of herb-drug metabolic interactions is difficult.

However, herb-CYP interactions may have important clinical and toxicological

consequences. For example, induction of CYP3A4 by St. John's wort may

partly provide an explanation for the enhanced plasma clearance of a number of

drugs, such as cyclosporine and innadivir, which are known substrates of

CYP3A4, although other mechanisms including modulation of gastric

absorption and drug transporters cannot be ruled out. In contrast, many

organosulfur compounds, such as diallyl sulfide from garlic, are potent

inhibitors

of CYP2E1; this may provide an explanation for garlic's chemoproventive

effects, as many mutagens require activation by CYP2E1. Therefore, known or

potential herb-CYP interactions exist, and further studies on their clinical and

toxicological roles are warranted. Given that increasing numbers of people are

exposed to a number of herbal preparations that contain many constituents

with potential of CYP modulation, high-throughput screening assays should be

developed to explore herb-CYP interactions. PMID: 12635815 [PubMed - in

process]

 

Drugs Exp Clin Res 2002;28(5):193-6 Seijo-bofu-to, Jumi-haidoku-to and Toki-

shakuyaku-san suppress rashes and incidental symptoms in acne patients.

Higaki S, Toyomoto T, Morohashi M. Department of Dermatology, Faculty of

Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2630 Sugitani,

Toyama-shi, Toyama 930-0194, Japan. shuichi Seijyo-

bofu-to, Jumi-haidoku-to and Toki-shakuyaku-san effectively suppressed acne

rashes as well as incidental symptoms. The synergistic activities of the

ingredients in the Kampo formulations might produce these effects. In contrast,

distinct suppression of incidental symptoms was not found with antimicrobials.

The cause of adverse effects in antimicrobials has not yet been clarified and

different degrees of suppression of incidental symptoms among the Kampo

formulations exist. PMID: 12635494 [PubMed - in process] Notes by Phil] :

Seijo-bofu-to [Tsumura Co, Japan] = Dried water extract of the fbllowing blend

of

raw herbs; Baikal Skullcap Root, Bailoon-Flower Root, Gardenia Fruit, Cnidium

Rhizome, Glehnia Root, Fragrant Angelica Root, Forsythia Fruit, Chinese

Goldthread Rhizome, Licorice Root, Bitter Orange, Schimnepeta Spike and

Spearmint ; Jumi-haidoku-to = Shi wei ba du tang; Toki-shakuyaku-san =

Danggui Shaoyao San

 

East Afr Med J 2002 Jul;79(7):343-6 Prophylactic effect of multi-herbal extract

'Agbo-Iba' on malaria induced in mice. Nwabuisi C. Department of Medical

Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin,

P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria. OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of a multi-

herbal preparation extract of 'Agbo-Iba' on rodent malaria induced in mice.

DESIGN: An experimental design in which mice were divided into four groups

A,B,C,D representing control, prophylactic, chloroquine and 'Agbo-Iba' groups

respectively. Each mouse was intraperitoneally inoculated with Plasmodium

yoelii nigeriensis and treated with oral herbal extract or chloroquine syrup

depending on group. SETTING: College of Medicine of the University of Lagos

Medical Microbiology and Parasitology Laboratory. SUBJECTS: One hundred

and twenty male and female albino mice aged 10-12 weeks with an average

weight of 25 grams. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The herbal extract was

effective, preventing the development of parasitaemia in the prophylactic group

of mice. RESULTS: After intraperitoneal inoculation of Plasmodium yoelii

nigeriensis, a prepatent period of two days was observed before parasitaemia

was established in all but the prophylactic group of mice. Induced infection was

promptly aborted with oral chloroquine treatment in group C, while in groups A

and D, infection terminated fatally. Group B mice appeared normal throughout

the duration of investigation with 100% survival rate. CONCLUSION: 'Agbo-Iba'

extract has some prophylactic action against malaria induced in mice with no

apparent significant side effects. PMID: 12638827 [PubMed - in process]

 

Int Immunopharmacol 2003 Mar;3(3):365-73 Suppressive effect of a traditional

Japanese medicine, Hachimi-jio-gan (Ba-Wei-Di-Huang-Wan), on the

hyperresponsiveness to IL-18 in autoimmune MRL/MPJ-lpr/lpr mice. Furuya Y,

Kawakita T, Nomoto K. Department of Clinical Development and Pharmacology,

Kanebo Kampo and Healthcare Research Laboratories, 3-1, Kanebo-machi,

933-0856, Takaoka, Japan Oral administration of Hachimi-jio-gan (HMG, Ba-

Wei-Di-Huang-Wan), a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, for several weeks,

ameliorates some autoimmune symptoms of MRL/lpr mice. In the short time

treatment for 9 days, hyperresponsiveness of mesenteric lymph node (MLN)

cells to interleukin (IL)-18 manifested by the proliferation or the production

of

interferon (IFN)-gamma was significantly suppressed. Additionally, the

treatment with HMG suppressed the expressions of IL-18Ralpha and IL-

18Rbeta mRNA in CD45R(-) T cells, and also the expression of IL-18Ralpha

mRNA in unpurified whole cells. Although the short treatment with HMG had no

effect on the mRNA expressions of IL-10, IL-12 and IL-18, or the phosphorelated

signal transducer and activator transcription (STAT)4 protein level in CD45R(-)

MLN cells, the IL-4 mRNA expression or the phosphorelated STAT6 protein

level were up-regulated by HMG, and the IL-4 mRNA up-regulation was clearer

in whole cells than CD45R(-) cells. Furthermore, the treatment with HMG

promoted the mRNA expression of invariant Valpha14 TCR that is uniquely

expressed on NKT cells. Valpha14 NKT cells can produce large amount of IL-4

and play a crucial role in controlling the development of MRL/lpr mouse

autoimmune disease. Therefore, these results suggested that HMG reduced

the hyperresponsiveness of MRL/lpr mouse MLN cells to IL-18 through the

reduction of IL-18Rs caused by Valpha14 NKT cell-produced IL-4, and

consequently HMG suppressed the development of MRL/lpr autoimmune

diseases. PMID: 12639814 [PubMed - in process]

 

J Clin Pharmacol 2003 Mar;43(3):284-90 Multiple-dose escalation, safety, and

tolerability study of wood creosote, the principal active ingredient of

seirogan,

an herbal antidiarrheal medication, in healthy subjects. Kuge T, Shibata T,

Willett MS. Taiko Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd., General Manager, Research

and Development, 3-34-14 Uchihonmachi, Suita-City, Osaka, 564-0032, Japan.

Seirogan, an herbal medicine containing wood creosote (CAS 8021-39-4), a

mixture of simple phenolic compounds, has been marketed for the past century

in Asia for the treatment of acute diarrhea and associated symptoms, such as

abdominal discomfort and cramping. The present study was designed to

assess the safety and tolerability of an anticipated acute antidiarrheal dosing

regimen. Sixty healthy males were randomized into five groups of 12 subjects

each (9 wood creosote; 3 placebo) to receive 45-, 90-, 135-, 180-, and 225-mg

tablets every 2 hours for five doses. Serial sitting and standing vital signs,

ECG

rhythm strips, and continuous telemetry monitoring were obtained predose and

for 24 hours after the first dose. Clinical laboratory tests and 12-lead resting

ECGs were obtained predose and 24 hours postdose. Of the subjects, 27%

(12/45) receiving wood creosote and 27% (4/15) receiving placebo reported

adverse events. The most common adverse events were altered taste and

somnolence, reported more often with 180- and 225-mg doses. Wood creosote

had no clinically significant effects on vital signs, ECG intervals or

interpretations, or clinical laboratory tests. No clinically significant or

serious

dysrhythmias were reported on continuous telemetry monitoring. It was

concluded that oral doses of wood creosote 45 to 225 mg every 2 hours for up

to five doses were safe and well tolerated in 45 healthy subjects. Wood

creosote doses ranging from 45 to 135 mg per dose, which are commonly

administered antidiarrheal doses in Asia, were associated with minimal side

effects. PMID: 12638397 [PubMed - in process]

 

J Ethnopharmacol 2003 Apr;85(2-3):257-60 Tribulus terrestris: preliminary study

of its diuretic and contractile effects and comparison with Zea mays. Al-Ali M,

Wahbi S, Twaij H, Al-Badr A. Department of Urology, St. Bartholomew's, The

Royal London & Homerton University Hospitals, 224B East End Road, East

Finchley, N2 8AX, London, UK OBJECTIVES: Tribulus terrestris L.

(Zygophyllaceae) which is called Al-Gutub (in Iraqi dialect) or Quti;ba (in

classical Arabic medicine), and Zea mays were both used alone or in

combination by Iraqi herbalists to propel urinary stones. We studied the

aqueous extract of the leaves and fruits of T. terrestris and the hair of Z.

mays,

to determine their diuretic activity and the contractile effect of T.

terrestris.

METHODS: The aqueous extract was filtered and the solvent was evaporated to

produce a dry crude extract. The dry extract was then dissolved in

physiological saline to make the required concentrations. Wistar male rats

were used for the diuresis test and strips of isolated Guinea pig ileum were

used for the contractility test. RESULTS: The aqueous extract of T. terrestris,

in oral dose of 5g/kg elicited a positive diuresis, which was slightly more than

that of furosemide. Z. mays aqueous extract did not result in significant

diuresis

when given alone in oral dose of 5g/kg, while combination of Z. mays and T.

terrestris extracts produced the same extent of diuresis as that produced by T.

terrestris alone. Na(+), K(+) and Cl(+) concentrations in the urine had also

much increased. In addition to its diuretic activity T. terrestris had evoked a

contractile activity on Guinea pig ileum. CONCLUSION: T. terrestris has long

been used empirically to propel urinary stones. The diuretic and contractile

effects of T. terrestris indicate that it has the potential of propelling

urinary

stones and merits further pharmacological studies. PMID: 12639749 [PubMed -

in process]

 

J Ethnopharmacol 2003 Apr;85(2-3):261-7 Anti-inflammatory and analgesic

activity in the polyherbal formulation Maharasnadhi Quathar. Thabrew MI,

Dharmasiri MG, Senaratne L. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine,

University of Kelaniya, 6, Talagolla Road, Ragama, Sri Lanka Maharasnadhi

Quathar (MRQ) is a polyherbal preparation recommended by Ayurvedic medical

practitioners for treatment of arthritic conditions. An investigation has been

carried out with rats and human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, to determine

the anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential of MRQ. Results obtained

demonstrate that MRQ can significantly and dose-dependently inhibit

carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema (the inhibition at 3h was greater than at

1h after induction of oedema). MRQ could also increase the reaction time of

rats in the hot-plate test (by 57% after the first hour of treatment), although

it

had no effect on the reaction time in the tail-flick test, indicating that MRQ

possesses analgesic activity that is probably mediated via a supra-spinal

effect.MRQ also exerted a dose-dependent (a) protective effect on heat-induced

erythrocyte lysis, and (b) inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase activity.In RA patients,

after 3 months of MRQ treatment, there was a marked improvement in the pain

and inflammation experienced by the patients as well as in the mobility of the

affected joints. From the overall results obtained, it may be concluded that

MRQ possesses significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities.

Alteration in synthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, membrane

stabilization and anti-oxidant activity are some of the possible mechanisms

through which MRQ mediates its anti-arthritic effects. PMID: 12639750

[PubMed - in process]

 

J Food Prot 2003 Mar;66(3):410-7 Effects of herbal essential oils used to

extend the shelf life of freshwater-reared Asian sea bass fish (Lates

calcarifer).

Harpaz S, Glatman L, Drabkin V, Gelman A. Department of Aquaculture,

Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet

Dagan 50250, Israel. harpaz Sensory and microbiological

characteristics of Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) fish raised in a freshwater

pond were evaluated during cold storage for 33 days. Whole fish (averaging 400

g each) were stored in a cold storage room at 0 to 2 degrees C. Essential oils

of herbs--thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and oregano (Origanum vulgare)--added at

0.05% (vol/vol) were used as preservatives. On the basis of the sensory test

results as well as the bacteriological tests, the addition of oregano and thyme

essential oils can considerably slow the process of spoilage. The fish treated

with these oils were still fit for human consumption after 33 days of storage.

The results obtained through sensory tests are corroborated to a great extent

by the chemical (hypoxanthine) tests and to a lesser extent by the physical

(Cosmos units) tests. The initial total bacteriological counts were 1.7 x 10(3)

CFU/cm2 on the fish surface and <10(2) CFU/g in the fish flesh, and in the

control treatment (without preservatives), these counts rose continuously,

reaching around 10(7) CFU/cm2 on the fish surface and 10(3) CFU/g in the

flesh after 33 days of storage at 0 to 2 degrees C. The use of herbal essential

oils as preservatives, on the other hand, resulted in a maximal count of 10(5)

CFU/cm2 on the fish surface, while the bacterial count in the flesh remained

<10(2) CFU/g by the end of the 33-day storage period at 0 to 2 degrees C.

PMID: 12636293 [PubMed - in process]

 

J Med Food 2001 Autumn;4(3):171-178 Estrogenic Effects of Cimicifuga

racemosa (Black Cohosh) in Mice and on Estrogen Receptors in MCF-7 Cells.

Liu ZP, Yu B, Huo JS, Lu CQ, Chen JS. Institute of Nutrition and Food Hygiene,

Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China. The estrogenic

effects of Cimicifuga racemosa or Actacea racemosa (black cohosh, CR)

extracts were tested in mice, and their effects on estrogen receptor (ER) levels

in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells were also investigated. Four groups of

weanling female Kunming mice were given 0 (control), 75, 150, or 300 mg/kg

body weight CR extracts orally for 14 days. The estrus cycle and the weights of

the uterus and ovary of mice, as well as serum estradiol (E(2)) were measured.

The proliferation patterns of MCF-7 cells exposed to CR extracts or 17beta-

estradiol were studied by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-

diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Subsequently, growth of MCF-7 cells

in 0 (control) or 4.75 & mgr;g/L of CR extracts or 0.3 nmol/L of 17beta-estradiol

groups were observed for 5 days. ER levels in MCF-7 cells were analyzed by

indirect immunofluorescence assay using flow cytometry. The uterine weights

of mice increased with the increase in dosage of CR extracts, and the estrus

duration was significantly prolonged in the group receiving 300 mg/kg body

weight (P <.05). However, CR extracts did not increase the serum E(2)

concentration significantly. In the in vitro study, a dose-response relationship

was demonstrated when cells were treated with low doses of CR extracts, and

the optimal enhancement concentration of CR extracts was 4.75 & mgr;g/L on

MCF-7 cells. The doubling times (T(D)) of cell growth in the CR extracts group

and the 17beta-estradiol group were 32.1 and 31.7 hours, respectively, both

shorter than that of the negative control group (T(D) = 35.3 hours).

Additionally,

4.75 & mgr;g/L of CR extracts resulted in significantly increased ER levels

compared with the control group (P <.01). In conclusion, CR extracts produced

an estrogenic action. The effect of increasing ER levels by CR extracts may be

one of the potential mechanisms of its phytotherapeutic effects for

postmenopausal symptoms. PMID: 12639411 [PubMed - as supplied by

publisher]

 

J Med Food 2002 Winter;5(4):211-20 Effect of natural and synthetic

antioxidants in a mouse model of chronic fatigue syndrome. Singh A, Naidu

PS, Gupta S, Kulkarni SK. Pharmacology Division, University Institute of

Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an illness characterized by persistent and

relapsing fatigue, often accompanied by numerous symptoms involving various

body systems. The etiology of CFS remains unclear; however, a number of

studies have shown that oxidative stress may be involved in its pathogenesis. In

the present study, a mouse model of CFS was used in which mice were forced

to swim for one 6-minute session on each day for 15 days and the immobility

period was recorded. There was a significant increase in immobility period in

saline-treated mice on successive days. Intraperitoneal treatment with the

potent antioxidants carvedilol (5 mg/kg) and melatonin (5 mg/kg) produced a

significant reduction in immobility period. Similar results were observed with

herbal preparations administered orally: Withania somnifera (100 mg/kg),

quercetin (50 mg/kg), and St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L., 10 mg/kg).

Biochemical analysis revealed that chronic swimming significantly induced lipid

peroxidation and decreased glutathione (GSH) levels in the brains of mice. The

rats also showed decreased levels of antioxidant defense enzymes, superoxide

dismutase (SOD), and catalase. Co-administration of antioxidants carvedilol,

melatonin, W. somnifera, quercetin or St. John's wort significantly reduced

lipid

peroxidation and restored the GSH levels decreased by chronic swimming in

mice. Further, the treatment increased levels of SOD in the forebrain and of

catalase. The findings strongly suggest that oxidative stress plays a

significant

role in the pathophysiology of CFS and that antioxidants could be useful in the

treatment of CFS. PMID: 12639396 [PubMed - in process]

 

Life Sci 2003 Apr 11;72(21):2413-26 Regulation of hepatobiliary excretion of

sinomenine by P-glycoprotein in Sprague-Dawley rats. Tsai TH, Wu JW.

Laboratory of Pharmacokinetics, National Research Institute of Chinese

Medicine, 112, Taipei, Taiwan Sinomenine, an herbal ingredient isolated from

Sinomenium acutum, is used for the amelioration of arthritis. Using

microdialysis and a specially constructed hepato-duodenal shunt probe, the

present study investigated the pharmacokinetics of sinomenine in rat blood and

bile and the effects of P-glycoprotein modulation and cytochrome P450

inhibition. The results indicated that the pharmacokinetics of sinomenine in rat

blood appeared to be dose dependent in the 3 to 30 mg/kg range. The

disposition of sinomenine in the bile exhibited a slow elimination phase,

reaching a peak concentration in 20-40 min following intravenous

administration. The area under the concentration versus time curves (AUC's) for

sinomenine in the bile were significantly greater than those in the blood at

dosages of 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg with the blood-to-bile distribution ratios (k =

AUC(bile) / AUC(blood)) being 3.85 +/- 0.29 and 3.52 +/- 0.28 at 10 and 30

mg/kg, respectively, indicating active hepatobiliary excretion. Coadministration

with 20 mg/kg of cyclosporin A 10 min prior to sinomenine administration

resulted in a significant reduction of the bile AUC's for the dosages of 10 and

30

mg/kg., resulting in the bile/blood distribution ratio being significantly

reduced

to 0.47 +/- 0.05 and 0.49 +/- 0.05, respectively. On the other hand, proadifen

treatment increased both the blood and bile AUC's, resulting in insignificant

effects on the blood-to-bile distribution ratios. In conclusion, our results

indicated that sinomenine underwent active hepatobiliary elimination which may

be regulated by the P-glycoprotein and that P-450 was likely involved in its

metabolism. PMID: 12639706 [PubMed - in process]

 

Pharmacol Res 2003 Apr;47(4):323-9 Anti-diabetic effects of Gymnema

yunnanense extract. Xie JT, Wang A, Mehendale S, Wu J, Aung HH, Dey L,

Qiu S, Yuan CS. Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, The Pritzker

School of Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, 5841 S.

Maryland Avenue, MC 4028, 60637, Chicago, IL, USA In this study, we

evaluated anti-hyperglycemic effect and body weight reduction activity of

Gymnema yunnanense extract in obese ob/ob and diabetic db/db mice.

Animals received daily intraperitoneal injections of the extract 100mg/kg for 12

days. On Day 5, the extract-treated ob/ob mice had significantly lower fasting

blood glucose levels compared to vehicle-treated mice (161+/-14.5mg/dl versus

238+/-21.5mg/dl, P<0.01). On Day 12, the extract-treated ob/ob mice had

normal fasting blood glucose levels, compared with vehicle-treated mice (119+/-

3.3mg/dl versus 240+/-12.9mg/dl, P<0.01). Glucose tolerance improved

significantly. This was demonstrated by overall glucose excursion calculated as

area under the curve (AUC) during the 2h intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test

(IPGTT), which decreased by approximately 22% (P<0.01) compared to vehicle-

treated ob/ob mice. In addition, extract-treated ob/ob mice lost weight

significantly from 51.7+/-1.9g on Day 0 to 45.7+/-1.2g on Day 12 (P<0.05

compared to vehicle-treated mice). In db/db mice, after treatment with same

dose of the extract, fasting blood glucose levels also decreased significantly

from Day 0 of 247+/-13.9mg/dl to Day 5 of 172+/-7.5mg/dl and to Day 12 of

190+/-2.7mg/dl (both P<0.01 compared to vehicle-treated group from Day 0 of

239+/-12.1mg/dl to Day 5 of 230+/-8.5mg/dl and Day 12 of 247+/-18.9mg/dl,

respectively). After 12 days of extract treatment, body weight in db/db mice

reduced from 61.8+/-1.4g on Day 0 to 59.8+/-1.1g on Day 12 (P<0.05). Our

results support an in vivo anti-hyperglycemic and body weight reduction activity

of G. yunnanense extract that may prove to be of clinical importance in

improving the management of type 2 diabetes. PMID: 12644390 [PubMed - in

process]

 

Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol 2003 Mar-Apr;16(2):84-90 Anti-acne effects

of oriental herb extracts: a novel screening method to select anti-acne agents.

Nam C, Kim S, Sim Y, Chang I. Skin Reserach Institute, Pacific R & D Center,

Yongin, Korea. The acne-therapeutic effects of Oriental herb extracts were

investigated in terms of antichemotactic effect on polymorphonuclear

leucocytes, antilipogenic actions, antibacterial activity against

PROPIONIBACTERIUM ACNES and resistance induction potency in the

bacteria. The ethanol extract (0.01%) of ANGELICA DAHURICA markedly

suppressed neutrophil chemotaxis, comparable to the effect of erythromycin

(0.01%), whereas a strong antilipogenic effect was obtained with rhizoma

coptidis (COPTIS CHINENSIS) extract (0.01%), leading to a higher efficacy

than that of retinoic acid (0.01%). Interestingly, only GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA

showed a remarkable antibacterial activity against P. ACNES, resulting in

negligible induction of resistance, in comparison with a marked development of

resistance in the bacteria treated with erythromycin. We suggest that an

appropriate formulation containing A. DAHURICA, rhizoma coptidis and G.

GLABRA could be helpful for the prevention and treatment of acne lesions.

Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel PMID: 12637783 [PubMed - in process]

 

 

 

 

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