Abstracts on herbal medicine

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Hi All,

 

Below are some recent abstracts on herbal medicine.

 

Phil

 

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Dietary support with Boswellia resin in canine inflammatory joint and spinal

disease. Reichling, J.; Schmoekel, H.; Fitzi, J.; Bucher, S.; Saller, R.

Schweizer Archiv fuer Tierheilkunde VOL. 146, NO. 2, Februar 2004 PP. 71-80.

Juergen.Reichling; Abteilung Biologie, Institut fuer Pharmazie und

Molekulare Biotechnologie (IPMB), Ruprecht-Karls-Universitaet Heidelberg, Im

Neuenheimer Feld 364, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany An open multi-centre

veterinary clinical trial, comparing conditions before and after treatment with

a

herbal dietary supplement consisting of a natural resin extract of Boswellia

serrata, was conducted by 10 practicing veterinarians in Switzerland. This

traditional plant-based supplement is known for its anti-rheumatic and anti-

inflammatory properties. 29 dogs with manifestations of chronic joint and spinal

disease were enrolled. Osteoarthritis and degenerative conditions were

confirmed radiologically in 25 of 29 cases. The resin extract (BSB108, product

of Bogar AG) was administered with the regular food at a dose of 400mg/10 kg

body weight once daily for 6 weeks. Already after two weeks of treatment , an

overall efficacy of the dietary supplement was evident in 71% of 24 eligible

dogs. A statistically significant reduction of severity and resolution of

typical

clinical signs in individual animals, such as intermittent lameness, local pain

and stiff gait, were reported after 6 weeks. Effects of external factors that

aggravate lameness, such as " lameness when moving " and " lameness after

along rest " diminished gradually. In 5 dogs, reversible brief episodes of

diarrhea

and flatulence occurred, but only once was a relationship to the study

preparation suspected. Because quality and stability of the resin extract were

ensured, these data suggest that a standardized preparation can be

recommended as a herbal dietary supplement providing

symptomatic support in canine osteoarthritic disease.

 

Mistletoe and gemcitabine in patients with advanced cancer: A model for the

phase I study of

botanicals and botanical-drug interactions in cancer therapy Mansky, PJ; Grem,

J; Wallerstedt,

DB; Monahan, BP; Blackman, MR JOURNAL NAME- Integrative Cancer Therapies VOL. 2

NO. 4 2003 PP. 345-352 74 reference(s) ISSN- 1534-7354 AUTHOR AFFILIATION- Natl

Ctr

Complementary & Alternat Med, Off Sci Director Clin Res, 8 W Dr,Quarters

15-B1,MSC 2669,

Bethesda, MD 20892, USA manskyp TRADE NAME(S)- European mistletoe

LANGUAGE- English Plant extracts of the European mistletoe (MTE), Viscum album,

the most

widely used cancer treatment in Germany, have been used in European countries as

sole

intervention or as adjunct to conventional cancer therapies for more than 80

years. Preclinical

data suggest immunostimulatory and cytotoxic effects of MTE. While the clinical

efficacy of MTE

in cancer is being investigated, toxicity and potential interactions of MTE with

standard

chemotherapeutic agents are unknown. Gemcitabine is an approved antimetabolite

chemotherapeutic agent effective as single agent in patients with solid tumors

(ST). The

documented metabolism and pharmacokinetics of gemcitabine make this agent well

suited for

the study of botanical-chemotherapy drug interactions (BDIA) in cancer. Based on

reports of

altered drug metabolism associated with botanical preparations, research into

BDIA has

intensified. The phase 1, 2-stage, dose-escalation study outlined here will test

MTE with

gemcitabine as a paradigm for the phase I investigation of botanical-drug

combination

treatments in patients with advanced ST. The protocol including the following

components has

been reviewed and approved by the National Cancer Institute Institutional Review

Board (IRB),

the National Naval Medical Center IRB, and the Navy Clinical Investigation

Program (study 02-

074): (1) use of a standardized MTE, approved by the Food and Drug

Administration for

investigational use; (2) independent verification of key MTE components

considered biologically

active; (3) identification of contaminants and adulterants; (4) pharmacokinetics

of gemcitabine

and its principal metabolites before and upon exposure to MTE; (5) safety and

toxicity data

collection; (6) assays of plasma ML antibody production in vivo; and (7)

pharmacodynamic

studies of the botanical-drug combination.

 

Randomized controlled trial of Siberian ginseng for chronic fatigue. Annotated

Title- chronic

fatigue syndrome; herbal treatments; Siberian gingeng. Hartz AJ; Bentler S;

Noyes R; Hoehns

J; Logemann C; Sinift S; Butani Y; Wang W; Brake K; Erns, M; Kautzman H.

Psychological

Medicine VOL. 34, NO. 1, 2004, Jan, 51-61.Hartz; Arthur J.; Dept of Family

Medicine, 01292-D

PFP, Univ of Iowa College of Medicine; 200 Hawkins Drive; Iowa City; IA; US;

52242-1097

Background. Chronic fatigue greatly affects quality of life and is a common

reason for

consulting a physician. Since conventional therapy is often of limited help,

fatigued patients may

use herbal treatments This randomized controlled trial evaluated the

effectiveness of Siberian

ginseng. Method. Subjects were recruited from advertisements in Iowa (82%) and

members of

chronic fatigue syndrome support groups (18%). Potential subjects were required

to have

substantial fatigue >=6 months with no identifiable cause. The mean change in a

fatigue

measure was compared for placebo and Siberian ginseng at 1 and 2 months.

Comparisons

were for all subjects and for subjects with characteristics previously

identified in the literature

as important for categorizing chronic fatigue. Results Ninety-six subjects were

randomized to

treatment groups, and 76 provided information at 2 months of follow-up. Fatigue

among subjects

assigned to either placebo or Siberian ginseng was substantially reduced during

the study, but

differences between treatment groups were not statistically significant in the

full sample. Fatigue

severity and duration had a statistically significant interaction with response

to Siberian ginseng

at the P<0-05 level. Treatment was effective at 2 months for 45 subjects...

(PsycINFO

Database Record © 2004 APA, all rights reserved)

 

The mechanism of polydatin in shock treatment. Zhao KS; Jin CH; Huang XL; Liu J;

Yan WS;

Huang QB; Kan WH Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation VOL. 29, NO. 3-4,

2003, PP.

211-217. zhaoks; Dept of Pathophysiology, First Military Medical Univ,

Guangzhou, 510515, China Polydatin is extracted from a traditional Chinese

herbal medicine,

Polygonum cuspidatum, and has a special effect in shock treatment The aim of

this study is to

explain the cellular and molecular basis of Polydatin in shock treatment The

fluorescent probe

techniques, patch clamp method, and cellular flow chamber were used to test

intracellular

variables of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), myocardial cells (MC),

endothelial cells

(EC), and white blood cell (WBC). It was shown that Polydatin could inhibit

ICAM-1 expression

in EC stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), attenuate WBC-EC adhesion,

increase (Ca2+)i in

MC with enhancement of MC contraction extent, activate KATP channels of VSMC,

and

decrease pHi value and (Ca2+)i of VSMC in shock. The study suggests that

Polydatin has

multiple effects on VSMC, MC, WBC and EC, which are related to the enhancement

of heart

function and improvement of microcirculatory perfusion in shock.

 

Tonkin herbal drug: A multidisciplinary approach to development. Ysrael, Mafel

C. Clinical

Hemorheology and Microcirculation VOL. 29, NO. 3-4, 2003, 247-251.

mafel.ys; Faculty of Pharmacy and Research Center for the

Natural

Sciences, Univ of Santo Tomas, Espana, Manila, 1008, Philippines. Ipomoea

muricata (L.) Jacq,

locally known as 'Tonkin', has been used for generations by the Dominicans in

the Philippines

for medicinal purposes. The seeds, stems and leaves are said to be effective in

treating several

types of skin ailments such as chronic and gangrenous wounds, cuts and blisters

due to burs.

Scientific investigations to rationalize the reported medicinal uses of the

plant were carried out

at Univ of Santo Tomas. Botanists at the Univ did the identification and studied

the cultivation

and propagation of the plant. Pharmacists and chemists worked closely together

on the 'Tonkin'

seeds. The seeds were found to have both analgesic and antiseptic properties.

Chemists

identified indolizidine alkaloids in the seeds, to which the analgesic

properties have been

attributed. Antimicrobial and antifungal compounds were also identified.

Different formulations of

the crude drug have been made, namely, an ointment for the treatment of skin

ailments, glycerol

preparation for the treatment of pharyngitis and an otic preparation for the

treatment of otitis externa. Limited clinical trials of these formulations were

carried out in collaboration with the medical doctors. The clinical trial

studies

were supported by in vitro studies carried out by microbiologists. Basic

research on this plant material is still continuing. Efforts are now underway

for

the commercial production of the Tonkin ointment.

 

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Best regards,

 

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