This week's Medline hits on herbal medicine

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Hi All,

 

I cannot find the herbal ingredients or other professional data online for

Qingre Yulin Tang ( Clear Heat Unicorn Dec) .

 

Have you those data? The Dec is used (amongst other things) in male

infertility dt infection of the accessory glands.

 

Sun J, Zhou AF, Ding CF. [Clincal observation of qingre yulin decoction in

treatment of male infertility caused by accessory gland infection] [Article in

Chinese]. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2006 Oct;26(10):877-80.

Hubei College of TCM, Wuhan. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Qingre

Yulin Tang (Qingre Yulin Decoction (QYD), ÇåÈÈع÷ëÌÀ Clear Heat

Unicorn Dec) on male infertility caused by accessory gland infection (AGI)

with randomized controlled trial (RCT). METHODS: Sixty infertility

outpatients were equally divided into two groups randomly, the QYD group

treated with modified QYD and the control group with antibiotic plus vitamin

E, both for 3 months with another 6 months' follow-up. Pregnant rates,

routine test of sperm and expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) were

determined. RESULTS: The healed rate was 26.7% (8 cases), the markedly

effective rate was 43.3% (13 cases), the effective rate was 16.7% (5 cases),

and the total effective rate was 86.7% in the QYD group, while in the control

group it was 6.7% (2), 30.0% (9), 40.0% (12) and 76.7% respectively,

showing higher healed rate and total effective rate in the former than those

in the latter. Sperm quality of infertility patients with AGI decreased

obviously, manifesting short ened average liquefaction time, reduced

concentration, survival rate and vitality of sperm. These abnormal changes

were improved after treatment in both groups, and the efficacy was better in

the QYD group than that in the control group. CONCLUSION: Infertility

patients with AGI were manifested as oligospermatism and

asthenospermia, which may not be the definite outcome of AGI. QYD is

able to improve sperm quality, especially sperm vitality in infertility patients

with AGI and therefore increase pregnant rate of their wives. PMID:

17121035 [PubMed - in process]

 

Egashira N, Manome N, Kurauchi K, Matsumoto Y, Iwasaki K, Mishima K,

Shoyama Y, Fujiwara M. Kamikihi-to, a Kampo medicine, Ameliorates

impairment of spatial memory in rats.Phytother Res. 2006 Nov 21; [Epub

ahead of print] Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of

Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan.

The present study investigated the effects of Kamikihi-to (KKT = Jiawei

Guipi Tang), a Kampo medicine, on impairment of spatial memory in rats

using an eight-arm radial maze task. Scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.), a non-

selective muscarinic receptor antagonist, and Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol

(THC; 6 mg/kg, i.p.), a principal psychoactive component of marihuana,

each markedly impaired the spatial memory. KKT (1 and 3 mg/kg, p.o.)

significantly improved the scopolamine-induced impairment of spatial

memory. KKT (30 mg/kg, p.o.) also improved significantly the THC-induced

impairment of spatial memory. Moreover, KKT (3 and 30 mg/kg, p.o.)

enhanced tremors induced by oxotremorine, a muscarinic M(1) receptor

agonist. Taken together these findings suggest that KKT is a useful drug for

treating memory deficits. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. PMID:

17117451 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

 

Amorim E, Matias JE, Coelho JC, Campos AC, Stahlke HJ Jr, Timi JR,

Rocha LC, Moreira AT, Rispoli DZ, Ferreira LM. [Topical use of aqueous

extract of Orbignya phalerata (babassu) in rats: analysis of it's healing

effect.][Article in Portuguese]. Acta Cir Bras. 2006;21 Suppl 2:65-74.

Hospital, Universidade Federal do Maranhao. INTRODUCTION: The

mesocarp of Babassu (Orbignya phalerata) has been used in experimental

studies trying to check its pro-inflammatory effect. PURPOSE: To analyse

comparatively the histological changes made by the water extract of

Babassu in skin surgical wounds. METHODS: Sixty Wistar adults male rats

were used. The experimental procedure was a circle skin incision of 2 cm in

diameter made with a metal punch. After this procedure done in all animals,

they were randomized in two groups of 30. In the control group, the

phytotherapic agent wasn't used but saline solutin. In the experimental

group, the water extract of Orbignya phalerata was used in the cut sites. All

animals were followed and killed after seven, 14 and 21 days. Comparative

histological analysis was made among the groups. RESULTS: In the

microscopic view, a significant reepitelization effect on the healing process

of the experimental group in relation to the control group in the 7th and 14th

days, was recognized. CONCLUSION: The use of the mesocarp of

Orbignya phalerata in skin surgical wounds contributed positively in the

healing process in rats. PMID: 17117280 [PubMed - in process]

 

Aquino JU, Czeczko NG, Malafaia O, Dietz UA, Ribas Filho JM, Nassif PA,

Araujo U, Boroncello J, Santos MF, Santos EA. [Phytotherapic evaluation of

Jatropha gossypiifolia L. on rats ventral abdominal wall wound healing.]

[Article in Portuguese]. Acta Cir Bras. 2006;21 Suppl 2:59-64. Dept de

Cirurgia, Universidade Federal do Maranhao. INTRODUCTION: Jatropha

gossypiifolia is used in popular medicine. It is considered to have good

diuretic effect in hypertension and is also used as a laxative drug. It seems

to have a healing effect, although not proved till now. PURPOSE: To

evaluate the influence of intraperitoneum administration of Jatropha

Gossypiifolia L., in suture healing of ventral abdominal wall of rats, through

tensiometric measurement, macro and microscopic aspect of post-

operative period. METHODS: Forty wistar male rates were allocated in two

groups of 20 animals . After the incision and exposure of abdominal cavity 1

ml/kg/weight of 0,9% sodium chloride solution was injected in control group,

and in the other one the injection was of 1 ml/kg/weight of a gross ethanol

extract of Jatropha gossypiifolia L. The suture of the abdominal wall was

than performed with polypropylene separated stitches. The animals were

followed-up and killed in the third and seventh days. The ventral abdominal

wall was macroscopically analyzed, the resistance strength to strain was

measured and it was also studied the histological aspects. RESULTS: On

macroscopic examination more intense adhesion was found on the group of

Jatropha in both third and seventh post-operative days. The strain

evaluation was meanly greater on Jatropha group also in third and seventh

days. CONCLUSION: The histological comparative analysis between the

different groups showed that the acute inflammatory process was meanly

greater for the Jatropha group in third and seventh post-operative days. The

vascular neoformation was significantly greater in third pos-operative day of

Jathopha group; the other histological parameters were just alike. The

intraperitoneum injection of Jatropha extract did not have any significant

improvement for the wound healing on ventral abdominal wall on the

evaluated animals in this study, no matter if analyzed at the third or seventh

pos-operative days. PMID: 17117279 [PubMed - in process]

 

Jin ZH, Duan JH, Zhao HC. [Clinical study on colonic transmission time and

the effect of sini powder on it in functional constipation patients][Article in

Chinese]. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2006 Oct;26(10):896-8.

jxjzh OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristic of colonic

transmission in functional constipation (FC) and the effect of traditional

Chinese medicine (TCM) Sini San (Sini Powder (SP)) on it. METHODS: The

colonic transmission time (CTT) of 36 patients with FC (the FC group) and

22 healthy subjects (control group) was measured through colonic

transmission test, and CTT of entire colon and that of various subsections

was calculated with Hinton method and Arhan method respectively. After

then, the FC group was treated with SP for 7 days, and CTT was detected

again after treatment. RESULTS: Before treatment, body mass index (BMI)

was higher, CTT of entire colon, left half colonic section, and sigmoid-rectal

section were longer in the FC group than those in the control group (P <

0.05), no statistical difference in CTT of right half colon was found between

the two groups (P > 0.05). After FC patients being treated with SP, their

CTT of whole colon, left half colonic section and sigmoid-rectal section were

significantly shortened (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: FC patients were

characterized by increased BMI and CTT prolonged and unevenly

distributed in subsections, especially in the left half colon, sigmoid and

rectum; Sini San could shorten the CTT in FC patients. PMID: 17121040

[PubMed - in process]

 

Hu Z, Yang X, Ho PC, Chan SY, Heng PW, Chan E, Duan W, Koh HL,

Zhou S. Herb-drug interactions: a literature review.Drugs. 2005;65(9):1239-

82. Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of

Singapore, Singapore. Herbs are often administered in combination with

therapeutic drugs, raising the potential of herb-drug interactions. An

extensive review of the literature identified reported herb-drug interactions

with clinical significance, many of which are from case reports and limited

clinical observations.Cases have been published reporting enhanced

anticoagulation and bleeding when patients on long-term warfarin therapy

also took Salvia miltiorrhiza (danshen). Allium sativum (garlic) decreased

the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and maximum

plasma concentration of saquinavir, but not ritonavir and paracetamol

(acetaminophen), in volunteers. A. sativum increased the clotting time and

international normalised ratio of warfarin and caused hypoglycaemia when

taken with chlorpropamide. Ginkgo biloba (ginkgo) caused bleeding when

combined with warfarin or aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), raised blood

pressure when combined with a thiazide diuretic and even caused coma

when combined with trazodone in patients. Panax ginseng (ginseng)

reduced the blood concentrations of alcohol (ethanol) and warfarin, and

induced mania when used concomitantly with phenelzine, but ginseng

increased the efficacy of influenza vaccination. Scutellaria baicalensis

(huangqin) ameliorated irinotecan-induced gastrointestinal toxicity in cancer

patients.Piper methysticum (kava) increased the 'off' periods in patients with

parkinsonism taking levodopa and induced a semicomatose state when

given concomitantly with alprazolam. Kava enhanced the hypnotic effect of

alcohol in mice, but this was not observed in humans. Silybum marianum

(milk thistle) decreased the trough concentrations of indinavir in humans.

Piperine from black (Piper nigrum Linn) and long (P. longum Linn) peppers

increased the AUC of phenytoin, propranolol and theophylline in healthy

volunteers and plasma concentrations of rifamipicin (rifampin) in patients

with pulmonary tuberculosis. Eleutheroccus senticosus (Siberian ginseng)

increased the serum concentration of digoxin, but did not alter the

pharmacokinetics of dextromethorphan and alprazolam in humans.

Hypericum perforatum (hypericum; St John's wort) decreased the blood

concentrations of ciclosporin (cyclosporin), midazolam, tacrolimus,

amitriptyline, digoxin, indinavir, warfarin, phenprocoumon and theophylline,

but did not alter the pharmacokinetics of carbamazepine, pravastatin,

mycophenolate mofetil and dextromethorphan. Cases have been reported

where decreased ciclosporin concentrations led to organ rejection.

Hypericum also caused breakthrough bleeding and unplanned pregnancies

when used concomitantly with oral contraceptives. It also caused serotonin

syndrome when used in combination with selective serotonin reuptake

inhibitors (e.g. sertraline and paroxetine).In conclusion, interactions

between herbal medicines and prescribed drugs can occur and may lead to

serious clinical consequences. There are other theoretical interactions

indicated by preclinical data. Both pharmacokinetic and/or

pharmacodynamic mechanisms have been considered to play a role in

these interactions, although the underlying mechanisms for the altered drug

effects and/or concentrations by concomitant herbal medicines are yet to be

determined. The clinical importance of herb-drug interactions depends on

many factors associated with the particular herb, drug and patient. Herbs

should be appropriately labeled to alert consumers to potential interactions

when concomitantly used with drugs, and to recommend a consultation with

their general practitioners and other medical carers. PMID: 15916450

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Smith EC, Williamson EM, Wareham N, Kaatz GW, Gibbons S.

Antibacterials and modulators of bacterial resistance from the immature

cones of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana.Phytochemistry. 2006 Nov 14; [Epub

ahead of print]. Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, The School

of Pharmacy, University of London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London

WC1N 1AX, UK. As part of an on-going project to characterize compounds

from immature conifer cones with antibacterial or modulatory activity against

multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of Staphylococcus aureus, eight

compounds were isolated from the cones of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana.

The active compounds were mainly diterpenes, with minimum inhibitory

concentrations ranging from 4 to 128mug/ml against MDR effluxing S.

aureus strains and two epidemic methicillin-resistant (EMRSA) clinical

isolates. The compounds extracted were the diterpenes ferruginol, pisiferol

and its epimer 5-epipisiferol, formosanoxide, trans-communic acid and

torulosal, the sesquiterpene oplopanonyl acetate and the germacrane

4beta-hydroxygermacra-1(10)-5-diene. Some of these compounds also

exhibited modulatory activity in potentiating antibiotic activity against

effluxing strains and ferruginol, used at a sub-inhibitory concentration,

resulted in an 80-fold potentiation of oxacillin activity against strain EMRSA-

15. An efflux inhibition assay using an S. aureus strain possessing the MDR

NorA efflux pump resulted in 40% inhibition of ethidium bromide efflux at

10muM ferruginol (2.86mug/ml). We report the (1)H and (13)C NMR data

for the cis A/B ring junction epimer of pisiferol which we have named 5-

epipisiferol. We also unambiguously assign all (1)H and (13)C NMR

resonances for trans-communic acid. PMID: 17109904 [PubMed - as

supplied by publisher]

 

Zhang X, Chen S, Wang Y. Honokiol up-regulates prostacyclin synthease

protein expression and inhibits endothelial cell apoptosis.Eur J Pharmacol.

2006 Oct 10; [Epub ahead of print]. Department of Pharmacology, School

of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.

Honokiol is a bioactive compound extracted from the Chinese medicinal

herb Magnolia officinalis (Houpo). We recently demonstrated that honokiol

inhibited arterial thrombosis through stimulation of prostacyclin (PGI(2))

generation and endothelial cell protection. The current study is designed to

investigate its mechanism of stimulation of PGI(2) generation and cell

protection. 6-keto-PGF1alpha, the stable metabolite of PGI(2), in the media

of rat aortic endothelial cells was measured with radioimmunoassay kits.

Indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (COX) and tranylcypromine, a

prostacyclin synthease inhibitor were used to ascertain the target enzyme

affected by honokiol. Prostacyclin synthease protein levels in endothelial

cells were determined by Western blot analysis using an anti-PGI(2)

synthease rabbit polyclonal antibody. Flow cytometry was used to quantify

the apoptotic cells and spectrophotometry was used to test the caspase-3

activity. Honokiol (0.376-37.6 muM) increased the level of 6-keto-

PGF1alpha in the media of normal endothelial cells. It counteracted the

inhibitory effect of tranylcypromine on the PGI(2) generation, but did not

influence the effect of indomethacin; evidently, honokiol up-regulated the

expression of prostacyclin synthease in the endothelial cells. These effects

showed perfect concentration-dependent behavior. In addition, at lower

concentration (0.376-3.76 muM), honokiol significantly decreased the

percentage of apoptotic endothelial cells induced by oxidized low-density

lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and significantly lowered the activity of caspase-3

stimulated by ox-LDL. A high dose of honokiol (37.6 muM), however, failed

to influence either of them. In conclusion, honokiol augments PGI(2)

generation in normal endothelial cells; its effect on PGI(2) generation

attributes to up-regulation of prostacyclin synthease expression; its cell

protection may be correlated with its inhibition on apoptosis of endothelial

cells. These findings have partly revealed the molecular mechanism of

honokiol on inhibiting arterial thrombosis. PMID: 17109844 [PubMed - as

supplied by publisher]

 

Li F, Dai XQ, Li Q, Wu Y, Chen XZ. Inhibition of polycystin-L channel by the

Chinese herb Sparganum stoloniferum Buch.-Ham. Can J Physiol

Pharmacol. 2006 Aug-Sep;84(8-9):923-7. Membrane Protein Research

Group, Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, 729 Medical

Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada. The Chinese herb

Sparganum stoloniferum Buch.-Ham. (SBH, Sanleng) often is used to

improve blood circulation and to rehabilitate vascular obstruction in TCM. It

was recently reported that SBH reduces the proliferation of renal epithelial

cells stimulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF), and inhibits the

phosphorylation of the EGF receptor. SBH has also been used as a trial

drug to treat polycystic kidney disease (PKD) patients in China. The

potential molecular actions of SBH on PKD remain unknown. Autosomal

dominant PKD (ADPKD) is associated with mutations in polycystin-1 or

polycystin-2 (PC2). PC2 and its homologue, polycystin-L (PCL), are

nonselective cation channels permeable to potassium, sodium, and

calcium. Here, we examine the effects of SBH on the human PCL channel

expressed in Xenopus oocytes, using 2-microelectrode voltage-clamp

electrophysiology and radiotracer uptake measurements. In PCL-expressing

oocytes, with or without preincubation with SBH, the PCL channel was

inhibited by SBH in a dose-dependent and reversible manner; a

concentration of 2% SBH completely abolished the channel activation. The

IC50 value for SBH was 0.48% +/- 0.03%, with a 10-min preincubation

period. SBH was also found to inhibit the PCL-mediated 45Ca tracer uptake

in oocytes. Our study suggests that SBH contains 1 or more yet-to-be

determined components that are inhibitors of PCL channel. The therapeutic

potential of SBH for ADPKD and its chemical composition remain to be

investigated. PMID: 17111037 [PubMed - in process]

 

Best regards,