Medline Hits on Herbal Medicine - Happy Christmas!

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Would intravaginal Interfreon + Aloe vera + Propolis + oral Vit B Complex

be worth trying in genital herpes also? See first abstract, below?

 

Iljazovic E, Ljuca D, Sahimpasic A, Avdic S Efficacy in treatment of cervical

hrhpv infection by combination of Beta interferon, and herbal therapy in

woman with different cervical lesions.. Bosn J Basic Med Sci. 2006

Nov;6(4):79-84. Pathology Department, Polyclinic for Laboratory Diagnostic,

University Clinics Center Tuzla, Trnovac 1, Gradina, 75 000 Tuzla, Bosnia

and Herzegovina. Cervical dysplasia, a premalignant lesion that can

progress to cervical cancer, is caused primarily by a sexually transmitted

infection with an oncogenic strain of the human papillomavirus (HPV). The

HPV infections are treated through destroying the clinical lesions: laser,

cryotherapy, podophylline... The hope is that by causing local tissue

inflammation that the body will be stimulated to mount an antibody response

and thereby prevent recurrence. In contrast to other prevention approaches,

vaccines can reduce susceptibility in uninfected partners by stimulating the

immune system. Aloa vera has also been reported to retard tumour growth

and stimulate the immune response to viruses. A list of possible actions of

propolis includes: antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant,

anticarcinogenic, antithrombotic and immunomodulatory. Research on the

possible role of some B vitamins in preventing cancer began in the last few

decades, but however this complex have an influence on immune status.

The aim of our study is to try to treat the HPV infection as confirmed cause

of neoplastic transformation with some herbal therapy and interferon and to

try define the guidelines in the management of the HPV positive patients.

Goal of this paper is to search for evidence of efficacy of any treatment for

HPV infection of the cervix mostly in woman with no concomitant CIN. 55

woman affected by HPV genital infection were enrolled in the study from

September 2005 to April 2006. Patients were classified according to the

results of HPV testing before and after therapy. Patients were randomized

into 2 groups: Group 1 (n=20; control group) was HPV positive women

treated with other than recommended therapy; Group 2 (n=35, treated

group) was treated with intravaginal administration of an interferon and aloe

vera - propolis with treatment of the possible fungal or bacterial genital

infection before the specific therapy. The almost same therapy was

recommended to the male partner. Patients from the Group 2 used B

complex during the therapy. Patients were retested for the HPV presence

after three or six month from therapy depend of the presence bacterial or

fungal genital coinfection. Three months after applied therapy HPV infection

was still present in more than 90% of the patients in the first group. In the

second group treated according to the recommended therapy scheme HPV

infection disappeared in 71,42% of the patients after three months and in

100% of patients after six months. Cervical smear samples for HPV

analysis were being taken during routine gyneacological examinations, by

using sticks with cotton, taken from the Digene Specimen Collection Kit,

from the whole surface of a portion, and by mild rotating moves from the

outer cervical entrance. Our results suggest that the combination of

interferon and herbal therapy with B complex is effective, atraumatic and

simple non-surgical treatment of HPV infection. Since prospective efficacy

trials will take several years to complete, considering alternative approaches

is also worthwhile. PMID: 17177657 [PubMed - in process]

 

Yen FL, Wu TH, Liao CW, Lin CC. A kampo medicine, Yin-Chiao-san,

Prevents bleomycin-induced pulmonary injury in rats. Phytother Res. 2006

Dec 20; [Epub ahead of print] Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical

Science, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung,

Taiwan. Yin-Chiao-San (YCS, Yin Qiao San)), a kampo medicine, is widely

used for patients with lung disease and was applied for the treatment of

SARS in Asia countries in 2003. We investigated the preventive effect of

YCS on bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in rats. Rats

were divided into 4 groups: (1) saline control group; (2) BLM-induced group,

in which 15 mg/kg BLM was intraperitoneally injected three times per week

for a period of 5 weeks; (3) BLM + vitamin E (10 mg/kg/day) as a positive

group; (4) and BLM + YCS (1g/kg/day). After 35 days, the rats were killed

and the lungs and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALFs) were collected.

Attenuation of pulmonary fibrosis was estimated according to the lung

index, malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), hydroxyproline (HP) and

tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) level in lung tissue and BALF.

Serial sections of lung were stained with haematoxylin-eosin and Masson

trichrome for histopathological observation of pulmonary fibrosis. The

results indicated that YCS significantly reduced the lung index, MDA, HP

and TNF-alpha, but YCS significantly enhanced the CAT level when

compared with the BLM-induced group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the BLM

group displayed severe histopathological change in the lung tissue, but YCS

treatment could attenuate the BLM-induced PF. In conclusion, the results

demonstrated that YCS possesses antioxidant and antiinflammatory

activities and also inhibited collagen formation. Thus, YCS had a preventive

effect in BLM-induced PF and it is suggested that YCS may be applied to

attenuate the side effects of BLM in chemotherapy. Copyright © 2006 John

Wiley & Sons, Ltd. PMID: 17177325 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

 

Winters M. Ancient medicine, modern use: Withania somnifera and its

potential role in integrative oncology. Altern Med Rev. 2006 Dec;11(4):269-

77. 2006 graduate, Bastyr University; private practice, Seattle, WA.

Correspondence address: marie.winters. Withania somnifera

Dunal (Ashwagandha) has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine to

increase longevity and vitality. Western research supports its

polypharmaceutical use, confirming antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune-

modulating, and antistress properties in the whole plant extract and several

separate constituents. This article reviews the literature pertaining to

Withania somnifera and its botanical constituents as antitumor agents and

in conjunction with radiation and chemotherapy treatment. Following a

search of MEDLINE and EBSCO databases, it can be concluded that

Withania somnifera reduces tumor cell proliferation while increasing overall

animal survival time. Furthermore, it has been shown to enhance the

effectiveness of radiation therapy while potentially mitigating undesirable

side effects. Withania somnifera also reduces the side effects of

chemotherapeutic agents cyclophosphamide and paclitaxel without

interfering with the tumor-reducing actions of the drugs. These effects have

been demonstrated in vitro on human cancer cell lines, and in vivo on

animal subjects, but there have been no human trials to date. Given its

broad spectrum of cytotoxic and tumor-sensitizing actions, Withania

somnifera presents itself as a novel complementary therapy for integrative

oncology care. PMID: 17176166 [PubMed - in process]

 

Kim DD, Sanchez FA, Duran RG, Kanetaka T, Duran WN. ENDOTHELIAL

NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE IS A MOLECULAR VASCULAR TARGET FOR

THE CHINESE HERB DANSHEN IN HYPERTENSION. Am J Physiol Heart

Circ Physiol. 2006 Dec 15; [Epub ahead of print] Pharmacology &

Physiology, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey,

United States. Danshen, a Chinese herb, reduces hypertension in Oriental

Medicine. We hypothesized that Danshen acts partially through endothelial

nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) signaling mechanisms. We tested the

hypothesis using tanshinone IIA, an active ingredient of Danshen, and the

2-kidney-1-clip renovascular (2K1C) hypertension model in hamsters. Oral

tanshinone (50 microg/100g of body weight) reduced mean arterial pressure

(MAP) from 161.2+/-6.9 to 130.0+/-7.8 mmHg (mean+/-SEM; p<0.05) in

hypertensive hamsters. MAP in sham-operated hamsters was 114.3+/-9.2

mmHg. Topical tanshinone at 1 microg/ml and 5 microg/ml increased

normalized arteriolar diameter from 1.00 to 1.25+/-0.08 and 1.57+/-0.11,

and increased periarteriolar nitric oxide concentration from 87.1+/-11.3 nM

to 146.9+/-23.1 nM (p<0.05) at 5 microg/ml in hamster cheek pouch. N(G)-

monomethyl-L-arginine inhibited tanshinone-induced vasodilatation.

Hypertension reduced eNOS protein relative to sham-operated control.

Tanshinone prevented the hypertension-induced reduction of eNOS, and

increased eNOS expression to levels higher than sham-operated control in

hamster cheek pouch. Topical tanshinone increased normalized arteriolar

diameter from 1.0 to 1.47+/-0.08 in the cremaster muscle of control mice

and to 1.12+/-0.13 in cremasters of eNOS-knockout mice. In ECV 304 cells

transfected with eNOS-green fluorescent protein, tanshinone increased

eNOS protein expression 1.35+/-0.05 and 1.85+/-0.07 -fold above control

after 5 min and 1 hr application, respectively. Tanshinone also increased

eNOS phosphorylation 1.19+/-0.07 and 1.72+/-0.20 -fold relative to control

after 5 min and 1 hr application. Our data provide a basis to understand the

action of a Chinese herb used in alternative medicine. We conclude that

eNOS stimulation is one mechanism by which tanshinone induces

vasodilatation and reduces blood pressure. Key words: complementary and

alternative medicine, hypertension, endothelial nitric oxide synthase,

tanshinone IIA, Radix Salvia miltiorrhizae. PMID: 17172272 [PubMed - as

supplied by publisher]

 

Yang XX, Hu ZP, Duan W, Zhu YZ, Zhou SF. Drug-herb interactions:

eliminating toxicity with hard drug design. Curr Pharm Des.

2006;12(35):4649-64. Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science,

National University of Singapore, Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543. By

searching the literatures, it was found that a total of 32 drugs interacting

with herbal medicines in humans. These drugs mainly include

anticoagulants (warfarin, aspirin and phenprocoumon), sedatives and

antidepressants (midazolam, alprazolam and amitriptyline), oral

contraceptives, anti-HIV agents (indinavir, ritonavir and saquinavir),

cardiovascular drug (digoxin), immunosuppressants (cyclosporine and

tacrolimus) and anticancer drugs (imatinib and irinotecan). Most of them are

substrates for cytochrome P450s (CYPs) and/or P-glycoprotein (PgP) and

many of which have narrow therapeutic indices. However, several drugs

including acetaminophen, carbamazepine, mycophenolic acid, and

pravastatin did not interact with herbs. Both pharmacokinetic (e.g. induction

of hepatic CYPs and intestinal PgP) and/or pharmacodynamic mechanisms

(e.g. synergistic or antagonistic interaction on the same drug target) may be

involved in drug-herb interactions, leading of altered drug clearance,

response and toxicity. Toxicity arising from drug-herb interactions may be

minor, moderate, or even fatal, depending on a number of factors

associated with the patients, herbs and drugs. Predicting drug-herb

interactions, timely identification of drugs that interact with herbs, and

therapeutic drug monitoring may minimize toxic drug-herb interactions. It is

likely to predict pharmacokinetic herb-drug interactions by following the

pharmacokinetic principles and using proper models that are used for

predicting drug-drug interactions. Identification of drugs that interact with

herbs can be incorporated into the early stages of drug development. A

fourth approach for circumventing toxicity arising from drug-herb

interactions is proper design of drugs with minimal potential for herbal

interaction. So-called " hard drugs " that are not metabolized by CYPs and

not transported by PgP are believed not to interact with herbs due to their

unique pharmacokinetic properties. More studies are needed and new

approached are required to minimize toxicity arising from drug-herb

interactions. PMID: 17168768 [PubMed - in process]

 

Kennedy DO, Scholey AB. The psychopharmacology of European herbs

with cognition-enhancing properties. Curr Pharm Des. 2006;12(35):4613-23.

Human Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, Division of Psychology, Northumbria

University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST UK. david.kennedy

Extensive research suggests that a number of plant-derived chemicals and

traditional Oriental herbal remedies possess cognition-enhancing

properties. Widely used current treatments for dementia include extracts of

Ginkgo biloba and several alkaloidal, and therefore toxic, plant-derived

cholinergic agents. Several non-toxic, European herbal species have pan-

cultural traditions as treatments for cognitive deficits, including those

associated with ageing. To date they have not received research interest

commensurate with their potential utility. Particularly promising candidate

species include sage (Salvia lavandulaefolia/officinalis), Lemon balm

(Melissa officinalis) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). In the case of

sage, extracts possess anti-oxidant, estrogenic, and anti-inflammatory

properties, and specifically inhibit butyryl- and acetyl-cholinesterase. Acute

administration has also been found to reliably improve mnemonic

performance in healthy young and elderly cohorts, whilst a chronic regime

has been shown to attenuate cognitive declines in sufferers from

Alzheimer's disease. In the case of Melissa officinalis, extracts have, most

notably, been shown to bind directly to both nicotinic and muscarinic

receptors in human brain tissue. This property has been shown to vary with

extraction method and strain. Robust anxiolytic effects have also been

demonstrated following acute administration to healthy humans, with

mnemonic enhancement restricted to an extract with high cholinergic

binding properties. Chronic regimes of aromatherapy and essential oil

respectively have also been shown to reduce agitation and attenuate

cognitive declines in sufferers from dementia. Given the side effect profile of

prescribed cholinesterase inhibitors, and a current lack of a well tolerated

nicotinic receptor agonist, these herbal treatments may well provide

effective and well-tolerated treatments for dementia, either alone, in

combination, or as an adjunct to conventional treatments. PMID: 17168769

[PubMed - in process]

 

Dos Santos-Neto LL, de Vilhena Toledo MA, Medeiros-Souza P, de Souza

GA. The use of herbal medicine in Alzheimer's disease-a systematic review.

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2006 Dec;3(4):441-5. Epub 2006

Oct 23. The treatments of choice in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are

cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA-receptor antagonists, although doubts

remain about the therapeutic effectiveness of these drugs. Herbal medicine

products have been used in the treatment of Behavioral and Psychological

Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) but with various responses. The objective

of this article was to review evidences from controlled studies in order to

determine whether herbs can be useful in the treatment of cognitive

disorders in the elderly. Randomized controlled studies assessing AD in

individuals older than 65 years were identified through searches of

MEDLINE, LILACS, Cochrane Library, dissertation Abstract (USA), ADEAR

(Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Trials Database), National Research Register,

Current Controlled trials, Centerwatch Trials Database and PsychINFO

Journal Articles. The search combined the terms Alzheimer disease,

dementia, cognition disorders, Herbal, Phytotherapy. The crossover results

were evaluated by the Jadad's measurement scale. The systematic review

identified two herbs and herbal formulations with therapeutic effects for the

treatment of AD: Melissa officinalis, Salvia officinalis and Yi-Gan San and

BDW (Ba Wei Di Huang Wan). Ginkgo biloba was identified in a meta-

analysis study. All five herbs are useful for cognitive impairment of AD. M.

officinalis and Yi-Gan San are also useful in agitation, for they have sedative

effects. These herbs and formulations have demonstrated good therapeutic

effectiveness but these results need to be compared with those of

traditional drugs. Further large multicenter studies should be conducted in

order to test the cost-effectiveness of these herbs for AD and the impact in

the control of cognitive deterioration. PMID: 17173107 [PubMed - in

process]

 

Kiyohara H, Nagai T, Munakata K, Nonaka K, Hanawa T, Kim SJ, Yamada

H. Stimulating effect of Japanese herbal (kampo) medicine, hochuekkito on

upper respiratory mucosal immune system.Evid Based Complement

Alternat Med. 2006 Dec;3(4):459-67. Epub 2006 Jun 24. Japanese herbal

(Kampo) medicine, Hochuekkito (Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang in Chinese, TJ-41)

and Juzentaihoto (Shi-Quan-Da-Bu-Tang in Chinese, TJ-48) are well-known

Kampo formulas used as tonic. Although these medicines have separately

been applied to the patients clinically depending on their symptoms, the

differences of the pharmacological activities for these medicines have not

been fully understood. TJ-48 and TJ-41 were compared for their effects on

antibody response in upper respiratory mucosal immune system in vivo.

Oral administration of TJ-41 (100 mg kg(-1) per day) to early aged BALB/c

mice, which were nasally sensitized with influenza hemagglutinin vaccine,

significantly enhanced influenza virus-specific IgA and IgG antibody titers in

nasal cavity and sera, respectively. However, oral administration of TJ-48

(100 mg kg(-1) per day) failed to show the enhancing activity. TJ-41

increased not only influenza virus-specific IgA antibody titer but also total

IgA antibody titer in nasal cavity. The stimulating activity of TJ-41

disappeared after treatment with methotrexate. The present study strongly

suggests that TJ-41 can stimulate the mucosal immune system of upper

respiratory tract, and results in enhancement of antigen-specific antibody

response in upper respiratory mucosal and systemic immune systems.

PMID: 17173109 [PubMed - in process]

 

Bhattacharjee R, Sil PC. Protein isolate from the herb, Phyllanthus niruri L.

(Euphorbiaceae), plays hepatoprotective role against carbon tetrachloride

induced liver damage via its antioxidant properties. Food Chem Toxicol.

2006 Nov 11; [Epub ahead of print] Department of Chemistry, Bose

Institute, 93/1, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata 700009, West

Bengal, India. Phyllanthus niruri L. (Euphorbiaceae) (P. niruri) is a well-

known hepatoprotective herbal plant. In the present study, hepatoprotective

potential of the protein isolate of P. niruri was investigated against carbon

tetrachloride (CCl(4)) induced liver damage in vivo. Protein isolate of P.

niruri was intraperitoneally injected in mice either prior to (preventive) or

after the induction of toxicity (curative). Levels of different liver marker

enzymes in serum and different anti-oxidant enzymes, as well as lipid

peroxidation products and glutathione (GSH) in liver homogenates were

measured in normal, control (toxicity induced) and protein isolate treated

mice. Administration of CCl(4) increased the serum glutamate pyruvate

transaminase (GPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels of mice sera

along with increased lipid peroxidation and reduced levels of antioxidant

enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the liver.

Treatment with the protein isolate of P. niruri significantly altered these

changes to almost normal. The protein isolate also showed protective

properties as was evidenced in histopathological studies. Results suggest

that the protein isolate of P. niruri protects liver tissues against oxidative

damage and somehow helps stimulating repair mechanism present in liver.

It could be used as an effective hepatoprotector against CCl(4) induced liver

damage. PMID: 17175085 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

 

Mansour HB, Boubaker J, Bouhlel I, Mahmoud A, Bernillon S, Chibani JB,

Ghedira K, Chekir-Ghedira L. Antigenotoxic activities of crude extracts from

Acacia salicina leaves. Environ Mol Mutagen. 2006 Dec 18; [Epub ahead of

print] Unite de Pharmacognosie/Biologie Moleculaire " degrees 99/UR/07-03

degrees " . Faculte de Pharmacie de Monastir. Rue Avicenne, 5000

Monastir, Tunisie. For centuries, plants have been used in traditional

medicine and there has been recent interest in the chemopreventive

properties of compounds derived from plants. In the present study, we

investigated the effects of extracts of Acacia salicina leaves on the

genotoxicity of benzo[a]pyrene (B(a)P) and nifuroxazide in the SOS

Chromotest. Aqueous, total oligomers flavonoids (TOF)-enriched,

petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts were

prepared from powdered Acacia leaves, and characterized qualitatively for

the presence of tannins, flavonoids, and sterols. All the extracts significantly

decreased the genotoxicity induced by 1 mug B(a)P (+S9) and 10 mug

nifuroxazide (-S9). The TOF-enriched and methanol extracts decreased the

SOS response induced by B(a)P to a greater extent, whereas the TOF-

enriched and the ethyl acetate extracts exhibited increased activity against

the SOS response produced by nifuroxazide. In addition, the aqueous, ethyl

acetate, and methanol extracts showed increased activity in scavenging the

1,1-diphenyl- 2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical, while 100-300 mug/ml of

all the test extracts were active in inhibiting ${\rm O}_2;{\cdot-}$ production

in a xanthine/xanthine oxidase system. In contrast, only the petroleum ether

extract was effective at inhibiting nitroblue tetrazolium reduction by the

superoxide radical in a nonenzymatic ${\rm O}_2;{\cdot-}$-generating

system. The present study indicates that extracts of A. salicina leaves are a

significant source of compounds with antigenotoxic and antioxidant activity

(most likely phenolic compounds and sterols), and thus may be useful for

chemoprevention. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PMID: 17177209 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

 

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