Medline - Herbal Abstracts - Part 2

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Nakagawa T, Goto H, Hussein G, Hikiami H, Shibahara N, Shimada Y.

Keishibukuryogan ameliorates glucose intolerance and hyperlipidemia

in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats. Diabetes Res Clin

Pract. 2008 Jan 31 [Epub ahead of print] Dept of Kampo Diagnostics,

Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani,

Toyama 930-0194, Japan. Keishibukuryogan, one of the traditional

herbal formulations, is used clinically to improve blood circulation.

In this study, we examined the effects of keishibukuryogan on glucose

and lipids metabolism in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF)

rats, an animal model of type 2 diabetes. Forty-five-week-old male

OLETF rats were divided into three groups: diabetic control rats

given a standard chow; diabetic rats given keishibukuryogan (3%, w/w

in chow); diabetic rats given pioglitazone (0.01%, w/w in chow). Oral

administration of keishibukuryogan produced significant improvement

against impaired glucose tolerance. On the other hand, fasting serum

glucose and insulin levels, and the homeostasis index of insulin

resistance did not change by keishibukuryogan treatment. Against

lipid parameters, keishibukuryogan significantly lowered serum total

cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and the hepatic total

cholesterol level. Keishibukuryogan treatment also significantly

reduced the serum leptin level, but it had no effect on the serum

adiponectin level. Additionally, keishibukuryogan showed significant

effects on epididymal adipose tissue by decreasing the size of fat

cells and on skeletal muscle by reducing TNF-alpha protein content.

From these results, it was suggested that keishibukuryogan exerts

beneficial effects on the features associated with type 2 diabetes.

PMID: 18242756 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

 

Pérez-Ortega G, Guevara-Fefer P, Chávez M, Herrera J, Martínez A,

Martínez AL, González-Trujano ME. Sedative and anxiolytic efficacy of

Tilia americana var. mexicana inflorescences used traditionally by

communities of State of Michoacan, Mexico. J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Dec

23 [Epub ahead of print] Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de

la Fuente Muñiz, Calz. México-Xochimilco 101, Col. Sn Lorenzo

Huipulco, 14370 México, D.F., Mexico; Facultad de Ciencias,

Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Nacional

Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria Coyoacán, 04510 México,

D.F., Mexico. AIM OF THE STUDY: Increasing demand of herbal products

acquired in stores and markets, as well as medicinal plants collected

for personal consume are a known modern tendency. In this study, the

ethnomedicinal use of Tilia americana var. mexicana inflorescences as

sedative and anxiolytic is reinforced by examinating inflorescences

used by communities of the State of Michoacan, Mexico. MATERIALS AND

METHODS: Experimental mouse models were used to evaluate the sodium

pentobarbital (SP)-induced hypnosis potentiation, ambulatory

activity, as well as sedative and anti-anxiety responses via oral

administration of the aqueous extracts (10, 30 and/or 100 and

300mg/kg). RESULTS: All samples tested produced a lengthening in the

time of SP. Moreover, a significant attenuation in the anxiety-

response in the plus-maze test and a diminution in both the head

dipping response and ambulatory activity were observed resembling the

response to diazepam (0.3mg/kg, i.p.). TLC profiles of the samples

showed similar pattern of flavonoids; HPLC-DAD exhibited peaks

identified as derived of quercetin and kaempferol that may be

responsible for the plant activity. CONCLUSIONS: Our results

demonstrate that inflorescences of stored specimens obtained from

popular local markets show the same effectiveness with regard to

sedative and anxiolytic-like actions than freshly collected samples.

Since no toxicity was observed through this route of administration

(up to 5000mg/kg); therefore, it suggests that this plant is secure

when used as tranquilizer in folk medicine. PMID: 18242902 [PubMed -

as supplied by publisher]

 

Reed SD, Newton KM, LaCroix AZ, Grothaus LC, Grieco VS, Ehrlich K.

Vaginal, endometrial, and reproductive hormone findings: randomized,

placebo-controlled trial of black cohosh, multibotanical herbs, and

dietary soy for vasomotor symptoms: the Herbal Alternatives for

Menopause (HALT) Study. Menopause. 2008 Jan-Feb;15(1):51-8. Group

Health Center for Health Studies, Seattle, WA, USA.

reeds OBJECTIVE: To evaluate vaginal, endometrial,

and reproductive hormone effects of three herbal regimens compared

with placebo and hormone therapy (HT). DESIGN: This was a 1-year,

randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 351 women, ages

45 to 55, with two or more vasomotor symptoms per day. Women were

randomly assigned to (1) black cohosh, (2) a multibotanical

containing black cohosh, (3) the same multibotanical plus dietary soy

counseling, (4) HT, or (5) placebo. Women were ineligible if they had

used HT in the previous 3 months or menopausal herbal therapies in

the previous month. Data on vaginal cytology and dryness were

collected (at baseline and 3 and 12 mo). Daily menstrual diaries were

maintained by 313 women with a uterus, and abnormal bleeding was

evaluated. Serum estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing

hormone, and steroid hormone-binding globulin were assessed (baseline

and 12 mo) among 133 postmenopausal women. Gynecologic outcomes of

the five groups were compared. RESULTS: The five groups did not vary

in baseline vaginal cytology profiles, vaginal dryness, menstrual

cyclicity, or hormone profiles. The HT group had a lower percentage

of parabasal cells and vaginal dryness than the placebo group at 3

and 12 months (P < 0.05). Abnormal bleeding occurred in 53 of 313

(16.9%) women. There were no differences in frequency of abnormal

bleeding between any of the herbal and placebo groups, whereas women

in the HT group had a greater risk than those in the placebo group (P

< 0.001). Among postmenopausal women, HT significantly decreased

follicle-stimulating hormone and increased estradiol; none of the

herbal interventions showed significant effects on any outcomes at

any time point. CONCLUSION: Black cohosh, used alone or as part of a

multibotanical product with or without soy dietary changes, had no

effects on vaginal epithelium, endometrium, or reproductive hormones.

PMID: 18257142 [PubMed - in process]

 

Sashidhara KV, Rosaiah JN, Tyagi E, Shukla R, Raghubir R, Rajendran

SM. Rare dipeptide and urea derivatives from roots of Moringa

oleifera as potential anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive agents.

Eur J Med Chem. 2007 Dec 28 [Epub ahead of print] Division of

Medicinal and Process Chemistry, Central Drug Research Institute,

Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India. In the course of our studies on

the isolation of bioactive compounds from the roots of Moringa

oleifera, a traditional herb in southeast Asia, rare aurantiamide

acetate 4 and 1,3-dibenzyl urea 5 have been isolated and

characterized. And also, this is the first report of isolation from

this genus. Isolated compound inhibited the production of TNF-alpha

and IL-2; further compound 5 showed significant analgesic activities

in a dose dependant manner. These findings may help in understanding

the mechanism of action of this traditional plant leading to control

of activated mast cells on inflammatory conditions like arthritis,

for which the crude extract has been used. PMID: 18243423 [PubMed -

as supplied by publisher]

 

Shinno H, Inami Y, Inagaki T, Nakamura Y, Horiguchi J. Effect of Yi-

Gan San on psychiatric symptoms and sleep structure at patients with

behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Prog

Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2008 Jan 11 [Epub ahead of

print] Dept of Psychiatry, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, 89-

1 Enya, Izumo, Shimane 693-8501, Japan; Dept of Neuropsychiatry,

Kagawa University School of Medicine, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki, Kita,

Kagawa 761-0793, Japan. OBJECTIVE: Recently, traditional herbal

medicines have been reported to be effective for behavioral and

psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). This study aims to examine

the efficacy of Yi-Gan San (YGS) in the improvement of BPSD and sleep

disorders in patients with dementia. METHODS: Five patients (1 male

and 4 female) with dementia in accordance with DSM-IV criteria were

investigated. Participants were treated with YGS for 4 weeks. The

Nursing Home version of Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI-NH) for the

assessment of BPSD, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for

cognitive function, polysomnography for evaluation of sleep

structure, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for subjective

sleep quality were carried out at baseline and at the end of

treatment. RESULTS: All patients completed the trial. Significant

improvements in the total NPI-NH score (34.0+/-6.5 to 12.8+/-6.6) as

well as delusions, hallucinations, agitation/aggression, anxiety, and

irritability/lability, whereas MMSE scores were unchanged. PSG

revealed increases in total sleep time, sleep efficiency, stage 2

sleep, and decreases in the number of arousals and periodic limb

movements. Subjective sleep quality was also improved. No adverse

effects were observed. CONCLUSION: YGS was effective for BPSD and

sleep disturbances, and well tolerated in patients with dementia.

Further examinations using a double-blind placebo-controlled design

are necessary. PMID: 18243460 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

 

Tian SL, Zhou YM, Huang T, Xue ZZ, He W. [Effects of Yisui Jiedu

Recipe on JAK2-STAT5 signal transduction pathway in bone marrow

hematopoietic cells from patients with myelodysplastic syndrome-

refractory anemia.] [Article in Chinese] Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao.

2008 Mar;6(2):185-9. Dept of Hematology, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai

University of Traditional , Shanghai 200032, China; E-

mail: victorytian. Objective: To investigate the effect of

Yisui Jiedu Recipe (YSJDR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal

medicine, on cytokines and their corresponding just another kinase 2-

signal transducers and activators of transcription 5 (JAK2-STAT5)

signal transduction pathway in bone marrow hematopoietic cells from

patients with myelodysplastic syndrome-refractory anemia (MDS-RA).

Methods: Fluorogenic quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR)

method was established to detect the levels of JAK2, STAT5 and Bcl-xL

mRNA expressions, and JAK2-STAT5 signal transduction pathway was

activated by granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-

CSF) in cultured bone marrow hematopoietic cells from 10 patients

with MDS-RA. The levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-3 (IL-

3), gamma-interferon (gamma-INF) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-

alpha) in the cultural supernatant of untreated control, AG490-

treated and YSJDF-treated cells were measured by enzyme-linked

immunosorbent assay. Results: The levels of IL-2 and TNF-alpha in

YSJDR-treated group were significantly lower than those in untreated

control group and AG490-treated group (P<0.01, P<0.05), and IL-3

level in YSJDP-treated group was remarkably higher than that in the

other two groups (P<0.01). There were no significant differences in

the levels of IL-2 and IL-3 between AG490-treated group and untreated

control group (P>0.05), while the TNF-alpha level in AG490-treated

group was decreased obviously as compared with the untreated control

group (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in gamma-INF

level between YSJDR-treated group and AG490-treated group (P>0.05),

while TNF-alpha level in the two groups were significantly lower than

that in the untreated control group (P<0.01). The expressions of

JAK2, STAT5 and Bcl-xL mRNAs were significantly down-regulated in the

YSJDR-treated and the AG490-treated groups as compared with those in

the untreated control group (P<0.05, P<0.01), while there were no

differences in the expressions of JAK2, STAT5 and Bcl-xL mRNAs

between YSJDR-treated group and AG490-treated group. Conclusion:

YSJDR can modulate cytokine level in bone marrow hematopoietic cells

of MDS-RA, suppress JAK2-STAT5 signal transduction, and inhibit the

Bcl-xL mRNA expression. PMID: 18241656 [PubMed - in process]

 

Tian Y, Qin L, Ni KZ. [Clinical observation of Zhihua Decoction in

treatment of atrophic gastritis complicated by intestinal metaplasia

and dysplasia: a report of 78 cases.] [Article in Chinese] Zhong Xi

Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2008 Mar;6(2):194-6. Dept of Traditional Chinese

Internal Medicine, Shanghai Tianshan Traditional

Hospital, Shanghai 200051, China; E-mail: tianyun0145.

PMID: 18241658 [PubMed - in process]

 

Wang L, Zhang RM, Zhao YL, Feng GX, Pan DJ, Huang XY, Li TQ. [A

multiple center, randomized, controlled, double-blinded and double-

dummy trial of Yiqing Shuangjie Capsule and Tablet in treating acute

upper respiratory tract infection with the syndrome of heat attacking

the lung and Weifen.] [Article in Chinese] Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue

Bao. 2008 Mar;6(2):139-47. Dept of Integrated Chinese and Western

Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan

Provice 610041, China; E-mail: wunglei. Objective: To

evaluate the efficacy and safety of Yiqing Shuangjie Capsule and

Tablet in treating acute upper respiratory tract infection with wind-

warm syndrome. Methods: The multiple center, double-blinded, double-

dummy and randomized controlled method was conducted. Three hundred

and sixty patients were randomly divided into the treatment group A

(n=120, treated with Yiqing Shuangjie Capsule and Chaihuang

analogues), treatment group B (n=120, treated with Yiqing Shuangjie

Tablet and Chaihuang analogues) and the control group (n=120, treated

with Chaihuang Tablet and Yiqing Shuangjie Capsule analogues). Every

drug was administered 3 pills each time. Patients in the three groups

were all treated for 5 days and three times daily. The accumulated

scores of syndrome, clinical symptoms, adverse effect and body

temperature were recorded before and after the treatment. The safety

indexes, such as routine tests of blood, urine and stool, hepatic and

renal function tests and electrocardiogram (ECG) were taken before

and after the treatment. Results: Three cases were excluded and

eighteen cases lost to follow-up. There were 343 patients who entered

to the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis and 339 patients fitted in

the per-protocol population set (PPS) analysis. After treatment, the

therapeutic effects of respiratory tract infection were calculated by

ITT and PPS analysis respectively. The rates of total obvious effect

were 84.96% and 87.27% respectively in the treatment group A, and the

total response rates were 96.46% and 97.27% respectively. The rates

of total obvious effect were 85.47% and 86.20% respectively in the

treatment group B, and the total response rates were 97.45% and

97.41% respectively. In the control group, the rates of total obvious

effect both were 72.57%, and the total response rates both were

99.12%. There was significant difference among the three groups

(P<0.05). The effects of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome were

also detected by ITT and PPS analysis respectively. In the treatment

group A, the total obvious effect rates were 84.07% and 85.46%

respectively, and the total response rates were 96.46% and 97.27%

respectively. In the treatment group B, the rates of total obvious

effect were 88.89% and 89.65% respectively, and the total response

rates were 97.44% and 97.41% respectively. In the control group, the

rates of total obvious effect both were 72.57%, and total response

rates both were 99.12%. There was also statistical significant

difference among the three groups (P<0.05). ITT and PPS analysis had

the same results. No adverse effect was found in the trial.

Conclusion: Yiqing Shuangjie Capsule and Tablet are effective and

safe in treating acute upper respiratory tract infection of wind heat

syndrome without obvious adverse effect. PMID: 18241647 [PubMed - in

process]

 

Wang WJ, Wu ZK, Zhang XH, Liu YM, Fang SP, Wang RX, Zhang C, Li PP,

Luo RG. [Clinical observation of Yisui Shengxue Granule in treating

25 patients with hemoglobin H disease.] [Article in Chinese] Zhong Xi

Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2008 Mar;6(2):153-6. Dept of Molecular Biology,

Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences,

Beijing 100053, China; E-mail: gamwuzhikui. Objective: To

investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of Yisui Shengxue

Granule (YSSXG), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine for

reinforcing kidney and nourishing blood, in treating hemoglobin H

(HbH) disease. Methods: YSSXG was given orally to 25 patients with

HbH disease in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (high incidence area

for HbH disease in China) for 3 months as one therapeutic course, 3

times a day, 10 g YSSXG was given each time (dose of YSSXG for

children should be reduced properly), and blood transfusion was not

given to HbH patients during the course of treatment. The levels of

hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC), HbH and reticulocyte (Ret)

were observed before and after YSSXG treatment, and side effects were

observed during the course of treatment. Meanwhile, the genotype was

examined, and the clinical efficacy of YSSXG in treating HbH patients

with different genotype was evaluated. Results: The levels of Hb, RBC

and Ret were obviously increased after YSSXG treatment from the first

month to the end of treatment (P<0.01). After YSSXG treatment, the

levels of Hb, RBC, Ret in 12 HbH patients with gene deletion were

elevated (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the levels of Hb and Ret in 13 HbH

patients with gene non-deletion were increased obviously (P<0.05,

P<0.01). The total response rate was 84% after 3-month treatment, and

there was no statistical difference in clinical efficacy between gene

deletion HbH patients and non-deletion HbH patients. No adverse

effect was observed during the course of treatment. Conclusion: YSSXG

is effective and safe for treatment of HbH disease. YSSXG can improve

the levels of Hb, RBC and Ret in HbH patients, especially in gene

deletion HbH patients. PMID: 18241649 [PubMed - in process]

 

Zhang H, Xu XG, Gu J. [impact of the method of cooling blood to

remove stasis on tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-10 mRNA

expressions in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of rats with

experimental autoimmune thyroiditis.] [Article in Chinese] Zhong Xi

Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2008 Mar;6(2):190-3. Dept of Dermatology, Changhai

Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China;

E-mail: gujun79 Objective: To explore the effects of Liangxue

Huayu therapy (LXHYT), a traditional Chinese herbal therapy for

cooling blood and dissipating blood stasis, on rat model of

experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) and its impact on tumor

necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-10 mRNA expressions in

peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Methods: Forty Wistar rats were

randomly divided into five groups: normal control group, untreated

EAT group, cyclosporine A (CyA)-treated group, Tripterygium

glycosides-treated group and Liangxue Huayu Recipe (LXHYR)-treated

group. The interventions were given by gavage to the rats in

different groups once a day. All rats were sacrificed after 4-week

treatment, and the level of serum thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) and

the changes of histological grade of thyroid specimen were assessed

by blind evaluation. Expressions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-

alpha) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNAs in peripheral blood

mononuclear cells were assessed by real-time reverse transcription

polymerase chain reaction method. Results: There was a significant

increase in the serum TgAb level and severe inflammatory infiltration

in the untreated group. Expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in peripheral

blood mononuclear cells was increased, while the expression of IL-10

mRNA was decreased in the untreated group (P<0.01). Compared with the

untreated group, CyA, Tripterygium glycosides and LXHYF could

decrease the serum TgAb level (P<0.05), but the three interventions

showed no significantls improvement in thyroid inflammation (P>0.05).

TNF-alpha mRNA expression was decreased, while IL-10 mRNA expression

was increased as compared with the untreated group (P<0.05).

Conclusion: LXHYT can decrease the serum TgAb level and recover the

balance of Th1/Th2. This may provide an experimental basis for

further research of assessing the antipsoriatic effect of Chinese

herbal drugs with a rat model of EAT as an alternative model of

psoriasis in vivo. PMID: 18241657 [PubMed - in process]

 

Zhou Y, Wei Y, Zhang P, Gao S, Ning G, Zhang Z, Hu B, Wang D, Yan M,

Liu W. The short-term therapeutic effect of the three-part

massotherapy for insomnia due to deficiency of both the heart and the

spleen--a report of 100 cases. J Tradit Chin Med. 2007 Dec;27(4):261-

4. The Third Affiliated Hospital of Henan College of Traditional

, Zhengzhou 450008, China. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the

short-term therapeutic effect of the three-part massotherapy on

insomnia due to deficiency of both the heart and spleen. METHODS: Two

hundred cases were randomly divided into a treatment group and a

control group, each consisting of 100 cases. Patients in the

treatment group were treated with the three-part massotherapy, while

those in the control group with oral administration of Guipi Wan

(Pill for Invigorating the Spleen and Nourishing the Heart). The

total clinical therapeutic effects, the total scores of Pittsburgh

Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Self-

rating Depression Scale (SDS) of the treatment group were compared

with those of the control group. RESULTS: After the treatment, the

total therapeutic effects, PSQI, SAS, and SDS of the two groups all

showed significant improvement (P<0.01), and the scores of the

treatment group were superior to those of the control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: The three-part massotherapy has definite therapeutic

effects on insomnia due to deficiency of both the heart and the

spleen, which is safe and easy to operate, and worthy of

popularization. PMID: 18246681 [PubMed - in process]