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Recent trends in anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory studies in modern health care.
Na, EJ, Kim, DJ, Kim, JH, Kim, GR
Technology and health care : official journal of the European Society for Engineering and Medicine. 2019;(5):519-530
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study was planned to investigate the research trends related to naturally derived anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity components. The main purpose of this study was to find out and develop natural health cosmetic ingredients which has high effects on lipid degradation, moisturizing and elasticity enhancement. OBJECTIVE We all hope this research provided systematic and practical data that can suggest an opportunity to further develop new products. METHODS This is a descriptive research which classified the natural and traditional components that have important obesity management effects based on the experimental technique (in vitro and in vivo). we investigated the effects of 13 natural raw materials selected through preliminary investigation on lipid metabolism related enzyme activity. We first introduced Ainsliaea acerifolea, Onion, pear, Sanguisorba, Limonium tetragonum, Cornus walteri, Loquat, and Loquat-which have recently been shown to be effective in anti-obesity tests, and then described the research methods by showing the effects of onion extracts, Glasswort, Pine Cone (Korean white pine), Orostachys japonicus, African mangoes, Pepper, and Clathratum (sea weed), which actually had effects on anti-obesity in the in vivo experiment. RESULTS As a result of investigating the effect of 13 natural raw materials selected through a preliminary investigation on lipid metabolism related enzyme activity, the study found nature-derived ingredients which induce anti-inflammatory and enhance the anti-obesity enzyme activity, and ingredients showing myriads of biological activities such as anti-oxidant, body fat reduction, lowering of blood cholesterol, and weight control. CONCLUSION In this paper, we would like to delve into the possibility of using natural components with natural lipid-lowering effect, and systematically and practically study if they can actually be helpful to develop new cosmetic products.
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Combating breast cancer using combination therapy with 3 phytochemicals: Piperine, sulforaphane, and thymoquinone.
Aumeeruddy, MZ, Mahomoodally, MF
Cancer. 2019;(10):1600-1611
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Abstract
Despite the significant advances in screening methods for early diagnosis, breast cancer remains a global threat and continues to be the leading cancer diagnosed in women, requiring effective therapy. Currently, combination therapy has become the hallmark of breast cancer treatment due to the high incidence of tumor recurrence and disease progression after monotherapeutic treatments, including surgery, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, and chemotherapy. Over the past decades, there has been considerable interest in studying the anticancer effect of bioactive phytochemicals from medicinal plants combined with these conventional therapies. The rationale for this type of therapy is to use combinations of drugs that work by different mechanisms, thereby decreasing the likelihood that cancer cells will develop resistance, and also reduce the therapeutic dose and toxicity of single treatments. Three agents have received great attention with regard to their anticancer properties: 1) piperine, a dietary phytochemical isolated from black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) and long pepper (Piper longum L.); 2) sulforaphane, an isothiocyanate mainly derived from cruciferous vegetables; and 3) thymoquinone, the active compound from black seed (Nigella sativa L.). This review focused on the combined effect of these 3 compounds on conventional cancer therapy with the objective of observing enhanced efficacy compared with single treatments. This review also highlights the importance of the nanoformulation of such bioactive phytochemicals that could enhance their bioavailability by providing an efficient targeted delivery system with a reduced systemic dose while resulting in a more efficient dosing at the target site.
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Medical Cannabis: A plurimillennial history of an evergreen.
Pisanti, S, Bifulco, M
Journal of cellular physiology. 2019;(6):8342-8351
Abstract
The history of Cannabis goes along that of humankind, as speculated based on geographical and evolutionary models together with historic data collected to date. Its medical use is several thousand years old, as attested both by archeobotanical evidence of Cannabis remains and written records found in ancient texts from the sacred Vedic foundational texts of Ayurvedic medicine (about 800 before current era [BCE]) to the first known Pharmacopoea, the Chinese "Shen Nung Pen Ts'ao Ching" (1 century BCE). In this paper, we retrace the history of Cannabis traveling through the key stages of its diffusion among the most important ancient cultures up to our days, when we are facing a renaissance of its medical employment. We report through the centuries evidence of its use in numerous pathologic conditions especially for its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and anticonvulsing properties that support the requirement to direct our present research efforts into the definitive understanding of its efficacy.
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Potential adverse outcomes of herbal preparation use in childhood.
Farrington, R, Musgrave, I, Byard, RW
Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992). 2019;(3):419-422
Abstract
AIM: Complementary and alternative medicines are becoming increasingly popular worldwide with a variety of purported medicinal uses. These products are generally believed to be natural and therefore safe, with few adverse reactions. With this perception, parents are now taking their children to see practitioners prescribing these medicines as well as self-prescribing. Despite this, there are issues regarding safety, efficacy and regulation, with increasing numbers of reports of adverse reactions to these products. Therefore, a mini-review was conducted to ascertain the potential risks to children. METHODS A overview of literature was conducted to highlight the current use of complementary and alternative medicines in children and the possible risks associated with their use. RESULTS Infants and children may be more susceptible to harmful effects due to their immature physiology and metabolic pathways and different dosage requirements. Adverse reactions may also be caused by interactions with conventional medicines, contamination with heavy metals, and adulteration of filler products including other plant species or pharmaceutical agents. CONCLUSION As complementary and alternative medicines become increasingly used alongside and with conventional drug therapy, there needs to be greater awareness and discussion among parents, complementary practitioners and medical practitioners to ensure the overall health and safety of children being exposed to these products.
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Medicinal plants brought by Indian indentured immigrants: A comparative review of ethnopharmacological uses between Mauritius and India.
Mahomoodally, MF, Protab, K, Aumeeruddy, MZ
Journal of ethnopharmacology. 2019;:245-289
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Mauritius is famous for its floricultural diversity and traditions practiced across the island by various ethnic groups. During the British rule in the 1835s, Indian indentured labourers migrated to Mauritius and played a very important role in shaping the Mauritian culture. They brought along their high heritage of traditional knowledge of certain medicinal herbs and spices. Nonetheless, there has been no comparative study to investigate whether these past traditional knowledge are still preserved in Mauritius and India. AIM OF THE STUDY To document and compare the traditional uses of medicinal herbs and spices brought by Indian indentured labourers with their current uses in Mauritius and India, and to review pharmacological studies of such plants. MATERIALS AND METHODS Locally published textbooks, research dissertations, and relevant records from the 'Mauritiana' section of the University of Mauritius library were scrutinised for possible early records of such herbs and spices brought by Indian indentured immigrants. Field trips and site visits to Mauritius Herbarium and The National Folk Museum were conducted to gather data on their traditional uses as practiced by the Indian indentured immigrants. A literature search was performed to gather the current ethnomedicinal uses of these plants in Mauritius and India using key databases such as ScienceDirect and PubMed, as well as thesis from local university website. Pharmacological studies on these plants were also reviewed in an attempt to compare the ethnomedicinal uses against reported ailments. RESULTS Indian labourers brought 18 medicinal plants for medicinal purposes as documented at the folk museum of Indian Immigration. Piper betle L., Azadirachta indica A. Juss., and Curcuma longa L. were common plants used by Indian indentured immigrants against a wide range of ailments. Data obtained from recent ethnomedicinal surveys revealed that A. indica and C. longa were the most traditionally used plants in India, while in Mauritius, C. longa was the most popular plant followed by Allium sativum L. and Ocimum tenuiflorum L. It was also found that all these plants are currently being used against a wide range of diseases in both countries. In addition, several studies have highlighted the pharmacological properties such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-pyretic, and anti-diabetic for some plants. CONCLUSION This investigation can be considered as a first attempt to document and compare traditional knowledge of medicinal plants brought by Indian immigrants. We observed that some of these knowledge are preserved and still practiced in Mauritius. It is anticipated that this study will revive the interest in safeguarding and promoting the ancestral knowledge on the uses of such plants.
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The Prevention and Therapy of Osteoporosis: A Review on Emerging Trends from Hormonal Therapy to Synthetic Drugs to Plant-Based Bioactives.
Gupta, T, Das, N, Imran, S
Journal of dietary supplements. 2019;(6):699-713
Abstract
Osteoporosis is one of the major health problems worldwide. It is characterized by increased bone fragility and loss of bone matter due to the action of osteoclast cells, which are associated with modified hormone levels and factors such as aging. Bisphosphonates are the primary treatment for osteoporosis. Apart from bisphosphonates, hormone therapy, calcitonin treatment, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), and strontium ranelate (SR) are some of the other treatments available for osteoporosis. However, these treatments have some side effects, such as oily skin, fluid retention, nausea, long-term toxicity, and even prostate cancer in males, and thus natural therapies that incur fewer side effects are sought. Phytochemicals, antioxidants, and other plant-based bioactives are important in the human diet. They are abundant in fruits and help against various chronic diseases, including bone disorders. Other providers of these important compounds are the medicinal plant parts. In this article, we highlight the various species of plants and herbs that are useful for the treatment of osteoporosis. The prospect of using these plant-based bioactives in amelioration of osteoporosis as an alternative to hormonal and synthetic drug-based therapy is also discussed.
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Phytotherapy and physical therapy in the management of chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
Hu, M, Wazir, J, Ullah, R, Wang, W, Cui, X, Tang, M, Zhou, X
International urology and nephrology. 2019;(7):1081-1088
Abstract
Chronic prostatitis (CP)/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) is one of the four category prostatitis, and the prevalence is over 90-95% in prostatitis. Because of its pain and obstructive voiding difficulties, it severely affects the quality of life of the patient. However, the standard treatment is still unclear. Given the lack of proven efficacy of conventional therapies (such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, and alpha-blockers), many patients have turned to phytotherapy and other alternative treatments. In recent years, phytotherapy and physical therapy have advanced a lot because of the safety, efficacy and high compliance. This review covers phytotherapy (quercetin, bee pollen, pumpkin seed oil, eviprostat, terpene mixture) and physical therapy (acupuncture, shock wave, thermobalancing, transurethral needle ablation, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation sono-electro-magnetic therapy) commonly used in chronic prostatitis to help the clinician and researchers.
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Mini Review: Wound healing potential of edible plants.
Muniandy, K, Gothai, S, Arulselvan, P, Kumar, SS, Norhaizan, ME, Umamaheswari, A, Fakurazi, S
Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences. 2019;(2):703-707
Abstract
Wound healing is a natural intricate cascade process involving cellular, biochemical and molecular mechanism to restore the injured or wounded tissue. Malaysia's multi-ethnic social fabric is reflected in its different traditional folk cuisines with different nutritional important ingredients. Despite these differences, there are some commonly used pantry ingredients among Malaysians and these ingredients may possess some healing power for acute and chronic wounds. These essential nutritional ingredients are included Amla (Ribes uva-crispa), Cinnamon (Cinnamomun venum), Curry Leaves (Murraya koenigii), Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), Garlic (Allium indica), Onion (Allium cepa) and Tamarind (Tamarindus indica). This article provides a review of the remedies with confirmed wound healing activities from previous experiments conducted by various researchers. Most of the researchers have focused only on the preliminary studies through appropriate model; hence detailed investigations which including pharmacological and pre-clinical studies are needed to discover its molecular mechanisms. In this review article, we have discussed about the wound healing potential of few commonly used edible plants and their known mechanism.
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Interaction between phytotherapy and oral anticancer agents: prospective study and literature review.
Clairet, AL, Boiteux-Jurain, M, Curtit, E, Jeannin, M, GĂ©rard, B, Nerich, V, Limat, S
Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England). 2019;(5):45
Abstract
Cancer is becoming more prevalent in elderly patient. Due to polypharmacy, older adults with cancer are predisposed to drug-drug interactions. There is also an increasing interest in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Thirty to seventy percent of patients with cancer have used CAM. Through pharmaceutical counseling sessions, we can provide advices on herb-drug interactions (HDI). All the patients seen in pharmaceutical counseling sessions were prospectively included. Information was collected during these sessions: prescribed medication (oral anticancer agents (OAA) and other drugs), CAM (phytotherapy especially), and use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. If pharmacist considered an interaction or an intervention clinically relevant, the oncologist was notified. Then, a literature review was realized to identify the potential HDI (no interactions, precautions for use, contraindication). Among 201 pharmacist counseling sessions, it resulted in 104 interventions related to 46 HDI, 28 drug-drug interactions and 30 others (wrong dosage, omission…). To determine HDI, we review 73 medicinal plants which are used by our patients with cancer and 31 OAA. A total of 1829 recommendations were formulated about 59 (75%) medical plants and their interaction with an OAA. Herb-drug interactions should not be ignored by healthcare providers in their management of cancer patients in daily practice.
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A comprehensive review of clinical studies with herbal medicine on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Moini Jazani, A, Nasimi Doost Azgomi, H, Nasimi Doost Azgomi, A, Nasimi Doost Azgomi, R
Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. 2019;(2):863-877
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a frequent medical condition characterized by both metabolic and reproductive disorders. Different pharmaceutical treatments have been proposed for PCOS. However, side effects of long-term treatments and their probable low efficacy have made complementary and alternative treatments a valuable option. Recent reports have indicated the increased use of complementary treatments. Herbal medicine, as part of complementary medicine, was find introduced in traditional Persian and Chinese medicine. Medicinal herbs have used for a long time in the treatment of gynecological and infertility problems of PCOS patients. In this study, we aimed to review herbal medicines used for PCOS worldwide. METHODS PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus databases were searched for clinical trials and Randomized Controlled Trials based on related keywords. Data were collected from 1990 to 2019. RESULTS According to a multitude of studies, a wide spectrum of herbs can be used to improve various aspects of PCOS. Herbs such as Cinnamomum verum, Trigonella foenum-graecum L., and Vitex agnus-castus can impact on menstrual and ovulatory dysfunctions, obesity, insulin resistance, lipid-metabolism dysfunction, and androgen excess-related conditions. CONCLUSION Some plants as natural remedies may have beneficial effects on improving different aspects of PCOS; but further studies are needed to investigate their mechanisms and safety.