Recent Medline Abstracts on Herbal Medicine

Format of a weekly search of PubMed Medline for herbal abstracts

(just change the starting date (2004/3/6) and ending date

(2004/3/12), as needed):

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed & orig_db

=PubMe

d & term=(2004/3/6%20%5BEdat%5D:2004/3/12%20%5BEdat%5D)

%20AND%20(herb?%

20OR%20herbal*%20OR%20phytother*%20OR%22%20phyto-

ther*%22%20OR%20kamp

o%20OR%20kanpo%20OR%20Ayurved*) & cmd=search

 

[No authors listed] | Bacopa monniera - Monograph. | Altern Med

Rev. 2004 Mar;9(1):79-85. | | Bacopa monniera, also referred to as

Bacopa monnieri, Herpestis monniera, water hyssop, and

" Brahmi, " has been used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine for

centuries. Traditionally, it was used as a brain tonic to enhance

memory development, learning, and concentration, and to provide

relief to patients with anxiety or epileptic disorders. The plant has

also been used in India and Pakistan as a cardiac tonic, digestive

aid, and to improve respiratory function in cases of

bronchoconstriction. Recent research has focused primarily on

Bacopa's cognitive-enhancing effects, specifically memory,

learning, and concentration, and results support the traditional

Ayurvedic claims. Research on anxiety, epilepsy, bronchitis and

asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastric ulcers also supports

the Ayurvedic uses of Bacopa. Bacopa's antioxidant properties

may offer protection from free radical damage in cardiovascular

disease and certain types of cancer. | PMID: 15005647 [PubMed -

as supplied by publisher]

 

[No authors listed] | Echinacea, colds, and children--finally, a good

study. | Child Health Alert. 2004 Jan;22:1-2. | | | PMID: 15002392

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Aladag M, Gurakar A, Jalil S, Wright H, Alamian S, Rashwan S,

Sebastian A, Nour B. | A liver transplant center experience with

liver dialysis in the management of patients with fulminant hepatic

failure: a preliminary report. | Transplant Proc. 2004 Jan-

Feb;36(1):203-5. | Integris Baptist Medical Center, N. Zuhdi

Transplantation Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. |

Among extracorporeal liver support devices, liver dialysis is cleared

by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be used for the

management of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). The outcomes of

patients following liver dialysis need to be clearly evaluated. Among

the 25 patients with FHF admitted to the Liver ICU between May

2000 and November 2002, 12 underwent liver dialysis, including 6

men and 6 women, of mean age 32 years. The causes of FHF were

identified as acetaminophen (n = 10), herbal medications (n = 1)

and autoimmune disease (n = 1). At presentation, the mean total

bilirubin was 9.35 mg/dL (range, 0 to 1.3), mean ALT 3015 U/L

(range, 0 to 48), mean AST 3457 (range, 0 to 42), mean ammonia

98 micromol/L (range, 10 to 60) and mean INR 1.88. A control

group including 13 patients (2 men and 11 women), of mean age

27.8 years mean total bilirubin 5.66, mean ALT 3494, mean AST

3528, mean ammonia 113 and mean INR 3, were not treated with

liver dialysis, due to the lack of machine availability or physician's

choice. The causes of FHF were acute hepatitis B (n = 1),

acetaminophen (n = 10) or unknown (n = 2). There was no

statistically significant difference in the baseline characteristics of

the two groups (P >.05). Among the liver dialysis group, 1 patient

died, 2 underwent OLTx, and 9 were discharged home. Among the

control group; 4 patients died, 2 underwent OLTx, and 7 were

discharged home. Preliminary results seem to support survival

benefit among patients who underwent liver dialysis compared to

non-liver dialysis; however, further randomized control trials are

warranted to verify this observation. | PMID: 15013346 [PubMed - in

process]

 

Amato P, Marcus DM. | Review of alternative therapies for

treatment of menopausal symptoms. | Climacteric. 2003

Dec;6(4):278-84. | Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology,

Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. | Many

women use alternative therapies to treat hot flushes and other

menopausal symptoms. The purpose of this review is to

summarize current information on the efficacy and safety of

phytoestrogens and the herbal medicine black cohosh. A

preponderance of evidence indicates that phytoestrogens are

ineffective in treating hot flushes. Trials of black cohosh, many of

which are small, of limited duration and of poor methodological

quality, provide conflicting results, and at present it is unclear

whether black cohosh is more effective than placebo. Although

phytoestrogens and black cohosh appear to be safe when used for

short periods of time, much larger and longer studies are needed to

detect infrequent but potentially serious adverse events. Women

who do not wish to take hormone therapy to

treat menopausal symptoms should be encouraged to consider

using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other

conventional therapeutic options. | PMID: 15006249 [PubMed -

in process]

 

Cano JH, Volpato G. | Herbal mixtures in the traditional

medicine of Eastern Cuba. | J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Feb;90(2-

3):293-316. | BIOECO, Centro Oriental de Ecosistemas y

Biodiversidad, Jose A Saco 601 esq Barnada, 90100, Santiago

de Cuba, Cuba. | Herbal mixtures in the traditional medicine of

Eastern Cuba. Traditional herbal mixtures in Eastern Cuba are

investigated through interviews with 130 knowledgeable people

and traditional healers of the provinces of Santiago de Cuba and

Guantanamo. One hundred seventy plant species and other

products are used in 199 formulas, galones being the more

complex. Cocos nucifera L. (Arecaceae), Bidens pilosa L.

(Asteraceae), Cissus sicyoides L. (Vitaceae), Erythroxylum

havanense Jacq. (Erythroxylaceae) and Stachytarpheta

jamaicensis (L.) Vahl. (Verbenaceae) are the species most

frequently cited. The ecological distribution of the taxa and

cultural and anthropological aspects of mixtures are highlighted;

particularly American and African influences that have shaped

local knowledge about plant combinations are discussed. |

PMID: 15013195 [PubMed - in process]

 

Chen HB, Islam MW, Radhakrishnan R, Wahab SA, Naji MA.

| Influence of aqueous extract from Neurada procumbens L. on

blood pressure of rats. | J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Feb;90(2-

3):191-4. | Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology,

Zayed Complex for Herbal Research and Traditional Medicine,

Ministry of Health, Post Box 29300, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia. |

Neurada procumbens is a desert plant in the Arabian Peninsula.

It has been considered edible by Bedouin and has been used

traditionally as a medicinal herb. During a screening test of

Arabian plants, the aqueous extract of Neurada procumbens

increased the blood pressure of anaesthetized normotensive rats

when it was administered orally. Further studies proved it

elevated the blood pressure of conscious SHR, and produced

vasoconstriction on the aortic strips of rats in vitro, which was

reduced partially by phentolamine. This study demonstrates that

the aqueous extract of the plant has an effect of increasing blood

pressure that might be mediated through alpha-adrenergic

receptors. Though more investigations are needed to prove its

effect in humans, the present study warns that Neurada

procumbens might not be so safe as it has been considered, and

people, especially those with cardiovascular diseases, should be

careful when they use the plant. | PMID: 15013180 [PubMed -

in process]

 

Chen JH, Hsiao G, Lee AR, Wu CC, Yen MH. |

Andrographolide suppresses endothelial cell apoptosis via

activation of phosphatidyl inositol-3-kinase/Akt pathway. |

Biochem Pharmacol. 2004 Apr 1;67(7):1337-45. | Graduate

Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center,

Taipei 114, Taiwan, ROC. | Andrographolide (Andro), an

active component isolated from the Chinese official herbal

Andrographis paniculata, which has been reported to prevent

oxygen radical production and thus prevent inflammatory

diseases. In this study, we investigated the molecular

mechanisms and signaling pathways by which Andro protects

human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) from growth

factor (GF) deprivation-induced apoptosis. Results

demonstrated that HUVECs undergo apoptosis after 18hr of

GF deprivation but that this cell death was suppressed by the

addition of Andro in a concentration-dependent manner (1-

100microM). Andro suppresses the mitochondrial pathway of

apoptosis by inhibiting release of cytochrome c into the

cytoplasm and dissipation of mitochondrial potential

(Deltapsi(m)), as a consequence, prevented caspase-3 and -9

activation. Treatment of endothelial cells with Andro-induced

activation of the protein kinase Akt, an anti-apoptotic signal, and

phosphorylation of BAD, a down-stream target of Akt.

Suppression of Akt activity by wortmannin, by LY-294002 and

by using a dominant negative Akt mutant abolished the anti-

apoptotic effect of Andro. In contrast, the ERK1/2 activities

were not affected by Andro. The ERK1/2 inhibitor, PD98059

failed to antagonize the protective effect of Andro. In conclusion,

Andro exerts its anti-apoptotic potential via activation of the Akt-

BAD pathway in HUVECs and thus may represent a candidate

of therapeutic agent for atherosclerosis. | PMID: 15013849

[PubMed - in process]

 

Delgado-Aros S, Cremonini F, Talley NJ. | Treatment of

Functional Dyspepsia. | Curr Treat Options Gastroenterol. 2004

Apr;7(2):121-131. | Clinical Enteric Neuroscience Translational

& Epidemiological Research Program, Mayo Clinic, Charlton 8-

138, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

talley.nicholas | Functional dyspepsia is a common

chronic condition. It can have a major impact on quality of life

and remains a large burden on healthcare resources. Its

underlying mechanisms are not fully understood and therapies

are mainly empirical. In this review, we summarize the best

evidence on available therapeutic interventions in functional

dyspepsia. Helicobacter pylori eradication, for those infected, is

likely a safe and cost-effective strategy but benefits only a

minority. Antisecretory agents such as proton-pump inhibitors

and histamine-2 receptor antagonists have shown some benefit

and are recommended as the first-line option in the absence of

H. pylori infection. There is a lack of strong evidence of benefit

from prokinetic agents, and cisapride, the most studied agent, is

largely unavailable. Antidepressants need to be adequately

tested in functional dyspepsia, but both psychotherapy and

hypnotherapy interventions have shown promising results.

Herbal therapies need further study in these patients. 5-

Hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT(3)) and 5-HT(4) receptor

antagonists, and cholecystokinin type A and neurokinin receptor

antagonists remain promising emerging therapies. | PMID:

15010026 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

 

Dutta AP, Dutta AP, Bwayo S, Xue Z, Akiyode O, Ayuk-Egbe

P, Bernard D, Daftary MN, Clarke-Tasker V. | Complementary

and alternative medicine instruction in nursing curricula. | J Natl

Black Nurses Assoc. 2003 Dec;14(2):30-3. | College of

Pharmacy, Nursing, and Allied Health, Howard University,

Washington, DC 20059, USA. adutta | With an

ever-increasing number of consumers reportedly using non-

conventional methods of disease management, nurses have now

been recognized as key providers in education on

complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM). The risk of

herb-drug interactions secondary to consumer use of alternative

medicines further increases the need for nurses to assume the

role of patient educators in the area of CAM. Many nurses,

however, feel rather ill-prepared to properly care for patients

using CAM due to inadequate instruction on the subject matter

during their training. Many nursing educators have now moved

to address such concerns by considering including education on

CAM therapies in the nursing school curriculum. This study

evaluated CAM education in US nursing schools to gain a

perspective on how nursing students are currently being trained.

A survey questioning CAM education was administered to 148

nursing schools and collected over a 3-month period. The results

indicate that nearly half of the responding schools offered some

form of education on CAM in their curriculum with electives

being the primary form of instruction. Teaching methodologies

on CAM instruction in the curriculum included group discussion

on CAM topics, lectures, and review of case studies. The

majority of faculty respondents in this study held Ph.D. degrees

followed by instructors holding a MS, DNS, and/or MSN

degree. | PMID: 15011942 [PubMed - in process]

 

Gwynne M, Newton W. | Geranium extract reduces bronchitis

symptoms. | J Fam Pract. 2004 Mar;53(3):180-1. | Department

of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,

Chapel Hill, NC USA. E-mail: warren_newton |

This study provides very good evidence that geranium root

(Pelargonium sidoides) extract significantly reduces the severity

and duration of acute bronchitis symptoms with minimal side

effects. Clinicians should recommend this extract for acute

bronchitis. Umcka, a geranium root extract, is marketed in the

US, but clinicians should keep in mind that purity and

standardization of herbal products are not regulated, and that

this report did not include children or pregnant women. | PMID:

15000917 [PubMed - in process]

 

Jagtap AG, Shirke SS, Phadke AS. | Effect of polyherbal

formulation on experimental models of inflammatory bowel

diseases. | J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Feb;90(2-3):195-204. |

Department of Pharmacology, Bombay College of Pharmacy,

Kalina, Santacruz (E), Mumbai 400 098, India. | A polyherbal

ayurvedic formulation from an ancient authentic classical text of

ayurveda was evaluated for its activity against inflammatory

bowel disease (IBD). The polyherbal formulation contained four

different drugs viz., Bilwa (Aegle marmeloes), Dhanyak

(Coriandrum sativum), Musta (Cyperus rotundus) and Vala

(Vetiveria zinzanioids). The formulation has been tried before in

clinical practice and was found to be useful in certain number of

cases of IBD (ulcerative colitis), so was tried in the same form

i.e., decoction (aqueous extract) in experimental animals to

revalidate the claims of the same. The formulation was tried on

two different experimental animal models of inflammatory bowel

disease, which are acetic acid-induced colitis in mice and

indomethacin-induced enterocolitis in rats. Prednisolone was

used as the standard drug for comparison. The formulation

showed significant inhibitory activity against inflammatory bowel

disease induced in these experimental animal models. The

activity was comparable with the standard drug prednisolone.

The results established the efficacy of this polyherbal formulation

against inflammatory bowel diseases. | PMID: 15013181

[PubMed - in process]

 

Kim B, Kim J, Kim A, Kim YS, Lee YR, Bae YM, Cho S,

Rhyu MR. | Ligusticum wallichi-induced vasorelaxation mediated

by mitogen-activated protein kinase in rat aortic smooth muscle.

| J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Feb;90(2-3):397-401. | Department

of Physiology, College of Medicine, Konkuk University,

Danwol-dong 322, Chungju, Choong-Buk 380-701, South

Korea. bkkim2 | Traditional herbal medicines have

been widely used for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders in

oriental countries. To determine the effects of Ch1LW, a

chloroform extract of Ligusticum wallichi, on the vascular

system, we studied changes in rat aortic smooth muscle in terms

of magnitude of contraction and the activity of mitogen-activated

protein kinases (MAPKs). Ch1LW inhibited the muscle

contraction induced by norepinephrine (NE) in aortic strips.

Ch1LW also abolished Ca2+-independent contraction evoked

by 12-deoxyphorbol 13-isobutyrate in Ca2+-free medium

containing 1 mM EGTA. Furthermore, western blotting analysis

using phosphorylated MAPK antibodies showed that NE

increased the activity of both extracellular signal-regulated kinase

1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 MAPK, which were inhibited by

PD98059 and SB203580, blockers of ERK1/2 and p38

MAPK, respectively. Furthermore, treatment with Ch1LW

significantly abolished NE-mediated activation of ERK1/2,

whereas the activity of p38 MAPK was not affected by the

extract. These results suggest that Ch1LW induces

vasorelaxation in rat aortic smooth muscle, which may be

mediated by the inhibition of ERK1/2 pathway, but not p38

MAPK. | PMID: 15013207 [PubMed - in process]

 

Long CL, Li R. | Ethnobotanical studies on medicinal plants used

by the Red-headed Yao People in Jinping, Yunnan Province,

China. | J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Feb;90(2-3):389-95. |

Department of Ethnobotany, Kunming Institute of Botany,

Chinese Academy of Sciences, Heilongtan, Kunming, Yunnan

650204, China. long | 66 medicinal plant

species traditionally collected and used by the Red-headed Yao

people in Jinping county, Yunnan Province, SW China, were

investigated and studied through the approaches of ethnobotany,

anthropology and participatory rural appraisal (PRA). Among

these plants, 27 species were recorded to have medicinal values

for the first time recorded in literature, 23 species were found to

have different medicinal functions from those recorded in the

literature. Many medicinal herbs are simultaneously wild food

plants. The local Yao people take medicinal baths on some

special days very common to treat and prevent diseases. The

Red-headed Yao medicinal herb doctors have conserved

medicinal plants and their habitats over the years. Most of the

folk healers are old women, who are concerned about passing

on their secrets to the younger generation. They fear that the

younger generations have not learned enough about the herbal

traditions to keep the practice going. The authors suggest that

plants used by the Red-headed Yao people need to be further

studied phytochemically and pharmacologically. | PMID:

15013206 [PubMed - in process]

 

McCue PP, Shetty K. | Inhibitory effects of rosmarinic acid

extracts on porcine pancreatic amylase in vitro. | Asia Pac J Clin

Nutr. 2004;13(1):101-6. | Program in Molecular and Cellular

Biology, University of Massachusetts,Amherst,MA

01003,USA. kali | Porcine pancreatic

alpha-amylase (PPA) was allowed to react with herbal extracts

containing rosmarinic acid (RA) and purified RA. The

derivatized enzyme-phytochemical mixtures obtained were

characterized for residual amylase activity. These in vitro

experiments showed that the amylase activity was inhibited in the

presence of these phytochemicals. The extent of amylase

inhibition correlated with increased concentration of RA. RA-

containing oregano extracts yielded higher than expected

amylase inhibition than similar amount of purified RA, suggesting

that other phenolic compounds or phenolic synergies may

contribute to additional amylase inhibitory activity. The

significance of food-grade, plant-based amylase inhibitors for

modulation of diabetes mellitus and other oxidation-linked

diseases is hypothesized and discussed. | PMID: 15003922

[PubMed - in process]

 

Mills E, Singh R, Ross C, Ernst E, Wilson K. | Impact of federal

safety advisories on health food store advice. | J Gen Intern

Med. 2004 Mar;19(3):269-72. | | In early 2002, the FDA and

Health Canada issued federal advisories that people should

discontinue taking the herbal antianxiolitic kava kava, until further

information regarding safety and potential for liver damage were

determined. We conducted a field study 2 months following the

advisories in Toronto, Canada to determine whether kava kava

continued to be recommended to consumers at retail health food

stores. Eight participants asked employees at all stores what was

recommended for anxiety and whether the products were safe.

Twenty-two of 34 stores recommended kava kava, 9 of which

mentioned safety concerns. Physicians should be aware that

federal advisories may not affect sales of unsafe products. |

PMID: 15009783 [PubMed - in process]

 

Mulinacci N, Prucher D, Peruzzi M, Romani A, Pinelli P,

Giaccherini C, Vincieri FF. | Commercial and laboratory

extracts from artichoke leaves: estimation of caffeoyl esters and

flavonoidic compounds content. | J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2004

Feb 4;34(2):349-57. | Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences,

Via G. Capponi, 9, Florence 50121, Italy.

nadia.mulinacci | Artichoke leaf extracts are widely used

alone or in association with other herbs for embittering alcoholic

and soft drinks and to prepare herbal teas or herbal medicinal

products. Despite this wide diffusion, the European

Pharmacopoeia does not report an official method for the

determination of the active principles of artichoke leaf extracts.

This work reports a quali-quantitative determination by

HPLC/DAD and HPLC/MS techniques of both cynnamic acids

and flavonoids present in some artichoke leaf commercial

extracts (Com) compared with two different laboratory extracts

(Lab). Most of the commercial extracts showed a similar quali-

quantitative pattern with a single exception having five-six times

higher value. The quantitative data from the Italian

Pharmacopoeia(IP) official method does not evaluate the

flavonoidic fraction and showed an overestimation of the

caffeoyl esters with respect to the HPLC/DAD results. The

proposed HPLC/DAD method was able to completely

characterize and quantify this matrix and represents a

contribution to better quality control of these herbal extracts. |

PMID: 15013149 [PubMed - in process]

 

Park DI, Choi HY, Kam CW, Park C, Choi TH, Lee WH,

Choi YH. | Wikyungtang inhibits proliferation of A549 human

lung cancer cells via inducing apoptosis and suppressing

cyclooxygenase-2 activity. | Oncol Rep. 2004 Apr;11(4):853-6.

| Department of Oriental Medicine, Dongeui University College

of Oriental Medicine, Busan 614-052, Korea. | Wikyungtang,

an oriental herbal formulation, has been known to exert anti-

inflammatory and anti-tumoral activity. However, its molecular

mechanism of action is not understood. The purpose of the

present study was to examine the effect of the water extract of

Wikyungtang (WKT) on the growth of A549 human lung cancer

cells. Treatment with WKT resulted in a dose-dependent growth

inhibition coupled with the characteristic morphological features

of apoptosis. Apoptosis-inducing concentrations of WKT

induced caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation accompanied by

proteolytic degradation of poly(ADP-ribose)-polymerase and

phospholipase C-gamma1. In addition, WKT-induced

apoptosis in A549 cells was associated with a decreased

expression of the anti-apototic Bcl-XL expression. WKT

treatment also inhibited the expression of cyclooxygenase

(COX)-2 and the accumulation of prostaglandin E2 without

significant changes in the levels of COX-1. These findings

provide important new insights into the possible molecular

mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of WKT. | PMID:

15010884 [PubMed - in process]

 

Patora J, Majda T, Gora J, Klimek B. | Variability in the content

and composition of essential oil from lemon balm (Melissa

officinalis L.) cultivated in Poland. | Acta Pol Pharm. 2003 Sep-

Oct;60(5):395-400. | Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of

Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland. | Essential

oil from a few different population of M. officinalis cultivated in

Poland has been investigated. The percentage of essential oil

ranged from 0.08 to 0.25 ml/100 g in the leaves and from 0.06

to 0.167 ml/100 g in the herb and was higher in the plant

material from experimental patch than that from commercial

cultivations. Comparative determinations of the essential oil in

fresh and dried material showed slightly higher content of the oil

in the fresh one. The analysis of the oil composition has been

performed by GC and GC/MS. Great differences in the contents

of citral, citronellal, linalool, nerol, geraniol beta-caryophyllene

and beta-caryophyllene oxide among the populations has been

found. Effect of the harvest time, drying and storage on the

composition of lemon balm oil has also been studied. | PMID:

15005424 [PubMed - in process]

 

Polasek M, Skala P, Opletal L, Jahodar L. | Rapid automated

assay of anti-oxidation/radical-scavenging activity of natural

substances by sequential injection technique (SIA) using

spectrophotometric detection. | Anal Bioanal Chem. 2004 Mar

9 [Epub ahead of print]: | Analytical Chemistry Department,

Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University in Prague,

Heyrovskeho 1203, 50005, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. |

A PC-controlled sequential injection analysis (SIA) system

equipped with a spectrophotometric diode-array detector is

used for rapid monitoring and evaluation of antioxidation/radical

scavenging activity of biological samples. The automated method

is based on the known reaction of stable 2,2'-diphenyl-1-

picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) with antioxidants in organic or

aqueous-organic media resulting in bleaching of DPPH due to its

" quenching " by the interaction with the analytes. The decrease of

the absorbance of DPPH (compared to blank experiment

carried out with water-ethanol 1:1 instead of the test solution)

measured at 525 nm is related to concentration of an antioxidant

in the test solution. With the optimised SIA procedure it is

possible to detect down to micromolar concentrations of model

antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, caffeic acid, (+)-catechin, (-)-

epicatechin and rutin and to evaluate the concentration of these

antioxidants in the micromolar to millimolar range. The sample

throughput is 45 h(-1). Thanks to its rapidity and sensitivity, the

proposed SIA method is suitable for performing routine

screening tests for the presence of various antioxidants in large

series of lyophilised herbal or mushroom extracts (the amount of

sample needed for the analysis is several milligrams). | PMID:

15007593 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

 

Shin DW. | [Traditional medicine under Japanese rule after

1930s - Article in Korean] | Uisahak. 2003 Dec;12(2):110-28. |

School of Humanities and Social Science, KAIST. | Japan,

which occupied Korea from 1910 through the end of World

War II, transformed traditional medicine. Japanese colonialists

propagandized the " benefits of modern civilization such as

western medicine " and rejected the advantages of traditional

medicine. This bias against Korean traditional medicine mirrored

the government's rejection of its own traditional medicine. So,

Korean traditional medicine was marginalized in the national

health care system: traditional doctors were excluded from

public institutions and references to traditional medicine were

purged from school textbooks and newspapers. The wars that

Japan waged between 1931 and 1944 effected a favorable

change toward traditional medicines, however. The wars created

a severe shortage of drugs and medical personnel. Thus the

colonial government was eager for Koreans to cultivate and

gather herbal drugs; it also built a large research institute for

herbalism at the Keijo Imperial University in 1938. The colonial

government made pharmacopoeia for traditional herbal drugs

including plant and animal drugs from 1937 to 1942,

independently from Japan. Under these conditions, the prestige

of traditional medicine was greatly improved. Influential

newspapers and magazines covered the traditional medicine and

public lectures on traditional medicine drew large audiences. The

wartime government abandoned its opposition to traditional

medicine, and appointed a traditional practitioner to the staff of

the public hospital in 1934. Moreover, the government allowed

the association of the traditional medical doctors in Seoul to train

three hundred more practitioners between 1937 and 1942.

Japanese colonial policy toward traditional medicine reflected

the contradiction between modernizing ideology and the reality

of poor colonial medical care. Japanese propaganda promised

that the colonial regime would provide more advanced medicine

to Korea, but the promise was an empty one. In this situation,

traditional medical doctors and herbalists once again shouldered

the main responsibility for the health of the Korean people. |

PMID: 15005095 [PubMed - in process]

 

Toennes SW, Kauert GF. | Driving under the influence of khat--

alkaloid concentrations and observations in forensic cases. |

Forensic Sci Int. 2004 Feb 10;140(1):85-90. | Institute of

Forensic Toxicology, Center of Legal Medicine, University of

Frankfurt, Kennedyallee 104, Frankfurt/Main D-60596,

Germany. toennes | The use of the herbal

stimulant khat (Catha edulis) is maintained by immigrants from

countries where it is part of their cultural life (Arabian Peninsula

and eastern Africa). In western countries the drug and its effects

are largely unknown and no experience in evaluating impairment

symptoms due to the khat-alkaloids, e.g. cathinone, cathine and

norephedrine exists. Blood and urine samples from khat users

involved in 19 cases of suspected driving under the influence of

drugs were analysed and correlated with the results of medical

examination and police officer reports. In 3 cases impaired

driving and in 10 cases marked impairment of psychophysical

functions was observed such as effects on the nervous system

(slow pupil reaction to light, dry mouth, increased heart-rate),

trembling, restlessness/nervousness, daze/apathy/dullness,

impairment of attention, walking and standing on one leg.

However, the alkaloid concentrations assayed in blood did not

correlate with the impairment symptoms. Apart from an acute

phase of indirect sympathomimetic action the development of

habituation and withdrawal symptoms must also be considered

in explaining the diversity of effects observed. From these results

it can be concluded that chewing khat may severely impair

driving ability, but may also be without noticeable effects. |

PMID: 15013169 [PubMed - in process]

 

Wang LS, Zhou G, Zhu B, Wu J, Wang JG, Abd El-Aty AM,

Li T, Liu J, Yang TL, Wang D, Zhong XY, Zhou HH. | St

John's wort induces both cytochrome P450 3A4-catalyzed

sulfoxidation and 2C19-dependent hydroxylation of omeprazole.

| Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2004 Mar;75(3):191-7. |

Pharmacogenetics Research Institute, Institute of Clinical

Pharmacology, Department of Cardiovasology, First XiangYa

Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410-078,

China. | OBJECTIVE: St John's wort, an extract of the

medicinal plant Hypericum perforatum, is widely used as an

herbal antidepressant. Although the ability of St John's wort to

induce cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4-mediated reaction has

been well established, the effect on CYP2C19 is still not

determined. Thus the objective of this study was to determine

the impact of St John's wort on the pharmacokinetic profiles of

omeprazole and its metabolites. METHODS: Twelve healthy

adult men (6 CYP2C19*1/CYP2C19*1, 4

CYP2C19*2/CYP2C19*2 and 2 CYP2C19*2/CYP2C19*3)

were enrolled in a 2-phase randomized crossover design. In

each phase the volunteers received placebo or a 300-mg St

John's wort tablet 3 times daily for 14 days. Then all subjects

took a 20-mg omeprazole capsule orally. Blood samples were

collected up to 12 hours after omeprazole administration.

Omeprazole and its metabolites were quantified by use of HPLC

with ultraviolet detection. RESULTS: Omeprazole and its

metabolites all exhibit CYP2C19 genotype-dependent

pharmacokinetic profiles. After a 14-day treatment with St

John's wort, substantial decreases in plasma concentrations of

omeprazole were observed. The peak plasma concentration

(C(max)) significantly decreased by 37.5% +/- 13.3% (P

=.001) in CYP2C19*2/CYP2C19*2 or *3 and by 49.6% +/-

20.7% (P =.017) in CYP2C19*1/CYP2C19*1; the area under

the concentration-time curve extrapolated to infinity [AUC(0-

infinity )] decreased by 37.9% +/- 21.3% (P =.014) and 43.9%

+/- 23.7% (P =.011) in CYP2C19 mutant and wild genotypes,

respectively. Moreover, the C(max) and AUC(0- infinity ) of

omeprazole sulfone increased by 160.3% +/- 45.5% (P =.001)

and by 136.6% +/- 84.6% (P =.014), 155.5% +/- 58.8% (P

=.001), and 158.7% +/- 101.4% (P =.017) in mutant and wild

genotypes, respectively. St John's wort increased the C(max) of

5-hydroxyomeprazole by 38.1% +/- 30.5% (P =.028) and the

AUC(0- infinity ) by 37.2% +/- 26% (P =.005) in CYP2C19

wild-type subjects, whereas it did not produce any significant

alterations to the corresponding pharmacokinetic parameters in

subjects with variant genotypes. CONCLUSION: St John's

wort induces both CYP3A4-catalyzed sulfoxidation and

CYP2C19-dependent hydroxylation of omeprazole and

enormously decreases the plasma concentrations of omeprazole.

Clinically relevant interactions with other drugs may occur and

must be taken into account when St John's wort is being taken. |

PMID: 15001970 [PubMed - in process]

 

Wang S, Zheng Z, Weng Y, Yu Y, Zhang D, Fan W, Dai R, Hu

Z. | Angiogenesis and anti-angiogenesis activity of Chinese

medicinal herbal extracts. | Life Sci. 2004 Apr 2;74(20):2467-

78. | Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University

of Traditional , Shanghai 201203, China. | The

aqueous extracts of 24 herbs traditionally used as curing

ischemic heart disease in China were screened for their in vitro

angiogenic activity, another twenty-four traditionally used as anti-

tumor or anti-inflammatory remedies in China were screened for

their in vitro anti-angiogenic activity. The activity of angiogenesis

was determined by quantitation of vessels on chick embryo

chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model and cell proliferation of

cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs). Among the

herbal extracts examined, the aqueous extracts of Epimedium

sagittatum, Trichosanthes kirilowii and Dalbergia odorifera

showed the strong angiogenetic activity both in CAM and

BAECs models; and the aqueous extracts of Berberis

paraspecta, Catharanthus roseus, Coptis chinensis, Taxus

chinensis, Scutellaria baicalensis, Polygonum cuspidatum and

Scrophularia ningpoensis elicited significant inhibition at a

concentration of 1g dry herb /ml. | PMID: 15010258 [PubMed -

in process]

 

Wang Z, Du Q, Wang F, Liu Z, Li B, Wang A, Wang Y. |

Microarray analysis of gene expression on herbal glycoside

recipes improving deficient ability of spatial learning memory in

ischemic mice. | J Neurochem. 2004 Mar;88(6):1406-15. | | In

order to reveal the mechanism of herbal glycoside recipes

retrieving deficient ability of spatial learning memory in mice

suffering from cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, a microarray

system was used to analyze gene expression in those groups

with increasing ability of spatial learning memory who were

different from ischemic mice. In this work, we reported a

comprehensive characterization of gene expression profiles of

mouse hippocampus by the use of cDNA microarray system

containing 1176 known genes in middle cerebral artery

occlusion (MCAO) ischemic mice after treating with different

dosage recipes of glycoside herbs (30, 90, and 270 mg/kg). The

ability of spatial learning memory in ischemic mice was found to

be decreased. The pathological process in ischemic mouse brain

showed that a complex related to 100 genes' expression yielded

1.8-fold. Dose-dependent effects showed an improvement in the

deficient ability and reduction in infarct volume when treated with

glycoside recipes. Many genes (38-46) in expression were

found greater than 1.8-fold in those effective recipes groups,

including genes in cell cycle regulation, signal transduction, nerve

system transcription factors, DNA binding protein, etc. Nine

genes related to retrieving deficient ability of spatial learning

memory treated with glycoside recipes were also found in this

study. These results suggest that microarray analysis of gene

expression might be useful for elucidating the mechanisms of

pharmacological function of recipes. | PMID: 15009641

[PubMed - in process]

 

Weier KM, Beal MW. | Complementary therapies as adjuncts

in the treatment of postpartum depression. | J Midwifery

Womens Health. 2004 Mar-Apr;49(2):96-104. | | Postpartum

depression affects an estimated 13% of women who have

recently given birth. This article discusses several alternative or

complementary therapies that may serve as adjuncts in the

treatment of postpartum depression. The intent is to help

practitioners better understand the treatments that are available

that their clients may be using. Complementary modalities

discussed include herbal medicine, dietary supplements,

massage, aromatherapy, and AP. Evidence supporting the use of

these modalities is reviewed where available, and a list of

resources is given in the appendix. | PMID: 15010661 [PubMed

- in process]

 

Wolff CG. | Toiling in the Herb Garden or Sitting in the Field of

Dreams. | Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2000

Dec;2(6):223-224. | | | PMID: 15014633 [PubMed - as

supplied by publisher]

 

Zhang WX, Hu HF, Li WG, Zhou CT. | [intercepting effects of

seven Chinese herb drugs on experimental oral carcinogenesis -

Article in Chinese] | Shanghai Kou Qiang Yi Xue. 2004

Feb;13(1):34-7. | Department of Oral Medicine, Shanghai Ninth

People's Hospital, School of Stomatology,Shanghai Second

Medical University, Shanghai 200011, China. | PURPOSE:To

screen effective chemopreventive Chinese herb drugs on

experimental oral carcinogenesis. METHODS: 410 golden

hamsters were randomly divided into positive control

group,negative control group and 7 experimental groups(Radix

et Rhizoma Thalictri, Radix Sophorae Tonkinesis, Pseudobulbus

Cremastrae appendiculate, Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii, Radix

Angelicae seu Heraclei, Rhizoma Curcumae, Fructus

Trichosanthis). 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene(DMBA) was

used to induce oral carcinogenesis in hamster cheek pouch, 7

liquid Chinese herb drugs were respectively injected into the

stomach of the hamsters before and during oral carcinogenesis.

Specimens were observed by histopathologic method, and the

results were analysized statistically. RESULTS: Compared with

positive control group, the prevalence of displasia was

significantly reduced in group Radix Sophorae Tonkinesis and

Radix Angelicae Dahuricae, but significant decrease could not

be found in other experiment groups. Radix Sophorae

Tonkinesis and Radix Angelicae Dahuricae could effectively

intercept DMBA-induced oral carcinogenesis in hamster. |

PMID: 15007478 [PubMed - in process]

 

Zhou CT, Zhong WJ, Hua L, Hu HF, Jin ZG. | [Histologic study

on impeding leukoplakia carcinogenesis of golden hamster cheek

pouch about erigeron breviscapus(vant) hand-mazz - Article in

Chinese] | Shanghai Kou Qiang Yi Xue. 2000 Jun;9(2):104-6. |

Department of Oral Medicine, Shanghai Ninth People's

Hospital, School of Stomotology, Shanghai Second Medical

University. Shanghai 200011,China. | OBJECTIVE:To observe

the effect of Erigeron breviscapus(Vant) Hand Mazz(HEr) in

impeding oral leukoplakia carciniogenesis,and to seek effective

Chinese herb medicine that can impede precarcinoma of oral

mucosas. METHODS:132 golden hamsters were randomly

divided into model group (60 nimals), HEr group (60 animals),

and control group 12 animals. Salley's leukoplakia

carcinogenesis model of golden hamster cheek pouch was used

in this study. HEr was injected into the stomach to impede

evolution of carcinogenesis.Pathological specimens were

observed via naked eye and light microscope between model

group and HEr group. Results were compared. RESULTS:

Observation via naked-eye showed that leukoplakia rate of HEr

group (18.2%) was lower than that of model group (27.3%).

Observation via light microscope showed that carcinogenesis

rate descended one fold and displasia rate descended 0.4 fold in

HEr group.CONCLUSION:HEr has exact effect in impeding

leukoplakia carcinogenesis. | PMID: 15014822 [PubMed - in

process]

 

 

 

 

 

 

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