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Medicinal Herbs (medicinal + herb)
Kinds of Medicinal Herbs Selected AbstractsSalutary effects of Corydalis yanhusuo extract on cardiac hypertrophy due to pressure overload in ratsJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 8 2007Chengping Wen We have evaluated the effects of an alcohol extract from the rhizome of Corydalis yanhusuo W.T. (CY), a well-known traditional Chinese medicinal herb, on pressure-overloaded cardiac hypertrophy induced by transverse abdominal aorta constriction (TAAC) in rats. Rats were given vehicle or CY extract (200 or 50 mg kg,1 per day) from the second week after induction of pressure overload, for a period of 7 weeks. Haemodynamic parameters, relative heart weight and myocyte cross-sectional area were measured in each group. We also estimated left ventricular (LV) collagen volume fraction (CVF) using Masson trichrome staining, and type I collagen expression by Western blot assay. Chronic TAAC caused notable cardiac hypertrophy and heart dysfunction. Significant collagen deposition and greater type I collagen expression were found in model control rats. These changes were not significantly reversed after treatment with 50 mgkg,1 CY, whereas 200 mgkg,1 significantly improved heart function and prevented cardiac hypertrophy, with parallel reductions in myocardial fibrosis, as evidenced by reduced LV CVF and reduced levels of type I collagen. In conclusion, chronic treatment of rats with CY extract attenuated development of cardiac hypertrophy. [source] Scutellaria baicalensis inhibits liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation or carbon tetrachloride in ratsJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 4 2002Ji-Xing Nan This study was carried out to investigate the antifibrotic effects of methanol extracts from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb, the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, on liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation and scission (BDL) or carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats. Liver fibrosis was assessed by histological observations and by measuring levels of liver hydroxy-proline, lipid peroxidation based on malondialdehyde (MDA) production, and serum enzyme activities. The morphological characteristics of liver tissue were examined by Masson's trichrome staining and immunostaining against smooth muscle cell ,-actin. In both models, the levels of hydroxyproline and MDA in liver were significantly increased. Treatment with a methanol extract of S. baicalensis significantly reduced the levels of liver hydroxyproline and MDA, with improved histological findings. In both models, the liver areas positive for smooth muscle cell ,-actin were considerably decreased by treatment with oral methanol extract of S. baicalensis (150 mg kg,1 daily for 28 days). A methanol extract of S. baicalensis root inhibits fibrosis and lipid peroxidation in rat liver induced by BDL or CCl4. [source] Characterisation of new oligoglycosidic compounds in two Chinese medicinal herbsPHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS, Issue 4 2002Sandra Apers Abstract A series of caffeic acid derivatives (3,5-dicaffeoyl-quinic acid, 3,4-dicaffeoyl-quinic acid, and 4,5-dicaffeoyl-quinic acid), and the new compound ,,3,4-trihydroxyphenethyl- O -[,-apiofuranosyl-(1,4)-,-rhamnopyranosyl-(1,3)]-(4- O -caffeoyl)-,-glucopyranoside (wedelosin), as well as three known flavonoid glycosides (quercetin 3- O -,-glucoside, kaempferol 3- O -,-apiosyl-(1-2)-,-glucoside, and astragalin or kaempferol 3- O -,-glucoside) were isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Wedelia chinensis. Wedelosin showed an inhibitory activity on both the classical and the alternative activation pathway of the complement system. Another Chinese medicinal herb, Kyllinga brevifolia, yielded two known flavonoid glycosides [kaempferol 3- O -,-apiosyl-(1-2)-,-glucoside and isorhamnetin 3- O -,-apiosyl-(1-2)-,-glucoside], and a new quercetin triglycoside [quercetin 3- O -,-apiofuranosyl-(1,2)-,-glucopyranoside 7- O -,-rhamnopyranoside]. The latter compound showed a moderate anti-viral activity. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The extraction of imperialine and imperialine-3,-glucoside from Fritillaria pallidiflora Schrenk and quantitative determination by HPLC-evaporative light scattering detectionPHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS, Issue 3 2002Ping Li Abstract The extraction procedure and quantitative determination by HPLC-evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD) of the main bioactive components, namely, imperialine (1) and imperialine-3,-glucoside (2), of bulbs of Fritillaria pallidiflora Schrenk have been investigated. The most efficient method for the simultaneous extraction of 1 and 2 involved pre-treatment of the bulb powder with ammonia, followed by reflux with dichloromethane:methanol at 90°C for 4,h. Simultaneous determination of non-chromophoric 1 and 2 by HPLC-ELSD employed a KromasilÔ C18 column eluted with acetonitrile:water:diethylamine. The assay was accurate and reproducible with an overall variation lower than 4% and a sample recovery higher than 98%. The methods described have been successfully used to evaluate the quality of three batches of the crude traditional Chinese medicinal herb derived from the bulbs of F. pallidiflora. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Chemical composition and antiproliferative activity of essential oil from the leaves of a medicinal herb, Schefflera heptaphyllaPHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 1 2009Yao-Lan Li Abstract Schefflera heptaphylla (L.) Frodin is a medicinal herb widely used as a main ingredient of the popular health tea formulation against infections in Southern China. Twenty-seven volatile compounds were identified by GC-MS analysis from the essential oil obtained from the leaves of S. heptaphylla, and 17 of them belonged to monoterpenes or sesquiterpenes. The main volatile constituent in S. heptaphylla was found to be a monoterpene, , -pinene, comprising about 22% of the total volatile components. The essential oil showed significant antiproliferative activity against three cancer cell lines, MCF-7, A375 and HepG2 cells, with IC50 values of 7.3 µg/mL, 7.5 µg/mL and 6.9 µg/mL, respectively. The result of the cytotoxicity assay indicates that (,)- , -pinene and (+)- , -pinene (commercially available from Sigma) also possessed antiproliferative activity against the cancer cells MCF-7, A375 and HepG2 with IC50 values ranging from 147.1 to 264.7 µm. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effect of Nigella sativa (black seed) on subjective feeling in patients with allergic diseasesPHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 10 2003Ulrich Kalus Abstract Nigella sativa (black seed) is an important medicinal herb. In many Arabian, Asian and African countries, black seed oil is used as a natural remedy for a wide range of diseases, including various allergies. The plant's mechanism of action is still largely unknown. Due to the lack of study data on its ef,cacy in allergies, four studies on the clinical ef,cacy of Nigella sativa in allergic diseases are presented. In these studies, a total of 152 patients with allergic diseases (allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, atopic eczema) were treated with Nigella sativa oil, given in capsules at a dose of 40 to 80 mg/kg/day. The patients scored the subjective severity of target symptoms using a prede,ned scale. The following laboratory parameters were investigated: IgE, eosinophil count, endogenous cortisol in plasma and urine, ACTH, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol and lymphocyte subpopulations. The score of subjective feeling decreased over the course of treatment with black seed oil in all four studies. A slight decrease in plasma triglycerides and a discrete increase in HDL cholesterol occurred while the lymphocyte subpopulations, endogenous cortisol levels and ACTH release remained unchanged. Black seed oil therefore proved to be an effective adjuvant for the treatment of allergic diseases. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Heteropterys aphrodisiaca Infusion Reduces the Collateral Effects of Cyclosporine A on the TestisTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 7 2008Juliana C. Monteiro Abstract Cyclosporine A (CsA) is known to have testicular toxicity, leading to male infertility. Stimulant and aphrodisiac properties have been attributed to the plant, Heteropterys aphrodisiaca. Thus, the present work was undertaken to evaluate the association of the drug and the medicinal herb in Wistar rats, applying testicular morphometry and ultrastructure. Twenty-four rats were used, divided into four groups: I, control; II, CsA; III, simultaneous use of CsA and H. aphrodisiaca; IV, H. aphrodisiaca. Daily administration by gavage was carried out, during 56 days, of water (sham), CsA in a dose of 15 mg/kg per day and/or H. aphrodisiaca in a dose of 0.5 ml of the infusion prepared with 25 g of roots/100 ml of boiling water. Increased body weight was observed for all groups, but the animals that received only CsA showed the smallest body weight gain. Morphometry showed increased connective tissue volumetric proportion and decreased Leydig cell volumetric proportion in CsA-treated rats. Using transmission electron microscopy, it was possible to ascertain that CsA caused seminiferous epithelium degeneration, resulting in Sertoli cell vacuolization, abnormal round and elongated spermatids and large accumulation of residual cytoplasm at the epithelium border next to the lumen. Expanded intercellular spaces between germ cells were still observed in H. aphrodisiaca -treated rat testes. The administration of H. aphrodisiaca infusion to CsA-treated rats diminished nearly all the CsA-induced damage to the testis ultrastructure, suggesting that H. aphrodisiaca infusion may be used combined with CsA to reduce CsA-induced injuries in the testis. Anat Rec, 291:809-817, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The Traditional Medicines Predicament: A Case Study of ThailandTHE JOURNAL OF WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, Issue 5-6 2008Daniel Robinson The ongoing use and protection of traditional medicines presents unique challenges for authorities, practitioners and stakeholders. With changes in the international intellectual property environment and biodiversity regulation, the Thai government has responded to ensure that traditional medicines, texts, traditional medical formulas, medicinal plants and herbs are protected through the development of a sui generis law. Drafted in 1999, the Act on Protection and Promotion of Thai Traditional Medicinal Intelligence is now being implemented in stages. Recent incidents, including controversies surrounding local and foreign patents over a Thai medicinal herb named kwao krua (Pueraria mirifica), have given impetus to traditional medicines protection, but have also tested the utility and implementation of the act by the Thai Department of Public Health. This article discusses the issues and implications in Thailand, while also reflecting on the approaches for traditional medicines protection internationally and in other countries. [source] Identification of major xanthones and steroidal saponins in rat urine by liquid chromatography,atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry technology following oral administration of Rhizoma Anemarrhenae decoctionBIOMEDICAL CHROMATOGRAPHY, Issue 10 2008Chunhui Ma Abstract Rhizoma Anemarrhenae (Zhimu in Chinese), the dried rhizome of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge. (Fam. Liliaceae), is a well-known traditional Chinese medicinal herb and has been used clinically in China for centuries to cure various diseases. However, like other traditional Chinese medicines, the effective constituents of this medicine, especially the assimilation and metabolites in vivo, which are very important to show their effects, have not been systematically studied. In this paper, solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography,atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry technologies were used to study the constituents absorbed into rat urine and their metabolites after oral administration of Rhizoma Anemarrhenae decoction. A total of 11 compounds, including two xanthones, three of their metabolites and six steroidal saponins, were identified in rat urine sample. They were neomangiferin (1), glucuronide and monomethyl conjugate of mangiferin (2), mangiferin (3), monomethyl conjugate of mangiferin (4), dimethyl conjugate of mangiferin (5), timosaponin N or timosaponin E1 (6), timosaponin BII (7), timosaponin BIII (8), anemarrhenasaponin I or anemarrhenasaponin II (9), timosaponin AII (10) and timosaponin AIII (11). The results would efficaciously narrow the potentially active compounds range in Rhizoma Anemarrhenae decoction, and pave a helpful way for follow-up mechanism of action research. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Obovatol attenuates microglia-mediated neuroinflammation by modulating redox regulationBRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 8 2010Jiyeon Ock Background and purpose:, Obovatol isolated from the medicinal herb Magnolia obovata exhibits a variety of biological activities. Here, the effect of obovatol and its mechanism of action on microglial activation, neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration were investigated. Experimental approach:, In microglial BV-2 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we measured nitric oxide (NO) and cytokine production, and activation of intracellular signalling pathways by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blots. Cell death was assayed in co-cultures of activated microglia (with bacterial LPS) and neurons and in LPS-induced neuroinflammation in mice in vivo. Key results:, Obovatol inhibited microglial NO production with an IC50 value of 10 µM. Obovatol also inhibited microglial expression of proinflammatory cytokines and inducible nitric-oxide synthase, which was accompanied by the inhibition of multiple signalling pathways such as nuclear factor kappa B, signal transducers and activators of transcription 1, and mitogen-activated protein kinases. In addition, obovatol protected cultured neurons from microglial toxicity and inhibited neuroinflammation in mice in vivo. One molecular target of obovatol in microglia was peroxiredoxin 2 (Prx2), identified by affinity chromatography and mass spectrometry. Obovatol enhanced the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging activity of Prx2 in vitro, thereby suppressing proinflammatory signalling pathways of microglia where ROS plays an important role. Conclusions and implications:, Obovatol is not only a useful chemical tool that can be used to investigate microglial signalling, but also a promising drug candidate against neuroinflammatory diseases. Furthermore, our results indicate that Prx2 is a novel drug target that can be exploited for the therapeutic modulation of neuroinflammatory signalling. [source] The effects of the cyclosporin A, a P-glycoprotein inhibitor, on the pharmacokinetics of baicalein in the rat: a microdialysis studyBRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 8 2002T H Tsai Baicalein is a bioactive flavonoid isolated from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, a medicinal herb that has been used since ancient times to treat bacterial infections. As little is known concerning its pharmacokinetics, this study focussed on its pharmacokinetics as well as the possible roles of the multidrug transporter P-glycoprotein on its distribution and disposition. Three microdialysis probes were simultaneously inserted into the jugular vein, the hippocampus and the bile duct of male Sprague,Dawley rats for sampling in biological fluids following the administration of baicalein (10, 30 and 60 mg kg,1) through the femoral vein. The P-glycoprotein inhibitor cyclosporin A was used to help delineate its roles. The study design consisted of two groups of six rats in parallel: control rats which received baicalein alone and the cyclosporin A treated-group in which the rats were injected cyclosporin A, a P-glycoprotein inhibitor, 10 min prior to baicalein administration. Cyclosporin A treatment resulted in a significant increase in elimination half-life, mean residence time and area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC) of unbound baicalein in the brain. However, AUC in the bile was decreased. The decline of baicalein in the hippocampus, blood and bile suggested that there was rapid exchange and equilibration between the peripheral compartment and the central nervous system. In addition, the results indicated that baicalein was able to penetrate the blood,brain barrier as well as undergoing hepatobiliary excretion. Although no direct transport studies were undertaken and multiple factors may affect BBB penetration and hepatobiliary excretion, strong association of the involvement of P-glycoprotein in these processes is indicated. British Journal of Pharmacology (2002) 137, 1314,1320. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0704959 [source] China's Rangelands under Stress: A Comparative Study of Pasture Commons in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous RegionDEVELOPMENT AND CHANGE, Issue 2 2000Peter Ho China's economic reforms have exacerbated the problems of over-grazing and desertification in the country's pastoral areas. In order to deal with rangeland degradation, the Chinese government has resorted to nationalization, or semi-privatization. Since the implementation of rangeland policy has proved very difficult, however, experiments with alternative rangeland tenure systems merit our attention. In Ningxia, in northwest China, local attempts have been undertaken to establish communal range management systems with the village as the basic unit of use and control. Some of these management regimes are under severe stress, due to large-scale digging for medicinal herbs in the grasslands. This digging has resulted in serious conflicts between Han and Hui Muslim Chinese, during which several farmers have been killed. It is against this backdrop that this article explores the institutional dynamics of range management in two different villages. [source] Contact allergy and medicinal herbsJOURNAL DER DEUTSCHEN DERMATOLOGISCHEN GESELLSCHAFT, Issue 1 2008Werner Aberer Summary Herbal treatments are becoming increasingly popular, and are often used for internal as well as dermatological conditions, both externally as well as orally. The prevalence of contact sensitization against several plants especially of the Compositae family is quite high in Europe. Sensitization seems to occur relatively frequent with a few species such as arnica, elecampane and tea tree (oil), and occurs rarely with the majority. Testing for plant allergy is problematic because of the limited number of commercially available standardized patch test substances and the danger of active sensitization when testing with plants, parts thereof, or individual extracts. Knowledge about the allergic potential of plants is limited. Although plants are regarded as critical allergens by dermatologists, the number of reported cases of contact dermatitis is relatively small.Many widely used substances are not licensed as drugs or cosmet-ics. While the positive effects are frequently questionable or limited, the side effects are often more evident. Adverse effects of herbal medicines are an important albeit neglected subject in dermatology, which deserves further systematic investigation. [source] Differentiation of Candida dubliniensis from Candida albicans on rosemary extract agar and oregano extract agarJOURNAL OF CLINICAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS, Issue 3 2008Érico Silva de Loreto Abstract Candida dubliniensis is a recently described pathogenic species which shares many phenotypic features with Candida albicans and therefore, may be misidentified in microbiological laboratories. Because molecular methods can be onerous and unfeasible in routine mycological laboratories with restricted budgets such as those in developing countries, phenotypic techniques have been encouraged in the development of differential media for the presumptive identification of these species. We examined the colony morphology and chlamydospore production of 30 C. dubliniensis isolates and 100 C. albicans isolates on two new proposed media: rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) extract agar (REA) and oregano (Origanum vulgare) extract agar (OEA). These substrates are traditionally used as spices and medicinal herbs. In both of these media, all C. dubliniensis isolates (100%) showed rough colonies with peripheral hyphal fringes and abundant chlamydospores after 24 to 48,hr of incubation at 25°C. In contrast, under the same conditions, all isolates of C. albicans (100%) showed smooth colonies without hyphal fringes or chlamydospores. In conclusion, REA and OEA offer a simple, rapid, and inexpensive screening media for the differentiation of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 22:172,177, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The anti-arthritic effect of ursolic acid on zymosan-induced acute inflammation and adjuvant-induced chronic arthritis modelsJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 10 2008Suk-Yun Kang Ursolic acid (UA) is pentacyclic triterpenoic acid that naturally occurs in many medicinal herbs and plants. In this study, we examined the possible suppressive effect of UA extracted from Oldenlandia diffusa on zymosan-induced acute inflammation in mice and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis in rats. UA treatment (per oral) dose-dependently (25,200 mg kg,1) suppressed zymosan-induced leucocyte migration and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in the air pouch exudates. Since the maximal effective dose of UA was 50 mg kg,1 in the zymosan experiment, we used this dose of UA in a subsequent study using an adjuvant-induced rheumatoid arthritis model. UA treatment (50 mg kg,1, per oral, once a day for 10 days) was started from day 12 after adjuvant injection. UA dramatically inhibited paw swelling, plasma PGE2 production and radiological changes in the joint caused by CFA injection. Moreover, UA significantly suppressed the arthritis-induced mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia as well as the spinal Fos expression, as determined by immunohistochemistry, which was increased by CFA injection. In addition, overall anti-arthritic potency of UA was comparable with ibuprofen (100 mg kg,1, oral) while UA did not induce significant gastric lesions as compared with the ibuprofen treatment group. These findings strongly suggest that UA is a useful suppressive compound for rheumatoid arthritis treatment with low risk of gastric problems. [source] Compounds from rose (Rosa rugosa) flowers with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase inhibitory activityJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 9 2006M. Fu The aqueous extracts and ethanol precipitates of aqueous extracts of 18 medicinal herbs traditionally used in China were screened for their ability to inhibit human immunodeficiency virus type-1 reverse transcriptase (HIV-1 RT) in-vitro. Among the samples screened at a concentration of 500 ,g mL,1, dried rose (Rosa rugosa) flowers showed the strongest inhibition. The ethanol precipitate of the aqueous extract of R. rugosa was processed and two components (P1 and P2) were obtained after ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Then, P1-a (Mr 150 kDa) and P1-b (Mr 8 kDa) were isolated from P1 by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. They inhibited the activity of HIV-1 RT with an IC50 of 158 nm and 148.16 ,g mL,1 (18.5 ,m), respectively. Further structural analyses revealed that P1-a was a polysaccharide-peptide complex, and P1-b was a polymer consisting of acteoside and acteoside derivatives identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, assays of carbohydrate and protein contents and high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. [source] In-vitro and in-vivo anti-allergic actions of Arecae semenJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 7 2004Jun Ho Lee The effects of various extracts from oriental medicinal herbs on mast cell-mediated allergic reactions have been investigated. Among the extracts, Arecae semen was the most potent inhibitor of antigen-induced degranulation in RBL-2H3 mast cells. A. semen inhibited DNP-BSA- and compound 48/80-induced degranulation in RBL-2H3 mast cells with IC50 values of approximately 53 and 52 ,g mL,1, respectively, and inhibited compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis by 46% at 300 mg kg,1 in mice. A. semen also inhibited the expression of TNF-, and the activation of mitogen activated protein kinase, ERK1/2, which is critical for the production of inflammatory cytokines in mast cells, as indicated by the suppression of the activating phosphorylation of ERK1/2. These results suggest that A. semen may be useful for the treatment of various immediate and delayed allergic diseases. [source] HPLC/ESI-MSn and ESI-MS studies on the Aconitum alkaloids in three Chinese medicinal herbsJOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE, JSS, Issue 17-18 2010Wenlong Liu Abstract Aconitum lipo-alkaloids (LDAs) peaks in the previous HPLC studies have shown overlapping behavior, making it impossible to identify the total retention behavior of LDAs. The structural diversity of LDAs in Radix Aconiti, Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii and Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata makes it difficult to synthesize and quantify each of them. Therefore, this study has been devoted to develop a HPLC/ESI-MSn method with good resolution of Aconitum alkaloids especially LDAs and then set up a fast ESI-MS SIM method to quantify the total contents of specific skeleton LDAs in the three herbs via in-source CID and the capability of mass separation. As a result, the retention behavior of LDAs was summarized based on an optimized chromatographic separation; 32 alkaloids from the three herbs of Aconitum genus were separated and identified according to their fragmentation pathways by using HPLC/ESI-MSn. In addition, a fast quantitative analysis ESI-MS SIM method was successfully applied to the quantification of the total contents of specific skeleton LDAs in the three herbs. [source] Two-dimensional coordination polymer matrix for solid-phase extraction of pesticide residues from plant Cordia salicifoliaJOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE, JSS, Issue 12 2009Pedro Henrique Viana de Carvalho Abstract The 2D coordination polymer (,[Gd(DPA)(HDPA)]) was tested for extraction of acephate, chlorpropham, pirimicarb, bifenthrin, tetradifon, and phosalone from the medicinal plant Cordia salicifolia, whose extracts are commercialized in Brazil as diuretic, appetite suppressant, and weight loss products, using GC/MS, SIM. Considering that there are no Brazilian regulations concerning maximum permissible pesticide residue concentrations in medicinal herbs, recovery experiments were carried out (seven replicates), at two arbitrary fortification levels (0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg), resulting in recoveries in range of 20 to 107.7% and SDRSDs were between 5.6 and 29.1% for ,[Gd(DPA)(HDPA)] sorbent. Detection and quantification limits for herb ranged from 0.10 to 0.15 mg/kg and from 0.15 to 0.25 mg/kg, respectively, for the different pesticides studied. The developed method is linear over the range assayed, 0.5,10.0 ,g/mL, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9975 to 0.9986 for all pesticides. Comparison between ,[Gd(DPA)(HDPA)] sorbent and conventional sorbent (neutral alumina) showed similar performance of ,[Gd(DPA)(HDPA)] polymeric sorbent for three (bifenthrin, tetradifon, and phosalone) out of six pesticides tested. [source] Characterisation of new oligoglycosidic compounds in two Chinese medicinal herbsPHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS, Issue 4 2002Sandra Apers Abstract A series of caffeic acid derivatives (3,5-dicaffeoyl-quinic acid, 3,4-dicaffeoyl-quinic acid, and 4,5-dicaffeoyl-quinic acid), and the new compound ,,3,4-trihydroxyphenethyl- O -[,-apiofuranosyl-(1,4)-,-rhamnopyranosyl-(1,3)]-(4- O -caffeoyl)-,-glucopyranoside (wedelosin), as well as three known flavonoid glycosides (quercetin 3- O -,-glucoside, kaempferol 3- O -,-apiosyl-(1-2)-,-glucoside, and astragalin or kaempferol 3- O -,-glucoside) were isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Wedelia chinensis. Wedelosin showed an inhibitory activity on both the classical and the alternative activation pathway of the complement system. Another Chinese medicinal herb, Kyllinga brevifolia, yielded two known flavonoid glycosides [kaempferol 3- O -,-apiosyl-(1-2)-,-glucoside and isorhamnetin 3- O -,-apiosyl-(1-2)-,-glucoside], and a new quercetin triglycoside [quercetin 3- O -,-apiofuranosyl-(1,2)-,-glucopyranoside 7- O -,-rhamnopyranoside]. The latter compound showed a moderate anti-viral activity. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] CKBM stimulates MAPKs but inhibits LPS-induced IFN- , in lymphocytesPHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 9 2006Anthony S.L. Chan Abstract CKBM is an herbal formula composed of five Chinese medicinal herbs (Panax ginseng, Schisandra chinensis, Fructus crataegi, Ziziphus jujuba and Glycine max) supplemented with processed Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It has been demonstrated that CKBM is capable of triggering the release of IL-6 and TNF, from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In this report, T-lymphocytic Sup-T1 cells and B-lymphocytic Ramos cells were utilized as cellular models to investigate how CKBM regulates intracellular signaling as well as the production of cytokines. CKBM stimulated the three major subgroups of mitogen-activated protein kinase (i.e. ERK, JNK and p38) in Sup-T1 cells, but only triggered the activation of ERK and p38 in Ramos cells. The induction of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) activations varied with the duration of treatment, as well as with the dosage of CKBM. In terms of cytokine production, treatment of CKBM alone did not trigger the release of IL-1, and IFN,, but it suppressed the LPS-induced IFN, production from both Sup-T1 cells and Ramos cells. In view of the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicines in inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, the results suggest that CKBM may exhibit its immuno-modulatory effects by regulating intracellular signaling as well as cytokine production in different lymphocytic cell types. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effectiveness of the Kampo kami-shoyo-san (TJ-24) for tremor of antipsychotic-induced parkinsonismPSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, Issue 5 2000Toshihiro Ishikawa MD Abstract The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Kampo medication kami-shoyo-san against tremor due to antipsychotic-induced parkinsonism. Kami-shoyo-san consists of several medicinal herbs that are known in traditional Chinese medicine to be effective in treating Parkinson's disease and convulsions. We gave kami-shoyo-san to eight patients at Higashiowari National Hospital who were exhibiting tremor, a symptom of antipsychotic-induced parkinsonism. The tremor was evaluated on a five-point scale before and after the administration of kami-shoyo-san, and the findings were compared statistically. The results showed a stastistically significant reduction in the tremor after the administration of kami-shoyo-san (P < 0.01), with 62.5% of patients showing an improvement of one point or more. The tremor did not worsen in any of the patients, and none complained of side-effects. Thus, kami-shoyo-san appears to be effective against the tremor from parkinsonism. Kami-shoyo-san consists of 10 medicinal herbs, including Radix Bulpleuri, Radix Paeoniae, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, and Radix Glycyrrhizae, which are effective in treating disturbances in muscular movement according to TCM theory. Of the 10 herbs contained in kami-shoyo-san, we believe the abovementioned ones are particularly effective in helping to reduce the tremor associated with parkinsonism. [source] Effect of two medicinal herbs (Astragalus radix and Lonicera japonica) on the growth performance and body composition of juvenile pikeperch [Sander lucioperca (L.)]AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 11 2008Zdzis, aw Zak Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the impact of feeding juvenile pikeperch diets with medicinal herb adjuvants on the growth performance, proximate body composition, fatty acids profile (whole fish, muscle tissues, viscera) and cytological and histological indicators of the liver and middle intestine. The fish (mean body weight of ca. 110 g) were fed diets with a 0.1% supplement of Astragalus radix (group A), Lonicera japonica (group L) or a mixture of these herbs (A. radix+L. japonica; group A/L) for 8 weeks. The herbal supplementation was not noted to have had an impact on the analysed indicators of fish growth performance, condition or feed conversion ratio (P>0.05). Statistically significant intergroup differences were noted in the value of the hepatosomatic index, hepatocyte size, their nucleus and nucleus/cytoplasm diameter ratio (P<0.05). Significant intergroup differences were also noted in the appearance of the hepatic parenchyma. Statistically significant intergroup differences were also noted in the protein content of the whole fish body. The analysis of the proximal composition of the fish viscera, in turn, indicated significant differences in the fat content (P<0.05). Among the analysed group of fatty acids (saturated , SFA, monoenoic , MUFA, polyenoic , PUFA) contained in the whole fish, the fillets and the viscera, significant intergroup differences were noted with regard to SFA (viscera) and MUFA (whole fish) (P<0.05). The total PUFA content was stable, although significant intergroup differences were noted with regard to a few of the acids that belong to this group (P<0.05). [source] Cross-linked agarose for separation of low molecular weight natural products in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatographyBIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, Issue 5 2010Tianwei Tan Abstract Following its market introduction in 1982, the cross-linked 12% agarose gel media Superose 12 has become widely known as a tool for size exclusion chromatography of proteins and other biological macromolecules. In this review it is shown that, when appropriate mobile phases are used, Superose possesses adsorption properties similar to that of traditional media for hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC). This is illustrated by the separation and purification of low molecular weight compounds such as polyphenols including active components of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and green tea. Structural features of the cross-linked agarose that likely cause the observed adsorption effects are discussed aswell. These are identified as being primarily ether bonds acting as strong hydrogen bond acceptors as well as hydrophobic residues originating from the cross-linking reagents. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||