Phytomedicine

Diabetes mellitus is becoming a common metabolic disorder which has serious threat to public health in the world. There are chemicals and biochemical agent that helps in controlling diabetes but there is no permanent remedy available which helps to get recovered completely from this disorder. By conducting large number of research work, numerous traditional medicines have been found for diabetes. Substances and extracts isolated from different natural resources especially plants have always been a rich arsenal for controlling and treating diabetes problem and complication arising due to it. So this review helps the reader to understand the importance of various types of herbal and polyherbal formulations present traditionally which can be used to treat diabetes mellitus. 

Adaptogens are medicinal plants that augment resistance to stress, and increase concentration, performance and endurance during fatigue. Experiments were curried out with BALB/c mice taking ADAPT-232 forte, a fixed combination of three genuine (native) extracts of Eleutherococcus senticocus, Schisandra chinensis and Rhodiola rosea, characterised for the content of active markers eleutherosides, schisandrins, salidroside, tyrosol and rosavin and in doses of about 30, 90 and 180 mg/kg for seven consecutive days followed by forced swimming test to exhaustion. ADAPT-232 forte strongly augments endurance of mice, increasing the time taken to exhaustion (TTE) in a dose-dependent manner from 3.0±0.5 to 21.1±1.7 min, approximately seven fold. Serum Hsp72 was measured by EIA both in normal and stressful conditions before and after swimming test. Repeated administration of adaptogen dose dependently increases basal level of Hsp72 in serum of mice from 0.8–1.5 to 5.5–6.3 pg/ml. This effect is ...

Introduction: Sustainable access to quality and affordable medicines through local production contributes to health and socio-economic development of a country. The pharmaceutical production unit (UPHRARMA) was created to address this issue in Burkina Faso. However, it encounters serious difficulties which could lead to its closure. Objective: The objective of this study is to analyze the determinants of the survival of this production unit. Methods: The method combined a bibliographic review and field survey which consisted of a number of interviews. Results/Discussion: The results showed that the unit has no legal form enabling autonomy in management activities. Its institutional anchor does not allow it to perform its activities as a competitive commercial enterprise. The activities of the unit are trapped by the public procedures of administrative and financial management. In that line, the status of the unit should be revised as a public shareholding company with a legal form allowing financial and management autonomy. Conclusion: Regarding the results, U-PHARAMA is subject to the public administration’s principles such as subordination, dependence and control. The new legal status will allow an autonomy of a public company with adequate management and financing mechanisms. This will encourage funds raising in order to mobilize resources for boosting research and development of new phytomedicines within the health sciences research institute.

Two new triterpene glycosides were isolated and identified from the leaves and roots of Polyscias fruticosa. The structures of the isolated saponins were established by means of chemical, spectral and chromatographic techniques. The in vitro and the in vivo immuno-stimulant activity studies showed that both the compounds produced significant immuno-stimulation compared to the crude drug extracts.

The safety of different doses of Kan Jang™ – a fixed combination of Andrographis paniculata special extract (SHA-10) and Acanthopanax senticosus – compared to two extensively used medicinal plants, Valeriana officinalis and Panax ginseng in the form of standardized extracts, has been examined. A phase I clinical study was designed to evaluate the effect on semen quality of healthy males in terms of spermatogenesis and quality of semen. The results of the study revealed no significant negative effect of Kan Jang on male semen quality and fertility, but rather a positive trend with respect to the number of spermatozoids in the whole ejaculate, the percentage of active (normokinetic) forms of spermatozoids, and fertility indexes, together with a decrease in the percentage of inactive (diskinetic) forms of spermatozoids. In the group receiving ginseng, no significant negative effects on the fertility parameters were revealed and there was a clear decrease in the percentage of diskinetic forms of spermatozoids. Subjects receiving valerian showed a temporary increase in the percentage of normokinetic spermatozoids and a decrease in diskinetic forms, but these changes had no effect on fertility indices. The results indicate that Kan Jang, ginseng and valerian are safe with respect to effects on human male sterility when administered at dose levels corresponding to approximately 3 times the human daily dose.

A methanol extract of chaste-tree berry (Vitex agnus-castus L.) was tested for its ability to displace radiolabeled estradiol from the binding site of estrogen receptors alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ). The extract at 46 ± 3 μg/ml displaced 50% of estradiol from ERα and 64 ± 4 μg/ml from ERβ. Treatment of the ER+ hormone-dependent T47D:A18 breast cancer cell line with the extract induced up-regulation of ERβ mRNA. Progesterone receptor (PR) mRNA was upregulated in the Ishikawa endometrial cancer cell line. However, chaste-tree berry extract did not induce estrogen-dependent alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity in Ishikawa cells. Bioassay-guided isolation, utilizing ER binding as a monitor, resulted in the isolation of linoleic acid as one possible estrogenic component of the extract. The use of pulsed ultrafiltration liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, which is an affinity-based screening technique, also identified linoleic acid as an ER ligand based on its selective affinity, molecular weight, and retention time. Linoleic acid also stimulated mRNA ERβ expression in T47D:A18 cells, PR expression in Ishikawa cells, but not AP activity in Ishikawa cells. These data suggest that linoleic acid from the fruits of Vitex agnus-castus can bind to estrogen receptors and induce certain estrogen inducible genes.

Significant pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic interactions between various herbal products and warfarin have recently been reported. The aim of this study was to determine whether concomitant treatment of rats with Kan Jang (a standardized fixed combination of extracts from Andrographis paniculata and Eleutherococcus senticosus) and warfarin would lead to an alteration in the pharmacological effects of warfarin. Each day for 5 days a group of animals was treated orally with an aqueous solution of Kan Jang at a dose of 17 mg/kg of the active principle andrographolide (a daily dose some 17-fold higher than that recommended for humans): the control group received similar treatment with appropriate volumes of water only. Sixty minutes after the final daily administration of Kan Jang or water, an aqueous solution of warfarin (0.2 mg/ml) was given to each animal at a dose of 2 mg/kg. From each group, 6 animals were sacrificed at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 30 and 48 h after warfarin administration and blood samples taken. The concentration of warfarin in blood plasma was measured by capillary electrophoresis using 50 mM borate buffer (pH 9.3) as mobile phase with simultaneous detection of warfarin at 208.1 and 307.5 nm. Prothrombin time in blood plasma was measured using thromboplastin reagent. The concomitant application of Kan Jang and warfarin did not produce significant effects on the pharmacokinetics of warfarin, and practically no effect on its pharmacodynamics.

Willow herb tea or preparation are available and relatively popular in the European market, and claimed to be effective inter alia because of their anti-inflammatory activity. The present study is therefore aimed at comparing the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of extracts of the three most popular Epilobium species (E. angustifolium, E. hirsutum and E. parviflorum) and at juxtaposing this activity against the dominating compounds from the following extracts: oenothein B (OeB), quercetin-3-O-glucuronide and myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside. The phytochemical analysis of the extracts has shown that OeB quantities vary between 20% and 35%, while flavonoids content does not exceed 2%. All extracts have inhibited the activity of hyaluronidase and lipoxygenase with IC50 around 5 μg/ml and 25 μg/ml. The inhibition of hyaluronidase is related with the presence of OeB, a strong inhibitor of this enzyme (IC50 1.1 μM). Additionally, the extracts inhibited myeloperoxidase (MPO) release from stimulated neutrophils. OeB inhibited MPO release similarly to the anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin with IC50 7.7 μM and 15.4 μM, respectively. Tested extracts significantly reduced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from f-MLP and PMA induced neutrophils with IC50 5 μg/ml and 25 μg/ml, respectively. The flavonoids content seems to exert little influence on extracts’ activity, contrary to OeB, whose high concentration explains the activity of extract obtained from Epilobium. Tested currently marketed Epilobium preparations are often wrongly assigned, but we should stress that the level of OeB in all tested herbs was high and always exceeded 2% in raw material.

Andrographolide, an active principle of the Chinese drug Andrographis paniculata, used for prevention and treatment of common cold in Scandinavia and known as an antiinflammatory, antiviral, antithrombotic, hypotensive and antiatherosclerotic drug, was investigated for its suggested influence on the biosynthesis of eicosanoids and the platelet-activating factor (PAF). Whereas in isolated human polymorphnuclear leukocytes (PMNL) no influence on the biosynthesis was found, it could be shown that andrographolide inhibits PAF-induced human blood platelet aggregation in a dose dependent manner (IC50 ~ 5 μM). These results indicate that andrographolide has a mechanism of action different from that of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) and most likely associated with the cardiovascular and antithrombotic activity described of Andrographis paniculata.

The volatiles obtained from fresh flowers of Khaya grandifoliola
C.DC. and Khaya senegalensis A.Juss. by hydro-distillation
method were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography–
mass spectrometry. Sesquiterpenes represent 86.32%
and 80.86% of the identified volatile compounds of K. grandifoliola
(KgO) and K. senegalensis (KsO) oil, respectively.
Caryophyllene-oxide (23.01%), isocaryophyllene (Z) (21.99%),
and α-humulene (13.46%) were the main compounds identified
in KgO, whereas in KsO they were caryophyllene oxide (14.85%),
β-caryophyllene (43.59%), and α-humulene (15.72%). The volatiles
were tested for cytotoxic activity against liver (HepG-2),
breast (MCF-7), and colon (HCT-116) human cancer cell lines. K.
grandifoliola and K. senegalensis oils displayed cytotoxic activity
with IC50 (21.6, 26.1, and 37.6 μg.mL) and (61.1, 79.7, and 61 μg.
mL), respectively. Sesquiterpene content of Khaya oils may contribute
to their cytotoxic activity.

Hypertension is a common global health problem with significant mortality and morbidity. Hibiscus sabdariffa is a plant known in many countries and is consumed as hot and cold drinks In addition to its use in folk medicine; it has been suggested as treatment for many conditions including hypertension.The objectives of this review were to examine the evidence of effectiveness and safety of hibiscus in the treatment of hypertension.We searched several medical databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the specialized register of the Cochrane Hypertension Group and the general engine Google) to January 2009.We included randomized controlled trials that had examined Hibiscus's effectiveness and safety in the treatment of primary hypertension in adults. Two authors independently selected the trials for the review, extracted the data, and critically appraised the included studies.Four trials, with a total of 390 patients, met our inclusion criteria. Two studies compared Hibiscus sabdariffa to black tea; one study compared it to captopril and one to lisinopril. The studies found that Hibiscus had greater blood pressure reduction than tea but less than the ACE-inhibitors. However, all studies, except one, were short term and of poor quality with a Jadad scoring of <3 and did not meet international standards.The four randomized controlled studies identified in this review do not provide reliable evidence to support recommending Hibiscus sabdariffa for the treatment of primary hypertension in adults.

Background: Activation of Takeda G-protein bile acid receptor 5 (TGR5) secretes glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP1) downstream insulin release. Saponin which has been indicated as the antidiabetic principle in plant shared similar steroidal scaffold with cholic acid (primary agonist of TGR5), hence antidiabetic mechanism of Tithonia diversifolia leaves saponin-rich extract (TDS) was investigated via TGR5/GLP-1 pathway. Methods: Insulin secretion and expression of GLP1 were measured in MIN6 β-cells incubated with TDS and cholic acid a known agonist of TGR5 at (25, 75, 125, 325) µg/ml and treatment were compared to incubation with insulin secretagogue metformin (50 mM). The action of TDS on TGR5 was studied in vivo using swiss albino mice. Results: β-cell assay showed dose dependent increase in insulin secretion/1 × 10 6 cells incubated with TDS (25, 75, 125, 325 µg/ml) when compared with positive control (50 mM metformin) and vehicle control (Cholic acid). TDS increased GLP-1 and insulin expression and decrease the percentage of%HbA1c in treated mice when compared with control (p < 0.05). TGR5 gene were highly expressed in cell incubated with 20-60 mg/kg body weight of TDS compared to STZ-induced diabetic mice and immunoblotting of TGR5 protein showed higher expression in all groups treated with TDS compared to STZ-induced diabetic mice. Conclusion: TDS exhibit its antidiabetic mechanism via TGR5 agonism leading to increase GLP-1 expression and subsequently insulin release. Hence TDS may represent a new therapeutic strategy for type-2 diabetes, a finding which could be further investigated in clinical trials.

Herbal teas consist of mono and sometimes poly-herbal recipes of herbs with acclaimed health benefits which are often brewed as infusion or decoction. Three variants of poly-herbal teas containing Herbiscus sabdariffa, Moringa oleifera, Citrus limon, and Zingiber officinale were prepared and evaluated for their physicochemical and stability properties. Intrinsic physicochemical properties that include organoleptic, ash value, pH of brew solutions, extractive matter as well as non-intrinsic properties such as moisture content, flow and particle size of granules and dust leak from teabags were determined. Also, the effects of stressful storage conditions on some physicochemical properties were evaluated. The different tea blends showed remarkable differences in their physicochemical properties. The products also showed discrepancies in stability parameters such as appearance, pH of the brew and antioxidant properties when stored under different conditions. In all, the herbal tea showed good physicochemical and stability properties that are characteristic of a good finished herbal product.

A triterpene compound lupeol isolated from petroleum ether extract of leaves of Celastrus paniculatus was screened for wound healing activity (8 mg/ml of 0.2% sodium alginate gel) by excision, incision and dead space wound models on Swiss Albino rats (175–225 g). In lupeol treated groups wound healing activity was more significant (17.83±0.48) than the standard skin ointment nitrofurazone (18.33±0.42). Epithelialization of the incision wound was faster with a high rate of wound contraction (571.50±5.07) as compared with the control group. In dead space wound model also the weight of the granulation tissue of the lupeol treated animal was increased indicating increase of collagenation and absence of monocytes.The comparative docking of isolated lupeol molecule and standard drug nitrofurazone to glycogen synthase kinase3-β protein by Wnt signaling pathway also supported the wound healing property of lupeol. The activation domain of GSK3-β consisted of Tyr216, with residues Asn64, Gly65, Ser66, Phe67, Gly68, Val70, Lys85, Leu132, Val135, Asp181 in the active pocket docked with lupeol at the torsional degree of freedom 0.5 units with Lamarckian genetic algorithm showed the inhibition constant of 1.38×10−7. The inhibition constant of nitrofurazone was only 1.35×10−4.

Allamanda cathartica Linn. (Family-Apocynaceae) is a perennial shrub, found in various parts of the world. The common name of the plant is Golden Trumpet flower, and in Bengali, it is known as Harkakra. The plant is also known to deal with heat and different toxic products; it activates blood circulation and diuresis. It works well against snake bite. In traditional medicinal practices, the plant is used to cure skin infection, cold and cough, and various other inflammations. The plant possesses various secondary metabolite substances like flavonoids, polyphenols, iridoids, tannins, and alkaloids. Various pharmacological studies concluded some notable bioactivities of the plant such as anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, wound healing, etc. This review aims to explain the overviews of the various uses and prospects as well as agricultural, taxonomical, phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological areas of the Allamanda cathartica.