Muhammed Majeed PhD, Kalyanam Nagabhushanam PhD, Shaji Paulose MPharm
et al.
Background: Ptero stilbene is an active molecule from the bark of the Pterocarpus marsupium tree with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical safety of a standardized P. marsupium extract (PME) containing 90% pterostilbene (200 mg per day) in healthy adults. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 60 healthy adult participants (27 males and 33 females) were randomized to receive PME-100 mg or placebo capsule twice a day for two months. The primary objectives of the study were to assess any changes in laboratory parameters, vital signs, and the occurrence of adverse events from screening to the final visit. Serum antioxidant enzyme levels were evaluated as a secondary outcome. Results: The hematological, lipid, glycemic, thyroid profiles and liver and renal functions remained within the normal range in all participants, with no difference between PME and placebo. Vital signs, including blood pressure, pulse rate, body weight, body mass index and electrocardiogram, did not reveal any significant differences between the PME and placebo groups at the beginning and end of the study. No serious adverse events were observed in any participant throughout the study period. The serum antioxidant profile was not significantly different between the treatment groups, although the glutathione levels were relatively higher in the PME group. Conclusions: Scientific evaluation of clinical safety of standardized extract is mandatory for its use as a supplement for various health benefits. The results of this study convincingly establish the safety of PME (>90% Pterostilbene) at 200 mg/day (100 mg bid) for human use. The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of BGS Global Institute of Medical Sciences & Hospital, Bangalore with the registration number CTRI/2019/08/020736.
Background and Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder of multifactorial etiology. PCOS is associated with thyroid dysfunctions ranging from subclinical hypothyroidism, autoimmune thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, and multinodular goiter. This study evaluated thyroid function in patients with PCOS. Methods: This comparative case-control study was done among 186 patients attending the outpatient services of a tertiary care hospital. Patients aged between 18 and 30 years were evaluated; 93 candidates with PCOS were diagnosed using the Rotterdam 2003 criteria and 93 candidates without symptoms or signs of PCOS were selected as controls. Details of symptoms and clinical examination were obtained and their serum thyroid-stimulating hormone and serum-free thyroxine were estimated. Data were statistically analyzed for differences in clinical profile and thyroid function which were compared among the groups. Results: The mean age of the participants was 23.65 and 24.83 years in the case and control groups, respectively. The most common features in the PCOS group were hyperandrogenism (79, 85.9%) and oligomenorrhea (66, 71.7%). The mean body mass index in the PCOS group (23.76 kg/m2) was found to be significantly higher as compared to the controls. Thirty-three (34.4%) patients with PCOS were found to have thyroid dysfunction as compared to 7 (7.5%) in the control group. Among PCOS patients, hypothyroidism was more common than subclinical hypothyroidism. Conclusion: The occurrence of hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism was found to be higher in patients with PCOS. Hypothyroidism was more frequent among patients in the PCOS group than in the control group.
Habibu Tijjani, Adegbenro P. Adegunloye, Auwalu Uba
et al.
Highlights • Flavonoids displayed varying affinities for PLpro and 3CLpro of SARS-CoV-2 • They interacted via hydrogen and non-hydrogen bonds; nine and twenty-seven flavonoids had better binding affinities for PLpro and 3CLpro respectively than lopinavir and ritonavir • Silymarin and isonymphaeol B demonstrated most favourable combination of attributes in terms of binding energies, compliance with Lipinski rule for drug-likeness and favourable pharmacokinetics. • Silymarin and isonymphaeol B exhibited appreciable degree of structural stability, maintaining strong interaction with residues in the different representative clusters selected during the MDS run.
Gregorio Segovia, Gregorio Segovia, Belén Sanz-Barbero
et al.
Objectives: To identify how perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs towards pseudotherapies, health, medicine, and the public health system influence the pseudotherapy use in Spain.Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study using the Survey of Social Perception of Science and Technology-2018 (5,200 interviews). Dependent variable: ever use of pseudotherapies. Covariables: attitude towards medicine, health and public health system; perceived health; assessment of the scientific character of homeopathy/acupuncture. The association was estimated using prevalence ratios obtained by Poisson regression models. The model was adjusted for age and socioeconomic variables.Results: Pseudotherapy use was higher in women (24.9%) than in men (14.2%) (p < 0.001). The probability of use in men (p < 0.001) and women (p < 0.001) increases with the belief in pseudotherapies’ usefulness. Among men, a proactive attitude (reference: passive) towards medicine and health (RP:1.3), and a negative (reference: positive) assessment of the quality of the public health system increased use-probability (RP:1.2). For women, poor health perceived (referencie: good) increased likelihood of use (RP:1.2).Conclusion: Pseudotherapy use in Spain was associated with confidence in its usefulness irrespective of users’ assessment of its scientific validity.
Dereje A. Oncho, Meseret C. Ejigu, Olyad E. Urgessa
Abstract Background There is a need for the screening more effective, affordable and readily available antimicrobial substances from local medicinal plants or herbs as the pathogenic bacteria are developing the resistance to common antibiotics. Guava (Psidium guajava L.) has antimicrobial activities and it is easily accessible to local populace in tropical region. Antimicrobial properties of guava extracts are attributed to the presence of different phytochemical constituents. The fact that phytochemicals’ constituents vary as a result of geographical locations and literatures about Ethiopian guava with respect to phytochemicals’ composition and content, and antimicrobial activities are hardly available, there is a need to analyze phytochemicals and antimicrobial properties of the Ethiopian guava from Oromia Regional State, Babile and Gursum Districts against Salmonella Typhi, Shigella boydii, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. Methods Extraction was done by maceration. Qualitative analysis of phytochemicals was carried out using standard protocol and quantitative phytochemical determination was conducted using spectrophotometric and gravimetric methods. Antimicrobial activities were determined by disc diffusion and broth dilution method. Results Qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponin, steroids and tannin, but the absence of flavonoid and phlobatannin in all Babile and Gursum leaf and bark extracts. Gravimetric measurement showed the highest terpenoid content of 105.00 ± 8.66 mg extract/g of powder in Gursum leaf extract. Similarly, spectrophotometric measurement showed the highest total phenol content of 0.205 ± 0.01 mg/g of the extracts as Tannic Acid Equivalent in Gursum leaf extract. Antimicrobial activity tests revealed that Babile leaf extract showed the highest 13.0 ± 6.79 mm zone of inhibition against Shigella boydii compared to that of other guava extracts. Babile leaf extract showed the lowest 2.375 ± 0.177 mg/ml minimum inhibitory concentration against Shigella boydii, while Gursum leaf extract showed the lowest 1.875 ± 0.884 mg/ml MIC against Salmonella Typhi. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, steroids and tannins in the all extracts, but the absence of flavonoids and phlobatannins in the all extracts and terpenoids in Babile extracts. The highest content of alkaloid and terpenoid (98.67 ± 14.43, 93.33 ± 8.82 mg extract/g of powder, respectively) were found in Babile leaf and Gursum bark extracts, respectively. Antimicrobial activity tests revealed that Babile leaf extracts showed higher zone of inhibition against all clinical isolates than that of Gursum leaf extracts, but Babile bark extracts showed lower zone of inhibition against all clinical isolates than that of Gursum bark extracts. Babile leaf extracts showed the highest zone of inhibition (13.0 ± 6.79 mm) against S. boydii, and Babile bark extracts showed the lowest Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (1.250 ± 0.001 mg/ml) against S. Typhi. Conclusion Guava extracts from different location could be source of natural antimicrobial agents with different composition and content. In vivo antimicrobial activity, and isolation, identification and synergy of specific active compound that responsible for the antibacterial activity should be evaluated.
Oluwole Steve Ijarotimi, Ibiyinka Helen Adesanya, Timilehin David Oluwajuyitan
Abstract Background African wild lettuce (Lactuca taraxacifolia Willd.) is an underutilised indigenous leafy vegetable containing essential nutrients and medicinal properties. Hence, this study aimed to determine the chemical composition, antioxidant activities, α-amylase, α-glucosidase and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory potentials of wild lettuce leaves powder samples. Methods Freshly harvested Wild Lettuce leaves were processed into whole leafy powder (WLF), extracted powder (WLE), residue (WLR) and leaf protein isolate (WPI). Chemical composition, antioxidant activities, α-amylase, α-glucosidase and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory potentials of the powder samples were determined. Results Crude protein of Wild Lettuce leaves ranged from 23.27 to 46.57 and crude fiber from 4.17–37.37 g/100 g. Phosphorous was the most abundant element, while zinc had the lowest concentration. The samples essential amino acids, protein efficiency ratio, essential amino acid index and biological values were 39.83–50.65 mg/100 g protein. 2.79–3.51, 77.03–92.36% and 72.26–88.97%, respectively. Saponin, tannin, oxalate, phytate, terpennoids, flavonoid and phenol in the leafy vegetable samples were within tolerable levels. The African wild lettuce leaf protein isolate (WPI) had higher DPPH antioxidant activity (91.88%), percentage inhibitory properties on α-amylase (26.11%), α-glucosidase (64.24%) and angiotensin-1-converting enzyme (97.53%) than WLF (18.28, 25.44, 55.41 and 67.56), WLE (70.85, 24.97, 62.53 and 93.27) and WLR (53.07, 24.68, 50.03 and 85.28) respectively. Conclusion African wild lettuce leaf samples, particularly protein isolate, contain essential nutrients, antioxidant activities and ability to inhibit angiotensin-1-converting, α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes Therefore, the leafy vegetable samples, particularly WPI, may be suitable as antioxidant, antidiabetic and antihypertensive agent.
Ritu Trivedi, Sulekha Adhikary, Priyanka Kothari
et al.
Abstract Background Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a rich source of flavonoids and therefore widely used therapeutically as an antioxidant agent in traditional medicine. The present study was undertaken to study the bone regenerating property of dried Spinacia oleracea extract (DSE) and self-emulsifying formulation of the extract (FDSE) on drill-hole model of fracture repair in rats. Methods 0.8 mm hole was drilled in the diaphyseal region of femur in adult SD rats. DSE and formulated extract (FDSE) was administered orally and fractured femur was collected after treatment regimen. Micro-CT, transcriptional analysis and measurement of calcein intensity of callus formed at the injured site was performed to study the efficacy of the extract and formulation on bone regeneration. Further, compounds from extract were assessed for in-vitro osteoblast activity. Results Micro-architecture of the regenerated bone at injured site exhibited 26% (p < 0.001) and 35% (p < 0.01) increased BV/TV (bone volume /tissue volume) and Tb.N. (trabecular number) for DSE (500 mg.kg− 1). Further, FDSE exhibited similar augmentation in BV/TV (p < 0.01) and Tb. N (p < 0.01) parameters at dose of 250 mg.kg− 1. Analogous results were obtained from transcriptional analysis and calcein intensity at the fractured site. 3-O-Methylpatuletin, one of the compound isolated from the extract stimulated the differentiation and mineralization of primary osteoblast and depicted concentration dependent antagonizing effect of H2O2 in osteoblast apparently, minimizing ROS generation thus affectivity in fracture repair. Conclusions The present study showed that bone regenerating property of spinach was augmented by formulating extract to deliverable form and can be further studied to develop as therapeutic agent for fracture repair. Graphical abstract
Priscila Aparecida Faitanini Dandaro, Filipe Pereira Giardini Bonfim, Aline Mako Yoshikawa
et al.
ABSTRACT
Considered an agricultural input by the Ministry of Agriculture and Supply, homeopathy has been increasingly used in agriculture, especially in plants. It is an important technology to be adopted to reverse a framework of saline stress, because since the current procedures are little known, have hight costs and resources are not renewable. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of the homeopathic preparation Natrum muriaticum (Nat-m) on agronomic performance and physiological parameters of cherry tomatoes submitted to saline stress. The statistical design was a completely randomized design with eight treatments and five replications. The treatments consisted in the application of Nat-m 3cH, 5cH, 7cH, 9cH, 11cH, 13cH and two controls: etanol 70% and distilled water. They were conducted in a greenhouse and the treatments were applied weekly. Satisfactory results were observed with the applications of Nat-m 11cH and 13cH, with a significant increase in the characteristics such as height, diameter of the lap, number of leaves, number of flowers per cluster, number of fruits, fresh fruit mass, as well as on the productivity of tomato plants. Lower averages of the proline content were obtained with the application of these homeopathic preparations, this response may be associated with the osmotic adjustment promoted by the use of ultradiluitions. Natrum muriaticum positively affected the vegetative and reproductive development of cherry tomato plants submitted to saline stress.
David Miaffo, Oulianovie Guessom Kamgue, Narcisse Ledang Tebou
et al.
Abstract Background Vitellaria paradoxa (V. paradoxa) is a plant used in traditional medicine in the treatment of many diseases including diabetes mellitus. Although the different parts of this plant are used empirically as antidiabetic drug, no scientific work to our knowledge has yet been undertaken to evaluate its effects on blood glucose, and lipid and antioxidant parameters of diabetic animals. The objective of this study is therefore to evaluate the hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities of the aqueous extract of V. paradoxa barks in diabetic rats. Methods Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (120 mg/kg bw). Thirty male albino rats were divided into groups and orally treated for 14 days with distilled water, glibenclamide (2.5 mg/kg bw) and aqueous extract of V. paradoxa (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg bw). Glycaemia, insulin level, relative body weight, hepatic glycogen level, some liver enzymes, and lipid and antioxidant parameters were evaluated. Results The results showed that the extract caused a significant increase in relative body weight, insulin level, HDL-cholesterol, hepatic glycogen rate, and fructose-1,6-biphosphate and glucokinase activities. A significant decrease in glycaemia, glucose-6-phosphatase activity, total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol were also observed after the administration of V. paradoxa. Glutathione level and the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase increased significantly while the nitric oxide and malondialdehyde levels decreased significantly in the liver of animals treated with the extract of V. paradoxa. Conclusion These results justify the hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of aqueous extract of V. paradoxa barks, which can reduce the complications associated with diabetes.
In 2001 and 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2002-2005 and 2014-2023 , respectively, to address policy, ethics, quality, and integration of complementary health therapies (CHT). Despite the adoption of these strategic frameworks, sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries largely run dualistic and inclusive health care system . A recent article published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice analyzed the role of practicing nurses in CHT integration and intercultural health in an SSA country setting. Drawing on the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Health Belief Questionnaire, the study specifically examined nurses’ knowledge, practices, and attitudes toward CHT. The study revealed that nurses had low knowledge about CHT, which reflected in their ineptitude to engage in professional practices of CHT. In spite of the knowledge deficit, nurses generally held favorable attitudes toward CHT and the majority supported the need for “safe” and evidence-based integrative model. Efforts to improve CHT-related knowledge of nurses may enhance medical integration in SSA. This commentary proposes novel political will and investment in CHT education and research as well as an inclusion of CHT modules in the nurses’ training programs; viabilities to achieve intercultural health and improved care in SSA.
Stephen M. Njogu BSc, Msc, Wycliffe M. Arika BSc, Msc, Alex K. Machocho BEd, MSc
et al.
The claims by the traditional herbal medicine practitioners that Kigelia africana has bioactivity against several diseases, including diabetes mellitus, were investigated in this study. Type I diabetes mellitus was induced in mice by intraperitoneal administration of alloxan monohydrate followed by treatment with the therapeutic doses of the aqueous and ethyl acetate leaf extract of K africana to the experimentally diabetic mice. The treatment effects were compared with the normal control, diabetic control, and diabetic control rats treated with a standard antidiabetic drugs (insulin administered intraperitoneally at 1 IU/kg body weight in 0.1 mL physiological saline or glibenclamide administered orally at 3 mg/kg body weight in 0.1 mL physiological saline). Phytochemical composition of the leaf extract was assessed using standard procedures and mineral elements assessed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and total reflection X-ray fluorescence system. Oral and intraperitoneal administration of the aqueous and ethyl acetate leaf extract caused a statistically significant dose-independent reduction in plasma glucose level in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. The observed hypoglycemic activity of this plant extract could be attributed to the observed phytochemicals and trace elements, which have been associated with exhibiting antidiabetic properties. Therefore, the data appear to support the hypoglycemic effects of K africana validating its folkloric usage.
Mayur Ranu Bhobe, Shylaja Someshwar, Hemangi R Jerajani
et al.
Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is rare in children. We report a case of PG in a 4-year-old male who presented with ulcers over face, axillae, and gluteal area. The ulcers healed with cribriform scarring after starting systemic steroids and azathioprine. The patient, however, was unable to follow-up regularly. He had a recurrence of lesions developed sepsis and septic shock and unfortunately expired.
The purpose of this article was to systematically review yoga interventions aimed at improving depressive symptoms. A total of 23 interventions published between 2011 and May 2016 were evaluated in this review. Three study designs were used: randomized control trials, quasi-experimental, and pretest/posttest, with majority being randomized control trials. Most of the studies were in the United States. Various yoga schools were used, with the most common being Hatha yoga . The number of participants participating in the studies ranged from 14 to 136, implying that most studies had a small sample. The duration of the intervention period varied greatly, with the majority being 6 weeks or longer. Limitations of the interventions involved the small sample sizes used by the majority of the studies, most studies examining the short-term effect of yoga for depression, and the nonutilization of behavioral theories. Despite the limitations, it can be concluded that the yoga interventions were effective in reducing depression.
Vincenzo Zanardo MD, David Giarrizzo MD, Luigi Maiolo MD
et al.
Appropriate hydration and skin surface pH are of fundamental importance in preventing areola skin barrier damage and breastfeeding success. We studied the dermal effects of emu oil on areola skin soon after birth in 70 at-term breastfeeding mothers by noninvasive bioengineering method. Emu oil–based cream was found to be effective in improving stratum corneum hydration of breast areolae (mean ± standard deviation, from 56.9 ± 18.2 to 65.0 ± 17.2 conventional units, P < .003) and did not affect skin pH, temperature, or elasticity. The significant improvement in hydration values was more pronounced in the puerperae presenting with basal hydration in the lower quartiles (mean ± standard deviation, from 41.6 ± 17.2 to 59.6 ± 21.2 conventional units, P < .001). Further studies are warranted to confirm the long-term beneficial effects of this preparation in a very sensitive patient population.
Headache is among the most common pain problems encountered by the primary care physician. Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is relatively rare in young adult males. Homocysteinemia is a significantly independent prothrombotic risk factor for atherogenic thrombotic cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular diseases. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutation results in high serum homocysteine levels. Here, we report a 45-year-old male who presented with acute onset severe headache. Brain imaging showed thrombosis of superior sagittal sinus. The level of serum homocysteine was elevated and there was heterozygous CG677T polymorphism of the MTHFR gene.
Xerostomia is a common problem, particularly in an elderly population, with a range of causes that affect important aspects of life, such as chewing, swallowing, and speaking. Xerostomia has been explained in traditional medicine throughout history. Traditional Persian medicine, with more than 4000 years of history, consists of the sum total of all the knowledge and practices used in diagnosis, prevention, and exclusion in Iran from ancient times to the present. Based on leading Persian medical manuscripts, the current study focuses on the medieval concept of xerostomia as an important general disorder to review the aetiology of xerostomia and xerostomia types, the control and treatment of xerostomia by lifestyle modification, and medicinal plants for xerostomia suppression according to the theory and practice of traditional Persian medicine. Xerostomia was treated with 3 major approaches in traditional Persian medicine: lifestyle modification, simple single herbal remedies, and compound medicines. It appears that all the factors that cause xerostomia in current studies can be described by using the theories of traditional Persian medicine; furthermore, therapies aimed at both medicines (current and traditional) focus on protecting salivary glands and salivary flow. As a conclution while current managements of xerostomia are still inadequate and traditional approaches have found experimental support over the centuries, some of these traditional treatments may still be useful to current medicine as alternative medicine.
Ethno-medicine refers to the study of traditional medical practice which is concerned with the cultural interpretation of health, diseases and illness and also addresses the healthcare-seeking process and healing practices. Headache is one of the common symptom for consultation with a doctor. Several patients visiting doctors and specialists with the complaint of headache, attribute the cause to gastritis, gas or to any similar terminology in their local language. Since, the cause connects between head and stomach the condition is known as "gastric headache". The knowledge of gastric headache and its description details were greatly contributed by the medical traditions of ancient Greece, Persia Egypt, India, and China. The possible causality of the gastrointestinal diseases in inducing headaches has been little investigated. We do see a significant proportion of patients visiting varied specialists attributing headache to gas/gastritis. We believe that attribution patterns, explanatory models and research is needed to study gastritis/gas as a cause for headache in different cultures. The difference in the understanding and beliefs of the illness between the clinician and patient can result in inappropriate assessment or dis-satisfaction.
Background and Objectives: 25-50 percent of all patients who are visited by GPs, have complains that are not medically explained. Their management is a challenge for GPs. In homeopathy (a method of alternative medicine) these symptoms are important for selection of remedies and in an effort to treat them. This study aimed at describing this existing situation by investigating the frequency of such complaints in the patients under study.Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study conducted in Isfahan in 2008 on 240 Patients who were visited in some of the clinics affiliated to Isfahan university of medical sciences. The patients were selected by convenient method. Data were gathered by the questionnaire and analyzed via SPSS 13.5 software using Chi-Square test.Results: Out of 240 patients, 150 were women (%65.4) and 90 were men(34.6%). 75.4 percent were 20-40 years old. 1.7 percent had no symptoms, 31.3 had 1-5 symptoms and 40.8 percent had 6-10 symptoms. The females had more symptoms than males. Symptoms of mind, GI, sleep and miscellaneous ones were 81.3, 80.4, 72.1 and 87.1 percent, respectively. The most frequent symptoms in each group were intrusive thought, salivation in sleep, waking frequently and dyspnea wearing tight collared clothes. Only 10.97 percent of patient referred to the physicians for these symptoms.Conclusion: The symptoms registered in homeopathy references have notable prevalence in the society but most of people with such symptoms will not go to a doctor for examination and treatment Therefore, it is very important to carry out more research regarding these symptoms. General population should receive more information and physicians, in turn, should use appropriate methods of therapy for treating these patients.