Aphrodisiac activity of 50% ethanolic extracts of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myristica fragrans</Emphasis> Houtt. (nutmeg) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Syzygium aromaticum</Emphasis> (L) Merr. &; Perry. (clove) in male mice: a comparative study

Background  

Spices are considered as sexual invigorators in the Unani System of Medicine. In order to explore the sexual function improving effect of Myristica fragrans Houtt. (nutmeg) and Syzygium aromaticum (L) Merr. & Perry. (clove) an experimental study was conducted in normal male mice.     

Antimicrobial activity and brine shrimp toxicity of extracts of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Terminalia brownii</Emphasis> roots and stem

Background  

Ternimalia brownii Fresen (Combretaceae) is widely used in traditional medicine to treat bacterial, fungal and viral infections. There is a need to evaluate extracts of this plant in order to provide scientific proof for it's wide application in traditional medicine system.     

An experimental study of sexual function improving effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myristica fragrans</Emphasis> Houtt. (nutmeg)

Background  

Myristica fragrans Houtt. (nutmeg) has been mentioned in Unani medicine to be of value in the management of male sexual disorders. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the aphrodisiac effect of 50% ethanolic extract of nutmeg along with its likely adverse effects and acute toxicity using various animal models.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dichrostachys cinerea</Emphasis> (L.) Wight <Emphasis Type="Italic">et</Emphasis> Arn (Mimosaceae) hydro-alcoholic extract action on the contractility of tracheal smooth muscle isolated from guinea-pig

Background  

Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight et Arn. (Mimosaceae) is largely used in ethno-medically across Africa, and mainly employed for the treatment of asthma in Ivory Coast and Gabon. The paper analyses the relaxation induced by the methanolic extract of D. cinerea (Edici) in the guinea-pig trachea preparations (GPTPs). Purpose: This study aimed to bring out the scientific basis to the use of this plant leading to the validation of this phytomedicine.     

Potentials of leaves of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspilia africana</Emphasis> (Compositae) in wound care: an experimental evaluation

Background  

The potentials of the leaves of the haemorrhage plant, Aspilia africana C. D Adams (Compositae) in wound care was evaluated using experimental models. A. africana, which is widespread in Africa, is used in traditional medicine to stop bleeding from wounds, clean the surfaces of sores, in the treatment of rheumatic pains, bee and scorpion stings and for removal of opacities and foreign bodies from the eyes. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the potentials for use of leaves of this plant in wound care.     

Nitric oxide pathway-mediated relaxant effect of aqueous sesame leaves extract (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sesamum radiatum</Emphasis> Schum. &; Thonn.) in the guinea-pig isolated aorta smooth muscle

Background  

Sesamum radiatum Schum. & Thonn. (Pedaliaceae) is an annual herbaceous plant, which belongs to the family Pedaliaceae and genus Sesamum. Sesame is used in traditional medicine in Africa and Asia for many diseases treatment. Sesame plant especially the leaves, seed and oil are consumed locally as a staple food by subsistence farmers. The study analyses the relaxation induced by the aqueous extract of leaves from sesame (ESera), compared with those of acetylcholine (ACh) in the guinea-pig aortic preparations (GPAPs), in order to confirm the use in traditional medicine for cardiovascular diseases.     

Attenuating effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acorus calamus</Emphasis> extract in chronic constriction injury induced neuropathic pain in rats: an evidence of anti-oxidative,anti-inflammatory,neuroprotective and calcium inhibitory effects

Background  

Acorus calamus (family: Araceae), is an indigenous plant, traditionally it is used as an ingredient of various cocktail preparations and for the management of severe inflammatory disorders in Indian system of medicine. Present study investigated the attenuating role of Acorus calamus plant extract in chronic constriction injury (CCI) of sciatic nerve induced peripheral neuropathy in rats.     

Saponin accumulation in the seedling root of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Panax notoginseng</Emphasis>

Background  

Panax notoginseng is an important Chinese medicinal plant. Dammarene-type triterpenoid saponins are main pharmacologically effective compounds in P. notoginseng. This study aims to investigate the formation and accumulation of saponins in P. notoginseng roots during germination and juvenile stage.     

Effect of 50% ethanolic extract of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Syzygium aromaticum</Emphasis> (L.) Merr. &; Perry. (clove) on sexual behaviour of normal male rats

Background  

The flower bud of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & Perry. (clove) has been used in Unani medicine since ancient times for the treatment of male sexual disorders. The present study is aimed to investigate the effect of 50% ethanolic extract of clove on general mating behaviour, libido, potency along with its likely gastric ulceration and adverse effects on sexually normal male albino rats.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Petiveria alliacea</Emphasis> extracts uses multiple mechanisms to inhibit growth of human and mouse tumoral cells

Background  

There is ethnopharmacological evidence that Petiveria alliacea can have antitumor activity; however, the mechanism of its cytotoxic activity is not well understood. We assessed multiple in vitro biological activities of an ethyl acetate soluble plant fraction over several tumor cell lines.     

Healing Potential of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picrorhiza kurroa</Emphasis> (Scrofulariaceae) rhizomes against indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration: a mechanistic exploration.

Background  

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the potential of the rhizomes of the Indian medicinal plant, Picrorhiza kurroa in healing indomethacin-induced acute stomach ulceration in mice and examine its capacity to modulate oxidative stress and the levels of prostaglandin (PGE₂) and EGF during the process.     

Sexual minority status is associated with earlier recalled age of menarche: Evidence from the 2005–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Introduction

Menarcheal timing is associated with growth, development, health, wellbeing, and reproduction across the lifespan. Although sexual orientation is a known correlate of health and developmental inequities, relatively little evolutionarily framed research has investigated sexual orientation-based variation in maturational timing. To improve our understanding of menarcheal timing among sexual minority (SM) people, we use a biocultural-evolutionary life history lens that takes into account the stresses of minoritization to examine the relationship between sexual orientation and self-reported age at menarche in a sample of American adults.

Methods

Using the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a large, nationally representative dataset (n = 9757), we fit multiple logistic regression models and survival curves to evaluate associations between sexual orientation, indicators of somatic and material resources during adolescence (e.g., education, citizenship, upper arm length), and self-reported menarche.

Results

SM respondents were more likely to report earlier (by 4–5 months) ages of menarche (p < .001). Post-hoc tests revealed that these differences were driven by bisexual (p < .001) and same-sex experienced (p < .001) relative to heterosexual and lesbian/gay respondents. Earlier menarcheal timing among SM respondents persisted after adjusting for socio-demographic factors and proxies of developmental conditions.

Discussion

Our findings reveal that SM status is associated with earlier ages of menarche, an important social and reproductive milestone. We argue that uniting life history theory with the minority stress hypothesis better explains differences in menarcheal timing by sexual orientation than previous paradigms. Investigators should attend to sexual orientation-based variation in maturational timing using holistic, inclusive approaches.     

Antispasmodic and vasodilator activities of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Morinda citrifolia</Emphasis> root extract are mediated through blockade of voltage dependent calcium channels

Background  

Morinda citrifolia (Noni) is an edible plant with wide range of medicinal uses. It occurs exclusively in tropical climate zone from India through Southeast Asia and Australia to Eastern Polynesia and Hawaii. The objective of this study was to explore the possible mode(s) of action for its antispasmodic, vasodilator and cardio-suppressant effects to rationalize its medicinal use in gut and cardiovascular disorders.     

Native New Zealand plants with inhibitory activity towards <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</Emphasis>

Background  

Plants have long been investigated as a source of antibiotics and other bioactives for the treatment of human disease. New Zealand contains a diverse and unique flora, however, few of its endemic plants have been used to treat tuberculosis. One plant, Laurelia novae-zelandiae, was reportedly used by indigenous Maori for the treatment of tubercular lesions.     

Anticancer activity of a sub-fraction of dichloromethane extract of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Strobilanthes crispus</Emphasis> on human breast and prostate cancer cells <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>

Background  

The leaves of Strobilanthes crispus (S. crispus) which is native to the regions of Madagascar to the Malay Archipelago, are used in folk medicine for their antidiabetic, diuretic, anticancer and blood pressure lowering properties. Crude extracts of this plant have been found to be cytotoxic to human cancer cell lines and protective against chemically-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats. In this study, the cytotoxicity of various sub-fractions of dichloromethane extract isolated from the leaves of S. crispus was determined and the anticancer activity of one of the bioactive sub-fractions, SC/D-F9, was further analysed in breast and prostate cancer cell lines.     

Rectal gel application of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Withania somnifera</Emphasis> root extract expounds anti-inflammatory and muco-restorative activity in TNBS-induced Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background  

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is marked with chronic inflammation of intestinal epithelium driven by oxidative stress. Traditional treatments with plant extracts gained renewed interest due to their ability to ameliorate the multi factorial conditions like inflammation. We investigated the beneficial effects of Withania somnifera in Trinitro Benzyl Sulfonic Acid (TNBS) induced experimental IBD through a rectally applicable formulation.     

Cytotoxic activity of proteins isolated from extracts of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Corydalis cava</Emphasis> tubers in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells

Background  

Corydalis cava Schweigg. & Koerte, the plant of numerous pharmacological activities, together with the studied earlier by our group Chelidonium majus L. (Greater Celandine), belong to the family Papaveraceae. The plant grows in Central and South Europe and produces the sizeable subterraneous tubers, empty inside, which are extremely resistant to various pathogen attacks. The Corydalis sp. tubers are a rich source of many biologically active substances, with the extensive use in European and Asian folk medicine. They have analgetic, sedating, narcotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-tumour activities. On the other hand, there is no information about possible biological activities of proteins contained in Corydalis cava tubers.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eriobotrya japonica</Emphasis> hydrophilic extract modulates cytokines in normal tissues,in the tumor of Meth-A-fibrosarcoma bearing mice,and enhances their survival time

Background  

Cytokines play a key role in the immune response to developing tumors, and therefore modulating their levels and actions provides innovative strategies for enhancing the activity of antigen presenting cells and polarizing towards T helper 1 type response within tumor microenvironment. One of these approaches could be the employment of plant extracts that have cytokine immunomodulation capabilities. Previously, we have shown that the Eriobotrya japonica hydrophilic extract (EJHE) induces proinflammatory cytokines in vitro and in vivo.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zizyphus lotus</Emphasis> L. (Desf.) modulates antioxidant activity and human T-cell proliferation

Background  

Zizyphus lotus L. (Desf.) also known as Jujube, is a deciduous shrub which belongs to Rhamnaceae family. This plant is used in Algerian traditional medicine for its anti-diabetic, sedative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and hypoglycaemic activities. In the present study, we determined the concentrations of different vitamins (vitamin A, C and E) and fatty acids in root, stem, leaves, fruit pulp and seed of Zizyphus lotus L. (Desf.) and assessed the effects of their aqueous extracts on antioxidant status and human T-cell proliferation.     

Carbon tetrachloride induced kidney and lung tissue damages and antioxidant activities of the aqueous rhizome extract of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Podophyllum hexandrum</Emphasis>

Background  

The present study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant properties of aqueous extract of Podophyllum hexandrum. The antioxidant potential of the plant extract under in vitro situations was evaluated by using two separate methods, inhibition of superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide radical. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) is a well known toxicant and exposure to this chemical is known to induce oxidative stress and causes tissue damage by the formation of free radicals.