Does the selection of medicinal plants by Brazilian local populations suffer taxonomic influence?

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The analysis of the influence of taxonomic affiliation on the selection of medicinal plants by Brazilian local populations can help elucidate theoretical aspects of medicinal plant selection.

Materials and methods

Ethnobotanical medicinal plant studies were compiled and the resulting medicinal flora was compared to the total angiosperm flora with a Bayesian approach and the IDM model.

Results

A total of 35 families were considered to be overused and six were classified as underused for the Bayesian approach. On the other hand, the IDM model considered 13 families as overused and five as underused (all of them were also highlighted by the Bayesian approach). A high overuse level of Bixaceae, Amaranthaceae, Anacardiaceae and Smilacaceae was recorded for both Bayesian and IDM model, while Orchidaceae, Melastomataceae, Eriocaulaceae, Poaceae and Bromeliaceae were considered as underused for both analyses. The most dissimilar body system in terms of family composition was ‘mental and behavioral disorders’. It was also found that the body systems are different from one another in the proportion of taxonomic groups, which could indicate chemical specificity in the treatment of diseases.

Conclusions

Results indicate that the chemical specificity of taxonomic groups directly influences medicinal plant selection. Moreover, when data presented here are compared to other studies, there is clearly an overuse pattern for families like Lamiaceae, Rosaceae and Euphorbiaceae and an underuse pattern for Poaceae and Orchidaceae.     

Selective inhibition of human type-5 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (AKR1C3) by baccharin, a component of Brazilian propolis

The human aldo-keto reductase (AKR) 1C3, also known as type-5 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and prostaglandin F synthase, has been suggested as a therapeutic target in the treatment of prostate and breast cancers. In this study, AKR1C3 inhibition was examined by Brazilian propolis-derived cinnamic acid derivatives that show potential antitumor activity, and it was found that baccharin (1) is a potent competitive inhibitor (K(i) 56 nM) with high selectivity, showing no significant inhibition toward other AKR1C isoforms (AKR1C1, AKR1C2, and AKR1C4). Molecular docking and site-directed mutagenesis studies suggested that the nonconserved residues Ser118, Met120, and Phe311 in AKR1C3 are important for determining the inhibitory potency and selectivity of 1. The AKR1C3-mediated metabolism of 17-ketosteroid and farnesal in cancer cells was inhibited by 1, which was effective from 0.2 μM with an IC(50) value of about 30 μM. Additionally, 1 suppressed the proliferation of PC3 prostatic cancer cells stimulated by AKR1C3 overexpression. This study is the first demonstration that 1 is a highly selective inhibitor of AKR1C3.     

Brazilian President Sent a Congratulatory Letter for WFAS＇ 20^th Anniversary

WFAS has received a precious blessing from Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on September 4, 2007. The Brazilian President sent a Congratulatory Letter to WFAS＇ President Deng Liangyue, expressing his congratulations for WFAS＇ 20^th Anniversary and extended his appreciation for WFAS＇ contribution in Brazil, as a patient benefiting from acupuncture therapy.     

Plants and animals utilized as medicines in the Jaú National Park (JNP), Brazilian Amazon

This article examines the therapeutic practices of the inhabitants of Jaú National Park (JNP), state of Amazonas, the most important feature of this region being its rich biodiversity associated with isolation in regard to conventional medical services. Seven months of field work were guided by methods of anthropology and botany. A total of 120 plants and 29 animals were utilized in 519 recorded uses comprising 81 therapeutic purposes. These were grouped under 15 categories of use, including: gastrointestinal disturbances, inflammatory processes, genitourinary disturbances, fever, mishaps with animals, dermatological problems, pain, osteomuscular problems and tropical diseases. Those who administer these medicines are local residents specializing in household remedies and other groups of healers such as rezadores - prayer-maker; curadores - healers; parteiras - midwives; desmintidores - masseurs and médiuns - mediums. At least 10 of the 120 plants species cited in this study are also utilized by other inhabitants of the Amazon region and for the same uses; some of these plants had already been studied from a pharmacological point of view. Furthermore, another six plants cited by the JNP caboclos belonging to the categories pain and inflammatory processes, are under investigation by groups of researchers in two Brazilian federal universities.     

Treatment of 60 Cases of Prolapse of Lumbar Intervertebral Disc by Electroacupuncture

目的观察电针治疗腰椎间盘突出症的临床疗效.方法运用电针辨证施治治疗腰椎间盘突出症患者60例,并临床随访6个月.结果近期显效40例,好转13例,总有效率为88.3%;远期疗效其中显效45例,好转10例,总有效率为91.7%.结论电针治疗腰椎间盘突出症近远期疗效好,疗效稳定,且方法安全有效,无毒副作用.     

Treatment of 56 Cases of Pain of Supra-orbital Bone by Puncturing Siguan Acupoints

Pain of supra-orbital bone is very common in clinic The author achieved significant effect in treating 56 cases of pain of supra-orbital bone by puncturing Siguan （four gates） points. The report is as follows.     

Role of Acupuncture in Mangement of Optic Atrophy

Ｔｗｏｆｅｍａｌｅｐａｔｉｅｎｔｓｗｉｔｈｖｉｓｕａｌｉｍｐａｉｒｍｅｎｔｄｕｅｔｏｏｐｔｉｃａｔｒｏｐｈｙｗｅｒｅｔｒｅａｔｅｄｗｉｔｈａｃｕｐｕｎｃｔｕｒｅ.Ｂｏｔｈｏｆｔｈｅｍｄｅｖｅｌｏｐｅｄｏｐｔｉｃａｔｒｏｐｈｙｆｏｌｌｏｗｉｎｇｂｒａｉｎｔｕｍｏｒ.Ａｆｔｅｒａｃｕｐｕｎｃｔｕｒｅｔｒｅａｔｍｅｎｔ,ｂｏｔｈｏｆｔｈｅｍｓｈｏｗｅｄｉｍｐｒｏｖｅｍｅｎｔｉｎｔｈｅｉｒｖｉｓｉｏｎｗｉｔｈｉｎｓｉｘｍｏｎｔｈｓ.ＴｈｅｄｅｔａｉｌｓａｒｅｓｈｏｗｎｉｎｔｈｅｆｏｌｌｏｗｉｎｇＴａｂｌｅ.…     

Treatment of 32 Cases of Meniere Disease with Acupuncture

采用针刺法治疗梅尼埃病32例,穴位用百会、风府,双侧风池、肾俞、太溪、悬钟,结果8例完全控制,12例基本控制,9例部分控制,3例未控制,总有效率为90.6%.     

Treatment of 68 Cases of Epigastric Pain with Acupucnture

Acute and chronic gastritis, gastric and duodenal globular ulcer, and antral gastritis are commonly encountered diseases of digestive system, and epigastric pain is their main symptom. The author treated 68 cases of epigastric pain with acupuncture, now it is reported as follows.     

Survey of Research on Acupuncture Treatment of Peptic Ulcer

回顾分析了近10年针灸治疗消化性溃疡的-临床选穴研究概况，发现临床治疗消化性溃疡以多穴配伍为主，多穴中以脾胃之俞募配穴及脾胃之俞募穴配下合穴为主。表明脾胃之背俞穴、募穴及下合穴对治疗消化性溃疡具有重要作用。     

Influence of Acupuncture on Cerebral Vasomotoricity of Ischemic Stroke

目的探讨针刺足三里和悬钟穴对缺血性中风脑血管舒缩反应能力的影响及其可能机制.方法将合适病例随机分为针刺组与对照组,每组80例,两组均予以脑卒中常规治疗,针刺组在此基础上结合针刺足三里和悬钟穴.在治疗前后用经颅多普勒检测大脑中动脉(MCA)血流速度的变化情况,以评价患者脑血管的舒缩反应能力.结果针刺组脑血管舒缩反应能力与治疗前相比显著加强,与对照组相比有显著性差异(P＜0.05).结论针刺足三里和悬钟对缺血性中风患者的脑血管舒缩反应能力有明显改善作用,这可能是针刺疗法治疗缺血性中风的起效机制之一.     

Experience of Treatment of Depression by Acupuncture plus Medicine

Depression is a type of psychosomatic disorder that presents with persistent depressed emotion （or mood）, poor concentration and psychomotor inhibition. It is more than a psychological problem. However, with pathological changes of biology, depression can be either a major symptom of one condition or accompanying symptom of other conditions.     

Examples of Application of Ligou （LR 5）

To study the application and mechanism of Ligou(LR 5)in the treatment of urinary and reproductive system diseases from its location,meridian,application alone and combined application in clinic based on syndrome differentiation,and to guide its application in clinic.     

Safety of Individual Medication of Ma Qian Zi （Semen Strychni） Based upon Assessment of Therapeutic Effects of Guo＇s Therapy Against Moderate Fluorosis of Bone

Objective: To assess the safety of individual medication of Guo's Ma Qian Decoction on the basis of effective treatment of fluorosis of bone with Guo's therapy.Methods: One hundred and fourteen cases of moderate fluorosis of bone were randomly divided into a treatment group (n=60) and a control group (n=54) between December 2007 and August 2009 by using the block randomized method and a central random system.At the same time of basic treatment,the patients in the treatment group were orally administrated with Guo's Ma Qian Decoction.The initial dose of Ma Qian Zi (Semen Strychni) was 0.4 g and increased by 0.05 g every two days,with the doses of other drugs unchanged,until the patient had “nux vomica response”.For the patients with no “nux vomica response”,the dosage was continued to increase and the maximum dosage was not more than 1.2 g/day.The control group was treated with decoction placebo.The changes of strychnine and brucine contents before and after processing and after decoction of Ma Qian Zi (Semen Strychni)were determined with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography,which were controlled within ranges stipulated in the Pharmacopeia; Adverse events were analyzed; Blood strychnine and brucine contents in 10 cases who had taken the drugs were determined.Results: 1) Strychnine (2.125％) and brucine (1.425％) contents before processing of Ma Qian Zi and 1.88％ and 1.31％ after processing all conformed with the standards of strychnine (1.2-2.2％) and brucine (no less than 0.8％) stipulated in the Pharmacopeia.When the maximum dosage of Ma Qian Zi was 1.2 g/day,strychnine in the decoction was 11.17 mg and brucine was 7.44 mg,which all conformed with the maximum limited amount (strychnine 13.32 and brucine no less than 4.8 mg) stipulated in the Pharmacopeia.2) Eight cases had “nux vomica response” in the treatment group and one case in the control group,with a significant difference between the two groups (P＜0.05).3) Altogether 18 cases had adverse events,with an incidence rate of 15.38％ (8 cases) in the treatment group and 18.52％ (10 cases) in the control group,with no difference between the two groups (P＞0.05);Among them,10 cases (8.77％) with the adverse event were not related with therapeutic drugs,with an incidence rate of 6.67％ (4 cases) in the treatment and 11.11％ (6 cases) in the control group,with no significant difference between the two groups (P＞0.05).Seven cases had suspicious relative adverse events,the risk in the treatment group was 0.658 times of the control group,with no significant difference (P＞0.05),and one case had the toxic reaction of nux-vomica seed.4) Strychnine and brucine were unable to be detected in the blood in all points of time in the 10 cases who had taken the drugs,indicating that plasma strychnine and brucine contents were lower than the minimum detectable amount (10 ng),and accumulation of strychnine and brucine were not found in blood of the patient during and after administration for 8 weeks.Conclusion: The individual medication ofMa Qian Zi (Semen Strychni) in the Guo's therapy has a better safety.