Is 2,3,4,5-tetramethoxybenzoyl chloride a natural product?

The title compound, which was reported to be a constituent of the fruiting body of the fungus Antrodia camphorata, has been synthesized. The reactivity and spectroscopic properties of the synthetic material do not match those of the natural product. There is currently insufficient information for a definitive structural reassignment.     

Does inflammation play a role in kava hepatotoxicity?

The pathophysiology of kava hepatotoxicity remains inconclusive. There is circumstantial evidence for the roles of toxic metabolites, inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes and depletion of liver glutathione. Pharmacogenomic effects are likely, particularly for Cytochrome P450 genes. Experimental and clinical cases of hepatotoxicity show evidence of hepatitis. The question remains whether this inflammation is caused by components of kava directly, or indirectly due to the downstream effects. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Should we set a place for diet in ethnopharmacology?

Ethnopharmacologic inquiry is most invincibly pursued by addressing "medicinals" across the divers contexts through which populations gain exposure to the material of their pharmacopoeia. Attention to multiple categories of use advances our comprehension of indigenous health care by providing a framework for laboratory investigations that explore the bioactive potential of the materia medica to influence the occurrence and expression of disease, and that determine how those physiologic outcomes may be further mediated by the context-specific vicissitudes of preparation, combination and consumption. Consideration of the dietary contexts of local "medicines" is central to this wider perspective.     

An Insight into a Blockbuster Phytomedicine; Marrubium vulgare L. Herb. More of a Myth than a Reality?

Aerial parts and the root of Marrubium vulgare L. (white horehound) have been traditionally used in Europe and in southern and eastern Mediterranean countries. During colonization, the plant was introduced in America to great levels of popularity because of the simplicity of its growing; it was especially popular in Mexico and Brazil, where it has been known as ‘maromba’, ‘marroio’ or ‘marroio‐branco’. Ethnopharmacological uses of M. vulgare include treating respiratory diseases such as acute or chronic bronchitis, colds and asthma. The plant is also used in cases where there is a lack of appetite or dyspepsia and for diagnosed type II diabetes. It has even been used for antihypertensive therapy. For decades, scientists have carried out extensive research trying to explain these and other pharmacologic actions. It is time to systematize and critically analyse the quality of results found to date. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Does a viral infection cause complex regional pain syndrome?

In 1990 Omura, Y. reported that Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 as the major cause of chronic intractable pain and its effective treatment using mixture of EPA & DHA with Selective Drug Uptake Enhancement Method. Subsequently among the other causes of pain, he included Chlamydia Trachomatis, Borrelia Burgdorferi, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, human Herpes Virus type 6, and Circulatory Disturbances. In order to test possible involvement of viral infection in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a disease which usually occurs in the extremities, we did a study of 17 patients with CRPS. They were examined for Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) by measuring IgG and IgM antibody titers, and 14 of these patients were also examined for Cytomegalo-Virus (CMV). As a control group 100 healthy Japanese employees at SRL, Inc. were also studied. In CRPS group, HSV IgG was positive in 12 of the 17 patients with an average antibody titer of 90.0 EIA value. VZV IgG was positive in all 17 patients with an average antibody titer of 26.8 EIA value. CMV IgG was positive in all 14 patients with an average antibody titer of 66.6 UA/ml. In control group, HSV IgG was positive in 54 subjects with an average antibody titer of 42.3 EIA value. VZV IgG was positive in 97 subjects with an average antibody titer of 26.2 EIA value. CMV IgG was positive in 82 subjects. There were no significant differences of positive rate of IgG antibody for the three viruses between patient and control groups. Although the difference was not significant, the average antibody titers of HSV in CRPS group were more than twice of those in healthy group. Antibody titers were almost equal in both groups for VZV. Possibly, some people in the control group who had latent virus, were also asymptomatic. In 2000, Takasaki, I. et al. in a separate animal study, inoculated with HSV Type-I the shin of the mouse causing allodynia and hyperalgesia (which are some of the characteristic findings seen in CRPS in humans). Also, VZV, which causes shingles which is sometimes followed by Post-Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN), is in the same family of HSV. As PHN resembles CRPS in symptoms, it is possible that HSV contributes to CRPS. Therefore, virus infection theory is an attractive hypothesis that accounts for many enigmas of CRPS.     

Soy isoflavones and bone health: a double-edged sword?

Numerous publications and research studies on isoflavones have prompted a nationwide increase in the consumption of soy-based foods and supplements in the United States. Isoflavones are natural endocrine active compounds generally considered to promote health and prevent or slow the onset of certain chronic diseases such as osteoporosis. The beneficial effects of soy isoflavones on bone may, however, be life-stage specific and dependent on the estrogen receptor number and endogenous hormone milieu. Perimenopausal and early menopausal women may therefore be more receptive to the therapeutic effects of isoflavones on bone loss prior to the diminution of estrogen receptors that occurs in the postmenopausal years, whereas laboratory studies in developmental age range animals have demonstrated the potential for adverse effects following exposure to high levels of soy isoflavones. Clinical studies in developing humans that either support or refute findings in animal studies are lacking. The effects of chronic consumption of high levels of soy isoflavones at each life stage to assess risk-benefit ratios should be a high priority of research.     

Flavonoids in myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury: Therapeutic effects and mechanisms

Ischemic heart diseases are one of the major causes of death worldwide. Effective restoration of blood flow can significantly improve patients’ quality of life and reduce mortality. However, reperfusion injury cannot be ignored. Flavonoids possess well-established antioxidant properties;They also have other benefits that may be relevant for ameliorating myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury(MIRI). In this review,we focus on flavonoids with cardiovascular-protection function and emphasize their pharmacological effects. The main mechanisms of flavonoid pharmacological activities against MIRI involve the following aspects: a) antioxidant, b) anti-inflammatory, c) anti-platelet aggregation, d) anti-apoptosis, and e)myocardial-function regulation activities. We also summarized the effectiveness of flavonoids for MIRI.     

Improving BPH symptoms and sexual dysfunctions with a saw palmetto preparation? Results from a pilot trial

In elderly men, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a major risk factor for sexual dysfunctions (SDys). Additionally, the standard treatments for BPH symptoms, alpha blockers and 5‐alpha‐reductase inhibitors, cause SDys themselves. Preparations from saw palmetto berries are an efficacious and well‐tolerated symptomatic treatment for mild to moderate BPH and have traditionally been used to treat SDys. We conducted an open multicentric clinical pilot trial to investigate whether the saw palmetto berry preparation Prostasan® influenced BPH symptoms and SDys. Eighty‐two patients participated in the 8‐week trial, taking one capsule of 320 mg saw palmetto extract daily. At the end of the treatment, the International Prostate Symptom Score was reduced from 14.4 ± 4.7 to 6.9 ± 5.2 (p < 0.0001); SDys measured with the brief Sexual Function Inventory improved from 22.4 ± 7.2 to 31.4 ± 9.2 (p < 0.0001), and the Urolife BPH QoL‐9 sex total improved from 137.3 ± 47.9 to 195.0 ± 56.3 (p < 0.0001). Investigators' and patients' assessments confirmed the good efficacy, and treatment was very well tolerated and accepted by the patients. Correlation analyses confirmed the relationship between improved BPH symptoms and reduced SDys. This was the first trial with saw palmetto to show improvement in BPH symptoms and SDys as well. [Corrections made here after initial online publication.] Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

How to identify ‘Material basis - Quality markers’ more accurately in Chinese herbal medicines from modern chromatography-mass spectrometry data-sets: Opportunities and challenges of chemometric tools

Modern chromatography-mass spectrometer(MS) technology is an essential weapon in the exploration of traditional Chinese medicines(TCMs) which is based on the "effectiveness-material basis-quality markers(Q-markers)". Nevertheless, the hardware bottleneck and irregular operation will limit the accuracy and comprehensiveness of test results. Chemometrics was thereby used to solve the existing problems: 1) The method of ‘design-modeling-optimization’ can be adopted to solve the multi-factor and multi-level problems in sample preparation/parameter setting;2) The approaches of signal processing can be used to calibrate the deviation from retention time(rt) dimension and mass-to-charge ratio(m/z) dimension in different types of instruments;3) The methods of multivariate calibration and multivariate resolution can be utilized to analyze the co-eluting peaks in complex samples. When the researchers need to capture essential information on raw data sets extracting the higher level of information on essential features, 1) The significant components which affects the drug properties/efficacy can be find by the pattern recognition and variable selection;2) Fingerprint-efficacy modeling is explored to clarify the material basis, or to screen out the Q-markers of biological significance;3) Chemometric tools can apply to integrate chemical(metabolic) fingerprints with network pharmacology, bioinformatics, omics and others from a multi-level perspective. Under these programs, the qualitative/quantitative works will achieve in chemical(metabolic) fingerprint and metabolic trajectories, which leads to an accurate reflection of "material basis and Q-markers" in TCMs. Likewise, an in-depth hidden information can be disclosed, so that the components of drug properties/efficacy will be found. More importantly,multidimensional data can be integrated with fingerprints to acquire more hidden information.     

Are West African plants a source of future antimalarial drugs?

Ethnopharmacology is a very interesting resource in which new therapies may be discovered. In the case of malaria, two major antimalarial drugs widely used today came originally from indigenous medical systems, that is quinine and artemisinin, from Peruvian and Chinese ancestral treatments, respectively. There is an urgent need for the discovery of new drugs due to the critical epidemiological situation of this disease. New inexpensive therapies that are simple to use and that will limit the cost of drug research are good justifications for this ethnopharmacological approach. Therefore, the aim of this review is to empirically analyse plants that are used for antimalarial treatment in West Africa, and to determine those with real promising antimalarial activity. The major leads such as those extracted from Cochlospermum, Cryptolepsis, Guiera and Azadirachta have been highlighted. Indeed, some extracts seem to be promising in future research, but development of new isolation and characterization techniques, for designing new derivatives with improved properties need to be discussed.     

Is the N-of-1 method applicable in bodywork research?Lessons learned using a trial as a methodological pilot

N-of-1 trial designs have rarely been used in bodywork research.Using a recent trial as a methodological pilot,critical issues related to the applicability of N...     

Flavonoids—a new direction for the treatment of fluid retention?

Flavonoid extracts are important for the health of the micro-blood vessel network and are clinically exploited in this way by medical herbalists and physicians in mainland Europe. In the present review, we provide preliminary evidence that suggests that plant flavonoid extracts from dietary sources facilitate the repair of vessel damage responsible for 'small blood vessel permeability'. Correction of this pathophysiological abnormality is known to lead to a reduction in symptoms of diffuse benign fluid retention including swollen limbs, fingers, breasts and the tissue surrounding the eye area. There is currently little orthodox treatment for this type of fluid retention except diuretics which are not without side effects and fail to address the underlying cause of the disorder. This paper marshals available data including some preliminary studies that suggest that detailed scientific study of this clinical area and its treatment through flavonoid intervention is warranted.     

Propolis: is there a potential for the development of new drugs?

Introduction

Propolis has plenty of biological and pharmacological properties and its mechanisms of action have been widely investigated in the last years, using different experimental models in vitro and in vivo. Researchers have been interested in the investigation of isolated compounds responsible for propolis action; however, there is lack of clinical research on the effects of propolis.

Strategy and objectives

Since propolis-containing products have been marketed and humans have used propolis for different purposes, the goal of this review is to discuss the potential of propolis for the development of new drugs, by comparing data from the literature that suggest candidate areas for the establishment of drugs against tumors, infections, allergy, diabetes, ulcers and with immunomodulatory action.

Conclusions

The efficacy of propolis in different protocols in vitro and in vivo suggests its therapeutic properties, but before establishing a strategy using this bee product, it is necessary to study: (a) the chemical nature of the propolis sample. (b) Propolis efficacy should be compared to well-established parameters, e.g. positive or negative controls in the experiments. Moreover, possible interactions between propolis and other medicines should be investigated in humans as well. (c) Clinical investigation is needed to evaluate propolis potential in patients or healthy individuals, to understand under which conditions propolis may promote health. Data point out the importance of this research field not only for the readers and researchers in the scientific community waiting for further clarification on the potential of propolis but also for the pharmaceutical industry that looks for new drugs.