A Review of Experimental Research on Herbal Compounds in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form of motor neuron disease worldwide, leading to progressive muscle atrophy and paralysis. The limited success of conventional treatment for ALS has prompted investigations into complementary and alternative therapies. Herbal remedies provide good prospects of ALS prevention and treatment, with advantages such as multiple targets, multiple links, and few side effects. Studies in vitro and in vivo have shown that herbs have a great potential for treatment of ALS, with therapeutic effects against oxidative stress, excitatory amino acid toxicity, neuroinflammation, and calcium cytotoxicity. Active monomers or ingredients extracted from herbs are considered promising candidates for ALS. Therefore, we review recent experimental research on monomers and compounds isolated from herbal remedies for preventing and treating ALS. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Herbal medicines for the prevention of alcoholic liver disease: A review

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Long-term excess alcohol exposure leads to alcoholic liver disease (ALD)—a global health problem without effective therapeutic approach. ALD is increasingly considered as a complex and multifaceted pathological process, involving oxidative stress, inflammation and excessive fatty acid synthesis. Over the past decade, herbal medicines have attracted much attention as potential therapeutic agents in the prevention and treatment of ALD, due to their multiple targets and less toxic side effects. Several herbs, such as Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson (Apiaceae), Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae) and Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi (Leguminosae), etc., have been shown to be quite effective and are being widely used in China today for the treatment of ALD when used alone or in combination.

Aim of the review

To review current available knowledge on herbal medicines used to prevent or treat ALD and their underlying mechanisms.

Materials and methods

We used the pre-set searching syntax and inclusion criteria to retrieve available published literature from PUBMED and Web of Science databases, all herbal medicines and their active compounds tested on ALD induced by both acute and chronic alcohol ingestion were included.

Results

A total of 40 experimental studies involving 34 herbal medicines and (or) active compounds were retrieved and reviewed. We found that all reported extracts and individual compounds from herbal medicines/natural plants could be beneficial to ALD, which might be attributed to regulate multiple critical targets involved in the pathways of oxidation, inflammation and lipid metabolism.

Conclusions

Screening chemical candidate from herbal medicine might be a promising approach to drug discovery for the prevention or treatment of ALD. However, further studies remain to be done on the systematic assessment of herbal medicines against ALD and the underlying mechanisms, as well as their quality control studies.     

Ethnopharmacological use of herbal remedies for the treatment of malaria in the Dangme West District of Ghana

Aim of study

Malaria is one of the most important diseases in the world. Because of the devastating nature of the disease there is an urgent need to develop new drugs or vaccines for the treatment, prevention and management of the disease. The objective of the present study was to collect and document information on herbal remedies traditionally used for the treatment of malaria in the Dangme West District of Ghana.

Methods

Data was collected from 67 indigenous households in ten communities in the district using a validated questionnaire.

Results

In total, 30 species of plants belonging to 28 genera in 20 families were reported to be used in the preparation of the herbal remedies. Mature leaves were the most (55%) common plant part used and 73.3% of the herbal remedies involved a single plant. Most of the herbal remedies were prepared by boiling and administered orally. The majority (47%) of the species of plants used were collected from their compounds or home gardens.

Conclusions

Knowledge about malaria and treatment practices exists in the study area. Herbal remedies were commonly used by people for the treatment of malaria because they were cost-effective. They are also more accessible. Many of the species of plants used have been documented for the treatment of malaria as well as investigated for their phytochemical and antimalarial and/or antiplasmodial activity confirming the results of previous studies as well as rationalization of their traditional use. Five species of plants used in the study area, namely, Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. ex J.C. Wendl. (Poaceae), Deinbollia pinnata Schum. &Thonn. (Sapindaceae), Elaeis guineensis Jacq. (Arecaceae), Greenwayodendron sp. (Annonaceae) and Solanum torvum Sw (Solanaceae), are documented for the first time for their use in the treatment of malaria. “The result of this study provides the basis for further pharmacological studies on the herbal remedies used”.     

Omics and its potential impact on R&D and regulation of complex herbal products

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), multicomponent and principally plant-derived drugs are used for disease prevention, symptom amelioration and treatment in a personalized manner. Because of their complex composition and consequent multiple targets and treatment objectives, the application of omics techniques and other integrative approaches seems inherently appropriate and even necessary for the demonstration of their potential preclinical and clinical safety and efficacy. This perspectives article provides proposals for the application of omics methods to the investigation of complex herbal products (CHP),(1) including Chinese herbal medicines (CHM), both in vitro and in vivo, for preclinical and clinical toxicity, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and efficacy tests. Ultimately, such approaches could aid regulatory scrutiny and potential acceptance, although currently there is no regulatory requirement of omics-based data in any submitted dossier to any regulatory agency, including for conventional drugs and CHP. However, it has been acknowledged that such studies are being increasingly performed, and almost surely will eventually be included into regulatory submission dossiers, possibly initially as supplementary materials. Specifically for CHM and CHP, omics can play a role both in determining product composition and its variability and in monitoring biological effects in carefully selected platforms. Predicting the future is difficult, but it seems possible that regulatory acceptance of omics techniques and a systems biology approach for the study of TCM, CHM and CHP will not be long delayed. It is expected that current studies and plans employing omics techniques and other integrative approaches will prove to be positive and informative.     

The tandem of full spin analysis and qHNMR for the quality control of botanicals exemplified with Ginkgo biloba

Botanical dietary supplements and herbal remedies are widely used for health promotion and disease prevention. Due to the high chemical complexity of these natural products, it is essential to develop new analytical strategies to guarantee their quality and consistency. In particular, the precise characterization of multiple botanical markers remains a challenge. This study demonstrates how a combination of computer-aided spectral analysis and 1D quantitative 1H NMR spectroscopy (qHNMR) generates the analytical foundation for innovative means of simultaneously identifying and quantifying botanical markers in complex mixtures. First, comprehensive 1H NMR profiles (fingerprints) of selected botanical markers were generated via 1H iterative full spin analysis (HiFSA) with PERCH. Next, the 1H fingerprints were used to assign specific 1H resonances in the NMR spectra of reference materials, enriched fractions, and crude extracts of Ginkgo biloba leaves. These 1H fingerprints were then used to verify the assignments by 2D NMR. Subsequently, a complete purity and composition assessment by means of 1D qHNMR was conducted. As its major strengths, this tandem approach enables the simultaneous quantification of multiple constituents without the need for identical reference materials, the semiquantitative determination of particular subclasses of components, and the detection of impurities and adulterants.     

防治SARS中药的筛选

SARS在世界范围内流行 ,在紧急阶段 ,由于临床处治方案颇有争议 ,迅速的筛选出有效的中成药供临床急用尤为重要和迫切。利用 9个药理筛选模型交叉验证的方法 ,综合评价了 30个中成药的有效性。 19个药物作为有效的药物筛选出来 ,其中 8个最有效作为控制SARS不同阶段症状的药物由全国防治非典指挥部科技攻关组在 2003年5月22日对全国进行发布。本文就筛选的策略 ,顶层设计和主要研究思路做一介绍 ,具体试验结果将陆续发表。     

Herbal medicines to the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections: advantages of the multi‐targets action

The research for new treatments of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) is important due to their high prevalence and number of hospitalizations. The purpose of this review is to address the pathophysiology of SSTIs to highlight the advantages of herbal medicines to their treatment, showing examples of species and compounds with multi‐targets action. SSTIs have a complex physiopathology involving the microorganism, as well as inflammation and difficult healing. Therefore, antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant and healing activities are an approach possible for their treatment. Herbal medicines have a wide diversity of biological compounds, mainly phenolic compounds that may act on different targets and also have synergism between them. Therefore, a single medicine may have the four key activities that allied allow eliminating the infection, control the inflammation process and accelerating the healing process, preventing complications with chronic infections.     

Cultural categorization of febrile illnesses in correlation with herbal remedies used for treatment in Southwestern Nigeria

The ethnographic study was conducted in two communities in Oyo State in Southwestern Nigeria. The study sites consisted of a rural and an urban local government area located in the tropical rain forest zone of Nigeria. The study was designed to obtain information on febrile illnesses and herbal remedies for treatment with the aim of identifying potential antimalarial drugs. The study revealed that fever is a general term for describing illnesses associated with elevated body temperature. The indigenous Yoruba ethnic population has categorized fever based on symptoms and causes. The present communication is the result of focus group discussion and semi-structured questionnaire administered to traditional healers, herb sellers, elders and mothers. This was on types of fevers, symptoms and causes of febrile illnesses. The investigation also included use of traditional herbs in the prevention and treatment of the illnesses in the two communities.A total of 514 respondents were interviewed. This was made up of 266 (51.8%) from Atiba local government area (LGA), an urban centre while 248 (48.2%) respondents were interviewed from Itesiwaju LGA, a rural community. The LGAs are located in Oyo State of Nigeria. The respondents proffered 12 types of febrile illnesses in a multiple response answering system in Yoruba language. The most common ones (direct translation into English) were: yellow fever (39.1%), typhoid (34.8%), ordinary (28.8%), rainy season (20.8%) and headache (10.5%) fevers, respectively. Perceived causes of each of the febrile illnesses included stress, mosquito bites, unclean water, rains and over exposure to the sun. Methods of fever prevention were mainly with the use of herbal decoctions, powdered herbs, orthodox medications and maintenance of proper hygiene.Of a total of 112 different herbal remedies used in the treatment of the febrile illnesses compiled from the study, 25 recipes are presented. Recipes consisted of 2-7 ingredients. Oral decoctions (84%), oral powders (63%), use as soaps and creams (40%) in a multiple response system, were the most prevalent routes of administration of prepared herbs used in the treatment of the fevers. Boiling in water or alcohol was the most common method used in the preparation of the remedies. The four most frequently mentioned (multiple response system) plants in the Southwest ethnobotany for fevers were Azadirachta indica (87.5%), Mangifera indica (75.0%), Morinda lucida (68.8%) and Citrus medica (68.8%).     

Systems pharmacology dissection of action mechanisms for herbs in osteoporosis treatment

Objective: Osteoporosis has become the biggest cause of non-fatal health issue. Currently, the limitations of traditional anti-osteoporosis drugs such as long-term ill-effects and drug resistance, have raised concerns toward complementary and alternative therapies, particularly herbal medicines and their natural active compounds. Thus, this study aimed to provide an integrative analysis of active chemicals, drug targets and interacting pathways of the herbs for osteoporosis treatment. Methods: Here, we introduced a systematic pharmacology model, combining the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) screening model, drug targeting and network pharmacology, to probe into the therapeutic mechanisms of herbs in osteoporosis. Results: We obtained 86 natural compounds with favorable pharmacokinetic profiles and their 58 targets from seven osteoporosis-related herbs. Network analysis revealed that they probably synergistically work through multiple mechanisms, such as suppressing inflammatory response, maintaining bone metabolism or improving organism immunity, to benefit patients with osteoporosis. Furthermore, experimental results showed that all the five compounds (calycosin, asperosaponin VI, hederagenin, betulinic acid and luteolin) enhanced osteoblast proliferation and differentiation in vitro, which corroborated the validity of this system pharmacology approach. Notably, gentisin and aureusidin among the identified compounds were first predicted to be associated with osteoporosis. Conclusion: Herbs and their natural compounds, being characterized as the classical combination therapies, might be engaged in multiple mechanisms to coordinately improve the osteoporosis symptoms. This work may contribute to offer novel strategies and clues for the therapy and drug discovery of osteoporosis and other complex diseases.     

不稳定斑块的中西医结合认识现状及研究思路

动脉粥样硬化（AS）稳定斑块向不稳定的转变与心脑血管疾病事件密切相关,如何稳定AS斑块成为现代心脑血管疾病防治研究的热点。粥样斑块的形成是一个由多种因素参与的漫长复杂的过程,炎性反应在不稳定斑块形成及破裂中起着重要作用,中医药多途径、多环节、多靶点全方位治疗疾病且不良反应轻的特点,应该在稳定AS斑块方面具有潜在的疗效优势。本文就近年来学者们进行的不稳定斑块中西医结合的相关研究作了较为系统的回顾,并结合作者进行的相关课题研究,提出了关于“毒、瘀致不稳定斑块”的设想,且正在运用解毒活血的方法进行不稳定斑块干预的研究。相信通过这一探索性研究工作,会为稳定AS斑块中医药治疗方法学提供客观的实验及临床基础。     

Das alternde Immunsystem und chronische Erkrankungen: Akupunktur, extrazelluläre Matrix und die Pflanzenformel Padma 28 im Rahmen eines strukturierten Präventions- und Therapiekonzepts

The natural process of aging leads to changes in the immune system, the so-called immunosenescence. One characteristic among others is a shift of the immune response towards cellular defense. Endogenous and exogenous triggers and lifestyle factors with pro-inflammatory effects increase oxidative stress, and through long-time accumulation lead to a chronic, low-level inflammatory status called inflammaging.Inflammaging is the basis for a range of chronic inflammatory diseases of the later part of life and thus constitutes the common denominator of diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus type 2, chronic periodontitis and different cancers. Inflammaging is aggravated or accelerated by an impairment of the functionality and the ability for regulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). This may be caused e.g. by oxidative and pro-inflammatory processes, by a disturbed acid-base homeostasis or by an increased formation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs).Therefore, a structured three-armed prevention and therapy concept is proposed for the spectrum of chronic inflammatory diseases, in which different methods from the field of complementary medicine with a regulative, modulating mode of action can be used. Different acupuncture and acupressure methods as well as herbal multicompound formulations from Asian medicine systems can regenerate and protect the ECM and trigger the body's own anti-inflammatory mechanisms. With the example of Padma 28, a pharmaceutical composition based on Tibetan Medicine, the anti-inflammatory, cytoprotective and anti-oxidative potential of herbal remedies is illustrated.In the context of a matrix-based, structured treatment concept such remedies can make an important contribution to the prevention and therapy of chronic, inflammatory, age-related diseases.     

Use of herbal remedies by diabetic Hispanic women in the southwestern United States

OBJECTIVE: The primary purpose of this study was to examine the use and documentation of herbal remedies used by Hispanic women with Type II diabetes enrolled in two Community Health Centers in the Southwest USA. A secondary purpose was to review the literature on identified herbs to assess their likely effects on diabetes. DESIGN: Open-ended structured interviews were conducted on a convenience sample (n = 23) of participants. Medical and medication charts were reviewed for the interviewed participants, and for a random sample of enrolled Hispanic diabetic patients (n = 81) who were not interviewed. SETTING: Two Community Health Centers in the Southwest USA. PARTICIPANTS: Enrolled patient, Hispanic females with Type II diabetes. INTERVENTION: Subjects were interviewed about their use of herbal therapies and supplements. Information collected from medical and pharmaceutical charts included documented use of herbal remedies; standard therapies prescribed and diabetes control (hemoglobin A1C values). For those herbal remedies reported, literature reviews were conducted to determine if there was supporting evidence of harm or efficacy for the stated condition. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Reports of herbal use, and types of remedies used. RESULTS: Among the interviewed participants, 21 of 23 (91%) reported using one or more herbal remedies. Among a random sample of patient medical charts, seven (6.7%) contained documentation of diabetes-specific herbs, and 16 (15.4%) had documented general herb use. A total of 77 different herbal remedies were identified, most of which were contained as part of commercial preparations, and appeared to supplement, rather than replace standard medical therapy for diabetes. CONCLUSION: Use of herbal therapies is not uncommon among diabetic patients. Many of the herbs reported have potential efficacy in treating diabetes or may result in adverse effects or interactions. In practical use, however, the herbs reported in this study are unlikely to have a significant effect on clinical outcomes in diabetes, either positively or negatively.     

基于网络药理学与分子对接技术的金花清感颗粒防治新型冠状病毒肺炎的潜在药效物质研究

目的探究金花清感颗粒防治新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)的潜在物质基础。方法采用中药系统药理学分析平台(TCMSP)检索金花清感颗粒中11味药材所含化学成分与作用靶点。借助Uniprot数据库查询靶点对应基因,采用Cytoscape软件构建"药材-成分-靶点"网络,运用DAVID对相关靶点进行GO功能与KEGG通路富集分析。通过分子对接评价"药材-成分-靶点"网络中核心成分与新型冠状病毒(SARS-CoV-2)3CL水解酶及血管紧张素转化酶Ⅱ(ACE2)的结合作用。结果金花清感颗粒"药材-成分-靶点"网络包含154个化合物和276个相关靶点,关键靶点涉及PTGS2、HSP90AB1、HSP90AA1、PTGS1、NCOA2等。GO功能富集分析得到278个条目,主要涉及ATP结合、转录因子活化、细胞凋亡进程调控等。KEGG通路富集得到127条信号通路,涉及TNF、PI3K/Akt及HIF-1等与肺损伤保护相关通路。分子对接显示金花清感颗粒中芒柄花黄素、豆甾醇、β-谷甾醇、脱水淫羊藿素等核心成分与SARS-CoV-2 3CL水解酶及ACE2的亲和作用较好。结论金花清感颗粒可能通过多成分...     

A role for physicians in ethnopharmacology and drug discovery

Ethnopharmacology investigations classically involved traditional healers, botanists, anthropologists, chemists and pharmacologists. The role of some groups of researchers but not of physician has been highlighted and well defined in ethnopharmacological investigations. Historical data shows that discovery of several important modern drugs of herbal origin owe to the medical knowledge and clinical expertise of physicians. Current trends indicate negligible role of physicians in ethnopharmacological studies. Rising cost of modern drug development is attributed to the lack of classical ethnopharmacological approach. Physicians can play multiple roles in the ethnopharmacological studies to facilitate drug discovery as well as to rescue authentic traditional knowledge of use of medicinal plants. These include: (1) Ethnopharmacological field work which involves interviewing healers, interpreting traditional terminologies into their modern counterparts, examining patients consuming herbal remedies and identifying the disease for which an herbal remedy is used. (2) Interpretation of signs and symptoms mentioned in ancient texts and suggesting proper use of old traditional remedies in the light of modern medicine. (3) Clinical studies on herbs and their interaction with modern medicines. (4) Advising pharmacologists to carryout laboratory studies on herbs observed during field studies. (5) Work in collaboration with local healers to strengthen traditional system of medicine in a community. In conclusion, physician's involvement in ethnopharmacological studies will lead to more reliable information on traditional use of medicinal plants both from field and ancient texts, more focused and cheaper natural product based drug discovery, as well as bridge the gap between traditional and modern medicine.     

Medicinal plants used in malaria treatment by Prometra herbalists in Uganda

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The aim of the survey was to document medicinal plants used in malaria treatment by Prometra (Promocion de la medicina tradicional amazonica) Traditional Medical Practitioners (TMPs) of Uganda and for search of new antiplasmodial herbal medicines (HMs) for further phytochemical analysis.

Materials and methods

In this study, semi structured guided open and close ended questionnaires were used. Focus group discussions were conducted and key informants were chosen within the TMPs who helped in further discussions of how the herbal remedies where collected, prepared and administered.

Results

A sample size of 51 respondents was randomly selected among the TMPs with the help of their leader. 86 species distributed over 81 genera and 39 families were reportedly being used as herbal remedies in malaria treatment. The TMPs use symptoms like high temperature, shivering, among others in malaria diagnosis an indication that they understand malaria. They emphasized the use of leaves and bark in treatment because they can regenerate and therefore ensure sustainable use of plants rather than the use of roots which would be destructive. These TMPS treat and also advise their patients on preventive measures against malaria attacks like sleeping under mosquito nets, clearing bushes near homesteads, among others which is an indication that they help in the prevention and mitigation of malaria incidences and prevalence in the areas where they live. The Informant Consensus Factor (FIC) value of 0.8 demonstrated that the TMPs of Prometra-Uganda tend to agree with each other in terms of the plant species they use in malaria treatment an indication of quality control in as far as administration of the herbal remedies. Vernonia amygdalina Delile, Bidens pilosa L., Justicia betonica L. were highly cited as being used in malaria treatment with frequencies of mention of 38, 28 and 25, respectively.

Conclusion

TMPs of Prometra-Uganda understand and treat malaria using the available plant diversity from their huge forest and the herbal gardens within Buyija forest. The healers are very keen at plant conservation which is a good practice. Species like Justica betonica may be investigated further for antiplasmodial assays to justify its efficacy.     

South African traditional herbal medicines used during pregnancy and childbirth.

Many black South African women use traditional herbal remedies as antenatal medications or to induce or augment labour. Very little is known about the pharmacology and potential toxicity of the plants used in these herbal remedies. The ethnic background and traditional usage of these remedies was researched and a literature survey revealed that 57 different plants were used in herbal remedies during pregnancy and childbirth. Several of these plants are poisonous and details of their toxicity are given.     

A Critical Approach to Evaluating Clinical Efficacy,Adverse Events and Drug Interactions of Herbal Remedies

Systematic reviews and meta‐analyses represent the uppermost ladders in the hierarchy of evidence. Systematic reviews/meta‐analyses suggest preliminary or satisfactory clinical evidence for agnus castus (Vitex agnus castus) for premenstrual complaints, flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) for hypertension, feverfew (Tanacetum partenium) for migraine prevention, ginger (Zingiber officinalis) for pregnancy‐induced nausea, ginseng (Panax ginseng) for improving fasting glucose levels as well as phytoestrogens and St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) for the relief of some symptoms in menopause. However, firm conclusions of efficacy cannot be generally drawn. On the other hand, inconclusive evidence of efficacy or contradictory results have been reported for Aloe vera in the treatment of psoriasis, cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) in cystitis prevention, ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) for tinnitus and intermittent claudication, echinacea (Echinacea spp.) for the prevention of common cold and pomegranate (Punica granatum) for the prevention/treatment of cardiovascular diseases. A critical evaluation of the clinical data regarding the adverse effects has shown that herbal remedies are generally better tolerated than synthetic medications. Nevertheless, potentially serious adverse events, including herb–drug interactions, have been described. This suggests the need to be vigilant when using herbal remedies, particularly in specific conditions, such as during pregnancy and in the paediatric population. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

糖脂代谢紊乱机制研究及中医药防治的进展

中医药在防治糖脂代谢紊乱方面具有多靶点、多通路、联合增效、协同交互的特点。近年来,中医药在探索糖脂代谢紊乱机制研究方面不断深入和细化,实验设计更加系统化,并且紧密结合了包括转录组学、代谢组学、蛋白组学等先进的研究技术,为阐释药物有效成分的作用靶点提供了有力的科学依据。此外,近年微生物组学也成为糖脂代谢紊乱机制研究的热点之一,学者通过高通量测序技术,揭示中药通过调节肠道菌群结构,改善糖脂代谢紊乱的生物学基础,为明确中医药防治代谢性疾病的干预靶点提供了更广阔的思路。作者系统梳理了近3年中医药防治糖脂代谢紊乱的相关研究,针对其现状及特点予以总结和述评。