Potential antifertility agents from plants: a comprehensive review

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Traditional medicines are practiced worldwide for regulation fertility since ancient times. This review provides a comprehensive summary of medicinal flora inhabitating throughout the world regarding their traditional usage by various tribes/ethnic groups for fertility regulation in females.

Materials and methods

Bibliographic investigation was carried out by analyzing classical text books and peer reviewed papers, consulting worldwide accepted scientific databases from the last six decades. Plants/their parts/extracts traditionally used for abortion, contraception, emmenagogue and sterilization purposes have been considered as antifertility agents. Research status of selected potential plant species has been discussed. Further, compounds isolated from plants with attributed fertility regulating potentials are also classified into three categories: (a) phytoconstituents with anti-implantation activity, (b) phytoconstituents with abortifacient activity and (c) phytoconstituents with contraceptive activity.

Results

577 plant species belonging to 122 families, traditionally used in fertility regulation in females, have been recorded, of which 298 plants have been mentioned as abortifacients (42%), 188 as contraceptives (31%), 149 as emmenagogues (24%), and 17 as sterilizers. Among 122 plant families, fabaceae constitutes 49.2%, asteraceae 40.98%, euphorbiaceae 19.7%, apiaceae 16.4%, poaceae 12.3%, labiateae 11.5%, and others in lesser proportion. Various plant parts used in fertility regulation include leaves (25%), roots (22%), fruits (15%), seeds (12%), stem/stem bark (37%), and flowers (4%). Some active compounds, isolated from about various plant species, have been reported to possess significant antifertility potential.

Conclusion

This review clearly indicates that it is time to increase the number of experimental studies to find out novel potential chemical entities from such a vast array of unexploited plants having traditional role in fertility regulation. Also, the mechanisms of action by which plant extracts and their active compounds exert antifertility effects remain to be studied.     

Revascularization with and without Platelet-rich Plasma in Nonvital,Immature, Anterior Teeth: A Pilot Clinical Study

Introduction

This study was conducted to evaluate and compare maturogenesis induced by revascularization with and without platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

Methods

Twenty patients with nonvital, immature anterior teeth were randomly categorized into 2 groups. Subsequent to chemomechanical preparation, revascularization with and without PRP carried on a collagen sponge was induced in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The cases were followed up clinically and radiographically at 6- and 12-month intervals.

Results

Clinically, all cases were asymptomatic with complete resolution of signs and symptoms. Radiographically, there was a marked difference in periapical healing, apical closure, and dentinal wall thickening in group 2 in comparison with group 1. However, root lengthening was comparable for both of the procedures.

Conclusions

Revascularization is a conservative and an effective method for inducing maturogenesis in nonvital, immature teeth. Supplementations with PRP can potentially improve the desired biological outcome of this regenerative technique.     

Functional vision with bilateral ReZoom and ReSTOR intraocular lenses 6 months after cataract surgery

PURPOSE: To compare the visual outcomes in patients with bilateral implantation of AcrySof ReSTOR multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) (Alcon Laboratories) or ReZoom multifocal IOLs (Advanced Medical Optics) 6 months after cataract surgery. SETTING: Orsett and Southend Hospital, Essex, United Kingdom. METHODS: This study comprised patients who had uneventful bilateral cataract extraction with implantation of ReZoom (n = 50) or ReSTOR (n = 50) multifocal IOLs. Parameters analyzed included binocular uncorrected distance, intermediate, and near acuities; spectacle independence; subjective visual symptoms; and patient satisfaction. All parameters were evaluated 6 months after second-eye surgery. RESULTS: All patients had binocular uncorrected distance visual acuity of 20/32 or better; there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups. The mean binocular uncorrected near acuity was 20/26 (J1.22) in the ReSTOR group and 20/34 (J2.34) in the ReZoom group (P<.0001). The mean binocular uncorrected intermediate visual acuity was 20/42 and 20/34, respectively (P = .003). Patients in the ReZoom group reported greater satisfaction with intermediate vision (P = .04). No statistically significant difference was found in satisfaction with near vision. Eighty-six percent of ReSTOR patients and 70% of ReZoom patients did not wear glasses for daily activities; the overall satisfaction was not statistically significantly different between groups. There was no significant difference between groups in photic phenomena. CONCLUSIONS: The ReSTOR IOL provided better near vision and the ReZoom IOL better intermediate vision. Both multifocal IOLs gave excellent distance vision. Photic phenomena were comparable and clinically acceptable. ReSTOR patients had greater spectacle independence for near vision and ReZoom patients for intermediate vision. Overall spectacle independence was not statistically significantly different.     

分娩所致Valsalva视网膜病变治疗方法的探讨

目的:讨论孕妇Valsalva视网膜病变保守或手术治疗方法的选择.方法:一健康孕妇在自然阴道分娩时,右眼底发生黄斑前玻璃体后界膜下出血,本文报道其保守治疗的效果.结果:右眼发病3wk时积血收缩,视力为眼前手动,但病程6mo时,积血溶解,视力恢复至6/5.结论:大多数Valsalva视网膜病变能够自愈.对一些难治性病例,采用Nd:YAG激光行内界膜切开具有一定的效果.而早期玻璃体切除术的增殖膜切除,对预防眼底新生血管膜的发生也具有一定的效果.     

Leukoderma following occupational allergic contact dermatitis

We describe 2 cases of occupational allergic contact dermatitis followed by leukoderma. The 1st case was a 49-year-old wood machinist who developed leukoderma in areas of contact dermatitis involving his lips, neck, hands and forearms and was found to be allergic to colophony and pine sawdust on patch testing. The 2nd case involved a 44-year-old man who worked as an epoxy applicator in a ceramics factory. He developed depigmentation in areas of contact dermatitis involving his face, hands, forearms, back, thighs and legs and was found on patch testing to be allergic to epoxy resin. The appearance of contact leukoderma may be indistinguishable from idiopathic vitiligo. However the prognosis for repigmentation may be better in contact leukoderma than in idiopathic vitiligo.     

Benign rheumatoid nodules

Rheumatoid nodules occur usually in advanced seropositive rheumatoid arthritis, signifying poor prognosis. However rarely rheumatoid nodules can be encountered in patients with no antecedent evidence of arthritis. Herein a case of an arthritic benign rheumatoid nodules is described.     

Tumor Epigenetic Signature and Survival in Resected Gastric Cancer Patients

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