Garcinia mangostana L.: a phytochemical and pharmacological review

Garcinia mangostana L. (mangosteen, Clusiaceae) has a long history of use as a medical plant, mostly in Southeast Asia. This is a review of the phytochemistry and pharmacology of mangosteen. Traditionally mangosteen is famous for its antiinflammatory properties and is used in the treatment of skin infections and wounds. Other applications include the therapy of various conditions such as dysentery, different urinary disorders, cystitis and gonorrhoea. This review highlights the development of this botanical drug into a widely used nutraceutical. Products derived from G. mangostana are now distributed increasingly all over the world. This has given rise to a concomitant increase in research on the phytochemical constituents and biological activity of mangosteen. Central to the biological activity of the species are xanthones which are reviewed in detail. A comprehensive assessment of the biological activities of individual xanthones as well as extracts of G. mangostana is included. In addition, its potential in terms of developing novel drug leads is assessed. Products containing its fruits are now sold widely as ‘liquid botanical supplements’, but evidence for the health benefits of these products is still lacking. As shown here, a serious weakness in our knowledge is the lack of clinical data and it is not yet clear to what extent the findings about pharmacological activities are of potential clinical relevance. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Traditionally used Thai medicinal plants: In vitro anti-inflammatory,anticancer and antioxidant activities

Aims of the study

In order to assess traditional Thai claims about the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants and to select plants for future phytochemical research, nine plant species with anti-inflammatory uses were selected from Thai textbooks and assessed for their in vitro anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and antioxidant activities.

Methods

Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) inhibitory effects in stably transfected HeLa cells were determined by luciferase assay, and effects on LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediators prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)α in primary monocytes were assessed by ELISA. Cytotoxic activities were examined against HeLa cells, human leukaemia CCRF-CEM cells and the multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000 subline using the MTT and XTT tests. However, a redox status has been linked with both inflammation and cancer, antioxidant effects were also assessed using the DPPH, lipid-peroxidation, and Folin-Ciocalteau methods.

Results

Among all the nine species, Gynura pseudochina var. hispida and Oroxylum indicum showed the most promising NF-κB inhibitory effects with the lowest IC₅₀ values (41.96 and 47.45 μg/ml, respectively). Muehlenbeckia platyclada did not inhibit the NF-κB activation but effectively inhibited the release of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α with IC₅₀ values ranging between 0.28 and 8.67 μg/ml. Pouzolzia indica was the most cytotoxic against CCRF-CEM cells and the multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000 cells (9.75% and 10.48% viability, at 10 μg/ml, respectively). Rhinacanthus nasutus was the most potent cytotoxicity against HeLa cells (IC₅₀ 3.63 μg/ml) and showed specific cytotoxicity against the multidrug-resistant CEM/ADR5000 cells (18.72% viability at 10 μg/ml, p < 0.0001 when compared to its cytotoxicity against CCRF-CEM cells). Moreover, Oroxylum indicum showed a high level of antioxidant activity by inhibiting lipid-peroxidation (IC₅₀ 0.08 μg/ml).

Conclusions

This study provides in vitro evidence for the use of the Thai plants, most importantly Gynura pseudochina var. hispida, Oroxylum indicum and Muehlenbeckia platyclada as Thai anti-inflammatory remedies and these plants are now a priority for further phytochemical research.     

Accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology of salivary gland lesions: routine diagnostic experience in Bangkok, Thailand

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is well accepted as a safe, reliable, minimal invasive and cost-effective method for diagnosis of salivary gland lesions. This study evaluated the accuracy and diagnostic performance of FNA cytology in Thailand. A consecutive series of 290 samples from 246 patients during January 2001-December 2009 were evaluated from the archive of the Anatomical Pathology Department of our institution and 133 specimens were verified by histopathologic diagnoses, obtained with material from surgical excision or biopsy. Cytologic diagnoses classified as unsatisfactory, benign, suspicious for malignancy and malignant were compared with the histopathological findings. Among the 133 satisfactory specimens, the anatomic sites were 70 (52.6%) parotid glands and 63 (47.4 %) submandibular glands. FNA cytological diagnoses showed benign lesions in 119 cases (89.5 %), suspicious for malignancy in 3 cases (2.2 %) and malignant in 11 cases (8.3%). From the subsequent histopathologic diagnoses, 3/133 cases of benign cytology turned out to be malignant lesions, the false negative rate being 2.2 % and 1/133 case of malignant cytology turned out to be a benign lesion, giving a false positive rate was 0.8%. The overall accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 97.0% (95% CI, 70.6%-99.4%), 81.3% (95% CI, 54.4%-96.0%), 99.1% (95% CI, 95.4%-100%), 92.9% (95% CI, 66.1%-99.8), 97.5% (95% CI, 92.8%-99.5%), respectively. This study indicated that FNA cytology of salivary gland is a reliable and highly accurate diagnostic method for diagnosis of salivary gland lesions. It not only provides preoperative diagnosis for therapeutic management but also can prevent unnecessary surgery.     

Parvovirus B19 infection in children with acute illness and rash

Parvovirus B19 is responsible for a variety of cutaneous diseases, including erythema infectiosum and papular purpuric gloves-and-socks syndrome. It is also associated with other dermatologic diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus. To study the prevalence of parvovirus B19 infection in children with acute illness and rash, we did a prospective study of 110 children at the Chiang Mai University teaching hospital from January 2001 to November 2003. Sera from these patients were analyzed for immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G antibodies against human parvovirus B19 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques. From a total of 110 patients with acute illness and rash, there were paired serum samples for 90 patients and single serum sample for 20 patients. For those with paired serum samples, there were three patients with recent parvovirus B19 infection that presented with erythema infectiosum, urticaria, and lupus erythematosus, respectively. Immunoglobulin G antibodies were tested in serum samples of 103 children; 28.2% were positive. These data indicate that parvovirus B19 is not a common cause of acute illness and rash in children.     

Insecticide resistance in bedbugs in Thailand and laboratory evaluation of insecticides for the control of Cimex hemipterus and Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

Bedbugs are found in many countries around the world, and in some regions they are resistant to numerous insecticides. This study surveyed bedbugs in Thailand and determined their resistance to insecticides. The surveys were carried out in six provinces that attract large numbers of foreign tourists: Bangkok, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani, Phuket, and Krabi. Bedbugs were collected from hotels and colonized in the laboratory to evaluate their resistance to insecticides. Cimex hemipterus (F.) was found in some hotels in Bangkok, Chonburi, Phuket, and Krabi, whereas Cimex lectularius L. was found only in hotels in Chiang Mai. No bedbugs were found in Ubon Ratchathani. The colonized bedbugs showed resistance to groups of insecticides, including organochlorines (dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane, dieldrin), carbamates (bendiocarb, propoxur), organophosphates (malathion, fenitrothion), and pyrethroids (cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, permethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, etofenprox) in tests using World Health Organization insecticide-impregnated papers. The new insecticides imidacloprid (neonicotinoid group), chlorfenapyr (pyrrole group), and fipronil (phenylpyrazole group) were effective against the bedbugs; however, organophosphate (diazinon), carbamates (fenobucarb, propoxur), and pyrethroids (bifenthrin, cypermethrin, esfenvalerate, etofenprox) were ineffective. Aerosols containing various pyrethroid insecticides with two to four different active ingredients were effective against the bedbugs. The results obtained from this study suggested that both species of bedbugs in Thailand have developed marked resistance to various groups of insecticides, especially those in the pyrethroid group, which are the most common insecticides used for pest control. Therefore, an integrated pest management should be implemented for managing bedbugs in Thailand.     

Activation of the coagulation cascade in patients with leptospirosis.

BACKGROUND: Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is common among patients with sepsis. Leptospirosis is an important cause of sepsis in tropical areas, and pulmonary hemorrhage associated with thrombocytopenia is the major cause of death, but the coagulopathy in severe leptospirosis has not been further characterized. The aim of this study was to evaluate coagulation factors and the presence of DIC in patients with leptospirosis in northeast Thailand. METHODS: We measured plasma concentrations of fibrinogen, D-dimer, thrombin-antithrombin III complexes, and prothrombin fragment 1,2 and evaluated the DIC score in 79 patients with culture-confirmed and/or serologically confirmed leptospirosis and in 33 healthy Thai control subjects. RESULTS: The median concentrations of fibrinogen, D-dimer, thrombin-antithrombin III complexes, and prothrombin fragment 1,2 were significantly elevated in a cohort of 79 patients with leptospirosis, compared with healthy control subjects (P相似文献   

Fibrin Gel Improves Tissue Ingrowth and Cell Differentiation in Human Immature Premolars Implanted in Rats

Introduction

In pulpless immature human premolars implanted in rodents, this study investigated whether fibrin gel offered advantages over leaving the root canal empty regarding soft tissue ingrowth and cell differentiation.

Methods

Root canals of extracted human immature premolars (n = 12) were accessed and then irrigated with 5% sodium hypochlorite followed by 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Root canals were then either left empty or filled with a fibrin gel (n = 6 each) before being placed subcutaneously on top of the calvarial bone of rats (1 tooth per rat) for 12 weeks. After sacrifice, teeth were histologically assessed. Tissue ingrowth was quantified and compared between groups using the Mann-Whitney U test (P < .05). Cells adhering to the pulp canal wall were immunohistochemically screened for the presence of bone sialoprotein (BSP) and dentin sialoprotein (DSP).

Results

More tissue grew into the pulp space when teeth were filled with fibrin gel (P < .05). The presence of fibrin gel affected not only the extent of tissue ingrowth but also tissue morphology and differentiation of cells contacting the dentinal wall. In the fibrin gel group, newly formed tissue was similar to normal pulp, constituted of inner pulp, cell-rich zone, cell-free zone, and an apparent odontoblast layer, which stained positive for BSP and DSP. Newly formed blood vessels were also more abundant compared with the initially empty root canals.

Conclusions

Under the conditions of this study, fibrin gel improved cell infiltration and cell-dentin interaction. Both are necessary for pulp tissue regeneration.     

The external quality assessment schemes in Thailand

In Thailand, the external quality assessment schemes have been organized by 2 main institutions:--The Department of Medical Science, Ministry of Public Health and The Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University. Both schemes were initiated simultaneously by WHO experts in 1973. The Department of Medical Science, Ministry of Public Health established a Unit of Laboratory Quality Standards to be responsible for external quality control for clinical laboratory services. In 1996 the unit was upgraded to become The Bureau of Laboratory Quality Standards and is responsible for The National Proficiency Testing Scheme (NPTS). This includes hematology, clinical chemistry, clinical immunology, clinical microscopy, clinical microbiology and blood banking. Every laboratory is invited to be a member, free of charge. Now there are almost 800 out of 1300 laboratories all over Thailand participating in this NPTS. The proficiency testing samples are sent to the participants 3-4 times/year. The results of laboratory tests performed by participants are evaluated by using target values for every scheme, except clinical chemistry, which use participants' consensus. The control materials used in the clinical chemistry, hematology and immunology schemes are imported from aboard. The remaining control materials are prepared in house. The Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University has organized 4 programs in The External Quality Assurance Scheme (EQAS):--clinical chemistry, clinical hormone, clinical microscopy and clinical immunology and serology. The first scheme was established in 1986 and the remaining schemes were established in 1999. All the control materials used are prepared in house. The members of this EQAS have to pay a membership fee. The control samples are sent to the participants 4-12 times/year. The results of laboratory tests are evaluated by using participants' consensus. There are 150-460 laboratories enrolled in this EQAS. At this time, Thailand is very conscious of quality in every field, including hospitals, and internal and external quality controls are one of the recommendations of the quality standard. So both The NPTS and The EQAS mentioned above are very important for each laboratory at the moment. The author sent questionnaires to 200 laboratories asking whether they were enrolled in an external quality assessment scheme. Fifty-seven laboratories responded and over 70% of them had joined either The NPTS or The EQAS and some of them had joined both. In addition, there are 2 new programs of external quality control:--the external quality control in red cell serology and the external quality assessment of hematology laboratory which have been established recently. However, there are still some types of laboratory that have no external quality assessment programs e.g. coagulation, serology for autoimmune disease and hemoglobin typing. External quality assessment programs for these laboratories are urgently needed.