Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology articles from March 2003

Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology archives from March 2003

A randomized trial of two different doses of a SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract versus placebo and control of capacity for mental work.
March 1, 2003... Summary A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical study with an extra non-treatment group was performed to measure the effect of a single dose of standardized SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract on capacity for...

Induction of NGF synthesis in astrocytes by onjisaponins of Polygala tenuifolia, constituents of kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine, Ninjin-Yoei-To.(nerve growth factor )
March 1, 2003... Summary The effect of a kampo medicine, Ninjin-yoei-to (NYT; Ren-shen-yang-rong-tang in Chinese) on nerve growth factor (NGF) secretion from the cultured rat astrocytes was examined in vitro. When rat embryo astrocytes were cultured in the...

Cardiovascular, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant effects of oleanolic and ursolic acids in experimental hypertension.
March 1, 2003... Summary Cardiovascular (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate), antihyperlipidemic (tryglycerides, total cholesterol and lipoprotein fractions), antioxidant (glutathione peroxidase -- GPx, and superoxide dismutase -- SOD),...

Measurement of plasma procyanidin B-2 and procyanidin B-3 levels after oral administration in rat.
March 1, 2003... Summary Using a high-performance liquid chromatographic method and mass spectrometry analysis, we successfully measured the absorption of orally administered procyanidin B-2 and procyanidin B-3 isolated from Cinnamonomi cortex (the bark of...

Effect of the crude extract of Vernonia polyanthes Less. on blood pressure and renal sodium excretion in unanesthetized rats.
March 1, 2003... Summary This study evaluated the effect of oral crude Vernonia polyanthes Less. hydroalcoholic extract administration (CHE, 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg body wt., daily for 7 days) on arterial blood pressure and renal sodium excretion in conscious...

Potato disc tumor induction assay: a multiple mode of drug action assay.
March 1, 2003... Summary The study reported herein utilized the Agrobacterium tumefaciens-induced potato disc tumor assay. The objective was to verify the detection of antineoplastic activity in the potato disc tumor induction assay, regardless of the mode...

Evaluation of the mutagenic, antimutagenic and antiproliferative potential of Croton lechleri (Muell. Arg.) latex.
March 1, 2003... Summary Sangre de Drago is a red viscous latex extracted from Croton lechleri (Euphorbiaceae) cortex, renowned in South American popular medicine for its wound-healing properties. The in vitro antiproliferative effects were determined on...

Effect over time of in-vivo administration of the polysaccharide arabinogalactan on immune and hemopoietic cell lineages in murine spleen and bone marrow *.
March 1, 2003... Summary Current evidence indicates an immunostimulating role for complex carbohydrates, i.e., polysaccharides, from several plant sources. In the present work, we determined the specific in vivo effects, with time of administration, of one...

Immunomodulatory activity of Mollugo verticillata L.
March 1, 2003... Summary This article describes the evaluation of immunomodulatory activity of Mollugo verticillata L. (Molluginaceae), a weed plant common in warm and/or wet regions of the American continent. Nitric oxide (NO) release was evaluated in...

Effect of [beta]-carotene on the inhibition of lung metastasis in mice.
March 1, 2003... Summary Effect of [beta]-carotene on the inhibition of lung metastasis induced by B16F-10 melanoma cells was studied in C57BL/6 mice. Simultaneous administration of the compound after tumor induction produced a significant reduction...

Hepatoprotective and free radical scavenging effects of Nelumbo nucifera.
March 1, 2003... Summary Ethanol extracts from Nelumbo nucifera (ENN) seeds were studied for possible antioxidative and hepatoprotective effects. Antioxidative effects were measured spectrophotometrically by reduction of 2,2'-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl...

Free radical-scavenging activity of Taiwanese native plants.
March 1, 2003... Summary The 70% aqueous acetone extracts of ten Taiwanese native plants were evaluated by various antioxidant assays, including 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl (*OH) radicals, and reducing power assay. In the present study,...

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Croton celtidifolius bark.
March 1, 2003... Summary Croton celtidifolius Baill commonly known as "sangue-de-adave" is a tree found in the Atlantic Forest of south of Brazil, mainly in Santa Catarina. The bark and leaf infusions of this medicinal plant have been popularly used for...

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of Vernonia cinerea Less. extract in rats.
March 1, 2003... Summary The methanol extract of the whole plant of Vernonia cinerea Less. was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory activity in acute (carrageenin, histamine and serotonin induced rat paw edema) and a chronic model (cotton pouch induced...

Analgesic and antiinflammatory effects of chalcones isolated from Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemao.
March 1, 2003... Summary The present work showed analgesic and antiinflammatory activities from a fraction containing three dimeric chalcones (chalcone enriched fraction -- CEF), isolated from the stem-hark ethyl acetate extract of Myracrodruon urundeuva...

Dose dependent hypoglycemic effect of aqueous extract of Enicostemma littorale Blume in alloxan induced diabetic rats.
March 1, 2003... Summary Previous studies in our lab had confirmed the blood glucose lowering effect of E. littorale Blume in alloxan induced diabetic rats with no change in normoglycemic control rats. Present paper deals with dose dependent (0.5, 1.0,...

Determination of huperzine A in formulated products by reversed-phase-liquid chromatography using diode array and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection.
March 1, 2003... Summary A precise and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with diode-array detection for quantifying huperzine A in formulated products was developed and validated. A liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric...

Treatment with Hypericum perforatum L. does not trigger decreased resistance in Staphylococcus aureus against antibiotics and Hyperforin. (Short Communication).
March 1, 2003... Summary Most scientific investigations of Hypericum perforatum L. (Saint John's wort) concentrated on its antidepressant activity. Only recently, its antibacterial activity against multiresistant Staphylococcus aureus led to speculations...

Biological screening of Annonaceous Brazilian medicinal plants using Artemia salina (brine shrimp test). (Short Communication).
March 1, 2003... Summary Eighteen different extracts from five Annona species collected in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, were submitted to the brine shrimp lethality test in order to detect potential sources of novel cytotoxic, antitumor, pesticidal and...

Efficacy of dry extract of ivy leaves in children with bronchial asthma--a review of randomized controlled trials. (Review).
March 1, 2003... Summary Objectives: To investigate if extracts from dried ivy leaves (Hedera helix L.) are effective in the treatment of chronic airway obstruction in children suffering from bronchial asthma. Design: Systematic review of trials...

Natural product inhibitors of ovarian neoplasia. (Review).
March 1, 2003... Summary The present work constitutes a review of the literature on natural products with potential antitumor activity against ovarian neoplasias. The review refers to five plant extracts and sixty-nine compounds isolated from higher plants...

A review on potentiality of medicinal plants as the source of new contraceptive principles. (Review).
March 1, 2003... Summary Recently, a review has already been made on the synthetic contraceptive agents whereas this review embraces the natural contraceptives upto year 2001 with 355 references. It also includes the isolation of their active principles,...

Kava-kava: a lesson for the phytomedicine community. (ESCOP Section).
March 1, 2003... The recent widespread prohibition of kava-kava ("kava", Piper methysticum) has raised fundamental questions about the regulation of herbal medicines. A remedy with established efficacy and long standing popularity has been withdrawn, with...

Naturheilpraxis Heute -- Lehrbuch und Atlas.(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... Bierbach, E. (Ed.): Naturheilpraxis Heute -- Lehrbuch und Atlas 1st edition, XVI, 1508 p. Urban und Fischer Verlag, Munchen-Jena 2000. Price: [euro] 74.95; ISBN 3-437-55240-6 (HC) This tremendous volume, compiled by E. Bierbach, is...

Herbs of Southern Ecuador: A field guide to the medicinal plants of Vilcabamba.(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... Bejar, E., Bussmann, R., Roa, C., Sharon, D.: Herbs of Southern Ecuador: A field guide to the medicinal plants of Vilcabamba 352 p. LH Press (www.latinoherbal.com), Spring Valley, California 2002. Price U.S. $ 34.95 (SC) ISBN 0-9715204-0-2...

Herbal Medicinals: A Clinicians Guide.(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... Miller, L.G., Murray, W. J. (Eds): Herbal Medicinals: A Clinicians Guide 382 p. Pharmaceutical Products Press, New York 1998. Price: $39.95 ISBN 0-7890-0467-4 (SC) There have been several books written on various aspects of...

Chinese Materia Medica: Combinations & Applications. .(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... Li, X., Wei, W.: Chinese Materia Medica: Combinations & Applications. 866 p. Donica Publishing Ltd., St. Albans, Herts, UK 2002. Price [pounds sterling] 59.99 ISBN 1-901149-02-1 (HC). This volume by two 'Vice-Professors' of...