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

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

Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, pilot clinical trial of ImmunoGuard[R]--a standardized fixed combination of Andrographis paniculata Nees, with Eleutherococcus senticosus Maxim, Schizandra chinensis Bail. and Glycyrrhiza glabra L. extracts in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever.
May 1, 2003... Summary Double blind, randomized, placebo controlled pilot study of ImmunoGuard[R]--a standardized fixed combination of Andrographis paniculata Nees., Eleutherococcus senticosus Maxim., Schizandra chinensis Bail., and Glycyrrhiza glabra L....

Neuroprotective effects of tanshinones in transient focal cerebral ischemia in mice.
May 1, 2003... Summary Tanshinones are the major lipid soluble pharmacological constituents of Danshen, the dried roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Labiatae), a well known traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases...

Inhibition of DNA synthesis by Carvacrol in mouse myoblast cells bearing a human N-RAS oncogene.
May 1, 2003... Summary Monoterpenes are dietary components found in the essential oils of a wide variety of plants. A number of these monoterpenes have antitumor activity. We have investigated the effects of carvacrol obtained by fractional distillation...

In vitro antiproliferative effects on human tumor cell lines of extracts from the Bangladeshi medicinal plant Aegle marmelos Correa.
May 1, 2003... Summary In the present paper we show that extracts from Aegle marmelos Correa are able to inhibit the in vitro proliferation of human tumor cell lines, including the leukemic K562, T-lymphoid Jurkat, Blymphoid Raji, erythroleukemic HEL,...

Isolation and synthesis of TNF-[alpha] release inhibitors from Fijian kawa (Piper methysticum).
May 1, 2003... Summary Two unique evidence that cancer incidence rates in Fiji were unusually low, compared with those of another Pacific islands and that green tea beverage is an acknowledged cancer preventive in Japan, allowed us to study a local...

Immunologically active O6-branched (1[right arrow]3)-[beta]-glucan from the lichen Thamnolia vermicularis var. subuliformis.
May 1, 2003... Summary A lentinan-type gel-forming [beta]-glucan, Ths-2, has been isolated in about 1.5% yield from the alkali extract of the lichen Thamnolia vermicularis var. subuliformis, using ethanol fractionation, dialysis and gel filtration. The...

Bioactive crude plant seed extracts from the NCAUR oilseed repository.(National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Illinois)
May 1, 2003... Summary Over four-hundred crude extracts from 202 plant species distributed among 131 plant families were evaluated for their bioactivity against brine shrimp (Artemia salina). Activity was determined for both the organic [CH.sub.2]...

In vitro inhibition of human cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of marker substrates by natural products.
May 1, 2003... Summary Spices, herbal and black teas, and soybean products were analyzed for their capacity to inhibit in vitro metabolism of drug marker substrates by human cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoforms. Inhibition of drug metabolism was determined...

Effect of three vegetal sources of propolis on macrophages activation. (Short Communication).
May 1, 2003... Propolis is a complex mixture of substances, made by bees from the secretion of trees, plants, buds and exudates, giving rise to a resinous material with aromatic smell. Used in folk medicine in several parts of the world, mainly in the east of...

Bioactivity of secoiridoid glycosides from Centaurium erythraea. (Short Communication).
May 1, 2003... Summary As part of our on-going search for bioactive compounds from Scottish plants, two secoiridoid glycosides, swertiamarin and sweroside, have been isolated from the aerial parts of Centaurium erythraea Rafn (Family: Gentianaceae) by...

Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) - pharmacology and clinical indications. (Review).
May 1, 2003... Summary Extracts of the fruits of chaste tree (Vitex agnus castus = AC) are widely used to treat premenstrual symptoms. Double-blind placebo-controlled studies indicate that one of the most common premenstrual symptoms, i.e. premenstrual...

Scientific reporting of unscientific data - A case of Ginkgo biloba being miscredited. (ESCOP Section).
May 1, 2003... The European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy is actively collecting, evaluating and disseminating scientific data on the efficacy and safety of herbal medicinal products. This continuing effort aims at reviewing the available information...

Editorial.(herbal medicine)(Editorial)
May 1, 2003... Research on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPs) is primarily conducted by the manufacturers of these preparations. For traditional reasons, it is mostly the smaller German and Swiss companies who carry out research in this sector. However, the...

Efficacy and safety of an extract of Pelargonium sidoides (EPs 7630) in adults with acute bronchitis: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
May 1, 2003... Summary Background: New evidence-based treatment options are required to avoid antibiotic overuse in acute bronchitis and to replace potentially inefficacious initial antibiotic treatment. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety...

Pharmacological profile of extracts of Pelargonium sidoides and their constituents.
May 1, 2003... Summary In areas of southern Africa, aqueous extracts from the roots of Pelargonium sidoides are employed to cure various disorders. Nowadays, a modern formulation (EPs 7630), elaborated from the traditional herbal medicine, is...

Treating depression comorbid with anxiety--results of an open, practice-oriented study with St John's wort WS[R] 5572 and valerian extract in high doses.
May 1, 2003... Summary Depressive disorders in comorbidity with anxiety disorders represent an frequently diagnostic and therapeutic problem. The studies quoted here prove that the symptoms associated with anxiety that severely afflict patients can be...

Topical treatment of atopic dermatitis with St. John's wort cream--a randomized, placebo controlled, double blind half-side comparison.
May 1, 2003... Summary Background: Recent investigations suggest an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect of hyperforin, which is a major constituent of Hypericum perforatum L. (Saint John's wort). Objective: In the present half-side comparison...

Kava-Kava extract LI 150 is as effective as Opipramol and Buspirone in Generalised Anxiety Disorder - An 8-week randomized, double-blind multi-centre clinical trial in 129 out-patients.
May 1, 2003... Summary Objective: An 8-week randomized, reference-controlled, double-blind, multi-centre clinical trial investigated Kava-Kava LI 150 in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD; ICD-1O: F41.1). Method: 129 out-patients received either 400 mg...

A newly developed extract (Ze 339) from butterbur (Petasites hybridus L.) is clinically efficient in allergic rhinitis (hay fever). (Short Communication).
May 1, 2003... Petasites hybridus is a traditionally used medicinal herb, which exists in two chemo-varieties. Regarding effectiveness and safety, the petasin chemo-variety seems to be superior to the furano-petasin chemo-variety (Scheidegger et al. 1998)....

Long-term efficacy and safety of PRO 160/120 (a combination of Sabal and Urtica extract) in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). (Short Communication).
May 1, 2003... Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are a very common phenomenon in ageing males (Treagust et al., 2001; Berges et al., 2001) predominantly caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Prostatic enlargement can cause obstructive symptoms like...

Effects of a fixed combination of peppermint oil and caraway oil on symptoms and quality of life in patients suffering from functional dyspepsia. (Short Communication).
May 1, 2003... Functional gastrointestinal diseases represent a considerable socio-oeconomic problem, with complaints occurring in about 20-30% of the general population (Fuchs and Ritter, 1996). The chronic and chronically recurring symptoms mostly require...

Bacterial deconjugation of Arbutin by Escherichia coli. (Short Communication).
May 1, 2003... Summary Cystinol[R] akut containing arbutin was developed as an antiseptic since it liberates hydroquinone in the urine. The in vivo release of hydroquinone from arbutin with or without addition of glusulase or an E.coli suspension was...

Dose-response related efficacy in orthostatic hypotension of a fixed combination of D-camphor and an extract from fresh Crataegus Berries and the contribution of the single components. (Review).
May 1, 2003... Summary Independent, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled studies using sublingual/oral administration of D-camphor, an extract from fresh crataegus berries, and a combination of the two (CCC) yielded the following results: ...

Toxicity of kava pyrones, drug safety and precautions--a case study. (Review).
May 1, 2003... Summary Kava pyrones have been sold in Germany as OTC anxiolytics until June 2002, when all preparations with a kava pyrone content of more than [10.sup.-4] of a homeopathic stock solution were withdrawn. Other countries in which kava...

Ginkgo extract or cholinesterase inhibitors in patients with dementia: what clinical trials and guidelines fail to consider. (Review).
May 1, 2003... Summary Dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT), together with vascular dementia, is the most important indication for Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb). The therapeutic efficacy of this extract is founded on neuroprotective, metabolic and...