Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology articles from November 2006

Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology archives from November 2006

Crocus sativus L. (petal) in the treatment of mild-to-moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial.(Clinical report)
November 1, 2006... Abstract Depression is a major worldwide health problem. Indeed, by 2020, depressive disorders are estimated to represent the second largest disease burden worldwide. Although a variety of pharmaceutical agents are available for the...

Anti-diabetic properties of the Canadian lowbush blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.(Clinical report)
November 1, 2006... Abstract Incidence of type II diabetes is rapidly increasing worldwide. In order to identify complementary or alternative approaches to existing medications, we studied anti-diabetic properties of Vaccinium angustifolium Ait., a natural...

Antidiabetic effect of garlic (Allium sativum L.) in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.(Clinical report)
November 1, 2006... Abstract Objective: The antidiabetic effect of garlic ethanolic extract (Allium sativum L.) was investigated in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Research methods and procedure: In the present study, oral administration...

Activity of 7-methyljuglone in combination with antituberculous drugs against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.(Euclea natalensis)
November 1, 2006... Abstract The recent increase in the incidence of tuberculosis with the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) cases has lead to the search for new drugs that are effective against MDR strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and can augment...

A characteristic pharmacological action of 'Yang-invigorating' Chinese tonifying herbs: enhancement of myocardial ATP-generation capacity.
November 1, 2006... Abstract In order to investigate the pharmacological basis of 'Yang-invigorating' action, the effect of oral treatment with the methanolic extract of 'Yang-invigorating' herbs on ATP-generation capacity was examined, using heart...

Effect of hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha) crude extract and chromatographic fractions on multiple activities in a cultured cardiomyocyte assay.
November 1, 2006... Abstract Extracts of hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha) have become popular herbal supplements for their well-recognized cardiotonic effects. Many commercial preparations have been used successfully in the treatment of congestive heart...

Aqueous extract of Schizandra chinensis fruit causes endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation of isolated rat thoracic aorta.
November 1, 2006... Abstract An aqueous extract of Schizandra chinensis fruit (ScEx) has long been used to promote the vascular health of postmenopausal women in Korea. This study investigated the ability of ScEx to relax rat aorta constricted with...

Antidepressant-like activity of a Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine, Koso-san (Xiang-Su-San), and its mode of action via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
November 1, 2006... Abstract Koso-san (Xiang-Su-San in Chinese), a Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine, is used clinically in East Asia for the treatment of depression-like symptoms associated with the initial stage of the common cold, allergic urticaria due to...

Evaluation of anxiolytic properties of Gotukola--(Centella asiatica) extracts and asiaticoside in rat behavioral models.(Clinical report)
November 1, 2006... Abstract The ayurvedic medicinal plant Gotukola (Centella asiatica) was evaluated for its anxiolytic properties. Specifically, this study assessed the effects of: Gotukola plant materials of different genotypic origin; hexane, ethyl...

Pharmacological actions of Thespesia populnea relevant to Alzheimer's disease.
November 1, 2006... Abstract Thespesia populnea (Malvaceae) is a large tree found in the tropical regions and coastal forests of India. Various parts of T. populnea are found to possess useful medicinal properties, such as antifertility, antibacterial,...

Immunomodulatory effects of arabinogalactan-proteins from Baptisia and Echinacea.
November 1, 2006... Abstract The influences of different arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs) on proliferation and IgM-production of mouse lymphocytes as well as nitrite- and IL6-production of mouse macrophages were investigated in vitro. AGPs have been isolated...

Antiviral property and mechanisms of a sulphated polysaccharide from the brown alga Sargassum patens against Herpes simplex virus type 1.
November 1, 2006... Abstract A sulphated polysaccharide (SP-2a) from the brown alga Sargassum patens (Kutz.) Agardh (Sargassaceae) was found to significantly inhibit the in vitro replication of both the acyclovir (ACV)-sensitive and -resistant strains of...

Choleretic effects of yarrow (Achillea millefolium s.l.) in the isolated perfused rat liver.
November 1, 2006... Abstract Different species from the Achillea millefolium aggregate are used against gastrointestinal and hepato-biliary disorders in traditional European medicine. In this work, a fraction enriched in dicaffeoylquinic acids (DCCAs) and...

The effect of erythrodiol-3-acetate on the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and type-1 procollagen caused by ultraviolet irradiated cultured primary old aged human skin fibroblasts.
November 1, 2006... Abstract Methanol and aqueous extracts of Styrax japonica used traditionally for the treatments of skin elastic materials were screened in vitro for the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 inhibitor actions. The methylene chloride soluble...

Two matrix metalloproteinases inhibitors from Ferula persica var. persica.
November 1, 2006... Abstract Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a role in several physiologic and pathologic events. There is some evidence indicating the involvement of MMPs in tumor invasion and inflammatory diseases. Here we studied the chloroform...

Pharmacological studies of the large-scaled purified genistein from Huaijiao (Sophora japonica--Leguminosae) on anti-osteoporosis.
November 1, 2006... Abstract In this report, we used genistein that was extracted from a Chinese herbal medicine Huaijiao (Sophora japonica--Leguminosae) to evulate its pharmacological function on anti-osteoporosis. This genistein is purified in a large-scale...

Antimicrobial activity of aqueous extracts of Larrea divaricata Cav (jarilla) against Helicobacter pylori.(SHORT COMMUNICATION)
November 1, 2006... Abstract We studied here the effect of aqueous extracts of Larrea divaricata Cav on the growth of Helicobacter pylori. Results show that cold extract, infusion, decoction and simulated digestion had inhibitory activity at 0.04-0.1 mg/l...

Effects of Leontice smirnowii tuber monodesmosides and crude extract in carrageenan- and histamine-induced acute inflammation model of rats.(SHORT COMMUNICATION)
November 1, 2006... Abstract Leontice smirnowii is a member of the Berberidaceae family. We have recently reported the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, reducing power and...

Anti-proliferative properties of prenylated flavonoids from hops (Humulus lupulus L.) in human prostate cancer cell lines.(SHORT COMMUNICATION)(Chalcones xanthohumol)(desmethylxanthohumol)(isoxanthohumol)(8-prenylnaringenin)(6-prenylnaringenin)
November 1, 2006... Abstract Chalcones xanthohumol (X) and desmethylxanthohumol (DMX), present in hops (Humulus lupulus L.), and the corresponding flavanones isoxanthohumol (IX, from X), 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN, from DMX), and 6-prenylnaringenin (6-PN, from...

In vitro antiprotozoal activity of the lipophilic extracts of different parts of Turkish Pistacia vera L.(SHORT COMMUNICATION)
November 1, 2006... Abstract Thirteen lipophilic extracts prepared with n-hexane from various parts of Pistacia vera L. tree (Anacardiaceae) growing in Turkey were screened for their in vitro activity against four parasitic protozoa, Trypanosoma brucei...

Effectiveness and tolerability of the herbal mixture Asparagus P[R] on blood pressure in treatment-requiring antihypertensives.(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... Asparagus P[R] is a traditional medication. It comprises equal parts (200 mg per tablet) of pulverised dried asparagus root and parsley leaf. The diuretic effects of Asparagus officinalis and Petroselinum crispum have been known since antiquity...

Effectiveness of Petasites hybridus preparations in the prophylaxis of migraine: a systematic review.(REVIEW)
November 1, 2006... Abstract The objective of this review was to evaluate the strength of evidence of effectiveness for Petasites hybridus in the prophylaxis of migraine. Several databases and other sources were searched to identify randomised-controlled...

Drug Discovery and Therapeutic Medicine.(Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Therapeutic Medicine)(Book review)
November 1, 2006... Zhang, Lixin, Demain, Arnold L., Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Therapeutic Medicine. The Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, ISBN 1-588-29-383-1 (382pp., $135.00). Drug discovery has always relied in the richness and extravagance of nature to...

Medicinal Herbs: A Compendium.(Book review)
November 1, 2006... B. Gehrmann, W.-G. Koch, C.O. Tschirch, H. Brinkman, Medicinal Herbs: A Compendium, The Haworth Herbal Press, Binghamton, NY, ISBN 0-7890-2531-0, 2005 (228pp., $29.95). The book Medicinal Herbs: A Compendium serves as an at-a-glance...