Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Black Maitake mushroom (<i>Grifola frondosa</i>) extract exerts anti-cancer effects and enhances the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs in 2D and 3D models of triple-negative breast cancer.","authors":"Silvia DeMarco, Sona Regonda, Siyaram Pandey","doi":"10.1515/jcim-2025-0255","DOIUrl":"10.1515/jcim-2025-0255","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Intoduction: </strong>Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype that lacks hormone receptors and HER2 amplification, limiting targeted therapy options. Chemotherapeutics like cisplatin and taxol are commonly used but lack selectivity, often causing harsh side effects. These limitations have led to increased interest in natural health products (NHPs) as complementary treatments due to their potential anticancer benefits and lower toxicity. Black Maitake mushroom (<i>Grifola frondosa</i>), used in traditional Chinese medicine, contains polysaccharides with reported anticancer activity. However, further research is needed on the whole extract, its mechanism, and its interaction with chemotherapy.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study assessed the anticancer effects of Black Maitake Odaira Extract - Prothera (BMOE; manufactured by Shogun Maitake Canada, London, ON) on the MDA-MB-231 TNBC cell line. BMOE was evaluated alone and in combination with chemotherapeutic agents cisplatin and taxol using both 2D and 3D <i>in vitro</i> models.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Apoptosis was evaluated using Hoechst 33342, Annexin V, and propidium iodide staining. Mitochondrial membrane depolarization was assessed via TMRM. A wound-healing assay measured cell migration. Structural effects were examined in 3D spheroid cultures following treatment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>BMOE induced dose- and time-dependent apoptosis and mitochondrial depolarization. In 3D models, BMOE disrupted spheroid structure. The wound-healing assay showed impaired TNBC cell migration. Most importantly, BMOE significantly enhanced chemotherapeutic efficacy when combined with cisplatin or taxol.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings highlight the potential of BMOE as a non-toxic adjunct that enhances the efficacy of standard chemotherapies to contribute to the development of safer, more targeted treatment strategies for TNBC.</p>","PeriodicalId":15556,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine","volume":"23 2","pages":"296-307"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148455497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydroethanolic root extract of <i>Ficus capensis</i> exhibits antiulcerogenic activities in acetic acid-induced colitis rat model.","authors":"George Owusu, Meshack Antwi-Adjei, Yeboaba Kofi Opoku-Yeboah, Barnabas Tuatil, Abigail Adu-Boateng, Frederick Emmanuel Baidoo, Francis Kwame Abrokwah, Benjamin Aboagye","doi":"10.1515/jcim-2025-0389","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2025-0389","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong><i>Ficus capensis</i> (FCE) is widely used in Ghana and some other West African countries to treat gastrointestinal diseases. This study examines the antiulcerogenic properties of the ethanol-based FCE root extract in rats using acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis model.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Rats were arbitrarily assigned to 6 groups (n=5) and given either oral normal saline (10 mL/kg), sulfasalazine (500 mg/kg), or FCE (30, 100, and 300 mg/kg) for 7 days. To induce colitis, 500 μL of acetic acid (4 % v/v) was given intrarectally on day 2. On the 8th day, rats were euthanized. Hematology, antioxidant, and histopathological investigations were assessed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>FCE significantly prevented body weight loss and reduced the colon weight/length ratio to 0.106 ± 0.004 g/cm relative to the control. Additionally, FCE reduced DAI to 2.035 ± 0.1216 compared to the control. The histopathology showed that FCE-treated colons reduced inflammatory scores compared to the control. Levels of NF-κB and TNF-α, gross colonic damage and epithelial cell loss were reduced. FCE elevated colonic SOD and CAT activity to 12.60 ± 1.327 and 9.60 ± 0.6713, correspondingly. Furthermore, the amount of MDA decreased to 29.72 ± 1.974 compared to the control. FCE increased levels of RBC and HGB, respectively, to 8.64 ± 0.48 (×10⁶/µL) and 9.36 ± 0.62 g/dL and lowered WBC and NEU to 10.27 ± 0.36, 9.35 ± 0.62, 20.43 ± 0.82, and 18.47 ± 0.47, respectively, compared to the control.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Hydroethanolic root extract of FCE possesses antiulcerogenic effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":15556,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147645309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Retraction of: Evaluation of the protective effect of the <i>Echinacea Purpurea</i> against apoptosis and inflammation induced by overdose of iron dextran on the hematopoietic system.","authors":"Doaa Kahim Abdul Ridha, Ali Faris Hassan","doi":"10.1515/jcim-2026-2001","DOIUrl":"10.1515/jcim-2026-2001","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15556,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine","volume":"23 1","pages":"200"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147874272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Successful integration of Yoga and Naturopathy with conventional medicine for health promotion: insights from the Tamil Nadu model in rural India.","authors":"Vaishnu Karthik Kamaraj, Srikaren Udhayakumar, Yeswanth Kumaran Venkatachalam, Poornima Ravi, Maheshkumar Kuppusamy","doi":"10.1515/jcim-2025-0419","DOIUrl":"10.1515/jcim-2025-0419","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15556,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"357-359"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147627851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chromatographic analysis of <i>Crataegus azarolus</i> and possible psychiatric implications.","authors":"Bekir Nihat Dogrul, Ibrahim Kiliccalan, Ekrem Samet Asci","doi":"10.1515/jcim-2025-0397","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2025-0397","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong><i>Crataegus azarolus</i> (hawthorn) is a medicinal plant traditionally used for various health benefits and culinary reasons, although its psychiatric effects remain poorly studied. This study aimed to assess the volatile chemical composition and ionic profile of <i>C. azarolus</i>, and to integrate these findings with a targeted review of the literature to propose potential psychiatric implications.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Methanolic extracts of dried flowers, leaves, and berries were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), with compounds identified using reference libraries. Ion chromatography (IC) with anion and cation columns was used to quantify inorganic ions, expressed as mg per 100 g dried material.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>GC-MS tentatively identified 13 major compounds, including flavonoids, fatty acids, sterols, vitamin D derivatives, and digitoxin. Many of these constituents have been suggested having anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anxiolytic, and antidepressant-like activities in preclinical studies. Among the compounds, the flavonoids quercetin and lucenin-2 were particularly notable due to their proposed roles in central nervous system function, neuroprotection and possible psychiatric effects. IC analysis additionally revealed the presence of various inorganic ions, although their overall concentrations were low.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The biochemical complexity of <i>C. azarolus</i> highlights its potential relevance for mental health, yet direct preclinical and clinical evidence remains lacking. Future investigations are needed to clarify its psychiatric applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":15556,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147486149","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neuroprotective role of <i>Bougainvillea spectabilis</i> in ketamine-induced neurotoxicity: targeting oxidative stress and neuroinflammation.","authors":"Rania Elgohary, Omar M E Abdel-Salam, Eman R Youness, Enayat A Omara, Amany A Sleem","doi":"10.1515/jcim-2025-0175","DOIUrl":"10.1515/jcim-2025-0175","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Schizophrenia is a persistent and devastating mental illness that affects around 1 % of the population. Despite the availability of antipsychotic drugs, their limited efficacy and significant adverse effect profiles have sparked an increased interest in finding well-tolerated, safer alternatives. Recently the bioactive compounds that are produced from natural sources as possible supplementary therapy to reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia. This study seeks to evaluate the potential therapeutic effects of <i>Bougainvillea spectabilis (B. spectabilis)</i> in alleviating oxidative stress and neuroinflammatory pathways associated with ketamine-induced biochemical and histopathological changes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Rats were administered ketamine (30 mg/kg, s.c.) to cause neurotoxicity. <i>B. spectabilis</i> extract at dosages of 50 and 100 mg/kg, were administrated 30 min later.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong><i>B. spectabilis</i> extract significantly decreased oxidative stress, including homocysteine and malondialdehyde (MDA), while increasing endogenous antioxidant defenses such as reduced glutathione (GSH) and folic acid levels. The extract also attenuated neuroinflammatory responses through downregulation of TNF-α and NF-κB expression and markedly improved the histopathological architecture of brain tissue.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study demonstrates that <i>B. spectabilis</i> extract exerts neuroprotective effects through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. These findings suggest that the extract may represent a promising adjunct therapeutic strategy for mitigating neurotoxicity associated with oxidative stress and neuroinflammation.</p>","PeriodicalId":15556,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"308-317"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147486140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Serum TNF-α, oxidized LDL, and APOCII as novel predictors for familial mediterranean fever in Egyptian children: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Hala T El-Bassyouni, Khaled Hamed, Eman Refaat Youness, Hisham A Orban, Abeer Selim, Ahmed Adel, Rehab S I Moustafa, Randa Salah Lotfy, Maha Mahmoud A Kobesiy, Mina Wassef Girgiss, Sherif H Elwan, Hanan Farouk, Ramy Mohamed, Hanaa Reyad Abdallah, Moushira Zaki","doi":"10.1515/jcim-2025-0388","DOIUrl":"10.1515/jcim-2025-0388","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Intoduction: </strong>Persistent subclinical inflammation is a hallmark of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), the most common autoinflammatory disease. Among the key mediators implicated in this chronic inflammatory state are tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL), and apolipoprotein C-II (APOC2), which contribute to the dysregulated immune response characteristic of FMF. The present study aims to evaluate the potential role of TNF-α, OxLDL, and APOC2 as diagnostic biomarkers of disease severity in patients with FMF.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study enrolled 66 patients diagnosed with FMF and 60 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) were quantified using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. However, the apolipoprotein C-II (APOC2) concentrations were measured using an automated biochemistry analyzer. Furthermore, the Carotid intima media was assessed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Serum TNF-α levels were significantly higher in FMF patients than in the control group, emphasizing the protein's role as an important marker of chronic inflammation. Levels of low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) and apolipoprotein C-II (APOC2) were also notably altered in the FMF cohort. Notably, OxLDL, APOC2 and TNF-α demonstrated strong positive correlation with attack frequency, multiple linear regressions analysis showed that OxLDL (β=1.53, p=0.002) and TNF-α (β=1.38, p=0.003) were significant predictors for higher number of attacks, suggesting their potential role involvement in the inflammatory cascade and their utility as complementary biomarkers in FMF. The carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) of patients and control subjects did not differ statistically significantly.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>TNF-α, oxidized LDL, and APOC2 are key pro-inflammatory mediators that may serve as novel biomarkers for assessing chronic inflammatory status in FMF patients. Their elevated levels could provide valuable insights into disease progression and help guide personalized treatment strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":15556,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine","volume":"23 2","pages":"349-356"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148455495","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The <i>Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine</i> is switching its publication model to open access.","authors":"Suzanne Mekking, Jeremy Y Ng","doi":"10.1515/jcim-2026-0056","DOIUrl":"10.1515/jcim-2026-0056","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15556,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147473884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>In silico</i> evaluation of bioactive compounds as potential inhibitors targeting HIF-1α/VEGFA/BACE1 pathway against Alzheimer's disease.","authors":"Sakshi Rai, Suman Kumar Ray, Sukhes Mukherjee","doi":"10.1515/jcim-2025-0278","DOIUrl":"10.1515/jcim-2025-0278","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are characterized by progressive neuronal degeneration, predominantly caused by the accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and neuroinflammatory processes. Hypoxia, characterized by diminished oxygen levels, intensifies these mechanisms by stimulating hypoxiainducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α), potentially enhancing BACE1 enzyme activity and resulting in increased Aβ synthesis and render neurons especially susceptible to hypoxia, exacerbating disease progression. Existing therapies are constrained by inadequate medication distribution across the blood-brain barrier and associated adverse effects. This study aims to identify potential therapeutic agents targeting HIF-1α, VEGFA, BACE1 key molecules involved in AD by exploring neuroprotective effects of bioactive compounds like benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), Aurantiamide Acetate (AA), and galantamine, with the goal of developing more effective, targeted treatments.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used <i>in silico</i> screening, such as molecular docking and ADMET analysis, to assess the binding affinity, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity of potential inhibitors, followed by <i>in vitro</i> testing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results identified several compounds with strong binding affinities and favorable ADMET profiles as potential inhibitors of HIF-1α, VEGFA, BACE1 and experimental data support that hypoxia, via HIF-1α, upregulates BACE1, increasing Aβ production and contributing to AD. Targeting these pathways may offer a multi-faceted approach to therapy, reducing neuroinflammation and amyloid pathology.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong><i>In silico</i> screening of potential molecules across different pathogenic pathways in Alzheimer's disease shows promise in developing successful therapeutic methods and continued validation may result in more tailored and safer medicines that address underlying neurodegenerative pathways.</p>","PeriodicalId":15556,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"71-85"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147317215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effects of aromatherapy in children: a systematic review and a call for research in autism.","authors":"Leonardo Ribeiro Miedes, Edinaldo Siqueira Souza, Thais Miriã da Silva Santos, Matheus Silva Fornel, Kátia Bilhar Scapini, Iris Callado Sanches, Camilla de Paula Pereira Uzam, Juliana Monique Lino Aparecido, Nathalia Bernardes","doi":"10.1515/jcim-2025-0241","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2025-0241","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Aromatherapy, the therapeutic use of essential oils, is a growing complementary practice in pediatric care. This systematic review analyzed the scientific evidence on its application and effects in children, with a secondary aim of exploring its use for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).</p><p><strong>Content: </strong>Following the PRISMA guidelines, the screening was carried out in Rayyan by two researchers, with studies from the PubMed, Cochrane Library, BVS Library and Web of Science databases, including only clinical trials. The risk of bias assessment used the Cochrane RoB 2 tool.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Out of 1,089 identified studies, seven randomized controlled trials were included. The literature was predominantly focused on neurotypical children, revealing that acute inhalation of essential oils (mainly lavender and orange) was used for managing anxiety in specific settings, particularly dentistry. Findings showed a trend towards reduced anxiety and pain scores, alongside decreased heart rate. However, significant methodological heterogeneity and small sample sizes were noted. The secondary aim highlighted a pronounced evidence gap: only one small-scale study included children with ASD, which reported no significant benefits of aromatherapy.</p><p><strong>Outlook: </strong>Preliminary evidence suggests potential benefits of aromatherapy for anxiety in neurotypical children within controlled contexts. However, the evidence base is limited and insufficient for robust clinical guidance. A critical scarcity of research exists on aromatherapy for children with ASD, underscoring the need for more rigorous and adequately powered future studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":15556,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146220051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}