Journal of Herbal Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Survey Exploration of Some Plants Used in Managing Hypertension in the North Central States of Nigeria","authors":"Otaru Audu Isah ,&nbsp;MacDonald Idu ,&nbsp;Ogunma Benjamin Gabriel","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.100994","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.100994","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>This study entails surveying and documenting information on the traditional management of hypertension using medicinal plants among people in the North Central States of Nigeria.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Ethnomedicinal survey was conducted across the region using questionnaires, tape recorders and interpreters. Questionnaires were administered to 180 respondents in 200 locations. The generic and family names of each plant species were documented following authentication.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Seventy-two (72) medicinal plant species belonging to 65 genera and 45 families were cited from 180 respondents of which 107 were traditional healers. Respondents reported that inheritance (104 informants) and apprenticeship (56 informants) were the two modes of indigenous knowledge acquisition. The frequency of use of each plant species as a folkloric antihypertensive agent revealed that <em>Anacardium occidentale</em> has the lowest use value and fidelity level (0.57, 14.29), while <em>Moringa oleifera</em> has the highest use value and fidelity level (0.95, 90.00), respectively. The family Rubiaceae has the highest representation of plant species (7.04%). Most plants were wild (46.48%), and herbs had the most significant representation (42.25%). The preferred mode of administration of traditional medicine was oral, and the dosage regimen was 30 ml three times daily. Most of the respondents were aged between 41 and 50.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study documents antihypertensive plants used among the indigenous communities within the North Central States of Nigeria. The unevaluated plants may be a viable reservoir of alternative sources of antihypertensive drug development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"50 ","pages":"Article 100994"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143520400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determination of Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Phenolic Properties of Onobrychis silvanensis sp. Nov. Endemic Species","authors":"Emine Körfeci,&nbsp;Hülya Hoşgören","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101000","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101000","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div><em>Onobrychis silvanensis</em> sp. nov. (Fabaceae) is an endemic species and was collected for the first time from Diyarbakır (Silvan, Turkey). The study investigated the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and phenolic compounds of the species.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>For this purpose, an <em>O. silvanensis</em> species extract was tested against two gram-positive (<em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, <em>Streptococcus pyogenes</em>), two gram-negative (<em>Escherichia coli</em>, <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em>) bacteria, and <em>Candida albicans</em> fungus, for phenolic content, and antimicrobial and antioxidant capacity. Total phenolic content was measured spectrophotometrically, and the analytical validation parameter of the Liquid Chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry) method was used. DPPH method and copper (II) ion reduction method were used to measure total antioxidant capacity. Antimicrobial activity was determined using the minimum inhibition concentration microdilution method.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Minimum inhibition concentration values obtained were 0.39 mg/ml for <em>S. aureus</em>, 0.39 mg/ml for <em>S. pyogenes</em>, 0.39 mg/ml for <em>E. coli</em>, 100 mg/ml for <em>P. aeruginosa</em>, and 6.25 mg/ml for <em>C. albicans</em>. DPPH activity was found to be 88.99% ± 0.373% at a concentration of 1 mg/ml. In the copper (II) ion reduction method, it was determined as 19.59 ± 0.167 mg TE/g at 1 mg/ml concentration. Total phenolic content values of ethanolic extracts of <em>O. silvanensis</em> species were found as 15 404 mg/g for Rutin, 11 694 mg/g for Quinic acid, and 10 385 mg/g for Miquelianin.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The results suggest an ethanolic extract of endemic species of <em>O. silvanensis</em> species showed high rate antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. It is thought that the study and results presented here will contribute significantly to the literature since these are the first records of this endemic species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"50 ","pages":"Article 101000"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143534970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The prevalence of gingival recession among miswak (Salvadora persica L.) chewing stick users: a systematic review","authors":"Nadia Suleman ,&nbsp;Miriam Sidrak ,&nbsp;Julie Noussair ,&nbsp;Ana-Maria Stevans ,&nbsp;Bishoy Bakhoum ,&nbsp;Rodrigo Rodrigues Amaral ,&nbsp;João Martins de Mello-Neto","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Miswak, a natural chewing stick from <em>Salvadora persica L., is traditionally used for oral hygiene in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Despite evidence of its effectiveness in plaque reduction and periodontal health improvement, its relationship with gingival recession remains understudied.</em></div></div><div><h3>Aim of the study</h3><div>This systematic review evaluates existing literature to determine whether miswak use is associated with gingival recession compared to conventional toothbrush use.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>Literature was retrieved from Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Emcare, CINAHL, and LILACS to analyse studies evaluating gingival recession prevalence among miswak users from 1983 to 2024. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tool was used for quality assessment.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Analysis of studies including 6<!--> <!-->315 individuals showed varying results. Seven studies reported higher gingival recession prevalence (9.88–67.85%) among miswak users compared to conventional toothbrush users, while two studies reported no recession. Additional findings included increased anterior tooth wear, clinical attachment loss, and tooth loss. Usage frequency, technique, fibre texture, and user age influenced outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The lack of standardised miswak usage techniques contributed to variable outcomes across studies. Some studies suggest increased tooth wear, gingival recession, and abrasion with miswak use, while others report no difference or positive effects on oral health. Miswak's overall impact on periodontal health remains inconclusive, requiring standardised methods and controlled studies to better understand miswak's long-term effects and develop evidence-based usage recommendations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"51 ","pages":"Article 101003"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143682242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The efficacy of different traditional Chinese medicine treatment for Corona Virus Disease 2019: systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Su Youzhu,&nbsp;Su Rui,&nbsp;Wang Shuo,&nbsp;Liu Mifeng,&nbsp;Fan Jie,&nbsp;Liu Qingquan","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To evaluate the efficacy of different treatment methods currently used for COVID-19 infection, providing evidence-based support for treatment decision-making.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Effective drugs for COVID-19 were selected through literature research. Based on the pharmacological effects of the drugs, they were categorised into three treatment methods: Dispersing lung qi and detoxification; Dispersing lung qi, detoxification and eliminating dampness; Dispersing lung qi, detoxification, eliminating dampness and activating qi. Meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of these three treatment methods, clarifying the advantages of different treatment methods.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>All three treatment methods showed advantages in various aspects such as shortening fever duration, time to nucleic acid conversion, reducing the rate of severe cases, increasing the recovery rate of chest CT scans, and disappearance rate of cough. Dispersing lung qi and detoxification method showed significant advantages in shortening sore throat duration (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), while the other two methods showed significant advantages in improving the disappearance rate of chest tightness, shortening the duration of fatigue, and cough duration.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>All three treatment methods have shown significant efficacy, providing evidence for the comprehensive treatment of epidemic diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. Dispersing lung qi and detoxification method is suitable for patients with obvious heat symptoms, while Dispersing lung qi, detoxification and eliminating dampness and Dispersing lung qi, detoxification, eliminating dampness and activating qi method can regulate the spleen to remove dampness, dredge and regulate the three jiao qi mechanism, fitting the core pathogenesis of COVID-19 involves dampness, toxin, stagnation and closure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"51 ","pages":"Article 101001"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143642977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Serum biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis patients and effect of Unani herbal formulation Qurs-e-Hudar on these biomarkers suggesting the anti-IL-6 effect","authors":"Towseef Amin Rafeeqi ,&nbsp;Riyaz Ahmed Pandith ,&nbsp;Humma ,&nbsp;Arjumand Shah ,&nbsp;Mohammad Zakir ,&nbsp;Nighat Anjum ,&nbsp;Irfat Ara ,&nbsp;N. Zaheer Ahmed","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.100999","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.100999","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>One of the herbal formulations known as Qurs-e-Hudar used in the Unani medicine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), has no known mechanism of action. In this endeavour, the effect of Qurs-e-Hudar on serum biomarkers in RA patients was evaluated.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In an open-label, single-centric clinical study, 26 RA patients were assessed for 6-week treatment by Qurs-e-Hudar in a dose of 250 mg twice a day. The serum was evaluated quantitatively for biomarkers including rheumatoid factor (RF), anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumour necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13) before and after treatment in RA patients and 26 healthy participants at once.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The ESR, CRP, TNFR1, IL-6 and CXCL13 values were significantly high (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) in RA patients comparing healthy controls. There was a significant reduction in (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) in ESR and IL-6 values after treatment in RA patients. Although non-significant, a reduction in TNFR1 and CXCL13 was also observed. The results for efficacy assessed by reduction in disease activity score-28 (DAS-28) and remission assessed by the ACR-EULAR classification show a significant decrease (P &lt; 0.01) after treatment in RA patients.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The significant clinical efficacy response obtained here is likely to be related to a significant reduction of IL-6 and ESR suggesting the role of Qurs-e-Hudar through IL-6 pathway. Larger systematic and comparative trials are warranted for further evaluation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"50 ","pages":"Article 100999"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143436414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anticariogenic efficacy of Indian Costus mouthwash in children","authors":"Ghada Salem ,&nbsp;Maryam ElMansy ,&nbsp;Eman Allam ,&nbsp;Asem Anter ,&nbsp;Rehab Abdelmonem ,&nbsp;Mohamed Rashed","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.100997","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.100997","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Herbal mouthwashes have become more popular in recent years as a countermeasure to the side effects of conventional mouthwashes. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-bacterial effect of different concentrations of newly formulated Indian Costus mouthwash against <em>Streptococcus mutans</em> bacteria (<em>S. mutans</em>).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 75 children (6–13 years old) were randomly divided into five groups (n = 15) according to the type and concentration of the mouthwash as follows: group 1: negative control, tap water; group 2: positive control, chlorhexidine; group 3: 5% Indian Costus; group 4: 10% Indian Costus; group 5: 15% Indian Costus. Patients were instructed to rinse with 5 ml of the given mouthwash twice per day for 1 week. Non-stimulated saliva sample was collected before (baseline) and after 1 week of using the mouthwash. Microbiological examination was performed to assess <em>S. mutans</em> count in all samples. One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey post hoc test were used for statistical analysis and the significance level was set at <em>P</em> ≤ 0.05.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Statistically significant differences were detected between baseline and post-rinse counts in all groups except for the negative control samples. The highest mean percentage of bacterial reduction was detected in group 5 (Costus 15%), whereas the lowest mean percentage of bacterial reduction was seen in group 1 (negative control, tap water).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study offers preliminary evidence supporting the significant antimicrobial efficacy of Indian Costus extract mouthwash against <em>S. mutans</em>, a key biofilm-forming bacterium in the oral cavity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"50 ","pages":"Article 100997"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143436413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine combined with conventional western medicine on metabolic syndrome: a Bayesian network meta-analysis","authors":"Yi Zhang,&nbsp;Yixuan Fang,&nbsp;Nannan Xing,&nbsp;Pengling Ge","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.100998","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.100998","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of multiple risk factors. The combination of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and conventional western medicine (CWM) shows promise in treating MetS. However, the effectiveness of different integrated treatments combining TCM and CWM for MetS remains a subject of ongoing debate.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and four Chinese databases were searched. We evaluated the risk of bias and quality in the included studies, and performed a Bayesian multiple network meta-analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We included 30 randomised controlled trials. Meta-analysis based on Bayesian network demonstrated that the combination of Dachaihu decoction and CWM exhibited the most excellent clinical treatment efficacy on MetS. The combination of HuanglianWendan decoction + Dachaihu decoction and CWM demonstrated the most favourable impact on improving patient body mass index (BMI); the combination of Gegen Qinlian decoction + Pingwei San and CWM exhibited a significant effect in reducing patient waist circumference; among various treatment measures, Wuling San combined with CWM had been proven to be more effective in enhancing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) levels in patients.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The combination of TCM and CWM exhibits a pronounced therapeutic efficacy in the management of MetS, surpassing the use of CWM alone. This study identified the optimal intervention strategies for different outcome indicators by combining TCM and CWM in a comprehensive manner. However, due to the limitations of this study, more high-quality studies are needed to provide robust evidence in the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"50 ","pages":"Article 100998"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143402741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An updated review on ethnobotanical insights, phytochemistry and pharmacological potentials of Homalomena aromatica Schott.: an important medicinal aromatic plant","authors":"Raghu Tamang ,&nbsp;Tanmita Gupta ,&nbsp;Twahira Begum ,&nbsp;Mohan Lal","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.100995","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.100995","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div><em>Homalomena aromatica</em> Schott., a member of Araceae family, is considered pivotal in both medicinal and aromatic purposes used by aromatic and perfumery industries throughout world. In the present review we have highlighted the ethnobotany, phytochemistry as well as biological activities with future pharmacological aspects of this medicinal species.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>An extensive literature review was searched from Google Scholar, PubChem, Sciencedirect, Wiley online library and followed the PRISMA (2020) guidelines. The key words searched include <em>H. aromatica</em>, essential oil, pharmacological properties, biological activity and ethnobotany.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div><em>H. aromatica</em> essential oil contains many important chemical constituents which includes linalool followed by terpinene-4 ol, α-terpinol, γ-terpine, α-cadinol, τ-cadinol, spathulenol, geraniol, nerol, etc. The residual material remaining after extracting essential oil finds extensive use in the production of incense (dhup). In addition to its aromatic qualities, the plant harbours medicinal attributes beneficial for treating a myriad of ailments. The rhizomes and leaves are frequently employed to alleviate pain and combat skin infections. Furthermore, the plant boasts diverse pharmacological properties including antispasmodic, antifungal, analgesic, antidepressant, sedative, anti-inflammatory activities.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This review offers a summary of the chemical composition and pharmacological applications of <em>H. aromatica</em>. Additionally, it sheds light on the plant's ethnobotanical uses, economic prospects, and potential avenues for future research in its diverse pharmacological applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"50 ","pages":"Article 100995"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143445386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Urtica dioica for benign prostatic hyperplasia","authors":"Pawel Posadzki ,&nbsp;Chuenjid Kongkaew ,&nbsp;Edzard Ernst","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.100996","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.100996","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>As of 2019, globally, there were 94 million prevalent cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia. This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness of <em>Urtica dioica</em> as a treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from databases inceptions to February 2024. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigating <em>Urtica dioica</em> (with or without usual care) for treating BPH in human subjects were considered. The GRADE approach was used to evaluate the certainty of evidence.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Six RCTs with a total of 1210 patients met the inclusion criteria. Risk of bias of the included studies was mostly unclear or high. Meta-analyses showed that, compared with controls (placebo, usual care), <em>Urtica dioica</em> improved slightly BPH symptoms measured with the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) at follow-ups of up to 12 months (standardized mean difference [SMD] -2.06, 95% confidence intervals [CI] [-3.22, -0.91] very low certainty evidence), reduced prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels (mean difference [MD] -0.37 ng/ml, 95% CI [-0.50, -0.23] low certainty evidence) but the interventions had little effect on quality of life (SMD -0.59, 95% CI [-1.57, 0.38] very low certainty evidence). The main reasons for downgrading the evidence were study limitations, inconsistency, and imprecision. All six studies reported adverse-effects; stating that none had occurred.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>There is some promising evidence to support the effectiveness of <em>Urtica</em> in reducing the symptoms of BPH. Future, larger and more rigorous studies might reduce the existing uncertainties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"50 ","pages":"Article 100996"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143478801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The use of herbal medicine for cancer therapy in Indonesia: a prospective cohort study","authors":"Zulvikar Syambani Ulhaq ,&nbsp;Delima ,&nbsp;Lucie Widowati ,&nbsp;Pramita Andarwati ,&nbsp;Elga Renjana ,&nbsp;Elok Firdiana ,&nbsp;Lola Ayu Istifiani ,&nbsp;Syafrizal Aji Pamungkas","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.100991","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.100991","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Herbal medicine is widely used in Indonesia, including for cancer treatment, but data on its effectiveness is limited. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of herbal medicine in cancer patients by evaluating their wellness index (WI), compliance, and herb usage patterns.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Data were obtained from the <em>Jamu Registry</em> for the period from 2014 to 2018. The improvement in patients' health status was assessed by quantifying the WI score, a modification of the World Health Organization's (WHO’s) quality of life (QoL) measure. Additionally, drug compliance and patterns of commonly used herbs were also evaluated.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>This study involved 130 participants, 82.3% of whom were female, with 33% diagnosed with breast cancer. Preference for herbal medicine alone was associated with older age, lower education, and rural residence. The six most commonly prescribed herbs were <em>Andrographis paniculata</em>, <em>Catharanthus roseus</em>, <em>Curcuma zanthorrhiza</em>, <em>Gynura divaricata</em>, <em>Physalis angulata</em>, and <em>Centella asiatica</em>. Overall, 75.4% of patients improved their WI score, with greater improvement in those using only herbal medicine (81.9%) compared to complementary therapies (48%) (<em>P</em> = 0.001). Drug compliance was good, with 72.3% adhering to their regimen. <em>In silico</em> analysis highlighted anti-cancer properties in these herbs, with α-tocopherol from <em>P. angulata</em> and kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside from <em>G. divaricata</em> showing potent effects, modulated by ERα and MDM2, both linked to breast cancer.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Herbal medicine is widely regarded as a complementary and alternative treatment option for cancer patients in Indonesia. Our study further demonstrates that the use of herbal medicine contributes to an improvement in the overall well-being of these patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"51 ","pages":"Article 100991"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143697761","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}