{"title":"Introduction: 13th Annual Symposium on Complementary Health Care","authors":"E. Ernst, B. Wider, K. Boddy","doi":"10.1080/15228940802142514","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15228940802142514","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73776,"journal":{"name":"Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy","volume":"7 1","pages":"1 - 2"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15228940802142514","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59841444","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":"Effect of Methanolic Extract of Dendrophthoe falcata Stem on Reproductive Function of Male Albino Rats","authors":"R. Gupta, J. Kachhawa, A. Sharma","doi":"10.1080/J157v07n02_01","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/J157v07n02_01","url":null,"abstract":"In spite of the considerable development in contraceptive technology, search for male antifertility agents in plants continues to be a potential area of investigation. Many plants have been known to possess antifertility activity, but limited attempts have been made to scientifically evaluate these claims. Hence the purpose of this study was to evaluate the antifertility and reproductive toxicity potential of Dendrophthoe falcata(Loranthaceae) in male Wistar rats. An oral 70% methanolic extract of stem of D. falcata at a dose level of 100 mg/kg wt/day fed to male albino rats for 60 days did not decrease body weight, while the testes and epididymides were significantly reduced, and the seminal vesicles and ventral prostate also showed a significant reduction (P < 0.01). Treated animals showed a notable depression of spermatogenesis. As a result of 100 mg/kg extract feeding, the preleptotene spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes, step-19 spermatids and the mature Leydig cells decreased by 74.36%, 80.03%, 79.87%, 32.37%, respectively. At this dose Leydig cell nuclear area and cytoplasmic area, as well as the cross sectional surface area of Sertoli cells, were significantly reduced (P<0.001) when compared to controls. The reduced sperm count and motility resulted in 100% negative fertility at 100 mg/kg dose level. A significant fall in the total protein and sialic acid content in the testes, epididymides, seminal vesicle and ventral prostate, as well as in the glycogen content of testes was also observed. The level of serum protein, cholesterol, billirubin, SGOT, SGPT, blood urea, and hematological indices were unaltered. In conclusion, Dendrophthoe falcata brought about the inhibition of spermatogenesis.","PeriodicalId":73776,"journal":{"name":"Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy","volume":"7 1","pages":"1 - 13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/J157v07n02_01","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60735141","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":"In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Three Piper Species","authors":"G. Agbor, J. Vinson, J. Oben, J. Ngogang","doi":"10.1080/J157v07n02_04","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/J157v07n02_04","url":null,"abstract":"Reactive oxygen species are known to play a role in numerous pathological conditions, and antioxidants from plant sources have been of great help in modulating this effect. This study assesses the methanolic exttacts of the leaves of three Piper species (Piper guineense Schum and Thonn, Piper nigrum L. and Piper umbellatum L.) (Piper-aceae) for their polyphenolic concentration and free radical scavenging activity. The Folin-Ciocalteu method was used to assess the polyphenolic concenttation while the reducing power, l,l-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Superoxide radical, hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide scavenging and metal chelating activities were employed in studying the radical scavenging activity of the extracts. All three spices exhibited a marked polyphenolic concentration and dose dependent free radical scavenging activity. The free polyphenolic concentration of the three spices was in the order P. umbellatum(15.9 ± 1.9 mg/g) > P. guineense(12.6 ± 0.3 mg/g) > P. nigrum(9.8 ± 0.8). The three Piper extracts exhibited a 79.8-89.9% scavenging effect on DPPH, an 85.1-97.9% scavenging effect on nitric oxide at a dose level of 10 mg/ml and a 47.1-51.6% scavenging effect on Superoxide radical at a dose level of 8 mg/ml extraction. Piper extracts also exhibited a 57-76.1% scavenging effect on hydroxyl radical at 5 mg/ml, a 0.4-0.6 reducing power and an 88.3-93.9% metal chelating activity at a dose level of 8 mg/ml of extract. Thus, these Piper species can play a role in the modulation of free radical induced disorders.","PeriodicalId":73776,"journal":{"name":"Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy","volume":"7 1","pages":"49 - 64"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/J157v07n02_04","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60735235","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":"Elemental Characterization of Trifala Powders and Tablets by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis, Thermal Analysis and Spectral Studies of Gallic Acid","authors":"R. Choudhury, A. Kumar, A. N. Garg","doi":"10.1080/J157v07n02_02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/J157v07n02_02","url":null,"abstract":"Trifala is one of the most popular herbal formulations, marketed either as powder or a tablet and is used in all parts of India. It is an effective laxative, antioxidant, anticancer and antidiabetic agent, and is used to refresh the eyes. In order to understand the therapeutic uses of trifala, the powder and tablet forms from Zandu Pharmaceuticals, Mumbai, were analyzed for six minor (Na, K, Mg, Ca, Cl and P) and 23 trace (AI, Ba, Br, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Eu, Hf, Hg, La, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Th, V and Zn) elements. The elements were determined by employing instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). A comparison of the elemental contents in the powder and tablets showed wide variations. The powder was rich in Cr, Fe, Se and Zn, whereas the tablet contained a four-fold higher Mn compared to the powder. Column and thin layer chromatography (TLC) in ethyl acetate/methanol (7:3) were used for the separation of gallic acid in ethanolic extract. It was further confirmed by elemental analysis and spectral methods and quantitatively estimated to the extent of −2%. Thermogravimetric decomposition studies show a three stage process, first a slow process with −20% wt loss at temperatures up to 200°C followed by a fast process losing another 30-35% wt at ∼300°C for both the powder and tablets. At 700°C metal oxide residue of 7.5 and −16% were left for powder and tablets, respectively.","PeriodicalId":73776,"journal":{"name":"Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy","volume":"7 1","pages":"15 - 29"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/J157v07n02_02","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60735153","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}
M. Eddouks, M. Maghrani, L. Louedec, M. Haloui, J. Michel
{"title":"Antihypertensive Activity of the Aqueous Extract of Retama raetam Forssk. Leaves in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats","authors":"M. Eddouks, M. Maghrani, L. Louedec, M. Haloui, J. Michel","doi":"10.1080/J157v07n02_05","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/J157v07n02_05","url":null,"abstract":"The antihypertensive and diuretic effects of the aqueous extract of Retama raetam Forssk. (RR) leaves were studied in both normotensive (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In SHR rats, daily oral administration of RR (20 mg/kg) for three weeks exhibited a significant reduction in blood pressure. The systolic blood pressure decreased significantly from the seventh day (P<0.01) and persisted through the end of treatment (P<0.001) in SHR rats. The RR significantly enhanced the diuresis in WKY rats (P<0.001). Furthermore, oral administration of RR at a dose of 20 mg/kg produced a significant increase on urinary excretion of sodium (P<0.05), potassium (P<0.01) and chlorides (P<0.01) in SHR rats. In WKY rats, RR treatment induced a significant increase on urinary potassium elimination (P<0.05) without affecting sodium and chloride excretion. Irbesartan (Avapro(r)) 20 mg/kg (body weight), an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, was used as reference drug. No significant changes were noted in heart rate after RR treatment in SHR as well as in WKY rats. Glomerular filtration rate showed a significant increase after RR administration in WKY rats (P<0.01) and a no significant increase in SHR rats. These results suggest that oral administration of aqueous RR extract exhibited antihypertensive and diuretic effects in SHR rats and diuretic action in WKY rats.","PeriodicalId":73776,"journal":{"name":"Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy","volume":"7 1","pages":"65 - 77"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/J157v07n02_05","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60735262","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":"Echinacea","authors":"Michael Tierra","doi":"10.1080/J157v07n02_06","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/J157v07n02_06","url":null,"abstract":"Echinacea is one of the most popular herbs in modern Europe and United States marketplaces. Unfortunately, most of the Echinacea consumed is misused, based on its misrepresentation as an effective cold and flu remedy. Throughout the later part of the nineteenth century and the first thirty years of the twentieth century, Echinacea was the preferred treatment for infections. The introduction of antibiotics resulted in the eclipse of Echinacea, along with the professional medical doctors, known as the “Eclectics,” who based their treatment on the use of herbs.","PeriodicalId":73776,"journal":{"name":"Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy","volume":"7 1","pages":"79 - 89"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/J157v07n02_06","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60735307","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}
G. Aragão, M. C. Pinheiro, P. Bandeira, T. L. Lemos, G. Viana
{"title":"Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Isomeric Mixture of Alpha- and Beta-Amyrin from Protium heptaphyllum(Aubl.) March","authors":"G. Aragão, M. C. Pinheiro, P. Bandeira, T. L. Lemos, G. Viana","doi":"10.1080/J157v07n02_03","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/J157v07n02_03","url":null,"abstract":"In the present work, we demonsteated that the mixture of alpha- and beta-amyrin (AMI) from Protium heptaphyllum has anti-nociceptive activity as was evident from the writhing and formalin tests in mice. AMI (10 and 50 mg/kg, i.p.) inhibited writhing in 73 and 94%, respectively, while preferentially inhibiting the 2nd phase of the response (37 and 51; and 60 and 73% inhibitions of the 1st and 2nd phases, respectively) to the formalin test. Naloxone, an opioid antagonist, did not reverse the antinociceptive effect. AMI (50 mg/kg, i.p.) was also active in the hot plate test, increasing the reaction time to thermal stimulus after 30 and 60 min, by 62 and 71%, respectively. A preventive antiedematogenic effect was observed in mice that had a carrageenan-in-duced paw edema. Paw volume was significantly and dose-dependently decreased by 39,42 and 53%, three hours after administration of 10, 25 and 50 mg/kg doses, i.p., respectively. AMI (25 and 50 mg/kg, i.p.) was also able to reverse the edema already induced by carrageenan (curative effect). AMI (10 and 25 mg/kg, i.p.) was equally effective in the dex-tran-induced paw edema (preventive effect), reducing the paw volume by 50 and 60% at the 2nd hour, and by 63 and 73% at the third hour post-dose. AMI (50 mg/kg, i.p.) reverted the edema already formed after the dextran injection (curative effect). In conclusion, AMI demonstrated peripheral and central analgesic effects independent of the opioid system, and also showed a potent anti-inflammatory activity. The anti-inflammatory activity was potentiated by both indomethacin and thalid-omide, suggesting a potential involvement of prostaglandins and TNF-alpha inhibitions.","PeriodicalId":73776,"journal":{"name":"Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy","volume":"7 1","pages":"31 - 47"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/J157v07n02_03","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"60735217","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}
Anju Puri, Tanvir Khaliq, S M Rajendran, Geetika Bhatia, Ramesh Chandra, Tadigoppula Narender
{"title":"Antidyslipidemic activity of Indigofera tinctoria.","authors":"Anju Puri, Tanvir Khaliq, S M Rajendran, Geetika Bhatia, Ramesh Chandra, Tadigoppula Narender","doi":"10.1300/j157v07n01_05","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1300/j157v07n01_05","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Indigofera tinctoria is a perennial shrub, which belongs to the family Papilionaceae. As a part of our drug discovery program we have investigated the antidyslipidemic activity of the alcoholic extract from Indigofera tinctoria as well as its three other components, that is, chloroform, butanol and aqueous fractions in dyslipidemic hamsters that were fed a high fat diet. The chloroform fraction showed a significant decrease in the plasma triglycerides (TG, 52%) (P < 0.001), total cholesterol (TC, 29%) (P < 0.05), glycerol (Gly, 24%) and free fatty acids (FFA, 14%). This decrease was also accompanied by an increase in high density lipoproteins (HDL) by 9% and an increased HDL-C/TC ratio of 52% at the dose of 250 mg/kg of body weight.</p>","PeriodicalId":73776,"journal":{"name":"Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy","volume":"7 1","pages":"59-64"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26799371","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":"Elemental characterization of trifala powders and tablets by instrumental neutron activation analysis, thermal analysis and spectral studies of gallic acid.","authors":"R Paul Choudhury, A Kumar, A N Garg","doi":"10.1300/j157v07n02_02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1300/j157v07n02_02","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Trifala is one of the most popular herbal formulations, marketed either as powder or a tablet and is used in all parts of India. It is an effective laxative, antioxidant, anticancer and antidiabetic agent, and is used to refresh the eyes. In order to understand the therapeutic uses of trifala, the powder and tablet forms from Zandu Pharmaceuticals, Mumbai, were analyzed for six minor (Na, K, Mg, Ca, Cl and P) and 23 trace (Al, Ba, Br, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Eu, Hf, Hg, La, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Th, V and Zn) elements. The elements were determined by employing instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). A comparison of the elemental contents in the powder and tablets showed wide variations. The powder was rich in Cr, Fe, Se and Zn, whereas the tablet contained a four-fold higher Mn compared to the powder. Column and thin layer chromatography (TLC) in ethyl acetate/methanol (7:3) were used for the separation of gallic acid in ethanolic extract. It was further confirmed by elemental analysis and spectral methods and quantitatively estimated to the extent of approximately 2%. Thermogravimetric decomposition studies show a three stage process, first a slow process with approximately 20% wt loss at temperatures up to 200 degrees C followed by a fast process losing another 30-35% wt at approximately 300 degrees C for both the powder and tablets. At 700 degrees C metal oxide residue of 7.5 and approximately 16% were left for powder and tablets, respectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":73776,"journal":{"name":"Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy","volume":"7 2","pages":"15-29"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27274022","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}