BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies最新文献

{"title":"Inhibitory effects of the flavonoids extracted from Pollen Typhae on palmitic acid-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages involving AMPK-mediated lipid metabolism.","authors":"Wei Ren, Yushan Yang, Huiming Duan, Wei Nong, Aihua Tang, Hongsheng Lin, Lu Li, Chunling Wang, Xiaotao Feng","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05024-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-05024-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pollen Typhae (PT), a traditional Chinese medicine herb utilized in diabetes management, exerts anti-inflammatory effects through its flavonoids, yet the active constituents and mechanisms remain unclear.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>PT total flavone (PTF) was extracted from PT and identified the compounds by UHPLC-MS. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to predict the underlying targets and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of PTF. The prediction was validated in RAW264.7 macrophages. IL-1β and IL-18 in culture supernatants were analyzed by ELISA. The protein and gene expression were checked by western blotting and Real-time PCR, respectively. Intracellular ROS production was detected by DCFH-DA method. Intracellular lipids were analyzed by ELISA and Enzyme assay. The Caspase-1 activity was evaluated by bioluminescent method.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>PTF was identified 47 flavonoid compounds, including typhaneoside (TYP). Network pharmacology and molecular docking indicated that the flavonoid compounds might regulate inflammatory response, fatty acid metabolism, and the NOD-like receptor, AMPK pathways. PTF and TYP inhibited palmitic acid (PA)-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation in lipopolysaccharide-primed RAW264.7 macrophages, leading to decreased secretion of IL-1β and IL-18. Furthermore, PTF and TYP improved intracellular lipid metabolism in PA-induced macrophages, indicating decreased free fatty acid and triglyceride contents, reduced protein expression of CD36, PPARγ, FAS, DGAT1, and CPT-1, as well as declined ROS with increased ATP production. Additionally, PTF and TYP increased the p-AMPK/AMPK ratio and upstream p-LKB1/LKB ratio. Activated AMPK, in turn, ameliorated lipid metabolism dysfunction, thus abolishing PA-induced ROS production and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Antioxidant and improving lipid metabolism by suppressing ACC also inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation, respectively. Importantly, AMPK inhibition attenuated or abolished the inhibitory effects of PTF or TYP on ROS production, IL-1β and IL-18 secretion, and Caspase-1 activity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings highlight the ability of PTF and its active component TYP to inhibit PA-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages involving AMPK-mediated lipid metabolism, implying the potential use of PT flavonoid compounds as anti-diabetic inflammation lead compounds.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"315"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12392613/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144942426","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trends and patterns of complementary and alternative medicine use among cancer patients in Jordan: a decade comparison.","authors":"Nedal Al-Rawashdeh, Mohammad Alqudimat, Ibrahim Alananzeh, Nour Kasasbeh, Khawlah Ammar, Amal Al-Omari","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05065-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-05065-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) encompasses healthcare practices beyond conventional medical care. Despite advancements in oncology treatment, CAM use remains prevalent among patients with cancer. In Jordan, while CAM usage is common, particularly involving herbalists and spiritual healers, data on its patterns among patients with cancer are limited. This study compared CAM use among cancer patients in Jordan between 2013 and 2022, aiming to identify changing trends, associated factors, and implications for clinical practice and patient education.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional survey was administered to adult cancer patients in Jordan in 2013 and 2022. In 2013, participants were recruited from four facilities, including the King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC), whereas in 2022, recruitment was exclusively at KHCC. Patients completed a validated semi-structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic information, CAM usage patterns, communication with healthcare providers, and perceptions of CAM.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of CAM use has decreased from 49.4% (n = 400) in 2013 to 32.8% (n = 124) in 2022. Natural health products such as herbs, vitamins, and special foods remained the most commonly used CAM therapies in both surveys. Despite the overall decrease in CAM usage, the frequency among users increased, with daily use reported by 65.9% in 2022 compared to 55.3% in 2013. The perceived benefits of CAM have significantly declined from 86.6% in 2013 to 31.9% in 2022. Communication about CAM use with healthcare providers remains low, although it slightly improves from 35.2% in 2013 to 46.3% in 2022. In 2013, younger age at diagnosis and treatment completion were independently associated with higher CAM use. In contrast, 2022 data identified lack of health insurance as the sole independent predictor of CAM use (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 1.820, 95% CI: 1.007-3.289).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Over the past decade, CAM use among Jordanian patients with cancer has significantly decreased, although current users engage more intensively. The decline in perceived benefits and the persistent communication gap with healthcare providers underscores the necessity for educational programs targeting both patients and clinicians. Such interventions could enhance dialogue regarding CAM, ensure safer integration with conventional treatments, and potentially improve patient outcomes by preventing harmful interactions.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"314"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12379488/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144942603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The clinical efficacy of auricular acupuncture in the treatment of frequent episodic tension-type headache: a single-blind randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Xiaxia Jin, Ziwen Xu, Tao Gao, Gaofeng Wang, Wendi Dong, Junyi Jin, Yongmei Yan","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05063-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-05063-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Frequent episodic tension-type headache (FETTH) is a significant public-health concern. Scientific research has demonstrated that acupuncture can improve the clinical symptoms of FETTH.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of auricular acupuncture and sham acupuncture in treating FETTH.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a randomized controlled trial. Participants with FETTH were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive auricular acupuncture or sham acupuncture for 4 weeks, with follow-up lasting for up to 24 weeks. The primary outcomes were measured using the headache index and visual analog scale (VAS) score. Secondary outcomes included the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score, Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) score, blood flow velocity in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) (V_ACA, V_MCA, and V_PCA, respectively), and the usage of acute headache medications. Adverse events were also recorded to assess safety.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with the sham acupuncture group, the auricular acupuncture group showed significant improvements in VAS score (2 (1.25, 2) vs. 3 (2, 3.5) at 24 h, P < 0.001; 2 (1.25, 2) vs. 2 (2, 3) at the 2nd week, P = 0.004; 2 (1, 2) vs. 2 (1.5, 3) at the 4th week, P = 0.015), headache index (4 (2, 7) vs. 7 (4, 9) at the 4th week, P = 0.016), HAMA score (11.69 ± 2.70) vs. (14.24 ± 3.20) at the 4th week, P < 0.001; (9.83 ± 2.71) vs. (11.95 ± 2.59) at the 8th week, P = 0.001; (9.67 ± 2.65) vs. (11.76 ± 3.00) at the 24th week, P = 0.002), HAMD score ((14.25 ± 2.68) vs. (15.89 ± 3.48) at the 4th week, P = 0.027,) V_ACA (85.5 (85, 86) vs. 83 (83, 84) at the 4th week, P < 0.001), V_PCA (82 (81, 83) vs. 78 (77, 79) at the 4th week, P < 0.001), and usage of acute headache medications (8 (7, 10) vs. 9 (8, 11) at the 4th week, P = 0.030). The incidence of adverse events was similar between the two groups (P = 1.000).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study found that auricular acupuncture effectively improved the clinical symptoms of FETTH and had relatively fewer side effects.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>The study was retrospectively registered in the International Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Registry (ITMCTR2025000363) on January 20, 2025.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"311"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12369207/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144942618","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel comprehensive strategy for research on wine-processed mechanism of corni fructus guided by variation in the chemical components and network analysis.","authors":"Shilin Sun, Yuping Chen, Yu Zhang, Yukun Niu, Mengxin Yang, Xinming Jia, Yiqin Song, Qingwei Dong, Xin Qi, Jiahui Ma, Qian Zhang, Yiran Jin, Yingfeng Du","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05046-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-05046-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Corni Fructus, a plant with both medicinal and edible properties, is renowned for its aromatic flavor and hepatoprotective and renoprotective effects, offering significant nutritional value and broad application potential. Wine-processed Corni Fructus (WCF) is a primary processed form of Corni Fructus, widely utilized in food supplements. Traditional Chinese medicine suggests that wine-processing enhances its hepatoprotective and renoprotective properties, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>In this study, a novel comprehensive strategy guided by variation in the chemical components and differences in biological activities was developed to explore the wine-processing mechanisms.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Firstly, the chemical constituents in vitro and in vivo were identified by liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Furthermore, chemometric analysis was applied to investigate the chemical characteristics in the samples with different processing methods. The possible molecular mechanism differences were unraveled by network pharmacology.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 53 and 61 components were identified in vitro of crude Corni Fructus (CCF) and WCF, respectively. In addition, 39 and 43 components were detected in rats' serum after CCF and WCF administered by gavage. Ten common targets were identified as key targets for the therapeutic effects of CCF and WCF on Chronic kidney diseases (CKD). The network analysis showed that 23 components in WCF may be the active substances that make it more effective than CCF for treating CKD.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study provides a theoretical basis for the pharmacological substances of WCF and CCF and gives insights into comparing their pharmacological differences. It further investigates the mechanisms underlying different processing techniques of Corni Fructus, supporting further exploration of its potential in CKD management.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial number: </strong>Not applicable.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"312"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12369163/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144942419","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of the efficacy of aromatherapy and complementary yoga on indicators of medication regimen complexity: A retrospective study.","authors":"Megumi H Yahara, Toshiko Sakamoto, Kazuhisa Maeda, Atsushi Kinoshita, Kenji Ikeda","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05041-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12906-025-05041-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In Japan, with aging population, there is a growing emphasis on community-based integrated care system, focusing on supporting healthy lifestyles and promoting prevention in medicine, nursing care, and welfare. Meanwhile, the U.S. is witnessing the widespread implementation of healthcare incorporating the concept of integrative health (IH), which combines evidence-based complementary approaches with conventional healthcare approaches. In this study, the focus was on aromatherapy and yoga, both of which were expected to have a positive effect on patients as complementary approaches. The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of the complementary approaches on pharmacotherapy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study was a single-facility, retrospective observational study. This study was conducted from March 3, 2022, to March 31, 2024. The data extraction of the patients was performed at the Maeda Clinic, and the analysis was performed at the collaborating institutions. Participants were enrolled, aged ≥ 20 years, who sought aromatherapy or yoga for 6-month. The primary endpoint was the MRCI-J score, which quantified the effect of variations in prescription drugs dosage form and usage before and after 6 months. The secondary endpoints were age, number of complementary approaches, number of clinic visits, change and rate of change in the number of prescription drugs, number of prescription drugs, and change and rate of change in the MRCI-J score, when grouped according to the increase in the MRCI-J score.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>96 participants met the eligibility criteria. After 6 months, the complementary approaches were performed more frequently in the non-increased MRCI-J score group than in the increased MRCI-J score group (8.0 ± 5.8 vs. 5.3 ± 4.1; p < 0.01). The rate of change in the number of prescription drugs was significantly higher in the increased MRCI-J score group than in the non-increased MRCI-J score group (1.5 ± 0.77 vs.0.89 ± 0.18; p < 0.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study determined patient profiles receiving complementary approaches, and changes in prescription drugs. The frequency of complementary approaches might have affected the changes in prescription.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"310"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12366082/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144882039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potential clinical relevance of Buchholzia coriacea: in vitro antimicrobial characteristics of the methanol leaf extract.","authors":"Xiyao Feng, Chinonyerem O Iheanacho","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05057-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12906-025-05057-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Buchholzia coriacea is acclaimed to be efficacious in several microbial infections and traditionally used for the treatment of diarrhoea and respiratory infections, among others, thereby, raising its potential relevance in the search for new antimicrobial agents. This study evaluated the phytochemical constituents, in-vitro antimicrobial activities and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the methanol leaf extract of B. coriacea at lower concentrations in comparison with standard drugs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The leaves of B. coriacea were harvested, air-dried, pulverized and extracted exhaustively by cold maceration using methanol. Using agar-well diffusion method, antimicrobial screening was done at various concentrations (ranging between 11.9 mg/ml and 190 mg/ml), after phytochemical screening of the dried extract. Further, antimicrobial effects of the extract on test organisms - Klebsiella spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans, were compared to ciprofloxacin and gentamicin.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Tannins, saponins, cardenolides, terpenoids and reducing sugars were present in the extract. Klebsiella spp (0-24 mm) had the highest inhibition zone diametre for the extract, while E. coli (2-20 mm), and C. albican (2-11 mm) were most sensitive at much lower concentration, and no inhibitory effect was observed against Bacillus subtilis (0-0 mm). The MIC was lowest for Klebsiella spp (12.59 mg/ml) and S. aureus (12.59 mg/ml), while E.coli had higher MIC (15.85 mg/ml). Ciprofloxacin and gentamycin had significantly (P < 0.001) lower MIC than the extract for the test organisms.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The methanol leaf extract of B. coriacea comprised several phytochemicals at various concentrations and exhibited appreciable concentration-dependent antimicrobial activities. However, ciprofloxacin and gentamycin showed activity against the test bacteria at significantly lower concentrations than the extract. Nonetheless, the methanol leaf extract of B. coriacea having shown a relatively modest broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, may be further evaluated for potential pharmaceutical formulations.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"309"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12366012/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144882040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy and safety of Qingbu Weijing decoction in treatment stable bronchiectasis: study protocol for a multicenter, double- blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial.","authors":"Jin-Zhi Zhang, Sha-Sha Yuan, Zhi-Shen Ruan, Shi-Xu Liu, Bing Wang, Qing Miao","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05035-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12906-025-05035-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Bronchiectasis is characterized by persistent cough, excessive sputum production, and recurrent infections. Chronic cough and sputum are the primary manifestations of airway mucus hypersecretion, which leads to frequent acute exacerbations and severely impairs quality of life. Qingbu Weijing Decoction (QWD) has shown promising evidence for improving sputum production and reducing the inflammatory burden. Previous clinical studies suggest its potential to improve mucus hypersecretion and prevent future acute exacerbations. This trial aims to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of QWD in managing Stable bronchiectasis with airway mucus hypersecretion.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial is designed to enroll 108 patients with stable bronchiectasis across six centers. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either QWD or a placebo in a 2:1 ratio, with a 24-week intervention period followed by 24 weeks of follow-up phase. The primary outcome is the number of acute exacerbations. Secondary outcomes include the time to first acute exacerbation, 24-hour sputum volume, pulmonary function test, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale scores, quality of life-bronchiectasis scores, mucin levels (Mucin 5AC, Mucin 5B, Mucin 2, Mucin 4), airway flora diversity, and levels of inflammatory markers such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and neutrophil elastase. Safety metrics and adverse events will be meticulously monitored.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This trial will provide research methods to evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety, and the possible mechanism of QWD in the treatment of stable bronchiectasis patients. In addition, we hope to provide more possibilities for TCM to participate in the management of stable bronchiectasis.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial registration: </strong>China Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2400085606. Registered on 13 June 2024, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=230513 .</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"305"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12355870/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144854509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Urtica dioica leaf infusion enhances cisplatin-induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells in vitro.","authors":"Perla Nafeh, Guy Nafeh, Maria Younes, Ahlam Chaaban, Louna El Bitar, José-Noel Ibrahim, Philippe H Kobeissy, Sandra Rizk","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05053-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12906-025-05053-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Urtica Dioica (UD) or stinging nettle has been widely used for its therapeutic benefits and biological activities. Recent studies have reported its beneficial effect in treating cancer, most importantly when combined with chemotherapeutic drugs. To our knowledge, no studies investigated the potential effect of UD to enhance the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin. In this study we aim to investigate whether this combination might possess anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and anti-metastatic properties on one of the most aggressive ovarian cancer cell lines, SKOV-3 cells, in vitro. To elucidate its therapeutic values, cytotoxicity and DNA fragmentation assays were performed along with cell cycle and apoptosis assays using flow cytometry, RT-qPCR, and western blot analysis. Additionally, wound healing and trans-well migration assays were used to study the effect of this combination on the motility of ovarian cancer cells. Results showed that the combination of nettle extract and cisplatin significantly decreased the proliferation of SKOV-3 cells in a dose and time-dependent manner compared to each treatment alone by inducing cellular death as revealed by major apoptotic markers including phosphatidylserine translocation to the outer membrane leaflet, DNA fragmentation, and the upregulation of cleaved PARP protein. Further evaluation verified the activation of extrinsic apoptosis via the caspase-dependent pathway as demonstrated by the upregulated expression levels of caspases 3 and 8. Finally, the combination of nettle tea and cisplatin showed an inhibitory effect on the motility and migratory capacities of SKOV-3 cells. As a result, Urtica Dioica leaf infusion was found effective in enhancing cisplatin-induced apoptosis while inhibiting the tumor progression of one of the most aggressive ovarian cancer cells in vitro.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"304"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12351894/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144844401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of warm saltwater and warm water baths on pain, fatigue, sleep quality, and functional capacity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized controlled study^✰.","authors":"Okşan Aktaş, Ayşe Arikan Dönmez, Sevgisun Kapucu, Muhammet Çinar","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05050-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12906-025-05050-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pain, fatigue, poor sleep quality and functional capacity are the most common symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Complementary and integrative methods to be applied by nurses can be an essential strategy in successfully managing these symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of warm salt water and warm water baths applied to the hands and feet on pain, fatigue, sleep quality and functional capacity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This three-arm and prospective randomized controlled study fifty-four patients were randomly assigned to three groups (warm salt water: 18; warm water: 18; control: 18). Data were collected using the Visual Analog Scale, Bristol Rheumatoid Arthritis Fatigue Multidimensional Questionnaire, Disease Activity Score 28, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Health Assessment Questionnaire. The intervention groups received warm saltwater or warm water hand-foot baths for six weeks. In all three groups, the measurements were taken at the beginning of the study and at the end of the last bathing sessions. Data were analyzed with chi-square test, one-way ANOVA, paired sample t-test, and two-way mixed ANOVA with Bonferroni's test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two-way mixed ANOVA revealed significant Group × Time interactions for pain (F = 9.736, p < 0.001, η² = 0.249), fatigue (F = 4.323, p = 0.013, η² = 0.158), and fatigue-related quality of life (F = 3.350, p = 0.043, η² = 0.116). Bonferroni post-hoc analyses indicated that both interventions (warm salt water and warm water) led to significant improvements in pain, fatigue, and sleep quality scores compared to the control group (p < 0.05), Notably, the most significant improvement in pain was observed in the warm saltwater group, while the most pronounced reductions in fatigue and fatigue-related quality of life were observed in the warm water group (p < 0.05). Although significant within-group improvements were observed in both intervention groups for sleep quality and only in the warm saltwater group for functional capacity (p < 0.05), no significant Group × Time interactions were found for either outcome (p > 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings of this study confirmed that warm saltwater and warm water baths applied to the hands and feet improved pain, fatigue, and sleep quality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, warm saltwater baths significantly improved functional capacity. These interventions may serve as safe, accessible, and effective complementary methods for symptom management.</p><p><strong>Registration: </strong>Retrospectively registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov (Ref. No: NCT05888220). (Registration Date: 24 May 2023).</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"302"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12341244/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144820567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effects of Songling Xuemaikang capsule on vascular remodeling of stage 1 hypertension: a multicenter, randomized placebo-controlled trial protocol.","authors":"Qiyu Liu, Linghua Yu, Zenan Zhang, Zhixun Zhuang, Wende Tian, Anlu Wang, Hao Xu","doi":"10.1186/s12906-025-05038-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12906-025-05038-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Vascular remodeling (VR), such as arterial stiffness and atherosclerosis (AS), is general pathological characters in the progression of hypertension. It is urgent to develop therapeutic strategies for VR in the progression of hypertension. Songling Xuemaikang capsule (SXC), a Chinese patent medicine, has been preliminarily demonstrated the benefits of lowering blood pressure (BP) and associated hypertensive symptoms. We further investigate the efficacy of SXC in treating the early stages of stage 1 hypertension and the mechanism among SXC, BP and VR.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study is designed as a prospective, multicenter, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. One hundred eligible patients with stage 1 hypertension will be randomly allocated 1:1 into the SXC or placebo treatment for 12 weeks. All individuals were required to follow a healthy lifestyle checklist throughout the process. The primary endpoint is 24-hour ambulatory systolic BP. Secondary endpoints include brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, skin capillary density, 24-h ambulatory diastolic BP, daytime and nighttime average BP, and other efficacy indicators. The gut microbiome-metabolome profile was analyzed to explore therapeutic mechanisms.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study will determine the clinical efficacy of SXC on stage 1 hypertension and obtain the possible therapeutic mechanism of SXC on BP and VR, supporting the evidence for traditional Chinese medicine intervention in the development of hypertension.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (no. NCT06093932) on October 23, 2023.</p>","PeriodicalId":9128,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies","volume":"25 1","pages":"300"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12329897/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144793455","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}