Evid Based Complement Alternat Med
· 2024 · PMID 39376573
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While incredible medical advancements in chemotherapeutics development for cancer treatment have been made, the majority of these are not selective in their mechanism of action, leading to adverse effects. Given the syst...While incredible medical advancements in chemotherapeutics development for cancer treatment have been made, the majority of these are not selective in their mechanism of action, leading to adverse effects. Given the systemic toxicity associated with these therapies, they are not well suited for long-term use. Natural health products, or NHPs, may provide a way to selectively target the oxidative and metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer cells. White tea () and rosemary () are two natural extracts that have been studied extensively for their medicinal properties. However, their anticancer activity and mechanism of action are yet to be fully elucidated. We have examined the extracts' cancer cell-killing ability as well as their interactions with common chemotherapeutics in MDA-MB-231 cells, a triple-negative breast cancer cell line, . Cell death measurement, morphological and biochemical characterization of apoptotic cell death, mechanisms of action (mitochondrial depolarization and oxidative stress), and immunofluorescence assays to estimate the percentage of cancer stem cells (CSCs) were performed following treatment with Synthite tea extract (STE) and rosemary extract (RE), provided by Synthite Industries Limited alone and in combination with cisplatin and paclitaxel. The key findings in this study are that STE and RE alone demonstrated very efficient anticancer activity against TNBC, and more importantly, the administration of the extracts in conjunction with cisplatin and paclitaxel sensitizes cancer cells to achieve enhanced cell death. In addition, CSCs were found to be sensitive to treatment with STE alone and in combination with RE and exhibited greater sensitivity to combination therapies compared to chemotherapeutic alone. The significance of these observations is that STE and RE, well-tolerated NHPs, have the potential to enhance the efficacy of current chemotherapeutics when combined, as well as prevent relapse for TNBC.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med
· 2024 · PMID 39263346
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BACKGROUND: Asthma is a common disease with rising prevalence worldwide, especially in industrialized countries. Current asthma therapy with traditional medicines lacks satisfactory success, hence the patients' search fo...BACKGROUND: Asthma is a common disease with rising prevalence worldwide, especially in industrialized countries. Current asthma therapy with traditional medicines lacks satisfactory success, hence the patients' search for alternative and complementary treatments for their diseases. Researchers have conducted many studies on plants with antiallergic and antiasthmatic effects in recent decades. Many of these plants are now used in clinics, and searching for their mechanism of action may result in creating new ideas for producing more effective drugs. PURPOSE: The goal of this review was to provide a compilation of the findings on plants and their active agents with experimentally confirmed antiasthmatic effects. . A literature search was conducted from 1986 to November 2023 in Scopus, Springer Link, EMBASE, Science Direct, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science to identify and report the accumulated knowledge on herbs and their compounds that may be effective in asthma treatment. RESULTS: The results revealed that 58 plants and 32 herbal extracted compounds had antiasthmatic activity. Also, 32 plants were shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects or may act as bronchodilators and potentially have antiasthmatic effects, which must be investigated in future studies. CONCLUSION: The ability of herbal medicine to improve asthma symptoms has been confirmed by clinical and preclinical studies, and such compounds may be used as a source for developing new antiasthmatic drugs. Moreover, this review suggests that many bioactive compounds have therapeutic potential against asthma.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med
· 2024 · PMID 39263345
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Depression, a global cause of disability and premature death, is often treated by traditional healers in Africa using medicinal herbs such as (L.). With recent pharmacological studies showing the potential antidepressan...Depression, a global cause of disability and premature death, is often treated by traditional healers in Africa using medicinal herbs such as (L.). With recent pharmacological studies showing the potential antidepressant properties of extract, this study aimed to evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of the compound(s) isolated from extract using the forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) models predictive of depression. The extracts, administered orally within a dose range of 100-400 mg/kg, notably decreased the immobility time in both the FST and the TST. The most significant reduction occurred at the highest dose of 400 mg/kg, with a decrease of 117.66 s in FST and 53.5 s in TST. However, this reduction in immobility was not linked to changes in movements, as observed in an open-field test (OFT), suggesting that the effect of the extracts was not due to activation of locomotion. Subsequently, a sesquiterpene lactone, dehydrocostus lactone () was isolated through solubility-based fractionation and column chromatography of the active root bark extract of . Dehydrocostus lactone (400 mg/kg) demonstrated a 46.50 s reduction in immobility time in the FST, which was comparable to the positive control, imipramine (30 mg/kg). With a highly favorable docking score of -8.365 kcal/mol on an antidepressant target, monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A; pdb ID: 2BXS), dehydrocostus lactone () potentially outperforms the standard MAO-A inhibitor drug, isocarboxazid (-5.847 kcal/mol). Dehydrocostus lactone () displayed strong interactions involving hydrogen bond and hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions with specific MAO-A binding site residues. These findings highlight that the antidepressant-like activity of is partly attributed to the presence of dehydrocostus lactone. Additionally, it also supports the traditional medicinal use of the plant for treating depression.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med
· 2024 · PMID 39145043
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The present study evaluates the human health risk of metals in locally consumed herbal preparations used to treat diabetes. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was used after microwave-assisted digestion to mineralize t...The present study evaluates the human health risk of metals in locally consumed herbal preparations used to treat diabetes. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was used after microwave-assisted digestion to mineralize the samples. Toxic metal assessment was done by adopting mathematical modeling for carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks in the exposed population and comparing the raw results with maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by regulatory authorities. Hazard quotient (HQ) values for Fe, Hg, Cu, Pb, and Zn were recorded above 1. Noncarcinogenic health risks remain in 29% of samples for Fe, 67% of samples for Hg, 17% of samples for Cu, 33% of samples for Pb, and 4% of samples for Zn. Hazard index (HI) values in 33% of samples were above 1. Carcinogenic risks for Pb, Cr, Cd, and Ni were higher than the acceptable limit (1 × 10). Carcinogenic health risks exist in 54% of samples for Pb, 58% of samples for Cr, 46% of samples for Cd, and 58% of samples for Ni. MRLs for metals were crossed in samples in varying degrees. This is a harrowing account and may put public health safety at risk. Considering these facts, there should be more investigation into toxic metals in other frequently marketed herbal drugs in the antidiabetic and other therapeutic classes. Pre- and postmarket monitoring strategies for the preparations should also be in place to ensure safe consumption.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med
· 2024 · PMID 39035348
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BACKGROUND: Diarrhea is the common gastrointestinal disorder accounting for 2.5 billion episodes and 1.5 million deaths annually. Limitations and inaccessibility of currently available medications are the main problem as...BACKGROUND: Diarrhea is the common gastrointestinal disorder accounting for 2.5 billion episodes and 1.5 million deaths annually. Limitations and inaccessibility of currently available medications are the main problem associated with treatment of diarrhea. Hence, medicinal plants are usually preferred to manage diarrhea because they may contain constituents with high activity and fewer side effects. Even though the dose, safety, and efficacy of (L.) Schott are not substantiated scientifically, several societies use it for the treatment of diarrhea. OBJECTIVE: This study was targeted at exploring the in vivo antidiarrheal activities of 80% methanol extract and solvent fractions of peels of (L.) Schott in Swiss albino mice. METHODS: The plant was collected and extracted with 80% methanol, followed by fractionation with distilled water, chloroform, and diethyl ether. Castor oil-induced diarrhea, enteropooling, and motility tests were used to evaluate antidiarrheal activity. The test groups received graded doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg. Negative controls received 10 ml/kg of 2% Tween 80 while positive controls received loperamide (3 mg/kg) or atropine (5 mg/kg). RESULTS: The crude and solvent fractions of the plant extract have induced significant effects in reduction of the number and weight of wet stools at all tested doses. However, delay in onset of diarrhea was observed only at 400 mg/kg ( < 0.001) for both crude extract and solvent fractions. In antienteropooling test, 80% methanol extract and solvent fractions have significantly reduced the weight and volume of intestinal contents, especially at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg. Regarding the antimotility test, the crude extract reduced motility at all tested doses, whereas the solvent fractions reduced intestinal motility mainly at 400 mg/kg ( < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The study has revealed that the 80% methanol extract and solvent fractions of the plant possess antidiarrheal activities supporting the traditional antidiarrheal claims of the plant.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med
· 2024 · PMID 38962017
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Malaria control efforts through vector control strategies are hindered by the development of insecticide resistance by major malaria vectors in many malaria-endemic areas, which necessitate the need for alternative contr...Malaria control efforts through vector control strategies are hindered by the development of insecticide resistance by major malaria vectors in many malaria-endemic areas, which necessitate the need for alternative control measures. The aim of this study was to document plants traditionally used as mosquito repellents in Seweyna district, southeastern Ethiopia. The ethnobotanical data were collected using semistructured interviews, field observation, and guided field walks in four kebeles of the district with 98 informants. A total of 19 plant species were used by the local community as mosquito repellent, with 42.1% being trees. These plant species belong to 12 families. Of these families, the family Burseraceae was the most represented, with four species, followed by Fabaceae (3 species). The most frequently mentioned plant species were (90.81%), followed by (84.69%), (79.6%), and (79.6%). The stem was the most common plant part used (47.3%) to repel mosquitoes. Most of the local communities (52.6%) use the burning of either fresh or dry plant parts to generate smoke, which is the most common practice. The current ethnobotanical study indicates that the local community in the Seweyna district uses the plants to repel mosquitoes. In the future, the repellent efficacy of these plants against the major malaria vector should be tested under laboratory and field conditions. Besides, the identification of the bioactive compounds responsible for the repellent activity should also be determined.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med
· 2024 · PMID 38887601
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BACKGROUND: are the principal causative factor in the etiological factors of chronic, active, or type B gastritis; peptic and duodenal ulcers; stomach carcinoma; and epithelial tissue lymphoid malignancies. It infects m...BACKGROUND: are the principal causative factor in the etiological factors of chronic, active, or type B gastritis; peptic and duodenal ulcers; stomach carcinoma; and epithelial tissue lymphoid malignancies. It infects more than half of the population worldwide. To reduce production, pharmacological therapy of diseases typically involves using threefold treatment methods. However, as a result of such therapy, antimicrobial resistance is commonly developed. Alternative therapeutics for diseases are thus of particular interest. METHODS: Thyme essential oils (EOs) obtained from Jalas plants in Iran were tested for antibacterial activity against obtained from 320 poultry specimens in this investigation. Antibacterial activity was measured using inhibition zones, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs). The impact of Jalas essential oils on isolate , , and gene expression was evaluated using a quantitative real-time PCR method ( < 0.05). RESULTS: The chemical content of these EOs varied significantly according to chromatographic examination. Thymol, carvacrol, and terpinene-4-ol are the most abundant components in these EOs. was recognized as a species with a 175-bp PCR product of 16S rRNA in 20/20 (100%). According to PCR results, all 20 (100%) isolates belonged to . The EOs inhibited in a dose-dependent manner, with Jalas being the most effective, followed by pterygium EOs in decreasing order. At 8 mg/mL of Jalas EOs, IZs against were 27.4 ± 0.42 mm, and at 8 mg/mL of pterygium, IZs against were 1 ± 0.02. Jalas essential oils were used to treat all bacteria, and the findings showed that Jalas had a substantial inhibitory impact on the expression of , , and virulence-related genes ( < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In a dose-dependent manner, the EOs of Jalas EO demonstrated a high degree of antimicrobial property against bacteria. The most efficient EOs were those from Jalas with relative concentrations of thymol and carvacrol, followed by the coumarin-dominated pterygium EO with reduced antibacterial activity.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med
· 2024 · PMID 38746073
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This study was conducted to isolate and identify the chemical compounds from the roots of (L.) and evaluate their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. From the acetone (99.5%) extract of the roots of this plant, fo...This study was conducted to isolate and identify the chemical compounds from the roots of (L.) and evaluate their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. From the acetone (99.5%) extract of the roots of this plant, four anthraquinones, such as chrysophanol (), asphodeline (), aloesaponarin I (), and laccaic acid D-methyl ester (), and a new catechol derivative, 5-allyl-3-methoxybenzene-1,2-diol (), were isolated and elucidated by different chromatographic and spectroscopic methods together with linoleic acid (), respectively. Compounds , and were reported here for the first time from this plant and compound from the genus . The compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant activity using HO and DPPH assays and bactericidal activity against and . Compounds and showed highest antioxidant activities with IC values of 19.38 ± 0.64 and 32.81 ± 0.78 g/mL in DPPH, and 28.52 ± 1.08 and 27.31 ± 1.46 g/mL in HO, respectively. The isolated compounds also demonstrated considerable activity towards . Among these compounds, compound exhibited the highest activity (91.20 ± 0.12% and 9.14 ± 0.93 mm at 1.0 mg/mL) against this bacterium. The overall results suggest that the isolated compounds may be considered as potential sources of the bioactive agents to be used in the pharmacological, food, and other industries. Moreover, their high sensitivity against may also support the use of plant in the traditional medicine to treat wounds. Therefore, the isolated compounds are responsible for medicinal properties of this plant.