Usage In Traditional Medicine Research Articles

An Empirical Study on Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Usage among Malaysian Cancer Patients.

Usage of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) has gained popularity over the past few years. However, very little is known about TCAM use among Malaysian cancer patients. This study aimed to identify the determinants of TCAM usage among cancer patients with determination of relationships between demographic factors, patient satisfaction with conventional treatment, knowledge on TCAM and healthcare professional influence. Patient's perceptions towards TCAM were also determined. A simple random convenient sampling method was used to recruit 354 patients from Hospital Kuala Lumpur between February to April 2013. All were directly interviewed with a structured questionnaire. In this study, 172 respondents were TCAM users. There was no significant differences between demographic background of respondents in the usage of TCAM. Minimal correlation was found between patient satisfaction with the conventional treatment and usage of TCAM (r=0.091). A poor correlation was found between healthcare professional's influence and TCAM usage (r=-0.213) but the results suggested that increase in influence would decrease TCAM usage. Patient TCAM knowledge correlated negatively with the TCAM usage (r=-0.555) indicated that cancer patients are less likely to use TCAM when they have more TCAM knowledge. Healthcare professionals should be fully equipped with the necessary TCAM knowledge while maintaining patient satisfaction with the conventional treatment. They should also intervene on patient TCAM usage where a potential drug interaction or a harmful adverse event can occur.

The Use and the Prescription Pattern of Traditional Chinese Medicine Among Urolithiasis Patients in Taiwan: A Population-Based Study

To investigate the pattern of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) usage for urolithiasis patients in Taiwan and to determine the most common Chinese herbal products used for urolithiasis. Retrospective review of urolithiasis patients treated with TCM treatment. One million randomly selected samples in the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database between 1997 and 2008. Eighty-two thousand five hundred and fifty-one newly diagnosed urolithiasis patients. The correlation between TCM treatment, demographic factors, or medical conditions. A total of 62.6% of urolithiasis patients use TCM treatment. A younger age, female gender, polypharmacy, multiple comorbidities, and stone in the lower urinary tract result in a greater tendency to use TCM, after adjusting for demographic factors. Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San Extract Powder and Ji-Sheng-Shen-Qi-Wan Extract Powder are the most frequently prescribed Chinese medicine formulae. This is the first study to examine the use of and the prescription pattern for TCM in urolithiasis patients using a random, national population-based sample. More than 62% of urolithiasis patients use TCM, and patients with polypharmacy, multiple comorbidities, and stone in the ureter are more likely to use TCM. The most frequently prescribed Chinese medicine formulae were Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San Extract Powder and Ji-Sheng-Shen-Qi-Wan Extract Powder, which were reported to retard the progression of renal failure and alleviate flank pain or tenderness.

A suitable method to detect potential fraud of bringing Malayan box turtle (Cuora amboinensis) meat into the food chain

Malayan box turtle (Cuora amboinensis) has been a wildlife-protected vulnerable turtle species in Malaysia since 2005. However, because of its purported usage in traditional medicine, tonic foods and feeds, clandestine black market trade is rampant. Several polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for the taxonomic detection and classification of turtle species have been proposed. These assays are based on long-length target amplicons which are assumed to break down under compromised states and, hence, might not be suitable for the forensic tracing and tracking of turtle trafficking. For the first time this paper develops a very short-amplicon-length PCR assay (120 bp) for the detection of Malayan box turtle meat in raw, processed and mixed matrices, and experimental evidence is produced that such an assay is not only more stable and reliable but also more sensitive than those previously published. We checked the assay specificity against 20 different species and no cross-species detection was observed. The possibility of any false-negative detection was eliminated by a universal endogenous control for eukaryotes. The assay detection limit was 0.0001 ng of box turtle DNA from pure meat and 0.01% turtle meat in binary and ternary admixtures and commercial meatballs. Superior target stability and sensitivity under extreme treatments of boiling, autoclaving and microwave cooking suggested that this newly developed assay would be suitable for any forensic and/or archaeological identification of Malayan box turtle species, even in severely degraded specimens. Further, in silico studies indicated that the assay has the potential to be used as a universal probe for the detection of nine Cuora species, all of which are critically endangered.

Disease-specific differences in the use of traditional Korean medicine in Korea

BackgroundThough traditional Korean medicine plays an important role in the Korean parallel health care system, there is limited information about the preference and usage of traditional Korean medicine compared to Western medicine because they have different disease classification systems. The aim of this study is to determine the relative preference for traditional Korean medicine using data acquired nationwide.MethodsData from the 2008 Korea Health Panel were analyzed to determine the preference of medical services by disease. The use of traditional Korean medicine use is defined by the type of medical institution they used. Disease types, number of visits and out of pocket expenditures were analyzed.ResultsTraditional Korean medicine was used in only a small number of cases that were emergencies or hospitalization. However, in terms of outpatient services, traditional Korean medicine was used in 7.8% of all cases and represented 9.9% of total medical costs. Among disease groups, traditional Korean medicine use was higher in patients with nervous system and musculoskeletal system diseases. And patients with musculoskeletal and nervous system diseases such as arthrosis were the most likely to use traditional Korean medicine particularly in an outpatient setting.ConclusionsKorean characteristics of service use resemble the complementary and alternative medicine use in other countries in terms of disease group, and the complementary and alternative medicine should be considered to estimate the burden of disease in countries with parallel health care systems, such as Korea. This is the first study determined the actual preference of traditional Korean medicine for specific chronic diseases.

Evaluation of antiplasmodial activity of medicinal plants from North Indian Buchpora and South Indian Eastern Ghats.

BackgroundDevelopment of resistance against the frontline anti-malarial drugs has created an alarming situation, which requires intensive drug discovery to develop new, more effective, affordable and accessible anti-malarial agents.MethodsInspired by their ethnobotanical reputation for being effective against febrile diseases, antiplasmodial potential of ethyl acetate extracts (EAE) and methanol extracts (ME) of 17 medicinal plants collected from the Eastern Ghats of South India and Buchpora, North India were explored against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro using the SYBR Green assay. The results were validated both by confirmation that the fall in fluorescence signal was not due to quenching effects mediated by phytochemical extracts and by Giemsa-stained microscopy.ResultsUsing EAE or ME, promising antiplasmodial activity (IC50Pf3D7 ≤ 20 μg/ml), was seen in Aerva lanata (Whole aerial parts-EAE), Anisomeles malabarica (Leaf-EAE), Anogeissus latifolia (bark-EAE), Cassia alata (leaves-EAE), Glycyrrhiza glabra (root-EAE), Juglans regia (seed-ME), Psidium guajava (leaf-ME and EAE) and Solanum xanthocarpum (Whole aerial parts-EAE). EAEs from leaves of Couroupita guianensis, Euphorbia hirta, Pergularia daemia, Tinospora cordifolia and Tridax procumbens as also ME from Ricinus communis (leaf and seed) showed good antiplasmodial activity (Pf 3D7 IC50 21 - 40 μg/ml). Moderate activity (Pf 3D7 IC50: 40–60 μg/mL) was shown by the leaf EAEs of Cardiospermum halicacabum, Indigofera tinctoria and Ricinus communis while the remaining extracts showed marginal (Pf 3D7 IC50 60 to >100 μg/ml) activities. The promising extracts showed good resistance indices (0.41 – 1.4) against the chloroquine resistant INDO strain of P. falciparum and good selectivity indices (3 to > 22.2) when tested against the HeLa cell line.ConclusionThese results provide validity to the traditional medicinal usage of some of these plants and further make a case for activity-guided purification of new pharmacophores against malaria.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-015-0564-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Biological Properties and Antioxidant Activity of Hawthorn Crataegus mexicana

The traditional fruit in Mexico represent a great variety of species with nutritious properties and with a wide field of usage in traditional medicine. “Tejocote” (hawthorn) is a fruit with medicinal properties since pre-hispanic times due to its high content of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, minerals, oligomeric procianidines, triterpenes, carotenes, flavonoids, polysaccharides and catecholamines. Some of these compounds are used to treat cardiovascular diseases, as well as immune diseases and respiratory problems such as colds and cough, neurological problems, eye disease, reproductive organs disease, and in the liver and kidneys, since “tejocote” has citotoxic activity, gastro protective, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-microbian. The current review is focused on the botanical features, ethnobotanical and phytochemical of the “tejocote” from the gender Crataegus mexicana, which is the variety grown and most consumed in our country. There are very few studies concerning its contents of metabolites, its potential use as anti-oxidant and its applications in order to treat some diseases.

Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity and Phytoconstituents of the Aqueous Leaves Extract of Alchornea Cordifolia

Alchornea cordifolia Schum and Thonn. (Euphorbiaceae) is a plant widely used in traditional medicines of Ghana for the treatment of skin and other infections. This study evaluated the antibacterial properties and phytoconstituents of the aqueous leaves extract of A. cordifolia with particular reference to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) of the aqueous leaves extract of the plant were evaluated against 32 clinical isolates of MRSA and controls by the microdilution technique in Iso-sensitest broth. Growth and time-kill curves were also carried out using spectroscopy at 490 nm and viable cell counts method. Mean diameter of zones of inhibition ranged 18-30 mm of the aqueous extract of the plant were found against MRSA. MIC and MBC values ranged 1.6-3.1 mg/ml and 6.5-12.5 mg/ml of the aqueous leaves extract of A. cordifolia were found against the 32 clinical isolates of MRSA with most of the strains having MIC value of 3.1 mg/ml and MBC value of 12.5 mg/ml. Growth and time-kill curves indicate bacteriostatic activity of the plant extract on MRSA. Phytochemical analysis of the extract showed low concentrations of alkaloids and saponins but very high concentrations of tannins present in the leaves of the plant. From the results of the study, aqueous leaves extract of A. cordifolia may contain antibacterial compounds that justify its usage in traditional medicine.

Analysis of characteristics of using traditional Chinese and western medicine on type 1 diabetes adult patients based on electronic medical records

To understand the kinds and the characteristics of combination of traditional Chinese medicines and western medicines using on adults with type 1 diabetes in general hospitals,This research brings into 4 602 hospitalized adult patients with type 1 diabetes from hospital information system (HIS) of 13 third class A hospitals. These research objects were hospitalized in December 2003-July 2011. The research analyzes the operating frequency and associated usage of western medicines and traditional Chinese medicines by the method of frequency statistics and association rules. Through the analysis, the research says that in the clinical treatment of adult patients with type 1 diabetes, the western medicine used most frequently is insulin, a total of 1 539 cases, accounted for 8.47%; the traditional Chinese medicine used most frequently is oral agents of pseudo-ginseng, a total of 183 cases, accounting for 6.25%; the combinations of Chinese and western medicines commonly used include Huoxue Huayu Tongmai Shuluo decoction + vasodilator, support degree is 45.93%, followed by Huoxue Huayu Tongmai Shuluo decoction + vasodilator + hypoglycemic drugs, support degree is 45.50%; Huoxue Huayu Tongmai Shuluo decoction + vasodilator + nutritional agent, support degree is 36.29%.

Exploring the Fences Pertaining to Non Espousal of Traditional Knowledge Based Medicines at Shervaroy Hills, Eastern Ghats, India

This paper reports on an exploratory research work carried out aiming to identify the barriers in the usage of traditional medicines by the holders of the knowledge. The focus is on the usage of the traditional medicines by the homogenous people, Malayali tribe community at Shervaroy hills of Eastern Ghats. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among the tribe community of the area. Where the knowledge has been passed on from generations making the traditional medicinal knowledge strongly imbibed in their culture, the research findings divulged the reasons as to why in spite of having immense knowledge on traditional medicines these tribe community are opting for codified from of medicines. This report also explored the understanding of older generation in the context of holders of the traditional medicinal knowledge among the Malayali tribe community. The conclusion supports the implementation of existing policies stringently with recommendations so as to draw closer towards the three objectives enshrined in the Convention of Biodiversity and Biological Diversity Act, 2002. This paper contributes to the policy makers, pharmaceutical companies, non-governmental organizations and the holders of traditional medicinal knowledge so as to collaborate, in the process, protecting and promoting the traditional knowledge in medicinal plants.

An examination of the antibacterial, antifungal, anti-Giardial and anticancer properties of Kigelia africana fruit extracts

Background: Kigelia africana is a common component of the pharmacopeia's of multiple African groupings which inhabit the areas in which it grows. Amongst these groups there is a myriad of medicinal uses in the treatment of a wide variety of bacterial, fungal and protozoal infections, as well as in the treatment of cancers. This study was undertaken to test K. africana fruit extracts for the ability to inhibit microbial and cancer cell growth, and thus to validate traditional African medicinal usage of this plant in treating a variety of diseases. Materials and Methods: K. africana fruit powder was extracted and tested for antimicrobial activity using modified disc diffusion and MIC methods. Inhibitory activity against the gastrointestinal protozoal parasite Giardia duodenalis and against CaCo2 and HeLa cancer cell lines was evaluated using colorimetric cell proliferation assays. Toxicity was evaluated using an Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. Results: The methanol, water and ethyl acetate K. africana fruit extracts displayed potent antibacterial activity. The methanol and water extracts displayed the broadest specificity, inhibiting the growth of 12 of the 18 bacteria tested (67 %) and 11 of the 18 bacteria tested (61 %) respectively. The ethyl acetate extract also displayed antibacterial activity, inhibiting the growth of 4 (22 %) of the 18 bacteria tested. These extracts were approximately equally effective against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, generally inhibiting the growth of 60-70 % of the bacteria tested. The methanol, water and ethyl acetate extracts also displayed broad spectrum antifungal activity, each inhibiting the growth of 3 of the 4 fungal species tested (75 %), including an ampicillin strain of A. niger. The methanol, water and ethyl acetate extracts also inhibited between 55 and 70 % of the growth of the gastrointestinal parasite Giardia duodenalis. These extracts also proved effective at blocking the proliferation of the colorectal cancer cell line CaCo2 to between 37 and 55 % of the untreated cell growth. The methanol extract also inhibited HeLa cervical cancer cell growth, albeit to a lesser extent (81 % of the untreated control growth), whilst the chloroform and hexane extracts stimulated HeLa cell proliferation. With the exception of the water extract, all extracts were non-toxic or of low toxicity. Conclusion: These studies validate traditional African therapeutic usage of K. africana in the treatment of several bacterial, fungal and protozoal illnesses and some cancers.

A nationwide population-based study of traditional Chinese medicine usage in children in Taiwan

To characterize the application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) among pediatric patients. This study examined data sets from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Two cohorts, each with one million patients who were randomly sampled from the beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance Program from January 1 to December 31 in 2005 or 2010, were chosen for analysis. Children had at least one TCM outpatient clinical record were defined as TCM users, whereas children who had no TCM outpatient records were defined as non-TCM users. The demographic data, treatment modalities and the disease distributions of the pediatric TCM users were analyzed from two randomly sampled cohorts. Overall, 22% and 22.5% of the children used TCM in 2005 and 2010, respectively. The utilization rate of TCM increased with age. Herbal remedies were the most commonly used therapeutic approach, followed by manipulative therapy and acupuncture. There was an increasing trend of using herbal remedies (increased from 65.6% to 74.4%) and acupuncture (increase from 7.5% to 11.4%), but there was a markedly decreased use of manipulative therapies from 25.6% to 12.3% from 2005 to 2010. There is an obvious increasing use of TCM due to diseases of the digestive system, skin/subcutaneous tissue and genitourinary system from 2005 to 2010. A further comparison of the prevalence rates between TCM and non-TCM visits indicated that allergic rhinitis, dyspepsia, injury and musculoskeletal diseases, as well as menstrual disorders, were the main diseases that children tended to visit TCM clinics in Taiwan. Our nationwide population-based study revealed the high prevalence and specific usage patterns of TCM in the pediatric population in Taiwan. The results of this study should provide valuable information for physicians, parents and the government concerning pediatric healthcare.

Analysis of the educationally targeted interaction in the work with the gender-differentiated athletes

16 development of teachers and trainers in the field of physical culture and sport”, Theory and practice physical culture, No. 12, pp. 58-59. 7. Lin Z.P., et al. Episodes of injuries and frequent usage of traditional Chinese medicine for Taiwanese elite wrestling athletes / Z.P/ Lin, et al. // Am J Chin Med. 2011;39(2):233-41. 8. Malinauskas, B.M., et al. Supplements of interest for sport-related injury and sources of supplement information among college athletes // Adv Med Sci. 2007;52:50-4. 9. Manheimer E., et al. Evidence from the Cochrane Collaboration for Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapies // The Journal Of Alternative And Complementary Medicine, Volume 15, Number 9, 2009, pp. 1001–1014 10. Starman, J.S., et al. Quality and content of Internet-based information for ten common orthopedic sports medicine diagnoses // J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2010 Jul 7;92(7):1612-8. 11. Woodward T.W. A review of the effects of martial arts practice on health. WMJ. 2009 Feb;108(1):40-3. Контактная информация: aranson@yandex.ru

Two new compounds from the aerial parts of Bergenia himalaica Boriss and their anti-hyperglycemic effect in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic rats

Ethnopharmacological relevanceBergenia himalaica Boriss is mainly distributed in the temperate Himalayas between altitudes of 900 and 3000m ranging from the southeastern regions in central Asia and northern regions in South Asia. The plant has a long history of its use in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases such as diabetes, urinary complaints, kidney stones, hemorrhagic diseases and epilepsy. The aim of this study is to isolate pure compounds from Bergenia himalaica Boriss, elucidate their structures and determine their blood glucose lowering activity to obtain additional scientific evidence for its usage in traditional medicine for the management of diabetes. Materials and methodsThe crude methanolic extract from the aerial parts of Bergenia himalaica Boriss was separated into EtOAc and water sub-extracts and the EtOAc sub-extract was further divided into petroleum ether soluble and insoluble fractions. The pet-ether insoluble fraction was subjected to fractionation through column chromatography followed by prep. TLC. The blood glucose lowering activity of the 2 new compounds was evaluated in streptozotocin–nicotinamide induced diabetic rats. Additionally, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was measured on isolated mice islets. ResultsTwo new compounds bergenicin and bergelin were isolated and their structures determined on the basis of spectral analysis. Significant decrease of blood glucose was observed at 1-h (1.0mg/kg) and 2-h (0.5mg/kg), after bergenicin administration to the diabetic rats and at 2-h (1.0mg/kg) and 3-h (0.5mg/kg), after bergelin administration. Bergenicin, but not bergelin, enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in isolated pancreatic islets. ConclusionsIn the present studies two new compounds, bergenicin and bergelin were isolated from Bergenia himalaica Boriss and their structures were elucidated. Both the compounds showed anti-hyperglycemic effects in streptozotocin–nicotinamide induced diabetic rats. Bergenicin showed insulinotropic effect; suggesting that the anti-hyperglycemic effect is mostly due to enhancement of insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells.

Recent Advances towards Validating Efficacy and Safety of African Traditional Medicines

Recent Advances towards Validating Efficacy and Safety of African Traditional Medicines

Genotoxicity profile of erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelium

Hericium erinaceus (H. erinaceus) has a long history of usage in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of gastric disorders. Recently, it has become a well-established candidate in causing positive brain and nerve health-related activities by inducing nerve growth factor (NGF) from its bioactive ingredient, erinacine A. This active compound, which exists only in fermented mycelium but not in its fruiting body, increases NGF levels in astroglial cells in vitro as well as catecholamine and NGF levels in vivo. With increasing recognition of erinacine A in H. erinaceus (EAHE) mycelium improving neurodegenerative diseases, numerous products are being marketed based on these functional claims. To our knowledge, there have been no reports on the mutagenicity of EAHE prior to this paper. Hence, the present study was undertaken to determine the mutagenicity and genotoxicity effects of EAHE mycelium conducted in three standard battery of tests (reverse mutation, chromosomal aberration, and micronuclei tests) according to the latest guidelines in order to meet all international regulatory requirements and provide information on the safety of this new and promising natural remedy. Our results have indicated that EAHE mycelium did not significantly increase the number of revertant colonies in the bacterial reverse mutation test nor induce higher frequency of aberrations in the chromosome aberration test. Moreover, no statistically significant EAHE mycelium-related increase was observed in the incidence of reticulocytes per 1000 red blood cells and micronucleated reticulocytes per 1000 reticulocytes. In conclusion, the three standard battery of tests suggested that EAHE mycelium was devoid of mutagenicity and genotoxicity in the tested doses and experimental conditions.

Usage patterns and adverse experiences in traditional Korean medicine: results of a survey in South Korea

BackgroundAlthough traditional medicine (TM) in South Korea is included in the national health care system, it is considered complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and not mainstream medicine. Therefore, the lack of statistical data regarding the usage and adverse experiences of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) makes difficult to understand the current status of TM. In this study, we aimed to report usage patterns and adverse experiences on TKM targeting consumers in South Korea.MethodsA total of 2000 consumers participated in the survey on usage and adverse experiences in 2008. Among the 2,000 participants, 915 (45.8%) had taken herbal medicine or received traditional medicinal therapies; these individuals were further surveyed on the internet or in an interview.ResultsThe usage rate was higher among women and among patients in their 30s. Of the total TKM usage, acupuncture accounted for 36.7%, and herbal medicine accounted for 13.4%. Regarding the frequency of use of TKM, 73.8% of patients reported using TM less than 5 times in 1 year. Of the 915 respondents, 8.2% of individuals had some type of adverse experience resulting from TKM. Adverse experiences were primarily caused by acupuncture and herbal medicines, and they primarily involved diseases of the digestive system and skin. The incidence of adverse experiences was less than 3.7% for acupuncture and 3.8% for herbal medicine. Overall, the incidence rate of adverse experiences for TKM for the entire population was 0.04 per 10,000 individuals.ConclusionsThe medical usage and occurrence of adverse events on TKM should be surveyed periodically, and the statistical trends should be analysed. The disparity between the survey results for traditional herbal medicines and medical practices, and those for the national pharmacovigilance system or academic reports of adverse experiences should be examined. The national pharmacovigilance system must be improved to compensate for the disparities. Policies and regulations are required to enhance the reporting of adverse experiences not only for herbal medicines but also for traditional medicinal therapies.

What is “clinical data”? Why and how can they be collected during field surveys on medicinal plants?

Ethnopharmacological relevance“Reverse pharmacology”, also called “bedside-to-bench” or “field to pharmacy” approach, is a research process starting with documentation of clinical outcome as observed by patients with different therapeutic regimens. The treatment most significantly associated with cure is selected for future studies: first, clinical safety and efficacy; then in vivo and vitro studies.Some clinical data, i.e. details on patient status and progress, can be collected during ethnobotanical surveys; they will help clinical researchers and, once effectiveness and safety are established, will also help users of traditional medicine make safer and more effective choices. To gather clinical data successfully, ethnopharmacologists need to be backed by an appropriate team of specialists in medicine and epidemiology. Ethnopharmacologists can also gather important data on traditional medicine safety. Materials and methodsThe first step is to create a consensus on the meaning of “clinical data”, their interest and importance. An understanding of why “a cure is not a proof of effectiveness” is a starting point to avoid faulty interpretation of the clinical observations. ResultsExperience showed that, with the “bedside-to-bench” approach, a treatment derived from traditional recipe can be scientifically validated (in terms of safety and effectiveness) with a cost of less than a million euros, thus providing an end-product that is affordable, available and sustainable. ConclusionsWith rigorous clinical study results, medicinal plant users gain the possibility to refine heath strategies. The field surveyor may gain a better relationship with the population, once she/he is seen as bringing information useful for the quality of care in the community.

Suppression of NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation and tumor necrosis factor-α by Pongamia pinnata seed extract in adjuvant-induced arthritis

Pongamia pinnata is a plant known for its therapeutic usage in Indian traditional medicine. Despite the controversy regarding toxic flavonoid and erucic acid content, the seed of this plant is consumed in tribal medicine and its oil is used in Ayurveda to treat psoriasis and arthritis. This study explored the potential anti-arthritic effects of a P. pinnata seed (hexane) extract (PSE) at non-lethal doses in an adjuvant-induced arthritic rat model; possible mechanisms of any observed effects were also explored. After establishing the lethal doses arising from oral exposure to the extract, the material was administered per os daily at two doses (0.3 g/kg/day; 0.5 g/kg/day) to arthritic rats. Other rats received indomethacin or vehicle (control). Treatments were performed for a total of 14 days. One day after the final exposure, the rats were euthanized to permit harvest of various cells, blood, and tissues for analyses. Paw diameter and tissue myeloperoxidase activity in the paws were evaluated as indices for edema and neutrophil infiltration into the tissue. The severity of arthritis in the experimental rats was assessed via measures of urinary hydroxyproline (HP) and glucosamine, and of serum pro-inflammatory TNFα and anti-inflammatory IL-10. The extent of NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation in peritoneal macrophages harvested from naïve rats and then treated in vitro was also assessed. The results indicated that exposure to PSE significantly decreased paw diameter, tissue myeloperoxidase level, and levels of urinary HP and glucosamine, as well as of serum TNFα and IL-10 in adjuvant-injected (arthritic) rats. In vitro PSE treatment also resulted in a marked inhibition of NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation in primary cultures of peritoneal macrophages. Thus, PSE appears to be able to prevent experimental arthritis, in part, by helping to maintain the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and by inhibiting NF-κB activation.

Botanical identification of medicinal roots collected and traded in Morocco and comparison to the existing literature

BackgroundA literature review revealed heavy reliance on a few key publications for identification of medicinal plant species from local or vernacular names and a lack of citation of voucher specimens in many publications. There is a need for more reliable and standardized data on the identity of species used for medicine, especially because local names vary from region to region. This is especially true in the case of medicinal roots, for which identification of species is difficult. This paper contributes to existing data on the species sold as medicinal roots (and other underground plant parts such as bulbs, corms, rhizomes and tubers) in Morocco.MethodsData were collected in collaboration with herbalists in Marrakech and collectors in rural regions near Marrakech where species are collected from the wild. The ethno-medicinal uses of these species were also recorded.ResultsWe identified the vernacular names for 67 medicinal roots (by free listing) used to treat a variety of human diseases. We were able to collect and identify one or more species for 39 of the recorded vernacular names. The ones we were not able to identify were either imported or no longer available in the markets. We collected more than one species for some of the vernacular names for a total of 43 species. We identified six new vernacular names and four species which had not been previously described in the literature. Our botanical identification matched at least one of the names listed in the literature 63% of the time and did not match any species listed in the literature 37% of the time. Of the three most commonly cited pieces of literature we compared to, we found the greatest overlap with the broader, more comprehensive work of Bellakhdar 1997 (as opposed to Benchâabane and Abbad 1997 which worked in a similarly focused geographical area). However there was only 63% agreement between Bellakhdar 1997 and our botanical identifications, and 29% of the time our identification didn’t match even the genus of any of the species listed in any of the 3 most commonly cited pieces of literature.ConclusionsMore rigorous methodology and reporting are needed for medicinal plant research in Morocco. This will ensure that studies are comparable, help to protect traditional medicine users from negative health effects, and, support efforts to conserve overharvested wild medicinal plants.

Monoterpene bisindole alkaloids, from the African medicinal plant Tabernaemontana elegans, induce apoptosis in HCT116 human colon carcinoma cells

Ethnopharmacological relevanceTabernaemontana elegans is a medicinal plant used in African traditional medicine to treat several ailments including cancer. The aims of the present study were to identify anti-cancer compounds, namely apoptosis inducers, from Tabernaemontana elegans, and hence to validate its usage in traditional medicine. Methods and materialsSix alkaloids, including four monomeric indole (1–3, and 6) and two bisindole (4 and 5) alkaloids, were isolated from the methanolic extract of Tabernaemontana elegans roots. The structures of these compounds were characterized by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data. Compounds 1−6 along with compound 7, previously isolated from the leaves of the same species, were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against HCT116 human colon carcinoma cells by the MTS metabolism assay. The cytotoxicity of the most promising compounds was corroborated by Guava-ViaCount flow cytometry assays. Selected compounds were next studied for apoptosis induction activity in HCT116 cells, by evaluation of nuclear morphology following Hoechst staining, and by caspase-3 like activity assays. ResultsAmong the tested compounds (1−7), the bisindole alkaloids tabernaelegantine C (4) and tabernaelegantinine B (5) were found to be cytotoxic to HCT116 cells at 20µM, with compound 5 being more cytotoxic than the positive control 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), at a similar dose. In fact, even at 0.5µM, compound 5 was more potent than 5-FU. Compounds 4 and 5 induced characteristic patterns of apoptosis in HCT116 cancer cells including, cell shrinkage, condensation, fragmentation of the nucleus, blebbing of the plasma membrane and chromatin condensation. Further, general caspase-3-like activity was increased in cells exposed to compounds 4 and 5, corroborating the nuclear morphology evaluation assays. ConclusionsBisindole alkaloids tabernaelegantine C (4) and tabernaelegantinine B (5) were characterized as potent apoptosis inducers in HCT116 human colon carcinoma cells and as possible lead/scaffolds for the development of anti-cancer drugs. This study substantiates the usage of Tabernaemontana elegans in traditional medicine to treat cancer.