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Journal of Ethnopharmacology Apr 2021Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. (family Asteraceae) is an important traditional medicine in North America, Europe, and Asia for quite a long historical period, which has... (Review)
Review
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. (family Asteraceae) is an important traditional medicine in North America, Europe, and Asia for quite a long historical period, which has received great attention due to its health-benefiting activities, including disinfection, treatment sexual infection, diarrhoea, acute and chronic dysentery, red-eye swelling as well as pain, heat, thirst, hypertension, palpitation, gastrointestinal discomfort, and loss of appetite.
AIM OF THE REVIEW
The purpose of this review is to give an overview of the current phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of C. tinctoria, and reveals the correlation among its traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological profile, and potential toxicity.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This review is based on published studies and books from electronic sources and library, including the online ethnobotanical database, ethnobotanical monographs, Scopus, SciFinder, Baidu Scholar, CNKI, and PubMed. These reports are related to the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of C. tinctoria.
RESULTS
Coreopsis tinctoria is traditionally used in diarrhoea, infection, and chronic metabolic diseases. From 1954 to now, more than 120 chemical constituents have been identified from C. tinctoria, such as flavonoids, polyacetylenes, polysaccharides, phenylpropanoids, and volatile oils. Flavonoids are the major bioactive components in C. tinctoria. Current research has shown that its extracts and compounds possess diverse biological and pharmacological activities such as antidiabetes, anti-cardiovascular diseases, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, protective effects on organs, neuroprotective effects, antimicrobial, and antineoplastic. Studies in animal models, including acute toxicity, long-term toxicity, and genotoxicity have demonstrated that Snow Chrysanthemum is a non-toxic herb, especially for its water-soluble parts.
CONCLUSIONS
Recent findings regarding the main phytochemical and pharmacological properties of C. tinctorial have confirmed its traditional uses in anti-infection and treatment of chronic metabolic disease and, more importantly, have revealed the plant as a valuable medicinal plant resource for the treatment of a wide range of diseases. The available reports indicated that most of the bioactivities in C. tinctorial could be attributed to flavonoids. However, higher quality studies on animals and humans studies are required to explore the efficacy and mechanism of action of C. tinctoria in future.
Topics: Animals; Cardiovascular Agents; Coreopsis; Ethnopharmacology; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Medicine, Traditional; Phytochemicals; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 33309917
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113690 -
The AAPS Journal Jan 2022The objective of this review article is to summarize literature data pertinent to potential excipient effects on intestinal drug permeability and transit. Despite the... (Review)
Review
The objective of this review article is to summarize literature data pertinent to potential excipient effects on intestinal drug permeability and transit. Despite the use of excipients in drug products for decades, considerable research efforts have been directed towards evaluating their potential effects on drug bioavailability. Potential excipient concerns stem from drug formulation changes (e.g., scale-up and post-approval changes, development of a new generic product). Regulatory agencies have established in vivo bioequivalence standards and, as a result, may waive the in vivo requirement, known as a biowaiver, for some oral products. Biowaiver acceptance criteria are based on the in vitro characterization of the drug substance and drug product using the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS). Various regulatory guidance documents have been issued regarding BCS-based biowaivers, such that the current FDA guidance is more restrictive than prior guidance, specifically about excipient risk. In particular, sugar alcohols have been identified as potential absorption-modifying excipients. These biowaivers and excipient risks are discussed here. Graphical Abstract.
Topics: Animals; Biological Availability; Biopharmaceutics; Drug Compounding; Drug Development; Drug and Narcotic Control; Excipients; Humans; Permeability; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Therapeutic Equivalency
PubMed: 34988701
DOI: 10.1208/s12248-021-00670-1 -
Phytochemical Analysis : PCA Mar 2018Herbal medicines play an important role globally in the health care sector and in industrialised countries they are often considered as an alternative to mono-substance... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Herbal medicines play an important role globally in the health care sector and in industrialised countries they are often considered as an alternative to mono-substance medicines. Current quality and authentication assessment methods rely mainly on morphology and analytical phytochemistry-based methods detailed in pharmacopoeias. Herbal products however are often highly processed with numerous ingredients, and even if these analytical methods are accurate for quality control of specific lead or marker compounds, they are of limited suitability for the authentication of biological ingredients.
OBJECTIVE
To review the benefits and limitations of DNA barcoding and metabarcoding in complementing current herbal product authentication.
METHOD
Recent literature relating to DNA based authentication of medicinal plants, herbal medicines and products are summarised to provide a basic understanding of how DNA barcoding and metabarcoding can be applied to this field.
RESULTS
Different methods of quality control and authentication have varying resolution and usefulness along the value chain of these products. DNA barcoding can be used for authenticating products based on single herbal ingredients and DNA metabarcoding for assessment of species diversity in processed products, and both methods should be used in combination with appropriate hyphenated chemical methods for quality control.
CONCLUSIONS
DNA barcoding and metabarcoding have potential in the context of quality control of both well and poorly regulated supply systems. Standardisation of protocols for DNA barcoding and DNA sequence-based identification are necessary before DNA-based biological methods can be implemented as routine analytical approaches and approved by the competent authorities for use in regulated procedures. © 2017 The Authors. Phytochemical Analysis Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Topics: DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; European Union; Herbal Medicine; Quality Control; Reference Standards
PubMed: 28906059
DOI: 10.1002/pca.2732 -
Neuropsychopharmacology Reports Sep 2018North America is facing a severe public health crisis in the form of excessive numbers of deaths due to overdose from self-administration of opioids by individuals who... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
North America is facing a severe public health crisis in the form of excessive numbers of deaths due to overdose from self-administration of opioids by individuals who are dependent on these substances.
AIMS
There are many factors that must be addressed in order to gain control over this tragedy. Of particular relevance to neuropsychopharmacology is the fact that the problem is due in part to misuse of pharmaceuticals and especially the illicit production of the powerful synthetic opioids, fentanyl, and carfentanil.
METHOD
The development and adoption of appropriate pharmacotherapies are of critical importance. We discuss specific options to deal effectively with both withdrawal from opioid dependence and substitution of clinically approved drugs in place of illicit substances.
CONCLUSION
Hopefully, this crisis will reinvigorate both basic and clinical neuropsychopharmacological research leading to the develop new and more effective options for dealing with the many and varied elements of the current opioid crisis as described in the present commentary.
Topics: Drug Overdose; Humans; Neuropharmacology; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Opioid-Related Disorders; Psychopharmacology; United States
PubMed: 30175525
DOI: 10.1002/npr2.12026 -
Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology 2019It is fitting that the 100th anniversary of the Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology celebrates not only its founding but also the founding of experimental pharmacology... (Review)
Review
It is fitting that the 100th anniversary of the Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology celebrates not only its founding but also the founding of experimental pharmacology as both had their beginnings in Germany. Founded in 1919 by Arthur Heffter (1859-1925) as the "Handbuch der Experimentellen Pharmakologie" and renamed to its current title in 1937, the Handbook has continued to capture the emergence and developments of experimental pharmacology since the initial systematic work of Rudolf Buchheim and his student Oswald Schmiedeberg. Heffter, the first Chairman of the German Society of Pharmacology, was also responsible for isolating mescaline as the active psychedelic component from the peyote cactus, thereby initiating a series of studies along with an Institute that, much like the Handbook and the discipline of pharmacology, continues to discover and disseminate new findings to this day. These early endeavors to establish pharmacology as a viable and valuable contributor to the medical sciences met with considerable resistance and challenges. However, the persistence and dedication of these early pharmacologists placed pharmacology on a firm foundation from which to spread this discipline globally, leading ultimately to our current understanding of the principles of drug action and with an impact likely unanticipated by these founding scientists. Summarizing the beginnings of these efforts and their early spread to other countries provides an appropriate context in which to document the many contributions pharmacological research has made over the past 100 years and provide an opportunity to anticipate expectations around its future developments.
Topics: History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Periodicals as Topic; Pharmacology
PubMed: 31823070
DOI: 10.1007/164_2019_334 -
The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology May 2018This review discusses challenges to stability, analytics and manufacturing of protein coformulations. Furthermore, general considerations to be taken into account for... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
This review discusses challenges to stability, analytics and manufacturing of protein coformulations. Furthermore, general considerations to be taken into account for the pharmaceutical development of coformulated protein drug products are highlighted.
KEY FINDINGS
Coformulation of two or more active substances in one single dosage form has recently seen increasing use offering several advantages, such as increased efficacy and/or the overall reduction of adverse event incidents in patients. Most marketed coformulated drug products are composed of small molecules. As proteins are not only comparatively large but also complex molecules, the maintenance of their physicochemical integrity within a formulation throughout pharmaceutical processing, storage, transport, handling and patient administration to ensure proper pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in vivo already represents various challenges for single-entity products. Thus, nowadays, only sparse biologics-based coformulations can be found, as additional complexity during development is given for these products.
SUMMARY
The complexity of the dosage form and the protein molecules results into additional challenges to formulation, manufacture, storage, transport, handling and patient administration, stability and analytics during the pharmaceutical development of protein coformulations. Various points have to be considered during different stages of development in order to obtain a safe and efficacious product.
Topics: Biological Products; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Drug Design; Drug Industry; Humans; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Protein Stability; Proteins; Technology, Pharmaceutical
PubMed: 28470967
DOI: 10.1111/jphp.12731 -
Current Neuropharmacology 2017A new trend among users of new psychoactive substances' the consumption of "herbal highs": plant parts containing psychoactive substances. Most of the substances... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
A new trend among users of new psychoactive substances' the consumption of "herbal highs": plant parts containing psychoactive substances. Most of the substances extracted from herbs, in old centuries were at the centre of religious ceremonies of ancient civilizations. Currently, these herbal products are mainly sold by internet web sites and easily obtained since some of them have no legal restriction.
OBJECTIVE
We reviewed psychoactive effects and neuropharmacology of the most used "herbal highs" with characterized active principles, with studies reporting mechanisms of action, pharmacological and subjective effects, eventual secondary effects including intoxications and/or fatalities Method: The PubMed database was searched using the following key.words: herbal highs, Argyreia nervosa, Ipomoea violacea and Rivea corymbosa; Catha edulis; Datura stramonium; Piper methysticum; Mitragyna speciosa.
RESULTS
Psychoactive plants here reviewed have been known and used from ancient times, even if for some of them limited information still exist regarding subjective and neuropharmacological effects and consequent eventual toxicity when plants are used alone or in combination with "classical" drugs of abuse.
CONCLUSION
Some "herbal highs" should be classified as harmful drugs since chronic administration has been linked with addiction and cognitive impairment; for some others taking into consideration only the recent trends of abuse, studies investigating these aspects are lacking.
Topics: Animals; Brain; Databases, Bibliographic; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Neuropharmacology; Plant Preparations; Psychotropic Drugs
PubMed: 27799032
DOI: 10.2174/1570159X14666161031144427 -
Annual Review of Pharmacology and... Jan 2017Development of scientific creativity is often tied closely to mentorship. In my case, two years with Julius Axelrod, the sum total of my research training, was...
Development of scientific creativity is often tied closely to mentorship. In my case, two years with Julius Axelrod, the sum total of my research training, was transformative. My mentoring generations of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows has been as nurturing for me as it has been for them. Work in our lab over fifty years has covered the breadth of neurotransmitters and related substances, focusing on the discovery and characterization of novel messenger molecules. I can't conceptualize a more rewarding professional life.
Topics: Biomedical Research; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Mentors; Neurotransmitter Agents; Pharmacology; Psychiatry; Receptors, Opioid
PubMed: 27483340
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-010716-104511 -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Jan 2022In the past five years, ethnopharmacy-based drugs have been increasingly used in clinical practice. It has been reported that hundreds of ethnopharmacy-based drugs can...
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
In the past five years, ethnopharmacy-based drugs have been increasingly used in clinical practice. It has been reported that hundreds of ethnopharmacy-based drugs can modulate autophagy to regulate physiological and pathological processes, and ethnomedicines also have certain therapeutic effects on illnesses, revealing the important roles of these medicines in regulating autophagy and treating diseases.
AIM OF THE STUDY
This study reviews the regulatory effects of natural products on autophagy in recent years, and discusses their pharmacological effects and clinical applications in the process of diseases. It provides a preliminary literature basis and reference for the research of plant drugs in the regulation of autophagy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A comprehensive systematic review in the fields of relationship between autophagy and ethnomedicine in treating diseases from PubMed electronic database was performed. Information was obtained from documentary sources.
RESULTS
We recorded some illnesses associated with autophagy, then classified them into different categories reasonably. Based on the uses of these substances in different researches of diseases, a total of 80 active ingredients or compound preparations of natural drugs were searched. The autophagy mechanisms of these substances in the treatments of divers diseases have been summarized for the first time, we also looked forward to the clinical application of some of them.
CONCLUSIONS
Autophagy plays a key function in lots of illnesses, the regulation of autophagy has become one of the important means to prevent and treat these diseases. About 80 compounds and preparations involved in this review have been proved to have therapeutic effects on related diseases through the mechanism of autophagy. Experiments in vivo and in vitro showed that these compounds and preparations could treat these diseases by regulating autophagy. The typical natural products curcumin and tripterine have powerful roles in regulating autophagy and show good and diversified curative effects.
Topics: Autophagy; Biological Products; Ethnopharmacology; Humans; Medicine, Traditional; Plants, Medicinal
PubMed: 34487846
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114516 -
Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Nov 2014The biopharmaceutics risk assessment roadmap (BioRAM) optimizes drug product development and performance by using therapy-driven target drug delivery profiles as a... (Review)
Review
The biopharmaceutics risk assessment roadmap (BioRAM) optimizes drug product development and performance by using therapy-driven target drug delivery profiles as a framework to achieve the desired therapeutic outcome. Hence, clinical relevance is directly built into early formulation development. Biopharmaceutics tools are used to identify and address potential challenges to optimize the drug product for patient benefit. For illustration, BioRAM is applied to four relatively common therapy-driven drug delivery scenarios: rapid therapeutic onset, multiphasic delivery, delayed therapeutic onset, and maintenance of target exposure. BioRAM considers the therapeutic target with the drug substance characteristics and enables collection of critical knowledge for development of a dosage form that can perform consistently for meeting the patient's needs. Accordingly, the key factors are identified and in vitro, in vivo, and in silico modeling and simulation techniques are used to elucidate the optimal drug delivery rate and pattern. BioRAM enables (1) feasibility assessment for the dosage form, (2) development and conduct of appropriate "learning and confirming" studies, (3) transparency in decision-making, (4) assurance of drug product quality during lifecycle management, and (5) development of robust linkages between the desired clinical outcome and the necessary product quality attributes for inclusion in the quality target product profile.
Topics: Animals; Biopharmaceutics; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Computer Simulation; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Carriers; Drug Discovery; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Humans; Models, Theoretical; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Pharmacokinetics; Quality Control; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Toxicity Tests
PubMed: 25256402
DOI: 10.1002/jps.24162