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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Jun 2024This collection on medical ethnobotany focuses on contributions that explore the invaluable potential associated with the ethnobotanical uses of medicinal plants, their...
This collection on medical ethnobotany focuses on contributions that explore the invaluable potential associated with the ethnobotanical uses of medicinal plants, their phytochemical profiling, safety, and efficacy studies as well as their cultural and ecological context. This call for papers is expected to expand the knowledge base on how medicinal plants contribute toward the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), in this case, goal 15 (life on land).
Topics: Ethnobotany; Humans; Plants, Medicinal; Medicine, Traditional; Phytotherapy
PubMed: 38840100
DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04515-0 -
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer... Aug 2023Palliative care is the active holistic treatment of people of all ages who have serious health-related suffering as a result of severe illness, and especially of those... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Palliative care is the active holistic treatment of people of all ages who have serious health-related suffering as a result of severe illness, and especially of those who are close to the end of life. Palliative care is provided to cancer patients who experience serious suffering that cannot be relieved without professional intervention and that compromises physical, social, spiritual, and emotional functioning. A straightforward, low-risk, and affordable palliative care approach may be provided through aromatherapy, a type of complementary and alternative medicine. The study objective is to assess the comparative effectiveness of massage, aromatherapy massage, and massage combined with aromatherapy inhalation on cancer patients receiving palliative care.
METHODS
A total of 100 participants who were divided into four groups at random. The first group, designated as the control group, received standard hospital nursing care, the second group received massage only (using the odorless almond carrier oil), the third group received massage with lavender oil, and the fourth group received combined (inhalation and massage) aromatherapy. The Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (RSCL), given two weeks after aromatherapy, was used to examine participants' perspectives of care.
RESULTS
On the RSCL, combined aromatherapy performed best. In terms of reported physical symptoms, psychological symptoms, and activities, there were statistically significant differences between the scores of the control group and each of the experimental groups. Nonetheless, the total quality of life score showed no significant difference between the control group and the massage only group (t = 0.529, p = 0.60).
CONCLUSIONS
When paired with aromatherapy inhalation, massage has a positive effect on physical, psychological symptoms, activities, and overall quality of life for cancer patients receiving early palliative care. Nurses and other healthcare providers are recommended to support programs that provide message therapy to reduce reported bodily symptoms, psychological problems, and limited activities among cancer patients.
Topics: Humans; Aromatherapy; Mind-Body Therapies; Neoplasms; Palliative Care; Quality of Life
PubMed: 37642059
DOI: 10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.8.2729 -
Complementary Therapies in Clinical... Aug 2023The purpose of this systematic review is to ascertain the impact of inhalation aromatherapy on stress and anxiety in clinical settings. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this systematic review is to ascertain the impact of inhalation aromatherapy on stress and anxiety in clinical settings.
METHODS
A search strategy was developed using various databases. Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) as well as single and double-blind pilot clinical studies (non-RCT) using inhalation aromatherapy with an essential oil blend or a single essential oil were examined. All studies included a control intervention and use of a validated measurement tool. The time period under review was years 2000-2021. Due to the high level of heterogeneity and element of bias, a narrative synthesis was conducted.
RESULTS
The search strategy initially retrieved 628 studies and through application of the selection criteria and the removal of duplicates, 76 studies were selected for review with a total of 6539 patients. In 42% of the RCTs, physiological measures including vital signs and/or salivary cortisol were used in addition to questionnaires. Over 70% of the studies reported a positive effect on anxiety levels in the aromatherapy intervention groups compared with the control. However, in many cases this is limited by the absence of safety data, imprecise reporting of plant species and dosage of essential oil.
CONCLUSION
Inhalation aromatherapy has the potential to reduce stress and anxiety with data emerging to further support this result across a wide modality of clinical treatments. However, there is a clear need for the development of standard protocols for research in this area, generating measurable results which will create the opportunity for more rigorous evidence-based outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Aromatherapy; Oils, Volatile; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Administration, Inhalation; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37031643
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2023.101750 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2023
PubMed: 38288085
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1353483 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2023Many studies have suggested that the oxidized form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is involved in an extensive spectrum of human pathologies, including... (Review)
Review
Many studies have suggested that the oxidized form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is involved in an extensive spectrum of human pathologies, including neurodegenerative disorders, cardiomyopathy, obesity, and diabetes. Further, healthy aging and longevity appear to be closely related to NAD and its related metabolites, including nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). As a dietary supplement, NR appears to be well tolerated, having better pharmacodynamics and greater potency. Unfortunately, NR is a reactive molecule, often unstable during its manufacturing, transport, and storage. Recently, work related to prebiotic chemistry discovered that NR borate is considerably more stable than NR itself. However, immediately upon consumption, the borate dissociates from the NR borate and is lost in the body through dilution and binding to other species, notably carbohydrates such as fructose and glucose. The NR left behind is expected to behave pharmacologically in ways identical to NR itself. This review provides a comprehensive summary (through Q1 of 2023) of the literature that makes the case for the consumption of NR as a dietary supplement. It then summarizes the challenges of delivering quality NR to consumers using standard synthesis, manufacture, shipping, and storage approaches. It concludes by outlining the advantages of NR borate in these processes.
Topics: Humans; Longevity; Healthy Aging; NAD; Borates; Vitamins
PubMed: 37630330
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28166078 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023Vitex agnus castus (VAC), also known as chaste tree, is a plant from the Mediterranean area, Crimea, and central Asia. Its fruit has been used for more than 2500 years... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Vitex agnus castus (VAC), also known as chaste tree, is a plant from the Mediterranean area, Crimea, and central Asia. Its fruit has been used for more than 2500 years as phytotherapic agent. In the last century, VAC has been mostly used for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menstrual irregularities, fertility disorders, and symptoms of menopause. Since some degree of hyperprolactinaemia may be observed in patients with such disorders, VAC effects on hyperprolactinaemia have been assessed in a small number of studies and in some patient series or single case reports. It has been postulated that the diterpenes contained in VAC extract may interact with dopamine D2 receptors (D2R) and inhibit prolactin release via dopamine D2R activation in the anterior pituitary. Most of the published papers focus on the use of VAC for the management of PMS or infertility. However, due to its action on D2R, VAC could have a role in the treatment of mild hyperprolactinaemia, including patients with idiopathic hyperprolactinaemia, microprolactinoma, drug-induced hyperprolactinaemia, or polycystic ovary syndrome.
METHODS
We have reviewed and analysed the data from the literature concerning the use of VAC extracts in patients with hyperprolactinaemia.
RESULTS
Some evidence suggests a possible role of VAC for the management of hyperprolactinaemia in selected patients, though in an inhomogeneous way. However, there are not any large randomized controlled trials supporting the same and the precise pharmacological aspects of VAC extract in such a clinical setting still remain obscure.
CONCLUSION
It appears that VAC may represent a potentially useful and safe phytotherapic option for the management of selected patients with mild hyperprolactinaemia who wish to be treated with phytotherapy. However, larger studies of high quality are needed to corroborate it.
Topics: Female; Humans; Hyperprolactinemia; Plant Extracts; Vitex; Phytotherapy; Premenstrual Syndrome; Pituitary Neoplasms
PubMed: 38075075
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1269781 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2023is a plant genus within the Rutaceae family comprising over 17 species, which are widely distributed in Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. Furthermore, these... (Review)
Review
is a plant genus within the Rutaceae family comprising over 17 species, which are widely distributed in Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. Furthermore, these species have been used in traditional medicine to treat fever, pain, and dysentery. Several reports have also extensively studied the leaves, seeds, stembark, and bark of from 1965 to 2023 to explore their natural product composition. Various phytochemical studies have revealed the isolation of 413 compounds recorded, comprising coumarins, terpenoids, flavonoids, and aromatics, as well as alkaloids, which constitute the largest proportion (46.9%). These isolated compounds have long been known to exhibit different bioactivities, such as cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory properties. Cytotoxic activity has been observed against HCT 116, HeLa, HepG2, and other cell lines. Previous studies have also reported the presence of antifungal, hepatoprotective, antihyperlipidemic, antidiarrheal, and antioxidant effects. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive overview of species, highlighting their phytochemistry, biological activities, and potential as a source of active natural compounds.
Topics: Murraya; Medicine, Traditional; Plant Extracts; Alkaloids; Rutaceae; Phytochemicals; Ethnopharmacology; Phytotherapy
PubMed: 37570872
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28155901 -
Veterinary Sciences Mar 2024Phytotherapy is a clinical modality that incorporates botanical remedies as part of the therapeutic approach. It is a very ancient branch of medicine that is currently... (Review)
Review
Phytotherapy is a clinical modality that incorporates botanical remedies as part of the therapeutic approach. It is a very ancient branch of medicine that is currently undergoing a renaissance, evident in the numerous preparations available on the market. The majority of these formulations are for preventive and curative use in adult animals. Experimental experiences in the pediatric age group are particularly scarce within the existing literature. Since these products are readily accessible, dog owners often turn to them due to their ease of availability, a preference for self-medication, and the perception that herbs are safer, gentler, and less expensive than conventional medications, often leading them to bypass seeking the advice of experienced professionals. The purpose of this review is to illustrate, on the basis of the currently available bibliography, phytotherapeutic approaches in canine pediatrics, paying particular attention to the adverse effects resulting from the use of certain plants, even when used in conjunction with some synthetic drugs. Consequently, it becomes evident that further clinical and more relevant studies, specifically focusing on puppies, are needed to increase knowledge about the effects of herbal remedies.
PubMed: 38535867
DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11030133 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023The global prevalence of infection remains high, indicating a persistent presence of this pathogenic bacterium capable of infecting humans. This review summarizes the... (Review)
Review
The global prevalence of infection remains high, indicating a persistent presence of this pathogenic bacterium capable of infecting humans. This review summarizes the population demographics, transmission routes, as well as conventional and novel therapeutic approaches for infection. The prevalence of infection exceeds 30% in numerous countries worldwide and can be transmitted through interpersonal and zoonotic routes. Cytotoxin-related gene A (CagA) and vacuolar cytotoxin A (VacA) are the main virulence factors of , contributing to its steep global infection rate. Preventative measures should be taken from people's living habits and dietary factors to reduce infection. Phytotherapy, probiotics therapies and some emerging therapies have emerged as alternative treatments for infection, addressing the issue of elevated antibiotic resistance rates. Plant extracts primarily target urease activity and adhesion activity to treat , while probiotics prevent infection through both immune and non-immune pathways. In the future, the primary research focus will be on combining multiple treatment methods to effectively eradicate infection.
PubMed: 38268702
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1330029 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024
PubMed: 38352147
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1368610