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Nutrients Jul 2023Recent research has underscored the significant role of gut microbiota in managing various diseases, including intestinal and lung inflammation. It is now well... (Review)
Review
Recent research has underscored the significant role of gut microbiota in managing various diseases, including intestinal and lung inflammation. It is now well established that diet plays a crucial role in shaping the composition of the microbiota, leading to changes in metabolite production. Consequently, dietary interventions have emerged as promising preventive and therapeutic approaches for managing these diseases. Plant-based dietary fibers, particularly polysaccharides and oligosaccharides, have attracted attention as potential therapeutic agents for modulating gut microbiota and alleviating intestinal and lung inflammation. This comprehensive review aims to provide an in-depth overview of the current state of research in this field, emphasizing the challenges and limitations associated with the use of plant-based dietary fibers and polysaccharides in managing intestinal and lung inflammation. By shedding light on existing issues and limitations, this review seeks to stimulate further research and development in this promising area of therapeutic intervention.
PubMed: 37571257
DOI: 10.3390/nu15153321 -
Phytomedicine : International Journal... Jul 2024Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic retinal disease that significantly influences the vision of the elderly. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic retinal disease that significantly influences the vision of the elderly.
PURPOSE
There is no effective treatment and prevention method. The pathogenic process behind AMD is complex, including oxidative stress, inflammation, and neovascularization. It has been demonstrated that several natural products can be used to manage AMD, but systematic summaries are lacking.
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS
PubMed, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched using the keywords "Biological Products" AND "Macular Degeneration" for studies published within the last decade until May 2023 to summarize the latest findings on the prevention and treatment of age-related macular degeneration through the herbal medicines and functional foods.
RESULTS
The eligible studies were screened, and the relevant information about the therapeutic action and mechanism of natural products used to treat AMD was extracted. Our findings demonstrate that natural substances, including retinol, phenols, and other natural products, prevent the development of new blood vessels and protect the retina from oxidative stress in cells and animal models. However, they have barely been examined in clinical studies.
CONCLUSION
Natural products could be highly prospective candidate drugs used to treat AMD, and further preclinical and clinical research is required to validate it to control the disease.
Topics: Macular Degeneration; Humans; Biological Products; Oxidative Stress; Animals; Phytotherapy; Vitamin A; Retina; Phenols; Functional Food
PubMed: 38820665
DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155522 -
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical... Aug 2023Mistletoe treatment is discussed controversial as a complementary treatment for cancer patients. Aim of this systematic analysis is to assess the concept of mistletoe...
PURPOSE
Mistletoe treatment is discussed controversial as a complementary treatment for cancer patients. Aim of this systematic analysis is to assess the concept of mistletoe treatment in the clinical studies with respect to indication, type of mistletoe preparation, treatment schedule, aim of treatment, and assessment of treatment results.
METHODS
In the period from August to December 2020, the following databases were systematically searched: Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PsycINFO, CINAHL, and "Science Citation Index Expanded" (Web of Science). We assessed all studies for study types, methods, endpoints and mistletoe preparations including their ways of application, host trees and dosage schedules.
RESULTS
The search concerning mistletoe therapy revealed 3296 hits. Of these, 102 publications and at total of 19.441 patients were included. We included several study types investigating the application of mistletoe in different groups of participants (cancer patients of any type of cancer were included as well as studies conducted with healthy volunteers and pediatric patients). The most common types of cancer were breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer and malignant melanoma. Randomized controlled studies, cohort studies and case reports make up most of the included studies. A huge variety was observed concerning type and composition of mistletoe extracts (differing pharmaceutical companies and host trees), ways of applications and dosage schedules. Administration varied e. g. between using mistletoe extract as sole treatment and as concomitant therapy to cancer treatment. As the analysis of all studies shows, there is no relationship between mistletoe preparation used, host tree and dosage, and cancer type.
CONCLUSIONS
Our research was not able to deviate transparent rules or guidelines with respect to mistletoe treatment in cancer care.
Topics: Humans; Child; Female; Mistletoe; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Breast Neoplasms; Treatment Outcome; Biological Products
PubMed: 36481925
DOI: 10.1007/s00432-022-04511-2 -
Journal of Pharmaceutical and... Oct 2023Several natural remedies are used in the Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) to prevent dementia, but their efficacy is debated. In this work, an improved...
Linking traditional medicine to modern phytotherapy: Chemical characterization and assessment of antioxidant and anticholinesterase effects in vitro of a natural Persian remedy for dementia.
Several natural remedies are used in the Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) to prevent dementia, but their efficacy is debated. In this work, an improved "Safoof-e-Nesyān" formulation described in the "Qarābādin-e-Azam" pharmacopoeia was developed, and its chemical composition and antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase properties were assessed. The formulation contains a mixture (FM) of Cinnamomum cassia (CC), C. verum (CV), Pistacia lentiscus (PL), Rheum palmatum (RP), Syzygium aromaticum (SA), and Zingiber officinalis (ZO) powdered plants. Its total phenolic content is 110.45 mg GAE/g, while the total flavonoid content is 6.28 mg RE/g. 66 secondary metabolites (mainly tannins, flavonoids, anthraquinones, and gingerols) were identified by UPLC-QToF-MS analysis. FM exerts antioxidant effects by scavenging radicals, and by reducing and chelating metals such as Mb, Cu and Fe. The anticholinesterase activity of one gram of the FM equals that of 3.60 mg of the reference drug galantamine, on both acetyl- and butyryl-cholinesterase. Correlations between specific compounds and bioactivities were highlighted by multivariate analysis of data: lyoniresinol 9'-glucoside strongly correlates with antiradical activities on DPPH and ABTS and reducing activity on Cu, and with anti-AChE effects. Most of the identified flavonoids and the ellagic acid derivatives positively correlate with the reducing activity on Fe and Mb, and with anti-BChE effects. Finally, a tablet formulation of the FM was developed, and its physical properties were preliminarily assessed. Overall, our results indicate that the FM may be a useful natural remedy for dementia, although further safety and efficacy assessments in vivo are required.
Topics: Humans; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Antioxidants; Medicine, Traditional; Phytotherapy; Flavonoids; Dementia
PubMed: 37634357
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115674 -
Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of... Jul 2024Myrtus communis L. (Family: Myrtaceae) is naturally found in the western part of Asia, Southern Europe, and North Africa. It has been reportedly applied in... (Review)
Review
Myrtus communis L. (Family: Myrtaceae) is naturally found in the western part of Asia, Southern Europe, and North Africa. It has been reportedly applied in pharmaceutical industry, traditional medicine, cosmetics, spices, and food. Pubmed, Google scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus were utilized to seek out relevant content concerning the therapeutic potential of M. communis. Subsequently, we conducted a review to identity noteworthy updates pertaining to M. communis. Myrtle berries, leaves, seeds, and essential oils are natural sources of several nutrients and bioactive compounds with marked health effects. The chemical analysis showed that M. communis contained oils, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, coumarins, saponosides, tannins, quinines, and anthraquinones. A pharmacological investigation revealed that M. communis possessed anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, antimutagenic, immunomodulatory, dermatological, cardiovascular, central nervous system, and gastrointestinal protective effects, among numerous other biological effects. This current review focused on the biochemical, pharmacological, therapeutic effects, and various biological activities of different parts of M. communis. It signifies that M. communis is a therapeutic plant with numerous applications in medicine and could be used as a drug isolate based on its safety and effectiveness.
Topics: Myrtus; Humans; Animals; Plant Extracts; Phytochemicals; Phytotherapy
PubMed: 38319389
DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-02958-3 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023Hochst. ex. A. DC is widely distributed throughout Africa and around the world. It is utilized ethnobotanically to treat fevers, wounds, malaria, diabetes mellitus, and... (Review)
Review
Hochst. ex. A. DC is widely distributed throughout Africa and around the world. It is utilized ethnobotanically to treat fevers, wounds, malaria, diabetes mellitus, and other diseases. This review aims to provide an exhaustive overview of the traditional uses, pharmacology, and phytochemical analysis of , with the objective of identifying its therapeutic potential for further research. Scientific resources, including Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, Pub Med, and Scopus, were used to find pertinent data on . Secondary metabolites tentatively identified from this species were primarily terpenoids, naphthoquinones, phenolics, and coumarins. has been reported to demonstrate pharmacological activities, including antimicrobial, antiproliferative, antiparasitic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-hypersensitivity, and antidiabetic properties. The phytochemicals and extracts from have been reported to have some pharmacological effects in in vivo studies and were not toxic to the animal models that were utilized. The information reported in this review provides researchers with a comprehensive summary of the current research status of this medicinal plant and a guide for further investigation.
Topics: Animals; Diospyros; Ebenaceae; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal; Anti-Infective Agents; Phytochemicals; Ethnopharmacology; Phytotherapy
PubMed: 38067488
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28237759 -
International Wound Journal Aug 2023Pain and anxiety were considered the most common complications of treatment procedures in burn patients. Non-pharmacological drugs, including aromatherapy, can decrease... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Pain and anxiety were considered the most common complications of treatment procedures in burn patients. Non-pharmacological drugs, including aromatherapy, can decrease these issues. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to summarise the effects of aromatherapy with Rosa damascene (RD) and lavender on the pain and anxiety of burn patients. A systematic search was performed on international electronic databases such as Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, as well as on Iranian electronic databases such as Iranmedex and Scientific Information Database (SID) with keywords extracted from Medical Subject Headings such as "Burns", "Pain", "Pain management", "Anxiety", and "Aromatherapy" were performed from the earliest to November 1, 2022. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist assessed the quality of randomised control trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies. STATA v.14 software was used to estimate pooled effect size. Heterogeneity was assessed with I value. Random effect model and inverse-variance method using sample size, mean, and standard deviation changes were applied to determine standard mean differences (SMD). The confidence interval of 95% was considered to determine the confidence level. A total of 586 burn patients participated in six studies, including three RCT studies and three quasi-experimental studies. The results based on RCT studies showed RD significantly decreased the dressing pain average when compared to the control group (SMD: -1.61, 95%CI: -2.32 to -0.99, Z = 5.09, I : 66.2%, P < 0.001). Aromatherapy with lavender decreased the average pain in the interventional group more than in the control group (SMD: -1.78, 95%CI: -3.62 to 0.07, Z = 1.89, I : 97.2%, P = 0.06). Using aromatherapy with RD and lavender significantly decreased pain average in the interventional group than the control group (SMD: -1.68, 95%CI: -2.64 to -0.72, Z = 3.42, I : 94.2%, P = 0.001). The results showed RD significantly decreased the anxiety average in the interventional group than the control group (SMD: -2.49, 95%CI: -2.98 to -2.0, Z = 9.94, I : 51.6%, P < 0.001). Overall, this study showed that aromatherapy with RD decreased pain and anxiety of dressing procedures in burn patients. Although aromatherapy with lavender decreased pain in the patients, it was not statistically significant. More RCTs studies are required to be able to better judge the effects of aromatherapy with RD and lavender on the pain and anxiety of burn patients.
Topics: Humans; Anxiety; Aromatherapy; Burns; Lavandula; Pain; Rosa
PubMed: 36651329
DOI: 10.1111/iwj.14093 -
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Jan 2024Aging or senescence is part of human life development with many effects on the physical, mental, and physiological aspects which may lead to age-related deterioration in... (Review)
Review
Aging or senescence is part of human life development with many effects on the physical, mental, and physiological aspects which may lead to age-related deterioration in many organs. Genus Curcuma family Zingieraceae represents one of the well-studied and medically important genera with more than eighty species. The genus is reported to contain different classes of biologically active compounds that are mainly presented in diphenylheptanoids, diphenylpentanoids, diphenylalkanoids, phenylpropene derivatives, alkaloids, flavonoids, chromones, terpenoids, phenolic acids and volatile constituents. Rhizomes and roots of such species are rich with main phytoconstituents viz. curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bis-demethoxycurcumin. A wide variety of biological activities were demonstrated for different extracts and essential oils of genus Curcuma members including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and neuroprotective. Thus, making them as an excellent safe source for nutraceutical products and as a continuous promising area of research on lead compounds that may help in the slowing down of the aging process especially the neurologic and mental deterioration that are usually experienced upon aging. In this review different species of the genus Curcuma were summarized with their phytochemical and biological activities highlighting their role as antiaging agents. The data were collected from different search engines viz. Pubmed®, Google Scholar®, Scopus® and Web of Science® limiting the search to the period between 2003 up till now.
Topics: Humans; Phytotherapy; Curcuma; Ethnopharmacology; Alkaloids; Diarylheptanoids
PubMed: 38212737
DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04317-w -
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine... Oct 2023To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Weichang'an pill (, WCA) combined with Western Medicine (WM) for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Weichang'an pill (, WCA) combined with Western Medicine (WM) for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.
METHODS
Eight databases, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Wanfang Data, China Science and Technology Journal Database, SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase, were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of WCA from inception to 30 September 2021. We independently screened the literature, extracted data, and then evaluated the bias risk, effectiveness, safety, and other indicators of the included articles.
RESULTS
A total of 33 RCTs were included in this study with 3368 patients. After analysis, it was found that WCA combined with WM could effectively prevent and treat antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal reaction, functional dyspepsia (FD), irritable bowel syndrome, rotavirus diarrhea (RVD), and ulcerative colitis (UC); no serious adverse reactions occurred. Moreover, compared with the control group, the experimental group showed significantly improved symptoms and some biochemical parameters.
CONCLUSIONS
WCA combined with WM for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases had better clinical efficacy than the control group, without serious adverse reactions. Notably, in the treatment of FD, RVD, and UC, WCA improved clinical symptoms and biochemical indicator expression. Nevertheless, owing to the restricted quality and quantity of the literature, the results need to be further studied using high-quality RCTs.
Topics: Humans; Phytotherapy; Dyspepsia; Colitis, Ulcerative; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Treatment Outcome; Diarrhea
PubMed: 37946467
DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20230814.003 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2023Vetiver root is widely used to produce essential oils in the aromatherapy industry. After the extraction of oil, the roots are disposed of as waste. The central...
Vetiver root is widely used to produce essential oils in the aromatherapy industry. After the extraction of oil, the roots are disposed of as waste. The central objective of this research was to explore the conversion of this waste into a resource using a circular economy framework. To generate biochar, vetiver roots were pyrolyzed at different temperatures (300, 500, and 700 °C) and residence times (30, 60, and 120 min). Analysis showed the root biochar generated at 500 °C and held for 60 min had the highest surface area of 308.15 m/g and a yield of 53.76%, in addition to other favorable characteristics. Comparatively, the surface area and the yield of shoot biochar were significantly lower compared to those of the roots. Repurposing the spent root biomass for environmental and agronomic benefits, our circular economy concept prevents the plant tissue from entering landfills or the waste stream.
Topics: Agriculture; Aromatherapy; Biomass; Industry; Charcoal
PubMed: 38202646
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29010063