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Forschende Komplementarmedizin (2006) Feb 2008The potential benefit of silymarin (special extract from the fruits of Silybum marianum) in the treatment of liver diseases remains a controversial issue. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
The potential benefit of silymarin (special extract from the fruits of Silybum marianum) in the treatment of liver diseases remains a controversial issue.
METHODS
For this systematic review electronic databases identified 65 papers for the search terms silymarin, silibinin, silicristin or milk thistle and clinical trial. Only 19 complied with the criteria'double-' or 'single-blind'. These publications were analysed from a clinical point of view and meta-analytic calculations were performed.
RESULTS
The clinical evidence ofa therapeutic effect of silymarin in toxic liver diseases is scarce. There is no evidence of a favourable influence on the evolution of viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis C. In alcoholic liver disease, comparing with placebo, aspartate aminotransferase was reduced in the silymarin-treated groups (p = 0.01) while alkaline phosphatase was not. In liver cirrhosis, mostly alcoholic, total mortality was 16.1% with silymarin vs. 20.5% with placebo (n.s.); liver-related mortality was 10.0% with silymarin vs. 17.3% with placebo(p = 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the available clinical evidence it can be concluded - concerning possible risks /probable benefits - that it is reasonable to employ silymarin as a supportive element in the therapy of Amanita phalloides poisoning but also (alcoholic and grade Child 'A') liver cirrhosis. A consistent research programme, consolidating existing evidence and exploring new potential uses,would be very welcome.
Topics: Amanita; Clinical Trials as Topic; Hepatitis C; Humans; Iatrogenic Disease; Liver Diseases; Silymarin
PubMed: 18334810
DOI: 10.1159/000113648 -
Critical Reviews in Food Science and... 2023Interest in plant-based diets and vegetarianism is increasing worldwide, however, a concern for total vegetarians is vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency. We conducted a...
Interest in plant-based diets and vegetarianism is increasing worldwide, however, a concern for total vegetarians is vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency. We conducted a systematic review to investigate non-animal food sources of B12. Databases were PubMed, LILACS, Cochrane, Embase and Google Scholar, up to September 9, 2020. Quality of the eligible studies were assessed. We identified 25 studies which assessed B12 content in seaweeds, mushrooms, plants and fermented foods. Initial studies were microbiological bioassay, ELISA and HPLC. In the last decade, more sensitive method for real B12 determination was used, the liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry chromatograms. Real B12 content varied from mean () mcg/portion size of seaweed hijiki 3 × 10/7 g to nori 1.03 - 2.68/sheet; mushroom white button cap 2 × 10(7 × 10)/20 g dry weight (dw) to shiitake 0.79(0.67)-1.12 (0.78)/20 g dw; and fermented foods from soy yogurt 20/cup. It is possible that daily recommendations for B12 can be met by a varied diet containing non-animal B12 food sources. Future research should consider different methods of storage, preparation, fermented foods and standardization of the production of certain foods.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2022.2053057.
Topics: Vitamin B 12; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency; Diet, Vegetarian; Vegetables; Agaricales; Seaweed; Edible Seaweeds; Sargassum; Porphyra
PubMed: 35343314
DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2053057 -
The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry Oct 2020There is evidence from both in vitro and animal models that the consumption of edible mushrooms has beneficial effects on health. It is unclear whether similar effects...
There is evidence from both in vitro and animal models that the consumption of edible mushrooms has beneficial effects on health. It is unclear whether similar effects exist in humans and which bioactive compounds are present. This review synthesises the evidence on the world's most commonly consumed mushroom, Agaricus bisporus to (i) examine its effect on human health outcomes; and (ii) determine the nutrient density of its bioactive compounds, which may explain their health effects. A systematic literature search was conducted on the consumption of A. bisporus, without date and study design limits. Bioactive compounds included ergosterol, ergothioneine, flavonoids, glucans and chitin. Two authors independently identified studies for inclusion and assessed methodological quality. Beneficial effects of A. bisporus on metabolic syndrome, immune function, gastrointestinal health and cancer, with the strongest evidence for the improvement in Vitamin D status in humans, were found. Ultraviolet B (UVB) exposed mushrooms may increase and maintain serum 25(OH)D levels to a similar degree as vitamin D supplements. A. bisporus contain beta-glucans, ergosterol, ergothioneine, vitamin D and an antioxidant compound usually reported as flavonoids; with varying concentrations depending on the type of mushroom, cooking method and duration, and UVB exposure. Further research is required to fully elucidate the bioactive compounds in mushrooms using vigorous analytical methods and expand the immunological markers being tested. To enable findings to be adopted into clinical practice and public health initiatives, replication of existing studies in different population groups is required to confirm the impact of A. bisporus on human health.
Topics: Agaricus; Animals; Biological Products; Ergosterol; Ergothioneine; Flavonoids; Glucans; Humans
PubMed: 32653808
DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2020.108453 -
International Journal of Biological... Feb 2024Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P. Kumm. is a well-known homoeopathic plant with medicinal and culinary uses. Modern phytochemical researchers have successfully extracted and... (Review)
Review
Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P. Kumm. is a well-known homoeopathic plant with medicinal and culinary uses. Modern phytochemical researchers have successfully extracted and purified over 40 types of A. mellea polysaccharides (AMPs) from the fruiting bodies, hyphae and fermentation broth of A. mellea, and some of them have been analyzed and identified by their chemical structures. The impressive biological activity of these polysaccharides has been recognized by scientists worldwide. Many studies show that AMPs have remarkable antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, hypolipidemic, thrombectomy, anti-aging, pulmonary protective, hepatic protective, anti-Alzheimer's properties, etc. However, the current understanding of the relationships between their chemical structure and biological activity, toxicological effects and pharmacokinetics remains limited. This article provides a systematic review of the research conducted over the past decades on the extraction and purification methods, structural characteristics, biological activity and mechanism of action of AMPs. The aim is to provide a research base that will benefit the future application of AMPs as therapeutic drugs and functional foods, and also provide insights for the further development of AMPs.
Topics: Polysaccharides; Armillaria; Antioxidants; Anti-Inflammatory Agents
PubMed: 38181916
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.129175 -
Cells Mar 2024Chemoresistance is a challenge in cancer treatment, limiting the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Mushroom extracts have shown potential as treatments for cancer... (Review)
Review
Chemoresistance is a challenge in cancer treatment, limiting the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Mushroom extracts have shown potential as treatments for cancer therapies, offering a possible solution to overcome chemoresistance. This systematic review aimed to explore the role of mushroom extracts in enhancing chemotherapy and reversing chemoresistance in cancer cells. We searched the PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases, following the PRISMA guidelines, and registered on PROSPERO. The extracts acted by inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells, as well as enhancing the effect of chemotherapy. The mechanisms by which they acted included regulating anti-apoptotic proteins, inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway, inhibiting the ERK1/2 pathway, modulating microRNAs and regulating p-glycoprotein. These results highlight the potential of mushroom extracts to modulate multiple mechanisms in order to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy. This work sheds light on the use of mushroom extracts as an aid to chemotherapy to combat chemoresistance. Although studies are limited, the diversity of mushrooms and their bioactive compounds show promising results for innovative strategies to treat cancer more effectively. It is crucial to carry out further studies to better understand the therapeutic potential of mushroom extracts to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy in cancer cells.
Topics: Agaricales; Neoplasms; MicroRNAs; MAP Kinase Signaling System
PubMed: 38534354
DOI: 10.3390/cells13060510 -
Nutrients Apr 2020Cardiometabolic diseases are a leading global health challenge. Their incidence as well as progression is strongly affected by diet. Consumption of ), an edible oyster...
Cardiometabolic diseases are a leading global health challenge. Their incidence as well as progression is strongly affected by diet. Consumption of ), an edible oyster mushroom rich in functional ingredients (e.g., β-glucans), may improve glucose and lipid metabolism, blood pressure, body weight and appetite sensations. Hence, this systematic review aimed to provide an overview on the effects of intake on cardiometabolic parameters from clinical trials, taking into account risk of bias (RoB). Relevant studies were investigated for details with consideration of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. The Cochrane Collaboration's tool was used to assess the RoB. In total, eight trials included observed beneficial effects of intake on glucose metabolism (reduction in fasting and/or 2 h postprandial glucose) and lipids (decrease in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and/or triglycerides), and some found a reduction in blood pressure. In contrast, body weight did not change. Appetite sensations were not assessed. In most studies, the RoB was high or unclear due to methodological weaknesses and/or inadequate reporting. Thus, intake may improve cardiometabolic health, but evidence for this is low. Hence, further clinical trials with an adequate study design are warranted to validate these suggestions.
Topics: Blood Pressure; Cardiovascular Diseases; Clinical Trials as Topic; Dietary Supplements; Glucose; Humans; Lipid Metabolism; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Pleurotus; beta-Glucans
PubMed: 32316680
DOI: 10.3390/nu12041134 -
Yakugaku Zasshi : Journal of the... 2019Cancer patients use health foods (HFs) as complementary and alternative medicine, although the details of their adverse events (AEs) are unclear. We searched three...
Cancer patients use health foods (HFs) as complementary and alternative medicine, although the details of their adverse events (AEs) are unclear. We searched three databases [PubMed, "Igaku Chuo Zasshi", and Information System on Safety and Effectiveness for Health Foods website (https://hfnet.nibiohn.go.jp/)] for case reports on AEs related to HF intake in cancer patients published before October 2018. Of the matched reports, 76 studies and 92 patients (31 in Japan, 61 overseas) that met the selection criteria were included in this review. Thus, the severity of AEs and outcomes were not related to either the concomitant use of HF with cancer chemotherapy or cancer stages of patients. AEs caused by HF intake itself accounted for 87%, while drug-HF interaction accounted for 11%. According to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) classification, 70% of patients whose grades were identified had severe cases (grades 3 to 5). In Japanese patients, hepatic and respiratory disorders accounted for 52% of the severe cases. Cases were predominantly developed as a result of an allergic mechanism, and mushroom products were mostly used. Overseas, serious cases were induced by products that were already indicated for safety problems. Moreover, notable AEs were recognized, such as hypercalcemia, which were caused by intake of HF containing calcium, vitamin D, and shark cartilage, and bacterial infection caused by probiotic products. Analyzing the details of AEs related to HF intake can help health professionals and cancer patients prevent health hazards.
Topics: Agaricales; Complementary Therapies; Databases, Bibliographic; Dietary Supplements; Food Hypersensitivity; Food-Drug Interactions; Functional Food; Humans; Neoplasms
PubMed: 31582619
DOI: 10.1248/yakushi.19-00116