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EFSA Journal. European Food Safety... Apr 2023Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of anise oil and anise tincture obtained from...
Safety and efficacy of feed additives obtained from the fruit of L.: anise oil for use in poultry and horses and anise tincture for use in poultry, dogs, cats and horses (FEFANA asbl).
Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of anise oil and anise tincture obtained from the fruit of L., when used as sensory additives. The use of the anise oil at the proposed use level in complete feed of 1.9 mg/kg for laying hens and 5 mg/kg for horses was considered of low concern. The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) had no safety concern when anise oil is used at the proposed use levels of 1.5 mg/kg for chickens for fattening and at 1.7 mg/kg for turkeys for fattening. The use of anise tincture at the proposed conditions of use was considered of low concern in dogs, cats, horses and laying hens, and of no concern in chickens for fattening. The use of the additives up to the highest level in feed which was considered of low or no concern for target animals was also expected to be of no concern for consumers. The additives under assessment should be considered as irritants to skin and eyes, and as dermal and respiratory sensitisers. Due to the high concentration of estragole (≥ 1%), anise oil is classified as suspected of causing genetic defects and of causing cancer and should be handled accordingly. When handling anise tincture, exposure of unprotected users to estragole may occur. Therefore, to reduce the risk, the exposure of the users should be minimised. The use of these additives in animal feed was not expected to pose a risk to the environment. Since the fruit of and its preparations are recognised to flavour food and their function in feed would be the same, no further demonstration of efficacy was considered necessary.
PubMed: 37089173
DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7976 -
Pharmaceutics Nov 2022Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is classified as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. As the standard drugs for the treatment of this disease...
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is classified as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. As the standard drugs for the treatment of this disease suffer from severe unwanted effects, new effective and safe therapeutic options are required. In our previous work, Arnica tincture showed promising antileishmanial effects in vitro and in vivo. For the potential treatment of human CL patients with Arnica tincture, data on the pharmacokinetic properties of the bioactive, antileishmanial compounds (the sesquiterpene lactone (STL) helenalin and its derivatives) are needed. Therefore, we studied the in vivo absorption of the bioactive compounds after the dermal application of Arnica tincture in rats. Moreover, we analyzed the blood plasma, urine, and feces of the animals by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS). Although the majority (84%) of the applied STLs (1.0 mg) were absorbed, the concentrations in the plasma, urine, and feces were below the limit of detection (0.3 ng/mL) in the samples for UHPLC-HRMS analysis. This result may be explained by extensive metabolism and slow permeation accompanied by the accumulation of STLs in the skin, as described in our previous work. Accordingly, the plasma concentration of STLs after the topical application of Arnica tincture was very far from a dose where toxicity could be expected. Additionally, tests for corrosive or irritant activity as well as acute and repeated-dose dermal toxicity did not show any positive results after the administration of the amounts of Arnica tincture that would be needed for the treatment of CL. Consequently, in the treatment of CL patients with Arnica tincture, no toxic effects are expected, other than the known sensitization potential of the STLs.
PubMed: 36365196
DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14112379 -
EFSA Journal. European Food Safety... Feb 2023Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a tincture from the roots of (Rupr. &...
Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of a tincture derived from the roots of (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim. (taiga root tincture) for use in dogs, cats and horses (FEFANA asbl).
Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a tincture from the roots of (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim. (taiga root tincture) when used as a sensory additive in feed for dogs, cats and horses. The Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that the additive is safe for dogs, cats and horses at the maximum proposed use level of 460.7, 489.5 and 140.7 mg/kg complete feed, respectively. The additive was considered safe for consumers when used at the proposed conditions of use in horses for meat production. The additive under assessment should be considered as irritant to skin and eyes, and as a skin and respiratory sensitiser. The use of the taiga root tincture as a flavour in feed for horses was not expected to pose a risk for the environment. Since the root of has flavouring properties and its function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy is considered necessary for the tincture under assessment.
PubMed: 36866192
DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7876 -
EFSA Journal. European Food Safety... Apr 2021Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific...
Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a tincture from the roots of L. (gentian tincture) when used as a sensory feed additive for all animal species. The product is a ■■■■■ solution, with a dry matter content of approximately 4.3%. The product contains on average 0.0836% polyphenols (of which 0.0463% are flavonoids and 0.0027% xanthones) and 0.0022% gentiopicroside. The FEEDAP Panel concludes that gentian tincture is safe at the maximum proposed use level of 50 mg/kg complete feed for short-living animals (animals for fattening). The FEEDAP Panel considers that the use in water for drinking is safe provided that the total daily intake of the additive does not exceed the daily amount that is considered safe when consumed via feed. Considering the genotoxic potential of gentiopicroside and xanthones (gentisin and isogentisin), no conclusions can be drawn for long-living animals (companion animals, horses and animals for reproduction). No safety concern would arise for the consumer from the use of gentian tincture up to the highest safe level in animal nutrition. In the absence of data, no conclusions can be drawn on the potential of the tincture to be a dermal/eye irritant or a skin sensitiser. The data available do not allow to conclude on risks of genotoxicity and carcinogenicity for dermal exposure. Use of the tincture derived from as a flavour in animal feed is not expected to pose a risk for the environment. Since and gentian root extract are recognised to flavour food and their function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy is considered necessary for the tincture under application.
PubMed: 33897869
DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2021.6547 -
Pharmaceutics Mar 2022Arnica tincture is a traditional herbal medicine used to treat blunt injuries, e.g., bruises and squeezes. In addition, a potential new use in the treatment of cutaneous...
Arnica tincture is a traditional herbal medicine used to treat blunt injuries, e.g., bruises and squeezes. In addition, a potential new use in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis is currently under investigation. Therefore, detailed information about the dermal absorption of the tincture and especially its bioactive constituents, sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) of the helenalin- and 11α,13-dihydrohelenalin type, is mandatory. Consequently, this article reports on dermal absorption studies of Arnica tincture using diffusion cells and porcine skin as well as two human skin samples with different permeability. The amounts of STLs on the skin surfaces, in skin extracts and in the receptor fluids were quantified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS). It was found that Arnica STLs permeated into the receptor fluid already 4 h after the application, but the amount was rather low. Within 48 h, a maximum of 8.4%, 14.6% and 36.4% of STLs permeated through porcine skin, human skin A (trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) = 11.518 g·m·h) and the more permeable human skin B (TEWL = 17.271 g·m·h), respectively. The majority of STLs was absorbed (penetrated into the skin; 97.6%, 97.8% and 99.3%) after 48 h but a huge portion could not be extracted from skin and is expected to be irreversibly bound to skin proteins. To better visualize the analytes in different skin layers, a fluorescence-labeled STL, helenalin 3,4-dimethoxycinnamate, was synthesized. Fluorescence microscopic images depict an accumulation of the fluorescent derivative in the epidermis. For the treatment of local, cutaneous complaints, an enrichment of the bioactive substances in the skin may be considered beneficial.
PubMed: 35456576
DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14040742 -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Jan 2021Extracts of several Asteraceae species in Brazil are popularly used as anti-inflammatory. Some of these species are popularly recognizes as "arnica" because of the...
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Extracts of several Asteraceae species in Brazil are popularly used as anti-inflammatory. Some of these species are popularly recognizes as "arnica" because of the morphological and sensorial analogy with the traditional European Arnica montana. These used species in Brazil were identified as Calea uniflora Less, Chaptalia nutans (L.) Polák, Lychnophora ericoides Mart. Lychnophora pinaster Mart. Lychnophora salicifolia Mart. Porophyllum ruderale (Jacq.) Cass, Pseudobrickellia brasiliensis (Spreng.) R. M. King & H. Rob. Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski and Solidago chilensis Meyen. However, the comparative chemical profile of these so-called "arnicas" has never been reported in the literature.
AIM OF THE STUDY
This work aimed to compare the main plants recognized as "arnica" in Brazil by using metabolomic analysis, based on UPLC-ESI-QTof-MS data and multivariate statistical analysis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The metabolites profiling of 10 "arnica" species were established by UPLC-ESI-QTof-MS. Three tinctures of each species (dry leaves) were produced and one aliquot of each tincture was injected and analyzed three times by UPLC-ESI-QTof-MS. Data were acquired both in negative and positive modes and processed by MassLynx®, MarkerLynx® and Matlab® softwares. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to reduce dimensionality and data redundancy; hierarchical trees helped to identify and eliminate contaminated or misplaced injections/samples. To achieve the objectives both hierarchical and k-means clustering techniques were employed to group similar samples or species.
RESULTS
Diagnostic analysis of MS data allowed the identification of 54 metabolites. The identification was supported with the use of an external standard, fragmentation pattern and data from the literature. The main classes of identified compounds included phenolic acids, coumarin, flavonoids, heterosides, terpenoids and nitrogen compounds. Cluster analysis revealed that Sphagneticola trilobata, Solidago chilensis and Lychnophora pinaster have some chemical features similar to those of Arnica montana. In contrast, the same statistical analysis also showed that Pseudobrickellia brasiliensis, Porophyllum ruderale and Chaptalia nutans are chemically diverse from Arnica montana. The variability of the samples relied principally on nitrogenated compounds (confidence level 4) found in P. brasiliensis and P. ruderale, three phenolic compounds (level 2) detected in P. brasiliensis and in C. nutans and triterpenes (level 3) found in L. salicifolia and L. pinaster.
CONCLUSIONS
In summary, the mass spectrometry technique in conjunction with multivariate statistical analysis proved to be an excellent tool to identify correlated compounds, as well as to verify the chemical similarity among evaluated species. This methodology was successfully used to establish important correlations in medicinal preparations of so-called "arnicas" used in Brazil.
Topics: Arnica; Asteraceae; Brazil; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Mass Spectrometry; Metabolomics; Multivariate Analysis; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves
PubMed: 32829056
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113149 -
Journal of Traditional and... Mar 2022(Anacardiaceae) is widely used in folk medicine for treating gastrointestinal and emotional complaints but there are no scientific studies that support these uses. This...
(Anacardiaceae) is widely used in folk medicine for treating gastrointestinal and emotional complaints but there are no scientific studies that support these uses. This work aims at evaluating the antispasmodic and central effects of as well as the flavonoids presence in the tincture (SchT) and the composition of the essential oil (SchO). SchT inhibited the concentration-response curves (CRC) of carbachol and calcium in a non-competitive way in isolated rat intestine, bladder and uterus. SchT also non-competitively inhibited the CRC of histamine in guinea-pig intestine and the CRCs of serotonin and oxytocin in rat uterus. Isoquercetin and rutin were identified in SchT. The behavioral effects of SchT, SchO and infusion of leaves (SchW) were tested in mice. These extracts showed an anxiolytic-like effect in the novelty-suppressed feeding test, which was reversed by flumazenil except in SchO-treated mice. Only SchO reduced the spontaneous locomotor function in the open field test. Also, SchT and SchW decreased immobility time in both, the tail suspension (TST) and forced swimming tests, while SchO produced the same effect in the TST. d-limonene and α-santalol were the main components found in SchO. The results demonstrated that extracts obtained from leaves were effective as intestinal, urinary and uterine antispasmodics. SchT and SchW exhibited anxiolytic and antidepressant properties without sedation, whereas SchO showed also sedative properties. Therefore, the present study gives preclinical support to the traditional use of this plant for gastrointestinal and depressive or emotional symptoms.
PubMed: 35528474
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2021.07.004 -
The North American Medico-chirurgical... May 1859
PubMed: 38079837
DOI: No ID Found -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2022The global incidence and mortality rates resulting from lung cancer encapsulate a need to identify more effective treatment protocols. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and...
The global incidence and mortality rates resulting from lung cancer encapsulate a need to identify more effective treatment protocols. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and homeopathy offer possible anticancer therapies as part of a multi-disciplinary approach. Studies have identified the anticancer effects of L. plant extracts. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of (TO) homeopathic mother tincture and TO mediated PDT (TO-PDT) on A549 lung cancer cells. Commercially available A549 cells were pre-treated with TO, or laser irradiation at 660 nm, or the combined treatment (TO-PDT). Cells were analyzed morphologically by inverted light microscopy and Hoechst stain; and biochemically by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and trypan blue assays. Cells treated with TO and TO-PDT demonstrated morphological changes in the cell and cell nuclei indicative of cell death. These groups exhibited a dose dependent increase in LDH release and a decrease in ATP levels and cell viability indicating its cytotoxic and antiproliferative potential. Furthermore, at the same doses, TO when photoactivated in PDT induced enhanced anticancer responses thereby surpassing the effects of treatment with the tincture alone. Results demonstrate how the direct cytotoxic effects of TO can be improved when administered as a photosensitizer in PDT to promote cancer cell death.
PubMed: 35910365
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.928135 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2022The genus s. str. (Parmeliaceae family, Cetrarioid clade) consists of 15 species of mostly erect brown or greenish yellow fruticose or subfoliose thallus. These... (Review)
Review
The genus s. str. (Parmeliaceae family, Cetrarioid clade) consists of 15 species of mostly erect brown or greenish yellow fruticose or subfoliose thallus. These species have a cosmopolitan distribution, being primarily located in the Northern Hemisphere, in North America and in the Eurasia area. Phytochemical analysis has demonstrated the presence of dibenzofuran derivatives (usnic acid), depsidones (fumarprotocetraric and protocetraric acids) and fatty acids (lichesterinic and protolichesterinic acids). The species of , and more particularly , has been widely employed in folk medicine for the treatment of digestive and respiratory diseases as decoctions, tinctures, aqueous extract, and infusions. Moreover, has had an important nutritional and cosmetic value. These traditional uses have been validated in in vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies. Additionally, new therapeutic activities are being investigated, such as antioxidant, immunomodulatory, cytotoxic, genotoxic and antigenotoxic. Among all species, the most investigated by far has been , followed by and . The aim of the current review is to update all the knowledge about the genus covering aspects that include taxonomy and phylogeny, morphology and distribution, ecological and environmental interest, phytochemistry, traditional uses and pharmacological properties.
Topics: Antioxidants; Botany; Ethnopharmacology; Medicine, Traditional; Parmeliaceae; Phytochemicals; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 35956939
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27154990