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BMC Complementary and Alternative... Jul 2016Diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome are the common problems of the modern society. The interest in herbal medicines increases, and often they are used in...
BACKGROUND
Diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome are the common problems of the modern society. The interest in herbal medicines increases, and often they are used in combination with conventional drugs. Aegopodium podagraria L. (goutweed) is a plant widely used in traditional medicine. Hypoglycemic effect of goutweed aerial part tincture has been previously shown in alloxan-induced diabetic mice and in rats receiving excess of fructose and hydrochlorothiazide. The effects of co-administration of the tincture with widely used antihyperglycemic drugs have not been verified. The objective of this study is to determine the efficacy of goutweed tincture and its combination with metformin using the model reproducing the pathogenetic mechanisms of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
METHODS
The animals were divided into 5 groups, as follows: intact control, dexamethasone (untreated), dexamethasone + metformin, 50 mg/kg; dexamethasone + A. podagraria tincture, 1 ml/kg intragastrically; dexamethasone + metformin, 50 mg/kg intragastrically + A. podagraria tincture, 1 ml/kg intragastrically. Dexamethasone was used at a dose of 5 mg/kg subcutaneously for 5 days. Insulin tolerance test and oral glucose tolerance test were performed, triglycerides, total lipids, total and HDL cholesterol content in plasma were determined, LDL cholesterol content was calculated, glycogen content in the liver was measured.
RESULTS
Goutweed tincture combined with metformin increased its effect on the basal glycemia and on the results of the short insulin test. In the oral glucose tolerance test the lowest area under glucose curve and average glycemia value were seen in animals receiving this combination. Only metformin tended toward the reduction of liver glycogen. The decrease in triglycerides and increment of HDL cholesterol content (caused by the tincture), as well as tendency towards the decrease in total lipids level (caused by metformin) were observed against a background of the investigated combination, though the ability of GW tincture to reduce LDL cholesterol content and the same tendency seen against a background of metformin were eliminated when these preparations were administered together.
CONCLUSION
It has been shown that goutweed tincture combined with the respectively low dose of metformin partially increases the efficacy of the latter in dexamethasone-treated rats. Goutweed tincture combined with the respectively low dose of metformin partially increases the efficacy of the latter in dexamethasone-treated rats.
Topics: Animals; Apiaceae; Blood Glucose; Dexamethasone; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Glucose; Hypoglycemic Agents; Lipid Metabolism; Liver; Male; Metformin; Plant Preparations; Rats
PubMed: 27450405
DOI: 10.1186/s12906-016-1221-y -
EFSA Journal. European Food Safety... Dec 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 bark of J. Presl (cinnamon tincture) when used as a sensory additive in feed and water for drinking for all animal species. The product is a water/ethanol ■■■■■ solution, with a dry matter content of approximately 0.9%. The product contains on average 0.344% polyphenols (of which 0.001% are flavonoids) and 0.001% cinnamaldehyde. Methyleugenol was present at the limit of detection in one out of the five batches examined. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that cinnamon tincture is safe at the maximum proposed use level of 50 mg/kg complete feed for all animal species except horses. For horses, the maximum proposed use level of 60 mg/kg complete feed is considered safe. No safety concern would arise for the consumer from the use of cinnamon tincture up to the highest proposed use levels in feed. The additive under assessment should be considered as irritant to skin and eyes, and as a skin and respiratory sensitiser. The use of the cinnamon tincture as a flavour in animal feed is not expected to pose a risk for the environment. Since and cinnamon bark extracts 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: 34934461
DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2021.6986 -
EFSA Journal. European Food Safety... Jul 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 buds of L. (pine...
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 buds of L. (pine tincture) when used as a sensory additive in feed and water for drinking for all animal species. The product under assessment is a ■■■■■ solution, with a dry matter content of ~ 2.2%. The product contains on average 0.0882% polyphenols, of which 0.0222% are phenolic acids. The Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that pine tincture is safe at the maximum proposed use level of 50 mg/kg complete feed for all animal species. The FEEDAP Panel considers that the use in water for drinking alone or in combination with use in feed should not exceed the daily amount that is considered safe when consumed via feed alone. No safety concern would arise for the consumer from the use of pine tincture up to the maximum proposed use level in feed. Pine tincture should be considered as irritant to skin and eyes, and as a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. The use of pine tincture in animal feed was not expected to pose a risk for the environment. Since twigs of , which are considered similar in composition to the source material for the production of pine tincture, are described to flavour food, no further demonstration of efficacy is deemed necessary.
PubMed: 37502016
DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8181 -
Therapeutic Innovation & Regulatory... Jan 2021The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global setting of clinical crisis and human anxiety. Without available safe and effective vaccines and cures, an unscrupulous...
BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global setting of clinical crisis and human anxiety. Without available safe and effective vaccines and cures, an unscrupulous marketplace has emerged selling COVID-19 quackery (fraudulent misrepresentation of preventions and treatments).
METHODS
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Warning Letters issued from March 2020 to July 2020 were analyzed for themes pertaining to unapproved, adulterated, and misbranded COVID-19 products.
RESULTS
During this period, the FDA issued 3,139 Warning Letters of which 98 (3.14%) of these were focused on COVID-19-related drugs, devices, biologics, and dietary supplements (products and ingredients). Specifically, these Warning Letters revealed regulatory nonconformities involving 40 identified herbs, 22 minerals/compounds, 6 devices and biologicals, and 3 vitamins. Products included hand sanitizers; COVID-19 antibody test kits; herbal teas and tinctures; nasal gel; toothpaste; and 1 vaccine. Nine Warning Letters were issued for products being sold via the Amazon online shopping platform.
CONCLUSION
A small percentage of FDA Warning Letters recently have been focused on COVID-19. These Letters expose the blatant and potentially harmful quackery of vendors across the world who prioritize financial gain over clinical beneficence. Patient history-taking should include queries about non-traditional and unapproved products to identify, document, and report potentially harmful quackery. FDA Warning Letters are a component of meaningful corrective action; however, greater effort in spreading awareness of such misrepresented, unapproved, and adulterated products is needed to deter purchases of such products.
Topics: COVID-19; Correspondence as Topic; Databases, Factual; Fraud; Government Regulation; Humans; Quackery; SARS-CoV-2; United States; United States Food and Drug Administration
PubMed: 33001378
DOI: 10.1007/s43441-020-00224-1 -
EFSA Journal. European Food Safety... Apr 2024Following 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 C.A.Mey....
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 C.A.Mey. (ginseng tincture), when used as a sensory additive in feed for horses, dogs and cats. The product is a water/ethanol (40:60 v/v) solution, with a dry matter content of no more than 6% and a content of 0.01%-0.5% (w/w) for the sum of the two triterpene saponins ginsenoside Rb1 and ginsenoside Rg1. The Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that the tincture is safe for horses, dogs and cats at the maximum proposed use level of 48.6, 228.7 and 162 mg/kg complete feed, respectively. The Panel also concluded that the additive is considered safe for consumers when used at the proposed conditions of use in feed for horses. Ginseng tincture should be considered as an irritant to skin and eyes, and as a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. The use of the ginseng tincture as a flavour in feed for horses was not expected to pose a risk for the environment. Since the roots of and its preparations were recognised to flavour food and their function in feed would be essentially the same, no demonstration of efficacy was considered necessary.
PubMed: 38591023
DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8730 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2019Black chokeberry () is a source of many bioactive compounds with a wide spectrum of health-promoting properties. Fresh, unprocessed chokeberry fruits are rarely consumed... (Review)
Review
Black chokeberry () is a source of many bioactive compounds with a wide spectrum of health-promoting properties. Fresh, unprocessed chokeberry fruits are rarely consumed due to their astringent taste, but they are used in the food industry for the production of juices, nectars, syrups, jams, preserves, wines, tinctures, fruit desserts, jellies, fruit teas and dietary supplements. Polyphenols are biofactors that determine the high bioactivity of chokeberries, some of the richest sources of polyphenols, which include anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavonols, flavanols, proanthocyanidins, and phenolic acids. Chokeberry fruit and products have great antioxidant and health-promoting potential as they reduce the occurrence of free radicals. This publication reviewed the scientific research regarding the phenolic compounds and the antioxidant potential of chokeberry fruits, products and isolated compounds. These findings may be crucial in future research concerning chokeberry based functional food products. Chokeberry fruits can be considered as promising component of designed food with enhanced antioxidant potential. However, like other plants and medicinal products of natural origin, black chokeberry requires extensive studies to determine its antioxidant potential, safety and mechanisms of action.
Topics: Antioxidants; Fruit and Vegetable Juices; Phenols; Photinia; Phytochemicals; Plant Extracts; Polyphenols
PubMed: 31619015
DOI: 10.3390/molecules24203710 -
PloS One 2020Saponins are secondary metabolites from plants added to shampoos and beverages to make them foam, and the sapogenins released from them upon acid hydrolysis are commonly...
BACKGROUND
Saponins are secondary metabolites from plants added to shampoos and beverages to make them foam, and the sapogenins released from them upon acid hydrolysis are commonly used as starting materials for steroidal drugs. However, current methods embed the saponin in a thick "gum" material consisting of multiple impurities. This gum limits access to the saponin, reducing the efficiency of hydrolysis and requiring large amounts of heat, organic solvents and effort to recover the sapogenin. For centuries, herbalists have been making tinctures by soaking plant materials at room temperature, in mixtures of alcohol and water. Many herbal tinctures contain saponins floating freely in solution, gum free. The saponin from sarsaparilla (Smilax spp), sarsasaponin, yields the sapogenin, sarsasapogenin, upon acid hydrolysis. The retail price of sarsasapogenin is very high but would be lower if the "gum problem" could be avoided.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We incubated sarsaparilla tincture under different conditions of temperature, acidity and duration then used quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) to measure the amount of sarsasapogenin produced by hydrolysis as well as the amount of its epimer, smilagenin.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Most, if not all the sarsasaponin in sarsaparilla root powder is extracted into a solution of 45% ethanol (55% water) at room temperature and stays suspended without formation of any particles (gum). Acid hydrolysis of the saponin in this solution is very efficient, approaching 100%. The sarsasapogenin released by hydrolysis and the smilagenin produced by its epimerisation, migrate into the chloroform phase.
CONCLUSION
Sarsaparilla saponin diffuses into and disperses in a solution of alcohol:water (45:55) at room temperature. Hydrolysis of saponins in tincture provides a simple, inexpensive and environmentally friendly alternative.
Topics: Acids; Hydrolysis; Plant Roots; Sapogenins; Saponins; Secondary Metabolism; Smilax
PubMed: 33382809
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244654 -
African Journal of Traditional,... 2013Mistletoes of the Loranthaceae and Viscaceae are hemiparasitic plants and their preparations in the form of injectable extracts, infusions, tinctures, fluid extracts or... (Review)
Review
Mistletoes of the Loranthaceae and Viscaceae are hemiparasitic plants and their preparations in the form of injectable extracts, infusions, tinctures, fluid extracts or tea bags are widely used in various cultures in almost every continent to treat or manage various health problems including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, inflammatory conditions, irregular menstruations, menopause, epilepsy, arthritis, cancer, etc. The medicinal values of some species of Mistletoes (Loranthaceae) growing in the West African sub-region have been reviewed along with some considerations of their chemistries and local uses. These have been compared with Mistletoes (Loranthaceae and Viscaceae) growing elsewhere in Europe and Asia. This review has attempted to update our knowledge on the values of these hemi-parasites which belong to the genera - Globimetula, Phragmanthera, Agelanthus and Tapinanthus, and which have, for years, been seen as only devastating and notorious plants. They are also seen as epiphyting economic, ornamental and medicinal plants. The hemi-parasitic plants (Mistletoes) are not well understood as very little is known about their biology (taxonomy, host/plant relationship, ecology, toxicology, physiological characteristics, etc.) and chemistry (chemical constituents' profile). Some pharmacological studies carried out on the various crude alcoholic extracts and purified fractions have, however, revealed that mistletoes showed hypotensive, hypoglycaemic, antilipidaemic, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, etc. effects and were non-toxic in experimental animals at the doses used. The findings showed that mistletoes can be very useful as medicinal agents in ameliorating health problems such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, arthritis, pain, cancer and a host of other ailments if properly studied and developed.
Topics: Animals; Ethnopharmacology; Humans; Loranthaceae; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 24146518
DOI: 10.4314/ajtcam.v10i4.26 -
Iranian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Jul 2021Otomycosis, as a common superficial fungal infection, is the term to infection of external auditory canal. Despite numerous studies on diverse antifungal agents, there...
INTRODUCTION
Otomycosis, as a common superficial fungal infection, is the term to infection of external auditory canal. Despite numerous studies on diverse antifungal agents, there is no common consent on effective agent for treatment of otomycosis. Therefore, the purpose of this study is compared therapy of otomycosis using two therapeutic agents; clotrimazole and iodine tincture.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This research is a clinical trial study included 160 patients who were presented otomycosis. All patients were randomly assigned into two therapeutic groups of clotrimazole and Iodine Tincture (80 cases in each group). The results of response to thrapy were evaluated on 4, 10, and 20 days. Statistical analyses were performed using Independent-Samples t-test, Chi-Square, and Fishers҆ Exact tests in SPSS software v.18, in 0.05 significant level.
RESULTS
Fungal species were isolated including (72.5%) and (22.5%). After 4day of treatment, 7.5% of the tincture group and 11.2% of the clotrimazole group revealed a good response to treatment (). A good response to treatment was observed in35.0 and 41.2% of the patients on 10 day of treatment (); and in 67.5 and 62.5% of the patients on 20 day of treatment (). There was no significant relationship between the two therapeutic arms.
CONCLUSION
In this study, both clotrimazole and tincture showed the identical therapeutic efficacy on otomycosis. Our findings suggested that tincture can be used as a supplementary antifungal option for treatment of otomycosis.
PubMed: 34395323
DOI: 10.22038/ijorl.2021.51647.2751 -
Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in... May 2014Case Study Mr. D., a 55-year-old male, presented to the medical oncology service with a diagnosis of stage III adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon. He presented 7... (Review)
Review
Case Study Mr. D., a 55-year-old male, presented to the medical oncology service with a diagnosis of stage III adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon. He presented 7 weeks post sigmoid colectomy with lymph node resection and was initiated on adjuvant chemotherapy with CAPOX (capecitabine [Xeloda] and oxaliplatin [Eloxatin]). Standard dosing was used: oxaliplatin at 130 mg/m(2) on day 1 and capecitabine at approximately 2,000 mg/m(2)/day (rounded to the nearest 500-mg tablet size) for 14 days on and 7 days off (1 cycle = 21 days). A capped body surface area of 2.4 m2 was used, due to the patient's body habitus. Adverse Effects Mr. D. did not report any complications of therapy during cycle 1, days 1-7, other than grade 1 diarrhea, which was amenable to diphenoxylate/atropine when taken. The next week, he reported significant malaise and fatigue associated with persistent diarrhea occurring every 30 minutes for 5 days. Mr. D. was instructed to go to the emergency room for an immediate evaluation, but he refused. Mr. D. presented to the clinic in poor condition on day 14 of cycle 1. His diarrhea had increased to grade 3 and was not controlled with either loperamide or diphenoxylate/atropine, though he was not taking his medications as directed. He had been instructed to take two 2-mg loperamide tablets after the first loose stool, followed by 1 tablet of diphenoxylate/atropine 2 hours later. He could then alternate this with loperamide every 2 hours as needed, not to exceed 8 tablets of loperamide per day. Instead, he had taken 2 tablets of loperamide after the first loose stool, but either waited 6 hours to take 1 tablet of diphenoxylate/atropine or otherwise chose not to alternate the medications at all despite continued diarrhea, depending on the day. Mr. D.'s timing in taking his supportive medications was inconsistent, and his explanations of this timing were not exact. He also reported persistent grade 3 nausea with vomiting for 5 days, which did not improve with ondansetron and prochlorperazine, though he again did not take these consistently. He was advised to alternate ondansetron and prochlorperazine every 4 hours as needed, but only took one or the other medication approximately 3 times per day. According to Mr. D., his adverse effects initially began on day 9 of cycle 1. He had lost approximately 14 kg (31 lb) during cycle 1. Clinically, he was found to have grade 2 mucositis and grade 1 hand-foot syndrome. At the time of this visit, his absolute neutrophil count was 3,000/ìL, his hemoglobin was 14.4 g/dL, his hematocrit 42.2%, and his platelet count was 139,000/ìL. His kidney function was within the normal range. Mr. D. refused hospitalization despite the primary team's recommendation. He also refused to undergo stool sampling for Clostridium difficile. He was given IV fluids along with adjustments in supportive medications, including a prescription for 10% tincture of opium. He was instructed to use 0.6 mL every 6 hours in addition to alternating loperamide with diphenoxylate/atropine as noted previously. He was advised to rinse his mouth with a baking soda solution for relief of his grade 1 mucositis, and alternation of antiemetics every 4 hours was reiterated. He was to return prior to initiation of cycle 2 for further evaluation. Worsening Symptoms The next day, Mr. D.'s wife called the clinic to report that her husband's diarrhea continued despite the use of tincture of opium and that it was associated with hematochezia. He was also experiencing a worsening of his mucositis, with an associated swelling of the tongue. He was instructed to present to the emergency center, which he did on day 16 of cycle 1. By then, he was found to be febrile at 39.5°C. He was tachycardic, with a heart rate of 126, and he was experiencing significant abdominal pain associated with the diarrhea. The mucositis was worsening, with new odynophagia. At this time, Mr. D.'s absolute neutrophil count had dropped dramatically to 160/ìL, his hemoglobin was 13.1 g/dL, his hematocrit was 39.2%, and his platelet count was 68,000/ìL. He was admitted to the inpatient service and started on empiric antibiotics. His blood cultures remained negative during hospitalization, but stool cultures were positive for C. difficile. His antimicrobial regimen was deescalated to oral vancomycin once his stool volume decreased. He was treated with an institutional compounded mouthwash of diphenhydramine, aluminum/magnesium hydroxide, and viscous lidocaine for the mucositis, which also slowly improved. He was given a dose of growth factor. Neutropenia eventually resolved, with an absolute neutrophil count of 4,820/ìL on the day of discharge. He was discharged 26 days after initiating cycle 1, at which time his myelosuppression and mucositis were also resolved. Throughout his course, he did not report any neurotoxicity. DPD Testing Due to his severe symptoms of neutropenia, mucositis, and diarrhea, Mr. D. was tested for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency. Testing confirmed a heterozygous IVS14+IG>A mutation. For this reason, all further adjuvant therapy was withheld, and he was followed on clinical surveillance only.
PubMed: 25089219
DOI: 10.6004/jadpro.2014.5.3.5