Search results for "Phytotherapy"
showing 10 items of 153 documents
Personalized cancer medicine: from molecular diagnostics to targeted therapy with natural products.
2010
Personalized cancer medicine aims to develop individualized treatment options adapted to factors relevant for the prognosis of each patient. Molecular biomarkers are required to predict the likelihood of an individual tumor's responsiveness or of toxicity in normal organs and to advise optimized treatments with improved efficacy at reduced side effects for each cancer patient. In the present review, we present a concept, which takes advantage of methods of molecular diagnostics to identify predictive markers at the DNA, mRNA, and protein levels. Markers with prognostic value concerning treatment response and patient survival can then be used as targets to develop optimized drugs. We focus o…
A Review of the Phytochemistry, Traditional Uses, and Biological Activities of the Genus Ballota and Otostegia
2019
AbstractThe 2 genera Ballota and Otostegia, belonging to the Lamiaceae family, are closely related taxonomically and found mainly in the Mediterranean area, Middle East, and North Africa. Since ancient times, they have been largely employed in traditional medicine for their biological properties such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, insecticidal, anti-malaria, etc. Phytochemical investigations of Ballota and Otostegia species have revealed that diterpenoids are the main constituents of the genera. A large number of flavonoids and other metabolites were also identified. This review, covering literature from 1911 up to 2018, includes traditional uses, chemical profiles (bot…
A Newly-Detected Reductase fromRauvolfiaCloses a Gap in the Biosynthesis of the Antiarrhythmic Alkaloid Ajmaline
2002
A new enzyme, 1,2-dihydrovomilenine reductase (E.C. 1.3.1), has been detected in Rauvolfia cell suspension cultures. The enzyme specifically converts 2beta( R)-1,2-dihydrovomilenine through an NADPH-dependent reaction into 17-O-acetylnorajmaline, a close biosynthetic precursor of the antiarrhythmic alkaloid ajmaline from Rauvolfia. A five-step purification procedure using SOURCE 30Q chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography, 2',5'-ADP Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography and ion exchange chromatography on DEAE Sepharose and Mono Q delivered an approximately 200-fold enriched enzyme in a yield of approximately 6%. SDS-PAGE showed an M r for the enzyme of approximately 48 kDa. Optimum pH …
Notes on a New Productive Strain of King Oyster Mushroom, Pleurotus eryngii (Higher Basidiomycetes), a Prized Italian Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom
2015
In this paper, the authors provide data on a culinary-medicinal, host-specific variety of P. eryngii species-complex that is known in Italy as "cardoncello". A species description, the techniques of isolation of a new strain (C-142-c), and the preparation of the substratum are illustrated. Data on the productivity of substratum inoculated with C-142-c strain and the nutritional value of cultivated "cardoncello" mushrooms are also provided.
Traditional Chinese herbal medicine at the forefront battle against COVID-19: Clinical experience and scientific basis.
2020
Abstract Background Throughout the 5000-year history of China, more than 300 epidemics were recorded. Traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCM) has been used effectively to combat each of these epidemics’ infections, and saved many lives. To date, there are hundreds of herbal TCM formulae developed for the purpose of prevention and treatment during epidemic infections. When COVID-19 ravaged the Wuhan district in China in early January 2020, without a deep understanding about the nature of COVID-19, patients admitted to the TCM Hospital in Wuhan were immediately treated with TCM and reported later with >90% efficacy. Approach We conducted conduct a systematic survey of various TCM herbal pre…
Pharmacological properties of the methanol extract from Mentha suaveolens Ehrh.
2002
The present study analyses the pharmacological activity in in vivo and in vitro models of the methanol extract obtained from the leaves and steams of Menta suaveolens Ehrh. This extract lacked toxicity, but exhibited a central nervous system depressant action; an analgesic effect in models of chemical and mechanical stimulation suggesting the induction of a peripheral analgesic response. The extract also exhibited an antiinflammatory action inhibiting the rat paw oedema induced by carrageenin. Moreover, the in vitro studies showed a significant diminution in the contractile effects induced by histamine, serotonin and acetylcholine.
Medicinal Plants in the Treatment of Depression: Evidence from Preclinical Studies.
2021
AbstractMedicinal plants and their extracts are natural remedies with enormous potential for treating various diseases, including depression and anxiety. In the case of depression, hundreds of plants have traditionally been used in folk medicine for generations. Different plant extracts and natural products have been analyzed as potential antidepressant agents with validated models to test for antidepressant-like effects in animals, although other complementary studies have also been employed. Most of these studies focus on the possible mediators implicated in these potential effects, with dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline being the principal neurotransmitters implicated, both through …
COX-2 and sPLA2 inhibitory activity of aqueous extract and polyphenols of Rhizophora mangle (red mangrove)
2006
The aqueous extract of Rhizophora mangle bark and its polyphenolic fractions showed remarkable in vitro antiinflammatory activity in a preliminary study. The low molecular weight fraction exhibited cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory activity while the total aqueous extract and the low molecular weight fraction showed secretory phospholipase A(2) inhibitory activity.
The role of ethnobotanics in scientific research. State of ethnobotanical knowledge in Sicily.
2000
This contribution deals with the traditional use of plants of the Sicilian flora. Special attention is given to the species used in popular medicine. Moreover, the importance of ethnobotanics in scientific research and its role in toxicology are shown.
Screening of antiinflammatory medicinal plants used in traditional medicine against skin diseases
1998
The antiinflammatory activity of twelve medicinal plants used against skin disorders were tested in different experimental models of topical inflammation and one in vitro inhibitory test against phospholipase A2 (PLA2) from Naja naja venom. Forsythia suspensa was the most active species on the arachidonic acid (AA) topical test. This last species together with Astragalus membranaceus and Ranunculus sceleratus were the most active on the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) acute ear oedema test. Scrophularia auriculata was the most active on multiple topical applications of TPA and on the oxazolone-induced delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH). Santolina chamaecyparissus was the only sp…