Search results for "phytotherapy"
showing 10 items of 153 documents
Popular uses of wild plant species for medicinal purposes in the Nebrodi Regional Park (North-Eastern Sicily, Italy)
2014
Ethnopharmacological relevance: The area of the Nebrodi Regional Park (North-Eastern Sicily, Italy) has Q3 been quantitatively investigated in an ethnobotanical study for the first time. A total of 90 wild species are used for medicinal purposes and the uses of 5 species have not previously been reported in ethnobotanical studies in Italy (e.g., the use of Arisarum vulgare O. Targ. Tozz. for the treatment of rheumatic pains, the use of Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke for the treatment of liver diseases). Aim of the study: The aim of this paper was to understand to what extent current knowledge on the medicinal use of plants is still an element of the culture within the rural populations of …
Inhibition of Xanthine Oxidase by Phenolic Conjugates of Methylated Quinic Acid
2003
The caffeoyl conjugates of prenylhydroquinone glucoside and of quinic acid, either in the carboxyl-free or carboxymethyl forms, isolated from Phagnalon rupestre (Asteraceae), showed inhibitory activity on lipid peroxidation induced by Fe 2+/ascorbate and by CCl4/NADPH in rat liver microsomes, with IC50 values ranging from 3 to 11 microM. After having demonstrated their effect on the xanthine oxidase-regulated superoxide production, the active compounds were tested for the direct inhibition of this enzyme. Methylated dicaffeoylquinic conjugates competitively inhibited the enzyme and the highest potency was obtained for the 4,5-diester, with an IC50 value of 3.6 microM, nearly ten times lower…
Effects of passiflora incarnata and midazolam for control of anxiety in patients undergoing dental extraction
2017
Background Anxiety symptoms are frequently observed in dental patients, whether they are undergoing simple or more invasive procedures such as surgery. This research aimed to compare the effects of Passiflora incarnata and midazolam for the control of anxiety in patients undergoing mandibular third molar extraction. Material and Methods Forty volunteers underwent bilateral extraction of their mandibular third molars in a randomized, controlled, double-blind, crossover clinical trial. Passiflora incarnata (260 mg) or midazolam (15 mg) were orally administered 30 minutes before surgery. The anxiety level of participants was evaluated by questionnaires and measurement of physical parameters, i…
Iridoid extracts from Ajuga iva increase the antioxidant enzyme activities in red blood cells of rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet.
2010
The lyophilized aqueous extract of Ajuga iva (Ai) is able to reduce oxidative stress, which may prevent lipid peroxidation in hypercholesterolemic rats. Iridoids (I) were isolated from Ai. We hypothesized that the antioxidant defense status in red blood cells (RBC) and tissues in rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet and treated with Ai may be correlated to these compounds. Male Wistar rats (n = 32) weighing 120 +/- 5 g were fed a diet containing 1% cholesterol for 15 days. After this phase, hypercholesterolemic (HC) rats were divided into groups, fed the same diet, and received either the same or different doses (5, 10, or 15 mg/kg body weight by intraperitoneal injection) of I for 15 days. Com…
Changes in antioxidant defense status in hypercholesterolemic rats treated with Ajuga iva.
2007
Abstract The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of Ajuga iva ( Ai ) on serum and tissues lipid peroxidation as well as antioxidant enzymes activities in red blood cells (RBC) and tissues, in high hypercholesterolemic rats (HC). Male Wistar rats ( n =12) were fed on 1% cholesterol-enriched diet for 15 d. After this adaptation phase, hypercholesterolemic rats (total cholesterol=6.5±0.6 mol/l) were divided into two groups fed the same diet and treated or not with Ai for 15 d. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) concentrations in serum, LDL-HDL 1 , HDL 2 and HDL 3 were respectively, 5-, 7.8-, 2.3- and 5-fold lower in Ai treated than untreated hyperchol…
Ajuga ivaaqueous extract improves reverse cholesterol transport in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat
2012
AbstractObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the effects of Ajuga iva aqueous extract on lecithin : cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity and amount and composition of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)2 and (HDL)3, in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.MethodsDiabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg/kg body weight). Diabetic rats (n = 12) were divided into two groups. The diabetic control group (D) received a 20% casein diet and the diabetic treated group received the same diet supplemented with A. iva aqueous extract (0.5 g/100 g diet) (DAi), for 4 weeks.Key findingsTotal cholesterol and HDL3-C were respectively decreased by…
Effects of the flavonoids extracted from Spergularia purpurea Pers. on arterial blood pressure and renal function in normal and hypertensive rats
2001
The antihypertensive and diuretic effects of the flavonoids extracted from Spergularia purpurea Pers. (SP) were studied both in normotensive (NTR) and spontaneously hypertensive conscious rats (SHR). Daily oral administration of the flavonoid mixture (5 mg/kg for 1 week) exhibited a significant decrease in blood pressure with variation coefficient (Delta) of 20 in SHR rats and 11 in NTR rats. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly and respectively with 17 and 24% in SHR, and with 11 and 16% in NTR. The flavonoid mixture enhanced significantly the water excretion in hypertensive (P<0.001) and normal rats (P<0.001). Furthermore, oral administration of flavonoids mix…
Plant genetic resources and traditional knowledge on medicinal use of wild shrub and herbaceous plant species in the Etna Regional Park (Eastern Sici…
2014
Ethnopharmacological relevance: This paper illustrates the results of a study carried out in the Etna Regional Park (Eastern Sicily, Italy) concerning the traditional knowledge on medicinal use of wild plant species. It specifies contains the results of a quantitative analysis carried out for the first time. A total of 71 wild species are used for medicinal purposes. Two species, Astracantha sicula (Biv.) Greuter and Trifolium phleoides Willd., are little known as medicinal in the Mediterranean area. Aim of the study: The main aim of the study was to understand to what extent current knowledge on the medicinal use of plants is still an element of the culture within the elderly population of…
Herbal medicinal products - Evidence and tradition from a historical perspective.
2017
Abstract Background Aside from the fully licensed herbal medicines there are products on the European pharmaceutical market which are registered by virtue of their longstanding traditional use. The normal registration procedure does not apply to them because presently they do not meet the legal requirements for a full license as set out in the relevant European Union Directive. One of these requirements, “proof of tradition”, has so far been dealt with in different ways and fails to meet the criteria of good practice. Method This analysis is based on a selective literature search in PubMed and in databases of medical and pharmaceutical history, interviews with licensing experts, a consensus…
An Aqueous Extract of Ilex paraguariensis Reduces Carrageenan-Induced Edema and Inhibits the Expression of Cyclooxygenase-2 and Inducible Nitric Oxid…
2014
Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is a highly popular herbal beverage in South America due to its high content of caffeine. Its hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties are of increasing interest in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders and for weight control. In the present study, we show for the first time both the local and systemic anti-inflammatory effects of an aqueous extract of mate in three classic in vivo models, namely acute and chronic 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate-induced mouse ear edema and acute carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema. Caffeine, rutin, chlorogenic acid, 3,5-dicafeoyl quinic acid, and 4,5-dicafeoyl quinic acid, accompanied by a complex mixture of other simple …