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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes the death of motor neurons and consequent muscle paralysis. Despite many efforts to address it, current therapy targeting ALS remains limited, increasing the interest in complementary therapies. Over the years, several herbal preparations and medicinal plants have been studied to prevent and treat this disease, which has received remarkable attention due to their blood-brain barrier penetration properties and low toxicity. Thus, this review presents the therapeutic potential of a variety of medicinal herbs and their relationship with ALS and their physiopathological pathways.
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Esclerose Lateral Amiotrófica , Produtos Biológicos , Esclerose Lateral Amiotrófica/tratamento farmacológico , Humanos , Produtos Biológicos/uso terapêutico , Produtos Biológicos/farmacologia , Animais , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/uso terapêutico , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/farmacologia , Plantas Medicinais/químicaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Clinical trials to treat childhood obesity show modest results, weight regain and high dropout rates. Children with obesity often live in families with habits that contribute to unhealthy weight gain. This study will test whether a family intervention with a Brazilian-adapted Planetary Healthy Diet (PHD) and reduced portion sizes, along with increased physical activity and reduced sedentary behavior, can reduce excessive weight gain. The protocol promotes the intake of in natura products and water and reduces ultra-processed foods, sugar, and sodium. It encourages family lifestyle changes and physical activities, with randomized allocation to experimental and control groups. The responsible family member will be evaluated during follow-up. The control group will receive a print of the Brazilian dietary guideline. METHODS: A factorial crossover design will also allocate families to receive reduced sodium salt plus anti-inflammatory herbs and a placebo salt. Both the control and intervention groups will be randomly assigned to the sequence of both salts. The approach aims to reduce body weight expectations and evaluate salt's impact on blood pressure. It includes a 1-month intervention, 1-month washout, and 1-month intervention with monthly clinic visits and teleservice by health professionals. The primary outcomes will be the variation in the Body Mass Index (BMI) of the children. BMI and the variation in the blood pressure of the pair (child/mother or father) as well as waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) will also be measured. DISCUSSION: The project will test the effectiveness of the use of the recommendations of the PHD, physical activity and a salt-reduced sodium. The results of the present study will allow the refinement of interventions aimed at the treatment of childhood obesity and may help develop guidelines for the treatment of obesity in Brazilian children. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (RBR-10 mm62vs). Registered 10 February 2023.
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Obesidade Infantil , Criança , Humanos , Obesidade Infantil/prevenção & controle , Cloreto de Sódio na Dieta , Aumento de Peso , Assistência Ambulatorial , Sódio , Ensaios Clínicos Controlados Aleatórios como AssuntoRESUMO
Resumen: Objetivo: Identificar las plantas medicinales que presentan interacciones farmacológicas con los fármacos antivirales. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica mediante la recolección de artículos en las bases de datos PubMed, Scielo, Google académico. Se recuperó información de cada una de las plantas estudiadas hasta mayo de 2018. Se confeccionó una ficha instructiva a partir de la información obtenida, se tuvo en cuenta su utilidad y actualidad. Resultados: El 57.9% de la información fue recuperada de Google académico. El 47.9% del total de estudios revisados se referían a estudios clínicos y el 27% fueron investigaciones realizadas en Cuba. Allium sativum L. (19.7%), Hypericum perforatum (7.8%) y Panax quinquefolius (7.6%) fueron las plantas que presentaron mayor número de estudios concernientes a interacciones con antivirales. Las acciones sobre el citocromo P450 y la glicoproteína-P fueron las principales responsables de la ocurrencia de interacciones entre las plantas medicinales y los antivirales. La curcumina metabolito secundario de la Curcuma longa L. mostró potencial actividad antiviral ante virus de inmunodeficiencia humana tipo 1 sin obtenerse resultados concluyentes. Conclusiones: Podemos concluir que a pesar de que las interacciones farmacológicas entre antivirales y plantas medicinales son escasas, cuando se presentan lo hacen, en su mayoría, en forma de alteraciones farmacocinéticas. Los antirretrovirales fueron los fármacos de este grupo más involucrados en interacciones con plantas de uso común como el ajo. Los resultados encontrados fueron contradictorios en ocasiones y no todos estaban basados en evidencias clínicas.
Abstract: Objective: To identify medicinal plants that show pharmacological interactions with antiviral drugs. Materials and methods: A literature review carried out through the collection of articles in the PubMed, Scielo, Google academic databases. Information retrieved from each of the plants studied up to May 2018. An information sheet was prepared based on the information obtained and taking into account its usefulness and topicality. Results: 57.9% of the information was retrieved from academic Google. 47.9% of the total studies reviewed referred to clinical studies and 27% were investigations carried out in Cuba. Allium sativum L. (19.7%), Hypericum perforatum (7.8%) and Panax quinquefolius (7.6%) were the plants that presented the highest number of studies concerning interactions with antivirals. Actions on cytochrome P450 and P-glycoprotein were mainly responsible for the occurrence of interactions between medicinal plants and antivirals. The secondary metabolite curcumin of Curcuma longa L. showed potential antiviral activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 without obtaining conclusive results. Conclusions: We can conclude that although the interactions between antivirals and medicinal plants are rather rare when they occur, they do so mostly in the form of pharmacokinetic alterations. Antiretroviral drugs are the drugs of this group most involved in interactions with commonly used plants such as garlic. The results found are not all base on clinical evidence and sometime they were contradictories.
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The aim of this study was to establish a sustainable alternative callus culture of Cereus hildmannianus for the production and bioactive determination of phenolic compounds from this species. The conventional callus was cultivated using agar and Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, while for the alternative culture the agar was replaced with a cotton support covered with filter paper and MS medium (incubated at 32 °C with photoperiod of 16 h), and the morphological characteristics and growth index were assessed (8 weeks). Extracts were obtained by maceration followed by partition, characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance - NMR and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography - UHPLC, quantified (phenolic compounds) by UV-Vis methods, and their antioxidant, antitumor activities, as well as cytotoxicity, were evaluated. The establishment of an alternative callus culture was carried out successfully. Characteristic signals of phenolic compounds were determined by NMR, and 46 compounds with fragment ions were identified using UHPLC analysis. The highest concentrations of phenolic compounds, and greatest antioxidant and antitumor activities, were obtained with the dichloromethane fractions of both callus tissue cultures, which were not cytotoxic. The callus culture from C. hildmannianus has shown promise as a source for the sustainable production of phenolic compounds with antioxidant and antiproliferative activities and thus, has potential use as a natural antitumor product.
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Antioxidantes , Fenóis , Ágar , Antioxidantes/química , Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Pressão , Fenóis/análise , Extratos Vegetais/química , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologiaRESUMO
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects millions of people around the world. Currently, the only drug available for the treatment of this disease is praziquantel, which has low efficacy against immature helminth stages and there are reports of drug resistance. In this study, the chemical composition and the in vitro effect of essential oils (EOs) and major compounds from Lippia gracilis and Lippia alba against schistosomula and adult Schistosoma mansoni worms were evaluated. Adult S. mansoni worms cultured for 8h in the presence of L. gracilis EO (50 and 100 µg/mL) or for 2h with its major compound, carvacrol (100 µg/mL), had a 100% reduction in viability. After interaction with L. alba EO (100µg/mL), there was a reduction of approximately 60% in the viability of adult worms after 24 hours of exposure; citral (50 and 100 µg/mL), its major compound, reduced the viability after 24 hours by more than 75%. Treatment of schistosomula with 100 µg/mL of L. gracilis or L. alba EOs for 6h led to a reduction in parasite viability of 80% and 16% respectively. Both EOs and their major compounds significantly reduced the oviposition of adult worms exposed to a non-lethal concentration (5 µg/mL). In addition, morphological changes such as the destruction of the tegument and disorganization of the reproductive system of male and female worms were visualized. Both EOs showed low cytotoxicity at a concentration of 50 µg/mL. The results encourage further investigation of these plants as a potential source of bioactive compounds against S. mansoni.
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Lippia , Óleos Voláteis , Animais , Feminino , Humanos , Lippia/química , Masculino , Óleos Voláteis/farmacologia , Oviposição , Praziquantel/farmacologia , Schistosoma mansoniRESUMO
Curcuma longa constitutes an important source of secondary metabolites that have been associated with multiple health benefits. For instance, curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin, have been found to perform important biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, antihypertensive and anticoagulant. These promising results prompted this research to evaluate the polyphenols of C. longa rhizomes in Costa Rica. The present work reports a comprehensive study on the polyphenolic profile and the contents of the three main curcuminoids as well as the antioxidant activity of extracts from C. longa rhizomes (n = 12) produced in Costa Rica. Through UPLC-QTOF-ESI MS, a total of 33 polyphenols were identified, grouped in eight types of structures. In addition, our findings on the main curcuminoids using UPLC-DAD show all rhizomes complying with total curcuminoids (TC) content established by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). At an individual level, samples NW-3 and NE-1 show the higher contents (118.7 and 125.0 mg/g dry material), representing more than twice the average values of the lowest samples. These samples also exhibit the highest Folin−Ciocalteu (FC) reducing capacity results as well as the best DPPH (IC50 15.21 and 16.07 µg extract/mL) and NO (IC50 between 52.5 and 54.3 µg extract/mL) antioxidant values. Further, Pearson correlation analysis findings indicated positive correlation (p < 0.05) between TC, CUR with FC results (r = 0.833 and r = 0.867 respectively) and negative correlation (p < 0.05) between CUR, TC and FC with DPPH results (r = −0.898, r = −0.911, and r = −0.890, respectively) and between NO results and DPPH (r = −0.805, p < 0.05). Finally, results for Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed composition variability associated with their region of origin with products from the Northeastern (NE) region exhibiting higher average values for FC, TC and antioxidant activities. Further, PCA confirmed that two samples, namely NE-1 and NW-3, stand out by presenting the highest PC1 due to their particularly high TC, CUR and antioxidant activities. Consequently, our findings agree with previous results indicating the importance of C. longa extracts to elaborate products with potential benefits for health, while delivering extracts with higher levels of curcuminoids than previous reports and exhibiting high antioxidant activity.
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Spices and herbs have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. Also, in the last decades, the use of different nutritional supplements has been implemented to treat all kinds of diseases, including those that present an alteration in cognitive functioning. Dementia is a clinical syndrome in which a person's mental and cognitive capacities gradually decline. As the disease progresses, the person's autonomy diminishes. As there is not an effective treatment to prevent progressive deterioration in many of these pathologies, nutritional interventions have been, and still are, one of the most widely explored therapeutic possibilities. In this review, we have discussed a great number of potentially interesting plants, nutritional derivatives, and probiotics for the treatment of dementia around the world. Their action mechanisms generally involve neuroprotective effects via anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, b-amyloid, and tau anti-aggregate actions; brain blood flow improvement, and effects on synaptic cholinergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission, which may optimize cognitive performance in patients with cognitive impairment. As for their efficacy in patients with cognitive impairment and/or dementias, evidence is still scarce andthe outcomes are controversial. We consider that many of these substances have promising therapeutic properties. Therefore, the scientific community has to continue with a complete research focused on both identifying possible action mechanisms and carrying out clinical trials, preferably randomized, double-blind ones, with a greater number of patients, a long-term follow-up, dose standardization, and the use of current diagnostic criteria.
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Demência/tratamento farmacológico , Suplementos Nutricionais , Plantas Medicinais , Doença de Alzheimer/tratamento farmacológico , Antioxidantes/uso terapêutico , Cognição/efeitos dos fármacos , Transtornos Cognitivos/tratamento farmacológico , HumanosRESUMO
Resumo O uso de plantas medicinais (PM) favorece a integralidade do cuidado na atenção primária à saúde (APS), valorizando o saber popular e o autocuidado. Esta revisão integrativa de literatura objetiva analisar estudos sobre a inserção do uso de PM na APS. A estratégia PICO norteou a busca de evidências, reunindo 18 artigos publicados de janeiro de 2015 a agosto de 2020 nos bancos de dados Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde e PubMed. As variáveis de análise foram o conhecimento dos profissionais da saúde da APS sobre PM e políticas associadas, o uso de PM pelos usuários, destacando seu perfil, fatores que favorecem o uso e a falta de segurança no uso de PM. A literatura aponta insuficiência de conhecimento dos profissionais de saúde sobre as políticas de práticas integrativas e complementares e o uso de plantas para fins medicinais. Os principais usuários são mulheres, idosas, com baixa renda e escolaridade, tanto no Brasil quanto em outros países. Sobre a segurança no uso de PM, frequentemente não há correta identificação de espécie, origem, preparo e dose adequada para cada caso. Por fim, a não abordagem desses conteúdos durante a formação de profissionais da saúde gera menos conhecimento, menos pesquisas e mais preconceito por falta de informação, prejudicando o incentivo e divulgação à comunidade.
Abstract Medicinal plant (MP) use supports comprehensiveness of care in Primary Health Care (PHC), enabling appreciation of popular knowledge and self-care. This integrative literature review aims to analyze researches that approach the insertion of using MP in PHC. PICO strategy was used as a guideline in search of evidence, reuniting 18 articles published between January 2015 and August 2020, in the Virtual Health Library and PubMed databases. The variables of analysis were knowledge of PHC healthcare professionals about MP and associated policies, MP use by its users, highlighting their profile, the reasons that lead to the use and lack of security in MP use. The results show insufficient knowledge of healthcare professionals about Integrative and Complementary Practices policies and the medicinal uses of plants. The main users are women, elderly, with low income and education, either in Brazil or other countries. Regarding safety in MP use, frequently there is no correct identification of species, its origin, its preparation and the appropriate dose for each case. Finally, failure to approach these contents during training of healthcare professionals generates less knowledge, less research and more prejudice due to lack of information, impairing incentive and dissemination to the community.
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Humanos , Idoso , Plantas Medicinais , Atenção Primária à Saúde , Brasil , Pessoal de SaúdeRESUMO
RESUMO A crise socioambiental é cada vez mais presente na realidade urbana e rural. A experiência agroecológica neorrural é uma inovação que pode transformar o paradigma produtivo predominante e propor novas formas de relacionamento entre as pessoas. Além disso, pode contribuir para o desenvolvimento de sistemas alimentares que promovem justiça socioambiental, segurança alimentar e nutricional, criação de territórios saudáveis e sustentáveis. O objetivo deste relato de experiência foi apresentar a Comunidade que Sustenta a Agricultura, Educação e Saúde (CSAES) na Chácara Bindu, que desenvolve tecnologias sociais nas áreas de agricultura, educação e saúde no Distrito Federal. O relato da experiência foi desenvolvido em sete itens relacionados com criação, conservação produtiva, educação e saúde no organismo socioagrícola da Chácara Bindu. Destacam-se os vínculos com base na confiança e cooperação, o processo de expansão do modelo da CSAES Bindu a partir de uma Comunidade que Sustenta a Agricultura, a continuidade das entregas de produtos cultivados sem insumos sintéticos e sem agrotóxicos e o acesso das famílias coagricultoras a alimentos saudáveis no contexto de isolamento social imposto pela pandemia da Covid-19.
ABSTRACT The socio-environmental crisis is increasingly present in the urban and rural reality. A neorural agroecological experience is an innovation that can transform the predominant productive paradigm and propose new ways of relationship between people. Furthermore, it can contribute to the development of food systems that promote social and environmental justice, food and nutrition security, and the creation of healthy and sustainable territories. The objective of this experience report was to present the Community that Sustains Agriculture, Education, and Health (CSAES) at Chácara Bindu, which has social technologies in the fields of agriculture, education, and health in the Federal District. The experience report was developed in seven items related to creation, productive conservation, education, and health in the social-agricultural organization of Chácara Bindu. The linkages based on trust and cooperation, the expansion process of the CSAES from a Community that Sustains Agriculture, the continued delivery of products cultivated without synthetic inputs and without pesticides, and the access of co-agricultural families to healthy food stand out in the context of social isolation imposed by the Covid-19.
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Algorithms can have several purposes in the clinical practice. There are different scales for causality imputation in DILI (Drug-Induced Liver Injury), but the applicability and validity of these for the HILI (Herb-Induced Liver Injury) evaluation is questionable for some scales. The purpose of the study was to determine the clinical and demographic profile of the patients with HILI, and the main algorithmic scales used in its causality assessment. The methodology was a systematic review of articles in English, Spanish, or Portuguese language, from 1979 to 2019, involving humans, with descriptors related to HILI. Qualitative and quantitative statistical analysis were performed. As a result, from a total of 60 articles, 203 HILI reports were selected: 59.9% were women, similar with other studies, and the average age was 45.8 years. Jaundice was the most frequent symptom and regarding the type of lesion, the hepatocellular was the most frequent. In regard to HILI severity, 3.0% were severe and 7.6% were fatal or required liver transplantation. In 72.3% of the cases, the most used algorithm was RUCAM (Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method). The conclusion of the study is that RUCAM was the most used algorithm for causality assessment in HILI. The patients were predominantly female, jaundice was the main symptom, and HILI is reversible in the majority of cases.
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Algoritmos , Doença Hepática Induzida por Substâncias e Drogas/diagnóstico , Doença Hepática Induzida por Substâncias e Drogas/epidemiologia , Preparações de Plantas/efeitos adversos , Adulto , Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
Objetivo: identificar como a fitoterapia, uma das práticas integrativas e complementares mais incidentes no Sistema Único de Saúde, tem sido apropriada pelos profissionais que atuam na Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) no município do Rio de Janeiro, destacando os limites dessa utilização na perspectiva do direito à saúde integral. Metodologia: por meio de uma metodologia qualitativa, do tipo exploratória, foi realizado um estudo transversal sobre o uso e a prescrição de fitoterápicos e plantas medicinais por médicos, enfermeiros e agentes comunitários de saúde, de dezembro de 2016 a março de 2018, por meio da aplicação de um questionário fechado e entrevista semiestruturada. Resultados: a fitoterapia ainda não foi apropriada pelos profissionais de saúde pesquisados: 66,7% dos médicos e 41,7% dos enfermeiros afirmaram prescrever fitoterápicos, entretanto, a maioria afirmou não ter tido nenhuma instrução sobre o assunto. O cultivo de plantas medicinais foi observado nas visitas domiciliares por 76,9% dos agentes comunitários de saúde e 54% dos enfermeiros. Já o uso pela população foi relatado por 83,3% dos enfermeiros e 80,9% dos médicos. Conclusão: A fitoterapia ainda permanece marginal na ESF. Promover e ampliar o uso da fitoterapia na Atenção Primária à Saúde pode resultar em experiências inovadoras que envolvam usuários, profissionais de saúde e gestores para transformar as condições de saúde da população.
Objective: to identify how professionals who work with Family Health Strategy in the city of Rio de Janeiro, a common integrative and complementary practice in the Public Health System in Brazil, have incorporated phytotherapy into their practice, highlighting the limits of this use from the perspective of the right to integral health. Methodology: using a qualitative exploratory methodology, a cross-sectional study was conducted to identify the use and prescription of herbal medicines and medicinal plants by physicians, nurses, and community health agents from December 2016 to March 2018. Results: the professionals surveyed have not incorporated phytotherapy into their practice. The results show that 66.6% of physicians and 41.6% of nurses prescribe herbal medicines, however, most claimed to have had no instruction on the subject. 76.9% of community health workers and 54% of nurses observed at home visits that the population cultivate medicinal plants and 83.3% of nurses and 80.9% of doctors reported the use by the population. Conclusion: phytotherapy remains marginal in the Family Health Strategy. Promoting and expanding the use of phytotherapy in Primary Health Care can result in innovative experiences involving users, health professionals and managers to transform the population's health conditions.
Objectivo: identificar cómo la fitoterapia, una de las prácticas integradoras y complementarias más comunes en el Sistema Único de Salud, ha sido apropiada por diferentes profesionales que trabajan en la Estrategia de Salud Familiar en la ciudad de Río de Janeiro destacando los límites de este uso desde la perspectiva del derecho a la salud integral. Metodología: utilizando una metodología exploratoria cualitativa, se realizó un estudio transversal sobre el uso y la prescripción de plantas medicinales y fitoterapicos por parte de médicos, enfermeras y agentes comunitarios de salud desde diciembre de 2016 hasta marzo de 2018. Resultados: la fitoterapia aún no ha sido apropiada por los profesionales de la salud encuestados: los resultados muestran que el 66,6% de los médicos y el 41.6% de las enfermeras declararon recetar remedios herbales, sin embargo, la mayoría declaró que no tenían educación sobre el tema. El 76,9% de los agentes comunitarios de salud y el 54% de las enfermeras observaron el cultivo de plantas medicinales en las visitas domiciliarias. El 83,3% de las enfermeras y el 80,9% de los médicos informaron sobre el uso por parte de la población. Conclusión: la fitoterapia sigue siendo marginal en el Estrategia Salud de la Familia. Promover y ampliar el uso de la fitoterapia en la Atención Primaria de Salud puede dar lugar a experiencias innovadoras que involucren a usuarios, profesionales de la salud y gerentes para transformar las condiciones de salud de la población.
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At present, the pathologic spectrum of obesity-insulin resistance (IR)-diabetes mellitus (DM) represents not only a pressing matter in public health but also a paramount object of study in biomedical research, as they constitute major risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and other chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD). Phytotherapy, the use of medicinal herbs (MH) with treatment purposes, offers a wide array of opportunities for innovation in the management of these disorders; mainly as pharmacological research on small molecules accumulates. Several MH has displayed varied mechanisms of action relevant to the pathogenesis of obesity, IR and DM, including immunological and endocrine modulation, reduction of inflammation and oxidative stress (OS), regulation of appetite, thermogenesis and energy homeostasis, sensitisation to insulin function and potentiation of insulin release, among many others. However, the clinical correlates of these molecular phenomena remain relatively uncertain, with only a handful of MH boasting convincing clinical evidence in this regard. This review comprises an exploration of currently available preclinical and clinical research on the role of MH in the management of obesity, IR, and DM.
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Doenças Cardiovasculares , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Diabetes Mellitus , Resistência à Insulina , Diabetes Mellitus/tratamento farmacológico , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/tratamento farmacológico , Humanos , Insulina , Obesidade/tratamento farmacológicoRESUMO
At present, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and global trends suggest that this panorama will persist or worsen in the near future. Thus, optimization of treatment strategies and the introduction of novel therapeutic alternatives for CVD represent key objectives in contemporary biomedical research. In recent years, phytotherapy-defined as the therapeutic use of whole or minimally modified plant components-has ignited large scientific interest, with a resurgence of abundant investigation on a wide array of medicinal herbs (MH) for CVD and other conditions. Numerous MH have been observed to intervene in the pathophysiology of CVD via a myriad of molecular mechanisms, including antiinflammatory, anti-oxidant, and other beneficial properties, which translate into the amelioration of three essential aspects of the pathogenesis of CVD: Dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. Although the preclinical data in this scenario is very rich, the true clinical impact of MH and their purported mechanisms of action is less clear, as large-scale robust research in this regard is in relatively early stages and faces important methodological challenges. This review offers a comprehensive look at the most prominent preclinical and clinical evidence currently available concerning the use of MH in the treatment of CVD from a bench-to-bedside approach.
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Doenças Cardiovasculares , Hipertensão , Plantas Medicinais , Antioxidantes/uso terapêutico , Doenças Cardiovasculares/tratamento farmacológico , Humanos , Hipertensão/tratamento farmacológico , FitoterapiaRESUMO
Uncaria tomentosa, which is widely commercialized as an herbal medicine, constitutes an important source of secondary metabolites with diverse biological activities. For instance, we have previously reported, for the first time, of a polyphenolic profile rich in proanthocyanidins from extracts of U. tomentosa plants, as well as their antioxidant capacity, antimicrobial activity on aerial bacteria, and cytotoxicity on cancer cell lines. These promising results prompted this research to evaluate the polyphenolic contents of U. tomentosa commercial products. We report a detailed study on the polyphenolic composition of extracts from U. tomentosa bark products (n = 18) commercialized in Costa Rica and Spain. Using HPLC-DAD/TQ-ESI-MS, a total of 25 polyphenolic compounds were identified, including hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids, flavan-3-ol monomers, procyanidin dimers, procyanidin trimers, as well as propelargonidin dimers. Our findings on the polyphenolic profile for all commercial samples show analogous composition to previous reports on U. tomentosa bark material, for instance a 41-49% content of procyanidin dimers and the presence of propelargonidin dimers (8-15%). However, most of the 18 commercial samples exhibit low proanthocyanidin contents (254.8-602.8 µg/g), more similar to previous U. tomentosa inner bark reports, while some exhibit better results, with one sample (SP-2) showing the highest contents (2386.5 µg/g) representing twice the average value of all 18 commercial products. This sample also exhibits the highest total phenolics (TP) and total proanthocyanidins (PRO) contents, as well as the highest Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) value (1.31 µg TE/g). One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with a Tukey post hoc test indicated significant difference (p < 0.05) between products from Costa Rica and Spain for TP and PRO findings, with samples from Spain exhibiting a higher average value. In addition, Pearson correlation analysis results showed a positive correlation (p < 0.05) between TP, PRO, and ORAC results, and an especially important correlation between ORAC antioxidant values and procyanidin dimers (r = 0.843, p < 0.05), procyanidin trimers (r = 0.847, p < 0.05), and propelargonidin dimers (r = 0.851, p < 0.05) contents. Finally, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) results indicated some variability in the composition regardless of their origin. However, only one sample (SP-2) stands out significatively, showing the highest PC1 because of its particularly high proanthocyanidins contents, which could be attributed to the 15% bark polyphenolic extract labeled in this commercial product, which differentiate this sample from all other 17 commercial samples. Therefore, our findings confirmed previous results on the value of extracts in the elaboration of potential commercial products from U. tomentosa, rich in proanthocyanidins and exhibiting high antioxidant activity.
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Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen, popularly known as "Brazilian ginseng," is used as medicinal plant in Brazil to treat inflammatory diseases in general. Previous studies showed that its extract increases the nitric oxide (NO) levels. Knowing that NO downregulates steroidogenesis and that alterations in the action/production of androgens during perinatal life could alter testis development, the present studies sought to investigate the reproductive toxicity of Pfaffia glomerata on male mice exposed to hydroalcoholic extract in utero and during lactation. The present study shows that P. glomerata extract does not alter body weight, tubular diameter and testis function in male mice. Although a reduction in the testis weight was observed in the animals that received the highest dose directly in early post-natal life, our findings show clearly that P. glomerata may not act as an endocrine disruptor, and it is not an "antiandrogenic" compound that could lead to testicular dysgenesis syndrome.
Assuntos
Disgenesia Gonadal/diagnóstico , Panax/química , Extratos Vegetais/toxicidade , Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal/diagnóstico , Testículo/efeitos dos fármacos , Androgênios/biossíntese , Animais , Animais Lactentes , Peso Corporal/efeitos dos fármacos , Brasil , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Feminino , Disgenesia Gonadal/etiologia , Disgenesia Gonadal/patologia , Humanos , Lactação , Masculino , Exposição Materna/efeitos adversos , Camundongos , Óxido Nítrico/metabolismo , Tamanho do Órgão/efeitos dos fármacos , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos dos fármacos , Extratos Vegetais/administração & dosagem , Raízes de Plantas/química , Gravidez , Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal/etiologia , Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal/patologia , Testículo/patologiaRESUMO
Desde la medicina oficial se desconoce y subestima el uso de otras formas de atención, por lo que este trabajo tiene como objetivos caracterizar el conocimiento sobre uso de hierbas medicinales en la zona sudeste de la ciudad de Salta; identificar cuáles se utilizan para tratar problemas de salud; y valorar su frecuencia de uso. Se realizó una investigación cuali-cuantitativa, entrevistando a informantes claves y grupos focales. Se confeccionaron listas de hierbas medicinales, y sus usos se categorizaron por problemas de salud. Se realizó una encuesta sobre frecuencia de usos medicinales. Se mencionaron 59 hierbas medicinales con una media de 2,3 usos por planta. Con un "Nivel de importancia Significativo" se encuentran quimpe, tusca, paico, coca, molle, ruda y hediondilla. El "coqueo" se encontró en 54% de las familias. El 52% utiliza alguna hierba para afecciones gastrointestinales, el 45% para problemas de la piel, el 40 % para afecciones respiratorias, el 33% para "empacho" y 17% para problemas renales, sin diferencias significativas en los usos por grupo etáreo. La población tiene amplio conocimiento sobre hierbas medicinales. La medicina formal debe legitimar estos conocimientos e incluirlos en su práctica.
Traditional health professionals underestimate and fail to recognize the use of other forms of health care, therefore this research has the objective of characterizing knowledge about the use of medicinal herbs in the southeastern area of Salta city; to identify which herbs are used to treat health problems; and to assess its frequency of use. Qualitative and quantitative research was conducted by interviewing key informants and focus groups. Lists of medicinal herbs and uses were created and categorized by health problems. Finally, a closed survey on frequency of use was carried out. Fifty-nine herbs were mentioned with an average of 2.3 uses per plant. quimpe, tusca , paico, coca, molle, ruda and hediondillawere herbs marked as with a Significant Level of Impotanse. The use of coca was found in 54% of the families interviewed. Fifty-two percent used some herb for gastrointestinal disorders, 45% for skin problems, 40% for respiratory conditions, 33% for indigestion and 17% for kidney problems, with no significant differences in uses according toage groups. Population has a good knowledge of medicinal herbs. Formal medicine should legitimize this knowledge and include it in its practice.
Assuntos
Humanos , Gravidez , Recém-Nascido , Lactente , Criança , Preparações de Plantas , Plantas Medicinais , Aloe , Anthemis , Borago , Cedron , Cestrum , Camomila , Chenopodium ambrosioides , Coca , Eriobotrya , Plantago , Prunus , Ruta , Schinus molle , Nicotiana , VerbenaRESUMO
Introdução: A cicatrização é uma cascata de eventos celulares que interagem para que ocorra a reconstituição do tecido. Objetivo: Analisar a ação do gel da Bryophyllum calycinum Salisb, associado ao ultrassom pulsado, na cicatrização de feridas. Métodos: Vinte ratos foram feridos, divididos em quatro grupos, tratados e observados diariamente. O Grupo1 não recebeu nenhum tratamento; o 2 foi tratado com ultrassom (modo pulsado 10%, frequência de 1 MHz, intensidade de 0,5 W/cm2, método de acoplamento direto com movimentos oscilatórios numa ERA de 1 cm2, durante dois minutos) + gel da B. calycinum Salisb a 2%; o 3, com gel da B. calycinum Salisb a 2%; o 4, com ultrassom. Resultados: O Grupo 2 teve maior redução das áreas feridas, diminuição do colágeno tipo III e aumento do tipo I, quando comparado ao controle. Conclusões: O gel da folha santa associado ao ultrassom é capaz de acelerar o processo de cicatrização tecidual.
Introduction: Healing is a cascade of cellular events that interact to occur replenish the tissue. Objective: To analyze the action of the Bryophyllum calycinum Salisb gel associated with the pulsed ultrasound in wound healing. Methods: Twenty rats were wounded and divided into four groups. After this, they were treated and observed daily. Group 1 did not receive any treatment; Group 2 was treated with ultrasound (10% pulsed mode, frequency of 1 MHz intensity of 0.5 W / cm2, direct coupling method with an oscillatory motion was 1 cm2 for two minutes) + Gel B. calycinum Salisb 2%; Group 3, with B. calycinum Salisb gel 2%; and Group 4, with ultrasound. Results: Group 2 had a greater reduction in wound areas, a decrease of type III collagen and an increase of the type I when compared to the control group. Conclusions: The gel of the holy sheet associated with ultrasound is able to accelerate the wound healing process.
Assuntos
Humanos , Masculino , Ratos , Terapia por Ultrassom , Cicatrização , Kalanchoe , Plantas Medicinais , Ratos WistarRESUMO
ABSTRACT Tabernaemontana catharinensis A. DC (Apocynaceae) is used as a medicinal plant by the population. In order to contribute to the safe use of the plant as herbal medicine, this study aimed to morphoanatomically characterize the aereal vegetative organs of T. catharinensis and to evaluate the leaves’ mutagenic and antimutagenic activities. Histological blades of leaves and stem of T. catharinensis were performed; the methionine system (methG1) and Aspergillusnidulans conidia germination analysis were employed for mutagenic and antimutagenic evaluation. The morphoanatomic analysis did not show trichomes in the stem, petiole and leaf. Besides, it was observed both the presence of bi-collateral bundles - except in the foliar apex where the bundles were from the collateral type - as well as anamphistomatic leaf with paracyte stomata and sub-epidermal layer in the region of the leaf edges. The mutagenicity/antimutagenicity trial indicated a significant decrease of mutation frequency in comparison with the control group and showed that the T. catharinensis had antimutagenic activity within the type, time and form of treatment. Since the germination test showed that the conidia germination was accelerated from the bud phase, activities at the cell cycle level and polarized growth proved to be possible. The morphoanatomic analysis of the leaf and stem associated with the mutagenic and antimutagenic analyses contributes to the safe use of the plant by humans and also for the quality control of a possible phytotherapeutic drug.
RESUMO Tabernaemontana catharinensis A. DC (Apocynaceae) é utilizada como planta medicinal pela população. A fim de contribuir para o uso seguro da planta como medicinal, este trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar morfoanatomicamente os órgãos vegetativos aéreos de T. catharinensis e avaliar a atividade mutagênica e antimutagênica de suas folhas. Foram realizados cortes histológicos da folha e do caule de T. catharinensis e, para a avaliação mutagênica e antimutagênica, foi utilizado o sistema metionina (methG1) e análise da germinação de conídios em Aspergillus nidulans. A análise morfoanatômica evidenciou a ausência de tricomas no caule, pecíolo e folha; presença de feixes bicolaterais, com exceção no ápice foliar cujos feixes são do tipo colateral; folha anfiestomática com estômatos paracíticos e camada subepidérmica na região do bordo foliar. O ensaio de mutagenicidade/antimutagenicidade mostrou uma diminuição significativa da frequência de mutação em relação ao controle, indicando que nesse tipo, tempo e forma de tratamento, T. catharinensis apresentou atividade antimutagênica. O ensaio de germinação evidenciou que houve aceleração da germinação dos conídios, a partir da fase de botão, indicando uma possível atuação em nível de ativação de ciclo celular e crescimento polarizado. A análise morfoanatômica da folha e do caule associados à análise mutagênica e antimutagênica, contribuem para o uso seguro da planta pela população e para o controle de qualidade de um possível fitoterápico.
Assuntos
Plantas Medicinais/anatomia & histologia , Antimutagênicos/análise , Tabernaemontana/classificação , Genotoxicidade/métodos , Metionina/farmacologiaRESUMO
Owing to their conditions of production, and sometimes to poor storage and transportation conditions, herbal products are susceptible to fungal contamination and development. This can lead to the accumulation of mycotoxins in this kind of commodities. Consequently, herbal products can be contaminated with fungal toxins, such as aflatoxins, ochratoxins and other mycotoxins, which pose a serious risk to public health. This paper reviews the main aspects regarding mycotoxin contamination of medical/aromatic herbs, in the context of the importance of this product in a global market. Moreover, the effect of processing on final contamination of derived foods, as well as the analytical methodology commonly employed in fungal and mycotoxin analysis in this type of products was reviewed.
Debido a sus condiciones habituales de producción, así como a condiciones inadecuadas de almacenamiento y de transporte, los productos a base de plantas medicinales o aromáticas son susceptibles a la contaminación por mohos, lo que puede conducir a la acumulación de toxinas fúngicas tales como las aflatoxinas, ocratoxinas y otras micotoxinas, lo que supone un grave riesgo para la salud pública. Este artículo revisa los principales aspectos de la contaminación por micotoxinas de las hierbas medicinales y/o aromáticas, teniendo en cuenta el contexto de este producto en un mercado globalizado, así como el efecto del procesado sobre la contaminación final de estos productos. También se revisa la metodología más comúnmente empleada en el análisis de mohos y micotoxinas en este tipo de productos.
Assuntos
Contaminação de Medicamentos , Fungos/isolamento & purificação , Micotoxinas/análise , Plantas Medicinais , Micotoxinas/isolamento & purificação , Armazenamento de Produtos , Transporte de ProdutosRESUMO
Plantas medicinais têm sido utilizadas mundialmente para o controle de urolitíases na medicina humana. A ocorrência desta afecção tem aumentado em humanos, ruminantes, cães e gatos. Nos animais, fatores patofisiológicos adquiridos, congênitos ou familiares podem estar envolvidos, havendo similaridade ao que se observa em seres humanos. Porém, apesar dos avanços nas pesquisas, o emprego de plantas medicinais na medicina veterinária, ainda é pouco utilizado. Dessa forma, objetivou-se apresentar uma revisão bibliográfica dos resultados do uso de plantas medicinais no controle de urolitíase. As plantas utilizadas são: Ammi visnaga, Bergenia ligulata, Cynodon dactylon, Herniaria hirsuta e Phyllanthus niruri. A atividade antilitogênica foi relacionada às alterações da composição iônica da urina, atividade diurética, inibição de cristalização e agregação de cristais. Destaca-se o uso de Phyllanthus niruri, pela eficácia na prevenção dos urólitos. Extratos de Phyllanthus niruri normalizaram níveis altos de cálcio urinário, desfavorecendo os estágios iniciais de formação dos urólitos. Adicionalmente, foram associados à elevação da filtração glomerular e excreção urinária de ácido úrico sugerindo utilização potencial não só como efeito lítico e preventivo das calculoses, mas também em pacientes hiperuricêmicos e portadores de insuficiência renal. A partir dos resultados relatados, pode-se concluir que os trabalhos apresentados pela literatura atual são capazes de comprovar os efeitos benéficos do uso de plantas medicinais no controle de urolitíase. Entretanto, ainda são escassos os estudos realizados em animais domésticos, predominando ensaios desenvolvidos em roedores.
Medicinal plants have been used worldwide in the prevention of urolithiasis. The occurrence of this disease has increased in men, ruminants, dogs and cats. With regard to animals, acquired (congenital or hereditary) pathophysiological factors may be involved, a fact that bears similarity to what has been observed in humans. Yet, despite advances in research, the use of medicinal plants in veterinary medicine remains still underutilized. Thus, the purpose of this study is to conduct a literature review on the use of medicinal plants in the control of urolithiasis. The plants used are: Ammi visnaga, Bergenia ligulata, Cynodon dactylon, Herniaria hirsute and Phyllanthus niruri. Antilithogenic activity was related to changes in the ionic composition of urine, diuretic activity and inhibition of crystallization and aggregation of crystals. It is worth highlighting the use of Phyllanthus niruri due to its efficiency in the prevention of uroliths. Phyllanthus niruri extracts normalized high levels of urinary calcium, inhibiting the formation of uroliths in the initial stages. Additionally, they were associated with a higher glomerular filtration and higher urinary excretion of uric acid. These results suggest a potential use due to its lytic and preventive effect, as well as due to its application to hyperuricemic patients having renal insufficiency. We can conclude that the studies that pertain to the current literature can demonstrate the beneficial effects of using medicinal herbs to control urolithiasis. However, studies conducted in domestic animals remain scant, while tests developed in rodents still predominate.