Synergy-Directed Fractionation of Botanical Medicines: A Case Study with Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis).
Junio HA et al. J Nat Prod. 2011 Jun 10. [Epub ahead of print]
It is often argued that the efficacy of herbal medicines is a result of the combined action of multiple constituents that work synergistically or additively. The flavonoid synergists are present at higher concentration in extracts from H. canadensis leaves, while the antimicrobial alkaloid berberine is present at higher levels in H. Canadensis roots. Thus, it may be possible to produce an extract with optimal activity against S. aureus using a combination of goldenseal roots and leaves. (more)
Traditional uses and medicinal potential of Cordyceps sinensis of Sikkim.
Panda AK, Swain KC. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2011 Jan;2(1):9-13. Cordyceps sinensis has been described as a medicine in old Chinese medical books and Tibetan medicine. The present study was undertaken to collect information regarding the traditional uses of cordyceps in Sikkim. It was found that most local folk healers/traditional healers use cordyceps for the treatment of 21 ailments. Chemical constituents of cordyceps
are given and pharmacological and biological studies reviewed. Editor's note: The full paper is free. ( more )
Boswellia serrata: an overall assessment of in vitro, preclinical, parmacokinetic and clinical data.
Abdel-Tawab M, Werz O, Schubert-Zsilavecz M. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2011 Jun 1;50(6):349-69. doi: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) intake is associated with high revalence of gastrointestinal or cardiovascular adverse effects. All efforts to develop NSAIDs that spare the gastrointestinal tract and the cardiovasculature re still far from achieving a breakthrough. In the last two decades, peparations of the gum resin of Boswellia serrata (a traditional ayurvedic
medicine) and of other Boswellia species have experienced increasing popularity n Western countries. Animal studies and pilot clinical trials support the potential of B. serrata gum resin extract (BSE) for the treatment of a variety of inflammatory diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and asthma. ( more )
Boswellic acid inhibits growth and metastasis of human colorectal cancer in orthotopic mouse model by downregulating inflammatory, proliferative, invasive, and angiogenic biomarkers.
Yadav VR et al. Int J Cancer. 2011 Jun 23. doi: 10.1002/ijc.26251. [Epub ahead of print] Numerous cancer therapeutics were originally identified from natural products used in traditional medicine. One such agent is acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA), derived from the gum resin of the Boswellia serrata known as Salai guggal or Indian frankincense. Traditionally it has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat proinflammatory conditions. In the present report, we hypothesized that AKBA can affect the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) in orthotopically-implanted tumors in nude mice. We found that the oral administration of AKBA (50-200 mg/kg) dose-dependently inhibited the growth of CRC tumors in mice, resulting in decrease in tumor volumes than those seen in vehicle-treated mice without significant decreases in body weight. ( more )
The effects of hedonically acceptable red pepper doses on thermogenesis and appetite.
P Ludy MJ, Mattes RD. Physiol Behav. 2011 Mar 1;102(3-4):251-8. Epub 2010 Nov 18.
Previous studies suggest consumption of red pepper (RP) promotes negative energy balance. However, the RP dose provided in these studies (up to 10 g/meal) usually exceeded the amount preferred by the general population in the United States (mean=~1 g/meal). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of hedonically acceptable RP doses served at a single meal in healthy, lean individuals on thermogenesis and appetite. ( more )
