The quality of clinical trials with Harpagophytum procumbens

OBJECTIVE: To examine systematically the quality of the clinical trials investigating the effectiveness of Harpagophytum products. METHODS: Literature searches and enquiries to experts identified 20 studies of treatment with various Harpagophytum products (powder, aqueous and ethanolic extracts) for exacerbations of chronic musculoskeletal pain. Eight were open uncontrolled observational studies, one comparing progress under treatment for pain in back, knee and hip pain. Two were open comparisons with conventional treatment, only one of which was randomised. Ten were double-blinded, randomised controlled comparisons, 8 with placebo and 2 with NSAID comparator treatments. Indices of the internal and external validities were examined by reference to a checklist to see how well the studies answered the questions: do Harpagophytum products work and do they work as well as more conventional comparator treatments? RESULTS: The uncontrolled trials, though providing useful preliminary estimates of the possible effect of treating various conditions, could not separate the effects of the Harpagophytum product from whatever placebo effect might have been exerted in the circumstances of the study. The 2 open comparisons were open to performance, detection and/or selection bias. Of the 8 randomised double blinded controlled comparisons with placebo, 6 were marred by lack of transparency, one could not provide definitive evidence from its pre-selected principal outcome measure, and one provided good quality evidence of a dose dependent superiority of effect over placebo, though this was with a product that is not generally available for clinical practice. One of the randomised controlled comparisons with comparator (Doloteffin versus rofecoxib) was intended only as a pilot and studied too few patients for definitive conclusions whereas the other did provide good evidence that the powder, Harpadol is not importantly less effective than the weak NSAID diacerhein. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence of effectiveness of Harpagophytum products is not transferrable from product to product. The results of some studies suggest some effectiveness for some products, but for none of the clinically available products is the quality of evidence totally satisfactory. It is better so far with products that contain at least 50 mg of harpagoside in the daily dosage than with products (which happen to be of ethanolic extraction) that contain less.     

Impact of herbal medicines on physical impairment

The usefulness of recording physical impairment during intervention studies in chronic low back patients has been questioned. A re-analysis of all of our studies investigating aqueous extracts of Harpagophytum procumbens and a proprietary ethanolic Salix extract for chronic non-specific low back pain revealed that the “physical impairment” component of the Arhus low back pain index changed very little during treatment despite appreciable changes in the other two components, “pain” and “disability”, over time. For comparison, we also extracted data from the literature on the topical use of capsaicin, which showed the same thing. There may be little to lose from omitting the time-consuming assessments of “physical impairment” in studies of the (primarily analgesic) effectiveness of herbal preparations.     

Acetylated phenolic glycosides from Harpagophytum procumbens

Two acetyl phenolic glycosides, 6-acetylacteoside and 2,6-diacetylacteoside, were obtained from commercially available secondary roots of Harpagophytum procumbens and were identified using spectroscopic methods.     

Devil’s Claw (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Harpagophytum procumbens</Emphasis>): An Anti-Inflammatory Herb with Therapeutic Potential

Extracts of the secondary roots of the southern African plant, Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) provide a herbal drug with a variety of traditional indications. One area of its use that has become very popular in recent years is in the treatment of inflammatory disorders of the musculoskeletal system and of low back pain. There have been several clinical studies recently published that generally support its use in treating osteoarthritis although more studies are required in order to establish this drug as a definite therapeutic option. Here in this review, the pharmacological properties of Devil’s Claw are reviewed in detail and the clinical evidence is briefly summarised. There is good in vitro and in vivo pharmacological evidence of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of this drug, although some negative findings have also been reported. Generally, the pharmacological properties of Devil’s Claw is supportive of its therapeutic potential, but more evidence from clinically relevant models, as well as at the cellular and molecular level, should be sought. Such studies may provide evidence in support of additional indications, both traditional and novel. The clinical data on Devil’s Claw is also very promising.     

Alternaria jesenskae sp. nov., a new species from Slovakia on Fumana procumbens (Cistaceae)

Alternaria jesenskae sp. nov. recovered from seeds of a shrubby perennial plant Fumana procumbens (Cistaceae) in Slovakia is described and illustrated. The new taxon can be clearly separated from the other related large-spored and filament-beaked Alternaria species based on sequences of the ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2 region as well as by its distinctive morphology. Even though the molecular data have shown close relatedness with A. multirostrata, the new species is morphologically most similar to A. tomatophila distinguished primarily by the pronounced colony pigmentation, conidial septation and beak branching.     

爵床的甲醇提取物对小菜蛾的生物活性作用

为探明爵床(Justicia procumbens)甲醇提取物对小菜蛾的生物活性,采用室内生测法测定了爵床甲醇提取物对小菜蛾的触杀、拒食、胃毒、生长发育抑制和产卵忌避作用。结果表明,爵床甲醇提取物对小菜蛾幼虫具有较强的触杀、拒食、胃毒和生长发育抑制活性,对小菜蛾成虫具有较强的产卵忌避活性。在触杀试验中,药后1、2 d和3 d爵床甲醇提取物对小菜蛾3龄幼虫的致死中浓度(LC50)分别为5.17、4.05和3.06 mg/m L;在拒食试验中,药后1 d和2 d提取物对3龄幼虫的选择性拒食中浓度(AFC50)分别为2.64和3.13 mg/m L,药后1 d和2 d提取物对3龄幼虫的非选择性拒食中浓度(AFC50)分别为3.70、4.54 mg/m L;在胃毒试验中,药后4、5、6 d和7 d提取物对3龄幼虫的致死中浓度(LC50)分别为8.13、3.65、2.88、2.23 mg/m L;在生长发育抑制试验中,药后1 d和2 d提取物对3龄幼虫的抑制中浓度(IC50)分别为2.02、1.40 mg/m L;在产卵忌避试验中,药后1、2 d和3 d提取物对小菜蛾成虫的选择性产卵忌避中浓度(AOC50)分别为2.61、3.66、4.58 mg/m L,药后1、2和3 d提取物对小菜蛾成虫的非选择性产卵忌避中浓度(AOC50)分别为3.19、4.52、5.65 mg/m L。由此证实,爵床提取物对小菜蛾具有显著的毒杀活性,具有开发为新型高效、低毒植物源农药的潜在价值。     

火炭母的一个新异名及其系统位置初探

该文将铺地火炭母(Polygonum chinense L. var. procumbens Z. E. Zhao et J. R. Zhao)处理为火炭母原变种(Persicaria chinensis var. chinensis)的异名,并讨论了火炭母在命名上的问题,及其系统学位置。     

Response of effective quantum yield of photosystem 2 to in situ temperature in three alpine plants

The response of effective quantum yield of photosystem 2 (F/F_m) to temperature was investigated under field conditions (1 950 m a.s.l.) in three alpine plant species with contrasting leaf temperature climates. The in situ temperature response did not follow an optimum curve but under saturating irradiances [PPFD >800 µìmol(photon) m^–2s^–1] highest F/F_m occurred at leaf temperatures below 10°C. This was comparable to the temperature response of antarctic vascular plants. Leaf temperatures between 0 and 15°C were the most frequently (41 to 56%) experienced by the investigated species. At these temperatures, F/F_m was highest in all species (data from all irradiation classes included) but the species differed in the temperature at which F/F_m dropped below 50% (Soldanella pusilla >20°C, Loiseleuria procumbens >25°C, and Saxifraga paniculata >40°C). The in situ response of F/F_m showed significantly higher F/F_m values at saturating PPFD for the species growing in full sunlight (S. paniculata and L. procumbens) than for S. pusilla growing under more moderate PPFD. The effect of increasing PPFD on F/F_m, for a given leaf temperature, was most pronounced in S. pusilla. Despite the broad diurnal leaf temperature amplitude of alpine environments, only in S. paniculata did saturating PPFD occur over a broad range of leaf temperatures (43 K). In the other two species it was half of that (around 20 K). This indicates that the setting of environmental scenarios (leaf temperature×PPFD) in laboratory experiments often likely exceeds the actual environmental demand in the field.This revised version was published online in March 2005 with corrections to the page numbers.     

Muthi to medicine

The limited commercial opportunity for bioprospecting for isolated pure natural compounds or their derivatives from plants for novel pharmaceuticals is discussed. A broad overview of the key research inputs involved in the commercialisation of indigenous medicinal plants as botanical medicines is given to assist young researchers in contextualising research from an industry perspective, and to encourage university-industry collaboration. Compliance with the Biodiversity Act of 2004, and the regulations under this Act is stressed. The chain of research and development (R&D) activities is briefly described including ethnobotanical research, raw material supply, identification of active compounds, extract development, absorption studies, formulation development, in vitro, in vivo, and clinical safety and efficacy studies, and protection of intellectual property. Ultimately obtaining international marketing authorization for a novel botanical medicine is a lengthy and costly undertaking, with high risk of failure. Elements of botanical medicine R&D can be applied to functional foods, novel foods and personal care products, which can reach the market faster and with less risk than botanical medicines.     

Influence of excipients and technological process on anti-inflammatory activity of quercetin and Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) D.C. extracts by oral route

The flavonoids quercetin, 3-O-methylquercetin and luteolin play an important role in the anti-inflammatory activity of Achyrocline satureioides ethanol extracts when administered intraperitoneally. The present work describes the oral anti-inflammatory effect of quercetin and A. satureioides extracts and the role played by the solvent concentration, adjuvant and drying processes of freeze-drying (FD) or spray-drying (SD) on the effect. The best anti-edema effect was observed with 250 mg/kg body wt of the freeze-dried powder (FDP), prepared with 40% (v/v) ethanol (FDP40). In contrast, 250 mg/kg body wt of FDP80, prepared with ethanol 80% (ES80), did not significantly inhibit the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema. However, when ES80 was freeze-dried in the presence of polysorbate 80 (FDP80-P80) or spray-dried in the presence of colloidal silicon dioxide (CSD) and P80 (SDP80), both dried extracts became more active. Quercetin suspension in saline did not inhibit paw edema, but the mixture of quercetin with polysorbate 80 was effective in edema inhibition by the oral route. Aqueous extract (ESAQ), freeze-dried (FDPAQ, FDPAQ-P80) or spray-dried (SDPAQ) did not exhibit the edema-inhibition effect. Taken together, the results point to the following order of efficacy (at 4 h, for example): FDP40 > indomethacin > SDP40 > SDP80 = FDP80-80 > Quercetin-P80. Additionally, the FDP40, SDP40 (prepared from 40% v/v ethanol added of CSD) and SDP80 reduced the total leukocyte and polymorphonuclear cell migration in the pleural cavity.     

A new species of Ceriodaphnia from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

A Ceriodaphnia has been found inWaterbodies of the plains and foothills of Uzbekistan and southern Kazakhstan that strongly resembles C. reticulata (Jurine, 1820). The female of this new species, C. turkestanica, differs from C. reticulata because it lacks a fenestra (nucal organ) in the cervical notch of the adult, has a rostral pore encircled by a ridge of cuticle rather than opening on the flat surface of a polygon anterior to the antennules, and has fewer and finer spines punctuating the row of fine spinules along the inner margin of the posterior carapace. The locule of the ephippium lacks the regular, small, rounded protuberances seen in the locule of C. reticulata. The male of C. turkestanica also exhibits the lack of a cervical fenestra, an encircled rostral pore, and variable, fine spines along the posterior carapace inner margin. In addition, it has a much shorter terminal seta on the antennule, and increasing lengths of the spinose setae on endites 1–3 of trunk limb I rather than the second being the longest as in C. reticulata. Because of similarities between these species, we suggest that C. turkestanica either is derived from C. reticulata or that the two share a common ancestor.     

Iridoid glycosides from Harpagophytum procumbens D.C. (devil's claw)

Iridoid glycosides, harprocumbide A (6'-O-alpha-D-galactopyranosylharpagoside, 1) and harprocumbide B (6'-O-(cis-p-coumaroyl)-procumbide, 2) were isolated from the tubers of Harpagophytum prucumbens D.C., along with nine known iridoid glycosides 6-O-alpha-D-galactopyranosylharpagoside (3), and harpagoside (4), harpagide (5), 8-cinnamoylmyoporoside (6), 8-O-feruloylhapagide (7), procumbide (8), 6'-O-(p-coumaroyl)-procumbide (9), 8-O-(p-coumaroyl)-harpagide (10) and 8-O-(cis-p-coumaroyl)-harpagide (11). Compound 10 showed marginal inhibition activity against macrophages respiratory burst.     

Construction of Beta procumbens-specific DNA probes and their application for the screening of B. vulgaris x B. procumbens (2n = 19) addition lines

Summary Beta procumbens-specific DNA probes have been constructed by cloning digested total DNA in E. coli and screening the resulting recombinant plasmids in dot blot hybridizations with labelled B. procumbens and B. vulgaris DNA. Four clones (pTS1-4) have been analyzed in detail determining their degree of specificity and DNA sequence. Two clones (pTS1 and pTS2) with the highest degree of B. procumbens specificity were adapted for the squash dot hybridization with the aim of screening large numbers of individual hybrid plants (B. vulgaris x B. procumbens) carrying an alien B. procumbens chromosome (2n = 19). These addition lines carry in some cases B. procumbens resistance genes to the beet cyst nematode (Heterodea schachtii Schm.).     

Four new phenolic diglycosides from the roots of Illicium oligandrum

Four new phenolic diglycosides (1–4), named illoliganoside A–D, and three known glycosides (5–7), were isolated from the roots of Illiciumoligandrum. The structures of the new diglycosides were determined on the basis of HRMS, NMR spectroscopic, and chemical methods. The anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities for 1–7 were evaluated.     

New polyacetylene glucosides from the florets of Carthamus tinctorius and their weak anti-inflammatory activities

Eight new linear polyacetylene glucosides (1–8), containing two C₁₀-, one C₁₃- and five C₁₄-acetylenes, together with three known polyacetylenes (9–11) were isolated from the florets of Carthamus tinctorius L. Their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods and chemical evidence. The absolute configurations of compounds 3–9 were confirmed by Snatzke and Gerards’s method, observing the induced circular dichroism after addition of dirhodium tetrakis (trifluoroacetate) [Rh₂(OCOCF₃)₄] in CHCl₃. All the isolated compounds (1–11) were also tested for inhibitory activities against LPS-induced NO production in murine macrophages and just showed weak activities at concentrations of 1 × 10⁻⁵ M.     

A reconsideration of the genusRabdosiella (Lamiaceae,Nepetoideae, Ocimeae)

The two generaPlectranthus andIsodon are compared and found to be very dissimilar.Isodon ist considered to be misplaced inOcimeae subtribePlectranthinae and apparently is more closely related to subtribeHyptidinae. The disjunct genusRabdosiella is compared to these two genera and regarded to be polyphyletic. The AfricanR. calycina (Benth.)Codd is returned toPlectranthus and calledP. calycinusBenth., while the AsianR. ternifolia (D. Don)Codd is placed inIsodon sect.Pyramidium and calledI. ternifolius (D. Don)Kudo.     

不同生境羊肚菌菌塘理化性质及微生物群落分析

【背景】 羊肚菌商业化栽培成功以来,土壤及连作产生的土壤生态问题已经成为羊肚菌可持续发展的障碍。【目的】 为栽培羊肚菌土壤改良与生态修复提供借鉴。【方法】 在收获期对北京地区野生羊肚菌和栽培羊肚菌不同产量区菌塘土壤取样,进行理化和微生物分析。【结果】 野生羊肚菌菌塘的含氮量、碱性和中性磷酸酶、过氧化氢酶、脲酶活性均高于栽培区土壤。羊肚菌根际土壤中细菌相对丰度明显高于真菌,野生菌菌塘的物种丰富度和相互联系远大于栽培土壤。在细菌门水平,放线菌门(Actinomycetota)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexota)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteriota)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidota)占比为80%以上,栽培羊肚菌有更多的厚壁菌门(Firmicutes),低产区最高达28.91%。真菌门水平子囊菌门(Ascomycota)、担子菌门(Basidiomycota)和被孢霉门(Mortierellomycota)占比达90%及以上。栽培低产区优势属为芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus)、被孢霉属(Mortierella),高产区有较多的腐质霉属(Humicola)和曲霉属(Aspergillus)。产量、碱性磷酸酶、脲酶、过氧化氢酶等与多个细菌和真菌呈显著正相关。【结论】 丰富的有机质和微生物群落有助于羊肚菌的产量增加、生态修复和可持续发展。