Population genetic study in ten endogamous groups of West Bengal, India

Ten endogamous population groups of West Bengal (India)--Rabhas, Garos, Mechs, Rajbanshis, Jalia Kaibartas, Bagdis, Lodhas, Mundas, Brahmins, Vaidyas--have been typed for twelve polymorphic systems: ABO, Gm, Km, Hp, Cp, Tf, Alb, Hb, aP, EsD, AK and PGM1. The results are compared with those obtained on other Indian populations. Serological and anthropometric data, which have been included into population comparisons, reveal a considerable genetic variability of the groups under study. This variability is obviously connected with the population history of West Bengal.     

Development of a photosensitive, high-throughput chip-based superoxide dismutase (SOD) assay to explore the radioprotective activity of herbal plants

Appropriate pharmacological interventions and modalities are needed to protect humans against the deleterious effects of ionizing radiation. We disclose a rapid chip-based approach to elucidate the radioprotective/antioxidant potential of herbal plants using a photodiode array (PDA) microchip system. Red light absorption property of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) formazan was applied to chip-based superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity measurements of six herbal plant extracts in a high-throughput manner. SOD activities obtained via gel-based assays were in line with the data obtained through the chip-based assay and hence validated our approach. Compared to amifostine, all the tested herbal plant extracts, except apricot kernel, demonstrated greater radioprotective properties. Among the tested herbal extracts, pueraria root showed the highest antioxidant/radioprotective activity and can be considered a preferred radioprotector candidate. Low standard deviations and high statistical confidence obtained during the assay prove the sensitivity and consistency of this approach. The developed approach has several advantages (simplicity, rapidness and portability) over existing methods and can be applied to high-throughput screening of the radioprotective properties of various unexplored plants species.     

Plants used in traditional medicine by hayas of the Kagera region,Tanzania

This paper provides a brief account of 31 plants associated with herbal remedies among the Hayas, a tribe of Kagera region, Tanzania. Reports from informants were obtained during field studies in June 1987. For each species are given the botanical name, vernacular name, collection number, locality, habit, dis-tribution and medical uses. The data are compared with information from literature for medical uses, and listed isolated constituents and pharmacological effects. The Hayas have had a rich herbal folklore, but this is fading due to increasing acculturation and depletion of plant cover.     

Ex vivo modulation of chemical-induced mutagenesis by subcellular liver fractions of rats treated with rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) tea, honeybush (Cyclopia intermedia) tea, as well as green and black (Camellia sinensis) teas

Male Fischer rats were given unprocessed (not oxidized) and processed (oxidized) rooibos and honeybush teas as well as green and black teas as a sole source of drinking fluid for 10 weeks, and sub cellular liver fractions were prepared. Cytosolic fractions of rats consuming the unprocessed herbal teas, green and black teas significantly (P < 0.05) protected against 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF)-induced mutagenesis in the Salmonella mutagenicity test with strain TA 98, using Aroclor 1254-induced microsomes. A marginal or no protection was obtained with the processed herbal teas. The mutagenic response of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) against Salmonella strain TA 100 was significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited by cytosolic fractions from rats treated with processed and unprocessed herbal teas, while no effect was obtained with the green and black teas. Microsomal fractions prepared from livers of rats treated with both the processed and unprocessed rooibos teas and the unprocessed honeybush tea, significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the activation of AFB1 while no protection was observed against 2-AAF-induced mutagenesis. In contrast, microsomal fractions from rats treated with the green, black and unprocessed honeybush teas significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the mutagenic response of 2-AAF. None of the tea treatments significantly affected the concentration of the microsomal liver cytochrome P450.     

Andinermals A-C, antiplasmodial constituents from Andira inermis.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the leaves from Andira inermis was undertaken as part of a screening program to verify the traditional use of herbal remedies against malaria. Among the isolated phenolic compounds three novel 2-arylbenzofuran-3-carbaldehydes, andinermal A-C, were obtained together with a new flavanonol glycoside, taxifolin-3-O-(3"-O-trans-cinnamoyl)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside.     

Distribution of Herbal Remedy Knowledge in Tabi,Yucatan, Mexico

Distribution of Herbal Remedy Knowledge in Tabi, Yucatan, Mexico. The distribution of herbal remedy knowledge among a group of people is studied for two main reasons: (1) to identify plants that are promising for pharmacological analysis, and (2) to examine the factors that lead to herbal remedy knowledge erosion as opposed to dynamism in the acquisition of knowledge. The goal of this particular study, which is aligned with the second reason, is to establish the variation in herbal remedy knowledge among the Yucatec Maya in Tabi, Yucatan, Mexico. Free listing and cultural consensus analysis revealed that knowledge about a few medicinal plants and herbal remedies was distributed widely among the Yucatec Maya in Tabi, whereas the majority of knowledge was idiosyncratic. This finding was consistent with other studies of herbal remedy knowledge distribution among indigenous groups in Latin America and Africa. Assessing patterns in the distribution of herbal remedy knowledge is an important next step in determining the degree of dynamism or erosion in knowledge acquisition and transmission in Tabi.     

Discovery of a sugar-based nanoparticle universally existing in boiling herbal water extracts and their immunostimulant effect

Herbal medicine is mainly prepared from boiling herbal water extracts. Many epoch-making immunosuppressant drugs, such as glycyrrhizic acid (old example) and FTY720 (current example), were developed from herbal secondary metabolites in the boiling water extract by partition with organic solvents. However, few immunostimulants have been discovered by this method. Instead of the usual method, we aimed to find a novel immunostimulant component by two unique methods in the research of herbal medicine: ultracentrifugation and electron microscopy. The immunostimulant was not a secondary metabolite, as expected, but the structure was a nanoparticle formed by a polysaccharide. In addition, we clarified the immune effect of the nanoparticle. Intake of the nanoparticle by phagocytosis resulted in immunostimulant effects by increasing the genes and proteins of inflammatory cytokines in macrophage cells. The immunostimulant effects were inhibited by a phagocytosis inhibitor, cytochalasin D. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to describe the discovery of a nanoparticle in boiling herbal water extracts and its immunostimulant properties. This study will provide additional understanding of the efficacy of herbal medicine, in that the immunostimulant nanoparticle universally exists in boiling herbal water extracts. Thus, traditional herbal medicine may be an oldest known nanomedicine. Furthermore, this study suggests that the immunostimulant nanoparticle simply can be obtained from herbal medicine only by ultracentrifugation. We hope that this simple strategy will substantially contribute to drug development, including vaccine adjuvant, in the future.     

Herbal medicine use in the districts of Nakapiripirit, Pallisa, Kanungu, and Mukono in Uganda

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Traditional medicine (TM) occupies a special place in the management of diseases in Uganda. Not with standing the many people relying on TM, indigenous knowledge (IK) related to TM is getting steadily eroded. To slow down this loss it is necessary to document and conserve as much of the knowledge as possible. This study was conducted to document the IK relevant to traditional medicine in the districts of Mukono, Nakapiripirit, Kanungu and Pallisa, in Uganda. METHODS: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted between October 2008 and February 2009 using techniques of key informant interviews and household interviews. RESULTS: The common diseases and conditions in the four districts include malaria, cough, headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain, flu, backache and eye diseases. Respondents stated that when they fall sick they self medicate using plant medicines or consult western-trained medicine practitioners. Self medication using herbal medicines was reported mostly by respondents of Nakapiripirit and Mukono. Respondents have knowledge to treat 78 ailments using herbal medicines. 44 species, mentioned by three or more respondents have been prioritized. The most frequently used part in herbal medicines is the leaf, followed by the stem and root. People sometime use animal parts, soil, salt and water from a grass roof, in traditional medicines. Herbal medicines are stored for short periods of time in bottles. The knowledge to treat ailments is acquired from parents and grandparents. Respondents' age and tribe appears to have a significant influence on knowledge of herbal medicine, while gender does not. CONCLUSION: This survey has indicated that IK associated with TM stills exists and that TM is still important in Uganda because many people use it as a first line of health care when they fall sick. Age and tribe influence the level of IK associated with herbal medicine, but gender does not.     

Development of a fingerprint of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge by high-performance liquid chromatography with a coulometric electrode array system

To standardize and control herbal medicines, a feasible approach and control system is necessary. In this paper, a high-performance liquid chromatography with a coulometric electrode array detector (HPLC-CEAD) system was applied to fingerprint Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (S. miltiorrhiza Bunge), a popular herbal medicine, for the first time. pH of mobile phase, working potentials and sample preparation were included in our research. Twenty-five common peaks were obtained from extracts of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge (Shandong province), more than that obtained in previous report. Fingerprints of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge from different locations were also studied. The content of main components varied in different samples. Overlapping ratio of peaks (ORP) in 10 batches of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge (Shandong province) was not less than 72.46%. In method validation, relative standard deviation (RSD) of relative retention times and relative peak areas were of not more than 3%. It was concluded that HPLC-CEAD system can be applied in fingerprinting herbal medicines.     

Hepatitis after the use of germander,a herbal remedy.

The authors report two cases of hepatic injury associated with the ingestion of germander, a herbal medicine used to facilitate weight loss. In both patients, hepatitis characterized by asthenia, jaundice and a marked increase in serum amino-transferase levels occurred after 5 to 6 months of germander use. The jaundice disappeared within 8 weeks after germander use was stopped, and the overall outcome was favourable. The subsequent resumption of germander therapy by one patient was soon followed by the recurrence of hepatitis. Similar reports from France have led to the banning of germander in that country. Like several other herbal remedies, germander may be hepatotoxic, and many herbal medicines may not be as safe as the public generally assumes.     

Quality control of herbal medicines

Different chromatographic and electrophoretic techniques commonly used in the instrumental inspection of herbal medicines (HM) are first comprehensively reviewed. Chemical fingerprints obtained by chromatographic and electrophoretic techniques, especially by hyphenated chromatographies, are strongly recommended for the purpose of quality control of herbal medicines, since they might represent appropriately the "chemical integrities" of the herbal medicines and therefore be used for authentication and identification of the herbal products. Based on the conception of phytoequivalence, the chromatographic fingerprints of herbal medicines could be utilized for addressing the problem of quality control of herbal medicines. Several novel chemometric methods for evaluating the fingerprints of herbal products, such as the method based on information theory, similarity estimation, chemical pattern recognition, spectral correlative chromatogram (SCC), multivariate resolution, etc. are discussed in detail with examples, which showed that the combination of chromatographic fingerprints of herbal medicines and the chemometric evaluation might be a powerful tool for quality control of herbal products.     

Commercial herbal preparations in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: The urban face of traditional medicine

The modern trend in traditional medicines reflects an increase in the sale of complex herbal mixtures rather than those prepared from single plants. This trend is well documented in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and can be seen in recent developments in African traditional medicine. An increase in the prevalence of locally produced herbal preparations, especially those containing complex mixtures of several medicinal plants, sold in numerous retail outlets, including supermarkets and pharmacies has been observed. The appearance of these preparations is not surprising in rapidly urbanizing societies where traditional products are still desired but the users have neither the time nor resources to produce them. The production of these herbal mixtures has resulted in a growing herbal industry with about 50 to 100 private entrepreneurs in the informal market and has also contributed to creation of numerous jobs. The products are extensively advertised in newspapers, on the internet, television and radio programmes as well as through pamphlets and posters. This review examines and documents the prevalence of commercial herbal mixtures and preparations common in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. Different types of herbal mixtures, claims, ethical and legal implications are discussed. Methods of preparation and marketing strategies as well as the way forward in ensuring economic impact, safety and efficacy of this new aspect of South African traditional medicine are also highlighted.     

Simultaneous analysis of artemisinin and flavonoids of several extracts of Artemisia annua L. obtained from a commercial sample and a selected cultivar

Artemisia annua L. (Qinghao) is a promising and potent antimalarial herbal drug. This activity has been ascribed to its component artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone that is very effective against drug-resistant Plasmodium species with a low toxicity. Our studies indicate that several flavonoids of A. annua can promote and enhance the reaction of artemisinin with hemin. These data are in good agreement with previous investigations on the in vitro potentiation of antimalarial activity of artemisinin by such flavonoids. As a consequence, in view of a possible use of the phytocomplex rather than pure artemisinin, an HPLC/DAD/MS method is proposed for the simultaneous detection and quantification of both flavonoids and artemisinin. Different extracts, obtained from two different herbal drugs, a commercial sample and a selected cultivar, were analyzed in order to determine which solvents provide the best yields of both artemisinin and flavonoids. Qualitative and quantitative results obtained using an HPLC method are described, which will be useful for developing highly effective herbal drug preparations.     

Mycotoxins of fungal strains from stored herbal plants and mycotoxin contents of Nigerian crude herbal drugs

The ability of fungi isolated from stored herbal drug plants to produce mycotoxins in semisynthetic media was studied. The results obtained show that aflatoxins and ochratoxin A, were produced by Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus and A. ochraceus isolates. The time-production courses of aflatoxins B₁, B₂, ₁ and ochratoxin A in crude herbal drug preparations show that more of these toxins were produced with increase in time of storage of the drugs. The results indicate that the potential exists for the toxigenic strains to elaborate mycotoxins in a large quantity in herbal drug substrates than in semisynthetic media.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Herbal bioactivation: the good, the bad and the ugly

It has been well established that the formation of reactive metabolites of drugs is associated with drug toxicity. Similarly, there are accumulating data suggesting the role of the formation of reactive metabolites/intermediates through bioactivation in herbal toxicity and carcinogenicity. It has been hypothesized that the resultant reactive metabolites following herbal bioactivation covalently bind to cellular proteins and DNA, leading to toxicity via multiple mechanisms such as direct cytotoxicity, oncogene activation, and hypersensitivity reactions. This is exemplified by aristolochic acids present in Aristolochia spp, undergoing reduction of the nitro group by hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP1A1/2) or peroxidases in extrahepatic tissues to reactive cyclic nitrenium ion. The latter was capable of reacting with DNA and proteins, resulting in activation of H-ras oncogene, gene mutation and finally carcinogenesis. Other examples are pulegone present in essential oils from many mint species; and teucrin A, a diterpenoid found in germander (Teuchrium chamaedrys) used as an adjuvant to slimming diets. Extensive pulegone metabolism generated p-cresol that was a glutathione depletory, and the furan ring of the diterpenoids in germander was oxidized by CYP3A4 to reactive epoxide which reacts with proteins such as CYP3A and epoxide hydrolase. On the other hand, some herbal/dietary constituents were shown to form reactive intermediates capable of irreversibly inhibiting various CYPs. The resultant metabolites lead to CYP inactivation by chemical modification of the heme, the apoprotein, or both as a result of covalent binding of modified heme to the apoprotein. Some examples include bergamottin, a furanocoumarin of grapefruit juice; capsaicin from chili peppers; glabridin, an isoflavan from licorice root; isothiocyanates found in all cruciferous vegetables; oleuropein rich in olive oil; dially sulfone found in garlic; and resveratrol, a constituent of red wine. CYPs have been known to metabolize more than 95% therapeutic drugs and activate a number of procarcinogens as well. Therefore, mechanism-based inhibition of CYPs may provide an explanation for some reported herb-drug interactions and chemopreventive activity of herbs. Due to the wide use and easy availability of herbal medicines, there is increasing concern about herbal toxicity. The safety and quality of herbal medicine should be ensured through greater research, pharmacovigilance, greater regulatory control and better communication between patients and health professionals.     

Mycetoma Herbal Treatment: The Mycetoma Research Centre,Sudan Experience

It is still challenging and difficult to treat patients with eumycetoma; the current treatment has many side effects and has proven to be expensive and characterized by high recurrence rate, hence the poor patients'' treatment compliance. Most of the patients are of low socio-economic status, have many financial constraints and hence, many of them rely on alternative and herbal medicine for the treatment of their disease. With this background, the current study was conducted to determine the prevalence of herbal medicine usage among patients with eumycetoma. This cross-sectional, observational, questionnaire-based study was conducted at the Mycetoma Research Center, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan. A convenience cohort of 311 patients with confirmed eumycetoma was invited to participate in the study after informed consent. The study showed that 42.4% of the study population used herbal medicine for the treatment of eumycetoma at some stage of their illness. The commonly used herbs were Moringa oleifera, Acacia nilotica, Citrullus colocynthis and Cuminum cyminum. Most of the patients claimed no benefits from the herbal treatment. Ninety one patients (29.3%) had encountered complications with herbal treatment. The high prevalence of herbal treatment encountered in the study can be explained by the patients'' dissatisfaction with the current medical therapeutic modalities. To reduce the high prevalence of herbal medicine usage, governmental control and health policies are mandatory; likewise, native healers need to be educated in that. Moringa oleifera was the commonly used herb in this study and many reports claimed medicinal properties of this tree; hence, further in-depth studies to determine the active ingredients in the different parts of the tree and its effect are required.     

基于分子对接技术筛选中草药中潜在的H1N1病毒神经氨酸酶抑制剂

甲型H1N1流感病毒是一种高度接触性急性呼吸道传染病,给人类健康造成了极大威胁。作为一个已经被证明的抗流感药物靶点,神经氨酸酶在流感病毒复制和传播中发挥重要作用,并且其活性中心的氨基酸组成高度保守。本研究中,我们使用分子对接技术筛选从中草药小分子数据库中筛选神经氨酸酶潜在的抑制剂,结果得到4个亲和力高于奥司他韦(Osel-tamivir)的化合物,并确定了他们的中草药来源。为从草药中提取,设计以及实验合成新的神经氨酸酶抑制剂提供了一定的依据和指导。     

Fertility and mortality differentials among selected tribal population groups of north-western and eastern India

Selection potential based on differential fertility and mortality has been computed for six tribal groups inhabiting different geo-climatic conditions, namely: Sahariya, Mina and Bhil of the State of Rajasthan, north-western India, and Munda, Santal and Lodha of the State of West Bengal, eastern India. Irrespective of the methodology, the total index of selection was found to be highest among Lodhas (0.668), followed by Sahariyas (0.524), Santals (0.462), Bhils (0.386), Mundas (0.353) and Minas (0.334). Incidentally, Lodha and Sahariya are two of the seventy-four notified primitive tribal groups of India, and these two study populations show the highest index of total selection, mainly because of a higher embryonic and postnatal mortality. The relative contribution of the fertility component to the index of total selection is higher than the corresponding mortality component in all tribal groups. The analysis of postnatal mortality components indicates that childhood mortality constitutes the bulk of postnatal mortality, suggesting that children under 5 years need better health care in these tribal groups.     

Herbal bioactivation, molecular targets and the toxicity relevance

There have been increasing reports on the adverse reactions associated with herbal consumption. For many of these adverse reactions, the underlying biochemical mechanisms are unknown, but bioactivation of herbal compounds to generate reactive intermediates have been implicated. This minireview updates our knowledge on metabolic activation of herbal compounds, molecular targets and the toxicity relevance. A number of studies have documented that some herbal compounds can be converted to toxic or even carcinogenic metabolites by Phase I [e.g. cytochrome P450s (CYPs)] and less frequently by Phase II enzymes. For example, aristolochic acids (AAs) in Aristolochia spp, which undergo reduction of the nitro group by hepatic CYP1A1/2 or peroxidases in extrahepatic tissues to generate highly reactive cyclic nitrenium ions. The latter can react with macromolecules (DNA and protein), resulting in activation of H-ras and myc oncogenes and gene mutation in renal cells and finally carcinogenesis of the kidneys. Teucrin A and teuchamaedryn A, two diterpenoids found in germander (Teuchrium chamaedrys) used as an adjuvant to slimming herbal supplements that caused severe hepatotoxicity, are converted by CYP3A4 to reactive epoxide which reacts with proteins such as CYP3A and epoxide hydrolase and inactivate them. Some naturally occurring alkenylbenzenes (e.g. safrole, methyleugenol and estragole) and flavonoids (e.g. quercetin) can undergo bioactivation by sequential 1-hydroxylation and sulfation, resulting in reactive intermediates capable of forming DNA adducts. Extensive pulegone metabolism generated p-cresol that is a glutathione depletory. The hepatotoxicity of kava is possibly due to intracellular glutathione depletion and/or quinone formation. Moreover, several herbal compounds including capsaicin from chili peppers, dially sulfone in garlic, methysticin and dihydromethysticin in kava, oleuropein in olive oil, and resveratrol found in grape seeds are mechanism-based (suicide) inhibitors of various CYPs. Together with advances of proteomics, metabolomics and toxicogenomics, an integrated systems toxicological approach may provide deep insights into mechanistic aspects of herb-induced toxicities, and contribute to bridging the relationships between herbal bioactivation, protein/DNA adduct formation and the toxicological consequences.     

The inhibitory effect of a Korean herbal medicine, Zedoariae rhizoma, on growth of cultured human hepatic myofibroblast cells

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of ZR on the growth of cultured human hepatic myofibroblast cells (hMF). The zedoary (Zedoariae Rhizoma) made from the dried rhizome of Curcuma zedoaria Roscoe is an herbal drug used as an aromatic stomachic. The plant is a perennial herb which is natively distributed throughout Korea and is a traditional Korean herbal medicine. Zedoariae rhizoma is a bioactive traditional medicine with anti-tumor, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-inflammation, and growth-regulating properties. During the course of liver fibrogenesis, hMF, mostly derived from hepatic stellate cells, proliferate and synthesize excessive amounts of extracellular matrix components. To evaluate the antiproliferative effect of a traditional herbal medicine, Zedoariae rhizoma water extracts (ZR) was examined on the growth inhibition of hMF since proliferation of hMF is known to be central for the development of fibrosis during liver injury, and factors that may limit their growth are potential antifibrotic agents. The aim of this study was to test the effects of ZR on the proliferation in cultured hMF. hMF were obtained by outgrowth from human liver explants. ZR markedly reduced serum driven cell proliferation, as assessed by nuclear autoradiography experiments and measurement of actual cell growth. Growth inhibition was totally reversed after removal of the ZR. ZR potently inhibited hMF growth (IC50 = 8.5 microg/ml), in a pertussis toxin-insensitive manner. Analysis of the mechanisms involved in growth inhibition revealed that ZR rapidly increased prostaglandin E2 production and in turn cAMP, which inhibited hMF proliferation, did not affect cAMP levels. Production of cAMP by ZR was abolished by NS-398, a selective inhibitor of cycloxygenase (COX)-2. Also, ZR potently induced COX-2 protein expression. Blocking COX-2 by NS-398 blunted the antiproliferative effect of ZR. We conclude that ZR inhibits proliferation of hMF, probably via an intracellular mechanism, through early COX-2-dependent release of prostaglandin E2 and cAMP, and delayed COX-2 induction. Our results indicated a novel role for ZR as a growth inhibitory mediator and pointed out its potential involvement in the negative regulation of liver fibrogenesis. The results that ZR exhibits potent antiproliferative and antifibrogenic effects toward hMF, indicated that ZR might have therapeutic implications in chronic liver disease.