Journal of ethnopharmacology
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Shexiang Tongxin dropping pill (STDP) is a formulation of Traditional Chinese Medicine mainly used for clinical treatment of stable angina pectoris in China. ⋯ Our results demonstrated for the first time that STDP attenuated atherosclerotic lesions in ApoE(-/-) mouse model. Moreover, STDP treatment exhibited multi-targeting effects on pathological, biochemical and molecular aspects of atherosclerosis implicating lipid regulation, fibrosis, inflammation and oxidative stress. Findings from the current study warrant further evaluation of the clinical application of STDP in atherosclerosis treatment.
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Anti-inflammatory effects of Antrodia camphorata, a herbal medicine, in a mouse skin ischemia model.
Antrodia camphorata, a highly valued polypore mushroom native only to Taiwan, has been traditionally used as a medicine for anti-inflammation. ⋯ These results demonstrated that methanolic extracts of wood-cultured fruiting bodies and solid-state-cultured mycelia from Antrodia camphorata have excellent anti-inflammatory activities and thus have great potential as an addition for hydrocolloid dressings.
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Without an understanding of the geography of traditional knowledge, implementing the Nagoya Protocol and national or regional strategies for benefit-sharing with local and indigenous communities will be difficult. We evaluate how much traditional knowledge about medicinal palm (Arecaceae) uses is unique and how much is shared across (i) four countries (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia), (ii) two cultural groups (Amerindian and non-Amerindian), (iii) 52 Amerindian tribes, (iv) six non-Amerindian groups, (v) 41 communities, and (vi) individuals in the 41 communities. ⋯ Our region-wide analysis highlights the geospatial complexity in traditional knowledge patterns, underscoring the need for improved geographic insight into the ownership of traditional knowledge in areas where biocultural diversity is high. This high geographic complexity needs consideration when designing property right protocols, and calls for countrywide compilation efforts as much localized knowledge remains unrecorded.
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Hippadine is an alkaloid isolated from Crinum macowanii. Crinum macowanii is used in South Africa to treat oedema, 'heart disease', rheumatic fever, cancer and skin diseases, and belongs to the plant family Amaryllidaceae, assumed to have originated in the South African region. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hippadine, an alkaloid extracted from Crinum macowanii, on the blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) in anaesthetized male spontaneously hypertensive Wistar rats (SHR); and to find out if α1 and⧸or β1 adrenoceptors contribute to its effects. ⋯ Hippadine decreases the BP and HR in SHR, and these effects may be due to α1 and β1 adrenoceptor inhibition.
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Kampo medicines are the main traditional herbal medicines in Japan and are classified as pharmaceuticals. They are based on ancient Chinese medicine and have evolved to the Japanese original style over a long period of time. Ethical Kampo formulations are prescribed in general practice by physician under the National Health Insurance reimbursement system. ⋯ Crude drugs and Kampo extracts have been listed in The Japanese Pharmacopoeia. Both The Approval Standards and The Quality Standards play a key role in regulation of Kampo products. "Application Guideline for Western Traditional Herbal Medicines as OTC Drugs" was published in 2007. Other ethnopharmaceuticals mostly from Europe could be approved as OTC drugs in Japan.