Journal of ethnopharmacology
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Devil's claw is the common name for two species in the genus Harpagophytum. Their root extracts contain the iridoid glycoside, harpagoside, which has been found to be effective in the treatment of degenerative rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, tendonitis, kidney inflammation, and heart disease. Most of the world's supply comes from Namibia, with lesser amounts from South Africa and Botswana. ⋯ Replacing wild collection with cultivation has generated a debate on the positive and negative effects on harvester income and rural farmers. Successful cultivation efforts have involved micropropagation techniques and growing the plant without water or fertilizers. The governments of the main range states are working with local communities to develop policies and regulations to protect the species and to determine a sustainable harvest.
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Comparative Study
Aqueous extract of Ilex paraguariensis decreases nucleotide hydrolysis in rat blood serum.
Mate is a xanthine-containing beverage, which is prepared as an infusion of the dried and ground leaves of Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil. (Aquifoliacea). Previous reports have shown that Ilex paraguariensis has the highest levels of caffeine and theobromine when compared to other Ilex species. ⋯ The chronic ingestion of aqueous extract of Ilex paraguariensis by rats during 15 days significantly decreased ATP (55%), ADP (50%) and AMP (40%) hydrolysis in blood serum. These results suggest changes in the balance of purine levels induced by Ilex paraguariensis ingestion. Considering the potential effects of Ilex paraguariensis in the circulatory system, these results may be relevant since NTPDases are a novel drug target for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
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Comparative Study
An Uncaria tomentosa (cat's claw) extract protects mice against ozone-induced lung inflammation.
Ozone (O(3)) inhalation has been associated with respiratory tract inflammation and lung functional alterations. To characterize the O(3)-induced lung inflammation in mice, the effective dose and exposure time were determined. Total protein levels of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), cytological smears, and lung histopathology and morphometry were used to assess and measure the degree of pulmonary inflammation in the mouse model. ⋯ To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of UT, male mice were given an UT extract for 8 days, exposed to O(3), and killed 0 or 8 h after O(3) exposure. When compared to untreated controls, UT-treated mice had significantly (p < 0.05) lower levels of protein in BALF, lower degree of epithelial necrosis, higher number of intact epithelial cell nuclei in bronchial wall, and decreased number of PMNs in the bronchiolar lumen. Therefore, UT extract appeared to prevent O(3)-induced respiratory inflammation in male mice.
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Comparative Study
An active ingredient of Cat's Claw water extracts identification and efficacy of quinic acid.
Historic medicinal practice has defined Cat's Claw, also known as Una de Gato or Uncaria tomentosa, as an effective treatment for several health disorders including chronic inflammation, gastrointestinal dysfunction such as ulcers, tumors and infections. The efficacy of Cat's Claw was originally believed, as early as the 1960s, to be due to the presence of oxindole alkaloids. ⋯ Here we characterize the active ingredients of a water-soluble Cat's Claw extract called C-Med-100 as inhibiting cell growth without cell death thus providing enhanced opportunities for DNA repair, and the consequences thereof, such as immune stimulation, anti-inflammation and cancer prevention. The active ingredients were chemically defined as quinic acid esters and could also be shown to be bioactive in vivo as quinic acid.
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Cerbera odollam is a tree belonging to the poisonous Apocynaceae family, which includes the yellow and common oleanders. The seeds are excessively toxic, containing cerberin as the main active cardenolide. ⋯ It is used both for suicide and homicide. The aim of this retrospective study is to call attention to a powerful toxic plant that is currently completely ignored by western physicians, chemists, analysts and even coroners and forensic toxicologists.