RESUMO
The essential oil of the rhizome of Zingiber cassumunar was found to exhibit a topical antiinflammatory effect, when tested using the model of carrageenan-induced hind paw edema in rats (ID(50) = 22 mg oil/paw). Individual assessment of topical antiinflammatory activity of the five major components of the oil demonstrated that (E)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)butadiene (DMPBD), terpinen-4-ol and α-terpinene significantly inhibited edema formation, whereas sabinene and γ-terpinene were inactive up to 6 mg/paw. The most active compound, DMPBD, was found to be an antiinflammatory agent twice as potent as the reference drug diclofenac (ID(50) = 3 vs 6 mg/paw, respectively).
RESUMO
An extract (IPA) of the plant Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R. Br., previously shown to be clinically effective toward dermatitis caused by venomous jellyfishes, was studied as to its ability to neutralize toxic activities of jellyfish venoms. Different venoms exhibited different degrees of activity. When IPA was incubated with active venoms, it inhibited the actions of all jellyfish venoms tested, with IC50 values in the range of 0.3-0.8 mgIPA/mg venom for proteolytic action, and with about 10 times lower IC50 values for the neutralization of haemolytic action. These activities of IPA support the previously reported effectiveness in the treatment of dermatitis caused by jellyfish sting.
Assuntos
Antivenenos/uso terapêutico , Venenos de Cnidários/antagonistas & inibidores , Dermatite/tratamento farmacológico , Extratos Vegetais/uso terapêutico , Cifozoários , Animais , Antivenenos/isolamento & purificação , Venenos de Cnidários/toxicidade , Dermatite/etiologia , Cobaias , Humanos , Medicina Tradicional , Extratos Vegetais/isolamento & purificação , TailândiaRESUMO
Sixty-five adult asymptomatic chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus were enrolled to the randomized controlled efficacy study of Phyllanthus amarus. Thirty-four received Phyllanthus amarus 600 mg per day for 30 days and 31 received placebo in identical capsules. The conversion rate of HBsAg was 6 per cent in the study group at day 30. When 20 subjects in the Phyllanthus amarus group were given a further 30-day treatment and 22 placebo recipients given Phyllanthus amarus 1,200 mg per day for 30 days, the conversion was observed in 1 (5%) in the higher dose group. Adverse effects were not observed in all patients receiving the plant. The results indicated that Phyllanthus amarus, whole plant except root, grown in the central part of Thailand, given at the studied dosage and duration, had a very minimal effect on eradication of HBsAg from Thai adult asymptomatic chronic carriers.
Assuntos
Portador Sadio/terapia , Hepatite B/terapia , Medicina Tradicional do Leste Asiático , Plantas Medicinais , Adolescente , Adulto , Portador Sadio/sangue , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Hepatite B/sangue , Antígenos de Superfície da Hepatite B/sangue , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , TailândiaRESUMO
An extract of the plant Ipomoea pes-caprae, used in Thailand as a folk remedy for treating dermatitis caused by jellyfish and Portuguese man-of-war, has been tested for antagonistic activity against histamine, acetylcholine, bradykinin and barium chloride on the isolated guinea-pig ileum. The extract reversibly inhibited the contraction induced by all the spasmogens in a concentration-dependent manner and decreased both the slope and the maximal response of the concentration response curves. It is not likely that the extract specifically interferes at the receptor level. It may be due to the direct action of the extract on the ileal smooth muscle.