Chemistry and bioactivity of Flos Magnoliae, a Chinese herb for rhinitis and sinusitis.

Flos Magnoliae (FM, Chinese name: Xin-yi) is one of the most commonly used Chinese medicinal herbs. It has a long history of clinical use for managing rhinitis, sinusitis and headache. More than 20 different FM species have been used clinically, which makes species identification and evaluation of pharmacological effects of individual chemical ingredients difficult. In this review, we have summarized the current knowledge on FM phytochemistry and its bioactivity activities. The bioactive compounds in FM include both lipid and water-soluble components. More than 90% of the essential components of FM species are terpenoids, including monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Lignans and neolignans including tetrahydrofurofuran, tetrahydrofuran and aryltetralin are also present in FM species. A small number of water-soluble compounds have been isolated from Magnolia flower buds, including a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid magnoflorine, an ester ethyl-E-p-hydroxyl-cinnamate and a flavonoid biondnoid. A wide range of pharmacological actions of FM have been reported, including anti-allergy, anti-inflammation and anti-microbial activity. The structure-activity relationship analysis revealed the influence of methylation at position 5 on the 3,7-dioxabicyclo-(3,3,0)-octane backbone of six lignans in antagonistic activities against platelet-activating factor. In addition, the trans stereoisomer fargesin had a much lower bioactivity than the cis stereoisomer demethoxyaschantin. Recent studies have been directed towards the isolation of other bioactive compounds. Further studies on FM may help to develop new anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic drugs.

Efficacy, chemistry and pharmacology of chinese herbal medicine for allergic rhinitis.

An extensive literature search identified six randomized controlled clinical trials in which the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine had been investigated for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Although four of these trials had methodological flaws, the therapeutic outcomes of all six have been reviewed. One of two trials considered to be of high quality was concerned with the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis and the other with perennial allergic rhinitis. It is considered that all six studies demonstrated various degrees of alleviation of the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. No serious side effects were reported in any of the trials. A number of the herbs in the Chinese herbal formulae used in the trials, and/or their constituent compounds have been reported to possess anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory or immune modulation activity. Such actions include inhibition of the release or action of mast cell mediators such as histamine, inhibition of inflammation induced by chemical agents, and modulation of serum IgE levels or of lymphocyte and/or macrophage activity. An aqueous, unresolved extract of the herbal formula used in one of the six trials has been reported to exhibit a range of pharmacological actions relevant to the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Essential oils, lignans, flavonoids and saponins are chemical classes that are frequently represented in individual herbs of the six Chinese herbal formulae used in the trials. The chemical structures characterising these classes of compound and the pharmacological actions of these and other constituents of the herbs, relevant to allergic rhinitis, have been reviewed.

Electroacupuncture for tension-type headache on distal acupoints only: a randomized, controlled, crossover trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of electroacupuncture, applied to distal acupoints only, for tension-type headache. BACKGROUND: Electroacupuncture is commonly used for tension-type headache, but when applied to distal acupoints only, evidence of its efficacy is lacking. DESIGN: A randomized, single-blinded, sham-controlled, crossover clinical trial. Methods.-The trial had 5 stages: baseline (2 weeks), phases I and II (each 4 weeks), washout period (2 weeks), and follow-up (3 months after phase II). Forty patients were randomly assigned to either group A or group B. Group A received real electroacupuncture during phase I, then sham electroacupuncture in phase II. Group B received the treatments in reverse order. Outcome measures were headache frequency and duration, pain intensity using a visual analog scale, mechanical pain threshold, headache disability, and sickness impact. Data were analyzed by univariate 2-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients completed the trial. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups at baseline. At the end of phase I, group A, but not group B, demonstrated significant improvement in mean (standard error of the mean [SEM]) headache frequency (3.0 per month [0.3] versus 12.0 per month [1.7]), duration (13.3 hours [3.5] versus 32.0 hours [6.2]), pain intensity (32.8 mm [4.1] versus 47.5 mm [2.7]), pain threshold (right side, 2.9 kg/second [0.1] versus 0.9 kg/second [0.1]; left side, 2.4 kg/second [0.1] versus 1.1 kg/second [0.1]), headache disability score (6.0 [1.0] versus 16.3 [1.6]), and sickness impact score (288.7 [48.0] versus 687.1 [77.2]). For each parameter, significant differences also were demonstrated for both groups between baseline and phase II, and baseline and follow-up. There were no significant differences between the groups at the end of follow-up (P >.05). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture to distal points alone is effective for short-term symptomatic relief of tension-type headache.