Antibacterial, anti fungal and E. coli DNA cleavage of Euphorbia prostrata and Pelargonium graveolens extract and their combination with novel nanoparticles

As there are a lot of antibacterial and anti-fungal resistant pathogens, researchers attempt to substitute antimicrobial drugs with various medical plants and novel nanoparticles. The present study was conducted to characterize antimicrobial activities of Euphorbia prostrata and Pelargonium graveolens extract alone and in combination with Mn-Ni@Fe3O4-NPs & Mn: Fe (OH)3-NPs on the DNA cleavage of E. coli and also Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus oryzae, and Candida albicans. The effects of antimicrobial activities on above scenarios were evaluated using disc diffusion, MIC, MBC, and E. coli DNA electrophoresis methods. The results showed that the effects of antibacterial assay values of Euphorbia prostrata & Mn: Fe(OH)3 was 21.00 mm for E. coli and while it was 19.5 mm for Euphorbia prostrata & Mn-Ni@Fe3O4 against Pseudomonas aeruginosa at a concentration of 100mg/mL. The highest level of DNA cleavage was seen in mixed of Euphorbia prostrata & Mn: Fe(OH)3 nanoparticles. In conclusion, the combination of Euphorbia prostrata and Pelargonium graveolens extracts with nanostructures showed synergic effects on eliminating the bacteria via DNA destruction and others mechanisms. Moreover, the synergistic effect of nanoparticles with plant extracts seems to bring about new choices for the treatment of infectious diseases

Herbal hepatotoxicity and WHO global introspection method.

Herbal hepatotoxicity is a rare but highly disputed disease because numerous confounding variables may complicate accurate causality assessment. Case evaluation is even more difficult when the WHO global introspection method (WHO method) is applied as diagnostic algorithm. This method lacks liver specificity, hepatotoxicity validation, and quantitative items, basic qualifications required for a sound evaluation of hepatotoxicity cases. Consequently, there are no data available for reliability, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value. Its scope is also limited by the fact that it cannot discriminate between a positive and a negative causality attribution, thereby stimulating case overdiagnosing and overreporting. The WHO method ignores uncertainties regarding daily dose, temporal association, start, duration, and end of herbal use, time to onset of the adverse reaction, and course of liver values after herb discontinuation. Insufficiently considered or ignored are comedications, preexisting liver diseases, alternative explanations upon clinical assessment, and exclusion of infections by hepatitis A-C, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and varicella zoster virus (VZV). We clearly prefer as alternative the scale of CIOMS (Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences) which is structured, quantitative, liver specific, and validated for hepatotoxicity. In conclusion, causality of herbal hepatotoxicity is best assessed by the liver specific CIOMS scale validated for hepatotoxicity rather than the obsolete WHO method that is liver unspecific and not validated for hepatotoxicity. CIOMS based assessments will ensure the correct diagnosis and exclude alternative diagnosis that may require other specific therapies.

An evidence-based systematic review of umckaloabo (Pelargonium sidoides) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration.

An evidence-based systematic review, including written and statistical analysis of scientific literature, expert opinion, folkloric precedent, history, pharmacology, kinetics/dynamics, interactions, adverse effects, toxicology, and dosing.

Vigilância pós-comercialização do pelargonium sidoides no tratamento das tonsilofaringites comunitárias agudas de origem presumidamente viral / Post-marketing surveillance of perlagonium sidoides for treatment of presumably viral acute community acquired tonsillopharyngitis

Este é um estudo observacional, prospectivo, aberto, de vigilância epidemiológica em crianças, adolescentes e adultos atendidos em consultórios e ambulatórios por todo o Brasil, com o objetivo de comprovar a segurança e efetividade do Pelargonium sidoides (Umckan®) no tratamento das tonsilofaringites agudas presumidamente virais em pacientes pediátricos e adultos na população brasileira. Após a obtenção de um termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido e verificação de critérios de inclusão e exclusão, foram avaliados 1.667 pacientes em relação ao perfil de segurança, efetividade e tolerância dos pacientes em uso clínico cotidiano do Pelargonium sidoides (Umckan®). Apenas 22 pacientes (1,4%) apresentaram eventos adversos, principalmente diarréia (cinco pacientes), exantema (três pacientes) e epigastralgia (dois pacientes). Além destes foram observados: amolecimento das fezes, urticária, epistaxe, equimose subocular, cefaléia, hiperemia com descamação em regiões de face e tronco, eructações, petéquias, hipermenorréia, edema labial (após três dias de uso), mal-estar e náuseas. Em relação à efetividade, todos os sinais e sintomas observados tiveram uma redução estatística e clinicamente signi- ficativa ao longo de sete dias de observação. Pelargonium sidoides (Umckan®) demonstrou boa ou muito boa tolerabilidade, tanto por parte dos pacientes (93%) como por parte da observação dos médicos (96,4%). Neste primeiro estudo brasileiro, Pelargonium sidoides (Umckan®) confirmou seu excelente perfil de segurança e eficácia.