Effects of Helichrysum Psudoplicatum supplementation on pruritus intensity, fatigue, quality of life and anorexia in hemodialysis patients: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Anorexia, fatigue and pruritus are common complications of hemodialysis (HD) patients. Today, the use of medicinal plants is more than synthetic drugs due to their safety. Therefore, we designed a randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effects of Helichrysum psudoplicatum (H. psudoplicatum) supplementation on biochemical parameters, pruritus intensity, fatigue, quality of life and anorexia in HD patients. METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed on 50 subjects with, aged 55-65 years old. HD patients were randomly divided into two groups. Intervention group received 250 mg/day of H. psudoplicatum supplement capsule for 6 weeks (n=25), and the placebo group was given placebo capsule for the same time duration and dosage (n=25). The serum concentrations of urea, creatinine, albumin and hemoglobin were measured enzymatically methods. Anorexia, pruritus intensity, quality of life the dialysis patients with pruritus and fatigue score was measured using a Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ), Numerical rating scale (NRS), Fatigue severity scale (FSS) and ItchyQoL questionnaire, respectively. Shapiro-Wilk and independent-samples t-test or Mann-Whitney test were used for the analysis of the data. RESULTS: The results showed that the H. psudoplicatum supplementation significantly improved the pruritus intensity, quality of life the dialysis patients with pruritus and fatigue in HD patients, for 6 weeks (p<0.001). However, it did not significantly effect on the anorexia, albumin, hemoglobin, urea, creatinine, arm circumference, and body mass index (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of this study, H. psudoplicatum supplementation can be effective as an adjunct therapy to improve pruritus intensity, quality of life, fatigue and relative improvement of anorexia in HD patients.

Acute and subchronic toxicological evaluation of Echinophora platyloba DC (Apiaceae) total extract in Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVE: Echinophora platyloba DC is a widely used herbal medicine and food seasoning in Iran. It is claimed to exert antimicrobial, antifungal, and antispasmodic effects. Despite the prevalent use of this plant as a food and medicine, there are no reports on its possible toxic effects. To evaluate the safety of E. platyloba, we tested its acute and sub-chronic toxicity in male and female Wistar rats. METHODS: Rats were orally treated with four different single doses of E. platyloba total extract and screened for signs of toxicity two weeks after administration. In the sub-chronic toxicity study, E. platyloba was administered for 45 days. Mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes, hematological and biochemical parameters, gross findings, organ weights, and histological markers were monitored during the study. RESULTS: We found no mortality and no abnormality in clinical signs, body weight, or necropsy findings in any of the animals in the acute study. The results of the subchronic study showed no significant difference in hematological parameters in either sex. There was a significant increase in lactate dehydrogenase in the female groups. A significant increase in the relative lung weight of female rats was noted at 500 mg/kg. Histopathological examinations revealed intra-alveolar hemorrhage in the male rats (500 mg/kg). In the females, congestion of the alveolar capillaries (at 500 mg/kg) and liver bridging necrosis (at 200 mg/kg) were significantly increased. CONCLUSION: The no observed adverse effect level of E. platyloba was determined to be 200 and 50 mg/kg for male and female rats, respectively.

Acute and subchronic toxicological evaluation of Echinophora platyloba DC (Apiaceae) total extract in Wistar rats

OBJECTIVE: Echinophora platyloba DC is a widely used herbal medicine and food seasoning in Iran. It is claimed to exert antimicrobial, antifungal, and antispasmodic effects. Despite the prevalent use of this plant as a food and medicine, there are no reports on its possible toxic effects. To evaluate the safety of E. platyloba, we tested its acute and sub-chronic toxicity in male and female Wistar rats. METHODS: Rats were orally treated with four different single doses of E. platyloba total extract and screened for signs of toxicity two weeks after administration. In the sub-chronic toxicity study, E. platyloba was administered for 45 days. Mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes, hematological and biochemical parameters, gross findings, organ weights, and histological markers were monitored during the study. RESULTS: We found no mortality and no abnormality in clinical signs, body weight, or necropsy findings in any of the animals in the acute study. The results of the subchronic study showed no significant difference in hematological parameters in either sex. There was a significant increase in lactate dehydrogenase in the female groups. A significant increase in the relative lung weight of female rats was noted at 500 mg/kg. Histopathological examinations revealed intra-alveolar hemorrhage in the male rats (500 mg/kg). In the females, congestion of the alveolar capillaries (at 500 mg/kg) and liver bridging necrosis (at 200 mg/kg) were significantly increased. CONCLUSION: The no observed adverse effect level of E. platyloba was determined to be 200 and 50 mg/kg for male and female rats, respectively.