Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and quantitative screening of phytochemicals of Fraxinus excelsior L. and Eschscholtzia californica Cham. mother tinctures.

The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Fraxinus excelsior L. and Eschscholtzia californica Cham. mother tinctures against a range of foodborne bacteria were investigated to determine the major components and to analyse the action spectrum and antimicrobial effectiveness of the extracts. Results demonstrated a significant antioxidant activity of Fraxinus excelsior L. and a lower activity of Eschscholtzia californica Cham. and a good chemical phenolic composition with the highest content of flavonoids. The Fraxinus excelsior L. and Eschscholtzia californica Cham. mother tinctures demonstrated a middle-high antimicrobial activity against, respectively, 66.67% and 43.33% of all tested bacteria. The inhibitory activity showed a moderate effect on the growth of the sensitive strains in presence of extracts minimum inhibitory concentration. The synergistic actions of bioactive compounds detected in the extracts might be on the basis of antioxidant and biological activities observed and should be used in pharmaceutical, food preservation, alternative medicine and natural therapies fields.

Comparative analysis for quality control of mother tinctures in Brazilian reports

Quality control of ahomeopathic mother tincture begins with the analysis of the raw material. Once the product is obtained, some organoleptic characteristics and Physicochemical properties such as appearance, colour, odour, density, dry residue, alcohol content,and chemicalmarker are evaluated. In Brazil, mother tinctures from different suppliers may have high variability in terms of the specifications described in the homeopathic pharmacopoeia. Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare mother tinctures' quality control from different pharmaceutical suppliers based on Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia 3rd edition. Methods: Five mother tinctures were selected according to the high number of requests in the pharmacies, also its monographs are in the Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia (FHB) 3rd edition. The report of analysis of the product was provided by three homeopathic pharmacies from the city of Rio de Janeiro. The information in the reports wasevaluated and compared to its monograph. Results and discussion: In this study, it was found that the number of laboratories that provide homeopathic pharmaceutical ingredients is rather low. In addition, in some reports, a number of identification tests werenot described properly when compared to the monograph. Besides that, some information diverges from the pharmacopoeia, for example, absence of dry residue testing, replacement of the part of the plant used to prepare the mother tincture,and results that do not meet pharmacopoeia specifications. As can be seen, the quality and effectiveness of homeopathic medicines prepared from these tinctures may be compromised. Conclusion:In order to guarantee consumer protection and the quality and effectiveness of medicines, governments and regulatory agencies should requirea greater commitment from suppliers in the production of homeopathic inputs.

Optimisation of artemisinin and scopoletin extraction from Artemisia annua with a new modern pressurised cyclic solid-liquid (PCSL) extraction technique.

INTRODUCTION: Artemisia annua is a small herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family declared therapeutic by the World Health Organisation, in particular for its artemisinin content, an active ingredient at the base of most antimalarial treatments, used every year by over 300 million people. In the last years, owing to low artemisinin content, research of new ways to increase the yield of the plant matrix has led to the use of the total extract taking advantage from the synergic and stabilising effects of the other components. OBJECTIVE: In this work we evaluated and compared the content of artemisinin and scopoletin in extracts of A. annua collected in the Campania Region (southern Italy), by two different extraction processes. METHODOLOGY: Artemisia annua plants were extracted by traditional maceration (TM) in hydroalcoholic solution as a mother tincture prepared according to the European Pharmacopeia and by pressurised cyclic solid-liquid (PCSL) extraction, a new generation method using the Naviglio extractor. RESULTS: The results showed that the PCSL extraction technique is more effective than traditional methods in extracting both phytochemicals, up to 15 times more, reducing the extraction times, without using solvents or having risks for the operators, the environment and the users of the extracts. CONCLUSION: The Naviglio extractor provides extracts with an artemisinin and scopoletin content eight times higher than the daily therapeutic dose, which should be evaluated for its stability over time and biological properties for possible direct use for therapeutic purposes.

Standardization of homeopathic mother tincture of Toxicodendron pubescens and correlation of its flavonoid markers with the biological activity.

BACKGROUND: Standardization and quality control of homeopathic drugs is very challenging. As mother tinctures are derived from complex natural resources, there is a need of systematic evaluation of chemical markers which correlate with the proposed biological activities of mother tinctures. METHODS: In present study, High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) standardization method of homeopathic mother tinctures of Toxicodendron pubescens using quercitrin and rutin as chemical markers is validated and correlations of content of these markers with its anti-inflammatory effects are established. For HPTLC analysis, precoated silica gel plates were used as stationary phase. Two flavonoids, namely quercitrin and rutin were used as markers. Separation was achieved using methylene chloride:methanol:water:glacial acetic acid (15:1.5:1:8 v/v/v) as mobile phase. The developed plates were scanned at 365 nm. RESULTS: It was observed that quercitrin (Rf value 0.63) and Rutin (Rf value 0.41) are well resolved. The minimum detectable concentrations for quercitrin and rutin were 5 ng/spot. The linearity range was between 100 and 2000 ng/spot for both the markers. Subsequently, anti-inflammatory activity of these formulations was determined against carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats, pain threshold determined by electronic Von-Frey apparatus and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) on hot-plate. All the tested formulations of Rhus Tox showed anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity against carrageenan induced paw edema in rats. Quantitative correlation between the content of markers and anti-inflammatory activity of mother tinctures was established. RESULTS: Anti-inflammatory effect as well as effect on paw withdrawal and pain threshold, at third hour after carrageenan injection, correlated with quercitrin and rutin content in the respective formulations. CONCLUSIONS: This study validates a quantitative HPTLC method for standardization of homeopathic mother tincture of Rhus Tox and establishes quercitrin and rutin as markers corresponding its biological activity. Contents of quercitrin and rutin in T. pubescens mother tincture correlates with its anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions and the validated HPTLC method can be used in standardization of homeopathic mother tincture of T. pubescens.

Antifungal activity of plant extracts with potential to control plant pathogens in pineapple

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of extracts, resins, oils and mother tinctures from plants against the filamentous fungi Fusarium guttiforme (F. guttiforme) and Chalara paradoxa, and to evaluate the control of the pineapple fusariosis in situ using mother tinctures. Methods: The screening of the antifungal potential of 131 extract forms from 63 plant species was performed in vitro by using plate-hole method. To control pineapple fusar-iosis in situ, preventive and post-infection treatments were performed on detached pineapple leaves of cv. P′erola (susceptible). Results: The quantitative study indicated that among the 49 mother tincture samples analyzed, 46% were effective against F. guttiforme and 29% for the Chalara paradoxa. The natural plant extracts, mother tincture of Glycyrrhiza glabra (MTGG1), mother tincture of Myroxylon balsamum (MTBT2), mother tincture of Aloe vera (MTAV3), mother tincture of Allium sativum (MTAS4), resin of Protium heptaphyllum (RESAM5) and crude extracts of Rhizophora mangle (CEMV6), exhibited an antifungal activity against F. guttiforme. In the preventive treatment against pineapple fusariosis, MTAV3, MTAS4 and MTGG1 were statistically similar to the treatment with tebuconazol fungicide. The curative treatments with MTAV3, MTAS4, MTGG1 and MTBT2 presented similar activity to fungicide (P Conclusions: The findings of the present study concluded that mother tinctures can effectively control phytopathogens. The mother tincture extract of Myroxylon balsamum showed antifungal activity and was used here for the first time for inhibition of phyto-pathogenic fungi. This study paves the way for the development of bioactive natural products with phytosanitary applications, with the added benefits of an environmentally safe and economically viable product.

Antifungal activity of plant extracts with potential to control plant pathogens in pineapple

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of extracts, resins, oils and mother tinctures from plants against the filamentous fungi Fusarium guttiforme (F. guttiforme) and Chalara paradoxa, and to evaluate the control of the pineapple fusariosis in situ using mother tinctures. Methods: The screening of the antifungal potential of 131 extract forms from 63 plant species was performed in vitro by using plate-hole method. To control pineapple fusariosis in situ, preventive and post-infection treatments were performed on detached pineapple leaves of cv. Pérola (susceptible). Results: The quantitative study indicated that among the 49 mother tincture samples analyzed, 46% were effective against F. guttiforme and 29% for the Chalara paradoxa. The natural plant extracts, mother tincture of Glycyrrhiza glabra (MTGG1), mother tincture of Myroxylon balsamum (MTBT2), mother tincture of Aloe vera (MTAV3), mother tincture of Allium sativum (MTAS4), resin of Protium heptaphyllum (RESAM5) and crude extracts of Rhizophora mangle (CEMV6), exhibited an antifungal activity against F. guttiforme. In the preventive treatment against pineapple fusariosis, MTAV3, MTAS4 and MTGG1 were statistically similar to the treatment with tebuconazol fungicide. The curative treatments with MTAV3, MTAS4, MTGG1 and MTBT2 presented similar activity to fungicide (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The findings of the present study concluded that mother tinctures can effectively control phytopathogens. The mother tincture extract of Myroxylon balsamum showed antifungal activity and was used here for the first time for inhibition of phytopathogenic fungi. This study paves the way for the development of bioactive natural products with phytosanitary applications, with the added benefits of an environmentally safe and economically viable product.

Safety and compliance of a complex homeopathic drug (Contramutan N Saft) in the treatment of acute respiratory tract infections: A large observational (non-interventional) study in children and adults focussing on homeopathy specific adverse reactions versus adverse drug reactions.

BACKGROUND: This non-interventional study was performed to generate data on safety and treatment effects of a complex homeopathic drug (Contramutan N Saft). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 1050 outpatients suffering from common cold were treated with the medication for 8days. The study was conducted in 64 outpatient practices of medical doctors trained in CAM. Tolerability, compliance and the treatment effects were assessed by the physicians and by patient diaries. Adverse events were collected and assessed with specific attention to homeopathic aggravation and proving symptoms. Each adverse effect was additionally evaluated by an advisory board of experts. RESULTS: The physicians detected 60 adverse events from 46 patients (4.4%). Adverse drug reactions occurred in 14 patients (1.3%). Six patients showed proving symptoms (0.57%) and only one homeopathic aggravation (0.1%) appeared. The rate of compliance was 84% in average for all groups and the global assessment of the treatment effects attributed to "good" and "very good" in 84.9% of all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The homeopathic complex drug was shown to be safe and effective for children and adults likewise. Adverse reactions specifically related to homeopathic principles are very rare. All observed events recovered quickly and were of mild to moderate intensity.

Homeopathic drug standardization through biological evaluations: An untrodden avenue

There is a dearth of chemico-analytical or instrumental methods for standardization and quality control of higher dilutions of homeopathic drugs. Aim: This review highlights the challenges in standardization of anti-inflammatory homeopathic drugs and suggests a battery of biological assays for their standardization. Methods: We retrieved a total 57 scientific reports from the experimental studies and scientific reviews published between January 1999 and June 2014 related to anti-inflammatory homeopathic drugs and their high dilutions. These comprised of 18 reports on preclinical evaluation, 15 on source materials, 9 on isolated constituents and 15 studies on in-vitro experiments. Few recent citations which supported the initial studies were added later during the compilation of the manuscript. Conclusion: Standardization and quality control of homeopathic mother tinctures and high dilutions warrants an urgent attention. As biological activities are observed to be attributed to the high dilutions which are practically devoid of active ingredients, their standardization may be done through the suggested battery of biological investigations. It is suggested that the current methods of standardization of homeopathic drugs need to be upgraded to include sensitive, reproducible and relevant biological assays so that the end users are assured of the quality, efficacy, and safety of homeopathic dilutions...

Homeopathic drug standardization through biological evaluations: An untrodden avenue

Background: There is a dearth of chemico-analytical or instrumental methods for standardization and quality control of higher dilutions of homeopathic drugs. Aim: This review highlights the challenges in standardization of anti-inflammatory homeopathic drugs and suggests a battery of biological assays for their standardization. Methods: We retrieved a total 57 scientific reports from the experimental studies and scientific reviews published between January 1999 and June 2014 related to anti-inflammatory homeopathic drugs and their high dilutions. These comprised of 18 reports on preclinical evaluation, 15 on source materials, 9 on isolated constituents and 15 studies on in-vitro experiments. Few recent citations which supported the initial studies were added later during the compilation of the manuscript. Conclusion: Standardization and quality control of homeopathic mother tinctures and high dilutions warrants an urgent attention. As biological activities are observed to be attributed to the high dilutions which are practically devoid of active ingredients, their standardization may be done through the suggested battery of biological investigations. It is suggested that the current methods of standardization of homeopathic drugs need to be upgraded to include sensitive, reproducible and relevant biological assays so that the end users are assured of the quality, efficacy, and safety of homeopathic dilutions. (AU)

Estudio cualitativo del efecto del consumo de tintura madre de Allium sativum L. en la concentración de lisozima y proteínas totales en niños menores de 6 años con infecciones respiratorias agudas (I.R.A.) en el consultorio de Hualqui, VIII Región, Chile / Qualitative study of the effect on consumption of the mother tincture of Allium sativum (garlic) in the lysozyme concentration and total protein in children under 6 years old with acute respiratory infection in the Hualqui Medic´s office, VIII Region of Chile

Sampled population was children under 6 years with acute respiratory infection and the sample were obtained from sputum. The aim was to determine the changes in the concentrations ob both, lisozyme and total protein, before and after the intervention with the garlic mother tincture. It was a pilot study quantitative and through a system of nonrandomness simple of the probabilistic a sample of 25 individuals for determining if you belong to the treatment group (mother tincture) or control (placebo). The results indicate a decrease in the concentration of lysozyme and total proteins in the treatment group between 3 to 5 days after initiated treatment, on the other hand the control group showed an increase in the measurements. Only the treatment group showed positive changes in type symptomatical of the disease. Mother Tincture of garlic is a phytotherapeutic alternative excellent for effectively combat acute respiratory infections in children.

La población muestreada fueron niños menores de 6 años con I.R.A y la muestra fue obtenida de la expectoración. El objetivo fue determinar los cambios en la concentraciones de lisozima y proteínas totales, antes y después de la intervención con la tintura madre de ajo. Fue un estudio cuantitativo experimental y a través de un sistema de aleatoriedad simple del tipo probabilístico se toma una muestra de 25 individuos para determinar si pertenecerán al grupo tratamiento (tintura madre) o control (placebo). Los resultados obtenidos indican una disminución en la concentración de lisozima y proteínas totales del grupo tratamiento entre los 3 a 5 días después de iniciado el tratamiento, en cambio el grupo control reveló un aumento en las mediciones. Solamente el grupo tratamiento evidenció cambios positivos de tipo sintomatológico de la enfermedad. La tintura madre de ajo es una excelente alternativa fitoterapeútica para el combate eficaz contra las infecciones respiratorias agudas en niños.

The quality of selected South African and international homoeopathic mother tinctures.

The high potential variability of chemical composition of the plant material involved in the manufacture of homoeopathic mother tinctures (a common source of homoeopathic medicines), renders both their quality control and assurance a significant challenge (Pande and Pathak, 2006). The absence of significant regulations regarding the quality of Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) in South Africa contributes to this challenge (Gqaleni et al, 2007). In order to assess any quality differences between local and international manufacturers, the following homoeopathic mother tinctures, Artemisia absinthium, Rosmarinus officinalis e foliis recentibus, Salvia officinalis and Sambucus nigra, were chosen on the basis that they can be grown both locally in South Africa and internationally and are prepared according to the German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia (GHP), method 3a. Colour analysis was followed by thin layer chromatographic (TLC) analysis on each selected sample and relevant reference sample using both aluminum-backed TLC plates and glass-backed HPTLC plates. Photographs were taken of the resultant chromatograms, active components were identified, comparisons to the reference chromatograms were made and the overall quality of each homoeopathic mother tincture deduced. The quality of all nine of the selected samples manufactured internationally complied with the minimum quality standards set by the GHP. Five out of the six local samples complied with the minimum standards of the GHP._Notwithstanding the minimum GHP standards, the superior number of high quality international samples implies that their quality exceeded that of the locally manufactured tinctures. Greater regulation regarding the quality of these types of products has therefore been identified.