Neurotrophic and neuroprotective actions of ginsenosides Rb(1) and Rg(1).

The ginsenosides have many pharmacological actions, including various actions on the nervous system. Our previous studies have demonstrated that two ginsenosides, Rb(1) and Rg(1) improve performance in a passive avoidance-learning paradigm and enhance cholinergic metabolism. The present study was designed to examine the cellular neurotrophic and neuroprotective actions of two pure ginsenosides in two model systems. PC12 cells were grown in the absence or presence of nerve growth factor (NGF) as a positive control, and different concentrations of Rb(1) or Rg(1). To assess neurotrophic properties, neurite outgrowth was quantified for representative fields of cells. After 8 days in culture, both ginsenosides enhanced neurite outgrowth in the presence of a sub-optimal dose of (2 ng/ml) NGF, but did not significantly stimulate neurite outgrowth in the absence of NGF. However, after 18 days in culture, both ginsenosides increased neurite outgrowth in the absence of NGF. SN-K-SH cells were grown in the absence or presence of MPTP or beta-amyloid to assess neuroprotection. Rb(1) and Rg(1) both reversed MPTP-induced cell death. beta-Amyloid-induced cell death was not reversed by either ginsenoside, but Rg(1) produced a modest enhancement of cell death in this model. These results suggest that these two ginsenosides have neurotrophic and selective neuroprotective actions that may contribute to the purported enhancement of cognitive function.

A pilot study exploring the effect of kudzu root on the drinking habits of patients with chronic alcoholism.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to assess if kudzu root extract influences the drinking habits of veterans who entered a substance abuse treatment program. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial. SETTING: A nonacademic Veteran Affairs Medical Center. METHODS: Patients with the diagnosis of alcoholism were randomly assigned to receive either kudzu root extract 1.2 g twice daily or a matching placebo. Patients completed questionnaires that focused on craving for alcohol and sobriety status on a monthly basis. OUTCOME MEASURES: Sobriety level and craving for ethanol were assessed on a visual analogue scale from 0 to 10. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients completed 1 month of the study; 21 randomly assigned kudzu, 17 to placebo. No statistically significance difference in craving and sobriety scores were noted after 1 month between kudzu and placebo, or at later stages with smaller numbers (15-19) of patients. CONCLUSION: In this small patient population, kudzu root appeared to be no better than placebo in reducing the craving for alcohol or promoting sobriety.

Ergopanin: un producto natural con actividad estimulante y ergogénica / Ergopanin: a natural product with erogenic stimulant activity

Se midió en un modelo experiental de fatiga desarrollado en ratones Balb/c la actividad estimulante del ERGOPANIN, producto elaborado a partir de fuentes naturales. Fueron utilizados 2 grupos controles salina y blanco, este sin principios activos en 2 tipos de tratamiento, por vía oral; único con una sola dosis y otro de 7 días de duración y un grupo experimental con la dosis de 10 mg/kg calculada a partir de los principios activos. Se encuentra que no existe diferencias significativas entre los 2 grupos controles en los 2 tratamientos. Se aprecia diferencias significativas entre el grupo control salina y el grupo experimental en ambos tratamientos. Se concluye que el ERGOPANIN posee actividad estimulante (ergogénica) a las dosis utilizadas en ambos tratamientos (AU)

Hypolipidaemic action of Tinospora cordifolia roots in alloxan diabetic rats.

We undertook the present study to evaluate the hypolipidaemic effect of an aqueous extract of Tinospora cordifolia roots, an indigenous plant used in Ayurvedic medicine in India. Administration of the extract of T. cordifolia roots (2.5 and 5.0 g/kg body weight) for 6 weeks resulted in a significant reduction in serum and tissue cholesterol, phospholipids and free fatty acids in alloxan diabetic rats. The root extract at a dose of 5.0 g/kg body weight showed highest hypolipidaemic effect. The effect of T. cordifolia roots at 2.5 and 5.0 g/kg body weight was better than glibenclamide. Insulin restored all the parameters to near normal values.

Antistressor effect of Withania somnifera.

Withania somnifera is an Indian medicinal plant used widely in the treatment of many clinical conditions in India. Its antistressor properties have been investigated in this study using adult Wistar strain albino rats and cold water swimming stress test. The results indicate that the drug treated animals show better stress tolerance.

Estudo morfohistológico de raízes de algodäozinho-do-campo: cochlospermum regium (Mart. ET. Schr). Pilger / Pharmacognosy studies on the root algodäozinho-do-campo: cochlospermum regium (Mart. et Schr.)Pilger

As raízes de algodäozinho-do-campo - Cochlospermum regium (Mart. et Schr.) Pilger na forma de droga fragmentada e pulverizada, foram caracterizadas de modo a fornecer descriçöes farmacognósticas para sua identificaçäo. Fotomicrografias e figuras acompanharam as descriçöes.

Echinacea root extracts for the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of 2 extracts of echinacea for preventing upper respiratory tract infections. DESIGN: Three-armed, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: Four military institutions and 1 industrial plant. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred two volunteers without acute illness at time of enrollment. INTERVENTIONS: Ethanolic extract from Echinacea purpurea roots, Echinacea angustifolia roots, or placebo, given orally for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Time until the first upper respiratory tract infection (time to event). Secondary outcome measures were the number of participants with at least 1 infection, global assessment, and adverse effects. RESULTS: The time until occurrence of the first upper respiratory tract infection was 66 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 61-72 days) in the E angustifolia group, 69 days (95% CI, 64-74 days) in the E purpurea group, and 65 days (95% CI, 59-70 days) in the placebo group (P = .49). In the placebo group, 36.7% had an infection. In the treatment groups, 32.0% in the E angustifolia group (relative risk compared with placebo, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.59-1.30) and 29.3% in the E purpurea group (relative risk compared with placebo, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.53-1.31) had an infection. Participants in the treatment groups believed that they had more benefit from the medication than those in the placebo group (P = .04). Adverse effects were reported by 18 subjects in the E angustifolia group, 10 in the E purpurea group, and 11 in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: In this study a prophylactic effect of the investigated echinacea extracts could not be shown. However, based on the results of this and 2 other studies, one could speculate that there might be an effect of echinacea products in the order of magnitude of 10% to 20% relative risk reduction. Future studies with much larger sample sizes would be needed to prove this effect.

Effect of Nelumbo nucifera rhizome extract on the gastrointestinal tract of rat.

Extract of Nelumbo nucifera rhizome (RNN) was used as anti-diarrheal agent to combat the diarrhea in experimental rats. The RNN extract in graded doses (100, 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg body wt.) reduced not only the frequency of defecation, wetness of fecal dropping and PGE2 induced enteropooling but also the propulsive movements of charcoal meal significantly.

Effect of petroleum ether extract of Panax ginseng roots on proliferation and cell cycle progression of human renal cell carcinoma cells.

Panax ginseng roots have long been used as a medicinal herb in oriental countries. We have investigated anti-proliferative effects of lipid soluble Panax ginseng components on human renal cancer cell lines. Petroleum ether extract of Panax ginseng roots (GX-PE) or its partially purified preparation (7:3 GX) was added to cultures of three human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines, A498, Caki-1, and CURC II. Proliferation of RCC cells was estimated by a [3H]thymidine incorporation assay and cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. GX-PE, 7:3 GX, panaxydol and panaxynol inhibited proliferation of all three RCC cell lines in a dose dependent manner in vitro with an order of potency, 7:3 GX > panaxydol > panaxynol = GX-PE. Additive effect of interleukin 4 was also demonstrated, most prominently in Caki-1 which responded poorly to GX-PE alone. Analysis of cell cycle in CURC II and Caki-1 treated with GX-PE demonstrated increase in G1 phase population and corresponding decrease in S phase population. The present study demonstrated that proliferation of human RCC cell lines were inhibited by lipid soluble components of Panax ginseng roots by blocking cell cycle progression at G1 to S phase transition.

Effect of petroleum ether extract of Panax ginseng roots on proliferation and cell cycle progression of human renal cell carcinoma cells

Panax ginseng roots have long been used as a medicinal herb in oriental countries. We have investigated anti-proliferative effects of lipid soluble Panax ginseng components on human renal cancer cell lines. Petroleum ether extract of Panax ginseng roots (GX-PE) or its partially purified preparation (7:3 GX) was added to cultures of three human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines, A498, Caki-1, and CURC II. Proliferation of RCC cells was estimated by a [3H]thymidine incorporation assay and cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. GX-PE, 7:3 GX, panaxydol and panaxynol inhibited proliferation of all three RCC cell lines in a dose dependent manner in vitro with an order of potency, 7:3 GX > panaxydol > panaxynol = GX-PE. Additive effect of interleukin 4 was also demonstrated, most prominently in Caki-1 which responded poorly to GX-PE alone. Analysis of cell cycle in CURC II and Caki-1 treated with GX-PE demonstrated increase in G1 phase population and corresponding decrease in S phase population. The present study demonstrated that proliferation of human RCC cell lines were inhibited by lipid soluble components of Panax ginseng roots by blocking cell cycle progression at G1 to S phase transition.