RESUMO
The common cold is generally considered a usually harmless infectious disease of the upper respiratory pathway, with mostly mild symptoms. However, it should not be overlooked, as a severe cold can lead to serious complications, resulting in hospitalization or death in vulnerable patients. The treatment of the common cold remains purely symptomatic. Analgesics as well as oral antihistamines or decongestants may be advised to relieve fever, and local treatments can clear the airways and relieve nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, or sneezing. Certain medicinal plant specialties can be used as therapy or as complementary self-treatment. Recent scientific advances discussed in more detail in this review have demonstrated the plant's efficiency in the treatment of the common cold. This review presents an overview of plants used worldwide in the treatment of cold diseases.
RESUMO
The present study was conducted to determine the effects of Ligustrum delavayanum Hariot. (Oleaceae) on cholesterol levels and the outcome of myocardial reperfusion injury in diabetic-hypercholesterolaemic rats. Per orally daily administration of a Ligustrum infusion (1000mg/kg, calculated on the dry plant material) to the rats with induced diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia significantly reduced the liver total cholesterol content. Similarly, increased severity of reperfusion arrhythmias in the double-diseased rats was diminished upon Ligustrum-treatment. These results suggest a potential use of Ligustrum in the prevention/therapy of risk factors and coronary heart disease itself.