Toxicological study of the hepatotherapeutic herbal formula,Chunggan extract,in beagle dogs

AIM: To evaluate the pharmaceutical safety of a Chinese herbal formula, Chunggan extract (CGX), traditionally prescribed as a hepatotherapeutic drug via systemic acute and subacute toxicological study. METHODS: Twenty male dogs and 20 female dogs were fed doses 50 times and 4 times greater than the clinically-recommended drug dosages in an acute and a subacute toxicological study, respectively. Adverse effects were examined by comparing the differences between normal and drug-administered groups using clinical signs, necropsies, histopathologic findings, haematology, urinalysis, and biochemical analysis. RESULTS: In the acute study no change in the body weight, diarrhoea, apetite, mortality rate and histopa- thology of major organs was observed in male or female dogs with a single administration of CGX at 5 g/kg. No drug-induced abnormalities at analysis of histopathology, haematology, urinalysis, and biochemistry were found with any dose of this drug. CONCLUSION: CGX is supposed to be very safe when used in a clinical application with a wide therapeutic index.

Grape Seed Extract and the Fetal Ductus Arteriosus: A Potential Danger of a Common Herbal Supplement

A female at 28 weeks gestation was referred to pediatric cardiology for a fetal arrhythmia. The echocardiogram revealed premature constriction of the fetal ductus arteriosus. Her work up was unremarkable except for her use of an herbal supplement, grape seed extract, which is advertised as a potent anti-inflammatory medication, and has biochemical properties similar to other medications that have been shown to cause premature ductal constriction. The use of herbal remedies increases each year. Although the public is inundated with radio, television, and internet advertisements for these products, little unbiased information regarding the possible dangers of toxicity or adverse reactions exists. As physicians, we need to be aware of these products, and counsel our patients accordingly.

Traditional herbal remedies for managing COVID-19 major symptoms: A case study of Kole district, Northern Uganda

Background:Today,the world is battling COVID-19 which has claimed millions of lives within a short period.As biotechnological research is in progress,it’s expedient to explore alternative sources of medication.Exploring plants that have been used in the management of COVID-19 related symptoms for ages may unveil a potential treatment option for this pestilence.We,therefore,conducted a study in Kole district,Northern Uganda to document the plants that are used in the management of the four key COVID-19 related symptoms including flue,cough,sore throat,and difficulty in breathing.Materials and Methods:We employed a cross-sectional quantitative survey design.We used stratified sampling to select 50 participants from each of the five sub-counties in the district,and convenience sampling to select a total of 250 participants and administered interviewer-administered questionnaires.Results:We identified over 50 herbs that are used in the treatment of COVID-19 related symptoms.However,we were able to report on the fourteen most common ones that belonged to 12 families in this paper.Clematis hirsute Perr.&Guill,(68.0%)and Citrus limon burm.F.(30.8%);Eucalyptus grandis M.,(49.2%)and Zingibar officinalis,(28.0%);Conyza floribunda H.B.K.(26.4%)and Allium sativum A.(23.6%);Capparis tomentosa Lam.(19.4%)and Acacia hockii De Wild,(17.4%):for the treatment of flu,cough,sore throat and breathing difficulties respectively.Different plant parts of the diverse plant species were used in treating the symptoms.For Clematis hirsute Perr.&Guill,all plant parts were used differently to treat each of the 4 symptoms.Conclusion:Kole district possesses a multitude of herbs with the potential of treating COVID-19 symptoms.There is a need for further pharmacological investigations to validate their activity and possible development for clinical use in the management of COVID-19.

Potential therapeutic targets for the prevention of diabetic nephropathy:Glycyrrhetinic acid

Uncontrolled hyperglycemia or poorly managed disease increases the propensityfor a number of diabetes-related complications targeting major organs includingthe heart, eyes, and kidney. Although the mechanisms by which diabetes inducescardiovascular diseases include oxidative stress and inflammation, when insulinresistance remains the key to the pathogenesis, as implicated in the two reviews inthis issue. This editorial mainly comments on the potential preventive applicationof glycyrrhetinic acid (or 18β-GA) in relation to diabetic nephropathy. The therapeuticor preventive effects of 18β-GA, as a hydrolytic product of glycy-rrhizicacid that is a component of licorice, have been appreciated in other disorders, buthave received much less attention in relation to diabetic complications. A study inthis issue has identified 18β-GA as a therapeutic for preventing diabeticnephropathy and provides evidence to support efficacy in cultured human renaltubule cells in vitro. Although it represents a pilot study, the observations supporta new therapeutic approach that warrants further ex-ploration.

Recognition of Natural Products as Potential Inhibitors of COVID-19 Main Protease (Mpro): In-Silico Evidences

SARS-CoV-2(2019-nCoV)emerged in 2019 and proliferated rapidly across the globe.Scientists are attempting to investigate antivirals specific to COVID-19 treatment.The 2019-nCoV and SARS-CoV utilize the same receptor of the host which is COVID-19 of the main protease(Mpro).COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 is burdensome to overcome by presently acquired antiviral candidates.So the objective and purpose of this work was to investigate the plants with reported potential antiviral activity.With the aid of in silico techniques such as molecular docking and druggability studies,we have proposed several natural active compounds including glycyrrhizin,bicylogermecrene,tryptanthrine,β-sitosterol,indirubin,indican,indigo,hesperetin,crysophanic acid,rhein,berberine andβ-caryophyllene which can be encountered as potential herbal candidate exhibiting anti-viral activity against SARS-CoV-2.Promising docking outcomes have been executed which evidenced the worthy of these selected herbal remedies for future drug development to combat coronavirus disease.

Anti-inflammatory evaluation and acute toxicity of three food supplements that contain Moussonia deppeana

Objective:To identify the anti-inflammatory activity through two murine models and in the median Lethal Dose(LD_(50)) of three dietary supplements that contain Moussonia deppeana.Methods:The anti-inflammatory activity of three dietary supplements(Cicatrisan/Gastricus^(R),Gastinol^(R),and Gastrovita^(R)) EtOH extracts was evaluated by TPA and by carrageenan murine models;also,median Lethal Dose(LD_(50)) was determined.Verbascoside was quantified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography.β-sitosterol,stigmasterol and the mixture of ursolic and oleanolic acids were identified in all supplements by TLC;however,none of these dietary supplements contain verbascoside.Results:For the TPA model,Cicatrisan/Gastricus^(R)generated a notable effect with 38.24%inhibition.While in the carrageenan model,it also exhibited noteworthy anti-inflammatory activity of ear edema with 66.39%of paw edema inhibition at 150 mg/kg,followed by Gastinol^(R) and Gastrovita^(R) with 50%at 300 mg/kg.Finally,LD_(50) was >2 g/kg for all supplements,when was administered intragastrically and Body Weight(BW) gain in mice was not altered after 14 days.Conclusions:Of the three food supplements containing M.deppeana,only the EtOH extract from the Cicatrisan/Gastricus^(R)formulation(tablets) showed significant anti-inflammatory activity in both experimental models and the LD_(50) was > 2 g/kg.

Ayurvedic and Other Herbal Remedies for Dengue: An Update

Dengue fever is a flu-like ailment propagated by female mosquitos of the Aedes aegypti species.It is also known as dandaka jwara in Ayurveda.It is most common in the world’s subtropical and tropical climate zones.Vomiting,severe headache,nausea,rashes,joint pain,pain behind the eyes,muscle pain,and swollen glands are all common dengue symptoms.If not handled promptly,these symptoms can lead to more severe issues such as exhaustion,blood in the vomit,continuous vomiting,bleeding gums,restlessness,severe abdominal pain,and rapid bleeding.Because there is no specific medication for dengue fever,the disease is treated by eliminating and managing the symptoms.Fortunately,there are a variety of ayurvedic remedies(like Carica papaya L.,Cissampelos pareira L.,etc.)that can help to tackle the same by strengthening the immune system and controlling hyperthermia.This review article provides a comprehensive overview of dengue virus infections,clinical symptoms,diagnosis,mitigation,and treatments,focusing on ayurvedic and herbal remedies.