Medicinal plants and phytomedicines are used to treat or prevent illnesses in Sudan: a review

Traditional medicine is a reliable source for treating many diseases in Sudan.It is widely recognized in Sudan,as no Sudanese house is devoid of medicinal herbs.The Sudanese people and their historical stock of knowledge are distinguished by their knowledge and the many applications of herbs in treatment.This reference paper aims to collect all the available information about the use of medicinal plants in Sudan to treat disease or prevent it.Sudanese medicinal plants include a variety of plants and there are many medicinal applications for these plants in the world.According to the information reached by the paper,there are many therapeutic medical applications of these plants in the treatment of various bacterial infections,including digestive diseases,malaria,diabetes,rheumatic pain,respiratory diseases,jaundice,urinary tract infections,wounds,cancer and various microbial infections,according to the information reached by the paper.This reference is for a few groups of Sudanese medicinal plants such as tamarind,hibiscus,Acacia nilotica,Combretum hartmannianum,and Guiera senegalensis,etc.This review article also showed that these plants contain many biologically active substances as active ingredients,including flavonoids,saponins,alkaloids,stimulants,terpenes,tannins,fatty acids and essential oils.Even though Sudanese people use herbal medicine to treat a wide range of illnesses,more research is needed to show that these plants are safe and effective for people to use.For example,phytochemical analysis,biochemical activity tests and toxicology studies should be done to show that these plants are safe and effective for people to use.

Phytomedicines as therapeutic interventions for hepatic encephalopathy

Hepatic encephalopathy(HE)describes a broad range of neuropsychiatric abnormalities caused by advance hepatic insufficiency or portosystemic shunting,and manifests as a spectrum of neurological dysfunction.Hepatic necrosis,Kupffer cell hyperplasia,haemosiderosis,periportal mononuclear cell infiltration,neuroinflammation,irregularity in mitochondrial function and oxidative stress are the major pathological hallmark of hepatic encephalopathy.Treatment of hepatic and neuropsychiatric disorders has gone through several revolutions.In recent time,phytomedicines are gaining grounds as an effective therapeutic option.Noteworthy,plants have been used widely as therapeutic agents for liver and neuronal ailments.The potential of plants as agents for the treatment of various neuropsychiatric and liver impairments have been confirmed by several clinical research.Chemicals obtained from plants,provide the possibility of an alternate potential tool to neutralize the disease mechanism of hepatic and neuropsychiatric disorders including HE.This may be achieved through curtailing the actions of scavenging free radicals,ROS,and proinflammatory cytokines in the periphery,relieving systemic inflammation to prevent inflammation of the brain via the BBB.In endothelial cells,phytochemicals can also reduce protein expression of ICAM.This ensures an intact BBB and shut inflammatory infiltration linked with gateway reflex and infiltrating into the brain.Recent research has enabled the elucidation of the ways by which the therapeutic effects of these plants are achieved.This review discusses in details,some medicinal plants with neuroprotective and hepatoprotective effects.A peculiar interest is also given to the cellular and molecular mechanism of action.Beyond reasonable doubt,this review shows that herbal drug formulations possess significance hepatoprotective and neuroprotective activity in therapeutic intervention and prophylactic measures in HE.

PARTIAL RECONSTITUTION OF BOTANICAL EXTRACT PG102 BY COMBINING CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS KNOWN TO BE PRESENT IN ACTINIDIA ARGUTA: IMPLICATIONS FOR QC OF PHYTOMEDICINES

One of the most important factors limiting the success of plant-derived therapeutics is that these products are generally a mixture containing many different molecules.The compounds responsible for bioactivities and/or clinical effects are also not yet identified.To overcome this hurdle,we investigated whether we can reconstitute bioactivities

Selenium-layered nanoparticles serving for oral delivery of phytomedicines with hypoglycemic activity to synergistically potentiate the antidiabetic effect

Diabetes mellitus(DM) remains a great challenge in treatment due to pathological complexity.It has been proven that phytomedicines and natural medicines have prominent antidiabetic effects. This work aimed to develop selenium-layered nanoparticles(SeNPs) for oral delivery of mulberry leaf and Pueraria Lobata extracts(MPE), a group of phytomedicines with significant hypoglycemic activities, to achieve a synergic antidiabetic effect. MPE-loaded SeNPs(MPE-SeNPs) were prepared through a solvent diffusion/in situ reduction technique and characterized by particle size, ζ potential, morphology,entrapment efficiency(EE) and drug loading(DL). The resulting MPE-SeNPs were 120 nm around in particle size with EE of 89.38% for rutin and 90.59% for puerarin, two marker components in MPE. MPESeNPs exhibited a slow drug release and good physiological stability in the simulated digestive fluid.After oral administration, MPE-SeNPs produced significant hypoglycemic effects both in the normal and diabetic rats. Ex vivo intestinal imaging and cellular examinations demonstrated that MPE-SeNPs were provided with outstanding intestinal permeability and transepithelial transport aptness. It was also revealed that MPE-SeNPs could alleviate the oxidative stress, improve the pancreatic function, and promote the glucose utilization by adipocytes. Our study provides new insight into the use of integrative nanomedicine containing phytomedicines and selenium for DM treatment.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection: Current and future insights

Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) is an important major cause of peptic ulcer disease and gastric malignancies such as mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma and gastric adenocarcinoma worldwide.H.pylori treatment still remains a challenge,since many determinants for successful therapy are involved such as individual primary or secondary antibiotics resistance,mucosal drug concentration,patient compliance,side-effect profile and cost.While no new drug has been developed,current therapy still relies on different mixture of known antibiotics and anti-secretory agents.A standard triple therapy consisting of two antibiotics and a proton-pump inhibitor proposed as the first-line regimen.Bismuthcontaining quadruple treatment,sequential treatment or a non-bismuth quadruple treatment(concomitant) are also an alternative therapy.Levofloxacin containing triple treatment are recommended as rescue treatment for infection of H.pylori after defeat of first-line therapy.The rapid acquisition of antibiotic resistance reduces the effectiveness of any regimens involving these remedies.Therefore,adding probiotic to the medications,developing anti-H.pylori photodynamic or phytomedicine therapy,and achieving a successful H.pylori vaccine may have the promising to present synergistic or additive consequence against H.pylori,because each of them exert different effects.

Overview of the phytomedicine approaches against Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)successfully colonizes thehuman stomach of the majority of the human popula-tion.This infection always causes chronic gastritis,butmay evolve to serious outcomes,such as peptic ulcer,gastric carcinoma or mucosa-associated lymphoid tis-sue lymphoma.H.pylori first line therapy recommend-ed by the Maastricht-4 Consensus Report comprises theuse of two antibiotics and a proton-pomp inhibitor,butin some regions failure associated with this treatmentis already undesirable high.Indeed,treatment failure isone of the major problems associated with H.pylori in-fection and is mainly associated with bacterial antibioticresistance.In order to counteract this situation,someeffort has been allocated during the last years in theinvestigation of therapeutic alternatives beyond antibi-otics.These include vaccines,probiotics,photodynamic inactivation and phage therapy,which are briefly revis-ited in this review.A particular focus on phytomedicine,also described as herbal therapy and botanical therapy,which consists in the use of plant extracts for medicinal purposes,is specifically addressed,namely considering its history,category of performed studies,tested com-pounds,active principle and mode of action.The herbs already experienced are highly diverse and usually selected from products with a long history of employ-ment against diseases associated with H.pylori infec-tion from each country own folk medicine.The studies demonstrated that many phytomedicine products have an anti-H.pylori activity and gastroprotective action.Al-though the mechanism of action is far from being com-pletely understood,current knowledge correlates the beneficial action of herbs with inhibition of essential H.pylori enzymes,modulation of the host immune system and with attenuation of inflammation.

Current Progress of Phytomedicine in Glioblastoma Therapy

Glioblastoma multiforme,an intrusive brain cancer,has the lowest survival rate of all brain cancers.The chemotherapy utilized to prevent their proliferation and propagation is limited due to modulation of complex cancer signalling pathways.These complex pathways provide infiltrative and drug evading properties leading to the development of chemotherapy resistance.Therefore,the development and discovery of such interventions or therapies that can bypass all these resistive barriers to ameliorate glioma prognosis and survival is of profound importance.Medicinal plants are comprised of an exorbitant range of phytochemicals that have the broad-spectrum capability to target intrusive brain cancers,modulate anti-cancer pathways and immunological responses to facilitate their eradication,and induce apoptosis.These phytocompounds also interfere with several oncogenic proteins that promote cancer invasiveness and metastasis,chemotherapy resistance and angiogenesis.These plants are extremely vital for promising anti-glioma therapy to avert glioma proliferation and recurrence.In this review,we acquired recent literature on medicinal plants whose extracts/bioactive ingredients are newly exploited in glioma therapeutics,and also highlighted their mode of action and pharmacological profile.

Therapeutic Potential of the Medicinal Plant Tinospora cordifolia–Minireview

For thousands of years,plant based herbal medicines have been utilized by millions of people all over the world.Plant materials or products are used in different folk/traditional medical systems,such as the Chinese,African and Indian medical systems,like Siddha,Ayurveda,Unani,and Homeopathy.Tinospora cordifolia(TC)is a medicinal plant belonging to the family Menispermaceae.It is a big deciduous,climbing shrub growing prevalently in the tropical part of Indian subcontinent regions such as India,Pakistan,Nepal,Bhutan,Bangladesh and Srilanka,and in Myanmar,and China.Guduchi,Giloy,Shindilkodi,and Amritha are all the common names for this plant.Extracts from different parts of this herbal plant have been used to treat many diseases.In Ayurvedic medicine,extract from this plant is used for preparing“rasayanas”,which is known to cure diabetes,skin diseases,allergic conditions,jaundice,cardiovascular diseases,rheumatoid arthritis,poisoning,and microbial infections.T.cordifolia has a many bioactive phytochemicals that have been isolated from its aerial parts and roots.Many bioactive principles have been reported from this plant which belong to various classes like alkaloids,aliphatic compounds,diterpenoid lactones,phenolics,flavonoids,glycosides,sesquiterpenoids,lignans,steroids and polysaccharides.T.cordifolia possesses medicinal properties such as antioxidant,antiallergic,antiinflammatory,antimicrobial,antiviral,antidote,antitumor,antileprotic,antispasmodic,and antidiabetic properties.The present review will provide a comprehensive therapeutic potential of T.cordifolia.

Xenobiotics-Induced Liver Damage Is Biochemically Abrogated by Treatment with Lipophilic Extracts of <i>Moringa oleifera in Vivo</i>

Context Drug-induced hepatotoxicity represents a significant proportion of liver disease cases. Currently, there is no effective treatment. To date efforts to identify treatment regimen that can reverse progressive damage have not been successful. We have previously shown that extract from Moringa (M) oleifera possesses clinically relevant antidiabetic and electrolyte modulators. Objective The aim of the current studies is to create experimental model of xenobiotic induced liver damage and investigate if treatment with lipophilic extract of M. oleifera could biochemically reverse progressive liver damage. Materials and Method For two groups of healthy rats, 7 in each group received 200 mg of extract or vehicle twice daily for 14 days. Acute toxicity, hepatotoxicity and hematologic/endothelial toxicity were monitored. Then 30 rats weighing 130 - 200 g received repeated dose of acetaminophen (xenobiotics) (640 mg/kg) for 5 days. Hepatotoxicity was confirmed biochemically by an established protocol. Treatment with M. oleifera extract resulted in mean weight of 132.2 ± 5.05 compared to the control with 134.1 ± 5.08 (P > 0.8115) among the healthy rats. Their LDH levels were 170.7 ± 13.02 and 133.8 ± 7.17 (P > 0.0698) for controls group, while the mean serum (ALT) level was 12.4 ± 1.2 or 25.6 ± 5.644 (P M. oleifera resulted in 100% biochemical recovery from hepatitis compared to the control group (P M. oleifera could effectively and biochemically abrogate xenobiotics induced liver damage in animal model.

Evaluation of the Nutritional Status and Phytomedicinal Properties of Dried Rhizomes of Turmeric (<i>Curcuma longa</i>)

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) belongs to the family Zingiberaceae and has long been used traditionally for centuries as a spice and medicinal elixir. Hence, the present study aimed to profile the nutritional and phytomedicinal properties of the plant in order to justify its relevance in traditional phytomedicine and advocate its application in novel pharmacological products. Using standard methods (High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry), the dried rhizomes were washed, pulverized and ethanol extracts subjected to proximate, phytochemical, vitamins, amino acid and mineral determinations. Data obtained were analyzed using student’s t-test in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21. Determined proximate indices indicated moisture content of 9.55%, carbohydrate (57.30%), ash (24.70%), crude fiber (1.12%), proteins (2.15%) and fat (5.32%). Mineral composition analyses showed that C. longa rhizomes had higher contents of calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium in parts per million (ppm) at 38.68 ± 0.114, 19.75 ± 0.001, 9.20 ± 0.002 and 7.06 ± 0.014 respectively. Amino acid profile revealed the presence of both essential and non-essential types with aspartate and glutamate in higher contents at 9.78 g/100 g and 9.65 g/100 g, respectively. Findings showed also the presence of vitamins A, C and D at 254.5 ± 2.19 mg/kg, 19.47 ± 0.16 mg/kg and 10.92 ± 0.92 mg/kg, respectively. Phytochemical analyses showed the presence of phenolic compounds with high retention times. This study thus revealed that C. longa possesses various nutritional and pharmacological/medicinal components in considerable quantities and can provide the body with basic nutrients for its therapeutic needs as well as secondary compounds with tremendous phytomedicinal potentials.

Supportive and Palliative Care in Cancer Therapies—Path from Tumor-Driven Therapies to Patient-Driven Ones

Cancer patients frequently report a set of symptoms including fatigue, pain, and physiological and social distress. Families and other personal lay relations give proposals to take supportive drugs and supplemental nutrients, without professional knowledge about their actions. Internet search engines and social networks serve up most of the treatment proposals, opening wide possibilities for quackeries and predatory money-making practices. Medical professionals have a responsibility to clear this field and concentrate on patients’ well-being and personal needs. According to our approach, the integration of supportive and palliative care with conventional therapies needs a change of paradigm from tumour-driven to patient-driven treatment actions. Supportive/palliative care includes a broad spectrum of applied methods, including medications, nourishments, electrical effects, and psycho and social supports. Our goal is to discuss the possibilities for combining conventional oncotherapies with additional supportive/palliative care and to give suggestions on a professional basis.

Investigatory Study of Long Term Doses of <i>Costus afer</i>, Snail Slime, and Their Combination with a Standard Pharmaceutical Drug on Blood Glucose Level of Alloxan Induced Swiss Albino Rat

The Plant, Costus afer Ker Gawl. belongs to the family of Costaceae and has various uses where they exist. Their use in folk medicine and phytomedicine is in the treatment and management of variety of human ailment, like diabetes mellitus, abdominal problems etc. The search for new antidiabetic therapies has become increasingly urgent due to the development of adverse effects and resistance by the chemically synthesized drugs on one hand and effectiveness with low cost of the plant materials on the other hand. The investigations carried out is to determine the long term effects of Costus afer leaf methanol extract, snail slime and the combined Costus afer and snail slime extracts on blood glucose levels of alloxan induced diabetic Swiss albino rats treated orally for 21 days on graded dose of (100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg). From the determination, the snail slime showed positive effect on blood glucose lowering level but less effective when compared with similar dose of the Costus afer leaf methanol extract. The investigation indicated that there was 103 mg/dL and 87 mg/dL blood glucose reduction for the low dose of Costus afer and Snail slime respectively while the standard hypoglycemic drug (Glibenclamide, 5 mg/kg) used for comparison yielded a blood glucose level reduction of 103 mg/dL. Similarly, the high dose used in the study gave a blood glucose reduction of 99 mg/dL and 95 mg/dL for Costus afer leaf methanol extract and Snail slime respectively. The results obtained when alloxan induced rats was treated with C. afer leaf methanol extract, Snail slime extract, and combined C. afer and snail slime extracts was analysed using Statistix 8.0 American version. The result showed a dose dependent fashion and the difference obtained from the compared results was statistically significant at p 1]. Still to that, medicinal and pharmacological activities of medicinal plants are often attributed to the presence of the so called secondary plant metabolites. Hence this regenerative capacity of snail slime and the fact that diabetes is characterized by damage of the pancreatic beta cells, may give credit to the hypoglycaemic effect observed in Costus afer methanol leaf extract and snail slime for possible drug formulation for anti-diabetic remedy. Our findings may approve snail slime which is insoluble in both acid and alkaline medium, to act as a carrier of chemical and biological nanoparticles for medical and pharmaceutical use.

The Distribution,Uses,and Characteristic Components of Gentianaceae Plants in China

Extracts of Gentianaceae herbs have been widely used as food additives,teas,or medicinal remedies for various human diseases and disorders.Iridoids,secoiridoids,and analogs glycosides,mainly include gentiopicroside,sweroside,swertiamarin,and loganic acid,are the characteristic compounds found in the Gentianaceae plants.The uses of the medicinal herbs containing these secoiridoids have been described in Chinese Materia Medica.Herbal extracts containing iridoids,secoiridoids,and analogs could exert protective effects in multiple human tissues and cells.Some of these medicinal herbs have been studied using modern pharmacological means.The results indicate that they have analgesic,liver protective,anti-inflammatory,antiallergic,anti-pathogeny,and anti-bacterial functions.This review was aimed to summarize the use of Gentianaceae herbs for disease treatments and pharmacokinetic characteristics of the active compounds.In so doing,we hope to demonstrate that Gentianaceae herbs and bioactive compounds in them may have abilities to affect inflammation,hepatic metabolism and cell signaling.In addition,we would like to bring this to the attention of the field about the use and study of compounds derived from Gentianaceae herbs.

A review of the phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of Ephedra herb

Ephedra herb is a traditional Chinese medicine with a long history. Conventionally, it was used as a folk phytomedicine in many ancient medical books and traditional prescriptions. Up to date, a variety of specific ingredients have been found in Ephedra herb, mainly including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, polysaccharides, organic acids, volatile oils, and many other active compounds. These components from Ephedra herb account for its use as the accurate treatment of cold, cough, cardiovascular and immune system disease, cancer, microbial infection, and other diseases. Moreover, with the fast development of novel chemistry and medicine technology, new chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of Ephedra herb are increasingly identified, demonstrating their great potential for various diseases treatment. Therefore, further detailed understanding and investigation of this ancient herb will offer new opportunities to develop novel therapeutics. This study systematically reviews its progress of phytochemistry, traditional and modern pharmacology based on research data that have been reported, aiming at providing useful insight for commercial exploitation, further study and precision medication of Ephedra herb in future.

Perspectives for Globalized Natural Medicines

Natural medicines provide valuable resources to meet the requirements for global health care at affordable prices.Therefore,safety and efficacy need to be proven in a comparable manner to conventional drugs.Evidence-based natural and western medicine may merge to a "one-world medicine" for the sake of all patients in industrialized and developing countries.In the present review,we discuss strategies for (1) preservation of traditional knowledge on natural medicines,(2) sustainability of medicinal herbs and natural products,and (3) standardization and quality control.Novel technologies will impact research on natural medicines in the years to come,e.g.remote sensing to map medicinal plant locations,DNA barcoding for plant authentication,hollow fiber extraction,high-end techniques for chemo-profiling of plant constituents in medicinal products and blood serum of patients as well as systems biological approaches.