Biljni lijekovi i liječenje demencije [Ginkgo biloba L. (ginkgo)] Herbal remedies and dementia treatment [Ginkgo biloba L. (ginkgo)]

Jedan je od glavnih kliničkih i javnozdravstvenih ciljeva danas je prevencija kroničnih bolesti koje uzrokuju trajni invaliditet. Demencija je kronična bolest od koje trenutačno u svijetu boluje oko 50 milijuna ljudi te predstavlja vodeći uzrok invalidnosti starijih osoba i smještaja bolesnika u ustanove za produljeno liječenje. Pripravci gingka jedni su od najčešće korištenih fitofarmaceutika te se propisuju najčešće radi poboljšanja kognitivnih sposobnosti. Biljni lijekovi na temelju ginkga pripadaju farmakoterapijskoj skupini lijekova za liječenje demencije. U članku je predstavljen pregled svih varijanata ovog biljnog lijeka na temelju dostupnih i publiciranih znanstvenih istraživanja, fitokemijskog sastava, nekliničkih i kliničkih učinaka, učinkovitosti u liječenju demencije te sigurnosnti njegove uporabe

Hypericum perforatum L. - overview of clinical effectiveness and safety in the treatment of depression

Herba Hyperici (HH) consists of dried flowering tops or aerial parts of Hypericum perforatum L. (Hypericaceae). Standardized HH medicinal products are available as the well-established use of medicinal products for symptomatic treatment of mild and moderate depressive episodes. The constituents that contribute to the activity are hypericin, pseudohypericin, flavonoids and oligomeric procyanidins. The mechanisms of action, as well as the responsible compounds of Hypericum extracts, are still subject of investigation since a precise pathway is yet to be determined. Several actions contributing to clinical efficacy are reported such as blockade of the reuptake of serotonin (5-HT), noradrenalin and dopamine; regulation of postsynaptic 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptors and of dopaminergic receptors as well as increased affinity for GABA receptors. Hypericum monotherapy for mild and moderate depression has been proven to be superior to placebo in improving the symptoms and not significantly different from antidepressant medication. In the studies comparing HH with placebo, there was moderate evidence that HH was not more likely to cause adverse events than placebo, overall. However, specific adverse events, such as neurologic/nervous system and organ system events were more likely in those taking HH. Analyses did not suggest that the effectiveness or safety of HH varies by depression severity, but the available research is primarily based on mild and moderate depression patient samples and there is a lack of research studies in severe depression. Data from clinical studies showed the efficacy of HH as comparable to other antidepressant medication for the treatment of mild or moderate depression

Učinak biljnih lijekova u terapiji nekompliciranih urinarnih oboljenja - arctostaphylos uva-ursi (l.) spreng. (medvjetka) i equisetum arvense l. (poljska preslica) The effect of herbal remedies in the treatment of uncomplicated urinary diseases - arctostaphylos uva-ursi (l.) Spreng. (teddy bear) and equisetum arvense l. (Polish horsetail)

Infekcije mokraćnog sustava [IMS] ubrajaju se u najčešće bakterijske infekcije. Klinički simptomi IMS-a imaju znatan učinak na kvalitetu života bolesnika, od kojih većinu čine inače zdrave žene. Liječenje antibioticima ne sprečava pojavu ponovnog uroinfekta, koji se javlja kod 25% bolesnica nakon primarne infekcije. Mnogim ženama koje imaju simptome infekcije mokraćnog sustava nije dokazana klinički značajna prisutnost bakterija u urinu te su njihove tegobe ograničene naravi. Dodatno, povećanje antimikrobne rezistencije uropatogenih bakterija komplicira liječenje, te je potreban cjelovit pristup liječenju ovih oboljenja. Ovaj članak predstavlja terapijski profil tradicionalnih biljnih lijekova medvjetke i poljske preslice na temelju dostupnih znanstvenih istraživanja te obuhvaća njihov fitokemijski sastav, siguronosni profil te nekliničke i kliničke učinke u terapiji infekcija mokraćnog sustava

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. - an overview of phytochemistry, pharmacological and safety profile of standardized medicinal products

Bearberry leaf (Uvae ursi folium) consists of whole or cut, dried leaf of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. The main constituents of the herbal substance are hydroquinone derivatives, polyphenols (tannins), phenolic acids, flavonoids, iridoids and triterpenes. The pharmacological effect is contributed to arbutin and methyl arbutin. Standardized herbal medicinal products are used for relief of symptoms of mild recurrent lower urinary tract infections in women based upon long-standing use. Based on the available studies on the effectiveness of this herbal medicinal product, it can be attributed to hydroquinone derivatives. Arbutin is absorbed unchanged from the GI tract, and during renal excretion, it is hydrolyzed to yield an active principle, hydroquinone, which exerts antiseptic and astringent action on the urinary mucous membranes. The total amount of hydroquinone in urine is considered crucial for the therapeutic activity of the herbal extract and is increased and prolonged in alkaline urine. Free hydroquinone has a very low risk of accumulation in the body, as it rapidly conjugates and transforms into harmless metabolites. The only risk currently identified in literature is related to the toxicity of hydroquinone in studies in animals and in certain in vitro tests. However, the hydroquinone dose in standardized medicinal products is below the TTC value (1 mg/ml), and the time of exposure to hydroquinone in the human body is very short, as it is rapidly metabolized to the non-toxic metabolites excreted by urine. In addition, since the use of uva-ursi is time-limited, it is considered that there is no risk of potential hydroquinone accumulation in the body

Kvalitativna i kvantitativna analiza flavonoida planike - Arbutus unedo L. (Ericaceae)

The leaves and fruits of strawberry tree – Arbutus unedo L., collected from two separate geographic locations in Croatia were investigated to determine their flavonoid composition and content. Quercitrin, isoquercitrin, hyperoside and rutin were identified in all leaf samples by means of thin-layer chromatography; the fruits contained only isoquercitrin. Chlorogenic acid was present in some leaf samples. The content of flavonoids depended on the plant organ investigated, date of collection and the locality. Spectrophotometric determination of the flavonoids indicated that the leaves are richer in flavonoids (0.52-2.00%) than in fruits (0.10-0.29%).Sastav i količina flavonoida određeni su u listovima i plodovima planike – Arbutus unedo L., sabranima na dva nalazišta u Hrvatskoj. Tankoslojnom kromatografijom utvrđena je prisutnost kvercitrina, izokvercitrina, hiperozida i rutina u svim uzorcima listova, dok su plodovi sadržavali samo izokvercitrin. Klorogenska kiselina je dokazana samo u nekim listovima. Količina flavonoida bila je uvjetovana biljnim organom, datumom, te zemljopisnim položajem mjesta sabiranja. Spektrofotometrijska je analiza pokazala da listovi sadrže veću količinu flavonoida (0.52-2.00%) u usporedbi s plodovima (0,10-0,29%)

Istraživanje flavonoida i aminokiselina brnistre – Spartium junceum L. (Fabaceae)

Spartium junceum L. or Spanish broom is a shrub that can reach up to five meters tall, with erect, round, bright green, almost leafless stems. It is the only species of this genus native to the Mediterranean region and Canary Islands which grows in areas with full sun and limited water in poor, rocky soils. Thin-layer chromatographic analysis of flavonoids and phenolic acids in the stem, leaves and flowers of S. junceum collected from five separated geographic locations of Croatia showed the presence of quercetin, caffeic acid, quercitrin, isoquercitrin and hyperoside. Leaves contained the highest content of flavonoids (0.35%). Thin-layer chromatographic analysis of amino acids in the investigated plant parts showed the presence of 8 amino acids: leucine, phenylalanine, g-aminobutyric acid, tyrosine, proline, glutamine, serine and histidine

Taxonomical and Phytochemical Characterisation of 10 <i>Stachys</i> Taxa Recorded in the Balkan Peninsula Flora: A Review

The genus Stachys is one of the largest genera of the Lamiaceae, and it comprises about 300 species. Some species are highly polymorphic, with a number of infraspecific taxa. The aim of the present review is to summarise the available knowledge on 10 taxa belonging to the Balkan Peninsula flora (S. alpina L., S. germanica L., S. menthifolia Vis., S. obliqua Waldst. Et Kit., S. officinalis (L.) Trevis., S. palustris L., S. recta L. subsp. recta, S. recta L. subsp. subcrenata (Vis.) Briq., S. salviifolia Ten., and S. sylvatica L.) in order to enable insight into the identified biologically active substances and their possible application in intrageneric differentiation