Efficacy and safety of Derris scandens (Roxb.) Benth. for musculoskeletal pain treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Derris scandens (Roxb.) Benth. has been used as active ingredient in Thai traditional medicine recipes for pain treatment. Dry stem powder and ethanolic extract also recommended in Thailand National List of Essential Medicines (NLEMs) for musculoskeletal pain treatment as herbal medicine. However, no summarization of clinical effect and safety has been evaluated.Our study aimed to determine the clinical effects and safety of D. scandens for musculoskeletal pain treatment compared with standard regimen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).International and Thai databases were searched from inception through August 2015. Comparative randomized controlled trials investigating oral D. scandens for musculoskeletal pain were included. Outcomes of interest included level of pain and adverse event. Mean changes of the outcomes from baseline were compared between D. scandens and NSAIDs by calculating mean difference.From 42 articles identified, 4 studies involving a total of 414 patients were included for efficacy analysis. The effects of oral D. scandens on reducing pain score were no different from those of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at any time points (3, 7, 14 days and overall). The overall pain reduction in the D. scandens group was not inferior to treatment with NSAIDs (weighted mean difference 0.06; 95% CI: -0.20, 0.31) without evident of heterogeneity (I=0.00%, p=0.768). When compared, the adverse events (AEs) of D. scandens showed no different relative risk with NSAIDs. The major adverse events were gastrointestinal symptoms.D. scandens may be considered as an alternative for musculoskeletal pain reduction

Efficacy and safety of V. cinerea (L.) less. for smoking cessation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background To determine the efficacy and safety of Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less. for smoking cessation using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach. Methods Data sources: Nine databases were searched through April 2017. Study selection: Randomized controlled trials that reported the clinical effect of V. cinerea . for smoking cessation were included. Data extraction: Important data and outcomes were extracted by two independent researchers. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and JADAD score. Results Data synthesis: Five trials with 347 active smokers were included. Two trials were rated as low risk of bias in all domains while others were rated as some concerns. V. cinerea treatment group was associated with significant cessation rate higher than that in the control group with no evidence of heterogeneity for both continuous abstinence rate (CAR) (week 8 risk ratio (RR): 1.69, 95% CI [1.00, 2.86]; week 12 RR: 2.18, 95% CI [1.17, 4.04]) and 7-day point prevalence abstinence rate (PAR) (week 8 RR: 1.51, 95% CI [1.01, 2.27]; week 12 RR: 1.93, 95% CI [1.24, 2.99]) at week 8 and 12, respectively. There was no significant difference of all adverse events between treatment and control groups. Conclusions This comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that V. cinerea might be considered as a potential alternative for smoking cessation treatment. Further well-design RCTs of standardized V. cinerea compared with standard treatment should be conducted to strengthen this evidence

Development of Oral Microemulsion Spray Containing Pentacyclic Triterpenes-Rich Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. Extract for Healing Mouth Ulcers

Several publications have shown that Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. and its active constituents (pentacyclic triterpenes) are effective in wound healing. The pentacyclic triterpenes-rich C. asiatica extract (PRE) was prepared following a previous study by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and fractionation with macroporous resin. This method provided the pentacyclic triterpene content in the extract up to 59.60% w/w. The PRE showed potent anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production with an IC50 value of 20.59 ± 3.48 μg/mL and a potent fibroblast proliferative effect (165.67%) at concentrations of 10 μg/mL. The prepared microemulsion consisted of a water: oil: surfactant mixture of 2: 2: 6, using coconut oil: clove oil (1:1) as the oil phase and Tween 20: Span 20 (2:1) as the surfactant mixture and 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0% PRE. Cell proliferation, migration, and collagen production of the microemulsion base and microemulsions containing 1.0%, 2.5%, and 5.0% PRE were evaluated. The results revealed that the microemulsion containing 1% PRE had the highest proliferation effect (136.30 ± 3.93% to 152.65 ± 3.48% at concentrations of 10 μg/mL), migration activities (100.00 ± 0.0% at 24 h), and collagen production in human dermal fibroblast (HDF) and human gingival fibroblast (HGF) cells when compared with other formulations or blank. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory activity of microemulsions containing 1% PRE was slightly lower than standard indomethacin. Anti-inflammation of the microemulsion containing PRE exhibited a dose-dependent trend, while 5% PRE was more potent than the standard drug. Considering the potent wound-healing activities and the good anti-inflammatory activity of the microemulsion containing PRE, the microemulsion with 1% PRE was identified as the most suitable oral spray formulation for oral ulcer treatment

สารออกฤทธิ์ยับยั้งเอนไซม์แอลฟ่ากลูโคซิเดสจากเปลือกต้นไข่เน่า

Prince of Songkla Universit

Flavonoids and Phenols, the Potential Anti-Diabetic Compounds from <i>Bauhinia strychnifolia</i> Craib. Stem.

Bioactive compounds from medicinal plants are good alternative treatments for T2DM. They are also sources of lead molecules that could lead to new drug discoveries. In this study, Bauhinia strychnifolia Craib. stem, a traditional Thai medicinal plant for detoxification, was extracted into five fractions, including crude extract, BsH, BsD, BsE, and BsW, by ethanolic maceration and sequential partition with hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and water, respectively. Among these fractions, BsE contained the highest amounts of phenolics (620.67 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoids (131.35 mg QE/g extract). BsE exhibited the maximum inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase (IC50 1.51 ± 0.01 µg/mL) and DPP-IV (IC50 2.62 ± 0.03 µg/mL), as well as dominantly promoting glucose uptake on 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Furthermore, the four compounds isolated from the BsE fraction, namely resveratrol, epicatechin, quercetin, and gallic acid, were identified. Quercetin demonstrated the highest inhibitory capacity against α-glucosidase (IC50 6.26 ± 0.36 µM) and DPP-IV (IC50 8.25 µM). In addition, quercetin prominently enhanced the glucose uptake stimulation effect on 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Altogether, we concluded that quercetin was probably the principal bioactive compound of the B. strychnifolia stem for anti-diabetic, and the flavonoid-rich fraction may be sufficiently potent to be an alternative treatment for blood sugar control

Selenium-Rich Ricegrass Juice Improves Antioxidant Properties and Nitric Oxide Inhibition in Macrophage Cells

Ricegrass juice (Oryza sativa L.) was introduced as a functional food as the consumption of sprouts or seedlings has been claimed to provide high nutritive value. Selenium (Se) is a trace mineral that plays a key role in the human antioxidation scheme. Supplementation of Se into plants is one strategy to enhance plant bioactivities, and the consumption of Se plant foods may confer superior health benefits. In this study, ricegrass juice extract was analyzed for its major phenolic components. The effect of ricegrass juice extracts bio-fortified with 0, 10 and 40 mg Se/L named as RG0, RG10, and RG40, respectively, were investigated for a percentage of cell viability, changes of endogenous antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation, and nitric oxide inhibition in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Flavone glycosides, namely chrysoeriol arabinosyl arabinoside derivatives, were found to be the foremost bioactive components in ricegrass juice extract indicated by UHPLC-MS. The results of cell culture assessment revealed that RG40 showed an ability to promote macrophage cell proliferation at low concentration. Ricegrass juice extract in all treatments possessed the ability to reduce malondialdehyde content, which may be regarded as the bioactivity of phenolic compounds. Moreover, Se also played a role in this effect since RG40 showed the greatest ability via increasing the level of GPx enzyme. It was also discovered that phenolic compounds in the extracts played a role in inhibiting nitric oxide in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, RG40 expressed significantly higher NO inhibition properties at IC50 118.76 µg/mL compared to RG0 and RG10, at 147.02 and 147.73 µg/mL, respectively. Se bio-fortified ricegrass juice could be considered as a new potent functional food that can lower the risk of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation diseases

Efficacy and safety of Cissus quadrangularis L. in clinical use: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Cissus quadrangularis L. (Cissus) is a medicinal plant commonly used for centuries for various conditions, but lacks critical appraisal of its clinical effects. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of Cissus in all conditions. Publications from 12 electronic databases were searched from inception through November 2016. A total of nine studies with 1108 patients were included. Each outcome was pooled using a random effects model. Effects of Cissus on hemorrhoid symptoms were not different from any comparators but had significant effects on bone pain. Effects of Cissus combination products on body weight reduction, low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and fasting blood sugar were superior to placebo, with weighted mean difference of −5.19\ua0kg (−8.82, −1.55), −14.43\ua0mg/dl (−20.06, −8.80), −37.50\ua0mg/dl (−48.71, −26.29), −50.50\ua0mg/dl (−70.97, −30.04), and −10.39\ua0mg/dl (−14.60, −6.18), respectively. No serious adverse effects were reported. Quality of evidence based on Grades of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation (GRADE) indicated low (bone fractures) to high quality (hemorrhoids, body weight reduction).In conclusion, Cissus had benefit for bone fractures, but not for hemorrhoids. For obesity/overweight, only combination products are pooled and show benefit. However, high-quality studies remain needed. Copyrigh

Protective Effect of Selenium-Enriched Ricegrass Juice against Cadmium-Induced Toxicity and DNA Damage in HEK293 Kidney Cells

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in food is a problem endangering human health. Cd detoxication is an interesting topic particularly using food which provides no side effects. Ricegrass juice is a squeezed juice from young rice leaves which is introduced as a functional drink rich in polyphenol components. Se-enrichment into ricegrass is initiated to provide extra advantages of their functional properties. The protective role of ricegrass juice (RG) and Se-enriched ricegrass juice (Se-RG) against Cd toxicity during pre-, co- and post-treatment on HEK293 kidney cells were investigated. Results confirmed that RG and Se-RG had very low toxicity for kidney cells. Both extracts showed a protective role during pre-treatment and co-treatment against Cd toxicity by exerting a reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the percentage of DNA damage in tail and tail length of the comets over the Cd-treated cells. However, the Se-RG indicated additional benefits in all properties over RG. High Se content in Se-RG resulted in more protective effects of the regular ricegrass juice. In summary, this study provides clear evidence that Se-enriched ricegrass juice has potential to be developed as a functional food to protect the human body from Cd contamination via the reduction of oxidative stress and DNA damage