A pilot study on the efficacy of an Antiaris toxicaria subsp. africana (Engl.) C.C. Berg based Ghanaian herbal product in the management of peripheral neuropathy.

Context: Peripheral neuropathy is a common neurologic disease that accounts for a lot of physician visits. Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of a Ghanaian herbal product prepared from the stem bark of Antiaris toxicaria subsp. africana (known as Mist Antiaris) in the management of neurological disorders in patients clinically diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy. Methods: A prospective open label non-comparative study was undertaken involving 24 patients seen at the clinic of the Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong-Akuapem. A modified Neuropathic Symptoms Score (NSS) and a visual analogue scale (VAS) using the standardized Wong-Baker faces rating scale (WBFRS) were used to grade each participant on the first day of visit. The VAS was subsequently used to grade and monitor improvements in the symptom characteristics of peripheral neuropathy at the fourth week and on the eighth week. Results: Mean age of participants involved in the study was 46.08 ± 2.77 years with the most significant comorbidity associated with participants being hypertension and type II diabetes, which accounted for 10 (41.66%) of the cases recorded. Baseline NSS indicated that 20 (83.0%) of the participants had severe symptoms and 4 (17.0%) reporting with moderate symptoms of neuropathy. Treatment resulted in an improvement of symptoms with a decline in mean VAS from a baseline of 6.04 ± 0.41 to 3.79 ± 0.74 on day 28 and 2.13 ± 0.93 by day 56. Conclusions: The results gathered from this pilot study indicates that the product Mist Antiaris has good prospects as an anti-neuropathic medication

Percutaneous Cryoablation of Pulmonary Metastases from Colorectal Cancer

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of cryoablation for metastatic lung tumors from colorectal cancer. Methods: The procedures were performed on 24 patients (36–82 years of age, with a median age of 62; 17 male patients, 7 female patients) for 55 metastatic tumors in the lung, during 30 sessions. The procedural safety, local progression free interval, and overall survival were assessed by follow-up computed tomographic scanning performed every 3–4 months. Results: The major complications were pneumothorax, 19 sessions (63%), pleural effusion, 21 sessions (70%), transient and self-limiting hemoptysis, 13 sessions (43%) and tract seeding, 1 session (3%). The 1- and 3-year local progression free intervals were 90.8 % and 59%, respectively. The 3-years local progression free intervals of tumors #15 mm in diameter was 79.8 % and that of tumors.15 mm was 28.6 % (p = 0.001; log-rank test). The 1- and 3-year overall survival rates were 91% and 59.6%, respectively. Conclusion: The results indicated that percutaneous cryoablation is a feasible treatment option. The local progression fre

Clinical Evaluation of the Safety and Effectiveness of Heptonica: A Ghanaian Hepatorestorative Polyherbal Product

The incidence of liver diseases is increasing globally, and many patients in developing countries are resorting to the use of herbal products as treatment. This study was aimed at establishing the safety and effectiveness outcomes for patients with deranged liver panel treated with a Ghanaian finished polyherbal product. The product Heptonica is prepared by CPMR from three medicinal plants: Bidens pilosa, Citrus aurantifolia, and Trema orientalis. Fifty (50) participants with clinical and biochemical signs of liver impairment were purposively recruited and treated for a period of 28 days. Participants received Heptonica at a dose of 30 mL 8 hourly after meals for the treatment period. Clinical and biochemical evaluation (liver panel test, renal function test, haematology, and urinalysis) of subjects for the safety and effectiveness of the product was undertaken at days 0 (baseline), 14, and 28. Compared to the baseline values, Heptonica did not have any untoward effect on renal function, haematological parameters, and urine parameters of subjects. Clinical and liver panel results of the participants also improved compared to the baseline: serum aspartate transaminase (AST) (p < 0.0001), alanine transaminase (ALT) (p < 0.0001), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) (p- 0.0013), total bilirubin (p-0.0136), direct bilirubin (p < 0.0001), total proteins (p-0.0409), and alkaline phosphates (p- 0.0284). Level of albumin showed no significant difference within the study period. The outcome of this study indicates Heptonica has hepatorestorative action with no observable toxicity and can be used with confidence as indicated as a liver tonic

Hypotensive and Antihypertensive Properties and Safety for Use of Annona muricata and Persea americana and Their Combination Products

Introduction. In the management of hypertension (a cardiovascular disease and the leading metabolic risk factor in noncommunicable diseases) with herbal medicines, efficacy and safety are of uttermost concern. This study sought to establish hypotensive, antihypertensive, drug interaction, and safety for use of the aqueous leaf extracts of Annona muricata (AME), Persea americana (PAE), or their combination products (CAPE). Methodology. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) were measured in normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats treated with 50–150 mg/kg of AME, PAE, or CAPE to establish a hypotensive effect. “Combination index” was calculated to establish interaction between AME and PAE. The antihypertensive effect of CAPE was established by measuring SBP, DBP, MAP, and HR in ethanol-sucrose- and epinephrine-induced hypertension. Full blood count, liver and kidney function tests, and urinalysis were determined in ethanol/sucrose-induced hypertension to establish safety for use. Results. AME, PAE, and CAPE significantly (p≤0.001) decreased BP in both normotensive and hypertensive animals. Effects of CAPE 1, CAPE 2, and CAPE 3 were synergistic (combination indices of 0.65 ± 0.07, 0.76 ± 0.09, and 0.87 ± 0.07, respectively). There was a significant decrease (p≤0.01−0.001) in SBP and MAP with 100 mg/kg CAPE 1 and 75 mg/kg CAPE 2 treatment in hypertension as well as with nifedipine (p≤0.001) treatment. Epinephrine-induced hypertension in anesthetized cats was significantly and dose-dependently inhibited (p0.05) on full blood count, liver and kidney function, and urine composition in hypertensive rats. Conclusion. The aqueous leaf extracts of Annona muricata, Persea americana, and their combination products possess antihypertensive properties, with combination products showing synergism and safety with use