Inhibitory Effects of Germinal Angiotensin Converting Enzyme by Medicinal Plants Used in Iranian Traditional Medicine as Antihypertensive

Abstract: Background & Aim: Medicinal plants are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of different diseases such as hypertension. Since inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is one of the involved mechanisms in control of hypertension, in this study the inhibitory effect of 20 medicinal plants on ACE was investigated. Methods: The medicinal plants were collected, powdered, extracted, lyophilized and kept in -20° C. ACE activity was assayed with hyporyl L histidine L leusine (HHL) as substrate in the micro scale. The extracts that inhibited 50% of ACE activity in comparison to control were considered as probable ACE inhibitors. Results: From 20 medicinal plants in this study, the highest ACE inhibitory effect (100%) was related to Alcea digitata (Boiss.) Alef., Rubia tinctorum L. and Cerasus avium (L.) Monech. Citrus aurantium L., Berberis integerrima Bge, Peganum harmala L. and Allium sativum L. also inhibited ACE activity equal or more than 70%. Conclusion: Since the highest ACE inhibitory effect was observed for Alcea digitata (Boiss.) Alef., Rubia tinctorum L. and Cerasus avium (L.) Monech, this plants can be used in further studies for separation of their active components against ACE activity. Keywords: Medicinal plants, ACE inhibitors, Hypertensio

Psychedelics for Psychological and Existential Distress in Palliative and Cancer Care

In recent years, there has been renewed scientific interest in, and associated media coverage of, psychedelics. [...

The modified graeb score: an enhanced tool for intraventricular hemorrhage measurement and prediction of functional outcome

<p>Background and Purpose—Simple and rapid measures of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) volume are lacking. We developed and validated a modification of the original Graeb scale to facilitate rapid assessment of IVH over time.</p> <p>Methods—We explored the relationship between the modified Graeb scale (mGS), original Graeb scale, measured IVH volume, and outcome using data from the Clot Lysis: Evaluating Accelerated Resolution of Hemorrhage with rtPA B (CLEAR B) study. We also explored its reliability. We then evaluated the relationship between mGS and outcome in a large sample of participants with IVH using data contained within the Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive (VISTA). We defined outcome using the modified Rankin scale (>3 signifying poor outcome).</p> <p>Results—The CLEAR B study included 360 scans from 36 subjects. The mGS score and IVH volume were highly correlated (R = 0.80, P<0.0001, R2 0.65). Baseline mGS was predictive of poor outcome (area under receiving operating characteristic curve 0.74, 95% confidence interval, 0.57–0.91), whereas the original Graeb scale was not. The VISTA study included 399 participants. Each unit increase in the mGS led to a 12% increase in the odds of a poor outcome (odds ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–1.19). Measures of reliability (intra- and inter- reader) were good in both studies.</p> <p>Conclusions—The mGS, a semiquantitative scale for IVH volume measurement, is a reliable measure with prognostic validity suitable for rapid use in clinical practice and in research.</p&gt