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Ancient Egypt
Published in Scott M. Jackson, Skin Disease and the History of Dermatology, 2023
The Ebers Papyrus contains 811 prescriptions for a number of ailments, in addition to sections on diagnosis and symptoms, the physiology of the heart and its vessels, and the surgical management of wounds and sores. Treatments described include salves, plasters, poultices, snuffs, inhalations, gargles, draughts, confections, pills, fumigations, suppositories, and enemata.21 Many of the remedies have been shown to have therapeutic value. An entire chapter is dedicated to a discussion of castor oil, a laxative found in over 100 of the prescriptions. Natron, a salt found in Lower Egypt, was used for its dehydrating and astringent benefits. Moldy bread or fresh onions were placed on infected wounds; antibiotic substances in these materials may have provided an anti-infective effect.22 Human excrement as a treatment for disease—termed drekapotheke—sounds downright bizarre to the modern student of ancient medicine, but it was a commonplace practice in the ancient world. Plant, mineral, and organic ingredients, including human and animal bodily fluids and excrements in various combinations, make up the concoctions. In addition to medical therapies, spells and incantations are interspersed throughout the work.
Role of Herbs in Livestock Production in India
Published in Megh R. Goyal, Preeti Birwal, Santosh K. Mishra, Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants in Food Design, 2022
Krishan L. Gautam, Rohit Bishist, Bhupender Dutt, Archana Sharma
Leaves contain Ricinine, quercetin 3-O-β-rutinoside (rutin). Luoeol and 30-norupan-3B-OL-20-one in seed coats of castor beans. Castor oil contains stearic, hexadecenoic, palmitic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, and dihydroxystearic acids as methyl esters.
Plant Source Foods
Published in Chuong Pham-Huy, Bruno Pham Huy, Food and Lifestyle in Health and Disease, 2022
Chuong Pham-Huy, Bruno Pham Huy
Seeds are small embryonic plants enclosed in a coat, the product of the ripened ovule of flowering plants after pollination and the completion of the reproduction process (153). Seeds are made of complex matrices in the outer layer and germ, and rich in minerals, oils, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and antioxidants that protect the plant’s DNA from oxidative stress, thus facilitating the perpetuation of the species. Some edible seeds are: flaxseed (linseed), sesame seed, chia seed, quinoa seed, pumpkin seed, sunflower seed, and hemp seed. Sunflower seed, rapeseed, and cottonseed are used commercially in the production of oils. However, some seeds, such as castor seed of the plant Ricinus communis, seed of the strychnine tree, and seeds of bitter almond, peach, and apricot, are toxic. Ricin, a water-soluble lectin present in castor seed, is highly toxic and can cause death if consumed (154). In contrast, castor oil extracted from castor seed is not toxic and can be used in food additives or in pharmacy as a laxative because ricin is not soluble in castor oil. Seed of the strychnine (Strychnos nux-vomica) tree can cause deadly convulsion. Seeds of bitter almond, apricot, and peach, containing amygdalin, may cause cyanide poisoning with high intake. Except for some particular cases cited above, most seeds frequently consumed such as flaxseed, sesame seed, chia seed, and quinoa seed, are good for health.
Effect of lubricant gel on the length of the first stage of labour and perineal trauma in primiparous women
Published in Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2022
Fatemeh Azarkish, Roksana Janghorban, Shirin Bozorgzadeh, Fariba Merbalouchzai, Massoumeh Razavi, Maleknaz Badiee
The friction force has been known as an important opponent force for vaginal birth. The friction force is modified by a lubricant (Riener et al. 2009). The effects of the use of lubricant have been unclear and are still the subject of debate. The lubricant is a substance introduced to reduce friction, applied on the perineal area and/or in the vaginal canal with or without an applicator. Gel could work through a purely physical effect, reducing the opposite force to vaginal childbirth .In the traditional medicine of Baluchistan, lubricants such as almond and olive oil and oral castor oil are very commonly used to reduce the friction of the foetal head with vagina during labour (Ganjali and Khaksafidi 2015). In one study, the effect of using castor oil to initiate labour pain in post term pregnancy was investigated (Azarkish et al. 2008). In routine care during the labour phase, a small amount of lubricant gel was used during the vaginal examination, but in this study, 5 ml of lubricant gel was used each time a vaginal examination was performed. Since there are no studied about the effect of lubricant gel during the active phase of the first stage of labour, this clinical trial was performed with the aim of determining the effect of using lubricant gel during the active phase of the first stage of labour on length of labour and perineal trauma in primiparous women.
The Efficiency of Cyclosporine A-Eluting Contact Lenses for the Treatment of Dry Eye
Published in Current Eye Research, 2019
Jung Han Choi, Ying Li, Rujun Jin, Tina Shrestha, Ji Suk Choi, Won Jun Lee, Myung Jae Moon, Hyoung Tae Ju, Won Choi, Kyung Chul Yoon
DED is a common disorder that affects the tear film and ocular surface which causes chronic irritating symptoms in millions of people worldwide.1 Topical administration is the main route for the treatment of DED, and the targeted organs are the cornea, conjunctiva, or lacrimal gland.11 Recently, 0.05% CsA has become one of the standard treatments for inflammatory DED and is commercially available in the form of oil-in-water emulsion eye drops (Restasis®, Allergan).30 CsA has been shown to inhibit epithelial apoptosis and cytokine production by activated T lymphocytes which infiltrate the ocular surface, leading to a decrease in inflammation and increase in tear production, both effect has been highly beneficial for the treatment of DED.9,31 Due to its hydrophobicity with a poor water solubility (0.012 mg/mL at 25°C), CsA must be solubilized in non-aqueous media that include surfactants.24 CsA emulsion is an oil-in-water emulsion eye drop that contains a mixture of castor oil and Tween 80. This castor oil can induce side effects like ocular burning or irritation following the chronic use of eye drops. In addition, adverse effects such as itching, redness, visual disturbance, and eye pain prevent patients from using these eye drops.10,18 Many studies have attempted to improve the availability and tolerance of topically applied CsA through the development of such forms as pro-drugs, emulsions, and colloidal systems.24 Nevertheless, there is still no way to address the limitations and drawbacks of eye drops.
Antidiarrheal activity of methanol extract of Sophora tonkinensis in mice and spasmolytic effect on smooth muscle contraction of isolated jejunum in rabbits
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2019
Yangyou Li, Jing Li, Xin Liu, Jianwu Zhang, Xue Mei, Rudan Zheng, Wei Chen, Qian Zheng, Shangjie Zhong
Castor oil is a colorless or very pale yellow liquid with a unique flavor obtained from the seeds of castor oil plants. As a plant oil, castor oil has several advantages for pharmacological use, including antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, low toxicity, low cost and easy availability (Yeganeh and Hojati-Talemi 2007; Valera et al. 2012; Holm et al. 2013; Salles et al. 2015). Ricinoleic acid is an active hydrolytic metabolite of castor oil which can induce diarrhea. It not only creates extensive contractions in the transverse and distal colon by inducing changes in electrolyte and water transport (Aleem and Janbaz 2018), but also produces irritant and inflammatory effects on intestinal mucosa, resulting in the release of several mediators including prostaglandins, nitric oxide, platelet activating factor cAMP and tachykinin (Guo et al. 2014a). Therefore, the castor oil model incorporates both motility and secretory diarrhea (Rouf et al. 2003).