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Cognitive Improvement, Neuroprotective, and Nootropic Effect of Medhya Rasa¯yana Drugs in Alzheimer’s Disease
Published in Atanu Bhattacharjee, Akula Ramakrishna, Magisetty Obulesu, Phytomedicine and Alzheimer’s Disease, 2020
Rinki Kumari, Jasmit Singh, Bhargawi Mishra, Anamika Tiwari, Abaidya Nath Singh
To obtain better and less expensive therapeutic benefits, with fewer and less severe adverse reactions, the focus of the search should move toward alternative medicines from natural sources i.e. herbal remedies, used traditionally and documented to have a safe profile. These plant-based drugs may be helpful in enhancing memory and improving cognition in AD patients. Our knowledge of medicinal plants helps in the development of drugs for the modern medicine system. Therefore, the concept of modern medicine-based therapy for treatment of such patients may be more effective when based on psychoactive plant-based drugs. Hence, the dissection and analysis of medicinal plants from around the world for improving cognitive function with minimal side effects is essential today, to overcome cognitive-deficit diseases, such as AD (Chaudhari and Murthy, 2014).
Natural Products Structures and Analysis of the Cerrado Flora in Goiás
Published in Luzia Valentina Modolo, Mary Ann Foglio, Brazilian Medicinal Plants, 2019
Lucilia Kato, Vanessa Gisele Pasqualotto Severino, Aristônio Magalhães Teles, Aline Pereira Moraes, Vinicius Galvão Wakui, Núbia Alves Mariano Teixeira Pires Gomides, Rita de Cássia Lemos Lima, Cecilia Maria Alves de Oliveira
Psychotria L. is the largest genus in the Rubiaceae family, comprising approximately 1,600 species. This genus is well known through the species P. viridis Ruiz and Pav. or P. carthagenensis Jacq., together with Banisteriopsis caapi (Spruce ex Griseb.) C.V. Morton (Malpighiaceae), in the preparation of the psychoactive plant tea “ayahuasca”, which has been used since pre-Colombian times for medical and religious purposes. More recently, in the last century this tea was used by syncretic religious groups in Brazil, particularly “Santo Daime”, “União do Vegetal” and “Barquinha” (Riba et al., 2004). Furthermore, some other species are used by different traditional communities with a variety of pharmacological purposes: in Amazonia the “caboclos” use the flowers of P. colorata (Willd. ex Roem. and Schult.) Müll. Arg. as an analgesic and to treat earache and stomach ache; the Wayapi Indians use P. ulviformis Steyerm. in an antipyretic bath and as an analgesic too; P. ipecacuanha (Brot.) Stokes is used as a stimulant and to treat intoxication (Porto et al., 2009; Santos et al., 2017).
Traditional and Local Knowledge Systems in the Caribbean: Jamaica as a Case Study
Published in David R. Katerere, Wendy Applequist, Oluwaseyi M. Aboyade, Chamunorwa Togo, Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge for the Modern Era, 2019
Historically, Jamaica has been closely associated with the plant Cannabis sativa L. Known locally as ganja, the plant is thought to have been introduced to Jamaica by Africans, its presence as hemp being documented in the New World with the arrival of the Spanish (Rubin and Comitas 1975). However, the timing of its use as a psychoactive plant is not clear, with some authors stating that such use only started after 1845, following emancipation and the introduction of indentured workers from India (Rubin and Comitas 1975, Senior 2003, Higman 2008, Abel 2011). Certainly, the species’ use in India is well documented, with ancient Hindu texts detailing its religious and medicinal properties dating back to 2000–1400 BC (Senior 2003, Beckford and Barker 2007). Other authors point to evidence of its psychoactive use in West Africa, an area from which many Africans were forcibly transported to Jamaica. Here, the species was referred to as “Congo tobacco” and used as a narcotic called dyamba in the Kingdom of Congo (West-Central Africa, now northern Angola, Cabinda, Republic of Congo, the western portion of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the southernmost part of Gabon). Additionally, its use as a narcotic, diamba, or maconha, was widely reported amongst African slaves in Brazil, and it seems likely that this knowledge would have found its way into other New World communities (Senior 2003).
The rise of global research trends on cathinones during 1994-2018: lessons from a systematic bibliometric analysis
Published in Journal of Substance Use, 2022
Kang Wang, Yijie Duan, Haihong Chen, Jin Hu, Man Liang
Our scientometric study (Figure 3) revealed past and current cathinone research trends and patterns. For instance, khat has had a long history of traditional indigenous use as a psychoactive plant, although its pattern of usage has changed due to immigration and government control on consumption and trade (Anderson & Carrier, 2009; Gebissa, 2010; Reuters, 2014). Indigenous use has persisted for eight centuries as a mild stimulant for enhancing energy during work, maintenance of prayers during long fasts, facilitation of social ties, and as a commodity for trade (Anderson & Carrier, 2009; Gebissa, 2010). Initially regarded as a substance used only by adult immigrants with experience of khat from their home country, anecdotal evidence suggests that khat is, in fact, used by both first generation immigrants and UK born young adults for its uniqueness, “mellow” high, and presumed safety (BBC News, 2009). In addition, the traditional use of khat, as guided by culture, is believed by users to be of little more harm than other stimulants such as coffee or tea. It is possible that the same factors leading to its adoption by new users in the UK could also hold true in the US. However, the future application of khat is unclear (Lemieux et al., 2015), with some suggesting that it could move toward either widespread legal commercialization or containment as an illicit substance (Gebissa, 2010).
Gastroparesis with Cannabis Use: A Retrospective Study from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample
Published in Postgraduate Medicine, 2021
Dushyant Singh Dahiya, Asim Kichloo, Hafeez Shaka, Jagmeet Singh, Ehizogie Edigin, Dhanshree Solanki, Precious Obehi Eseaton, Farah Wani
Gastroparesis is a disorder of GI dysmotility in the absence of a mechanical obstruction. The actual prevalence of GP is unknown due to a significant overlap of the clinical presentation with other disorders such as functional dyspepsia. Cannabis, also known as Marijuana, is a complex psychoactive plant with more than 500 components, out of which Δ9-THC and cannabidiol are of upmost importance and act on the endocannabinoid system in the GI tract. Through its action on the CB1 receptors, cannabis may reduce GI motility and delay gastric emptying leading to GP. In our study, GP hospitalizations with cannabis use were noted to be of a younger demographic with lower proportions in women compared to the non-cannabis use cohort. Furthermore, a Black predominance was seen for GP with cannabis use followed by Whites and Hispanics. Additionally, GP hospitalizations with cannabis use had marginally higher proportion of comorbid hypertension and diabetes mellitus, but a significantly higher proportion of patients with a history of smoking compared to GP hospitalizations without cannabis use. The mortality rate for GP with cannabis use was found to be 0.27%. We also report shorter LOS and less mean THC for GP with cannabis use. However, with increasing legalization of cannabis, widespread availability, and changes in social perception with regards to reporting cannabis use, complications such as GP are expected to rise even further in coming years.
National trauma and substance use disorders: A slippery slope in Lebanon
Published in Substance Abuse, 2021
Maya Bizri, Samer El Hayek, Hadi Beaini, Firas Kobeissy, Farid Talih
Despite the anecdotal rise in substance use, nationwide statistics about SUD remain scarce (Supplemental File). SUD seems to be inordinately affecting the younger Lebanese and remains a serious social taboo.5,6 One of the most commonly seized drugs in the country is cannabis. The geographic location and climate of Lebanon’s Beqaa valley are naturally advantageous for the cultivation of cannabis. The valley’s location near the border has historically enabled trafficking.7,8 Other commonly consumed substances include opiate derivatives (natural and synthetic), cocaine, amphetamine-like stimulants (a common street name/brand is Captagon), and recreational “party” drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy), LSD, GHB, and synthetic cannabinoids (K2/Spice).5,6,9 Recently, smoking Salvia Divinorum (a psychoactive plant) has also been on the rise.9