Herbal Supplements and Health
Anil K. Sharma, Raj K. Keservani, Surya Prakash Gautam in Herbal Product Development, 2020
Ephedra (Ephedra sinica), also called Ma-Huang, is a natural stimulant medication made out of two active components (pseudoephedrine and ephedrine) that are present in numerous over-the-counter items. Ephedrine is a sympathomimetic agent that has boundless uses as an adrenergic stimulant. It originates from plants of the class Ephedra sp., being an alkaloid for the most part present in the specie Ephedra sinica. Ephedrine can be synthesized in the industry as a result of biotransformation or by extraction of the plant. Different subordinates of ephedrine can likewise be found in Ephedra, for example, pseudoephedrine that additionally has adrenergic properties. The most pure form of ephedrine is used for the remedial reason, basically as a bronchodilator and decongestant. Its pharmacological properties are associated with its adrenergic action, which thus happens because of its stimulating action on α-, β1-, and β2-adrenergic receptors via direct and indirect outcomes. These days, there is a worry about the aimless utilization of ephedrine, since it began to be utilized for weight reduction and improve athletic performance. Related with this propensity, an enormous number of side effects related with cardiovascular issues began to be accounted for (Limberger et al., 2013).
Monographs of Topical Drugs that Have Caused Contact Allergy/Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Anton C. de Groot in Monographs in Contact Allergy, 2021
Ephedrine is an alkaloid and hydroxylated form of phenethylamine which is found in the plant Ephedra sinica and various other plants in the genus Ephedra. It is an α- and β-adrenergic agonist that may also enhance release of norepinephrine. Following administration, ephedrine activates post-synaptic noradrenergic receptors. Activation of α-adrenergic receptors in the vasculature induces vasoconstriction, and activation of 0-adrenergic receptors in the lungs leads to bronchodilation. Ephedrine is commonly used as a stimulant, appetite suppressant, concentration aid, decongestant, and to treat hypotension associated with anesthesia. In pharmaceutical products, ephedrine is employed as ephedrine sulfate (CAS number 134-72-5, EC number 205-154-4, molecular formula C20H32N2O6S) or ephedrine hydrochloride (CAS number 50-98-6, EC number 200-074-6, molecular formula C10H16ClNO) (1).
Mode of Action of Selected Botanicals That Lower Blood Glucose
Robert Fried, Richard M. Carlton in Type 2 Diabetes, 2018
Nevertheless, a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of yerba mate (and other supplements) for body weight reduction, reported in the journal Obesity Reviews, concluded otherwise: The reviewed studies provide some encouraging data, but no evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, that any specific dietary supplement is effective for reducing body weight. The only exceptions were Ephedra sinica- and ephedrine-containing supplements—which have been associated with an increased risk of adverse events (Pittler, Schmidt, and Erns. 2005). The other supplements in the analysis not previously mentioned were chitosan, chromium picolinate, Garcinia cambogia, glucomannan, guar gum, hydroxy-methylbutyrate, plantago psyllium, pyruvate, and yohimbe.
Systematic identification of the interventional mechanism of Qingfei Xiaoyan Wan (QFXYW) in treatment of the cytokine storm in acute lung injury using transcriptomics-based system pharmacological analyses
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2022
Jing-Yi Hou, Jia-Rong Wu, Yi-Bing Chen, Dong Xu, Shu Liu, Dan-dan Shang, Guan-Wei Fan, Yuan-Lu Cui
Unlike the aforementioned chemical drugs, the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas are composed of a variety of Chinese Medicine Materials (CMMs) that have multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway characteristics (Li et al. 2018; Sheu et al. 2020). Qingfei Xiaoyan Wan (QFXYW), derived from “Maxing Shigan Decoction,” which was proposed by Zhang Zhongjing from the Han Dynasty and approved by the China Food and Drug Administration (NO. Z20103031), is mainly composed of eight components of TCM, namely, Ephedra sinica Stapf (Ephedraceae), Prunus armeniaca L. (Rosaceae), Arctium lappa L. (Asteraceae), Lepidium apetalum Willd. (Brassicaceae), calculus bovis (Bovidae), Cornu Saiga tatarica Linnaeus (Bovidae), Pheretima vulgaris Chen (Megascolecidae), and Gypsum Fibrosum (Hou et al. 2016). This formula has been used for more than 30 years and has shown good therapeutic effects on cough, asthma, immune regulation, and antiviral activity in the clinic (Zhao et al. 2013; Hou et al. 2014). However, its therapeutic mechanism in the treatment of ALI has not been fully elucidated, necessitating further study and analysis.
Dry powder inhalation, part 1: ancient history and precursors to modern dry powder inhalers
Published in Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 2022
Anne Haaije de Boer, Paul Hagedoorn, Floris Grasmeijer
The traditional Chinese medicine yielding temporary relief for shortness of breath, chest tightness, and wheezing is Ma-huang. It is derived from the plant Ephedra sinica having a high ephedrine content [32,33]. The use of Ma-huang for inhalation may have been described for the first time in what is known as the oldest known Chinese book on internal medicine, Nei Ching, in which also symptoms that indicate asthma are mentioned [3]. Often Huang-Ti, also known as Huang-Di, or the Yellow Emperor of China, is mentioned as the author of Nei Ching and Stein and Thiel referred to about 1000 BCE for this book [5]. However, according to modern views its author is unknown, its age is uncertain and its text is partly unauthentic.
Ma Huang Tang ameliorates bronchial asthma symptoms through the TLR9 pathway
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2018
Jiayuan Jiao, Jiming Wu, Jiali Wang, Yaping Guo, Le Gao, Honggang Liang, Jian Huang, Jinhui Wang
The separate preparation of Ephedra sinica, Cinnamomum cassia, Prunus armeniaca L. var. ansu and Glycyrrhiza uralensis: 1 g of Ephedra sinica was crushed and sonicated in 25 mL of methanol for 30 min, and then the supernatant was obtained after centrifugation. Cinnamomum cassia, Prunus armeniaca L. var. ansu and Glycyrrhiza uralensis were prepared in the same way as Ephedra sinica.