Choosing Herbal Treatments
Scott Mendelson in Herbal Treatment of Major Depression, 2019
In a recent review it was noted that the herbs most frequently cited in the literature as being useful in the treatment of diabetes type II were Momordica charantia (bitter melon), Trigonella foenum graecum (fenugreek), Gymnema sylvestre (gurmar), Coccinia indica (ivy gourd), Opuntia spp. (nopal), Panax ginseng (ginseng), Artemisia dracunculus (Russian tarragon), Cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon), Plantago ovata (psyllium), and Allium sativum (garlic).108 The mechanisms of action for these herbs were described as including regulation of insulin signaling pathways, translocation of GLUT-4 receptor and/or activation the PPARγ. All of those mechanisms have been associated with anti-depressant effects.109–111
Serum Albumin Binding of Natural Substances and Its Influence on the Biological Activity of Endogenous and Synthetic Ligands for G-Protein-Coupled Receptors
Catherina Caballero-George in Natural Products and Cardiovascular Health, 2018
Tannins, which are a group of polyphenolic compounds, include three major categories: gallic acid esters, phloroglucinol derivatives and flavone-derived substances (Hemingway and Karchesy, 1989). Initially, the BSA binding capacity of tannins was determined by immobilizing certain polyphenolics on chromatography paper followed by the quantification of the amount of BSA bound (Dawra et al., 1988). Ellagic acid and quercetin were found to bind BSA with a capacity of 297 and 78 µg BSA/mg, respectively (Dawra et al., 1988). In a similar approach, the polyphenols extracted from coffee pulp, that is, tannic acid, chlorogenic acid and catechin, were found to bind to BSA (Vélez et al., 1985). Furthermore, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and native gel electrophoresis revealed the formation of BSA complexes with the water-soluble polyphenols oenotehin B, corilagin, (+)catechin, procyanidin B3 and gallic acid derivatives (Kusuda et al., 2006). Polyphenolic compounds isolated from Opuntia ficus indica were found to elicit calcium response in T-cell lines, and this effect was reduced by including fatty acid free BSA, suggesting their interaction with serum albumin (Aires et al., 2004). By using the technique of quartz crystal microbalance, it was possible to monitor the binding of molecules to the surface of proteins, in which it was found that thearubigin, which is one of the major polyphenols of black tea, can form complexes with BSA (Chitpan et al., 2007).
The Rational Use of Dietary Supplements, Nutraceuticals, and Functional Foods for the Diabetic and Prediabetic Patient
Jeffrey I. Mechanick, Elise M. Brett in Nutritional Strategies for the Diabetic & Prediabetic Patient, 2006
Consumption of broiled stems from the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia streptacantha [nopal]), a popular treatment for diabetes among the Mexican population, was associated with decreased fasting blood glucose (about 50 mg/dL) and insulin levels (about 50%) based on 6 short-term metabolic trials of patients with T2DM (evidence level 3) [66–71]. This botanical has a high soluble fiber and pectin content that can decrease intestinal glucose absorption, and no significant adverse effects have been reported (grade C).
Effects of Phyllanthus amarus PHYLLPROTM leaves on hangover symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2019
Annie George, Jay K. Udani, Ashril Yusof
Alcohol elimination was faster in the active group (p < 0.0001) at hour 12. It would have been helpful to have had additional BAL time points between hours 1.5 and 12, especially at hour 10, to evaluate the rate of alcohol detoxification since it was at hour 10 that the placebo group reported the highest complaints of nausea, headache, anorexia, tremulousness, diarrhoea and dizziness. This appears to be the time where alcohol was still present at a higher amount in the placebo group while 2 h later, the active group no longer had any alcohol in the bloodstream whereas the placebo group still did. This implies that PHYLLPRO™ improved hangover symptoms through the efficient clearing of alcohol from the bloodstream. This was the case for the fruit extract of Evodiae rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth (Rutaceae) and Xeniji™ (a trademarked fruit- and vegetable-based preparation) which reduced alcohol concentration in blood plasma in vivo and upregulated the relative expression of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and antioxidant Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn SOD), suggesting the removal of alcohol by hepatic alcohol metabolizing and antioxidant enzymes (Cho et al. 2005; Zulkawi et al. 2017b). Other alternative therapies such as artichoke extract have been examined in a randomized controlled trial, but no benefit was found (Pittler et al. 2003). Nopal cactus [Opuntia ficus-indica L. Mill (Cactaceae)] was found to reduce some of the symptoms associated with hangover (Wiese et al. 2004).
Protective effects of betanin against paracetamol and diclofenac induced neurotoxicity and endocrine disruption in rats
Published in Biomarkers, 2019
Tarek K. Motawi, Samia A. Ahmed, Noha A. El-Boghdady, Nadia S. Metwally, Noha N. Nasr
Betanin is one of the 10 most potent water-soluble nitrogen-containing antioxidant pigment presents in red beet root (Beta vulgaris L.) and Cactus pear fruit (Opuntia ficus-indica) (Han et al.2015, Al-Aboud 2018). Previous studies showed that betanin has anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects (Kapadia et al.2011, Livrea and Tesoriere 2012, Hfaiedh et al.2014, Han et al.2015). According to studies done by Lu et al. (2009) and Han et al. (2014), betanin can protect mice from γ-irradiation and can inhibit lipid peroxidation and heme decomposition in rat liver. To the best of our knowledge, there is no study was carried out to explore the biological activities of betanin on the brain and endocrine system. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of betanin against the brain damage and disruptions of endocrine system induced by long-term administration of PAR and DF in rats as an experimental model.
Impact of betanin against paracetamol and diclofenac induced hepato-renal damage in rats
Published in Biomarkers, 2020
Tarek K. Motawi, Samia A. Ahmed, Noha A. El-Boghdady, Nadia S. Metwally, Noha N. Nasr
Studies are going on throughout the world for the search of protective molecules that would provide maximum protection to the body’s organs with no side effects (Islam and Alam 2019). Betanin (Bet) is one of the 10 most potent water soluble nitrogen containing antioxidant pigment presents in red beet root (Beta vulgaris L.) and Cactus pear fruit (Opuntia ficus-indica) (Han et al. 2015; Al-aboud 2018). Previous studies showed that Bet has an anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects (El-Gamal et al. 2014, Bhaswant et al. 2017, Indumathi et al. 2017, Ahmadian et al. 2018). Recently, according to our previous study, Bet successes to ameliorate the neurotoxicity and endocrine disruption induced by PAR and DF (Motawi et al. 2019). To the best of our knowledge, there is a little work was performed to explore the biological activities of Bet on the liver and the kidney. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of Bet on PAR and DF induced hepato-renal damage in rats.
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