Investigations of Free Anthraquinones from Rhubarb Against alpha-Naphthylisothiocyanate-induced Cholestatic Liver Injury in Rats.

Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2009 Mar 10; Zhao YL, Wang JB, Zhou GD, Shan LM, Xiao XHThe protective effects of anthraquinones from Rhubarb, a Chinese herbal medicine, consisting of the root and rhizome of Rheum palmatum L., R. tanguticum Maxim. Ex Balf., or R. officinale Baill. (family Polygonaceae) were investigated and compared in rats with liver injury induced by alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate. alpha-Naphthylisothiocyanate was given intragastrically in rats, liver injury with cholestasis developed within 36 hrs, as indicated by characteristic serum levels of glutamate-pyruvate transaminase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase and total bile acid. The intragastrical administration of rhein, aloe-emodin and physione to alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate-treated rats reduced significantly the serum level of both glutamate-pyruvate transaminase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and the serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase and total bile acid. For all hepatic biochemical markers and cholestasis index, rhein was most efficient. By comparison, the administration of emodin and chrysophanol did not reduce the serum levels of hepatic enzymes glutamate-pyruvate transaminase and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase but decreased the levels of serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and total bile acid, showing their partial protective effects on cholestatic liver injury. The liver in alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate-treated rats showed cholangiolitic hepatitis characterized by intrahepatic cholestasis, necrosis of hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells and bile obstruction. The concurrent intragastrical administration of rhein reduced the severity of all morphological alteration, especially the neutrophil infiltration and sinusoid congestion. Rhein, aloe-emodin, and physione all exhibited protective effects on hepatocytes and cholangiocytes against alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate-induced damage, whereas emodin and chrystophanol provided partial protection.

Current status of Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicines in Japanese clinical practice guidelines.

Complement Ther Med. 2009 Jun; 17(3): 147-54Motoo Y, Arai I, Hyodo I, Tsutani KBACKGROUND AND AIMS: Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicines are often used in clinical practice in Japan. However, it is unclear how Kampo medicines are quoted and evaluated in current clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). Here, we systematically reviewed Japanese CPGs, and aimed to reveal how Kampo medicines are described in the CPGs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the quasi-comprehensive list of Japanese CPGs available from the Toho University Medical Media Center (TUMMC) having the largest data base on Japanese CPGs, and also used a hand search. CPGs containing Kampo products were classified into three types based on how Kampo was handled. CPGs that provided recommendations based on evidence were classified as "type A". Those which cited references but did not provide any recommendations were classified as "type B". Those which described the Kampo practice or Kampo-related terms without providing any relevant references were classified as "type C". RESULTS: By the end of March of 2007, 35 (10.1%) of 346 CPGs listed by TUMMC contained descriptions of Kampo products. We discovered one Kampo-related CPGs in a hand search process. Of these 36 CPGs, 6 were "type A", 13 were "type B", and 17 were "type C". Although results from pertinent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were available, we noticed that some well-known RCTs studying Kampo medicines are missing in corresponding CPGs. CONCLUSIONS: We revealed that the citation rate of Kampo medicines in CPGs was approximately 10% and that some pivotal trials for Kampo medicines were not quoted in CPGs. Kampo medicines in CPGs should be assessed more comprehensively and scientifically.

Therapeutic effects of Chiljehyangbuhwan on primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study.

Complement Ther Med. 2009 Jun; 17(3): 123-30Jang JB, Yoon YJ, Park JH, Jeong HG, Cho JH, Ko SG, Lee CH, Lee JM, Lee KSOBJECTIVE: This clinical study was conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of an oriental herbal medicine native to Korea, Chiljehyangbuhwan, in treating primary dysmenorrhea. DESIGN AND SETTING: A total of 100 primary dysmenorrhea patients who visited Kyung Hee University Korean Oriental Medicine Hospital between July 19 2004 and August 27 2004 were recruited. Secondary or drug-related dysmenorrhea was screened out through interviews and examination. The patients were grouped by fixed blocked randomization and administered either Chiljehyangbuhwan or placebo for one menstrual period in a double blind model. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Verbal Rating Scale (VRS), and Multidimensional Verbal Rating Scale (MVRS) were used to evaluate dysmenorrhea severity. A total of 71 patients who passed the screening test and remained to the last were divided into either placebo or Chiljehyangbuhwan group, and each were further split into smaller subsets (indication, non-indication, and unspecified group) according to Korean Oriental medical diagnosis. RESULTS: In the non-indication group, the placebo and Chiljehyangbuhwan group did not show significant difference in VAS, VRS, and MVRS scores before medication (1st VAS, 1st VRS, 1st MVRS), after medication (2nd VAS, 2nd VRS, 2nd MVRS), and in changes in scores before and after (DeltaVAS, DeltaVRS, DeltaMVRS). In the indication group, the placebo and Chiljehyangbuhwan group showed significant difference in change in VAS and MVRS scores (DeltaVAS and DeltaMVRS). No evidence of toxicity could be found, and no serious adverse reactions to Chiljehyangbuhwan were reported. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that Chiljehyangbuhwan is effective and safe in treating primary dysmenorrhea when prescribed appropriately under Korean Oriental medical diagnosis.

Medicinal plants used by the Yi ethnic group: a case study in central Yunnan.

J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2009 Apr 23; 5(1): 13Long C, Li S, Long B, Shi Y, Liu BABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: This paper is based on ethnomedicinal investigation conducted from 1999-2002 in Chuxiong, central Yunnan Province, Southwest China. The Yi medicine has made a great contribution to the ethnomedicinal field in China. Neither case studies nor integrated inventories have previously been conducted to investigate the traditional Yi plants. This paper aims to argue the status and features of medicinal plants used in traditional Yi societies through a case study. METHODS: The approaches of ethnobotany, anthropology, and participatory rural appraisal were used in the field surveys. Twenty-two informants in four counties were interviewed during eight field trips. Medicinal plant specimens were identified according to taxonomic methods. RESULTS: One hundred sixteen medicinal plant species were found to be useful by the local people in the treatment of various diseases or disorders, especially those relating to trauma, gastrointestinal disorders and the common cold. Among these 116 species, 25 species (21.55%) were found to have new curative effects and 40 species (34.48%) were recorded for their new preparation methods; 55 different species were used in treating wounds and fractures, and 47 were used to treat gastrointestinal disorders. Traditional Yi herbal medicines are characterized by their numerous quantities of herbaceous plants and their common preparation with alcohol. CONCLUSION: Totally 116 species in 58 families of medicinal plants traditionally used by the Yi people were inventoried and documented. The characteristics of medicinal plants were analyzed. Some new findings (such as new curative effects and new preparation methods) were recorded These newly gathered ethnobotanical and medicinal data are precious sources for the future development of new drugs, and for further phytochemical, pharmacological and clinical studies.

Protective effects of purified safflower extract on myocardial ischemia in vivo and in vitro.

Phytomedicine. 2009 Apr 23; Han SY, Li HX, Ma X, Zhang K, Ma ZZ, Tu PFCarthamus tinctorius L. (safflower) is one of the most commonly used Chinese herbal medicines to prevent and treat cardiac disease in clinical practice. However, the mechanisms responsible for such protective effects remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the anti-myocardial ischemia effects of a purified extract of C. tinctorius (ECT) both in vivo and in vitro. An animal model of myocardial ischemia injury was induced by left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion in adult rats. Pretreatment with ECT (100, 200, 400, 600mg/kgbody wt.) could protect the heart from ischemia injury by limiting infarct size and improving cardiac function. In the in vitro experiment, neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were incubated to test the direct cytoprotective effect of ECT against H(2)O(2) exposure. Pretreatment with 100-400mug/mlECT prior to H(2)O(2) exposure significantly increased cell viability as revealed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. ECT also markedly attenuated H(2)O(2)-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, as detected by Annexin V and PI double labeling with flow cytometry. The intracellular level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was shown by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA), and ECT pretreatment significantly inhibited H(2)O(2)-induced ROS increase. We made a preliminary examination of the signaling cascade involved in ECT mediated anti-apoptotic effects. Phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor (LY294002) blocked the cytoprotective effect conferred by ECT. Taken together, our findings provide the first evidence that the cardioprotective effects of ECT in myocardial ischemia operate partially through reducing oxidative stress induced damage and apoptosis. The protection is achieved by scavenging of ROS and mediating the PI3K signaling pathway.

Development of an international questionnaire to measure use of complementary and alternative medicine (I-CAM-Q).

J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Apr; 15(4): 331-9Quandt SA, Verhoef MJ, Arcury TA, Lewith GT, Steinsbekk A, Kristoffersen AE, Wahner-Roedler DL, Fønnebø VOBJECTIVES: Existing studies on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) have produced diverse results regarding the types and prevalence of CAM use due, in part, to variations in the measurement of CAM modalities. A questionnaire that can be adapted for use in a variety of populations will improve CAM utilization measurement. The purposes of this article are to (1) articulate the need for such a common questionnaire; (2) describe the process of questionnaire development; (3) present a model questionnaire with core questions; and (4) suggest standard techniques for adapting the questionnaire to different languages and populations. METHODS: An international workshop sponsored by the National Research Center in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NAFKAM) of the University of Tromsø, Norway, brought CAM researchers and practitioners together to design an international CAM questionnaire (I-CAM-Q). Existing questionnaires were critiqued, and working groups drafted content for a new questionnaire. A smaller working group completed, tested, and revised this self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The questionnaire that was developed contains four sections concerned with visits to health care providers, complementary treatments received from physicians, use of herbal medicine and dietary supplements, and self-help practices. A priori-specified practitioners, therapies, supplements, and practices are included, as well as places for researcher-specified and respondent-specified additions. Core questions are designed to elicit frequency of use, purpose (treatment of acute or chronic conditions, and health maintenance), and satisfaction. A penultimate version underwent pretesting with "think-aloud" techniques to identify problems related to meaning and format. The final questionnaire is presented, with suggestions for testing and translating. CONCLUSIONS: Once validated in English and non-English speaking populations, the I-CAM-Q will provide an opportunity for researchers to gather comparable data in studies conducted in different populations. Such data will increase knowledge about the epidemiology of CAM use and provide the foundation for evidence-based comparisons at an international level.

Optimizing the sensory characteristics and acceptance of canned cat food: use of a human taste panel.

J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2009 Feb; 93(1): 52-60Pickering GJA methodology based on descriptive analysis techniques used in the evaluation of human food has been successfully refined to allow for a human taste panel to profile the flavour and texture of a range of cat food products (CFP) and their component parts. Included in this method is the development of evaluation protocols for homogeneous products and for binary samples containing both meat chunk (MC) and gravy/gel (GG) constituents. Using these techniques, 18 flavour attributes (sweet, sour/acid, tuna, herbal, spicy, soy, salty, cereal, caramel, chicken, methionine, vegetable, offaly, meaty, burnt flavour, prawn, rancid and bitter) and four texture dimensions (hardness, chewiness, grittiness and viscosity) were generated to describe the sensations elicited by 13 commercial pet food samples. These samples differed in intensity for 16 of the 18 flavour attributes, which allows for individual CFP flavour profiles to be developed. Principal components analysis (PCA) could successfully discriminate between samples within the PCA space and also reveal some groupings amongst them. While many flavour attributes were weakly correlated, a large number (describing both taste and retro-nasal aroma qualities) were required to adequately differentiate between samples, suggesting considerable complexity in the products assessed. For both MC and GG, differences between samples for each of the texture dimensions were also found. For MC, grittiness appears to be the most discriminating textural attribute, while for GG viscosity discriminates well between samples. Meat chunks and gravy/gels differed significantly from each other in both flavour and texture. Cat food products differed in their liking ratings, although no differences were found between homogeneous, MC and GG samples, and eight flavour attributes were correlated with overall liking scores. It is now necessary to determine the usefulness and limits of sensory data gathered from human panels in describing and predicting food acceptance and preference behaviours in cats. For instance, while the sense of taste in cats appears generally similar to that of other mammals, they lack a sweet taste receptor (Li et al., 2006), which may limit the applicability of sweetness ratings obtained from humans. Modification of existing techniques used with human food research, such as external preference mapping (Naes and Risvik, 1996) may be useful. Ultimately, this may facilitate more economical and efficient methods for optimizing cat food flavour and texture and predicting the effects of composition and processing changes on cat feeding behaviour. This will require collaboration between pet food manufacturers and nutritionists, animal behaviourists and human sensory scientists. The results of this preliminary study should assist in this process.