The Neuroprotective Effect of Methanol Extract of Gagamjungjihwan and Fructus Euodiae on Ischemia-Induced Neuronal and Cognitive Impairment in the Rat.

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2009 Apr 24; Lee B, Choi EJ, Lee EJ, Han SM, Hahm DH, Lee HJ, Shim IGagamjungjihwan (GJ), a decoction consisting of five herbs including ginseng, Acori Graminei Rhizoma, Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus, Polygalae Radic and Frustus Euodiae (FE), has been widely used as herbal treatment for ischemia. In order to investigate the neuroprotective action of this novel prescription, we examined the influence of GJ and FE on learning and memory using the Morris water maze and studied their affects on the central cholinergic system in the hippocampus with neuronal and cognitive impairment. After middle cerebral artery occlusion was applied for 2 h, rats were administered GJ (200 mg kg(-1), p.o.) or FE (200 mg kg(-1), p.o.) daily for 2 weeks, followed by training and performance of the Morris water maze tasks. Rats with ischemic insults showed impaired learning and memory of the tasks. Pre-treatment with GJ and FE produced improvement in the escape latency to find the platform. Pre-treatments with GJ and FE also reduced the loss of cholinergic immunoreactivity in the hippocampus. The results demonstrated that GJ and FE have a protective effect against ischemia-induced neuronal and cognitive impairment. Our results suggest that GJ and FE might be useful in the treatment of vascular dementia.

[Cannabinoids in the control of pain]

Recenti Prog Med. 2008 Dec; 99(12): 616-24Shaladi AM, Crestani F, Tartari S, Piva BHemp (Cannabis sativa L.) has been used since remotes ages as a herbal remedy. Only recently the medical community highlighted the pharmacological scientific bases of its effects. The most important active principle, Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, was identified in the second half of the last century, and subsequently two receptors were identified and cloned: CB1 that is primarily present in the central nervous system, and CB2 that is present on the cells of the immune system. Endogenous ligands, called endocannabinoids, were characterized. The anandamide was the first one to be discovered. The effectiveness of the cannabinoids in the treatment of nausea and vomit due to anti-neoplastic chemotherapy and in the wasting-syndrome during AIDS is recognized. Moreover, the cannabinoids are analgesic, and their activity is comparable to the weak opioids. Furthermore, parallels exist between opioid and cannabinoid receptors, and evidence is accumulating that the two systems sometimes may operate synergistically. The interest of the pharmaceutical companies led to the production of various drugs, whether synthetic or natural derived. The good ratio between the polyunsatured fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 of the oil of Cannabis seeds led to reduction of the phlogosis and an improvement of the pain symptoms in patients with chronic musculo-skeletal inflammation.

Mistletoe lectin modulates intestinal epithelial cell-derived cytokines and B cell IgA secretion.

Arch Pharm Res. 2009 Mar; 32(3): 443-51Lyu SY, Park WBA galactose- and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-specific lectin (Viscum album L. var. coloratum agglutinin, VCA), which is known for its anti-cancer activity, was isolated from Korean mistletoe. In this study, IEC-6 rat intestinal epithelial cells and IM-9 human B-cells were cultured to determine the effect of VCA on cytokine and immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated IEC-6 cells, VCA significantly shifted the interleukin (IL)-2, IL-5, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) secretion toward a more immunostimulatory response. Since intestinal epithelial cell-derived secretions may be capable of affecting local B cell Ig production in a variety of ways, we mimicked this condition by deriving a 2-day culture supernatant from IEC-6 cell line which was treated VCA in the presence or absence of LPS, and adding these supernatants to cultures of IM-9 human B cells. As a result, IgA secretion was significantly enhanced at in the presence of VCA at 10(-8)-10(-4) microg/mL. This study suggests that cytokines derived from IEC by VCA may create an environment which may contribute to the enhancement of IgA secretion seen in mucosal tissues. Overall, the induction of cytokines in intestinal epithelial cells, and IgA in B cells by Korean mistletoe lectin could indicate an enhanced immunosurveillance to prevent intestinal infections or other intestinal pathologies.