Hypoglycemic effect of quassinoids from Brucea javanica (L.) Merr (Simaroubaceae) seeds.

J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 May 8; Noorshahida A, Wong TW, Choo CYETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The seeds of Brucea javanica (L.) Merr (Simaroubaceae) are recommended by traditional practitioners for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Aim of the Study: To identify the compounds responsible for blood glucose lowering effect and evaluate the acute toxicity of the compounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Extracts, fractions and subfractions were administered to normoglycemic mice and the blood glucose concentration was monitored for 8h. Bioactive compounds isolated through column chromatography were administered to normoglycemic mice and streptozotocin (STZ) rats with monitoring of blood glucose concentration at 0-8h. The acute toxicity was evaluated in mice. RESULTS: Bioactivity guided fractionation led to the isolation of bruceines E (1) and D (2). Normoglycemic mice administered with 1mg/kg of 1 and 2 exhibited significant blood glucose concentration reduction of 40.07+/-11.45% and 48.82+/-13.34 %, respectively. STZ induced diabetic rats administered with 1 and 2 exhibited significant blood glucose concentration reduction of 73.57+/-13.64% and 87.99+/-2.91%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The reduction of blood glucose concentration by both bruceines were comparable to glibenclamide and they might act as an insulin secretagogue. The presence of a hydroxyl moiety at C(2) in 1 reduced the toxic effect by nine fold compared to 2.

Herbal Medicines in the Management of Urolithiasis: Alternative or Complementary?

Planta Med. 2009 May 14; Butterweck V, Khan SRKidney stone formation or urolithiasis is a complex process that results from a succession of several physicochemical events including supersaturation, nucleation, growth, aggregation, and retention within the kidneys. Epidemiological data have shown that calcium oxalate is the predominant mineral in a majority of kidney stones. Among the treatments used are extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and drug treatment. Even improved and besides the high cost that imposes, compelling data now suggest that exposure to shock waves in therapeutic doses may cause acute renal injury, decrease in renal function and an increase in stone recurrence. In addition, persistent residual stone fragments and the possibility of infection after ESWL represent a serious problem in the treatment of stones. Furthermore, in spite of substantial progress in the study of the biological and physical manifestations of kidney stones, there is no satisfactory drug to use in clinical therapy. Data from IN VITRO, IN VIVO and clinical trials reveal that phytotherapeutic agents could be useful as either an alternative or an adjunctive therapy in the management of urolithiasis. The present review therefore critically evaluates the potential usefulness of herbal medicines in the management of urolithiasis.

Yi-gan san as adjunctive therapy for treatment-resistant schizophrenia: an open-label study.

Clin Neuropharmacol. 2009 Jan-Feb; 32(1): 6-9Miyaoka T, Furuya M, Yasuda H, Hayashida M, Nishida A, Inagaki T, Horiguchi JBACKGROUD:: Recent studies indicate that the traditional Japanese herbal medicine yi-gan san (YGS; yokukan-san in Japanese) may be safe and useful in treating behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients with dementia and borderline personality disorder. We aimed at evaluating both the efficacy and safety of YGS in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. METHODS:: Thirty-four patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, (YGS-free) group (n = 25) and treated in a 4-week open-label study with YGS at an average daily dosage of 6.7 +/- 2.5 g (range, 2.5-7.5 g). Psychometric instruments used to assess efficacy included the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia and the Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptom Scale. RESULTS:: A significant decrease was observed at 2 weeks and at 4 weeks in each Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia subscale score in the YGS group, but this was not observed in the control group. However, the Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptom Scale total score did not change in both groups. CONCLUSIONS:: In this open-label pilot study, patients treated with YGS showed a statistically significant reduction on clinician-rated scales. The present findings suggest that an adjunction of YGS might be effective for treatment-resistant schizophrenia.