The Experts below are selected from a list of 2085 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Thomas Brendler - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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a historical scientific and commercial perspective on the medicinal use of pelargonium sidoides geraniaceae
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2008Co-Authors: Thomas BrendlerAbstract:UNLABELLED: ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL CONTEXT: A detailed review of the ethnobotany and commercial history of Pelargonium sidoides is presented, together with a brief summary of pre-clinical and clinical scientific results that support the use of the plant in modern, evidence-based Phytomedicines. The aim is to identify the main factors responsible for the success in product development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The literature studied includes all modern scientific papers and also old documents and books that are no longer readily accessible. RESULTS: Available ethnobotanical information shows that several tuberous Pelargonium species (including Pelargonium sidoides) are important traditional medicines with a rich ethnobotanical history. A summary of the interesting history of the commercial development of Stevens' Cure or Umckaloabo in Europe is presented. Scientific evidence for the efficacy of the product, mainly as a treatment for acute bronchitis, is reviewed. These include numerous in vitro studies as well as 18 clinical studies. The botanical identity of the plant and its complex mixture of coumarins and other chemical constituents are summarised. CONCLUSIONS: The use of Pelargonium stems or tubers for a variety of ailments (including the complications of dysentery) is an important but hitherto under-estimated part of traditional medicine in southern Africa. Key elements in the successful development of Pelargonium sidoides from a profound traditional remedy to a highly successful Phytomedicine include the choice of species, a favourable cost-benefit ratio, innovative marketing over many years, good scientific evidence of the botanical and chemical identity of the product and convincing proof of concept.
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a historical scientific and commercial perspective on the medicinal use of pelargonium sidoides geraniaceae
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2008Co-Authors: Thomas Brendler, B E Van WykAbstract:Abstract Ethnopharmacological context A detailed review of the ethnobotany and commercial history of Pelargonium sidoides is presented, together with a brief summary of pre-clinical and clinical scientific results that support the use of the plant in modern, evidence-based Phytomedicines. The aim is to identify the main factors responsible for the success in product development. Materials and methods The literature studied includes all modern scientific papers and also old documents and books that are no longer readily accessible. Results Available ethnobotanical information shows that several tuberous Pelargonium species (including Pelargonium sidoides ) are important traditional medicines with a rich ethnobotanical history. A summary of the interesting history of the commercial development of Stevens’ Cure or Umckaloabo in Europe is presented. Scientific evidence for the efficacy of the product, mainly as a treatment for acute bronchitis, is reviewed. These include numerous in vitro studies as well as 18 clinical studies. The botanical identity of the plant and its complex mixture of coumarins and other chemical constituents are summarised. Conclusions The use of Pelargonium stems or tubers for a variety of ailments (including the complications of dysentery) is an important but hitherto under-estimated part of traditional medicine in southern Africa. Key elements in the successful development of Pelargonium sidoides from a profound traditional remedy to a highly successful Phytomedicine include the choice of species, a favourable cost–benefit ratio, innovative marketing over many years, good scientific evidence of the botanical and chemical identity of the product and convincing proof of concept.
Filipa F Vale - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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overview of the Phytomedicine approaches against helicobacter pylori
World Journal of Gastroenterology, 2014Co-Authors: Filipa F Vale, Monica OleastroAbstract:Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) successfully colonizes the human stomach of the majority of the human population. This infection always causes chronic gastritis, but may evolve to serious outcomes, such as peptic ulcer, gastric carcinoma or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. H. pylori first line therapy recommended by the Maastricht-4 Consensus Report comprises the use of two antibiotics and a proton-pomp inhibitor, but in some regions failure associated with this treatment is already undesirable high. Indeed, treatment failure is one of the major problems associated with H. pylori infection and is mainly associated with bacterial antibiotic resistance. In order to counteract this situation, some effort has been allocated during the last years in the investigation of therapeutic alternatives beyond antibiotics. These include vaccines, probiotics, photodynamic inactivation and phage therapy, which are briefly revisited in this review. A particular focus on Phytomedicine, also described as herbal therapy and botanical therapy, which consists in the use of plant extracts for medicinal purposes, is specifically addressed, namely considering its history, category of performed studies, tested compounds, active principle and mode of action. The herbs already experienced are highly diverse and usually selected from products with a long history of employment against diseases associated with H. pylori infection from each country own folk medicine. The studies demonstrated that many Phytomedicine products have an anti-H. pylori activity and gastroprotective action. Although the mechanism of action is far from being completely understood, current knowledge correlates the beneficial action of herbs with inhibition of essential H. pylori enzymes, modulation of the host immune system and with attenuation of inflammation.
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alternative therapies for helicobacter pylori probiotics and Phytomedicine
Fems Immunology and Medical Microbiology, 2011Co-Authors: Jorge M B Vitor, Filipa F ValeAbstract:Helicobacter pylori is a common human pathogen infecting about 30% of children and 60% of adults worldwide and is responsible for diseases such as gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. Treatment against H. pylori is based on the use of antibiotics, but therapy failure can be higher than 20% and is essentially due to an increase in the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which has led to the search for alternative therapies. In this review, we discuss alternative therapies for H. pylori, mainly phytotherapy and probiotics. Probiotics are live organisms or produced substances that are orally administrated, usually in addition to conventional antibiotic therapy. They may modulate the human microbiota and promote health, prevent antibiotic side effects, stimulate the immune response and directly compete with pathogenic bacteria. Phytomedicine consists of the use of plant extracts as medicines or health-promoting agents, but in most cases the molecular mode of action of the active ingredients of these herbal extracts is unknown. Possible mechanisms include inhibition of H. pylori urease enzyme, disruption of bacterial cell membrane, and modulation of the host immune system. Other alternative therapies are also reviewed.
B E Van Wyk - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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a historical scientific and commercial perspective on the medicinal use of pelargonium sidoides geraniaceae
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2008Co-Authors: Thomas Brendler, B E Van WykAbstract:Abstract Ethnopharmacological context A detailed review of the ethnobotany and commercial history of Pelargonium sidoides is presented, together with a brief summary of pre-clinical and clinical scientific results that support the use of the plant in modern, evidence-based Phytomedicines. The aim is to identify the main factors responsible for the success in product development. Materials and methods The literature studied includes all modern scientific papers and also old documents and books that are no longer readily accessible. Results Available ethnobotanical information shows that several tuberous Pelargonium species (including Pelargonium sidoides ) are important traditional medicines with a rich ethnobotanical history. A summary of the interesting history of the commercial development of Stevens’ Cure or Umckaloabo in Europe is presented. Scientific evidence for the efficacy of the product, mainly as a treatment for acute bronchitis, is reviewed. These include numerous in vitro studies as well as 18 clinical studies. The botanical identity of the plant and its complex mixture of coumarins and other chemical constituents are summarised. Conclusions The use of Pelargonium stems or tubers for a variety of ailments (including the complications of dysentery) is an important but hitherto under-estimated part of traditional medicine in southern Africa. Key elements in the successful development of Pelargonium sidoides from a profound traditional remedy to a highly successful Phytomedicine include the choice of species, a favourable cost–benefit ratio, innovative marketing over many years, good scientific evidence of the botanical and chemical identity of the product and convincing proof of concept.
Jerome Sarris - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the acute effects of kava and oxazepam on anxiety mood neurocognition and genetic correlates a randomized placebo controlled double blind study
Human Psychopharmacology-clinical and Experimental, 2012Co-Authors: Jerome Sarris, Andrew Scholey, Isaac Schweitzer, Chad A Bousman, E Laporte, Greg Murray, Con StoughAbstract:Rationale Kava (Piper methysticum) is a psychotropic plant medicine with history of cultural and medicinal use. We conducted a study comparing the acute neurocognitive, anxiolytic, and thymoleptic effects of a medicinal dose of kava to a benzodiazepine and explored for the first time specific genetic polymorphisms, which may affect the psychotropic activity of Phytomedicines or benzodiazepines. Methods Twenty-two moderately anxious adults aged between 18 and 65 years were randomized to receive an acute dose of kava (180 mg of kavalactones), oxazepam (30 mg), and placebo 1 week apart in a crossover design trial. Results After exposure to cognitive tasks, a significant interaction was revealed between conditions on State–Trait Anxiety Inventory-State anxiety (p = 0.046, partial ŋ² = 0.14). In the oxazepam condition, there was a significant reduction in anxiety (p = 0.035), whereas there was no change in anxiety in the kava condition, and there was an increase in anxiety in the placebo condition. An increase in Bond–Lader“calmness” (p = 0.002) also occurred for the oxazepam condition. Kava was found to have no negative effect on cognition, whereas a reduction in alertness (p< 0.001) occurred in the oxazepam condition. Genetic analyses provide tentative evidence that noradrenaline (SLC6A2) transporter polymorphisms may have an effect on response to kava. Conclusion Acute “medicinal level” doses of this particular kava cultivar in naive users do not provide anxiolytic activity, although the Phytomedicine also appears to have no negative effects on cognition. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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herbal medicine for depression anxiety and insomnia a review of psychopharmacology and clinical evidence
European Neuropsychopharmacology, 2011Co-Authors: Jerome Sarris, Isaac Schweitzer, Con Stough, Alexander Panossian, Andrew ScholeyAbstract:Research in the area of herbal psychopharmacology has increased markedly over the past decades. To date however, a comprehensive review of herbal antidepressant, anxiolytic and hypnotic psychopharmacology and applications in depression, anxiety and insomnia has been absent. A search of MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library databases was conducted (up to February 21st 2011) on commonly used psychotropic herbal medicines. A review of the literature was conducted to ascertain mechanisms of action of these botanicals, in addition to a systematic review of controlled clinical trials for treatment of mood, anxiety and sleep disorders, which are common comorbid psychiatric disorders. Specific emphasis was given to emerging Phytomedicines. Analysis of evidence levels was conducted, as were effect sizes (Cohen's d) where data were available. Results provided evidence of a range of neurochemical, endocrinological, and epigenetic effects for 21 individual Phytomedicines, which are detailed in this paper. Sixty six controlled studies were located involving eleven Phytomedicines. Several of these provide a high level of evidence, such as Hypericum perforatum for major depression, and Piper methysticum for anxiety disorders. Several human clinical trials provide preliminary positive evidence of antidepressant effects (Echium amoenum, Crocus sativus, and Rhodiola rosea) and anxiolytic activity (Matricaria recutita, Ginkgo biloba, Passiflora incanata, E. amoenum, and Scutellaria lateriflora). Caution should however be taken when interpreting the results as many studies have not been replicated. Several herbal medicines with in vitro and in vivo evidence are currently unexplored in human studies, and along with use of emerging genetic technologies "herbomics", are areas of potential future research.
Monica Oleastro - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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overview of the Phytomedicine approaches against helicobacter pylori
World Journal of Gastroenterology, 2014Co-Authors: Filipa F Vale, Monica OleastroAbstract:Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) successfully colonizes the human stomach of the majority of the human population. This infection always causes chronic gastritis, but may evolve to serious outcomes, such as peptic ulcer, gastric carcinoma or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. H. pylori first line therapy recommended by the Maastricht-4 Consensus Report comprises the use of two antibiotics and a proton-pomp inhibitor, but in some regions failure associated with this treatment is already undesirable high. Indeed, treatment failure is one of the major problems associated with H. pylori infection and is mainly associated with bacterial antibiotic resistance. In order to counteract this situation, some effort has been allocated during the last years in the investigation of therapeutic alternatives beyond antibiotics. These include vaccines, probiotics, photodynamic inactivation and phage therapy, which are briefly revisited in this review. A particular focus on Phytomedicine, also described as herbal therapy and botanical therapy, which consists in the use of plant extracts for medicinal purposes, is specifically addressed, namely considering its history, category of performed studies, tested compounds, active principle and mode of action. The herbs already experienced are highly diverse and usually selected from products with a long history of employment against diseases associated with H. pylori infection from each country own folk medicine. The studies demonstrated that many Phytomedicine products have an anti-H. pylori activity and gastroprotective action. Although the mechanism of action is far from being completely understood, current knowledge correlates the beneficial action of herbs with inhibition of essential H. pylori enzymes, modulation of the host immune system and with attenuation of inflammation.