Ginseng, one of the most widely used herbs, is hypothesized to play a role in carbohydrate metabolism and diabetes mellitus. We therefore undertook a preliminary short-term clinical study to assess whether American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L) affects postprandial glycemia in humans.

The antioxidant capacity of methanolic crude extracts of Berberis vulgaris L., Cornus mas L. and Mahonia aquifolium Nutt. was tested with the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances formation assay, the ferric reducing power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) radical scavenging assay.

Rhodiola rosea is an herbal supplement that many in the general population in Russia and elsewhere in the world have used for decades to alleviate everyday anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Whether R. rosea is effective in reducing similar symptoms in clinical samples is unknown. The goal of this pilot study was to evaluate whether R. rosea is effective in reducing symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebocontrolled efficacy and tolerability trial of Matricaria recutita (chamomile) extract therapy in patients with mild to moderate generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a repeated low-dose regimen of a special extract of Rhodiola rosea radix, SHR- 5, on a group of students from India, during an exam period with respect to both physical fitness and mental well-being and capacity.

Lectins constitute a class of proteins which possess at least one noncatalytic domain capable of specific recognition and reversible binding to carbohydrate. They have attracted great interest because of their various bio-logical activities, such as cell agglutination, antiprolifera-tive,antitumor, immunomodulatory, antifungal, and antiviral. So far, a number of lectins have been iso-lated and characterized from leguminous species mainly on the basis of hemagglutinating activity.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical study with an extra nontreatment group was performed to measure the effect of a single dose of standardized SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract on capacity for mental work against a background of fatigue and stress.

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin which can significantly affect a patient’s health and well-being. Approximately 10 – 20% of children and 1 – 3% of adults are affected. The most common symptoms of atopic dermatitis are pruritus and erythema.

Infections caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania are a major worldwide health problem, with high endemicity in developing countries. The incidence of the disease has increased since the emergence of AIDS. In the absence of a vaccine, there is an urgent need for effective drugs to replace/supplement those in current use.

Hydro‐alcoholic extracts of Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale and combination of Curcuma longa and Zingiber officinale rhizome extracts (1:1) were evaluated for their anthelmintic activity using Pheretima posthuma model (Indian earthworm). Three concentrations (10, 20 and 50 mg/ml) of each extracts were used for this study which involved the determination of time of paralysis (vermifuge) and time of death (vermicidal activity) of the worms.

Development of bacterial resistance to the available antibiotics and increasing popularity of traditional medicine has led researchers to investigate the antibacterial compounds in plants. Curcuma longa is a medicinal plant that botanically is related to Zingiberaceae family (Chattopadhyay et al., 2004). C. longa, commonly known as ‘turmeric’, is widely used as a spice and colouring agent, and is well known for its medicinal properties (Luthra et al., 2001).

Some preclinical and clinical studies of R. rosea extracts have provided evidence for a number of pharmacological activities, including adaptogenic, antistress, antihypoxic, antioxidant, anticancer, learning and memory enhancing and immune and sexual stimulating effects (Petkov et al., 1986; Darbinyan et al., 2000; Ming et al., 2005; Panossian and Wagner, 2005).

Ozone (O3) inhalation has been associated with respiratory tract inflammation and lung functional alterations. To characterize the O3-induced lung inflammation in mice, the effective dose and exposure time were determined. Total protein levels of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), cytological smears, and lung histopathology and morphometry were used to assess and measure the degree of pulmonary inflammation in the mouse model.

Dysfunctions in stress biology are hypothesized to contribute to anxiety disorders, and to be ameliorated during successful treatment, but limited clinical data exist to support this hypothesis. We evaluated whether increases in morning cortisol and the diurnal cortisol slope, markers of stress biology, are associated with clinical response to chamomile therapy among subjects with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Anti-human rotavirus (HRV) activity of hot water extracts from Stevia rebaudiana (SE) was examined. SE inhibited the replication of all four serotypes of HRV in vitro. This inhibitory effect of SE was not reduced on the prior exposure of SE to HCl for 30 min at pH 2. Binding assay with radiolabeled purified viruses indicated that the inhibitory mechanism of SE is the blockade of virus binding.

Mahonia aquifolium is an invasive woody evergreen shrub with sweet smelling bright yellow flowers that bloom in April. It has red-colored fruits that are often referred to as Oregon grapes. It is native to western North America, but it has spread to other areas of America, Australia and Europe and is used for landscaping and medicinal purposes.

Oxidative stress and inflammation are interlinked processes that seem to play an important role in aging. The present work aimed to test the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic Mahonia aquifolium leaves and bark extracts in an experimental acute inflammation.

Schisandra chinensis is generally used as a tonic medicine in Korea and it is a medical plant used in Chinese medicine. Infusions, decoctions, tinctures, and extracts from different parts of schisandra include large percentages of ether oils, resins, trace amounts of vitamin C, tannins, and staining materials, and large amounts of lipid soluble compounds. Moreover, Schisandra chinensis fruits contain a variety of pharmacologically active lignans. These compounds have various pharmacological activities, including detoxificant, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antihepatotoxic, and anti-inflammatory activities.

American ginseng is the root of Panax quinquefolium, which is currently grown in Canada and eastern USA, similar to Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. It is an obligate shade perennial plant. American ginseng is a traditional valuable herb, which belongs to Araliaceae ginseng species. It contains various active constituents such as ginsenosides, polysaccharides, polyacetylenes, phenoliccompounds, peptides and essential oils (Lemmon et al., 2012; Yooet al., 2012; Trammell et al., 2012).

Uncaria tomentosa (Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.) DC. (Rubiaceae) is widely used by populations living in South America to treat many ailments associated with inflammatory disorders. Mitraphylline was shown to be the major pentacyclic oxindolic alkaloid present in the bark chloroformic extract of this plant. Its activity against cytokines involved in inflammation process was tested in a murine model in vivo.

The in vitro inhibitory effects of the tincture extract from R. rosea roots was evaluated against the enzymes relating to inflammation. The enzymes include cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and Phospholipase A2 (PLA2). The extract showed varying inhibitory activities against these enzymes depending on the concentrations.

Turmeric (rich in curcuminoids) and ginger (rich in gingerols and shogaols) rhizomes have been widely used as dietary spices and to treat different diseases in Ayurveda/Chinese medicine since antiquity. Here, we compared the anti-inflammatory/anti-oxidant activity of these two plants in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA).

Curcuma longa (CL) or turmeric is an Ayurvedic herb that has been traditionally used to treat inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) is a well established experimental auto-immune mediated polyarthritis in susceptible strains of rodents. The main aim of the study was to observe the inflammatory, macroscopic and radiological changes in the arthritic ankle joints of experimentally collagen-induced arthritis animals treated with or without CL extract.

In the present study, the effect of schisandrin on plasma nitrite concentration in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mice was evaluated. It also significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema and acetic acid-induced vascular permeability in mice.

Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC. (Rubiacee), also known as uña de gato, is a plant that grows wild in the upper Amazon region of Peru and has been widely used in folk medicine to treat several health conditions including cancer. We have produced an aqueous extract from Uncaria tomentosa (UT-ex) and analyzed its effects on squamous carcinoma cells and immortalized HaCaT keratinocytes.

Essential oils were extracted from the fruits of Coriandrum sativum L. and Foeniculum vulgare Miller var. vulgare (Miller) and assayed in vitro for antibacterial activity to Escherichia coli and Bacillus megaterium, bacteria routinely used for comparison in the antimicrobial assays, and 27 phytopathogenic bacterial species and two mycopathogenic ones responsible for cultivated mushroom diseases.

Curcuma longa L. (C. longa), popularly known as turmeric, has long been used as a spice in Southeast Asia. It has also been used in Oriental folk medicines to treat infectious diseases (e.g. sinusitis, cough), cholecystitis and cholangitis and used as a therapy for hepatic disorders, rheumatism and anorexia (Kim, 1989). Previous works have shown that C. longa inhibited the growth of activity of some bacteria and fungi (Apisariyakul et al., 1995; Negi et al., 1999; Singh et al., 2002; Chauhan et al., 2003). However, little is known about the antimicrobial effects of C. longa on MRSA.

Curcuma longa rhizome extracts were evaluated for antibacterial activity against pathogenic strains of Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium) bacteria.

Bacterial infections and inflammation are among the ailments treated by traditional healers. The World Health Organization has expressed high interest in traditional medicine, and it is important to demonstrate scientifically that remedies employed in folk medicine are indeed therapeutically active.

Turmeric, obtained from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa, is used in South Asia as a traditional medicine for the treatment of epilepsy. To date, in vivo studies on the anticonvulsant activity of turmeric have focused on its principal curcuminoid, curcumin. However, poor absorption and rapid metabolism have limited the therapeutic application of curcumin in humans. To explore the therapeutic potential of turmeric for epilepsy further, we analyzed its anticonvulsant activity in a larval zebrafish seizure assay.

Previous report suggested that curcumin isolated from C. longa as food constituent attenuates the activity of C6 glial cells monoamine oxidize (MAO), which plays a central role in several psychiatric and age-related neurological disorders, including clinical depression and Parkinson’s disease (Mazzio et al., 1998). In the present study, we examined the in vivo antidepressant activities by the aqueous extracts of C. longa in mouse models of immobility tests as well as MAO activity in mouse whole brain in comparison with the effects of reference antidepressant fluoxetine (SSRI).

Diarrhea is a major health problem, especially for children under the age of 5 years in developing countries including Tunisia (Bryce et al., 2005). This disease is responsible for about 5 million deaths annually (Heinrich et al., 2005). Diarrhea is characterized by a discharge of semisolid or watery fecal matter from the bowel three or more times in one day (Suleiman et al., 2008) leading to inflammatory response and oxidative stress (Song et al., 2011).

The crude extract of Mahonia aquifolium (Berberidaceae) stem bark and its components berberine, palmatine and jatrorrhizine were screened for their inhibitory activity against a variety of dermatophytes and two Candida species of human origin using the in vitro dilution agar plate method.

This study investigated in vitro antifungal activity of the hydroethanolic extract (EXT), quinovic acid glycosides (QAPF), oxindole alkaloids (OAPF), water-soluble (WSF) and insoluble fractions of polyphenols (WIF) obtained from Uncaria tomentosa bark against non-albicans Candida resistant isolates.

Curcuma longa L. (turmeric) has long been used as a common household medicine and as a spice in Southeast Asia. Turmeric contains essential oil, yellow pigments (curcuminoids), starch and oleoresin (Leung, 1980). In this investigation the antifungal activity of turmeric oil and curcumin was tested against dermatophytes, yeasts and pathogenic molds. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of these compounds was determined. Following the completion of in vitro antifungal tests, an in vivo study in guinea pigs was performed.

Pteropodine is a heterohimbine-type oxindole alkaloid specifically isolated from ‘Cat’s claw’ (Uncaria tomentosa), a plant that has shown cytostatic, anti-inflammatory and antimutagenic properties and is used in traditional medicine to cure a number of diseases. In this report, we studied the ability of pteropodine to decrease the rate of sister-chromatid exchanges and micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in mice administered doxorubicin.

The crude extract of Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt. stem bark and its two main protoberberine alkaloids, berberine and jatrorrhizine, were tested for their in vitro antimicrobial activity. Twenty strains of coagulasenegative staphylococci and 20 strains of Propionibacterium acnes isolated from skin lesions of patients with a severe form of acne, and 20 strains of Candida sp. isolated from chronic vulvovaginal candidoses were tested for their susceptibility to crude extract and two isolated alkaloids.

Matricaria recutita (Matricaria chamomilla) commonly known as chamomile, German chamomile, is an annual plant of the composite family Asteraceae. M. recutita can be found near populated areas all over Europe and Asia, and it has been widely introduced in North America and Australia (Singh et al., 2011). The dried flowers of chamomile contain many terpenoids and flavonoids contributing to its medicinal properties.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical and antifungal activity of the essential oil from Coriandrum sativum L. (Apiaceae) against different Candida species. The essential oil (EO) was obtained by hydrodistillation and submitted to dry-column chromatography, resulting in six fractions, which were then submitted to TLC and GC–MS analysis.

Uncaria tomentosa have been used to treat viral diseases such as herpes due to multiple pharmacological effects, but its therapeutic efficacy against this virus have not been reported yet. Thus, in vitro antiherpetic activity of hydroethanolic extract from barks, purified fractions of quinovic acid glycosides and oxindole alkaloids was evaluated by plaque reduction assay, including mechanistic studies (virucidal, attachment and penetration action).

In order to prolong the storage life of vegetable oils, various synthetic antioxidants such as tert-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) are currently used, but these substances have toxic and carcinogenic effects on the human health.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated by normal metabolic processes in all organisms utilizing oxygen. However, excessive ROS production can overcome cellular antioxidant defenses and can lead to a condition termed oxidative stress. Of particular importance, oxidative stress has been implicated in the installation and progression of several degenerative diseases, via either DNA mutation, protein oxidation and/or lipid peroxidation.

In the present study, we carried out a systematic research on relative antioxidant activity of aqueous leaf extract of Stevia rebaudiana. The DPPH activity of aqueous leaf extract (20, 40, 50, 100 and 200 g/ml) was increased in a dose dependent manner, which was found in the range of 40.00–72.37% as compared to ascorbic acid 64.26–82.58%.

This study evaluates the content of polyphenols, flavonoids and anthraquinones from sequential extracts from four algae species from along the Chilean coastline: Desmarestia ligulata, Dictyota kunthii, Laurencia chilensis and Chondracanthus chamissoi. The antioxidant capacity of these extracts was evaluated through three complementary assays: the TRAP, FRAP, and DPPH assays.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant and hepatotective effects of Schisandra chinensis pollen extract (SCPE) on CCl4-induced acute liver damage in mice.

Decoctions prepared from the bark of Uncaria tomentosa (cat
s claw) are widely used in the traditional Peruvian medicine for the treatment of several diseases, in particular as a potent anti-inflammatory agent. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to determine if the well-known anti-inflammatory activity of cat
s claw decoction was related with its reactivity with the oxidant species generated in the inflammatory process and to establish a relationship between such antioxidant ability and its phenolic composition.

This study was designed to examine the effects of Cinnamomi cassiae and Rhodiola rosea extracts on blood glucose, lipid peroxidation, the level of reduced glutathione and its related enzymes (glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase), and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) in the liver of db/db mice.

The woody Amazonian vine Uncaria tomentosa (cat’s claw) has been recently more and more popular all over the world as an immunomodulatory, antiinflammatory and anti-cancer remedy. This study investigates anti-proliferative potency of several cat’s claw preparations with different quantitative and qualitative alkaloid contents on HL-60 acute promyelocytic human cells by applying trypan blue exclusion and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction assay (MTT).

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), a popular herb valued for centuries as a traditional medicine, has been used to treat various human ailments; however, its anticancer activity is unknown.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), a rare calcitonin-producing tumor, is derived from parafollicular Ccells of the thyroid and is characterized by constitutive Bcl2 overexpression. The tumor is relatively insensitive to radiation therapy as well as conventional chemotherapy. To date, the only curative treatment is the early and complete surgical removal of all neoplastic tissue.

The cytostatic and antiproliferative effect of the Rhodiola rosea rhizome extract, and its mild action, raises hope for its use in anticancer therapy by enhancing the effectiveness of cytostatics.

Dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans isolated from Schisandra chinensis showed antiproliferative effects in various human cancer cells.

Uncaria tomentosa inner bark extract is a popular plant remedy used in folk medicine to treat tumor and inflammatory processes. In this study, the anti-tumoral effects of its pentacyclic alkaloid mitraphylline were investigated. Furthermore, its growth-inhibitory and cytotoxic effects on glioma GAMG and neuroblastoma SKN­BE(2) cell lines were studied using cyclophosphamide and vincristine as controls.

Itching and scratching are important factors in the maintenance of symptoms of skin diseases especially in patients with atopic dermatitis (Wahlgren, 1999). Histamine is well known to be present in skin mast cells and considered to be an important mediator of itchiness, however, the itch of atopic dermatitis is generally resistant to antihistamines.

Berberine and berberine-type alkaloids representing a structural class of organic cations, produced in numerous plants of the genera Berberis, Mahonia, and Coptis, have been shown to exert a broad spectrum of antimicrobial, anticancerogenic, and antimutagenic activity.

A water-soluble low molecular weight polysaccharide (SCPP11) was extracted and purified using DEAEcellulose and Sephadex G-100 column from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. Its in vivo and in vitro antitumor and immunomodulatory activity were investigated.

UT hydroalcoholic extract successfully reduced the tumor growth. In addition, treatment with UT reduced the activity of AST, which had been increased as a result of tumor inoculation, thus attempting to return it to normal levels. UT did not reverse the increase of LDH and GGT plasma levels, although all doses were remarkably effective in reducing urea plasma levels.

The anxiolytic effect of the saponins from Aniliaeea Panax quinquefolium L. (PQS) was studied in male mice by using a number of experimental paradigms of anxiety and compared with that of the known anxiolytic compound diazepam. Use of the elevated plus-maze test revealed that PQS (50 mg/kg, p.o.) and diazepam (2.5 mg/kg, p.o.) increased the percentage of time and entries spent in open arms.

The exact etiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is not known yet and thus effective management of IBS is still a challenge. Visceral hypersensitivity in the development of pain or discomfort, gut dysmotility, 5-hydroxy tryptamine (5-HT) dysregulation, stress and psychological disturbances, previous infection, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, food intolerance, inflammation, immune activation, and oxidative stress seem involved in the pathophysiology of IBS.

The biomass of marine algae has been reported to have high biosorption capacities for a number of heavy metal ions. In this study, four species of red seaweeds Corallina mediterranea, Galaxaura oblongata, Jania rubens and Pterocladia capillacea were examined to remove Co(II), Cd(II), Cr(III) and Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution.

Cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is a medicinal plant from the Amazon River basin that is widely used for inflammatory disorders and was previously described as an inhibitor of NF-kB. Cat’s claw was prepared as a decoction (water extraction) of micropulverized bark with and without concentration by freeze-drying. Murine macrophages (RAW 264.7 cells) were used in cytotoxicity assays (trypan blue exclusion) in response to the free radical 1,1-diphenyl2-picrilhydrazyl (DPPH, 0.3 mM) and ultraviolet light (UV) light.

There is increasing evidence that longstanding inflammation plays a critical role in the initiation and development of various human illnesses, including cancer. Inflammation and disease are linked through the production of inflammatory mediators by macrophages and neutrophils.

The effect of plants on human health has been documented for thousands of years. Herbs have been integral to both traditional and non-traditional forms of medicine dating back at least 5000 years. The enduring popularity of herbal medicines may be explained by the tendency of herbs to work slowly, usually with minimal toxic side effects.

Chamomile has long been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammation-related disorders. In this study we investigated the inhibitory effects of chamomile on nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, and explored its potential anti-inflammatory mechanisms using RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Fungi are ubiquitous in the environment, and infection due to fungal pathogens has become more frequent. Fungal diseases represent a critical problem to health and they are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Dermatophytoses, although very fastidious and difficult to manage, are less serious problems with respect to life-threatening invasive fungal infections.

The essential oil from leaves of Coriandrum sativum L. (Apiaceae), obtained by hydro-distillation was analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and also evaluated for in vitro antimicrobial activity. Out of 27 peaks, 24 components, which constitute 92.7%, were identified in the oil.

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) is one of the most widely used and well-documented medicinal plants in the world (Salamon 1992). It has been included for centuries in the pharmacopoeia of several countries including Tunisia. The phytochemical screening of this plant revealed that it is rich in cytoprotective active molecules such as phenolic compounds (McKay and Blumberg 2006).

Asian ginseng has many reported health benefits, including anticancer activities (4-6). In the 1990s, a case–control study on over a thousand Korean subjects showed that long-term ginseng consumption was associated with a decreased risk for many different malignancies (7, 8). In contrast to many studies on Asian ginseng’s anticancer effects, investigation of American ginseng is limited (4) and its mechanisms of action are largely unknown.

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of standardized extract SHR-5 of rhizomes of Rhodiola rosea L. in patients suffering from a current episode of mild/moderate depression.

Herbal formulations are getting more importance in the treatment of diabetes, cancer and hepatic disorder because of the hazardous adverse effects of the current therapy. Especially diabetes can be controlled by Allopathic medicine as well as Herbal medicine.

P ginseng and P quinquefolium are general tonics and adaptogens. Rg1 and Rb1 enhance central nervous system (CNS) activities, but the effect of the latter is weaker. Thus, for the higher contents of Rg1, P ginseng is a stimulant, whereas the Rb1 contents of P quinquefolium are mainly calming to the CNS.

Chamomile is a common flowering plant and a member of the daisy family. There are two primary types: German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis). Most research has focused on German chamomile. Chamomile is one of the most widely used herbs in the world, especially in children. It is used topically for rashes, eczema, and hemorrhoids or orally as a mild sedative or for indigestion, diarrhea, and colic.

The clinical applications of benzodiazepines as anxiolytics are limited by their unwanted side effects. Therefore, the development of new pharmacological agents is well justified. Among medicinal plants, Coriandrum sativum L. has been recommended for relief of anxiety and insomnia in Iranian folk medicine. Nevertheless, no pharmacological studies have thus far evaluated its effects on central nervous system.

Curcumin is a polyphenol derived from Curcuma longa, which is known to have anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of this study was to study the effects and mechanisms of action of curcumin, on chronic colitis in rats. Inflammation response was assessed by histology and myeloperoxidase activity (MPO).

Preparations from Uncaria tomentosa, a South American Rubiaceae, have been used in the Peruvian traditional medicine for the treatment of infective, inflammatory and tumoral processes. In this study, the pentacyclic oxindole alkaloid mitraphylline was isolated from the dried inner bark of this plant species, and its structure elucidated by analysis of NMR spectroscopic data.

Panax quinquefolium, known as American ginseng, has been used for stress and fatigue characterized by insomnia, poor appetite, nervousness, and restlessness. It has been used for conditions of weakness, convalescence, low resistance, poor immunity or debility due to chronic disease.

A methanolic extract of dried Schisandra fruit (Schisandra chinensis Baill.; Schisandraceae) significantly attenuated the neurotoxicity induced by L-glutamate in primary cultures of rat cortical cells.

The antipruritic effects of the diets containing Gern1an chamomile on the compound 48/80-induced scratching in ddY mice were examined. Since it is reported that an injec­tion of compound 48/80, but not histamine, induced scratching behaviour due to itch but not to pain in ddY mice (Kuraishi et al., 1995), compound 48/80-induced scratching in ddY mice seems to be a suitable parameter for evaluating antipruritic agents independent of histamine receptor antagonism.

Accumulating clinical evidence concerning the potential benefits of ginseng roots in vascular pathology imply that ginseng species might improve endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness in healthy individuals (Jovanovski et al., 2010) and patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes by increasing NO bioavailability and preventing free radical injury to the vascular endothelium (Han et al., 2005; Lee and Son, 2011; Xu et al., 2000).

Treatment with R. rosea extract significantly (by 24.6%) prolonged the duration of exhaustive swimming in comparison with control rate and rats treated with R. crenulata. R rosea extract activated the synthesis or resynthesis of ATP in mitochondria and stimulated reparative energy processes after intense exercise. Experiments proved different pharmacological characteristics of R. rosea and R. crenulata: R. rosea is most effective for improving physical working capacity.

In a six-month prospective cohort study designed to compare the effectiveness of an alternative method of Lyme borreliosis treatment to conventional antibiotic treatment, patients receiving alternative treatment showed greater improvement based on self-reported disease symptoms, physician evaluation and clinical laboratory tests. The alternative treatment consisted of the use of Pentacyclic Alkaloid Chemotype Uncaria tomentosa, or TOA-Free Cat’s Claw, dietary and lifestyle changes, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, detoxification herbs and body pH-balancing. Conventional treatment included antibiotic treatment as recommended by the American Medical Association.

Lyme disease is a tick-borne multisystemic disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. Administering antibiotics is the primary treatment for this disease; however, relapse often occurs when antibiotic treatment is discontinued. The reason for relapse remains unknown, but recent studies suggested the possibilities of the presence of antibiotic resistant Borrelia persister cells and biofilms.

Empirical studies have attributed these effects to the action of a group of ginseng-specific saponins known as ginsenosides. There is a growing body of evidence to support Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng) as a cognitive enhancer; Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) is another prominent species with a ginsenosides profile distinct to that of P. ginseng.

The oral mucositis is a common infammation in patients with malignant neoplasms, undergoing antineoplastic therapy; its symptoms predispose the oncological patient to various serious complications. Itsincidence is 75–100% among patients who perform hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; 40– 85% of incidences occur in patients during chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

The aim of this study was to determine whether chronic treatment with a hydroalcoholic R. rosea extract (RHO) standardized in 3% rosavin and 1% salidroside can prevent alterations induced in female rats following 6 weeks of a chronic mild stress (CMS) procedure.

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the ability of cat’s claw, an Amazonian medicinal plant, to treat osteoarthritis of the knee, collect safety and tolerance information and compare the antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory actions of Uncaria guianensis and Uncaria tomentosa in vitro.

The effect of anise oil, dwarf-pine oil and chamomile oil against different thymidine-kinase-positive (aciclovir-sensitive) and thymidine-kinase-negative (aciclovir-resistant) herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) strains was examined. Clinical HSV-1 isolates containing frameshift mutations in the thymidine kinase (TK) gene, an insertion or a deletion, yield a non-functional thymidine kinase enzyme resulting in phenotypical resistance against aciclovir.

In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of an essential oil isolated from C. longa on the cariogenic properties of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), which is an important bacterium in dental plaque and dental caries formation.

The method of inducing edemas by applying carragenine to the feet of mice is a classic model for the study of products with anti-inflammatory activity. The byproducts of the metabolism of araquidonic acid via cecloxigenesis and the production of reactive species of oxygen are also involved.

The auricular edema is achieved by applying 12-0- Tetradecanoil Forbol-13 Acetate (TPA), one of the components responsible for the irritating action of croton oil, into the auditory pavilion of the mouse. The inflammatory reaction consists of erythema, edema and infiltration by polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

The auricular edema is achieved by applying 12-0- Tetradecanoil Forbol-13 Acetate (TPA), one of the components responsible for the irritating action of croton oil, into the auditory pavilion of the mouse. The inflammatory reaction consists of erythema, edema and infiltration by polymorphonuclear leukocytes. As such, eicosanoid -type mediators are freed, inducing degranulation of the mast cell.

The auricular edema is achieved by applying 12-0- Tetradecanoil Forbol-13 Acetate (TPA), one of the components responsible for the irritating action of croton oil, into the auditory pavilion of the mouse. The inflammatory reaction consists of erythema, edema and infiltration by polymorphonuclear leukocytes. As such, eicosanoid -type mediators are freed, inducing degranulation of the mast cell. This technique thus allows the evaluation of the inhibiting substances of the biosynthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes.

The auricular edema is achieved by applying 12-0- Tetradecanoil Forbol-13 Acetate (TPA), one of the components responsible for the irritating action of croton oil, into the auditory pavilion of the mouse. The inflammatory reaction consists of erythema , edema and infiltration by polymorphonuclear leukocytes. As such, eicosanoid -type mediators are freed, inducing degranulation of the mast cell. This technique thus allows the evaluation of the inhibiting substances of the biosynthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes.

The demonstration of this product has a sedative effect is important due to its potential as a new, plant-based medication, with its associated low toxicity. This was demonstrated by us in a previous work, allowing us to enter the product as a new medication in the appropriate Register.

Persistent hyperglycemia induces abnormal changes, such as increased formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and polyol pathway flux, and the overactivation of protein kinase C isoforms. Diabetic complications including neuropathy, nephropathy, cataracts, and retinopathy are considered to be caused by the accumulation of sorbitol, which is produced from glucose by aldose reductase in the polyol pathway.

Phytotherapy is a source of finding new remedies for migraine. Traditional chamomile oil (chamomile extraction in sesame oil) is a formulation in Persian medicine (PM) for pain relief in migraine.

The dried flowers of Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All. have been used in traditional medicine for different conditions related to the spasm of the gastrointestinal system. However, there have been no experimental studies to support the smooth muscle relaxant effect of this plant.

Experimental endometriosis was induced in twenty-five female Wistar rats. After three weeks, 24 animals developed grade III experimental endometriosis and were divided into two groups. Group ‘‘U’’ received U. tomentosa extract orally (32 mg/day), and group ‘‘C’’ (control group) received a 0.9% sodium chloride solution orally (1 ml/100 g of body weight/day). Both groups were treated with gavage for 14 days.

Mahonia root and stem bark have long been considered to have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal activity and they are used particularly for treatment of skin diseases. They are indicated for treatment of the eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions.

Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) D. C. (Rubiaceae) known as cat’s claw is a plant widely used in traditional Peruvian medicine to treat cancer and chemotherapy side effects among a wide range of other diseases (Obrego´n-Vilches, 1995). Research on this matter led to the discovery of pentacyclic monoterpenoid oxindole alkaloids (MOA) with immunomodulatory, cytotoxic, anti-AIDS, and anti-leukemic activities.