Complementary and alternative medicine: Herbs, phytochemicals and vitamins and their immunologic effects

Mainardi, Timothy; Kapoor, Simi; Bielory, Leonard

doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2008.12.023

Cited by 184 publications

(95 citation statements)

References 103 publications

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“…It is also said that regular use will improve general well-being and strengthen the immune system and is recommended to be used at a dose of 50 -100 ml three or four times a week. Ascorbic acid is known for its antioxidant activities (Mainardi et al, 2009) (2006) stated, the pharmacological effects and therapeutic efficacies of medicinal plants are derived from several compounds acting in synergy, rather than from a single compound. Hence the activities in the study could be from the multiple components in aloe as well as those in the other ingredients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In Vitro Effects of a Commercial Herbal Medicine Used as African Traditional Medicine on Human Neutrophils

Mothibe¹,

Kahler-venter²,

Osuch³

2017

Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med

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Background: Commercial herbal medicines (CHMs) being marketed as immune boosters or tonics, have gained widespread popularity. The many herbal mixtures sold have not been tested for efficacy and safety, despite their modern packaging and presentations. It is imperative that these herbal mixtures be investigated for their effects on human neutrophils. Methods: The selected herbal mixture (HM), Stametta™ Body healing liquid, is common in retail outlets in Pretoria, South Africa (SA) and is used as an immune booster or intended to strengthen the body. Isolated neutrophils as well as those in whole blood phagocytes were obtained from blood samples collected from consenting healthy adult volunteers. The neutrophils were incubated with the HM at different strengths, and taken through a luminol-enhanced luminescence assay, using activators-phorbol myristate acetate and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine. Results: The HM had variable stimulatory and inhibitory effects on the luminescence activity of healthy isolated and non-isolated human neutrophils. The effects, ranging from weak to potent were either directly or inversely related to the concentration of the HM and were mediated through a direct protein kinase C activating mechanism and an indirect formyl peptide receptor-linked mechanism. Conclusion:The findings have shown the immunomodulatory potential of Stametta TM . The in vitro inhibitory and stimulatory effects on neutrophils which are furthermore time-based, suggest variable effects on the immune system, which may be beneficial as well as risky. The effects at different concentrations highlight the importance of appropriate dosing. It would therefore be prudent to caution users of this commercial herbal medicine accordingly.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In Vitro Effects of a Commercial Herbal Medicine Used as African Traditional Medicine on Human Neutrophils

Mothibe¹,

Kahler-venter²,

Osuch³

2017

Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med

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“…This is similar in nature to the cascade suppression previously shown in curcumin and magnolol. Of interest, quercetin has also been shown to have antiangiogenic effects in vitro, as well as effects in preventing IL-1-mediated mast cell release of IL-6 without degranulation (Mainardi et al, 2009). Quercetin is the molecule which helps to control and prevent the inflammatory as well as allergic mediator and support to antiasthmatic activity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antiasthmatic and antiallergic potential of methanolic extract of leaves of Ailanthus excelsa

Kumar¹,

Bhat²,

Singh³

et al. 2011

Rev. bras. farmacogn.

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The aim of study was antiasthmatic potential of methanolic extract of leaves of Ailanthus excelsa Roxb., Simaroubaceae. Traditionally or in Indian system of medicine, A. excelsa is used in the treatment of asthma, cough, colic pain, cancer, diabetes and also used as antispasmodic, antifertility, bronchodilator. Stem bark of A. excelsa already reported for its potential against asthma. The pollens of Ailanthus excelsa reported allergic in nature and the time of collection of leaves were important in this study, generally the fl owering stage of plant was avoided for the collection due to maximum chance of pollens at that time. Methanolic extract of leaves of A. excelsa was evaluated using in vitro goat tracheal chain preparation model and in vivo-Milk induced leucocytosis, eosinophilia, Clonidine induced catalepsy in mice model while Passive paw anaphylaxis and Clonidine induced mast cell degranulation in rat model. The extract showed the presence of fl avonoids, terpenoids, saponins, quassonoids and test was also positive for alkaloids and steroids. The extract also showed the presence of quercetin which is fl avonoid and detected on the preparative TLC plate with the help of standard quercetin. Dose response studies of methanolic extract of leaves of A. excelsa Roxb. were conducted at 100 µg mL

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“…Das patologias tratadas, as alergias merecem destaque pelo crescente número de terapias baseadas nas MAC, existindo uma diversidade de estudos demonstrando a influência desta prática no sistema imunológico do paciente alérgico (Mainardi, 2009). Atualmente, a freqüência de indivíduos menores de dezoito anos alérgicos que já fizeram uso de alguma dessas terapias corresponde a mais de 5% da população mundial (Engler et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

Produtos naturais utilizados para tratamento de asma em crianças residentes na cidade de Salvador-BA, Brasil

Costa¹,

Brasil²,

Santos³

et al. 2010

Rev. bras. farmacogn.

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RESUMO:O conhecimento popular é o passo inicial para a investigação científica de atividades terapêuticas de remédios caseiros. Diversas patologias podem ser tratadas ou amenizadas através de preparações de origem natural e muitos fármacos disponíveis são oriundos de fontes naturais. Este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar o uso de remédios caseiros derivados de plantas para tratamento de asma em crianças residentes no município de Salvador. Os dados foram obtidos a partir de estudo realizado em Salvador sobre fatores de risco, uso de medicações e vias imunológicas relacionadas à asma em crianças. Foram calculadas as freqüências de uso de preparações caseiras para tratamento de asma por esta população e realizado uma revisão bibliográfica sobre os efeitos das plantas mais usadas. Dentre as espécies mais citadas, destacam-se o Allium sativum (alho) que teve a maior freqüência de utilização na preparação dos remédios caseiros (25%), seguido da Allium cepa (cebola, 19,74%). Após a revisão crítica de literatura, constatou-se que a maioria das espécies é utilizada com base em relatos fundamentados no saber popular, sendo assim carente de evidências científicas para as atividades farmacoterapêuticas esperadas. Neste sentido, há necessidade de mais estudos farmacológicos para comprovação das atividades terapêuticas peculiares a cada produto de origem natural bem como para avaliar possíveis efeitos tóxicos destes produtos.Unitermos: medicina popular, asma, etnofarmacologia.ABSTRACT: "Natural products used for asthma treatment in children living in Salvador-BA, Brazil". The popular knowledge is the initial step for the scientific inquiry of therapeutical activities of herb-based remedies. Several pathologies can be treated or brightened up through this kind of preparations and also many of the available drugs in the market have natural sources. The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of herb-based remedies for treatment of asthma in children in the city of Salvador. Data were collected by a standard questionnaire during a transversal study carried out in Salvador on risk factors, use of medications and immunological pathways involved in asthma. Among the most frequently mentioned species, the Allium sativum had the highest frequency of use in the preparation of home remedies (25%), followed by the Allium cepa (19.74%). The literature review showed that the majority of the species is empirically used based on popular knowledge and lacks on scientific evidences that prove their pharmacotherapeutic activities and safety for human use. In this way, this work not only new species unexplored in the context of anti-asthmatic drugs but it also highlights the need for new pharmacological studies in order to identify and prove the popular use of herb-based remedies.Keywords: medicine knowledge, asthma; ethnopharmacology. INTRODUÇÃOA asma é uma doença inflamatória crônica caracterizada por hiperresponsividade das vias aéreas inferiores e por limitação variável ao fluxo aéreo, manifestando-se clinicamente por episódios r...

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Complementary and alternative medicine: Herbs, phytochemicals and vitamins and their immunologic effects

Cited by 184 publications

References 103 publications

In Vitro Effects of a Commercial Herbal Medicine Used as African Traditional Medicine on Human Neutrophils

In Vitro Effects of a Commercial Herbal Medicine Used as African Traditional Medicine on Human Neutrophils

Antiasthmatic and antiallergic potential of methanolic extract of leaves of Ailanthus excelsa

Produtos naturais utilizados para tratamento de asma em crianças residentes na cidade de Salvador-BA, Brasil

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