Four Properties of Chinese Herbal Medicine： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

The four properties of Chinese herbal medicine have a history of several thousand years and are one of the important theoretical guides for the clinical application of Chinese herbal medicine. However， there have been few reviews of research methods and techniques for the four properties of Chinese herbal medicine in recent years. Therefore， this article summarized the advances and techniques for the four properties of Chinese herbal medicine by screening relevant literature on the four properties of Chinese herbal medicine and clarifying the characteristics， advantages， and applicable objects of each technique， in order to provide references for in-depth research on the four properties in the future. Chinese databases such as China national knowledge infrastructure （CNKI）， Wanfang data， and VIP， as well as international databases including PubMed， Cochrane Library， and EMbase were searched for relevant literature on the four properties of Chinese herbal medicine. The advances， research objects， and research techniques involved in the literature were extracted， classified， and summarized. Currently， the research techniques for the four properties of Chinese herbal medicine mainly include six categories， i.e.， literature data research， network pharmacology， biothermodynamics， cell biology， proteomics， and metabolomics. The research hierarchy can be divided into micro-level， small-level， medium-level， and macro-level. The research objects used in each experimental study are different， mainly single Chinese herbal medicine， Chinese herbal monomers， targets， microbial communities， cells， mice， and rats. Different research techniques explain the four properties of Chinese herbal medicine from different dimensions， which overall indicate the material basis of the four properties of Chinese herbal medicine. In future research， the interpretation of the four properties of Chinese herbal medicine can be first located at the research hierarchy， then corresponding research techniques can be selected according to the research hierarchy， and research indicators can be determined to obtain research conclusions. This can help researchers of traditional Chinese medicine effectively carry out research design and perform related experiments on the four properties of Chinese herbal medicine.

Comparative study on short and long-term intervention impacts of six Chinese herbs with cold or heat property on lipid and energy metabolism in mice / 中国中药杂志

This study selected three typical Chinese herbs with cold property(Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Scutellariae Radix, and Coptidis Rhizoma) and another three with heat property(Cinnamomi Cortex, Zingiberris Rhizoma, and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) to observe their regulatory effects on metabolism in animal organism, especially on lipid and energy metabolism in mice after a short-(7 d) and long-term(35 d) intervention. The mRNA expression levels of lipid metabolism genes in epididymal adipose tissue and liver were determined by real-time PCR. The oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and energy consumption were detected by metabolic system. After the short-term intervention, the Chinese herbs with heat property significantly reduced epididymal adipose tissue index and elevated the expression levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase(ACC), lipoprotein lipase(LPL), and carnitine-palmityl transferase 1(CPT-1) in liver and epididymal adipose tissues. However, those with cold property promoted the expression of above-mentioned genes in epididymal adipose tissue. After the long-term intervention, cold and heat Chinese herbs had no significant effect on epididymal adipose tissue index of animals, while cold Chinese herbs could increase carbon dioxide production and energy consumption and reduce activity. These findings demonstrated that the short-term intervention effects of cold and heat Chinese herbs on animal metabolism were significantly stronger than the long-term intervention effects. Specifically, the short-term intervention with cold Chinese herbs enhanced the lipid metabolism in epididymal adipose tissue, while the heat Chinese herbs promoted lipid metabolism in epididymal adipose tissue and liver. The long-term intervention with cold and heat Chinese herbs resulted in no obvious change in lipid level, but long-term intervention with cold Chinese herbs accelerated energy consumption of the body. This study preliminarily observed the effects of cold and heat Chinese herbs on normal animal physiology from lipid and energy metabolism, which would provide reference for explaining the biological basis of Chinese herbs with cold or heat property based on biological response.

Analysis of Chinese Patent Medicines in 2020 Edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia (Part Ⅰ) for Cough of Children / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To analyze the functions and indications， formulation， dosage form and medication characteristics of Chinese patent medicines in the 2020 edition of<italic> Chinese Pharmacopoeia</italic> （part Ⅰ） for treating cough of children， and to provide ideas for the clinical rational application and provide reference for the research and development of new cough medicines for children. Method:The name， dosage form， formulation， functions and indications， usage and dosage， and other information of Chinese patent medicines for cough were collected from the 2020 edition of <italic>Chinese Pharmacopoeia </italic>（part Ⅰ）， then relevant information was input into Integrative Pharmacology-based Research Platform of Traditional Chinese Medicine v2.0， and data analysis and mining were carried out through the analysis module of prescription medication rule， VOSviewer 1.6.14 was used to make drug clustering network view of Chinese patent medicines for the treatment of exogenous wind cold， exogenous wind heat and phlegm heat cough. Result:In the 2020 edition of <italic>Chinese Pharmacopoeia </italic>（part Ⅰ）， a total of 75 kinds of Chinese patent medicines for treating cough of children were collected， including 34 kinds of Chinese patent medicines for adults and children， 41 kinds of Chinese patent medicines for children only. There were 7 types of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes， such as wind-cold attacking the lung， wind-heat invading the lung and phlegm-heat obstructing the lung. There were 45 Chinese patent medicines for treating exogenous cough， accounting for 60%， among which 35 kinds were used for exogenous wind-heat cough and 10 kinds were used for wind-cold cough. There were 30 kinds of Chinese patent medicines for treating internal injury cough， including 19 kinds of medicines for phlegm heat obstructing the lung， 4 kinds of medicines for phlegm dampness containing the lung and phlegm food stagnation， 2 kinds of medicines for Yin-deficiency lung heat， 1 kind of medicine for the lung and spleen Qi-deficiency. The formulation analysis showed that Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， Platycodonis Radix， Scutellariae Radix， Armeniacae Semen Amarum and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium appeared frequently， which were mainly cold， bitter and sweet herbs， mainly belonged to the lung and stomach meridians. According to the analysis of administration and dosage forms， 71 kinds of Chinese patent medicines were administered through gastrointestinal tract， including 20 kinds of granules， 15 kinds of oral liquids， others included syrups， pills， capsules， tablets， powers， etc. Only 2 suppositories and 2 injections were administered by nongastrointestinal tract. The usage and dosage of most Chinese patent medicines were not clear. Conclusion:In the 2020 edition of <italic>Chinese Pharmacopoeia </italic>（part Ⅰ）， the main syndromes of Chinese patent medicines for cough of children are exogenous wind-heat and phlegm-heat obstruction in the lung. Most of the Chinese medicines are cold， bitter and sweet， and their meridians are mainly lung and stomach meridians. Scutellariae Radix， Lonicerae Japonicae Flos and Forsythiae Fructus are the most common medicines of exogenous wind heat syndrome. Perillae Folium， Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium and Ephedrae Herba are the most common medicines of exogenous wind cold syndrome. Meanwhile， Scutellariae Radix， Platycodonis Radix and Armeniacae Semen Amarum are the most common medicines of phlegm heat obstructing the lung syndrome. At present， the dosage forms of Chinese patent medicines used for treating cough of children are too few and the dosage labeling is not comprehensive， so it is necessary to further strengthen the research and development of new Chinese medicines suitable for characteristics of children.

Substance basis of warm nature of Poria cocos / 中草药·英文版

Objective: The research indicated that the nature of Chinese medicine is mainly related to body's substance and energy metabolism. The purpose of the study is to elucidate the substance basis for warm nature of Poria cocos (called Fuling (FL) in Chinese). Methods: In terms of the effects of its separated fractions on the substance and energy metabolism in rat models of cold-deficiency with Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (called Fuzi (FZ) in Chinese), with hot nature, as reference drug. Biochemical indexes in the material metabolism, energy metabolism, endocrine system, nervous system and nucleotide system were determined, then analyzed by additive, cluster and principal component analysis (PCA). Results: The medicinal natures of oligosaccharides and amino acids fractions were attributable to plain and crude polysaccharides, volatile oils and triterpenoids fractions were attributable to mild warm. Conclusion: The nature of FL was regarded as mild warm based on the old records of Chinese medicine and fractions of crude polysaccharides, volatile oils and triterpenoids might be the main substance basis for the warm nature of FL. It is the first time that substance basis of FL was elucidated from view point of medicinal nature.

Intension research on influencing factors of medicinal properties formation of Lonicera japonica and cause hypothesis in explaining medicinal properties of Chinese materia medica single herb / 中草药

The four natures are the basic properties of Chinese materia medica (CMM). At present, it is one of the research hotspots to reveal the scientific connotation of CMM property theory. Clarifying the formation process and influencing factors of the medicinal properties of each single herb in a long historical period is the basic condition for the induction and summary of common characteristics of TCM property theory. Through the textual research of ancient books and documents, combined with the research results of modern Chinese medicine science, this paper combs the influence factors in the formation of the medicinal properties of Lonicera japonica, and reveals its scientific connotation. That is to say, the formation of the medicinal properties of each single herb of TCM is the result of its efficacy material base, the efficacy reflected in the process of clinical treatment and the tendency of clinical medication in previous dynasties. Based on the above research, the cause hypothesis of single herb property is put forward for the first time. The hypothesis provides a reference for the theoretical study of medicine property of TCM.

Analysis on Medication Rules of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Based on Clinical Literature / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the medication rules of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).Method:The literature published in China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database (CNKI), Wanfang Database, China Biomedical Literature Service System (SinoMed), VIP Database and PubMeb from 2008 to 2019 were retrieved by setting the topics of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and TCM. After screening, a database was established to analyze the medication rules (efficacy, frequency, flavor and meridian tropism, common couplet medicinals and core medicines) of TCM by frequency statistics, association rules and data statistical methods of constructing complex networks.Result:A total of 461 papers for treatment of DPN were included in this study, including 275 kinds of TCM and a total frequency of 6 361 times. Astragali Radix had the highest frequency. Among all kinds of medicinal materials, activating blood circulation and removing stasis was the most commonly used medicine, followed by Qi-invigorating medicine. Flavor of medicines was mainly sugariness and warm, and most of their meridian tropism was liver meridian. After the analysis by association rules, the couplet medicinals with the highest support was Astragali Radix-Angelicae Sinensis Radix. The core medicines obtained by complex network analysis were Astragali Radix, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Spatholobi Caulis, Cinnamomi Ramulus, Carthami Flos, Pheretima, Paeoniae Radix Rubra, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Persicae Semen.Conclusion:This study comprehensively analyzes the medication rules of TCM clinical treatment of DPN. The main treatment methods of TCM for DPN are invigorating Qi and blood, activating blood circulation and removing stasis, activating meridians to stop pain, which can provide guidance for the TCM clinical use and new Chinese medicines research and development of DPN.

Study strategies on medicinal properties of foreign medicine introduced to traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

The Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road were the important accesses for the exchanges of herbal medicine between the primary traditional medical systems in the ancient world,which also are the strategic links between the areas with herbal medicine widely used and the most active markets for herbs at present. This article focuses on the foreign medicinal resources introduced to traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) in China. As new resources of Chinese Materia Medica( CMM),the four basic conditions should be required,which are the clear origin,the safety and effectiveness in clinical,the efficacy and properties described with theory of TCM.Medicinal property is the key scientific problem of foreign medicinal resources introduced to TCM. The research strategies include three aspects. Medicinal properties of foreign medicinal resources will be deduced and analyzed across multiple medical systems by solving the difference depending on finding the similarities of traditional medical systems. The medicinal properties-efficacies of foreign medicinal resources will be identified by identifying Xiang and selecting similar CMM. And Xiang-properties-efficacies of foreign medicinal resources will be researched under formulae environment using medicinal properties.

Application value of pungent herbs in treatment of “Xiaoke syndrome” and thinking of modern research on five-flavor theory of Chinese materia medica / 中草药

“Pungent flavor” is one content of the Chinese medicine five-flavor theory, and generally speaking, pungent herbs have the functions of “dispersing”, “moving qi” as well as “activating blood”, which possessed a larger proportion of clinical applications in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The relationship of pungent herbs with the treatment of Xiaoke syndrome was discussed based on TCM efficacy of pungent herbs and the understanding of Xiaoke syndrome in TCM theory in this article. The therapeutic significance and value of pungent herbs were summarized. Furthermore, some thoughts based on the current trend and direction of the Chinese medicine five-flavor theory were investigated to provide references for peer study.

Theoretical origin and review of modern research on medicinal properties of spicy flavor / 中草药

Medicinal theory of Chinese materia medica (CMM) is an important part of theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM). “Five flavors” as one of the core contents of medicinal theory, its effect on ensuring the accuracy of rational clinical drug use can’t be ignored. However, compared with “four natures”, the correlation between the properties and its clinical function among the five flavors is relatively loose, which is mainly derived from the mixture of the real tastes of herbs and their deductive properties of five flavors derived from their clinical function. Based on this, taking the “spice flavor”, one of the five flavors, as the research object to summarize the generation and construction process of its medicinal theory as well as the progress of modern research and so on, by which to clarify the origin of spicy flavor and the traditional understanding of medicinal theory of CMM, with a view to provide new research ideas and patterns for the modern research of the medicinal properties of CMM.

The Medicinal Usage and Restriction of Ginseng in Britain and America, 1660–1900 / 의사학

This article demonstrates the medicinal usage of ginseng in the West from 1660 to 1914. Asian[Korea] ginseng was first introduced into England in the early 17th century, and North American ginseng was found in the early 18th century. Starting from the late 17th century doctors prescribed ginseng to cure many different kinds of ailments and disease such as: fatigue general lethargy, fever, torpidity, trembling in the joints, nervous disorder, laughing and crying hysteria, scurvy, spermatic vessel infection, jaundice, leprosy, dry gripes and constipation, strangury, yellow fever, dysentery, infertility and addictions of alcohol, opium and tobacco, etc. In the mid-18th century Materia Medica began to specify medicinal properties of ginseng and the patent medicines containing ginseng were widely circulated. However, starting in the late 18th century the medicinal properties of ginseng began to be disparaged and major pharmacopoeias removed ginseng from their contents. The reform of the pharmacopoeia, influenced by Linnaeus in botany and Lavoisier in chemistry, introduced nomenclature that emphasized identifying ingredients and active constituents. Western medicine at this period, however, failed to identify and to extract the active constituents of ginseng. Apart from the technical underdevelopment of the period, the medical discourses reveal that the so-called chemical experiment of ginseng were conducted with unqualified materials and without proper differentiation of various species of ginseng.

Changes of Chinese Medicinal Properties And Clinical Effects Caused by Chinese Processing / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

Chinese medicinal decoction pieces were the mainly form for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment,which means TCM prescription drugs.Any processed (heated or unheated) pieces are known as prepared pieces,which include both raw and cooked pieces.Based on differences of the clinical application of processed pieces,this paper summarized three traditional processing theories,such as the raw and prepared effect difference theory,processing accessories action theory,and pharmaceutical theory.The key points were focused on how different processing methods affect the properties of Chinese herbs,such as four natures and five flavors,floating and sinking,attributive channel,tonifying or purging action,and the toxicity.Based on changes of pharmacodynamic substance base and pharmacological action before and after processing,the action mechanism of processing in changes of Chinese medicinal properties was explained.

Valor económico, nutricional y medicinal de hongos comestibles silvestres / Economic, nutritional and medicinal value of edible wild mushrooms

Wild edible mushrooms (WEM) have high economic and culi-nary value, due to their nutritional and medical properties. They are regarded as functional foods, as well as of the nutritional properties that they have, it has been shown to have beneficial health effects and may be used in the prevention or treatment of diseases. It's therapeutic action is attributed to the bioactive compounds that they have in their fruiting bodies. Although, globally, it has only been studied for 6% of the fungal diversity There is a wide range of WEM which can be consumed safely and that can be exploited for the development food products, therefore it is necessary to promote future researches with WEM to reveal more Information about their health benefits, because currently available information is still scanty. In this paper the importance of studying the WEM were described, the physical and chemical characteristics and the bioactive compounds of the mostpopular genus of mushroom in the food area were also described in order to know their nutritional and therapeutic benefits, eliminate false beliefs around them and encourage consumption.

Los hongos comestibles silvestres (HCS) tienen un alto valor económico y gastronómico, debido a sus propiedades nutricionales y medicinales. Son considerados como alimentos funcionales, pues además de sus propiedades nutricionales, se ha demostrado efectos benéficos para la salud que pueden ser utilizados en la prevención o tratamiento de enfermedades. Su acción terapéutica es atribuida a los compuestos bioactivos que poseen en sus cuerpos fructíferos. A nivel mundial, sólo se ha estudiado 6% de la diversidad fúngica; existe una amplia gama de HCS que pueden ser consumidos con seguridad y que pueden ser aprovechados para el desarrollo de productos alimenticios, por lo tanto es necesario impulsar futuras investigaciones que revelen mayor información sobre sus propiedades nutricionales y beneficios para la salud, ya que actualmente la información disponible aun es escasa. En el presente artículo se describe la importancia del estudio de estos vegetales, y se detallan las características físicas, químicas y los principios activos de algunos de los géneros de hongos más populares en el ámbito alimenticio con el fin de dar a conocer sus beneficios nutricionales y terapéuticos, así como de eliminar las falsas creencias entorno a ellos.

Phytochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical trials of Morus alba / 中国天然药物

The present review is aimed at providing a comprehensive summary on the botany, utility, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical trials of Morus alba (mulberry or sang shu). The mulberry foliage has remained the primary food for silkworms for centuries. Its leaves have also been used as animal feed for livestock and its fruits have been made into a variety of food products. With flavonoids as major constituents, mulberry leaves possess various biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, skin-whitening, cytotoxic, anti-diabetic, glucosidase inhibition, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-obesity, cardioprotective, and cognitive enhancement activities. Rich in anthocyanins and alkaloids, mulberry fruits have pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-obesity, and hepatoprotective activities. The root bark of mulberry, containing flavonoids, alkaloids and stilbenoids, has antimicrobial, skin-whitening, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hyperlipidemic properties. Other pharmacological properties of M. alba include anti-platelet, anxiolytic, anti-asthmatic, anthelmintic, antidepressant, cardioprotective, and immunomodulatory activities. Clinical trials on the efficiency of M. alba extracts in reducing blood glucose and cholesterol levels and enhancing cognitive ability have been conducted. The phytochemistry and pharmacology of the different parts of the mulberry tree confer its traditional and current uses as fodder, food, cosmetics, and medicine. Overall, M. alba is a multi-functional plant with promising medicinal properties.

Comparison of Coptidis Rhizoma processed with different ginger juice based on metabolomics / 中国中药杂志

To investigate the effects of two different ginger juices on the medicinal properties of Coptidis Rhizoma(CR) by using UPLC-MS-TOF. The rats were fed with decoction of raw CR (RCR), CR processed with ginger juice from fresh ginger(CRGJFG), CR processed with ginger juice from Zinger (CRGJZ), ginger juice from fresh ginger (GJFG) and ginger juice from Zinger (GJZ), and then their urine was collected at different time points for metabolomics analysis. PeakviewTM 1.7 software was applied to analyze the total ion current under positive ion mode; MarkerviewTM 2.0 software was applied for principal component analysis (PCA). The possible biomarkers were screened and their content changes were described according to the searching results in Scifinder and Chemspider databases and related literature reports. The results showed that CR processed with different ginger juice would produce different effects on energy metabolism. Nine possible biomarkers relating to medicinal properties were found as sarcosine, hippuric acid, creatinine, kynurenine, tyrosine, L-tryptophan, nicotinic acid, arachidonic acid and L-proline. L-tryptophan, kynurenine and nicotinic acid were involved in the metabolism of tryptophan; sarcosine, creatinine, L-proline and tyrosine were involved in arginine and proline metabolism; the content of arachidonic acid in urine, precursor of leukotrienes B4, from high to low were CRGJZ, CRGJFG and RCR. The contents of all biomarkers in GJZ group were higher than those in GJFG group, indicating the cold nature of CR was gradually decreased in the following order： RCR, CRGJZ and CRGJFG, and resulting in different anti-inflammatory effects of samples. The results were in consistent with the conclusion that GJFG had hot nature and GJZ had warm nature. The study provided the scientific basis for proper use of different ginger juice as processing assistants.

Revisão das Propriedades Medicinais de Cajanus cajanna Doença Falciforme / Review of Medicinal Cajanus cajan of properties in Sickle Cell Disease

RESUMO Este artigo descreve a ocorrência, características botânicas, fitoquímicas e a composição nutricional do feijão guandu [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp], e sua relação no processo de inibição da falcização na doença falciforme, um distúrbio genético que acomete as hemácias, gerando hemólise e anemia crônica. Dois constituintes químicos estariam mais relacionados aos efeitos inibitórios na falcização de células falciformes: L-fenilalanina e o ácido p-hidroxibenzóico. Estudos químico-biológicos detalhados com o feijão guandu no Brasil poderão esclarecer melhor os mecanismos pelos quais ocorre a inibição da falcização das hemácias e a diminuição do estresse oxidativo, ajudando no tratamento de pessoas com DF.

ABSTRACT This article describes the occurrence, botanical characteristics, phytochemical and nutritional composition of pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp], and their relationship in the process inhibition of sickling in sickle cell disease (SCD), a genetic disorder that affects red blood cells, causing hemolysis and chronic anemia. Two chemical components would be related to the inhibitory effect on sickling of sickle cells: the L-phenylalanine and the p- hydroxybenzoic acid. In Brazil, detailed studies with pigeonpea chemical-biological may clarify the mechanisms by which the inhibition of sickling of red blood cells occurs, reducing oxidative stress and thus helping treating people affected by this disease.

Effect of superfine pulverization on physicochemical and medicinal properties of Qili Powder

Qili Powder, a preparation from Traditional Chinese Medicine, commonly used to treat injuries from falling or stumbling, pain caused by bruising, and traumatic hemorrhage. The aim of the present work was to investigate the application of the superfine pulverization on Qili Powder properties. The physicochemical and medicinal properties of fine Qili Powder with D90 particle size of 164.5 μm, and superfine Qili Powder with D90 particle size of 32.2 μm were investigated. The results showed that with decreasing particle size, the specific surface area and pore volume increased, the fluidity decreased, and the percentage of moisture absorption and the balanced moisture content decreased. Analysis HPLC, XRD and FTIR results indicated that superfine pulverization didn’t influence dracorhodin content, nor the molecular structure and crystal form of Qili Powder. The percentage of dissolution of dracorhodin was significantly improved after superfine pulverization. Pharmacokinetics results confirmed that superfine pulverization increases the absorption rate in rats and dracorhodin content of Qili Powder.

Acute oral toxicity study of the crude ethanolic leaf extract of ficus pseudopalma blanco (moraceae) in sprague dawley rats.

Ficus pseudopalma Blanco is an ornamental plant endemic to the Philippines, especially in the island of Luzon. It is commonly used to treat kidney stones and diabetes and used for edible fruits. The leaves are cooked and eaten as vegetable despite the absence of studies on its possible toxic effect. This study was conducted to assess any toxicity of its leaf extract. Acute oral toxicity of the crude ethanolic leaf extract of F. pseudoplama was performed according to the guidelines set by OECD 425 on six 8-12 week old female Sprague Dawley rats weighing from 160-210g. One rat was treated with normal saline solution that served as the control. Toxicological and pharmacological observations were completed for 14 days. On day 14, all test animals were sacrificed via cervical dislocation and subjected to gross necropsy; liver samples were subjected to histopathological examination. Gross examination of the rodent’s organs was all normal and regarded as unremarkable. Toxicological screening showed that the experimentally treated rats behaved almost normally as the control. Histopathological examination showed no area of hepatic zonal necrosis and tumor formation was identified, no cytological aypia and sinusoid congestion, intact and uninterrupted hepatic lobular architecture, and portal tracts and vessels were unremarkable. These findings strongly suggest that the leaf extract is non toxic and safe for consumption up to 2000 mg/kg BW and may therefore be used for future nutraceuticals and drug development.