Therapeutic potential of concurrent administration of Hippocratea africana and Eremomastax speciosa in the treatment of Plasmodium berghei infected mice

Context: Despite the commonness of polyherbal therapy among the locals in the treatment of malaria in Nigeria, there are no adequate data on the therapeutic potentials and safety profile of these herbal combinations. The use of these plants in combination in the treatment of suspected and confirmed malaria infection is very common among the Niger Delta dwellers in Nigeria. Aim: To evaluate the therapeutic potential of co-administration of Hippocratea Africana, a medicinal plant with well documented antimalarial properties, and Eremomastax speciosa, a tropical plant with well reported antianaemic potential and haematoprotective properties. Materials and Methods: Thirty albino mice, whose weights ranged between 32 - 37g, were divided into five groups having six mice in each. Clinical features, weight changes and parasite clearance were evaluated to determine therapeutic potential of treatments. An inoculum which consisted of 5 x 107 Plasmodium berghei infested erythrocytes per ml of blood from a donor mouse with 64% parasitaemia was injected into each mouse by intraperitoneal route. The mice were kept at room temperature of 28.0 ± 20C for 7 days for the parasite to develop. A non-parasitized mice group served as normal control. After parasitaemia was confirmed using standard procedure, 200mg/kg and 300mg/Kg body weights of Hippocratea Africana root bark and Eremomastax speciosa leaf extracts respectively, were administered by oral routes to the respective groups of mice for 6 days. A parasitized group was treated with fixed doses of 3mg/kg body weight of Artemether and 18mg/kg body weight of Lumefantrine. Another parasitized group was left untreated. Results: Mice treated concurrently with the extracts of H. africana and E. speciosa showed a significant improvement in clinical signs in comparison to the untreated group. The mean body weights of mice administered both extracts was significantly (P < 0.05) increased when compared to the parasitized untreated mice and those treated with extracts separately. The mice treated concurrently with the two extracts also showed significant (P < 0.05) reduction in percentage parasitaemia and significant (P < 0.05) increase in percentage parasite clearance comparable to that of Artemether-lumefantrine. The parasitized untreated group recorded 50% mortality, while the group treated concurrently with the two extracts did not record any mortality.

Synergistic effects of combined therapy of curcumin and Fructus Ligustri Lucidi for treatment of osteoporosis: cellular and molecular evidence of enhanced bone formation / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#The present study explored the effects of the combined herbal therapy consisting of curcumin (CUR) and Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL) on aspects of bone regeneration.@*METHODS@#Prior to analyzing the ability of this novel combined herbal therapy to promote aspects of bone regeneration, its cytotoxicity was determined using MC3T3-E1 cells (pre-osteoblast model). Cell proliferation was evaluated using phase-contrast microscopy and cell differentiation was estimated using alkaline phosphatase activity. The effect of the combined herbal therapy (CUR + FLL) was also assessed in terms of mineralization in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of cultured cells. Further, to explore the molecular mechanisms of bone formation, time-dependent expression of bone-regulating protein biomarkers was also evaluated.@*RESULTS@#Combined herbal therapy (CUR + FLL) significantly upregulated the viability, proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells compared to the monotherapy of CUR or FLL. The magnitude of ECM mineralization (calcium deposition) was also higher in MC3T3-E1 cells treated with combined therapy. The time-dependent expression of bone-forming protein biomarkers revealed that the tendency of expression of these bone-regulating proteins was remarkably higher in cells treated with combined therapy.@*CONCLUSION@#The co-administration of CUR and FLL had superior promotion of elements of bone regeneration in cultured cells, thus could be a promising alternative herbal therapy for the management of bone erosive disorders such as osteoporosis.

Effect of Qufu Shengji ointment(QFSJO) on promoting the healing of infectious wounds / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the clinical effect of Qufu Shengji ointment(QFSJO) in promoting the wound healing after trauma.@*METHODS@#From January 2014 to June 2018, 60 patients with soft tissue injury, skin defect and wound infection caused by violent trauma were admitted, including 32 males and 28 females, aged from 18 to 65 years, with an average age of 41.3 years. Among them, 30 patients were treated with QFSJO (QFSJO group) and 30 patients were treated with normal saline iodophor (control group). The reduction rate of wound area, the days of decayed flesh, the time of new epithelium and the recovery rate of 28 days after dressing change were compared between the two groups.@*RESULTS@#In the QFSJO group, after using large dose of QFSJO, the pus of the wound increased, the granulation grew, and the new epithelium appeared on the edge of the wound, showing a rapid healing phenomenon. The wound healing rate of QFSJO group was higher than that of the control group at all time points, and the time of decaying flesh and new epithelium appeared in QFSJO group was earlier than that of the control group. The recovery rate of QFSJO group was significantly higher than that of the control group(<0.05). All the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged form 6 to 12 months, with an average of 9.4 months. The exposed areas of bone and teadon were covered well. The vital signs of the two groups were stable and no adverse reactions occurred.@*CONCLUSIONS@#QFSJO can promote the growth of granulation tissue, promote the production of new skin, and accelerate the healing of infectious wound after trauma.

Associação fitoterápica no tratamento de feridas cutâneas induzidas em equinos / Herbal combination in the treatment of equine skin induced wounds

Estudou-se a eficácia do uso tópico de um produto comercial constituído por uma associação fitoterápica como promotor da cicatrização de feridas induzidas em equinos. Uma lesão cutânea em forma de quadrado, com 5cm de lado, foi produzida cirurgicamente em ambos os lados da região glútea de oito cavalos adultos. Aleatoriamente um dos lados foi escolhido como tratado, permanecendo o contralateral como controle. As lesões do lado controle foram lavadas com água e detergente neutro e, no lado tratado, foi realizado o mesmo procedimento, seguido de aplicação tópica da associação fitoterápica. As evoluções macroscópica e microscópica do processo cicatricial foram avaliadas, e a área de cada ferida determinada no decorrer do período experimental. Foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os lados em relação aos valores de área das feridas. Na última avaliação, o lado controle apresentou valor médio de área de 0,70cm², e o lado tratado de 1,23cm². A contração cicatricial observada em 77 dias de evolução cicatricial foi de 97,57% para o lado controle e de 95,59% para o lado tratado.

The efficiency of the topical use of a commercial product constituted by a herbal combination on the healing evolution of equine induced wounds was studied. A skin lesion in the shape of a square with 5cm sides was surgically produced on both sides of the buttocks of eight adult horses. One side was considered control and another one treated. Both control and treated sides were rinsed with water and neutral soap. Additionally, the wound on the treated side received the topical treatment with the herbal combination. Macroscopic and microscopic healing evolution of the wounds was evaluated and their areas were determined during the experimental period. There was statistical difference between wound areas. At the last evaluation, the average area of the control side was 0.70cm² and of the treated side was 1.23cm². The contraction of scar observed at 77 days was 97.57% for the control side and 95.59% for the treated side.

Clinical Observation on 50 Cases of Knee Osteoarthritis Treated by Dissolving Phlegm-Stasis / 中医杂志

Objective To study the clinical effect of the treatment for knee osteoarthritis by dissolving the phlegm-stasis.Methods The 100 cases of knee osteoarthritis were randomized into the treatment group and control group with 50 in each.The former was treated by oral administration of Chinese herbal medicine while the latter by oral administration of Votalin and vitamin C.One week as one course,two courses in succession.The comparative analysis on symptom score and therapeutic effect of two groups before and after treatment was carried out.Results After treatment,the symptom scores of both groups were significantly lowered(P

Clinical Observation on Yishen Paizhuo Decoction for Treatment of Chronic Renal Failure Patients of 42 Cases / 中医杂志

Objective To observe the effect of Yishen Paizhuo Decoction(Decoction for reinforcing the kidney and discharging the turbid)on chronic renal failure(CRF)patients.Methods The 82 CRF patients were randomized into observation group(42 cases) and control group(40 cases).In addition to the routine treatment,the observation group was administered modified Yishen Paizbuo Decoction,and the control group was given coated aldehyde oxystarch.The course of treatment was 6 months for both groups. Changes of clinical symptoms,renal functions,blood fat,and hemoglobin were observed,and the linear regression evaluation and renal survival evaluation were employed to evaluate the development of CRF.Results The improvement of observation group in renal func- tions and blood fat was remarkable with the increased renal survival rate,compared with the control group,the difference was signifi- cant(P