Discussion on safety of Xanthii Fructus and consideration on its rational use / 中国中药杂志

Xanthii Fructus is a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of sinusitis and headache,rich in medicinal materials and is widely used for more than 1 800 years. Modern pharmacological studies have showed that Xanthii Fructus has anti-inflammatory,analgesic,anti-tumor,anti-bacterial,hypoglycemic,anti-allergic,immunomodulatory and other pharmacological effects,which can be commonly used in the treatment of diseases relating to immune abnormalities,such as rheumatoid arthritis,acute and chronic rhinitis,allergic rhinitis,and skin diseases,with a high medicinal value. Toxicological studies have shown that Xanthii Fructus poisoning can cause substantial damage to organs,such as the liver,kidney,and gastrointestinal tract,especially to liver. Because of the coexisting of its efficacy and toxicity,Xanthii Fructus often leads to a series of safety problems in the clinical application process. This study attempts to summarize its characteristics of adverse reactions,analyze the root cause of the toxicity of Xanthii Fructus from such aspects as processing,dose,course of treatment and eating by mistake,discuss the substance of its efficacy/toxicity from chemical compositions,and put forward exploratory thinking about how to promote its clinical rational application from the aspects such as strict processing,reasonable compatibility,medication information,contraindication,strict control of the dose,and course of treatment,so as to promote the safe and reasonable application of Xanthii Fructus.

Mitochondrial ATPase activity and membrane fluidity changes in rat liver in response to intoxication with Buckthorn (Karwinskia humboldtiana)

BACKGROUND: Karwinskia humboldtiana (Kh) is a poisonous plant of the rhamnacea family. To elucidate some of the subcellular effects of Kh toxicity, membrane fluidity and ATPase activities as hydrolytic and as proton-pumping activity were assessed in rat liver submitochondrial particles. Rats were randomly assigned into control non-treated group and groups that received 1,1.5 and 2 g/Kg body weight of dry powder of Kh fruit, respectively. Rats were euthanized at day 1 and 7 after treatment. RESULTS: Rats under Kh treatment at all dose levels tested, does not developed any neurologic symptoms. However, we detected alterations in membrane fluidity and ATPase activity. Lower dose of Kh on day 1 after treatment induced higher mitochondrial membrane fluidity than control group. This change was strongly correlated with increased ATPase activity and pH gradient driven by ATP hydrolysis. On the other hand, membrane fluidity was hardly affected on day 7 after treatment with Kh. Surprisingly, the pH gradient driven by ATPase activity was significantly higher than controls despite an diminution of the hydrolytic activity of ATPase. CONCLUSIONS: The changes in ATPase activity and pH gradient driven by ATPase activity suggest an adaptive condition whereby the fluidity of the membrane is altered.

Assessment of mutagenicity and cytotoxicity of Solanum paniculatum L. extracts using in vivo micronucleus test in mice / Avaliação da mutagenicidade e citotoxicidade de extratos de Solanum paniculatum L. usando o teste do micronúcleo in vivo em camundongos

Solanum paniculatum L. is a plant species widespread throughout tropical America, especially in the Brazilian Savanna region. It is used in Brazil for culinary purposes and in folk medicine to treat liver and gastric dysfunctions, as well as hangovers. Because of the wide use of this plant as a therapeutic resource and food, the present study aimed at evaluating the mutagenic and cytotoxic effects of S. paniculatum ethanolic leaf and fruit extracts using the mouse bone marrow micronucleus test. Our results indicate that neither S. paniculatum ethanolic leaf extract nor its ethanolic fruit extract exhibited mutagenic effect in mice bone marrow; however, at higher doses, both extracts presented cytotoxic activity.

Solanum paniculatum L., popularmente conhecida como jurubeba, ocorre em toda a América tropical, especialmente no Cerrado. No Brasil, é utilizada para fins culinários e na medicina popular para o tratamento de distúrbios gástricos e hepáticos, além de ressacas. Devido à grande utilização desta planta pela população como recurso terapêutico e alimentício, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar as atividades mutagênica e citotóxica dos extratos etanólico das folhas e frutos de S. paniculatum utilizando o teste do micronúcleo em medula óssea de camundongos. Os resultados indicam que os extratos etanólicos tanto das folhas quanto dos frutos de S. paniculatum não apresentaram ação mutagênica em medula óssea de camundongos, porém, em doses mais elevadas, ambos os extratos exibiram atividade citotóxica.

Efeito da lavagem com água na remoçäo de resíduos de agrotóxicos em alimentos / The effect of fwater washing foods for the removal of pesticide residues

Nesta revisäo bibliográfica säo apresentados os efeitos da lavagem com água na remoçäo de resíduos de agrotóxicos em alimentos em alimentos in natura. Na primeira parte foi abordada a remoçäo dos principais agrotóxicos enquadrados em suas respectivas classificaçöes químicas; na segunda, apresenta a percentagem de remoçäo dos resíduos tendo-se como referência o tipo de amostra. Verifica-se que a percentagem de remoçäo dos resíduos näo depende apenas da natureza do agrotóxico, mas também do tipo de amostra, do tempo e das condiçöes em que é executada a lavagem. Conclui-se que todo alimento in natura, quando submetido a uma lavagem criteriosa, sofre uma reduçäo considerável dos resíduos de agrotóxicos presentes em suas superfícies

Estudio químico bromatológico de los frutos myrciaria dubia HBK (camu camu) y paraqueiba sericea TUL (Umari) / Chemical bromatologic study of myrciaria fruits dubia HBK (camu camu) and paraqueiba sericea TUL (Umari)

El camu camu es un arbusto que crece a orillas de rios y lagos en Loreto y Ucayali, cuyo fruto de sabor ácido agradable se caracteriza por su alto contenido en vitamina C. El umari es un árbol casi exclusivo del Departamento de Loreto cuyo fruto comestible se caracteriza principalmente por su alto contenido de aceite. Se usaron los métodos de Lane y Eynon y espectrofotometría, para determinar los diversos componentes que serán útiles en su aplicación industrial.

Investigación de Glicósidos Cianogenéticos en tres variedades de Vitis Vinifera L. y en Productos Elaborados / Glycosid cianogenetic research in three varieties of vitis vinifera L and the elaborated products

Ha sido demostrado que las variedades investigadas de vitis Vinifera L. contienen ácido cianhídrico bajo la forma de glicósidos cianogenéticos. Se ha encontrado las siguentes cantidades de HCN en mg por ciento.Fruta fresa: a) italia, b) negra corriente, c) borgoña, fruto completo para (a) 6.17, (b) 4.35, (c) 2.77. Jugo para (a) 5.36, (b) 3.46, (c) 2.73, hollejo para (a) 5.40, (b) 4.63, (c) 2.88 y pepitas para (a) 10.80, (b) 8,71, (c) 4.06. De las tres variedades estudiadas, la que presenta mayor concentración de HCN es la variedad Italia, en tanto, la variedad Borgoña registra menor concetración. De acuerdo a las concentraciones encontradas se llega a la conclusión que su porcentaje no es tóxico dentro de las condiciones normales de consumo. Se recomienda consumir las uvas en forma moderada asi mismo, mantenerlas en su racimo hasta el momento de ser consumidas con la finalidad de conservarlas intactas. Evitar el consumo de uvas marchitas, circustancia que puede favorecer la acción de las enzimas produciendo HCN. Eliminar las pepitas o evitar destruir su cápsula al comerlas. Igualmente se recomienda consumir las pasas sin pepas.