ABSTRACT
A partir de levantamento em bancos de dados gerais da web, procurou-se conhecer os estudos brasileiros relacionados a controle de qualidade de drogas vegetais e fitoterápicos, objetivando-se traçar um diagnóstico e apontar soluções técnicas para sua melhoria. Assim, dentre milhares de estudos resgatados com as palavras chave «controle de qualidade», «drogas vegetais», «fitoterápicos» e «plantas medicinais», selecionou-se os relativos ao Brasil e alinhou-se um conjunto e problemas envolvendo a falta de especificações técnicas de muitas drogas vegetais, problemas de identidade por nomes populares iguais e espécies do mesmo gênero, problemas de pureza e aspectos relacionados à qualidade química. Destaca-se também a importância da cromatografia em camada delgada no contexto do controle de qualidade, como a adulteração de produtos à base de Ginkgo biloba e Cynara scolymus. Existem vários problemas de qualidade no mercado fitoterápico brasileiro que precisam ser equacionados, de modo a permitir o adequado crescimento da fitoterapia (AU)
A partir de la consulta de bases de datos de la web, se procuró conocer los estudios brasileños relacionados con el con-trol de calidad de drogas vegetales y productos fitoterápicos, tratando de trazar un diagnóstico y aportar soluciones técnicas para su mejora. A partir de las palabras clave «control de calidad, "drogas vegetales", "fitoterápicos" y "plantas medicinales" fueron obtenidos millares de estudios sobre esta temática, se seleccionaron los trabajos relativos al Brasil y se identificaron un conjunto de problemas incluyendo la falta de especificaciones técnicas para muchas drogas vegetales, problemas de identidad por nombres populares iguales en especies del mismo género, problemas de pureza y aspectos relacionados con la calidad química. Se destacan también la importancia de la cromatografía de capa fina en el contexto del control de calidad, como en la adulteración de productos a base de Ginkgo biloba y Cyanara scolymus. Existen varios problemas de calidad en el mercado fitoterápico brasileño que necesitan ser tenidos en cuenta para conseguir un adecuado crecimiento de la fitoterapia
Based on the search in web-based databases, the Brazilian studies related to the quality control of herbal drugs and herbal remedies were investigated with the objective of establishing a diagnostic of the situation and pointing out technical solutions for its improvement. From thousands of papers found using the key words «quality control», «herbal drugs», «herbal remedies» and «medicinal plants», only those relative to Brazil were selected. A group of problems were detected involving the lack of technical specifications for several herbal drugs, identity problems due to common popular names for different species of the same genus, purity problems and several aspects related to the chemical quality. The importance of thin layer chromatography is highlighted in the context of quality control, such as the adulteration of products based on Ginkgo biloba and Cynara scolymus. There are several problems in the Brazilian herbal market which need to be addressed in order to achieve the adequate growth of phytotherapy (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Plants, Medicinal/classification , Medicine, Traditional/methods , Medicine, Traditional , Quality Control , Phytotherapy/instrumentation , Phytotherapy/methods , Phytotherapy/trends , Ginkgo biloba/chemistry , Brazil/epidemiology , Chromatography, Thin Layer/methods , Chromatography, Thin Layer , Cynara scolymus/chemistry , Cynara scolymus/immunology , Sanitary Specifications/methods , 32549/legislation & jurisprudence , 32549/methodsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A woman with a past history of allergy to artichoke presented with two episodes of immediate allergic reactions, one of which was a severe anaphylactic shock after eating two types of health foods containing inulin. RESULTS: Dot blot assay techniques identified specific IgEs to artichoke, to yoghurt F, and to a heated BSA + inulin product. Dot blot inhibition techniques confirmed the anti-inulin specificity of specific IgE. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of a positive reaction to an unheated milk-inulin mixture indicates the probability of protein-inulin binding. There is no cross-reactivity with the carbohydrates of the glycosylated allergens.
Subject(s)
Anaphylaxis/immunology , Immunoglobulin E/immunology , Inulin/adverse effects , Cynara scolymus/adverse effects , Cynara scolymus/immunology , Female , Food, Organic/adverse effects , Humans , Immunoblotting , Inulin/immunology , Middle Aged , Yogurt/adverse effectsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The artichoke is a perennial horticultural plant that belongs to the Compositae family. OBJECTIVE: To present case studies of 2 vegetable warehouse workers who developed occupational rhinitis and bronchial asthma by sensitization to artichoke. METHODS: Skin prick tests with common inhalants and foods were performed. Specific IgE to artichoke, Parietaria judaica pollen, and Olea europaea pollen extracts was measured by a specific IgE enzyme immunosorbent assay kit. Molecular mass of the allergens was studied by the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) immunoblotting technique. Patients underwent a nasal challenge test, and one patient provided peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) measurements in her workplace. RESULTS: In both patients, results of skin prick tests to artichoke were positive. Levels of specific IgE for artichoke were 0.68 kU/L in patient 1 and 2.14 kU/L in patient 2. The protein composition of the artichoke extract, studied by SDS-PAGE, showed that most bands ranged from 30 to 14 kDa. The IgE-binding bands with the serum samples of patient 1 showed apparent molecular masses of 56, 48, 38, 31, 27, 25, 16, and 15 kDa; however, the serum samples of patient 2 showed IgE bands of 21 and 19 kDa. Western blotting of artichoke extract showed a complete inhibition of IgE-binding bands when serum samples were preincubated with P. judaica pollen extract. Nasal challenge with artichoke extract triggered a peak nasal inspiratory flow decrease of 81% and 85% in patient 1 and patient 2, respectively. Finally, patient 1 recorded a PEFR decrease of up to 36% after exposure to artichoke in her workplace. CONCLUSIONS: SDS-PAGE immunoblotting inhibition performed for the artichoke extract showed a total disappearance of the specific IgE binding bands when serum samples were previously incubated with P. judaica pollen extract, thus establishing the existence of a serologic cross-reactivity between artichoke and P. judaica pollen.
