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PubMed1993

Brain somatostatinergic system at late pregnancy, parturition and the early postpartum period in the rat.

During pregnancy and postpartum rats experience a wide variety of behavioural changes. Since the somatostatinergic system has been implicated in the control of some of these changes, the present study examined somatostatin (SS) content and specific binding in the frontoparietal cortex and hippocampus of non-pregnant, pregnant (17 to 18 days), parturition and postpartum (10 and 30 days) rats as well as in ovariectomized rats which were or were not treated with estradiol valerianate. The content of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SSLI) was increased at 17 days of pregnancy in frontoparietal cortex and decreased at parturition and 10 days postpartum in that region and the hippocampus under study when compared with SSLI levels in non-pregnant rats. At 30 days postpartum the SSLI content returned to non-pregnant values in both brain regions. Scatchard analysis showed that the decrease in [125I]Tyr11-SS binding observed at 17 days of pregnancy in the frontoparietal cortex was due to the decrease in the number of SS receptors. In contrast, on the day of delivery the number of SS receptors in the same brain region increased. The affinity of the SS receptors was consistently unchanged in pregnant and non-pregnant rats in both regions. At 10 days postpartum the value of specific binding of the tracer to SS receptors in the frontoparietal cortex was not significantly different from that in the non-pregnant rats, although the actual number of receptors was slightly higher. Pregnancy did not change SS binding in the hippocampus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed2005

(+)- And (-)-borneol: efficacious positive modulators of GABA action at human recombinant alpha1beta2gamma2L GABA(A) receptors.

(+)-Borneol is a bicyclic monoterpene used for analgesia and anaesthesia in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine and is found in the essential oils of medicinal herbs, such as valerian. (+)-Borneol was found to have a highly efficacious positive modulating action at GABA(A) receptors, as did its enantiomer (-)-borneol. The effects of these bicyclic monoterpenes alone and with GABA were evaluated at recombinant human alpha(1)beta(2)gamma(2L) GABA(A) receptors expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes using two-electrode voltage-clamp electrophysiology. (+)-Borneol (EC(50) 248microM) and (-)-borneol (EC(50) 237microM) enhanced the action of low concentrations of GABA by more than 1000%. These enhancing effects were highly dependent on the relative concentrations of the borneol enantiomer and GABA, and were insensitive to flumazenil indicating that (+)- and (-)-borneol were not acting at classical benzodiazepine sites. The maximal responses to GABA were enhanced 19% by (+)-borneol and reduced 21% by (-)-borneol. The borneol analogues isoborneol, (-)-bornyl acetate and camphor, produced less marked effects. At high concentrations (>1.5mM) (+)- and (-)-borneol directly activated GABA(A) receptors producing 89% and 84%, respectively, of the maximal GABA response indicative of a weak partial agonist action. Although of lower potency, the highly efficacious positive modulatory actions of (+)- and (-)-borneol on GABA responses were at least equivalent to that of the anaesthetic etomidate and much greater than that of diazepam or 5alpha-pregnan-3alpha-ol-20-one. The relatively rigid cage structure of these bicyclic monoterpenes and their high efficacy may aid in a greater understanding of molecular aspects of positive modulation of the activation of GABA(A) receptors.

Camphanes↗
PubMed2005

Estradiol and soy extract increase the production of new cells in the dentate gyrus of old rats.

In young rodents, estradiol increases cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. However, it is unknown if the old brain retains this response to estradiol. Here we assessed the generation of new cells in the dentate gyrus of old rats after administration of estradiol or a soy extract, since soy is used as an alternative to hormonal replacement therapy in postmenopausal women. In a first experiment, 12-month-old animals were ovariectomized and studied at 14, 18 or 22 months of age. The production of new cells, assessed by the incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), was similar in 14- and 18-month-old rats. However, there was a significant reduction in the number of BrdU-immunoreactive cells at 22 months of age. In a second experiment, 22-month-old ovariectomized animals were treated for 10 weeks with a weekly s.c. injection of 150 microg estradiol valerianate or with 60 mg/kg per day soy extract added to the drinking water. Both treatments increased significantly the production of new cells in the dentate gyrus. These findings indicate that the brains of old rats retain the ability to increase the production of new cells in response to estradiol and soy extracts.

Aging↗
PubMed2004

Preliminary phylogeny of Valerianaceae (Dipsacales) inferred from nuclear and chloroplast DNA sequence data.

Valerianaceae is a relatively small (ca. 350 species), but morphologically diverse angiosperm clade. Sequence data from the entire ndhF gene, the trnL-F intergenic spacer region, the trnL intron, the matK region, the rbcL-atpB intergenic spacer region and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA were collected for 21 taxa within Dipsacaceae and Valerianaceae (1 and 20, respectively). These data were included in several phylogenetic analyses with previously published sequences from Dipsacales. Results from these analyses (maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analysis) are in strong agreement with many of the conclusions from previous studies, most importantly: (1) Valerianaceae is sister to Dipsacaceae; (2) Triplostegia is more closely related to species of Dipsacaceae than to Valerianaceae; and (3) Valeriana appears not to be monophyletic, with Valeriana celtica falling outside the remainder of the species of Valeriana sampled here (with very strong support). With the exception of V. celtica, these data support two major clades within Valeriana; one that is exclusively New World and another that is distributed in both the Old and New World. Although the species of Valerianaceae and its sister group Dipsacaceae plus Triplostegia, are widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, and the data imply that Valerianaceae diversified initially in Asia (the Himalayan Patrinia and Nardostachys falling at the base of the clade), the center of modern species diversity for the group is in the Andes of South America with as many as 175 species restricted to that region. Although the exclusively South American taxa form a clade in the chloroplast and combined ITS and chloroplast analyses, support values tend to be low. Future studies will need to include additional data, in the form of both characters and taxa, before any strong conclusions about the character evolution, diversification, and biogeography of the South American valerians can be made.

Bayes Theorem↗
PubMed1998

Triplet pregnancy after intracytoplasmic sperm injection of cryopreserved oocytes: case report.

OBJECTIVE: To report a triplet pregnancy that occurred after intracytoplasmic injection of sperm into cryopreserved oocytes. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Instituto de Ginecología y Fertilidad (IFER), Buenos Aires, Argentina. PATIENT: A 36-year-old infertile patient with premature ovarian failure and a previous term pregnancy with fresh donated oocytes. INTERVENTION(S): We administered leuprolide acetate for pituitary down-regulation followed by E2 valerianate in incremental doses until an endometrial lining of >8 mm was observed by ultrasound. Thawing of frozen donated oocytes, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and translaparoscopic fallopian tube ET also were performed. Natural micronized progesterone was administered intravaginally (600 mg/d) before ET. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Ultrasound at the 8th week of gestation revealed a triplet pregnancy with active fetal heartbeats. RESULT(S): A triple intrauterine gestation was achieved with the use of microinjection into cryopreserved oocytes. CONCLUSION(S): This case illustrates the feasibility of oocyte cryopreservation for clinical use in the era of ICSI.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Influence of fibre coating in headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatographic analysis of aromatic and medicinal plants.

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a solvent-free technique, which is well established in headspace analysis since it is sensitive, because of the concentration factor achieved by the fibres, and selective, because of different coating materials which can be used. The performance of eight commercially available SPME fibres was compared to evaluate the recoveries of some characteristic components with different polarities and structures present in the headspace of four aromatic and medicinal plants: rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), sage (Salvia officinalis L.), thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) and valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.). The relative concentration capacity of each fibre on the same components of each plant was also determined by comparing their abundance with that obtained by classical static-headspace GC. The partition coefficient, K1, between the headspace gaseous phase and SPME polymeric coating, and the relative concentration factors, of some of the characteristic components of the plant investigated dissolved in dibutyl phtalate, were also determined, under rigorously standardised analysis conditions. The results showed that the most effective fibres were those consisting of two components, i.e., a liquid phase (polydimethylsiloxane) and a porous solid (carboxen or divinylbenzene, or both).

Chromatography, Gas↗
PubMed2002

Anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

Evidence for alternative treatments for depression, anxiety, and insomnia are reviewed in this article. Treatment of depression with St. John's wort, L-tryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptophan, S-adenosylmethionine, dehydroepiandosterone, folate, exercise, acupuncture, and meditation are examined. Evidence for the efficacy of kava kava, exercise, relaxation therapies, and acupuncture in treatment anxiety is reviewed. The use of valerian, melatonin, chamomile, passionflower, exercise, acupuncture, and behavioral therapies (i.e., sleep restriction, stimulus control, relaxation, and sleep hygiene) for insomnia is discussed.

Acupuncture↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Over-the-counter sleeping pills: a survey of use in Hong Kong and a review of their constituents.

This study examined the composition of over-the-counter (OTC) sleeping pills in Hong Kong and reviewed the current knowledge about the hypnotic efficacy and safety of their major herbal and dietary supplement constituents. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of OTC sleep aids at drug stores in a residential district of 0.3 million population and literature search using MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, China Journal Net, China Biomedical Database and relevant English and Chinese literature. We identified 17 brands of OTC sleeping pill: eleven of them were composed of mixtures of Chinese and Western herbal agents and six brands contained 3 mg of melatonin. The Chinese herbal mixture suanzaorentang, comprising zizyphi spinosi semen, poria cocos, ligusticum wallichii, anemarrhenae rhizoma and glycyrrhizae radix in ratio of 7:5:2:1:1, was the most common OTC sleeping pill available in the survey. Our literature review showed that kava, valerian and melatonin were the better-researched herbs and dietary supplements, however, the data on hypnotic efficacy and safety was inadequate to support their clinical use. More rigorous investigations of the risk-benefit relationship of herbal agents and dietary supplements used for insomnia are needed.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed2001

Effect of 'antidiabetis' herbal preparation on serum glucose and fructosamine in NOD mice.

The antihyperglycemic effect of the Antidiabetis herbal preparation ((Myrtilli folium (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), Taraxaci radix (Taraxacum officinale Web.), Cichorii radix (Cichorium intybus L.), Juniperi fructus (Juniperus communis L.), Centaurii herba (Centaurium umbellatum Gilib.), Phaseoli pericarpium (Phaseolus vulgaris), Millefollii herba (Achillea millefolium L.), Morii folium (Morus nigra L.), Valeriane radix (Valleriana officinalis L.), Urticae herba et radix (Urtica dioica L.)), patent No. P-9801091 Zagreb, Croatia was investigated. Two extracts were prepared: ethanol extract (extract 1), and ethanol extract from which ethanol was evaporated on a rotatory evaporator at a temperature of 45 degrees C (extract 2). Extract 1 and extract 2 were administered (in experiment 1) to alloxan-induced non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice in the same dose of 20 mg/kg. Blood glucose was determined before, and 10, 30, 60 and 120 min after the preparation administration. Extract 1 and extract 2 decreased the level of blood glucose by 10 and 20%, respectively, of the initial value (at 0 min, mean = 22.6 +/- 8.3 mmol/l). Serum levels of glucose and fructosamine were determined in NOD mice, NOD mice administered extract 2 in a dose of 20 mg/kg of extract 2, and NOD mice administered acarbose in a dose of 25 mg/100 g chow, in order to verify the hypoglycemic action of extract 2 (in experiment 2). Extract 2 and acarbose were admixed to the chow. The duration of treatment was 7 days. Significantly lower glucose (P < 0.05) and fructosamine (P < 0.001) levels were recorded in extract 2 treated NOD mice as compared with NOD mice. Study results showed extract 2 to significantly decrease the level of glucose and fructosamine in alloxan induced NOD mice. Our future studies will be focused on the search of active principles of the extracts.

Acarbose↗
PubMed2003

Use of complementary and alternative therapies to promote sleep in critically ill patients.

The efficacy of complementary and alternative therapies for sleep promotion in critically ill patients is largely unexamined. We found only seven studies (three on environmental interventions and one each on massage, music therapy, therapeutic touch, and, melatonin) that examined the effect of complementary and alternative therapies. A number of studies, however, have shown that massage, music therapy. and therapeutic touch promote relaxation and comfort in critically ill patients, which likely leads to improved sleep. Massage, music therapy, and therapeutic touch are safe for critically ill patients and should be routinely applied by ICU nurses who have received training on how to administer these specialized interventions. Environmental interventions, such as reducing noise, playing white noise such as ocean sounds, and decreasing interruptions to sleep for care, also are safe and logical interventions that ICU nurses should use to help patients sleep. Progressive muscle relaxation has been extensively studied and shown to be efficacious for improving sleep in persons with insomnia; however, progressive muscle relaxation requires that patients consciously attend to relaxing specific muscle groups and practice these techniques, which may be difficult for critically 11 patients. We do not currently recommend aromatherapy and alternative sedatives, such as valerian and melatonin, for sleep promotion in critically ill patients because the safety of these substances is unclear. In summary, we recommend that ICU nurses implement music therapy, environmental interventions, therapeutic touch, and relaxing massage to promote sleep in critically ill patients. These interventions are safe and may improve patient sleep, although randomized controlled trials are needed to test their efficacy. Aromatherapy and alternative sedatives require further investigation to determine their safety and efficacy.

Aromatherapy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Management of insomnia.

OBJECTIVE: To review current issues in the pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic management of insomnia. DATA SOURCES: Controlled trials and case studies identified via MEDLINE for 1990 through April 1999 under the search terms insomnia, hypnotics, flurazepam, quazepam, estazolam, temazepam, triazolam, zolpidem, zaleplon, L-846, CL-284,846, melatonin, and valerian. DATA SYNTHESIS: Insomnia is a common, undertreated disorder. Nonpharmacologic management strategies (e.g., stimulus control, relaxation therapy, sleep hygiene) are therapeutic options that, compared with medication use, provide more sustained effects. The benzodiazepines and zolpidem are the most commonly prescribed hypnotic agents, but their use is associated with tolerance and central nervous system adverse effects. A new nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic agent, zaleplon, was very recently approved in the United States. Because of its short half-life, zaleplon will be useful in patients experiencing difficulty in falling asleep and in those who wake up at night and have trouble falling back to sleep. Antidepressants, antihistamines, and alternative medications are other treatment options. To avoid complications of therapy, hypnotic agents should be used at their lowest possible doses and for limited treatment durations. CONCLUSION: Pharmacotherapy is currently the most common treatment modality for insomnia, but long-term use of hypnotic agents can become complicated by drug tolerance, dependence, or rebound insomnia. Nonpharmacologic options--including combinations of behavioral interventions, sleep-restriction therapy, and patient education--provide longer-lasting benefits.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

[Phytotherapeutic drugs in psychiatry].

During recent years, the use of phytotherapeutics in psychiatry has gained enormous significance. The present paper reviews current scientific data on the most important herbal substances including St. John's wort, kava, valerian, and gingko. Although psychotropic phytotherapeutics have been shown to be partly effective in some psychiatric disorders, they cannot generally be recommended as an alternative to conventional medicaments because sufficient data concerning their efficacy, differentiated indication, and safety profile are still missing. Psychiatric patients treated with herbal drugs need intensive medical advice and supervision.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed2002

The peri-operative implications of herbal medicines.

An increasing number of patients are taking herbal medicines such as echinacea, garlic, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, St John's Wort, valerian, ephedra, kava, grapefruit juice and ginger. Although these herbal medications are considered 'natural' products that may have some benefits, adverse effects such as increased bleeding tendencies and drug interactions are associated with their use. Surgeons and anaesthetists may be unaware of their patients' use of these medications because it is common for patients not to disclose their use of this form of medication, and both surgeons and anaesthetists often fail to enquire about their use. Anaesthetists and surgeons must be familiar with the effects of herbal medicines and should specifically enquire about the use of herbal medicines during pre-operative assessment. Currently available data suggest that all herbal medicines should be ceased 2 weeks before surgery.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed2002

Herbal medication: potential for adverse interactions with analgesic drugs.

The use of herbal supplements in the US has increased dramatically in recent years. These products are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the same scrutiny as conventional drugs. Patients who use herbal supplements often do so in conjunction with conventional drugs. This article is a review of potential adverse interactions between some of the commonly used herbal supplements and analgesic drugs. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), particularly aspirin, have the potential to interact with herbal supplements that are known to possess antiplatelet activity (ginkgo, garlic, ginger, bilberry, dong quai, feverfew, ginseng, turmeric, meadowsweet and willow), with those containing coumarin (chamomile, motherworth, horse chestnut, fenugreek and red clover) and with tamarind, enhancing the risk of bleeding. Acetaminophen may also interact with ginkgo and possibly with at least some of the above herbs to increase the risk of bleeding. Further, the incidences of hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity may be augmented by acetaminophen when concomitantly used with the potentially hepatotoxic herbs Echinacea and kava, and with herbs containing salicylate (willow, meadowsweet), respectively. The concomitant use of opioid analgesics with the sedative herbal supplements, valerian, kava and chamomile, may lead to increased central nervous system (CNS) depression. The analgesic effect of opioids may also be inhibited by ginseng. It is suggested that health-care professionals should be more aware of the potential adverse interactions between herbal supplements and analgesic drugs, and take appropriate precautionary measures to avoid their possible occurrences. However, as most of the interaction information available is based on individual case reports, animal studies and in vitro data, further research is needed to confirm and assess the clinical significance of these potential interactions.

Analgesics↗
PubMed2000

Efficacy and safety of herbal stimulants and sedatives in sleep disorders.

World-wide use of herbal medicines is increasing, following regulatory and manufacturing developments. Herbs are attractive alternative medications to many patients with sleep disorders, who may be averse to using conventional drugs. We review here the most common herbal stimulants and sedatives. Caffeine, in herbal teas, black tea, coffee, soft drinks and pharmaceuticals, is used widely to control sleepiness, but more research is needed on its use in sleep disorders. Ephedra, and its constituent ephedrine, are used in both stimulant and weight loss preparations, sometimes with caffeine; safety concerns have arisen with this practice. Yohimbe is another herb used in stimulant and body-building preparations which has safety concerns. Asian and Siberian ginseng have been traditionally used for fatigue, and have some supportive experimental evidence for this use. Herbal sedatives also have some evidence for efficacy; the observations that certain plant flavonoid compounds bind to benzodiazepine receptors adds interest to their use. Valerian and kava have received the most research attention; both have decreased sleep onset time and promoted deeper sleep in small studies, and kava also shows anxiolytic effects. German chamomile, lavender, hops, lemon balm and passionflower are reputed to be mild sedatives but need much more experimental examination.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Herbs commonly used by women: an evidence-based review.

OBJECTIVE: To review the evidence of herbs commonly used by women. DATA SOURCES: Articles were located by searching Medline, Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews, and the Combined Health Information Database and by hand searching the reference lists of recent systematic reviews. The databases were searched in January 2000 and October 2000 by using the Latin and common name of each herb. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: Preference was given to randomized, placebo-controlled trials. When available, English language studies were reviewed. If not, data are presented from review articles that summarize the foreign study. RESULTS: Many women use herbal therapies. In the United States, herbs are considered dietary supplements. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cannot remove them from the market unless they are proven unsafe. The herb industry plans to improve monitoring. Many prospective randomized controlled trials are being funded. Gingko biloba seems to slow the progression of dementia but increases the risk of bleeding. St John's Wort is efficacious for treating mild to moderate depression but has many drug interactions. Ginseng seems to improve well being in perimenopausal women, but it is often impure and has side effects and drug interactions. Garlic slightly lowers blood pressure and lipids. Echinacea slightly decreases the duration of colds but does not prevent them. Valerian is beneficial for insomnia, but there is no long-term safety data. Black cohosh may help the symptoms of perimenopause, and chasteberry may improve premenstrual syndrome. More study is needed on both herbs. CONCLUSION: Some herbs are medically useful, but the American public would benefit from increased regulation. Manufacturers should be able to ensure that herbs contain pure ingredients. Side effects and drug interactions should be listed. Well-designed studies are being conducted. The results will be helpful to physicians and patients when the clinical evidence becomes available.

Cimicifuga↗
PubMed1977

[Estimation of the net energy using volatile acids produced in the process of in-vitro digestion with ruminal fluid].

47 types of green feeds and roughages were subjected to an in-vitro fermentation with dilute ruminal fluid. The volatile fatty acids produced in this process were determined quantitatively in accordance with the method of digestibility estimation proposed by Tilley and Terry (1963). An average of 5 Mol FFS (FFS=volatile fatty acids) was found per kg of dried feed, a value is also reported in the literature. The ratios of acetate to propionate to n-butyrate to iso-butyrate to n-valerianate were 64.2 : 25.4 : 6.6 : 0.8 : 1.5 : 1.5. In this ratio, propionic acid predominated so that acetic acid and n-butyric acid were misrepresented compared with the data of in-vivo measurements made for the corresponding foodstuffs. Consequently, it is only within certain limits that values of FFS concentrations obtained in vitro may be used for estimating net energy data, disregardful of the fact that the FFS are the main source of metabolizable energy in ruminants. The reliability index for an estimation of Starch Equivalents and NEFr based on the above-mentioned method was found to be considerable lower (0.71 and 0.80) than that based on in-vitro digestibility measurements (0.86).

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2001

Dietary supplements: how they are used and regulated.

Overall use of nutrient and botanical dietary supplements (DS) has increased for years across all major categories. Many DS are simply taken as part of a healthy lifestyle, but some are used to reduce risk of or modulate risk factors for specific chronic diseases, such as heart disease (vitamin E, folic acid, garlic), cancer (selenium, vitamin E, garlic) and certain birth defects (folic acid). Other DS are used for short-term benefits such as sleep management (valerian, melatonin) and enhanced physical performance (pyruvate, creatine). DS are regulated under food law, but with certain provisions that apply only to DS. Thus, DS are eligible for Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized health claims under the Nutrition and Labeling Education Act (NLEA). Health claims have already been authorized for folic acid and calcium, but not for several others. In 1994, when the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) was passed, it expanded and clarified the definition of DS, specified additional requirements for safety and provided for four types of claims of nutritional support. These include prevention of classic nutritional deficiencies, structure or function (S/F) effects, mechanisms for S/F effects and general well-being. Although S/F effects result from both foods and drugs, representation that a product will treat, cure, mitigate or diagnose a disease is reserved for drugs. Therefore, the wording of S/F claims for DS has become a difficult issue in the proposed DS labeling regulations.

Consumer Product Safety↗