scholarly journals Potential of Bryophyllum pinnatum as a Detrusor Relaxant: An in Vitro Exploratory Study

Planta Medica ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 83 (16) ◽  
pp. 1274-1280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Bachmann ◽  
Cornelia Betschart ◽  
Julia Gerber ◽  
Karin Fürer ◽  
Mónica Mennet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Overactive Bladder ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Contraction Force ◽  
Detrusor Contractility ◽  
Major Target ◽  
Bryophyllum Pinnatum

AbstractAn earlier prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial had suggested that Bryophyllum pinnatum might have potential in the treatment of overactive bladder. Here we investigated the effects of B. pinnatum leaf press juice, fractions enriched in flavonoids and bufadienolides, and a flavonoid aglycon mixture and individual aglycons on detrusor contractility as a major target in overactive bladder treatment. The strength of the detrusor contractions was investigated using porcine muscle strips stimulated with KCl. B. pinnatum leaf press juice increased the contraction force of muscle strips. Treatment with the flavonoid-enriched fraction had almost no effect on contractility, while the bufadienolide-enriched fraction and flavonoid aglycons led to a concentration-dependent lowering of the contraction force. The data indicate that several components of B. pinnatum leaf press juice may contribute to the inhibitory effect on detrusor contractility, which in turn provides support to overactive bladder treatment with B. pinnatum.

scholarly journals Consumption of Fresh Yellow Onion Ameliorates Hyperglycemia and Insulin Resistance in Breast Cancer Patients During Doxorubicin-Based Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 276-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farnaz Jafarpour-Sadegh ◽  
Vahid Montazeri ◽  
Ali Adili ◽  
Ali Esfehani ◽  
Mohammad-Reza Rashidi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Ductal Carcinoma ◽  
Fasting Blood Glucose ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Random Allocation ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Care Givers

Purpose. Doxorubicin has been found to be associated with insulin resistance in animal models. Onion, a so-called functional food, is noted to affect the insulin signaling pathway of diabetes in vitro. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effects of consuming fresh yellow onions on insulin-related indices compared with a low–onion-containing diet among breast cancer (BC) patients treated with doxorubicin. Methods. This parallel-design, randomized, triple-blind, controlled clinical trial was conducted on 56 eligible BC patients (aged 30-63 years), diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. Following their second cycle of chemotherapy, subjects were assigned in a stratified-random allocation to receive body mass index–dependent 100 to 160 g/d of onion as high onion group (HO; n = 28) or 30 to 40 g/d small onions in low onion group (LO; n = 28) for 8 weeks intervention. Participants, care givers, and those who assessed laboratory analyses were blinded to the assignments (IRCT Registry No.: IRCT2012103111335N1). Results. The compliance level of participants in the analysis was as high as 87.85%. A total of 23 available cases was analyzed in each group. The daily use of HO resulted in a significant decrease in serum fasting blood glucose and insulin levels in comparison with LO, over the period of study ( P < .001). Posttreatment with HO showed a significant decrease in homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance relative to changes in the LO group ( P < .05). A comparison of the changes that occurred throughout pre- and postdose treatments indicated improved quantitative insulin sensitivity check index ( P < .05) and controls on C-peptide in the HO group ( P < .05). Conclusions. The present study demonstrated the effectiveness of onion to ameliorate hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in BC during doxorubicin-based chemotherapy.

Influence of Acupuncture on the Outcomes of in Vitro Fertilisation When Embryo Implantation Has Failed: A Prospective Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Isoyama Manca di Villahermosa ◽  
Lara Guercio dos Santos ◽  
Mariana Balthazar Nogueira ◽  
Fabia Lima Vilarino ◽  
Caio Parente Barbosa
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Pregnancy Rate ◽  
Adjuvant Treatment ◽  
Embryo Implantation ◽  
In Vitro Fertilisation ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Acupuncture Points ◽  
Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion as an adjuvant treatment in women undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF) when embryo implantation has failed. Methods A prospective, randomised controlled clinical trial was conducted with 84 infertile patients who had had at least two unsuccessful attempts of IVF. The patients were randomised in three groups: control (n=28), sham (n=28) and acupuncture (n=28). The sample size was calculated by assuming a pregnancy rate of 10% when embryo implantation had failed. The pregnancy rates of the current IVF cycle were evaluated by measurement of blood β human chorionic gonadotrophin (βhCG) and subsequent transvaginal ultrasound. Acupuncture was performed on the first and seventh day of ovulation induction, on the day before ovarian puncture and on the day after embryo transfer. In the acupuncture group, patients were treated with moxibustion at nine acupuncture points (BL18, BL22, BL23, BL52, CV3, CV4, CV5, CV7, GV4) and needling at 12 points. In the sham group needles were inserted in eight areas that did not correspond to known acupuncture points. Results The clinical pregnancy rate in the acupuncture group was significantly higher than that in the control and sham groups (35.7% vs 7.1% vs 10.7%; p=0.0169). Conclusions In this study, acupuncture and moxibustion increased pregnancy rates when used as an adjuvant treatment in women undergoing IVF, when embryo implantation had failed.

scholarly journals Bryophyllum pinnatum Compounds Inhibit Oxytocin-Induced Signaling Pathways in Human Myometrial Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Santos ◽  
Leonie Zurfluh ◽  
Mónica Mennet ◽  
Olivier Potterat ◽  
Ursula von Mandach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Calcium Concentration ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Intracellular Free Calcium ◽  
Free Calcium ◽  
Myometrial Cells ◽  
Intracellular Free Calcium Concentration ◽  
Free Calcium Concentration ◽  
Bryophyllum Pinnatum

Bryophyllum pinnatum has been used in the treatment of premature labor, first in anthroposophic hospitals and, recently, in conventional settings as an add-on medication. In vitro work with hTERT human myometrial cells showed that B. pinnatum leaf press juice inhibits the increase of intracellular free calcium concentration induced by oxytocin, a hormone known to play a role in labor. Our aim was to identify fractions/compounds in B. pinnatum press juice that contribute to this inhibitory effect, and to investigate their effect on oxytocin-driven activation of the MAPK cascade. Several fractions/compounds from B. pinnatum press juice led to a concentration-dependent decrease of oxytocin-induced increase of intracellular free calcium concentration, but none of them was as strong as B. pinnatum press juice. However, the combination of a bufadienolide and a flavonoid-enriched fraction was as effective as B. pinnatum press juice, and their combination had a synergistic effect. B. pinnatum press juice inhibited oxytocin-driven activation of MAPKs SAPK/JNK and ERK1/2, an effect also exerted by the bufadienolide-enriched fraction. The effect of B. pinnatum press juice on oxytocin-induced signaling pathways was comparable to that of the oxytocin-receptor antagonist and tocolytic agent atosiban. Our findings further substantiate the use of B. pinnatum press juice preparations in the treatment of preterm labor.

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