scholarly journals Plants' Metabolites as Potential Antiobesity Agents

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Najla Gooda Sahib ◽  
Nazamid Saari ◽  
Amin Ismail ◽  
Alfi Khatib ◽  
Fawzi Mahomoodally ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
New Technology ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Natural Health Products ◽  
Metabolizing Enzymes ◽  
Obesity Research ◽  
Health Products ◽  
To Come ◽  
Antiobesity Agents

Obesity and obesity-related complications are on the increase both in the developed and developing world. Since existing pharmaceuticals fail to come up with long-term solutions to address this issue, there is an ever-pressing need to find and develop new drugs and alternatives. Natural products, particularly medicinal plants, are believed to harbor potential antiobesity agents that can act through various mechanisms either by preventing weight gain or promoting weight loss amongst others. The inhibition of key lipid and carbohydrate hydrolyzing and metabolizing enzymes, disruption of adipogenesis, and modulation of its factors or appetite suppression are some of the plethora of targeted approaches to probe the antiobesity potential of medicinal plants. A new technology such as metabolomics, which deals with the study of the whole metabolome, has been identified to be a promising technique to probe the progression of diseases, elucidate their pathologies, and assess the effects of natural health products on certain pathological conditions. This has been applied to drug research, bone health, and to a limited extent to obesity research. This paper thus endeavors to give an overview of those plants, which have been reported to have antiobesity effects and highlight the potential and relevance of metabolomics in obesity research.

scholarly journals Current Advancements and Novel Strategies in the Treatment of Metastatic Melanoma

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 153473542199007
Author(s):  
Siddhartha Sood ◽  
Rahul Jayachandiran ◽  
Siyaram Pandey
Keyword(s):  
Metastatic Melanoma ◽  
Complementary Therapy ◽  
Natural Health Products ◽  
Combination Therapies ◽  
Natural Health ◽  
The Past ◽  
Health Products ◽  
Melanoma Treatment ◽  
New Research

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer in the world with a growing incidence in North America. Contemporary treatments for melanoma include surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, apart from resection in early melanoma, the prognosis of patients using these treatments is typically poor. In the past decade, there have been significant advancements in melanoma therapies. Immunotherapies such as ipilimumab and targeted therapies such as vemurafenib have emerged as a promising option for patients as seen in both scientific and clinical research. Furthermore, combination therapies are starting to be administered in the form of polychemotherapy, polyimmunotherapy, and biochemotherapy, of which some have shown promising outcomes in relative efficacy and safety due to their multiple targets. Alongside these treatments, new research has been conducted into the evidence-based use of natural health products (NHPs) and natural compounds (NCs) on melanoma which may provide a long-term and non-toxic form of complementary therapy. Nevertheless, there is a limited consolidation of the research conducted in emerging melanoma treatments which may be useful for researchers and clinicians. Thus, this review attempts to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of current advancements in metastatic melanoma treatment by surveying new research into the molecular and cellular basis of treatments along with their clinical efficacy. In addition, this review aims to elucidate novel strategies that are currently being used and have the potential to be used in the future.

Immigrant Usage Patterns of Natural Health Products: Role in Pharmacoeconomics

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-55
Author(s):  
Dalya Abdulla
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Prescription Medication ◽  
Natural Health Products ◽  
Prescription Medications ◽  
Natural Health ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Long Term Conditions ◽  
Health Products ◽  
Usage Patterns

Background: Understanding patterns and drivers for natural health product (NHP) usage among immigrants is essential in the provision of appropriate health care; many studies have elucidated NHP utilization among immigrants; however, few have considered impacts of concurrent NHP and prescription medication usage. Objective: The study aims to determine new immigrant NHP usage patterns (including concurrent usage with prescription medications) and to discern economic impacts driving concurrent usage. Methods: A survey questionnaire was administered to local new immigrants during English Language Training classes. Results: Most participants understood the NHP definition and would take an NHP for the same disease or condition they would normally take a prescription medication for. Many participants agreed that NHPs are not safe however were unable to provide robust examples of unsafe NHP usage. With regard to purchases of medicines for short and long term illnesses, a high percentage of participants would purchase the prescription medication for a short term illness over the NHP; however this percentage decreases in the event of a long term illness, with more participants relying on NHPs to remedy their long term illness symptoms. Conclusion: Pharmacoeconomics tends to be a major driver for immigrant utilization of NHPs, and is a stronger influencer of use compared to ethnicity or parenteral usage of such products. This pharmacoeconomic correlation in the preference to use NHPs over prescription medications tends to be more observable for chronic and long term conditions (compared to short term illnesses).

scholarly journals Natural health products and cancer chemotherapy and radiation therapy

2011 ◽  
pp. 233-242
Author(s):  
Doreen Oneschuk ◽  
Jawaid Younus
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Therapy ◽  
Complementary Therapies ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Natural Health Products ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Natural Health ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Metabolizing Enzymes ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Health Products

Complementary therapies, notably natural health products such as herbs and vitamins, are frequently used by cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy. There is much controversy as to whether these natural health products should be taken during conventional cancer treatments. Supporters of this practice cite beneficial effects of the antioxidant properties, while opponents are concerned about the potential for natural health product-chemotherapy/radiation related negative interactions. This involves understanding the role and effect on metabolizing enzymes. This review will highlight the present evidence for both the beneficial and negative consequences of the use of natural health products during chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

scholarly journals Preliminary assessment of the conservation status of medicinal plant species in Canada

Botany ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren A E Erland ◽  
Christina E Turi ◽  
Susan Murch
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Medicinal Plant ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Method Development ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Medicinal Plant Species ◽  
Natural Health Products ◽  
Natural Health ◽  
Preliminary Assessment ◽  
Health Products

Natural health products in North America are a 9.6 billion US dollar industry that has seen increased demands particularly in products for immune support and anti-viral supplements in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. It has been estimated that ≈40% of the plant raw materials used in natural health products are wild-harvested each year but exact data is missing for many species. Our data show that there are at least 1445 medicinal plant species harvested for commercial products in Canada and 1217 of these are native species. Medicinal plants and non-timber forest crops are also increasingly impacted by climate change as suitable growing areas migrate. In order to ensure long term species survival in the wild, it is necessary to generate accurate information about distribution of wild populations, need for conservation and sustainable method development. Our objective was to provide a preliminary assessment on the conservation status of Canadian medicinal plants by analysis of the available data resources.

Antiplatelet Therapy in Acute Coronary Syndromes

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Sasha Koul ◽  
David Erlinge ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Platelet Function ◽  
Acute Coronary Syndromes ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Antiplatelet Drugs ◽  
Bleeding Complications ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Mortality Data ◽  
Poor Responders ◽  
Coronary Syndromes

Drugs inhibiting platelet function play a major role in the treatment of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The first drug used, which is still considered the cornerstone of therapy today, is aspirin. Although very impressive in acutely decreasing rates of myocardial infarction as well as death, long-term data are scarce, despite our current recommendation for lifelong aspirin. The thienopyridines, most notably clopidogrel, are the next line of antiplatelet drugs. Well-documented data support the usage of clopidogrel for non-STEMI-ACS (NSTE-ACS). Although positive mortality data exist regarding clopidogrel and STEMI patients in a medically treated population, including thrombolysis, no larger amounts of randomised data exist in a primary PCI setting. Poor responders to aspirin and/or clopidogrel are a clinical problem, with these individuals constituting a higherrisk group for recurrent ischaemic events. Whereas very little can be done regarding aspirin resistance, clopidogrel resistance might be diminished by increasing the dosage or changing to more potent and newer-generation antiplatelet drugs. The role of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors has diminished drastically and instead paved the way for thrombin antagonists (bivalirudin), which have fewer bleeding complications with resulting better long-term mortality. Novel adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-receptor blockers such as prasugrel and ticagrelor have shown increased efficacy over clopidogrel and hold great promise for the future. However, not all patients may benefit from these new drugs and economic constraints may also limit their use. Platelet function tests could possibly help in identifying risk groups in need of stronger platelet inhibition.

Chimeric antigen receptor T in the treatment of multiple myeloma – state of the art and future directions

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 120-124
Author(s):  
Dominik Dytfeld
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Chimeric Antigen Receptor ◽  
Cellular Therapy ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Antigen Receptor ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Adoptive Cellular Therapy ◽  
B Cell Maturation ◽  
Complexity Cost

AbstractIn spite of the introduction of several new drugs in the last 10 years, multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable. Thus, an adoptive cellular therapy using chimeric antigen receptor T (CART), a strategy to increase the frequency of tumor-directed and functionally active T cells targeting antigens present on the cancer cell, might change the treatment in MM as it did in lymphoma and ALL. There are several targets for CART therapy in MM on different levels of development, which are discussed in the manuscript. B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) being tested in the studies of phase 1–2 is the most promising, but so far CART has not been approved in the cure of MM and remains an experimental approach. The hematological society is facing a new technology which with its potential ability to cure MM, in spite of its complexity, cost, and toxicity, will definitely and soon change the landscape of myeloma in Europe and world-wide.

Lime kiln conversion from coke to natural gas operation – an option in direction of sustainable energy

2020 ◽  
pp. 431-434
Author(s):  
Oliver Arndt
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Exhaust Gas ◽  
Gas Temperature ◽  
Gaseous Fuels ◽  
Lime Kiln ◽  
Lime Kilns ◽  
Co2 Balance ◽  
Exhaust Gas Temperature

This paper deals with the conversion of coke fired lime kilns to gas and the conclusions drawn from the completed projects. The paper presents (1) the decision process associated with the adoption of the new technology, (2) the necessary steps of the conversion, (3) the experiences and issues which occurred during the first campaign, (4) the impacts on the beet sugar factory (i.e. on the CO2 balance and exhaust gas temperature), (5) the long term impressions and capabilities of several campaigns of operation, (6) the details of available technologies and (7) additional benefits that would justify a conversion from coke to natural gas operation on existing lime kilns. (8) Forecast view to develop systems usable for alternative gaseous fuels (e.g. biogas).

Preterm Birth, Inflammation and Infection: New Alternative Strategies for their Prevention

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 354-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Víctor M. Muñoz-Pérez ◽  
Mario I. Ortiz ◽  
Raquel Cariño-Cortés ◽  
Eduardo Fernández-Martínez ◽  
Leticia Rocha-Zavaleta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Neonatal Outcomes ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Alternative Strategies ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits ◽  
Gynecology And Obstetrics

Background:Worldwide, the progress in reducing neonatal mortality has been very slow. The rate of preterm birth has increased over the last 20 years in low-income and middle-income countries. Its association with increased mortality and morbidity is based on experimental studies and neonatal outcomes from countries with socioeconomic differences, which have considered implementing alternative healthcare strategies to prevent and reduce preterm births.Methods:Currently, there is no widely effective strategy to prevent preterm birth. Pharmacological therapies are directed at inhibiting myometrial contractions to prolong parturition. Some drugs, medicinal plants and microorganisms possess myorelaxant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties that have proved useful in preventing preterm birth associated with inflammation and infection.Results:This review focuses on the existing literature regarding the use of different drugs, medicinal plants, and microorganisms that show promising benefits for the prevention of preterm birth associated with inflammation and infection. New alternative strategies involving the use of PDE-4 inhibitors, medicinal plants and probiotics could have a great impact on improving prenatal and neonatal outcomes and give babies the best start in life, ensuring lifelong health benefits.Conclusion:Despite promising results from well-documented cases, only a small number of these alternative strategies have been studied in clinical trials. The development of new drugs and the use of medicinal plants and probiotics for the treatment and/or prevention of preterm birth is an area of growing interest due to their potential therapeutic benefits in the field of gynecology and obstetrics.

Phytotherapy for wound healing: The most important herbal plants in wound healing based on Iranian etnobotanical documents

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamal Solati ◽  
Mehrdad Karimi ◽  
Mahmoud Rafieian-Kopaei ◽  
Naser Abbasi ◽  
Saber Abbaszadeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wound Healing ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Aloe Vera ◽  
Datura Stramonium ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Mentha Pulegium ◽  
Accelerate Wound Healing ◽  
Healing Tissue ◽  
Herbal Plants ◽  
Echium Amoenum

: Wound healing is a process which starts with inflammatory response after damage occurrence. This process happens by restoring the wound surface coating tissue, migrating fibroblasts to form the needed collagen, forming a healing tissue and finally contortion and extraction of the wound. Today, various drugs are used to heal the wound. However, the used drugs to repair wounds have some defects and side effects. In spite of all attempts to accelerate wound healing definitely, no safe drug has been introduced for this purpose. Therefore, the necessity of identifying herbal plants in ethnopharmacology and ethnobotany documents with healing effect is felt essential. In this article we tried to review and present Iranian effective medicinal plants and herbal compounds used for wound healing. Searching was performed on databases including ISI Web of Science, PubMed, PubMed Central, Scopus, ISC, SID, Magiran and some other databases. The keywords used included wound healing, skin treatment, medicinal plants, ethnobotany, and phytotherapy. In this regard, 139 effective medicinal plants on wound healing were identified based on ethnopharmacology and ethnobotanical sources of Iran. Medicinal plants such as Salvia officinalis, Echium amoenum, Verbascum spp., G1ycyrrhiza glabra, Medicago sativa, Mentha pulegium, Datura stramonium L., Alhagi spp., Aloe vera, Hypericum perforatum, Pistacia atlantica and Prosopis cineraria were the most important and effective medicinal plants on wound healing in Iran. These native Iranian medicinal plants are full of antioxidants and biological compounds and might be used for wound healing and preparation of new drugs.

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