scholarly journals The potential of herbal extracts to inhibit SARS-CoV-2: a pilot study

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michela Luisa De Pellegrin ◽  
Anette Rohrhofer ◽  
Philipp Schuster ◽  
Barbara Schmidt ◽  
Philipp Peterburs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Vero Cells ◽  
Cell Culture Supernatant ◽  
Herbal Extracts ◽  
Medicinal Products ◽  
Herbal Medicinal Products ◽  
Herbal Medicinal

Abstract Background Herbal medicinal products have a long-standing history of use in the therapy of common respiratory infections. We sought to assess the potential of five validated herbal extracts regarding their ability to restrict SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro: Bronchipret thyme-ivy (BRO TI), Bronchipret thyme-primrose (BRO TP), Imupret (IMU), Sinupret extract (SINx) and Tonsipret (TOP). Methods Vero cells were incubated with different concentrations of herbal extracts and infected with SARS-CoV-2 for 48 hours. The inhibition of viral replication was assessed by determination of the viral RNA load in the cell culture supernatant using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results SARS-CoV-2 RNA load was reduced by non-cytotoxic concentrations of BRO-TP (up to approximately 1,000-fold) and, to a lesser extent, IMU and TOP (approximately 10-fold). Conclusions Some herbal extracts showed a promising in vitro effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2, suggesting an antiviral potential of herbal medicinal products. The potential of herbal medicines to restrict SARS-CoV-2 and to treat COVID-19 should be investigated further in a clinical setting.

A study of the potential of medicinalplant extracts in suppression of SARS-CoV-2 replication: a pilot study*

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 445-450
Author(s):  
Michela Luisa De Pellegrin ◽  
◽  
Anette Rohrhofer ◽  
Philipp Schuster ◽  
Barbara Schmidt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Culture Supernatant ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Vero Cells ◽  
Cell Culture Supernatant ◽  
Medicinal Products ◽  
Viral Etiology ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Coronavirus Infection ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Relevance. Medicinal products of plant origin have long been successfully used in the treatment of various diseases, including those of viral etiology. Nevertheless, their effect on the replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has not been studied so far. Objective. To evaluate the potential of drugs based on validated plant extracts – RE (Bronchipret, Bronchipret TP, Tonsilgon N, Sinupret extract, Tonsipret) with respect to their ability to suppress SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro. Materials and methods. Vero cells (Vero) incubated with RE of different concentrations were infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus. After 48 h the virus replication (the number of viral RNA copies in cell culture supernatant) was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results. SARS-CoV-2 RNA copy number under the action of non-cytotoxic concentrations of Bronchipret TP decreased by 1000 times and by 10 times under the action of drugs Tonsilgon N and Tonsipret. Conclusion. Some of the studied REs in vitro demonstrated promising antiviral activity. It is advisable to conduct further, including clinical, studies of their activity against SARS-CoV-2 in the treatment of coronavirus infection (COronaVirus Disease 2019 – COVID-19).

scholarly journals Pharmaco-epidemiological research on herbal medicinal products in the paediatric population: data from the PhytoVIS study

2019 ◽  
Vol 179 (3) ◽  
pp. 507-512
Author(s):  
Karen Nieber ◽  
Esther Raskopf ◽  
Johanna Möller ◽  
Olaf Kelber ◽  
Robert Fürst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Common Cold ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Skin Diseases ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Paediatric Population ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Medicinal Products ◽  
Herbal Medicinal Products ◽  
Herbal Medicinal

AbstractIn paediatrics, clinical study data are limited, especially on herbal medicinal products. To address this gap, 2063 datasets from the paediatric population were evaluated in the PhytoVIS data base. By screening for paediatric data, information on indication, gender, treatment, co-medication and tolerability were evaluated. The majority of patients was treated because of common cold, fever, digestive complaints, skin diseases, sleep disturbances and anxiety. The perceived effect of the therapy was rated in 84% of the patients as very good or good without adverse events. The data shed light on a still neglected field of phyto-pharmacotherapy by giving information on the use of herbal medicines in an unselected cohort of paediatric patients. The results confirm the good clinical effects and safety of herbal medicinal products in this patient population and show that they are widely used in Germany.What is Known:• In Germany, about 85% of children receive one or more herbal medicinal products per year.• Despite international initiatives to promote clinical research in paediatrics, there are still many gaps of knowledge in the use of drugs in paediatrics.What is New:• The PhytoVIS project evaluated 2063 data sets from the paediatric population using herbal medicinal products.• The majority of patients was treated because of common cold, fever, digestive complaints, skin diseases, sleep disturbances and anxiety, and 84% of the patients rated the therapy as very good or good without adverse events.

scholarly journals In vitro screening of herbal medicinal products for their supportive curing potential in the context of SARS-CoV-2

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoai Tran ◽  
Philipp Peterburs ◽  
Jan Seibel ◽  
Dimitri Abramov-Sommariva ◽  
Evelyn Lamy
Keyword(s):  
Symptom Relief ◽  
A549 Cells ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
In Vitro Screening ◽  
Medicinal Products ◽  
Binding Interaction ◽  
Herbal Medicinal Products ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
Herbal Medicinal

Background: Herbal medicinal products have a long-standing history of use in the therapy of common respiratory infections. In the COVID-19 pandemic, they may have the potential for symptom relief in non-severe or moderate disease cases. Here we describe the results derived by in vitro screening of five herbal medicinal products with regard to their potential to i) interfere with the binding of the human Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor with the SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1 protein, ii) modulate the release of the human defensin HBD1 and cathelicidin LL-37 from human A549 lung cells upon Spike S1 protein stimulation and iii) modulate the release of IFN-γ from activated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The investigated extracts were: Sinupret extract (SINx), Bronchipret thyme-ivy (BRO TE), Bronchipret thyme-primrose (BRO TP), Imupret (IMU), and Tonsipret (TOP). Methods: The inhibitory effect of the herbal medicinal products on the binding interaction of Spike S1 protein and the human ACE2 receptor was measured by ELISA. The effects on intracellular IFN-γ expression in stimulated human PBMCs were measured by flow cytometry. Regulation on HBD1 and LL-37 expression and secretion was assessed in 25d long-term cultured human lung A549 epithelial cells by RT-PCR and ELISA. Results: IMU and BRO TE concentration-dependently inhibited the interaction between spike protein and the ACE2 Receptor. However, this effect was only observed in the cell-free assay at a concentration range which was later on determined as cytotoxic to human PBMC. SINx, TOP and BRO TP significantly upregulated the intracellular expression of antiviral IFNγ from stimulated PBMC. Co-treatment of A549 cells with IMU or BRO TP together with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein significantly upregulated mRNA expression (IMU) and release (IMU and BRO TP) of HBD1 and LL-37 (BRO TP). Conclusions: The in vitro screening results provide first evidence for an immune activating potential of some of the tested herbal medicinal extracts in the context of SARS-CoV-2. Whether these could be helpful in prevention of SARS-CoV-2 invasion or supportive in recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection needs deeper understanding of the observations.

Herbalism and the menopause

2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edzard Ernst
Keyword(s):  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Trial Data ◽  
Black Cohosh ◽  
Effective Alternative ◽  
Medicinal Products ◽  
Herbal Medicinal Products ◽  
Herbal Medicinal

Herbal medicinal products are often sold as a safe and effective alternative to HRT. Sizeable sets of trial data exist for black cohosh and soy. For other herbal medicines, only isolated trials have emerged, and their number is too low to enable one to arrive at valid conclusions. Collectively the data for black cohosh do not prove efficacy. The evidence for soy is encouraging but not compelling. Neither black cohosh nor soy is associated with major safety problems. Further research is warranted to closer define the role of herbal medicines for the menopause.

scholarly journals Regulatory Perspectives of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Contamination in Herbal Medicinal Products

Planta Medica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Wiesner
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids ◽  
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid ◽  
European Medicines Agency ◽  
Medicinal Products ◽  
Herbal Medicinal Products ◽  
Herbal Medicinal ◽  
National Competent Authorities

AbstractThe toxicity of plants containing certain pyrrolizidine alkaloids has long been recognized in grazing animals and humans. Genotoxicity and carcinogenicity data from in vitro and in vivo (animal) studies were published over the last few decades for some of the 1,2-unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids, leading to regulatory action on herbal medicinal products with pyrrolizidine alkaloid-containing plants more than 30 years ago. In recent years, it has become evident that in addition to herbal medicinal products containing pyrrolizidine alkaloid-containing plants, these products may also contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids without actually including pyrrolizidine alkaloid-containing plants. This is explained by contamination by accessory herbs (weeds). The national competent authorities of the European member states and the European Medicines Agency, in this case, the Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products, reacted to these findings by setting limits for all herbal medicinal products. This review article will briefly discuss the data leading to the establishment of thresholds and the regulatory developments and consequences, as well as the current discussions and research in this area.

scholarly journals Determination of Anthracene Derivatives in Herbal Medicines

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-114
Author(s):  
O. V. Evdokimova ◽  
A. V. Beketova ◽  
M. N. Lyakina
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Test Methods ◽  
Medicinal Products ◽  
Herbal Medicinal Products ◽  
Herbal Preparations ◽  
Anthracene Derivatives ◽  
Herbal Medicinal

The relevance of this study stems from the need for alignment of test methods used for identification and assay of anthracene derivatives in herbal preparations and herbal medicinal products. The aim of the study was to analyse Russian and international quality standards and to identify the most specific and sensitive test methods that could be used for herbal medicines containing anthracene derivatives. The comparative analysis of requirements in the Identification, Determination of major classes of bioactive compounds, and Assay parts of the Russian and foreign pharmacopoeial monographs for herbal preparations and herbal medicinal products containing anthracene derivatives, demonstrated that the main test method used for identification is thin layer chromatography, while assays most often rely on spectrophotometry. The so-called “consistent standardisation” principle is implemented in the Russian quality standards as regards alignment of methods used for anthracene derivative determination in herbal preparations (i.e. active pharmaceutical ingredients, APIs) and herbal medicinal products containing these APIs. The comparative analysis of requirements in the Russian and foreign quality standards for herbal medicines containing anthracene derivatives demonstrated the need for elaboration of two general chapters: Qualitative analysis of anthracene derivatives in herbal medicines and Quantitative analysis of anthracene derivatives in herbal medicines.

scholarly journals Dissolution test of herbal medicines containing Paullinia cupana: validation of methods for quantification and assessment of dissolution

2011 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Alves de Sousa ◽  
Henrique Pascoa ◽  
Edemilson Cardoso da Conceição ◽  
Suzana Ferreira Alves ◽  
Danielle Guimarães Almeida Diniz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Condensed Tannins ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Dosage Forms ◽  
Dissolution Behavior ◽  
Therapeutic Action ◽  
Medicinal Products ◽  
Herbal Medicinal Products ◽  
Dissolution Studies ◽  
Paullinia Cupana ◽  
Herbal Medicinal

"Guaraná" (Paullinia cupana) is used as a physical activity enhancer and stimulator due to its methylxanthines and condensed tannins. The aim of this work was to evaluate the dissolution behavior of five herbal medicines in the form of capsules and tablets containing guaraná. Assay and dissolution methods were validated and results obtained allowed simultaneous marker quantification with precision, accuracy, selectivity and robustness. Findings showed that 100% of the herbal medicinal products analyzed did not provide satisfactory results concerning the presence of four markers, 60% had three markers (caffeine, catechin and epicatechin), while 40% had only caffeine at tested dosage forms. In addition, after 30 minutes, only capsule A showed at least 80% of the dissolved markers. In other capsules, marker dissolution did not exceed 60% whereas 60% of the samples had some characteristic pharmacotechnical problems. These results evidence the need for rigorous quality control to help ensure the therapeutic action of these drugs. To this end, dissolution studies are an essential tool for quality assurance of herbal medicines.

scholarly journals Regulatory compliance of herbal medicines – A review

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 3127-3135
Author(s):  
Malathi Seshasayee Konda Ramadoss ◽  
Kailasam Koumaravelou
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Product ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Regulatory Compliance ◽  
Global Market ◽  
World Health ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Medicinal Products ◽  
Herbal Medicinal Product ◽  
Herbal Medicinal Products ◽  
Herbal Medicinal

Recently, herbal medicinal products (HMP) have gained importance and are extensively used in the prevention and treatment of various ailments. A commercial herbal medicinal product should comply with the regulatory requirements of quality, safety and efficacy. Currently, the standards and regulations of herbal medicinal products are varying from country to country, which poses a challenge to the manufacturing companies to place a standardized herbal product in the global market. Hence a collaborative effort must be taken both by regulatory bodies and the World Health Organization (WHO) to establish harmonized regulations for a herbal medicinal product. An attempt has been made in this review which may pave the way to meet out the constraints and challenges in the manufacturing and marketing of herbal medicinal product worldwide.

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