Clinical and Regulatory Status of Silymarin

Author(s):  
Tanya Ralli ◽  
Vivekanandan Kalaiselvan ◽  
Ritu Tiwari ◽  
Shatrunajay Shukla ◽  
Kanchan Kholi

Introduction: Silymarin is a mixture of 9 different active flavanolignans extracted from the seeds of the milk thistle (Silybum marianum) plant. It has been extensively used by local people and medicinal practitioners in European countries from around 2,000 years for the treatment of liver and biliary-related disorders. Aims of this review: This review article documents and critically assesses, for the first time, up to date the regulatory status of the silymarin extract for the treatment of hepatic and other diseases. Methods: Information was collected systematically from electronic scientific databases including Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed, Web of Science, ACS Publications, Elsevier, SciFinder, and Wiley Online Library, as well as other literature sources (e.g., books). Additionally, various regulatory authority websites have been searched for exploring the data. Key findings: Silymarin has been approved in different doses for the treatment or adjuvant therapy for liver disorders by the regulatory authorities of different countries. But, silymarin has still been used as a dietary supplement in the US, despite its high sales. The potential of silymarin to be approved for various other indications has been proved by assessing its efficacy in human patients. In addition to efficacy, it is found to be safe and well-tolerated. Conclusion: Phytochemical and pharmacological studies have demonstrated that silymarin is an important medicinal herb with prominent bioactivities. Thus, there is a need to conduct clinical trials in a larger number of patients to get approval for use in diseases like metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, cancer, and many more.

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 627-646
Author(s):  
Oskar Kosch ◽  
Marek Szarucki

The main objective of the paper is to identify and explore patterns and dynamics of transatlantic scientific collaboration in the field of strategic management between the United States (US) and European countries (EUC) during the last quarter century. Scholarly connections between countries, cities and institutions on the basis of co-author affiliations were analysed to determine the knowledge flow from a geographical perspective. This is the first time international scientific collaboration between researchers in the field of strategic management has been studied to such an extent. We employed all sources of relevant data from the Web of Science and Scopus databases and explored 453 results. Utilizing a bibliometric analysis, our study offers a comprehensive and up-todate identification and assessment of the current situation and dynamics of transatlantic scientific collaboration. The obtained results confirm the dominant role of the US in this type of collaboration. Also, the dominant role of several clusters in terms of collaboration, both on country and institution levels can also be observed. The study confirms the weaker position of Eastern and Central Europe countries in this collaboration and provides some recommendations to increase this type of knowledge exchange in the future.


Author(s):  
Nikolay Mazov ◽  
◽  
Vadim Gureyev ◽  
◽  
◽  
...  

Twenty two science Russian periodicals in informatics and library studies are selected for the bibliometrical analysis of key journal indicators, including publication activity of the same journals’ editorial staff. For the first time for domestic journals, the study reveals hidden self-citation when editorial members include links to their journal from other publications. The available instruments of scientometrical databases, including Web of Science and Scopus, and the national system Russian Science Citation Index do not enable to identify this form of self-citation. The mentioned manipulations are aimed at boosting journal rating. In several cases, intensive and unjustified citation by journals’ editorial staff in other periodicals which we consider the violation of publication ethical principles, is revealed.


Author(s):  
Antica Barua ◽  
Muhammad Shaiful Alam ◽  
Md. Junaid ◽  
Yeasmin Akter ◽  
Syeda Samira Afrose ◽  
...  

Background: Enhydra fluctuans Lour, a tropical herb, commonly known as helencha or harkuch, belonging to family Asteraceae, and is an edible semi-aquatic herbaceous vegetable plant with serrate leaves, grows commonly in different parts of the world. Enhydra fluctuans possesses potential pharmacological role against inflammation, cancer, diarrhea, microbial infection, diabetes, and so on. Aim of the review: This review aims to provide the most current information on the botanical characterization, distribution, traditional uses, chemical constituents, as well as the pharmacological activities of Enhydra fluctuans Lour. Materials and methods: The recently updated information on Enhydra fluctuans was gathered from scientific journals, books, and worldwide accepted scientific databases via a library and electronic search (PubMed, Elsevier, Google Scholar, Springer, Scopus, Web of Science, Wiley online library. All of the full-text articles and abstracts related to Enhydra were screened. The most important and relevant articles were carefully chosen for study in this review. Results: Crude extracts and isolated compounds of Enhydra fluctuans Lour has been reported pharmacologically active against cytoprotective, analgesic and anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-diarrhoeal, antihelmintic, CNS depressant, hepatoprotective, thrombolytic, antidiabetic, anti-oxidant, phagocytic and cytotoxic, and neuroprotective potential activities. Discussion: Phytochemical analysis from different studies has reported Germacranolide, Sesquiterpene lactone, Flavonoid, Essential oil, Steroid, Diterpenoid, Melampolide, Sesquiterpene lactone, Isoflavone glycoside as major compounds of Enhydra fluctuans Lour. Conclusions: However, more research is important to explore the mode of action of bioactive components of the plant and its therapeutic capabilities.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu-Chun Kuo ◽  
Tsair-Wei Chien ◽  
Willy Chou

UNSTRUCTURED We read with great interest the study by Grammes et al. on research output and international cooperation among countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper is a quantitative study using scientometric analysis instead of a qualitative research using citation analysis. A total of 7,185 publications were extracted from Web of Science Core Collection (WoS) with keywords of “covid19 OR covid-19 OR sarscov2 OR sars-cov-2” as of July 4, 2020. We replicated a citation analysis study to extract abstracts from Pubmed Central(PMC) with similar keywords mentioned above and obtained 35,421 articles relevant to COVID-10 matching their corresponding number of citation in PMC. one hundred top-cited atricles were selected and compared on diagrams. Social network analysis combined with citation numbers in articles was performed to analyze international cooperation among countries. The results were shown on a world map instead of the circle diagram in the previous study. A Sankey diagram was applied to highlight entities(e.g., countries, article types, medical subject headings, and journals) with the most citations. Authors from Chian dominated citations in these 100 top-cited articles rather than the US in publications addressed in the previous study. Both visual representations of the world map and Sankey diagram were provided to readers with a better understanding of the research output and international cooperation among countries during the COVID-19 pandemic


Author(s):  
David Willetts

Universities have a crucial role in the modern world. In England, entrance to universities is by nation-wide competition which means English universities have an exceptional influence on schools--a striking theme of the book. This important book first investigates the university as an institution and then tracks the individual on their journey to and through university. In A University Education, David Willetts presents a compelling case for the ongoing importance of the university, both as one of the great institutions of modern society and as a transformational experience for the individual. The book also makes illuminating comparisons with higher education in other countries, especially the US and Germany. Drawing on his experience as UK Minister for Universities and Science from 2010 to 2014, the author offers a powerful account of the value of higher education and the case for more expansion. He covers controversial issues in which he was involved from access for disadvantaged students to the introduction of L9,000 fees. The final section addresses some of the big questions for the future, such as the the relationship between universities and business, especially in promoting innovation.. He argues that the two great contemporary trends of globalisation and technological innovation will both change the university significantly. This is an authoritative account of English universities setting them for the first time in their new legal and regulatory framework.


Author(s):  
Mohd Afsahul Kalam ◽  
Akhtar H. Malik ◽  
Aijaz Hassan Ganie ◽  
Tariq Ahmad Butt

Abstract Podophyllum hexandrum Royle [=Sinopodophyllum hexandrum (Royle) T.S. Ying] is an important, endemic medicinal plant species of Himalaya. It is used in Unani System of Medicine under the name of ‘Papra’. The drug was not mentioned in previous literatures, but the first time it introduced in Unani Medicine by a great scholar Hakim Najmul Ghani. He has mentioned its uses and benefits in his classical book Khazainul Advia. In Unani Medicine the plant species has been used to treat various ailments like constipation, fever, jaundice, liver disorders, syphilis, diseases of lymph glands etc. In Kashmir Himalaya it is used to treat various diseases by local medicinemen, but now it is listed in rare drugs. Various pharmacological studies have been done such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, radio-protective etc., recently it has also been reported that podophyllotoxin or podophyllin can be used to treat some forms of cancers also.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (15) ◽  
pp. 4664
Author(s):  
Majid Mohammadhosseini ◽  
Alessandro Venditti ◽  
Claudio Frezza ◽  
Mauro Serafini ◽  
Armandodoriano Bianco ◽  
...  

Herein, a comprehensive review is given focusing on the chemical profiles of the essential oils (EOs), non-volatile compounds, ethnobotany, and biological activities of different Haplophyllum (Rutaceae family) species. To gather the relevant data, all the scientific databases, including Scopus, ISI-WOS (Institute of Scientific Information-Web of Science), and PubMed and highly esteemed publishers such as Elsevier, Springer, Taylor and Francis, etc., were systematically retrieved and reviewed. A wide array of valuable groups of natural compounds, e.g., terpenoids, coumarins, alkaloids, lignans, flavonoids, and organic acids have been isolated and subsequently characterized in different organic extracts of a number of Haplophyllum species. In addition, some remarkable antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, cytotoxic, antileishmanial, and antialgal effects as well as promising remedial therapeutic properties have been well-documented for some species of the genus Haplophyllum.


2007 ◽  
Vol 41 (10) ◽  
pp. 1740-1743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle M Bottenberg ◽  
Geoffrey C Wall ◽  
Roger L Harvey ◽  
Shahid Habib

Objective: To report a case of possible oral aloe vera-induced hepatitis. Case Summary: A 73-year-old female was admitted to the hospital for acute hepatitis. Extensive laboratory testing did not reveal the cause of the patient's disease. She was asked multiple times whether she was taking any home medications, which she initially denied. It was only after an extensive medication history done by a clinical pharmacist that the patient admitted to using oral aloe vera capsules for constipation. Upon discontinuation of the oral aloe vera, liver markers of hepatotoxicity returned to normal levels. Discussion: Herbal medications pose an increasing problem in patient safety, as the different types of these products and the number of patients who use them continue to grow. In the US, these products are not subject to the same regulatory scrutiny as prescription medications; thus, safety information can be difficult to obtain. In particular, hepatic toxicity due to herbal agents is poorly described in the medical literature. Aloe vera, often used topically for minor burns, can also be used orally as a laxative or an “anti-aging” agent. According to the Naranjo probability scale, the hepatotoxicity in this case was possibly related to ingestion of oral aloe vera. Additionally, using the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method for determining drug hepatotoxicity, the patient's symptoms were scored as probably caused by oral aloe vera. The more conservative designation was used in our report. Conclusions: With the widespread use of oral aloe vera and other herbal products, clinicians faced with a case of acute hepatitis that is not readily diagnosed should question patients about herbal use.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Habibeh Mashayekhi-Sardoo ◽  
Adeleh Mashayekhi‐Sardoo ◽  
Basil D. Roufogalis ◽  
Tannaz Jamialahmadi ◽  
Amirhossein Sahebkar

: Curcumin, a yellow pigment in Asian spice, is a natural polyphenol component of Curcuma longa rhizome. Curcuminoid components include curcumin, demethoxycurcumin (DMC), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC). Previous studies established curcumin as a safe agent based on preclinical and clinical evaluations and curcuminoids have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS). The present review collects and summarizes clinical and preclinical studies of curcumin interactions, with an emphasis on the effect of curcumin and curcumin analogs on the mRNA and protein levels of microsomal CYP450 enzymes (phase I metabolism) and their interactions with toxicants, drugs and drug probes. The literature search was conducted using keywords in various scientific databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Studies concerning the impact of curcumin and curcumin analogs on microsomal enzyme activity are reviewed and include oral, topical, and systemic treatment in humans and experimental animals, as well as studies from in vitro research. When taken together the data identified some inconsistent results between various studies. The findings showed significant inhibition of CYP450 enzymes by curcumin and its analogs. However such effects often differed when curcumin and curcumin analogs were coadministered with toxicant and other drugs and drug probes. We conclude from this review that herb-drug interactions should be considered when curcumin and curcumin analogs are consumed.


Author(s):  
Inna N. Mamkina ◽  

The article draws attention to the sociocultural aspect of the Siberian Railway Committee's activities in the early twentieth century. Historiographic analysis showed a research interest in the status of the Committee in the context of the organization of management of the Russian Empire's Eastern outskirts. Taking into account the broad powers of the Siberian Railway Committee, the author notes isolated studies of the social aspect in its activities. The aim of this publication is an attempt to create a holistic view of the activities of the Committee for the implementation of social tasks aimed at improving the life of railway employees at the TransBaikal section of the railway in the early twentieth century. The study was conducted on the basis of the documentation of the Siberian Railway Committee. A number of documents are introduced into scholarly discourse for the first time. Based on the structural and functional approach, using a set of historical research methods, it has been revealed that, after the commissioning of the Trans-Baikal section of the Siberian Railway, considerable attention was paid to solve sociocultural problems aimed at improving the life of railway employees. The preparatory commission chaired by A.N. Kulomzina and the Main School Committee implemented social programs. The author has defined the procedure for the formation of the committee, its structure, and principles of its activity. For the first time, personal data of the school committee's members elected on the Trans-Baikal Railway are introduced into scholarly discourse. The information of the committee's activities of the opening and maintenance of primary schools at railway stations has been summarized. The obtained statistics convincingly prove the effectiveness of the committee in the field of school education. The author notes that the Siberian Railway Committee achieved a very successful development of the school network by applying administrative and financial efforts. The author, for the first time, provides data on the organization of libraries and public convocations for the employees on the Trans-Baikal Railway. She draws attention to the organization of medical care for the employees; establishes the organization order and types of medical institutions; generalizes information about the staff of hospitals and obstetric centers, and the number of patients. The author concludes that the Siberian Railway Committee had an organized and balanced approach to solving sociocultural problems that occupied an important place in its activities. The Siberian Railway Committee's social programs in a number of areas were ahead of those of other government departments.


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