scholarly journals An alarming public health concern over variability in herbal compositions of marketed immunity booster products during COVID-19: A botanical survey-based study

Author(s):  
Chirag Kalal ◽  
◽  
Sanket Charola ◽  

The world is going through pandemic of the century named COVID-19 disease. The COVID-19 pathogenesis involves cytokine storm in advanced stage leading to systemic hyper-inflammation. Medicinal herbs are practiced as part of alternative therapies in addition to clinically approved drugs with strong belief of its safety and efficacy. In present times, many herbal immunity booster products are available in market which claims to boost immunity for fighting against COVID-19 in prevention and cure. In this study, herbal products with tag of Immunity boosters were surveyed from medical stores and studied for their botanical contents. We surveyed 60 herbal products out of which 31% were tablets and rest were other forms like capsule, decoction and avaleha. Among the products, 17% products were from Dabur followed by Himalaya, Zandu and rest other leading brands of herbal market. Total 98 plants belonging to 50 diverse plant families like Zingiberaceae, Lamiaceae, Piperaceae and Apiaceae were reported being used in these products. Including Fruits (19%), Root (18%) and Leaf (17%), total 20 different plant parts were found used as medicinal herbs. These herbal products were having 10.27 ± 14.02 herbs with range of 56 indicates huge ingredient variation among the products. This diversity in products poses serious health concern in buyers who do not know the safety and efficacy of immunity boosters, being used in COVID-19 pandemic.

Author(s):  
Hamidreza Ardalani ◽  
Fatemeh Hejazi Amiri ◽  
Amin Hadipanah ◽  
Kenneth T. Kongstad

Abstract Background Medicinal plants are used to treat various disorders, including diabetes, globally in a range of formulations. While attention has mainly been on the aerial plant parts, there are only a few review studies to date that are focused on the natural constituents present in the plant roots with health benefits. Thus, the present study was performed to review in vivo studies investigating the antidiabetic potential of the natural compounds in plant roots. Methods We sorted relevant data in 2001–2019 from scientific databases and search engines, including Web of Knowledge, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Medline, Reaxys, and Google Scholar. The class of phytochemicals, plant families, major compounds, active constituents, effective dosages, type of extracts, time of experiments, and type of diabetic induction were described. Results In our literature review, we found 104 plants with determined antidiabetic activity in their root extracts. The biosynthesis pathways and mechanism of actions of the most frequent class of compounds were also proposed. The results of this review indicated that flavonoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, and phytosteroids are the most abundant natural compounds in plant roots with antidiabetic activity. Phytochemicals in plant roots possess different mechanisms of action to control diabetes, including inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes, oxidative stress reduction, secretion of insulin, improvement of diabetic retinopathy/nephropathy, slow the starch digestion, and contribution against hyperglycemia. Conclusion This review concludes that plant roots are a promising source of bioactive compounds which can be explored to develop against diabetes and diabetes-related complications. Graphical abstract


PEDIATRICS ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 112 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 240-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan D. Woolf

More parents are considering the use of herbal remedies to maintain their children’s good health and to treat their illnesses. They look to pediatricians and other primary care clinicians for advice concerning the safety and efficacy of herbal products for children. This article reviews principles for the clinician to keep in mind while investigating the literature on herbal medicine and addressing the use of herbal medicines with parents.


Author(s):  
Hulya Guven ◽  
Sule Kalkan ◽  
Nil Hocaoglu ◽  
Engin Yildiztepe ◽  
Gamze Gokalp

Background: In this survey, it was aimed to determine the types of medicinal herbs and herbal products, reasons of use and consciousness levels among the medical students in the first three years of the School of Medicine.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive questionnaire consisting of 50 questions was applied to all the students in the first three years of Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine between September 1, 2016 and June 1, 2017.Results: The results of 571 participating students were evaluated. Of these students, 301 (52.7%) were females and 270 (47.3%) were males. It was found that 73.4% (n=419) of the students used these products for treatment and mostly consumed linden, sage tea, mint and rosehip. Also, 11.6% of the students had chronic diseases (n=66). It was determined that 69.7% (n=46) of these students having chronic diseases used medicinal herbs and herbal products. Only 12.0% of the students had an opinion about the legal regulations regarding the use of herbs and herbal products in Turkey, while 39.7% of them had no idea, and 48.3% stated that such regulations on this matter were unreasonable. However, 59.7% of the respondents stated that legal regulations were necessary. It was found that the participating students used herbs and herbal products generally for therapeutic purposes without having sufficient knowledge about medicinal herbs; therefore it was necessary to increase their level of consciousness.Conclusions: Medical students neither have adequate medical information about medicinal herbs and herbal products, nor about the regulations on these products. It is crucial to revise the courses in the medical education so that the students would get informed about the regulations as well as potential risks of herbal plants while still in the medical schools.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fredrick Munyao Mutie ◽  
Lun-Lun Gao ◽  
Vivian Kathambi ◽  
Peninah Cheptoo Rono ◽  
Paul Mutuku Musili ◽  
...  

Mutomo hill plant sanctuary is a ten-hectare piece of land in Kenya listed as a botanical garden under the Botanical Gardens Conservation International, originally established in 1964 with the aim of conserving indigenous flora from destructive anthropogenic activities. This paper presents ethnobotanical documentation of medicinal plants of Mutomo hill plant sanctuary and its environs. An ethnobotanical survey was carried out in Mutomo hill plant sanctuary and its environs with 48 herbalists aged between 32 and 96 years from July 2018 to February 2019 using a semistructured open-ended questionnaire. The plants were collected through random surveys with each herbalist in different ecotypes around the villages and within the Mutomo hill plant sanctuary. The Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) for each species reported was calculated to determine the plant species frequently collected. In total, 68 different plant species distributed in 28 families and 54 genera were reported. The frequently used plant families were Leguminosae (13 species), Lamiaceae (6 species), and Euphorbiaceae (6 species). Shrubs (37%) and trees (34%) were the dominant growth habits reported. The most cited plant species were Cassia abbreviata Oliv. (RFC = 0.63), Acacia nilotica (L.). Delile (RFC = 0.54), Strychnos heningsii Gilg (RFC = 0.46), and Aloe secundiflora Engl. (RFC = 0.31). Root (19 species) and bark (19 species) were the frequently collected plant parts. Infectious diseases (33) and digestive system disorders (24) were reported to be managed with the majority of the plant species. This study contributes to safeguarding the traditional knowledge on medicinal plants in the study area, which is useful in appreciating and acknowledging the cultural heritage of the Kamba people from the local perspective of Mutomo area in Kenya. It also adds to the knowledge base and documentation of medicinal plants, which is useful information as potential data for drug development.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. M. Moyeenul Huq ◽  
Jamia Azdina Jamal ◽  
Johnson Stanslas

Persicaria hydropiper(L.) Delarbre, belonging to Polygonaceae family, is a common weed found in most of the temperate countries including Bangladesh, China, Malaysia, and Japan. The plant is also referred to as “marsh pepper” or “smart weed.” It appears to be a useful herb with evidence-based medicinal properties. The present work addresses the botanical description, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology ofP. hydropiper. All plant parts have been commonly used in the traditional systems of medicines. Flavonoids are the major group of phytochemical components followed by drimane-type sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenoids, as well as phenylpropanoids. Different extracts and plant parts showed remarkable pharmacological activities including antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antihelminth, antifeedant, cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, oestrogenicity, antifertility, antiadipogenicity, and neuroprotection. Mutagenicity and acute and subchronic toxicities of the plant were also reported.P. hydropiperhas tremendous medicinal properties that could further be investigated for the development of evidence-based herbal products.


2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 323-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffery D. Evans ◽  
Kenesha Pace ◽  
Emily W. Evans

It is estimated that over 15% of men use natural biologic-based therapies, which includes herbal products and supplements. There are certain conditions that are specific to men, such as erectile dysfunction and benign prostatic hypertrophy, for which there is some evidence of the efficacy and safety of herbal medications. Furthermore, men may also be more likely to use supplements for energy improvement, muscle gain, and exercise tolerance, and there are a number of supplements proven to aid in these. Practitioners must understand the safety and efficacy of these agents, as well as the patient’s full history and goals, prior to recommending any of the therapies discussed herein.


2000 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ron B.H. Wills ◽  
Kerry Bone ◽  
Michelle Morgan

AbstractAn overview is given of the current position of medicinal herbs in general in relation to usage, market and production, types of pharmacological activity and how they differ from conventional drugs. The increasing importance of quality and manufactured products is also discussed. A more detailed consideration of these issues is given in relation to echinacea, valerian and St John's wort as these herbs are well studied, are market leaders and have widespread community usage.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 207 (1) ◽  
pp. 129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muralidharan Ramachandran ◽  
DUVURU NARASIMHAN ◽  
NATESAN BALACHANDRAN

Annonaceae, one of the most diverse plant families in tropical forests, comprise roughly 108 genera and 2400 species (Rainer et al. 2006, Chatrou et al. 2012). As per the current understanding, Annonaceae have four subfamilies: Anaxagoreoideae, Ambavioideae, Annonoideae and Malmeoideae (Chatrou et al. 2012). Phylogenetic studies on Annonaceae (Mols et al. 2004; Erkens et al. 2007; Su et al. 2008; Nakkuntod et al. 2009; Chatrou et al. 2012) have brought significant changes in circumscription and nomenclature of several genera due to the strict adherence to the principle of monophyly (Su et al. 2005, 2010; Rainer, 2007; Mols et al. 2008; Saunders, 2009; Chaowasku et al. 2011, 2012; Xue et al. 2012, 2014). The problematic case of the polyphyletic genus Polyalthia Blume s.l. (1830: 68) has recently been studied phylogenetically in detail and presently is fully solved; species of Polyalthia s.l. have been segregated into several smaller monophyletic genera, for example, Fenerivia Diels (1925: 355; Saunders et al. 2011), Hubera Chaowasku (2012: 46; Chaowasku et al. 2012), Maasia Mols, Keßler  & Rogstad (2008: 493; Mols et al. 2008), Marsypopetalum Scheffer (1870: 342; Xue et al. 2011) and Monoon Miquel (1865: 15; Xue et al. 2012).


Author(s):  
Dr. Deepak Chandran

Nature is a unique source of structures of high phytochemical diversity, many of them possessing interesting biological activities and medicinal properties. Phytochemicals ensure safe, eco-friendly and most effective drug for animal use. Veterinarians use these phytochemicals with the knowledge from traditional system and modern pharmacology. High cost of allopathic medicine is one of the major contributing factors in loss of productive livestock and animal productivity. Many plants have been identified which show promising abilities in disease prevention and cure. Phytochemicals can be used either by feeding whole plant parts or by the process of extraction of these chemicals and delivering in concentrated forms. The pharmacological activities of plants are attributed to certain active principles, namely alkaloids, glycosides, fats, oils, tannins, saponins etc. The use of cheap and easily available phytochemicals can thus be made by taking a leaf out of the ethno-veterinary practices. Although the effects of natural remedies may seem slower, the results are sometimes better on the long run especially with respect to chronic diseases. The horizon of phytochemicals has to be explored and exploited to create a “green treatment” protocol to develop an ecofriendly and toxin free production system that is beneficial for existence of both human and animal population in the near future.


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