Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled study to evaluate the Efficacy of an early treatment with Herbal Supplement based in the Prevention of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in emergency department (PHYTéS Study)

Introduction: The prevention from Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is therefore of major public health interest and one of the concerns of any emergency physician. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an herbal supplement to prevent the occurrence of PTSD in high-risk patients. Methods: It is a randomized, double-blind, prospective, interventional study including patients exposed to a potentially traumatic event that meets DSM-V Criterion A and has a Peri-traumatic Distress Inventory score or the Questionnary for traumatic dissociation experiments (PDEQ) and/or L.Crocq score higher than the thresholds between day 1 and day 3. Two hundred patients were included randomly assigned into two groups: Aleozen group and placebo group. Patients included in aleozen group received Aleozen® for 10 days while patients in placebo group received Placebo. A CAPS-5 assessment was performed for all patients at different moments. The main objective was to assess the efficacy of Aleozen after 90 days of an exposition to traumatic events according to PTSD. Secondary objectives were to evaluate the safety of Aleozen® at 10 and 30 days after its administration and PTSD in the study population after one year of inclusion. Results: No statistical differences were noted between the two groups in term of baseline characteristics including age, sex and the ISS score. After 90 days of follow-up, and according to the CAPS-5 scale, 85 patients (42.5%) of the population study showed PTSD. Concerning primary endpoint, less PTSD were seen in intervention group compared to placebo group (38.8% versus 61.2% respectively; p<0.001). During the study, no adverse events were noted. Conclusion: Results of this work suggest the potential preventive effects of an herbal supplement on PTSD for traumatic patient in emergency. Further confirmatory studies are needed.

PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND NUTRITION OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LAM. LEAF EXTRACT: A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON PREPARATION PHYTOSOMES AS HERBAL SUPPLEMENT FOR CHILDREN

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical properties and nutrition of Moringa leaf extract. In addition, the preliminary study for the preparation of Moringa leaf extract-loaded phytosomes for a supplement. Methods: Extraction of Moringa leaf made using microwave-assisted extraction, followed by evaluation of proximate analysis (water, total ash, acid-insoluble of ash contents, and residual n-hexane), phytochemical screening, and nutrition such as crude protein, amino acids, and minerals (iron, zinc, and calcium). The phytosomes were prepared by the anti-solvent precipitation method and assessed for the morphology, particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index (PDI), entrapment efficiency (EE), and Fourier-transform infrared spectra. Results: The nutrition contents of crude protein, iron, zinc, and calcium were 19.61±0.07%, 3.47±0.00 mg/100g, 5.46±0.05 mg/100g, and 747.40±4.89 mg/100g, respectively. The amino acids with the highest concentrations were glutamic acid, phenylalanine, aspartic acid, alanine, and arginine in the extract. The best preparation using sonication 10 min by morphology was a spherical included particle size, PDI, zeta potential, and EE of arginine was 87.16±1.73 nm, 0.22±0.04, −23.07±0.76 mV, and 108.94±0.52%, respectively. Conclusion: These preliminary results provide evidence of the nutritional benefit of Moringa leaf extract-loaded phytosomes as a promising supplement to prevent stunting in children.

Behavioural Impact of a Calming Herbal Supplement Fed to Hounds

The growing pet food market for feed supplements offering behavioural support has led to an increase in popularity of use, often without sufficient evidence to support claims. In particular, it is questionable whether various “calming” herbs and herbal blends are truly providing the desired outcomes. This study investigated whether a calming herbal nutraceutical for dogs had an impact on canine behaviour and to what effect. Thirty male English Foxhounds, Canis lupus familiaris, were fed the nutraceutical daily for four weeks following a control period. Overnight behavioural observations from video footage were carried out using scan sampling at sixty second intervals for six-hour periods daily, both in the control week and week four of the feeding trial. Stranger approach tests were also performed during these weeks on three separate occasions. Observation data were analysed using the paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed rank test. The paired t-test indicated a significant reduction in agonistic interactions, play, autogrooming, locomotion and stretching within the group. The stranger approach tests showed a significant increase in the number of hounds approaching the stranger, moving away, lying, standing, and sitting during the trial week, and a significant decrease in instances of hounds resting. Reduction in group agonistic and play interactions overnight suggests signs of a “calmer” pack. Increase in rest overnight may have impacted daytime behaviours, specifically in response to the stranger approach test. The results warrant further investigation of calming herbal nutraceuticals and their potential value as a tool in a holistic approach to managing canine behaviour.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ORAL TOXICITY ASSESSMENT OF R-38TM: A TRADITIONAL HERBAL SUPPLEMENT FOR ARTHRITIS

R-38TM is a traditional herbal supplement for treating arthritis-related conditions. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was performed for identification and quantification of rosmarinic acid in the R-38TM water extract. The anti-arthritic potential of the R-38TM water extract was investigated by measuring the production of IL-6 and TNF-α in inflamed cells. Xanthine oxidase (XO) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibition assays were also conducted. The cytotoxic effect of R-38TM water extract was investigated on HSF1184 cell line. Acute and subacute oral toxicity studies were conducted on female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The rosmarinic acid was identified at 1.208 min (3.61 %w/w). The inflamed cells showed a decrease in the production of IL-6 (55.9%) and TNF-α (52.13%). The COX-2 and XO enzymes were moderately inhibited by R-38TM water extract. The cytotoxicity analysis showed no cytotoxic effect on the cell. The acute and subacute oral toxicity studies revealed no mortality and normal body weight at all doses. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in organ weight, hematological and biochemical parameters, and histology of liver and kidneys with the control group. In conclusion, R-38TM water extract exhibited no toxic effect orally and may possess potential therapeutic properties against pro-inflammatory diseases including arthritis.

If Mediterranean Diet Could Slow Atherosclerosis Progression, Could Specific Herbal Supplement Achieve the Same?

Dietary Control has been emphasized as an important means to prevent the development of atherosclerosis. It is a form belief without scientific evidence until the early report of the Study on Coronary Diet Intervention with olive oil and Cardiovascular Prevention (CODIOPREV Study on Mediterranean Diet). The current study is using Surrogate market IMT as the objective indicator, to compare the CORDIOPREV volunteers with known cardiovascular disease, which have demonstrated objective reduction in IMT thickness after 5 to 7 years of Mediterranean diet consumption. A study done in Hong Kong since 2003 using a simple twin herb formula for the prevention of progress of atherosclerosis in 4 different groups of patients with cardiovascular diseases, and using the same surrogate marker IMT as the objective indicator, showed comparable results within a much shorter period of 6-12 months. Extensive laboratory tests have also been completed to verify the bioactivities of the twin herb formula on anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, endothelial protection and regenerative capacity related to atherosclerosis. It is suggested that before more potent therapeutic measures become available to slow atherosclerosis progression are available. The purpose of the paper is to compare the Mediterranean Diet for long term consumption and selective herbal preparations for shorter term or intermittent scheduled intake, and recommend to high-risk individuals.

Antidoping Concept of Play Clean to Win Clean: Implication of Herbal Supplements uses for Athletes in Competitive Sports

The popularity of doping in competitive sports is relevant for all those involved in sports, particularly for evaluating anti-doping policy measures. However, there is a gap of information that addresses this subject so far. As a consequence, the prevalence of doping in competitive sports in resource limited countries is unknown. Even though it is challenging to uncover the exact prevalence of herbal products with prohibited activity such as doping, various methods put in place by world antidoping agency (WADA) have now been adopted to uncover parts of this particular problem, and enables the circumvention to some extend the issues of honesty, definition problems and the limits of pharmacological evidence. It is evident that current doping control test results can show a distinct underestimation of true doping prevalence in low middle income countries (LMIC). Nowadays, doping is a critical issue at international levels of sporting competitions. Athletes’ use of herbal supplements has seen a significant increase in the past two decades. At the top of the list of popular herbs used in sports are echinacea and ginseng, whereas garlic, St. John’s wort, soybean, ephedra and others are also gaining popularity or have been historically prevalent. Despite the increasing popularity of herbal supplements, recent events have illustrated possible concerns regarding efficacy and safety of herbal supplements usage. Remarkable sports performances at the end of the 20th century raised suspicions about herbal supplement use by athletes, prompting the formation of WADA. With WADA creation it was not long when the deaths of two professional athletes raised concerns that the herbal supplement ephedra, may have contributed to their deaths. These events and others have prompted clinicians and scientists to reexamine and evaluate the role of herbal supplements in competitive sports. This review attempts to give an insight into the use of herbal supplement in doping within the concept of play clean to win clean. An attempt has been made to provide guidance on the efficacy and side effect of most used herbal supplements found in sporting activities, especially in international competitive sports.

New Discovery of Covid-19 Natural-Based Antivirus Herbal Supplement Products from Pinang Yaki (Areca vestiaria) Extract by Untargeted Metabolomic Profiling

Background: Pinang yaki has bioactive compounds that have potential as a new herbal supplement. A better understanding of the bioactive compounds of pinang yaki using untargeted metabolomic profiling studies will provide clearer insight into the health benefits of pinang yaki and in particular its potential for the therapy and prevention of Covid-19. Methods: Fresh samples of pinang yaki (Areca vestiaria) are obtained from forests in North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. Samples were used for untargeted metabolomics analysis by UPLC-MS. Results: Based on an untargeted metabolomic profiling study of pinang yaki, 2504 compounds in ESI- and 2645 compounds in ESI+ were successfully obtained. After the analysis, 356 compounds in ESI- and 543 compounds in ESI+ were identified successfully. Major compounds Alpha-Chlorohydrin (PubChem ID: 7290) and Tagatose (PubChem ID: 439312) were found in ESI+ and ESI-. Discussion: The Top 10 metabolites from pinang yaki extract (ESI+) juga have been indicated in preventing SARS Cov2 infection and have exhibited good neuroprotective immunity. Benzothiazole (PubChem ID: 7222), L-Isoleucine (PubChem ID: 6306), D-Glucono-Delta-Lactone (PubChem ID: 736), Diethylpyrocarbonate (PubChem ID: 3051), Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) amine (PubChem ID: 7791), Cinnamic Acid (PubChem ID: 444539), and Trigonelline (PubChem ID: 5570) also had potential effects as an antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-Covid19. Conclusion: Untargeted metabolomic profiling showed many bioactive compounds contained in pinang yaki (Areca vestiaria) extract. The top 10 compounds have been identified and explored for their potential benefits as anti-Covid19 supplement products.