Evidence in support of gene regulatory hypothesis: Gene expression profiling manifests homeopathy effect as more than placebo

Background: Use of ultra-high diluted remedies in homeopathy and their claimed efficacy in curing diseases has been challenged time and again by non-believers despite many evidence-based positive results published in favor of their efficacy in curing/ameliorating disease symptoms. Aims: To test the ability of ultra-high diluted homeopathic remedies beyond Avogadro’s limit, if any, in manifesting gene modulating effects in controlled in vitro experimental model. Methods: Since cancer cells manifest aberrant epigenetic gene expressions, we conducted global microarray gene expression profiling of HeLa cells (an established epigenetic model of HPV18 positive cell line) treated with two different potentized homeopathic remedies, namely, Condurango 30c and Hydrastis canadensis 30C (used in the treatment of cancer), as compared to that of placebo (succussed alcohol 30c). Results: Data revealed distinctly different expression patterns of over 100 genes as a consequence of treatment with both homeopathc remedies compared to placebo. Conclusion: Results indicate that action of the potentized drugs was “more than placebo” and these ultra-highly diluted drugs acted primarily through modulation of gene expression.

Medicinal importance, pharmacological activities and analytical aspects of canadine in the medicine: An important phytochemical of Hydrastis canadensis

Background: Natural products and their derived phytochemicals have been used in the medicine and gaining importance in the modern medicine due to their therapeutic potential and health beneficial effect on human disorders. Plenty of herbal drug based products are available in the market and playing an important role in the human health care system due to their health beneficial properties in human being. In the modern age we can find many herbal based products in the market mainly prepared from the natural products and used for the prevention and treatment of various human disorders. Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids are the important class of alkaloidal compounds and the better example are morphine, codeine, sanguinarine, berberine and canadine which are mainly known for their medicinal value in the medicine. Methods: Hydrastis canadensis is the important medicinal plant found to contain a significant amount of canadine, hydrastine and berberine. In the present investigation, numerous scientific databases such as Google, Pubmed, Science direct etc. have been searched to collect the important scientific information of canadine and analyzed to know the health beneficial aspect of canadine in the medicine. All the collected scientific information data’s were analyzed and have been categorized into mainly pharmacological and analytical aspects. Results: From the analysis of the collected scientific information, it was found that Hydrastis canadensis contain significant amount of canadine with many more phytochemical including canadaline, hydrastidine, isohydrastidine etc. Pharmacological activity data analysis revealed the biological importance of Hydrastis canadensis in the medicine for their traditional uses against gastritis, colitis, duodenal ulcers, loss of appetite, liver disease, bile secretion disorder, snake bites and vaginitis in the medicine. However, scientific data analysis of canadine revealed their effectiveness for their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, anti-cancer, anti-microbial, anti-allergic activity and anti-oxidant activity. Different modern analytical tools have been used in the modern medicine for the isolation and quantification of canadine in the Hydrastis canadensis. Conclusion: Present investigation revealed the medicinal importance and pharmacological activities of a canadine in the medicine for the treatment of numerous human health complications. These scientific data will be helpful to the scientist to know the biological importance of canadine in the medicine against various forms of human complications.

Effects of Dietary Inclusion of Dry Hydrastis canadensis on Laying Performance, Egg Quality, Serum Biochemical Parameters and Cecal Microbiota in Laying Hens

Alternative growth promoters are able to not only effectively replace the traditional use of antibiotics but also provide additional health benefits for livestock and reduce food safety concerns. This study investigated the effects of dry Hydrastis canadensis on the laying performance and fecal microbial community of laying hens. Twenty-four Lohmann (LSL, white layer strain) hens were reared from 40 to 48 weeks of age and randomly allotted to four dietary treatments (six birds/treatment). The dietary treatments comprised a basal diet with no treatment as control, a basal diet plus 0.6% powder of dry Hydrastis canadensis roots (R) or leaves (L), and a basal diet plus 0.6% powder of a mixture of dry Hydrastis canadensis roots and leaves (1:1, LR). No mortality was observed in the whole experimental period. The results indicated that albumen height in the LR group was significantly greater than that in the control group. The diet supplemented with Hydrastis canadensis had no significant effects on egg production rate, egg weight, eggshell strength, eggshell thickness, Haugh unit, or yolk height during the whole experimental phase. However, principal coordinate analysis, comparative heat map analysis, and cluster dendrogram analysis of cecal microbiota showed distinct clusters among the groups treated with Hydrastis canadensis and the control group. Regarding blood biochemical parameters, serum cholesterol levels were significantly lower in all Hydrastis canadensis-treated groups compared with those in the control group. Moreover, serum low-density lipoprotein levels were lower in hens supplemented with the leaf of Hydrastis canadensis. The abundances of the phyla Fusobacteria and Kiritimatiellaeota were increased (p < 0.05) in laying hens fed with 0.6% Hydrastis canadensis leaves, whereas the abundance of the phylum Firmicutes in cecum digesta decreased in response to treatment with Hydrastis canadensis roots and leaves. The relative abundance of the Fusobacterium genus was higher in the LR group compared with that in the control. On the contrary, we found a different trend in the Synergistes genus. The potential influences of these microbiota on the performance of laying hens were discussed. The results demonstrate that Hydrastis canadensis can improve the egg albumen height and modulate the cecum digesta microbiota composition of laying hens.

Influence of Postharvest Drying Temperatures on Alkaloid Levels in Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.)

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.) is a medicinal forest herb native to Appalachia. Its roots and rhizomes are used as an antimicrobial and for the treatment of intestinal ailments. Three alkaloids–berberine, hydrastine, and canadine–are recognized as the major bioactive constituents in goldenseal. One important postharvest processing step for goldenseal is drying; however, it is not known how drying temperature influences the concentrations of these alkaloids. In this study, pre-emergent (dormant) goldenseal samples were freeze-dried or air-dried at six different temperatures (26.7 to 54.4 °C) to determine the relationship between drying temperature and alkaloid content in the rhizome and roots. High performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that berberine and hydrastine levels were unaffected by drying temperature, while canadine levels decreased as temperature increased (0.55% w/w on average when samples were freeze-dried, down to 0.27% w/w on average when dried at 54.4 °C). While canadine is the least abundant alkaloid of the three, it is known to have key antibacterial properties. Developing a more standardized drying protocol for goldenseal could lead to a more predictable phytochemical profile.

Hydrastinine with uterine bleeding.

Analyzing the pharmaceutical treatment of uterine bleeding, the author quite rightly stops at ergot preparations and hydrastis canadensis, as the most effective means. Ergot acts mainly on the very muscle of the uterus and, therefore, is shown in atonic bleeding, depending for example. from insufficient postpartum involution of the uterus, while hydrastis is most useful for so-called secondary bleeding that occurs under the influence of diseases of the uterine appendages, with chronic endometritis, in the menopausal period, in girls, etc. The disadvantage of this remedy, in the form of a liquid extract, is that it does not work well when used when bleeding has already occurred, and that to get the proper effect, it must be taken long (two weeks) before the expected Meno-or metrorrhagia.

To the casuistry of perforating the uterus of the patient herself in order to induce an abortion

Dr. Piotrovich's trial prompts me to report the following case from my practice:On May 13, 1889, I was invited to the Dudu K-shianz, the wife of a small greenery merchant. The patient complained of severe abdominal pains, mainly at the bottom, bleeding, vomiting, headache and weakness. Anamnesis of the following: married 5 years, has 3 children, last one 1 year 3 months. Always healthy, she fell ill only 3 days ago with bleeding after she fell down the stairs. Regulations always come correctly, after a month, last 5 days, are not abundant and not painful; while breastfeeding all children she was menstruating all the time: the last regulations ended a week ago. Before me, another doctor was invited, who was told the same anamnesis as me, but since the patient refused to be examined by a man, he prescribed her hydrastis canadensis for now, in view of significant bleeding, and did not visit her again.

A Laconic Review on Extraction, Biological Activities of Herbal Formulations of Berberine: A Traditional Drug

Herbal formulation dosage form consists of one or more herbs processed in specified quantities to provide specific nutritional, cosmetic benefits use to diagnose the disease. Herbal formulations contain an active substance and preparation in combination of one or more herbal compounds. Berberis aristata is one of herbs of an ancient Ayurveda medicine and different properties along with various treatment of illness. Berberine, is a type of alkaloid which is quarternary protoberberine, is one of the known bioactive compounds scattered extensively in a number of clinically significant medicinal plants such as Hydrastis canadensis L., Phellodendron amurense R. ,Coptis japonica M., and Berberine containing plants have been used in traditional and folk medicine around the globe for centuries. It has been used for a, anti-pyretic diarrhea, bitter tonic, and eye infections. In the past three eras, Berberine has been studied intensively in over thousands cases because of its therapeutics, physicochemical effects, pharmacological, and physiological effects such as cardiovascular, anti-inflammatory, anti leshmanial, and anti- secretory, effects. Berberine act as a phytoconstituents in formulations and available in ayurveda, allopathy, and homeopathy medicines. With this review, we will evaluate the various traditional and medicinal use of Berberine and their isolation and extraction procedure. We will also review the potential of this plant as various dosage forms for the treatment of various diseases. Keywords: Berberine; Extraction Method; Isolation method; Skin problems