Safety Evaluation of Natural Drugs in Chronic Skeletal Disorders: A Literature Review of Clinical Trials in the Past 20 years

Chronic skeletal disorders (CSDs), including degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis (OP) and autoimmune disorders, have become a leading cause of disability in an ageing society, with natural drugs being indispensable therapeutic options. The clinical safety evaluation (CSE) of natural drugs in CSDs has been given priority and has been intensively studied. To provide fundamental evidence for the clinical application of natural drugs in the elderly population, clinical studies of natural drugs in CSDs included in this review were selected from CNKI, Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scholar since 2001. Seventeen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) met our inclusion criteria: four articles were on OP, seven on osteoarthritis (OA), four on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and two on gout. Common natural drugs used for the treatment of OP include Epimedium brevicornu Maxim [Berberidaceae], Dipsacus asper Wall ex DC [Caprifoliaceae] root, and Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi (Breda) Blume & Rchb. f[ Orchidaceae], which have been linked to several mild adverse reactions, such as skin rash, gastric dysfunction, abnormal urine, constipation and irritability. The safety of Hedera helix L [Araliaceae] extract, Boswellia serrata Roxb [Burseraceae] extract and extract from perna canaliculus was evaluated in OA and upper abdominal pain, and unstable movements were obsrerved as major side effects. Adverse events, including pneumonia, vomiting, diarrhoea and upper respiratory tract infection, were reported when RA was treated with Tripterygium wilfordii, Hook. F [Celastraceae][TwHF] polyglycosides and quercetin (Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik [Brassicaceae]). The present review aimed to summarize the CSE results of natural drugs in CSDs and could provide evidence-based information for clinicians.

Wonderful Natural Drugs with Surprising Nutritional Values, Rheum Species, Gifts of the Nature

Nutrition therapy on the basis of traditional medicinal plants and herbs is common in many Asian countries, especially Iran and China. Rheum species, especially rhubarbs, belong to plant medicines recognized in 2500 BC. An online search of the literature was carried out at Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, and Google scholar, covering all years until April 2021. The following key terms were used, usually in combinations: Rheum species, rhubarb, natural products, pharmaceutical benefits, anthraquinones and anthranone. After performing the literature search, the bibliographies of all articles were checked for cross-references that were not found in the search databases. Articles were selected if they reported any biological effects, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical compounds and botanical description of Rheum species. The most important components of rhubarb are anthraquinones, anthranone, stilbenes, tannins and butyrophenones. Anthraquinones consist of rhein, emodin, aloe-emodin and chrysophanl, and anthranone includes sennosides and rheinosides. The most important health benefits of rhubarb are antioxidant and anticancer activities, antimicrobial activity, wound healing action, hepatoprotective and anti-diabetic effects, and nephroprotective effect, as well as anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antibacterial activities. Integration of both traditional pharmaceutical science and modern medicines may promote sustainability, lead to organic life and promote the cultivation of medicinal plants.

Preparation of Tablet from Naagdon Plant by Wet Granulation Method for Treatment of Excessive Bleeding in Piles

The objective of present study was to formulate and evaluate the tablets for piles with different combination of herbal drugs. Material and Method: The tablet for piles containing lactose and mannitol as diluent and containing natural drugs like naagdon which was prepared by wet granulation method. The wet and compressed formulations were subject to several evaluation parameters like appearance, thickness, weight variation, hardness and friability. Results: The results of all evaluation parameters of piles tablet were within the acceptable limit. Pre-compression studies of piles tablet show satisfactory results. The thickness, hardness, weight variation, and friability of pilestablet were found to in acceptable range. The in-vitro drug release of eugenol from optimised for treatment piles formulation was found to be 90.23%. Significant results were obtained from present study. Discussion: The finding of current investigation clearly found that the health promotion of the body could be done by piles

Formulation and Evaluation of Nutraceutical Tablet Using Clove Drugs by Wet Granulation Method

The objective of present study was to formulate and evaluate the nutraceutical tablets with different combination of herbal drugs. Material and Method: The nutraceutical tablet containing lactose and mannitol as diluent and containing natural drugs like clove and cinnamon which was prepared by direct compression method. The compressed formulations were subject to several evaluation parameters like appearance, thickness, weight variation, hardness and friability. Results: The results of all evaluation parameters of nutraceutical tablet were within the acceptable limit. Pre-compression studies of nutraceutical tablet show satisfactory results. The thickness, hardness, weight variation, and friability of nutraceutical tablet were found to in acceptable range. The in-vitro drug release of eugenol from optimised nutraceutical formulation was found to be 90.23%. Significant results were obtained from present study. Discussion: The finding of current investigation clearly found that the health promotion of the body could be done by nutraceuticals. Keywords: Direct compression, Nutraceutical, Eugenol, In-vitro drug release

Natural Product Chemistry Research in Iraq

Today's west an east scientists developed synthetic drugs but because of problems of the side effects and high cost in addition to resistant developed which not happened in using natural drugs this push the scientist in all over the world to look for new drugs from natural compounds. In Iraq. Since 1980 up today we started a plan led by scientist in Chemistry ,Pharmacology, Physician ,Biology in all universities & medical research centers and we started to develop anew methods for extraction ,isolation,identication of active constituent and trying the active constituent biologicaly and Pharmacologicaly in invitro and invivo on experimental animals . We started screening of more than thousand plants which indigenous in Iraq and take the knowledge from folkloric physician and old information about these from ancient books and references we found around two hundred promising plants we developed methods of extraction , isolation using chromatography and trying to evaluate their efficacy .We managed to prepare drugs to treat warts from ficus caria vitexin from cratagus azorolus, prosoptatin anew antihyperlipidemic drug from prosopis farcta etc. A new method of isolation and identification by new phytochemical methods and new experimental tool for each active constituent are as example how to separate alkaloids, cardiac glycosides inotropic agents , polyphenoles etc. In addition to bacteriological ,toxi-pathological methods then pass to prepare anew natural drugs prepared with highly sophisticated methods and with highly efficiency which may be better than synthetic drugs and more safe .

Mechanism of drug-induced liver injury and hepatoprotective effects of natural drugs

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a common adverse drug reaction (ADR) and a serious threat to health that affects disease treatments. At present, no targeted clinical drugs are available for DILI. Traditional natural medicines have been widely used as health products. Some natural medicines exert specific hepatoprotective effects, with few side effects and significant clinical efficacy. Thus, natural medicines may be a promising direction for DILI treatment. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge, common drugs and mechanisms of DILI, as well as the clinical trials of natural drugs and their bioactive components in anticipation of the future development of potential hepatoprotective drugs.

Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Natural Drugs

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common urinary diseases affecting men, generally after the age of 50. The prevalence of this multifactorial disease increases with age. With aging, the plasma level of testosterone decreases, as well as the testosterone/estrogen ratio, resulting in increased estrogen activity, which may facilitate the hyperplasia of the prostate cells. Another theory focuses on dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and the activity of the enzyme 5α-reductase, which converts testosterone to DHT. In older men, the activity of this enzyme increases, leading to a decreased testosterone/DHT ratio. DHT may promote prostate cell growth, resulting in hyperplasia. Some medicinal plants and their compounds act by modulating this enzyme, and have the above-mentioned targets. This review focuses on herbal drugs that are most widely used in the treatment of BPH, including pumpkin seed, willow herb, tomato, maritime pine bark, Pygeum africanum bark, rye pollen, saw palmetto fruit, and nettle root, highlighting the latest results of preclinical and clinical studies, as well as safety issues. In addition, the pharmaceutical care and other therapeutic options of BPH, including pharmacotherapy and surgical options, are discussed, summarizing and comparing the advantages and disadvantages of each therapy.

Bioactive Compounds of Softwood Bark as Potential Agents against Human Diseases Include the SARS-CoV-2 Virus

In recent years, significant progress has been achieved in developing natural drugs derived from medicinal plants. Multiple in-vitro screening studies reported that some naturally occurring compounds could possess inhibitory activity against various human viruses. The presented work describes significant biological activities of the main class of secondary metabolites such as phenolic compounds and terpenes located in industrially important tree species Norway spruce (Picea Abies) and Scots pine (Pinus Sylvestris). Phytochemicals show promising in vitro antiviral and cytotoxic activities, making them an attractive starting material for new development in various pharmaceutical products. They have the potential to effectively protect human health against cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and as therapeutic agents against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.