Herbal and Natural Therapies Flashcards
(48 cards)
1
Q
What genus do most ginseng belong to?
A
Panax genus
2
Q
derivation of Panax
A
- derived from the Greek ‘Panakos’ which means panacea
- pan = all
- akon = cure
3
Q
Chinese or Korean Ginseng
A
- ‘true ginseng’
- most studied form in scientific literature
- cultivated now in China, Korea, Japan, and Russia
4
Q
white ginseng (preparation)
A
peeled and dried root
5
Q
red ginseng (preparation)
A
steamed with root intact and then dried
6
Q
American Ginseng
A
- grows from Quebec to Florida
- grows in the shade of eastern hardwood trees
- is expensive to produce
- variety of ginseng is the material from which the active ingredient Cold-FX is produced
7
Q
Historical uses of ginseng
A
- chinese and north indigenous language
- aphrodisiac (maintains sexual potency in males)
- treat asthma, anemia and lower back pain
- root extracts given as general tonic to give added energy and to maintain health
8
Q
Adaptogenic uses of Ginseng
A
- increases the biological and mental resistance to stress
- improves mental efficiency, accuracy, and powers of concentration
- increases endurance by preventing over fatigue
- increases resistance to a wide variety of physical, chemical and biological stresses
9
Q
list the numerous active ingredients of ginseng extracts
A
- cyclic triterpenes glycosides
- saponins
- ginsenosides
- panaxadiols and panaxatriols
- panaxosides
10
Q
Cognitive effects of Ginsenosides
A
- have confusing and different CNS effects
- Rb-1 and Rg-1 have both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on the CNS
- Rb-1 increases choline uptake into nerve endings and facilitates acetylcholine release
- Rg-1 rescues neurons from ischemic damage and delays neuronal death
- ginsensides may act as agonists at GABA receptors
11
Q
Physiological effects of American Ginseng
A
- high Rb -1, very low amounts of Rg-1
- treatment of insomnia, indigestion, toothaches
12
Q
Physiological effects of Chinese Ginseng
A
- high Rg-1, low Rb-1
- health promoting effects
- ability to overcome fatigue and physical stress
13
Q
Ginkgo biloba
A
- ginkgo
- gymnosperm
- 50 million ginkgo trees are in cultivation for preparation of herbal supplements
14
Q
History of Ginkgo
A
- Shen Nung uses leaves to treat memory loss and breathing ailments
- tree introduced into europe and NA in 18th century (not commonly used)
- Ginkgo extracts now marketed
15
Q
Active Compounds in Ginkgo
A
- flavonoid glycosides (apignenim, myricetin, kaemferol)
- biflavones
- terpenes (ginkgolides, bilobalide)
- proanthocyanidins
16
Q
Ginkgo mechanism of action
A
- increases uptake of choline into presynaptic neurons
- increases number of muscarinic receptors
- increases uptake of serotonin
- inhibits MOAs that usually break down monoamines like dopamine
17
Q
Ginkgo effects
A
- vasodilation
- antioxidant
- shows improvement in memory in animal and human studies
18
Q
Hypericum performatum
A
- Saint John’s -Wort
19
Q
traditional uses of Saint John’s- Wort
A
- treatment of depression, insomnia, anxiety
- used in ancient Greece and medieval to ward off evil spirits
20
Q
Chemistry of Saint-John’s Wort
A
- at least 10 active compounds
- unclear which are responsible for pharmacological effect
- napthodianthrones
- terpenes, phenolic acids, flavonoids, phloroglucinols
- xanthones
21
Q
Possible Mechanisms of action for Saint John’s Wort
A
- hypericin (prevents breakdown of serotonin)
- flavonols (prevents breakdown of neurotransmitters)
- inhibits reuptake of neurotransmitters
- inhibits GABA reuptake and activates GABA receptors
22
Q
Zingiber officinale
A
ginger
23
Q
historical use for Ginger
A
- known use in china as early as 14th century BC
- ancient greeks and romans
- common import from Asia from 11 - 13 centuries
- mentioned in the koran as part of a divine drink
- ayurvedic herbal tradition
24
Q
Ginger preparations
A
- harvested (8-9 months after planing to make dried ginger powder, 5-6 months for fresh use)
- crystallized and candied and made into syrups
- make into ginger oil for flavoring
- drunk as ginger ale or ginger beer
25
Chemistry of Ginger
- chemical composition affected by maturity at harvest, climate, geographic origin
- compounds primarily harvested from the rhizome of the plant
- ginger is 7% lipids
- oil extract contains terpenoids
- primary pungent chemical is aromatic ketone
26
Effects of ginger
- increases bile emptying and gastric motility (good for digestion)
- antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesia
- inhibits platelet aggregation
- antidepressant
27
Ginger: Mechanism of Action
- eicosanoid inhibition
- serotonin receptor antagonsim
- substance P release
28
Hydrastis Canadensis
- goldenseal
- comes from yellow scars left on rhimozome that appear in spring
29
Historical Uses of Goldenseal
- indigenous americans used root as both dye and medicine
- in mid-19th century: used by European settlers to treat skin diseases, ulcers, gonorrhea and arrow wounds
30
Goldenseal extracts now marketed
- powdered root is main form of trade
- often used in combination with other herbs
- cure all: cancer to heart disease and pain
31
Chemistry of Goldenseal
- total of 21 alkaloids reported
- two primary constituents: ß-hydrastine, berberine and canadine
32
ß- hydrastine (chemistry and application)
- discovered by Alfred P. Durand
- isoquinoline alkaloid
- insoluble in water, but freely soluble in alcohol and acetone
- formerly used as an astringent vasoconstrictor and uterine stimulant
- vasoconstricting properties
33
Chemistry of Berberine
- quaternary ammonium salt from group of isoquinoline alkaloids
- dissolves in water easily
- usually found in roots, rhizomes, stems, and bark
34
Applications of Berberine
- thought to be antimicrobial, antidiarrheal, antiarrhythmic, cytotoxic, anticariogenic and hypoglycemic
- absorption through skin and orally
35
Berberine biological activities in humans
- blocking receptors in smooth muscle
- blocks potassium channels in the heart and reduces ventricular tachycardia
- inhibits intestinal ion secretion and toxin formation in the gut
- increases bile secretion
36
Two hypotheses for the biosynthesis of ß-hydrastine and berberine
- amino acid hypothese (tyrosine+DOPA precursors of alkaloids)
- prephenic acid hypothesis (prephenic acid is the progenitor)
37
Clinical studies on Berberine
- Cancer
- tested in vivo and in vitro
- antineoplastic and anti-proliferative mechanisms
- cell cycle arrest, induciton of apoptosis, anti-inflammatory activitites, inhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis
38
Traditional uses of Goldenseal
- uses as paint and dyes
- makes teas, liquid extracts
- used it for colds and other respiratory infections
- infectious diarrhea
- eye infections
- topical ointment
39
future for Goldenseal
- 21st century: discovery, development and manufacturing of botanical therapeutics is a like area of expansion
- botanical dietary supplements
- increased in use with passage of DSHEA
- active ingredients of few supplements have been fully characterized
40
Cognition
- ability to intelligently process information
- processes include those involving memory, attention, perception, action, problem solving and mental imagery
41
Solanaceae family members
- potato, tomato, eggplant
- all have cholinesterase inhibiting effects
- acetylcholine levels increase
- high concentrations of these may result in toxic effects
42
Vicia faba
- Fava beans
- Fabaceae family
- contain significant amounts of L-DOPA
- would have to ingest several times a day to have a therapeutic use
43
Golden Rice
- first generation of engineered rice does not create sufficient amounts of Carotene that lead to recommended daily levels of vitamin A
- new generation of rice with improved gene constructs does produce more carotenoids
44
Panax quinquefolius
Cold FX
45
Cold FX clinical studies
- randomized, double blind, placebo controlled
- published in peer reviewed journals
- studies show limited side effects and drug interactions
46
why did UBC profs dispute the quality of the clinical trials done?
- address the lack of statistically significant results
- address the combining of results from two trials into one data set
- don't think that you can say you did not get a cold due to taking this particular product when perhaps you woudn't get a cold anywasy
47
Problems with integration of herbal medicine with modern medicine
- active ingredients in plants are not often known
- effectiveness may be due to interactions of numerous compounds within the plant
- effectiveness may rely on immediate use of medicine following its preparation/extraction from the plant
48
