nutrition

[Oral anticoagulants: a literature review of herb-drug interactions or food-drug interactions]: J Pharm Belg. 2007; 62(3): 69-75 Bourget S, Baudrant M, Allenet B, Calop J

OBJECTIVE: To identify herbal medicines and food products which can interact with anticoagulant therapy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Literature review using key words: "anticoagulants", "herb-drug interaction", "food-drug interaction", "drug chinese herbal", "medicine herbal", "plant preparation", "dietary supplements". Data sources: Medline (january 1966 to june 2006) and Pascal (1987 to 2006). Case reports, systematic reviews, in vitro studies, clinical studies published in french or in english (or with an english extract) have been undertaken. RESULTS: Eighty articles were selected (two both including a case report and a study): 14 systemic review, 43 case reports, 25 studies (17 studies in humans: nine randomized and controlled, three controlled), six controlled studies in animals and two in vitro studies. DISCUSSION: A wide range of herbal medicines and food products can interact with anticoagulants. Clinical relevance of these effects is difficult to characterise (nature of existing reports, contradiction between studies, difficult extrapolation to human). CONCLUSION: It is difficult to predict the incidence or severity of such interactions. However, awareness of these potential interactions is necessary to achieve optimal anticoagulation therapy: pharmacist can play a crucial role identifying such interactions in case of disturbed INR; clinicians should be informed to monitor closely the therapy, particularly when such products are started or discontinued.

Biotransformation of Green Tea Polyphenols and the Biological Activities of Those Metabolites.: Mol Pharm. 2007 Oct 27; Authors: Lambert JD, Sang S, Yang CS

Green tea ( Camellia sinensis, Theaceae) and its major polyphenol constituents, the catechins, have been reported to have many health benefits including the prevention of cancer and heart disease. Many mechanisms of action have been proposed based on in vitro models; however, the importance of most of these mechanisms remains to be determined in vivo. The bioavailability and biotransformation of tea catechins play a key role in determining the importance of various mechanisms in vivo. Likewise, the biological activity and bioavailability of tea catechin metabolites, an understudied area, are important in understanding the potential beneficial effects of tea. In this article, we review the data available on the biotransformation of the tea catechins and the limited data set available on the biological activities of the catechin metabolites. Careful interpretation of available data, carefully designed animal experiments, and integration of bioavailability and biological activity data are needed if the disease preventive activity of tea is to be understood. We hope this article will spark research efforts on some of the important questions regarding tea polyphenol bioavailability, biotransformation, and the biological activities of tea catechin metabolites.

PMID: 17963356 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Epigallocatechin gallate affects human dendritic cell differentiation and maturation.: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007 Oct 10; Authors: Yoneyama S, Kawai K, Tsuno NH, Okaji Y, Asakage M, Tsuchiya T, Yamada J, Sunami E, Osada T, Kitayama J, Takahashi K, Nagawa H

BACKGROUND: Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a component of green tea catechin with the strongest biological activity, has been focused in recent years because of its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells, capable of priming naive T cells, and play the key roles in the activation of T-cell-mediated immune responses. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the effect of EGCG on human monocyte-derived DCs (MODCs) and, consequently, on the T-cell-mediated immune response. METHODS: The induction of apoptosis, and the detailed phenotypic and functional changes of MODCs, generated by culture of peripheral blood monocytes in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4, induced by EGCG was investigated and compared with the effects of dexamethasone. RESULTS: Epigallocatechin gallate induced apoptosis and affected the phenotype of the developing DCs. The expressions of CD83, CD80, CD11c, and MHC class II, which are molecules essential for antigen presentation by DCs, were downregulated by EGCG. EGCG also suppressed the endocytotic ability of immature DCs, whereas dexamethasone-treated DCs had higher endocytotic ability than control DCs. Most importantly, mature DCs treated with EGCG inhibited stimulatory activity toward allogeneic T cells while secreting high amounts of IL-10. CONCLUSION: Epigallocatechin gallate induces immunosuppressive alterations on human MODCs, both by induction of apoptosis and suppression of cell surface molecules and antigen presentation. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: These alterations should be considered promising new immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory agents to treat autoimmune and allergic diseases and to prevent the graft rejection in organ transplantation.

PMID: 17935769 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

B vitamins and berries and age-related neurodegenerative disorders.: Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep). 2006 Apr;(134):1-161 Authors: Balk E, Chung M, Raman G, Tatsioni A, Chew P, Ip S, DeVine D, Lau J

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects, associations, mechanisms of action, and safety of B vitamins and, separately, berries and their constituents on age-related neurocognitive disorders-primarily Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE and CAB Abstracts. Additional studies were identified from reference lists and technical experts. REVIEW METHODS: Vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, and folate, and a dozen types of berries and their constituents were evaluated. Human, animal, and in vitro studies were evaluated. Outcomes of interest from human studies were neurocognitive function or diagnosis with AD, cognitive decline, PD, or related conditions. Intervention studies, associations between dietary intake and outcomes, and associations between B vitamin levels and outcomes were evaluated. Specific mechanisms of action were evaluated in animal and in vitro studies. Studies were extracted for study design, demographics, intervention or predictor, and neurocognitive outcomes. Studies were graded for quality and applicability. RESULTS: In animal studies, deficiencies in vitamins B1 or folate generally cause neurological dysfunction; supplementation with B6, B12, or folate may improve neurocognitive function. In animal experiments folate and B12 protect against genetic deficiencies used to model AD; thiamine and folate also affect neurovascular function and health. Human studies were generally of poor quality. Weak evidence suggests possible benefits of B1 supplementation and injected B12 in AD. The effects of B6 and folate are unclear. Overall, dietary intake studies do not support an association between B vitamin intake and AD. Studies evaluating B vitamin status were mostly inadequate due to poor study design. Overall, studies do not support an association between B vitamin status and age-related neurocognitive disorders. Only one study evaluated human berry consumption, finding no association with PD. Animal studies of berries have almost all been conducted by the same research group. Several berry constituents have been shown to affect brain and nerve tissue function. Blueberry and strawberry extract were protective of markers of disease, although effects on neurocognitive tests were less consistent. Berry extracts may protect against the deleterious effects of compounds associated with AD. Reporting of adverse events was uncommon. When reported, actual adverse events from B vitamins were rare and minor. CONCLUSIONS: The current research on B vitamins is largely inadequate to confidently assess their mechanisms of action on age-related neurocognitive disorders, their associations with disease, or their effectiveness as supplements. B vitamin supplementation may be of value for neurocognitive function, but the evidence is inconclusive.

PMID: 17628125 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Antidiabetic drugs used in Europe prior to the discovery of insulin.: Pharmazie. 2007 Sep;62(9):717-20 Authors: Helmstädter A

Many therapeutic agents had been used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus before insulin was discovered and several hundred plants have shown some extent of antidiabetic activity. This study tries to explore which agents were most widely used in Europe in the pre-insulin era. According to the scientific literature and the proprietary drug industry around 1900, more than 100 agents were considered to have hypoglycemic activity. Most of them seem to have been used only occasionally while some others were recommended and marketed to a large extent. Among the medicinal plants, Syzygium cumini (syn. S. jambolanum, Eugenia jambolana), Vaccinum myrtillus and Phaseolus sp. were most common, and other frequently used agents were opium, opium alkaloids, other alkaloids like quinine or Belladonna alkaloids, salicylates, alkaline substances like sodium (bi)carbonate and even strong poisons like arsenic or uranium salts. Syzygium jambolanum seed powder seems to be one of the most intensively studied antidiabetic agents of plant origin.

PMID: 17944329 [PubMed - in process]

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits the invasion of human oral cancer cells and decreases the productions of matrix metalloproteinases and urokinase-plasminogen activator.: J Oral Pathol Med. 2007 Nov;36(10):588-93 Authors: Ho YC, Yang SF, Peng CY, Chou MY, Chang YC

Background: Green tea polyphenols are considered beneficial to human health, especially as cancer chemopreventive agents in recent years. Epigallocatechin- 3-gallate (EGCG), the most abundant polyphenol in green tea, has been proven to suppress colonic tumorigenesis in animal and epidemiological studies, whereas its role in the oral carcinogenesis remains to be elucidated. Methods: Cytotoxicity, invasion, and migration assays were used to investigate the effects of human oral cancer cell line OC2 cells exposed to EGCG. To look at the precise involvement of EGCG in cancer metastasis, gelatin zymography and casein zymography were performed to evaluate the impacts of EGCG on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) secretion in OC2 cells. Results: EGCG exhibited a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the invasion and migration of OC2 cells in the absence of cytotoxicity (P < 0.05). EGCG was also found to decrease the expressions of MMP-2, MMP-9, and uPA in a concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that EGCG could inhibit the invasion and migration of human oral cancer cells and that the effects may partially because of the decreased productions of MMP-2, MMP-9, and uPA.

PMID: 17944751 [PubMed - in process]

Changes in components, glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid, in raw Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, modify insulin sensitizing and insulinotropic actions.: Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2007 Jun;71(6):1452-61 Authors: Ko BS, Jang JS, Hong SM, Sung SR, Lee JE, Lee MY, Jeon WK, Park S

We hypothesized that roasted Glycyrrhizae Radix (Glycyrrhizin Radix Praeparata, GRP) might modify anti-diabetic action due to compositional changes. Then we examined the anti-diabetic effect and mechanism of raw Glycyrrhizae Radix (GR) and GRP extracts and their major respective components, glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid. In partial pancreatectomized (Px) diabetic mice, both GR and GRP improved glucose tolerance, but only GRP enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion as much as exendin-4. Both GR and GRP extracts enhanced insulin-stimulated glucose uptake through peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma activation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Consistently with the results of the mice study, only GRP and glycyrrhetinic acid enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in isolated islets. In addition, they induced mRNA levels of insulin receptor substrate-2, pancreas duodenum homeobox-1, and glucokinase in the islets, which contributed to improving beta-cell viability. In conclusion, GRP extract containing glycyrrhetinic acid improved glucose tolerance better than GR extract by enhancing insulinotropic action. Thus, GRP had better anti-diabetic action than GR.

PMID: 17587675 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Incensole Acetate, a Novel anti-inflammatory compound Isolated from Boswellia Resin, Inhibits Nuclear Factor (NF)-kappa B Activation.: Mol Pharmacol. 2007 Sep 25; Authors: Moussaieff A, Shohami E, Kashman Y, Fride E, Schmitz ML, Renner F, Fiebich BL, Munoz E, Ben-Neriah Y, Mechoulam R

Boswellia resin is a major anti-inflammatory agent in herbal medical tradition, as well as a common food supplement. Its anti-inflammatory activity has been attributed to boswellic acid and its derivatives. Here, we re-examined the anti-inflammatory effect of the resin, using IkappaBalpha degradation in TNFalpha-stimulated HeLa cells as a read-out for a bioassay-guided fractionation. We thus isolated two novel NF-kappaB inhibitors from the resin, their structures elucidated as incensole acetate (IA) and its non-acetylated form, incensole (IN). IA inhibited TAK/TAB-mediated IkappaB kinase (IKK) activation loop phosphorylation, resulting in the inhibition of cytokine and LPS mediated NF-kappaB activation. It had no effect on IKK activity in vitro, nor did it suppress IkappaBalpha phosphorylation in costimulated T-cells, indicating that the kinase inhibition is neither direct, nor is it affecting all NF-kappaB activation pathways. The inhibitory effect appears specific as IA did not interfere with TNFalpha-induced activation of JNK and p38 MAPK. IA treatment had a robust anti-inflammatory effect in a mouse inflamed paw model. Cembrenoid diterpenoids, and specifically IA and its derivatives may thus constitute a potential novel group of NF-kappaB inhibitors, originating from an ancient anti-inflammatory herbal remedy.

PMID: 17895408 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Intake of water, herbal teas and non-breast milks during the first month of life: Associated factors and impact on breastfeeding duration.: Early Hum Dev. 2007 Sep 19; Authors: Giugliani ER, do Espírito Santo LC, de Oliveira LD, Aerts D

BACKGROUND:: The use of non-breast milks seems to cause more harm to the child's health than the isolated introduction of water/herbal teas. AIMS:: Study the factors associated with introduction of water/herbal teas or non-breast milks during the first month of life and determine the impact of this supplementation on breastfeeding duration. STUDY DESIGN:: Nested cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS:: 220 mother-infant pairs contacted in the maternity ward, at 7 days and at the end of 1, 2, 4, and 6 months. OUTCOME MEASURES:: Introduction of water/herbal teas or non-breast milks in the first month of life based on data collected during a home visit 30 days after delivery. RESULTS:: Introduction of water/herbal teas was associated with maternal age <20 years (prevalence ratio=1.55; 95%CI 1.14-2.09), <6 prenatal consultations (1.48; 1.09-2.01), cohabitation with maternal grandmother (1.51; 1.10-2.10), and poor latch-on at 30 days (1.87; 1.35-2.58). Introduction of non-breast milks was associated with breastfeeding of previous children for <6 months (3.18; 1.18-8.58), cesarean (1.92; 1.07-3.44), poor latch-on at 30 days (2.82; 1.55-5.11), use of pacifier at 7 days (2.75; 1.38-5.48), introduction of herbal teas in the first 7 days (2.75; 1.15-4.15) and breast engorgement at 7 days (2.19; 1.01-3.16). Introduction of non-breast milks negatively influenced breastfeeding duration (p<0.001); this was not observed with water/herbal teas (p=0.277). CONCLUSION:: Priority should be given to preventing the early introduction on non-breast milks, especially in mother-infant pairs with associated risk factors.

PMID: 17888592 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Gender- and age-related variations in blood viscosity in normal volunteers: a study of the effects of extract of Allium sativum and Ginkgo biloba.: Phytomedicine. 2007 Aug;14(7-8):447-51 Authors: Galduróz JC, Antunes HK, Santos RF

This study sought to compare the effects of age and gender on blood viscosity and to appraise the effectiveness of Ginkgo biloba and Allium sativum extracts in reducing blood viscosity. Stage 1: Our sample consisted of 80 male volunteers (40 aged 18-60 and 40 aged 61 and over) and 80 females with the same age profile. Stage 2: We studied 60 male volunteers allocated in groups: placebo, G. biloba, and A. sativum. Stage 3: We studied 25 male volunteers and in the initial, intermediate, and final evaluations, the measures of blood viscosity were repeated. Volunteers were given a clinical evaluation and submitted to laboratory tests. G. biloba led to the highest reduction in blood viscosity compared with placebo and A. sativum. In relation to the use of the two substances, G. biloba and A. sativum, dry extract of G. biloba proved to be more effective in reducing blood viscosity.

PMID: 17618098 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]