science

Therapeutic wisdom in traditional Chinese medicine: a perspective from modern science.: Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2005 Nov;26(11):558-63 Authors: Jiang WY

The reasons why the standards of evaluating Western medicine are not suitable for testing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are explicit in the therapeutic objective and principles of TCM. TCM aims to correct maladjustments and restore the self-regulatory ability of the body, and not to antagonize specific pathogenetic targets. Maladjustments in a disease can be classified into several 'patterns' according to TCM theory. Multiple diseases might share one 'pattern' and be treated by the same herbal formula whereas one disease might display several different 'patterns' and be treated by multiple formulae. These principles are supported by evidence that multi-system changes in one pattern can be modulated by a herbal formula. The approaches used in systems biology and pharmacogenetics are similar to the practices of TCM. I propose that a combined approach using specific parameters associated with modern medicine, the general condition of individuals, as outlined by TCM, and pattern stratification of diseases should be employed to re-evaluate herbal formulae.

The p53 Tumor Suppressor: A Story of Death and Degradation:

Presented by: Karen Vousden, Ph.D., FRS, Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow, Scotland

Aired date: 10/21/2003 4:00:00 PM Eastern Time

Science for All: Pay Attention! Focusing on ADHD (HHS Only)

Presented by: Staff Training in Extramural Programs

Aired date: 1/10/2006 2:47:00 PM Eastern Time

Identification of atractyloside by LC-ESI-MS in alleged herbal poisonings.: Forensic Sci Int. 2005 Dec 20; Steenkamp PA, Harding NM, van Heerden FR, van Wyk BE

An LC-MS screening method was developed to detect the presence of atractyloside (ATR), the toxic principle of a commonly used medicinal plant in South Africa, Callilepis laureola, in biological matrices such as body fluids and human viscera.

Lack of herbal supplement characterization in published randomized controlled trials.: Am J Med. 2005 Oct; 118(10): 1087-93 Wolsko PM, Solondz DK, Phillips RS, Schachter SC, Eisenberg DM

PURPOSE: Herbal supplements in the United States and abroad have poor quality control and high content variability. We assessed the extent to which recently published randomized controlled trials of herbal supplements characterized and verified the content of the supplement under study. METHODS: We identified all MEDLINE-indexed English language randomized controlled trials evaluating single-herb preparations of echinacea, garlic, ginkgo, saw palmetto, or St. John's wort that were published between January 1, 2000, and February 9, 2004. From each article we extracted information characterizing the herbal supplement studied. RESULTS: Of 81 randomized controlled trials meeting inclusion criteria, 12 (15%) reported performing tests to quantify actual contents, and 3 (4%) provided adequate data to compare actual with expected content values of at least one chemical constituent. In those 3 studies, actual content varied between 80% and 113% of expected values. Studies of higher overall quality (Jadad score > or =3) performed testing somewhat less frequently (5/54; 9%) than those with lower Jadad scores (7/27; 26%) (P = .09). CONCLUSION: Documented characterization of herbal supplements in published randomized controlled trials is inadequate. Investigators may be unaware of the extent to which herbal quality-control issues may detract from the value of otherwise well-designed clinical trials. The scientific and clinical utility of future herbal randomized controlled trials would be enhanced if authors provided evidence that the herbal products studied were of high quality.

Restoring T Cell Homeostasis: the Ying and the Yang:

Presented by: Crystal Mackall, M.D., Pediatric Oncology Branch, NCI

NIH Director's Seminars

Aired date: 10/29/2004 2:25:00 PM Eastern Time

Herbal Medicine: Ancient Practice Meets Modern Science - Norman R. Farnsworth, Ph.D.

Dr. Farnsworth is Director of the Program for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), where he is also a Research Professor of Pharmacognosy and Distinguished University Professor. His research in the field of biologically active plants dates back to the early 1950's. He is a world renowned scholar and leader in the effort to standardize dosage forms of plant extracts so that clinical and basic research can be conducted to evaluate their effectiveness as drugs and dietary supplements. His research group at the UIC/NIH Center for Botanical Dietary Supplements Research is currently designing standardized plant extracts for use in clinical trials to obtain definitive answers regarding their safety and effectiveness to alleviate symptoms associated with menopause. He discussed the challenges in this research, including plant collection and identification, isolation of active ingredients, understanding how botanicals work, and whether they are safe and effective.

Wednesday, October 22, 2003