Wirksamkeit und Sicherheit von Padma 28 bei peripherer arterieller Verschlusskrankheit

Plant-Derived Products as Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents in Human Health Care

A number of papers reporting antimicrobial properties of extracts, essential oils, resins and various classes of compounds isolated from higher plants have been published in recent years; however, a comprehensive analysis of plant-derived antimicrobial agents currently applied in practice for the improvement of human health is still lacking. This review summarizes data on clinical efficacy, antimicrobial effects and the chemistry of commercially available antibacterial and antifungal agents of plant origin currently used in the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal, oral, respiratory, skin, and urinary infections. As a result of an analysis of the literature, more than 40 plant-derived over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, cosmetics, herbal medicines, and functional foods containing complex mixtures (e.g. Glycyrrhiza glabra extract, Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil, and Pistacia lentiscus resin), pure compounds (e.g. benzoic acid, berberine, eucalyptol, salicylic acid and thymol) as well as their derivatives and complexes (e.g. bismuth subsalicylate and zinc pyrithione) have been identified. The effectiveness of many of these products is illustrated by results of clinical trials and supported by data on there in vitro antimicrobial activity. A broad spectrum of various commercial products currently available on the market and their welldocumented clinical efficacy suggests that plants are prospective sources for the identification of new types of antimicrobial agents in future. Innovative approaches and methodologies for effective proof-of-concept research and the development of new types of plant-derived products effective against recently emerging problems related to human microbial diseases (e.g. antimicrobial resistance) are also proposed in this review.

The effect of anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial herbal remedy PADMA 28 on immunological angiogenesis and granulocytes activity in mice

PADMA 28 is a herbal multicompound remedy that originates from traditional Tibetan medicine and possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, angioprotecting, and wound healing properties. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of this remedy on immunological angiogenesis and granulocytes metabolic activity in Balb/c mice. Mice were fed daily, for seven days, with 5.8 mg of PADMA (calculated from recommended human daily dose) or 0.085 mg (dose in the range of active doses of other herbal extracts studied by us previously). Results. Highly significant increase of newly formed blood vessels number in ex vivo cutaneous lymphocyte-induced angiogenesis test (LIA) after grafting of Balb/c splenocytes from both dosage groups to F1 hybrids (Balb/c × C3H); increase of blood lymphocytes and granulocytes number only in mice fed with lower dose of remedy; and significant suppression of metabolic activity (chemiluminescence test) of blood granulocytes in mice fed with higher dose of PADMA. Conclusion. PADMA 28 behaves as a good stimulator of physiological angiogenesis, but for this purpose it should be used in substantially lower doses than recommended by producers for avoiding the deterioration of granulocyte function.

The effect of myrtol standardized on human nasal ciliary beat frequency and mucociliary transport time

BACKGROUND

This study was designed to observe the effects of myrtol standardized (Gelomyrtol forte), a secretomucolytic phytomedicine, on both ciliary beat frequency (CBF) in vitro and mucociliary transport time (MTT) in vivo.

METHODS

Changes in cultured human nasal CBF in response to immediate treatment with 75, 150, or 300 ng/mL of myrtol standardized and prolonged treatment (12 or 24 hours) with 300 ng/mL of myrtol standardized were quantified by using high-speed digital microscopy. In addition, MTT before and after oral application of myrtol standardized (three times a day, 900 mg/day, 10 days) was determined using the saccharine test, and the effects of this treatment regime on nasal patency was measured by acoustic rhinometry and active anterior rhinomanometry in 22 patients with nonallergic chronic rhinitis. Another 10 patients without medication, who had the same examinations twice with a 10-day interval, were involved as controls.

RESULTS

Neither immediate nor prolonged treatment with myrtol standardized produced a distinguishable change in CBF. Meanwhile, only in patients with treatment, MTT, as well as a unilateral minimum cross-sectional area, the volume of 0-5 cm inside the nasal cavity, the unilateral nasal resistance at 75 Pa and total symptom visual analog score were significantly improved after treatment.

CONCLUSION

Based on these results we propose that a 10-day treatment with an herbal medicine, myrtol standardized, improves nasal mucociliary clearance as well as nasal patency in patients with chronic rhinitis. However, it has no impact on ex vivo CBF.

Das anti-inflammatorische Potential von Padma 28 – Übersicht experimenteller Daten zur antiatherogenen Wirkung und Diskussion des Vielstoffkonzepts

BACKGROUND

The Tibetan remedy Padma 28 has been used in Europe for decades and has proved to be effective in inflammatory and atherosclerotic conditions. Beyond clinical trials, a large number of in vitro and ex vivo studies report various properties and biochemical activities of this complex herbal multicompound.

OBJECTIVE

To give an overview of the complex efficacy profile of Padma 28, to review available data, to relate findings to the development of atherosclerosis and thus to discuss the antiatherogenic potential of Padma 28.

METHODS

Published non-clinical original papers on Padma 28 were collected and classified according to the studied mechanisms of action. Results were correlated to the briefly described sequences of atherogenesis and various mechanisms of action were elaborated, laying particular emphasis on more recent articles.

RESULTS

The complex activity profile of Padma 28 spans mainly direct and indirect anti-inflammatory proper-ties as well as further categories of biochemical actions. These can be related to the complex processes of atherogenesis.

CONCLUSIONS

The described mechanisms support the therapeutic field of application of Padma 28, i.e. peripheral circulatory disorders as well as chronic inflammatory disorders. Moreover, the numerous effects as well as the diversity of sites of action allow to draw first conclusions on the conceptual design of this multicomponent formula.

Tibetische Arzneimittel in Europa: Historische, praktische und regulatorische Aspekte

Being one of the great medicine systems of the world, Tibetan Medicine developed in the 8th century AD and spread throughout central Asia over the intervening centuries. The first European contact with Tibetan remedies started around 1850 in Russia. By and by, they made their way as far a Switzerland where, in the meantime, they have been produced for more than 30 years and licensed by the health authorities. During the last years, comprehensive clinical and experimental research material has been generated on several formulas, especially on Padma 28 and Padma Lax. At the same time, a genuine European pool of experience was gained. Tibetan remedies are multicomponent mixtures. Special requirements on quality assessment, efficacy and safety arise on the path to a modern Tibetan multicompound. The production of such elaborately formulated com-positions has to take into account modern demands of GMPas well as traditional sources. In recent years, a rising popularity of Asian medicine can be observed. This need of patients, physicians and therapists also demands answers from the regulatory part. Aspects such as the justification of the composition (rationale of combination) and certain quality standards have to be newly defined by the authorities in this context. Only with adapted regulatory frameworks Tibetan medicines can find their place in Europe and, together with other medical traditions and biomedical research, integratively enrich the arsenal of intervention and prevention of Western industrial societies.