Subacute thyroiditis following ginger (Zingiber officinale) consumption

Effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) intake on human serum lipid profile: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Dyslipidemia is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Effect of ginger supplementation on lipid profile in humans remains controversial particularly in diabetic patients. A systematic search was performed covering PubMed, Medline, and Scopus, Web of Science (ISI), and Google scholar from January 2010 to January 2022. Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled clinical trials (RCT) study design, at least one of lipid profile components triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) measured before and after ginger consumption. For quantitative data synthesis, a random-effects model was applied. Pooled data showed that ginger intake reduced TC (SMD -0.44; 95% CI: -0.86, -0.02; p = 0.025) and TG (SMD -0.61; 95% CI: -1.14, -0.08; p = 0.024) levels significantly, but it has no significant effect on improving HDL-C (SMD 0.40; 95% CI: -0.01, 0.80; p = 0.057) and LDL-C (SMD -0.34; 95% CI: -0.81, 0.13; p = 0.153). Ginger supplementation decreased TG in obese and diabetic subjects more efficiently. In terms of ginger dose, the result of meta-regression found to be significant only for TC, so that increasing daily doses of ginger reduces TC levels by (β: -0.67; 95% CI: -1.28, -0.07; p = 0.028). Therefore, ginger could be considered as an effective lipid lowering nutraceuticals.

Analysis of the Molecular Mechanisms of the Effects of Prunella vulgaris against Subacute Thyroiditis Based on Network Pharmacology

Prunella vulgaris (PV) has a long history of application in traditional Chinese and Western medicine as a remedy for the treatment of subacute thyroiditis (SAT). This study applied network pharmacology to elucidate the mechanism of the effects of PV against SAT. Components of the potential therapeutic targets of PV and SAT-related targets were retrieved from databases. To construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, the intersection of SAT-related targets and PV-related targets was input into the STRING platform. Gene ontology (GO) analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were carried out using the DAVID database. Networks were constructed by Cytoscape for visualization. The results showed that a total of 11 compounds were identified according to the pharmacokinetic parameters of ADME. A total of 126 PV-related targets and 2207 SAT-related targets were collected, and 83 overlapping targets were subsequently obtained. The results of the KEGG pathway and compound-target-pathway (C-T-P) network analysis suggested that the anti-SAT effect of PV mainly occurs through quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, and beta-sitosterol and is most closely associated with their regulation of inflammation and apoptosis by targeting the PIK3CG, MAPK1, MAPK14, TNF, and PTGS2 proteins and the PI3K-Akt and TNF signaling pathways. The study demonstrated that quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, and beta-sitosterol in PV may play a major role in the treatment of SAT, which was associated with the regulation of inflammation and apoptosis, by targeting the PI3K-Akt and TNF signaling pathways.

Chronic Dysuria Following Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Use: A Case Report

BACKGROUND

Although ginger is considered a harmless remedial substance for a wide range of medical complaints, according to Persian medicinal texts, its long-term or high-dose consumption is potentially harmful.

CASE REPORT

The case of a 43-year-old man, with a complaint of urinary stream interruption, dysuria, and flank pain, following a non-prescribed use of ginger was reported. The symptoms were reported to persist for four years, despite some medical referrals. Remarkably, the symptoms were attested to be shrinking eight weeks after ginger-intake cessation; besides, no further intervention was asserted.

CONCLUSION

The history of herbal remedies use should be considered in patients with any unexplained urinary symptoms.

A combined administration of Aragvādādi kaṣāyam and Syrup Talekt induced skin rashes

It is a common notion among people in India that herbal or Ayurvedic products are safe and do not produce any adverse effect. This is not true since Ayurveda has evaded many adverse effects which occur by combination of herbs. This axiom is potentiated by our report that occurs in the form of skin rashes. A 20-year-old South Indian female of Pittakapha prakṛti (constitution) after beginning therapy with Aragvādādi kaṣāyam (ARK) (poly-herbal formulation) and Syrup Talekt (poly-herbal patent formulation) for the treatment of recurrent incidence of abscess. Rash disappeared after stopping the suspected drug and treatment with Vibhītakī kaṣāyam (decoction of Terminilia bellarica) and Śatadhauta ghṛtam. Possible and probable (score 6) were the causality according to WHO-Uppsala Monitoring Centre and Naranjo's Adverse Drug Reaction Probability Scale and grouped under type-B reaction. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of skin rashes which seen after administration of ARK and Syrup Talekt. This report highlights the need of implementation of pharmacovigilance center in the hospital level and additional research in the field of skin toxicity of ARK and Syrup Talekt.

Neuropsychiatric manifestations of thyroid disease

The interface between thyroid hormone action and neuropsychiatric function is intricate, and several mechanisms of thyroid hormone uptake into brain tissues, hormone activation, and influences on neurotransmitter generation have been identified. Symptoms of hypothyroidism are nonspecific, whereas those attributed to thyrotoxicosis may be more characteristic. Neuropsychiatric manifestations triggered by thyroid dysfunction likely respond well to reestablishment of the euthyroid state, although some patients have persistent complaints. The addition of LT3 to ongoing LT4 replacement has yet to be definitively shown to be advantageous. Treatment of euthyroid depression with LT3 in addition to antidepressant therapy lacks convincing evidence of superior outcomes.

Antihyperlipidemic effects of ginger extracts in alloxan-induced diabetes and propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroidism in (rats)

Background:

Diabetic mellitus and hypothyroidism lead to serum lipoproteins disorders. This study aims to investigate the potential effect of fresh ginger extracts Zingiber officinale roscoe (Family: Zingebiraceae) on serum lipid profile and on blood glucose in alloxan-induced diabetes and propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroidism in rats. Rats were divided into 11 groups: The normal G1, diabetic control rats G2, ginger 500 mg/kg treated diabetic rats G3, 10 mg/day atorvastatine-treated diabetic rats G4, [5 mg/day atorvastatine combined with 500 mg/kg ginger] treated diabetic rats G5, glibenclamid-treated diabetic rats G6, hypothyoidism control rats G7, 300 mg/kg ginger-treated hypothyroidism rats G8, 500 mg/kg ginger-treated hypothyroidism rats G9, 10 mg/day atorvastatine-treated hypothyroidism rats G10, [atorvastatine combined with 500 mg/kg ginger]treated hypothyroidism rats G11. Thirty days after treatment, samples were collected, to compare treated groups with normal and control groups, using Mann-Whitney U test P < 0.01.

Results:

It revealed a decrease in the levels of total cholesterol (TC), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) in the serum of rats that were treated by ginger extracts, compared with the control groups. Previous extracts were also able to cause reduction in LDL to similar levels compared to normal group and that was the same effect of atorvastatin 10 mg/day. Combined effect was clear between the act of ginger at a dose of 500 mg/kg and atorvastatin; that levels of both TC and LDL in animals which received [atorvastatin 5 mg/day combined with ginger extract] was almost equal to levels in animals that received atorvastatin 10mg/day. Clear reduce in triglyceride, and clear increase in high density liopprotein were also recorded in the ginger-treated groups. Ginger was more active in hypothyroidism rats than in diabetic rats in reducing LDL and TC. Glucose levels were substantially reduced in ginger- treated diabetic groups.

Skin rash on site of application of Dashanga Lepa (polyherbal formulation): A rare and unexpected drug reaction

Dashanga Lepa is a polyherbal preparation of Ayurveda, used to treat many skin ailments and rheumatoid arthritis. However, its toxicological property has not been reported so far. We report a rare case of cutaneous adverse reaction in the form of skin rash following the application of Dashanga Lepa. A 42-year-old female patient with a Pittakaphalaprakruthi (constitution) developed skin rashes, soon after the application of Dashanga Lepa over the applied area, which disappeared after stopping the suspected drug and starting treatment with Shatadhauta ghritha. The patient was again treated with the same formulation after a span of a month, which led to the reappearance of a similar type of rash. The temporal relationship, positive dechallenge, and rechallenge are strong associations between the event and formulation. No such reaction was noticed by any other patient with the suspected medicine.