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Le J, Ji H, Zhou X, Wei X, Chen Y, Fu Y, Ma Y, Han Q, Sun Y, Gao Y, Wu H. Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Metabolism of Sennoside A, A Medicinal Plant-Derived Natural Compound. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:714586. [PMID: 34764866 PMCID: PMC8576406 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.714586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sennoside A (SA) is a natural dianthrone glycoside mainly from medicinal plants of Senna and Rhubarb, and used as a folk traditional irritant laxative and slimming health food. Accumulating evidences suggest that SA possesses numerous pharmacological properties, such as laxative, anti-obesity, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-neurodegenerative activities. These pharmacological effects lay the foundation for its potential application in treating a variety of diseases. However, numerous published studies suggest that a long-term use of SA in large doses may have some adverse effects, including the occurrence of melanosis coli and carcinogenesis of colon cancer, thereby limiting its clinical use. It remains to be established whether SA or its metabolites are responsible for the pharmacological and toxicity effects. In this review, the latest advances in the pharmacology, toxicology, and metabolism of SA were summarizedbased on its biological characteristics and mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiamei Le
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Houlin Ji
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Zhou
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xindong Wei
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China.,Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine Affiliated 81st Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Yifan Chen
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Fu
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yujie Ma
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiuqin Han
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongning Sun
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yueqiu Gao
- Department of Liver Diseases, Central Laboratory, Institute of Clinical Immunology, ShuGuang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Laboratory of Cellular Immunity, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hailong Wu
- Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
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Nayan SI, Chowdhury FI, Akter N, Rahman MM, Selim S, Saffoon N, Khan F, Subhan N, Hossain M, Ahmed KS, Hossain H, Haque MA, Alam MA. Leaf powder supplementation of Senna alexandrina ameliorates oxidative stress, inflammation, and hepatic steatosis in high-fat diet-fed obese rats. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250261. [PMID: 33878116 PMCID: PMC8057619 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity is an enduring medical issue that has raised concerns around the world. Natural plant extracts have shown therapeutic potential in preventing oxidative stress and inflammation related to obesity complications. In this study, Senna alexandrina Mill. leaves were utilized to treat high-fat diet-related metabolic disorders and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases. Plasma biochemical assays were conducted to determine the lipid profiles and oxidative stress parameters, and the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and inflammatory mediators was measured. Histological stained livers of high-fat diet-fed rats were observed. S. alexandrina leaf powder supplementation prevented the increase in cholesterol and triglyceride levels in high-fat diet-fed rats. Moreover, S. alexandrina leaves also reduced lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide production in these rats. Prevention of oxidative stress by S. alexandrina leaf supplementation in high-fat diet-fed rats is regulated by enhancing the antioxidant enzyme activity, followed by the restoration of corresponding gene expressions, such as NRF-2, HO-1, SOD, and CAT. Histological staining provides further evidence that S. alexandrina leaf supplementation prevents inflammatory cell infiltration, lipid droplet deposition, and fibrosis in the liver of high-fat diet-fed rats. Furthermore, this investigation revealed that S. alexandrina leaf supplementation controlled non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by modulating the expression of fat metabolizing enzymes in high-fat diet-fed rats. Therefore, S. alexandrina leaf supplementation inhibits fatty liver inflammation and fibrosis, suggesting its usefulness in treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Thus, this natural leaf extract has potential in treatment of obesity related liver dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shariful Islam Nayan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Noushin Akter
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Mizanur Rahman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Department of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
| | - Saima Selim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Nadia Saffoon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Ferdous Khan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Nusrat Subhan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Maqsud Hossain
- NSU Genome Research Institute (NGRI), North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - K. Shahin Ahmed
- BCSIR Laboratories, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Hemayet Hossain
- BCSIR Laboratories, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Areeful Haque
- Department of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
- * E-mail: , (MAA); , (MAH)
| | - Md Ashraful Alam
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- * E-mail: , (MAA); , (MAH)
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Ibrahim R, Nyska A, Dunnick J, Ramot Y. The toxicologic pathology aspects of selected natural herbal products and related compounds. J Toxicol Pathol 2021; 34:181-211. [PMID: 34290474 PMCID: PMC8280299 DOI: 10.1293/tox.2021-0016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Herbal products have been in use for many years, but they are becoming more and more
popular in recent years, and they are currently in widespread use throughout the world. In
this review article we describe the histopathologic findings found after exposure to 12
dietary herbals in studies conducted in rodent model systems. Clear or some evidence for
carcinogenic activity was seen with 6 herbals, with the liver being the most common organ
affected. The intestine was affected by two herbals (aloe vera nondecolorized extract and
senna), three had no clear evidence for carcinogenic activity and one was cardiotoxic
(Ephedrine and Ephedra in combination with caffeine). Information from these studies can
help to better understand potential target organs for further evaluation from exposure to
various herbal products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruba Ibrahim
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.,Department of Dermatology, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Abraham Nyska
- Consultant in Toxicologic Pathology, Yehuda HaMaccabi 31, floor 5, Tel Aviv 6200515, Israel.,Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - June Dunnick
- Toxicology Branch, Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Yuval Ramot
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.,Department of Dermatology, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
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Matocq MD, Ochsenrider KM, Jeffrey CS, Nielsen DP, Richards LA. Fine-Scale Differentiation in Diet and Metabolomics of Small Mammals Across a Sharp Ecological Transition. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
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Eid AM, Jaradat N. Public Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice on Herbal Remedies Used During Pregnancy and Lactation in West Bank Palestine. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:46. [PMID: 32116721 PMCID: PMC7034419 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of herbal products by pregnant and lactating mothers without awareness of their harmful effects may expose both mother and fetus or infant to great dangers, such as abortion, premature delivery, uterine bleeding, and physical and mental retardation of the fetus. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which herbal product treatment is used and the reason for which such products are used and to ensure that these reasons are correct. An ethnopharmacological survey (cross-sectional observational design study) using a pre-piloted questionnaire was undertaken on herbal products used by pregnant and lactating women in the West Bank area of Palestine. A questionnaire was distributed to 350 pregnant and lactating women. The informed consent forms, ethics, and aims of the present study were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at An-Najah National University. To identify the most important species used, the use value (UV) index was employed, while the SPSS program was used to analyze the data. Collected data revealed that 13 medicinal plants are utilized, while 12 plants are not used during pregnancy. Moreover, 15 plants are utilized and 9 plants are not used during lactation for treating and dealing with various problems. The most commonly used plants belonged to 14 families, including Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, Leguminosae, and Rubiaceae. The plants most used during pregnancy were sage (Salvia fruticosa), anise (Pimpinella anisum), and peppermint (Mentha × piperita). Castor (Ricinus communis) oil, ginger (Zingiber officinale), saffron (Crocus sativus), and senna (Senna alexandrina) mostly were not used by pregnant women. Moreover, cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), anise (P. anisum), peppermint (M. piperita), and sage (S. fruticosa) were mostly used during lactation. Castor (R. communis) oil, ginger (Z. officinale), garlic (Allium sativum), and aloe (Aloe vera) mostly were not used during lactation. This study is of great importance in order to decrease the possibility of endangering the lives of fetuses and infants. A combined effort among researchers, scientists, lactating women, and pregnant women may help in changing wrong uses and thoughts about medicinal plants and help to improve the overall health of both mother and fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad M Eid
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Nidal Jaradat
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
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Touiti N, Achour S, Iken I, Chebaibi M, Sqalli Houssaini T. Nephrotoxicity associated with herbal medicine use, experience from Morroco. Toxicologie Analytique et Clinique 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxac.2019.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Touiti N, Houssaini TS, Iken I, Benslimane A, Achour S. Prevalence of herbal medicine use among patients with kidney disease: A cross-sectional study from Morocco. Nephrol Ther 2019; 16:43-49. [PMID: 31383617 DOI: 10.1016/j.nephro.2019.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of herbal medicine use by patients hospitalized or consultant in the nephrology department of University Hospital center Hassan II Fez, the reasons of this use, to identify socio-demographic characteristics, and the etiology of kidney disease related to herbal medicine use, also the most used plants. METHOD Cross-sectional study on the use of herbal medicine conducted at the nephrology department of University Hospital Center Hassan II Fez, Morocco. During 6 months between August 2015 and February 2016. Patients older than 15 years (n=471) with varying degrees of kidney disease were included. The questionnaire contained questions related to socio-demographic data, the use of plants, knowledge about herbal medicine toxicity, and etiology of KD. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze socio-demographic characteristics related to herbal medicine use. RESULTS A total of 471 patients responded; the prevalence of herbal medicine use was 50.7%. Herbal medicine users were more likely to be males (OR 0.43; 95%CI 0.25-0.74); unemployed (OR 0.51; 95%CI 0.29-0.89), with unknown etiology (OR 0.43; 95%CI 0.22-0.84). Reasons of use were: belief in its efficacy (74%), easy access to medicinal herbal medicine (70%), and lower cost (48%). The most commonly used herbal medicine were Rosmarinus officinalis L.; Origanum compactum Benth; Artemisia herba-alba Asso and Mentha pulegium L. Potentially harmful herbal medicine included Aristolochia longa. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of herbal medicine use is high among patients with kidney disease in nephrology department.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noufissa Touiti
- Research team toxicology and environmental health, center of biomedical and translational research, university hospital center Hassan II, road Sidi Harazem, Shore Park street, 30070 Fez, Morocco; Faculty of science and technology of Fez, university Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah, BP 2202, Imouzzer road, Fez, Morocco.
| | - Tarik Sqalli Houssaini
- Research team kidney, laboratory of molecular bases in human pathology and therapeutic tools, university hospital center Hassan II, road Sidi Harazem, Shore Park street, 30070 Fez, Morocco
| | - Imane Iken
- Research team toxicology and environmental health, center of biomedical and translational research, university hospital center Hassan II, road Sidi Harazem, Shore Park street, 30070 Fez, Morocco; Laboratory of toxicology, university hospital center Hassan II, road Sidi Harazem, Shore Park street, 30070 Fez, Morocco; Faculty of medicine and pharmacy of Fez, BP 1893, KM 2.200, road Sidi Harazem, Shore Park street, 30070 Fez, Morocco
| | - Abdelilah Benslimane
- Department of epidemiology clinical research and public health, medical school of Fez, Faculty of medicine and pharmacy of Fez, BP 1893, KM 2.200, road Sidi Harazem, Fez, Morocco
| | - Sanae Achour
- Research team toxicology and environmental health, center of biomedical and translational research, university hospital center Hassan II, road Sidi Harazem, Shore Park street, 30070 Fez, Morocco; Laboratory of toxicology, university hospital center Hassan II, road Sidi Harazem, Shore Park street, 30070 Fez, Morocco; Faculty of medicine and pharmacy of Fez, BP 1893, KM 2.200, road Sidi Harazem, Shore Park street, 30070 Fez, Morocco
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Younes M, Aggett P, Aguilar F, Crebelli R, Filipič M, Frutos MJ, Galtier P, Gott D, Gundert-Remy U, Kuhnle GG, Lambré C, Leblanc JC, Lillegaard IT, Moldeus P, Mortensen A, Oskarsson A, Stankovic I, Waalkens-Berendsen I, Woutersen RA, Andrade RJ, Fortes C, Mosesso P, Restani P, Pizzo F, Smeraldi C, Papaioannou A, Wright M. Safety of hydroxyanthracene derivatives for use in food. EFSA J 2018; 16:e05090. [PMID: 32625659 PMCID: PMC7009633 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety of hydroxyanthracene derivatives and to provide advice on a daily intake that does not give rise to concerns about harmful effects to health. Hydroxyanthracene derivatives are a class of chemical substances naturally occurring in different botanical species and used in food to improve bowel function. The ANS Panel reviewed the available scientific data on a possible relationship between hydroxyanthracene derivatives exposure and genotoxic and carcinogenic effects. On the basis of the data currently available, the Panel noted that emodin, aloe-emodin and the structurally related substance danthron have shown evidence of in vitro genotoxicity. Aloe extracts have also been shown to be genotoxic in vitro possibly due to the presence of hydroxyanthracene derivatives in the extract. Furthermore, aloe-emodin was shown to be genotoxic in vivo and the whole-leaf aloe extract and the structural analogue danthron were shown to be carcinogenic. Epidemiological data suggested an increased risk for colorectal cancer associated with the general use of laxatives, several of which contain hydroxyanthracene derivatives. Considering the possible presence of aloe-emodin and emodin in extracts, the Panel concluded that hydroxyanthracene derivatives should be considered as genotoxic and carcinogenic unless there are specific data to the contrary, such as for rhein, and that there is a safety concern for extracts containing hydroxyanthracene derivatives although uncertainty persists. The Panel was unable to provide advice on a daily intake of hydroxyanthracene derivatives that does not give rise to concerns about harmful effects to health.
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Yokoyama S, Hiramoto K, Yamate Y, Ooi K. Influence of Repeated Senna Laxative Use on Skin Barrier Function in Mice. Ann Dermatol 2017; 29:414-421. [PMID: 28761288 PMCID: PMC5500705 DOI: 10.5021/ad.2017.29.4.414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Revised: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Senna, one of the major stimulant laxatives, is widely used for treating constipation. Chronic senna use has been reported to be associated with colonic disorders such as melanosis coli and/or epithelial hyperplasia. However, there is no obvious information on the influence of chronic senna use on organs except for the intestine. Objective To clarify the influence of senna laxative use on skin barrier function by repeated senna administration. Methods Eight-week-old male hairless mice received senna (10 mg/kg/day) for 21 days. After administration, we evaluated transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and investigated the biomarkers in plasma and skin using protein analysis methods. Results Fecal water content on day seven was significantly increased; however, on day 21, it was significantly decreased after repeated senna administration. In the senna-administered group, TEWL was significantly higher compared to the control on days seven and 21. Plasma acetylcholine concentration and NO2−/NO3− were increased on days seven and 21, respectively. In skin, tryptase-positive mast cells and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-positive cells were increased on days seven and 21, respectively. The increase of TEWL on days seven and 21 was suppressed by the administration of atropine and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, respectively. Conclusion It was suggested that diarrhea or constipation induced by repeated senna administration caused the impairment of skin barrier function. There is a possibility that this impaired skin barrier function occurred due to degranulation of mast cells via cholinergic signals or oxidative stress derived from iNOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Yokoyama
- Laboratory of Community Pharmacy, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Keiichi Hiramoto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Mie, Japan
| | - Yurika Yamate
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Mie, Japan
| | - Kazuya Ooi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Mie, Japan
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Shukla V, Asthana S, Gupta P, Dwivedi PD, Tripathi A, Das M. Toxicity of Naturally Occurring Anthraquinones. Advances in Molecular Toxicology 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-812522-9.00001-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Palhares RM, Gonçalves Drummond M, dos Santos Alves Figueiredo Brasil B, Pereira Cosenza G, das Graças Lins Brandão M, Oliveira G. Medicinal plants recommended by the world health organization: DNA barcode identification associated with chemical analyses guarantees their quality. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0127866. [PMID: 25978064 PMCID: PMC4433216 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2015] [Accepted: 04/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Medicinal plants are used throughout the world, and the regulations defining their proper use, such as identification of the correct species and verification of the presence, purity and concentration of the required chemical compounds, are widely recognized. Herbal medicines are made from vegetal drugs, the processed products of medicinal species. These processed materials present a number of challenges in terms of botanical identification, and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the use of incorrect species is a threat to consumer safety. The samples used in this study consisted of the dried leaves, flowers and roots of 257 samples from 8 distinct species approved by the WHO for the production of medicinal herbs and sold in Brazilian markets. Identification of the samples in this study using DNA barcoding (matK, rbcL and ITS2 regions) revealed that the level of substitutions may be as high as 71%. Using qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses, this study identified situations in which the correct species was being sold, but the chemical compounds were not present. Even more troubling, some samples identified as substitutions using DNA barcoding contained the chemical compounds from the correct species at the minimum required concentration. This last situation may lead to the use of unknown species or species whose safety for human consumption remains unknown. This study concludes that DNA barcoding should be used in a complementary manner for species identification with chemical analyses to detect and quantify the required chemical compounds, thus improving the quality of this class of medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Melo Palhares
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Genética, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Myleus Biotechnology Research Team, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Grupo de Genômica e Biologia Computacional, Centro de Pesquisa Rene Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Brasil
| | | | | | - Gustavo Pereira Cosenza
- Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil
| | - Maria das Graças Lins Brandão
- Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil
- CEPLAMT, Museu de História Natural e Jardim Botânico & Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil
| | - Guilherme Oliveira
- Grupo de Genômica e Biologia Computacional, Centro de Pesquisa Rene Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Brasil
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