Metals and metalloids in traditional medicines (Ayurvedic medicines, nutraceuticals and traditional Chinese medicines)

A near-infrared fluorescent probe with thiadiazole unit as key skeleton for ICT and ESIPT mechanism and effective detection of Cu2

Fluorescent probe L-I was synthesized to demonstrate that 1,3,4-thiadiazole is an attractive moiety and could be utilized as positive hydrogen bond acceptor for excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) processes, guider of electrons movement for intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) process and identify group for mental ions. Furthermore, dicyanoisophorone framework was employed to improve the fluorescence characteristics and near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent emission at 695 nm accompanied by a Stoke's shift as large as 260 nm was obtained. L-I could selectively detect Cu2+ over other analytes taking advantages of high sensitivity, fast response within 30 s and low detection limit (0.026 μM). More important, L-I exhibited good performance for detection of Cu2+ in actual water samples, food products, traditional Chinese medicine and for cell imaging which demonstrates practical significance in the fields of environmental monitor, food safety and biotechnology.

Rational synthesis of 1,3,4-thiadiazole based ESIPT-fluorescent probe for detection of Cu2+ and H2S in herbs, wine and fruits

Here, 1,3,4-thiadiazole unit was employed as novel excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) structure to prepare favorable fluorescent probe. High selectivity and rapid response to Cu2+ was obtained and the settling reaction was also used to recover ESIPT characteristics of probe to achieve sequential detection of H2S. Remarkable color change of solution from colorless to bright yellow and fluorescence emission from green to dark realized the visual detection of Cu2+ by naked eyes and transition of probe into portable fluorescent test strips. As expected, L-E could be utilized to quantitatively sense Cu2+ and H2S in different actual water and food samples including herbs, wine and fruits. The limits of detection for Cu2+ and H2S were as low as 34.5 nM and 38.6 nM. Also, probe L-E achieved real-time, portable, on-site quantitative detection of Cu2+ via a colorimeter and a smartphone platform with limit of detection to 90.3 nM.

The effects of pomegranate consumption on liver function enzymes in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all published clinical trial studies to provide a more accurate estimation of pomegranate effects on liver enzymes in different clinical conditions.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was carried out using electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, up to March 2023 to identify eligible randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of pomegranate consumption on liver function enzymes. Heterogeneity tests of the selected trials were performed using the I2 statistic. Random effects models were assessed based on the heterogeneity tests, and pooled data were determined as the weighted mean difference with a 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS

Out of 3811 records, 9 eligible RCTs were included in the current study. However, there are limitations in the included studies, which can be mentioned in the dose, duration, and type of interventions that are different among the studies, as well as the small number of included studies. All this causes heterogeneity among studies and this heterogeneity limits the consistency of the results. Our meta-analysis showed that pomegranate intake had a significant effect on lowering aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in long-term intervention (> 8 weeks), obese (BMI≥30) individuals, or patients with metabolic disorders. Furthermore, results showed a significant decrease in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in the long-term intervention (> 8 weeks) or in patients with metabolic disorders following the pomegranate intake. Combined results from the random-effects model indicated a significant reduction in gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels (WMD: -5.43 IU/L 95% CI: -7.78 to -3.08; p < 0.001;) following the pomegranate intake. The results of Egger's test mentioned a significant publication bias for the trials examining the effect of pomegranate intake on AST (p = 0.007) and ALT (p = 0.036).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that long-term pomegranate intake may be effective in ameliorating liver enzymes in adults with obesity and metabolic disorders who are more likely to have elevated baseline liver enzymes due to some degree of liver injury or tissue damage. However, some studies failed to conduct independent biochemical characterization of the product used, including the presence and quantity of polyphenols, antioxidants, and proanthocyanidins.

Synthesis of Hydrazide Derivative of Betulinic Acid, Its Organometallic Complexes, Characterization and Bioassay

Betulinic acid and its derivatives comprehend an immense prospective toward the development of cytotoxic, antiviral, antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. Cisplatin (cytotoxic drug) divert the attentions to develop organometallic compounds with pronounced biological activities. The current study was aimed for the first time to synthesize, characterize and evaluate biologically a series of metal (Fe, Cu, Zn, Sn and Sb) complexes of betulinic acid hydrazide. First step involved the formation of hydrazide derivative of betulinic acid (ligand) by modification at C-28 carboxylic acid moiety of betulinic acid with hydrazine followed by the synthesis of its metal complexes using salts of different metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Sn and Sb). Physical state, melting point, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H-NMR) spectral techniques were used to characterized the ligand and its metal complexes. Agar well diffusion method and agar tube dilution assay were performed to evaluate its antibacterial and antifungal activities respectively. DPPH assay was carried out to develop antioxidant properties by the reported methods.

The effect of Royal jelly on liver enzymes and glycemic indices: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

BACKGROUND

Royal jelly (RJ) may contribute to glycemic control and liver function through various mechanisms. The present study aimed to quantify the effect of RJ supplementation on these outcomes.

METHODS

A literature search of Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed/Medline, was conducted for RCTs investigating the efficacy of RJ on plasma liver enzymes and glycemic indices. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for net changes using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

Ten RCTs were selected for inclusion in this meta-analysis. Combined estimate of effect sizes for the impact of RJ on neither the plasma liver enzymes nor the glycemic indices were statistically significant. Subgroup analysis showed a significant reduction of serum FPG in trials with intervention duration ≥ 8 weeks (WMD: -4.28 mg/dl, 95% CI -7.41 to -1.14 mg/dl, p = 0.007), and those conducted in non-healthy populations (WMD: -4.28 mg/dl, 95% CI -7.41 to -1.14, p = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

RJ does not significantly affect liver function and glycemic profile of adult population. In trials with longer intervention and those conducted in non-healthy populations a significant reduction of serum FBG was observed. This meta-analysis should be repeated in the future, with more primary articles included, in order to provide conclusive results.

Toxicological effects, residue levels and risks of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in Chinese medicine: a review

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that is used worldwide possesses the satisfactory function of disease prevention, treatment and health care, and this natural medicine seems to be favored due to its low side effects. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which exist in all aspects of our lives, may interfere with the synthesis, action and metabolism of human sex steroid hormones, resulting in the development and fertility problems as well as obesity and the disturbance of energy homeostasis. From planting to processing, TCM may be polluted by various EDCs. Many studies pay attention to this problem, but there are still few reviews on the residues and toxicity risks of EDCs in TCM. In this paper, researches related to EDCs in TCM were screened. The possible contamination sources of TCM from planting to processing and its toxic effects were introduced. Moreover, the residues of metals, pesticides and other EDCs in TCM as well as the health risks of human exposure to EDCs through ingestion of TCM materials were reviewed.

Heavy Metal Detection in Fritillaria thunbergii Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Coupled with Variable Selection Algorithm and Chemometrics

Environmental and health risks associated with heavy metal pollution are serious. Human health can be adversely affected by the smallest amount of heavy metals. Modeling spectrum requires the careful selection of variables. Hence, simple variables that have a low level of interference and a high degree of precision are required for fast analysis and online detection. This study used laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy coupled with variable selection and chemometrics to simultaneously analyze heavy metals (Cd, Cu and Pb) in Fritillaria thunbergii. A total of three machine learning algorithms were utilized, including a gradient boosting machine (GBM), partial least squares regression (PLSR) and support vector regression (SVR). Three promising wavelength selection methods were evaluated for comparison, namely, a competitive adaptive reweighted sampling method (CARS), a random frog method (RF), and an uninformative variable elimination method (UVE). Compared to full wavelengths, the selected wavelengths produced excellent results. Overall, RC2, RV2, RP2, RSMEC, RSMEV and RSMEP for the selected variables are as follows: 0.9967, 0.8899, 0.9403, 1.9853 mg kg−1, 11.3934 mg kg−1, 8.5354 mg kg−1; 0.9933, 0.9316, 0.9665, 5.9332 mg kg−1, 18.3779 mg kg−1, 11.9356 mg kg−1; 0.9992, 0.9736, 0.9686, 1.6707 mg kg−1, 10.2323 mg kg−1, 10.1224 mg kg−1 were obtained for Cd Cu and Pb, respectively. Experimental results showed that all three methods could perform variable selection effectively, with GBM-UVE for Cd, SVR-RF for Pb, and GBM-CARS for Cu providing the best results. The results of the study suggest that LIBS coupled with wavelength selection can be used to detect heavy metals rapidly and accurately in Fritillaria by extracting only a few variables that contain useful information and eliminating non-informative variables.

Composition of Three Common Chinese Herbal Medicines and the Influence of Preparation Types on the Bioaccessibility of Trace Elements

The high concentration of trace elements in Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is an important research topic for quality control. This study investigated the total concentration of trace elements in three herbs used as both medicine and supplementary food, including Astragalus membranaceus, Glycyrrhiza, and Isatidis. Further, the effects of different preparation ways, such as decoct, granule, and oral liquid, on the bioaccessibility of trace elements in CHM were disclosed. Results indicated that the total concentrations of trace elements in these three herbs were lower than the medical standards, but the concentrations of As and Pb in CHMs were higher than the standards for supplementary food. Different preparations ways affect bioaccessibility. Powder and oral liquid show a high bioaccessibility possibly because of the grinding process and the repeated extraction with ethanol. Among the three different CHMs, Isatidis showed higher bioaccessibility of As, which may be related to the sulfur fumigation process of this CHM. The three investigated CHMs were found to be safe as medicine but presented risks as supplementary food. The apparent influence of preparation procedures on the bioaccessibility of trace elements indicated that it is necessary to appropriately regulate preparation processes for CHMs.

Towards a Standardized Definition of Medical Nutrition Therapy and Regulatory Reform in Canada

Various definitions have been proposed to describe Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT). Broadly, MNT encompasses the provision of nutrition information and advice aimed to prevent, treat, and/or manage health conditions. In Canada, the provision of such information and advice is unregulated, thus allowing anyone to provide MNT services regardless of their education and training. This inevitably poses risks of harm such as the provision of unsafe and/or ineffective nutrition advice as well as delayed evidence-based treatment. Canadian research has further demonstrated that the general public is unable to properly differentiate between regulated, evidence-based nutrition providers (registered dietitians) and those who are unregulated. Therefore, the public is at risk. To reduce nutrition misinformation and ultimately improve the health and well-being of the public, the objective of this paper is, first, to propose a standardized definition of MNT for use across Canada and, second, to propose province- and territory-specific legislative amendments for the regulation of MNT throughout the country. We also present an opposing perspective to the proposed viewpoint. Ultimately, health care regulation across the country requires an overhaul before we expect that nutrition information and advice communicated to the public may be consistently evidence based.

Which Is Safer, Chinese Medicine or Western Medicine? Comparative Analysis Based on Chinese Spontaneous Reporting Database

OBJECTIVE

To compare the safety differences between Chinese medicine (CM) and Western medicine (WM) based on Chinese Spontaneous Reporting Database (CSRD).

METHODS

Reports of adverse events (AEs) caused by CM and WM in the CSRD between 2010 and 2011 were selected. The following assessment indicators were constructed: the proportion of serious AEs (PSE), the average number of AEs (ANA), and the coverage rate of AEs (CRA). Further comparisons were also conducted, including the drugs with the most reported serious AEs, the AEs with the biggest report number, and the 5 serious AEs of interest (including death, anaphylactic shock, coma, dyspnea and abnormal liver function).

RESULTS

The PSE, ANA and CRA of WM were 1.09, 8.23 and 2.35 times higher than those of CM, respectively. The top 10 drugs with the most serious AEs were mainly injections for CM and antibiotics for WM. The AEs with the most reports were rash, pruritus, nausea, dizziness and vomiting for both CM and WM. The proportions of CM and WM in anaphylactic shock and coma were similar. For abnormal liver function and death, the proportions of WM were 5.47 and 3.00 times higher than those of CM, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Based on CSRD, CM was safer than WM at the average level from the perspective of adverse drug reactions.

Uptake and Distribution Characteristic and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal(loid)s in Platycodon Grandiflorum (Jacq.) A.DC. with Growth from a Medicinal Herb Garden of Xi'an, China

The different parts of Platycodon grandiflorum were collected from a medicinal herb garden to determine five heavy metal(loid)s (Pb, Cd, As, Hg, and Cu) contents at different growth stages. The data showed that the plant accumulated varying amounts of metal(loid)s in the order Cu > Hg > Pb > As > Cd. Five heavy metal(loid) concentrations decreased in the early growth stage and then increased in the flowering season. The contents of heavy metal(loid)s except Hg in the stem were relatively lower than other tissues. The flower of Platycodon grandiflorum can highly accumulate heavy metal(loid)s, especially for Cu in the flowering period. Pb, Cd, and Cu contents in stem generally increased with growth time, while Cd and Cu in root decreased during growth time. The average daily intake doses of five heavy metal(loid)s in the root of Platycodon grandiflorum were all below the safety guideline and the target hazard quotient was less than 1.

Traditional Chinese medicine treatment of liver cirrhosis: Current status and future prospects

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has unique advantages in the treatment of liver cirrhosis based on its particular theory and the experience with prevention and treatment. In order to promote the wide application of TCM in liver cirrhosis, it is necessary to strengthen the research of TCM in liver cirrhosis. This paper reviews the present treatment of liver cirrhosis by TCM, and discusses the existing problems and prospects, aiming to provide some scientific clues for the treatment of this refractory disease.