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Dinu M, Tatu AL, Cocoș DI, Nwabudike LC, Chirilov AM, Stefan CS, Earar K, Dumitriu Buzia O. Natural Sources of Therapeutic Agents Used in Skin Conditions. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:492. [PMID: 38672762 PMCID: PMC11051086 DOI: 10.3390/life14040492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Skin conditions are numerous and often have a major impact on patients' quality of life, and effective and safe treatment is very important. The conventional drugs used for skin diseases are usually corticosteroids and antimicrobial products that can induce various side effects, especially with long-term use, which is why researchers are studying alternatives, especially biologically active natural products. Three products caught our attention: bee venom (BV), due to reported experimental results showing anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, antimycotic, and anticancer effects, Ficus carica (FC) due to its demonstrated antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory action, and finally Geranium essential oil (GEO), with proven antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Following a review of the literature, we produced this paper, which presents a review of the potential therapeutic applications of the three products in combating various skin conditions and for skin care, because BV, FC, and GEO have common pharmacological actions (anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant). We also focused on studying the safety of the topical use of BV, FC, and GEO, and new approaches to this. This paper presents the use of these natural therapeutic agents to treat patients with conditions such as vitiligo, melasma, and melanoma, as well as their use in treating dermatological conditions in patients with diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Dinu
- Centre in the Medical-Pharmaceutical Field, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, 800008 Galati, Romania; (M.D.); (C.S.S.); (K.E.); (O.D.B.)
| | - Alin Laurențiu Tatu
- Clinical Medical Department, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, 800008 Galati, Romania;
- Dermatology Department, “Sf. Cuvioasa Parascheva” Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases, 800179 Galati, Romania
- Multidisciplinary Integrative Center for Dermatologic Interface Research MIC-DIR, 800010 Galati, Romania
| | - Dorin Ioan Cocoș
- Centre in the Medical-Pharmaceutical Field, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, 800008 Galati, Romania; (M.D.); (C.S.S.); (K.E.); (O.D.B.)
| | | | - Ana Maria Chirilov
- Centre in the Medical-Pharmaceutical Field, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, 800008 Galati, Romania; (M.D.); (C.S.S.); (K.E.); (O.D.B.)
| | - Claudia Simona Stefan
- Centre in the Medical-Pharmaceutical Field, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, 800008 Galati, Romania; (M.D.); (C.S.S.); (K.E.); (O.D.B.)
| | - Kamel Earar
- Centre in the Medical-Pharmaceutical Field, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, 800008 Galati, Romania; (M.D.); (C.S.S.); (K.E.); (O.D.B.)
| | - Olimpia Dumitriu Buzia
- Centre in the Medical-Pharmaceutical Field, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, 800008 Galati, Romania; (M.D.); (C.S.S.); (K.E.); (O.D.B.)
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Kwon CY. Research Trends of Pharmacopuncture: a bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer (2007-2023). J Pharmacopuncture 2023; 26:227-237. [PMID: 37799619 PMCID: PMC10547818 DOI: 10.3831/kpi.2023.26.3.227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Pharmacopuncture is considered a unique new type of acupuncture in Korean medicine (KM). This study was performed to investigate the research trends regarding pharmacopuncture through a bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer. Methods The Web of Science Core Collection was searched for this study. The search terms were pharmacopuncture and pharmaco-puncture. The search was conducted on May 23, 2023, and 185 studies retrieved up to this date were included. Software VOSviewer version 1.6.19 was used to perform the bibliometric analysis. After data clearing, keyword co-occurrence and cooperation pattern analyses were performed. Results The number of studies on pharmacopuncture have gradually increased since the mid-2000s, with the most published in 2020 (46 studies). The quality of the studies has also steadily increased, and recently, several randomized controlled trials of pharmacopuncture have been conducted. Moreover, this treatment has been investigated in the context of KM clinical practice guideline development in Korea. The scope of pharmacopuncture studies to date seems to be limited to musculoskeletal pain and bee venom pharmacopuncture. The researchers from Jaseng Medical Foundation have been the core researchers in the field of pharmacopuncture in Korea. They collaborated with researchers from universities or government-funded research institutes. However, small-scale research teams from KM clinics and university researchers were also identified as independent clusters. Conclusion Pharmacopuncture research has grown both quantitatively and qualitatively, but the scope needs to be further expanded. There is also a gap between the use of pharmacopuncture by KM doctors in clinical settings and pharmacopuncture research. Based on these findings, some suggestions for future studies in this field are discussed. Furthermore, these findings may be used as data to expand and globalize pharmacopuncture research in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chan-Young Kwon
- Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, Dong-eui University College of Korean Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
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Adverse Events Associated with the Clinical Use of Bee Venom: A Review. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14080562. [PMID: 36006224 PMCID: PMC9415809 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14080562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Bee venom is used to treat various diseases but can cause a tickling sensation and anaphylaxis during clinical treatment. Adverse events (AEs) associated with bee venom may vary depending on the dosage, method, route of administration, and the country, region, and user. We summarized the AEs of bee venom used in various ways, such as by the injection of extracts, venom immunotherapy (VIT), live bee stings, or external preparations. We conducted a search in eight databases up to 28 February 2022. It took one month to set the topic and about 2 weeks to set the search terms and the search formula. We conducted a search in advance on 21 February to see if there were omissions in the search terms and whether the search formula was correct. There were no restrictions on the language or bee venom method used and diseases treated. However, natural stings that were not used for treatment were excluded. A total of 105 studies were selected, of which 67, 26, 8, and 4 were on the injection of extracts, VIT, live bee stings, and external preparation, respectively. Sixty-three studies accurately described AEs, while 42 did not report AEs. Thirty-five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were evaluated for the risk of bias, and most of the studies had low significance. A large-scale clinical RCT that evaluates results based on objective criteria is needed. Strict criteria are needed for the reporting of AEs associated with bee venom
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Assar S, Khazaei H, Naseri M, El-Senduny F, Momtaz S, Farzaei MH, Echeverría J. Natural Formulations: Novel Viewpoint for Scleroderma Adjunct Treatment. J Immunol Res 2021; 2021:9920416. [PMID: 34258301 PMCID: PMC8253639 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9920416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Scleroderma is a complex disease involving autoimmune, vascular, and connective tissues, with unknown etiology that can progress through any organ systems. OBJECTIVE Yet, no cure is available; the thorough treatment of scleroderma and current treatments are based on controlling inflammation. Nowadays, medicinal plants/natural-based formulations are emerging as important regulators of many diseases, including autoimmune diseases. Here, we provided an overview of scleroderma, also focused on recent studies on medicinal plants/natural-based formulations that are beneficial in scleroderma treatment/prevention. METHODS This study is the result of a search in PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library with "scleroderma", "systemic sclerosis", "plant", "herb", and "phytochemical" keywords. Finally, 22 articles were selected from a total of 1513 results entered in this study. RESULTS Natural products can modulate the inflammatory and/or oxidative mediators, regulate the production or function of the immune cells, and control the collagen synthesis, thereby attenuating the experimental and clinical manifestation of the disease. CONCLUSION Natural compounds can be considered an adjunct treatment for scleroderma to improve the quality of life of patients suffering from this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirin Assar
- Clinical Research Development Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Hosna Khazaei
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah 6734667149, Iran
| | - Maryam Naseri
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah 6734667149, Iran
| | - Fardous El-Senduny
- Biochemistry Division, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Saeideh Momtaz
- Medicinal Plants Research Center, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR, Karaj, Iran
- Toxicology and Diseases Group (TDG), Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center (PSRC), The Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (TIPS), and Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417614411, Iran
- Gastrointestinal Pharmacology Interest Group (GPIG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hosein Farzaei
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah 6734667149, Iran
| | - Javier Echeverría
- Departamento de Ciencias del Ambiente, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Bee Venom Acupuncture Induced Skin Patch Discoloration Persisting for More Than 3 Years: A Case Report. Chin J Integr Med 2021; 27:774-777. [PMID: 34105099 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-021-3496-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2020] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Kim H, Park SY, Lee G. Potential Therapeutic Applications of Bee Venom on Skin Disease and Its Mechanisms: A Literature Review. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11070374. [PMID: 31252651 PMCID: PMC6669657 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11070374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Skin is larger than any other organ in humans. Like other organs, various bacterial, viral, and inflammatory diseases, as well as cancer, affect the skin. Skin diseases like acne, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis often reduce the quality of life seriously. Therefore, effective treatment of skin disorders is important despite them not being life-threatening. Conventional medicines for skin diseases include corticosteroids and antimicrobial drugs, which are effective in treating many inflammatory and infectious skin diseases; however, there are growing concerns about the side effects of these therapies, especially during long-term use in relapsing or intractable diseases. Hence, many researchers are trying to develop alternative treatments, especially from natural sources, to resolve these limitations. Bee venom (BV) is an attractive candidate because many experimental and clinical reports show that BV exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-fibrotic, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and anticancer effects. Here, we review the therapeutic applications of BV in skin diseases, including acne, alopecia, atopic dermatitis, melanoma, morphea, photoaging, psoriasis, wounds, wrinkles, and vitiligo. Moreover, we explore the therapeutic mechanisms of BV in the treatment of skin diseases and killing effects of BV on skin disease-causing pathogens, including bacteria, fungi and viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haejoong Kim
- College of Korean Medicine, Dongshin University, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do 58245, Korea
| | - Soo-Yeon Park
- Department of Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology & Dermatology, College of Korean Medicine, Dongshin University, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do 58245, Korea.
| | - Gihyun Lee
- College of Korean Medicine, Dongshin University, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do 58245, Korea.
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