Fatal bronchospasm after oral ingestion of isphagula

Effect of a Natural Eye Drop, Made of Plantago Ovata Mucilage on Improvement of Dry Eye Symptoms: A Randomized, Double-blind Clinical Trial

Dry eye disease is a relatively common eye disorder associated with decrease in quality of life. In this study, efficacy of an eye drop of Plantago ovata mucilage on symptoms of dry eye disease was evaluated. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, sixty dry eye patients with ocular symptoms and total Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score of ≥12 were randomly assigned to receive either a natural ophthalmic drop, made of Plantago ovata mucilage or placebo 4 times a day for 6 weeks. The patients were evaluated at pretreatment (baseline), weeks 4 and 6 post-treatment. The evaluation of the efficacy and safety were conducted based on the OSDI questionnaire, the noninvasive tear film break-up time (NI-BUT) with keratograph, the Schirmer test without anesthesia, and the osmolarity test, as well as by monitoring possible adverse events. After 6 weeks, within group analysis showed a significant improvement in total OSDI score (p < 0.001). In addition, between group comparison revealed a significant improvement in the OSDI score of the intervention group (p < 0.001). Although, NI-BUT was significantly improved in the Plantago ovata group (p = 0.004), however no statistically significant difference was observed in between group analysis. There were no significant differences between two groups, or significant changes within the groups in the Schirmer test without anesthesia and the osmolarity test. No serious adverse events were reported. In conclusion, P. ovata mucilage is a natural, inexpensiveness, and safe lubricant polymer that could have beneficial ocular effects on subjective symptoms of the patients with dry eye disease.

Medicinal plants contain mucilage used in traditional Persian medicine (TPM)

CONTEXT

Conventional therapies using mucilage plants greatly used by practitioners in Iran. The usage of mucilages is rooted in traditional knowledge with a history of more than 4000 years. Scientific assessment of these historical documents could be valuable for finding new potential usage in the current medicine.

OBJECTIVE

This study assembled an inventory of mucilage plants considered important therapeutic aids for alleviating the ailments in ancient Persian medicine and compared therapeutic applications of ancient times with current findings of medicinal mucilages in the same plant species.

METHODS

A literature search compiled some main traditional manuscripts of Persian medicine, including the book of AlHavi, Canon of Medicine, Zakhireh-iKharazmshahi, Qarabadine-kabir, Tohfat ol Moemenin, and Makhzan-ol-advieh, and select mucilage plants used in treating the mouth and respiratory system disorders. Also, current investigations on related subjects were considered through a search of the Pub Med and Google Scholar databases.

RESULTS

In Iran, the application of medicinal plants contains mucilage date back to ancient times. In mentioned medieval Persian books, 20 medicinal plants containing mucilage were identified. Mucilages have been traditionally used via oral or topical routes for a variety of disorders. According to this study, most of the cited medicinal plant species were used for their mucilaginous, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant effects.

CONCLUSIONS

A scientific evaluation of these historical documents can give an insight into the ideas of the past and be valuable in finding new data on clinical use of the mucilages that should lead to future opportunities to investigate their potential medicinal use.

Adverse events of herbal food supplements for body weight reduction: systematic review

Herbal weight-loss supplements are marketed with claims of effectiveness. Our earlier systematic review identified data from double-blind, randomized controlled trials for a number of herbal supplements. The aim of this systematic review was to assess all clinical evidence of adverse events of herbal food supplements for body weight reduction for which effectiveness data from rigorous clinical trials exist. We assessed Ephedra sinica, Garcinia cambogia, Paullinia cupana, guar gum, Plantago psyllium, Ilex paraguariensis and Pausinystalia yohimbe. Literature searches were conducted on Medline, Embase, Amed and The Cochrane Library. Data were also requested from the spontaneous reporting scheme of the World Health Organization. We hand-searched relevant medical journals and our own files. There were no restrictions regarding the language of publication. The results show that adverse events including hepatic injury and death have been reported with the use of some herbal food supplements. For herbal ephedra and ephedrine-containing food supplements an increased risk of psychiatric, autonomic or gastrointestinal adverse events and heart palpitations has been reported. In conclusion, adverse events are reported for a number of herbal food supplements, which are used for reducing body weight. Although the quality of the data does not justify definitive attribution of causality in most cases, the reported risks are sufficient to shift the risk-benefit balance against the use of most of the reviewed herbal weight-loss supplements. Exceptions are Garcinia cambogia and yerba mate, which merit further investigation.