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Oregon-grape – A Natural for Diabetes & Psoriasis?
Oregon-Grape (Mahonia aquifolium: Berberidaceae) Photo: http://en.wikipedia.org/Oregon-grape Oregon Grape’s History for Gardeners Oregon-grape (Mahonia aquifolium) is one of those plants that is a familiar sight in dusty urban gardens, yet people are unfamiliar with its origins and herbal pedigree. It is the State flower of Oregon and is a native of the North American west coast from British Columbia to northern California and grows in the under-story of Douglas-fir forests and brush-lands. The plant is not related to the grape (Vitis vinefera: Vitaceae), but gets its name from the purplish-blue clusters of berries. The Mahonia species were introduced from North America in 1823. It is often grown for its sculptural beauty and one stunning gardeners’ delight, the low-growing and dense variety, ‘Apollo’, has deep bronze foliage with red stalks and bright yellow spring flowers, as well as leaves that turn a magnificent shade of bronze-red in winter. The Royal Horticultural Society has given this particular variety its esteemed Award of Garden Merit.1 Generally, the Oregon-grape (M. aquifolium) is a tough-o and able to grow nigh on anywhere and survive the hardest winter. If it gets off to a good start, with its shiny holly-like leaves, it is a rewarding all-seasons’ evergreen garden shrub. It produces a pleasing array of bright yellow, tinged with green, delicate slightly musky scented flowers, along with mildly pungent resinous under-tones, which are followed by its blue-blumed ‘grapes’ and splashes of bright red amongst its leaves in autumn. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite, having both male and female organs, and are pollinated by insects.2 The plant is self-fertile. It may be that one solitary eccentric Gloucestershire grey squirrel was mad about this plant and embarrassingly kept biting the top off every time it tried to grow skywards, which event became almost comic, but from this family-related gardening experience it may be as well to suggest that the plant may need a bit of protection in its infancy in some gardens. When not solitary or be-squirreled, this ‘tall’ Mahonia species is distinguished from the Dwarf Oregon-grape (M. nervosa) which can be used as a low-growing hedge that does not need trimming.3 The Creeping Oregon-grape (M. repens) species can be used as a dense ground-cover plant, if slow to become established.4 As the leaves of Oregon-grape are holly-like and a bit leathery, which resist wilting, the foliage is occasionally used by florists for greenery. The inner bark of the larger stems, wood and roots yield a yellow dye. Dark green, violet and dark blue-purple dyes are extracted from the fruit and a green dye is taken from the leaves.5 The modern version of the yellow dye used is ‘natural yellow 18’, being one of about 35 yellow dyes from natural sources. It is a mite confusing that ‘Wild Oregon Grape’ is often referred to as Mahonia aquifolia syn. Berberis aquifolium (Persh):Berberidaceae, but for botanical and historical purposes it should be noted that this species and variety of the Oregon Grape is one of over 450 species native to North America found growing in the Rocky Mountains up to 7,000 feet high altitude, as well as in the woods from Colorado to the Pacific Coast. Mahonia’s Historical & Modern Herbal Uses
Flowering Oregon-grape (Mahonia aquifolium) Quebec City, Canada Photographer: © 2006 Louis-M. Landry Closely related, Mahonia and Berberis have often been and are treated by some herbalists as one and the same plant and used interchangeably medicinally, although Oregon grape (M. aquifolia) is thought to be the stronger of the two species. It should be noted that Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) is not identical; it has smooth leaves and thorny stems and is a deciduous shrub which has ‘red’ berries in autumn.6 However, the confusion regarding these Mahonia species is, perhaps, inconsequential from a therapeutic view-point, as all the Mahonias are bitter and seem to contain the important compound berberine in nearly the same proportion.7 Mahonia has traditional uses as an edible plant. The fruit may be used raw or cooked, or dried and stored. It has an acidic flavour that may not suit all palates, but the cooked fruits are likened to the taste of blackcurrants.8 The flowers are also edible and can be used to make a lemonade-type drink.9 This not surprising, as in ancient Egypt the closely related Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) berries were macerated with fennel seed to make a drink to quell fevers.10 Before North America was colonized, the indigenous tribes’ people used Oregon-grape to treat a broad spectrum of complaints. The bitter ‘tonic’ berries were used by several North American Indian tribes in bitter-tasting root decoctions to treat loss of appetite and debility, which reflects its current use in the treatment of gastritis and general digestive weakness.11 Tea made from the shrub’s root was used to treat jaundice, gall-bladder disease and cancer, again mirroring its modern herbal usage to stimulate kidney and gallbladder function,12 as well as for arthritis, diarrhoea, fever, haemorrhage and many other health problems. The fruit was and is an excellent gentle and safe laxative.13 Mahonia is still recognized herbally as a blood tonic, diuretic and laxative and is described as an alternative, antibacterial, anti-tumour and cholagogue.14 It has been used and taken internally in the herbal treatment of psoriasis, syphilis, haemorrhages, stomach complaints and impure blood conditions.15 The external ophthalmic application is as a wash for bleary or bloodshot eyes, and as a gargle for sore throats.16 The herb has long been used topically for psoriasis17 and other cutaneous affections, e.g. eczema and acne. It is also employed for vaginitis (discharge, pain, swelling or itching in the vagina), 18 as well as internally for the common cold and ‘flu that are linked to its early use for fevers. The plant contains useful active constituents, including berberine, berbamine, canadine, and hydrastine, that do or may account for the beneficial actions of Oregon-grape. Berberine inhibits the ability of bacteria to attach to human cells, which helps prevent infections particularly in the throat, intestines, and urinary tract.19 In vitro, berberine has been shown to be effective against tropical parasitical diseases such as E. histoltica, G. lamblia and T. vaginalis.20 One of the ways in which berberine may ease diarrhoea is by slowing the transit time in the intestine.21 Indeed, isolated berberine has been shown to effectively treat diarrhoea in patients infected with E. coli. (Escherichia coli) nearly 20 years ago.22 When will some areas of orthodox medicine catch up? In fact, Berberine was isolated and used as an herbal drug in China 50 years ago! 23 Furthermore, berberine’s ability to enhance immune cell function24 was evidenced more than two decades past in 1984, suggesting it was useful for mild infections, although more research was needed regarding clinical trials. This pattern has been and is so often the case with well-tried herbal remedies, mainly due to lack of funds in the herbalist field or scientific interest until recently that is, when it has become obvious that many orthodox drugs don’t work, have been over-used causing ‘resistance’, or in terms of ‘risk ratio to benefit’ are borderline, and the desperate need to find alternatives has become crucial. Otherwise, an herb, for example like St John’s wort, which is a ‘bestseller’ and in direct competition with a pharmaceutical drug and its sales, gets well and truly researched - possibly even from the stand-point and hope of finding cause for disapproval. Chemicals are chemicals whether they are natural or synthetic, so it is to be expected that if some forms of side-effects may be found once the often milder traditional herbal use of a plant is translated into a mainstream medication or a drug, usually synthetic and no longer easily or naturally assimilated by the human body. For the most part, natural medicines have far less serious or severe ‘side-effects’ and occasionally none, with few contra-indications short of drug-interactions, which state of affairs exists since we have taken conventional drugs! A number of effective chemotherapy drugs used by conventional Western medicine to treat cancer are originally derived from plants, some poisonous. For example the vinca alkaloids extracted from the Madagascar Rosy periwinkle plant (Vinca rosea) producing the chemotherapy drug vincristine for childhood leukaemia, vinblastine, for testicular cancer and Hodgkin’s disease (cancer of the lymphatic system), vindesine and vinorelbine. Another group of plant-derived chemotherapy drugs ‘taxanes’ which originate from the bark of the Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia) produce Taxol (paclitaxel) and Taxotere (docetaxel), which are used for breast and other cancers. However, the latest example of orthodox ‘drug’ application difficulties is ‘chemo brain’, which means that chemotherapy, which causes severe side effects, may also be associated with seizures and memory loss in the brain.25 “Drug therapy for cancer can prompt a wide range of neurological side effects, even the onset of dementia. But they are thought not to be directly linked to the drug treatment itself.” (This reported remark is not explained.) “Instead, some doctors have put them [side effects] down to the patient’s vulnerable psychological state. The latest laboratory study carried out on mice and on human cells found that [chemotherapy drugs’] dose levels typically used when treating patients killed 40% to 80% of cancer cells, but 70% to 100% of brain cells. Several types of healthy brain cell continued to die for at least six weeks after exposure.”26 The tests carried out were on three drugs: carmustine, cisplatin and cytosine arabinoside are used to treat a wide range of cancers.27 All three were toxic to several types of brain cell whose job it is to repair other cells in the brain, even at low concentrations.28 They also killed off oligodendrocyte28A cells, which play a key role in the transmission of messages around the nervous system.29 Several types of healthy brain cell continued to die for at least six weeks after exposure.30 More research will certainly be done on ‘chemo brain’ post-haste. The pharmaceutical industry race is ‘on’ for the challenge to look for additives to chemotherapy that can act as neutralizers to such side effects. However, it brings home the message that, although herbal medicine can and often does have side effects, it is worthwhile pursing natural remedies that are specific and appropriate to diseases and ill-health conditions. Medicine, with good cause, is increasingly going ‘back to the future’. History is a subject not to be neglected when it comes to ‘re-discovering’ what herbs can offer to assist modern forms of disease and illness. Oregon-grape should not be taken with prescribed drugs without first consulting with a physician or pharmacist. Certain medicines interact with Oregon-grape, such as Doxycycline31 and Tetracycline32 which interact with berberine-containing herbs such as Oregon-grape, Barberry, and Goldenseal, all of which have antibacterial activity. One double-blind study found that 100mg berberine given with tetracycline, which is a drug closely related to doxycycline, reduced the efficacy of tetracycline in people with cholera.33 In the trial, berberine may have decreased tetracycline adsorption. However, another double-blind trial found that berberine neither improved nor interfered with tetracycline effectiveness in cholera patients.34 Therefore, it remains unclear whether a significant interaction between berberine-containing herbs and doxycycline and related drugs exists.35 Nevertheless, when it comes to mixing herbal remedies with drugs, due care must be taken. For example, last year Chinese researchers found that berberine may alter the way prescription drugs are metabolized in some cases and conditions, i.e. they found that berberine elevated the amount of the drug cyclosporin-A in kidney transplant patients.36 A less obscure precaution and caution is that, because Oregon-grape contains berberine which has been reported to cause uterine contractions and to increase levels of bilirubin,37 the herb should be avoided by pregnant women.38 & 39 The safety of use for young children, lactating women, or people with severe liver or kidney disease is not established. However, Mahonia is used to aid skin conditions, but individual allergenicity to or of anything to be used topically can always be tested on a small skin sample using a ‘patch test’.40 Mahonia & Diabetes Mahonia is taking more than one bow in the modern world of disease. Heart disease is still the No.1 killer disease in the UK, which has brought increased interest in lowering blood cholesterol, especially LDL-cholesterol, for which statin drugs are prescribed to help cut back the high rates of heart attack and stroke. Mahonia’s berberine lowers cholesterol through a unique mechanism distinct from statin drugs, suggesting its potential use as both an alternative to ‘statins’ and as a complementary therapy that might be used with statins to aid better cholesterol control.41 The mechanism appears to increase the production of a receptor protein in the liver that binds the LDL-cholesterol, preparing it for elimination, as demonstrated in a controlled Chinese study published two years ago this month, evidencing that berberine reduced serum cholesterol by 29%, triglycerides by 35% and LDL-cholesterol by 25%.42 When did that bit of good news hit the headlines? With 1.8 millions people diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes and the accelerated increase of Type-2 in all age groups, together with its association with obesity, has brought the disease sharply into focus in the past few years. It is reported that the discovery of berberine’s potential use for diabetes began with scientist Ni Yanxi and his colleagues administering diabetes treatments in Changchun, a large city in the Jilin Province of China.43 & 44 When presenting their earlier clinical data from 1983-1987 as an introduction to a 1995 English language publication on this subject, they wrote: “It was found by accident that berberine had the therapeutic effect on the decrease of blood glucose when the authors used berberine to treat diarrhoea patients who suffered from diabetes.” 43 & 45 In the 1995 study for the diabetic patients, it was reported that patients had less thirst, consumed less water and urinated less, had improved strength, and had lower blood pressure; the symptoms declined in correspondence with declining blood glucose levels.43 “Laboratory studies suggest that berberine may have at least two functions in relation to reducing blood sugar: inhibiting absorption of sugars from the intestine and enhancing production of insulin.” Additionally, in the review of the literature and clinical experience with berberine, it has shown that doses of 2gms. per day produced no ‘side effects’.” 43 In 2003, Chinese research suggested that berberine has advantages in the treatment of obesity patients with Type-2 diabetes.46 The following year, Chinese researchers explored the anti-diabetic effects of berberine and its influence on insulin secretion in rats.47 They found that berberine possesses anti-diabetic effects, which is related to the property of stimulating insulin secretion and modulating lipids.48 Following on, in May this year Chinese research also showed berberine significantly inhibited the progression of diabetes in mice.48 It was suggested that the inhibitory effect of berberine on diabetes might be associated with its hypoglycaemic effect, modulating lipids metabolic effects and its ability to scavenge free radicals.49 In August, Korean research further indicated that berberine displays beneficial effects in the treatment of diabetes and obesity.50 Type-2 diabetes and obesity are a huge problem, which is caused by malfunctioning of insulin action, causing blood sugar to go haywire.51 Although there are some nice medicines on the market, they have their limitations and there is a tremendous need for new therapies.52 Scientific evidence now shows that a dose of the compound, given orally, caused blood sugar levels to go down, led to fewer fats circulating in the bloodstream, made insulin work better and lowered the animals’ body weights.53 “These latest findings represent a potential new therapy for treatment of diabetes and obesity.”54 Oregon-grape & Psoriasis Psoriasis55 is one of those unpleasant complaints about which the sufferer is acutely self-conscious because it affects their physical image. It can erode self-confidence. Many people are not aware that psoriasis is not contagious or infectious, but because it is less common than some other afflictions people’s reaction to whoever is unfortunate to have it can, through ignorance, be described as an ‘I don’t know what you’ve got, but don’t come near me’ reaction. This unkind lack of public awareness and understanding can also add to the already difficult psychological effects of having this complex medical problem. Luckily, there are many herbal references to Oregon-grape (M. aquifolium) being useful and somewhat effective for reducing skin irritation, inflammation, and itching in people with mild to moderate psoriasis and several products such as ointments to be applied topically are now on the market. Although German research carried out for efficacy on patients in 1999 with an M. aquifolium ointment and dithranol, 57 a topical anti-inflammatory agent, the findings suggested that dithranol appeared to be the more potent of the two, 56 but the matter did not stop there. In the autumn of 2005, Canadian researchers published a monograph summarizing three recent clinical trials and the worldwide clinical experience with M. aquifolium in patients with psoriasis.58 The findings were not disappointing. Study 1 was to evaluate the ‘safety’ of M. aquifolium in 39 patients treated for 12 weeks. The results indicated statistically significant improvement after 4 weeks of treatment, which response continued one month after the end of the treatment.59 Study 2 was a clinical trial of 32 patients with mild to moderate bilateral psoriasis (affecting both sides of the body) treated up to 6 months. One side of the body received Mahonia and the other standard psoriatic treatment (e.g. Dovonex60 cream).61 The primary outcomes were patient ratings of the Mahonia-treated side alone and the comparison between treatments received on each side of their body. 84% of patients rated the Mahonia-treated psoriasis as good to excellent response. When compared with standard treatment, 63% of patients rated Mahonia aquifolium equal to or better than the standard psoriatic treatment.62 Finally, study 3 was an observational study of 33 patients with mild to moderate bilateral psoriasis treated for one month. The results indicated improvement in psoriasis after one week of treatment. The side treated with Mahonia did as well or better than the side treated with the vehicle cream.63 This is marvellous news for psoriatic sufferers, because the Canadian researchers concluded that the results from these three open-label clinical trials are in agreement with published data that include placebo-controlled studies. What is more, taken together, these clinical studies conducted by several investigators in several countries indicate that Mahonia aquifolium is a ‘safe’ and ‘effective’ treatment of patients with mild to moderate psoriasis.64 Whoopee! In the spring of this year, American researchers tested 200 subjects who participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study using either the topical cream ‘Relieva’, which is a homoeopathic product containing a proprietary M. aquifolium extract, or control (placebo) twice daily for 12 weeks.65 The treatment was well tolerated, though in a few people it infrequently caused rash or burning sensation, and clothing stain.66 The results indicated that the people using the Oregon-grape cream experienced greater benefits than those in the placebo group, and the difference was statistically significant.67 The researchers concluded that Relieva is effective and well tolerated in patients with mild to moderate psoriasis.68 This trail of psoriasis research may not have hit the headlines in the same manner as that of Mahonia’s success and potential for Type-2 diabetes and obesity, but will certainly be welcome news to some 1.5 million in the UK who have psoriasis, 69 especially those who suffer from a mild to moderate form of the disease. It is also to be hoped that any forthcoming Mahonia psoriatic research will produce more encouraging results. References: 1. Oregon grape - Award of Garden Merit (AGM) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/522.shtml 2. Mahonia aquifolium: Plants for A Future: Database results - Physical characteristics: http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Mahonia+aquifolium 3. Ibid. 4. Ibid. 5. Ibid. 6. Oregon Grape - http://www.innvista.com/HEALTH/herbs/oregongr.htm & Barberry Root: http://www.viable-herbal.com/singles/herbs/s800.htm 7. King’s American Dispensatory - http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/kings/berberis-aqui.html 8. Mahonia aquifolia: Herbalists perspective – http://www.vitacost.com/sceince/hn/Herb/Oregon_Grape.htm 9. Ibid. 10. Mahonia aquifolium: Plants for A Future: Database results - Physical characteristics: http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Mahonia+aquifolium 11. The Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants by Chevallier A. Pub. Dorling Kindersley. London 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148, 12. Native American Ethnobotany by Moerman D., Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9. 13. The Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants by Chevallier A. Pub. Dorling Kindersley. London 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148 & Native American Ethnobotany by Moerman D., Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9. 14. Cholagogue: An agent which promotes the discharge of bile from the system. 15. A Modern Herbal. by Mrs. Grieve. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 & Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. by Bown, Denni, Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31. 16. Native American Ethnobotany by Moerman D., Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9. 17. ‘Mahonia aquifolium in patients with psoriasis vulgaris – and inraindiviual study.’ Wisenauer M, Ludtke R. Phytomedicine 1996; 3:231-5. 18. Medicine – Loyola Uv. Health System - http://www.luhs.org/health/kbase/htm/mdx-/ame0/319/mdx-ame0319.htm 19. ‘Berberine sulphate blocks adherence of Streptococcus pyogenes to epithelial cells, fibronectin, and hexadecane.’ Sun D, Courtney HS, Beachy EH. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1988; 32:1370-4. 20. ‘In vitro effects of berberine sulphate on the growth and structure of Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis.’ Kaneda Y, Torii M, et al. Dept. of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Tokai Uv., Kanagawa, Japan. Ann Trop Med Parsitol. 1991 Aug; 85(4):417-25. Trichomonas vaginalis: A species of trichomonas that produces a refractory vaginal discharge in females as well as bladder the urethral infections in males. Trichomonas: a flagellated protozoa that can live in the paraurethral glands in asymptomatic males and females, but can cause vaginitis in some cases. It can survive 24hrs in tap water, in hot tubs, in urine, on toilet seats and in swimming pools, but the usual sequence of infection starts with the deposition of a large inoculum of organisms contained in semen at intercourse. Inoculum: (cell culture) Cells added to start a culture or, in the case of viruses, viruses added to infect a culture of cells. Also for biological material injected into a human to induce immunity (a vaccine). E. histolytica: the only species of Entamoeba with the potential for producing human amebiasis; it is transmitted through ingestion of cysts in contaminated food and water. Trophozoites may invade the tissue of the large intestine and may be spread to extraintestinal sites such as the liver, spleen, brain, lungs and pericardium. Amebiasis: the state of being infected with amaebae, especially with Entamoeba histolytica. Trophozoites: a sporozoan in the active feeding stage of its life cycle. Sporozoan: a parasitic spore-forming protozoan. Protozoan: Any of diverse minute acellular or unicellular organisms usually non-photosynthetic. G. lamblia: a species that is the usual cause of giardiasis in humans; it may also infect domestic animals. Called also Giardia intestinalis and Lamblia intestinalis. Giardiasis: A common infection of the human small intestine with the protozoan Giardia lamblia, spread via contaminated food or water or by direct person-to-person contact. Most of those infected are asymptomatic, but a small percentage present with symptoms ranging from non-specific gastrointestinal discomfort to mild to profuse diarrhoea, nausea, lassitude, anorexia, and weight loss. 21. ‘Effects of berberine on myoelectric activity and transit of the small intestine in rats.’ Eaker EY, Sninsky CA. Gastroenterol 1989; 96:1506 -13. 22. ‘Randomized controlled trial of berberine sulphate therapy for diarrhoea due to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae.’ Rabbani GH, Butler T, et al. J Infect Dis 1987; 155;979-84. 23. Berberine: ‘New Uses of Berberine’- A Valuable Alkaloid from Herbs for “Damp Heat” Syndromes’ by Subhuti Dharmanadea, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon. (the drug forms are usually hydrochloride or sulphate; the chloride, as used in the dye, may have the strongest antiseptic action). http://www.itmonline.org/arts/berberine.htm 24. ‘Activation of peritoneal macrophages by berberine-type alkaloids in terms of induction of cytostatic activity.’ Kumazawa Y, Itagaki A, et al. Int J Immunpharmacol 1984; 6:587-92. 25. Chemo drugs ‘destroy brain cells’ – BBC News Online 30th November 2006. “Drugs used to destroy cancer cells may actually be more harmful to healthy cells in the brain, research suggests … “ Research by New York’s University of Rochester pub. Journal of Biology. 26. Ibid. 27. Ibid. 28. Ibid. 29. Ibid. 28A. Oligodendrocytes: (from Greek literally meaning few tree cells), or oligdendroglia (Gr. few tree glue), are a variety of neuroglia. Their main function is the myelination of axons exclusively in the central nervous system (CNS) of high vertebrates, a function performed by Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system. A single oligodendrocyte can extend to up to 50 axons, wrapping around approx. 1mm of each and forming the myelin sheath. Glial cells (commonly called neuroglia or glia) are non-neuronal cells that provide support and nutrition, maintain homeostasis, form myelin, and participate in signal transmission in the nervous system. In the human brain, glia are estimated to outnumber neurons by c. 10 to 1. Axon: An axon or nerve fibre, is a long, slender projection of a nerve cell, or neuron, that conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron’s cell body or soma. Schwann cells: Named after the German physiologist Theodor Schwann, are a variety of neuroglia that mainly provide myelin insulation to axons in the peripheral nervous system of jawed vertebrates. Peripheral nervous system (PNS): is part of the nervous system, and consists of the nerves and neurons that reside or extend outside the CNS (brain and spinal cord) to serve, e.g. the limbs and organs. Unlike the CNS, the PNS is not protected by bone or the blood-brain barrier, leaving it exposed to toxins and mechanical injuries. Blood-brain barrier (BBB): is a membrane that controls the passage of substances from the blood into the CNS. It is a physical barrier between the local blood vessels and most parts of the CNS itself, and stops many substances from travelling across it. Alcohol, amphetamines, certain heavy metals as well as some hormones, including insulin and leptin, can cross the blood-brain barrier. Myelin: A white fatty substance that forms a medullary sheath around the axis cylinder of some nerve fibres. Myelin sheath: A layer of myelin encasing (and insulating) the axons of medullated nerve fibres. Medullated: (of neurons) covered with a layer of myelin. 30. Chemo drugs ‘destroy brain cells’ – BBC News Online 30th November 2006. “Drugs used to destroy cancer cells may actually be more harmful to healthy cells in the brain, research suggests … “ Research by New York’s University of Rochester pub. Journal of Biology. 31. Doxycycline: is a tetracycline-like antibiotic and is used to treat a wide variety of infections and to prevent traveller’s diarrhoea. 32. Tetracycline: Also indexed as Achromycin®, Actisite®, Sumycin®, Topicycline®. Combination drugs: Detclo® , Helida®. 33. ‘Clinical trial of berberine in acute watery diarrhoea.’ Khin-Maung-U, Myo-Khin, et al. BMJ 1985; 291:160-5. 34. ‘Randomized controlled trial of berberine sulphate therapy for diarrhoea due to entero-toxigenic Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae.’ Rabbani GH, Butler T, et al. J Infect Dis 1987; 155;979-84. 35. Mahonia aquifolia: Herbalists perspective – http://www.vitacost.com/sceince/hn/Herb/Oregon_Grape.htm 36. ‘Effects of berberine on blood concentration of cyclosporine-A in renal transplanted recipients: clinical and pharmacokinetic study.’ Wu X, Li Q, et al. Dept. of Clinical Pharmacology, Wuhan General Hospital, Wuhan, China. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2005 Sep; 61(8):567-72. Epub 2005 Aug. 37. Bilirubin: An orange-yellow pigment in the bile that forms as a product of haemoglobin; excess amounts in the blood produce the yellow appearance observed in jaundice. 38. ‘Adverse effects of herbal drugs.’ deSmet PAGM, et al (Eds). Berlin; New York: Springer-Verlag; 1992:979-104 x 39. ‘Displacement of bilirubin from albumin by berberine. ‘ Chan E. Biol Neonate. 1993; 63:201-208. Albumin: A simple water-soluble protein found in many animal tissues and liquids. Albumins: a group of proteins constitutes roughly (60%) of the plasma proteins, the most abundant protein important for transporting fatty acids, thyroid hormones and some steroid hormones and other substances. 40. ‘Patch Test’: A test to determine allergic sensitivity by applying small pads soaked with allergen to the unbroken skin. 41. Berberine: ‘New Uses of Berberine’- A Valuable Alkaloid from Herbs for “Damp Heat” Syndromes’ by Subhuti Dharmanadea, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon. http://www.itmonline.org/arts/berberine.htm 42. ‘Berberine is a novel cholesterol-lowering drug working through a unique mechanism distinct from statins.’ Kong Weijia, et al. Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China. Nat Med. 2004 Dec; 10(12):1344-51 Epub 2004 Nov. 43. Berberine: ‘New Uses of Berberine’- A Valuable Alkaloid from Herbs for “Damp Heat” Syndromes’ by Subhuti Dharmanadea, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon. http://www.itmonline.org/arts/berberine.htm 44. [Therapeutic effect of berberine on 60 patients with type II diabetes mellitus and experimental research] [Article in Chinese] Ni YX. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi 1988 Dec; 8(12):711-3, 707. 45. ‘Therapeutic effect of berberine on 60 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and experimental research.’ Ni Yanxia, et al. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine 1995; 1(2):91-95. 46. [Effect of berberine on the differentiation of adipocyte] [Article in Chinese] Zhou LB, Chen MD, et al. Shanghai Institute of Endocrinology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical Uv., Shanghai, China. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2003 Feb 25; 83(4):338-40. 47. ‘Therapeutic effects of berberine in impaired glucose tolerance rats and its influence on insulin secretion.’ Leng SH, Lu FE, Xu LJ. Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongii Hospital, Tongii Medical College, Huazhong Uv. of Science and Technology, Whuan, China. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2004 Apr; 25(4):496-502. 48. Ibid. 49. ’Effects of berberine on diabetes induced by alloxan and high-fat/high-cholesterol diet in rats.’ Tang LQ, Wei W, et al. Institue of Clinical Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Research and Development in Anhui Province, Anhui Medical Uv., Anhui Province, PR China. J Ethnopharmacol 2006 May 2; [Epub ahead of print] Lipid: an oily organic compound insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents; essential structural component of living cells (along with proteins and carbohydrates). 50. ‘Berberine, a natural plant product, activates Amp-activated protein kinase with beneficial metabolic effects in diabetic and insulin-resistant states.’ Lee Ys, Kim WS, et al. Dept. of Biological Sciences, Seoul National Uv., Kwanak-Gu, Korea. Diabetes. 2006 Aug; 55(8):2256-64. 51. Chinese medicine ‘aids diabetics’ – BBC Online News, 12th August 2006. 52. Ibid. 53. Ibid. 54. Ibid. Quote: Professor David James, head of the diabetes and obesity research programme at the Garvan Institute, Sydney, Australia. 55. Psoriasis: A chronic (long-lasting) skin disease characterized by scalding and inflammation. Scaled areas become inflamed, red, raised and develop silvery scales. Scaling occurs when cells in the outer layer of skin reproduce faster than normal and pile up on the skin’s surface. Possibly a disorder of the immune system. [See also ‘The Psoriasis Association for information: http://www.psoriasis-association.org.uk/what-is.html 56. ‘Effects of Mahonia aquifolium ointment on the expression of adhesion, proliferation, and activation markers in the skin of patients with psoriasis.’ Augustin M, Andrees U, et al. Universitats-Haurklinik Frieburg, Germany. Forsch Komplementarmed. 1999 Apr; 6 Suppl 2:19-21. 57. Dithranol: An anti-inflammatory anthracene derivative (derived from coal tar) used for the treatment of dermatoses, especially psoriasis. It may cause folliculitis. Dermatoses: diseases of the skin. Folliculitis: Inflammation of a follicle or follicles, used ordinarily in referenced to hair follicles. 58. ‘A report on three recent clinical trials using Mahonia aquifolium 10% topical cream and a review of the worldwide clinical experience with Mahonia aquifolium for the treatment of plaque psoriasis.’ Gulliver WP, Donsky HJ. Memorial Uv. and Newlab Clinical Research Inc., St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. Am J Ther. 2005 Sep-Oct; 12(5):398-406. 59. Ibid. 60. Donovex: (Calcipotriene) A synthetic derivative of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), applied topically as an antisporiatic. 61. ‘A report on three recent clinical trials using Mahonia aquifolium 10% topical cream and a review of the worldwide clinical experience with Mahonia aquifolium for the treatment of plaque psoriasis.’ Gulliver WP, Donsky HJ. Memorial Uv. and Newlab Clinical Research Inc., St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. Am J Ther. 2005 Sep-Oct; 12(5):398-406. 62. Ibid. 63. Ibid. 64. Ibid. 65. ‘Treatment of mild to moderate psoriasis with Relieva, a Mahonia aquifolium extract – a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.’ Bernstein S, Donsky H, et al. Dermatology and Cosmetic Centre, Rochester, New York, USA. Am J Ther. 2006 Mar-Apr; 13(2):121-6. 66. Ibid. 67. Ibid. 68. Ibid. 69. Psoriasis: BBC News Online, 9th March 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/medical_notes/4791252.stm |
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