Editorial Medicinal Plants in the Prevention and Treatment of ...downloads.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2014/180981.pdfEditorial Medicinal Plants in the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic

EditorialMedicinal Plants in the Prevention and Treatment ofChronic Diseases 2013

Mohamed Eddouks,1 Debprasad Chattopadhyay,2 Vincenzo De Feo,3

and William Chi-shing Cho4

1 Moulay Ismail University, FST Errachidia, BP 21, 52000 Errachidia, Morocco2 ICMR Virus Unit, Division of Ethnomedicine, ID & BG Hospital, General Block 4, 57 Dr. Suresh C. Banerjee Road,Kolkata 700 010, India

3 Dipartimento di Farmacia, Universita degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, Fisciano, 84084 Salerno, Italy4Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Correspondence should be addressed to Mohamed Eddouks; [email protected]

Received 18 January 2014; Accepted 18 January 2014; Published 26 March 2014

Copyright © 2014 Mohamed Eddouks et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons AttributionLicense, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properlycited.

Since time immemorial, in search for rescue for their disease,people looked for drugs in nature. The traditional use ofmedicinal plants can lead to the discovery of newpotent bota-nical agents in the treatment of several diseases. Some 7000natural compounds are currently used in modern medicine;most of these had been used for centuries by traditionalhealers and the global market value of medicinal plant pro-ducts exceeds $100 billion per annum. In spite of the develop-ment of pharmacological agents for the treatment of chronicdiseases, the use of medicinal plants continues to flourish.Over the last century, the drastic changes of human life styleand eating habits lead to the emergence of various chronicdiseases.The decreasing efficacy of some synthetic drugs andthe increasing contraindications of their usage make theusage of natural drugs topical again. Thus, the study of phy-totherapy for chronic diseases treatmentmight yield an excel-lent return in potential sources ofmedicinal plantswhich playvital roles in disease prevention and their promotion and usefit into all existing prevention strategies. In this issue, we aimto present some recent advances in the use ofmedicinal plantsfor treating the chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer,cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, and neurologic dis-orders.

In a clinical study, “Effect of eucalyptus oil inhalation onpain and inflammatory responses after total knee replace-ment: a randomized clinical trial,” Y. S. Jun et al. demonstrate

the beneficial effects of eucalyptus oil inhalation on painand inflammatory responses after total knee replacementsurgery. S. Zhang et al., “Skimmin, a coumarin fromHydran-gea paniculata, slows down the progression of membra-nous glomerulonephritis by anti-inflammatory effects andinhibiting immune complex deposition,” investigated therenoprotective activity of skimmin, one of the major phar-macologically active molecules present in Hydrangea panic-ulata. They studied also the underlying mechanisms of theobserved renoprotective effects of skimmin in a rat modelof membranous glomerulonephritis induced by cationicbovine serum albumin which may be the inhibition of IL1𝛽and IL-6 expression. In another study “Traditional Chinesemedicine Tang-Luo-Ning ameliorates sciatic nerve injuriesin streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats,” D.-W. Zou et al.describe the beneficial effect of Tang-Luo-Ning (TLN), aneffective traditional Chinese medicine for the treatmentof diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). To illustrate theunderlying neural protection mechanisms of TLN, the effectof TLN on electrophysiology and sciatic nerve morphol-ogy was investigated in a model of streptozotocin-inducedDPN. G. Belcaro et al., “Grape seed procyanidins in pre-and mild hypertension: a registry study,” studied the effi-cacy of a standardized grape seed procyanidins extract indecreasing blood pressure when associated with nondrugintervention (diet and lifestyle modification) in a controlled

Hindawi Publishing CorporationEvidence-Based Complementary and Alternative MedicineVolume 2014, Article ID 180981, 3 pageshttp://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/180981

2 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

registry study involving healthy prehypertensive and mildlyhypertensive subjects. The authors supported that the effecton blood pressure adds to the beneficial effects of grapeseed procyanidins on the cardiovascular disease phenotypeassociatedwith the oxidation ofmembrane lipids (endothelialdisfunction, formation of oxidized LDL, and activation ofphagocytic cells). A study titled (“Effect of Nelumbo nuciferapetal extracts on lipase, adipogenesis, adipolysis, and centralreceptors of obesity”) by C. C. Velusami et al. demonstratesthat both methanol and successive water extracts ofNelumbonucifera petals had an effect on inhibition of lipid storagein adipocytes and increasing lipolysis. In addition, methanolextract exhibited the concentration dependent inhibitoryeffect on lipase activity. Furthermore, Nelumbo nuciferapetal extracts showed evident agonist and antagonist activitytowards serotonin and cannabinoid receptors, respectively,while it showed no effects towards melanocyte concentratinghormone andmelanocortin receptors. Another clinical studyperformed by G. Belcaro et al. “Greenselect Phytosome forborderline metabolic syndrome” demonstrates that Greens-elect Phytosome, a proprietary lecithin formulation of acaffeine-free green tea catechin extract, was especially eff-ective for weight/waist changes in a controlled registry studyon asymptomatic subjects borderline formetabolic syndromefactors and with increased plasma oxidative stress. A. Hun-yadi et al., “Metabolic effects of mulberry leaves: exploringpotential benefits in type 2 diabetes and hyperuricemia,”report a series of relevant in vitro and in vivo studies on thebioactivity of an extract of mulberry leaves and its fractions.In vivo antihyperglycemic and antihyperuricemic activity,plasma antioxidant status, in vitro glucose consumption byadipocytes in the presence or absence of insulin, xanthineoxidase inhibition, free radical scavenging activity, and inhi-bition of lipid peroxidation were analyzed.

In addition, known bioactive constituents of mulberrywere identified and quantified. A study performed by H.-M. Zhao et al., “Si Shen Wan inhibits mRNA expression ofapoptosis-related molecules in p38 MAPK signal pathway inmice with colitis,” demonstrated that Si Shen Wan, a formulaof traditional Chinese medicine used to treat ulcerative col-itis, allergic colitis, and chronic colitis, effectively inhibitedmRNA expression of apoptosis-related molecules in p38MAPK signal pathway to downregulate colonic epithelialcells apoptosis in colonic mucosa from mice with colitis. Inanother study “Therapeutic potential of andrographolideisolated from the leaves of Andrographis paniculata nees fortreating lung adenocarcinomas,” Y.-T. Tung et al. have studiedthe antipulmonary cancer effects of andrographolide in a lungtumor mouse model induced by human vascular endothelialgrowth factor A165 (hVEGF-A165).The antiangiogenesis andchemotherapeutic potential of andrographolide may providea cure for pulmonary tumors in the future. Z.-Z. Meng etal., “Effect of Xiaoyaosan decoction on learning and mem-ory deficit in rats induced by chronic immobilization stress,”observed the effect of Xiaoyaosan (XYS) decoction on chr-onic immobilization stress- (CIS-) induced learning andmemory deficit in rats from behaviors and changes of pro-teins in hippocampus. The findings suggested that XYSdecoction may be helpful in reversing CIS-induced learning

and memory deficit by increasing the levels of postsynapticdensity protein 95 and synaptophysin on the hippocampalnerve synapses and improving synaptic plasticity.

A review conducted by L. O. Chuah et al., “Updates onantiobesity effect of Garcinia origin (–)-HCA,” summarizesthe update of chemical constituents, significance of invivo/clinical antiobesity effects, and the importance of thecurrent market potential of Garcinia/hydroxycitric acidespecially as a potential supplement for weight managementand as antiobesity agent. A study realized by Y. Liang et al.,“Effects of the Chinese traditional prescription Xiaoyaosandecoction on chronic immobilization stress-induced changesin behavior and ultrastructure in rat hippocampus,” demon-strated the potential mechanism of Xiaoyaosan (XYS) deco-ction’s antidepressant-like effect in 𝛼-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors relatedto synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus rats induced bychronic immobilization stress. The study demonstrates thatXYS decoction may produce an antidepressant-like effect,which appears to be involved with AMPA receptors relatedsynaptic plasticity of hippocampus. In another study “CitrusBergamia Risso elevates intracellular Ca2+ intracellular storesin human umbilical vein endothelial cells,” G. H. Seol etal. demonstrate that Citrus Bergamia Risso mobilizes Ca2+from primary intracellular stores via Ca2+-induced andIP3-mediated Ca2+ release and affect promotion of Ca2+influx, likely via an store-operated Ca2+ mechanism. Thisfinding supports the potential roles of bergamottin in card-iovascular function. J. Hoscheid et al., “Inhibitory effect ofthe hexane fraction of the ethanolic extract of the fruits ofPterodon pubescens Benth in acute and chronic inflamm-ation,” confirm the anti-inflammatory activity of the hexanefraction of an ethanolic extract of Pterodon pubescens Benth.The anti-inflammatory activity wasmeasuredwith increasingdoses of the hexane fraction by using a carrageenan-inducedrat model of pleurisy and a rat model of complete Freund’sadjuvant-induced arthritis. The results of biochemical,hematological, and histological analyses indicated a signif-icant decrease in glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerideslevels and reduction in the number of total leukocytes andmononuclear cells. The study demonstrates also the abs-ence of toxicity for the doses used. H. Park et al., “AmpelopsisRadix protects dopaminergic neurons against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium/1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrop-yridine-induced toxicity in Parkinson’s disease models invitro and in vivo,” have demonstrated that Ampelopsis Radixhas neuroprotective effects with antioxidant mechanismsin Parkinson’s disease models. The standardized extract ofAmpelopsis Radix protected dopaminergic neurons by inh-ibiting reactive oxygen species generation in vitro, showedpotent radical scavenging activities in vitro, and protectedthe dopaminergic neurons in the brain in the mouseParkinson’s disease model leading to motor improvements.Another paper by H. Ha et al., “Antiatopic dermatitis effect ofArtemisia iwayomogi in dust mice extract-sensitized Nc/Ngamice,” demonstrates the anti-inflammatory and antiatopicdermatitis effects of Artemisia iwayomogi both in vitro andin vivo. Artemisia iwayomogi inhibited the nitric oxide

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 3

and histamine productions in RAW264.7 and MC/9 cells.Furthermore, isochlorogenic acid A, chlorogenic acid, andscopoletin were demonstrated to be the major componentsof this plant. Additionally, in the mice, the topical applicationof Artemisia iwayomogi reduced the dermatitis scores in thedorsal skin and ears and reduced the plasma levels of IgE.E. Panzarini et al., “Administration dependent antioxidanteffect of Carica papaya seeds water extract,” demonstrate thatCarica papaya seeds water extract is potentially useful forprotection against oxidative stress. The authors have assessedthe antioxidant activities of the Carica papaya seeds waterextract against hydrogen peroxide oxidative stress in humanskin Detroit 550 fibroblasts. An in vivo study by M.-H.Chen et al., “Antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects ofClitocybe nuda on glucose transporter 4 and AMP-activatedprotein kinase phosphorylation in high-fat-fed mice,”demonstrates that amelioration of diabetic and dyslipidemicstate by Clitocybe nuda extract in high-fat-fed mice occurredby regulation of GLUT4, glucose-6-phosphatase, and AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylation. The plant extractdecreased hepatic glucose production in the liver andenhanced glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. This studypresents a deep analysis of mechanisms of action involved inthe antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activities ofClitocybenuda.

After the first volume of this special issue published in2012, we hope that this issuewill present valuable informationfor scientists and clinicians.

Acknowledgments

Wewould like to thank all the authors for their contributionsto this issue; 45 papers have been submitted and only 18 havebeen highly selected and finally approved for publication.Wewould like to thank all the editorial team of this special issueand all the reviewers for their appreciated effort and excellentexpertise.

Mohamed EddouksDebprasad Chattopadhyay

Vincenzo De FeoWilliam Chi-shing Cho

Submit your manuscripts athttp://www.hindawi.com

Stem CellsInternational

Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014


MEDIATORSINFLAMMATION

of


Behavioural Neurology

EndocrinologyInternational Journal of



Disease Markers


BioMed Research International

OncologyJournal of



Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity


PPAR Research

The Scientific World JournalHindawi Publishing Corporation http://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014

Immunology ResearchHindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014

Journal of

ObesityJournal of



Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine

OphthalmologyJournal of


Diabetes ResearchJournal of



Research and TreatmentAIDS


Gastroenterology Research and Practice


Parkinson’s Disease

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Volume 2014Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com

Documents

Editorial Medicinal Plants in the Prevention and Treatment of ...downloads.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2014/180981.pdfEditorial Medicinal Plants in the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic