Objective: This study aimed to determine the antiviral activity of ten Philippine medicinal plants against Zika virus (ZIKV). Methods: Lyophilized aqueous plant extracts were used for cell cytotoxicity and virus inhibition assays. The therapeutic index was computed from the 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) and 50% effective concentration (EC50) values. Plant metabolites were also identified using mass spectroscopy. An in-silico screening of these metabolites was done using ZIKV enzymes and the Axl protein in human microglial cells as target proteins, followed by the ranking of binding energy scores to generate a hypothesis on the possible mechanism of antiviral action. Results: The plants that demonstrated the highest therapeutic index were Momordica charantia, Psidium guajava, Vitex negundo, and Blumea balsamifera. The majority of the metabolites present in the aqueous extracts were saponin, terpenes and terpenoids, and anthocyanin. Further, in-silico docking results showed a higher binding affinity for viral replication proteins compared to the viral envelope protein. Conclusion The crude aqueous extracts of M. charantia, P. guajava, V. negundo, and B. balsamifera were the most potent candidate antiviral therapies against ZIKV among the ten plants tested. Meanwhile, the in-silico results suggested that the metabolites possibly employ an intracellular mechanism for the observed antiviral activity.
Herbal Medicine

Herbal Medicine

Ginseng has been a precious traditional remedy, used to invigorate primodial “qi”, to tonify the blood and promote the secretion of body fluid, and relieve mental stress. The main constituents of Ginseng, which were attributable to biological activities, were saponins, including 13 ginsenosides. Ginseng was proved to have the following effects: Promoting both excitatory and inhibitory process of the nervous system, rehabilitating the balance, therefore reversing nervous disorders associated with mental stress; Fighting against fatigue, raising the ability of intellectual and physical works; Enhancing the potential body respondence to harmful stimulations; Acting on the endocrinal system, such as pituitary gland, adrenal cortex, genital gland; Influencing on the metabolism of glucid, lipid, protid; Regulating the cardiac functions, blood vessels and blood pressure; Protecting the kidney; Broad antibacterial spectrum
Medicine, Traditional ; Therapeutics ; Medicine, Herbal

No abstract available.
Herbal Medicine* ; Nausea* ; Vomiting*

On rat, among 4 these herbal medicine plants, only Rehmania flutinosa does not decrease significantly the blood sugar level with the oral doses of 1000-1500 mg/kg body weight and with intraperitoneal doses of 200-300mg/kg. Oral use of Anemarrhena asphodeloides and Angiopteris evecta decreases blood sugar at the doses of 100-1.500mg/kg. Intraperitoneal use of the doses of 200-300mg/kg Anemarrhena asphodeloides, Angiopteris evecta and gynoitema pentaphyllum lower glycemia by above 25% in comparison with the pretreated level.
Hypoglycemic Agents ; Medicine, Herbal

Background: AH product is a herbal remedy containing of twelve plant extracts, which has a good hepatoprotective effect in two models inducing acute liver injury by carbon tetraclorid (CCl4) and paracetamol. Objective: To evaluate antioxidant activity in vitro and in vivo of AH product. Subjects and methods: Evaluation of antioxidant activity through a reduction of anion superoxide level in vitro and MDA concentration in liver tissue in vitro and in vivo. Results: AH product reduced anion superoxide level, IC50 was 26.60\xb5g/ml. In vitro, AH product at concentration of 125\xb5g/ml reduced formation of MDA 53.70%. The higher the concentration, the stronger the inhibition. In vivo, models of acute liver injuries induced by CCI4 and PAR in mice, AH product at two different doses (4.8 tablets/kg and 9.6 tablets/kg) reduced MDA concentration in liver tissue (33,9 - 36,6 % in CCI4 model and 21,4 - 25,3 % in PAR model) in comparison with group which used hepatotoxins but didn't use any drug. Conclusions: AH product containing many remedies was demonstrated having antioxidant activity which contributed to mechanism of hepatoprotection of this product. \r\n", u'\r\n', u'
Antioxidants ; Herbal Medicine ;

The study given an insight on the similarity in dyslipidemia syndrome between Western medicine and East medicine. 60 patients with dyslipidemia examined from December 1997 to July 1998 were investigated. Results suggested that the herb extract combination was an effect treatment for wind-phlegm form of dyslipidemia. It reduced triglycerid level by 31.5%, total cholesterol by 16%, LDL-C by 20.2% and apoprotein B by 16.7%, increased HDL-C by 19.8% and apoprotein by 14.1%.
Dyslipidemias ; Medicine, Herbal

seconds ; Medicine, Herbal

Background and Objective: Leptospirosis is a disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira prevalent in tropical countries like the Philippines. Some studies have shown that the role of currently used antibiotics for leptospirosis is unclear since trials have found no significant benefit to patient outcomes compared to placebo. This signals the need for alternative therapies, such as herbal medicines, which may provide effective therapeutic regimens in treating this infection. In this study, we characterized the antibacterial potential of three Philippine herbal medicines against Leptospira interrogans. Methods: Crude methanolic extracts of Momordica charantia, Cassia alata, and Allium sativum were subjected to an optimized broth microdilution assay against L. interrogans, utilizing the resazurin-resorufin reaction as a cell proliferation and viability indicator. Results: The respective minimum inhibitory concentrations of the plants were found to be as follows: 1.25 mg/mL (M. charantia), 2.5 mg/mL (C. alata), and >5 mg/mL (A. sativum). Conclusions Among the three herbal medicines, M. charantia and C. alata proved to have antibacterial activity against L. interrogans. Given the promising potential of two of these plant extracts, exploring the use of other solvents to extract natural compounds from these plants, and discovering possible synergistic effects between these plants and conventional antibiotics may be worthwhile.
Leptospira interrogans ; Herbal Medicine

Objective: This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial property of oregano (Plectranthus amboinicus) crude leaf extract against pathogens that infect the throat, specifically Streptococcus pyogenes and Candida albicans using the broth and checkerboard dilution methods.

Methods: This study employed an experimental study design using broth dilution method for the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 19615, and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) against Candida albicans ATCC 14053 of P. amboinicus crude extract (PA extract). Checkerboard dilution method was then used for determination of the synergy between PA extract and the standard antimicrobials.

Results: In vitro growth inhibition of S. pyogenes (MIC 0.13 g/mL) and C. albicans (MIC 0.03 g/mL) was exhibited by the PA extract. The highest concentration of PA extract used in this study was not sufficient to demonstrate bactericidal and fungicidal activity (MBC >0.25 g/mL, MFC >0.25 g/mL). Results of checkerboard dilution method revealed that PA extract when combined with either penicillin (for S. pyogenes) or nystatin (for C. albicans) demonstrated indifference.

Conclusion: The crude extract of Plectranthus amboinicus has the capability to inhibit the growth of both S. pyogenes and C. albicans. This demonstrates its potential use in the treatment of throat infections caused by these organisms.

Key Words: Plectranthus amboinicus, oregano, antimicrobial, throat infections, herbal medicine