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Inhibitory effect of allicin and garlic extracts on growth of cultured hyphae

Aala F, Yusuf UK, Nulit R, Rezaie S

Iran J Basic Med Sci, 2014 Mar;17(3):150-4.
PMID: 24847416

Trichophyton rubrum (T. rubrum) is one of the most common dermatophytes worldwide. This fungus invaded skin appendages of humans and animals. Recently, resistance to antifungal drugs as well as appearance of side effects due to indication of these kinds of antibiotics has been reported. Besides, using some plant extracts have been indicated in herbal medicine as an alternative treatment of these fungal infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Garlic (Allium sativum) and pure allicin on the growth of hypha in T. rubrum using Electron miscroscopy.

Matched MeSH terms: Herbal Medicine
Fulltext Inhibition of UGT2B7 Enzyme Activity in Human and Rat Liver Microsomes by Herbal Constituents

Abdullah NH, Ismail S

Molecules, 2018 Oct 19;23(10).
PMID: 30347696 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23102696

The co-use of conventional drug and herbal medicines may lead to herb-drug interaction via modulation of drug-metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) by herbal constituents. UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) catalyzing glucuronidation are the major metabolic enzymes of Phase II DMEs. The in vitro inhibitory effect of several herbal constituents on one of the most important UGT isoforms, UGT2B7, in human liver microsomes (HLM) and rat liver microsomes (RLM) was investigated. Zidovudine (ZDV) was used as the probe substrate to determine UGT2B7 activity. The intrinsic clearance (Vmax/Km) of ZDV in HLM is 1.65 µL/mg/min which is ten times greater than in RLM, which is 0.16 µL/mg/min. Andrographolide, kaempferol-3-rutinoside, mitragynine and zerumbone inhibited ZDV glucuronidation in HLM with IC50 values of 6.18 ± 1.27, 18.56 ± 8.62, 8.11 ± 4.48 and 4.57 ± 0.23 µM, respectively, hence, herb-drug interactions are possible if andrographolide, kaempferol-3-rutinoside, mitragynine and zerumbone are taken together with drugs that are highly metabolized by UGT2B7. Meanwhile, only mitragynine and zerumbone inhibited ZDV glucuronidation in RLM with IC50 values of 51.20 ± 5.95 μM and 8.14 ± 2.12 µM, respectively, indicating a difference between the human and rat microsomal model so caution must be exercised when extrapolating inhibitory metabolic data from rats to humans.

Matched MeSH terms: Herbal Medicine
Fulltext Phytochemical Evaluation, Embryotoxicity, and Teratogenic Effects of Curcuma longa Extract on Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Alafiatayo AA, Lai KS, Syahida A, Mahmood M, Shaharuddin NA

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2019;2019:3807207.
PMID: 30949217 DOI: 10.1155/2019/3807207

Curcuma longa L. is a rhizome plant often used as traditional medicinal preparations in Southeast Asia. The dried powder is commonly known as cure-all herbal medicine with a wider spectrum of pharmaceutical activities. In spite of the widely reported therapeutic applications of C. longa, research on its safety and teratogenic effects on zebrafish embryos and larvae is still limited. Hence, this research aimed to assess the toxicity of C. longa extract on zebrafish. Using a reflux flask, methanol extract of C. longa was extracted and the identification and quantification of total flavonoids were carried out with HPLC. Twelve fertilized embryos were selected to test the embryotoxicity and teratogenicity at different concentration points. The embryos were exposed to the extract in the E3M medium while the control was only exposed to E3M and different developmental endpoints were recorded with the therapeutic index calculated using the ratio of LC50/EC50. C. longa extract was detected to be highly rich in flavonoids with catechin, epicatechin, and naringenin as the 3 most abundant with concentrations of 3,531.34, 688.70, and 523.83μg/mL, respectively. The toxicity effects were discovered to be dose-dependent at dosage above 62.50μg/mL, while, at 125.0μg/mL, mortality of embryos was observed and physical body deformities of larvae were recorded among the hatched embryos at higher concentrations. Teratogenic effect of the extract was severe at higher concentrations producing physical body deformities such as kink tail, bend trunk, and enlarged yolk sac edema. Finally, the therapeutic index (TI) values calculated were approximately the same for different concentration points tested. Overall, the result revealed that plants having therapeutic potential could also pose threats when consumed at higher doses especially on the embryos. Therefore, detailed toxicity analysis should be carried out on medicinal plants to ascertain their safety on the embryos and its development.

Matched MeSH terms: Herbal Medicine
Evaluation of a method to determine the natural occurrence of aflatoxins in commercial traditional herbal medicines from Malaysia and Indonesia

Ali N, Hashim NH, Saad B, Safan K, Nakajima M, Yoshizawa T

Food Chem Toxicol, 2005 Dec;43(12):1763-72.
PMID: 16019122

Traditional herbal medicines, popularly known as 'jamu' and 'makjun' in Malaysia and Indonesia, are consumed regularly to promote health. In consideration of their frequent and prolonged consumption, the natural occurrence of aflatoxins (AF) in these products was determined using immunoaffinity column clean-up and high-performance liquid chromatography with pre-column derivatization. The evaluated method, which entails dilution of sample extracts with Tween 20-phosphate buffered saline (1:9, v/v) and a chromatographic system using isocratic mobile phase composed of water-methanol-acetonitrile (70:20:10, v/v/v), was effective in separating AFB1, AFG1 and AFG2 from interference at their retention times. Results were confirmed using post-column derivatization with photochemical reactor. For 23 commercial samples analyzed, mean levels (incidence) of AFB(1), AFB(2) and AFG1 in positive samples were 0.26 (70%), 0.07 (61%) and 0.10 (30%) microg/kg, respectively; one sample was positive for AFG2 at a level of 0.03 (4%) microg/kg. In contrast to the high levels of AF in crude herbal drugs and medicinal plants reported previously by other researchers, the low contamination levels reported in this study may be attributed to the higher selectivity to AF of the method applied. Based on the AFB1 levels and the daily consumption of positive samples, a mean probable daily intake of 0.022 ng/kg body weight was calculated.

Matched MeSH terms: Herbal Medicine/standards
Medication storage and self-medication behaviour amongst female students in Malaysia

Ali SE, Ibrahim MI, Palaian S

Pharm Pract (Granada), 2010 Oct;8(4):226-32.
PMID: 25126145

OBJECTIVES:
The aims of this study are to determine the prevalence, attitudes and behaviours of medication storage and self-medication amongst female students at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

METHODS:
A cross-sectional survey was conducted and cluster random sampling technique was used for respondent selection. A pre-piloted questionnaire was administered to female respondents so as to collect the data. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 12 and analysis was conducted using descriptive analysis procedures.

RESULTS:
Of the 481 participants (mean age; SD was 22.1; 3.3), 93.1% (n=448) students stated that they stored medicine in their rooms, while 70.7% (n=340) stated that they stopped taking a prescribed medicine without consulting a doctor. The prevalence of self-medication was 80.9% (n=389). The most common reasons for self-medication were related to their knowledge of their ailment and its treatment (58.0%), 14.4% thought it saved time and 8.5% mentioned that medication given by provider was not effective. The most common symptoms were otorhinolaryngology problems (22.5%), followed by respiratory disease (19.6%), Gastro Intestinal Tract (GIT) disease (18.1%) and headache/fever (16.8%). Commonly used medicines were analgesics & antipyretics (30.2%), ear, nose & throat drugs (10.8%), vitamins & minerals (10.8%), GIT drugs (8.5%), anti-infections (7.3%) and herbal medicines (3.5%). Prevalence of medicine storage and self-medication practice is high among educated female students in USM.

CONCLUSIONS:
There is a need to educate the students to ensure safe practice by increasing their awareness. Strict policies need to be implemented on the unrestricted availability of medicines so as to prevent the wastage of medicines.

Matched MeSH terms: Herbal Medicine
Determination of lead in Smilax myosotiflora herbal preparations obtained in Malaysia

Ang HH, Lee KL, Kiyoshi M

Int J Environ Health Res, 2004 Aug;14(4):261-72.
PMID: 15369991

The DCA (Drug Control Authority), Malaysia implemented the phase 3 registration of traditional medicines on 1 January 1992 with special emphasis on the quality, efficacy and safety (including the presence of heavy metals) in all pharmaceutical dosage forms of traditional medicinal preparations. As such, a total of 100 traditional medicinal preparations, containing Smilax myosotiflora, in various pharmaceutical dosage forms, which were bought in the Malaysian market, were analysed for lead content using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results showed that 15% of the products analysed possessed 10.23-23.05 ppm of lead, and therefore, do not comply with the quality requirement for traditional medicines in Malaysia. The quality requirement for traditional medicines in Malaysia is that they should not exceed 10 ppm of lead. Out of these 15 products, five products exhibited 10.23-23.05 ppm of lead, in fact they have already been registered with the DCA Malaysia. However, the rest of the products, which possessed 12.24-20.72 ppm of lead, have still not been registered with the DCA Malaysia. Although this study successfully showed that only 85% of the products complied with the quality requirement for traditional medicines in Malaysia pertaining to lead, they cannot, however, be assumed to be safe from lead contamination because of batch-to-batch inconsistency.

Matched MeSH terms: Herbal Medicine/standards
Herbal medicines in Malaysia

Ang HH

Clin. Pharmacol. Ther., 2005 May;77(5):451.
PMID: 15900291
Matched MeSH terms: Herbal Medicine/legislation & jurisprudence*; Herbal Medicine/standards; Herbal Medicine/statistics & numerical data
Evaluation of mercury contamination in Smilax myosotiflora herbal preparations

Ang HH, Lee KL

Int J Toxicol, 2007 Sep-Oct;26(5):433-9.
PMID: 17963130 DOI: 10.1080/10915810701583036

The DCA (Drug Control Authority) of Malaysia implemented phase 3 registration of traditional medicines in January 1992 with special emphasis on the quality, efficacy, and safety of all dosage forms of these medicines. For this reason, a total of 100 herbal products containing Smilax myosotiflora were purchased in the Malaysian market and analyzed for mercury content, as mercury is a recognized reproductive toxicant. The products were analyzed using cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry. It was found that 89% of the above products do not exceed 0.5 ppm of mercury. Heavy metal poisoning such as mercury has been associated with traditional medicines. Therefore, it is important that doctors and health care practitioners are aware of these risks and finding ways to minimize them, including questions pertaining to the use of these remedies during the routine taking of a patient's history.

Matched MeSH terms: Herbal Medicine/legislation & jurisprudence; Herbal Medicine/standards
Determination of mercury by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometer in Tongkat Ali preparations obtained in Malaysia

Ang HH, Lee EL, Cheang HS

Int J Toxicol, 2004 Jan-Feb;23(1):65-71.
PMID: 15162849 DOI: 10.1080/10915810490269654

The DCA (Drug Control Authority), Malaysia, has implemented the phase 3 registration of traditional medicines on 1 January 1992, with special emphasis on the quality, efficacy, and safety (including the presence of heavy metals) in all pharmaceutical dosage forms of traditional medicine preparations. As such, a total of 100 products in various pharmaceutical dosage forms of a herbal preparation, containing Tongkat Ali, were analyzed for mercury content using cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results showed that 36% of the above products possessed 0.52 to 5.30 ppm of mercury and, therefore, do not comply with the quality requirement for traditional medicines in Malaysia. Out of these 36 products, 5 products that possessed 1.05 to 4.41 ppm of mercury were in fact have already registered with the DCA, Malaysia. However, the rest of the products that contain 0.52 to 5.30 ppm of mercury still have not registered with the DCA, Malaysia. Although this study showed that only 64% of the products complied with the quality requirement for traditional medicines in Malaysia pertaining to mercury, they cannot be assumed safe from mercury contamination because of batch-to-batch inconsistency.

Matched MeSH terms: Herbal Medicine/legislation & jurisprudence; Herbal Medicine/standards*
Fulltext Herbal Medicine from Single Clove Garlic Oil Extract Ameliorates Hepatic Steatosis and Oxidative Status in High Fat Diet Mice

Arifah SN, Atho'illah MF, Lukiati B, Lestari SR

Malays J Med Sci, 2020 Feb;27(1):46-56.
PMID: 32158344 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2020.27.1.5

Introduction: High fat diet (HFD) can cause lipid accumulation and contribute to various metabolic disorders. Single clove garlic oil (SCGO) has advantages over regular garlic due to its higher amounts of organosulfide compounds in particular. This study aimed to determine the ability of SCGO extract to ameliorate hepatic steatosis and improve oxidative status by modulating expression of tumour necrosis factor α and superoxide dismutase in mice fed a HFD.
Methods: Twenty-four adult male Balb/C mice were divided into six groups: i) normal diet; ii) positive control diet; iii) negative control diet; and iv) HFD with SCGO at 12.5 mg/kg body weight (mg/kg BW); v) HFD with SCGO at 25 mg/kg BW, vi) HFD with SCGO at 50 mg/kg BW. Liver weight and morphology, spleen weight, serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α), TNF-α expression in the aorta and lipid profiles were assessed at the end of the experimental period.
Results: SCGO treatment was associated with significant decreases in liver and spleen weight as well as amelioration of hepatic steatosis. SCGO treatment also decreased TNF-α levels and expression. Serum levels of SOD in the SCGO groups were significantly increased compared with the negative control group. Lipid profiles were improved in the SCGO treatment groups compared with the negative control group.
Conclusion: SCGO as an herbal medicine could be an effective treatment for degenerative disorders caused by HFD.

Matched MeSH terms: Herbal Medicine
Herbal medicines: prevalence and predictors of use among Malaysian adults

Aziz Z, Tey NP

Complement Ther Med, 2009 Jan;17(1):44-50.
PMID: 19114228 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2008.04.008

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and identify factors, which predict the use of herbal medicines among Malaysian adults.

Matched MeSH terms: Herbal Medicine/statistics & numerical data*
Herbal medicines: predictors of recommendation by physicians

Aziz Z

J Clin Pharm Ther, 2004 Jun;29(3):241-6.
PMID: 15153085

We hypothesized that as the use of herbal medicines increases in the general population, so do patients' requests to physicians for recommendations. However, why some physicians recommend herbal medicines while others do not is not well understood.

Matched MeSH terms: Herbal Medicine/trends*
Fulltext Indigenous maternity care-giving practice: implications for maternal, foetal and neonatal health in Northern Ghana

Bassoumah, B., Adam, M.A.

JUMMEC, 2018;21(1):32-38.
MyJurnal

The study aimed at government efforts in making maternal and child healthcare services more available to
rural women, many of whom who still seek care from traditional practitioners during the postpartum period
after childbirth. In this research, we explored the role of traditional practitioners, such as Traditional Birth
Attendants (TBAs), herbalists and spiritualists, in traditional maternity care and the implications for the health
of the expectant mother, foetus or baby. This qualitative inquiry used purposive sampling and snowballing to
select the respondents in their various localities. It was observed that the traditional practitioners performed
both spiritual and medical roles during pregnancy and childbirth.
In the study, we discovered that both mothers and babies were exposed to health risks, as administration
of the herbal medicines and assistance at deliveries were carried out under unhygienic conditions. The
techniques used in labour management were not in compliance with the recommendations of the World
Health Organisation. The stages of maternity were characterised with the application of herbal concoctions
with spirituality attached.
The study recommends re-examination of mediating socio-cultural factors to professional health care. There
is a need for the Ghana Health Service to ensure the efficacy and safety of herbal drugs as well as to monitor
the production and application of such medicines.

Matched MeSH terms: Herbal Medicine
Toxicological evaluation of dried kacangma herb (Leonurus sibiricus) in rats

Chua HP, Aminah Abdullah, Murugaiyah M

Sains Malaysiana, 2009;38.

Kacangma (Leonurus sibiricus L.) is a popular traditional herb that has been consumed for decades by the people of Sarawak as a herbal medicine or culinary ingredient. The toxicity of dried kacangma herb on Sprague Dawley male and female rats was evaluated through 90-day sub-chronic studies. The rats were fed kacangma at the rate of 0.5 (low dose), 5 (medium dose) and 25 (high dose) g/kg body weight. The control groups of rats received only the commercial rat pellet. Minor treatment-related effects were observed for body weights, organ weights and the lipid profile parameters and these did not appear to be of toxicological significance. In the sub-chronic toxicity studies, some indications of renal and liver toxicity were evident in the medium and high dose groups when plasma creatinine and liver enzymes were found to be higher when compared with the control and the low dose groups. The hematology study reveals statistically significant mild anemia in rats from the medium and high dose groups as indicated by decreases in hemoglobin, red blood cell count and packed cell volume (hematocrit value). Administration of kacangma herb at medium and high dose was also found to cause adverse effects in histopathological structure of the liver and kidney of both male and female rats. However, low dose group showed no significant differences compared to the control. Therefore, it is considered safe and less chance of developing toxicity if the herb is consumed at the dose of 0.5 g/kg body weight as observed throughout the 90 days period of sub-chronic study.

Matched MeSH terms: Herbal Medicine
Fulltext Anticancer activity of acetogenins from Annona muricata fruit

Daddiouaissa, Djabir, Azura Amid

International Medical Journal Malaysia, 2018;17(3):103-112.
MyJurnal

Medicinal plants become very important in our days for their therapeutic benefits to humankind. It sustains human health, and it is commonly known as herbal medicines since ancient times. Annona muricata is a heart-shaped fruit that is consumed raw or as the fruit juice in the tropical area. A. muricata is used in traditional and alternative medicine to treat different ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, respiratory and skin illness, inflammation and cancer. A. muricata contains essential anticancer agents named acetogenins that play the significant role in various cancer types. Acetogenins are strong nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase inhibitors of the cancer cell's mitochondrial membrane but showed neurotoxic effects in rats. Therefore, acetogenins need to be further investigated to determine the exact mechanisms of action, long-term safety, optimal dosage, and potential side effects. Given the extensive studies on A. muricata, this review focuses on the phytochemistry, medicinal uses, biological activities and the mechanisms of action for the fruit extracts and acetogenins, to stimulate further studies on the fruit pulp used for human consumption.

Matched MeSH terms: Herbal Medicine
Fulltext Ethnomedicine in Sabah: past trends and future perspectives

David Matanjun, Mohammad Saffree Jeffree, Freddie Robinson, Falah Abbas Mohamed Salih, Md Shamsur Rahman, Naing Oo Tha

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(106):82-82.
MyJurnal

Introduction: The objective of this presentation is to carry out a review of the historical status and possible future outlook of the practice of ethnomedicine in the State of Sabah. As in many parts of the world, there are many types of traditional medicines that have been used for hundreds of years among the various native cultural groups in Sabah. Methods: A literature survey was conducted with the aid of online database, and text books using keywords such as the current as well as previous names of Sabah and various related terminology such as ethnomedicine, CAM, complementary and alternative medicine, TCM, traditional and complementary medicine, herbalism, reflexology, spiritualism, ethnobiology ethnology, ethnoanthropology, biological activities, ethnobotanical uses, medicinal prop-erties, toxicity studies, etc. The status of ethnomedicine in Sabah is largely unknown. Results: Based on a review of previous literature, the study discovered that there is limited empirical documentation on the use of ethnomedicine in Sabah. In this preliminary review, a total number of 25 publications were recorded in the databases for the period up to 2019. There is still a need to realise the full potential of the biocultural diversity of Sabah, and that there is a strong need to focus more on socially relevant research. Ethnomedicine in Sabah consists mainly of herbalism, ma-nipulative practices and spiritualism. Plants can be said to be the central player in race-based traditional medicine. While data on ethnomedicine may be based on original field research, several are primarily derivative, drawing as they do from earlier published accounts and, importantly, anecdotes. Traditional massage and other manipula-tive-practices, based on manipulation and movement of body parts, are also popular because of their simplicity and apparent immediate relief that can be experienced by the patient or client. Spiritualism, which may be considered as a peculiar dimension of the mind-body medicine subset of traditional medicine, continues to have its adherents among the natives of Sabah. Conclusion: List and catalogs and sociological and ethnohistorical data were the fa-voured perspective of research in the past; but future evolution of ethnomedical studies need to address some of the debates related to biological, medical and social sciences . Future research should include systematic inves-tigation into efficacy and risk besides the possible incorporation of some parts of ethnomedicine into the existing healthcare services. Ethnomedicine occupies a distinct place in healthcare in the world in general, and Sabah in particular.

Matched MeSH terms: Herbal Medicine
Fulltext Traditional Medicine in Sabah: A Case Study from the District of Kota Marudu

David Matanjun, Mohammad Saffree Bin Jeffree, Julius Kulip, Md Shamsur Rahman, Sadia Choudhury Shimmi

Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences, 2018;12(101):73-0.
MyJurnal

As in other parts of the world, the practice of traditional healing has been part of the local healthcare system for most of the indigenous ethnic groups, since time immemorial. Using descriptive research format, this study looked into the practice of a traditional medicine practitioner in one of the villages of Kota Marudu in Sabah, Malaysia. The practitioner comes from the Dusun Tagahas subethnic group which is one of the numerous ethnic groups in Sabah. The large number of ethnic group in Sabah has made the research of ethnomedicine rather challenging. The practitioner acquired knowledge of traditional healing and treatment which is mainly herbal medicines alluded with some spiritual aspects. He used many herbal preparations in various forms and applications. Similar to the other traditional medicine practitioners, his knowledge and skill regarding his practice are impressive but the practitioner is unable to explain on the mechanism of how the therapy works. Generally their philosophy rests on the notion that disease responds to right medicine but not explanation. There is an urgent need to capture all the knowledge and skill possessed by traditional medicine practitioners, who generally belong to an ageing and fading population, especially those live in remote and hard to reach areas. Scientific research should be conducted to help traditional medicine healers and herbalists to understand their practices before they suffer the consequences of inexorable extinction.

Matched MeSH terms: Herbal Medicine
Fulltext Effectiveness of flipped classroom with Poll Everywhere as a teaching-learning method for pharmacy students

Gubbiyappa KS, Barua A, Das B, Vasudeva Murthy CR, Baloch HZ

Indian J Pharmacol, 2016 Oct;48(Suppl 1):S41-S46.
PMID: 28031607 DOI: 10.4103/0253-7613.193313

OBJECTIVES: Flipped classroom (FC) is a pedagogical model to engage students in learning process by replacing the didactic lectures. Using technology, lectures are moved out of the classroom and delivered online as means to provide interaction and collaboration. Poll Everywhere is an audience response system (ARS) which can be used in an FC to make the activities more interesting, engaging, and interactive. This study aims to study the perception of undergraduate pharmacy students on FC activity using Poll Everywhere ARS and to study the effectiveness of FC activity as a teaching-learning tool for delivering complementary medicine module in the undergraduate pharmacy program.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this nonrandomized trial on interrupted time series study, flipped class was conducted on group of 112 students of bachelor of pharmacy semester V. The topic selected was popular herbal remedies of the complementary medicine module. Flipped class was conducted with audio and video presentation in the form of a quiz using ten one-best-answer type of multiple-choice questions covering the learning objectives. Audience response was captured using web-based interaction with Poll Everywhere. Feedback was obtained from participants at the end of FC activity and debriefing was done.
RESULTS: Randomly selected 112 complete responses were included in the final analysis. There were 47 (42%) male and 65 (58%) female respondents. The overall Cronbach's alpha of feedback questionnaire was 0.912. The central tendencies and dispersions of items in the questionnaire indicated the effectiveness of FC. The low or middle achievers of quiz session (pretest) during the FC activity were three times (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1-8.9) at the risk of providing neutral or negative feedback than high achievers (P = 0.040). Those who gave neutral or negative feedback on FC activity were 3.9 times (95% CI = 1.3-11.8) at the risk of becoming low or middle achievers during the end of semester examination (P = 0.013). The multivariate analysis of "Agree" or "Disagree" and "Agree" or "Strongly Agree" was statistically significant.
CONCLUSION: This study provides insight on how the pharmacy students learn and develop their cognitive functions. The results revealed that the FC activity with Poll Everywhere is an effective teaching-learning method.

Matched MeSH terms: Herbal Medicine/education
Male circumcision and penis enhancement in Southeast Asia: matters of pain and pleasure

Hull TH, Budiharsana M

Reprod Health Matters, 2001 Nov;9(18):60-7.
PMID: 11765401

This paper reviews some uniquely male sexual health concerns in Southeast Asia, with particular attention to Indonesia. These include various forms of male circumcision, different types of 'penis enhancement' carried out across the region and the use of dry sex by women. These practices appear to be motivated by specific notions of sexual pleasure, based on indigenous gender constructs. Although they may or may not pose a serious public health problem, as markers of misguided or exploitative gender relations they do reveal important aspects of social psychology related to sexuality and sexual health. Male circumcision provides an ideal opportunity to consider male reproductive health needs and risks in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Practices that involve cutting the male genitals need to be addressed in ways that stress the importance of sexual relationships based on mutual respect and open communication. Penis implants and inserts and other penis augmentation devices, as well as dry sex practices, are potentially dangerous to both men and women, and of questionable value in bringing pleasure to either, and should be discouraged.

Matched MeSH terms: Herbal Medicine
Phytotherapeutic potential of natural herbal medicines for the treatment of mild-to-severe atopic dermatitis: A review of human clinical studies

Hussain Z, Thu HE, Shuid AN, Kesharwani P, Khan S, Hussain F

Biomed Pharmacother, 2017 Sep;93:596-608.
PMID: 28686974 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.06.087

For many decades, natural herbal medicines, polyherbal formulations and/or decoctions of plant-derived materials have widely been accepted as alternative complementary therapies for the treatment, cure or prevention of a wide range of acute and chronic skin diseases including chronic herpes, prurigo, acute and chronic wounds, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD). This review was aimed to summarize and critically discuss about the therapeutic viability and clinical applicability of natural herbal medicines for the treatment of AD in human. The critical analysis of the literature revealed that oral (in the form of capsules, syrup or granules) and/or topical application (alone or in conjunction with wet-wrap dressing and/or acupuncture) of natural herbal medicines exhibit remarkable potential for the treatment of mild-to-severe AD in adults, children, infants and in the pregnant women. In this review, the clinical efficacy of various herbal formulations such as Chinese herbal therapies, Korean medicines, Iranian medicines, honey, natural herbal oils (coconut oil, olive oil and mineral oil), beeswax, dodder seeds and whey for the treatment of AD has been discussed. The clinical anti-AD efficacy of these complementary therapies has been observed in terms of down-regulation in Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index, erythematic intensity, Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), pruritus and itching frequency, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and expression of AD-mediated chemokines. Conclusively, we recognized that natural herbal medicines demonstrate remarkable clinical efficacy when used alone or in conjunction with other complementary therapies for the treatment of AD in patients of all ages as well as pregnant women.

Matched MeSH terms: Herbal Medicine/methods

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