MyMedR

Displaying all 6 publications

Abstract:

Sort:

Fulltext Tualang honey adjunct with anastrozole improve parenchyma enhancement of breast tissue in breast cancer patients: A randomized controlled trial

Hizan NS, Hassan NHM, Haron J, Abubakar MB, Mahdi NMN, Gan SH

Integr Med Res, 2018 Dec;7(4):322-327.
PMID: 30591885 DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2018.07.002

Background: To investigate whether the combination of anastrozole and Tualang honey (T honey) influences background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) in breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of postmenopausal women with breast cancer.
Methods: A total of 30 patients were recruited and randomly divided into control (anastrozole 1 mg daily) and intervention (anastrozole 1 mg + T honey 20 g daily). The BPE of the contralateral breast before and six months following treatment was compared using the sign test.
Results: There was a decrease in BPE in 10% of the women (p = 0.317) who received only anastrozole, which resulted in a change of BPE category from moderate to mild. However, the combination of anastrozole and T honey evoked a decrease in BPE in 42% of the patients (p = 0.034).
Conclusions: The combination of T honey and anastrozole maybe more efficacious than anastrozole alone in decreasing breast BPE in breast cancer patients. These findings support the medicinal value of T honey as an adjuvant treatment to anastrozole.
Fulltext Orthosiphon stamineus as a potential antidiabetic drug in maternal hyperglycemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Lokman EF, Saparuddin F, Muhammad H, Omar MH, Zulkapli A

Integr Med Res, 2019 Sep;8(3):173-179.
PMID: 31334030 DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2019.05.006

Background: Maternal hyperglycemia is associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes for both mother and offspring. Insulin is the standard treatment of hyperglycemia with the aim to reduce risks of complications, however, due to several restrictions, the search for more effective drugs from traditional medicinal plants continues.
Methods: The antidiabetic effects of Orthosiphon stamineus (O.stamineus) in non-pregnant and pregnant streptozotocin-induced Sprague Dawley rats were identified. The effect of different concentrations of O. stamineouson insulin level using isolated pancreatic islets in response to low and high concentrations of glucose was identified. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed in both pregnant and non-pregnant rats prior to and after treatment with O. stamineus (0.1 g/100 g of body weight). O. stamineus was given orally daily for 2 weeks in non-pregnant and 10 days in pregnant rats.
Results: Oral glucose tolerance test indicated that treatment with O. stamineus in non-pregnant and pregnant rats significantly reduced blood glucose level and stimulated glucose-induced insulin secretion. No mortality was recorded throughout the study and no signs of toxicity during the experimental period including in both mother and foetus. For plasma analysis, the interactions of peptides such as GLP-1 and ghrelin level might contribute to the glucose lowering effect by O. stamineus via stimulation of insulin. The incubation of islets showed that O. stamineussignificantly stimulated insulin release in response to high glucose.
Conclusion: O. stamineus could be a potential source of a specific oral hypoglycaemic agent to treat glucose intolerance in pregnancy.
Fulltext In vivo anti-arthritic and anti-nociceptive effects of ethanol extract of Moringa oleifera leaves on complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis in rats

Mahdi HJ, Khan NAK, Asmawi MZB, Mahmud R, A/L Murugaiyah V

Integr Med Res, 2018 Mar;7(1):85-94.
PMID: 29629295 DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2017.11.002

Background: The medicinal uses of plants are in many cases based exclusively on traditional knowledge without enough scientific evidences. Different parts of Moringa oleifera were traditionally used for the treatment of wide variety of ailments including arthritis and joints pain. The present study had been designed to evaluate the anti-arthritic and anti-nociceptive activities of ethanol extract of Moringa leaves, this being the most abundant plant part suitable for commercial mass production of botanical medicinal products.
Methods: Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis in rats was used as disease model. CFA-induced inflammatory paw edema, body weight, arthritic index, X-ray radiography, hematological parameters, and walk track and locomotion analysis were all evaluated for the assessment of disease progression. In addition to that, anti-nociceptive activity was examined at different dose levels in both normal and arthritic-induced rats using Eddy's hot plate and tail flick thermal analgesia.
Results: The analysis of various arthritic assessment parameters used in this study revealed that Moringa extract has a considerable effect in preventing development or ameliorate arthritis disease severity. Moreover, the ethanol extract of Moringa leaves revealed significant anti-nociceptive activity at in both normal and CFA-induced arthritis rats in a dose-dependent manner.
Conclusion: Ethanol extract of Moringa leaves appears to be a really promising as analgesic and arthritis medication, but a larger and more detailed preclinical and clinical studies especially in human is highly recommended.
Fulltext Current knowledge on alleviating Helicobacter pylori infections through the use of some commonly known natural products: bench to bedside

Murali MR, Naveen SV, Son CG, Raghavendran HRB

Integr Med Res, 2014 Sep;3(3):111-118.
PMID: 28664086 DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2014.04.001

Helicobacter pylori, a spiral-shaped Gram-negative bacterium, has been classified as a class I carcinogen by the World Health Organization and recognized as the causative agent for peptic ulcers, duodenal ulcer, gastritis, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas, and gastric cancer. Owing to their alarming rate of drug resistance, eradication of H. pylori remains a global challenge. Triple therapy consisting of a proton pump inhibitor, clarithromycin, and either amoxicillin or metronidazole, is generally the recommended standard for the treatment of H. pylori infection. Complementary and alternative medicines have a long history in the treatment of gastrointestinal ailments and various compounds has been tested for anti-H. pylori activity both in vitro and in vivo; however, their successful use in human clinical trials is sporadic. Hence, the aim of this review is to analyze the role of some well-known natural products that have been tested in clinical trials in preventing, altering, or treating H. pylori infections. Whereas some in vitro and in vivo studies in the literature have demonstrated the successful use of a few potential natural products for the treatment of H. pylori-related infections, others indicate a need to consider natural products, with or without triple therapy, as a useful alternative in treating H. pylori-related infections. Thus, the reported mechanisms include killing of H. pylori urease inhibition, induction of bacterial cell damage, and immunomodulatory effect on the host immune system. Furthermore, both in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the successful use of some potential natural products for the treatment of H. pylori-related infections. Nevertheless, the routine prescription of potential complementary and alternative medicines continues to be restrained, and evidence on the safety and efficacy of the active compounds remains a subject of ongoing debate.
Fulltext Evidence mapping of interactions on concomitant use of Chinese medicine and platinum-based chemotherapy: a scoping review protocol

Liew AC, Chan SY, Lim RJ, Nabil WNN, Hoo SM, Lai NM

Integr Med Res, 2020 Jun;9(2):100392.
PMID: 32382498 DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2020.01.014

Background: The utilization of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has gained popularity and acceptance worldwide. Increasing use of CHM either as a stand-alone or an adjunctive treatment for cancers has given rise to increasing concern on potential herbal-drug reactions. Possible combinatory effects are important to be explored in evaluating the rationality of integrating CHM and chemotherapy in clinical practice. This study aims to update the current knowledge on herbal-drug interactions (HDI) of the commonly used platinum-based chemotherapy (PtC) in cancer patients.
Methods: Systemic searches will perform on online databases (English and Chinese) to identify papers from inception until December 2019 for inclusion into the review. The search strategy will be following PRISMA Scoping Reviews Checklist as a quality assurance step. All records retrieved will be screened by 2 independent reviewers. The preclinical studies and clinical studies that involve in assessing the concurrent use of CHM and PtC will be considered. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses will be used as scoping review framework.
Discussion: This scoping review will explore the compatibility or combination rule of CHM-PtC and assist in understanding HDI in CHM-PtC co-treatment. Identification of active properties in CHM's HDI and understanding pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic of the CHM alone or as co-treatment are essential for patients' safety profile. It will provide a new insight for future practice in cancer treatment.
Study registration: This protocol has been registered in the Research Register (https://www.researchregistry.com/) with an unique registration number: reviewregistry790.
Fulltext Challenges and strategies for implementing Chinese medicine during COVID-19 in Malaysia

Teo CS, Tan PM, Shu CSI, Choo ZX, Te KK

Integr Med Res, 2021;10:100783.
PMID: 34642627 DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2021.100783

Background: Implementing Chinese medicine (CM) for COVID-19 in Malaysia is challenging for local CM practitioners. The successful experience of CM in China can only be partially adopted in Malaysia due to differences in the national health care system and legislation, geographical health disparities and cultural diversity. Despite all the challenges, Malaysian CM practitioners have managed to thrive and found a Malaysian CM solution amid COVID-19.
Methods: A literature review was conducted using various databases and gray literature from inception to August 15, 2021, to evaluate the challenges faced by Malaysian CM practitioners and the corresponding strategies in Malaysia's country context during COVID-19.
Results: A total of 9 challenges and issues faced by Malaysian CM practitioners during COVID-19 were identified. Their corresponding strategies were further categorized into 3 phases, namely, preparation, development and implementation. The strategies were appraised using the SWOT analysis method, and 17 factors were identified. Strength analysis includes personalized CM prescriptions with online consultations in Malaysia. Limited research input for CM in COVID-19 and the inadequate research capacity of local CM institutions are discussed in threat analysis.
Conclusion: Various approaches have been implemented by Malaysian CM practitioners to provide safe, qualified and effective CM services for COVID-19 at the community level, aiming to reduce the national health care burden. A public-private partnership initiative can bridge the knowledge gap and optimize the role of CM in the health emergency system. This Malaysian CM solution can provide insights to interested countries to capitalize on the potential contribution of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) in the era of COVID-19.