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Objective: This study investigated the acute and sub-chronic toxicities of the aqueous (AE) and ethanolic extract (EE) from Corynanthe pachyceras. Methods: Acute and sub-chronic toxicity tests were carried out following the 425 and 407 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines respectively. For the acute toxicity study, mice were randomly divided into groups treated with a single dose of distilled water (10 ml/kg) or the single reference dose (2000 mg/kg) of aqueous or ethanolic extract of C. pachyceras. Lethal dose 50 (LD50) was determined after 24h. Mice were individually checked for any toxicity sign and mortality over a 14-day period. For the sub-chronic toxicity study, young rats orally received repeated doses of each extract (50, 150 or 450 mg/kg) during 28 days. Body weight was taken every 2 days. After sacrifice, organ weights, hematological, biochemical and histopathological markers were measured. Results: The LD50 of C. pachyceras extracts was found to be greater than 2000 mg/kg in the acute toxicity study. In the sub-chronic toxicity test, males receiving the high dose (450 mg/kg) of both extracts significantly showed an increase (P<0.05-0.001) in immune cells. In rats treated with the low (50 mg/kg) and medium (150mg/kg) doses of the ethanolic extract of C. pachyceras, activity of ALAT and, concentrations of direct bilirubin, creatinine and total cholesterol were significantly increased (P<0.05-0.0001) when compared with control rats. C. pachyceras extracts did not alter the histology of the vital organs studied. Conclusion: C. pachyceras can be considered as non-toxic, but low doses are recommended to avoid possible chronic side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To characterize dietary supplements marketed online as "ephedra-containing or ephedra-like products" for weight management and to assess labeling/marketing compliance with the ban on the sale of ephedrine alkaloids. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed websites selling ephedra-like supplements using the search term "buy ephedra." For each website, the first three featured products were characterized by evaluating the label for (1) Ephedra sp. or its alkaloid content, (2) serving size, (3) other ingredients, (4) directions, (5) side effects, (6) reported interactions, (7) recommendation to consult a health care provider, (8) recommendation to use with diet and exercise, and (9) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) disclaimer. Results: Thirty-six (71%) of the first 51 websites evaluated sold at least one weight loss product. A total of 105 products were assessed, 93 had labeling with 10 (11%) in possible violation of the ephedra ban. Five were labeled as containing ephedrine or ephedrine hydrochloride, two reported containing ephedrine alkaloids, and two reported containing unidentified Ephedra sp. not formulated as an extract; one reported containing Ma Huang. Sixty-seven (72%) products listed caffeine with a daily serving size averaging 400 mg. Other ingredients with stimulant properties include green tea, yohimbe, and phenylethylamine. Conclusions: Nearly 20% of websites sold weight loss products that potentially violated the 2004 ban of ephedra alkaloids. Ephedrine, unidentified Ephedra sp. not formulated as an extract, and Ma Huang were labeled as present in 11% of products evaluated. Incomplete reporting of adverse effects and drug interactions was common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this feature is to heighten awareness of specific adverse drug reactions (ADRs), discuss methods of prevention, and promote reporting of ADRs to the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch program (800-FDA-1088). If you have reported an interesting, preventable ADR to MedWatch, please consider sharing the account with our readers. E-mail Dr. Mancano at michael.mancano@temple.edu. Your report will be published anonymously unless otherwise requested. This feature is provided by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) in cooperation with the FDA's MedWatch program and Temple University School of Pharmacy. ISMP is an FDA MedWatch partner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Preparations of Olax subscorpioidea have been used traditionally for the management of pains, inflammatory diseases, yellow fever, cancer and rheumatism. Previously, the analgesic activity of its leaf extract have been reported. Furthermore, an analgesic assay guided fractionation showed that the butanol soluble fraction is the most active. However, the mechanism of this activity remains to be elucidated. This present study investigated the possible pharmacological mechanisms involved in the analgesic activity of the butanol leaf fraction of Olax subscorpioidea (BFOS) using the acetic acid induced writhing test in mice. Materials and methods Animals were orally administered distilled water (10 ml/kg), BFOS (1,000 mg/kg) and morphine (10 mg/kg) 60 minutes before i.p administration of acetic acid and the resulting writhing were counted for 10 minutes. To establish the possible mechanism(s) of action of BFOS, separate group of animals were pretreated with naloxone (2 mg/kg, i.p ), prazosin (1 mg/kg, i.p ), yohimbine (1 mg/kg, i.p ), propranolol (20 mg/kg, i.p ), metergoline (2 mg/kg, i.p ), glibenclamide (5 mg/kg, i.p ) and l -arginine (50 mg/kg, i.p ) 15 minutes before BFOS. Results BFOS and morphine showed marked analgesic activities ( p <0.001); the pretreatment of animals with naloxone, metergoline and l-arginine significantly ( p <0.05 and p <0.001) reduced the analgesic activity of BFOS; however, pretreatment with prazosin, yohimbine, propranolol and glinbenclamide showed no effect on its analgesic activity. Conclusion Results obtained in this study suggest the involvement of opioidergic, serotonergic and nitric oxide-l-arginine pathways in the analgesic effect of butanol leaf fraction of Olax subscorpioidea . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nine new corynanthe-type alkaloids ( 1–9 ) and five known analogues ( 10–14 ) were isolated from the seeds of Strychnos angustiflora . Their structures were established based on extensive spectroscopic and spectrometric data, and the structure of 1 was confirmed using single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Based on NMR and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data analyses, the R absolute configuration of the N-4 stereogenic center of 2 was shown to be opposite to that of 1 . In addition, the configurations of compounds 4–8 were established by hydrolysis experiments, and the antirhine moieties were determined to be identical to 11 , which was confirmed for the first time using single-crystal X-ray crystallography data analysis. Compounds 1 , 4 , 10 , and 11 exhibited analgesic activity, which increased the hind-paw licking latency rates by 56–78% at an intraperitoneal dose of 20 mg kg −1 during a hot-plate test in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity and overeating are among the most prevalent health concerns worldwide and individuals are increasingly using performance and image-enhancing drugs (PIEDs) as an easy and fast way to control their weight. Among these, herbal weight-loss products (HWLPs) often attract users due to their health claims, assumed safety, easy availability, affordable price, extensive marketing, and the perceived lack of need for professional oversight. Reports suggest that certain HWLPs may lead to onset or exacerbation of psychiatric disturbances. Here we review the available evidence on psychiatric adverse effects of HWLPs due to their intrinsic toxicity and potential for interaction with psychiatric medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Ge-Gen-Tang (GGT) is a traditional Chinese medicinal formula composed of Puerariae radix (Pueraria lobata Ohwi), Ephedrae Herba (Ephedra sinica Stapf), Cinnamomi Ramulus (Cinnamomum cassia Blume), Paeoniae Radix (Paeonia lactiflora Pallas), Glycyrrhizae Radix preparata (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer), Zingiberis Rhizoma (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), and Zizyphi Fructus (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. inermis Rehder) and is widely used to ameoliorate the symptoms of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders related to diarrhea and intestinal mucosal immunity and for anti-cold, antipyretic and analgesic in Eastern Asia. Aim of the study Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells in the GI tract that generate rhythmic oscillations in membrane potentials known as slow waves. We investigated the effects of GGT on pacemaker potentials in cultured ICCs from the mouse small intestine, and sought to identify the receptors and the action mechanisms involved. Materials and methods Enzymatic digestions were used to dissociate ICCs from mouse small intestine tissues. All experiments on ICCs were performed on within 12 h after culture. A whole-cell patch-clamp configuration was used to record potentials (current clamp) from cultured ICCs. Intracellular Ca 2+ ([Ca 2+ ] i ) increase was studied in cultured ICCs using fura-2 AM. All of the experiments were performed at 30–32 °C. Results Under the current clamping mode, GGT decreased the amplitude and frequency of pacemaker potentials; however, these effects were blocked by intracellular GDPβS, a G-protein inhibitor, and glibenclamide, a specific ATP-sensitive K + channels blocker. Prazosin (α1-adrenoceptor antagonist) and butoxamine (β2-adrenoceptor antagonist) did not block the GGT-induced effects, whereas atenolol (β1-adrenoceptor antagonist) blocked the GGT-induced effects. Also, yohimbine (α2-adrenoceptor antagonist) partially blocked the GGT-induced effects. Pretreatment with SQ-22536, an adenylate cyclase inhibitor, did not block the GGT-induced effects, whereas pretreatment with ODQ, a guanylate cyclase inhibitor, or L-NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, did. Additionally, [Ca 2+ ] i analysis showed that GGT decreased [Ca 2+ ] i . Conclusion These results suggest that GGT inhibits pacemaker potentials in ICCs in a G protein-, cGMP- and NO-dependent manner through stimulation of α2 and β1-adrenoceptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents two case studies of a 28-year-old woman and 50-year-old woman with symptoms of St. serotonin syndrome Topics discussed include use of herbal medicines to increase efficacy or decrease adverse effects of antidepressant drugs, a table depicting categories and abbreviations for antidepressant drugs and adverse drug interactions of St. John's wort-antidepressant.

Platonia insignis Mart. (Clusiaceae) is a medicinal plant from the Brazilian Amazon region. The present study evaluated the biological potential of the ethanol extract ( Pi-EtOH) and ethyl acetate fraction ( Pi-EtOAc) of the P. insignis fruit shells on the cardiovascular system of rats. Pi-EtOH or Pi-EtOAc (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg) was administered intravenously in normotensive rats (260-300 g), and the mean arterial pressure and the heart rate were monitored. The Pi-EtOH induced hypotension (−11.56±0.89, −7.43±0.85, and −17.56±1.97 mmHg) followed by bradycardia in two highest doses (−8.89±3.62 and −15.79±1.83 beats/min) and Pi-EtOAc, at the same doses, induced hypotension (−11.2±1.03, −14.48±1.13, −29.89±2.67 mmHg) more intensively, followed by tachycardia at the dose 12.5 and 25 mg/kg (15.64±2.06, 19.31±1.92 beats/min) and bradycardia at a dose of 50 mg/kg (−9.98±7.33 beats/min). The hypotensive response from Pi-EtOAc was not attenuated when used in the pretreatment with L-NAME, verapamil, propranolol, and hexamethonium. However, when using yohimbine, the hypotensive effect was inhibited (−4.42±1.28 ( P<.05), −3.29±0.99 ( P<.05), 2.06±1.18 mmHg ( P<.05); Student's t-test). Hence, the Pi-EtOAc seems to act similarly to the α2-adrenergic agonist in this hypotensive effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sales of energy products have grown enormously in recent years. Manufacturers claim that the products, in the form of drinks, shots, supplements, and gels, enhance physical and cognitive performance, while users believe the products promote concentration, alertness, and fun. Most of these products contain caffeine, a mild psychostimulant, as their foremost active ingredient. However, they also contain additional ingredients, e.g., carbohydrates, amino acids, herbal extracts, vitamins, and minerals, often in unspecified amounts and labeled as an 'energy blend.' It is not clear whether these additional ingredients provide any physical or cognitive enhancement beyond that provided by caffeine alone. This article reviews the available empirical data on the interactive effects of these ingredients and caffeine on sleep and cognitive performance and suggests objectives for future study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A practical ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) method was developed for fingerprint analysis of and determination of yohimbine in yohimbe barks and related dietary supplements. Good separation was achieved using a Waters Acquity BEH C18 column with gradient elution using 0.1% (v/v) aqueous ammonium hydroxide and 0.1% ammonium hydroxide in methanol as the mobile phases. The study is the first reported chromatographic method that separates corynanthine from yohimbine in yohimbe bark extract. The chromatographic fingerprint analysis was applied to the analysis of 18 yohimbe commercial dietary supplement samples. Quantitation of yohimbine, the traditional method for analysis of yohimbe barks, were also performed to evaluate the results of the fingerprint analysis. Wide variability was observed in fingerprints and yohimbine content among yohimbe dietary supplement samples. For most of the dietary supplements, the yohimbine content was not consistent with the label claims. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article offers information on Parkinson's disease (PD) and its treatments. It states that PD is a chronic and progressive disease, and occurs when dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra of the brain die. It relates that 5-hydroxytryptophan and music therapy are treatments with good scientific evidence. It also mentions other therapies for PD as revealed through unclear or conflicting scientific evidence including acupuncture, caffeine, and lecithin.

Abstract: Two new indole alkaloids, bisnicalaterine D (1), consisting of an eburnane and a corynanthe type of skeletons, and nicalaterine A (2) were isolated from the bark of Hunteria zeylanica. Their structures were elucidated by various spectroscopic data such as NMR and CD spectra. A series of bisnicalaterines and nicalaterine A showed potent antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Extracts of the bark of the central African tree Pausinystalia yohimbe contain yohimbine, an indole alkaloid, which is used to treat erectile dysfunction. The reported side effects of over-the-counter preparations of yohimbine include gastrointestinal upset, anxiety, increased blood pressure, headache, agitation, rash, tachycardia, and frequent urination. In this report, we describe a severe case of intractable priapism associated with the ingestion of yohimbe extract. Management required insertion of a proximal cavernosal spongiosum shunt (Quackles shunt) in the operating room. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This section offers medical news briefs as of November 2015. A Danish study reveals the association between regular marijuana use and reduced sperm count. A research presented at the Interscience Conference of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy shows the efficacy of urinary tract infection treatment fosfomycin in chronic prostatitis patients. A study reveals the pharmaceutical-grade ingredients found in Yohimbe, a botanical supplement.