Emena-G PMC™

Emena-G PMC™—Practitioner Only—
Tonic—This formula is designed for women to stimulate and normalize menstrual flow.7,12,27 These botanicals address women’s reproductive problems.1,19,20,23 It is a uterine tonic containing plants used by medical herbalists to treat female hormonal disorders and considered to be a hormonal modulator.1,3,20,21,23,25 It is used as an emmenagogue, inducing menstrual flow and relieving menstrual pain.7,12,24,27 It is also an analgesic and anti-inflammatory for ovarian inflammation, antispasmodic, sedative and nervine.2,4,6-17,22,23-30 Research studies show the plants used have cytotoxic properties, including human uterine and ovarian cancers.5,13,14,16,18,22,28

1. Ethnomedicines used in Trinidad and Tobago for reproductive problems.
Lans C.
BCICS, University of Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 2Y2, Canada. cher2lans@netscape.net
J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2007 Mar 15;3:13.
PMID: 17362507 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
PMCID: PMC1838898

2. Enhanced airway reactivity and inflammation in A2A adenosine receptor-deficient allergic mice.
Nadeem A, Fan M, Ansari HR, Ledent C, Jamal Mustafa S.
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505-9229, USA.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2007 Jun;292(6):L1335-44. Epub 2007 Feb 9.
PMID: 17293374 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

3. Structural and functional comparison of mast cells in the pregnant versus nonpregnant human uterus.
Garfield RE, Irani AM, Schwartz LB, Bytautiene E, Romero R.
Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1062, USA. rgarfiel@utmb.edu
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Jan;194(1):261-7.
Comment in: Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Jan;196(1):e27; author reply e27-8.
PMID: 16389041 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

4. Involvement of mast cells in adenosine-mediated bronchoconstriction and inflammation in an allergic mouse model.
Oldenburg PJ, Mustafa SJ.
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA.
J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2005 Apr;313(1):319-24. Epub 2004 Dec 30.
PMID: 15626727 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

5. Cytotoxic and other metabolites of Aspergillus inhabiting the rhizosphere of Sonoran desert plants.
He J, Wijeratne EM, Bashyal BP, Zhan J, Seliga CJ, Liu MX, Pierson EE, Pierson LS 3rd, VanEtten HD, Gunatilaka AA.
Southwest Center for Natural Products Research and Commercialization, Office of Arid Lands Studies, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona, 250 E. Valencia Road, Tucson, Arizona 85706-6800, USA.
J Nat Prod. 2004 Dec;67(12):1985-91.
PMID: 15620238 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

6. Allergic reactions of pulsating cardiac cells in culture [Article in Russian]
Ado AD, Terekhova-Uvarova NA. Biull Eksp Biol Med. 1977 Oct;84(10):440-2.
PMID: 562204 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

7. Amazon Medicines of Brazil, Columbia, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador
by J. River Jones, Amazon Therapeutic Laboratories, unpublished feild journals, 1994-2005.

8. Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activity of the water decoction Desmodium gangeticum.
Rathi A, Rao ChV, Ravishankar B, De S, Mehrotra S.
Pharmacognosy and Ethnopharmacology Division, National Botanical Research Institute (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Rana Pratap Marg, Post Box No. 436, Lucknow 226 001, Uttar Pradesh, India. rathi_anshu@yahoo.com
J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Dec;95(2-3):259-63.
PMID: 15507346 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

9. Effect of butanolic fraction of Desmodium adscendens on the anococcygeus of the rat.
Barreto, GS.
Department of Basic Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Av. Fernando Corrêa Costa, s/n, CEP 78060-900, Coxipó, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil. genesson@cpd.ufmt.br
Braz J Biol. 2002 May;62(2):223-30. Epub 2002 Aug 26.
PMID: 12489394 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE

10. Effects of an ethanolic extract of Desmodium adscendens on central nervous system in rodents.
N’gouemo P, Baldy-Moulinier M, Nguemby-Bina C.
Laboratoire de Médecine Expérimentale, INSERM U249-CNRS UPR9008, Montpellier, France.
J Ethnopharmacol. 1996 Jun;52(2):77-83.
PMID: 8735451 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Motherwort ~ Leonurus cardiaca

11. Ursolic acid: a potent Inhibitor of superoxides produced in the cellular system.
Ali MS, Ibrahim SA, Jalil S, Choudhary MI.
H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for
PMID: 17295383 [PubMed - in process]

12. Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
Medical Herbalism by David Hoffman

15. Clinical safety and efficacy of NG440: a novel combination of rho iso-alpha acids from hops, rosemary, and oleanolic acid for inflammatory conditions.
Minich DM, Bland JS, Katke J, Darland G, Hall A, Lerman RH, Lamb J, Carroll B, Tripp M.
Functional Medicine Research Center, division of MetaProteomics, LLC., 9770 44th Avenue NW, Suite 100, Gig
Harbor, WA 98332, USA. deannaminich@metagenics.com
Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2007 Sep;85(9):872-83.
PMID: 18066133 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

16. Supercritical fluid extracts of rosemary leaves exhibit potent anti-inflammation and anti-tumor effects.
Peng CH, Su JD, Chyau CC, Sung TY, Ho SS, Peng CC, Peng RY.
Division of Basic Medical Science, Hungkuang University, No 34, Chung Chie Rd, Shalu County, TaichungHsien,43302, Taiwan.
Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2007 Sep;71(9):2223-32. Epub 2007 Sep 7.
PMID: 17827696 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

17. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Medical Herbalism by David Hoffman, pg 577

18. Cytotoxicity and apoptotic inducibility of Vitex agnus-castus fruit extract in cultured human normal and cancer cells and effect on growth.
Ohyama K, Akaike T, Hirobe C, Yamakawa T.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy & Life Science, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0355, Japan. ohyamak@ps.toyaku.ac.jp
Biol Pharm Bull. 2003 Jan;26(1):10-8.
PMID: 12520164 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

19. Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus)--pharmacology and clinical indications.
Wuttke W, Jarry H, Christoffel V, Spengler B, Seidlová-Wuttke D.
Department of Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, University of Göttingen, Germany. ufkendo@med.uni-goettingen.de
PMID: 12809367 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

20. Treatment for the premenstrual syndrome with agnus castus fruit extract: prospective, randomised, placebo controlled study.
Schellenberg R.
Institute for Health Care and Science, 35625 Hüttenberg, Germany. med@t-online.de
BMJ. 2001 Jan 20;322(7279):134-7.
PMID: 11159568 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

21. Vitex Berry (Vitex–Agnus castus)
Medical Herbalism, by David Hoffman, pg 595

22. Melissa officinalis L. essential oil: antitumoral and antioxidant activities.
de Sousa AC, Alviano DS, Blank AF, Alves PB, Alviano CS, Gattass CR.Instituto de Biofisica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciencias da Saude, Bloco C, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro 21941-900, Rio de Janeiro, R.J., Brazil.
J Pharm Pharmacol. 2004 May;56(5):677-81
PMID: 15142347 [PubMed - in process]

23. Toronjil (Melissa officinalis)
Medical Herbalism, by David Hoffman, pg 567

24. Amazon Medicines of Brazil, Columbia, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador
by J. River Jones, Amazon Therapeutic Laboratories, unpublished feild journals, 1994-2005.

25. Pharmacological study of Cymbopogon citratus leaves.
Carbajal D, Casaco A, Arruzazabala L, Gonzalez R, Tolon Z.
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Center for Scientific Research, Havana, Cuba.
J Ethnopharmacol. 1989 Feb;25(1):103-7.
PMID: 2716341 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

26. Pharmacology of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus Stapf). III. Assessment of eventual toxic, hypnotic and anxiolytic effects on humans.
Leite JR, Seabra Mde L, Maluf E, Assolant K, Suchecki D, Tufik S, Klepacz S, Calil HM, Carlini EA.
J Ethnopharmacol. 1986 Jul;17(1):75-83.
PMID: 2429120 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

27. Amazon Medicines of Brazil, Columbia, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador
by J. River Jones, Amazon Therapeutic Laboratories, unpublished feild journals, 1994-2005.

28. Chuchuhuasha - a drug used in folk medicine in the Amazonian and Andean areas. A chemical study of Maytenus laevis.
Gonzalez JG; delle Monache G; delle Monache F; Marini-Bettol GB
J Ethnopharmacol, 5: 1, 1982 Jan, 73-7

29. Pharmacological activity of South American plants: effects on spontaneous in vivo lipid peroxidation.
Desmarchelier CJ, de Moraes Barros SB.
Instituto de Quimica y Metabolismo del Farmaco (IQUIMEFA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquimica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junin 956 (1113), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
PMID: 12557253 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

30. Friedelane triterpenoids from Maytenus macrocarpa.
Chávez H, Estévez-Braun A, Ravelo AG, González AG.
Instituto Universitario de Bio-Orgánica, Antonio Gonzalez, Universidad de Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Island, Spain.
J Nat Prod. 1998 Jan;61(1):82-5.
PMID: 9461656 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Altamisa ~ Ambrosia aborescens

1. Ethnomedicines used in Trinidad and Tobago for reproductive problems.
Lans C.
BCICS, University of Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 2Y2, Canada. cher2lans@netscape.net
J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2007 Mar 15;3:13.
BACKGROUND: Throughout history women have tried to control or enhance their fertility using herbal remedies, with various levels of societal support. Caribbean folk medicine has been influenced by European folk medicine, either through the early Spanish and French settlers or through the continuous immigration of Spanish-speaking peoples from Venezuela. Some folk uses are ancient and were documented by Galen and Pliny the Elder. METHODS: Thirty respondents, ten of whom were male were interviewed from September 1996 to September 2000. The respondents were obtained by snowball sampling, and were found in thirteen different sites, 12 in Trinidad (Paramin, Talparo, Sangre Grande, Mayaro, Carapichaima, Kernahan, Newlands, Todd’s Road, Arima, Guayaguayare, Santa Cruz, Port of Spain and Siparia) and one in Tobago (Mason Hall). Snowball sampling was used because there was no other means of identifying respondents and to cover the entire islands. The validation of the remedies was conducted with a non-experimental method. RESULTS: Plants are used for specific problems of both genders. Clusea rosea, Urena sinuata and Catharanthus roseus are used for unspecified male problems. Richeria grandis and Parinari campestris are used for erectile dysfunction. Ageratum conyzoides, Scoparia dulcis, Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita maxima, Gomphrena globosa and Justicia pectoralis are used for prostate problems. The following plants are used for childbirth and infertility: Mimosa pudica, Ruta graveolens, Abelmoschus moschatus, Chamaesyce hirta, Cola nitida, Ambrosia cumanenesis, Pilea microphylla, Eryngium foetidum, Aristolochia rugosa, Aristolochia trilobata, Coleus aromaticus, Laportea aestuans and Vetiveria zizanioides. The following plants are used for menstrual pain and unspecified female complaints: Achyranthes indica, Artemisia absinthium, Brownea latifolia, Eleutherine bulbosa, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Eupatorium macrophyllum, Justicia secunda, Parthenium hysterophorus, Wedelia trilobata, Abelmoschus moschatus, Capraria biflora, Cordia curassavica, Croton gossypifolius, Entada polystachya, Leonotis nepetaefolia, Eryngium foetidum, Aristolochia rugosa, Aristolochia trilobata and Ambrosia cumanenesis. CONCLUSION: Native Caribbean plants have been less studied that those from Africa, India and Europe. Chamaesyce hirta has scientific support but as a diuretic. Other plants with level 3 validity for reproductive issues are: Achyranthes indica, Coleus aromaticus, Hibiscus rosa-sinesis, Parthenium hysterophorus and Ruta graveolens. The non-experimental validation method can be used to advise the public on which plants are safe, effective and useful, and which are not; pending clinical trials. This is especially important since so few clinical trials are conducted on Caribbean plants.
PMID: 17362507 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
PMCID: PMC1838898

2. Enhanced airway reactivity and inflammation in A2A adenosine receptor-deficient allergic mice.
Nadeem A, Fan M, Ansari HR, Ledent C, Jamal Mustafa S.
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505-9229, USA.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2007 Jun;292(6):L1335-44. Epub 2007 Feb 9.
A(2A) adenosine receptor (A(2A)AR) has potent anti-inflammatory properties, which may be important in the regulation of airway reactivity and inflammation. Inflammatory cells that possess A(2A)AR also produce nitrosative stress, which is associated with pathophysiology of asthma, so we hypothesized that A(2A)AR deficiency may lead to increased airway reactivity and inflammation through nitrosative stress. Thus the present study was carried out to investigate the role of A(2A)AR on airway reactivity, inflammation, NF-kappaB signaling, and nitrosative stress in A(2A)AR knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice using our murine model of asthma. Animals were sensitized intraperitoneally on days 1 and 6 with 200 microg of ragweed, followed by aerosolized challenges with 0.5% ragweed on days 11, 12, and 13, twice a day. On day 14, airway reactivity to methacholine was assessed as enhanced pause (Penh) using whole body plethysmography followed by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung collection for various analyses. Allergen challenge caused a significant decrease in expression of A(2A)AR in A(2A) WT sensitized mice, with A(2A)AR expression being undetected in A(2A) KO sensitized group leading to decreased lung cAMP levels in both groups. A(2A)AR deletion/downregulation led to an increase in Penh to methacholine and influx of total cells, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and neutrophils in BAL with highest values in A(2A) KO sensitized group. A(2A) KO sensitized group further had increased NF-kappaB expression and nitrosative stress compared with WT sensitized group. These data suggest that A(2A)AR deficiency leads to airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness, possibly via involvement of nitrosative stress in this model of asthma.
PMID: 17293374 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

3. Structural and functional comparison of mast cells in the pregnant versus nonpregnant human uterus.
Garfield RE, Irani AM, Schwartz LB, Bytautiene E, Romero R.
Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1062, USA. rgarfiel@utmb.edu
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Jan;194(1):261-7.
Comment in: Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Jan;196(1):e27; author reply e27-8.
OBJECTIVE: To characterize uterine mast cells and investigate uterine muscle strips contractile responses to challenge with an allergen in nonpregnant and pregnant women. STUDY DESIGN: A double-antibody labeling technique was used to identify tryptase positive or chymase-tryptase-positive mast cells in uterine samples from term pregnant and nonpregnant women. Longitudinal myometrial strips were prepared from biopsies of hysterectomy specimens from patients undergoing procedures for benign indications and women who had elective cesarean sections. Responses to ragweed antigen were compared in uterine tissues from allergic and nonallergic patients and with passively sensitized tissues in the absence or presence of H1 receptor antagonist and a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. RESULTS: Tryptase-chymase-positive mast cells were predominant in nonpregnant myometrium, whereas tryptase-positive cells were dominant in pregnant myometrium. Mast cell density was significantly higher in tissue from pregnant women than those of nonpregnant women. Studies in tissues from patients with known allergy to ragweed, as well as in passively sensitized tissues, showed an immediate and substantial increase in the frequency and force of myometrial contraction after a challenge with ragweed antigen. A similar response was observed to histamine. There was no contractile response to antigen challenge in tissues from nonallergic patients. An H1 receptor antagonist partially inhibited the response to antigen, whereas a cyclooxygenase inhibitor had no effect. CONCLUSION: Sensitized isolated pregnant and nonpregnant human uterine tissue is capable of responding to antigen challenge with strong myometrial contractions. This ability, along with the increased density of mast cells in pregnant tissues as compared with nonpregnant tissues, indicates a possible role for mast cells in mediating uterine contractility in pregnancy.
PMID: 16389041 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

4. Involvement of mast cells in adenosine-mediated bronchoconstriction and inflammation in an allergic mouse model.
Oldenburg PJ, Mustafa SJ.
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA.
J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2005 Apr;313(1):319-24. Epub 2004 Dec 30.
In allergen-induced asthma, activation of lung mast cells leads to bronchial constriction, increased mucus secretion, and an increase in the localization of inflammatory cells to the airways. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of mast cells in adenosine-mediated airway reactivity and inflammation using the mast cell degranulating agent, compound 48/80 (C48/80). Mice were sensitized and challenged with ragweed (or 0.9% saline) followed by C48/80 administration twice a day in increasing doses for 5 days. Dose-responsiveness to the nonspecific adenosine receptor agonist 5’-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) was established, and lung lavage was performed 24 h later for cell differential analysis to evaluate inflammation. At a dose of 375 microg/ml (aerosolized NECA), C48/80 pretreatment resulted in a significant attenuation in airway reactivity when compared with sensitized control mice (330.07 versus 581.57%, respectively). Lung lavage from the C48/80 treated mice showed a decrease in eosinophils (17.7 versus 60.9%, respectively) and an increase in macrophages when compared with the sensitized control group (76.4 versus 30.8%, respectively). These results support the conclusion that mast cell degranulation plays an important role in adenosine receptor-mediated airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation.
PMID: 15626727 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

5. Cytotoxic and other metabolites of Aspergillus inhabiting the rhizosphere of Sonoran desert plants.
He J, Wijeratne EM, Bashyal BP, Zhan J, Seliga CJ, Liu MX, Pierson EE, Pierson LS 3rd, VanEtten HD, Gunatilaka AA.
Southwest Center for Natural Products Research and Commercialization, Office of Arid Lands Studies, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona, 250 E. Valencia Road, Tucson, Arizona 85706-6800, USA.
J Nat Prod. 2004 Dec;67(12):1985-91.
In a study to discover potential anticancer agents from rhizosphere fungi of Sonoran desert plants cytotoxic EtOAc extracts of four Aspergillus strains have been investigated. Two new metabolites, terrequinone A (1) and terrefuranone (2), along with Na-acetyl aszonalemin (LL-S490beta) (3) were isolated from As. terreus occurring in the rhizosphere of Ambrosia ambrosoides, whereas As. terreus inhabiting the rhizosphere of an unidentified Brickellia sp. afforded dehydrocurvularin (4), 11-methoxycurvularin (5), and 11-hydroxycurvularin (6). As. cervinus isolated from the rhizosphere of Anicasanthus thurberi contained two new compounds, 4R*,5S*-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methylcyclohex-2-enone (7) and 6-methoxy-5(6)-dihydropenicillic acid (8), in addition to penicillic acid (9). Penicillic acid was also isolated from As. wentii occurring in the rhizosphere of Larrea tridentata. The structures of 1-9 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and chemical derivatizations. Acetylation of 2 afforded 14-acetylterrefuranone (13) and 14-deoxy-13(14)-dehydroterrefuranone (14). Metabolites 1-9, the dienone 14, and 5(6)-dihydropenicillic acid (16) were evaluated for cytotoxicity in a panel of four human cancer cell lines and in normal human primary fibroblast cells. Compounds 4 and 5 displayed considerable cytotoxicity, whereas 1, 6, 9, and 14 were found to be moderately active, with 6 and 9 exhibiting selective cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines compared with the normal fibroblast cells.
PMID: 15620238 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

6. Allergic reactions of pulsating cardiac cells in culture [Article in Russian]
Ado AD, Terekhova-Uvarova NA. Biull Eksp Biol Med. 1977 Oct;84(10):440-2.
The authors describe a method of cultivation and growth peculiarities in a culture of beating cells of the human embryo heart. The influence of homologous anticardiac antibodies and of the ambrosia allergen antiambrosia antibody complex on the contracting cells of the heart of chick and duck embryos was studied in a culture. Pulsation of the cardiac cells was delayed and weakened under the effect of these factors; their vacuolization developed.
PMID: 562204 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

7. Amazon Medicines of Brazil, Columbia, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador
by J. River Jones, Amazon Therapeutic Laboratories, unpublished feild journals, 1994-2005.

8. Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activity of the water decoction Desmodium gangeticum.
Rathi A, Rao ChV, Ravishankar B, De S, Mehrotra S.
Pharmacognosy and Ethnopharmacology Division, National Botanical Research Institute (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Rana Pratap Marg, Post Box No. 436, Lucknow 226 001, Uttar Pradesh, India. rathi_anshu@yahoo.com
J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Dec;95(2-3):259-63.
The water decoction of root and aerial parts of Desmodium gangeticum (Leguminosae) was examined for anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activity in experimental animals. The root and aerial decoction in doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg /kg caused a dose-dependent inhibition of swelling caused by carrageenin equivalent to 14.58-51.02% protection and 14.43-38.67%, respectively, in cotton pellet granuloma. There was a significant increase in analgesio-meter-induced force equivalent to 6.56-67.66% protection and 22.18-73.83% protection in acetic acid-induced writhing. The result establishes the traditional use of water decoction of Desmodium gangeticum codified in Indian System of Medicine.
PMID: 15507346 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

9. Effect of butanolic fraction of Desmodium adscendens on the anococcygeus of the rat.
Barreto, GS.
Department of Basic Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Av. Fernando Corrêa Costa, s/n, CEP 78060-900, Coxipó, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil. genesson@cpd.ufmt.br
Braz J Biol. 2002 May;62(2):223-30. Epub 2002 Aug 26.
The chemical composition of plants can vary according to factors such as soil and time of collection. Desmodium adscendens (Sw.) D.C. var. adscendens (Papillionaceae) is a plant employed in the treatment of asthma in Ghana, Africa. Studies have shown that butanolic extract inhibits contraction of the ileum and trachea in guinea pigs. In Mato Grosso, this plant is used only in the treatment of ovarian inflammation. The objective of this work was to verify if the plant found in Mato Grosso also relaxes smooth muscle and to understand better its action. The cumulative application of the butanolic fraction relaxed the contraction maintained in the isolated anococcygeus of a rat, induced by high potassium, but not that induced by phenylephrine. Relaxation was not altered by methylene blue. The butanolic fraction reduced in a concentration-dependent way the maximum response of concentration-response curve to calcium in the anococcygeus muscle. The results suggest that the butanolic fraction acts, at least partly, through the blockade of voltage-sensitive Ca+2 channels.
PMID: 12489394 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE

10. Effects of an ethanolic extract of Desmodium adscendens on central nervous system in rodents.
N’gouemo P, Baldy-Moulinier M, Nguemby-Bina C.
Laboratoire de Médecine Expérimentale, INSERM U249-CNRS UPR9008, Montpellier, France.
J Ethnopharmacol. 1996 Jun;52(2):77-83.
This study investigates some pharmacological effects of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Desmodium adscendens (Papillionaceae), a medicinal plant in the African traditional medicine, on the central nervous system. The plant extract induced hypothermia and had analgesic effect in mice. D. adscendens suppressed the tonic phase of convulsion and mortality induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in mice. In addition, the plant extract delayed the onset of PTZ forelimb clonus, and generalized limbic seizures induced by kainic acid. In contrast, the plant extract did not affect either tonic convulsion induced by maximal electroshock in mice or the progression of limbic seizures towards the status epilepticus in rats.
PMID: 8735451 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

11. Ursolic acid: a potent Inhibitor of superoxides produced in the cellular system.
Ali MS, Ibrahim SA, Jalil S, Choudhary MI.
H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for
Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of
Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan. Phytother Res. 2007
Jun;21(6):558-61.
Triterpenoids of ursane class: ursolic acid, ilelatifol D, corosolic acid and euscaphic acid were isolated for the first time from Leonurus cardiaca, a member of the family Lamiaceae. The isolated compounds were tested for their cell-based antiinflammatory potential by suppressing respiratory burst activity and superoxide scavenging property by using xanthine/xanthine oxidase system to produce superoxides in the cell-free system. Ursolic acid was found to be an excellent inhibitor for the superoxides produced in the cellular system, while the same was inactive in the superoxide scavenging activity in cell-free system. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PMID: 17295383 [PubMed - in process]

12. Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
Medical Herbalism by David Hoffman
Actions: Nervine, Emenagogue, antispasmodic, hepatic,cardiotonic, hypotensive
The herb is valuable for stimulating delayed or suppressed menstrution, especially when anxiety or tension is involved, and may be used to ease false labor pains. It is a useful relaxing tonic for menopausal changes.

13. Anti-proliferative and antioxidant properties of rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis.
Cheung S, Tai J.
Department of Pathology and Pediatrics, Center for Complementary Medicine Research, Child and Family Research Institute, British Columbia Children’s and Women’s Health Center, University of British Columbia, British Columbia V6H 3N4, Canada. Oncol Rep. 2007 Jun;17(6):1525-31.
Constituents in rosemary have shown a variety of pharmacological activities for cancer chemoprevention and therapy in in vitro and in vivo models. In order to further explore the chemopreventive properties of crude extracts of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L), we studied its anti-proliferative property on several human cancer cell lines and its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in vitro in a mouse RAW 264.7 macrophage/monocyte cell line. Our study shows that crude ethanolic rosemary extract (RO) has differential anti-proliferative effects on human leukemia and breast carcinoma cells. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) was estimated at 1/700, 1/400, 1/150 and 1/500 dilutions, for the HL60, K562, MCF7 and MDA-MB-468 cells, respectively. Non-cytotoxic concentrations of RO at 1/1000 dilution minimally induced HL60 cell differentiation into granulocyte lineage at 9.5+/-2.2% compared to 2.8+/-0.8% in the untreated control (p<0.001), and did not induce HL60 cell differentiation into monocyte/macrophage lineage. The 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-chroman-2-carboxylic acid (Trolox) equivalent antioxidant capacity assay showed that RO has substantial antioxidant activity with RO at 1/10 and 1/5 dilutions having 8.1 and 12.6 microM Trolox equivalents, respectively. RO at non-cytotoxic 1/2000 and 1/1000 dilutions did not affect nitric oxide (NO) production by non-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. However, at the same dilutions RO significantly reduced NO production by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated cells in a dose-dependent manner from 32.6+/-2.3 microM in the LPS-activated cells to 19.2+/-2.2 microM (p<0.01), and 7.7+/-1.2 microM (p<0.001), respectively. RT-PCR analyses showed that RAW 264.7 cells treated with 1/1000 and 1/500 dilutions for 5 h did not affect TNFalpha, IL-1beta, iNOS and COX-2 mRNA expression in these cells when compared to the untreated controls, nor did the 1/1000 dilution of RO affect TNFalpha, IL-1beta, iNOS and COX-2 mRNA expression in the LPS-activated cells. At 1/500 dilution, RO significantly reduced IL-1beta (p<0.01) and COX-2 (p<0.05) mRNA expression and non-significantly reduced TNFalpha and iNOS mRNA expression in the LPS-activated cells. In view of the chemopreventive potentials, further studies are needed to explore other biological properties of this popular spice used by many cultures in the world.
PMID: 17487414 [PubMed - in process]

14. Antiplatelet activity of carnosic acid, a phenolic diterpene from Rosmarinus officinalis.
Lee JJ, Jin YR, Lee JH, Yu JY, Han XH, Oh KW, Hong JT, Kim TJ, Yun YP.
College of Pharmacy, Research Center for Bioresource and Health, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
Planta Med. 2007 Feb;73(2):121-7.
Carnosic acid is a major phenolic diterpene derived from Rosmarinus officinalis and has been reported to have antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, antiobese and photoprotective activities. This study investigated the antiplatelet activity of carnosic acid. carnosic acid significantly inhibited collagen-, arachidonic acid-, U46619- and thrombin-induced washed rabbit platelet aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 39+/-0.3, 34+/-1.8, 29+/-0.8 and 48+/-2.9 microM, respectively, while it failed to inhibit PMA-(a direct PKC activator) and ADP-induced platelet aggregation. In agreement with its antiplatelet activity, carnosic acid blocked collagen-, arachidonic acid-, U46619- and thrombin-mediated cytosolic calcium mobilization. accordingly, serotonin secretion and arachidonic acid liberation were also inhibited in a similar concentration-dependent manner. However, in contrast to the inhibition of arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation, carnosic acid had no effect on the formation of arachidonic acid-mediated thromboxane A2 and prostaglandin D2, thus indicating that carnosic acid has no effect on the cyclooxygenase and thromboxane A2 synthase activity. Overall, these results suggest that the antiplatelet activity of carnosic acid is mediated by the inhibition of cytosolic calcium mobilization and that carnosic acid has the potential of being developed as a novel antiplatelet agent.
PMID: 17410649 [PubMed - in process]

15. Clinical safety and efficacy of NG440: a novel combination of rho iso-alpha acids from hops, rosemary, and oleanolic acid for inflammatory conditions.
Minich DM, Bland JS, Katke J, Darland G, Hall A, Lerman RH, Lamb J, Carroll B, Tripp M.
Functional Medicine Research Center, division of MetaProteomics, LLC., 9770 44th Avenue NW, Suite 100, Gig
Harbor, WA 98332, USA. deannaminich@metagenics.com
Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2007 Sep;85(9):872-83.
In this report, we examine the clinical safety and efficacy of NG440, a phytochemical-based antiinflammatory formula consisting of a combination of rho iso-alpha acids from hops, rosemary, and oleanolic acid. In a previous study, we demonstrated that NG440 significantly decreased pain by 50% in patients with osteoarthritis. Consistent with these data, results from a multicentre trial indicate that NG440 reduced pain scores in patients with joint discomfort, as measured by VAS (visual analog scale) methodology. As demonstrated in an ex vivo clinical study, these effects on pain relief may be due to reduced inflammatory cytokine production including lower prostaglandin E2 formation. Finally, strong data exist to suggest that NG440 is a safe formula for human consumption. Animal toxicity data revealed no adverse effects of NG440 at dosages < or =250 mg.kg-1.day-1 for 21 days. Furthermore, human trial data suggest that NG440 does not negatively impact cardiovascular and gastrointestinal markers normally affected by selective COX-2 enzyme inhibitors, including platelet function, blood pressure, blood cell count, or fecal calprotectin, a measure of gastrointestinal injury. In conclusion, NG440 may serve as a safe and efficacious alternative in some areas where specific COX-2 inhibitors have been traditionally used.
PMID: 18066133 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

16. Supercritical fluid extracts of rosemary leaves exhibit potent anti-inflammation and anti-tumor effects.
Peng CH, Su JD, Chyau CC, Sung TY, Ho SS, Peng CC, Peng RY.
Division of Basic Medical Science, Hungkuang University, No 34, Chung Chie Rd, Shalu County, TaichungHsien,43302, Taiwan.
Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2007 Sep;71(9):2223-32. Epub 2007 Sep 7.
Supercritical fluid SF-CO2 treatment of Rosemarinus officinalis L. fresh leaves under optimum conditions (80 degrees C at 5,000 psi) yielded 5.3% of extract supercritical fluid extraction (SFE)-80, in which five major active principles were identified by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), viz., rosmarinic acid, carnosol, 12-methoxycarnosic acid, carnosic acid, and methyl carnosate. Total phenolic content was 155.8 mg/ gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g in SFE-80, which showed 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging of 81.86% at 0.01 mg/ml. When treated in RAW 264.7, apparent dose-dependent NO inhibition occurred at dosages of 1.56 to 6.25 microg/ml, and more drastically at 12.5 and 25 microg/ml. At 0.5 to 5.0 microg/ml, SFE-80 exhibited dose-dependent viability suppression and significant tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production in Hep 3B, whereas no effect was found in Chang liver cells. Furthermore, no effect was observed in RAW 264.7 at dosages of 3.13 to 25 microg/ml, indicating that SFE-80 exhibited a noncytotoxic character. Conclusively, rosemary can be considered an herbal anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor agent.
PMID: 17827696 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

17. Rosemary (Rosmanrinus officinalis)
Medical Herbalism by David Hoffman, pg 577
Actions: Carminative, antispasmodic, antidepressant, rubefacient, antimicrobial, Emenagogue
Rosemary is a circulatory and nervine stimulant. It has a toning and calming effect on digestion, especially when stomach upset is accompanied by psychological tension. Thus, conditions appropriate for treatment with rosemary include flatulent dyspepsia with headache or depression associated with debility. Applied externally, it helps ease muscular pain, sciatica, and neuralgia. It also acts as a stimulant to both hair follicles and circulation in the scalp, and thus may be useful for treating premature baldness. Rosemary essential oil is most effective for this purpose.

18. Cytotoxicity and apoptotic inducibility of Vitex agnus-castus fruit extract in cultured human normal and cancer cells and effect on growth.
Ohyama K, Akaike T, Hirobe C, Yamakawa T.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy & Life Science, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0355, Japan. ohyamak@ps.toyaku.ac.jp
Biol Pharm Bull. 2003 Jan;26(1):10-8.
A crude extract was prepared with ethanol from dried ripened Vitex agnus-castus fruits growing in Israel (Vitex extract). Cytotoxicity of the extract against human uterine cervical canal fibroblast (HCF), human embryo fibroblast (HE-21), ovarian cancer (MCF-7), cervical carcinoma (SKG-3a), breast carcinoma (SKOV-3), gastric signet ring carcinoma (KATO-III), colon carcinoma (COLO 201), and small cell lung carcinoma (Lu-134-A-H) cells was examined. After culture for 24 h (logarithmic growth phase) or 72 h (stationary growth phase), the cells were treated with various concentrations of Vitex extract. In both growth phases, higher growth activity of cells and more cytotoxic activity of Vitex extract were seen. The cytotoxic activity against stationary growth-phase cells was less than that against logarithmic growth-phase cells. DNA fragmentation of Vitex extract-treated cells was seen in SKOV-3, KATO-III, COLO 201, and Lu-134-A-H cells. The DNA fragmentation in Vitex extract-treated KATO-III cells was inhibited by the presence of the antioxidative reagent pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate or N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). Western blotting analysis showed that in Vitex extract-treated KATO-III cells, the presence of NAC also inhibited the expression of heme oxygenase-1 and the active forms of caspases-3, -8 and -9. It is concluded that the cytotoxic activity of Vitex extract may be attributed to the effect on cell growth, that cell death occurs through apoptosis, and that this apoptotic cell death may be attributed to increased intracellular oxidation by Vitex extract treatment.
PMID: 12520164 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

19. Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus)--pharmacology and clinical indications.
Wuttke W, Jarry H, Christoffel V, Spengler B, Seidlová-Wuttke D.
Department of Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, University of Göttingen, Germany. ufkendo@med.uni-goettingen.de
Extracts of the fruits of chaste tree (Vitex agnus castus = AC) are widely used to treat premenstrual symptoms. Double-blind placebo-controlled studies indicate that one of the most common premenstrual symptoms, i.e. premenstrual mastodynia (mastalgia) is beneficially influenced by an AC extract. In addition, numerous less rigidly controlled studies indicate that AC extracts have also beneficial effects on other psychic and somatic symptoms of the PMS. Premenstrual mastodynia is most likely due to a latent hyperprolactinemia, i.e. patients release more than physiologic amounts of prolactin in response to stressful situations and during deep sleep phases which appear to stimulate the mammary gland. Premenstrually this unphysiological prolactin release is so high that the serum prolactin levels often approach heights which are misinterpreted as prolactinomas. Since AC extracts were shown to have beneficial effects on premenstrual mastodynia serum prolactin levels in such patients were also studied in one double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study. Serum prolactin levels were indeed reduced in the patients treated with the extract. The search for the prolactin-suppressive principle(s) yielded a number of compounds with dopaminergic properties: they bound to recombinant DA2-receptor protein and suppressed prolactin release from cultivated lactotrophs as well as in animal experiments. The search for the chemical identity of the dopaminergic compounds resulted in isolation of a number of diterpenes of which some clerodadienols were most important for the prolactin-suppressive effects. They were almost identical in their prolactin-suppressive properties than dopamine itself. Hence, it is concluded that dopaminergic compounds present in Vitex agnus castus are clinically the important compounds which improve premenstrual mastodynia and possibly also other symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome.
PMID: 12809367 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

20. Treatment for the premenstrual syndrome with agnus castus fruit extract: prospective, randomised, placebo controlled study.
Schellenberg R.
Institute for Health Care and Science, 35625 Hüttenberg, Germany. med@t-online.de
BMJ. 2001 Jan 20;322(7279):134-7.
OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of agnus castus fruit (Vitex agnus castus L extract Ze 440) with placebo for women with the premenstrual syndrome. DESIGN: Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group comparison over three menstrual cycles. SETTING: General medicine community clinics. Participants: 178 women were screened and 170 were evaluated (active 86; placebo 84). Mean age was 36 years, mean cycle length was 28 days, mean duration of menses was 4.5 days. INTERVENTIONS: Agnus castus (dry extract tablets) one tablet daily or matching placebo, given for three consecutive cycles. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Main efficacy variable: change from baseline to end point (end of third cycle) in women’s self assessment of irritability, mood alteration, anger, headache, breast fullness, and other menstrual symptoms including bloating. Secondary efficacy variables: changes in clinical global impression (severity of condition, global improvement, and risk or benefit) and responder rate (50% reduction in symptoms). RESULTS: Improvement in the main variable was greater in the active group compared with placebo group (P<0.001). Analysis of the secondary variables showed significant (P<0.001) superiority of active treatment in each of the three global impression items. Responder rates were 52% and 24% for active and placebo, respectively. Seven women reported mild adverse events (four active; three placebo), none of which caused discontinuation of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Dry extract of agnus castus fruit is an effective and well tolerated treatment for the relief of symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome.
PMID: 11159568 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

21. Vitex Berry (Vitex–Agnus castus)
Medical Herbalism, by David Hoffman, pg 595
Actions: Hormonal normalizer, uterine tonic, galactagogue
Indicatins: Vitex has the effect of stimulating and normalizing pituitary gland function, especially as it relates to relative progersterone levels. Vitex may be called an amphoteric remedy, as it can produce apparently opposite effects, although in truth it is simply normalizing.
The most important therapeutic application for vitex comes from its ability to normalize the activity of female sex hormones. It is thus indicated for dysmenorrhea, PMS, and other disorders related to hormone function. It is especially beneficial for menopause.

22. Melissa officinalis L. essential oil: antitumoral and antioxidant activities.
de Sousa AC, Alviano DS, Blank AF, Alves PB, Alviano CS, Gattass CR.Instituto de Biofisica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciencias da Saude, Bloco C, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro 21941-900, Rio de Janeiro, R.J., Brazil.
J Pharm Pharmacol. 2004 May;56(5):677-81
Melissa officinalis L (lemon balm) is a traditional herbal medicine used widely as a mild sedative, spasmolytic and antibacterial agent. This paper focuses on the analysis of the chemical composition and the biological activities of M. officinalis essential oil obtained under controlled harvesting and drying conditions. An in-vitro cytotoxicity assay using MTT indicated that this oil was very effective against a series of human cancer cell lines (A549, MCF-7, Caco-2, HL-60, K562) and a mouse cell line (B16F10). This oil possessed antioxidant activity, as evidenced by reduction of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH). These results pointed to the potential use of M. officinalis essential oil as an antitumoral agent.
PMID: 15142347 [PubMed - in process]

23. Toronjil (Melissa officinalis)
Medical Herbalism, by David Hoffman, pg 567
Actions: Carminitive, nervine, antispasmodic, antidepressant, diaphoretic, antimicrobial, hepatic
Lemon Balm’s hormone-regulating effects have also been well documented in the laboratory. Freezedried aqueous extracts have been shown to inhibit many of the effects of thryroid-stimulating hormone on the thyroid gland.

24. Amazon Medicines of Brazil, Columbia, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador
by J. River Jones, Amazon Therapeutic Laboratories, unpublished feild journals, 1994-2005.
An erect perennial herb with lemon scents, its leaves are used as a sedative, for headaches, and stomach aches, for heart pain and palpitations, for menstrual pains, blood circulation, for insomnia and flu with fevers, for colds, for respiratory and gastrointestinal afflictions, for hypertension, hysteria, epilepsy, pleurisy, and liver pain.

25. Pharmacological study of Cymbopogon citratus leaves.
Carbajal D, Casaco A, Arruzazabala L, Gonzalez R, Tolon Z.
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Center for Scientific Research, Havana, Cuba.
J Ethnopharmacol. 1989 Feb;25(1):103-7.
Cymbopogon citratus leaves are employed by the Cuban population as an antihypertensive and anti-inflammatory folk medicine. A 10% or 20% decoction of leaves was tested using arterial pressure in rats, urine production and carrageenan-induced edema in rats. The decoction showed some dose-related hypotensive effects given intravenously and some weak diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect when given orally.
PMID: 2716341 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

26. Pharmacology of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus Stapf). III. Assessment of eventual toxic, hypnotic and anxiolytic effects on humans.
Leite JR, Seabra Mde L, Maluf E, Assolant K, Suchecki D, Tufik S, Klepacz S, Calil HM, Carlini EA.
J Ethnopharmacol. 1986 Jul;17(1):75-83.
A herbal tea (called an abafado in Brazil) prepared from the dried leaves of lemongrass was administered to healthy volunteers. Following a single dose or 2 weeks of daily oral administration, the abafado produced no changes in serum glucose, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, triglycerides, lipids, total bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, GOT, GPT, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, albumin, LDH and CPK. Urine analysis (proteins, glucose, ketones, bilirubins, occult blood and urobilinogen) as well as EEG and EKG showed no abnormalities. There were slight elevations of direct bilirubin and of amylase in some of the volunteers, but without any clinical manifestation. These results taken together indicate that lemongrass as used in Brazilian folk medicine is not toxic for humans. The eventual hypnotic effect of lemongrass was investigated in 50 volunteers who ingested samples of lemongrass and a placebo under double-blind conditions. The parameters (i.e. sleep induction, sleep quality, dream recall and rewakening) did not show any effect of lemongrass as compared to the placebo. Eighteen subjects with high scores of trait-anxiety were submitted to an anxiety-inducing test following taking lemongrass or placebo under double-blind conditions. Their anxiety levels were similar, indicating that the abafado of the plant does not have anxiolytic properties. It is concluded that lemongrass, one of the most popular Brazilian herbal medicines, used for its alleged CNS-depressant effects, is atoxic but lacks hypnotic or anxiolytic properties.
PMID: 2429120 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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