OBJECTIVES: To analyse which species of herbs are preferred by Czech adult respondents, the most important predictors influencing their use, and information sources used. METHOD: Data were collected face-to-face via an interviewer-administrated structured questionnaire from convenience sample of adults from metropolis, as well as peri-urban and rural areas, from February to June 2007. RESULTS: There is a high prevalence (56.6%) of herbal product (HPs) use as well as herb-drug co-medication without frequent physician consultation. Literature is the main source of herbal product information, followed by mass media (20%) and family tradition (12%). In comparison to other countries, differences in urban-rural perspectives were observed regarding information sources as well as preferences of local herb species. Mentha × piperita (18.4%), Melissa officinalis (12.4%), Plantago lanceolata (12.2%), Tilia cordata (11.8%) and Matricaria recutita (10.7%) are the most preferred herb species for herbal products preparation. Gender, educational status and age are significant factors that influence the number of herb species used. Head or chest colds, stomach or intestinal illnesses and immunity and regeneration support are the most common ailments treated by herbal products according to our respondents. CONCLUSION: High utilisation of herbal products was confirmed and the most important predictors of use were identified. Further research is needed to validate and/or replicate our results. Our survey may provide a basis for pharmacists, physicians, healthcare providers as well as for policy makers to effectively manage increasing prevalence of herbal products among the Czech population.
- MeSH
- Information Seeking Behavior MeSH
- Consumer Behavior MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Species Specificity MeSH
- Phytotherapy utilization MeSH
- Mass Media MeSH
- Plants, Medicinal MeSH
- Pharmacies MeSH
- Nonprescription Drugs therapeutic use MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Magnoliopsida MeSH
- Urban Population MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Surveys and Questionnaires MeSH
- Health Care Surveys MeSH
- Family MeSH
- Plant Preparations therapeutic use MeSH
- Interviews as Topic MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Socioeconomic Factors MeSH
- Rural Population MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic MeSH
In this study, the antioxidant capacities of main quinone constituents of Nigella sativa seeds, namely dithymoquinone (1), thymohydroquinone (2) and thymoquinone (3), were compared using DPPH and ORAC methods. The best scavenging activity was produced by 2, which showed a remarkable activity of 2.60 Trolox equivalents (TE) in a concentration range between 1.6 and 6.4 microg/mL and IC50 value of 2.4 microg/mL in ORAC and DPPH assays, respectively. Contrastingly, 3 possessed only weak DPPH scavenging efficacy (IC50 = 170 microg/mL) but significant antioxidative action of 1.91 TE in ORAC assay. No effect has been observed for 1. Additionally, modified protocol for synthesis of 2 has been developed with aim to enhance its availability for further studies as well as for its future potential use. Based on the results of this study, we conclude that 2 could be considered as a compound with prospective antioxidative properties.
- MeSH
- Antioxidants pharmacology MeSH
- Benzoquinones pharmacology MeSH
- Quinones pharmacology MeSH
- Nigella sativa chemistry MeSH
- Free Radical Scavengers pharmacology MeSH
- Seeds chemistry MeSH
- Thymol analogs & derivatives pharmacology MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
CONTEXT: Despite a rich tradition of folk medicinal usage of plants in the Peruvian Amazon, no studies documenting ethnobotanical information of Coronel Portillo Province of Ucayali Department have been published at an international level. OBJECTIVE: This field research documented traditional ethnobotanical knowledge related to the local use of medicinal plants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethnobotanical data were collected in native communities around Pucallpa city (Coronel Portillo Province of Ucayali Department, Peru) and in the city itself during the period June-October 2007. The data were collected through direct interviews with 23 people. RESULTS: Uses of 30 plant species belonging to 18 families in traditional medicine are described in this article. Botanical and vernacular names, plant part used, popular medicinal use, forms of preparation and applications of the herbal remedies for each species are reported. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Among investigated species, Brunfelsia grandiflora D. Don (Solanaceae), Calycophyllum spruceanum (Benth.) K. Schum. (Rubiaceae), Naucleopsis glabra Spruce (Moraceae), Phthirusa pyrifolia Eichler (Loranthaceae) were identified to be widely used in the studied area. However their beneficial health properties have not been well studied.
- MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Ethnopharmacology methods MeSH
- Phytotherapy methods MeSH
- Plants, Medicinal chemistry MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Data Collection MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Medicine, Traditional MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- Peru MeSH
The antiyeast activity of the black cumin seed (Nigella sativa) quinones dithymoquinone, thymohydroquinone (THQ), and thymoquinone (TQ) were evaluated in vitro with a broth microdilution method against six dairy spoilage yeast species. Antifungal effects of the quinones were compared with those of preservatives commonly used in milk products (calcium propionate, natamycin, and potassium sorbate) at two pH levels (4.0 and 5.5). THQ and TQ possessed significant antiyeast activity and affected the growth of all strains tested at both pH levels, with MICs ranging from 8 to 128 μg/ml. With the exception of the antibiotic natamycin, the inhibitory effects of all food preservatives against the yeast strains tested in this study were strongly affected by differences in pH, with MICs of ≥16 and ≥512 μg/ml at pH 4.0 and 5.5, respectively. These findings suggest that HQ and TQ are effective antiyeast agents that could be used in the dairy industry as chemical preservatives of natural origin.
- MeSH
- Antifungal Agents pharmacology MeSH
- Quinones pharmacology MeSH
- Hydrogen-Ion Concentration MeSH
- Food Preservation methods MeSH
- Yeasts drug effects growth & development MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Milk microbiology MeSH
- Nigella sativa chemistry MeSH
- Colony Count, Microbial MeSH
- Food Preservatives pharmacology MeSH
- Consumer Product Safety MeSH
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
Seed extracts from six species of the genus Nigella (Family Ranunculaceae)-Nigella arvensis, Nigella damascena, Nigella hispanica, Nigella nigellastrum, Nigella orientalis, and Nigella sativa-obtained by successive extraction with n-hexane, chloroform, and methanol, were tested for their antimicrobial activity against 10 strains of pathogenic bacteria and yeast using the microdilution method as well as for anti-inflammatory properties by in vitro cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 assay. Chemical characterization of active extracts was carried out including free and fixed fatty acid analysis. Comparison of antimicrobial activity showed that N. arvensis chloroform extract was the most potent among all species tested, inhibiting Gram-positive bacterial and yeast strains with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.25 to 1 mg/mL. With the exception of selective inhibitory action of n-hexane extract of N. orientalis on growth of Bacteroides fragilis (MIC = 0.5 mg/mL), we observed no antimicrobial activity for other Nigella species. Anti-inflammatory screening revealed that N. sativa, N. orientalis, N. hispanica, N. arvensis n-hexane, and N. hispanica chloroform extracts had strong inhibitory activity (more than 80%) on COX-1 and N. orientalis, N. arvensis, and N. hispanica n-hexane extracts were most effective against COX-2, when the concentration of extracts was 100 microg/mL in both COX assays. In conclusion, N. arvensis, N. orientalis, and N. hispanica seeds, for the first time examined for antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, revealed their significant activity in one or both assays.
- MeSH
- Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology MeSH
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents pharmacology MeSH
- Antifungal Agents pharmacology MeSH
- Bacteria drug effects MeSH
- Candida albicans drug effects MeSH
- Cyclooxygenase 1 metabolism MeSH
- Cyclooxygenase 2 metabolism MeSH
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
- Nigella chemistry MeSH
- Plant Extracts pharmacology MeSH
- Seeds MeSH
- Publication type
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
A detailed analysis of Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin root essential oil was carried out by GC, GC-MS and GC-FTIR techniques. In total, 30 components were identified, accounting for 98.0% of total volatiles. A norsesquiterpene 13-norcypera-1(5),11(12)-diene (22.6%), followed by aplotaxene (21.2%) and cyperene (17.9%), were isolated and their structures confirmed by 1D and 2D-NMR spectra (COSY, ROESY, HSQC, HMBC and INADEQUATE). Selinene type sesquiterpenes and aliphatic hydrocarbons were among minor constituents of the essential oil. The oil exhibited antimicrobial activity against 5 of 9 strains of bacteria and yeast, when tested using broth micro-dilution method. Minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged between 32 and 256 microg/ml.
- MeSH
- Anti-Infective Agents pharmacology chemistry isolation & purification MeSH
- Bacteria drug effects MeSH
- Chromatography, Gas MeSH
- Financing, Organized MeSH
- Plant Roots chemistry MeSH
- Yeasts drug effects MeSH
- Leuzea chemistry MeSH
- Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy MeSH
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
- Molecular Structure MeSH
- Oils, Volatile pharmacology chemistry isolation & purification MeSH
- Plant Oils pharmacology chemistry isolation & purification MeSH
- Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry MeSH
- Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared MeSH
