Is bromelain effective in controlling the inflammatory parameters of pain, edema, and trismus after lower third molar surgery? A systematic review and meta ‐analysis
The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the clinical evidences of thebromelain in minimizing inflammatory parameters such as pain, edema, and trismus after lower third molar surgeries. An electronic search was conducted in six databases through November 2017. The eligibility criteria included randomized and non ‐randomized clinical trials and/or comparative studies that used bromelain after lower third molar surgeries. The search strategy resulted in 117 articles. Following the selection process, seven studies were included in the systematic review and four in the meta‐analysis. In terms of the risk of bias a...
Source: Phytotherapy Research - November 28, 2018 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Glaciele Maria Souza, Ighor Andrade Fernandes, C ássio Roberto Rocha Santos, Saulo Gabriel Moreira Falci Tags: REVIEW Source Type: research

Topical silymarin administration for prevention of acute radiodermatitis in breast cancer patients: A randomized, double ‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial
Radiation ‐induced dermatitis is one of the most common side effects of radiotherapy. Silymarin, a flavonoid extracted from theSilybum marianum, exhibits antioxidant and anti ‐inflammatory activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of silymarin gel in prevention of radiodermatitis in patients with breast cancer. During this randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled clinical trial, the preventive effect of silymarin 1% gel was assesse d in comparison with placebo, on radiodermatitis occurrence. Forty patients randomly received silymarin gel or placebo formulation on chest wall skin fo...
Source: Phytotherapy Research - November 27, 2018 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Hedyieh Karbasforooshan, Sare Hosseini, Sepideh Elyasi, Azar Fani Pakdel, Gholamreza Karimi Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research

L ‐theanine ameliorate depressive‐like behavior in a chronic unpredictable mild stress rat model via modulating the monoamine levels in limbic–cortical–striatal–pallidal–thalamic‐circuit related brain regions
This study aims to investigate the effects of L‐theanine (2 mg/kg) on monoamine levels in an animal model of depression. The effect ofl‐theanine on the symptoms of depression was examined through the open‐field test, sucrose preference test, and forced swim test. The monoamine neurotransmitters that involve serotonin (5‐HT), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA) were measured in the limbic–cortical–striatal–pallidal– thalamic (LCSPT)‐circuit related brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC), nucleus accumbens (NAC), striatum (ST), amygdala, and hippocampus (HIP). L‐theanine ameliorated the ...
Source: Phytotherapy Research - November 25, 2018 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Manjun Shen, Yi Yang, Ying Wu, Beibei Zhang, Haishan Wu, Lu Wang, Hui Tang, Jindong Chen Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research

Curcumin promotes burn wound healing in mice by upregulating caveolin ‐1 in epidermal stem cells
We aimed to explore the effect of curcumin on epidermal stem cells (ESCs) in regulating wound healing and the underlying molecular mechanism. We treated mouse ESCs isolated from skin tissues with curcumin, and then assessed the proliferation ability of cells induced by epidermal growth factor using cell counting kit ‐8 assay. The pluripotency of ESCs was evaluated as well through examination of Nanog expression in ESCs. Further, mice with skin burns were treated with ESCs with or without curcumin pretreatments. Histological evaluations were then preformed to determine wound scores, cell proliferation, reepith elializatio...
Source: Phytotherapy Research - November 20, 2018 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Ronghua Yang, Jingru Wang, Ziheng Zhou, Shaohai Qi, Shubin Ruan, Zepeng Lin, Qi Xin, Yan Lin, Xiaodong Chen, Julin Xie Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research

Antinociceptive properties of 25 ‐methoxy hispidol A, a triterpinoid isolated from Poncirus trifoliata (Rutaceae) through inhibition of NF‐κB signalling in mice
The 25 ‐methoxy hispidol A (25‐MHA) is a triterpenoid, isolated from the immature fruit ofPoncirus trifoliata (Rutaceae). The pretreatment with 25 ‐MHA markedly (p <  0.001) attenuated the formalin‐induced biphasic responses as well as acetic acid‐induced writhing responses. The intraperitoneal administration of 25‐MHA significantly attenuated the mechanical hyperalgesia (p <  0.001) and allodynia (p <  0.05). Similarly, 25‐MHA also significantly attenuated (p <  0.001) complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)‐induced paw edema in mice. The 25‐MHA treatment significantly attenuated the product...
Source: Phytotherapy Research - November 19, 2018 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Ashrafullah Khan, Muhammad Zia Ullah, Ruqayya Afridi, Hina Rasheed, Sidra Khalid, Hadayat Ullah, Hussain Ali, Shakir D. AlSharari, Yeong Shik Kim, Salman Khan Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research

The impact of pycnogenol supplementation on plasma lipids in humans: A systematic review and meta ‐analysis of clinical trials
The effects of pycnogenol on plasma lipids are controversial. A systematic review and meta ‐analysis of clinical trials were conducted to obtain a conclusive result in humans. PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were systematically searched until March 2018, to explore the clinical trials that examined the effect of pycnogenol supplementation on lipid parameters among adult human. Method ological quality of the eligible studies was evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. To estimate the effect size, changes in blood lipids were implemented. Results were pooled using a random effects model. Potential sources of ...
Source: Phytotherapy Research - November 19, 2018 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Amir Hadi, Makan Pourmasoumi, Hamed Mohammadi, Aftab Javaheri, Mohammad Hossein Rouhani Tags: REVIEW Source Type: research

Tetrahydroxy stilbene glucoside protected against diabetes ‐induced osteoporosis in mice with streptozotocin‐induced hyperglycemia
This study aimed to determine if TSG therapy could alleviate bone deteriorations in diabetic mouse model induced by streptozotocin. The diabetic mice showed the loss of trabecular bone mass and the chan ges of trabecular bone microarchitectural parameters as well as the increase in amount of tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)–positive osteoclasts at the distal metaphysis of femur when compared with those of nondiabetic mice. Treatment with TSG significantly elevated calcium content in s erum and bone and improved biological parameters of trabecular bone, accompanied by increasing messenger RNA (mRNA) expression...
Source: Phytotherapy Research - November 19, 2018 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Jingjing Zhang, Xiangfan Chen, Bingbing Chen, Lijuan Tong, Yan Zhang Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research

The combined treatment of brassinin and imatinib synergistically downregulated the expression of MMP ‐9 in SW480 colon cancer cells
In cancer treatment, which is a major cause of mortality today, combination studies with clinically used chemotherapeutics are becoming increasingly important as much as investigating the effects of novel natural compounds. In this context, phytoalexins constitute an important group due to their unique structure. Brassinin is an essential indole phytoalexin and is a biosynthetic precursor for other phytoalexins. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anticancer effects of brassinin in combination with imatinib in SW480 cells. In the study, it was observed that brassinin –imatinib combination significantly increase...
Source: Phytotherapy Research - November 19, 2018 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Filiz Bakar ‐Ates, Erva Ozkan Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research

Genistein inhibits A β25–35‐induced SH‐SY5Y cell damage by modulating the expression of apoptosis‐related proteins and Ca2+ influx through ionotropic glutamate receptors
In this study, we investigated the protective effects of genistein against SH ‐SY5Y cell damage induced by β‐amyloid 25–35 peptide (Aβ25 –35) and the underlying mechanisms. A β‐induced neuronal death, apoptosis, glutamate receptor subunit expression, Ca2+ ion concentration, amino acid transmitter concentration, and apoptosis ‐related factor expression were evaluated to determine the effects of genistein on Aβ‐induced neuronal death and apoptosis. The results showed that genistein increased the survival of SH‐SY5Y cells and decreased the level of apoptosis induced by Aβ25 –35. In addition, genistein r...
Source: Phytotherapy Research - November 19, 2018 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Hui ‐nan Xu, Li‐xia Li, Yu‐xiang Wang, Hong‐gang Wang, Di An, Bin Heng, Yan‐qiang Liu Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research

Aloysia citriodora Palau (lemon verbena) for insomnia patients: A randomized, double ‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial of efficacy and safety
This study was carried out to assess the efficacy ofA.  citriodora in patients with insomnia. One hundred patients were randomly divided into two groups ofA.  citriodora (total essential oil 1.66  mg/10 ml and total amount of flavonoid in terms of quercetin 3.22 mg/10 ml of the syrup) and placebo. They were advised to use 10 cc of the syrups; an hour before the bedtime for a period of 4 weeks. Participants were assessed using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) questionnaires at the baseline and then 2 and 4 weeks after the enrollment. Mean scores of global PSQI and its four com...
Source: Phytotherapy Research - November 19, 2018 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Farshid Afrasiabian, Mehran Mirabzadeh Ardakani, Khaled Rahmani, Nammam Ali Azadi, Zahra Banafsheh Alemohammad, Reza Bidaki, Mehrdad Karimi, Majid Emtiazy, Mohammad Hashem Hashempur Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research

Antinociceptive properties of 25 ‐methoxy hispidol A, a triterpinoid isolated from Poncirus trifoliata (Rutaceae) through inhibition of NF‐κB signalling in mice
The 25 ‐methoxy hispidol A (25‐MHA) is a triterpenoid, isolated from the immature fruit ofPoncirus trifoliata (Rutaceae). The pretreatment with 25 ‐MHA markedly (p <  0.001) attenuated the formalin‐induced biphasic responses as well as acetic acid‐induced writhing responses. The intraperitoneal administration of 25‐MHA significantly attenuated the mechanical hyperalgesia (p <  0.001) and allodynia (p <  0.05). Similarly, 25‐MHA also significantly attenuated (p <  0.001) complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)‐induced paw edema in mice. The 25‐MHA treatment significantly attenuated the product...
Source: Phytotherapy Research - November 19, 2018 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Ashrafullah Khan, Muhammad Zia Ullah, Ruqayya Afridi, Hina Rasheed, Sidra Khalid, Hadayat Ullah, Hussain Ali, Shakir D. AlSharari, Yeong Shik Kim, Salman Khan Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research

The impact of pycnogenol supplementation on plasma lipids in humans: A systematic review and meta ‐analysis of clinical trials
The effects of pycnogenol on plasma lipids are controversial. A systematic review and meta ‐analysis of clinical trials were conducted to obtain a conclusive result in humans. PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were systematically searched until March 2018, to explore the clinical trials that examined the effect of pycnogenol supplementation on lipid parameters among adult human. Method ological quality of the eligible studies was evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. To estimate the effect size, changes in blood lipids were implemented. Results were pooled using a random effects model. Potential sources of ...
Source: Phytotherapy Research - November 19, 2018 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Amir Hadi, Makan Pourmasoumi, Hamed Mohammadi, Aftab Javaheri, Mohammad Hossein Rouhani Tags: REVIEW Source Type: research

Tetrahydroxy stilbene glucoside protected against diabetes ‐induced osteoporosis in mice with streptozotocin‐induced hyperglycemia
This study aimed to determine if TSG therapy could alleviate bone deteriorations in diabetic mouse model induced by streptozotocin. The diabetic mice showed the loss of trabecular bone mass and the chan ges of trabecular bone microarchitectural parameters as well as the increase in amount of tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)–positive osteoclasts at the distal metaphysis of femur when compared with those of nondiabetic mice. Treatment with TSG significantly elevated calcium content in s erum and bone and improved biological parameters of trabecular bone, accompanied by increasing messenger RNA (mRNA) expression...
Source: Phytotherapy Research - November 19, 2018 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Jingjing Zhang, Xiangfan Chen, Bingbing Chen, Lijuan Tong, Yan Zhang Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research

The combined treatment of brassinin and imatinib synergistically downregulated the expression of MMP ‐9 in SW480 colon cancer cells
In cancer treatment, which is a major cause of mortality today, combination studies with clinically used chemotherapeutics are becoming increasingly important as much as investigating the effects of novel natural compounds. In this context, phytoalexins constitute an important group due to their unique structure. Brassinin is an essential indole phytoalexin and is a biosynthetic precursor for other phytoalexins. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anticancer effects of brassinin in combination with imatinib in SW480 cells. In the study, it was observed that brassinin –imatinib combination significantly increase...
Source: Phytotherapy Research - November 19, 2018 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Filiz Bakar ‐Ates, Erva Ozkan Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research