Paine ’s Celery Compound: Celery Seed Bracer or Cocaine Elixir?
Around 1874, a Yale medical graduate and Dartmouth professor, Edward Elisha Phelps, Sr., M.D., L.L.D. (1803 to 1880), compounded a remedy based on the celery seed (note the head of celery in the logoabove). He eventually allowed his favorite compounding pharmacist, Milton Kendall Paine (1834 to 1896) to market the popular panacea as “The Best Remedy in the World—Paine’s Celery Compound.” In 1887 Paine sold his rights to Wells, Richardson& Company of Burlington, Vermont. That firm may have “enhanced” the compound with traces of cocaine and marketed it as “The True Medicine for Lost Nervous Strength.” Aft...
Source: Anesthesiology - September 19, 2017 Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research
Anticancer Effect of Sarsaparilla Extract
Cancer is still the major cause of death across the world. Regular approaches cannot effectively solve the emerging problems, including drug/radiation resistance, side effects, and therapeutic ineffectiveness. Natural dietary supplements have shown effectiveness in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Sarsaparilla (Smilax Glabra Rhizome) has growth-inhibitory effects on several cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo, with little toxicity on normal cells. However, the mechanism underlying its function remains elusive. In the present study, we examined the anticancer activity of the supernatant of the water-soluble extrac...
Source: Cancer Prevention Research - April 30, 2015 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: She, T., Qu, L., Wang, L., Yang, X., Xu, S., Feng, J., Gao, Y., Zhao, C., Han, Y., Cai, S., Shou, C. Tags: Research Articles Source Type: research
Inhibition of Cancer Cell Proliferation and Antiradical Effects of Decoction, Hydroalcoholic Extract, and Principal Constituents of Hemidesmus indicus R. Br.
Indian Sarsaparilla (Hemidesmus indicus R. Br.) is widely used in Indian traditional medicine. In the present work, we explored the effects of decoction, traditional Ayurvedic preparation, and hydroalcoholic extract, a phytocomplex more traditionally studied and commercialized as food supplement in western medicine, from the roots as possible source of chemicals with new functional potential linked to their nutritional uses. The antiproliferative and antioxidant properties were assayed. To test antiproliferative affects, different cancer cell lines, growing both as monolayers (CaCo2, MCF‐7, A549, K562, MDA‐MB‐231, Ju...
Source: Phytotherapy Research - February 1, 2015 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Giancarlo Statti, Mariangela Marrelli, Filomena Conforti, Antonella Spagnoletti, Massimo Tacchini, Carmela Fimognari, Eleonora Brognara, Roberto Gambari, Gianni Sacchetti, Alessandra Guerrini Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
[Pharmaceutical screening of the effective fraction from Smilax for treatment of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease].
CONCLUSION: The ethyl acetate extract fraction of Smilax is the effective fraction to produce anti-inflammatory and anti-CPID effects.
PMID: 25613632 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Journal of Southern Medical University)
Source: Journal of Southern Medical University - January 20, 2015 Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: Ma Y, Luo YQ, Song LY, Qin F, Hou LB Tags: Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao Source Type: research
Of the China Root: A Case Study of the Early Modern Circulation of Materia Medica
The early modern rise of syphilis provoked similar anxieties to those that more recently accompanied the global spread of HIV/AIDS. It also stimulated global demand for remedies. I discuss one of the most popular, known as ‘China root’ and usually identified with various species of Smilax. The drug and instructions for its use were spread westward from China by traders of all nationalities from 1535 onwards. Demand became global before being largely replaced in Europe by supplies of various American Smilax species, known collectively as ‘Sarsaparilla’. I examine the economic, political and cultural ...
Source: Social History of Medicine - January 19, 2015 Category: History of Medicine Authors: Winterbottom, A. E. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
World trade in medicinal plants from spanish america, 1717-1815.
This article outlines the history of the commerce in medicinal plants and plant-based remedies from the Spanish American territories in the eighteenth century. It maps the routes used to transport the plants from Spanish America to Europe and, along the arteries of European commerce, colonialism and proselytism, into societies across the Americas, Asia and Africa. Inquiring into the causes of the global 'spread' of American remedies, it argues that medicinal plants like ipecacuanha, guaiacum, sarsaparilla, jalap root and cinchona moved with relative ease into Parisian medicine chests, Moroccan court pharmacies and Manila d...
Source: Medical History - December 22, 2014 Category: History of Medicine Authors: Gänger S Tags: Med Hist Source Type: research
The sarsaparilla market in the state of São Paulo (Brazil) and the challenges of cultivation
This study aimed to present information about the sarsaparilla sold in establishments in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, assess the genetic diversity of Smilax brasiliensis Spreng., Smilacaceae, and examine the growing conditions and productivity of five species of Smilax. The amount of sarsaparilla sold per month at most pharmacies was 0.4 kg on average. Herbal stores and markets sold averages of 9 kg and 8 kg per month, respectively. The weight of the underground biomass of S. fluminensis (188.3 g) is significantly higher than those of other species (28.3-79.6 g). The study demonstrated that high genetic diversity among...
Source: Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia - May 20, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Anti-proliferative effects of homeopathic medicines on human kidney, colon and breast cancer cells.
CONCLUSION: This study provides preliminary laboratory evidence indicating the ability of homeopathic medicines as anticancer agents. Further studies of the action of these homeopathic remedies are warranted.
PMID: 24050774 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Homeopathy)
Source: Homeopathy - September 25, 2013 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Arora S, Aggarwal A, Singla P, Jyoti S, Tandon S Tags: Homeopathy Source Type: research
[Pharmaceutical screening of the effective fraction from Smilax for treatment of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease].
CONCLUSION: The ethyl acetate extract fraction of Smilax is the effective fraction to produce anti-inflammatory and anti-CPID effects.
PMID: 23353177 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Journal of Southern Medical University)
Source: Journal of Southern Medical University - January 1, 2013 Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: Ma Y, Luo YQ, Song LY, Qin F, Hou LB Tags: Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao Source Type: research
Clinical verification in homeopathy and allergic conditions.
CONCLUSIONS: The choice of homeopathic medicine depends on the presence of other associated symptoms and 'constitutional' features. Repertories should be updated by including results of such clinical verifications of homeopathic prescribing symptoms.
PMID: 23290880 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Homeopathy)
Source: Homeopathy - January 1, 2013 Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Van Wassenhoven M Tags: Homeopathy Source Type: research
