Natural Products Chemistry and Pharmacognosy Commons^™

Dietary Analysis For Hashimoto’S Thyroiditis: An Integrative Review, Evan Thompson, Alison Hultquist

Master of Science in Nursing Final Projects

Abstract

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (HT) is the leading cause of primary hypothyroidism in the United States. In HT, there is an infiltration by lymphocytes which leads to the production of autoantibodies against the thyroid gland. Throughout this integrative review, the aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of micronutrient supplementation and dietary management as adjunct treatments in HT. The purpose was to assist primary care providers in the development of a more holistic plan of care. Literature published within the past seven years was gathered and reviewed from PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library. Findings indicate that many patients with HT may benefit …

Case Report And Review: Hawthorne Root Toxicity, James Espinosa, Darren Finn, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Here we present the case of a patient who purchased a hawthorn root product, Raiz de Tejocote, for weight loss purposes. The side effect profile seen, including a positive digoxin level, are consistent with hawthorn root. This case reinforces the importance of asking a patient about all medications, including over the internet medications.

Testing The Efficacy And Synergistic Components Of Sesamol And Black Rice Extract On Human Colon Cancer Cells, Sera Lim, Philip M. Gerk

Undergraduate Research Posters

Purpose: Systemic treatment of colorectal cancer involves chemotherapeutic agents which elicit serious and negative side effects from the toxicity of the drug. To address this issue, we are testing dietary supplements for their efficacy against human colon cancer cell lines and also their potential synergistic effects when combined with conventional chemotherapy. Dietary supplements (specifically sesamol and black rice extract) exhibit anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and chemo-preventive properties. Meanwhile, one of the cancer resistance mechanisms is the upregulation of drug elimination mechanisms, leading to multi-drug resistance. We hypothesize that dietary compounds will act as chemo-enhancers, thus enhancing potency of the chemotherapy drug(s) on …

Biowill - Characterising Willow Bark Bio-Actives For Skin Therapies, Arnold Marisa

ORBioM (Open Research BioSciences Meeting)

Willow bark is considered as a disposable by-product when processing willow for biomass. Willow (Salix) is known to contain high value bioactive compounds which include salicin and its derivatives, and other phytochemicals of interest such as polyphenols and flavonoids. The plant is historically known as the primary source of salicylates to which the well-known drug aspirin is derived from. The work forms part of the Interreg project BioWILL, which is focused on integrated “Zero Waste” biorefinery utilising all fractions of willow feedstock for the production of biochemicals and renewable energy. This project aims to investigate the crude and …

Vitamin D Level Testing In An Urban Midwest Clinic: To Test Or Not To Test?, Daniel Mundt, Marianne Klumph, Kayla Heslin, Wajih Askar

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is significantly higher among urban populations in the U.S. Midwest, with African Americans being disproportionately affected. There is ongoing debate surrounding who and how often individuals should be screened for VDD. This study aimed to understand the prevalence of VDD, associated risk factors, and discrepancies in testing at an urban-based internal medicine residency clinic. Data were retrospectively collected on all adult patients seen by the clinic during 2018 and descriptive statistical analysis performed. Among 3976 total patients (mean age: 53 years), 18% (n = 698) had vitamin D levels analyzed, with deficiency found in 71% of …

Healing Through Mother Earth, Taylor A. Russell

Dance (MFA) Theses

This thesis deals with mental health, with a focus on Black women. Historically, Black women are often so compromised, being constant caregivers and helping everyone else, that they forget to help themselves, not having the time and financial means to do so. If we go back in the time of slavery, many Black women were taking care of slave owners' children and suckling the white women’s babies instead of their own. By the time they got home and after diligently caring for other people’s children they were focused on their own children, who they had been away from for hours …

Collagen-Based Biomaterials With Possible Therapeutic Effects, Ramona Mihaela Nedelcuţă, Gigi Călin, Mihai Cristian Nedelcuţă, Vlad Dumitru Baleanu, Dragos Virgil Davitoiu, Bogdan Socea, Bogdan-Petre Stănoiu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare, serious genetic disease, incurable through the current means. Apart from this initial definition, there was later some ease in the definition of the disease, including the manifestations of toxic epidermal necrolysis and Stevens Johnson syndrome in this entity. In medical practice, there are cases that do not overlap with the description in the literature, thus the treatment must be adapted and personalized to the particularities. We present the case of a female new-born, with "de novo" mutation for the early-onset antenatal epidermolysis and our personalized therapeutic management, based on collagen from bovine corneas by …

Lavender Aromatherapy: Ready For Prime-Time Office Use?, Dennis J. Baumgardner

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

The editor-in-chief of Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews comments on the perioperative use of lavender aromatherapy and its potential to relieve pain and anxiety during minor primary care office procedures.

Marijuana And Its Cardiovascular Implications, Albert Bui, Daniel Powell, Victoria Cho, Kelsey Lindsley, Lindsey Peters

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

As marijuana becomes legalized for medical use, it is important for prescribers and pharmacists to be knowledgeable about the important aspects of marijuana such as mechanism of action, indications and abuse potential. Although marijuana's medicinal benefits are frequently reported, the risks, namely cardiovascular risks, associated with its utilization are often overlooked. Use of marijuana has been reported to increase the risk of myocardial infarction, tachycardia and hypotension, among others. Health care providers must determine if marijuana's benefits outweigh such risks when marijuana therapy is an option. It is also important for pharmacists to understand how to successfully counsel patients using …

Evidence For The Potential Use Of Polyphenols And Their Derivatives In Moderating Allergic Immune Responses, Jamie Kellner, Lindsay Mark, Kasie Bellmann, Kelly Shields

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Polyphenols are naturally occurring compounds that are found within numerous plant sources. They have a wide variety of structures and functions and have potential clinical uses in multiple disease states. Emerging studies involving polyphenols have demonstrated their antioxidative properties, as well as reduced risks of cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer. Due to these discoveries, there has been a marked increase in research related to the chemical properties of polyphenols and their potential uses in prevention of common acquired and inherited disease states. This article focuses on the effects that some polyphenolic compounds exert on immune function in regard …

Osteoarthritis: Natural Supplements For Joint Health, Katherine Salay, Kimberly Gathers, Lindsey Mcclish, Lisa Vranekovic, Kristen Seaman, Ryan W. Naseman

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

An estimated 46 million adults in the U.S. are affected by arthritis, with osteoarthritis (OA) being the most common. Due to the limited pharmacologic therapy available to treat this condition, many patients are turning to dietary supplements to relieve their symptoms. Some of the most popular supplements available for the treatment of OA are glucosamine, chrondroitin and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), but many less studied products are also available. Due to limited evidence of efficacy, it is difficult to make a strong recommendation for any of these products; however, pharmacists must be able to educate the patients that choose to use these …

Diuretic, Natriuretic, And Vasodepressor Activity Of A Lipid Fraction Enhanced In Medium Of Cultured Mouse Medullary Interstitial Cells By A Selective Faah Inhibitor, Zdravka P. Daneva

Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between the endocannabinoid system in the renal medulla and the long-term regulation of blood pressure is not well understood. To investigate the possible role of the endocannabinoid system in renomedullary interstitial cells, mouse medullary interstitial cells (MMICs) were obtained, cultured and characterized for their responses to treatment with a selective inhibitor of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), PF-3845. Treatment of MMICs with PF-3845 increased cytoplasmic lipid granules detected by Sudan Black B staining and multilamellar bodies identified by transmission electron microscopy. HPLC analyses of lipid extracts of MMIC culture medium revealed a 205nm-absorbing peak that showed responsiveness to …

Adverse Reactions Of Biological Therapies In Patients With Psoriasis, Maria I. Sârbu, Mircea Tampa, Mădălina I. Mitran, Cristina I. Mitran, Alexandra M. Limbău, Simona R. Georgescu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated disorder characterized by well demarcated, erythematous plaques covered by thick, silvery-white scales, most often located on the knees, elbows, sacral area and scalp. It has a significant impact on the patient's quality of life.

Biological therapies revolutionized the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris but there has been concern regarding the use of those agents due to severe adverse reactions reported in patients receiving TNF-α inhibitors for various inflammatory diseases.

The aim of this paper is to review the most important adverse reactions reported in patients receiving biological treatments. The most common and severe side effects associated …

Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone) Supplementation And Its Benefits In Cardiovascular Disease, Osteoporosis, And Cancer, Grant S. Buchanan, Md, Thomas Melvin, Brandon Merritt, Charles Bishop, Md, Franklin D. Shuler, Md, Phd

Franklin D. Shuler

Vitamin K is known to play an essential role in the coagulation cascade; however, a growing body of research has found that a subtype of this vitamin, vitamin K2 (menaquinone) may have a beneficial effect in osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. This purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of recent literature regarding menaquinone and its role in human health. This review discusses the physiology of menaquinone, its clinical benefits in cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cancer, and how it may interact with certain medications. The authors conclude that menaquinone supplementation has been shown to improve carboxylation of …

Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone) Supplementation And Its Benefits In Cardiovascular Disease, Osteoporosis, And Cancer, Grant S. Buchanan, Md, Thomas Melvin, Brandon Merritt, Charles Bishop, Md, Franklin D. Shuler, Md, Phd

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Vitamin K is known to play an essential role in the coagulation cascade; however, a growing body of research has found that a subtype of this vitamin, vitamin K₂ (menaquinone) may have a beneficial effect in osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. This purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of recent literature regarding menaquinone and its role in human health. This review discusses the physiology of menaquinone, its clinical benefits in cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cancer, and how it may interact with certain medications. The authors conclude that menaquinone supplementation has been shown to improve carboxylation …

Current Therapeutic Role And Medicinal Potential Of Scutellaria Barbata In Traditional Chinese Medicine And Western Research, Geyang Tao, Marcy J. Balunas

Honors Scholar Theses

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Scutellaria barbata is a common herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) most often used to treat cancer. S. barbata has been found to exhibit efficacy both in vitro and in vivo on a variety of cancer types. Similarly encouraging results have been shown in patients with metastatic breast cancer from Phase Ia and Ib clinical trials. This study aims to elucidate the current use of S. barbata by TCM practitioners and in current Western research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen TCM practitioners in Beijing and Nanjing, China to understand their clinical use of …

The Effect Of Luteolin On Human Glioblastoma, David M. Anson, Samson Amos, Robert L. Paris, Denise S. Simpson

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is widely recognized as the most common and lethal of the malignant gliomas. Few effective therapeutic treatments are available as five-year survival rates of diagnosed individuals are less than five percent. Luteolin, a common flavonoid found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, has demonstrated significant promise in combating cancers of the breast, colon, liver, lung, and bone. In this study, we investigated the effects of luteolin on glioblastoma multiforme cell lines U-251, U-87, and U-1242. Cell viability was assessed using cell count with trypan blue exclusion and MTT assays. Results revealed that luteolin reduces GBM cell …

Almond Supplementation Reduces Serum Uric Acid In Coronary Artery Disease Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial., Humaira Jamshed, Anwar Gilani, Fateh Ali Tipoo Sultan, Faridah Amin, Jamshed Arslan Arslan, Sumaira Ghani, Madiha Masroor

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Objective

Elevated serum uric acid (UA), a biomarker of renal insufficiency, is also an independent prognostic marker for morbidity in coronary artery disease (CAD) and poses serious health risks. This study reports the effect of almond consumption on UA in CAD patients.

Study design

A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted with three groups: no-intervention (NI), Pakistani almonds (PA) or American almonds (AA). Patients were recruited from the Cardiology Clinics, Aga Khan University Hospital. Two follow-ups were scheduled at week-6 and week-12. 150 patients were randomly divided in three groups (50 per group). NI was not given almonds, whereas the …

Gambogic Acid Is A Tissue-Specific Proteasome Inhibitor In Vitro And In Vivo, Xiaofen Li, Shouting Liu, Hongbiao Huang, Ningning Liu, Chong Zhao, Siyan Liao, Changshan Yang, Yurong Liu, Canguo Zhao, Shujue Li, Xiaoyu Lu, Chunjiao Liu, Lixia Guan, Kai Zhao, Xiaoqing Shi, Wenbin Song, Ping Zhou, Xiaoxian Dong, Haiping Guo, Guanmei Wen, Change Zhang, Lili Jiang, Ningfang Ma, Bing Li, Shunqing Wang, Huo Tan, Xuejun Wang, Q. Ping Dou, Jinbao Lin

Oncology Faculty Publications

Gambogic acid (GA) is a natural compound derived from Chinese herbs that has been approved by the Chinese Food and Drug Administration for clinical trials in cancer patients; however, its molecular targets have not been thoroughly studied. Here, we report that GA inhibits tumor proteasome activity, with potency comparable to bortezomib but much less toxicity. First, GA acts as a prodrug and only gains proteasome-inhibitory function after being metabolized by intracellular CYP2E1. Second, GA-induced proteasome inhibition is a prerequisite for its cytotoxicity and anticancer effect without off-targets. Finally, because expression of the CYP2E1 gene is very high in tumor tissues …

Activation Of Amp-Activated Protein Kinase By 3,39-Diindolylmethane (Dim) Is Associated With Human Prostate Cancer Cell Death In Vitro And In Vivo, Di Chen, Sanjeev Banerjee, Qiuzhi C. Cui, Dejuan Kong, Fazlul H. Sarkar, Q. Ping Dou

Oncology Faculty Publications

There is a large body of scientific evidence suggesting that 3,39-Diindolylmethane (DIM), a compound derived from the digestion of indole-3-carbinol, which is abundant in cruciferous vegetables, harbors anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo. Accumulating evidence suggests that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays an essential role in cellular energy homeostasis and tumor development and that targeting AMPK may be a promising therapeutic option for cancer treatment in the clinic. We previously reported that a formulated DIM (BR-DIM; hereafter referred as B-DIM) with higher bioavailability was able to induce apoptosis and inhibit cell growth, angiogenesis, and invasion of prostate cancer cells. …

The Nonpsychoactive Cannabinoid Cannabidiol Inhibits 5-Hydroxytryptamine3a Receptor-Mediated Currents In Xenopus Laevis Oocytes, Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Sehamuddin Galadari, Dmytro Isaev, Georg Petroianu, Toni S. Shippenberg, Murat Oz

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The effect of the plant-derived nonpsychotropic cannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD), on the function of hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)3A receptors expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes was investigated using two-electrode voltage-clamp techniques. CBD reversibly inhibited 5-HT (1 μM)-evoked currents in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 = 0.6 μM). CBD (1 μM) did not alter specific binding of the 5-HT3A antagonist [3H]3-(5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-1-(1-methylindol-3-yl)propan-1-one (GR65630), in oocytes expressing 5-HT3A receptors. In the presence of 1 μM CBD, the maximal 5-HT-induced currents were also inhibited. The EC50 values were 1.2 and 1.4 μM, in the absence and presence of CBD, indicating that CBD acts as a noncompetitive antagonist of 5-HT3 …