Recent analytical approaches in quality control of traditional Chinese medicines–a review.

Anal Chim Acta. 2010 Jan 4;657(1):9-18

Authors: Jiang Y, David B, Tu P, Barbin Y

Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) are gaining more and more attention all over the world, due to their specific theory and long historical clinical practice. But the uncontrollable quality is a bottleneck for its modernization and globalization. This paper reviewed the recent analytical methods in the quality control of TCMs, including screening strategies of bioactive markers from TCMs through biochromatographic methods, the traditional chromatographic methods, DNA methods, as well as the spectroscopic methods, including FT-IR, NIR and NMR. The comprehensive methods, such as fingerprint and multi-component quantification are emphasized; hyphenated techniques, like HPLC-MS, GC-MS, CE-MS, LC-NMR, chemometric methods, and combination of chemical and biological methods, such as biofingerprint, metabolic fingerprint are now more and more widely used in TCMs. In a few word, the analysis and quality control of TCMs are moving towards an integrative and comprehensive direction, in order to better address the inherent holistic nature of TCMs.

Dr Steve’s BOTTOM LINE: Couldn’t have said it better myself, although there are a lot of scientific gobbledegook words in there, proper use of science can only help.   With all due respect to purists who do not want to explore what individual components in TCM herbs do, in order to gain more credibility and establish safety this must be done.  Remember, it just adds information.  What one does with the information is up to them.  However,  from everything I have been observing, this whole movement is only adding to the recognition that ancient traditional and widely accepted but unproven herbal therapies are indeed grounded in scientific basis. Again, it is worth repeating that finding the toxic components and considering their removal can only enhance the overall benefit.

Technorati Tags: alternative cures, chinese herbs, natural cures

Clinical research in anthroposophic medicine.

Altern Ther Health Med. 2009 Nov-Dec;15(6):52-5

Authors: Hamre HJ, Kiene H, Kienle GS

Anthroposophic medicine includes special medications and special artistic and physical therapies. More than 200 clinical studies of varying design and quality have been conducted on anthroposophic treatment. Half of these studies concern anthroposophic mistletoe therapy for cancer. Clinical effects of mistletoe products include improvement of quality of life, reduction of side effects from chemotherapy and radiation, and possibly increased survival. Apart from cancer therapy, the largest studies of anthroposophic treatment have been 2 naturalistic system evaluations: In German outpatients with mental, musculoskeletal, respiratory, and other chronic conditions, anthroposophic treatment was followed by sustained improvements of symptoms and quality of life. In primary care patients from 4 European countries and the United States treated for acute respiratory and ear infections by anthroposophic or conventional physicians, anthroposophic treatment was associated with reduced use of antibiotics and antipyretics, quicker recovery, and fewer adverse reactions; these differences remained after adjustment for relevant baseline differences.

Dr.Steve’s BOTTOM LINE: Anthroposophical medicine is a holistic approach to medicine, with origins in the 1920s, which focuses on strengthening individual ability to fight disease, heal  and maintain health. It’s an extension to conventional Western medicine which seeks to find the imbalance in individuals and employs treatment strategies intended to restore this balance, including homeopathy and restricted conventional use of antibiotics and other “standard” medications.  There are hospitals around the world, including the USA, which support his approach and, as this article notes, this is based in substantial evidence of efficacy.  The problem is that the evidence ranges from good to mediocre.  However, the idea bridges conventional and homeopathic principles.

Technorati Tags: alternative cures, chinese herbs, natural cures

Efficacy of blackcurrant oil soft capsule, a Chinese herbal drug, in hyperlipidemia treatment.

Phytother Res. 2009 Dec 29;

Authors: Fa-Lin Z, Zhen-Yu W, Yan H, Tao Z, Kang L

Blackcurrant oil soft capsule (BOSC) is an effective and safe herbal medicine for the treatment of hyperlipidemia and has been approved for the market in China. No studies have been performed, however, to confirm whether BOSC is effective in reducing the serum lipid level in a large-scale ordinary or special patient population. In this study, we conducted an observational study at five investigative sites that was designed to further investigate the efficacy of BOSC on serum lipid level lowering in a large-scale target patient population and include a relative factors analysis for the serum lipid decrease. Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs) and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured before and after drug administration. TC and TGs were detected by enzymatic analysis, while HDL-C was detected by PTA-Mg(2+) precipitation. A total of 2,154 dyslipidemic patients were recruited and took BOSC 1.8 g b.i.d. every day for 6 weeks. In terms of serum lipid lowering, the overall curative rate was 37.19%, the marked effective rate was 52.28% and the effective rate was 79.06%. The corresponding effective rate of TC, TGs and HDL-C was 80.98%, 78.28% and 67.07%, respectively. Multivariate analyses with adjustment for centers, gender and age indicated that BOSC was almost ineffective in patients with a disease course <36 months (OR: 0.467, 95% CI: 0.359-0.607) and was effective in mild hyperlipidemia (OR: 3.176, 2.535-3.978) and in subjects with lower BMIs (BMI <24: 3.472, 2.171-5.552; BMI between 24 and 28: 2.310, 1.832-2.911 compared with BMI >/= 28). No serious adverse events were reported during the study period. Therefore, we conclude that BOSC is effective in decreasing TC and TG levels and in increasing the serum HDL-C level, especially in mildly hyperlipidemic patients and those with a lower BMI. Moreover, because it is a natural raw material, BOSC may be safer and more effective in the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Copyright (c) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Dr.Steve’s BOTTOM LINE: Although this is not a randomized controlled trial, this observational study strongly suggests that those who have mild abnormalities in their cholesterol and lipid levels can be managed using blackcurrant oil.  How well this works compared to pharmaceutical statins is unknown and not answered here.  But this study is certainly one that can be shown to your doctor and discussed if one seeks a natural treatment for high cholesterol.

Technorati Tags: alternative cures, chinese herbs, natural cures

Bing De Ling, a Chinese herbal formula, inhibits cancer cells growth via p53.

Front Biosci (Elite Ed). 2010;2:221-30

Authors: Zhang Y, Dong H, Li Z, Xiang S, Zhu Y, Zhang M, Liu J, Bai W, Nicosia SV, Chen J

Bing De Ling is a Chinese herbal formula that has been used to treat cancer patients for more than a decade. However, the molecular mechanisms behind its anti-tumor efficacy are still elusive. Here, we show that Bing De Ling inhibits cell proliferation in ovarian cancer epithelial cell lines, OV2008 and C13. It induces G1/S arrest in a p53-dependent manner in that this effect is attenuated in OV2008 cells transfected with dominant-negative p53 plasmid. Moreover, we show that Bing De Ling up-regulates p53 transcriptional activities as well as its downstream target genes, such as p21Cip1, MDM2, and MDMX. In addition, Bing De Ling inhibits MDMX-p53 interaction which may result in stabilization and activation of p53. Collectively, our results suggest that the anti-tumor activity of Bing De Ling may be in part due to activation of p53.

Dr.Steve’s BOTTOM LINE: p53 is also known as tumor protein 53, which is genetically encoded by the TP53 gene.  It’s function is to help regulate the normal cell cycle and is a tumor suppressor gene.  This means that when it is functioning normally in cells, it helps prevent cancer. For this it gained recognition as “the guardian angel gene”. Anticancer function of the gene and it’s protein p53 is actually rather complex, but the point is that switching it on prevents cancer and switching it off (by many external and internal mechanisms) can help promote cancer development.  This laboratory study shows us that Bing De Ling has a plausible anti-cancer mechanism that might be considered for  clinical trials.  Why is this not a slam dunk next step?  Because there are actually a lot of agents of natural and synthetic origin that act on p53.  However, some work better than others and we certainly don’t have a cure for most cancers.  Thus, this is a plausible option for further study regarding just how well it might work in animals and humans. 

Technorati Tags: alternative cures, chinese herbs, natural cures

Population-Based Case-Control Study of Chinese Herbal Products Containing Aristolochic Acid and Urinary Tract Cancer Risk.

J Natl Cancer Inst. 2009 Dec 21;

Authors: Lai MN, Wang SM, Chen PC, Chen YY, Wang JD

Background Consumption of Chinese herbs that contain aristolochic acid (eg, Mu Tong) has been associated with an increased risk of urinary tract cancer. Methods We conducted a population-based case-control study in Taiwan to examine the association between prescribed Chinese herbal products that contain aristolochic acid and urinary tract cancer. All patients newly diagnosed with urinary tract cancer (case subjects) from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2002, and a random sample of the entire insured population from January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2002 (control subjects), were selected from the National Health Insurance reimbursement database. Subjects who were ever prescribed more than 500 pills of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and/or acetaminophen were excluded, leaving 4594 case patients and 174 701 control subjects in the final analysis. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by using multivariable logistic regression models for the association between prescribed Chinese herbs containing aristolochic acid and the occurrence of urinary tract cancer. Models were adjusted for age, sex, residence in a township where black foot disease was endemic (an indicator of chronic arsenic exposure from drinking water [a risk factor for urinary tract cancer]), and history of chronic urinary tract infection. Statistical tests were two-sided. Results Having been prescribed more than 60 g of Mu Tong and an estimated consumption of more than 150 mg of aristolochic acid were independently associated with an increased risk for urinary tract cancer in multivariable analyses (Mu Tong: at 61-100 g, OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.3 to 2.1, and at >200 g, OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.3 to 3.4; aristolochic acid: at 151-250 mg, OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1 to 1.8, and at >500 mg, OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.4 to 2.9). A statistically significant linear dose-response relationship was observed between the prescribed dose of Mu Tong or the estimated cumulative dose of aristolochic acid and the risk of urinary tract cancer (P < .001 for both). Conclusions Consumption of aristolochic acid-containing Chinese herbal products is associated with an increased risk of cancer of the urinary tract in a dose-dependent manner that is independent of arsenic exposure.

Dr.Steve’s BOTTOM LINE: The FDA first issued warnings about herbs containing aristolochic acid almost 10 years ago for cancer risk as well as severe damage to kidneys. This study adds evidence that the risks are real and the more aristolochic acid you consume, the higher the risk. Unfortunately, this is the negative side of herbals.  It is for this reason we should determine both the risk and the benefit of EACH component of herbals.  Once you know this risk and benefit, it is up to you.  Otherwise, it is no better than finding out that the headache drug you were taking for years also causes brain cancer.  You probably would have liked to know that and might have taken something else instead.  Finally, one other warning. Many herbals come over in contaminated form, which may contain harmful components including aristolochic acid.   Learn about the benefits and risk of ANYTHING you take in to your body and buy from reputable sources.

Technorati Tags: alternative cures, chinese herbs, natural cures