Traditional medicin

Plants and microorganisms produce unique and diverse chemical stmctures, some of which act as immunomodulators (18—28). Of specimens used in traditional medicine, approximately 450 plant species have shown antiviral activity out of 4000 plants screened (19). Several tannins (20) exhibit strong inhibition of tumor promotion experimentally. Pretreatment of mice with small amounts of tannins for several days strongly rejected transplanted tumors. This activity has been claimed to be effected through enhancement of host-mediated antitumor activity. 

Chinese Herbal Medicines. Many traditional Chinese medicines have been screened for radioprotective activity in experimental animals. In one study of more than a thousand Chinese herbs, a number of agents increased the survival rate of dogs exposed to a lethal dose of y-rays by 30—40%, and some symptoms of radiation injury were ameHorated. These effects are potentially related to stimulation of the hemopoietic and immune systems (130). Extracts of five Chinese dmg plants, as weU as aspirin, effectively protected mice exposed to 7.5—8.0 Gy (750—800 rad) of y-radiation, and increased survival rates by 8—50% (131). Several Chinese traditional medicines, adininistered ip before or after irradiation, protected against Hpid peroxidation in a variety of mouse tissues, including BM, Hver, and spleen, as weU as in mouse Hver microsomal suspensions irradiated in vitro (132). 

In traditional medicine, plants have been used to treat various types of illnesses, including wounds, both external and internal. The use of plants can be found as part of traditional medicine on all continents, and plants are still in use even in the Western countries as so-called traditional remedies . Modern science has shown that many of these plants contain polysaccharides... 

Acanthus ebracteatus is a plant traditionally used for various ailments, amongst those skin diseases in Thai traditional medicine. The stem of the plant was shown to contain neutral and acidic polysaccharides with effect in... 

Yet the reasons behind this healer s excitement are lamentable. There is a lack of interest in traditional medicine from the younger generation, and as a result there is a generational loss of traditional medicine knowledge [20]. For example, the two individuals that identified Prostratin as an antiviral have since passed away, and it is likely that an individual performing the... 

Figure 4.1 Collecting a medicine plant in Samoa. Ethnobotanical work involves working with healers to identify the medicinal uses of plants. Although this work is laborious, traditional medicine healers are frequently excited to share their knowledge.

The prospect of using historic herbal texts as a tool to resurrect lost traditional medicine knowledge and to identify new drugs is exciting. However, there are six significant challenges that need to be addressed to increase the efficiency of this system ... 

Buenz EJ. Country development does not presuppose the loss of forest resources for traditional medicine use. J Ethnopharmacol 2005 100(1-2) 118-123. 

MISRA R (1998) Modem dmg development from traditional medicinal plants using radiohgand receptor-hinding assays. Med Res Rev. 18 383-402. 

Monascus pigments have been used in Asian countries for centuries as food colorants and spices and in traditional medicine. These pigments are produced by the fungi of Monascus genus cultivated on carbohydrate-rich substrates such as rice, wheat, com, potatoes, and soybeans. Three species of Monascus identified are pilosus. 

Golden root (Roseroot, R. rosea L., Crassulaceae) has been used for a long time as a resource in Chinese traditional medicine to enhance the body s resistance against fatigue and to extend human life. Rosavin (121) was isolated as one of the chemical constituents of R. rosea by Kurkin et al. and 4-methoxycinnamyl 6-G-(a-L-arabinopyranosyl)-(3-D-glucopyranoside (122) and cinnamyl 6-0-(p-D-xylopyranosyl)-(3-D-glucopyranoside (123) were also isolated from an aqueous methanol extract of R. rosea by Ari et al. (Fig. 27). 

The leaves of large plantain Plantago major L.) are used for wotmd healing in the traditional medicine. The effect might be due to biologically active polysaccharides. A pectin, PMII with anti-complementary activity has been isolated from the leaves by water extraction and ion exchange chromatography (1). 

Zimbabwe has mles regarding the practice of traditional medicine, but not for registration of traditional medicinal products. In future, however, the Medicines control agency can be expected to exert some control over this category of product. In Cypms, there are no legislative provisions for herbal, dietary or homeopathic medicines, but some herbal medicines are registered as allopathic medicines. 

The classical way of application of A9-THC from C. sativa is smoking of dried Cannabis flowers or leaves by patients in traditional medicine. Smoking of... 

Corson, T. W. Crews, C. M. Molecular understanding and modern application of traditional medicines triumphs and trial. Cell 2007, 130, 769-774. 

Select over-the-counter dietary supplements and non-traditional medicines (e.g., ephedra, ma huang, and bitter orange)... 

Han, H., Li, D. Zhang, D. (2004). The advances in the treatment of dementias with Chinese traditional medicine. Zhejiang Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 11, 498-9. 

Wang, J., Huang, Y. Chen, S. (2004). Advances in the treatment of depression with Chinese traditional medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine Research, 17(3), 64-5. 

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