Echinacea Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Echinacea, including details on echinacea purpurea, benefits, side-effects, herbal remedies. | ||||||
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Echinacea Alkamides Prevent Lipopolysaccharide/d-Galactosamine- Induced Acute Hepatic Injury through JNK Pathway-Mediated HO-1 Expression.Hou CC, Huang CC, Shyur LF Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica , Taipei 115, Taiwan, Republic of China. This study aimed to shed light on the anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effect of the major alkamides dodeca-2E,4E,8Z,10Z(E)-tetraenoic acid isobutylamides (Alk-8/9), isolated from Echinacea purpurea roots, against acute fulminant hepatitis induced by lipopolysaccharide/d-galactosamine (LPS/d-GalN) in mice. The results show that Alk-8/9 dose-dependently induced heme oxygenase (HO)-1 protein expression in LPS-stimulated murine macrophages that was likely regulated by the JNK-mediated pathway through increasing SAPK/JNK phosphorylation, c-jun protein expression, and phosphorylation, and transcription factor AP-1 binding consensus DNA activity. The HO-1 inhibitor or CO scavenger significantly reversed the inhibitory effect of Alk-8/9 on TNF-α expression, whereas N-acetyl-l-cysteine was observed to reduce Alk-8/9-induced HO-1 expression in LPS-treated macrophages. Furthermore, Alk-8/9 markedly induced c-jun and HO-1 protein expression and suppressed serum aminotransferase activities, TNF-α expression, and hepatocyte damage in liver tissues of LPS/d-GalN-treated mice. This paper suggests a new application of Echinacea, a top-selling herbal supplement, as a hepatoprotective agent. Published 26 October 2011 in J Agric Food Chem. Articles on Echinacea published 26 October 2011: Complementary and alternative medicine for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review. BMC Complement Altern Med, 11: 87. Articles on Echinacea published 21 October 2011: Plasma caffeic Acid is associated with statistical clustering of the anticolitic efficacy of caffeic Acid in dextran sulfate sodium-treated mice. J Nutr, 141(11): 1989-95. We hypothesized that interindividual variability in the bioavailability of caffeic acid (CA) would influence its anticolitic efficacy and that mice may be appropriate for modeling human gut microbial metabolism of CA, which is thought to influence CA bioavailability. Anaerobic human fecal and mouse cecal sample mixtures were incubated with CA derivatives from Echinacea purpurea and compound disappearance rates were measured, which were similar in both sample types. CA metabolism, including ... [Abstract] [Full-text] Articles on Echinacea published 19 October 2011: Echinacea angustifolia cell suspension cultures are usually grown and maintained in the dark, but we also exposed cells to light for one culture cycle (14 days) and then compared the metabolomes of dark-grown and illuminated cells by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Among 256 signals, we putatively identified 159 molecules corresponding to 56 different metabolites plus their fragments, adducts and isotopologs. The E. angustifolia metabolome consisted mainly of caffeic acid derivatives, ... [Abstract] [Full-text] Articles on Echinacea published 14 October 2011: Evaluating the efficacy of cinnamaldehyde and Echinacea purpurea plant extract in broilers against Eimeria acervulina. Vet Parasitol. Coccidiostats could be phased out as feed additives before 1 January 2013 for public health and food safety reasons, and, as a replacement, bioactive compounds found in plants are currently being investigated since they are more likely to be found acceptable by consumers. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of cinnamaldehyde (CIN) and Echinacea purpurea plant extract (EP) as additives by analyzing the performance traits, oocyst excretion and intestinal lesions following experimental ... [Abstract] [Full-text] Articles on Echinacea published 5 October 2011: Chromatographic Methods for Metabolite Profiling of Virus- and Phytoplasma-Infected Plants of Echinacea purpurea. J Agric Food Chem, 59(19): 10425-34. This study was focused on the effects of virus and phytoplasma infections on the production of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench secondary metabolites, such as caffeic acid derivatives, alkamides, and essential oil. The identification of caffeic acid derivatives and alkamides was carried out by means of high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD), HPLC-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and MS(2). Quantitative analysis of these compounds was carried out ... [Abstract] [Full-text] Becoming Whole: The Role of Story for Healing. J Holist Nurs. This paper explores the role of story for healing. Specifically, this paper describes story and healing in cultural or whole medical systems, including Latino/Hispanic traditions, Native American/Indigenous traditions, and Homeopathy. In addition, the authors provide a brief overview of story and healing in the nursing and medical literature, and evaluate the value of story in our current practice as holistic nurses. It is important for the holistic nurse to be aware of the role of stories for ... [Abstract] [Full-text] Articles on Echinacea published 3 October 2011: No fear of ghosts in Lycopodium: a contribution to the discussion on repertory reliability. Homeopathy, 100(4): 293-9. Review of the use of high potencies in basic research on homeopathy. Homeopathy, 100(4): 288-92. The HomBRex database includes details of about 1500 basic research experiments in homeopathy. A general overview on the experiments listed in the HomBRex database is presented, focusing on high dilutions and the different settings in which those were used. Though often criticised, many experiments with remedies diluted beyond Avogadro's number demonstrate specific effects. A total of 830 experiments employing high potencies was found; in 745 experiments of these (90%), at least one positive ... [Abstract] [Full-text] © 2004-2011 Echinacea Research Today. All Rights Reserved. |
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