pharmacy

Direct NMR analysis of cannabis water extracts and tinctures and semi-quantitative data on Delta(9)-THC and Delta(9)-THC-acid.: Phytochemistry. 2007 Oct 25; Politi M, Peschel W, Wilson N, Zloh M, Prieto JM, Heinrich M

Cannabis sativa L. is the source for a whole series of chemically diverse bioactive compounds that are currently under intensive pharmaceutical investigation. In this work, hot and cold water extracts as well as ethanol/water mixtures (tinctures) of cannabis were compared in order to better understand how these extracts differ in their overall composition. NMR analysis and in vitro cell assays of crude extracts and fractions were performed. Manufacturing procedures to produce natural remedies can strongly affect the final composition of the herbal medicines. Temperature and polarity of the solvents used for the extraction resulted to be two factors that affect the total amount of Delta(9)-THC in the extracts and its relative quantity with respect to Delta(9)-THC-acid and other metabolites. Diffusion-edited (1)H NMR (1D DOSY) and (1)H NMR with suppression of the ethanol and water signals were used. With this method it was possible, without any evaporation or separation step, to distinguish between tinctures from different cannabis cultivars. This approach is proposed as a direct analysis of plant tinctures.

Comparison of Echinacea alkylamide pharmacokinetics between liquid and tablet preparations.: Phytomedicine. 2007 Sep;14(9):587-90 Authors: Matthias A, Addison RS, Agnew LL, Bone KM, Watson K, Lehmann RP

The relative oral bioavailability of alkylamides from two different Echinacea dosage forms (liquid and tablet) were compared in a small two-way crossover study in humans (n=3). The liquid preparation investigated contained a mixture of Echinacea purpurea root (300 mg/ml) and Echinacea angustifolia root (200 mg/ml) extracted in 60% ethanol. The tablet preparation investigated was also a mixture of E. purpurea root (675 mg/tablet) and E. angustifolia root (600 mg/tablet), but was prepared from the dried 60% ethanolic extracts of these two Echinacea species. Alkylamides were found to be rapidly absorbed and measurable in plasma from both preparations. No significant differences in the tetraene alkylamide pharmacokinetic parameters for T(1/2), AUC(t-lin) and C(max) in the two different preparations were found. T(max) increased from 20 min for the liquid to 30 min for the tablet, which is not unexpected as the tablet required time for disintegration before absorption could occur. These results suggested that there was no significant difference in the bioavailability of alkylamides from the liquid and tablet Echinacea formulations. Furthermore, the results also indicated that the absorption site and any alkylamide loss due to digestive processes were similar in both preparations.

PMID: 17289362 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Red American ginseng: ginsenoside constituents and antiproliferative activities of heat-processed Panax quinquefolius roots.: Planta Med. 2007 Jun;73(7):669-74 Authors: Wang CZ, Aung HH, Ni M, Wu JA, Tong R, Wicks S, He TC, Yuan CS

Red Asian ginseng ( Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, Araliaceae) is used in many Oriental countries. In this study, the saponin constituents and anticancer activities of steamed American ginseng ( Panax quinquefolius L.) roots were evaluated. The contents of 12 ginsenosides in the roots were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). After the steaming treatment (100 - 120 degrees C for 1 h and 120 degrees C for 0.5 - 4 h), the quantity of 7 ginsenosides decreased and that of 5 others increased. The content of ginsenoside Rg3, a previously recognized anticancer compound, increased significantly when the root was steamed at 120 degrees C for 0.5 - 3 h. The antiproliferative effects of unsteamed and steamed (120 degrees C for 1 h and 2 h) American ginseng root extracts were assayed by the modified trichrome stain (MTS) method using three cancer cell lines (SW-480, HT-29, NSCLC). Heat-processing increased the antiproliferative effect of American ginseng significantly, and the activity of the extract from roots steamed for 2 h was greater than that of roots steamed for 1 h. Chemical constituents and antiproliferative activities of white and red Asian ginseng have also been evaluated. Five representative ginsenosides, Rb1, Rd, Re, Rg2 and Rg3, were studied. Ginsenoside Rg3 had the most potent effect. The antiproliferative activities of red American ginseng are augmented when ginsenoside Rg3 is increased.

PMID: 17538869 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Research on different processings of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi]: Zhong Yao Cai. 2006 Sep;29(9):893-5 Authors: Song SH, Wang BL, Feng JK, Wang ZZ

OBJECTIVE: Comparing the different processings of S. baicalensis Georgi with fresh herb. METHODS: Watering, cooking and steaming method were adopted and the contents of flavonoids was determined by HPLC. RESULTS: Cooking and steaming method could not only intenerate the slices, but also destroy the activity of enzyme. So different means could be choosen according to practice. CONCLUSION: Among them, cooking method with 1 time volume of water, heating 10 min, drying at 80 degrees C and steaming method taking 20 min, drying at 80 degrees C is proper.

PMID: 17212039 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Influence of processing rhubarb on it's anthraquinone contents]:[Influence of processing rhubarb on it's anthraquinone contents] Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2005 Jun;30(12):904-6, 943 Authors: Li XD, Huang LQ

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of processing of Radix et Rhizoma Rhei on it's five anthraquinone components, and to develop a HPLC quantatitive method for these components in Radix et Rhizoma Rhei. METHOD: Chromatographic conditions are as follow: Kromasil-C18 (4.6 mmx 150 mm, 5 microm) column, ethanol -H2O-H3PO4 (85:15:0.1) as mobile phase and the detection wavelength at 254 nm. RESULT: The average recoveries are 97.9% (aleo-emodin), 97.1% (rhein), 97.6% (emodin), 97.4% (chrysophanol) and 99.1% (physcion). RSD are 1.4%, 1.1%, 0.9%, 1.1% and 2.2% correspondingly. After processing, the contents of five anthraquinone aglycones descended compared with the crude material, the descending percentage are 15.9% (aleo-emodin), 28.0% (rhein), 25.8% (emodin), 10.0% (chrysophanol) and 10.3% (physcion). CONCLUSION: This method is simple, sensitive and repeatable. It' canbeased for quality control of Radix et Rhizoma Rhei and it's processed products.

Availability of and attitudes toward resources on alternative medicine products in the community pharmacy setting.: J Am Pharm Assoc (Wash DC). 2005 Nov-Dec; 45(6): 734-9 Nathan JP, Cicero LA, Koumis T, Rosenberg JM, Feifer S, Maltz F

OBJECTIVE: To examine the availability of resources on dietary supplements in the community pharmacy setting and to assess the attitudes of community pharmacists toward these resources. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Community pharmacies in New York and New Jersey that serve as experiential sites for senior student pharmacists at the Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Long Island University. PARTICIPANTS: Preceptors or full-time pharmacists. INTERVENTION: Mailed survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of use, availability of, and pharmacists' satisfaction with resources on alternative medicines, defined in the survey as any product including herbal remedies, vitamins, minerals, and natural products that may be purchased at a health food store, pharmacy, supermarket, alternative medicine store/magazine for the purpose of self-treatment. RESULTS: A total of 64 pharmacists characterized their frequency of use of resources on alternative medicines while formulating responses to questions as: never (n = 5; 7.8%), seldom (n = 31; 48.4%), often (n = 24; 37.5%), or always (n = 4; 6.3%). A total of 30 different resources were available to 40 respondents. The most commonly available resources were the PDR for Herbal Medicines (42.5%), The Review of Natural Products (20.0%), and the Web site of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (12.5%). Of 54 respondents, 4 (7.1%) reported being completely dissatisfied with the available resources; 17 (31.5%) were somewhat dissatisfied; 25 (46.3%) were somewhat satisfied; and 8 (14.8%) were completely satisfied with the resources available to them. Topics the pharmacists most commonly wanted to see improved included safety (72.7%), interactions (70.9%), and uses (69.1%). CONCLUSION: Community pharmacists do not use information resources on alternative medicine products frequently, and many are not satisfied with the resources available to them.