Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera)

Family: Liliaceae Aloe produces two substances, gel and latex, which are used for medicines:

- Aloe gel is the clear, jelly-like substance found in the inner part of the aloe plant leaf.

- Aloe latex comes from just under the plant's skin and is yellow in color.

Some aloe products are made from the whole crushed leaf, so they contain both gel and latex.

Active constituents:

- Hydroxyanthracene derivatives (principally barbaloin) - Aloe-emodin - Chromone derivatives. - Polysaccharide - Steroids - Organic acids - Saponins - Vitamins

Pharmacological Actions:

Aloe gel:- Most people use aloe gel topically, as a remedy for skin conditions including: burns, sunburn, psoriasis, and cold sores. -Some people also use aloe gel to help surgical wounds and bedsores heal faster.

Some chemicals in aloe gel seem to be able to increase circulation in the tiny blood vessels in the skin, as well as kill bacteria. Together,these effects suggest that aloe gel might be effective in speeding wound healing.

Clinical investigations suggest that Aloe Vera Gel preparations accelerate wound healing: "In vivo" studies have demonstrated that Aloe Gel promotes wound healing by directly stimulating the activity of macrophages and fibroblasts. Fibroblast has been reported to increase both collagen and proteoglycan synthesis, thereby promoting tissue repair. Polysaccharides (mannose) in the aloe gel is responsible for the wound healing properties of the gel

But taking aloe latex by mouth is likely unsafe, especially at high doses. Aloe latex is hard on the kidneys and could lead to serious kidney disease and even death.

A number of years ago, the FDA became concerned about the safety of aloe latex, which was an ingredient in many laxatives.

Aloe latex:

- Some people take aloe latex by mouth as:- Laxative - Emmenagogue - Digestive stimulant

Taking aloe latex by mouth can reduce constipation. It takes about 10 hours to cause a bowel movement. With continued use, increasing doses are needed for the same laxative effect. That’s because aloe latex causes a loss of K+ from cells lining the intestine. This results in a kind of paralysis of the walls of the intestine, making a bowel movement difficult. Taking large doses of aloe latex or using for a long time can be dangerous. That’s why the FDA took laxatives that contained aloe latex off the market in 2002.

In 1994, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Aloe vera for the treatment of HIV.

On-going studies worldwide show that taken in highly concentrated doses can stimulate the production of white blood cells that may help fight viruses.

Side effects :

Aloe gel is likely safe when applied to the skin and possible safe when taken by mouth in adults.

Aloe latex is possible unsafe at any dose:-Aloe latex can cause some side effects such as:- Stomach pain and cramps. - Long-term use of large amounts of aloe latex might cause diarrhea - kidney problems - Blood in the urine- Low potassium - Muscle weakness- Weight loss

Taking aloe latex 1 gm /day for several days can be fatal.

Special precautions & warnings:

•Pregnancy or breast-feeding: Aloe stimulates uterine contractions. It should be avoided during pregnancy. As aloe is excreted in the breast milk is best avoided during breast feeding as it may act as a purgative on the baby.

Diabetes: Some research suggests aloe might lower blood sugar. If you take aloe by mouth and you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar levels closely.

Kidney problems: High doses of aloe latex have been linked to kidney failure and other serious conditions.

Surgery: Aloe might affect blood sugar levels and could interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop taking aloe at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Drug Interactions

Aloe latex may interact with several drugs including:- Blood sugar regulating drugs- Blood thinners (warfarin, Heparin)- Diuretics- Digoxin (Lanoxin), - Blood pressure medications. - Aloe latex taken simultaneously with any other pill may inhibit the body's absorption of the pill because aloe latex travels through the intestines so rapidly.

Dosage: By mouth

Applied to the skin:

•Aloe vera gel can be found in hundreds of skin products, including lotions and sun blocks.

Saw Palmetto

Saw Palmetto consists of the ripe, dried fruit of (Serenoa repens)

Family: Arecaceae

Chemistry- Fatty oil with fatty acids - Steroids- Flavonoids - Polysaccharides.

Part of use: The berries are the part of the plant used. The berries are gathered in autumn to mid winter.

•Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

When men begin to experience difficulty in urination or more frequent urge to urinate (excessive urination), this medical condition is termed benign prostatic hyperplasia.

- Saw palmetto block the enzyme responsible for converting free testosterone to the toxic dihydrotestosterone (DHT) molecule & it acts as an alpha-adrenergic receptor inhibitor, reducing frequent nighttime urination, and inflammatory actions in the prostate gland.

Saw palmetto improve benign prostatic hyperplasia by counteracting inflammation, muscle spasms, and edema of the prostate

Pharmacological action:

Uses

• Approved by Commission E: - Prostate complain Note: The Commission E monograph states, "This medication relieves only the symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate without reducing the enlargement.

Contraindications: None known.

Side Effects: Gastrointestinal tract upset

Use During Pregnancy and Lactation: Not recommended due to its potential hormonal effcet.

 

Many modern clinical trials corroborate the ability of saw palmetto extract (SPE) to improve the signs and symptoms of BPH, for whichit is a first-line treatment in much of Europe.

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) , , حرشف , الدمن شوك كعيب مريم خرفيششوكة

بري

Family: Asteracae

Part used: Seed

Active constituents: Silymarin (isomeric mixture of flavonolignans): is a powerful substance composed of three flavanoid molecules (silybin, silychristinand silydianin)

Primary used: • Liver health • Protection against harmful chemicals, drugs, and pollution • Digestive aid • Acute and chronic hepatitis • Alcoholic and other liver damage • Gallbladder symptoms

silydianin

silybin silychristin

BENEFITS• Protects the liver from damage by: - Guarding liver cell membranes

- Acts as a powerful antioxidant in the liver, stomach, and intestines * silymarin, acts as a powerful antioxidant, combining with and thus neutralizing harmful free radicals that result from normal metabolic processes and from the breakdown of toxic substances. *silymarin also helps increase levels of two additional antioxidants, glutathione and superoxid dismutase (SOD)

- Milk Thistle helps repair and regenerate liver cells by stimulating protein synthesis Recent evidence suggests that the constituent silybin may be responsible for stimulating protein synthesis. Milk thistle's regenerative ability is essential for treating serious conditions such as chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and toxic fatty deposits in the liver.

•Aids digestion and elimination by stimulating the flow of bile (needed to break down fats)

Health practitioners also prescribe Milk Thistle to treat a variety of problems you might not normally connect with liver health, including :

- Poor digestion - Female hormonal problems - Constipation - Mood disorders - Hemorrhoids - Varicose veins - Atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of the arteries) - Skin conditions such as psoriasis.

International Status

Milk thistle seeds are approved in the German Commission E Monographs as:• A supportive treatment for inflammatory liver conditions such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, and fatty infiltration caused by alcohol and other toxins.

SCIENTIFIC SUPPORTOne of the best-studied herbs, Milk Thistle has been the subject of more than 300 clinical and laboratory trials.

In cases of acute hepatitis: Milk Thistle extract helps people recover more quickly and prevents the condition from becoming chronic. Improvement is often apparent within 5 days, and even greater benefits are seen after 3 weeks.

Milk thistle is also useful for treating chronic hepatitis When taken over a period of 3 to 12 months. Studies show that it can help reverse liver cell damage, normalize elevated levels of liver enzymes, and improve symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, decreased appetite, and fatigue.

Exciting breakthrough research suggests possible antioxidant benefitsin another area: skin cancer:

•A number of preliminary laboratory investigations indicated that silymarin could reduce the rate of tumor formation and tumor size.

Another area of current research is Milk Thistle's possible anti-allergenic effects:•In vitro research indicates that silymarin may help prevent allergic reactions by inhibiting the release of histamine.

SAFETYMilk thistle has been safely used as a food herb and medicine .

Side effects: No side effects have been reported during clinical trials. Milk thistle may initially have a mild laxative effect in certain people because of its stimulating effects on bile secretion.

Contraindications: • Milk thistle is considered safe for use during pregnancy and has a long history of use by nursing women.• As the name suggest this is an excellent promoter of milk production and is safe to be used by nursing mothers. • People with diabetes who are taking Milk Thistle should carefully monitor their blood glucose and may require reduction in standard antihyperglycemic agents.

Drug interactions: None known.

INGREDIENTS Each capsule contains 125mg of pure Milk Thistle extract

DOSAGE Recommended use for adults: 1 capsule, 3 times a day.

STANDARDIZATION Milk thistle is typically standardized to contain 70 to 80% silymarin.