Herbal Therapies Flashcards
Chinese or Korean ginseng
Panax ginseng
American Ginseng
Panax quinquefolius
White ginseng
Peeled and dried root
Red ginseng
Steamed with root intact and then dried
Historical uses of Ginseng
Aphrodisiac
Treat asthma, anemia, lower back pain
Root extracts given as general tonic to give added energy and to maintain health
Adaptogenic
Increases the biological and mental resistance to stress
Improves mental efficiency, accuracy, and powers of concentration
Increases endurance by preventing over fatigue
Increased resistance to a wide variety of physical, chemical and biological stresses
Numerous active ingredients of ginseng extracts
Cyclic triterpenes glycosides
Saponins
Ginsenosides
Panaxadiols and panaxatriols
Panaxosides
Different Ginsenosides are produced depending on whether white or red ginseng is prepared
American Ginseng Rg-1, Rb-1
High Rb-1, very low amounts of Rg-1
Treatment of insomnia, indigestion, toothaches
Chinese Ginseng
High Rg-1, low Rb-1
Health promoting effects
Ability to overcome fatigue and physical stress
Kew or Maidenhair tree
Gingko biloba
Ginkgo Mechanism of Action
Multiple effects on neurotransmitters in response to extracts
Increases uptake of choline into presynaptic neurons
Results in enhanced release of acetylcholine
Increases number of muscarinic receptors
Cholinergic mechanisms are associated with cognitive effects - broader biological enhancing effect
Increases uptake of serotonin - mood altering
Inhibit monoamine oxidases (MOAs) that usually break down monoamines like dopamine - enhanced cognitive ability
Overall, more acetylcholine, coupled with dopamine and serotonin actions
Traditional Uses of St. Johns Wort
Treatment of depression, insomnia, anxiety
Used in ancient Greece and Medieval Europe to ward off evil spirits
Ginkgo Effects
Vasodilation
Increased peripheral blood flow
Antioxidant
Neuroprotective
Shows improvement in memory
Modest, but beneficial effects in Alzheimer’s disease
Comparable effects to currently prescribed drugs that have similar cholinergic mechanisms
Low toxicity and side effects of Ginkgo make it a good approach for treating cognitive defects
Saint-John’s Wort Chemistry
At least 10 active compounds
Unclear which are responsible for pharmacological effect
Napthodianthrones
Hypericin and pseudohypericin have MAO inhibiting properties
Terpenes, Phenolic Acids, Flavonoids, Phloroglucinols
Xanthones
Hypericin
(MAO inhibitor)
prevents breakdown of serotonin
Flavonols
(COMT inhibitor)
prevents breakdown of neurotransmitters
Catecholamine-O-methyltransferase
Zingiber officinale
Ginger
Ayurvedic herbal tradition (Ginger)
To treat rhinitis, gingivitis, toothache, cramps, diabetes, stroke
Ginger Preparations
Harvested
8-9 months after planting to make dried ginger powder
5-6 months for fresh use
Effects of Ginger
‘Good for digestion’
Increases bile emptying and gastric motility
Antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesia, antiemetic
Reduces motion sickness
Inhibits platelet aggregation
Antidepressant
Hydrastis Canadensis
Goldenseal
Goldenseal common names
yellow root, turmeric root, and eye root
Goldenseal comes from
yellow scars left on rhizome that appear in spring
Alfred P. Durand
Discovered B-Hydrastine
