Monthly Archives: November 2018

Echinacea Mouthwash More Effective than Chlorhexidine in Decreasing Oral Microbial Load in Intubated Patients

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Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common bacterial infection among patients in intensive care units (ICUs). For patients placed on a ventilator, the risk for nosocomial pneumonia and mortality is higher than for other patients. The use of anti-bacterial mouthwashes is recommended to prevent the occurrence of VAP. Among the available mouthwashes, chlorhexidine is highly effective in reducing dental plaque and

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Food as Medicine: Anise (Pimpinella anisum, Apiaceae)

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Anise or aniseed (Pimpinella anisum, Apiaceae) is an herbaceous annual that grows to almost a meter (3.3 feet) in height.1,2 The lower leaves of the plant are dark green, heart-shaped, and shallowly lobed, while the upper leaves are feathery. In the summer, the plant produces small, white flowers in an umbrella-shaped head, and, in the fall, these flowers produce aromatic fruits that are three to

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Clinical Safety of Ephedrine Alkaloid-free Ephedra Herb Extract (EFE)

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Ephedra (Ephedra sinica, E. equisetina, and E. intermedia; Ephedraceae) herb (primarily stem tissue) is used in Japanese Traditional Medicine (Kampo) formulations. Ephedra herb is defined in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia as stem material containing ˃0.7% ephedrine alkaloids (ephedrine and pseudoephedrine). Ephedrine alkaloids (EAs) are thought to be responsible for the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antitussive, and diaphoretic effects of ephedra. EAs stimulate adrenaline receptors

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Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program Publishes Cranberry Laboratory Guidance Document

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New publication evaluates analytical methods to authenticate cranberry fruit materials and detect adulteration with anthocyanin- or proanthocyanidin-rich extracts from other plant species AUSTIN, Texas (November 15, 2018) — The ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP) announces the publication of a new Laboratory Guidance Document (LGD) on cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon). Cranberry-derived dietary supplements and beverages are widely used for the prevention

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Food as Medicine: Date (Phoenix dactylifera, Arecaceae)

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The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera, Arecaceae) has been cultivated for more than 5,000 years.1 Because of this long history of use and cultivation, the exact origin of the date palm is difficult to pinpoint. Dates have been harvested for centuries in northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and have played a large role in the economies of countries where the plant

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Efficacy of a Mixture of Beeswax, Olive Oil, and Alkanet for Burn Injuries

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Severe burns have high rates of morbidity and mortality and require long-term hospitalization. Such burns cause intense pain and can lead to significant changes in physical appearance. In folk medicine, Beeswax (Cera Alba), olive (Olea europaea, Oleaceae) fruit oil, and alkanet (Alkanna tinctoria, ‎Boraginaceae) root are used to treat burns. Beeswax and olive oil have reported antioxidant and antibacterial activity, while

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Ginseng Aggregate Data Analyses Show Evidence of Modest yet Significant Benefit for Improving Fasting Blood Glucose

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Diabetes is a global epidemic, and ginseng (Panax spp., Araliaceae) is a popular complementary and alternative medicine that has shown promise in type 2 diabetes. However, systematic reviews of ginseng’s effects on blood glucose parameters have not been conclusive. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of ginseng on glycemic control in people with and

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