Abstract
The notion that medicines derived from plants depend for their action on active principles present has to be modified in view of the findings that there are, in many cases, adjuvant substances in the plant which enhance the activity of the components actually responsible for the effect. This synergy may involve protection of an active substance from degradation by enzymes, it may facilitate transport across barriers such as cell and organelle walls, it may overcome multi-drug resistance mechanisms or provide other signals to the hosts cells that result in higher efficacy of the crude drug when compared with isolated components. The many plant substances that stimulate the immune system, often at very low doses, have not been reviewed as this is not strictly speaking synergy. Some of the evidence for the phenomena described is reviewed and its bearing on phytotherapy commented.
Keywords: Plant Medicines, multi-drug resistance, phytotherapy
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Synergy in Plant Medicines
Volume: 10 Issue: 1
Author(s): Benjamin Gilbert and Lucio Ferreira Alves
Affiliation:
Keywords: Plant Medicines, multi-drug resistance, phytotherapy
Abstract: The notion that medicines derived from plants depend for their action on active principles present has to be modified in view of the findings that there are, in many cases, adjuvant substances in the plant which enhance the activity of the components actually responsible for the effect. This synergy may involve protection of an active substance from degradation by enzymes, it may facilitate transport across barriers such as cell and organelle walls, it may overcome multi-drug resistance mechanisms or provide other signals to the hosts cells that result in higher efficacy of the crude drug when compared with isolated components. The many plant substances that stimulate the immune system, often at very low doses, have not been reviewed as this is not strictly speaking synergy. Some of the evidence for the phenomena described is reviewed and its bearing on phytotherapy commented.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Gilbert Benjamin and Alves Ferreira Lucio, Synergy in Plant Medicines, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2003; 10 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867033368583
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867033368583 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in Medicinal Chemistry: From Cancer to Chronic Diseases.
The broad spectrum of the issue will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, novel therapeutic interventions, and translational insights that impact modern medicine. The primary focus will be diseases of global concern, including cancer, chronic pain, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions, providing a broad overview of the advancements in ...read more
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases: Focus on Clinical Implications
The Special Issue covers the results of the studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms of non-infectious inflammatory diseases, in particular, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other age-related disorders such as type II diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Review and research articles as well as methodology papers that summarize ...read more
Chalcogen-modified nucleic acid analogues
Chalcogen-modified nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides have been of great interest to scientific research for many years. The replacement of oxygen in the nucleobase, sugar or phosphate backbone by chalcogen atoms (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) gives these biomolecules unique properties resulting from their altered physical and chemical properties. The continuing interest in ...read more
Current advances in inherited cardiomyopathy
Describe in detail all novel advances in multimodality imaging related to inherited cardiomyopathy diagnosis and prognosis. Shed light to deeper phenotypic characterization. Acknowledge recent advances in genetics, genomics and precision medicineread more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2: A Doorway for SARS-CoV-2
Coronaviruses Effect of Hypoxia on Cytochrome P450 Activity and Expression
Current Drug Metabolism Neurocysticercosis: The Enigmatic Disease
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in Children
Current Pediatric Reviews Defective Insulin Signalling, Mediated by Inflammation, Connects Obesity to Alzheimer Disease; Relevant Pharmacological Therapies and Preventive Dietary Interventions
Current Alzheimer Research Fermented Foods: Patented Approaches and Formulations for Nutritional Supplementation and Health Promotion
Recent Patents on Food, Nutrition & Agriculture Nitric Oxide-Derived Oxidants with a Focus on Peroxynitrite: Molecular Targets,Cellular Responses and Therapeutic Implications
Current Pharmaceutical Design Hemostatic Factors and the Metabolic Syndrome
Current Vascular Pharmacology Role of Synovial Fibroblasts in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Current Pharmaceutical Design Using Extracellular Matrix-Derived Peptides to Alter the Microenvironment for Myocardial Repair
Current Vascular Pharmacology Editorial [Hot topic: Selected New Developments in Oncology (Guest Editors: Jos H. Beijnen and Jan H.M. Schellens)]
Current Clinical Pharmacology Toxicities by Herbal Medicines with Emphasis to Traditional Chinese Medicine
Current Drug Metabolism Pathophysiology of Atherosclerotic Plaque Development
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Mechanisms of Neutrophil-mediated Disease: Innovative Therapeutic Interventions
Current Pharmaceutical Design Activation of the Liver X Receptor Inhibits Th17 and Th1 Responses in Behcet`s Disease and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease
Current Molecular Medicine Extracellular Vesicles as Drug Delivery Vehicles for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Myocardial Infarction in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – the Sex-Specific Risk Profile
Current Pharmaceutical Design Potential New Targets for Antithrombotic Therapy
Current Pharmaceutical Design Nanoemulsion: A Novel Eon in Cancer Chemotherapy
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Targets for Medical Therapy to Limit Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Progression
Current Drug Targets