Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) is a plant has been cultivated because of its medicinal properties and currently the plant is exported to many countries around the world. Introduced to Europe in the 1900s, the dried root was used to increase appetite, alleviate heartburn, and lessen inflammation. Over the years, the potential medicinal purposes of the plant have increased and it widely used across Euorpe. Devil’s claw also gained notoriety because of its ability to help liver and kidney problems as well as other health related illnesses. However, recently the German equivalent to the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved devil’s claw for additional medicinal purposes. However, research regarding the medicinal …show more content…
Additionally, the harvest period for devil’s claw is dependent upon the dry and rain seasons in each country. Some studies suggest that is best harvest devil’s claw during the raining season.1 The plant is a perennial that extend up to eighteen inches long and grow along the ground with the taproot growing about two meters deep. The plant contains green leaves that contain three to five lobes. The flower possesses a trumpet shape and may be pink, red, or purple with a white center. The fruit is a woody material that contains a spikey covering.2 Devil 's claw is odorless, but it contains substances that make it taste bitter. The active ingredients that are responsible for the medicinal properties are the chemicals harpagoside, harpagide and procumbide found in the tubers of the plant. All extracts of the plant are not equally effective and the whole-plant extracts appear to have the most medicinal properties.2 Devil 's claw has been used for thousands of years in Africa for fever, rheumatoid arthritis, skin conditions, and conditions involving the gallbladder, pancreas, stomach and kidneys. When it was introduced to Europe in the 1900 's, was used to improve digestion. Devils’s claw is appealing because it has minimal side effects.3 Specifically, individuals with ulcers and heartburn are discouraged to
Despite the widespread popularity amongst First Nations people, however, and while “at least some of the traditional remedies involving devil’s-club may have a sound biochemical basis (Turner, 1982, p. 17)”, it hasn’t been widely used at this stage in the modern commercial market. There is ongoing research to determine its potential benefit for commercial pharmacological use, and there is some concern for what the implications of this could be for this slow-growing, sensitive shrub.
Herbal medicine is the use of natural plant substances to treat and prevent illness. Throughout America herbalism is not deemed “scientific” by most regulations but herbalists and few medical professionals argue that with the right knowledge of the use and effects of using herbal remedies could possibly be safer to use and deemed supplementary beneficial. It is time to delve deeper into the process of herbal medicines and more specific details on the healing processes. There is no denying that the evolution of medicine has come a long way through the use of science and manufacturing, but where did it all begin?
There are many herbal treatments available to patients, but few have been used longer than sambucas nigra, otherwise known as elder berry. Well known for its analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, laxative immune boosting qualities, elder berry has been used for multiple health alterations (Ulbricht, Basch, Cheung, Goldberg, Hammerness, Isaac, &...Wortley, 2014). In this paper the background, pharmacology, contraindications, current research and recommendations for use regarding elder berries will be discussed. Elder berries are a versatile fruit that has multiple applications in the healthcare field, warranting an increased role in patient care.
Lawrence, A. T. (2008). Business and Society. In B. Gordon (Ed.), Ventria Bioscience and the Controversy over Plant-Made Medicines (Vol. Thirteenth Edition, p. 500). New York, NY: MMcGraw-Hill Irwin.
Dasyatidae rays are relatively small and have a variety of patterns on their bodies ranging from bright blue spots to small white specks. Dasyatidae rays have eyes on the top of their heads and are equipped with keener eyesight than rays of the Myliobatidae family. Dasyatidae rays have stingers and barbs as a defense mechanism, while Myliobatidae do not. Sting rays are distinct in their morphology as they have a thick, spiny tail protruding from them that is often the same size as their body. M.mobular are relatively uniform in color and pattern distribution, with a dark grey-blue top and a stark white underside to protect them from predators. They lack the coloration, patterns, and variety of sting rays. While size has always been a constant factor in devil rays, the barbed, stinging tail is one morphological trait that drastically separates devil rays from sting rays. Sting rays can shed their stingers and replace their dermal coating faster than manta rays, which places sting rays closer to bony
Natural products used to treat many diseases for a long time. Natural products derived from many sources such as fungus like Piptoporus betulinus, which is used as an antiseptic and disinfectant and plants like Alhagi maurorum, which is used to treat anorexia, constipation, dermatosis, epistaxis, fever, leprosy, and obesity. (1) In this research, we will focus on one natural product derived from a plant called Serenoa repens. Serenoa repens also called Saw palmetto, is a plant grows up to 1m in width and 3m in height. Each part of it has different uses, for example, its leaves are used to make thatching, baskets, fans, brushes, brooms, rope, fire kindling, fish traps and dolls and its berries are used as food and as medicine. There are many
Cat’s claw also known as Uña de Gato is a woody like vine native to the Amazon rain forest. It’s name originated from the look of the plant as its thorns resemble cat’s claws. In peru, it was considered the life-giving vine. It was used to treat numerous health conditions including inflammation, viral infections, cancer and to stimulate the immune system. It was also commonly used for contraception. Presently, the dietary supplement is used in respect with Alzhemer’s disease, cancer, arthritis, peptic ulcers, parasites, herorrhoids and leaky bowel syndrome. Two of the most common species of the supplement consist of U. tomentosa and U, guianesis. U. guinasesis is more commonly used in Europe, whereas U. tomentosa has become widely popular in
Drug induced liver injury is responsible for 5% of all hospital admissions and 50% of all acute liver failures. More than 75 percent of cases of idiosyncratic drug reactions result in liver transplantation or death.[30] This health problem is expected to increase as the number of drugs being consumed increases, both prescription and non-prescription, as well as due to the current trend of usage of pharmacologically active substances in complementary and alternative medicine Drug induced hepatotoxicity is the most common reason cited for withdrawal of already approved drugs from the market. It also accounts for more than 50 percent of cases of acute liver failure in the United States. The exact incidence of drug induced liver injury is difficult
The use of natural products as medicine has initiated the isolation of active compounds. The first commercial pure natural product introduced for therapeutic use is generally considered to be
Hops are most commonly associated with beer, however, hops have a long history of different uses in the field of herbal medicines and botanical treatment. With the different uses of hop extracts such as, xanthohumol, isoxanthohumol and 8-Prenylnaringenin, could hops pose as a new botanical treatment option for many medical issues and diseases?
It has been proven to aid in reversing a multitude of chronic illnesses, including cancer. Cat's claw can also shrink cancerous tumors like butcher's broom, but it works best on those located on the skin. It helps to boost the immune system and reduce the harsh side effects that occur from receiving chemotherapy too, so many herbalists use it for HIV infections, Lyme disease, and systemic infections.
In today’s time, it is not uncommon to see strange looking animals whether it be in a normal front yard or the plains of Africa. Sometimes it is interesting to study these very different animalists and this is by far one of the weirdest ones. The thorny devil lizard is one of the world's strangest lizards that is not like the common green lizard. The Thorny Lizard is a unique animal that belongs in the kingdom Animalia. It is apart of the phylum Chordata and the class reptilia, which contains snakes, turtles, and other lizards. It is also a part of the order Squamata and the family Agamidae and finally, its genus is Moloch. These lizards are not going to be found in a grassy backyard or on a fence but rather somewhere much more secluded and very hot.
3. The Clonorchis Sinensis looks like the shape of a willow leaf, oval shape with pointed top and bottom. To describe the way it looks, Compare it to a slug. It has similar shape and look. The males and females look the same as well.
“Traditional pharmacologic therapies although widely used must be assessed for a favorable risk-benefit ratio. One such plant that has
Evolution is the process of adaptation through mutation, which allows more desirable characteristics to be passed to the next generation. “Over time, organisms evolve more characteristics that are beneficial to their survival. For living organisms to adapt and change to environmental pressures, genetic variation must be present” (Hutchens et al., 2015). Dionaea muscipula also known, as the Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant that ancestry has not been discovered and remain unknown based on research completed by Bayer et al. Carnivorous plant have emerged from 6 different ancestry, predominantly arthropods (Hutchens et al., 1996). These plants are autotrophs but obtain nutrients from insects. Many may believe that because the plant is obtaining