Day :
- Session Introduction
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Session Introduction
Chioma Jovita Nwakamma
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Nigeria
Title: Ethnomedical findings on botanicals frequently used for children’s health in South Eastern Nigeria
Biography:
Chioma Jovita Nwakamma is a graduate of Plant Science and Biotechnology from Imo State University Owerri, and a Post-graduate student of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria. Her research interest includes medicinal plants and ethno botany, drug discovery, plant conservation, biotechnology, plant taxonomy and biosystematics. She currently teaches Agriculture and Biological Sciences in one of the high schools in Nigeria.
Abstract:
This research surveys and documents information on medicinal plants and their botanical preparations used in the treatment of children’s ailments in South-eastern Nigeria. Children under the age of 5 in developing countries suffer from diseases with high morbidity and mortality rate yearly due to inaccessible and unaffordable health care. Structured questionnaires were administered to the herbal sellers, traditional medicine practitioners, nursing mothers and adult dwellers to collect data on the names of plants used to treat the conditions, methods of preparation, duration of treatment, adverse effects and the methods of administration of the plant materials. A total of 135 plants belonging to 55 families were identified for the management of children’s health in the area. Common paediatric ailments which were said to be treated with herbal remedies by the respondents included malaria, pneumonia, stomach ache, diarrhoea, dysentery, measles, chicken pox/small pox, convulsion, jaundice, pile, ringworm, scabies, eczema, stubborn cough, scurvy, catarrh, wounds, boils, insect bites, food poison, cholera, and umbilical cord complications. Percentages of respondent were; herbal sellers were (48.2%) traditional medical practitioners (21.6%), nursing mothers (11.1%) and others (19.1%). The most occurring plant families were Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae and Apocynaceae with 8 species of plants each, followed by Annonaceae and Asteriaceae with 7 and 6 species respectively. The recipes were made from the combination of different parts of two or more plants species, and others were made from single plant parts. Methods of extraction were mostly decoction, raw squeezing out of the juice and infusion, while oral administration was the main route of administration.
Do Yu Soung
CJ CheilJedang, Republic of Korea
Title: Black ginseng (CJ EnerG) exhibits a higher survival rate than red ginseng against lethal influenza A virus infection
Biography:
Abstract:
Black ginseng (BG, CJ EnerG), prepared via nine repeated cycles of steaming and drying of fresh ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), contains more accessible acid polysaccharides and smaller and less polar ginsenosides than red ginseng (RG) processed once. Because RG reportedly exhibits host protection against viral infection, we investigated the antiviral effects of BG. Mice were orally administered either BG or RG (10 mg/kg body weight daily) for two weeks followed by infection with the A (H1N1) pdm09 (A/California/04/2009) virus. Mice were fed either BG or RG for one more week. We also included the negative control without treatment and the positive control given Tamiflu. Infected mice were monitored for 14 days to determine the survival rate. Lung tissues were evaluated using virus titer and histological analyses. Cytokine levels were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Mice treated with BG displayed a 100% survival rate against infection while mice treated with RG had a 50% survival rate. Further, BG induced fewer accumulated inflammatory cells in bronchioles than RG. BG also significantly enhanced the levels of GM-CSF and IL-10 during the early and late stages of infection, respectively compared to RG. Thus, BG (CJ EnerG) may be useful as an alternative antiviral adjuvant to modulate immune responses to Influenza A virus.
Atul Kabra
Raffles University, India
Title: Ameliorative effect of quercetin on sodium azide induced Alzheimer’s disease in rats: possible involvement of PPAR-γ agonistic property
Time : 10:45-11:15
Biography:
Dr. Atul Kabra has completed his PhD at the age of 30 years from I.K.G. Punjab Technical University and currently working as Associate Professor at School of Pharmacy, Raffles University, Alwar, Rajasthan, India. He has published more than 25 papers in reputed journals, 5 Book, 4 Chapters in Book and has been serving as an editorial board member of repute journal.
Abstract:
This study investigates the protective role of Quercetin in Sodium azide induced Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, the role of PPAR-γ in Quercetin mediated protection has been explored. Donepezil served as the positive control in the study. Rat administered i.p. injection of SAZ. The morris water maze (MWM) test was employed for assessment of learning and memory. Various biochemical estimations, namely brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, Thiobatbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) activity, nitrite/nitrate activity, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were also performed. The study showed that i.p. SAZ significantly impaired learning and memory of the animals along with a significant enhancement in brain AChE, MPO, TBARS, nitrite/nitrate levels and reduction in brain GSH levels. Treatments of Quercetin/ Donepezil significantly attenuated SAZ induced behavioral and biochemical changes. Pre- treatment with bisphenol-A-diglycidyl ether (BADGE), a selective PPAR-γ antagnost, significantly abolished the beneficial effect of Quercetin in i.p. SAZ treated animals. The results of this investigation document a potential role of PPAR-γ in the beneficial effects of Quercetin in i.p. SAZ Alzheimer’s disease.
- Plenary Talks
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Session Introduction
Amanda Santa Maria
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, USA
Title: Prevalence of integrative/alternative medication use among primary care patients
Biography:
Amanda Santa Maria has completed her MD at the age of 27 years from St. George’s University and is currently completing her final year of Family Medicine Residency at University of Texas Southwestern were she will be graduating with a distinction in both Global Health and Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She is also a registered yoga teacher and reiki practitioner and plans to pursue fellowship in Global Health.
Abstract:
Introduction: Integrative medicine provides a patient-centered approach to improving and enhancing the therapeutic methods of treating primary care problems. Often, many patients are utilizing such alternative methods due to their own cultural beliefs and backgrounds.
Objective: This study is to determine the prevalence of integrative/alternative medicine amongst our primary care patients and whether any associations are present between specific regions or cultures as well as educational level.
Human Subjects Review: IRB approved as an exempt study
Design: Cross Sectional Survey
Setting: Ambulatory primary care practice. Eligibility criteria 18 years and older. Inclusion criteria includes ability to read and write English and Spanish. Exclusion criteria patients under the age of 18 and patients without capacity to consent will be excluded from survey. Numbers of participants: 500
Anticipated Results: Anticipate that patients are utilizing integrative medicine practices and are willing to include these practices in their formal treatment plans in the future. Anticipate that there are associations between engagement in alternative/integrative practices and patient ethnicity/nationality as well as educational level.
Conclusions: This study is in progress. The knowledge gained from the study will be used to educate physicians to support culturally-informed patient care. We will also the information from this study to devise patient education materials and develop integrative therapeutic plans.