Magnolia Extract, Magnolol, and Metabolites: Activation of Cannabinoid CB2 Receptors and Blockade of the Related GPR55.

The bark of Magnolia officinalis is used in Asian traditional medicine for the treatment of anxiety, sleeping disorders, and allergic diseases. We found that the extract and its main bioactive constituents, magnolol and honokiol, can activate cannabinoid (CB) receptors. In cAMP accumulation studies, magnolol behaved as a partial agonist (EC50 = 3.

Interactions of Magnolia and Ziziphus extracts with selected central nervous system receptors.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Magnolia officinalis Rehder and Wilson [Magnoliaceae] bark and Ziziphus spinosa (Buhge) Hu ex. Chen. [Fam.

Modulation of postsynaptic potentials in rat cortical neurons by valerian extracts macerated with different alcohols: involvement of adenosine A(1)- and GABA(A)-receptors.

Valeriana officinalis (valerian) is used traditionally as a mild sedative. Research into valerian is sparse, and studies differ greatly with respect to design, measures and preparations used. This study compares the action of a methanol (M-E), ethanol (E-E) and an extract macerated with ethylacetate (EA-E) from roots of valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.

A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, prospective clinical study to demonstrate clinical efficacy of a fixed valerian hops extract combination (Ze 91019) in patients suffering from non-organic sleep disorder.

Valerian and hops are traditionally used as sleep aids. Since the fixed extract combination (Ze 91019) as a whole is considered the active compound, the clinical efficacy must be demonstrated for this extract combination. The present clinical study aimed to demonstrate superiority of the fixed extract combination in comparison with placebo in patients suffering from non-organic insomnia (ICD 10, F 51.

Hypothermic effects of hops are antagonized with the competitive melatonin receptor antagonist luzindole in mice.

Hops (Humulus lupulus, Cannabinaceae) has been used in traditional European medicine as a mild sedative for the treatment of anxiety, nervousness, and insomnia. However, there has been little information available about the underlying sleep inducing mechanism of hops. We have investigated the effects of a hops extract on the rectal body temperature in mice.

Central action of a fixed Valerian-hops extract combination (Ze 91019) in freely moving rats.

Due to the electrochemical nature of the communication structure of the brain an intimate relationship between neurotransmitter activity on one side and field potentials (EEG) on the other side have been reported. From this it can be assumed that the electrical activity reflects the net effect of drug action. The influence of increasing doses of Ze 91019 on field potentials in chronically instrumented, freely moving rats was registered for 4 hours in order to test its action on the central nervous system.

Efficacy and safety of butterbur herbal extract Ze 339 in seasonal allergic rhinitis: postmarketing surveillance study.

The efficacy and safety of the butterbur leaf extract Ze 339 (carbon dioxide extract from the leaves of Petasites hybridus L., 8 mg petasines per tablet) were tested in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. In an open postmarketing surveillance study, 580 patients were treated with an average of 2 tablets of Ze 339 daily for 2 weeks.

Valerian extract Ze 911 inhibits postsynaptic potentials by activation of adenosine A1 receptors in rat cortical neurons.

In this study we evaluated the adenosine A1 receptor-mediated effect of valerian extract (Ze 911) on postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) in pyramidal cells of the rat cingulate cortex in a slice preparation. We first observed that N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA, 0.01 - 10 microM), an adenosine A1 receptor agonist, inhibited PSPs in a concentration-dependent manner.

Valerian-hops combination and diphenhydramine for treating insomnia: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Context: Insomnia is a prevalent health complaint associated with daytime impairments, reduced quality of life, and increased health-care costs. Although it is often self-treated with herbal and dietary supplements or with over-the-counter sleep aids, there is still little evidence on the efficacy and safety of those products.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a valerian-hops combination and diphenhydramine for the treatment of mild insomnia.

In vitro binding experiments with a Valerian, hops and their fixed combination extract (Ze91019) to selected central nervous system receptors.

The fixed valerian-hops extract combination Ze91019 is used as a sleep aid. Although its exact mechanism of action is not well understood, earlier studies indicate that the CNS effect of valerian might occur through interaction with the GABA, melatonin and/or the adenosine systems in the brain. The use of hops in sleep remedies, however, is mainly based on traditional use and scarce scientific information.

The fixed combination of valerian and hops (Ze91019) acts via a central adenosine mechanism.

The aim of the study was to demonstrate competition between caffeine and a fixed valerian/hop extract combination (Ze91019) by the central adenosine mechanism. EEG was used to describe the action of caffeine on the central nervous system after oral administration (200 mg) in healthy volunteers. In addition to caffeine, the volunteers (16 in each group) received either placebo or verum (2 and 6 tablets containing the valerian/hop extract).

A stability-indicating HPLC method for the determination of glucosamine in pharmaceutical formulations.

A stability-indicating high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the assay of glucosamine in bulk forms and solid dosage formulations. The HPLC separation was achieved on a Phenomenex Luna amino column (150 mm x 4.6 mm, i.

Structural identification of nonvolatile dimerization products of glucosamine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis.

The degradation profile of glucosamine bulk form stressed at 100 degrees C for 2 h in an aqueous solution was studied. Column chromatography of acetylated product mixture led to isolation of two pure compounds (1b and 2b) and a mixture of at least three isomers (3b). 1a and 2a were identified as 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furaldehyde (5-HMF) and 2-(tetrahydroxybutyl)-5-(3',4'-dihydroxy-1'-trans-butenyl)pyrazine, respectively, by utilizing a variety of analytical techniques, such as GC-MS, LC-MS, on-line UV spectrum, (1)H and (13)C NMR, and DEPT, as well as (1)H-(1)H COSY.

Interactions of valerian extracts and a fixed valerian-hop extract combination with adenosine receptors.

Phytopharmaceuticals and dietary supplements containing valerian are used as mild sleep-inducing agents. An in vitro radioligand binding assay at A(1) and A(2A) adenosine receptors (ARs) was conducted with a fixed extract combination of valerian and hop (Ze 91019) to investigate a possible mechanism for the pharmacological activity of the extract. Component extracts of valerian and hop were also individually investigated.