STUDENT RESEARCH
One study concluded that ginger did significantly reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients suffering from leukemia .
Research and Review
Sheng Jiang Sheng Jiang is commonly used and highly regarded for its anti-nausea and antiemesis medicinal properties .( 4 ) However , there is conflicting evidence for its use during chemotherapy . To ascertain the prospective use of Sheng Jiang as a treatment or prophylactic measure for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting , one review analysed observations and variability of the anti-emetics of Sheng Jiang in reaction to the anti-emetic properties of ginger in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting .( 5 )
One study concluded that ginger did significantly reduce chemotherapyinduced nausea and vomiting in patients suffering from leukemia .( 6 ) The patients were randomised and received either Sheng Jiang or placebo orally , as well as prochlorperazine ( a pharmacological drug used to treat nausea ). The result was that , when compared to placebo , nausea was significantly reduced in those receiving daily doses of 0.5g-1.0g of ginger for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in adult cancer patients .( 6 ) Later studies have supported Sheng Jiang ’ s use as an anti-emetic in cancer sufferers receiving chemotherapy .( 7-9 )
Contradictory results have also been reported . One study assessed Sheng Jiang ’ s efficacy in preventing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting by conducting a randomised , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial in 162 patients ingesting either 1.0 g ginger , 2.0 g ginger daily , or matching placebo for three consecutive days .( 10 ) The authors found no benefits in Sheng Jiang at either dosage in decreasing the instance or intensity of either acute or delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting compared to placebo .( 10 )
Sheng Jiang may also modify pain via a number of mechanisms , including inhibiting prostaglandins via the COX and LOX‐pathways , antioxidant movement , inhibition of factor nf – kB transcription , or as an enhancer of vanilloid nociceptors .( 11 ) One review looked at randomised controlled trials ( RCTs ) published in the previous 10 years , where Sheng jiang was mainly used to reduce pain in conditions like osteoarthritis ( OA ).( 11 ) This review included clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of oral ginger in combination with other botanicals ( powder supplementation of 1 g / day ) for OA of the knee .( 11 ) Of these studies , only one supported its efficacy when treating OA-associated pain .( 12,13 ) Other studies failed to find any notable pain reduction .( 13 )
Huang Lian Recent studies suggest Huang Lian has anti-atherosclerotic , lipidreducing , anti-obesity , and anti-hepatic steatosis outcomes . Recent knowledge recognises the primary bioactive compounds responsible for Huang Lian ’ s bioactive properties as berberine , jatorrhizine , palmatine , epiberberine , coptisine and magnoflorine .( 14 ) Many studies have supported the cardiovascular-protecting effects of berberine .( 14-16 ) A 2016 study involved male rats that were treated with 200 mg · kg per day of berberine over two weeks , and then underwent MI / R surgery . Cardiac dimensions and function were analysed using echocardiography , and myocardial infarct extent and apoptosis .( 16 ) The results showed that pre-treatment with berberine notably decreased MI / R-induced myocardial infarct extents , enhanced cardiac function , and repressed myocardial apoptosis and oxidative damage .( 16 ) This study was performed to better understand the basic mechanisms of berberine ’ s cardio-protective properties . Excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress ( ER ) contributes to numerous pathological conditions , such as ischemia /
92 | vol28 | no2 | JATMS