RECENT RESEARCH
Sethi SS, Bhardwaj T, Sethi SK, Kaur S, Rimpi, Baldi A. Advancing herbal medicine safety: the need for a global pharmacovigilance approach. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2025 May 8. doi: 10.1007 / s00210- 025-04066-2. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40338319.
Herbal and traditional medicines( H & TMs) form a significant part of healthcare practices worldwide, often perceived as safe alternatives to conventional treatments. However, this perception has led to challenges in ensuring the safety and efficacy of these products, highlighting the critical importance of pharmacovigilance for herbal medicines. Over the past two decades, concerted efforts have been made globally to establish robust regulatory frameworks, leading to the emergence of phytovigilance systems. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the pharmacovigilance mechanisms in various countries, emphasizing recent developments, persistent challenges, and international perspectives in the field. The study underscores the need for systematic monitoring of adverse events( AEs) associated with herbal medicines to safeguard patient health. A key focus is placed on comparing the processes and mechanisms employed by different nations in building up safety monitoring systems, identifying gaps in knowledge and practices, and evaluating stakeholder awareness and involvement. The findings highlight the necessity of harmonizing global regulations under the guidance of the World Health Organization( WHO) to ensure uniformity and efficacy in reporting systems. This article advocates for a collaborative international approach, inclusive of all regulatory agencies, to enhance the safety of herbal therapies. By proposing comprehensive, standardized guidelines, it aims to bridge existing gaps and strengthen the pharmacovigilance infrastructure for herbal medicines globally, paving the way for improved patient safety and trust in traditional medical practices.
Piras A, Porcedda S, Smeriglio A, Trombetta D, Piras F, Sogos V, Rosa A. Chemical
Composition and Bioactivity of Extracts Obtained from Prunus spinosa Seeds by Supercritical CO2 Extraction. Molecules. 2025 Apr 14; 30( 8): 1757. doi: 10.3390 / molecules30081757. PMID: 40338265.
This study investigates the potential reuse of Prunus spinosa( blackthorn) seeds, a food industry by-product. Traditionally discarded, these seeds are now being explored for their bioactive compounds. In this work, seeds were used as raw material for supercritical CO2 extraction. Two distinct extracts were obtained at low and high pressure( SFE90 and SFE200) and both extracts presented an aqueous phase( WE90 and WE200). SFE90 analysis by GC / MS allowed us to identify benzaldehyde and fatty acids( mainly oleic and linoleic acids). The fatty acid profile of SFE200, determined by HPLC-DAD / ELSD, showed that oleic and linoleic acids were predominant in supercritical oil. The phytochemical composition of the water extracts, analyzed via LC- DAD-ESI-MS, revealed that higher pressure enhanced the recovery of specific flavonols and anthocyanins, while lower pressure preserved various polyphenolic subclasses. WE90 was rich in 3-feruloylquinic acid and cyanidin-3- O-rutinoside, whereas WE200 was rich in caffeic acid hexoside 2 and dihydro-ocoumaric acid glucoside. Benzaldehyde was individuated in WE90 and WE200 by HPLC-DAD analysis. Cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that WE90, WE200 and SFE200 had anticancer effects on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, while all extracts did not remarkably affect the viability and morphology of human skin keratinocytes( HaCaT cells). These results suggest that P. spinosa seed extracts have potential nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.
Homeopathy
Liekefett L, Becker JC. Can homeopathy cure all diseases? Subgroups of homeopathy users based on beliefs about whether and how homeopathy should be used to treat serious conditions. Public Underst Sci. 2025 May 8:9636625251332524. doi: 10.1177 / 09636625251332524. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40338045.
Can homeopathy cure all diseases? Depending on whom you ask, answers to this question might be very different. This research investigates what homeopathy users believe about( a) whether and how homeopathy should be used to treat serious conditions like cancer, and( b) science and the relevance of scientific evidence regarding homeopathy. Using latent profile analysis( N = 225), we identify subgroups of homeopathy users that differ in their normative beliefs about the use of homeopathy in serious conditions: supporters of standalone use of homeopathy in serious conditions(~ 9 %), those who are open toward standalone use(~ 43 %), supporters of supplementary use(~ 35 %), and supporters of both supplementary use and nonuse in serious conditions(~ 13 %). Subgroups that supported or were open toward the standalone use of homeopathy in serious conditions held the most negative attitudes toward science. These findings are relevant for interventions aiming to prevent the risks associated with homeopathy use.
Aphale P, Shekhar H, Dokania S. Unveiling the Potential of Cell Line Models in Homeopathic Research: A Review. Altern Ther Health Med. 2025 Apr 30: AT11422. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40293848.
Background: Cell line models are indispensable in modern biomedical research, investigating cell functions and disease mechanisms. Recent studies have explored the impact of homeopathic treatments on cell lines, providing insights into their effects on differentiation, biomarker release, cytotoxicity, proliferation, and inhibition. Integrating homeopathy and cell studies enhances evidencebased practices, deepens mechanism understanding, and boosts treatment credibility and applicability.
Objective: To evaluate the interaction between homeopathic medicines and cell line models, and explore potential applications and implications for evidence-based homeopathic research.
108 | vol31 | no2 | JATMS