€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****ACTA DIABETOLOGICA LATINA***** Swanston-Flatt SK Day C Bailey CJ Flatt PR Evaluation of traditional plant treatments for diabetes: studies in streptozotocin diabetic mice. In: Acta Diabetol Lat (1989 Jan-Mar) 26(1):51-5 ISSN: 0001-5563 Seven plants and a herbal mixture used for traditional treatment of diabetes were studied in streptozotocin diabetic mice. The treatments were supplied as 6.25% by weight of the diet for 9 days. Consumption of diets containing bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), golden seal (Hydrastis canadensis), mistletoe (Viscum album) and tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) significantly reduced the hyperphagia and polydipsia associated with streptozotocin diabetes, but bayberry (Cinnamomum tamala), meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), senna (Cassia occidentalis) and the herbal mixture did not alter these parameters. Bearberry, mistletoe and tarragon retarded the body weight loss but none of the eight treatments significantly altered plasma glucose or insulin concentrations. These studies suggest that bearberry, golden seal, mistletoe and tarragon may counter some of the symptoms of streptozotocin diabetes without, however, affecting glycemic control. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****BIOLOGICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN***** Matsuda H Higashino M Nakai Y Iinuma M Kubo M Lang FA Studies of cuticle drugs from natural sources. IV. Inhibitory effects of some Arctostaphylos plants on melanin biosynthesis. In: Biol Pharm Bull (1996 Jan) 19(1):153-6 ISSN: 0918-6158 The inhibitory effect of 50% ethanol extracts obtained from the leaves of six Arctostaphylos plants (A. patula, A. viscida, A. canescens, A. columbiana, A. nevadensis and A. uva-ursi) (Ericaceae) was tested on melanin biosynthesis. Among them, the extracts of A. patula and A. viscida showed potent inhibition against tyrosinase. The two extracts not only inhibited the production of melanin from dopachrome by autoxidation, but exhibited SOD (superoxide dismutase)- like activity and had a moderate absorbance in the UV-B area. These results suggest that the leaves of Arctostaphylos plants, especially A. patula and A. viscida can be applied to a whitening agent for the skin. Registry Numbers: EC 1.14.18.1 (Monophenol Monooxygenase) EC 1.15.1.1 (Superoxide Dismutase) 3571-34-4 (dopachrome) 497-76-7 (Arbutin) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****INTERNATIONAL UROLOGY AND NEPHROLOGY***** Grases F Melero G Costa-Bauza A Prieto R March JG Urolithiasis and phytotherapy. In: Int Urol Nephrol (1994) 26(5):507-11 ISSN: 0301-1623 The effects of seven plants with suspected application to prevent and treat stone kidney formation (Verbena officinalis, Lithospermum officinale, Taraxacum officinale, Equisetum arvense, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Arctium lappa and Silene saxifraga) have been studied using female Wistar rats. Variations of the main urolithiasis risk factors (citraturia, calciuria, phosphaturia, pH and diuresis) have been evaluated. It can be concluded that beneficial effects caused by these herb infusions on urolithiasis can be attributed to some disinfectant action, and tentatively to the presence of saponins. Specifically, some solvent action can be postulated with respect to uric stones or heterogeneous uric nucleus, due to the basifying capacity of some herb infusions. Nevertheless, for all the mentioned beneficial effects, more effective and equally innocuous substances are well known. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY***** Ritch-Krc EM Thomas S Turner NJ Towers GH Carrier herbal medicine: traditional and contemporary plant use. In: J Ethnopharmacol (1996 Jun) 52(2):85-94 ISSN: 0378-8741 The Carrier, an Athapaskan-speaking people of northcentral British Columbia, occupy the sub-boreal spruce forests of the central interior. This report, which is based on field study, documents some traditional and contemporary knowledge of the medicinal use of plants by the Carrier people. Important medicinal plants include: Abies lasiocarpa, Alnus incana, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Artemisia frigida, Fragaria virginiana, Juniperus communis, Picea glauca, Pinus contorta, Populus tremuloides, Rubus idaeus and Shepherdia canadensis. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****YAKUGAKU ZASSHI. JOURNAL OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN***** Matsuda H Tanaka T Kubo M [Pharmacological studies on leaf of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. III. Combined effect of arbutin and indomethacin on immuno- inflammation] In: Yakugaku Zasshi (1991 Apr-May) 111(4-5):253-8 ISSN: 0031-6903 (Published in Japanese) A study was carried out to examine the combined effect of arbutin isolated from the leaves of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. (Bearberry leaf) and indomethacin on Type IV allergic reaction- induced immuno-inflammation, carrageenin-induced edema and adjuvant- induced arthritis. Contact dermatitis caused by picryl chloride (PC- CD) and sheep red cell delayed type hypersensitivity (SRBC-DTH) was not inhibited by the oral application of arbutin at 2 divided doses immediately before and 16 h after the application, but arbutin at dose of 50 mg/kg 24 h after the application rapidly decreased the swelling of PC-CD. Arbutin (p.o.) plus indomethacin (s.c.) showed inhibitory effect on the swelling of PC-CD and SRBC-DTH stronger than that of indomethacin alone. When arbutin (p.o.) and indomethacin (s.c.) in a given portion were simultaneously administered, the inhibitory effect was more potent than that of indomethacin alone in both carrageenin-induced edema and adjuvant-induced arthritis. These results suggest that arbutin may increase the inhibitory action of indomethacin on PC-CD, SRBC-DTH, carrageenin-induced edema and adjuvant-induced arthritis, but further investigations are required to understand the mechanism involved. Registry Numbers: 497-76-7 (Arbutin) 53-86-1 (Indomethacin) 88-88-0 (Picryl Chloride) 9000-07-1 (Carrageenan) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Matsuda H Nakata H Tanaka T Kubo M [Pharmacological study on Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. II. Combined effects of arbutin and prednisolone or dexamethazone on immuno-inflammation] In: Yakugaku Zasshi (1990 Jan) 110(1):68-76 ISSN: 0031-6903 (Published in Japanese) A study was carried out to examine the combined effect of arbutin isolated from the leaves of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. (Bearberry leaf) and prednisolone or dexamethazone on Type IV allergic reaction-induced immuno-inflammation. Contact dermatitis caused by picryl chloride (PC-CD) and sheep red cell delayed type hypersensitivity (SRBC-DTH) in mice was not inhibited by the oral application of arbutin at 2 divided doses immediately before and 16 h after the application, but arbutin at doses of 10, 50 mg/kg 24 h after the application speedily decreased the swelling of PC-CD and SRBC-DTH. Arbutin plus prednisolone or dexamethazone showed the inhibitory effect on the swelling of PC-CD and SRBC-DTH stronger than that of prednisolone or dexamethazone alone. Prednisolone and dexamethazone decreased the weight of thymus and spleen in intact, PC- CD and SRBC-DTH mice, but arbutin did not show these effects. These results suggest that arbutin may increase the inhibitory action of prednisolone and dexamethazone on PC-CD and SRBC-DTH, but further investigations are required to understand the mechanism involved. Registry Numbers: 497-76-7 (Arbutin) 50-02-2 (Dexamethasone) 50-24-8 (Prednisolone) 88-88-0 (Picryl Chloride) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Matsuda H Nakamura S Tanaka T Kubo M [Pharmacological studies on leaf of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. V. Effect of water extract from Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. (bearberry leaf) on the antiallergic and antiinflammatory activities of dexamethasone ointment] In: Yakugaku Zasshi (1992 Sep) 112(9):673-7 ISSN: 0031-6903 (Published in Japanese) Effects of water extract (UW-ext) from the leaf of Arctostaphylos uva- ursi (L.) Spreng (Bearberry leaf) on the antiallergic and antiinflammatory activities of dexamethasone ointment were investigated. One or 2% UW-ext ointment did not inhibit the ear swelling by picryl chloride-induced contact dermatitis (PC-CD) and carrageenin-induced paw edema. UW-ext augmented the inhibitory effect of dexamethasone ointment (0.005 or 0.025%) on these allergic and inflammatory models, but not the side effect of it. These results suggest that Bearberry leaf increases the inhibitory effect of dexamethasone on the allergic and inflammatory models. Registry Numbers: 50-02-2 (Dexamethasone) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Matsuda H Nakamura S Shiomoto H Tanaka T Kubo M [Pharmacological studies on leaf of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. IV. Effect of 50% methanolic extract from Arctostaphylos uva- ursi (L.) Spreng. (bearberry leaf) on melanin synthesis] In: Yakugaku Zasshi (1992 Apr) 112(4):276-82 ISSN: 0031-6903 (Published in Japanese) Effects of 50% methanolic extract (U-ext) from the leaf of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. (bearberry leaf) on melanin synthesis were investigated in vitro. The U-ext and arbutin isolated from the bearberry leaf had an inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity. Furthermore, the U-ext inhibited the production of melanin from dopa by tyrosinase and from dopachrome by autoxidation. These results suggest that the bearberry leaf was found to be an effective inhibitor of the production of melanin. Registry Numbers: 67-56-1 (Alcohol, Methyl) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€