€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE***** Hart O Mullee MA Lewith G Miller J Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial of homoeopathic arnica C30 for pain and infection after total abdominal hysterectomy. In: J R Soc Med (1997 Feb) 90(2):73-8 ISSN: 0141-0768 Homoeopathic potencies of arnica have been used for many years to aid postoperative recovery. The effects of arnica C30 on pain and postoperative recovery after total abdominal hysterectomy were evaluated in a double-blind, randomized, controlled study. Of 93 women entered into the study, 20 did not complete protocol treatment: nine were excluded because they failed to comply with the protocol, nine had their operations cancelled or changed within 24 h and two had to be withdrawn because of the recurrence of previously chronic painful conditions. Those who did not complete protocol treatment were equally divided between the arnica (nine patients) and placebo groups (11 patients). 73 patients completed the study, of whom 35 received placebo and 38 received arnica C30. The placebo group had a greater median age and the arnica group had slightly longer operations; nevertheless, no significant difference between the two groups could be demonstrated. We conclude that arnica in homoeopathic potency had no effect on postoperative recovery in the context of our study. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****ARZNEIMITTEL-FORSCHUNG***** Wagner H Jurcic K [Immunologic studies of plant combination preparations. In-vitro and in-vivo studies on the stimulation of phagocytosis] Immunologische Untersuchungen von pflanzlichen Kombinationspraparaten. In-vitro- und In-vivo-Studien zur Stimulierung der Phagozytosefahigkeit. In: Arzneimittelforschung (1991 Oct) 41(10):1072-6 ISSN: 0004-4172 (Published in German) The activity of phagocytosis was tested in the in vitro granulocyte test and the in vivo carbon-clearance-test in the mouse for an extract combination consisting of four plant extracts (Echinacea angustifolia, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Baptisia tinctoria and Arnica montana). In both immune models, a step by step stimulation of the activity of phagocytosis by the addition of the four plant extracts was shown with an increase in effectiveness of partially over 50% in comparison to the pure Echinacea angustifolia mono-extract. The extract combination showed also in both test models a higher efficiency than two other differently composed combination preparations and two Echinacea mono-preparations. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****BRITISH JOURNAL OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY***** Kaziro GS Metronidazole (Flagyl) and Arnica Montana in the prevention of post- surgical complications, a comparative placebo controlled clinical trial. In: Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg (1984 Feb) 22(1):42-9 A double blind trial, was designed, in which 118 patients undergoing the removal of impacted wisdom teeth were randomly divided into the following groups; 41 patients received Metronidazole, 39 patients received Arnica Montana, 38 patients received the placebo. Metronidazole was more effective in pain control than Arnica (p less than 0.001) and placebo (p less than 0.01). It prevented swelling better than Arnica (p less than 0.01) and placebo (p less than 0.05) and was more effective in promoting healing than Arnica (p less than 0.01) and placebo (p greater than 0.02). Arnica Montana appeared to give rise to greater pain than placebo (p less than 0.05) and caused more swelling than the placebo (p less than 0.01). Registry Numbers: 443-48-1 (Metronidazole) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****CANADIAN FAMILY PHYSICIAN***** Baillargeon L Drouin J Desjardins L Leroux D Audet D [The effects of Arnica Montana on blood coagulation. Randomized controlled trial (published erratum appears in Can Fam Physician 1994 Feb;40:225)] Les effets de l'Arnica Montana sur la coagulation sanguine. Essai clinique randomise. In: Can Fam Physician (1993 Nov) 39:2362-7 ISSN: 0008-350X (Published in French) The purpose of this study, which took the form of a two-period cross- over clinical trial, was to determine whether a homeopathic substance, Arnica Montana, significantly decreased bleeding time (Simplate II) and to describe its impact on various blood coagulation tests. It was not shown that this substance had a significant impact on various parameters of blood coagulation in healthy volunteers in the period immediately following administration [corrected]. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****FARMAKOLOGIIA I TOKSIKOLOGIIA***** Marchishin SM [Efficacy of the phenol compounds of Arnica in toxic lesion of the liver] Effektivnost' fenol'nykh soedinenii arniki pri toksicheskom porazhenii pecheni. In: Farmakol Toksikol (1983 Mar-Apr) 46(2):102-6 ISSN: 0014-8318 (Published in Russian) Experiments on rats with toxic liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride have shown that the preparation presenting a sum of phenolic compounds of Arnica montana and foliated Arnica favours a more complete recovery of the bile secretion intensity, synthesis and excretion with bile of bile acids and bilirubin, and cholesterol excretion. It also accelerates the recovery of activity of serum enzymes. Registry Numbers: EC 2.6.1.1 (Aspartate Aminotransferase) EC 2.6.1.2 (Alanine Aminotransferase) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****PHYTOCHEMISTRY***** Puhlmann J Zenk MH Wagner H Immunologically active polysaccharides of Arnica montana cell cultures. In: Phytochemistry (1991) 30(4):1141-5 ISSN: 0031-9422 From the nutrition medium of Arnica montana cell cultures two homogeneous polysaccharides, an acidic arabino-3,6-galactan-protein with mean Mr of 100,000 and a neutral fucogalactoxyloglucan with mean Mr of 22,500 have been isolated by DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B and Sephacryl S-400 column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated mainly by methylation analysis, partial acidic and enzymatic hydrolysis and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The fucogalactoxyloglucan shows a pronounced enhancement of phagocytosis in vivo. The arabino-3,6-galactan-protein displays a strong anticomplementary effect and stimulates macrophages to excrete the tumour necrosis factor (TNF alpha). €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****PLANTA MEDICA***** Woerdenbag HJ Merfort I Passreiter CM Schmidt TJ Willuhn G van Uden W Pras N Kampinga HH Konings AW Cytotoxicity of flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones from Arnica species against the GLC4 and the COLO 320 cell lines. In: Planta Med (1994 Oct) 60(5):434-7 ISSN: 0032-0943 The cytotoxicity of 21 flavonoids and 5 sesquiterpene lactones, as present in Arnica species, was studied in GLC4, a human small cell lung carcinoma cell line, and in COLO 320, a human colorectal cancer cell line, using the microculture tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Following continuous incubation, most flavonoids showed moderate to low cytotoxicity, as compared with the reference compound cisplatin (IC50 = 1.1 microM against GLC4 and 2.9 microM against COLO 320). Their IC50 values varied from 17 to > 200 microM. The most toxic compound was the flavone jaceosidin. Of the sesquiterpene lactones tested, helenalin, possessing both the reactive alpha-methylene-gamma-lactone moiety and a reactive alpha,beta-unsubstituted cyclopentenone ring, displayed the strongest cytotoxicity. For 2 h exposure, its IC50 value was 0.44 microM against GLC4 and 1.0 microM against COLO 320. COLO 320 was more sensitive than GLC4 for many flavonoids (especially for flavones), but more resistant to the cytotoxic effect of the sesquiterpene lactones bearing an exocylic methylene group fused to the lactone function. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****THROMBOSIS RESEARCH***** Schroder H Losche W Strobach H Leven W Willuhn G Till U Schror K Helenalin and 11 alpha,13-dihydrohelenalin, two constituents from Arnica montana L., inhibit human platelet function via thiol- dependent pathways. In: Thromb Res (1990 Mar 15) 57(6):839-45 ISSN: 0049-3848 This study investigates the effect on human platelet function of two sesquiterpene lactones from Arnica montana L., helenalin (H) and 11 alpha,13-dihydrohelenalin (DH). Both compounds inhibited collagen- induced platelet aggregation, thromboxane formation and 5- hydroxytryptamine secretion in a concentration-dependent manner at 3- 300 microM. When arachidonic acid was used as stimulus, thromboxane formation remained unaffected despite of inhibition of platelet aggregation. Both H and DH reduced the number of acid-soluble sulfhydryl groups in platelets, by up to 78% at anti-aggregatory concentrations. Moreover, H- and DH-induced platelet inhibition could be prevented by the thiol containing amino acid cysteine. It is concluded that H and DH inhibit platelet function via interaction with platelet sulfhydryl groups, probably associated with reduced phospholipase A2 activity. Registry Numbers: EC 3.1.1.- (Phospholipases A) 4371-52-2 (Cysteine) 50-67-9 (Serotonin) 506-32-1 (Arachidonic Acid) 54397-85-2 (Thromboxane B2) 6754-13-8 (helenalin) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****TIDSSKRIFT FOR DEN NORSKE LAEGEFORENING***** Tveiten D Bruseth S Borchgrevink CF Lohne K [Effect of Arnica D 30 during hard physical exertion. A double-blind randomized trial during the Oslo Marathon 1990] Effekt av Arnica D 30 ved hard fysisk anstrengelse. En dobbeltblind randomisert undersokelse under Oslo Maraton 1990. In: Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen (1991 Dec 10) 111(30):3630-1 ISSN: 0029-2001 (Published in Norwegian) The effect of Arnica Montana on stiffness, restitution time and cell damage during hard physical exercise was evaluated in a randomized double blind trial during the Oslo Marathon. 36 participants were randomized: one group received Arnica 10(-30) five pills twice daily for five days, starting the day before the event. The other group received placebo pills. Blood tests were carried out before and immediately after finish, and after 48 and 72 hours. Stiffness was evaluated on a visual analogue scale after finish and on the next three days. There was no difference between the groups as regards ALAT, ASAT, GT, LD, creatinine, haptoglobin or magnesium. CK increased in both groups, but to a higher level in the placebo group. The difference was greatest on the second day (p = 0.07). A feeling of stiffness was more pronounced in the placebo group on all four occasions (p = 0.06 and 0.07 on day 2 and 3). There was no indication that Arnica reduced the time of restitution. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€