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Background Methods Key Results Conclusion and Inferences Impaired gastric accommodation is one of the most frequent symptoms of functional dyspepsia. The safety and efficacy of conventional treatments remain to be proven and alternative herbal therapies have been proposed to alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms. This preclinical study examined the role of herbal Amara extract (containing Artemisia absinthium, Centaurium erythraea, Cichorium intybus, Gentiana lutea, Juniperus communis, Achillea millefolium, Peucedanum ostruthium, Salvia officinalis, and Taraxacum extracts) on gastric (fundus) accommodation and the possible implication of muscarinic receptors in its regulation.The effect of Amara extract on fundus motility was investigated in organ baths of smooth muscle strips isolated from the fundus of guinea pigs, and the role of the muscarinic receptor pathway was evaluated using functional and radioligand binding assays in cell lines expressing the M2 or M3 muscarinic receptor.Amara extract inhibited carbachol‐induced contraction of guinea pig smooth muscle strips in a dose‐dependent manner. This relaxant effect was not affected by the M3 antagonist J‐104129. Amara extract also inhibited M2, but not M3, receptor activity in CHO‐K1 cells (IC50 219 μg mL−1), and specifically bound the M2 receptor (IC50 294 μg mL−1). Of the nine herbal components of Amara extract, Juniperus communis, P. ostruthium, and Salvia officinalis inhibited M2 receptor activity (IC50 32.0, 20.8, and 20.1 μg mL−1, respectively), and P. ostruthium was sufficient to reverse carbachol‐induced ex vivo contraction of guinea pig fundic smooth muscles.Amara extract relaxes gastric smooth muscles by inhibiting the M2 muscarinic receptor. This study suggests the potential benefit of Amara extract for patients with impaired gastric accommodation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Urinary tract infections are among the most common types of infections and give rise to inflammation with pain as one of the main symptoms. The herbal medicinal product Canephron® N contains BNO 2103, a defined mixture of pulverized rosemary leaves, centaury herb, and lovage root, and has been used in the treatment of urinary tract infections for more than 25 years.Purpose: To test the hypothesis that BNO 2103 reduces pain in cystitis and prostatitis by virtue of anti-inflammatory properties, and to reveal potential mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory features.Study Design: BNO 2103 was studied for anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties in three animal models in vivo, and the mode of action underlying the anti-inflammatory features was investigated in human leukocytes and cell-free assays in vitro.Methods: To assess the anti-inflammatory and analgesic efficacy of BNO 2103 we employed cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis and carrageenan-induced prostatitis in rats, and zymosan-induced peritonitis in mice. Human neutrophils and monocytes as well as isolated human 5-lipoxygenase and microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1-containing microsomes were utilized to assess inhibition of leukotriene and/or prostaglandin E2 production by HPLC and/or ELISA.Results: When given orally, BNO 2103 reduced inflammation and hyperalgesia in experimental cystitis in rats, while individual components of BNO 2103 also reduced hyperalgesia. Furthermore, BNO 2103 reduced hyperalgesia in rats with carrageenan-induced prostatitis. Cell-based and cell-free studies implicate inhibition of prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4 biosynthesis as potential mechanisms underlying the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.Conclusion: Our data support the hypothesis that BNO 2103 reduces pain by virtue of its anti-inflammatory properties, possibly related to suppression of prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4 formation, and suggest that this combination has the potential to treat clinical symptoms such as inflammatory pain. Thus BNO 2103 may represent an alternative to reduce the use of antibiotics in urinary tract infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Urinary tract infections are among the most common types of infections and give rise to inflammation with pain as one of the main symptoms. The herbal medicinal product Canephron ® N contains BNO 2103, a defined mixture of pulverized rosemary leaves, centaury herb, and lovage root, and has been used in the treatment of urinary tract infections for more than 25 years., Purpose: To test the hypothesis that BNO 2103 reduces pain in cystitis and prostatitis by virtue of anti-inflammatory properties, and to reveal potential mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory features., Study Design: BNO 2103 was studied for anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties in three animal models in vivo, and the mode of action underlying the anti-inflammatory features was investigated in human leukocytes and cell-free assays in vitro., Methods: To assess the anti-inflammatory and analgesic efficacy of BNO 2103 we employed cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis and carrageenan-induced prostatitis in rats, and zymosan-induced peritonitis in mice. Human neutrophils and monocytes as well as isolated human 5-lipoxygenase and microsomal prostaglandin E 2 synthase-1-containing microsomes were utilized to assess inhibition of leukotriene and/or prostaglandin E 2 production by HPLC and/or ELISA., Results: When given orally, BNO 2103 reduced inflammation and hyperalgesia in experimental cystitis in rats, while individual components of BNO 2103 also reduced hyperalgesia. Furthermore, BNO 2103 reduced hyperalgesia in rats with carrageenan-induced prostatitis. Cell-based and cell-free studies implicate inhibition of prostaglandin E 2 and leukotriene B 4 biosynthesis as potential mechanisms underlying the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects., Conclusion: Our data support the hypothesis that BNO 2103 reduces pain by virtue of its anti-inflammatory properties, possibly related to suppression of prostaglandin E 2 and leukotriene B 4 formation, and suggest that this combination has the potential to treat clinical symptoms such as inflammatory pain. Thus BNO 2103 may represent an alternative to reduce the use of antibiotics in urinary tract infections., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)