Have you ever wondered how some of the most effective treatments for a number of human diseases were discovered? It often seems that we can look to nature for inspiration when there is the need for compounds with widespread uses in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, nutritional supplements and food. The Natural Products Poster Session included over twenty presenters showcasing the current state of the science in the realm of naturally occurring materials such as botanical extracts and mineral clays. Many of these materials have been used in traditional medicines across various cultures.
Some highlights included the use of clay as a potential treatment for aflatoxin exposure. NovaSil clay has been previously shown to selectively bind aflatoxin in the GI tract of animals, thereby reducing its bioavailability and toxicity. However, the toxicity of NovaSil was unknown. The current study by Evans Afriyie-Gyawu at the Georgia Southern University showed that rats treated with the clay had changes in nutritive minerals, but also elevated levels of strontium. Other uses of strontium indicate that it may be of low toxicity which is a plus.
Another interesting study was conducted by Rawiwan Maniratanachote of the National Science and Technology Development Agency in Thailand. This study was undertaken to investigate the safety of a commonly used extract, Phikud Navakot (PN), for the treatment of cardiovascular disease in traditional Thai medicine. The results showed that PN extract, a mixture of nine herbs, was able to protect HepG2 cells against oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide via increased antioxidant responses. Reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase were both increased by PN extract.
Several other studies to help build a framework for the evaluation of natural products and their potential interactions with drugs were also presented. This work may someday help to guide the regulatory decision making process for nutraceuticals and nutritional supplements.
The take home message from the session: natural products and traditional herbal treatments are effective across a diverse set of human conditions and hopefully there will be clarity in the regulatory evaluation process of these valuable natural resources.
This blog discusses highlights from the SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo Natural Products Poster Session.