Pilot study shows no beneficial effect of kudzu root extract in chronic alcoholism

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-201
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Beneficial Effect ◽  
Chronic Alcoholism ◽  
Root Extract ◽  
Kudzu Root Extract

scholarly journals Clinical Evaluation of the Spermatogenic Activity of the Root Extract of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in Oligospermic Males: A Pilot Study

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijay R. Ambiye ◽  
Deepak Langade ◽  
Swati Dongre ◽  
Pradnya Aptikar ◽  
Madhura Kulkarni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Withania Somnifera ◽  
Sperm Count ◽  
Day Treatment ◽  
Treated Group ◽  
Semen Parameters ◽  
Root Extract ◽  
Full Spectrum ◽  
Hormone Levels ◽  
Serum Hormone

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has been described in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine as an aphrodisiac that can be used to treat male sexual dysfunction and infertility. This pilot study was conducted to evaluate the spermatogenic activity of Ashwagandha root extract in oligospermic patients. Forty-six male patients with oligospermia (sperm count < 20 million/mL semen) were enrolled and randomized either to treatment (n=21) with a full-spectrum root extract of Ashwagandha (675 mg/d in three doses for 90 days) or to placebo (n=25) in the same protocol. Semen parameters and serum hormone levels were estimated at the end of 90-day treatment. There was a 167% increase in sperm count (9.59 ± 4.37 × 106/mL to 25.61 ± 8.6 × 106/mL;P<0.0001), 53% increase in semen volume (1.74 ± 0.58 mL to 2.76 ± 0.60 mL;P<0.0001), and 57% increase in sperm motility (18.62 ± 6.11% to 29.19 ± 6.31%;P<0.0001) on day 90 from baseline. The improvement in these parameters was minimal in the placebo-treated group. Furthermore, a significantly greater improvement and regulation were observed in serum hormone levels with the Ashwagandha treatment as compared to the placebo. The present study adds to the evidence on the therapeutic value of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), as attributed in Ayurveda for the treatment of oligospermia leading to infertility.

scholarly journals Combined Pioglitazone and Metformin Treatment Maintains the Beneficial Effect of Short-Term Insulin Infusion in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Results from a Pilot Study

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 1442-1450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra B. Musholt ◽  
Thomas Schöndorf ◽  
Andreas Pfützner ◽  
Cloth Hohberg ◽  
Iris Kleine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Glycemic Control ◽  
Beneficial Effect ◽  
Treatment Period ◽  
Insulin Infusion ◽  
Metformin Treatment ◽  
Short Term ◽  
End Point ◽  
Intravenous Insulin

Background: The aim of our study was to examine the efficacy of short-term intravenous insulin intervention followed by oral pioglitazone/metformin therapy to prevent patients from continuous insulin application. Methods: This prospective, open-label, 4-month pilot study comprised of 14 diabetes patients (5 female, 9 male; age 60 ± 2 years; body mass index 29 ± 3.2 kg/m2; hemoglobin A1c [HbAlc] 7.6 ± 1.1%) with (1) insufficient glycemic control under a dose of metformin >1700 mg/day and/or metformin plus additional oral antidiabetes drugs (OADs) and (2) appropriate residual β-cell function. Initially, an inpatient 34 h continuous intravenous insulin infusion was performed, and metformin was given (2× 850 mg/day). Insulin was stopped, and pioglitazone 30 mg/day was added at the second inpatient day. Patients were followed for four months. Efficacy parameters [change of HbA1c, fasting blood glucose [FBG], intact proinsulin, adiponectin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP)] were assessed after initial normalization of blood glucose values by intravenous insulin and at the study end point. Results: During the acute insulin intervention, FBG levels were stabilized in all study subjects. In the following OAD treatment period, five patients showed an improvement of HbA1c > 0.5% [35.7%; seven patients remained stable (50.0%), two patients were nonresponders (14.3%)]. Fasting glucose values dropped after insulin infusion (−17.7%; p < .001). This effect was maintained during the consecutive OAD treatment period (glucose +0.3%, not significant (NS); HbA1c −6.0%; p < .05). The initial decrease in fasting intact proinsulin levels was also maintained during the study (end value −41%, p < .05). Improvements in hsCRP values (postinsulin value, −15%, NS; end value −37%; p < .05) and adiponectin values (postinsulin value +15%, NS; end value +128%; p < .001) were demonstrated at end point only after continued glitazone intake. Conclusions: Our pilot study demonstrated that a beneficial effect of a short-term intravenous insulin application on glycemic control was effectively maintained by pioglitazone/metformin treatment for at least 4 months. In addition, the oral therapy significantly improved cardiovascular risk parameters.

scholarly journals Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract in Improving Sexual Function in Women: A Pilot Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Swati Dongre ◽  
Deepak Langade ◽  
Sauvik Bhattacharyya
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Sexual Function ◽  
Withania Somnifera ◽  
Treated Group ◽  
Root Extract ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Sexual Distress ◽  
Sexual Encounters ◽  
Distress Scale

Background.Many women experience sexual dysfunction where there are orgasm disorders and sexual difficulties. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a herb known to improve the body’s physical and psychological condition.Objective.The purpose of the study was to determine the efficacy and safety of a high-concentration ashwagandha root extract (HCARE) supplementation for improving sexual function in healthy females.Methods.In this pilot study, 50 study subjects were randomized to either (i) HCARE-treated group or (ii) placebo- (starch-) treated group. The subjects consumed either HCARE or placebo capsules of 300mg twice daily for 8 weeks. Sexual function was assessed using two psychometric scales, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) Questionnaire and the Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS), and by the number of total and successful sexual encounters.Results.The analysis indicates that treatment with HCARE leads to significantly higher improvement, relative to placebo, in the FSFI Total score (p<0.001), FSFI domain score for “arousal” (p<0.001), “lubrication” (p<0.001), “orgasm” (p=0.004), and “satisfaction” (p<0.001), and also FSDS score (p<0.001) and the number of successful sexual encounters (p<0.001) at the end of the treatment.Conclusions.This study demonstrated that oral administration of HCARE may improve sexual function in healthy women. The present study is registered in the Clinical Trial Registry, Government of India, with a numberCTRI/2015/07/006045.

scholarly journals Beneficial effect of the 5‐HT 1A receptor agonist buspirone on esophageal dysfunction associated with systemic sclerosis: A pilot study

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 266-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
George P Karamanolis ◽  
Stylianos Panopoulos ◽  
Anastasios Karlaftis ◽  
Konstantinos Denaxas ◽  
Dimitrios Kamberoglou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Sclerosis ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Beneficial Effect ◽  
Receptor Agonist ◽  
Esophageal Dysfunction

Evaluation of kudzu root extract-induced hepatotoxicity

2015 ◽  
Vol 176 ◽  
pp. 321-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dengyuan Wang ◽  
Liang Qiu ◽  
Xiaoli Wu ◽  
Hua Wei ◽  
Feng Xu
Keyword(s):  
Root Extract ◽  
Kudzu Root Extract

scholarly journals Evaluation of beneficial effect of a dual-task exercise based on Japanese transitional games in older adults: a pilot study

Aging ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 18957-18969
Author(s):  
Jieun Yoon ◽  
Hiroko Isoda ◽  
Tomohiro Okura
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Beneficial Effect ◽  
Dual Task
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