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Biomedical subjects

Michael J Balick

Publications and source records attributed to Michael J Balick.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Rx: Caffeine.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

A traditional method of Cinnamomum carolinense preparation eliminates safrole from a therapeutic Pohnpean tea.

Cinnamomum carolinense, locally known as madeu, is a tree endemic to the volcanic mountains of the Island of Pohnpei in the Eastern Carolines of the South Pacific. The bark is harvested from trees and brewed to make a medicinal tea and hot beverage that is regularly consumed. Many species of Cinnamomum contain the known hepatocarcinogen safrole, sparking concern regarding habitual consumption of this beverage. HPLC-PDA analysis confirmed the presence of the carcinogen in alcoholic extracts of Cinnamomum carolinense bark shavings (0.435%, w/w), but safrole was not detected in the tea. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation of safrole were determined to be 1.25 and 3.75 microg/mL, respectively. The traditional preparation method, which boils the bark shavings, degrades the safrole.

Beverages↗
PubMed2005

Discovery of structurally diverse natural product antagonists of chemokine receptor CXCR3.

The chemokines (CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11) and associated CXCR3 receptor are expressed during the inflammatory process from multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis or organ transplantation resulting in the recruitment of lymphocytes leading to tissue damage. It is hypothesized that blocking of the ligand/CXCR3 receptor interaction has potential to provide opportunity for development of agents that would block tissue rejection. In this paper, four classes of natural product inhibitors (IC50 ranging 0.1-41 microM) have been described that block the CXCR3 receptor interaction of IP-10 ligand. These include a cyclic thiopeptide (duramycin), polyketide glycosides (roselipins), steroidal glycosides (hypoglausin A and dioscin) and a novel alkyl pyridinium alkaloid that were isolated by bioassay-guided fractionation of the organic extracts derived from actinomycete, fungal, plant and marine sources and discovered using 125I IP-10/CXCR3 binding assay. Duramycin was the most potent with an IC50 of 0.1 microM. Roselipins 2A, 2B and 1A showed IC50 values of 14.6, 23.5, and 41 microM, respectively. Diosgenin glycosides dioscin, hypoglaucin A and kallstroemin D exhibited IC50 values of 2.1, 0.47 and 3 microM, respectively. A novel cyclic 3-alkyl pyridinium salt isolated from a sponge displayed a binding IC50 of 0.67 microM.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Alseis yucatanensis: a natural product from Belize that exhibits multiple mechanisms of vasorelaxation.

An aqueous extract of the bark of Alseis yucatanensis was studied to determine its mechanism of action in the relaxation of endothelium-denuded rat aortic tissues. The extract relaxed both norepinephrine (NE) and KCl-contracted vessels, with ED(50)'s of 0.12 and 1.73 mg/mL, respectively. In NE-contracted vessels, two phases of relaxation were evident which were separated in both time and dose range. At high concentrations, a rapid relaxation was seen that was due to the blocking of internal (ED(50)=0.49 mg/mL) and external (ED(50)=2.34 mg/mL) calcium channels. A second, slowly developing (i.e., long-term) relaxation to baseline was seen at lower concentrations. The time to complete relaxation was dose-dependent. This long-term response was not seen in KCl-contracted vessels, was prolonged by TEA, and could be reversed by the addition of KCl to the bath. These data suggest that the long-term relaxation is due to the opening of potassium channels.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Rediocides B-E, potent insecticides from Trigonostemon reidioides.

Four new congeners, rediocides B-E (2-5), of the previously reported rediocide A (1) were isolated from a methanol extract of the roots of the plant Trigonostemon reidioides. The structures of these minor analogues were elucidated by comparison of their NMR and mass spectral data with those of rediocide A and confirmed by extensive 2D NMR spectral analysis. They all possess potent activity against fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) in an artificial membrane feeding system and exhibited LD(90) values ranging from 0.25 to 0.5 ppm.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Double incision wound healing bioassay using Hamelia patens from El Salvador.

Hamelia patens Jacq. (Rubiaceae) has received little attention in the laboratory for its wound healing ability even though it is commonly used as a treatment for wounds throughout Central America. A double incision wound healing bioassay was carried out with a crude extract of Hamelia patens collected from El Salvador. Animals were divided into three groups. Group I (n = 14) had the left incision treated with 5% (w/w) Hamelia patens and the contralateral side with petroleum jelly (PJ). Group II (n = 14) had the left incision treated with 10% (w/w) ointment and the contralateral side with petroleum jelly. Group III (n = 10) had the left incision treated with petroleum jelly and the contralateral side left untreated. Breaking strength of the incisions was measured on day 7 and day 12. For Groups I and II, there was no significant difference between treatment and control incisions at day 7. On day 12, there was a significant difference between the treated and control incisions for Groups I and II. There was no significant difference between petroleum jelly and untreated incisions for Group III on day 7 and day 12. Hamelia patens does increase breaking strength of wounds significantly more than the control group. Further wound healing studies of this plant are warranted.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Ethnobotanical literature survey of medicinal plants in the Dominican Republic used for women's health conditions.

This ethnobotanical literature survey is part of an on-going study in New York City investigating Dominican and Chinese healing systems and the herbal treatments used for the following women's conditions: uterine fibroids (benign tumors of uterine smooth muscle); menorrhagia (excessive uterine bleeding); endometriosis (growth of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus); and hot flashes (sudden brief sensations of heat commonly experienced during menopause). The objectives of this survey were: (1) to search literature on medicinal plants used in the Dominican Republic and identify those used for the above listed conditions and their symptoms; (2) to compare the use between herbal treatments reported in the literature with those prescribed by Dominican healers in New York City; and (3) to evaluate the extent to which healers may have changed their use of plants in order to adapt to availability in the New York City environment. A total of 87 plant species were reported in the Dominican literature for these conditions and symptoms. Nineteen species overlapped from the literature survey and the fieldwork with Dominican healers in New York City, representing 29% (n=65) of the plants prescribed by healers in New York City. This study offers a model to investigate changes in plant use as people migrate to urban centers where they are surrounded by diverse cultures, healing systems, and new environments.

Data Collection↗