Introduction: Since antiquity, spices have played a significant role in international trade and cuisine, and a prominent role in ethnomedicine. Various studies have been carried out to identify and analyze the biological principles underlying the ethnomedicinal reputation. Owing to their domestic consumption and revenue generated, seed spice research is warranted. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Springer Link to collect information on phytochemicals, ethnomedicinal uses, and pharmacological properties of five widely used seed spices: Trachyspermum ammi L. (Carom), Brassica juncea L. (Mustard), Cuminum cyminum L. (Cumin), Foeniculum vulgare L. (Fennel), and Nigella sativa L. (Black cumin). Results: The selected seed spices exhibited pharmacological effects: immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, gastroprotective, anticancer, antihypertensive, galactagogue, and antioxidant activities. Diverse bioactive phytochemicals, such as thymol, thymoquinone, cuminaldehyde, linalool, alpha-pinene, anethol, paracymene, diosgenin, and allyl-isothiocyanate, were identified. Traditionally, these spices are known to treat ailments like arthritis, asthma, skin diseases, sinusitis, and venomous bites. Discussion: The convergence of traditional knowledge and pharmacological evidence emphasizes the therapeutic potential of seed spices. However, inconsistencies in phytochemical content, lack of standardized dosage, and limited clinical validation constrain their application. Interdisciplinary research integrating phytochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical trials is essential to confirm efficacy and ensure safe utilization. Conclusion: This review highlights the medicinal values of the above-mentioned five seed spices, which are endowed with therapeutic potential due to the presence of various bioactive phytochemicals. Future studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms of action and validate their therapeutic efficacy through clinical investigations.
Introduction: Medical ozone therapy is increasingly used as a complementary therapeutic approach because of its potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects. However, the behavior of composite immune–inflammation indices, such as the Systemic Immune– Inflammation index (SII) and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), after ozone exposure remains insufficiently studied. This study aimed to evaluate changes in composite immune–inflammation indices, along with conventional inflammatory and laboratory safety parameters following medical ozone therapy in routine outpatient practice. Materials and Methods: This uncontrolled retrospective before–after study included 265 patients who completed at least 10 sessions of medical ozone therapy and had paired laboratory measurements available before and after treatment. The study was conducted at the Traditional and Complementary Medicine outpatient clinic of Kirşehir Training and Research Hospital. Hematological parameters were used to calculate SII, NLR, SII/HDL, PLT/HDL, and AIP. Conventional inflammatory markers and biochemical safety parameters, including C-reactive Protein (CRP), AST, ALT, creatinine, eGFR, glucose, and HbA1c, were also analyzed. Pre- and post-treatment values were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and effect sizes were calculated as r = Z / √N. Results: NLR and SII/HDL increased significantly after FDR correction, whereas the nominal increase in SII did not remain significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. CRP levels significantly decreased after treatment. AST and ALT levels also decreased significantly, while creatinine, urea, glucose, and HbA1c remained stable. Although eGFR showed a statistically significant decrease, values remained within clinically acceptable ranges. Overall, the observed laboratory changes were modest and did not indicate clinically relevant organ dysfunction. Although several laboratory parameters changed significantly, the observed effect sizes were generally small. Discussion: The findings indicate modest laboratory changes following medical ozone therapy. The divergent behavior of cell-based inflammatory indices and conventional inflammatory markers warrants further investigation in prospective controlled studies. The increase in cell-based inflammatory indices together with the decrease in CRP and liver enzymes may reflect transient immune activation and redox-related adaptive regulation. Given the small effect sizes and the retrospective uncontrolled design, these findings should be interpreted cautiously, and their clinical significance requires confirmation in prospective controlled studies. Conclusion: Medical ozone therapy was associated with small but statistically significant laboratory changes in this uncontrolled retrospective cohort. Because of the retrospective design, absence of a control group, and generally small effect sizes, these findings should not be interpreted as evidence of clinical efficacy. Prospective controlled studies are required to determine the clinical relevance of these observations.
Introduction: The study aims to verify the potential molecular mechanisms of Chai Gui Qi Long Fang (CGQLF) in the treatment of Ischemic Stroke (IS). Methods: The Mendelian Randomization (MR) approach was applied to explore Circulating Plasma Proteins (CPPs) associated with IS. The molecular mechanisms of CGQLF in treating IS via CPPs were investigated using network pharmacology. Results: Twenty core components of CGQLF were identified using UHPLC-OE-MS non-targeted metabolomics, and 695 potential targets were predicted. Based on the Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) database, three potential CPPs for CGQLF in IS treatment were found, such as MMP8, CYP3A4, and CTSV. Molecular docking results showed that, except for Syringic acid and Butylphthalide, MMP8 exhibited stable binding structures with the remaining 18 compounds. Similarly, CYP3A4 showed stable binding with all compounds except Syringic acid. CTSV exhibited stable binding with seven compounds, such as Astragaloside II, but unstable binding with other CGQLF components. KEGG analysis revealed that these three targets were primarily enriched in pathways such as apoptosis, lysosome, and linoleic acid metabolism, with CYP3A4 playing a dominant role. Discussion: CGQLF may intervene in IS through CPP-related pathways, potentially acting via its core components, Butylphthalide, Astragaloside II, and Saikosaponin B2, which interact with CYP3A4 and exert therapeutic effects through the apoptosis pathway. Conclusion: This study provides a reliable large-scale analysis of IS-related CPPs. Future research could further investigate the exact roles of these CPPs in IS pathogenesis, explore their feasibility as potential drug targets, and validate findings through additional experimental studies.
Introduction: Menstrual problems are among the most important issues in reproductive health, affecting women’s quality of life. Studies have shown that the most common menstrual disorders include primary dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, and premenstrual syndrome. Given the side effects associated with chemical drugs, many women are increasingly inclined to use herbal medicines to address these problems, and ginger is one of the most popular remedies in this regard. This narrative review examined systematic reviews and meta-analyses from the past five years on the effects of ginger on primary dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, and premenstrual syndrome, as the most prevalent menstrual problems in women. Methods: This narrative review was conducted by searching internationally recognized databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Embase using the keywords ginger, primary dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, and premenstrual syndrome to examine the related systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the last 5 years. The MeSH terms and their synonyms were used for the search, which was to find studies conducted until August 20, 2025. The AND and OR operators were used in each database-specific search strategy to determine the most effective method. The search in the relevant databases was conducted independently by two researchers. Since the study only included systematic reviews and meta-analyses, two independent researchers performed a quality assessment using the PRISMA 2020 checklist. Results: A total of 105 studies were conducted on primary dysmenorrhea, 57 on menorrhagia, and 91 on premenstrual syndrome. After examining the inclusion and exclusion criteria, as well as reviewing systematic reviews and meta-analyses of controlled clinical trials, three studies were included in the section on the effect of ginger on primary dysmenorrhea. These three systematic reviews and meta-analyses examined a total of 99 articles. After eliminating duplicate studies, the final review included 60 articles. Fifty studies used oral ginger and ten used topical ginger. Forty-seven studies indicated that the oral form was effective in reducing the severity and duration of primary dysmenorrhea. All ten topical studies indicated that the topical form was effective in reducing the severity and duration of dysmenorrhea. No systematic review or meta-analysis has been conducted on the effects of ginger on menorrhagia and premenstrual syndrome. Discussion: Current evidence suggests that ginger, due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-prostaglandin properties, may effectively reduce pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea and can be considered a complementary, nature-based option in women’s reproductive health .However, caution is advised for long-term or high-dose use. Further well-designed studies are needed to clarify its effects on menorrhagia and premenstrual syndrome. Conclusion: Ginger can effectively treat the most common menstrual problems in women, especially primary dysmenorrhea. However, there is not enough information about its effects on menorrhagia and premenstrual syndrome. More studies are recommended in this area to obtain reliable information, and people should consult a doctor before using it.
