Mathias Schmidt

Herbresearch Germany · R&D

Die Gesellschaft für Phytotherapie hatte im Frühjahr 2023 eine Einladung zu einem Symposium des „Centre Omnithérapeutique Africain“ (COA) in Togo erhalten. Das COA betreibt Forschung und Lehre im Bereich der afrikanischen traditionellen Medizin und bietet einen Masterstudiengang in diesem Sektor an. Das COA stößt in eine Lücke, die von der Ausbildu...

The use of plants as a source of active principles for cosmetics has significantly increased in the last few years. Safety, compatibility with all types of skin, fewer side effects, and availability are among the advantages of herbal cosmetics above synthetic ingredients. The present review aims to explore the most important plants used in cosmetic...

The Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) fruit juice contains large amounts of polyphenols, mainly tannins such as ellagitannin, punicalagin, and punicalin, and flavonoids such as anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols, and flavonols. These constituents have high antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, and anticancer activities. Because of the...

Medicinal comfrey (Symphytum x uplandicum Nyman) has been cultivated and used in topical medicinal products for decades. The pressed juice of the freshly harvested aerial parts combined with the aqueous-ethanolic extract of the pressed aerial parts is the active pharmaceutical ingredient of Traumaplant cream. This medication is authorized based on...

Carmelite spirits (CS) as herbal medicinal products are traditionally used in episodes of the common cold. The CS product tested herein contains as the active ingredient a distillate of a blend of Melissa officinalis L., leaves, Inula helenium L., roots, Angelica archangelica L., roots, Zingiber officinale Roscoe, rhizome, Syzygium aromaticum (L.)...

A questionnaire was filled in by 61 German dermatologists treating a total of 18,000 patients suffering from atopic dermatitis per quarter. The physicians were asked for their personal assessment of the therapeutic applicability of a topical preparation containing heparin and levomenol (also known as (-)-alpha-bisabolol) as active constituents. The...

Zum Beitrag: Der Hype um Cannabidiol und Hanf – auf der Suche nach klaren Regeln und realistischen Richtwerten Der Beitrag von Niermann et al. 1 zu realistischen Grenzwerten widerspricht im Grunde nicht dem, was wir in unserem Artikel „Ist Cannabidiol ein Lebensmittel oder ein Arzneimittel?“ gesagt haben 2. Die Ausführungen zur Toxizität von CBD un...

Carmelite spirits (Melissengeist) are traditional herbal medicinal products. Their application in the various registered indications are supported by documented clinical experience, such as the use for the improvement of wellbeing in cases of restlessness and nervousness. Effects have been demonstrated in cases of psychovegetative symptoms, burnout...

Zusammenfassung Arzneimittel auf der Basis von Extrakten aus den Wurzeln der Kavapflanze (Piper methysticum) waren in Deutschland bis zum Widerruf der Zulassungen am 14. Juni 2002 sehr beliebte Mittel gegen nervöse Angst-, Spannungs- und Unruhezustände. Kava ist eine der am besten untersuchten Arzneipflanzen, sowohl aus pharmakologischer Sicht als...

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Wundheilungseffekte lassen sich im Modell der restrukturierten humanen Epidermis durch Erzeugung reproduzierbarer Schäden und der Beobachtung der Regeneration der Hautzellen objektivieren. Methoden und Ergebnisse In einer kürzlich veröffentlichten Studie wurde der Effekt einer Creme mit einer Zubereitung aus den oberirdi...

Products containing cannabidiol (CBD) such as CBD oil, are marketed in Europe as food and dietary supplements. They are also frequently advertised as potential treatments for serious illnesses. Applications for Novel Food Status are currently being processed in Europe. On closer scrutiny however, the basis for classifying CBD as a foodstuff is at b...

Zusammenfassung CBD-haltige Produkte wie sogenannte CBD-Öle werden in Form von Nahrungsmitteln und Nahrungsergänzungsmitteln vertrieben und vielfach mit medizinischen Indikationen bei schweren Erkrankungen beworben. Derzeit werden auf europäischer Ebene Anträge auf Novel-Food-Status bearbeitet. Bei genauerer Betrachtung erweisen sich jedoch bereits...

Aim Prior to the kava ban of 2002, the indication for kava (Piper methysticum) extracts defined by the German Commission E was “nervous anxiety, tension and restlessness”. In 2000, an observational trial was started in Germany with the aim of defining symptoms of these indications best treated with kava extract. The trial was interrupted and archiv...

Saffron, obtained from the stigmas of Crocus sativus L (Iridaceae), is the most expensive spice traded worldwide. In addition to its culinary uses, various medicinal properties have been confirmed for saffron, which has recently captured the interest of the phytotherapy industry. The quality of saffron is determined by the presence of 3 compounds,...

Ethnopharmacological relevance Kava (Piper methysticum G. Forst. f.) is by far the most important plant used in the islands of Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia for its relaxing effects. Kava drinking is a pillar of South Pacific societies and is also the foundation of their economies. Preparations of kava extract as herbal medicinal drugs were b...

European Union guidelines indiscriminately discuss a permitted daily exposure (PDE) for pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) of up to 0.007 μg/kg body weight for oral and for topical exposure to herbal medicinal products. In this study, lycopsamine served as a model substance for measuring the extent of skin permeation of PAs following the application of a...

Introduction: An accelerated healing of superficial wounds was demonstrated in clinical trials with a topical comfrey preparation (Symphytum × uplandicum Nyman). The effect has previously not been examined in skin models. Methods: An established in vitro model of epidermal cells with the typical strata was used for the observation of effects of...

Piper methysticum Forst., commonly referred to as kava, has been used medicinally and recreationally by inhabitants of the South Pacific Islands for centuries. Kavalactones present in roots and aerial parts are regarded as the bioactive compounds responsible for the relaxant effects, and for mitigating anxiety and stress-related conditions. The dev...

Background: Adverse events case reports are important for signal generation in pharmacovigilance. They require a thorough collation of the facts, otherwise they may lead to erroneous conclusions which may conceal other treatment-related causes of the observation. Methods: We describe a case report from the literature that arrives at an erroneous co...

Background: Cough preparations containing aqueous marshmallow root extracts (Althaea officinalis) have a long history as medicinal products in Germany. The aim of the 2 prospective, non-interventional surveys reported here was to create a better documentation of the users' impression of the effectiveness and tolerability, and user satisfaction. M...

Background/objectives: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed to assess the potency of a soy germ preparation for the alleviation of menopausal hot flushes. Subjects/methods: Caucasian women with at least seven hot flushes daily were treated with soy germ extract (100 mg isoflavone glycosides) daily or with placebo for 12 weeks,...

Background: Viral influenza infection causes serious health issues especially when an outbreak occurs. Although influenza virus vaccines are available and each year manufactures modify the vaccine depending on the expected mutated strain, it is still far from satisfactory, mainly in young children and older adults. Therefore, a product that can sup...

Objective: A herbal combination (saffron extract, passion flower herb extract, cocoa seed extract, radish extract and black cumin extract) called "Relief" was designed as a supportive therapy of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). This combination was based on the scientific evidence of each constituent effect on AWS-like symptoms. In addition, our...

Aim Kava, an aqueous drink from the roots and peeled rootstock of the plant Piper methysticum G.Forst., is renowned in Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia for its relaxant effect. Modern extract preparations with defined contents of kavalactones – the major active constituents – are well established as herbal medicinal products on the European mark...

Plants have been used since antiquity to treat and prevent diseases. Plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) is traditionally used for the treatment of the common cold and associated symptoms such as cough. This study was designed to evaluate the oral toxicity of plantain leaf extractcontaining syrup. In preparation of the toxicological examination and t...

In the first paper of this dissertation, we dealt with the evaluation of CDS contracts. This dissertation empirically proves that the evaluation of CDS contracts is not as simple and straightforward as one might assume.

In this chapter we discuss the sensitivity of the strike of default (SOD), with respect to its greatest factors of influence—the CDS market spread and the option volatility. We explore the idea of hedging a CDS protection sell with American put options against a credit event which we assume to happen once the stock price reaches the SOD. At last, w...

The link between higher uptake of isoflavones and a reduced frequency of menopause-related hot flushes were first described in 1992 based on a lower incidence of hot flushes in countries with high dietary soy intake1. Since then, a number of clinical trials with different sources of isoflavones, including soy and red clover, have been performed, an...

The association between an increased uptake of isoflavones and a reduced frequency of menopausal hot flushes was first described in 1992, based on a lower incidence of hot flushes in countries with a high consumption of soy. Since then, numerous clinical trials with various sources of isoflavones including soy and red clover have been presented, wi...

Recently published meta-analyses clearly document the benefits of intake of isoflavones for women in menopause: isoflavones reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes and have protective effects with respect to the development of hormone-related cancers.

The link between higher uptake of isoflavones and a reduced frequency of menopause-related hot flushes were first described in 1992 based on a lower incidence of hot flushes in countries with high dietary soy intake. Since then, a number of clinical trials with different sources of isoflavones, including soy and red clover, have been performed, and...

Kava, the rhizome and roots of Piper methysticum, are one of the most important social pillars of Melanesian societies. They have been used for more than 1000 years in social gatherings for the preparation of beverages with relaxing effects. During the colonial period, extract preparations found their way into Western medicinal systems, with experi...

Two new proanthocyanidin trimers have been isolated from Cistus incanus herb; gallocatechin-(4α→6)-gallocatechin-(4α→8)-gallocatechin (compound 1) and epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate-(4ß→8)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate-(4ß→8)-gallocatechin (compound 2). The structures were determined on the basis of 1D- and 2D-NMR (HSQC, HMBC) of their peracetylated d...

Pharmacological research confirms and supports the clinically observed antidepressant efficacy of St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L., SJW). This contribution is an update of a former review by the authors in 2007. Positive evidence of antidepressant effects has been found with SJW preparations, extract fractions, and single constituents. The...

Mathias Schmidt,1 Michael Thomsen,2 Olaf Kelber,3 Karin Kraft4 1Herbresearch Germany, Mattsies, Germany; 2Herbresearch Pty Ltd, South Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; 3Scientific Department, Steigerwald Arzneimittelwerk GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany; 4Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Rostock, Germany Background: Eleutherococcus senticosus radix (also known as “...

Backgrounds: Eleutherococcus senticosus radix (also known as “Siberian ginseng”) is indicated for symptoms of asthenia such as fatigue and weakness, being especially common in elderly patients. Most reviews and monographs including the HPMC monograph state the contraindication “arterial hypertension”. This excludes many elderly patients from therap...

The structure of (5H)-2-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-phenyl-furan-4-one (lb) was determined by NMR-spectroscopy in solution and in the solid state. The structure of its oxidation product, 3,4-Dihydro-3,3,4,4-tetrahydroxy-5-phenyl-furan-2(5H)-one (7), given in the literature as 5-Phenyl-2,3,4-(5H)-furan-trione, was determined by NMR spectroscopy and crystal st...

Background: Eleutherococcus senticosus radix (also known as “Siberian ginseng” or “eleuthero”) is used as a medicinal plant in cases of asthenia with fatigue and weakness, a condition especially common in elderly patients. Most reviews and monographs state the contraindication “arterial hypertension”. This excludes many elderly patients from therap...

Background: Topical comfrey preparations are authorised for the treatment of blunt traumas. Effects against muscle pains caused by overload have also been observed. The aim of this explorative, randomised and placebo-controlled pilot study was the preparation of a confirmatory clinical trial in subjects suffering from muscle soreness through the ex...

Two galenical formulations of an ivy herbal extract, syrup and cough drops, were tested for their efficacy and safety in the paediatric treatment of cough and bronchitis in two independent open, non-interventional studies with identical design. Two-hundred and sixty-eight children aged 0-12 yr were treated with one of the two preparations for up to...

Beinwell (Symphytum officinale sensu lato) ist ein herausragendes Beispiel für die rationale Anwendung von Arzneipflanzen im Einsatz gegen stumpfe Traumen wie Prellungen, Zerrungen und Verstauchungen. Zu diesen lange bekannten Indikationsgebieten kommt heute vor allem der Einsatz bei Muskel- und Gelenkbeschwerden, z. B. bei Muskelschmerzen im Rücke...

Two new proanthocyanidins, epigallocatechin-3-O-p-hydroxybenzoate-(4beta-->8)-epigallocatechin (1) and epigallocatechin-3-O-p-hydroxybenzoate-(4beta-->8)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (2) in addition to the known compound epigallocatechin-(4beta-->6)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (3), were isolated from the air-dried herb of Cistus salvifolius. The c...

Ginkgo biloba L (Ginkgoaceae) is a traditional herbal medicinal plant for the treatment of mild to moderate cognitive disorders, tinnitus, and dementia. These uses may be correlated with the presence of radical scavenging compounds. The chemical composition and the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of the flavan-3-ols...

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

By Sephadex LH-20 gel chromatography of an extract from Gingko biloba leaves, polymeric proanthocyanidins were eluted after the fractions of flavonol glycosides and biflavone glycosides. A purified proanthocyanidin polymer accounted for 86.6% of the total proanthocyanidins, and for 37.7% of the total antioxidant activity of this leaf extract. For s...

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

In a reference-controlled double-blind trial in patients with acute pharyngitis the effects of a newly developed lozenge containing 8 mg of benzocaine (p-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester, CAS 94-09-7) were compared with those of an identically dosed commercial pastille. 246 patients were randomized to receive either the lozenges (group A, n = 123) or...

The benefits and safety aspects of soy products containing isoflavones are currently discussed on the level of the EFSA. Despite good clinical data demonstrating the hormonal safety and clinical effects of isoflavones a negative opinior may be anticipated. The opinions of the EFSA and the composition of the working group can hardly be challenged at...

Die therapeutische Anwendbarkeit und Anwendungssicherheit einer topischen Cremezubereitung aus den oberirdischen Pflanzenteilen des Beinwellkultivars »Symphytum × uplandicum Nyman ‚Harras’« zur pädiatrischen Therapie akuter stumpfer Traumen (Prellungen, Zerrungen, Verstauchungen) wurde in einer offenen Anwendungsstudie an 196 Kindern im Alter von 4...

The risk-benefit ratio of isoflavone preparations in menopausal women is currently under examination. The heterogeneity in the design and outcome of the pulished clinical trials has been addressed. We identified and analyzed eight clinical placebo-controlled double-blind trials with a minimum duration of 12 weeks, from which the daily frequency of...

The pyridone alkaloid pipermethystine has been considered to be responsible for alleged hepatoxicity of Kava products. Investigation of a series of retain samples of finished products from the German market and self-produced extracts from root and stem material of Piper methysticum clearly showed that pipermethystine (1) is absent from all root and...

Die fixe Kombination von Extrakten aus Primelwurzel und Thymiankraut hat eine lange Anwendungshistorie in der Behandlung von akutem Husten und ist insbesondere in der Kinderheilkunde bewährt. Die medikamentöse Therapie von Kleinkindern und Säuglingen stellt eine besondere Herausforderung dar. Ein Nachweis der therapeutischen Effekte und Anwendungss...

Recent debates and drug safety protocols have demonstrated that herbal medicinal products, as other medicinal products, may occasion-nally have serious adverse effects. Examples are herb-drug interactions of St. John’s wort extracts (Hypericum perforatum L.) with high hyper¬forin contents, such as the reduction of serum levels of cyclosporin and su...

The recent, highly artificial debates on the safety of foodstuff point to a basic problem with the extrapolation of risks derived from the properties of singled out secondary plant metabolites. Examples are the discussion of morphine contents in poppy seed, the transfer of toxicological data from high concentrations of estragol to spices such as es...

Saffron (stigmata of Crocus sativus L.) has been used for medicinal purposes for millennia. Throughout history, uses against cancer and depressive mood can regularly be identified. These applications have also been in the focus of modern research. Promising and selective anti-cancer effects have been observed in vitro and in vivo, but not yet in cl...

The efficacy of willow bark extract in the treatment of painful mobility disorders, such as back pain and arthritis, has been attributed to the content of salicin and its derivatives as pro-drugs of salicylates. However, based on clinical experience and the evidence of experimental pharmacological studies, the fraction of total salicin cannot satis...

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L., SJW) contains numerous compounds with documented biological activity. Constituents that have stimulated the most interest include the naphthodianthrones hypericin and pseudohypericin, a broad range of flavonoids, and the phloroglucinols hyperforin and adhyperforin. According to the actual state of scientifi...

Recent risk assessments for compounds of toxicological concern in herbal preparations involved new approaches and tools for risk minimization such as safety factors, the Margin of Exposure (MOE) or Threshold for Toxicological Concern (TTC) method. These methods are now regularly applied to assess the toxicological properties of isolated single comp...

Since antiquity, saffron (Crocus sativus) has been the most rare and most expensive spice. Adulterations have always been a major obstacle for supplies with pure herbal material. With time passing by, the methods of adulteration have evolved. Those currently used reveal a good knowledge of organic chemistry. According to recent observations and stu...

The genus Hoodia belongs to the botanical family of Asclepiadaceae. Many known species grow exclusively in the subtropical desert regions of Southern Africa. Hoodia is botanically unrelated to the Cactaceae (Cactus), albeit it has been wrongly attributed to this family by badly informed companies without any knowledge of the herb, its botanical cl...

Unter Diabetes mellitus leiden derzeit ca. 8 Millionen Deutsche, Tendenz steigend. Betroffen sind zunehmend auch junge Menschen. Normalisierung des Körpergewichts, verbunden mit körperlicher Aktivität, ist die vorrangige Therapie. Zusätzlich können Insulin oder orale Antidiabetika erforderlich sein. Aber auch unter dieser Medikation weisen 40 % der...

Recently, potential liver toxicity was discussed with the intake of kava extract preparations (Piper methysticum) as anxiolytic drugs. The aim of this study was to test chronic toxicity in rats by oral application of an ethanolic kava full extract. Wistar rats of both sexes were fed 7.3 or 73 mg/kg body weight of ethanolic kava extract for 3 and 6...

Quality and safety are not only key issues of licensed drugs, but also of nutritional supplements, especially when these are produced from herbal starting materials. New guidelines affecting the collection of herbal plant raw material are currently being implemented within the EU countries. EC directives 178/2002/EC and NTA Vol 2B Ed. July 2003 reg...

Preparations from kava (Piper methysticum) have been banned based on the suspicion of adverse liver effects. To date, no convincing proof has been given to substantiate the danger of a relevant toxicity. We systematically tested kava extracts prepared with acetone or ethanol from two different cultivars, both used for kava extract production: Ava...

Preparations from kava (Piper methysticum) have been banned based on the suspicion of adverse liver effects. To date, no convincing proof has been given to substantiate the danger of a relevant toxicity. We systematically tested kava extracts prepared with acetone or ethanol from two different cultivars, both used for kava extract production: Ava...

Die tradierten Anwendungsgebiete topischer Zubereitungen aus Beinwell (Symphytum officinale s.l.) in der Behandlung von stumpfen Traumen konnten in modernen Studien eindrucksvoll bestätigt werden. Bei Verwendung eines Extraktes aus den oberirdischen Pflanzenteilen in einer Creme wurde unter kontrollierten Studienbedingungen zudem ein ausgeprägt ana...

The medicinal virtues of saffron have lately been rediscovered. However, the new findings confirming ancient knowledge in modern research can only be made accessible to the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetics industry if quality can be defined and controlled on all levels of production, from the field down to the finished product. According to EU re...

Backgrounds: Recently, potential liver toxicity was discussed with the intake of kava extract preparations (Piper methysticum) as anxiolytic drugs. The aim of this study was to test chronic toxicity in rats by oral application of an ethanolic kava full extract. Methods: Wistar rats of both sexes were fed 7.3 or 73 mg/kg body weight of ethanolic kav...

Background/Aims: Detection of cytotoxic effects of differently produced kava extracts and isolated kavalactones in liver cells. Methods: Kava root powder, ethanolic full extract, acetonic special extract and the six major kavalactones were tested in primary cultured rat hepatocytes and human HepG2 cells using cytotoxicity assays including the MTT...

Aims: The reproducibility of effects of herbal medicinal preparations is strongly affected by changes in the composition of the phytochemical compounds of the herb. Geographic origin, choice of cultivars, and harvesting times are parameters with a distinct impact on raw material quality. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the variability of t...

Currently, most herbal raw materials are still harvested or wild crafted under completely uncontrollable conditions (Lange 2004). The risk of adulteration is only one aspect of the problem – all discussions regarding efficacy, reproducibility and toxicology of plants for medicinal, alimentary or cosmetical use are of questionable value if a consist...

Ferula gummosa is an endemic species of Iran. Its resin, referred to in the book of Exodus as galbanum, has antispasmodic, carminative, expectorant and stimulant properties. It is primarily used in the treatment of spasmodic conditions of the respiratory and digestive systems. The essential oil is used extensively in perfumery. Galbanum is frequent...

New WHO guidelines on traceability of medicinal plant raw material and Good Agricultural and Collection Practise will ultimately improve quality, safety, efficacy and reproducibility of herbal medicines. As shall be explained with examples from currently running traceability projects for more than 20 different medicinal plants, major consequences o...

Currently, most herbal raw materials are still harvested or wild crafted under completely uncontrollable conditions (Lange 2004). The risk of adulteration is only one aspect of the problem – all discussions regarding efficacy and toxicological aspects of medicinal plants are of questionable value if a consistent and reproducible quality of the raw...

Ferula gumosa is an endemic species of Iran. Its resin, referred to in the book of Exodus as galbanum, has antispasmodic, carminative, expectorant and stimulant properties. It is primarily used in the treatment of spasmodic conditions of the respiratory and digestive systems. The essential oil is used extensively in perfumery. Galbanum is frequentl...