Corticosterone Health Dictionary

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Corticosterone: From 1 Different Sources

Aesculus Hippocastanum

Linn.

Family: Hippocastanaceae; Sapinda- ceae.

Habitat: Endemic to the mountains of Balkan Peninsula and western Asia. Introduced into India; occasionally grown as an ornamental tree.

English: Horse Chestnut tree.

Unani: Baloot. (Quercus incana and Q. infectoria have also been equated with Baloot in National Formulary in Unani Medicine.)

Folk: Pu.

Action: Anti-inflammatory, vasodilator, astringent (used for rheumatism, venous congestion, haemorrhoids), febrifuge. Leaf— used in whooping cough.

Key application: In chronic venous insufficiency, varicosis, nocturnal systremma (cramps in the calves) and swelling of the legs. (Non- invasive treatment measures should also be followed.) (German Commission E, ESCOP, The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.)

Horse Chestnut contains triterpe- noid saponins (especially aescin, a complex mixture composed of acylat- ed glycosides of protoaesigenin and barringtogenol-C, including hippo- caesculin), coumarins and flavonoids. Aescin has been shown to eliminate oedema and reduce exudation. It antagonizes the effect of bradykinin, although it is not a direct bradykinin antagonist. It causes an increase in plasma levels of ACTH, corticosterone and glucose in rats. Hippocaescu- lin and barringtogenol-C-21-angelate show antitumour activity in vitro.

The hydroxycoumarin aesculin leads to increased bleeding time. (Roasting seems to destroy the toxins.) A few fruits can cause severe toxic symptoms. (Francis Brinker.) In some countries, an intravenous mixture containing aescin is used after surgery. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)... aesculus hippocastanum

Glucocorticoids

One of the two main groups of CORTICOSTEROIDS. CORTISOL, CORTISONE and corticosterone are part of this group and are essential for the body to utilise CARBOHYDRATE, FAT and PROTEIN – in particular, when the body is reacting to stress. Glucocorticoids occur naturally but can be synthesised, and they have strong anti-in?ammatory properties, being used to treat conditions in which in?ammation is a part.... glucocorticoids

Adrenal Glands

A pair of small, triangular endocrine glands located above the kidneys. Each adrenal gland has 2 distinct parts: the outer cortex and the smaller, inner medulla.

The cortex secretes aldosterone, which, together with hydrocortisone and corticosterone and small amounts of androgen hormones helps to maintain blood pressure. Hydrocortisone controls the body’s use of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates and is also important in helping the body to cope with stress. Hydrocortisone and corticosterone also

suppress inflammatory reactions and some activities of the immune system. Production of adrenal cortical hormones is controlled by ACTH, which is produced in the pituitary gland.

The adrenal medulla is part of the sympathetic autonomic nervous system. In response to stress, it secretes the hormones adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine), which increase heart-rate and blood flow.... adrenal glands

Corticosteroid

(corticoid) n. any steroid hormone synthesized by the adrenal cortex. There are two main groups of corticosteroids. The glucocorticoids (e.g. *cortisol, *cortisone, and corticosterone) are essential for the utilization of carbohydrate, fat, and protein by the body and for a normal response to stress. Naturally occurring and synthetic glucocorticoids have very powerful anti-inflammatory effects and are used to treat conditions that involve inflammation. The mineralocorticoids (e.g. *aldosterone) are necessary for the regulation of salt and water balance.... corticosteroid

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