Purple periwinkles battle inflammatory diseases, study suggests
Monday, May 3, 2010 - 17:40
in Health & Medicine
A widely and safely used plant extract acts as a novel anti-inflammatory agent that may one day be used for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, as well as other inflammatory conditions. There is an urgent need for new therapies for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as COPD, otitis media, and atherosclerosis, because the most effective and commonly used agents -- steroids -- often cause serious side effects, such as liver damage, which prevent long-term use.