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. 2016 May;11(2):128–145. doi: 10.2174/1574884711666160603012237

Table 2.

Preclinical studies showing effects of combining pleiotropic natural products with pharmaceutical drugs.

Medical Condition Drug Natural Product Major Outcome Refs.
Epilepsy Valproate Curcumin Curcumin enhanced antiseizure activity of subtherapeutic doses of valproate, provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. [89]
Epilepsy Carbamazepine n-3 PUFA n-3 PUFA increased protection from seizures in combination with carbamazepine [90]
Depression Corticorsterone Curcumin Curcumin and corticosterone reduces depressive-like behaviors, increased sucrose consumption and reduce mobility time [91]
Depression Fluoxetine, Mitrazapine n-3 PUFA n-3 PUFA potentiated subtherapeutic doses of antidepressant drugs [92, 93]
Pain Morphine Ginsenoids Ginsenoids and morphine yielded synergistic antinociception in
nociceptive rats
[94]
Pain Morphine n-3 PUFA n-3PUFA potentiated analgesia and prevented tolerance to morphine [95]
Cancer Capecitabine Curcumin Curcumin potentiated anticancer activity of capecitabine through the
NF-κB pathway
[96]
Cancer 5-Fluorouracil/ Oxaliplatin Curcumin Gastric tumor volume was significantly reduced in mice when curcumin was added to a combination of 5-FU/oxiplatin combination. [97]
Cancer 5-Fluorouracil Resveratrol Resveratrol potentiated 5-FU anticancer activity in skin cancer
mouse model
[98]
Diabetic Neuropathy Enalapril α-Lipoic acid Enalapril with LA prevented vascular and neuronal damage in diabetic rats [99]
Ischemic Stroke Etanercept α-Lipoic acid Etanercept with LA enhanced recovery in cerebral infarct,
motor deficit and stroke
[100]
Schizophrenia Clozapine α-Lipoic acid Clozapine with LA reversed schizophrenia-like symptoms in mice [101]