Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the treatment or prevention of cancer, H. pylori infections, chronic inflammatory conditions, cardiovascular diseases or cerebral vascular diseases in a mammal, comprising the administration of the mammal of an effective amount of a composition containing a matrine component and dictamnine. Another aspect of the invention relates to a composition comprising at least 15 &mgr;mole of a matrine component and at least 0.15 &mgr;mole of dictamnine.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a process for the manufacture of a herbal composition, said process comprising: a. subjecting a matrine containing plant material, in the absence of a plant material derived from the species Dictamnus, to an extraction with an aqueous solvent, optionally followed by a concentration step, to produce a herbal extract I; b. subjecting a plant material derived from the species Dictamnus, to an extraction with an aqueous solvent, optionally followed by a concentration step, to produce a herbal extract II; c. mixing the herbal extracts I and II; d. provided the resulting mixture contains a significant amount of water, drying the mixture to a water content of less than 6 wt. %. The herbal composition according to the present invention may advantageously be used in a method of treating or preventing cancer, H. pylori infections, chronic inflammatory conditions, cardiovascular diseases or cerebral vascular diseases in mammals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of one or more of apigenin, luteolin and morin and functional analogues thereof for the manufacture of a preparation for the treatment and/or prevention of a disorder related to altered bone metabolism, in particular osteoporosis, osteopenia, Paget's disease, osteolytic metastasis in cancer patients, osteodistrophy in liver disease or the altered bone metabolism caused by renal failure or haemodialysis, bone fracture, bone surgery, pregnancy, anorexia nervosa, and in immobile, malnourished and weight losing persons.