Natural products of mineral origin (alum, bismuth, calcium, magnesium, silicates and zinc compounds) have maintained their popularity as drugs over the course of time. Some evidence still suggests potential benefit of these substances. Therefore, this paper reviews the characteristic features of the respective minerals and their salts along the course of studies on these products.
KentA.J., BanksM.R. (2010) Pharmacological management of diarrhea. Gastroenterology Clinics of North America, 39, 495–507.
4.
BiererD.W. (1990) Bismuth subsalicylate: history, chemistry, and safety. Reviews of Infectious Diseases, 12, (Supp 1), S3–S8.
5.
DuPontH.L. (1987) Bismuth subsalicylate in the treatment and prevention of diarrheal disease. Drug Intelligence & Clinical Pharmacy, 21, 687–693.
6.
IavazzoC., GkegkesI.D., ZarkadaI.M., FalagasM.E. (2011) Boric acid for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis: the clinical evidence. Journal of Women's Health, 20, 1245–1255.
7.
BonjourJ.P. (2011) Calcium and phosphate: a duet of ions playing for bone health. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 30, 438S–448S.
8.
TremblayA., GilbertJ.A. (2011) Human obesity: is insufficient calcium/dairy intake part of the problem?Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 30, (5 Suppl 1), 449S–453S.
9.
KhattakM.A. (2011) Calcium and magnesium prophylaxis for oxaliplatin-related neurotoxicity: is it a trade-off between drug efficacy and toxicity?The Oncologist, 16, 1780–1783.
10.
MorrisseyJ.F., BarrerasR.F. (1974) Drug therapy. Antacid therapy. The New England Journal of Medicine, 290, 550–554.
11.
KelleyN.E., TepperD.E. (2012) Rescue therapy for acute migraine, part 1: triptans, dihydroergotamine, and magnesium. Headache, 52, 114–128.
12.
AkhtarM.I., UllahH., HamidM. (2011) Magnesium, a drug of diverse use. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 61, 1220–1225.
13.
RosanoffA., WeaverC.M., RudeR.K. (2012) Suboptimal magnesium status in the United States: are the health consequences underestimated?Nutrition Reviews, 70, 153–164.
14.
Rodríguez-MoránM., Simental MendíaL.E., Zambrano GalvánG., Guerrero-RomeroF. (2011) The role of magnesium in type 2 diabetes: a brief based-clinical review. Magnesium Research, 24, 156–162.
15.
CapassoF., D'ArgenioG. (2007) Lassativi. Impiego razionale dei lassativi nella stipsi.Springer, Milan, Italy. PP. 1–117.
IzzoA.A., GaginellaT.S., MascoloN., CapassoF. (1994) Nitric oxide as a mediator of the laxative action of magnesium sulphate. British Journal of Pharmacology, 113, 228–232.
18.
IzzoA.A., GaginellaT.S., MascoloN., CapassoF. (1998) Recent findings on the mode of action of laxatives: the role of platelet activating factor and nitric oxide. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 19, 403–405.
19.
WolfH.T., HegaardH.K., GreisenG., HuusomL., HedegaardM. (2012) Treatment with magnesium sulphate in pre-term birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 32, 135–140.
20.
KabakB., DobsonA.D., VarI. (2006) Strategies to prevent mycotoxin contamination of food and animal feed: a review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 46, 593–619.
21.
LongoL.R. (1986) Antidiarrheal and other gastrointestinal products. In Handbook of nonprescription drugs, 8th edition, American Pharmaceutical Association, Washington, DC. PP. 59–74.
22.
DukesG.E. (1990) Over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications used for the self-treatment of acute nonspecific diarrhea. American Journal of Medicine, 88, (Suppl 6A), 24S–26S.
23.
DuPontH.L. (1983) Using OTC drugs for acute diarrhea. Drug Therapy, 126–136.
24.
BrownleeH.J. (1990) Family practitioner's guide to patient self-treatment of acute diarrhea. American Journal of Medicine, 88, (Suppl 6A), 27S–29S.
25.
NwachukwuC.E., OkebeJ.U. (2008) Antimotility agents for chronic diarrhoea in people with HIV/AIDS. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CD005644.
26.
PriceB. (2010) Industrial-grade talc exposure and the risk of mesothelioma. Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 40, 513–530.
27.
FinleyB.L., PierceJ.S., PhelkaA.D., AdamsR.E., PaustenbachD.J., ThuettK.A., BarlowC.A. (2012) Evaluation of tremolite asbestos exposures associated with the use of commercial products. Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 42, 119–146.
28.
CramerD.W. (2012) The epidemiology of endometrial and ovarian cancer. Hematology Oncology Clinics of North America, 26, 1–12.
29.
SuzukiH., AsakawaA., LiJ.B., TsaiM., AmitaniH., OhinataK., KomaiM., InuiA. (2011) Zinc as an appetite stimulator - the possible role of zinc in the progression of diseases such as cachexia and sarcopenia. Recent Patents on Food, Nutrition & Agriculture, 3, 226–231.
30.
SquittiR. (2012) Metals in Alzheimer's disease: a systemic perspective. Frontiers in Bioscience, 17, 451–472.
31.
LynchR.J. (2011) Zinc in the mouth, its interactions with dental enamel and possible effects on caries; a review of the literature. International Dental Journal, 61 Suppl 3, 46–54.
32.
LaiJ., MoxeyA., NowakG., VashumK., BaileyK., McEvoyM. (2012) The efficacy of zinc supplementation in depression: systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Journal of Affective Disorders, 136, e31–e39.
