HOLISTIC SERVICES

Adrenal Stress Panel

Research Services

Dr. Clark's consulting services include evaluating the worldwide scientific literature on herbal and other complementary therapies, writing educational materials on botanical medicines, and analyzing the quality control of different commercial products.

Dr. Sara Klein Ridgley is an avid and expert researcher. Her Research services are valuable for companies and individuals who don't have the know-how or the time to search for wellness topics, that combine the best of traditional medicine with complementary medicine principles. Please contact Dr. Klein directly for more information on any of her services: E-mail Sara: saraklein@aol.com

Dr. Clark's Consulting Services

Dr. Clark's Background:

• 25 years of research experience in plant chemistry, taxonomy, and morphology

• Research Articles in Scientific Journals (ca. 40)

• Abstracts of research presentations (ca. 50)

• University-level textbook in botany (2nd edition)

• Booklet on a natural treatment for herpes

Professional Skills and Services:

• Isolation and identification of plant natural products

• Separations technology: TLC, HPLC-DAD/RI, GC-MS, PAGE

• Spectroscopic analysis: UV-Vis, IR, NMR (1H/13C), MS (EI, FAB)

• Gene technology: DNA/RNA sequencing, PCR, RAPD, RFLP, genetic transformation

• Plant taxonomy: Species identification, determination of taxonomic validity, chemotaxonomy Microscopy: Light (all types), scanning EM with X-ray diffraction spectrometry, chemical microscopy

• Databasing: Image and data acquisition of botanicals and natural products for CD or diskette-based evergreen database

• Educational: Seminars, workshops and courses on the taxonomy, chemistry, microscopy, and pharmacology of plants

• Development: Search and evaluate international scientific literature on the efficacy of novel herbal and other complementary therapies for new product development

• Writing: Articles, booklets, and pamphlets on herbal medicines: folk history, taxonomy, modern uses, efficacy, scientific validity, and quality control

For more information on Dr. Clark's consulting services, please contact HEALL at heall@heall.com

Update from Dr. Clark:

Most of my work in plant chemistry for the past 20 years has focused on flavonoids and other phenolics. First I rode the crest of the chemotaxonomy wave until it died in the U.S., then explored the ecological applications of plant chemical variation for a short while.

Most recently, the path of plant chemistry has led me to apply this discipline to herbal medicine, which is the most interesting research area that I have involved myself with so far in my scientific career. To my great satisfaction, my research group and I have, of necessity, had to broaden our horizons and develop contacts with naturopathic and allopathic medical doctors, nutritional biochemists, ethnobotanists, and other research groups.

We have joined the fray in evaluating the quality of herbal medicines (i.e., nutritional supplements in the U.S.), designed and conducted bioassays and bioavailability studies, and even contributed to the development of commercial products.

Our involvement with commerce and the public has also been gratifying because of its potential for securing more dependable sources of research funding than the "safe-science" grant system of federal and state agencies.

One of our current projects was inspired by an article in PNAS in 1995 on the anti-HIV activity of lignans in the creosote bush (Larrea tridentata). Based on this article we embarked on a further evaluation of the potential antiviral properties of this species.

Our best results to date entail the effects of Larrea phenolics on herpes viruses. So far, cell culture studies show that these components of leaf resin have a potent inhibitory effect against Herpes simplex-2. We have also collaborated in clinical studies that show these components to be superior to Zovirax (acyclovir) in treating outbreaks of Herpes simplex-1.

We have a growing set of case histories on the successful use of Larrea preparations in the treatment of Human herpes virus-8 (Kaposi's sarcoma virus) in people with full-blown AIDS and against Herpes zoster (shingles).

We are now setting up collaborations for designing and implementing full clinical trials on the efficacy of Larrea preparations in treating people with AIDS. One of the positive fall-outs of this line of research is the tremendous interest of the public in my work. I find it enjoyable to talk about herbal medicine to the lay public and to see how my message comes across in newspaper and magazine articles. I also feel that my role as a link between science and the public, especially in a health-related capacity, fulfills an important obligation, one that many more scientists should embrace that is, to promote the advancement of science in the public arena.

Dr. W. Dennis Clark
http://ls.la.asu.edu/psna
Phytochemical Society of North America