Journal of Medicinal Plants
Year:2018 | Volume:17 | Issue:66 |Papers Count:18

Despite of many studies indicated that use of synthetic drugs to improve the concentration of testosterone in achieving secondary traits in men as a result, increased muscle mass and strength in this group, However, it has been shown that the use of these drugs in men causes physical and hormonal disorder and reduces performance when not in use. On the other hand, due to the clarification of side effects and the reporting of harmful effects of synthetic drugs, it has been shown that Plant products and exercise as substitute or complementary synthetic drugs can be a good alternative to the effects of kinetics and therefore it can be recommended the supplementation of herbals to coaches and athletes. Therefore, in this review, in addition to study of mechanisms of the increasing testosterone concentrations, we examine the effects of the use of some herbal supplements as well as physical activity.

Background: delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is Common experience and prevalent after the unusual activity and exhaustive.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effect of supplementation Jdvar (Zedoary) and a single bout of exhaustive exercise on some indices of muscle damage men's handball.Methods: In this quasi-experimental study was conducted as double-blind, 12 handball players (mean age=21.42 ± 1.56 years, height=186 ± 5.85 cm, weight=83.25 ± 10 kg, BMI=24.09 ±2.93 kg/m2) were divided randomly into two groups. Each group had a maximum Bruce protocol until exhaustion Previous (morning fasting) and immediately after the protocol were collected Blood samples from subjects. Then supplement group 3 capsules daily 500 milligram Jadvar and control group received 3 capsules daily 500 mg of maltodextrin for seven days.24 hours after taking the last capsule subjects was performed maximum Bruce protocol to exhaustion and as the first protocol Blood samples were collected before and immediately after the protocol.Results: The results showed concentrations (CPK) serum after one week was increased in both group's supplementation and control; but concentration (LDH) after one week of supplementation reduced in both groups, but this increase and decrease were not significant in CPK and LDH.Conclusion: It seems that acute consumption Jadvar complete and exhaustive exercise not significant effect on levels of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase in men handball.

Background: Documenting of indigenous knowledge related to traditional medicine often leads to discovery of new drugs and prevent from destruction and forgotten it.Objective: Documentation of medicinal use of Amygdalus lycioides Spach var. horrida in traditional medicine of local people Naein, Khoor and Biabanak county in northeast of Esfahan in Iran.Methods: Ethnopharmacological information was collected using snowball sampling, Participant Observation and semi-structured interviews from 120 informants. The question of the interviews includes demography of informants, plant local name, medicinal properties, symptoms of the disease, used part, mode of application, route of administration and effectiveness of medicine, Adverse Drug Reaction, Medications or alternatives for treatment, In addition, it was also investigated about whether the informants used it for therapeutic purposes.Results: In Traditional medicine of Case study the A.lycioides are used in the treatment of disease such as diabetes, blood fat, hypotensive, Inflammation of the prostate, durectic, kidney stone, pain, Constipation, Colds and asthma.98% of informants have reached the desired medicinal properties using aerial parts of the species.Conclusion: This study report Medicinal properties of A. lycioides treating blood fat, Inflammation of the prostate, durectic, and kidney stone for the first time. Also the result shows that for medicinal uses it is not necessary to use the root of plant.

Background: Eucalyptus globulus is one of the aromatic and medicinal plants belong to Myrtaceae family. The main combination of essential oil of this plant contains 1-8 Cineole with many medicinal properties.Objective: The effect of harvesting time and location on the essential oil content and composition of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) leaves.Methods: This experiment was conducted in three regions of Kermanshah province (SarPol-e Zahab, Qasr-e Shirin and Gilan-e Gharb) and four seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter) on factorial experiment in the base of randomized complete block design with three replications in 2014- 2015. The leaves essential oil extracted by hydrodistillation and its qualitative and quantitative analyses of oils were performed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS).Results: The effect of regions and harvesting time on the essential oil content and component of eucalyptus was significant at 1% level. So that the highest number of constituents (39 Compounds) of the oils and the highest amount of the main ingredients 1, 8 cineoles, alpha-pinen, alpha terpinen were observed in Qasr-e Shirin and Gilan-e Gharb area in the summer.Conclusion: The harvesting time was one of the most important factors influencing the amount of active ingredient of medicinal plants and the highest emount of essential oils and main componds of eucalyptus was obtained in summer.

Background: Medicinal plants of Genus Ferula are prennial herbs of Apiaceae family which are widely distributed all around the word. Many of Feula species are exclusive and endemic to Iran which has widespread uses in traditional medicine as food additive, as well as a carminative, antispasmodic and expectorants. Coumarins, flavonoids and sulfurcontaining compounds with different biological effects have been reported from the plant.Objective: The phytochemical investigation on total extract of the aerial parts of Ferula persica Willd var. Latisecta collected from the Central Alborz Protected Area was subjected with the aim of purification and determination of main metabolite constituents of the plant extract.Methods: Dried and powdered plant material was extracted by maceration method. Then the extract was concentrated under reduced pressure to leave a residue which was defatted and chromatographed on a silica gel column by increasing slightly the polarity with solvent. After the serial fractionation the fractions were compared by TLC, and those giving similar coumarin spots were combined and further purified on PLC to give a pure natural compound.Results: After the purification step the remarkable constituents were obtained. Elucidation of results by spectral methods (IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and DEPT) demonstrate that a coumarin namely: Auraptene (7-genaryloxycoumarin) was isolated from the aerial parts of F. persica. var. latisecta.Conclusion: F. persica is an endemic and endangered species of medicinal plants of Iran which contains different natural compounds such as coumarins. So the Protection of the plant for its economic and scientific uses is so important.

Background: Achievement of optimal production of medicinal plants along with adherence to scientific principles of sustainable agriculture is of great importance.Objective: Evaluation of different mycorrhiza fungi and biophosphorus fertilizer on morphological, yield, yield components, and quality and quantity of essential oils in cumin.Methods: This study was carried out in a factorial experiment based on RCBD with three replications at Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands. Factors were considered as inoculation with mycorrhiza species (G. mosseae, G. interradices, G. hoi) and types of biophosphate application (seed inoculation, and seed inoculation+foliar application), and non inoculation with employed treatments considered as control.Results: Results showed statistically (P<0.01) significant increase in plant height, canopy diameter, number of stem branches, number of umbel in plant, number of umbelet in umbel, number of seeds in umbel, number of seeds in plant, seed thousand weight, seed yield and essential oils content upon application of treatments compared to control. The highest value of plant height, canopy diameter, number of stem branches, number of umbel in plant and essential oils content were achived in plants inoculated with G. interradices. Maximum essential oil content and yield were obtained in plants treated with G. interradices, and the highest value of major oil constituents (Cuminaldehyde, p-Mentha-1, 4-dien-7-ol, g-Terpinene, g-Terpinene-7-al, b-Pinene, p-Cymene and Myrcene) was identified fromG. mosseae and G. hoi treated plants.Conclusion: Totally and accordance with iteraction effects, co-application of G. interradices and foliar spray of biophosphate fertilizer produced maximum essential oil content and yield in cumin.

Background: Achillea filipendula Lam. is an aromatic and medicinal plant, green with hard and thick stem and 80-100 cm height in proper condition.Objective: In this research, for determining the proper plant part of Achillea filipendula for essential oil extraction, the seeds of this plant were collected from East Azerbayjan province and cultivated in Research Station of Alborz (Karaj). The oil percentage and chemical composition was studied in full flowering stage.Methods: The aerial parts of the plant were harvested in spring (2013). The essential oils of stem, leaves and flowers were extracted by hydro-distillation separately. The essential oil of total aerial parts was also obtained. The oils were analyzed by GC and GC/MS.Results: The results showed that the essential oil yields were 0.67% for flowers, 0.77% for leaves, 0.11% for stem and 0.6% for total aerial parts. Seventeen compounds were identified in the flower essential oil with santolina alcohol (18.5%), 1, 8-cineole (26.2%), borneol (19.3%) and bornyl acetate (4.9%) as main components. Fifteen compounds were identified in the leaf essential oil with santolina alcohol (23.5%), 1, 8-cineole (26.5%), borneol (19.1%) and bornyl acetate (6.3%) as major constituents. In the essential oil of stem, 13 components were characterized that neryl acetate (58.3%), spathulenol (7.4%) and globulol (3.4%) were the main components. Fifteen compounds were identified in aerial parts essential oil with santolina alcohol (20.6%), 1, 8-cineole (33.7%), borneol (20.4%) and germacrene D (4.2%) as major constituents.Conclusion: All these parts of the plants contain essential oil, but with different yield and some difference and similarity in composition. It can be concluded that total aerial parts of Achillea filipendulaare appropriate for distillation in spite of previous works that only flowers were used for obtaining essential oil.

Background: Obesity is one of the problems of major concern to today's society. Weight loss has been reported forKelussia odoratissima Mozaff.Objective: Aim of this research is to examine the effect of this plant extract on plasma total antioxidant capacity and Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 (BMP7) gene expressions in white adipose tissue (WAT).Methods: Eighty male wistar rats were divided in two prevention (A) and treatment (B) groups and every group were divided to four subgroups. The A for prevention from obesity and B were used for reducing of obesity. WAT was obtained after the study for BMP7 gene expression (with using Real time PCR). Liver sample for catalase activity, blood for measuring of total antioxidant capacity and paraoxonase 1 activity were prepared.Results: Weight loss and BMP7 gene expression was seen only in subgroup that receiving K. odoratissimahydroethanolic extract in the A group. Contrary to expectation, K. odoratissima extract was reduced the total antioxidant capacity in both groups, reduced level of serum paraoxonase 1 activity and increased liver catalase (p value=0.002) in comparing to the subgroup that received high fat diet (p value=0.011).Conclusion: K. odoratissima hydroethanolic extract has an effective role in prevention of weight gain and enhanced liver catalase activity. Increasing in BMP7 gene expression probably causes alteration of WAT to brown adipose tissue (BAT). According to this study, consumption of extract can reduce serum total antioxidant capacity and is likely to exacerbate oxidative stress.

Background: Drought stress reduces growth and changes metabolites of medicinal plants. Mycorrhizal fungus in interaction with phosphorus can modify drought stress.Objective: Study the effects of drought stress, mycorhiza and phosphorus fertilizer on growth indexes, quantity and quality of essential oil of medicinal plant Dracocephalum moldavica L.Methods: This study was done on the base of factorial experiment in randomized complete block design with five replications. The factors were consist of three level of drought stress 95% Fc, 65% Fc and 35% Fc, three level of mycorrhizal inoculation (non-inoculated, Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradiceae) and two level of phosphorus fertilizer (0, 100 kg/ha).Results: Interaction effects were significant between drought stress, mycorhiza and phosphorus factors in all measured attributes at the 1% level. The highest fresh weight of plant and leaf were related to no drought stress condition (95% of field capacity), application of mycorhiza and phosphorus fertilizer treatments. The highest number of flowers, fresh weight of root, and essential oil percent were recorded in mild drought stress (65% of field capacity), mycorrhiza inoculation and application of phosphorus fertilizer. The lowest amount of all of above mentioned traits obtained in severe water stress, without Mycorhiza and phosphorus fertilizer treatments. The highest content of 6-methyl- 2-phenylindole and Z-citral in essential oil were obtained with no drought stress treatment. The mild water stress with application of G. intraradices increased the geranyl formate, geranyl acetate and caryophyllene oxide in essential oil.Conclusion: Application of two mychorhiza strains in severe water stress can increase physiological yield and essential oil percent of Deracocephalum moldavica in about 45- 100%. The essential oil was increased even in no water stress with application of mychorhiza strains.

Background: Antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates are the main nosocomial infection agent and the norB efflux pump plays an important role in antibiotic resistance.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition of Anthemis atropatanaextract and analysis of its anti-efflux activity on ciprofloxacin resistant Staphylococcus aureusstrains.Methods: In this experimental study, the A. atropatana extract was prepared by maceration technique and its phytochemical composition was analyzed by GC/MS method. Subsequently, norB efflux pump was detected in 50 clinical isolates ofS. aureus using cartwheel and PCR methods. Finally, after treatment of strains with SubMIC concentration of extract, its anti-efflux activity was evaluated via Real Time PCR.Results: GC-MS analysis of A. atropatana extract was shown the most frequent component was belonged to Dodecane (9.8%) and Tridecane (6.4%). Moreover, the cartwheel and PCR methods was showed that out of 50 isolates, 10 isolates had norB efflux pump. In addition to, after treatment of strains with subMIC concentration of A. atropatana extract, the Real Time PCR results was indicated that thenorB gene expression was down-regulated.Conclusion: Based on the results obtained in this study, it seems that the extract has potential uses for pharmaceutical industries.

Background: Zero- iron nanoparticles, due to their high degradation properties, cause the destruction of many pollutants. Among the methods for synthesizing iron nanoparticles, green synthesis using plant extracts is more beneficial for the synthesis of nanoparticles than other methods.Objective: In this research, zero iron nanoparticles are synthesized in a one-step process by using of Mentha longifolia L. extract, which includes phenolic compounds, from the reduction of iron (III) chloride salt. The purpose of this research is to synthesize and develop a green method for the preparation of zero iron nanoparticles.Methods: The extract was obtained by percolation method at room temperature and distilled water solvent. The extract was added to a FeCl3.6H2O iron solution of 0.01 M. The color change from yellow to dark brown indicates the formation of nanoparticles. Changing in pH and color of the solution after the start of the reaction were investigated and recorded. Specifications of the synthesized nanoparticles were analyzed using SEM (scanning electron microscopy), UV-vis and FTIR.Results: Iron nanoparticles were synthesized at 46oC, 87 min and the volume ratio of 0.01 M iron salts to the extract 5: 1. In this condition, the nanoscale size was 30.44 nanometers, which was confirmed by the SEM image.Conclusion: The synthesis of zero-iron nanoparticles using Mentha longifolia L. extract is possible. The antioxidant compounds in the plant can reduce iron (III) and produce zero iron nanoparticles.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the main causes of physical disability worldwide. Considering the complications of common treatments of OA, including non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids, establishment of new treatments is crucial.Objective: This study aimed to explore the effect of Echinops cephalotes extract on the main inflammatory biomarkers in OA.Methods: Hydroalcoholic extract of Echinops cephalotes, Ibuprofen and betamethasone were prepared to investigate their effects on inflammatory biomarkers. Human monocyte/macrophage (THP-1) cells and chondrocytes cells were used as a model of monocyte/macrophage and human cartilage cells in osteoarthritis. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce production of inflammatory cytokines in both cells. After RNA extraction and production of cDNA, RT_PCR & PCR were done. Then Real Time-PCR was used to investigate the amount of expression of proinflammatory genes.Results: Echinops cephalotes extract reduced mRNA expression level of proinflammatory cytokines in the cells induced by LPS. Moreover, production of PGE2 and NO in in the LPSinduced THP-1 cells was reduced by this extract. Ibuprofen and betamethasone were more effective in reducing above inflammatory agents than the extract.Conclusion: Echinops cephalotes extract can be used as a supplementary treatment option in osteoarthritis to reduce NSAIDs and corticosteroids dose in treatment of this disease.

Background: Medicinal plants are considered as one of the ideal therapeutic sources for cancer prevention or treatment due to their bioactive contents and low side effects to humans. Centaurea genus have shown potential anti-tumor activity on some cancer cell lines in previous studies.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of three species of Centaurea genus (C. albonitens, C. pseudoscabiosa, C. salicifolia) on Nalm-6 cells.Methods: Nalm-6 cells were treated with increasing concentrations of the methanolic extracts of the aerial parts of threeCentaurea species, then, their cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects were evaluated using trypan blue, MTT and DAPI staining assays. Moreover, annexin V/PI staining and cell cycle analysis were performed for further investigation.Results: The results of trypan blue, MTT assay and DAPI staining revealed that all 3 extracts exhibit cytotoxic and anti-proliferative properties against Nalm-6 cells in a dose- and timedependent manner (P£0.001). Interestingly, there was no considerable cytotoxicity in normal cells, MDBK. The flow cytometric analysis validated thatCentaurea dose dependently induces apoptosis and G1 phase arrest in Nalm-6 cells (P£0.01).Conclusion: Due to the safety profile of the natural products, our study suggests that Centaurea extracts might provide insight into a novel therapeutic strategy and may confer advantages for acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment, however further researches are necessary.

Background: The medicinal plant milk thistle with the scientific name of Silybum marianum is an annual or biennial herb native to the Mediterranean regions and is found through the world. Extracts from the seeds of this plant have been used to cure liver disorders since ancient times. Featured phytochemicals of this medicinal plant are flavonolignan compounds and silybin is the most important one.Objective: In this study, the effects of applying different incoming feeds, defatting procedures and solvents on silymarin extraction process from the seeds of milk thistle have been investigated.Methods: Reflux extraction was used to obtain extracts. All extracts have been refluxed for 6 hours and the temperature was fixed at 60oC. Different incoming feeds including ground seeds, solvent defatted meal, cold press defatted meal, and separated pericarps have been subjected to the extraction system. Also, three different solvents including methanol, methanol 80%, and ethanol 80% were employed. Prepared extracts were weighed and then HPLC method analysis was used for quantifying silymarin compounds.Results: According to the presented data, the concentration and amount of silymarin in different extracts was compared. The extract obtained from ground seeds with methanol was able to reach the most amount of silymarin while the highest concentration of silymarin was obtained from the extract of ground pericarp with ethanol 80%.Conclusion: This study shows that a higher amount of active ingredient can be extracted by using ground seeds and methanol solvent. Of course, there are more impurities in this extract.

Background: Ferulago angulata (Known in Iran as Chavir) is an endangered species with Anti fugal and anti-bacterial activity that can act as a natural preservator.Objective: Evaluation the effect of in vitro culture conditions and plant growth regulators on somaclonal variation and the phytochemical content of in vitro regenerated plants.Methods: Induced calli were transferred to Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) for regeneration stage. The essential oils were extracted by Clevenger apparatus and the yield and composition of essential oils were assayed by GC/Mass. Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR), Start codon Targeted (SCoT) and CAAT Box Derived Polymorphism (CBDP) markers were used to assess somaclonal variation.Results: The highest callus formation was obtained via radicle explant in MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/L 2, 4-D and 1mg/L BAP. Maximum percentage of regeneration was occurred via derived calli from hypocotyl in MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/L BAP and 0.5 NAA. The phytochemical assay revealed a considerable differences between natural habitats and in vitroregenerated plants. The percentage of α-Pinene in plants derived from natural habitats and in vitroconditions were 27 and 1.53 respectively. The yield of essential oils were 2.26 and 0.64 (ml/100g D.M.) in natural habitats andin vitro regenerated plants respectively. The result of PCR assay indicated genetic variation between tissue cultured samples.Conclusion: The results indicated that in vitro culture conditions had a considerable effect on genome and metabolome ofFerulago angulate.