Journal of Medicinal Plants
Year:2008 | Volume:7 | Issue:28|Papers Count:15

Saffron is the dried stigmata of the flowers of saffron (Crocus sativus L., Iridaceae). Saffron has various pharmacological effects and is regarded as a potent drug. Thus research on the biological activities of saffron and its active constituents may have clinical and public health applications. To evaluate the basic and clinical pharmacology of saffron and its active constituents, the English papers in the data bases EMBASE, SCOPUS, MEDLINE, SCIENCE DIRECT, CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS, English and Persian papers in the data base SID and proceedings of the Iranian physiology and pharmacology congresses and Iranian congresses concerning saffron were retrieved by using keywords comprising Crocus sativus, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-genotoxic, memory, neuroprotective, analgesic, anticonvulsant, opioid dependence, antidepressant, cardiovascular, lipids, respiratory, gastric ulcer, immune system, ocular, antimicrobial and toxicity and their Persian equivalents from 1975 until November 2008. The investigations demonstrate that saffron and its active constituents have anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-genotoxic, memory and learning enhancing, neuroprotective, analgesic and anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, opioid abstinence syndrome alleviating, antidepressant, hypotensive, hypolipidemic, insulin resistance reducing, tissues oxygenation enhancing, bronchodilator, antitussive, gastric ulcer preventive, Immune-stimulator, retina protective and antibacterial effects. In view of the existing deficiencies in the conducted researches, further clinical trials, pharmacokinetic and toxicological studies concerning saffron are recommended.

Manna is a peculiar odour and a sweetish taste of the food miraculously produced in plains and forests. Ecological variation and rich Fauna and flora in Iran is caused to form the kinds of unique manna with special formula and with peculiar production mechanisms. From olden times, kinds of Manna were used in traditional medicine by sages, such as Ibn Sina. Astragal Manna, Camel’s thorn Manna, Tamarisk Manna, Oak Manna, Trehala Manna, Cotoneaster Manna, Willow Manna and Anzaroot Manna are important kinds of manna in Iran. Scientific knowledge about the kinds of manna productive species and mechanisms is necessary for Constant revenue of these unique value sources particularly for them that their origin is restricted to areas of Iran. So in the present article, we review producer’s factors and mechanisms of manna in Iran.

Background: The traditional use of medicinal plants to treat diabetes mellitus after using synthetic oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin is point to search for safer and more effective drugs of plant origin, although study of their mechanism have been continued. Olive tree and its products have important components of a healthy diet because of their phenolic content.Objective: We are interested to investigate the effects of the methanol extraction of Olea europaea leaf on insulin secretory function of pancreatic islets which were isolated freshly from rat.Methods: Plants were extracted with methanol and then powdered through freeze-drying. Islets were isolated from male adult pancreas and cultured overnight, preincubated in glucose 2.8 mM then incubated at 370C in the presence of basal (2.8 mM) and stimulatory (16.7 mM) doses of glucose, with different doses of plants extracted (0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 1 mg/ml), after 30 min incubation the secreted insulin was assayed by ELISA kit.Results: Data indicated that Olea europaea leaf extract at concentration of 0.05 mg/ml plus basal glucose could enhance insulin secretion from isolated pancreatic islets compared to control group which exposed just to basal glucose, significantly (4.2 ± 0.48 vs 10.5 ± 0.29 mg/l) (p<0.05), also compared to other groups. Although it could increase insulin secretion at stimulant glucose level but it was not significant.Conclusion: Olive leaf extract, probably without metabolic transformation, could increase insulin secretion from freshly isolated pancreatic islets of rat at basal glucose level significantly, which point to that its affect might be akin to glucose.

Background: The English common name of Aqularia sinensis (Lour.) Gilg. IV. (Thymelaeaceae) is Incense Tree, which is known as Oud in Persian. Aquilaria species produce a resin-deposited part of the trunk. The species was once widely planted in Hong Kong as the raw material of incense exported to China, Southeast Asia and places as far away as Arabia.Objective: Investigation of the chemical constituents of the injured or uninjured wood of the plant can offers valuable information in order to know the bioorganic process of resin formation.Methods: Methanolic extracts of the uninjured wood of plant was used in order to isolation of sterols components. Separation and purification of the compounds was carried on silica gel column chromatography and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Structural elucidation of the constituents was based on the data obtained from H-NMR, 13C-NMR, HMBC, HMQC, DEPT and H-H COSY. Results: Four sterols, stigmast-4-ene-3-one, stigmast-4-ene-3,6-dione, b-daucosterol and b-sitosterol were identified based on spectral data which have never been reported from this plant until now.Conclusion: Methanol extract of Aqularia sinensis consists of sterols, of which stigmast-4-ene-3-one, stigmast-4-ene-3, 6-dione, b-daucosterol and b-sitosterol (with Stigmastan skeleton) are the main compounds and is reported for the first time.

Background: Great interest has recently been focused on the addition of herbs and their derivatives to foods and biological system, due to their well-known abilities to scavenge free radicals.Objective: The aims of this study were to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the essential oil of Zataria multiflora Boiss. and (ii) to use this essential oil as natural antioxidant in crude soy bean oil.Methods: In this study, essential oil was: (i) analyzed by GC/MS and its chemical components were identified. The antioxidant activity of essential oil was investigated with DPPH free radical scavenging and b-carotene bleaching methods and was compared with synthetic antioxidant (BHT). Also, the antioxidant activity of essential oil was determined by measuring peroxide and thiobarbituric acid values in crude soy bean oil (oven test).Results: Results showed that carvacrol (26.08%) and thymol (17.23%) were main phenolic components in the essential oil. The EC50 value of Zataria multiflora essential oil was determined as 2.22±0.04 mg/ml. This parameter for BHT was 0.58±0.02. By the b-carotene bleaching system, antioxidant activity of essential oil at 0.45% was equal to 72% and for BHT at 0.1% was determined 81%. In oven test, the antioxidant activity of Zataria multiflora essential oil at 0.1% was almost equal to BHA at 0.02 % in crude soy bean oil.Conclusion: The essential oil showed good antioxidant activity and therefore, it can be used as a natural antioxidant in some foods after complementary tests.

Background: Headache is the most common complaint in patients. In order to alleviate the headache, specialists have recommended different chemical and non-chemical drugs. Acetaminophen is one of the widespread analgesic drugs used for headache relief. On the other hand, tea (Camellia thea Lk.) is the most common drink for the most people world wide. In addition, previous studies indicated that tea’s alkaloids seem to inhibit the acetaminophen metabolism. Objective: The present study aims to assess the effect of tea consumption on effectiveness of acetaminophen.Methods: In order to test the hypothesis, 120 patients suffered from headache referred to the Shaheed Motahari general hospital in Jahrom (Fars province, south of IRAN) were requested to take part in a single blind clinical trial study. 58 patients as the case group have received a glass of tea and after 20 min they had taken a 325 mg acetaminophen tablet. 62 patients as the control group received a glass of warm water and 20 min later had the same drug. Pain intensity was twice measured by a self-report questionnaire. The first one was 15 min before the tea or water consumption and the second, 60 min after receiving the acetaminophen. Results: Results showed that: consumption of tea before taking acetaminophen significantly reduced the pain intensity comparing with the control group. In addition, with respect to sex and age, no significant differences were found between the groups. Conclusion: It can be concluded that consumption of tea before taking acetaminophen may accelerate the analgesic effectiveness of the drug.

Background: The gram-negative bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), identified in 1982, is now recognized as the primary etiological factor associated with the development of gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. The growing problem of antibiotic resistance by the organism demands the search for novel compounds from plant based sources.Objective: The present study is aimed at evaluating the anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of 10 Iranian plant extracts on clinical isolates of H. pylori.Methods: Gastric biopsy samples were obtained from patients presenting with gastroduodenal complications. H. pylori was isolated from the specimens following standard microbiology procedures. The disk diffusion method was used to determine the susceptibility of 12 isolates to methanol plant extracts (Fruit and leaves of Melia azedarach, Melia indica and aerial parts of Stachys setifera, Stachys turcomanica, Stachys trinervis, Stachys subaphylla, Stachys byzanthina, Stachys persica, Stachys inflata, Stachys laxa).  Results: The plants tested at 8 mg/disc concentration demonstrated anti-Helicobacter pylori activity with zone diameters of inhibition ranging from 12-38 mm. Of these, Stachys setifera (aerial parts), Melia indica (Fruit) and Melia azedarach (leaves) showed the most potent anti -H. pylori activity on the isolates.Conclusion: Due to the rise in antibiotic resistance, new sources of anti-H. pylori drugs are needed. The use of medicinal plants may have potential benefit in eradicating such problems. According to the results of this study, further studies will be necessary to investigate the effects of other plants of Iran against H. pylori infection.

Backround: Recently, resistance to anti viral drugs has been reported. Hence, study of other components for obtaining new treatment approaches is necessary.Objective: The main objective of this study is to determine the inhibitory effect of Glycyrrihza Glabra on HSV replication.Methods: The first step was to evaluate the concentration of Glycyrrihza Glabra which was non toxic for Vero cells. Then, antiviral effects of Glycyrrihza Glabra in non toxic concentration zone were determined through TCID50 Method. IF method was also used in order to determine the reduction of viral proteins.Results: The results indicated that inhibitory effects of Glycyrrihza Glabra on replication of HSV are related to primary time of replication cycle.Conclusion: Glycyrrihza Glabra extract can be a suitable choice for treatment due to HSV infection.

Background: The genus Teucrium (Lamiaceae) is comprised of about 340 species widespread over the world. In the Flora Iranica, this genus is represented by 12 species, of which 3 are endemic. Several Teucrium species are used in Iranian folk medicine as medicinal plant. There is no study on the volatile oil of Teucrium hyrcanicum in the literature. Objective: Investigation and comparison on essential oil constituents of two populations T. hyrcanicum collected from two localities.Methods: The aerial parts of T. hyrcanicum were collected from road of Khalkhal-Asalem and Rostamabad; shade dried and then essential oil extracted by means of hydrodistillation and analyzed with GC and GC/MS. Results: The essential oil yields were 0.25 and 0.20 (w/w) based on dry weight of plant, respectively. 38 and 15 compounds were identified, representing 93.1% and 93.3% of the total oils, respectively. In the oil obtained from Khalkhal-Asalem. Hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (12.7%), linalool (11.7%) and E- b -farnesene (10.7%) were found as the major components. From Rostamabad sample E- b-Farnesene (60.6%) and E-a-Farnesene (15.0 %) were the most abundant. Conclusion: The results showed that the difference in the volatile constituents could be considered as chemotaxonomic significance and it may be attributed to their different ecological and geographical origin factors.

Background: Pain is a sensory modality, which in many cases represents the only symptom for the diagnosis of several diseases. It often has a protective function. Although morphine has reigned for centuries as the king of painkillers, its rule hasn’t been totally benign. There are concerns about its addictive properties and side effects, which include respiratory depression, drowsiness, decreased gastrointestinal motility, nausea and several alterations of the endocrine and autonomic nervous systems. Since Salvia officinalis (sage) is used traditionally in the treatment of painful illnesses, it became worthwhile to evaluate its antinociceptive activities in mice.Objective: The objective of the present work is to evaluate the analgesic activity of essential oil of sage leaves by the formalin test in mice.Methods: The interaction between the plant leaves and opioidergic system on formalin-induced pain were carried out. The essential oil (0.2, 0.25 and 0.3 ml/kg) was injected intraperitoneally. The control groups were administered sunflower oil as vehicles of essential oil. Also, the LD50 of the essential oil of the plant was measured.Results: The results showed that the essential oil of the plant (0.3 ml/kg) decreased both phases of pain. Also, the antinociceptive effect of essential oil (0.3 ml/kg) and morphine (0.5 ml/kg body wt.) were reversed by pretreatment with naloxone (0.5 ml/kg). The LD50 of the essential oil was found 0.5 ml/kg, i.p.Conclusion: The potent analgesic effects were blocked by naloxone, indicating that the analgesic effects are associated with the activation of opioid receptors in the central nervous system. The present data indicate that the plant has analgesic effects on mice and the plant should be considered in future therapeutic researches.

Background: The Teucrium genus belongs to Lamiaceae family and has 13 species in Iran. On the other hand the essential oils which are the plant’s secondary metabolite products are widely used in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry, as antibacterial and antioxidant products.Objective: Identification of the components of essential oil of Teucrium orientale L. subsp. taylori. and its comparison with Teucrium orientale L. subsp. orientale.Methods: This plant was collected from 55 Km. distant of Khoramabad at east of Lorestan province. Voucher specimens were deposited at the herbarium of Natural Resource and Agriculture Center of Lorestan Province (NO: 5783). The air-dried aerial parts were subjected to hydrodistillation method. Identification of essential oil constituents was made by GC and GC/MS.Results: Fourty components were identified in the essential oil and the main constituents were linalool (28.60%), caryophyllene oxide (15.62%), octanol (9.55%), b - pinene (8.75%), b- caryophyllene (7.33%), germacrene-D (4.60%) and 1,8-cineol (4.53%).Conclusion: The comparison of the obtained results from analysis of the oil of Teucrium orientale L. subsp. taylori in this research with other investigations on Teucrium orientale L. subsp. orientale showed that the main components in the oils of two subspecies with a few differences in percentages of the major constituents are similar. But in other components which constituentes lesser percentages of the essential oils, there are some differences. Considering the similarities in the components of subspecies of oriental and tylori, perhaps these two subspecies will be placed under the same chemotypes.

Background: Bacterial diseases are common in human life and antibiotics are commonly used to treat bacterial diseases. However, antibiotic therapy has the disadvantage of being faced with bacterial resistance. Fortunately experience shows that products prepared from medicinal plants can be used safely and successfully to treat bacterial diseases without presenting the disadvantages of side effects and bacterial resistance. Triticum sativum of Poaceae family has been used in Iranian traditional cure for many years ago. Then, the aim of this study was to determine antibacterial activity of wheat against some bacteria. Objective: Then, The aim of this study was to determine antibacterial activity of wheat against some bacteria.Methods: The extracts were prepared by the method of maceration using water, methanol, chloroform and petroleum ether as extraction solvents. The effect of the zone of inhibition of different concentrations (25, 50, 75, 100 mg/ml) of the prepared extracts on the above – mentioned bacteria was determined using Kirby- Bauer method and using the disk diffusion technique against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Results: The water extract of all concentrations (25, 50, 75, 100 mg/ml) showed no antibacterial effects. The methanol extract had a significant effect on Streptococcus pyogenes but a weak effect on Staphylococcus aureus. The chloroform extract had a weak effect on both Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. The petroleum ether extract had a significant effect on Streptococcus pyogenes but Weak effects on both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. None of the tested extracts had any effects on Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Conclusion: It is concluded that organic extracts of wheat had antibacterial activity against some of the gram positive and gram negative bacteria.

Background: There is no certain result in the field of industrial pharmacy approaching to find effective drugs in prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, like the control of lipid factors that are a major risk factors of atherosclerosis. Also the tendency of people to use herbal medicine is increasing.Objective: In this study effect of Gundelia tourenfortii L. on some cardiovascular risk factors in animal model assigned by analysis of biochemical factors.Methods: Twenty male rabbits were randomly divided in to 4 groups as: Normal diet, Normal diet supplemented with Gundelia tourenfortii L., high cholesterol diet, and high cholesterol diet supplemented with Gundelia tourenfortii L.Fasting Blood samples were taken at the first and end of the study.Results: Gundelia tourenfortii L. decrease the cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL - cholesterol, VLDL-Cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, oxidized LDL and factor VII. Also increase the level of HDL-Cholesterol and apolipoprotein A comparing to high cholesterol diet.Conclusion: Gundelia tourenfortii L. by decreasing lipid, lipoproteins and some cardiovascular new risk factors like apolipoprotein B, Oxidized-LDL and coagulation factor decrease atherosclerosis.

Background: The discovery of paclitaxel (Taxol ®) as a potent anticancer drug from Taxus brevifolia has encouraged several groups all over the world to conduct research work on other Taxus species, in order to isolate potentially more effective paclitaxel derivatives for the treatment of various cancers or as starting materials for semi-synthesis As a consequence, more than 400 taxane-type diterpenes have been isolated from various Taxus plants, and some of them were found to possess interesting anticancer activity.Objective: This study was conducted for isolation, purification and identification of taxoids occurring in the aerial parts of Taxus baccata L. from Iran.Methods: The aerial parts of the plant were extracted with organic solvent and after defeating, partitioning, column chromatography and thin layer chromatography steps, the isolated compound was identified on the basis of NMR spectrum data. Results: Taxuspinanane G was isolated and identified according to the NMR spectrum data.Conclusion: In this study, taxuspinanane G was isolated for the first time from the aerial parts of Taxus baccata L. This is the first report of the isolation of this compound from the given species.