Journal of Medicinal Plants
Year:2013 | Volume:12 | Issue:48|Papers Count:24

Persian poppy or great scarlet poppy (Papaver bracteatum Lindl.) is proposed as a new source of raw material for codeine production and addiction treatment. This species as a native plant is growing in North and West of Iran. As for possible of illegal cultivation of opium poppy, cultivation of Persian poppy in Iran was associated with restrictions and despite the being abundant biodiversity of this plant in Iran, this plant was not considered yet. However, Persian poppy is lacking in morphine and rich in the baine. It has appropriate potential for domestication, mass production, and industrial processing as a valuable medicinal plant. For this reason, in this study was investigated kind of traits in this plant.

The use of medicinal plants for the treatment of acne and other infectious skin diseases is very common. Here, pharmacological studies on the medicinal plants which may be effective in the treatment of acne and infective skin diseases published in the databases PubMed and Scopus from the beginning of the year 1980 to the end of April of the year 2013 have been searched and discussed. Keywords including medicinal plants, herbs, botanicals, phytomedicine, phytotherapy, herbal therapy and herbal medicine with dermatology, skin, acne vulgaris, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antimicrobial were entered in the databases. Totally 56 articles concerning clinical and nonclinical studies were found. Afterward, the quality of each study was determined. Examples of such plants include Vitex agnus-castus, Ocimum gratissimum, Aloe vera, Solanum dulcamara, Commiphora mukul, Mahonia aquifolium, Melaleuca alternifolia, species of the genus Eucalyptus, Camellia sinensis and Allium sativum. Medicinal plants can have an important role in the treatment of acne and other infectious skin diseases. However, scant studies have been conducted in this field so far and more studies especially on the efficacy and safety of the plants’ clinical use in humans are needed.

Background: Silymarin, extracted from the seeds of milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn) is mostly used for liver disease treatment. Hairy root cultures derived from S. marianum are able to produce silymarin.Objective: Elicitation of hairy root cultures is an important strategy for improving the production of secondary metabolites. The elicitors could be changed metabolite biosynthesis pathway and are useful for study of cell signaling pathway.Methods: In this study after preparation of S. marianum hairy root cultures, the effects of various levels of Fusarium oxysprum and Phytophtora meloni extract (0, 10 and 20 mg 50 ml-1 culture) in 4 different exposure times (0, 24, 48 and 72 h) have been investigated on flavonolignans production. The flavonolignans were analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography method.Results: Our results showed that hairy root cultures of S. marianum were consisted of a large number of flavonolignans including silychristin, silydianin, silybin, isosilybin and taxifolin. The highest production of silymarin (0.32 mg g-1 DW) was observed in F. oxysprum elicited root cultures (10 mg/50 ml culture) after 72h (2.28- fold that of the control). In Ph. meloni treated root cultures (20 mg/50 ml culture), the maximum silymarin production (0.13 mg g-1 DW) was obtained after 72 h (1.9- fold that of the control).Conclusion: In this experiment it has been concluded that hairy root cultures of S. marianum are susceptible to elicitation by fungal elicitors and is useful for efficient large-scale production of silymarin by hairy root cultures of S. marianum.

Background: Fennel (Foeniculum vulgar) is a medicinal plant species in the Apiaceae family with culinary and medicinal uses.Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of enzymatic digestion of PCR product in improvement of the efficiency of RAPD markers.Methods: Nine RAPD primers were used to amplify the genomic DNA of fifteen accessions of Fennel. Following amplification, a part of PCR products was digested with two restriction enzymes (EcoRI and MseI). Both of digested and undigested PCR products were separated on agarose gel electrophoresis. The accessions were grouped by cluster analysis and polymorphic information content index was calculated for each marker. Also percentage and component of essential oil were indicated by GC/MS analysis.Results: The comparison of banding patterns of digested and undigested PCR products revealed that digestion of RAPD-PCR product using a four base cutter enzyme such as Mse I shows a higher level of polymorphism as compared to standard RAPD. Cluster analysis based on data obtained by modified RAPD classified accessions more suitable as compared to standard RAPD data. There was no correlation between genetic diversity and metabolic yield.Conclusion: Restriction enzymes have enormous potential to improve the efficiency of RAPD markers in evaluation of genetic diversity across genome.

Background: Alcea sulphurea (A.S) with various drug effects, especially on mucociliary system as dilutor drug and sputum collection is known.Objective: This study examined the comparative effects of A.S and Bromhexine HCL (B.H) on mucociliary system chicken trachea.Methods: In this experimental study 30 Leghorn chickens were randomly divided into five groups of six. One group was considered as Control and the other four groups during 12 days received oral B.H, oral A.S extract, nebulas normal saline and Nebulized A.S extract respectively. After 12 days the chicks were killed and the biopsy samples from the middle tracheal were taken for histopathology study using PAS methods under Light microscopy. Finally Image tools III Software were used for counting of size and number of mucous glands and cilia.Results: Results of the analysis of data showed a significant increase of number and the size of mucous glands, also the size of cilia in Nebulized A.S group in comparison to Control group, oral B.H, normal saline .The oral A.S extract group showed the increase in numbers and sizes of cilia and mucous glands but they weren’t significant.Conclusion: According to more mucolytic effects of A.S extract than Bromhexine HCL and side effects for drugs mucolytic is recommended to be used that respiratory and inflammatory diseases of the A.S extract.

Background: Zataria multiflora Boiss. is one of the Iranian traditional spices and it has antimicrobial effect on the pathogenic bacteria which are agents for some current foodborne intoxications.Objectives: The present study was conducted to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Zataria multiflora Boiss. Essential oil on Escherichia coli O157:H7.Methods: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil (EO) for Escherichia coli O157:H7 at 35°C, the effect of subinhibitory concentrations of EO on growth curve of bacteria up to 24 hours at 25 and 35°C and also production of shigatoxin 2 (Stx2), at 35°C has been determined.Results: MIC and MBC of EO which have been evaluated were 0.04 and 0.06%, respectively the effect of subinhibitory concentrations of EO on bacterial growth curve during 24 hours has been determined by spectrophotometer device at 25 and 35°C and also production of shigatoxin 2 (Stx2), at 35°C has been determined. Subihibitory concentrations of EO, significantly, decreased the production of Stx2 at 35°C in a dose dependent manner.Conclusion: The results showed that Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil had inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli O157:H7and it can be used as a natural preservative in food industry.

Background: Researchers' attention has been focused on Aloe vera for a long time due to the numerous medicinal effects of this plant and its application in various fields of food, cosmetic and hygienic industries.Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the different levels of Zeolite and irrigation conditions on vegetative growth and quantitative and qualitative changes in plant gel.Methods: It is based on a factorial randomized complete block design with 4 levels of Zeolite in soil and 3 levels of irrigation, in 3 replications. After 5 months, morphological traits were measured. Also the amount of aloin in leaf and vitamin C in the gel were measured.Results: The best results of morphological traits were obtained with 22 g Zeolite treatment in 5 kg pots of soil and 21 days irrigation. The highest amount of aloin was observed in 44 g Zeolite treatment in 5 kg pots of soil with 7 days irrigation. The highest amount of vitamin C was obtained in 44 g Zeolite treatment in 5 kg pots of soil with 14 days irrigation.Conclusion: The overall results showed that zeolite plays an important role in promoting growth and increasing secondary metabolites in plant Aloe vera under different irrigation.

Background: Artemisinin is an important plant secondary metabolite with anti-malaria, anti-viral and anti-cancer properties. In recent years many efforts have been made to improve artemisinin production through plant tissue culture (such as hairy roots).Objective: In this study, the effects of Stephylococcus aureus on artemisinin production in hairy roots of Artemisia annua were investigated.Methods: Agrobacterium rhizogenes; strains A7 and Ar318 were used for the root induction. Two explants types were prepared, the first was leaf explants cut from both side (explant 1) and the second was, stems which cut from node (explant 2). The bacterial suspensions (A7 and Ar318) were inoculated at the wounding site of explants 1 and node explants 2. Transgenic nature of hairy roots was confirmed by amplification of rolB gene in polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Gas chromatography (GC) was conducted to determine artemisinin production.Results: About 5 to 10 days after inoculation by A7, hairy roots were appeared at the wounding sites of explants 2. Strain Ar318 could not induce any hairy roots. Also, after treatment with Agrobacterium suspensions, hairy roots were not induced in the explants 1 and explants were necrotic. The artemisinin content in the hairy roots treated with S. aureus suspension was 0.063, 0.133, 0.046 and 0.043 mg/g DW, respectively.Conclusion: Results show that various factors such as type of explants and Agrobacterium strains were effective in hairy roots induction. It seems that Stephylococcus aureus is stimulating the production of artemisinin in hairy roots of Artemisia annua.

Background: Taxol is one of the most important anticancer agents that its supply mainly depends on biological processes. 10 - deacetyl baccatin III- O- acetyl transferase (dbat) gene is one of the key genes in Taxol biosynthetic pathway and it is expected that overexpression of this gene would result in an increased production of taxol in biological systems.Objective: Investigation of dbat gene characteristics from Iranian endemic yew, Gene expression analysis and Construction of overexpression vector for this gene.Methods: First, sequence of the gene was cloned and then, sequence characteristics identified with Bioinformatics analysis. Gene expression analysis was performed under methyl jasmonate elicitation in several time-courses. Finally in order to construct overexpression vector, the sequence was cloned under the control of the CaMV35S promoter in to pCAMBIA1304.Results: Comparison of sequence similarities indicated that this sequence is most similar to Taxus × hunnewelliana. There was one unique amino acid substitution and investigating substituted amino acid revealed that, this replacement can not change overall characteristics of the enzyme and thus it would result in a functional enzyme. Analysis of gene expression showed that in response to methyl jasmonate, gene expression levels increased to maximum rate up to 24 times at 12 hours after elicitation. Finally gene insertion in suitable site of overexpression vector, confirmed by digest with restriction enzymes.Conclusion: Elicitation of shoot cuttings of Taxus would be a suitable alternative for Taxus cell cultures in gene expression analysis. Simplicity, feasibility, and deletion of time-consuming processes of cell culture are its main advantages.

Background: Natural biopreservative are as alternative approach for controlling growth of foodborne microorganisms such as Listeria monocytogenes. Essential oils (EOs) possess antibacterial properties. Mentha is one of the most common aromatic plants that widely used as medicinal and biopreservative in foods. Nisin a well known antibacterial peptide to effectively antagonize a broad spectrum of bacteria, and is widely used as preservative in foods.Objective: The aim of this work was to investigate of the antimicrobial efficacies of nisin and Mentha spicata essential oil in combination against Listeria monocytogenes. The effects of different temperatures (4, 9 and 14oC), pH (5, 6 and 7) and NaCl concentrations (0, 1, 2 and 4%) were determinate.Methods: Description study.Results: Essential oil content of M. Spicata had 18 components. The dominant active components were carvone (78.76%), limonene (11.50%) and menthol (1%). Minimum inhibitory concentrations for the essential oil and nisin were 160µl/ml and 320IU/ml, respectively. A synergy of low pH values, high temperatures and high NaCl concentrations was observed.Conclusion: Our results found that the combination effects of M. Spicata and nisin in all experimental concentrations significantly reduced the numbers of L. monocytogenes.

Background: The People believe that herbal medicines are not toxic, but the toxicity of these drugs are reported to be seen.Objective: Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate hepatic and renal toxicity is Chelidonium majus hydroalcoholic extract.Methods: In this study, 35 male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups (n=7), control group with normal diet and sham group with fat diet and experimental groups of animals hypercholesterolemia that received the minimum dose of 100, averaged 200 and maximum dose of 300 mg/kg hydroalcoholic extract Chelidonium majus (that collected from farms in the North of the country) by gavage. After this Period (21 days), blood samples were drawn and levels of liver alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), albumin and total Protein as well as renal creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 17.Results: The ALT was not seen any significant changes between the groups treated with the extract. AST, albumin, total Protein and creatinine increased, but the amount of ALP decreased significantly in high dose of extract. BUN in groups receiving the at least extract dose was not shown any significant changes compared to the control group but Cholesterol had a decreased significant changes at same dose compared to the control group (p<0.05).Conclusion: Since the amount of AST, albumin and creatinine extract the maximum dose is increased, especially at doses appear to extract Chelidonium majus have high toxic effects on the liver and kidneys.

Background: Ferula is a genus of about 130 species of flowering plants in the family Umbelliferae, of which 30 species are found in Iran. Many species of this family possess medicinal qualities and have long been used in traditional medicine.Objective: This research aims to isolate, separate and determine the structure of the compounds found in the chloroform extract of the aerial parts of Ferula hirtella.Methods: We collect F. hirtella form the site of its natural habitat in Ābāde, Fars Province. The chloroform extract of the aerial parts is derived and then mixture separation using Column chromatography is performed.Results: Using Column chromatography purification methods, we were able to separate, for the first time, two coumarins, Farneciferol C and Umbelliprenin, and a steroid compound, b-stigmasterol from the chloroform extract of the F. hirtella which were identified using C NMR and H NMR spectral data.Conclusion: A majority of the compounds found in the chloroform extract of the aerial parts of F. hirtella are coumarins. Separation of b -stigmasterol from the chloroform extract of this genus was achieved for the first time.

Background: A Burn injury is a major health problem in the developing countries. Various treatments were applied for treatment of burn wounds by Iranian traditional medicine for thousands of years ago.Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the natural products based on treatment of burn wounds by herbalists or herbal medicine vendors in the Mazandaran province.Methods: This research was a cross-sectional study; and all herbalists or herbal medicine vendors were enrolled in this study. Snow ball sampling method was used with a questionnaire. Demographic data, methods of treatment for wounds, itching and pain were collected. The results were analysised.Results: In this study, 29 herbal and 4 animal based products were recommended by herbal medicine vendors for treatment of burn wounds. The results showed that 77 percent of respondents to treatment of burn wounds by natural products were recommended. Aloe Vera gel was the first choice for treatment of burn that was recommended by the herbalists.Conclusion: These results are interesting to find new drugs for treatment of burn wound healing with regards to Iranian traditional medicine. Since there are limited animal and clinical studies for approval of these natural products, future studies are needed for assessment of these traditional medicines for treatment of burn injuries.

Background: Tanacetum sonbolii Mozaff. is an endemic species of Tanacetum growing in Iran, west Azerbaijan. The composition of its essential oil can be varied due to conditions of selected extraction method. Thus, the selection of suitable extraction method is very effective to obtaine essential oil in native state.Objective: The purpose of this study is to apply head space sorptive extraction method at ambient and high temperature condition for essential oil extraction of Tanacetum sonbolii Mozaff.Methods: The compositions of extracted essential oils were investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Also, solvent, temperature and time of desorption step and time of sorption step that influence on extraction efficiency were optimized.Results: Results indicated that temperature of extraction method had significant effects on essential oil content. Using hydrodistillation method, 26 components, representing 96.5% of the oil were indentified but only 6 compounds (95.6% of the oil) were found in essential oil using HS-SE at real condition (23oC). Comparison of the major components percent levels of essential oils were shown that 81% of HS-SE essential oil is b- and a-pinene. While using hydrodistillation method, about 50% of essential oil is sesquirerpenes such as a-cadinol and globulol.Conclusion: The sampling of essential oils at 23C by HS-SE compared to conventional extraction methods at high temperature (such as hydrodistillation) caused to have different extractions results.

Background: Intestinal a-glucosidase and α-amylase are two carbohydrate-hydrolysing enzymes that play a key role in conversion of disaccharide to glucose. Inhibition of these two enzymes provides a therapeutic option for treatment of postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetic patients.Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the inhibitory effects of different Aloe vera L. extracts against α-amylase and a-glucosidase in vitro.Methods: Aloe vera L. leaf was collected from the Institute of Medicinal Plants farm and several extracts were prepared by n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol solvents. The inhibitory effects of the extracts were tested on α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme separately. In this experiment, the minimum concentration of the extract required for 50% inhibition of enzyme activity (IC50), was obtained and compared with acarbose as a positive control.Results: The results showed that total methanol extract of Aloe vera L. leaf had significantly (p<0.001) higher a-amylase inhibitory (28.2 ± 1.3 mg/ml) effect than other solvent fractions but lower than acarbose (25.4 ± 1.9 mg/ml). Furthermore total methanol extract and solvent fractions of methanol and ethyl acetate of Aloe vera L. leaf had significantly (p<0.001) higher inhibitory effect on a-glucosidase enzyme activity (2.3 ± 0.1 mg/ml, 2.7 ± 0.1 mg/ml, 3.4 ± 0.1 mg/ml, respectively) than other solvent fractions as well as compared with acarbose (5.8 ± 0.6 mg/ml).Conclusion: Total methanol extracts of Aloe vera L. leaf has strong α-amylase and a-glucosidase inhibitory activity than chloroform, n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol solvent fraction.

Background: Purslane is a valuable medicinal plant and study of quantity yield and phytochemical changes of them in drought is necessary.Objective: Determining the effects of nitrogen chemical and biofertilizers on quantity yield and oil content of purslane herb under drought stress and feasibility of replacing chemical fertilizers with biological fertilizers.Methods: This experiment was done in the Research farm of Shahed University in 2012 on the base of split-plot experiment in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The irrigation as main factor in levels of 50±3 mm, 100±3 mm and 150±3 mm of evaporation pan and also application of nitrogen fertilizers as subsidiary factor in levels including control (without fertilizer use), about 250 kg/ha fertilizer of urea, incorporation of about 2.5 L/ha of biological fertilizer with 120 kg/ha of chemical fertilizers nitrogen about 2.5 L/ha and biological fertilizer of nitrogen about 5 L/ha were considered.Results: The treatments of drought and fertilizers had significant effects on plant height, fresh weight of leaf, stem, total fresh weight, dry weight of leaf, stem, total dry weight, grain yield, relative water content (RWC), oil content of grain and oil yield (p≤0.01). The highest quality and quantity yield of purslane were obtained on combined treatments of fertilizer and optimal irrigation (3 ± 50) mm evaporation and also the smallest amount of quality and quantity yield of purslane was achieve at control treatment and Severe stress (3 ± 150) ml m evaporation pan. Conjunctive use of bio-fertilizer and chemical treatments under optimum irrigation treatment was increased the oil content about 23% compared to the control.Conclusion: Drought was reduced yield and seed oil content purslane. Conjunctive use of nitrogen bio-fertilizers (NitroxinR) with chemical urea increased yield and quality of Purslane plant. Therefore, the biofertilizers can be an alternative to replacing chemical fertilizers for increasing Purslane production which is in order to minimize of environmental pollution.

Background: Nepeta pogonosperma Jamzad & Assadi (Labiatae) is one of the endemic Nepeta species in Iran (Alamut region). Flavonoids, iridoids, phenols and dierpenes have previously been reported in some Nepeta species. Genus of Nepeta have essential oil and antioxidant, antimicrobial, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and anxiolytic activities and also used in folk medicine because of their expectorant, antiseptic, antitussive, antiasthmatic and febrifuge effects.Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate chemical composition of the essential oil and antioxidant activities, total phenol and flavonoid content of the extract of N. pogonosperma in the flowering stage.Methods: Total phenol and flavonoid contents of the species were measured using colorimetric methods. The total antioxidant capacity was determined by the following methods: ABTS and DPPH free-radicals scavenging and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP). Essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and was analyzed by GC and GC/MS.Results: The extract possessed a higher concentration of total phenol than total flavonoid content. Methanol extract showed moderate DPPH scavenging activity (IC50 < 200 mg/ml). Fifty constituents were found representing 95.95% of the essential oil. The main constituents of the essential oil were 1, 8-cineole and 4aa, 7a, 7aa-nepetalactone.Conclusion: The present results demonstrate that N. pogonosperma extract exhibits antioxidant activity and may serve as potential source of natural antioxidants for treatment of some diseases. Further investigations are necessary for chemical characterization of the active compounds and more comprehensive biological assays.