Journal of Medicinal Plants
Year:2008 | Volume:7 | Issue:25|Papers Count:19

Sumac is a shrub with a long history of application in traditional medicine and Iranian cuisine. It grows wild in the region from the Canary Islands over the Mediterranean area to Iran and Afghanistan. The word “sumac” is derived from Aramaic word “sumaqa” which means red. Aside from some studies on sumac as an antioxidant, an anti hyperglycemic, and an anti hyperuricemic agent, many articles have been recently published on antimicrobial activities of sumac because of the advent of new microbial resistances and the need to find new antimicrobial agents. Reviewing the articles suggests that total extracts of sumac fruit have antibacterial activity against both Gram- positive and Gram- negative bacteria but it also shows that sumac fruit has no effect on fungi and anaerobics. More investigation should be conducted on: 1) Fractionization of total extracts and purification of their components to recognize safety use of and ability of sumac as an antimicrobial; 2) Effects of sumac on resistant bacteria and its potential capability as an antimicrobial agent.

Background: Overpopulation is a global problem with grave implication for the future. There is evidence of broad increase of plants accessible and useful which potentially could be anti-fertility and regulate the reproduction in males. Despite the vast use of Trigonella foenum-graecum in daily lives, our knowledge of its effect on testicular function is very limited. So, the needs for a careful study of potential have been found in order to minimize the problem. In the present study T. foenum-graecum is warranted. The present study aims at investigating the effect of T. foenum-graecum seed extract on concentration of testosterone and spermataogenesis in rat. The implication of this study could be helpful for family planning and fertility.Method: Fifty rats were divided into five groups including control, sham and experimcntal groups. Each of the rats in experimental group was treated orally with 50, 100 and 150 /mg dose of T. foenum-graecum extract for fourteen days. The sham group received distilled water and the rats without administered T. foenum-graecum extract or distilled water were considered as control group. After fourteen days, the blood sample from each rat was collected and concentrations of FSH, LH and testosterone hormones were measured. Furthermore, the sample tissue of testis and epididymis from each rate were collected and histological study was carried out to achieve maximum information concerning the change of the testis and epididymis tissue between experimental and control groups. The results obtained from this study were statisticlly analysed using ANOVA and Tukey test.Results: The result of the study indicated that the concentrations of LH and testosterone in experimental groups relatively reduced in comparison with control group (p£0.05).Conclusion: According to several reports and our findings trigonella seed extract contains sapogenin and diosgenin, which are precursor of progesterone and have anti gonadoterpine and antiandrogeni character. Hence, they have the capability to reduce the concentration of testosterone and LH hormones.The results of histological studies revealed that morphological changes in seminiferous tubules and atrophy of leydig cells and epididymis.

Background: Joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis are among common and debilitating disease of the time. Current treatments are limited due to lack of efficacy and high incidence of side effects. Therefore, there is an increasing need for alternative drug treatment strategies specially in the area of medicinal plants. Curcuma amada Roxb. which belongs to the family of zingiberaceae, has been traditionally used for inflammation and arthritic pain in China and India. Very little data is available about efficacy of this plant in controlled studies.Objective: In this study, effect of total extract of Curcuma amada (C.A.) were assessed on inflammation.Methods: Male rats were injected (s.c) with complete freund's adjuvant (50 mg/10 cc heat killed and dried mycobacterium tuberculosis, suspended in mineral oil (Arlacel A and light paraffin). Injections were made in the right ankle foot of tibio tarsal joint region. On day 15 following adjuvant administration, animals were treated (i.p) with a 100 mg/kg dose of the extract daily for 15 days. Joint diameter, arthritic Index, body weight, WBC count and ESR were recorded.Results: The data indicated that the extract could significantly (p<0.05) reduce ESR, WBC, joint diameter and arthritic Index of treated animals compared with control animals. Further studies are underway to determine antiarthritic potentials and safety of the extract.

Background: Hypericum genus is one of the most important medicinal plant that contains 17 species in Iran, three of them are endemic.Objective: In this research hypericin content of flowers and leaves of eight Hypericum specie was determined.Methods: Plant material was extracted with chloroform by Soxhlet until chlorophyll ceased extracting, after removal of chloroform, the thimble was re-extracted with methanol until the red pigment, hypericin, ceased extracting. The analysis of hypericin use of a reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with UV detection on 590 nm. The mobile phase consisted of methanol 68%: ethyl acetate 20%: 0.1 M NaH2PO4.2H2O 12% and with column C18.Results: Identification of the compound was on extraction of 1 gram of flowers and leaves. Hypericin content obtained in H.dogonbadanicum (flower 36 and leaves 36 ppm) which are endemic, H. helianthemoides (flower 118 and leaves 22ppm), H. hirtellum (flower 178 and leaves 26ppm), H. hyssopifolium (flower 224 and leaves 120ppm), H.lysimachioides (flower 1177 and leaves 178ppm), H. perforatum (flower 1900 and leaves 813ppm), H. scabrum (flower 13 and leaves 10ppm) and H. triquetrifolium (flower 1460, leaves 1426 and stem 17ppm).Conclusion: Hypericin content in different Hypericum show that are different, highest are in H. perforatum with 1900 ppm and in H. triquetrifolium with 1460ppm.

Background: Garlic has been known as an important medicinal plant for centuries and belonging to the Liliaceae family. Cardamom is the dried fruit of the tall perennial herbaceous plant, Elettaria cardamomum Maton, and belonging to the Zingiberaceae. family.Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of garlic and methanolic extract of cardamom on MRSA and P. aeruginosa. Method: Dry garlic bulbs (100g) were peeled and homogenized distilled water (1:1 w/v), using a blender and 50% juice of garlic is obtained, centrifuged and then the supernatant of garlic juice is collected and passed through a 0.45mm filter and stored at 4˚c for further experiments. Also after collecting cardamom seeds, drying and making it powder, extracts were obtained by using percolation method with methanol. for evaluating the antibacterial activity of the extracts of garlic and cardamom, the microbial suspension was prepared by direct colony suspension method and different dilutions of extracts (1:2, 1:4, 1:8, …, 1:64 v/v for garlic; 800, 650, 400, …, 50 mg/ml for cardamom) were prepared and tested against of MRSA ATCC 33591 and P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853.Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) was obtained via Disc diffusion and Broth dilution and well diffusion method. We also analyzed morphological changes of MRSA and P.aeruginosa by light microscopy (LM) and biochemical properties was studied by inoculation of low concentrations of garlic and cardamom extracts to bacterial culture.Results: The results showed that cardamom extract has no effect against Pseudomonas aeruginosa but garlic extract is effective on P. aeruginosa.Garlic extract (1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16, containing 220, 110, 55, 27.50 mg/ml allicin) inhibited the growth of MRSA and concentrations of 1:2 to 1:8 (v/v) inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Further more MRSA is sensitive to cardamom extract in 800 to 200µg/ml. In general, the minimal inhibitory concentration for MRSA (garlic MIC 1:16; allicin mean MIC 27.50mg/ml) were lower than for P. aeruginosa (garlic MIC 1:8; allicin mean MIC 55mg/ml).The treatment group with garlic extract showed a changed form of morphology such as cellular swelling, partially distored shape and changes in the size of bacteria, but cardamom extract dose not reveal any changes compared to the control. It was also observed in low concentrations of garlic, production of catalase enzyme and pyocyanine pigment by P.aeruginosa were decreased but it increased strain hemolysis ability, and acid production from saccharose, manitol by MRSA changed to negative.Conclusion: This research showed that garlic and cardamom extracts have different antibacterial properties against 2 tested bacteria.

Background: Experiments indicated that Crocus sativus L. extract may have an interaction with morphine. The effects of C. sativus on the euphoric properties of morphine in female mice did not studiedObjective: In the present study, the effects of water extract of C. sativus stigma on the acquisition and expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in female N-MARI mice (20-25 g) were investigated.Methods: This experimental study was conducted on the 136 female fice that were divided in 17 groups (n=8/group). In a pilot study, different doses of morphine (1, 10 and 20 mg/kg) and the extract (10, 50 and 100 mg/kg) were injected to the animals for evaluation of the drugs ability to induction of place preference. In the second phase of the experiments, the extract of the C. sativus was administered during or after induction of morphine CPP. Then, CPP were tested in the animals. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was proformed for statistical procedure.Results: Administration of morphine (1, 10 and 20 mg/kg), indcreased the time spend in the compartment paired with morphine (i.e. conditioned place preference-CPP). The increament was significant for the dose 10 and 20 mg/kg of morphine. Administration of the plant extract (50 mg/kg) also produced a significant CPP. Injection of the same doses of the extract before morphine (10 mg/kg) administration, caused a decrease in the time spent in drug-paired side in doses 50 and 100 mg/kg of the extract. In addition, injection of the plant extract in the test day to the animals in which reveived morphine (10 mg/kg) in the conditioning days decreased the expression of morphine CPP in the animals which was statisticaly significant for dose 10 mg/kg of the extract.Conclusion: It could be concluded that injection of the extract of C. sativus can inhibit the acquisition and expression of morphine-induced CPP. In addition, the extract produced CPP in female mice by it-self. These results indicated that saffron extract might be useful in morphine-induced psychological dependence in human as well.

Background: Methanol is a toxic aliphatic alcohol that is widely used in industry as a solvent. Poisonings occur from accidental or awareness ingestion of it.Objective: In this study, the amount of methanol in ten plant water was evaluated.Methods: Five samples from each plant waters that related to six factories collected and analyzed by spectrophotometric method.Results: The results showed that the highest (1477.7±23.8ppm) and the lowest (79.4±3ppm) amount of methanol was related to dill and egiptial willow water, respectively.Conclusion: Since, the chronic use of plant water may induce methanol toxicity, it is recommended to determine a safe limit for it.

Background: One of the important effects of medicinal plants is cytotoxic effect using to treat different tumors and neoplasms. A number of Caesalpinia species have previously been investigated for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory & analgesic, antitumor, lowering blood pressure, immunosuppressant and antioxidant effects.Objective: Cytotoxicity evaluation of Caesalpinia gilliesii (Hook.) D.Dietr. and Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb.Method: The plants were collected from Sistan & Baluchestan region and then were identified. Brine shrimp lethality bioassay was carried out to investigate the cytotoxicity of total extracts of plants. Extracts giving LC50 values lower than 30mg/ml were considered to be cytotoxic. Chloroform fractions of methanol extract of cytotoxic plants were also subjected to brine shrimp lethality bioassay.Results: The extracts of C. gilliesii showed moderate cytotoxicity against brine shrimp (LC50 between 30 and 50mg/ml). Different parts of C. bonduc showed different cytotoxicity and the legume of this species had potent cytotoxic effect. Chloroform fraction of legume of C. bonduc showed lower cytotoxicity than methanol extract of it.Conclusion: Legume of C. bonduc showed potent cytotoxic effect and it could be potential sources for novel anticancer compounds. This study provides useful data for the elaborated cytotoxic bioassays with cancer cell lines.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent metabolic disorder. Insulin and oral hypoglycemic drugs are the basis of diabetes therapy. Nevertheless they have important side effects and are not always satisfactory in maintaining euglycemia and avoiding late stage diabetic complications. With a disturbing rise in the prevalence of diabetes and associated healthcare costs, interest in anti-diabetic plants has grown.Objective: The effects of the Opuntia ficus-indica L. fruit on the fasting blood glucose levels and body weights of the non-diabetic and streptozocin induced diabetic rats were studied.Methods: Wistar male adult rats, seven in each group, were used. To make each rat diabetic, streptozocin at the dose of 50 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally. Fasting blood glucose level (after fasting for 12 hours) of each rat was measured by using a glucometer through taking a blood drop following cutting the tip of the tail, before streptozocin injection and after 1, 3, and 5 weeks of streptozocin injection and at the same time the animals were weighed. The blood glucose levels and weights of non-diabetic rats were measured in the same way as diabetic rats. The criterion for being diabetic was fasting blood glucose level above 200 mg/dl one week after streptozocin injection. The seeds and pulp of the fruit of Opuntia ficus-indica L. each at the doses of 6 and 12 g/kg daily as a mixture with regular rat food in the form of pellets were administered to diabetic rats 1 week after streptozocin injection for 4 weeks. Further, glibenclamide at the daily dose of 5 mg/kg mixed with regular food as pellets was administered to a separate group of diabetic rats for 4 weeks. The seeds and pulp of the fruit each at the daily doses of 12 g/kg mixed with regular rat food as pellets were also administered to non-diabetic rats for 4 weeks.Results: One way analysis of variance demonstrated that seeds and pulp of the fruit did not have any significant effects on blood glucose levels and weights of diabetic as well as non-diabetic rats in comparison with control groups after 4 weeks of drug use (p>0.05). Glibenclamide after 2 weeks of administration significantly lowered blood glucose level of diabetic rats (p<0.01) but increased their weight as compared with control diabetic rats (p<0.01).While after 3 and 5 weeks of streptozocin injection, the weights of the control diabetic group decreased as compared to the control non-diabetic group (p<0.01).Conclusion: The seeds and pulp of the Opuntia ficus - indica L. fruit in this study did not have any significant effects on the fasting blood glucose levels and body weights in not only streptozocin induced diabetic rats but also non-diabetic rats.

Background: Pyrethrum Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium (Trevir.) Vis. is a member of the Asteraceae family. It is perennial plant commercially grown for extraction of natural pyrethrins used to make insecticides. It has low toxicity for humans and other warm blooded animals but its effectiveness against a wide range of insects. Objective: The aim of this study has been extraction and determination of pyrethrins from pyrethrum cultivated in the experimental fields of ACECR at Karaj, Iran.Method: The plant materials were dried, powdered and extracted with different organic solvents.Then extract analyzed by Diode-Array UV-VIS spectrophotometer and reversed-phase HPLC system.Results: (1) Both of methods can be used for determining the total of pyrethrins and that both can be successfully used in laboratories that are not so well equipped.(2) We found that pyrethrins content was 1.6% of dried weight by both methods. It is good result because concentrations ranging from 1 to 2% of pyrethrins have been adopted by the foremost manufacturers of pyrethrum insecticides.Conclusion: These results indicated that cultivation of pyrethrum in Iran should be have high economical.

Background: The genus Satureja belongs to Lamiaceae family. 12 species exist in Iran of which 8 are endemic. Some of this genus had shown antibacterial effects.Objective: In this study chemical compounds and antibacterial activity of essential oil of Satureja intermedia was identified.Methods: Satureja intermedia have been collected from the elevation of Ardabil province in August 2006. Then air-dried aerial parts of the plant were submitted to hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus to produce the essential oil and was analysed by GC/MASS. Investigation of antimicrobial activity was conducted by Disc-diffusion, MIC and MBC technique and different antibiotics compared with antimicrobial activity of this essential oil.Results: In this study, 34 constituents were found representing 99.8% of the oil. The major components were thymol (25.6%), para-Cymene (21.44%), gamma-Terpinene (20%), Carvacrol (9.48%), alpha-Terpinene (7.94 %) and Myrcene (3.58 %). The antibacterial test results showed that essential oil of this plant had a great potential antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.Conclusion: Results presented here may suggest that the essential oil of Satureja intermedia possess antibacterial properties and is therefore a potential source of antibacterial ingredients for the food and pharmaceutical industry.

Background: Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a drought tolerant fruit-bearing deciduous shrub native to Iran. It is widely cultivated in dry areas of Iran. Pomegranate fruit juice contains a wide range of polyphenolic metabolites, especially punicalagins with powerful antioxidative properties. Pomegranate seed oil is a unique natural product and a rich source of conjugated fatty acids.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacological effects of fruit juice and seed oil of pomegranate on serum lipid levels of hypercholesterolemic rabbits and development of atherosclerosis on their aortas.Methods: Fourthly two males and six months aged white New Zealand rabbits (1.7 -2 kg) were randomly assigned to six equal groups and caged in the same environmental condition. One group was fed on regular animal house rabbit chew. Five other groups fed with high cholesterol diet (1% cholesterol). One group kept as control and other 4 groups fed on same diet supplemented with 1% and 2% doses of pomegranate fruit juice or seed oil. The whole experiment lasted 2 months. At the end of the study (after 2 months) the biochemical analysis of serum lipids and pathological evaluation of atherosclerotic plaque of aortas were performed. Results: Results of biochemical analyses showed that administration of fruit juice and seed oil at both doses did not significantly affect the level of serum lipids profile of hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Pathological data analysis showed that treatments of rabbits with fruit juice and seed oil at both doses significantly reduced aortic atherosclerotic plaque formation. Conclusion: Pomegranate fruit juice and seed oil administration inhibited atherosclerosis development in hypercholesterolemic rabbit’s aortas without any significant effects on lipid profile.

Background: Thyme (Zataria multiflora Boiss.) is one of the Iranian traditional spice and it has antimicrobial effect on the pathogenic bacteria which are agents for some current food borne intoxications.Objective: Evaluation of antimicrobial effect of mentioned plant essential oil on Staphylococcus aureus in Feta cheese.Methods: The essential oil of this plant was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/MS. Effects of different concentrations of this essential oil on Staphylococcus aureus were determined by evaluation of  the microorganism growth on the selective media in laboratory, and these were took place in Feta cheese.Results: Results indicated that 300 and 150 ppm of this essential oil have had the highest inhibitory effect on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and when the mentioned concentrations of  the essential oil were used in combination with cheese starter culture, the counts of the pathogen were decreased significantly below its toxic dose in this kind of food product.Conclusion: The antimicrobial effect of Zataria multiflora Boiss. in 300 ppm was higher than its lesser concentrations and with concern to the control groups, the synergistic effect between the starter and the essential oil is necessary to achieve this inhibitory effect