Journal of Medicinal Plants
Year:2007 | Volume:6 | Issue:21|Papers Count:10

Epidemiological studies suggest that populations consuming a diet of high phytoestrogens, have a lower risk of many of the so-called “western” diseases. Phytoestrogens are naturally found in many foods and their biological activity is confirmed in animals, in different studies. Phytoestrogen consist of a number of classes, including lignans, isoflavones, coumestans and resorcylic acid lactones. Soy products have phytoestrogens such as genistein, diadzein and glycetin that all of them are from isoflavon class. These isoflavones affect estrogen receptors and have both agonist and antagonist properties. Isoflavone have agonist property when estradiol is low for competition to receptor attaching. Antiestrogenic effects of phytoestrogens depend on their partial concentration and endogenous estrogen, so, when endogenous estrogen is high, phytoestrogens may release estradiol from its receptors. In menopausal period that estrogen is low, phytoestrogens have estrogenic effects. Phytoestrogens prevent menopausal period symptom such as hot flush, vaginal drying, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and decrease incidence of breast, colon, endometrial and ovarian cancers.

Background: Ginkgo is a native plant to China which is recently cultivated in Iran. The extract of the Ginkgo leaves contains flavonoids and ginkgolids and has been used pharmaceutically for a while. Flavonoids of Ginkgo have been shown to have several effects which could increase blood flow of brain and limit the damage associated with ischemia also they inhibit cyclo-oxygenases and lipoxygenases activities and show antioxidant effects. The researchers showed that Ginkgo leaves flavonol glycosides varies during different seasons.Objective: The aim of the present research is study on seasonal variation of flavonoids of Ginkgo biloba leave’s cultivated in Iran by HPLC method.Methods: In this study Ginkgo leaves from 5 years old trees collected in 2005 from North of Iran and evaluated. Plant leaves were dried, milled, and extracted with a suitable solvent. For analysis of flavonoid aglycones in the extract, flavonol glycosides were hydrolyzed in acid medium and identified by HPLC instrument and the peaks of standard material; Quercetin, Kaempferol and Isorhamnetin were obtained.Results: According to our findings, flavonoids vary in amount during seasons and upper most amount was found in June Month (5.5%w/w).Conclusion: Results of our study shows a mild variation of flavonoids content in Ginkgo tree leaves during different months, also we found a high concentration of flavonoids in young tree leaves that are very higher than pharmacopeia′s standard (0.5% w/w) and these leaves are suitable for preparing of standardized extracts.

Background: Bradykinin has effects on histaminic response, vessels seepage, cellular reproduction, causing fever, pain and coughs caused by ACE controllers (3,4,6). Noscapin has controlled Bradykinins contractional effects on guinea pigs trachea and rats vazodofran (5,6). noscapin stops the secondary effects of eskimi in brains edema, with antagonizing the responses caused by Bradykinin (3,4,8).Objective: considering that opium’s alkaloids act as agonist of peptide systems like ankephalins and RAS, its interesting to know the effects of this alkaloids and among them Noscapine on B3 Bradykinin receptors on smooth muscle guinea pig trachea?Method: All variables are reported as mean and standard deviation. We have used pair test and the information's were processed by Excel, Statistical analysis with ANOVA (LSD) SPSS 9.Results: we took diagrams in to consideration and indicated that the contract ional effect of Bradykinin decreased dependent on density, in presence of three different amount of noscapines concentration. In this study we could demonstrate that noscapine interact with Bradykenin as a non competitive antagonist.

Background: The prevalence of opioid addiction is releativly high in Iran. Since the mechanism (s) of opioid addiction is not clear, this social problem is still remained unresolved. In the present study, the effects of water extract of Crocus sativus on the acquisition and expression of morphine-induced behavioral sensitization in female N-MARI mice (20-25 g) are investigated.Methods: Sensitization was induced by single injection of morphine (5 mg/kg) for three consecutive days followed by five days resting. On the 9th day of the experiments, the sensitization was assessed in animals by a single injection of very low dose of morphine (0.5 mg/kg). The extract of the C. sativus was administered during or after induction of morphine sensitization. Then, the sensitization was tested in the animals. In order to evaluate the effects of the drugs on locomotor activity, morphine and the extract were administered to the animal in a pilot study.Results: Our findings show that administration of morphine (0.5, 5 and 50 mg/kg), induced a significant activity in animals. The increament was significant for the dose 50 mg/kg of morphine. On the other hand, administration of the plant extract (10, 50 and 100 mg/kg) also produced a significant hyperactivity and hypoactivity in the animals. Preadministration of the animals by extract (10, 50 and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced morphine effects. Injection of the same extracts (10, 50 and 100 mg/kg) 30 min before the morphine (5 mg/kg) administration in the traning days, caused a significant decrease in locomotor activity in animals, i.e. reduced the acquisition of morphine-induced behavioral sensitization. Injection of the plant extract (10, 50 and 100 mg/kg) in the test day, 30 min before morphine (0.5 mg/kg) administration also reduced the locomotor activity in the animals, i.e. reduced the expression of morphine-induced behavioral sensitization.Conclusion: It can be concluded that the extract of C sativus may inhibit morphineinduced hyperactivity and also acquisition and expression of morphine-induced behavioral sensitization in female mice which could be also useful in human.

Background: The Prangos genus which belongs to Umbelliferae family is represented 15 species in Iran. Jashir (Prangos ferulacea Lindl.) is long and permanent herb which is mainly used as rich herb in animal feeding. Moerover the essential oils were mainly used in nutrative and pharmaceutical industries and antibacterial agents.Objective: Identification of chemical composition of essential oil of Prangos ferulacea grown in Lorestan province and its comparison with other regions, and to study antibacterial activity.Methods: This plant was collected from Broujerd Mountains of Lorestan province in Iran. 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 costitiuents was made by GC and GC/MS. After drilling wells on medium oils dissolved in hexane and 40mL from solutions in each well was poured.Results: The yield of essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from dried plant material was 1.6% w/w. The main constituent of this oil were a-pinene (36.6%) and b -pinene (31.1%). The results of the antibacterial activity showed that the oil was active against of most of the positive and negative bacteria specially Staphyllococcus aureusConclusion: A large prcentage of the oil was composed of hydrocarbone monoterpens and only identified sesquiterpen compound is B-caryophyllene (3.1 %). Sefidkon and Kuznetsova investigations on analysis of the essential oil of aerial parts and fruits from Jashir demonesterated similarities and differenes with our study. Antibacterial activity of the oil was probably attributed to large content of monoterpene especially a-pinene.

Background: Zhumeria majdae is one of the most important, unic and endomic species of Hormozgan Province which used for diarrhoea, stomachache, cold, headache, wound and also as coolness from from ancient times by natives people of Hormozgan.Objective: The aim of the present study was to detect and compare the constituents of the essential oils of Zhumeria majdae at flowering stage in Geno, Sarchahan and Tangezagh mounts regions of Hormozgan Province.Methods: The leaves of Zhumeria majdae were collected at flowering stages. The essential oil of the leaves obtained by hydrodistillation using Clevenger type apparatus, was analysed by GC and GC/MS.Results: Essential Chromatogram of Zhumeria majdae shows that in Geno mount’s species 17 compounds, in Sarchahan mount’s 22 compounds and in Tange zagh mount’s 14 compounds, were exist. Oil yeild in those three regions were, in turne, 6.2, 6.1 and 5.3 percent. Linalool and Camphore were major compounds. Gama Terpinene, Octa 3-Carene ,Octan-3-one, Myrcene, Beta Bisabulene,Thymole and Terpinolene in Geno mount, Cis and Trans Linalool oxide, Linalool, Camphore, Neral, Geraniol, Geranial, Beta Elemene and Alpha Terpineol in Sarchahan mount and Alpha Pinene, Camphene, Orto Cymene, Limonene, Borneol, Nerol and Cis Jasmone in Tangezagh mount were more than other compounds.Conclusion: The numbers and contents of constituents of essential oils of Zhumeria majdae at flowering stages in various parts of Hormozgan province are different.

Background: Zhumeria majdae showed antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity. The antinociceptive effect was inhibited by naloxone in hot-plate test.Objective: As Z. majdae antinociceptive activity was inhibited by an opioid antagonist, we decided to evaluate the effects of this plant on withdrawal syndrome.Methods: Dependence was induced using subcutaneous injections of morphine daily for three days (50, 50 and 75 mg/kg). On the fourth day, morphine was injected two hours prior to the intraperitoneal injection of naloxone. The number of jumps during the 30 minutes period after naloxone injection was considered as measure of withdrawal syndrome. The extracts and fractions were injected 30 min prior to morphine injection. The results indicated that methanolic extracts (0.28, 1.12 and 1.96 mg/kg) reduced the number of jumps (compared to control) up to %64, %85 and % 99.3, respectively. The methanolic-aqueous (3:2) extracted with chlorphorm also reduced withdrawal syndrome. Three MPLC fractions, 0.28 mg/kg, (A, B and C, similar Rf in each group) also reduced the number of jumping up to %97, %92 and %55, respectively in mice. In the open field test, on the contrary of MPLC fractions, the methanolic extract reduced locomotor activity.Conclusion: It is concluded that Z. majdae aerial parts methanolic extract and MPLC fractions reduced withdrawal syndrome via different mechanism of actions.

Background: Parsley (Petroselinum hortense Hoffm.) is one of the most famous medical and nutritional herb. Fruits of parsley traditionally used as diuretic, appetizer, vasodilator,... with out any side effects. Also, it is used in cosmetic industry as a deodorant to cure halitosis and in nutritional industry.Objective: Study of microscopical characteristic, extraction and identification of the essential oil of the chemical composition of Parsley seed, is the main aims of this study.Methods: For this research, fruits have seen purchased from the market of Tehran and Identified. Microscopical characteristic will be done using light microscope and extraction of the essential oil will be done with hydro-distillation method using Clevenger apparatus and then identified after GC/MS findings.Results: Endosperm containing crystals of calcium oxalate and oil spots, parts of compact cells of Endocarp, a group of fibro vascular, Epiderm tissue containing fragment of a vitta, were the most fragments of the powdered seed. The total amount of the Essential oil was 1% V/W and the most analyzed compounds were: 1,8 cineol (59.2%)- a- phellandren (18.6%)- a -pinene (7.6%).Conclusion: There was no difference between the microscopical characters of the powdered seeds of Iranian cultivated Parsley with the cultivated specimen in other country. The absence of two compounds; Apiol (aborticide agent) and Miristicin (agent causing euphoria) in Iranian cultivated Parsley is a significant safe character for the using of the Iranian specimen in food and pharmaceutical industries.