Journal of Medicinal Plants
Year:2011 | Volume:10 | Issue:40|Papers Count:25

Background: The object of perineal cutting (Episiotomy) is to increase the diameter of outlet pelvic on normal vaginal delivery. This procedure is the commonest surgery cutting in obstetrics the cesarean is the commonest surgery that it's rate increasing in Iran and world.Objective: The object of this systematic review is to summarize the clinical trial performed in Iran and world. And to survey of safety and efficacy uses of the herbal medicine on pain relief and repair of perineal episiotomy and cesarean cattily.Methods: The searching on information database, SID, Magiran, medline, pubmed, Google schollor, yahoo, Cochrane, tomson, Iran doc is done. The evaluation of article is performed at the basis of jaded scale. First the abstracts of clinical trial performed on herbal medicine in Iran and world are reviewed, then, 18 articles are reviewed at the basis of jaded scale. 12 of them are published in Iranian journal and the other in English journals.Results: The results showed that medicinal herbals are more effective on pain relief and the recovery of perinal episiotomy and cesarean cutting. These can be used after pregnancy but it is necessary to do more study for side effects.Conclusion: Although, in this study, the most herbal medicine has effect on pain and the recovery of perinal episiotomy, but the complicatiore researches are necessary.

Ferula assa - foetida L., commonly known as Asafetida is an herbaceous, monocarpic, perennial medicinal plant of the Apiaceae family. The main origin of Ferula assa - foetida is the steppes of Iran and Afghanistan. Asafetida gum-resin has a long history for food additive and medicinal uses. In Asian traditional medical systems Asafetida gum-resin has been expected to be used as digestive system, cleansing and strengthening the gastro-intestinal tract, anthelmintic, antispasmodic, carminative, expectorant, laxative, sedative and stomachic. Due to its current uses as well as its pharmacological effects further information needs for future clinical studies. The aim of this review was to provide an update overview of research studies focused on the pharmacological effects of Asafetida gum-resin. A computerized search of published articles was performed using the electronic database such as MEDLINE to 2010. The results indicate that, the large numbers of articles published on pharmacological effects of Asafetida over recent three decade. Asafetida gum-resin exert several pharmacological effects including, anti-histamine effect in gastero intestinal system, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anticholinergic, and hypoglycemic as observed in experimental and clinical studies. In conclusion the present scientific-based evidence provides good information about pharmacological effects of Asafetida gum-resin. This information may be useful to researcher for induction of clinical trial for this herbal medicine in treatment of traditionally recognized application such as gastrointestinal disease, cancer, hypertension and diabetes.

Background: Heptaptera anisoptera from Umbelliferae was growth in some spaces of Iran. Some researchers have been carried out on the herb about isolation and structure elucidation of some phytochemicals. There isn’t any report about identification of substances in the essential oil and antibacterial activities of this plant.Objectives: Identification of substances in the essential oil and antibacterial activities of Heptaptera anisoptera (DC.) Turin. Literature survey has shown that the herb has not previously been investigated for essential oil and antibacterial activities.Methods: The essential oil of aerial parts from Heptaptera anisoptera (DC) Turin. (Umbelliferae) was obtained by hydrodistillation. The oil was analyzed by GC/MS. The effects of methanol, chloroform and hexane extracts of this plant were tested on 10 G+ and G- bacteria in different dilutions.Results: 91.3% of the oil (10 components) was identified. Method of identification was based on comparison of the mass spectra and retention indices of the components with standards. Thymol (48.8%), 3-carene (17.6%), phytol (7.9%), methyl linolenate (5.6%), and methyl palmitate (4.7%) were the major components. None of the extracts are any effect on tested bacteria.Conclusion: While thymol is the major component of some herbs such as thymes and ajowan, other plants can have thymol as major component. In the oil of thymes, carvacrol is reported, too, but it didn’t identify in the oil of H. anisoptera. Similar to other essential oils, monoterpenoides were major compounds. As a result of use of long time for oil extraction (3 hours), non-terpenoides components (diterpenoide, fatty acids and esters) came in the oil, too. Despite the fact of antibacterial activity of plants, none extract of H. anisoptera in 4 test models, have significant antibacterial effect.

Background: Drug's dependence is a common and debilitating disorder. These patients interested to herbal therapy. Lack of valid documents about that is an important problem. Portulaca oleracea L. grows almost all points of distribution and areas of Khuzestan in southern Iran as eating vegetables. This plant is an anti-septic, anti-spasmodic, anti-fever, muscle relaxant.Objective: Objective this study was evaluated efficacy of Portulaca oleracea L. in comparison with methadone for symptoms’ of morphine withdrawal.Methods: Aqueous extracts and methadone given to 36 patients with morphine dependency. CINA scales were used by days 0, 2, 5, 7 and 10 for evaluation. Results: In two groups withdrawal symptoms controlled good and behavior treatment in two groups was similar.Conclusion: The aqueous extract of Portulaca oleracea L. can be as effective in controlling withdrawal symptoms.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common cause for end-stage renal disease in developing countries. The characteristic features of this disease are persistent albuminuria and reduction of serum albumin. Objective: We aimed to demonstrate the preventive effect of garlic juice on damages in DN in rats with streptozotocin (STZ) - induced diabetes.Methods: Forty male rats (250±20) were divided into 5 groups as follows: 1- Group normal (N) 2- Group Normal+Garlic (N+G) 3- Diabetic (D) 4- Group diabetic+garlic before (D+Gb) (receiving garlic before STZ injection) 5- Group diabetic+garlic after (D+Ga) (receiving garlic after STZ injection). Garlic juice was given by gavage (1ml/100gBW).Results: Diabetic rats showed an increase in serum glucose, urinary volume, and urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (Alb: Cr), urinary albumin excretion, and decrease in serum albumin. Garlic juice significantly attenuated the diabetes-induced increase in albumin clearance and urinary albumin excretion in the diabetic rats. The diabetic group receiving garlic before STZ injection showed more amelioration in complications than that receiving it after STZ injection.Conclusion: In this study for the first time we showed that administration of garlic juice could play a preventive role on diabetic nephropathy in rats.

Background: Nowadays herbal therapy for pain relevance is the matter of considerable propensity. Artemisia sieberi Besser is one of the herbal medication which has been consider as a pain reliever in Iranian traditional medicine, which needs further scientific investigations. Objective: In this study the ant nociceptive effect of hydro alcoholic Artemisia sieberi Besser extract (AE) was assessed by using formalin test in mice.Methods: 42 male mice were divided into 7 groups. Interaperitoneal administration of distilled water to control group, vehicle to negative sham group, 1, 2 mg/kg morphine to positive sham groups and 40, 400, and 4000 mg/kg AE to test groups were performed. 25 ml of 2% formalin was then injected into the plantar surface of animal's hind limb and the animal's pain behavior for one hour was assessed. Mean pain scores in each five minute time block calculated for each animal were statistically analyzed.Results: in acute phase mean pain score animals receiving 4000 mg/kg AE was significantly less than control groups p<0.05. The ant nociceptive effect of AE was more prominent in the chronic phase so the analgesic effect of 4000 mg/kg AE was significantly more than 2 mg/kg.Conclusion: the data collected from this study indicates the analgesic effect of AE which is more significant in chronic phase and this effect may be due to anti-inflammatory ingredients in AE which needs to be more investigated. 

Background: Bio fertilizers are an alternative to chemical fertilizers for increasing soil productivity and plant growth in sustainable agriculture. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the effects of bio fertilizers on valuable medicinal plants such as saffron.Objective: To determine the effects of chemical and bio-fertilizer phosphorous on quantitative yield and major active components content of saffron (Crocus sativus L.).Methods: This study has been conducted in Absard region, north of Tehran, Iran along 2006-2008 in a randomized complete block design with three replications and four fertilizer treatments. The treatments were p1 (Control or no applying phosphorous fertilizer), p2 (150 kg/ha phosphorous as ammonium phosphate), p3 (100 gr/ha bio-fertilizer as biophosphore) and p4 (a mixture of 50 g/ha bio-fertilizer as biophosphore + 75 kg/ha phosphorous as ammonium phosphate).Results: The treatments had significant effects (p<0.01) on fresh stigma and style length, number and leaf length, saffron yield (dry weight of stigma and style), and content of safranal, crocine and picrocrocine. Although the yield of stigma and style were not different in p2 (150 kg/ha phosphorous) and p4 (a mixture of 50 g/ha bio-fertilizer as biophosphore + 75 kg/ha phosphorous as ammonium phosphate) treatment, but the application of bio-fertilizer (p3) produced the most saffron yield, addition cause efficiency about 13.77% more than chemical treatment. However, p3 (100 g/ha bio-fertilizer as biophosphore) was the best treatment in respect of picrocrocine content. Also, the maximum content of safranal and crocin was obtained in p4 (a mixture of 50 g/ha bio-fertilizer as biophosphore + 75 kg/ha chemical phosphorous as ammonium phosphate).Conclusion: Application of the chemical/bio- fertilizer increased qualitative and quantitative Yield of saffron. Also, the application of biophosphore can be in order to reduction in application of chemical phosphorous fertilizer in agro-ecosystem which is attitude toward minimizing of environmental pollution and sustainable agriculture.

Background: It may be necessary to accomplish an investigation based on the extensive and deep studies about the situation and status of herbal medicines in different societies. Investigation of prescribed herbal medicines by physicians -as one of the high educated portion of the society and also as the eligible population for prescription of herbal medicines - and also evaluation of drug prescriptions considering the administration of herbal medicines can determine the situation and status of herbal medicines in health policy of a country.Objective: In this article the interest of the physicians for administration of herbal medicines, the effect of different variables such as age, sex and type of specialty of physicians, the effect of type of season and finally the effect of type of municipal district as the marker for determination of quality of life on amount of prescribed herbal medicines have been studied. Methods: This study, was accomplished in the time period between 1st Farvardin till 30th Esfand of the year 1386 in 3 university related drugstores – i.e. Taleghani, Abedini and Isar- the drug stores have been selected in the manner that different districts of the city is included in the study. Totally, 5040 drug prescriptions for all over the year have been statistically investigated.Results: The interest for prescription of herbal medicines by physicians is very low. Variables include municipal district of the city with different levels of quality of life, age of physicians, type of specialty, level of education and therapeutic category of drugs have influenced on the interest of physicians for prescription of herbal medicine but sex of physician has no significant effect on this interest.Conclusion: Totally, there is a low interest for prescription of herbal medicines by physicians.

Background: Oxidative damage may play a role in the development of atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus. Antioxidant could help to protect against oxidative stress related disorders. Objective: We studied the antioxidant effects of some plants, namely, Ziziphus vulgaris, Portulaca oleracea, Berberis integerima, Gundelia tournefortti on the above mentioned reactions.Methods: Ethanolic and water extracts of the mentioned plants were prepared in three different concentrations: 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/ml. Hepatocytes of rat were exposed to AAPH. The amount of Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transferase (SGOT) released from membrane lipid peroxidation was also measured in presence and absence of the plant extract. The changes of hemoglobin (Glycosylation) and red blood cell hemolysis were measured in the presence and absence of the extract. The percent of oxidation inhibition was compared with that in control subjects.Results: The results showed all plants had antioxidant effects on hemolysis of red blood cell. The highest extent of hemolysis inhibition of red blood cell was due to Ziziphus. The highest glycosylation inhibition of hemoglobin was shown by Gundelia and Berberis. Portulaca, Gundelia and Berberis decreased SGOT release from hepatocytes, but the least extent of lipid peroxidation inhibition was shown by Ziziphus.Conclusion: This study showed that the plants have an antioxidant effect and they can be probably used as an antioxidant in food supplement in diabetic, atherosclerotic and liver disease patients.

Background: Essential oils and their components have antimicrobial effects. They use with spices as flavoring agents all over the world. They have been used safely since ancient times as herbal medicines. Zataria multiflora Boiss. is one of medicinal herbs in Iran and its antimicrobial effects on foodborne pathogens have to investigate in foodstuff.Objective: The aim of this study was to determine of the effect of Zataria multiflora Boiss. Essential oil on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in salted (4%) silver carp. Methods: Effect of different concentrations of this Essential oil (0.0%, 0.045%, 0.135%, 0.405%, and 0.810%) on behavior of Listeria monocytogenes was determined by evaluation of the bacterial growth in salted fish fillets.Results: The essential oil in used concentrations had significant inhibitory effect on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in salted fish during the storage time. The higher concentration until 0.405%, the more significant inhibitory effects on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes (p<0.05) but 0.405% and 0.810% concentrations had no different significant inhibitory effects on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes (p>0.05). Organoleptical survey showed that the concentrations of the essential oil used until 0.405% not only had no undesirable effect on flavoring but also it improve taste and flavor of salted fish.Conclusion: the result suggested that the Zataria multiflora Boiss. Essential oil can be considered as a natural preservative in salted fish.

Background: Castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) is one of the most important medicinal plants that used in pharmaceutical, cosmetics and hygienic industries in most of developed countries. The versatile application of castor oil in different industry and recently in food science because of its unique physicochemical properties has led castor oil to be the focus of abundant research projects.Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine, the impact of 7 different climatic conditions in Iran on the castor oil production by castor bean from the standpoints of the quality, oil content and physicochemical properties of castor oil.Methods: Seeds were harvested after ripening and were transferred to laboratory for measurement of physicochemical properties. Tests were included, measurement of either chlorophyll content by spectrophotometer, or refractive index by refract meter, or moisture oil, saponification value, acid value, peroxide value and iodine value by AOCS standards.Results: The results showed that climatic factors had significant effects on oil content, moisture content, acid value, peroxide value, iodine value, chlorophyll content and saponification value. With the analyzed oil samples, oil content, humidity, refractive index, chlorophyll content, saponification value, iodine value, acid value, and peroxide value were respectively determined as 35% - 51%, 0.3% - 1.14%, 1.404 - 1.426, 0.16 - 0.4 mg Phenophytin/ kg Oil, 164 – 1/79 mg KOH/g Oil, 75 - 86 g I2/100 g Oil, 0.29 - 0.6 mg NaOH/g Oil, 0 - 0.5 meq O2/kg oil.Conclusion: Results showed that Urmia, Nazarlu and Marand can be considered for medicinal castor bean plant cultivation for high quality of oil.

Background: In order to sustainable agriculture, applications of bio-fertilizers are as a gradual alternative to chemical fertilizers or at least to minimize the levels of these chemical. Objective: To determine the effects of some bio-fertilizers and urea fertilizers on agronomical and pharmaceutical yield of Peppermint.Methods: This study was done in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with nine treatments and three replications. The treatments were control (no applying fertilizer), three different bio-fertilizers (4 & 8 kg.ha-1 for each one), and chemical urea fertilizer 75 & 100 kg.ha-1.Results: The result showed that fertilizer treatments had significant effects on plant height, stem fresh and dry weight of per ha, dry weight of leaf per ha, menthone content (p<0.05), leaf number per stem, fresh and dry weight of leaf per stem, essential oil yield per ha, and menthol content (p<0.01). Generally the lowest qualitative and quantitative yield of peppermint was related to control treatment. However, the application of bio-fertilizers significantly increased the yield in respect of all studied parameters and the highest yield was observed in Nitroxin and urea treatment. So that, the amount of menthone and menthol of essential oil in bio-fertilizer of Nitroxin (8 kg.ha-1) had not significant statistical difference with urea fertilizer (75 kg.ha-1).Conclusion: The application of the bio-fertilizers especially Nitroxin increased qualitative and quantitative yield of peppermint. Then, the application of bio-fertilizers can be used in order to an alternative or reduction in application of chemical fertilizers in agro-ecosystem which is attitude toward the minimize of environmental pollution and sustainable agriculture.

Background: The fruits of Citrullus colocynthis are used for treatment of diabetes. C. colocynthis has controlled blood glucose levels in diabetic animals and type 2 diabetic patients. C. colocynthis is toxic at high doses so it is soaked in vinegar or saline for a while in order to reduce its toxicity.Objective: The effects of processing with vinegar and saline on the toxicity and anti-diabetic property of C. colocynthis in rats were studied. Methods: Determination of LD50 (median lethal dose): The non-processed and saline and vinegar processed hydro-alcoholic extracts of C. colocynthis were administered via gavage to groups of 10 healthy male and female Wistar rats at various doses once and the number of dead animals in each group within 72 hours was determined. Study on anti-diabetic effect: Male Wistar rats were made diabetic with the intra-peritoneal injection of 125 mg/kg alloxan. Each extract was administered via gavage to a group of 10 diabetic male Wistar rats at the daily dose of 20 mg/kg for 1 month and finally, the tail venous blood glucose levels after fasting for 8 hours were determined with the glucose oxidase method.Results: The LD50s of the non-processed and saline and vinegar processed extracts were 200 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg respectively. The three extracts reduced the blood glucose levels significantly compared with control (p<0.05).Conclusion: Processing with saline or vinegar can reduce the toxicity of C. colocynthis with maintenance of its anti-diabetic effect.

Background: Adiantum capillus-veneris L. is a traditional medicinal plant which was used in the treatment of bronchitis and coughs, and also to prevent hair loss. Methanolic extract of this plant has demonstrated significant antimicrobial activities.Objective: In this study the antibacterial properties of Adiantum capillus-veneris L. extract on eight species of Gram positive and negative bacteria were evaluated.Methods: The herbal sample of Adiantum capillus-veneris was collected during the summer (June-July) from the north region of Iran called Condoluse and identified by herbarium laboratory in Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, where a voucher specimen is deposited. The sample was pretreated and extracted with methanol 96% by percolation method and then concentrated and stored in a safe bottle until the experiments started. By using dilution method different dilutions of the extract have been prepared (10%, 5%, 2.5% and 1.25%). Antimicrobial activity of the methnolic extract of Adiantum capillus-veneris were evaluated against 8 strain of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria using agar disk diffusion and agar well plate methods.Results: Our results demonstrated that prepared dilutions of the Adiantum capillus-veneris extract had significant effects on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Helicobacter pylori strains. Also the results indicated no significant inhibitory effects on Salmonella typhi, Shigella sonnei, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Streptococcus pyogenes strains. Consistent with the other studies, our investigation demonstrated some antimicrobial effects of Adiantum capillus-veneris extract.Conclusion: With respect to various and multiple chemical properties of this plant, it is suggested that Adiantum capillus-veneris can be used for more medical and therapeutic purposes.

Background: Several formulations of the Nigella sativa L. seeds (black seed) have been used in traditional medicine for treatment and prevention of a wide range of diseases including hyperlipidemia. But blood lipid lowering effects of its oil in clinical study is of an interest.Objective: The present study was undertaken to explore the possible blood lipid lowering effects of the black seed oil on healthy volunteers. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted in 70 healthy volunteers referring to Bagiatallah hospital. The subjects were randomly selected and enrolled in to two groups of 35 each. One group received 2.5 ml black seed oil and the other group received similarly 2.5 ml mineral oil two times a day. The fasting blood triglyceride, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, glucose, ALT, AST, BUN, cratinine, and HbA1C were determined at the baseline and after 8 weeks.Results: Results showed that significant decrease in fasting blood cholesterol, LDL, triglyceride, glucose and HbA1C levels in black seed oil treated volunteers as compared to placebo group at the end of the study. No notable liver, kidney and gastrointestinal side effects were observed in these two groups side effects were observed in these two groups.Conclusion: Administration of 5 ml black seed oil daily to healthy volunteers for 8 weeks had beneficial effects on improving lipid profile without any adverse effects.

Background: Artemisia persica is a common species in South East Iran and A. persica is the only species in this genus and the species name persica means from Iran.Objective: Artemisia persica have been used in traditional medicine to treat various infections and inflammations. It is an effective remedy for S. aureus and B. subtilis bacterial infection.Methods: The selected methanol extracts were screened against two strain of bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis at seven different extracts concentrations (5, 25, 100, 150, 200, 300 and 400 mg/ml) using disc diffusion and wheel assay methods. The minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC, MBC and Death kinetic) of the active extracts were tested using MH broth-dilution methods.Results: For standard strains of S. aureus the extracts for MIC were range 100 mg/ml and MBC range were 150-200 mg/ml. For B. subtilis standard strain the MIC extracts range were150-200 mg/ml and MBC were 400 mg/ml, Kinetic of death were 4 hours for B. subtilis compared to 5 hours for S. aureus.Conclusion: These results suggest that extracts of Artemisia persica may have the antibacterial activity against some pathogenic bacteria. It has an antibacterial action and inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis and it may be attributed to its content of the artemisinin, tannins, saponin, alfa- pinene and camphor. From this study it can be concluded that many extracts possess antibacterial activity Plant extracts have been used for many pharmaceuticals, alternative medicine and natural therapies.

Background: Although the importance of w-3 and w-6 essential fatty acid has been known but functional and physiological properties of w-3 and w-6 fatty acid are different. The balance use of  w-3 and w-6 fatty acid is more important because in vivo can't make them.Objective: Possibility production of the functional oil from vegetable sources such as flaxseed (containing w-3) and safflower (containing w-6) oils including extraction, formulation and preservation. Methods: After extraction of the oils from flaxseed and safflower, physicochemical properties of the oils were examined and the product underwent the fractionation process in order to increase the w-3 ratio. Then, functional oil was formulated using a 1:1 mixture of w-3 and w-6. Storage conditions and stability of the oil were also investigated for four months (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 months) by studying peroxide, thiobarbituric acid and Rancimat indexes.Results: Results showed that the w-3 ratio may be increased from 50.19 to 52.59% (p<0.05) through fractionation. During the storage of the functional oil in the four months, the peroxide index increased from zero to 100.43 and 4.99 (meq O2 /k oil), the thiobarbituric acid index also increased from zero to 4.99 and 0.026 (malondialdehyde mg /k oil), and the Rancimat index decreased from 2.10 to 0.33 and from 2.10 to 1.35 (p<0.05) in the refrigerator and freezer, respectively.Conclusion: With the fractionation process can increase the amount of w-3 fatty acid about 4/78 percent (p<0.05). Diagnostic examination showed that during the storage of the functional oil peroxide value of oil were under standard, so recommended using refrigerator in order to preserve functional oils.

Background: Plants infection with microorganisms as well as physical factors such as osmotic stresses induced particular secondary metabolite pathways.Objectives: To investigate the growth promoting effects of two Rhizobacteria strains including Pseudomonas fluoresces (PF) and Putida (PP) in combination with application of water deficit stress on plant biomass of Hyoscyamus niger young roots and variation of tropane alkaloids content and yield in root and shoot parts. Methods: Two grams of dried each shoot and root samples was added to appropriate volume of CHCl3: MeOH: NH4OH 25%, (15:5: 1), and sonicated for 20 min. Alkaloids extracted were analyzed by gas chromatographic (GC) method using a Younglin Acme 6000 GC system equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID) and HP-5MS capillary column (30 m × 0.25 mm, film thickness 0.25 mm). The identification of alkaloids was based on the comparison of their GC retention time and mass spectra data with their standards substances.Results: Results indicated that the highest alkaloid content values in root (hyoscyamine: 0.26% DW; scopolamine: 0.12% DW) and shoot (hyoscyamine: 0.85% DW; scopolamine: 0.48% DW) were achieved in PF-187 treated plants grown under severe water stress conditions (W3). By contrast, the maximum alkaloid yield in root (hyoscyamine: 1.92 mg.plant-1; scopolamine: 0.83 mg.plant-1) and shoot (hyoscyamine: 5.88 mg.plant-1; SCO: 3.06 mg.plant-1) were obtained in PP-168 treated plants under low water stress conditions (W1).Conclusion: Rhizobacteria strains can function as environmentally sound tools to increase alkaloids production and counteract growing problems under stress conditions, especially by auxin production.