Journal of Medicinal Plants
Year:2016 | Volume:15 | Issue:59|Papers Count:12

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that affects between 5-10% of women who are of reproductive age. The most common symptoms of PCOS are obesity/difficulty losing weight, acne, amenorrhea (absence of menstrual cycles), irregular menstrual cycles, hirsutism (increased growth of corporal hair), insulin resistance, and high cholesterol. One of the treatments for PCOS is the use of Metformin (which is a drug prescribed to type 2 diabetics) which can help treat the insulin resistance associated with PCOS. However many women who suffer from PCOS opt to use alternative medicine in conjunction with traditional medicine to improve their condition. There are some herbs that are very helpful in treating PCOS. In this review, we focus on the role of herbal medicine in the treatment of PCOS.

The aim of this review was to represent a category of applied plant biostimulants and to highlight the effect of their application on morphological and phytochemical properties of medicinal plants in in vivo and in vitro conditions and their mechanism of action. Plant biostimulants, safe for both human beings and the environment, are substances or materials, except for nutrients and pesticides, which have the ability to beneficially modify plant growth and have been accepted over the past decade. Plant biostimulants have natural and synthetic origin. The natural biostimulants contain amino acids, bacteria, seaweed, yeast, chitosan, phytohormones, and also plant growth regulators (synthetic hormones), phenolic compounds, inorganic salts, essential elements, and other different substances are some examples of synthetic biostimulants. The plant biostimulants through different mechanisms of action (such as nitrogen assimilation) are sustainable management practice for production of medicinal plants, increasing biomass production, and enhancing secondary metabolites synthesis and it is investigated and shown in many studies in recent years. Furthermore, there are many reports on positive effects of biostimulants and elicitors application on medicinal plants in in vitro culture condition. Some products of companies active in the formulation of biostimulants in Iran are mentioned in this review. In conclusion, yield response in medicinal plants to biostimulants application showed that each medicinal plant responds in a different way based on the chemical composition and components of biostimulants, the timing and rate of application.

Background: the most common symptoms experienced by women are Hot flashes are around the time of menopause. Many women are interested in herbal medicines because of fear of side effect of Hormone therapy.Objective: In this study, we seek to assess the effectiveness of herbal medicine on the recurrence of hot flash in menopausal women.Methods: The database of MEDLINE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (RCT) were searched to investigate trials on the efficacy of herbal medicines on hot flash.Results: RCTs were incorporated into this accurate review, with the results demonstrating that herbal medicines such as evening primrose, oil hop and Valerian, red clover, of black Cohosh flaxseed and hypericum perforatum can ease the side effects of hot flash.Conclusion: Our study indicated that herbal medicines can reduce the negative effects of hot flash. However, desirable impacts still remain indeterminate due to the number of RCTs, limited sample size and unsystematic methodology. As such, larger RCTs with more reliable design and improved measurable reporting of the outcomes are required to support this conclusion.

Background: Exercise and consumption of green tea affect the aging process. However, the effect of exercise training combined with green tea extract on leukocyte telomere length, quality of life (QoL) and body composition in aging has so far been unclear and inconsistent.Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of aerobic training intervention and green tea extracts consumption either alone or in combination on leukocyte telomere length, QoL and body composition among elderly women.Methods: Thirty six elderly women, 60-65 years, were randomly divided into two groups, the exercise alone (placebo group) and exercise with green tea consumption (green tea group). All participants in both groups were engaged to aerobic protocol exercise three times in week for five months. The participants in green tea group received green tea extract capsule 500 mg and placebo group received toasted powder capsule 500 mg three times a day for a period of five months. At baseline and end of the study the leukocyte telomere length, QoL and body composition were measured.Results: There were significant increase on leukocyte telomere length in green tea group compared with the baseline (P=0.004) and also placebo group (P=0.041) at the end of the study. Waist–hip ratio was also significantly decreased in green tea group compared with placebo group (P=0.016).Conclusion: Our findings shows that combination of aerobic training with consumption of green tea has synergic effect on waist-hip ratio and leukocyte telomere length associated with aging among elderly women.

Background: Many members of the genus Satureja L. (Lamiaceae) have interesting pharmacological and biological properties.Objective: In this research, major essential oil (EO) compositions, rosmarinic acid (RA) content, and antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the leaf extracts of nine Satureja species (S. bachtiarica, S. mutica, S. sahandica, S. macrantha, S. atropatana, S. edmondi, S. spicigera, S. isophylla and S. intermedia) were assessed.Methods: The chemical composition of EO was determined using Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. RA content of the extract was detected using a High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) method, and the 2,2- diphenyl-2-picrylhydracyl hydrate (DPPH) radical scavenging procedure was used to study of antioxidant capacity.Results: According to the analytical results, EO of the most samples were mainly composed of pcymene, g-terpinene, thymol, and carvacrol. There was a wide variability for RA content among the studied species ranging from 0.03 mg g-1 RA (S. sahandica) to 1.11 mg g-1 RA (S. isophylla). The lowest IC50 in the radical scavenging assay was shown by S. sahandica extracts as compared to the other samples. This activity was followed by S. spicigera and S. edmondi. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) varied from 0.06 to 32 mg ml-1, however, the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) value differed from 0.06 to>64 mg ml-1. Moreover, S. sahandica revealed the lowest inhibitory activity against all microorganisms tested particularly on E. coli.Conclusion: In conclusion, the extracts of certain Satureja species have the potential to be considered as alternatives for synthetic food preservatives and antibiotics.

Background: Trigonella foenum-graecum L. commonly known as fenugreek is a rich source of important medicinal metabolite, i.e. trigonelline.Objective: In this study, hairy roots culture as a novel method for trigonelline production was evaluated.Methods: For optimizing the hairy roots culture of Trigonella foenum-graecum, three strains of Agrobacterium rhyzogenes (ATCC15834, MSU440 and K599) via two inoculations methods including scotch and vacuum pump were used to agro-infiltration. Two elicitors including methyl jasmonate (0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 mM) and chitosan (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200mgl-‘) were added to liquid medium as abiotic and biotic elicitors in various concentrations, respectively.Results: The trigonelline content was increased via elicitation by methyl jasmonate and chitosan against control condition. The maximum trigonelline (36.7 and 37.3 mM/g D.W) were observed in 100 mM of methyl jasmonate and 150 mg/l of chitosan, respectively.Conclusion: All parts of the seedling (crown, stem and leaf) were able to produce the hairy roots. Also, the highest dry weight of hairy root was obtained by A. rhizogenes strain 15834. The transformation of fenugreek using Agrobacterium rhizogenes to form hairy root cultures has the potential benefits of fast growth and rates of secondary metabolite production equal to or greater than that found for the intact plant.

Background: Finding scientific data from the Holy Qur’an is an old trend, which emerge newly with rise of modern science. In the literature, we have found that total number of medicinal plants cited in the Holy Qur’an varies author to author.Objective: The aim of this study was to indentify the plants mentioned in the Holy Qur’an and to confirm the botanical name with other relevant information and Islamic history of medicine.Methods: The Holy Qur’an has been studied thoroughly to identify the medicinal plants, and Surah and verses were only chosen if they stated specific name of plants which are found in the earth. The identity of the selected plants was confirmed and claim of ethnomedicinal uses of Qur’anic medicinal plants was vindicated using scientific evidence available in the journals and books.Results: Our present findings revealed a total of 27 plants cited in 47 verses of 28 Surah in the Holy Qur’an, those belongs to 22 genera of 18 families of plant kingdom. Among these plants, eight fruits, five vegetables, two crops, six aromatics, five trees and one forage species. Out of 27, 15 plants have been consumed in raw form or in cuisine which directly contribute nutrition to our body as well as medicinal benefits.Conclusion: It is concluded that identified medicinal plants extensively used in the traditional healing system due to their availability, acceptability, compatibility and affordability and studied in modern science for identifying theory of their potential role in improving the quality of life.

Background: Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, an important anti-diabetic medicinal plant, becomes an inevitable alternative to sugar. Due to the propagation difficulties, tissue culture is the best alternative for rapid mass propagation of stevia plants.Objective: The present study was conducted to optimize a protocol for rapid micropropagation of Stevia rebaudiana by shoot tip explants and to investigate the effect of growth regulators concentration on steviol-glycosides content under in vitro culture conditions.Methods: Young nodal stem explants were collected from a young growing plant and the effects of media and growth regulators on shoot proliferation were studied. Shoots produced on optimal medium for shoot proliferation were used for rooting experiments and the effects of IBA, NAA, and active carbon on root induction in both full MS and half MS media were investigated.Results: Based on the results obtained from the proliferation stage, there was no significant difference between growth regulator levels. Analysis of data obtained from rooting experiment, revealed that there are significant differences between growth regulators in leaf length, shoot dry weight, and root fresh weight. Based on the results of mean comparison, plantlets grown on free active carbon media had the higher biomass than those grown on media supplemented with 2 mg.L-1 active carbon. The highest content of stevioside (8.18%) was observed at half MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg. L-1 IBA, and 2 mg.L-1 active carbon.Conclusion: Plant growth regulators can be included among the factors affecting shoot proliferation and root induction of Stevia rebaudiana. Micropropagation of stevia can be improved by altering the macro elements concentration and adding activated carbon. In conclusion, half MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg.L-1 IBA, and 2 mg.L-1 active carbon was superior for stevioside content.

Background: Medicinal plants with biologically active components such as antioxidant and antidiabetic are useful sources of novel therapeutics. In Iran, traditionally believed that the aqueous extract of berberry fruit (Berberis integerima F.) improved health, especially in people with diabetes.Objective: In this study, in vitro phytochemical and antioxidant activities of B. integerrima and B. vulgaris fruit aqueous extracts (BIFA and BVFA) were compared. Effects of more active species on fasting blood sugar (FBS), serum lipid, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were evaluated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.Methods: The phytochemical potential and antioxidant activity of these extracts were quantified in terms of total phenolic content and total reducing power, respectively. BIFA (500 mg/kg) and glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) were administered orally to alloxan-induced diabetic rats and FBS, body weight, lipid profile, and serum MDA were monitored at 0, 7, 14, and 21 days after induction of diabetes.Results: BIFA showed the highest phenolic content (6.816±0.132 mg/g of dry extract) and antioxidant activity (0.134±0.022 EC50 mg/mL). LD50 of BIFA was found to be>2500 mg/kg. FBS, lipid profile, and serum MDA have been significantly reduced in BIFA-treated rats after 21 days versus diabetic control and glibenclamide-treated rats. Extract has significantly decreased FBS levels of rats from 138.1±1.68 to 82.00±4.02 mg/dL. Furthermore, body weight has significantly improved in treated groups.Conclusion: The results indicate B. integerrima with high phytochemical and antioxidant activities, has the potential of suppressed hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and lipid peroxidation.

Background: Ferula gummosa Boiss. is a medicinal and economical plant belonging to Apiaceae family. It is a native herb of Iran and is in serious danger of extinction.Objective: Gamma irradiation is an environmental stress and can consider as a new tool to change the content of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants. The effect of gamma irradiation on phenolic content and radical scavenging activity of F. gummosa callus was investigated in this research.Methods: Embryogenic axes were removed from seed coats and were cultivated on ½ Murashige and Skoog medium. After 2 weeks, roots were used as source of plant material for callus induction. Root explants were transferred into MS medium containing NAA (1.5, 3 and 4.5 mg/L) and BA (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/L), and the best medium of callus establishment was selected for gamma irradiation. Sub-cultured calli were irradiated at different doses of gamma irradiation from 0 to 25 Gray (Gy).Results: The obtained data showed that MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/L NAA and 2 mg/L BA was the best medium for callus induction. Under gamma irradiation, a significant decline was observed in the fresh and dry weight of irradiated-calli as compared to control one. Phenolic content increased under gamma irradiation especially at 20 and 25 Gy, and the best dose was 20 Gy according to growth response. Aqueous extract showed higher phenolic content than methanol extract. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) obtained in the DPPH radical test decreased significantly under gamma irradiation espacially at 20 and 25 Gy.Conclusion: According to the obtained results, gamma radiation could increase radical scavenging activity by induction of phenolic compounds, and the aqueous extract identified as a proper extraction solvent for free radical scavenging activity in F. gummosa.

Background: Biosynthesis and metabolism of phytochemicals in medicinal and aromatic plants are vigorously affected by different abiotic elicitors including chemicals.Objective: This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of three levels of copper sulfate (Cu: 0, 5, 25 mg kg-1) and zinc sulfate (Zn: 0, 10, 50 mg kg-1) and their combinations on yield, chemical compositions of essential oil and metals accumulation in sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.).Methods: The amount of employed metals dissolved in 200 ml distilled water and sprayed over each pot, layer by layer as evenly as possible. Physical and chemical properties and concentration of the elements in soil samples were measured. The essential oil was isolated by hydro-distillation and analyzed by GS and GS-MS technique.Results: Results showed that the dry weight of root, shoot and essential oil yield were increased in treatments of Cu0Zn10, Cu5Zn0 and Cu5Zn10, as compared to control. The increase of Zn levels in soil enhanced the concentration of Zn in shoot and root of plant when compared to control. Also, Zn and Cu antagonized the uptake of together at the high levels. Root tissues always showed greater concentration of both Cu and Zn than those of shoot. The content of linalool and methyl chavicol was significantly increased by application of employed metals in comparison to control plants.Conclusion: Findings indicate that the growth and essential oil yield of O. basilicum was significantly enhanced by application of low levels of Cu and Zn. However, the highest levels of Cu and Zn were accumulated in root, without significant reduction in growth and biomass values.

Background: Isoflavones class of phytoestrogens including, genestein, daidzein and formononetin found in human dietary and show wide range of biological effects. These plant derived compounds have been shown to play a beneficial role in obesity and diabetes.Objective: In this study the impact of these phytoestrogens on glucose uptake in HepG2 cell were compared.Methods: Glucose uptake measurement was performed using 2-(N-(7-nitrobenzin-2-oxa-1, 3- diazol-4-yl) amino)-2-deoxyglucose (2-NBDG) and Omega FluoStar plate reader. Incubation of cells (104/ml, in 24 well plate at 37oC in 5% CO2/air) with three phytoestrogens at concentration of 10-4 M to 10-9 M in two studies mood, short term treatment (one hour) and long term treatment (24 hours) was tested.Results: The data revealed, daidzein stimulates uptake of glucose, with a greater effect after a short treatment of one hour compared with treatment 24 hours. genistein exerted slightly inhibitory effect after one hour treatment compared with control, with the exception of treatment at 1 mM, which stimulated uptake about three-fold compared with control. Longer treatments with 10-4M to 10-6 M genistein resulted in gradual increase in glucose uptake to 2.4 times more than control, and thereafter a decline. A short treatment with formononetin inhibited glucose uptake, while longer treatments had variable effects, with an approximately two fold stimulation across a range of concentrations.Conclusion: Overall HepG2 cells showed a significant increase in glucose uptake after treatment with phytoestrogens compared to the control. There was significant difference in glucose uptake between short and long term treatments, as indicated by two-way ANOVA.