Journal of Medicinal Plants
Year:2017 | Volume:16 | Issue:63|Papers Count:9

Thymol (2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol), and carvacrol (5-isopropyl-2-methylphenol) are the main components of the essential oils of some Laminaceae, Verbenaceae and Ranunculaceae members such as oregano, thyme, savory, etc. The formation of thymol and carvacrol is thought to involve hydroxylation of g-terpinene and p-cymene precursors. They are produced by the plant species as a chemical defense mechanism upon exposure to pathogens, pests, herbivores, or environmental stresses. Accordingly, the potent antimicrobial and fungi toxic properties of these compounds against various plant pathogens have been demonstrated. They have antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, and anti-oxidative properties which are the basis for the wide use of these compounds in the cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical industries.

Background: Delayed tendon healing and tendon adhesions are still found to be among the complications that occur most often after tendon repair. Pistacia khinjuk is one of the three species of Pistacia growing in Iran.Objective: In this study, the role of local injection of ethanolic extract of P. khinjuk was evaluated in healing of the experimental Achilles tendon injury in rabbits.Methods: Nine adult male white New Zealand rabbits were anesthetized and a partial thickness tenotomy was created on both hindlimbs. P. khinjuk extract and normal saline were injected daily to the treatment and control groups, respectively for three days post-operatively.Results: Based on the findings, on days 14, 28 and 42 after the injury, the healing rate in P. khinjuk treated groups were higher than control groups in tendon sections significantly (P≤0.05). In summary, results of this study showed that the application of P. khinjuk extract can improve the healing process of damaged Achilles tendon in rabbits.Conclusion: Significant differences between the treatment and control groups in the current study suggest that the application of P. khinjuk extract can improve the healing process of damaged Achilles tendon.

Background: Iran has a long history of traditional medicine and medicinal plants use in Middle East. Many ethnics in several parts of Iran use medicinal plants for their illness.Objective: Our aims were to identify which medicinal plants in the East- Mazandaran used for gastro intestinal problems and how the indigenous people treat their gastro intestinal problems. Methods: An investigation was carried out for a period of 2 years (from 2014 to 2015) in the area of East- Mazandaran. A questionnaire was prepared through face-to-face interviews. In order to collect detailed information we visited the people who had knowledge of medicinal plants and identify their collected dried medicinal plants. Persian and local name of the plants, their utilized parts and preparation methods were investigated and recorded.Results: After ethnobotanical study in the East-Mazandaran region we recorded 20 species belong to 10 family of medicinal plant in this area. The most common families are: Apiaceaea and Rosaceae (4 plants). The aerial parts, Young silks, seed, fruits, roots, buds and leaves of plants were used by people. The plants were collected in desire months, dried and stored for use during the year seasons in order to use them later.Conclusion: This study showed that, Heracleum persicum, Cichorium intybus, Mentha aquatica, Ziziphora clinopodioides and Mespilus germanica, are the plants used in high range by many people for their illness. Since these species have been used by ages in traditional therapy of the area, more attention should be paid for their scientific study.

Background: Ficus auriculata (fig) has immense value of benefits with regards to their medicinal and therapeutic properties. It has been long used in traditional folk medicine, and one of the fruits mentioned in Al-Quran. Many scientific researches have proven the usage of this natural medicine in in vitro and in vivo studies, where anti-cancer is among of its recognized properties. Objective: To acquire further details on how F. auriculata (fig) inhibited cancer growth, we investigated the effects of its exposure on cell cycle profile. Methods: Subsequently we determined the type of cell death and the mechanism it induced using flow cytometer. Human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 was selected as the model of this study. Results: It is indicated significant decreased of A549 cells in G0/G1and concurrent accumulation of cells in G2/M phase. Cell death analysis revealed significant late apoptosis induced by F. auriculata (fig) via caspase independent pathway. Conclusion: Therefore, we concluded that F. auriculata (fig) is one of the promising natural medicines that can be used as cancer preventive strategy, as a result from its effects against cell cycle profile and apoptosis via caspase independent pathway.

Background: Avena sativa, a well-known herbal medicine; has been used in various skin diseases such as eczema, burn and pruritus.Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of this herbal medicine for treatment of chronic pruritus in Sulfur Mustard (SM) exposed patients.Methods: Veterans who referred to Baghiat-Allah dermatologic clinic for itching problems were examined by a dermatologist and randomly assigned in three different groups. Group A received ointment derived from Avena sativa plant, group B, placebo and group C, betamethasone 0.1% cream twice a day for 4 weeks. Twenty five patients were included in each group. A visual analogue scale were used for assessment of severity of pruritus and 2 questionnaire for quality of life and quality of sleep were filled for each patient.Results: Pruritus severity after the study by VAS method was significantly decreased in all the groups, but betamethasone group showed the largest decrease (-2.4, P<0.001). The average quality of life based on DLQI criteria and quality of sleep based on PSQI after the treatment showed the most significant difference in betamethasone group (3.52, P<0.001 and  0.96, P=0.001 respectively). Although Avena sativa showed significant effect on these criteria but it was only superior to placebo and not as effective as betamethasone. Conclusion: The result demonstrated that Avena sativa ointment reduced chronic pruritus, increased quality of life and quality of sleep in patients exposed to SM but betamethasone was superior in all aspects.

Background: The mastic extract of Pistacia species can be considered as a natural herbal source in the pharmaceutical industry. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Pistacia atlantica mastic on wound healing, oxidative and blood biochemical parameters. Methods: Topical cream and oral suspension was made of the mastic of P. atlantica, after preparing hydroalcoholic extract and essence. 40 male rabbits were selected (4 experimental groups and 4 control group). To induce oxidative stress and tissue damage the burn wound were created. Topical cream (1 gram 60% and 30%, 3 ml oral suspension 60% and 30%, respectively were used daily in treatment groups for 21 days. Inert cream and distilled water were used topically and orally in the control group, respectively. The oxidative parameters of blood serum including malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and biochemical parameters of low density and high lipoproteins, as well as glucose level were measured on day 1, 7, 14 and 21. The healing process and grading were evaluated by histological examination on day 21. Results: Increased concentration of MDA indicated the appearance of oxidative stress. oncentrations of SOD, CAT, GPX showed significant increases as compared with the control group and in day 1 (P≤0.05). The level of LDL did not show any difference in experimental group. Conclusion: The results show that mastic extract of P. atlantica has an appropriate effect on wound healing and can be used as a natural antioxidant.

Background: Ferulago angulata is an important medicinal plant and endemic to Iran which is an endangered Plant.Objective: The aim of this study was to achieve an efficient method for propagation of this plant and evaluation of essential oil content and composition in habitat. Metthods: Essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation using Clevenger-type apparatus and its composition was analyzed by the GC and GC-MS. For callus induction, explants were cultured on MS medium supplemented with NAA, 2, 4-D and BA. For somatic embryogenesis, the calli were cultured on MS medium supplemented with full, 1.4 and 1.10 fold of growth regulators and MS medium without growth regulator. For maturation, embryogenic clumps were transferred on MS medium supplemented with BA, 2, 4-D and 30 or 60 g l-1 sucrose. The small embryogenic clumps were transferred to medium with GA3. Results: The main components of essential oils were Ocimene (29.84%), followed by a-pinene (27.01%), Isobornyl formate (7.7%) and gamma-Terpinene (4.85%). The highest percentage of callus induction observed in the root and hypocotyl explants. The maximum somatic embryogenesis was obtained in MS medium with 0.5 mg l-1 2, 4-D via hypocotyls derived explants. The highest frequency of maturation was obtained in MS medium containing 30 g l-1 sucrose without growth regulators. Conclution: This plant had a noticeable amount of essential oil with valuable ingredients and tissue culture techniques could be applied for its mass propagation, conservation of germplasm and in vitro regeneration.

Background: Pergularia tomentosa L. has several traditional uses and biological activities which need to be more investigated. Objective: In this study, some ecological and phytochemical properties of Pergularia tomentosa were assessed. The flavonoids and cardenolides in the aqueous extract of leaves were identified with LCMS techniques.Methods: Some quantity characteristics of P. tomentosa were measured. Extraction was performed according to the traditional method (aqueous extract at room temperature). Metabolite profiling was conducted using untargeted liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (LCeESI-OrbitrapeMS). Data were analyzed by Xcalibur version 2.1.Results: Results showed that length of roots, leaves and fruits and the height of aerial parts were 23-30 cm, 2.5-3.2 cm, 4.9- 5.4 cm and 40-58.00 cm, respectively. Physiography and canopy cover were two important variables on these properties. We also identified 19 natural products in aqueous extract, 15 phenolics and flavonoids and 4 cardenolides. Three flavonoids (8, 11 and 14) and one cardenolide (17) had been previously isolated in P. tomentosa and 3 cardenolides (5, 18 and 19) has been reported for the first time in this plant.Conclusion: Results indicated that the leaves of P. tomentosa are a rich source of flavonoids and cardenolides. These findings suggest that leaves of this plant can be a good source of natural antioxidant and antitumor compounds. However, this plant needs special conservational efforts. Therefore, planting this plant under the canopy or along the borders of waterways can help in an appropriate habitat for its conservation and reclamation.

Background: Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is an important medicinal plant that is a source of diosgenin, trigonelline and other valuable components. Fenugreek seeds is used for its pharmaceutical and nutraceutical properties.Objective: The aim of present study was to investigate the genetic diversity within and between different populations of Trigonella foenum-graecum using DNA markers and phytochemical characteristics. Methods: The total genomic DNA was isolated from 12 populations of Trigonella foenum-graecum collected from different regions in Iran. After optimizing PCR, 10 ISSR and 10 SCoT primers were used to amplify the genomic DNA of all genotypes. To investigate genetic distance, cluster analysis based on Jaccard similarity coefficients and UPGMA algorithm calculated for the 12 genotypes. Also, the trigonelline content was determined between 2 populations which had the highest genetic distance.Results: Analysis of banding patterns of 10 SCoT primers revealed 92 polymorphic bands with an average of 9.2 fragments per prime. A total of 79 bands were generated from 10 ISSR primers, out of which 55 (68.21%) were polymorphic bands. The average values of dissimilarities based on the SCoT and ISSR data were 0.60 and 0.44, respectively. Also, shoot trigonelline content was significantly different between genotypes with the highest genetic distance.  Conclusion: Our results revealed a high level of genetic variation among fenugreek populations. The findings also indicated that SCoT technique is more informative than ISSR technique for evaluation of genetic diversity and relationships among fenugreek populations. The genotypes with the highest genetic distance based on SCoT data, were noticeably different in respect of trigonelline content.