JOURNAL OF HERBAL DRUGS
Year:2011 | Volume:1 | Issue:4|Papers Count:12

Background & Aim: A gag reflex (GR) can be a problem to compliance and delivery of dental treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of Diospyros kaki L. fruit extract in controlling gag reflex during dental treatment.Experimental: Our study was a randomized double blind controlled trial with convenient sampling on 84 patients that is candidate for radiographic procedures in Dental School, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Randomization procedure entered in each group of intervention with Diospyros kaki L. extracts or placebo. Before and after intervention gag reflex was categorized in 4 score (0 to 3) and evaluated. Data analysis and comparing performed with SPSS software and Chi -square and McNamara tests.Results & Discussion: Gag reflex in soft palate region & tensile was found on all patients. After intervention the decrease on gag reflex was recorded 97.6 and 100 percent for case and 19.4 and 16.6 percent for control group on soft palate region and tensile respectively. Statistical significant decreased between intervention (case) & placebo groups (p<0.01) were observed.Industrial and practical recommendations: Our results indicate that consumption of Diospyros kaki L. extracts are seems to be an effective method of controlling gag reflex during dental treatment. It can be a confidence method to use on dental procedures especially radiographic.

Background & Aim: This experiment was conducted to examine the effect of different levels of Echinacea purpurea (EP) in comparison with an antibiotic (flavofosfolipol) on total antioxidant activity (AOA) in serum of broiler chicks.Experimental: In this trial 240 one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were weighed and randomly assigned to the 5 treatment groups, each with 4 replicates with 12 broilers. The 5 treatments were as follows: 1. Basal diet (control); 2. Basal diet+antibiotic (4.5 mg flavofosfolipol/kg diet); 3. Basal diet+dried aerial part powder of EP (5 g/kg diet); 4. Basal diet+dried aerial part powder of EP (10 g/kg diet); 5. Basal diet+tincture extract (0.25 g/kg diet). The contents of Flavonol-o-glycosides as Quescetin was determined by spectrophotometer method, and the amount of Flavonol-o- glycosides as Quescetin in 5 g/kg diet EP to alcoholic extract was equal. At 42 days blood sample was taken and analyzed for total antioxidant activity (AOA) of serum blood.Results & Discussion: The results showed that using of 10 g/kg diet EP led to the highest AOA (m mol/lit) compared to other groups. Alcoholic extract supplementation to diet resulted higher AOA than those control and antibiotic treatments but not significant. The AOA increased in broilers fed diet containing 5 g EP/kg diet than those control, Alcoholic extract and antibiotic treatments but not significantly.Industrial and practical recommendations: The results of this trial showed that, using of 10 g EP/kg diet improved total antioxidant activity in serum of broiler chicks. According to the risk of producing the microbial population resistant to antibiotic because of continuous use antibiotics in animals diet in fields and due to the findings of this experiment and other experiments, the powder of the top organs of Echinacea purpurea can be used as a suitable alternatives for antibiotic in food diet of the poultry.

Background & Aim: Salvia macrosiphon is one of the important species of Salvia which belongs to the Lamiaceae family. All 58 Iranian species of Salvia grow in different ecological places. The aim of this research is the investigation of morphological and anatomical characteristics of S. macrosiphon.Experimental: The above–mentioned species were collected from Zavarijan and Dodangeh region in Borojerd in 2007, and were transferred into a suitable place and then they have been determined systematically and they were used for morphological and anatomical studies by using light microscope.Results & Discussion: The investigation shows the species are mostly similar to the other ones previously studied anatomically. There were many trichomes in epidermal layer of stem. There are also anantomically different bundle sheath in pedicles which is three in middle and two in surrounding area in S. macrosiphon. The collenchyma tissues were observed in corners of stem. Parenchyma cells have chloroplasts and there are also many trichomes in the surface of leaves which seems many of them are secretary.Industrial and practical recommendations: The usage of the extract of different species of Saliva macrosiphon in medicinal and food products and its biological activity totally depends on the chemical compounds of extract. So, according to the importance of these extracts, doing some extensive research on all Iranian species is recommended.

Background & Aim: Vast variety of plants in various regions of the country and lack of enough information on their chemical combinations, sometimes lead to triggering poisoning and unsatisfied complications. Regarding to fabulous herbal characteristics of Hypricum, many research about poisoning and side effects of high concentrations of H. scabrum have not taken place until now. Therefore regarding to above mentioned issues, current study has done due to evaluating poisoning effects of H. scabrum on behavioral properties of mice.Experimental: In an experimental study, first H. scabrum collected from Sabz-e-Kooh mountains, Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province. There were five 4 mice-group that has taken 100, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg H. scabrum extract and one group didn’t get anything. Lastly, after 24 hours various hematologic, weight, and temperature characteristics have been evaluated. Also, like the past method these properties were evaluated for 14 days after taking extracts.Results & Discussion: In pathologic evaluation of kidney and liver, no obvious difference was seen. In statistical analysis of the results about HCT, Hb, RBC, Mono, MCV, Band, MCH, MCHC and PH no significant differences obtained between case groups and control group. About WBC, neutrophils and eosinophils count significant difference was gathered (p<0.05), that the reason was physiologic stress due to high dosage of the drug; because band cells (immature neutrophils), marker of infection and bone marrow response, has not decreased.Industrial and practical recommendations: Totally in current study it seems that H. scabrum extract, in none of the concentration used, have poisoning effect and just can lead to stress profile in subjects. But regarding the body weights after 2 weeks of experiment, it can be concluded probably the plant was lead to weight gain. Entirely H. scabrum had not any harmful effects but pathologic ones on liver in high concentrations.

Background & Aim: German chamomile is one of the most important medicinal plants. So, assessment of genetic diversity and relationship among the traits are very essential in chamomile breeding programs. Determination of the best indirect selection criteria for genetic improvement of essence percent and dry flower yield of German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) populations was investigated using some morphological, agronomical and phonological characteristics.Experimental: In this experiment, statistical design of RCBD with three replications was used. Number of flower plant-1, fresh flower yield plant-1, days to budding, days to 50 and 100% of flowering, number of flowering stem, plant height, number of tiller plant-1, dry flower yield plant-1 and essence percent were measured.Results & Discussion: Analysis of variance showed highly significant differences among chamomile populations for all the studied traits. This assigns genetic diversity for mentioned traits and possibility of genetic improvement of these via selection. Assessment of correlation coefficients revealed positive and significant relationship of the majority of traits with dry flower yield as well as some traits with essence percent. Path analysis indicated applicability of indirect selection through the traits days to 50% flowering, No. flower plant-1, fresh flower yield plant-1 and days to budding for genetic improvement of dry flower yield specifically in early breeding generations.Industrial and practical recommendations: The traits 50% flowering and No. flower plant-1 also were introduced as the best indirect selection criteria for improvement of essence percent based on path analysis results.

Background & Aim: During human history, most of infectious diseases have been cured with herbal drugs traditionally so that, nowadays, in most developing countries, herbal drugs play an important role in primal remedy. This study has been done according to the appropriate climate and biodiversity of plants in Golestan province in order to investigate the antimicrobial activity of alcoholics, aqueous and boiling extracts of 23 medical plants species of Golestan province on clinical and standard stains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA and MSSA) and do comparison among them and determine the appropriate plant for next studies.Experimental: 23 medicinal plants were collected from their natural habitat in Golestan province in north of Iran. Their ethanolic and aqueous extracts were obtained by percolation methods. Antibacterial effects were assessed by disc diffusion method against 14 clinical and standard strains of methicillin resistant and sensitive strains of S. aureus.Results & Discussion: The result of antibacterial activity of these plants revealed that, ethanolic, aqueous and boiling extracts of 8, 3and 5 plants showed best effect. The ethanolic extract of Artemisia herbaalba, Nigella sativa, Punica granatum posed the most outstanding in vitro antibacterial activity which the maximum inhibition zone was between 18-25 mm. Also, the results showed that ethanolic extract had better antibacterial effect than aqueous and boiling extracts and boiling extracts had better antibacterial effects than aqueous extract. Anti- staphylococcal activity of ethanolic extract of plants against MRSA was better than MSSA strains.Industrial and practical recommendations: The ethanolic, aqueous and boiling extract of Punica granatum had the best antibacterial activity against microorganism. The result obtained from these plants might be considered sufficient for further studies.

Background & Aim: Herbal medicine usage is prevalent among world people from a long time ago and, It has been five times from 90th to 97th in the USA. According to increasing usage of herbal drugs and investigating the knowledge, beliefs and function of patients to herbal drugs, this research was done.Experimental: It is a descriptive, cross sectional study which carried on 30 patients who referred to one of the clinic centers that researchers have referred to this center and have filled out questionnaires that consist of demographic and knowledge, beliefs, and function of patients to herbal medicines. Then data analyzed with SPSS version 15.Results and discussion: Range of woman age was 19-47 y/o with mean 30±8 and rang age of men was 22-50 y/o with mean 27.4±12. About 23.3% are under diploma, 63.3% are diploma and higher, 10% are graduate and higher. The results show that 63.3% of patients had knowledge about herbal medicines and 93.3% of them expressed that recognize special herbal medicines for some disease. Also, 73.3% expressed that herbal medicine use is safe and 96.7% believed herbal medicines. About 30% of them believed that medicinal herbs must be bought from pharmacy. In addition, 93.3% expressed that medicinal herbs use is not limited to Iran. The most prevalent herbs respectively are: thyme (63.3%), borage (56.6%), mint juice (36.6%), four seeds (23.33%), Fumitory juice (20%), camels-thorn juice, green tea, London rocket seeds (16.6%), and lavender (13.33%). The most cause of herbal medicine use is stomach illness, sweating, common cold, relaxing, kidney stones and menstrual disorders.Industrial and practical recommendations: Because 93.3% of the patient referring to clinics used herbal drugs and regarded them safe, giving useful and comprehensive information about herbal drugs and increasing the knowledge of herbalists to prevent from medicinal introduction in order to boost the awareness, belief and function of patients and finally their heath, is so necessary.

Background & Aim: Treatment with herbal medicines is very popular in all over the World. Nowadays, using medicinal plants has increased because of undesirable effects of the chemical drugs. More than 10000 plant species are used for medicinal purposes, mainly as traditional medicines in the treatment of dysmenorrhea. The aim of this study was determining the rate of herbal remedies to relieve dysmenorrhea by universities students of Iranshahr in 2010.Experimental: This cross-sectional study was performed on 1080 female students in Iranshahr universities. Data were collected by means of questionnaire including open-ended questions. We asked them about self-comforting strategies and herbal remedies that they use to relieve their discomfort of dysmenorrhoea. Data analyzed by SPSS and descriptive statistics.Results & Discussion: 580 students used medicinal plants for reveling dysmenorrhoea. The average age of participants was 23.14±0.76 years; menarche occurred around age 12.78±1.27 years. The current survey revealed that 29 species of medicinal plants were used by the students. According to 66 percents of participants, medicinal plants were effective in reducing their discomfort of dysmenorrhoea. The most plants frequently used to treat dysmenorrhoea were ginger, dill, Cinnamon, thyme, fennel, chamomile, cumin, saffron and yarrow.Industrial and practical recommendations: The results of this study showed that 69.8 percents of the students used. So clinical trials are needed for investigating the efficacy of this herbal drug in the treatment of dysmenorrhea.