JOURNAL OF HERBMED PHARMACOLOGY
Year:2016 | Volume:5 | Issue:1|Papers Count:8

Introduction: The objective of the study was to assess the potential of the leaf of Dicranopteris linearis in altering the CNS functions with three different extracts; aqueous, ethanol and ethyl acetate.Methods: To evaluate and compare the activities Morris maze, elevated plus maze (EPM), open field, hole cross and head dip tests were performed and many behavioral parameters were observed. The forced swim in Morris water maze analyzed the depression of rodents in terms of inability to self-rescue. Alongside, hole cross and open field tests assessed the inhibition of locomotor activities. Moreover, EPM test screened the anxiolytic potential while the head dipping hole board test supported the previous experiments by evaluating both sedative, depressive and anxiolytic potentials of the extracts.Results: The results showed that the ethanol extract significantly suppressed CNS activity by reducing number of locomotor activities and increasing the stability phase (in EPM and Morris maze) supporting mild sedation, depression and anxiolysis. Furthermore, the ethyl acetate extract also possessed moderate to high potential in reducing locomotor activities depending on gradient doses. Results were compared with control group and found statistically significant.Conclusion: As this plant mimic the activity of a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonist, it can be concluded that the plant may have GABA mediated involvement in central nervous system. However, the responsible compounds for these activities are yet to be investigated and this may potentiate a new source of drug development.

Introduction: In order to scrutinize the anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory agents, many research groups have focused their works on the field of immunopharmacology. Thus, the current study aimed to evaluate the immunopharmacological activity of aqueous root extract of Santalum album against Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).Methods: Variable doses of aqueous root extract of Santalum album (0.5-30 mg/ml, 50 μl) were prepared using phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and tested for proliferation assay, nitric oxide production and CD14 monocyte surface marker using flow cytometry.Results: Aqueous root extract of Santalum album inhibited proliferation, nitric oxide production and CD14 monocyte surface marker at higher doses.Conclusion: Aqueous root extract of Santalum album possesses both anti-inflammatory as well as antiviral activities and might be used for these purposes.

Introduction: Frankincense has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory activity. In this study the effect of pretreatment with the hydro-alcoholic extract of frankincense on memory retrieval was assessed in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treated rats.Methods: Forty-two adult male Wistar rats were distributed into 7 groups of 6 each. One group received LPS (1 mg/kg; i.p) pre-test. The control group received saline (1 ml/kg; i.p).2 groups of animals received frankincense (50 mg/kg; P.O) or DMSO 5% (1 ml/kg; P.O) and 30 minutes later LPS (1 mg/kg; i.p). Two other groups of animals received frankincense (50 mg/kg; P.O) or DMSO 5% (1 ml/kg; P.O) and 30 minutes later saline (1 ml/kg; i.p). Another group of rats received LPS (1 mg/kg; i.p) and 30 minutes later Ibuprofen (100 mg/kg; P.O). In all the experimental groups, memory retrieval was assessed 4 hours following the last injection, using a passive avoidance task (PAT). Hippocampal TNF-α levels were measured by ELISA as an index of LPS-induced neuroinflammation.Results: LPS impaired memory retrieval by decreasing step-through latency (STL), significantly. LPS also increased levels of TNF-a in the hippocampus as compared to the control group. Administration of frankincense (50 mg/kg; P.O) before LPS (1 mg/kg; i.p) improved memory retrieval as compared to the control group. Frankincense reduced hippocampal TNF-a level in the LPS treated rats, significantly, compared to the control group.Conclusion: The results indicate that the hydro-alcoholic extract of frankincense has the potential to improve memory retrieval in LPS treated rats, possibly via an anti-neuroinflammatory activity.

Introduction: Diabetes is one of the most prevalent metabolic disorders which is associated with several complications in different organs. Nowadays, medicinal herbs are being widely used to treat diseases. This study was conducted to study the hypoglycemic effect of Satureja montanum in diabetic male rats.Methods: In this study 42 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 7 equal groups including control, diabetic control, treatments 1, 2, and 3, metformin-treated diabetic, and healthy treated with Satureja montanum. To induce diabetes streptozotocin (STZ) at 60 mg/kg was intraperitoneally (ip) administered. The animals were treated daily with Satureja montanum extract (ip) for one week and their blood glucose was measured daily.Results: Satureja montanum extract could significantly decrease blood glucose. The greatest effect of the extract was seen on day 8 at 800 mg/kg (P<0.001). Satureja montanum extract caused a significant increase in serum insulin compared to the control group (P<0.001).Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that Satureja montanum hydroethanolic extract is able to significantly decrease blood glucose of diabetic rats possibly with a stimulatory effect on beta cells.

Introduction: The Phoenix dactylifera or date palm pollen (DPP) is widely used for male infertility in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of DPP on fertility and development of female reproductive system in Balb/C mice.Methods: Ten groups were assigned to 2 control and 8 experimental groups. On the control groups 1 and 2 no treatment was conducted, but in the control group 2, after 10 days the mice were mated. In experimental groups 1 and 2, the animals received DPP (100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively) by oral administration for 10 days. In experimental groups 3 and 4 percentage of mating was evaluated after 10 days. Experimental groups 5 and 6 received DPP during gestation. Embryos were removed to evaluate ovaries histology. For experimental groups 7 and 8, DPP was administered until 21th day after birth. The offspring ovaries were removed to evaluate histological parameters. The levels of sexual hormones were also measured.Results: Several parameters of ovaries in offspring, including mass index, diameter of ovaries, number of primary and secondary graph follicles and corpora luteal, percentage of mating, body mass index and Crown rump (CR) of embryos, diameter of ovary, basic sexual cell number in embryos, and mass index increased in experimental groups in comparison to the controls. However, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the experimental groups were not significantly different from those in control groups (P>0.05), while estrogen and progesterone considerably increased in experimental groups (P<0.05).Conclusion: Results of our investigation propose that DPP can create an appropriate situation for oogenesis and maintain efficient fertility in female mice which it may be considered as useful nutraceuticals for potentiation of fertility in future human studies.

Introduction: Artemisia absinthium L. (AA) is a large, diverse genus of the family Asteraceae. AA has long been used as customary herbal medicine in world for the treatment of gastric pain, cardiac stimulation, improvement of memory and for the restoration of declined mental function. The aim of present study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of AA on some factors reflecting the development of oxidative toxic stress in plasma.Methods: Twenty male rats were equally divided in to 4 groups (5 rats each). Group I acted as control (received normal salin). Treatment groups were II, III and IV which were given Artemisia 10, 50 and 100 mg/kg/day respectively only by gavage for 24 hours. After treatment, blood specimens were collected. Liver enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) with total antioxidant power (TAP) and total thiol groups (TTG) concentrations were measured.Results: Levels of ALT, AST and TTG were decreased in the group II compared to the control (group I). ALT and AST in 50 mg/kg group was observed compared with control group. Also, TTG increased in Artemisia 50 mg/kg group compared to control group.Conclusion: Results suggests that alcoholic extract of Artemisia can ameliorate liver toxicity in rats through reducing the serum levels of ALT, AST, and oxidative damage.

Introduction: Moringa oleifera is a small tree with very significant nutritional but also pharmacological properties and various preparations from almost all parts of the plant (leaves, fruit, stems, bark, roots) are used in folk medicine for treating several ailments. This study aimed to investigating the polyphenolic burden and in vitro antioxidant properties of M. oleifera root extracts, obtained with solvents covering a range of polarities.Methods: Lyophilised Moringa oleifera roots were extracted with solvents of increasing polarity, including ethyl acetate, butanol, methanol and water. The generated extracts were screened for polyphenolic load and antioxidant activities, by determining the total polyphenol, total flavonoid, total flavanol, antiradical activity and reducing power. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was also employed to obtain some evidence regarding the nature of the main constituents.Results: The results indicated that both aqueous and methanolic extracts were the richest in total polyphenols, but the aqueous extract also exhibited high reducing power. The liquid chromatography-diode array-mass spectrometry analysis also revealed that the major substances occurring in the aqueous extract were relatively polar molecules, but the mass spectral data were ambiguous to assign tentative structures.Conclusion: Polar solvents, such as water, may be effectively used to recover high amounts of M. oleifera root phenolics, which possess important antioxidant properties.

Background and Aims: Today, cardiovascular diseases are the prominent cause of death in industrialized countries which include a variety of diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, thromboembolism, coronary heart disease, heart failure, etc. Recent research findings have shown that not only the extent of cultivation and production of medicinal plants have not been reduced, but also day-to-day production and consumption have increased. In traditional botanical knowledge, herbal medicines are used for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. In this study, we sought to gather and report medicinal plants used to treat these diseases in different regions of Iran.Methods: The articles published about ethnobotanical study of cardiovascular diseases in various regions of Iran, such as Arasbaran, Sistan, Kashan, Kerman, Isfahan Mobarakeh, Lorestan and Ilam were prepared and summarized.Results: The results of ethnobotanical studies of various regions of Iran, such as Arasbaran, Sistan, Kashan, Kerman, Isfahan Mobarakeh, Lorestan and Ilam were gathered. The results showed that sumac plants, barberry, yarrow, wild cucumber, horsetail, Eastern grape, hawthorn, wild rose, spinach, jujube, buckwheat, chamomile, chicory, thistle, Mary peas, nightshade, verbena, sorrel, cherry, citrullus colocynthis, Peganum harmala, sesame and so many other plants are used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and disorders.Conclusion: Herbal medicines are used effectively for some cardiovascular diseases. Rigorous training of patients to take precautions and drug interactions into account and to avoid the arbitrary use of medicinal plants is very important.