Journal of Medicinal Plants
Year:2005 | Volume:4 | Issue:14|Papers Count:9

Background: Thymoquinone, the major constituent of Nigella sativa seeds, is a biologically active compound, which possesses several pharmacological effects. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anticonvulsant effect of thymoquinone through intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection. Method: The anticonvulsant effects of thymoquinone, the major constituent of Nigella sativa seeds, were investigated using pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure model. Results: In PTZ-induced epileptic seizures, the i.c.v. injection of thymoquinone (200 and 400 mol) prolonged the onset and reduced the duration of tonic-clonic seizures. The protective effect of thymoquinone against lethality was 45% and 50% in the mentioned doses, respectively. In this study, flumazenil (1 nmol, i.c.v.) reversed the anticonvulsant activity of thymoquinone. Also, pretreatment with naloxone (10 mol, i.c.v.) antagonized the prolongation of tonic-clonic seizure latency, as well as reduction in seizure duration both induced by thymoquinone (200 mol, i.c.v.). Conclusion: These results indicate that thymoquinone may possess anticonvulsant activity probably through an opioid receptor-mediated increase in GABAergic tone.

Metabolism is known as chemical reactions, which occurs in alive plants. Primary metabolites include main biochemical materials i.e. carbohydrate, protein and fat. Biochemicals other than these three main groups are known as secondary metabolites, which exist in a wide range and are used as pharmaceutical products, food flavors, insecticides and natural dyes. Tissue culture is one of the main approaches in industrial production of secondary metabolites because the potential of their natural production is very limited. The main techniques, which have used in this field, include: cell culture, organ culture & hairy root culture. In order to improve production of secondary metabolites through cell culture several steps one involved: screening & selection of highly productive cell lines, manipulation of nutrients, optimizing the culture environment, use of elicitation, permeabilization of cells and in situ product removal. In general, we can say that using this approach has economical value in the production of natural medicinal compounds.

Background: One of the natural products in plants is essential oil. Their odor, components and properties are depended on factors such as genetics, climate, habitat and so on. In plant families, Apiaceae is rich in this biochemical group which has different effects in traditional and novel medicine. Objective: Comparison of essential oil of two endemic plant of Iran from genus Zeravschania. Method: Zeravschania membranacea (Boiss.) M. Pimenov was collected from Zanjan province in July 2003. The essential oil of powdered aerial parts of plant was prepared by hydro distillation which was about 0.1% (v/w) with yellow color and an intense odor. The essential oil was analyzed with GC/MS on DB-1 column. Results: Thirty five out of forty eamponents, comprising 83.25% of total oil were identified. 44.64% were mono terpenes (15.19% oxygenated, 29.25% hydrocarbons), 7% sesquiterpenes, 7.8% phenyl propanoids and 22.81% nonterpenic compounds. The major components of the above fragments were alpha-Terpenyl acetate (6.6%), Carvacrol (5.95%), Thymol (4.76%), alpha-Ocimene Y (4.08%), beta-Bisabolen (3.24%), Trans-methyl iso Eugenol (7.74%), Thymohydroquinone dimethyl ether (16.7%). Conclusion: Because of two different habitats and climates for growing Z. membranacea (sandy hill) and Z. pastinacifolia (rocky and scree steep slopes), there are some difference between content of essential oil in them.

Background: There is an increasing attention to and usage of herbal drugs around the world. Medicinal products containing senna herb are very popular herbal remedies. In order to assess the quality of Iranian herbal products, as a part of national effort to achieve profile of quality of pharmaceuticals, this study was designed to evaluate the quality of products containing senna herb. Method: Samples were purchased directly from drugstores in Tehran in 2002. The comparative study was conducted according to pharmacopoeial procedures. Also Iranian products were compared to appropriate forign known-brands. Conclusion: Some defects were observed in Iranian products in respects to uniformity of contents and weights, and even content of the dosage forms. But in total, most of the products were found to be acceptable and at appropriate quality.

Background: Achillea (Asteraceae) comprises 115 species, which are mainly distributed in Europe, Asia and North Africa and also is an introduced plant in the New World. Nineteen species of the genus were described in the Flora Iranica, of which Achillea conferta DC. is found in the central and western regions of Iran as well as Iraq. However, a survey of the literature revealed that only a few works deal with the composition of flavonoid constituents of A. conferta and there is no report on the Iranian one. Objective: Here we aim to describe the isolation and identification of flavonoid aglycons in Achillea conferta collected from Talegan mountain in Iran in order to compare with the flavonoid constituents of other samples of A. conferta. Method: The top flowers of Achillea conferta DC. (Compositae) were collected from Taleghan area in spring 2000. The powdered plant was extracted by percolation method with methanol. This crud extract was washed with petroleum ether and chloroform. The resulted extract was concentrated in vacuum distillator and then subjected to paper chromatography (whatman NO: 1), using acetic acid 2%, 15% and BAW as solvents. The spots were detected under UV lamp at 366 nm. Results: Three main flavonoid aglycons were identified as luteolin, chrysoeriol and quercetin by using UV spectra (shift reagents), H- NMR data and Mass spectra in comparison with those reported in references. Conclusion: In this species, highly methoxylated flavonoids could not be observed. Chrysoeriol is the only methoxylated flavon separated from methanol extract of Iranian Achillea conferta.

Background: Hyperalgesia and allodynia are two of the most critcal debilitating symptoms in patients with diabetes mellitus. In this study, the threshold of the acute and chronic pain was measured using formalin and hot plate tests in male rats. In another experiments, we studied the anti-hyperalgesic effect of alcoholic Datura seed extract in diabetic rats. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of alcoholic Datura stramonium seed extract on hyperalgesia induced by diabetic mellitus. Method: Experimental animals were made diabetic (n=12-15) using a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg, i.p). After 30 days their pain threshold in each test group was compared with control group (n=12-15). Results: Our statistical data analysis showed that the acute and chronic pains arising from formalin and hot plate tests were markedly augmented due to diabeties mellitus. In additional experiments we assessed the acute and chronic pain in groups 1-control+extract (n=12-15) and 2-diabetic+extract (n=12-15). The extract was administered for 30 days every other day. The results showed that the extract (over than 50 mg/kg/BW) could significantly diminish the augmented acute pain in hot plate and formalin tests. In contrast, chronic formalin pain did not change by the extract in dosage of 50 mg/kg/BW and over. Conclusion: The acute pain in hot plate and first phase of formalin tests were significantly augmented due to diabetes mellitus. Also, it was shown that the Datura seed extract could have diminished the augmented acute pain in both tests, but chronic formalin pain could not be influenced by doses of the extract higher than 50 mg/kg/BW.

Background: Jaundice is observed during the first week of life in approximately 60% of term infant and 80% of preterm infant. The risk of hyperbilirubinemia is related to the development of kernicterus (bilirubin encephalopathy), hearing loss, spasticity, and convulsion at high serum bilirubin levels. For treatment of neonatal jaundice is recommended that phototherapy and if unsuccessful, exchange transfusion is used to keep the maximum total serum bilirubin below levels at which risk of injury to the CNS occurrs. In Iranian traditional medicine, the manna from Cotoneaster spp. (Shir-e-Khesht) are being commonly used in the treatment of neonatal jaundice. It is also the purpose of this study to design the formulation of drop with exact dose. Method: Shir-e-Khesht with browse of Cotoneaster discolor pojark were prepared from south of Khorassan (a province in east of Iran). Drop was prepared from total extract of this manna and, then the quantitative and qualitative controls and microbial tests were accomplished on it and were administrated to jaundice newborn. 100 babies (case group) received Shir-e-Khesht drop and phototherapy, and the 100 others (control group) were also given placebo drop with phototherapy. (Dosage: 5 droplets, TID) Results: On case group the time required to reduce the serum bilirubin level to 10 mg/dl was significantly shorter than control group (p < 0.00001). Conclusion: The drop in addition to phototherapy was recommended in treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

Background: Taxus species are important due to their content of Taxol, baccatin III, 10- deacetyl baccatin and other taxoids suitable to change to active pharmaceutical ingredients, which are used as anti-neoplastic agents. Investigations on taxoids carried out during the past four decades, resulted in identification of more than 350 taxoids. Objective: This study aimed to isolate and identify taxoids of Taxus baccata endogenous to the north of Iran. Method: Removing of fats, extraction of components with an organic solvent and then separation and purification of components with silica gel based column chromatography was done. Identification was carried out using NMR spectra of components. Results: Taxezopidine-G was separated and identified. Conclusion: Taxezopidine-G in Taxus baccata was isolated which had not been repoted in this spcies, previously.