JOURNAL OF ISLAMIC AND IRANIAN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
Year:2021 | Volume:12 | Issue:1|Papers Count:8

Background and Purpose: Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), produced by several species of Aspergillus on a wide range of food products, is a serious agricultural and medical threat. It is classified as a class one carcinogen, due to carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, hepatotoxic and immunosuppressive effects. Use of natural compounds that are able to prevent aflatoxin production, can be an alternative strategy to limit food and feed contamination in line with sustainable agriculture. Materials and Methods: Based on Persian traditional medicine resources, this study evaluated the inhibitory effect of Heracleum persicum and Peganum harmala extracts on fungal growth and aflatoxin B1 production. In addition, we used LC-MS analysis and analyzed some key genes that are involved in the AFB1-producing gene cluster (aflM, aflP and aflR), to investigate the inhibition mechanisms of fungal growth and AFB1 by the herbal extracts, at the molecular and transcriptional level. Results: In this study we showed that the extracts of H. persicum and P. harmala at concentrations of 4 and 6 mg/mL exhibited a 100% inhibitory effect on aflatoxin B1 production despite incomplete inhibition of fungal growth. The results of this study showed that addition of 4 mg/mL of Heracleum persicum extract in the YES culture medium of A. flavus leads to almost complete inhibition of aflM, aflP gene expression. Conclusion: To summarize, the decrease in aflatoxin biosynthesis by H. persicum and P. harmala extracts can be due to decreased expression level of the associated gene cluster. Among the investigated genes, we found that the aflP gene is likely more involved in aflatoxin inhibition and probably plays a more critical role. Overall, this study reveals the anti-aflatoxigenic mechanisms of the selected plant extracts at the gene expression level and provides evidence for their use in food, feed and medicinal plants that are prone to this contamination.

Background and Purpose: Evaluating the personality of prisoners that have committed violent crimes, is a key factor in preventing and decreasing the incidence of delicts. Based on Persian Medicine (PM), brain temperament (Mizaj of brain) can play a critical role in reactions. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between violent crimes and Mizaj of brain in order to help prevent crime. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted in Isfahan Central Prison in 2018. The brain Mizaj of criminal prisoners was assessed by a scientific form designed based on statements derived from PM resources. Collected data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 18). Results: In this study, 143 participants were enrolled, the majority of which were 21-40 years old. Analysis of data showed that the incidence of violent crimes is related to presence of hot and dry qualities in brain Mizaj. Conclusion: Characteristics of imprisoned criminals in this study are compatible with findings of other researchers. Specifications of participants in this study are related to hot and dry qualities in brain Mizaj. Lifestyle modifications, along with other modern therapies, can be crucial in reducing the incidence of violent crimes.

Background and Purpose: Anemia presents with deficiency in red blood cells or a decrease in hemoglobin. About a third of the world's populations suffer from anemia, so it is very common and places a heavy economic burden on the health system. There are different types of anemia depending on the cause. The aim of this study was to investigate the causes of anemia in traditional Persian medicine (TPM) and compare it with conventional medicine. Materials and Methods: In this review study, the causes of anemia were searched in reliable sources of TPM from the fourth to the thirteenth century AH, including Al-Hawi fi al-Tibb, Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb, Zakhireye Khwarazmshahi and Iksir-i Azam with keywords Ghellat-od dam and anemia. Scientific databases including Google Scholar, Scopus, SID, and PubMed were also queried with the keyword anemia. Results: Numerous causes have been suggested for anemia or Ghellat-od dam in TPM resources. These include bad eating and drinking habits, various types of stomach and liver dystemperaments (Su-e Mizaj), bleeding from menstruation or puerperium or dysentery. In conventional medicine, the causes of anemia include poor nutrition, gastrointestinal disorders, liver disease, bleeding and chronic diseases. Conclusion: The causes of anemia in TPM are very similar to the causes of anemia from the perspective of conventional medicine. Early identification and correction of the causes of anemia, including diet, stomach and liver problems, can help prevent anemia.

Background and Purpose: Nowadays, the issue of coronavirus-like pandemics, including coronavirus pandemic and their various dimensions in the field of health is considered a serious global challenge for health authorities in countries. On the other hand, new medical resources in this field have not yet been able to overcome the problem and achieve a specific treatment or vaccine. For this reason, the World Health Organization welcomes provision of useful preventive and control strategies, including utilization of the capacity of traditional medicines. In this paper, we have tried to provide the recommended views and measures of Persian Medicine Hakims in the face of infectious pandemics, some of which cause symptoms and behaviors similar to coronavirus. Materials and Methods: This article is a review and library research that has been conducted purposefully and with certain criteria through searching valid Persian medicine books and some common medicine resources as well as domestic and international scientific databases with related keywords without applying time limits. Results: Different medical aspects of coronavirus-like infectious pandemics have been discussed under the general term "há wa¯ y-e vá ba¯ ¯ ı " in Persian medicine texts. Persian scholars, while expressing different aspects of this issue, including definitions, etiology, pathogenesis, and semiology, have taken preventive and control measures in the form of six principles of "sanitation preservation or health maintenance", most of which are in line with the scientific evidence of the day. Conclusion: Clinical trials on the use of the teachings and experiences of Persian scholars in coronavirus-like pandemics, including the coronavirus pandemic, can help evaluate the effectiveness of these preventive methods.

Background and Purpose: There are slightly different and diverse names for diseases in Persian medical sources. Among them, learning about native words for a simple disease such as "wart" includes anthropological values as well. Not only physicians and medical historians, but also many anthropologists, folklore researchers, and even lexicographers have been involved in the issue of nomenclature multiplicity. Materials and Methods: In this research, numerous and various names for "wart" were collected initially, applying library research, review methods, and referring to resources on the history of medicine in Iran, including texts of medical history, traditional and folk medicine; Subsequently, these words were classified and analyzed through historical-comparative linguistic axioms and anthropological methods. Results: The words related to "wart" are divided into six main groups, one minor geographical category and two main groups, one minor linguistic-dialect class. Since naming any disease is the initial step in diagnosis, these words indicate immemorial and ancient medical systems; therefore, developing a historical atlas of ancient medical subcultures in Iran is achievable by illustrating the reason for diverse nomenclature of each disease including "wart". Conclusion: The elaboration of word classification related to "wart" and their function to reveal subcultures is so significant that it could be considered as one of the most important indicators of ethnomedical knowledge in any region of Iran. Regarding linguistic transformations and similarity rates to original words, another classification can be suggested to illuminate the antiquity of ethnomedicine in each geographical location in the country.

Background and Purpose: Decreased cognitive ability is a pathological condition in which memory, thinking and judgment decline occur. This condition can be considered as one of the main signs of dementia. Given the weakness of existing therapies to control cognitive decline, further studies are needed to find more effective treatment approaches. In Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM), various medicinal plants have been suggested for treatment of cognitive decline. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of these plants from traditional medicine and modern medical sources and to find pharmacological mechanisms involved in inducing the therapeutic effects of traditional medicinal plants in symptoms of cognitive decline. Materials and Methods: In the present study, the nature, symptoms and also causes of cognitive decline in traditional medicine and modern medicine were investigated. Medicinal plants with therapeutic effects were collected from the books of traditional medicine including “ Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb” , “ Makhzan al-Adwiya” , “ Qarabadin-i kabir” and “ Zakhireye Khwarazmshahi” . The scientific name and mechanism of action of each were examined by referring to modern sources and authoritative scientific databases such as Cochrane, PubMed, and Scopus. Results: According to traditional medicine literature, memory loss and mental disability occur due to the dominance of cold and moisture in the brain; therefore, medicinal plants with warm and dry nature can be effective in this disease. In this study, several traditional medicinal plants with protective or therapeutic effect on cognitive impairments such as Lavandula stoechas L, Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia chebula anacardium and etc. have been mentioned. Conclusion: Natural medicines used in TPM along with phytochemical compounds extracted from these drugs can be considered as a model for designing new drugs or complementary therapies alongside conventional drugs. Additional clinical studies are necessary to confirm the efficacy and safety of these medicinal plants.

Background and Purpose: Research in the field of medical history to study various aspects of this science, especially in the field of integrated and interdisciplinary research requires a specific appropriate lexical system. An examination of available treatments in religious and mythological resources indicates that appropriate terms have not yet been formulated for such matters. One of these cases is treatments that are applied in a fixed manner regardless of the type of disease, which can be called “ single-procedure therapies” . Materials and Methods: This study was conducted by library method and searching multiple databases including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Magiran and SID to extract data related to single therapies based on existing articles in this field. Results: Methods of single procedure treatment are often related to an immaterial source. Contrary to common medical practice that seeks a specific cure for each disease, they treat all or a wide range of diseases with single or limited methods. The use of single-procedure therapies is rooted in mythological therapies. Some ancient texts and even rituals, such as the oiling of the sick in Christianity, fall under the category of mythical healing. This type of healing elucidates a direct connection between healing of diseases and divine grace, faith, or a spiritual source. For example, ritual oiling treatment is a single procedure treatment that uses only one method to treat all patients, but due of its effectiveness and alignment with its foundations, it has persisted through time. Conclusion: Given the wide range of applications of single-procedure therapies, it seems that there is no direct relationship between treatment and disease in this type of treatment, as in modern medicine. The use of single-procedure therapies is rooted in mythological therapies and examining the insights governing these therapies and the reasons for the sustainability of these traditions can help understand how effective they were in treating diseases over the centuries and to augment the mutual relationship with medical history and other disciplines of knowledge.

Background and Purpose: Attention to the child and childhood is one of the few topics that scientists, doctors and various leaders have agreed on and emphasize that societies seeking development must pay special attention to the child in order for a competent member to raise among them. The book "Tadbir al-Hubala wa-al-Atfal" is the most complete and best book on pediatrics and health for many years after the Renaissance. Recognition of books and scientific works of the past, especially the period of Islamic civilization, is one of the most essential tasks of academic scientific centers; For this purpose, the abovementioned book is introduced. Materials and Methods: The article is descriptive research that has studied and described the printed version of the book, Tadbir al-Hubala wa-al-Atfal, and its Persian translation by library method. Results: The book is the only work by a scientist named Ahmad Al-Baladi in the fourth century. For the most part, this book is in accordance with conventional medicine and describes issues related to health and diseases of mothers, infants and children, based on opinions of ancient and contemporary physicians and his own scientific experiences. The book consists of three chapters and 166 sections. It was translated in 2013. Some of the topics covered in this work include: pregnancy management, delivery, fetal temperament, breast milk and its correction, stages of growth and development of the child, nutrition, exercise and dozens of other topics. Conclusion: The book is a valuable resource for pregnancy, childbirth, infant and child medicine.