Journal of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences
Year:2011 | Volume:12 | Issue:4 (SUPPL 1)|Papers Count:11

Background and aim: Ficus carica has many different therapeutic effects. High amount of phosphor in this plant suggests that it may have effect on intelligence and memory. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Ficus carica on spatial learning and memory in mice.Methods: In this experimental study, 32 mice were randomly divided into four groups. Control group received normal saline and experimental groups received three doses of hydro-alcoholic extract of Ficus carica, (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, i.p.). Saline or extracts were injected daily (7 days) and then learning was evaluated with Morris water maze task for 5 consecutive days. Probe-trial experiments were performed on days 6, 8 and 10 to evaluate short-term memory and also on day 24 for evaluating long-tem memory. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by LSD test.Results: Control and experimental groups learned the task and no difference was seen between groups (P>0.05). Ficus carica extract did not change the spatial memory on days 6 and 8. However, a significant decrease was found in short-term memory on day 10 (P<0.05). Finally, evaluating long-term memory on day 24 did not show significant differences between groups (P>0.05).Conclusion: Hydro-alcoholic extracts of Ficus carica have no significant effect on learning in water maze task. However, it may have negative effect on short-term memory.

Background and aim: Gundelia tournefortii is traditionally used to relieve pain and inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive and anti- inflammatory effects of Gundelia tournefortii in mice.Methods: After determining the Lethal Dose (LD50) of the total extract of Gundelia tournefortii, its different doses of total extract was injected in mice (IP) and then antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects were determined by formalin and xylene tests.Results: The result of this study demonstrated that the total extract of Gundelia tournefortii in doses of 0.3, 0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 g/kg induced significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects compared to the control group. The most effective dose of extract was found at 2.4 g/kg. LD50 was obtained at 6.28 g/kg of animal weight.Conclusions: The total extract of Gundelia tournefortii significantly reduces the nociception and inflammation.

Background and aim: Intraocular pressure is one of the treatable risk factor in glaucoma and composes the focus of therapy. The assessment of intraocular pressure especially in Glaucoma patients during fasting is one of the questions that have not presented any crucial response. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of fasting in Ramadan holy month on the intraocular pressure rate in individuals suffering from open-angle glaucoma.Methods: This study was a cohort study research on the patients (over 45 years old) suffering from open-angle glaucoma in Ramadan month, 2009. Intraocular pressure was recorded from 50 eyes of the patients who were in fasting at least 25 days in holly month of Ramadan. Recordings were performed in four stages, before the Ramadan month, the 5th day, the 15th day, and the 25th of day of Ramadan. Data were statistically analyzed using Repeated Measure ANOVA test.Results: Mean age of patients was 65.16±10.31 years old. According to the results, fasting caused r significant reduction in intraocular pressure in month of Ramadan (P<0.001).Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, fasting can cause reduction in intraocular pressure in open-angle glaucoma patients.

Background and aim: Oxidative stress is defined most simply as the imbalance between the production of free radicals and body΄s antioxidant defense. Many medical plants contain natural antioxidant that can protect from biological system oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to determine the anti-oxidative stress of Nigella sativa.Methods: This quasi experimental study was performed on a group of 64 healthy subjects. They were invited to use the Nigella sativa (3mg/kg) twice a day for 14 days. The Blood samples before and after the study were measured for lipid per oxidation level (LPO) and total thiol molecules (TTM).Results: The results indicated a significant reduction of blood LPO (9.48±5.8 versus 6.74±5.65, P=0.008) and a significant increase in TTM plasma (0.26±0.17 versus 0.38±0.20, P=0.001).Conclusion: The present study reports that Nigella sativa has marked antioxidant activity; therefore, it can reduce the amount of stress oxidative.

Background and aim: Elderly people usually suffer from chronic diseases. Medicinal plants are being used by an increasing number of elderly people without their physician prescription. The aim of this study was to determine the medicinal plants usage in elderly people in Shahrekord.Methods: This research was an analytical- descriptive study, in which 400 elderly people were selected by simple sampling method from population referred to health care center in Shahrekord. The data was collected by questionnaire and analyzed by Chi-square test.Results: The result of this study showed that 74.4% of the samples studied had used the medicinal plants. The most common reasons of medicinal plant usage were common cold, stomach pain, headache, arthralgia and hypertension. The most frequent medicinal plants used were Thymus daenensis, Echium amoenum, Descurainia sophia, Achillea wilhelmsii, and Glycyrrhiza glabra. Our data showed that 91% of the samples believed herbal medicines have been effective in their treatments. No significant relationship was observed between gender, age, education level, job and using the medicinal plants (P>0.05).Conclusion: Regarding to the frequent usage of medicinal plants in elderly people it is necessity to give accurate information about the side effects and possible interactions of medicinal plants to the community. More research is suggested to evaluate the efficacy and possible side effects of medicinal plants in elderly people.

Background and aim: Pulmonary fibrosis is one of common side effect of bleomycin, which is administered as a chemotherapeutic agent. Current evidence suggests that reactive oxygen species (ROS) may play a key role in the development of pulmonary fibrosis. This study was designed to investigate the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Artemisia aucheri with some antioxidant effects on bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats.Methods: In this experimental study, thirty five Sprague Dawley rats were semi randomly divide into five groups of seven. In four groups of animals bleomycin sulfate (5 mg/Kg) was used for intra-trachea instillation. Two groups of animals received 100 and 200 mg/kg (i.p) Artemisia aucheri extracts (AAE) and one group received vitamin E (10mg/kg, i.p.) for two weeks. Same amount of saline was administered to the control group. At the end of experimental period, malondialdehyde (MAD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) serum levels were determined. Lung tissue samples from the all animals were collected for histological investigation.Results: Treatment by AAE and Vitamin E caused decrease in the serum levels of malondialdehyde (MAD) which were not significant, whereas a significant increase was observed in the serum level of total antioxidant capacity.Discussion: The findings of this study suggest that antioxidant compounds of AAE may have therapeutic effect for pulmonary fibrosis.

Background and aim: One of the religious duties during the holly month of Ramadan is fasting. During the fasting time, blood glucose level is decreased. Hypoglycemia decreases the individual cognition function. The standard continues performance test (CPT) determines cognitive performance of individuals. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of fasting blood glucose level on cognitive performance in the clergymen and clergywomen (religious leaders) during the holly Ramadan month in religious institutes.Methods: In this study, 110 volunteers were selected from clergymen and clergywomen who were in fasting in Ramadan month. From the whole participants 68 persons were clergymen and 42 persons were clergywomen. The selected participants were tested for blood glucose test and CPT test in four stages (Two weeks before Ramadan, second week of Ramadan, fourth week of Ramadan and finally one month after Ramadan). Data were analyzed by analytic and descriptive statistics and SPSS software.Results: Paired t-test revealed that the blood glucose levels in the fourth week of the Ramadan month was significantly less than the ones in the second week of Ramadan. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient test confirmed a significant relation the between results of blood glucose test and CPT test (P<0.05). No significant relationship was obtained between CPT and age or gender.Conclusion: Results revealed that inconsistent and short time starvation in Ramadan month does not impair cognitive performance. Cognitive performance markers have been reported normal in all processes, if treats of food serves are determined about eight through twelve hours.

Background and aim: Traditionally, burn wound healing activities have been claimed for Teucrium polium and Boswellia serrata, but there is no evidence in literature for this effect of these plants. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the effects of Teucrium polium and Boswellia serrata on burn healing in Balb/C mice.Methods: In an experimental study, burn wounds were made by placing a hot plate with a surface area of 1.5 cm2 on the back of animals for 10s. Eighty four mice were designated in 7 equal groups. Animals were treated with vehicle or test substances two times per day for 21 days. First to sixth groups received Boswellia 2%, Teucium 20%, Bowellia 20% & Teucium 20%, Bowellia 2% & Teucium 20%, Silver sulfadiazine or Vaseline, respectively. The seventh group received no treatment. Percentage of burn wounds healing and total time required for complete healing were evaluated and compared in different groups. Data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA test.Results: Results showed that effect of Bowellia and Teucium extract on burn wound healing was statistically significant compared to the control group (P<0.01).Conclusion: Teucrium polium and Boswellia serrata are clearly effective on burn wounds healing.

Background and aim: In recent years, following the increasing of drug resistant strain of viruses, there has been an increasing interest in the use of natural substances with antiviral activity and low level of side effects. One of these herbal medicines, myrtle, showed some therapeutic effects including antibacterial and anti viral activities. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine minimum inhibitory concentration of hydroalchoholic extract of myrtle on Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) in vitro.Methods: In this experimental study, the hydroalchoholic extract of myrtle leaves was prepared using 70% ethanol and maceration method. Baby Hamster Kidney (BHK) cells were grown in monolayer culture with Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) supplemented with 5% fetal calf serum and plated onto 48-well culture plates. Fifty percent cytotoxic concentration (CC50%) of the extract on BHK cells was determined and subsequently, 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50%) of the herbal extract on replication of HSV-1 both in extra cellular and intercellular cases were assessed. Data were analyzed using probit analysis.Results: Based on Probit analysis, CC50% of the extract was 4.96 mg/ml. Significant relationship was found between the concentration of the extract and cell death in the cell studied using the Probit model (P<0.01). Based on Probit analysis, IC50 of the extract on the virus before cellular attachment and after entering the cells were 3.1 mg/ml and 1.11 mg/ml, respectively. Based on the Probit model, by increasing the extract concentration, percentage of inhibition of cytopathic effect (CPE) was increased in both stages (P<0.05).Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it seems that hydroalchoholic extract of myrtle can be used as an appropriate anti-herpetic herbal medicine. However, more comprehensive studies are needed to be carried out.

Background and aim: Genitourinary infections are of women's hygienic problems in health care systems. Trichomoniasis is one of the most important sexual diseases which are treated with Metronidazole. Due to side effects of the drug and also tendency of people in using herbal medicine, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of three herbs, Achillea millefolium, Artemisia absinthium and Juglans regia leaves extracts, on Trichomonas vaginalis.Methods: In an experimental study, ten tubes were selected and the extracts of these three herbs Achillea millefolium, Artemisia absinthium and Juglans regia leaf extracts with concentrations of 3.12, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/ml were prepared. Then different concentrations of Metronidazole and the three herbs extracts were diluted in 2%DMSO and added to the cell cultures. After 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours, samples were tested for dead or alive and also for their mobility of the parasite. Data were analyzed by ANOVA test.Results: The extracts of these three herbs caused an increase in immobility of the parasites. The rate of immobility had direct relationship with time and immobility was continuously increased after 24, 48 and 72 hours. The results were suggestive that Achillea millefolium, Artemisia absinthium & Juglans regia hydroalcoholic exteracts were significantly more effective in reduction of parasites, in vitro (P<0.05); however, Metronidazole after half an hour caused immobility of parasite versus 24 hour for plant extract.Conclusion: Our study showed that the extracts of the three mentioned herbs had effect on growth of Trichomonas vaginalis; however, further studies are needed to show the effects of these herbs in animal models and volunteer infected people.

Background and aim: Car accidents as a health problem are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in Iran. Ramadan is the month that Muslims are used to fast. In this research we try to evaluate the cause of this problem and compare with the month of pre and post it.Methods: In this prospective study, all car accidental cases that came to Kashani hospital of Shahrekord, Iran from Nov 1 to Sep 3 (months of Shaban, Ramadan, Shawal) 2008 were entered the study. Data were analyzed by Chi-square, t-test and ANOVA tests.Results: 820 patients entered the study. 85.5% of patients were men and 14.5% were women the age of them was 10 to 80 was years (mean age=30±17 years). The accidental patients in Shaban were 38%, in Ramadan 29% and in Shawal 32.6% (P<0.05). Maximum of traumas was to head and neck but head and multiple traumas were low in Ramadan compared to Shawal and Shaban.Conclusion: Car accident patients referred to hospital in Ramadan is decreased and fasting did not affect on it.