Journal of Medicinal Plants
Year:2003 | Volume:2 | Issue:5|Papers Count:8

Brassia family have an indole methyl glucosinolate named "Glucobrassecin". One of degradation products of this glucosinolate is indole- 3- carbinole (13C) which has anticarcinogenic properties. Degradation of glucosinolates is caused by hydrolytic effect of mirosinase enzyme released by damaged plant cell. Most of the studies about the anticancer properties of 13C were done with animal studies.According to brassica tissica properties and existence of high amont of ascorbic acid (AA), 13C combinr with AA and produce ascorbigen an anticarcinogenic compound and as a source of AA. In this study, we used from the relationship of 13C to AA for measurement of 13C by Voltammetric method. For this pupose, voltammograms of ascorbic acid in citrate phosphate buffer with optimum pH = 3.2 and sweep rate of 7500 mv/s and concentrations of 1- 175 ?g/ml were drawn and then under this condition, different concentrations of 13C were added to the highest concentration of ascorbic acid. Analysis of the result showed that curve of the curve of 13C with different concentrations versus current was logarithmic. Detection limit of 13C was 0.001 mM. Relative standard deviation of method repeatability for concentrations of 0.8 mM, 0.5 mM and 0.15 mM were 5.2%, 5% and 5.6% respectively. Curve of concentration against logarithm of current was linear and also sensitivity of method was - 2.65 log A/mM.

Poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) is a member of the papaveraceae family. It is indigenus of south east of Europe and Asia. It is cultivated in over the world and there is not any wild type of this specie. Until now more than 40 different alkaloids have been known in this species which the most important ones are Morphine, Codeine, Thebaine, and Noscapine. Alkaloids are affected with genetical characteristics and environmental conditions. The most important application of papaver alkaloids is due to their analgesic properties. Total import of poppy alkaloids to the Great Britain and United States was 87 MT (based on CPS) in 1998. In this paper we review poppy at the view of agriculture, alkaloids biosynthesis and pathways.

The anticonvulsant, hypnotic and muscle relaxant effects of carbenoxolone were studied in mice. In pentylenetetrazole test ED50 values of diazepam and carbenoxolone were 1.13 mg/kg (95% CL: 0.89-1.44) and 283.3 mg/kg (95% CL: 144.27-556.29), respectively. In this test, carbenoxolone in doses of 200 and 300 mg/kg prolonged the onset time of seizure and decreased the duration of seizures. Carbenoxolone induced a protective activity against seizure in comparison with diazepam (0.1, 0.5 mg/kg), but not a complete protection against mortality. Anticonvulsant efficacy of carbenoxolone was similar as diazepam at a doses of 0-5 mg/kg. In maximal electroshock test, carbenoxolone in a dose of 400 mg/kg decreased the duration of seizure and produced protection against seizure but failed to protect against mortality in comparison with diazepam (0.25, 0.5, 3 mg/kg). In the potentiation of pentobarbitone sleep test, carbenoxolone signifiantly increased sleeping time and decreased latency dose dependently in of 100, 200, 300 mg/kg in mice. In traction test carbenoxolone (400 mg/kg) showed muscle relaxant activity (60%) and in accelerod performance carbenoxolone in doses of 300, 200 mg/kg showed a decline in motor function. It can be concluded that carbenoxolone posses anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant and hypnotic effects which may be have an efficacy in petitmal and grandmal seizures.

We have previously shown that the ethanolic diluted essential oils of the aerial parts of Mentha longifolia could have nitrofurantoin resistance breaker activity against nitrofurantoin resistances Entherobacteriaceae. Bioassay-guided fractions of silica gel thin layer chromatography elute using the nitrofurantoin resistance test strains resulted one compound in active fraction containing a monoterpene piperitone. Piperitone at the concentration of 1 mg/mL decreased MICs of all resistance strains to less than 32 µg/mL. In the presence of piperitone the MICs of nitrofurantoin becomes about 8 times smaller than that of in its absence. Also it is found that in the presence of piperitone the emergence of nitrofurantoin-resistant variants among wild type strains is completely suppressed. Taken together, these results indicate that piperitone could have potential therapeutic effect on nitrofurantoin-resistance chemotherapy.

The genus Paederus has a world-wide distribution and comprises several hundred species and is most common during May through September in Iran. There appears to be no specific treatment for the Paederus dermatitis, thus we decided to evaluate herbal gel from chamomile and myrrh on Paederus dermatitis. Chamomile and myrrh have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activity in Iranian herbal medicine, thus we selected these plants for treatment of Paederus dermatitis. Ethanolic chamomile extract and the tincture of myrrh were prepared, then different gels containing chamomile (3.5%)-myrrh (1%) and myrrh (1% and 2%) were formulated and the best formulations were selected for preliminary clinical trial study in comparison with gel base. After proving the presence of active ingredients by TLC, HPLC and GC/Mass, the physical stability was evaluated in three tempretures (4, 25 and 40°C). Apigenin was 3.61 ± 0.62 mg/g of chamomile extract and 99.31% and 95.91% of papigenin was detected in gels containing chamomile (3.5%) and chamomile (3.5%)-myrrh (1%), respectively. The results of microbial control had corresponded to pharmacopoeia criteria. The results showed that the preparation containing 1% myrrh had the fewer side effects and the most effects on treatment of Paederus dermatitis

The anticonvulsant effect of thymoquinone, the major component of nigella sativa seeds, were investigated using pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and Maximal electroshock test (MES), as petit mal and grand mal epilepsy models in mice, respectively. In PTZ- induced convulsion, the intraperitoneally injection of thymoquinone with doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg, prolonged the onset of seizures the duration of clonic seizures. The protection activity of thymoquinone againt mortality was 71.4% and 100% in the mentioned doses, respectively. In MES, thymoquinone faild to reduce the duration of convulsion, whereas exhibited a complete protection against mortality. In PTZ test, flumazenil (10 mg/kg ip), an antagonist of benzodiazepine site, inhibited the prolongation of convulsion latency, but did not show any effect on the duration of clonic seizures. In PTZ test, the ED50 of diazepam was obtained 1.13 mg/kg (95% CL: 0.89- 1.44). These results indicate that thmoquinone may have anticonvulsant activity in petit mal epilepsy. Moreover, it may exhibits an nticonvulsant activity, at least in parts, through benzodiazepine receptors.

Thyme oil rich in phenols have antiseptic and fungicidal activity and also used in the food flavor industry. Seasonal variation and plant density are two important factors with significant effect on quality and quantity of volatile oil crops.‏‏This experiment conducted in research farm of Institute of Medicinal Plants along 1999- 2000 on the base of factorial experiment in randomized complete block design with three replication, in order to evaluated above mentioned effects. Thyme is cultivated in rows of 50 cm apart with interrow spacing of 15/30 or 45 cm. Plant are harvested in 5 different times. The maximum yields of dry & wet herbage, volatile oil and thymol were obtained in 15 cm space and at the last harvest (Oct 2000). Seasonal variation had significant effect (P<0.01) on oil content and maximum content of oil (2.317%) was obtained at forth harvest (June 2000). Planting space hadnt effect on oil and thymol content. Finally we find that planting space and seasonal variation have significant effect on quality and quantity yield of thyme.

Peroxidase used in oxidation of a wide range of aromatic chemicals. We used a domestic source of peroxidase (garden radish, Raphanous sativus L.) to treat the following hazardous chemicals: phenol, aniline, bnzidine, alachlor, butachlor, acid red 88 and acid blue 62. Crude enzyme removed the above-mentiond chemicals more efficiently in 24 hr treatment. Changes in pH cause a removal efficacy change, for example lowering pH from 7 to 4.0 for phenol treatment increased removal from 0.5% to 100% for crude enzyme. In conclusion, Garden radish is a good substitute for horseradish in order to treat aromatic wastewaters.