During the last two decades, various medicinal plants have been studied for their possible antimicrobial activity to discover new antimicrobial agents capable of resolving problems such as the development of drug resistance in pathogenic microorganisms as well as the side effects of some present antibiotics. In this study, the antibacterial activity of methanolic extract of T. pubescens (rich in flavonoids) was investigated.The aerial parts of the plant were collected from Alvand mountainside (Hamadan, Iran) in May 2005 and identified by Hamadan Natural Sources Organization. The air-dried plant materials were ground to fine powder and then extracted by soxhelet apparatus using methanol. The extract was tested at a concentration of 100 mg/ml against a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria using the disk diffusion technique. This methanolic extract demonstrated antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Streptococcus pyogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, Vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis (VRE) and Micrococcus luteus, and produced inhibition zones with 8-16 mm diameters. However, it showed no activity against Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella spp. Minimum concentrations (MC) of the extract forming a clear zone were determined against susceptible bacteria. MC90 of the extract against 10 MRSA strains tested was 1.56 mg/ml, indicating its good activity against this important nosocomial pathogen. T. pubescens seems to be a good candidate for further phythochemical studies in an attempt to find new chemical entities combating resistant bacteria.

Introduction: Depressive disorder is a prevalent psychiatric disorder, which affects 21% of the world population. The presently using drugs can impose a variety of side-effects including cardiac toxicity, hypopiesia, sexual dysfunction, body weight gain, and sleep disorder. During the last decade, there is a growing interest in the therapeutic effects of natural products on mental disorders. Amaranthus spinosus was investigation for antidepressant activity.Methods: Antidepressant activity of methanolic extract of Amaranthus spinosus (MEAS) was investigated by using Forced swimming test (FST) and Tail suspension test (TST) models. Escitalopram and Imipramine were used as reference standards.Results: It has been observed from our study that both the MEAS at higher concentration showed significant (p<0.01) reduction in immobility in tail suspension and forced swim model of depression comparable to Escitalopram and Imipramine.Discussion: However further study is needed to understand mechanism of action and to identify active component responsible for antidepressant like activity.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the cytotoxic potentials of Evolvulus alsinoides in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Materials and Methods: HepG2 cells were treated with methanolic extract of E. alsinoides at 20, 40 and 80 μ g/ml for 24 hr and cytotoxic effect was analyzed by MTT assay. The apoptosis rate was investigated by Hoechst 33342 and annexin V/propidium iodide staining. Mitochondrial membrane potential was evaluated by rhodamine staining. Also, the expression of catenin – β 1 protein was analyzed by western blotting. Results: E. alsinoides methanolic extract treatment caused significant cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Dual staining assay confirmed the presence of early and late apoptotic cells only in extract-treated groups. Plant extract treatment also caused nuclear fragmentation and chromatin condensation in HepG2 cells. Mitochondrial membrane potential also reduced upon E. alsinoides treatments. This treatment also modulated the catenin – β 1 protein expression. Conclusion: In this study, we demonstrated the proapoptotic potential E. alsinoides in HepG2 cells; thus, this plant may be beneficial in the treatment of liver cancer.

Background: Zataria multiflora Boiss. (Lamiaceae) has been found in Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Z. multiflora called ‘ Avishane Shirazi’ in Persian is used as a seasoned in many foods in Iran. The literature survey demonstrated that Z. multiflora has immunostimulant, pain-relieving, antinociceptive, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, antifungal effects and also widely used in traditional medicine for analgesia, diarrhea, infectious diseases, and gastrointestinal problems. Objective: The subject of this study is performing phytochemical constituents of methanolic extract of Z. multiflora. Methods: The application of various chromatographic techniques such as normal and reverse C18 chromatography let to isolation, purification and identification of several flavonoids. Results: In this investigation, the fractionation of methanol extract of the aerial parts of Z. multiflora led to the isolation and purification of three known flavonoid glycosides namely Luteolin 7-O-glucopyranoside, Apigenin 7-O-rutinoside and Luteolin 7-O-rutinoside whose structures were determined by 1D and 2D-NMR spectroscopic studies, in particular, homo-COSY and hetero (HSQC and HMBC). Conclusion: The results show a methanolic extract of Z. multiflora is a rich source of flavonoids and triterpenoids.