The ethanolic crude extract of VALERIANA WALLICHII rhizome (VwR.Cr) was studied in vitro for its possible antispasmodic activity to rationalize some of its folkloric uses. Segments of 2-3 cm long of rabbit jejunum preparations were mounted in Tyrode’s solution and aerated with 95% oxygen in carbon dioxide. Isotonic responses were measured on Bioscience oscillograph. VwR.Cr caused a dose-dependent (0.1-3.0 mg/mL) relaxation of spontaneous contractions of isolated rabbit jejunum. When tested against high K+ (80 mM) induced contraction, it was found devoid of any inhibitory effect up to the dose of 10.0 mg/mL, while it inhibited the low K+ (25 mM)-induced contractions at the dose range of 0.1-1.0 mg/mL. In the presence of glibenclamide (3 µM), the dose-response curves of low K+ (25 mM) were shifted to the right. These data indicate that VwR.Cr exhibits spasmolytic activity mediated possibly through the opening of glibenclamide-sensitive K+ channels, which may explain the traditional use of the VALERIANA WALLICHII in the gastrointestinal disorders, like diarrhea and spasmodic conditions.

Background and Objective: Migraine is a neurovascular disorder that decreases the quality of life. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of aerobic training and a combination of herbal supplements includingVALERIANA WALLICHIIand Melissa officinalis on serotonin, nitric oxide and headache indices.Materials and Methods: The present study was a semi-experimental and applied research. Eighteen female patients with migraine who were eligible to participate in the study were randomly divided into two groups: aerobic training (n=9) and herbal supplements (n=9). Patients in the aerobic exercise group performed the exercise for eight weeks, three sessions per week and each session was 75 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (15 minute warmup, 45 workouts, 15 minute cool-down). The combination of herbal supplement group received herbal capsules for eight weeks and each capsule was included 200 mg of valerian and 80 mg ofMelissa officinalis. They used it twice daily in the first four weeks and three times a day in the next four weeks. Blood samples were taken in the fasting state to determine the serotonin and nitric oxide levels of the subjects before and after the intervention. Headache indexes were also assessed by a headache questionnaire. Data were analyzed by Kolmogrov-Smirnov, independent and paired T-tests and Covariance analysis at a significance level of p<0.05.Results: Results showed that in the complementary combination group, taking eight weeks of capsule significantly increased blood serotonin levels and headache frequency and intensity significantly decreased. In addition, nitric oxide levels and duration of headache did not significantly differ as compared to before the study. In the aerobic training group, eight weeks of activity significantly increased serotonin and nitric oxide levels and significantly decreased headache frequency and headache intensity, but did not change the duration of the headache. Also, by comparing the variables between the two groups, other than serum nitric oxide and aerobic power, the changes of the other variables were similar at the end of the study, and no significant difference was observed between them.Conclusion: Aerobic training and a combination of herbal supplements including valerian andMelissa officinalis can be a good complement therapy for women with migraine.

Background: Presently, the use of herbal medicines is expanding rapidly across the world. While considering source materials, authentication and standardization are prerequisites for herbal formulation in any system of medicine. The plant Clerodendrum WALLICHII Merr. (Family: Lamiaceae) has been used for various ailments in traditional systems of medicines, particularly in the treatment of diarrhea, skin infection, inflammation and fever. Objectives: The present study was designed to establish the pharmacognostic standards and perform the physicochemical analysis of C. WALLICHII leaves. Macroscopic and microscopic studies were performed using the simple and trinocular microscope, respectively. Methods: The World Health Organization guidelines were followed for the physicochemical analysis of the plant. Fluorescence analysis was observed at daylight, short UV light, and long UV light. The leaves of C. WALLICHII were found dark green on the upper surface and light green in the lower surface which is odorless and bitter. The leaves are oblong to oblong-lanceolate with a smooth surface. The size of leaves varies from 11 to 18 cm in length and 2. 5 to 4 cm in diameter. Results: Powdered microscopy showed the various characters like rare multicellular covering trichome, xylem vessels (reticulate), fiber, trichome base, stellate trichome, adaxial epidermal cell (rectangular), abaxial epidermal cell (irregular), vessels, stomata (anisocytic), calcium oxalate crystals (square and cubic). Physicochemical parameters like moisture content of dry powder of the plant was determined 9. 3% W/W. The total ash, acid-insoluble, and water-soluble ash values were calculated as 10. 48%, 1. 08%, and 8. 17%, respectively. The loss on drying was calculated as 9. 3% W/W. Conclusion: Extractive values by cold and hot maceration method were also determined. Our obtained data help to authenticate the plant and establish its pharmacopoeial standards.

Euphorbia WALLICHIIa perennial herb growing mainly in Himalayas has been widely used in folk medicines for its medicinal properties. In the present study, the crude methanolic root extract (CME) and its fractions; n-Hexane Fraction (NHF), n-Butanol Fraction (NBF), Chloroform Fraction (CHF), Ethyl acetate Fraction (EAF) and Aqueous Fraction (AQF) of this plant specie were investigated for antioxidant and cytotoxic activities and phytochemical analysis. Antioxidant activity was determined by using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl free radical (DPPH) and DNA protection assay performed on pBR322 plasmid DNA. In both these assays, promising results were obtained for CME as well as other fractions. The IC50 values for DPPH assay were in a range of 7.89 to 63.35 mg/ml in which EAF showed the best anti-oxidant potential and almost all the tested samples showed certain level of DNA protection. The cytotoxic activity was assessed by using Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay on human cell lines; H157 (Lung Carcinoma) and HT144 (Malignant Melanoma). The IC50 values of the tested samples ranged from 0.18 to 1.4 mg/mL against H157 cell line whereas against HT144 cell line the IC50 values ranged from 0.46 to 17.88 mg/mL with NBF fraction showing maximum potential for both. Furthermore, the phytochemical analysis of CME and its fractions showed the presences of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, terpenoides and cardiac glycosides with varying concentrations.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Today, the use of medicinal plants in the treatment of cancer is more important due to its fewer side effects. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most important factors in stimulating angiogenesis and promoting cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of VALERIANA Sysimberifolia root extract on proliferation of lung cancer cells (A549) and VEGF gene expression in treated cells. METHODS: The hydro alcoholic extract of VALERIANA Sysimberifolia root was prepared by percolation. After preparation of cell line A549 from the Iranian Biological Resource Center, cancer cells were treated in culture medium with different concentrations of plant root extract (50, 25, 12. 5, 6. 25, 3. 12, 1. 56, 0. 78 μ g/ml) at 24, 48 and 72 hours and viability was performed by MTT assay at all three time. Real Time-PCR method was used to evaluate the expression of VEGF gene in cancer cells treated with IC50 concentration of plant extract. FINDINGS: With increasing the concentration of the extract and the treatment time, a decrease in viability of cancer cells was observed. The highest inhibition of cell proliferation was observed at a concentration of 50μ g/ml after 72 hours (94% growth inhibition) which was significant compared to the control group (p= 0. 0001). Also, with increasing treatment time, decreased VEGF gene expression was seen compared to the control group. Thus, a two times decrease in VEGF gene expression was seen in cells after 72 hours (p= 0. 0017). CONCLUSION: VALERIANA Sysimberifolia root extract has anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenesis activity. It seems that further studies can be used as a biological product in the treatment of cancer.