[Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants of Joopar mountains of Kerman province, Iran]

Access to the non-documented experiences and information is one of the valuable ways for developing pharmaceutical sciences and a basis for production of new drugs. Ethnobotany is the science of recovering endangered non-documented traditions. Protection of these traditions would be a precious guide to gain access to new drug sources. The aim of this study was to identify and introduce the ethnobotany of Joopar mountain region in Kerman province, Iran. Traditional knowledge and belifes of ethnic groups were documented using a questionnaire and by interview. Documentary studies of medical and pharmaceutical sources and identification and scientific nomination of medicinal plants were done. Ethnobotanic information of the plants was recorded and some of the plants were used for phytochemical studies. The presence of 65 plant species belonging to 30 plant families was proved. Laminaceae family constituted the major flora of the region [15.85%]. The most use of the plants was in gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders. From about 65 plant specices, a number of 35 speciea were tannin and flavonoid positive, 26 plants exhibited positive reaction to alkalods and 15 species exhibited positive reaction to saponins. Considering the originality of the region and non-documented information about the plants of this region, using our findings can design appropriate programs for developing the medicinal plants compatible with the ecological conditions of this region

Antileishmanial activity of Artemisia aucheri, Ferula asa-foetid and Gossypium hirsutum extracts on Leishmania major promastigotes in vitro

Leishmaniasis is a complex disease with a broad spectrum of clinical features, usually divided into cutaneous leishmaniasis [CL], muco-cutaneous leishmaniasis [MCL], and visceral leishmaniasis [VL]. Plant extracts or plant-derived compounds are likely to provide a valuable source of new medicinal agents. In endemic countries, a number of traditional plants are commonly used to treat infectious conditions. Advances in the research of natural products for the treatment of leishmaniasis have been recently reviewed. To evaluate, anti-Leishmanial activity of three plant extracts on Leishmania major promastigotes as compared to a trivalent antimonial compound [tartar emetic], in vitro. promastigote stages of L.major [MRHO/IR/75/ER] were transferred to RPMI-1640 medium, supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum [PCS] and antibiotics then grown at 25 +/- 2°C. The biological activity of plant extracts in comparison to potassium antimonyl tartrate [Sb[lll]] on L.major promastigotes were assessed by using a MTT assay. The optical density [OD] due to cleavage of the tetrazolium salt MTT [3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] into a colored product formazan by the parasite was measured by ELISA reader. The IC50 values [50% inhibitory concentrations] were determined, accordingly. All experiments were repeated in duplicate plant extracts and tartar emetic inhibited the growth of promastigote forms of L.major in vitro after 72 hour of incubation and drug control had a 50% inhibitory concentration [IC50] of 4.7 pg/ml, and microC50 values of plant extracts Artemisia aucheri, Ferula asa-foetida and Gossypium hirsutum were 7.5, 5.9 and 3.6 microg/ml, respectively. Although Gossypium hirsutum was more effective than others, but all extracts had profound effect on promastigotes of L.major. Plant extracts including Artemisia aucheri, Ferula asa-foetida and Gossypium hirsutum have anti-leishmanial effects in vitro. Further works are required to evaluate the exact effect of these extracts on Leishmania species in animal models

[Evaluation of cytotoxicity of the essential oil and various extracts of cinnamon and ginger using brine shrimp lethality assay [BSL]]

The bark of Cinnamon [Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume.] and rhizome of Ginger [Zingiber officinale Rosc.] have been widely used as spice in Iranian diets. The aim of the present study is the evaluation of cytotoxicity of the essential oil and various extracts of these two plants using Brine shrimp lethality assay [BSL]. The plants were prepared from a local market and their scientific names were confirmed with microscopic analysis. The essential oils and various extracts in increasing polarity order were prepared with hydro distillation and percolation method respectively. The cytotoxicity of all fractions was evaluated using BSL method in 10, 100 and 1000 micro g/ml concentrations. Results were analyzed using software of probit analysis. Chloroform, essential oil and ether extracts of cinnamon with LC50= 9, 10 and 18 micro g/ml respectively] and essential oil, petroleum ether, methanol and chloroform extracts of Ginger with LC 50=0.03, 4.03, 7.9 and 8.89 micro g/ml exhibited the most cytotoxicity in comparing to potassium dichromate [LC50= 27.75 micro g/ml]. All of the fractions from the bark of Cinnamon and rhizome of Ginger exhibited high cytotoxicity. However it is needed more separation and identification of active components on the basis of this biological activity. If these results would confirm with the other bioassays, it is suggested to make safety recommendations for daily consumption of these two plants

[Anti-hyperglycmic activity of four plants extracts effective against alpha glucosidase in normal and diabetic rats]

Postprandial hyperglycemia results in the development of chronic complications. Therefore, its control is critical in the treatment of diabetes. One of the main therapeutic approaches for reducing postprandial hyperglycemia is to reduce the absorption of carbohydrates by enzyme inhibitors such as Acarbose which have already been clinically used as a medicine for diabetic patients. Aqueous and methanolic extracts of Zataria multiflora, Pistachio hulls, Myrtle leaves and Quercus infectoria which had inhibited alpha glucosidase [>90%] in our previous study were prepared by maceration method. Male wistar rats were divided into two, streptozotocin-induced diabetic group and non-diabetic group. Then each group subdivided into 6 groups of control receiving 2g/kg maltose, positive control receiving 2g/kg maltose as well as Acarbose and 4 other groups receiving 2g/kg maltose and one of the prepared extracts [1000mg/kg] after deprivation of food. Blood glucose level was measured before and 30, 60 and 120 min. after extract administration. In non-diabetic rats, Quercus infectoria and Myrtle extracts significantly reduced the postprandial glucose levels [60 and 50% respectively, P<0.0001] comparing to the control. The effect of Pistachio extract on reduction of blood glucose was not significant. Zataria multiflora extract had no significant effect [P>0.05] but showed a reveres effect on plasma glucose and remained at high level up to 60 minutes. Further studies must be done for proving the efficacy of Zataria multiflora and Quercus infectoria for hyperglycemic patients with uncontrolled diets

[Effect of olive leaf [Olea Europaea I.] on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from isolated pancreatic islets of rat]

The traditional use of medicinal plants to treat diabetes mellitus after using synthetic oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin is point to search for safer and more effective drugs of plant origin, although study of their mechanism have been continued. Olive tree and its products have important components of a healthy diet because of their phenolic content. We are interested to investigate the effects of the methanol extraction of Olea europaea leaf on insulin secretory function of pancreatic islets which were isolated freshly from rat. Plants were extracted with methanol and then powdered through freeze-drying. Islets were isolated from male adult pancreas and cultured overnight, preincubated in glucose 2.8 mM then incubated at 37 degree C in the presence of basal [2.8 mM] and stimulatory [16.7 mM] doses of glucose, with different doses of plants extracted [0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 1 mg/ml], after 30 min incubation the secreted insulin was assayed by ELISA kit. Data indicated that Olea europaea leaf extract at concentration of 0.05 mg/ml plus basal glucose could enhance insulin secretion from isolated pancreatic islets compared to control group which exposed just to basal glucose, significantly [4.2 +/- 0.48 vs 10.5 +/- 0.29 micro g/l] [p