Insight into DNA protection ability of medicinal herbs and potential mechanisms in hydrogen peroxide damages model

DNA damage is one of the most important consequences of oxidative stress in the cells. If DNA repair is unable to modify these inducible DNA damages, genomic instability may lead to mutation, cancer, aging and many other diseases. Single cell gel electrophoresis or comet assay is a common and versatile method to quantify these types of DNA damages. DNA damages induced by hydrogen peroxide (H

Chemical compositions of two endemic Thymus species essential oil

Thymus is one of the most important members of Lamiaceae family. Aerial parts of the plant have been widely used in medicine. It has been reported that most of these effects are related to phenolic compounds especially thymol and carvacrol in Thymus essential oil. In this study, aerial parts of Thymus daenensis and Thymus lancifolius were collected from Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad. Essential oil of aerial parts of these plants was gained by hydrodistillation method and the chemical compositions were analyzed by gas chromatography/ Mass spectrometry [GC/MS]. The major components of the essential oil of Thymus daenensis were thymol [39.91%], carvacrol [29.93%], linalool [5.55%], caryophyllene [3.5%] and geraniol [3.09%], whereas the major components of the essential oil of Thymus lancifolius were: carvacrol [25.55%], thymol [20.79%], linalool [16.8%], alpha- terpineol[6.34%], borneol [4.00%], caryophyllene [3.98%], p-cymene [3.38%] and cis-linalool oxide [3.21%]. Linalool was reported as another major component in Thymus lancifolius

Free radical scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation inhibition of Hypericum helianthemoides [spach] Boiss

Antioxidants are compounds that obstruct the oxidation of macromolecules in the body. In general, there are two categories of antioxidants, natural and synthetic. Recently, interest has been increased considerably for obtaining new natural antioxidants. In this study, the scavenging of free radicals such as DPPH, NO and OH by Hypericum helianthemoides extract was evaluated. Also, the antioxidant properties of this extract were evaluated by FRAP, FTC methods and determination phenolic compounds. The plant was collected from north of Fars Province and plant extraction was obtained using ethanol. In DPPH radical scavenging, different concentrations of the Hypericum extract were added to DPPH radical. In hydroxyl radical scavenging, Fenton reaction mixture, TCA and TBA were mixed with Hypericum extract. In nitric radical scavenging, nitropruside was mixed with Hypericum extract and then sulphanilic acid, naphthylene diamine were added. In determination of phenolic compounds, Folin-ciocalteu and sodium carbonate were added to Hypericum extract. In DPPH radical scavenging, the IC50 of Hypericum extract [309.35 +/- 6.5µg/ml] was higher than the antioxidant standards, BHT [IC50=81.9 +/- 2.6 µg/ml] and quercetin [IC50=60.04 +/- 6.48 µg/ml]. The highest scavenging of hydroxyl radicals was observed in Hypericum extract [70.3 +/- 0.8%, 125 µg/ml]. In gallic acid it was [73.8 +/- 3.3%]. In 200 µg/ml of Hypericum extract scavenged NO radical [85.2 +/- 2.7%]. In FRAP method, the IC50 of this extract was 109.7 +/- 10.5 µg/ml. In FTC method, the inhibition of lipid peroxidation by Hypericum extract, BHT and ascorbic acid were 59.2 +/- 2.2, 66.9 +/- 0.15, 64.06 +/- 0.02 respectively. Total phenol of the plant extract was 3 +/- 0.4 mg/g

Ethnopharmacological review of plants traditionally used in Darab [south of Iran]

Aims: Ethnopharmacological and ethnobotanical information have been known as an effective tool for drug discovery. Iran is a location with long medical history. Darab is one of the cities in Iran that can be studied regarding ethnopharmacological aspects

Methods: current paper documented the folk medical information by Darab inhabitants. Therefore, field studies on this area were conducted from March to July 2012 and May to July 2013 under supervision of one local people. A questionnaire was utilized in this study and was filled by local inhabitants

Results: in total, 58 species belonging to 27 plant families were documented in management of 53 ailments. The most cited plant family was Asteraceae which was followed by Apiaceae, Lamiaceae and Papilionaceae. Herbs were applied for gynecologic and genitourinary, respiratory, central nervous system, infectious and cardiovascular ailments as well as musculoskeletal and skin disorders, respectively

Conclusion: this study can indicate the folk knowledge of a region in south of Iran, the knowledge that can easily disappeared during transition from old to new generations. Moreover, the effectiveness of unexamined plants can be evaluated according to informants' claims. Therefore, such investigations may be in deed, a useful way to search for drug discovery as well as keeping ethnopharmacological information alive

Different methods evaluation of antioxidant properties of Myrtus communis extract and its fractions

Myrtus communis L. is a plant traditionally used as an antiseptic and disinfectant drug. In this research, the antioxidant activity of Myrtus communis was assayed by evaluating radical scavenging activity, reducing power, FRAP method and determination of phenolic compounds. The methanolic extract of leaves of Myrtus communis was fractionated by using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and buthanol. In reducing power, different concentrations of samples were mixed with phosphate buffer, ferrocyanate, TCA and ferric chloride. Different concentrations of samples were mixed with DPPH and after 30 min the absorbances were measured. For determination of phenolic content, 500 µl of sample was mixed with Folin-Ciocalteu and sodium carbonate. For determination of flavonoids, 500 µl of sample was mixed with 2 ml of distilled water, NaNO2 and NaOH. In reducing power method, chloroform fraction showed the highest reducing capacity. In the DPPH radical scavenging method, the highest antioxidant capacity was found in buthanol fraction [IC50=84.42 +/- 1.8 µg/ml]. In FRAP method, the highest antioxidant capacity was found in crude extract [5.4 +/- 0.3 mg/ml] and buthanol fractions [5.51 +/- 0.4 mg/ml], respectively. The highest amount of phenolic compounds was detected in ethyl acetate fraction of Myrtus communis [17.5 +/- 0.001 µg/g]. The highest amount of flavonoids was found in crude extract of Myrtus communis [171.9 +/- 7.3 µg/ml]. Overall, we can suggest that the leaves of Myrtus communis can be used as antioxidant and as a food additives to avoid oxidative degradation of foods