Introduction of medicinal plants species with the most traditional usage in alamut region

The ethnobotany of the medicinal plants of Alamut region is important in understanding the cultures and traditions of Alamut people. This study documents 16 medicinal plant species, most commonly used by the indigenous people of Alamut region [Ghazvin Province], northwest, Iran. The botanical name, family name, vernacular name, part used, and the application of the plants have been provided in this paper. Alamut region was divided into different villages with the aid of maps. We recorded traditional knowledge and use of medicinal plants from herbal practitioners and village seniors in Alamut. The plants were gathered from different sites. The fully dried specimens were then mounted on herbarium sheets. We found 16 medicinal plants belonging to 11 families which were traditionally used in Alamut. Finally, we describe traditional usages by the native people in the Alamut region. The obtained results were compared with data on the herb's clinical effects. A set of voucher specimens were deposited to the Institute of Medicinal Plants Herbarium [IMPH]

Cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity of 23 plant species of leguminosae family

Numerous studies have been focused on natural anticarcinogenic agents. Many antioxidants have been identified as anticarcinogens. Antimutagens have also been proposed as cancer chemopreventive agents. The use of natural products as anticancer has a long history that began with traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity of twenty-three plant species of Leguminosae family from different regions of Iran. Twenty-three plant species of Leguminosae family were collected in May-June 2009 from different regions of Iran. Methanol extracts of these species were tested through the brine shrimp lethality assay in order to detect potential sources of novel cytotoxic compounds. The total antioxidant activity was evaluated with DPPH free radical-scavenging method. The extracts of twelve species showed moderate cytotoxicity against brine shrimp [LC[50] between 30 and 50 microg/mL]. The extracts of Taverniera spartea and Tephrosia persica showed significant cytotoxicity [LC[50] < 30 microg/mL] with LC[50] values of 0.34 and 2.43 microg/mL, respectively, whereas the positive control, thymol showed a LC[50] value of 1.37 microg/mL. The chloroform fractions of the latter two species were subjected to the brine shrimp lethality assay with LC[50] values of 113.79 and 1.23 microg/mL, respectively. In comparing antioxidant capacities, Gleditschia caspica and Taverniera spartea showed significant antioxidant activity [IC[50] < 50 microg/mL] with LC[50] values of 14.54 and 20.32 microg/mL, respectively. It could be seen among 23 tested plant species that Taverniera spartea had the most cytotoxic and antioxidant activity and was the best candidate for these effects. Further investigations are necessary for chemical characterization of the active compounds and more comprehensive biological assays