[Investigation of Securigera Securidaca seeds extract and different fractions on serum glucose, blood factors and liver morphology in diabetic animals]

Introduction: Securigera securidaca seed is used as a hypoglycemic agent in Iranian folk medicine. In this study, potential effect of oral administration of whole seed extract its fractions were investigated on Streptozosin diabetic mice and rats [200 mg/kg, ip]. Materials and Methods: In acute study, diabetic mice were received different doses of whole seed extract, its fractions including chloroform, methanol, or mixture of chloroform and methanol, along with glibenclamide [10 mg/kg] and normal saline, by gavage. Blood glucose levels were assessed at baseline and again during 1, 2 and 4 h after gavage. Diabetic rats were received a mixture of chloroform and methanol fraction [30:70] in a dose 500 mg/kg, along with regular and NPH Insulin [30:70], glibenclamide and normal saline, by gavage, two times a day for two weeks. Blood glucose levels were measured at baseline and again after one and two weeks. Blood biochemical measures and liver histology examination were done after two weeks. Results: Acute study showed that chloroform fraction reduced blood glucose level after 1 h wherease methanol fraction and mixture of fractions decreased blood glucose levels toward a normal range, after 4 h. In sub-acute study, no significant change was not observed in blood glucose and biochemical parameters, after administration of fractions. Compared to rats received mixture of fractions, liver cells destruction was lower in groups receiving insulin and glibenclamide. Conclusion: Acute dose of S. securidaca seed could reduce blood glucose by similar mechanism as insulin

[Antibacterial effects of scrophularia striata extract on pseudomonas aeruginosa]

Scropholaria striata Boiss. From Scropholariaceae [Teshnehdari in folklore of Ilam Province, Iran] is used for treatment of infectious disease of urinary tract especially in females. In this research for finding of the most effective part of the plant, crude extract of the aerial parts of S. striata and its different fractions was investigated on the 50 resistant strains of Psudomonas aeroginosa. Crude extract of the plant and its various fractions [chloroform, methanol and water] were prepared. Bacterial strains were collected from 3 hospitals and 50 resistant strains were isolated from the culture medium containing various antibiotics. Efficacy of the all fractions was investigated on these resistant bacterial strains. Water and methanol fractions of the plant were showed more antibacterial activity on 50 resistant strains of P. aeroginosa than crude extract [p=0.0001 and p=0.001 respectively] and water fraction was showed stronger effect than methanol fraction [p=0.001]. Chloroform fraction of the plant had no antibacterial activity on this resistant strain. The results of this study showed that the water extract of Scropholaria striata can be used as a remedy for the treatment of the infections caused by Psudomonas aeroginosa

chemical constituents and antibacterial activity of essential oil of peucedanum ruthenicum [M. Bieb.] rochel [Umbelliferae] leaf

The essential oil of Peucedanum ruthenicum leaf obtained by hydro distillation and was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Among the 17 identified constituents accounting for 100% of the total oil, the major component was Thymol [57.79%]. Antimicrobial activity of the essential oil was investigated against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The essential oil of P. ruthenicum showed activity against Gram-positive and Gram negative bacteria

Identification of chemical compounds in essential oil of Zeravschania membrancea[Boiss.] M.Pimenov

One of the natural products in plants is essential oil. Their odor, components and properties are depended on factors such as genetics, climate, habitat and so on. In plant families, Apiaceae is rich in this biochemical group which has different effects in traditional and novel medicine. Comparison of essential oil of two endemic plant of Iran from genus Zeravschania. Zeravschania membranacea [Boiss.] M. Pimenov was collected from Zanjan province in July 2003. The essential oil of powdered aerial parts of plant was prepared by hydro distillation which was about 0.1% [v/w] with yellow color and an intense odor. The essential oil was analyzed with GC/MS on DB-1 column. Thirty five out of forty eamponents, comprising 83.25% of total oil were identified. 44.64% were mono terpenes [15.19% oxygenated, 29.25% hydrocarbons], 7% sesquiterpenes, 7.8% phenyl propanoids and 22.81% nonterpenic compounds. The major components of the above fragments were alpha-Terpenyl acetate [6.6%], Carvacrol [5.95%], Thymol [4.76%], alpha-Ocimene Y [4.08%], beta-Bisabolen [3.24%], Trans-methyl iso Eugenol [7.74%], Thymohydroquinone dimethyl ether [16.7%]. Because of two different habitats and climates for growing Z. membranacea [sandy hill] and Z. pastinacifolia [rocky and scree steep slopes], there are some difference between content of essential oil in them

Isolation and identification of Flavonoid constituents from of Achillea conferta DC

Achillea [Asteraceae] comprises 115 species, which are mainly distributed in Europe, Asia and North Africa and also is an introduced plant in the New World. Nineteen species of the genus were described in the Flora Iranica, of which Achillea conferta DC. is found in the central and western regions of Iran as well as Iraq. However, a survey of the literature revealed that only a few works deal with the composition of flavonoid constituents of A. conferta and there is no report on the Iranian one. Here we aim to describe the isolation and identification of flavonoid aglycons in Achillea conferta collected from Talegan mountain in Iran in order to compare with the flavonoid constituents of other samples of A. conferta. The top flowers of Achillea conferta DC. [Compositae] were collected from Taleghan area in spring 2000. The powdered plant was extracted by percolation method with methanol. This crud extract was washed with petroleum ether and chloroform. The resulted extract was concentrated in vacuum distillator and then subjected to paper chromatography [whatman NO: 1], using acetic acid 2%, 15% and BAW as solvents. The spots were detected under UV lamp at 366 nm. Three main flavonoid aglycons were identified as luteolin, chrysoeriol and quercetin by using UV spectra [shift reagents], H- NMR data and Mass spectra in comparison with those reported in references. In this species, highly methoxylated flavonoids could not be observed. Chrysoeriol is the only methoxylated flavon separated from methanol extract of Iranian Achillea conferta