Evaluation of antibacterial activity and flavonoid content of two capparis species from Iran

Background: Due to multiple drug resistance against antimicrobial drugs for treatment of infectious disease, investigations to discovering new antibacterial compounds from natural sources have been designated

Objective: According to antimicrobial effects of some Capparis species, this study was carried out to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the extract and fractions of Capparis cartilaginea and Capparis mucronifolia against 6 bacterial strains

Methods: Aerial parts of the Capparis species were extracted by maceration method using methanol and fractionated separately by liquid-liquid fractionation method. The antibacterial activity of the extract and fractions were studied against 6 bacterial strains using MIC microplate method. Total flavonoid content [TFC] of the extracts and fractions was determined using AlCl[3] reagent

Results: The total extract and methanolic fractions of C. mucronifolia were the most effective fractions against the bacterial strains. Methanolic fraction of C. cartilaginea was the most effective fraction with MIC 10.42 microg/ml against Salmonella enterica. The highest antibacterial activity of C.mucronifolia was against Staphylococcus epidermidis with MIC 7.8 microg/ml. Methanolic fractions of Capparis species showed the highest TFC value in AlCl[3] colorimetric assay

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the extracts and fractions of Capparis cartilaginea and Capparis mucronifolia have antimicrobial effect against 6 gram positive and gram negative strains. According to the high amount of flavonoids in methanolic fraction of C. mucronifolia, the antibacterial activity may be related to the flavonoid compounds of this plant

[Review of antidiabetic plants in Iranian traditional medicine and their efficacy]

High prevalence of diabetes mellitus and its complications and increasing use of complementary therapies, especially herbal therapies, and the need of developing countries to use their indigenous medical methods, motivated us to introduce some plants used in Iranian traditional medicine for the treatment of this disease. The topic of "ziabetes" [the synonym of diabetes] in some of Iranian traditional medical texts were studied and herbal therapies of this disease were collected. Some edible plant compounds introduced and scientific names of plants in these compounds were identified. Pubmed and Scopus databases were searched for studies regarding hypoglycemic effects of these medicinal herbs on animal or human subjects. Many medicinal herbs and; minerals in single or compound form have been used in Iranian traditional medicine. Plants such as Punica granatum, Rosa damascene, Plantago psyllium, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Coriandrum sativum, Portulaca oleracea and Rumex patientia are the most popular ones. Recent studies on animal or human subjects have shown the hypoglycemic effects of some of these plants. Reassessment of the effects of some antidiabetic plants used in Iranian traditional medicine, proved their efficacy mainly in animals. However, we need more clinical trials to prove safety and; efficacy of these herbs and compounds