Efficacy and safety of Amla (Phyllanthus emblica L.) in non-erosive reflux disease: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial / 中西医结合学报

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints. GERD, caused by the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus, leads to troublesome symptoms such as heartburn and regurgitation. It is classified into two types: erosive esophagitis, characterized by visible esophageal mucosa erosion in endoscopy, and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD). GERD is a chronic and recurrent disease that impairs the quality of life and imposes socioeconomic and therapeutic burdens to both patients and society.</p><p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Due to the failure of the conventional treatments for GERD and to the traditional use of Amla (Phyllanthus emblica L.), in addition to beneficial effects shown in recent studies, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of Amla tablet for improvement of symptoms of patients with NERD.</p><p><b>DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS</b>We designed a double-arm, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Sixty-eight patients who had classic symptoms of GERD (heartburn, regurgitation and epigastralgia) for at least three months before the start of the trial were randomized in two parallel groups. Patients in the Amla group received two 500 mg Amla tablets twice a day, after meals, for 4 weeks. In the control group, patients received placebo tablets similar to the Amla prescription.</p><p><b>MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES</b>The patients were visited at baseline, and at the end of the 2nd and 4th weeks of intervention; their symptoms were measured on a frequency and severity scale for the symptoms of NERD, according to the quality of life in reflux-associated disease questionnaire.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Frequencies of heartburn and regurgitation in both groups of the study were significantly reduced after intervention (P < 0.001). Repeated measures logistic regression analysis showed that, in the Amla group, there was a more significant reduction in regurgitation frequency, heartburn frequency, regurgitation severity and heartburn severity during the study period, compared with the placebo group (P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial demonstrated that Amla could reduce frequencies of heartburn and regurgitation and improve heartburn and regurgitation severity in patients with NERD.</p><p><b>TRIAL REGISTRATION</b>Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT2016061428469N1.</p>

effect of gundelia tournefortii hydro-alcoholic extract on sperm motility and testosterone serum concentration in mice

Gundelia tournefortii was used as a food and medicinal in human life from past time. The present study has been investigated the effects of Gundelia tournefortii on number and motility of sperms and testosterone serum concentration. In this experimental study, male mice were divided into control and 4 experimental groups [Gundelia tournefortii extract at doses of 100, 200, 400, 800 mg/kg was administered intraperitoneally for 14 days]. One week after the last injection, blood samples were collected for hormonal assay. Also weight of testes, motility rate and number of sperms were assessed. Data analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test. Studies showed the number of sperms increased significantly at dose of 400 mg/kg [2.88 +/- 0.4580] [p=0.001].The percentage of sperm motility [p=0.001] and the testicular weight [p=0.012] significantly increased at doses of 200 [36.83 +/- 1.2506] and 400 mg/kg [57.51 +/- 2.1113] [p=0.001]. Testosterone serum level significantly increased at doses of 100 [p=0.05], 200 [p=0.05] and 400 mg/kg [p=0.001] as compared to control group. Gundelia tournefortii extract increases the number, motility of sperm and testosterone level because of antioxidant components for example Quercetin presumably

Major essential oil components, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of hexane extract of Vitexagnus- castus L. fruits and possible mechanism in male mice

Vitexagnus- castus L. [Vac.] has been used in the Iranian traditional medicine for the treatment of pain and swelling of uterus. In this study, GC and GC/MS analyses were carried out for the identification of essential oil chemical components. Formalin and Xylene-induced ear-edema were used in order to nociception and inflammation activity. Then, the possible interaction between 3drugs including Naloxone [2mg/kg], Dextrometorphane[20mg/kg], and L-NAME [10mg/kg] have been used and Vitexagnus-castus hexane extract was examined. 1,8-Cineole [23 %], alpha-Pinene [16 %], beta- Pinene [13 %],, Z- Caryophylene [11 %], alpha- Terpinyl acetate [9 %], E- caryophylene [9 %] and Linalool [6.5 %] were the major identified components of the essential oil of Vitexagnus- castus L. Hexane extract was reduced licking time as compared to the control group in the first and second phase of formalin test. In Xylene-induced ear-edema, the hexane extract of Vitexagnus- castus fruits was strongly inhibited inflammation as compared to the positive control group. Interaction between L-NAME and Vitexagnus-castus hexane extract showed significant effect. It was concluded that the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of the fruit of Vitexagnus- castus L. may be due to its very pharmacological effective essential oil components. Interaction between L-NAME and Vitexagnus-castus hexane extract showed that one of the possible pathways is NO pathway, but Vitexagnus-castus hexane extract probably acts via other pathways that need more research

Investigation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory effects of medicinal plants used in traditional persian medicine for treatment of hypertension: screening study

Angiotensin converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitors are used widely in the treatment of hypertension and heart failure. These inhibitors such as captopril and enalapril are derived from natural products. In the present study 135 plants used in Traditional Persian Medicine have been investigated for their angiotensin converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitory activity. They were selected on the basis of their usage as antihypertensive, cardiotonics and diuretics. Dried powdered plant material was extracted with mix solution of water and ethanol in ultrasonic bath. The extracts were filtered and concentrated in vacuum except for the water extracts, which were freeze-dried. Test solutions were made by dissolving extract in assay buffer, corresponding to a final concentration of 0.33 mg of crude plant extract in 1 ml test volume. Enzyme assay was performed by HPLC method. Plants exhibiting inhibition levels with more than 50% were further tested for the presence of tannins in order to eliminate possible false positives. In total, 52 Species out of the 135 [39%] screened, gave more than 50% ACE inhibition. Forty Species were found to possess a high ACE inhibiting ability and were low in their tannin content. Traditional medicine based on certain plants could be of beneficial effects in hypertension treatment

Neuroprotective properties of Melissa offtcinalis l. extract against ecstasy-induced neurotoxicity

The aim of the present study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of Melissa officinalis, a major antioxidant plant, against neuron toxicity in hippocampal primary culture induced by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA] or ecstasy, one of the most abused drugs, which causes neurotoxicity. 3-[4,5-dimethyl2 thiazoyl]2,5-diphenyketrazolium bromide [MTT] assay was used to assess mitochondrial activity, reflecting cell survival. Caspase-3 activity assay and Hoechst / propiedium iodide [PI] staining were done to show apoptotic cell death. A high dose of ecstasy caused profound mitochondrial dysfunction, around 40% less than the control value, and increased apoptotic neuronal death to around 35% more than the control value in hippocampal neuronal culture. Co-treatment with Melissa officinalis significantly reversed these damages to around 15% and 20% respectively of the MDMA alone group, and provided protection against MDMA-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in neurons. Melissa officinalis has revealed neuroprotective effects against apoptosis induced by MDMA in the primary neurons of hippocampal culture, which could be due to its free radical scavenging properties and monoamine oxidase [MAO] inhibitory effects

Antioxidative activity of sixty plants from Iran

Antioxidants are vital substances which possess the ability to protect the body from damage caused by free radical-induced oxidative stress. A variety of free radical scavenging antioxidants exists within the body which many of them are derived from dietary sources like fruits, vegetables and teas. This article describes a test method for screening the antioxidant activity of 60 Iranian plants of Iran by linoleic acid peroxidation test using 1, 3-diethyl-2-thiobarbituric acid as the reagent. Some plants including Achillea wilhelmsii, Berberis crataegina, Buxus hyrcana, Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium, Colutea persica, Hyoscyamus niger, Mentha pulegium, Nerium oleander, Pteropyrum aucheri, Rhus coriaria, Rosa canina, Scutellaria pinnatifida, Thymus pubescens, Verbascum alceoides and Ziziphora clinopodioides subsp. rigida showed antioxidant activity [0.41

Anatomical and phytochemical study of Lilium Ledebourii Boiss, A rare endemic pecies in Iran

Lilium ledebourii [Baker] Boiss.[Liliaceae], locally named "Susan -e Chelcheragh" is a native and rare species grown on the heights of Damash region [ca. 2100 m] in Gilan province, north part of Iran.The microscopic and anatomical features and the composition of oils of flower and corm of this unique plant were studied. The microscopic study has shown the main characteristic elements of leaf, stem, corm and flower of this plant. The composition of essential oils of flower and corm were determined by coupled GC-MS analysis. The yields of oils of flower and corm were 0.71% and 1.65% [v/w] respectively. The major components of flower's oil were isopulegol [55.15%], pentacosane [18.1%], 3-methyltricosane [9.97%], tricosane [5.35%], 2-methylpentacosane [4.35%], docosane [4.28%] and linalool oxide [2.20%]. The components of corm's oil were almost fatty acids. No aromatic volatile compound was found in the corm oil. Primary qualitative phytochemical tests of stem, leaf, corm and flower showed positive results for alkaloid and flavonoid [one plus] in stem and for saponin [4 plus] in corm and [2 plus] in the flower. Tests for tannin in all parts were negative. Further phytochemical and botanical studies on this unique plant is of importance

Screening of Iranian plants for antifugal activity: part 2

In this study, 278 species from 37 families of native Iranian plants were screened for in vitro antifungal activity against 19 fungal strains. Initially, the crude extracts in concentration of 100 micro g/ml were tested. Among 278 plant extracts, 201[71.27%] of them showed antifungal activity against at least one fungal strain. A wide range of total extracts of different species were shown to have potentially noticeable antifungal effects. The outstanding species were: Mentha longifolia, Saliva multicaulis, Thymus transcaspicus, Zataria multiflora, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Hulthemia persica, Heracleum persicum, Pimpinella anisum, Pragnos ferulacea, Pragnos uloptera, and Viola odorata