[Antibacterial effects of different fractions of extract of Falcaria vulgaris bernh fruits and bioautography of its effective fraction]

Background and Objectives: [Ghaze-yaghi] with scientific name of Falcaria Vulgaris Bernh has different uses in Iranian traditional medicine such as treatment of skin trauma, gastric and liver disorders. In this study, antibacterial effects of different extract of Falcaria Vulgarisfruits were investigated

Materials and Methods: Methanolic extraction of the fruits of was fractionated using different solvents including petroleum ether, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate. After drying and concentrating minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] of crude extract was determined using agar dilution method. Disk diffusion method was used to study antibacterial effects of fractions against 8 standard bacterial strains. Constituent compounds of the most effective fraction were separated on silica gel chromatography plates, using thin layer chromatography [TLC] method. Then chromatograms were analyzed using immersion bioautography

Results: According to disk diffusion method, ethyl acetate fraction was the most effective extract. In bioautography of this fraction, antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeroginosa was appeared in Rf: 0.9. In addition, S. aureus and S. epidermidis dishes did not show any growth in the site of fraction loading

Conclusion: Some components in ethyl acetate fraction of Falcaria Vulgaris Bernh have synergism effects against gram positive bacteria [S.aureus, S.epidermidis], while they show antagonistic effects against gram negative ones [K.pneumonia, P.aeroginosa]

Evaluation of effects of Zingiber officinale on salivation in rats

There are some herbal plants in Iranian traditional system of medicine which are believed to be excellent remedies to alleviate the symptoms of xerostomia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of systemic administration of seven different herbal extracts on the rate of salivation in rats. The extracts of 7 herbs; Zingiber officinale Roscoe [Zingiberaceae], Citrus sinensis [L.] Osbeck [Rutaceae], Artemisia absinthium L. [Asteraceae], Cichorium intybus L. [Asteraceae], Pimpinella anisum L.[Apiaceae], Portulaca oleracea L.[Portulacaceae], Tribulus terrestris L. [Zygophyllaceae] were prepared. Nine groups of animals [including negative and positive control groups] were used and seven rats were tested in each group. After the injection of extracts, saliva volume was measured gravimetrically in four continuous sevenminute intervals. The results showed that after injection of ginger extracts salivation was significantly higher as compared to the negative control group and other herbal extracts in all of the four intervals [P<0.01]. The peak action of the ginger was during the first 7-minute interval and following this, salivation decreased to some extent. The present study suggests that the extract of Zingiber offiicianle can increase the rate of salivation significantly in animal model. Further investigations on different constituents of ginger seem to be essential to identify the responsible constituent for stimulation of saliva secretion

[Formulation and clinical evaluation of Myrtus Mucoadhesive paste in the treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis]

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis [RAS] is an oral lesion with high prevalence. Its management is directed toward treatment of symptoms. Myrtle is an herbal drug that has been used for RAS treatment during last years. Its essential oil has antiseptic and antimicrobial properties. One of the best factors in the treatment of aphthous lesion is, remaining of drug in location, so, a dosage form was tried to design that can hold the drug for a long time in location. For this purpose mucoadhesive drug delivery system was selected. This study was a double blind randomized clinical trial. The essential oil was extracted from myrtle leaf by using water in Clevenger apparatus. Oral mucoadhesive paste was prepared by compounding of sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, pectin and gelatin in plastibase. The best formulations were selected for clinical trial. In this double blind clinical trial, individuals were divided into two groups, A and B that received Mocuadhesive paste containing myrtle essence and mucoadhesive paste without drug as placebo, respectively. The size of lesions was measured by periodontal probe at 1, 2, 6 and 10 days. Also by use of VAS scale, daily pain was measured at 10 days period. The time of burning sensation relief in A and B groups were 1.64 +/- 0.74 and 4.91 +/- 1.30 days respectively, which there was significant difference between the two groups [P<0.001]. The mean of lesion size in group A were 0.14 +/- 0.36 and in group B 2.73 +/- 1.68 [mm] in sixth day [P<0.001]. The Mocuadhesive paste containing myrtle essential oil is a suitable formulation for treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with regard to its adhesive properties, the reduced time of burning sensation and the reduced size of lesion, significantly

Main phenolic compound of petals of Echium Amoenum fisch. and C. A. mey., a famous medicinal plant of Iran

Echium amoenum Fisch. and C.A. Mey. [Boraginaceae] is an indigenous Iranian plant, that its dry violet-blue petals [Gol-e-Gavzaban] have long been used in traditional medicine of Iran. In this study concentrated metanolic extract of the grounded dried petals of E. amoenum was fractionated by column chromatography and the fractions were purified by preparative HPLC. The structure of main pure component which was characterized by UV, IR, one and two dimensional 1H and 13C-NMR and Mass spectroscopy was found to be rosmarinic acid which is widespread in the plants of the Lamiaceae and Boraginaceae families in insignificant quantities and has antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects

Volatile oil composition of Centaurea aucheri [DC] wagenitz

Centaurea aucheri [DC.] Wagenitz is one of the species of Asteraceae that has not been the subject of many investigations. Different species of this genus have been used in traditional medicine. In this investigation C. aucheri was collected from Khanesorkh of Kerman and the essential oil of the aerial parts of plant was extracted by Clevenger apparatus and analyzed by GC-MS. Identification of the components of oils were based on their retention indices and mass spectra data in comparison with those reported in literatures. The amount of essential oil was 0.16% and 22 substances consisting 80.03% of the composition of the essential oil were identified. The main compounds were caryophyllene oxide [19.44%], beta-caryophyllene [14%], Geremacrene-D [13.38%]. The essential oil was rich in sesquiterpene oil

Production of rosmarinic acid in echium amoenum fisch. and C.A. Mey. cell cultures

Echium amoenum Fisch. and C.A. Mey. [Boraginaceae] is a very popular medicinal plant which is used as a tonic, tranquillizer, diaphoretic, cough remedy, sore throat and pneumonia in Iran's traditional medicine. Callus culture of medicinal plants is one of the ways for production of secondary metabolites. In this study, callus culture of E. amoenum and its major secondary metabolite were investigated. The callus culture of E. amoenum was initiated and established from seeds in MS media with three different ratios of plant growth regulatories: kinetin, 2, 4-D and NAA. Methanolic extracts of freeze-dried calluses were compared by TLC and HPLC. The major secondary metabolite was separated by preparative HPLC and the structure of this pure compound was elucidated by UV, IR, one and two dimensional 1H and [13]C-NMR and Mass spectroscopy. Rosmarinic acid was identified by various spectroscopic methods from callus culture of E. amoenum. Rosmarinic acid is widespread within the plant cell tissue culture of the Lamiaceae and Boraginaceae families, although in insignificant quantities. Rosmarinic acid has an antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effect, which makes it a valuable product for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries

Chemical constituents of the essential oil of nepeta depauperata benth from Iran

The essential oil from flowering aerial parts of Nepeta depauperata Benth., an endemic Iranian plant, obtained by steam distillation was analyzed by GC/MS. The constituents were identified by their mass spectra and Kovats' indices. Thirty-three compounds consisting 82.52% of the total components were identified from the oil obtained with a yield of 0.3%v/w. Among them, spathulenol [31.84%], beta caryophyllene [12.93%] and caryophyllene oxide [10.27%] were the major components of the oil

Volatile constituents of a medicinal plant of Iran, echium amoenum Fisch. and C. A. Mey.

Echium amoenum Fisch. and C.A. Mey. [Boraginaceae] is an endemic Iranian plant, that its dry violet-blue petals has long been used in traditional medicine of Iran. The chemical composition of the volatile fraction of the dried petals of this plant which was isolated by steam distillation extraction with pentane [in yield of 0.05%] was examined by GC-MS. The constituents were identified by their mass spectra and Kovats' indices. The major components except aliphatic alkanes which belong to sesquiterpenes were: sigma -cadinene [24.25%], viridiflorol [4.9%], alpha -muurolene [4.52%], ledene [3.8%], alpha -calacorene [3.04%], and