Hepatoprotection by dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and mechanisms

The protection of the liver as an essential organ in the body against oxidative stress and deleterious compounds has been the subject of recent investigations. Among different compounds, medicinal plants play an important role due to their hepatoprotective effects. Taraxacum officinale or common dandelion is a popular plant that has been traditionally used for its hepatoprotective effects. Currently, there are limited clinical studies on its hepatoprotective effects. The aim of this review article is to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of dandelion and its mechanism of action. We reviewed literature up to July 2019 on Taraxacum officinale or dandelion and hepatoprotection. Currently available pharmacological studies indicate that dandelion extracts have hepatoprotective effects against chemical agents due to its antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities. The anti-inflammatory effects of dandelion, the prebiotic effects of its oligofructans, inhibitory effects against the release of lipopolysaccharides and fasting induced adipose factor, digestive enzymes, and enhancing effects of lipogenesis, reduce lipid accumulation and liver inflammation, which directly or indirectly improve the liver functions. Given emerging evidence on hepatoprotective effects of dandelion, designing large human clinical studies is essential.

Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) Oil in Management of Female Ailments

Oenothera biennis with the common name of “evening primrose” is containing a valuable fixed oil with commercial name of EPO. Evening primrose oil has two types of omega-6-fatty acid including linoleic acid (60%–80%) and γ-linoleic acid (8%–14%). Essential fatty acids are considered as essential compounds for body health, especially among women. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of evening primrose oil in the management of women ailments. The document was prepared by investigation in scientific articles of electronic resources (Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Wiley, Scopus, and Springer) by keywords of evening primrose oil and women. The results of our investigations showed that evening primrose oil has been the subject of several clinical studies, including premenstrual syndrome (PMS), hot flash, mastalgia, fibroadenomas, gestational diabetes, cervical ripening, and dilation. The major clinical studies are focused on mastalgia, followed by PMS. The results of studies confirmed the evening primrose oil's efficacy in women health, but the immediate response should not be expected from it, therefore, it should be regularly used up to 4 or 6 months.

Foeniculum vulgare as Valuable Plant in Management of Women's Health

This review paper evaluates use of Foeniculum vulgare extracts as a popular female plant in management of different ailments of women. Information in this paper was gathered from accessible sources (PubMed, Science Direct, Springer, Wiley, and Google), and traditional books (Persian or English modern traditional books), unpublished data (R&D reports, thesis and dissertation) by keywords based on the words F. vulgare or fennel and women. Efficacy of oral fennel oil in management of dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, amenorrhea, menopause, lactation, and polycystic ovary syndrome were confirmed according to results of clinical studies. Results of clinical efficacy of fennel oil on menstrual bleeding is complicated, but results of one meta-analysis study revealed that fennel oil significantly increased means of bleeding in the first menstrual periodic cycle (P = 0.001), while fennel oil had no significant effect on bleeding in the second menstrual cycle (P = 0.67). Topical and vaginal fennel extract (5%) exhibited good efficacy in treatment of sexual function, vaginal atrophy, and hirsutism. Fennel had no effect on bone density, or body mass index of menopause women. Results of clinical studies introduce fennel as a valuable medicinal plant in management of women's ailments, but understanding the mechanism of action could be the subject of future studies.

Melissa officinalis and rosmarinic acid in management of memory functions and Alzheimer disease

Alzheimer disease (AD) as worldwide progressive neurodegenerative disease is prevalent disease among elderly population. Due to limitation in chemical drugs along with their adverse effects of these treatments, research for finding more effective natural drugs, is one of interesting subjects among the scientists. Melissa officinalis (M. officinalis) has a long history of use in treatment of nervous system diseases. This review article evaluates the potency of M. officinalis in treatment of AD by review of experimental and clinical documents on the efficacy, safety and its mechanisms of action in management of AD. The information is extracted from electronic resources (PubMed, Wiley, Springer and Science Direct), English and Persian scientific books. In spite of different scientific and non-scientific reports on the use of M. officinalis and its main component of rosmarinic acid in neurodegenerative diseases, there is only one clinical trial on the efficacy of M. officinalis ethanol extract in management of AD. Different mechanisms of action for M. officinalis, including inhibitory effects against amyloid beta, reactive oxygen species, and acetylcholine esterase, are involved. Larger clinical trials are recommended to confirm the efficacy and safety of M. officinalis extracts in treatment of AD patients.

Management of acute cough by Zataria multiflora Boiss as an alternative treatment / 中西医结合学报

Cough, as a defensive reflux mechanism, removes foreign objects and secretions from bronchi and bronchioles of airways. Zataria multiflora is a popular plant for treatment of cough in Iranian traditional medicine. The aim of this review was to evaluate the potency of Z. multiflora as an alternative treatment in management of acute cough and its possible mechanisms of action. Here the authors compiled information about Z. multiflora in the treatment of cough from all accessible resources and books. The results of this investigation showed that there were five clinical studies that evaluated the efficacy of Z. multiflora essential oil or extract alone (n = 1), in combination with Althaea officinalis (n = 2) or Foeniculum vulgare essential oil (n = 1), in the form of syrup (n = 3), oral drop (n = 1) and soft capsule (n = 1), for the treatment of acute cough in comparison with placebo or synthetic drugs (bromhexine, dextromethorphan and clobutinol). All clinical studies confirmed the efficacy of Z. multiflora in the amelioration of acute cough in pediatric (n = 1) and adult patients (n = 4) without any adverse effects. Different mechanisms, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, relaxant and immune-enhancement, may be responsible for the efficacy of Z. multiflora in cough relief. Other clinical trials can be performed with Z. multiflora in combination with ivy leaf extract or primrose root extract on patients with cough.

Effectiveness of Myrtus communis in the treatment of hemorrhoids / 中西医结合学报

Myrtus communis is an important plant in the treatment of many different diseases. The aim of this review was to determine the importance of M. communis essential oil in the treatment of hemorrhoids. For preparing this manuscript, the information was extracted from different resources. The results of clinical studies showed that M. communis essential oil (lotion or ointment) can significantly improve bleeding, permanent pain, pain during defecation, anal irritation, anal itching and anal heaviness in patients with hemorrhoids types I and II. M. communis was also effective in treating patients who did not respond to current chemical treatments (anti-hemorrhoids ointment). Further clinical studies should look into designing a suppository form of M. communis essential oil and compare its effect with the lotion and ointment forms.

Cloning and sequence analysis of gene encoding OipA from Iranian patients with helicobacter pylori infection

Outer inflammatory protein A [OipA] is one of the important adhesins of H. pylori and a valuable candidate for vaccine development. Its gene is under "on-off" switch status which correlates with OipA protein expression. We aimed to obtain a recombinant OipA clone [with "on" status] from an Iranian clinical isolate. A clinical H. pylori-isolate demonstrating high expression for an outer membrane protein [OMP] with an apparent MW of 33-35 kDa was selected. oipA specific primer was designed according to oipA sequences from B8 strain. The purified PCR-product was sequenced and submitted to Gene Bank. The pET-28a plasmid and E. coli DH5alpha were used for cloning and transformation. The recombinant plasmid was transferred to E. coli BL21 [DE3]. Extracted proteins were purified and presence of OipA was confirmed by western blotting using both anti His-tag monoclonal antibody and anti-OipA specific antibody. The sequence of the oipA gene and the MW of the purified recombinant OipA protein consisted on 924 bp and 33-35 kDa, respectively. Its identity with other published oipA genes was 92-96%; highest identity was observed with that of a Mexican oipA clone, obtained from a H. pylori strain associated with severe symptoms. Recombinant oipA clone obtained in this work, may be a functional oipA gene with "on" status, associated with more severe outcomes of H, pylori infection