[Ginger effects on control of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting]

Chemotherapy-induced nausea [CIN] in the anticipatory and acute phase is the most common side effect in cancer therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ginger capsules on the alleviation of this problem. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed on 80 women with breast cancer between August till December 2009 in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran. These patients underwent one-day chemotherapy regime and suffering from chemotherapy-induced nausea. After obtaining written consent, samples were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. Two groups were matched based on the age and emetic effects of chemotherapy drugs used. The intervention group received ginger capsules [250 mg, orally] four times a day [1 gr/d] and the same samples from the placebo group received starch capsules [250 mg, orally] for three days before to three days after chemotherapy. To measure the effect of capsules a three-part questionnaire was used, so the samples filled every night out these tools. After collecting the information, the gathered data were analyzed by statistical tests like Fisher's exact, Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square using version 8 of STATA software. The mean +/- SD of age in the intervention and placebo groups were 41.8 +/- 8.4 and 45.1 +/- 10 years, respectively. Results indicated that the severity and number of nausea in the anticipatory phase were significantly lower in the ginger group compared with placebo group [P=0.0008, P=0.0007, respectively]. Also, the intensity [P=0.0001] and number [P=0.0001] of nausea in the acute phase were significantly lower in the ginger group. On the other hand, taking ginger capsules compared with placebo did not result in any major complications. Consuming ginger root powder capsules [1 gr/d] from three days before chemotherapy till three days after it in combination with the standard anti-emetic regimen can help to reduce the anticipatory and acute nausea.

[Appeal of herbal plants as a mechanism for the relief of acute vomiting induced by chemotherapy]

Acute vomiting is one of the most common side effects of chemotherapy during the first 24h in patients with cancer. This study investigated the palliative effect of ginger extract on the rate of this complication. This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial that was conducted from August to December 2009 in Imam Khomeini Hospital on 80 women with breast cancer undergoing 1-day chemotherapy periods and suffering from vomiting. After obtaining written consent, the samples were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. Two groups were matched with each other based on the age and emetic risk of chemotherapy drugs used. Participants of the ginger group received ginger capsules[250mg, orally], four times a day [1gr/d] and the samples from the control group received placebo capsules containing starch from three days before to three days after chemotherapy. During this period, to measure the effect of capsules, a two-part questionnaire was used. So, the patients filled these tools out every night. Then, gathered data were analyzed using statistical tests like Fisher's exact, Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square by the STATA software version 8. The two groups were matched with each other according to the emetic risk of chemotherapy drugs and disease duration [p=0.1, p=0.06, respectively]. Results indicated that the cases of vomiting in the acute phase were significantly lower in the ginger group compared with placebo group [p=0.04]. Also taking ginger capsules compared with placebo did not wake certain complications [p=0.06]. Taking ginger powder capsules [1gr/d] starting three days before chemotherapy for six days and beyond the routine anti-emetic regimen could reduce the acute phase vomiting

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