ABSTRACT
Ferulago carduchorum [Apiaceae family] is an endemic plant of Iran. The crude extract and four fractions of aerial parts of F. carduchorum in two vegetative stages [flower and fruit] were studied for their total phenolic contents, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities using folin-ciocalteu assay, micro dilution method and DPPH assay, respectively. The results indicated that the best antioxidant activity was determined in flower crude extract [IC[50]=0.44mg/mL]. The flower ethyl acetate fraction [FLE] showed better antimicrobial and antifungal activities than other fractions. So, FLE was selected for phytochemical investigations, resulting in isolation of a flavonoid [hesperetin]. Hesperetin showed antimicrobial activity. The results showed that the antimicrobial and antioxidant effects during the flowering are obviously more than the fruit season
Subject(s)
Phytochemicals , Anti-Infective Agents , Antioxidants , Phenols , Flowers , Fruit , Biphenyl Compounds , PicratesABSTRACT
Background: Urtica dioica is one of the medicinal herbs with many uses in treating various diseases. In some studies, its antiproliferative and apoptotic effects on cancer cell lines have been shown. Therefore, the evaluation of U. dioica effect was performed on KG-1 cell line for acute myelogenous leukemia [AML] for the first time in this study
Materials and Methods: KG-1 cell line was treated by various extracts [aqueous, hydroalcoholic, chloroform and ethyl acetate] of U. dioica aerial parts and roots in different concentrations. Metabolic activity of extracts on cell line was assessed by MTT assay. To evaluate the percentage of apoptotic cells, the flow cytometry was performed by FITC Annexin V-PI apoptosis detection kit in KG-1 cell line treated with root chloroform [UDC-R] and ethyl acetate [UDE-R] extracts. The results have been reported as percentage of cell viability and IC50
Results: Based on MTT results, the strongest IC50 in KG-1 cell line [219.361microg/ml] was related to UDC-R. The flow cytometric analysis showed that UDC-R and UDE-R in IC50 concentration induced early [53.6% and 57.4%, respectively] and late [27% and 33.2%, respectively] apoptosis in KG-1 cells after 24 hrs. The inhibition of cell proliferation by various extracts of U. dioica was dependent on concentration [p=0.000]
Conclusion: Flow cytometric analysis confirmed that UDC-R and UDE-R extracts affect on proliferation reduction of KG-1 cells by activating the apoptotic pathway
ABSTRACT
Considering the fact that liver is one of the most important organs in our body, it deserves special attention and protection. Among various recommended supplements, complementary and alternative medicines particularly herbal remedies have received much attention owing to their truly healing properties. This review profits from Iranian traditional medicine and presents advantageous herbal guide directions for liver protection. According to credible Iranian medical literature such as Al Qanun Fil Tibb, Al-Havi and Makhzan-al-Aadvia, a wide spectrum of plants have been found to be useful for cleansing and protecting the liver. Some herbs such as ghafes (Agrimonia eupatoria), kasni (Cichorium intybus), anar (Punica granatum), darchin (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), za'feran (Crocus sativus), gole-sorkh (Rosa damascena) and zereshk (Berberis vulgaris) appeared to get strong consideration and were well documented as outstanding liver tonics. We conducted a comprehensive review of available Iranian medical resources such as scientific information database and medical sciences databases which cover all in vitro and in vivo studies of medicinal plants as liver tonics and hepatoprotective candidates. Literature survey was accomplished using multiple databases including PubMed, ISI web of knowledge, and Google Scholar.
ABSTRACT
Some physicochemical parameters of honey have been introduced by the International Honey Commission to evaluate its quality and origin but processes such as heating and filtering can affect these parameters. In traditional Iranian medicine, deslagging process involves boiling honey in an equal volume of water and removing the slag formed during process. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of deslagging process on parameters of color intensity, diastase evaluation, electrical conductivity, pH, free acidity, refractive index, hydroxy methyl furfural [HMF], proline and water contents according to the International Honey Committee [IHC] standards. The results showed that deslagged honey was significantly different from control honey in terms of color intensity, pH, diastase number, HMF and proline content. It can be concluded that the new standards are needed to regulate deslagged honey
Subject(s)
Chemical Phenomena , Medicine, TraditionalABSTRACT
Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (F. vulgare), commonly known as Fennel, is a popular medicinal plant with various pharmacological activities mentioned in traditional Iranian medicine (TIM) and modern phytotherapy such as antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, bronchodilatory, estrogenic, diuretic, lithontripic, galactogogue, emmenagogue, antithrombotic, hypotensive, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, memory enhancing, and antimutagenic activities. No serious adverse events were recorded after ingestion of F. vulgare except some cases of allergic reactions. The estrogenic activity of F. vulgare brings some side effects such as decrease in protein concentration and acid and alkaline phosphatase in male genital organs, increase in weight of mammary glands and reproductive organs in women and premature thelarche in girls. However, no evidence of teratogenicity was recorded, it is better not to use F. vulgare during pregnancy due to its estrogenic activity. Because of inhibition of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), the pharmacokinetic parameters of drugs mainly metabolized by this isozyme may be affected by F. vulgare. In addition, a significant interaction between cyprofloxacin and F. vulgare was demonstrated. The aim of current paper is to review pharmacological properties, toxicity and adverse events, and drug interactions of vulgare and brings conclusive results about the use of this plant in men, women and during pregnancy.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Pregnancy , Foeniculum , Forecasting , Iran , Medicine, Traditional , Methods , Phytotherapy , Methods , Plant Preparations , Pharmacology , Plants, MedicinalABSTRACT
The steam-distilled essential oil from Artemisia persica growing wild in Iran was analyzed by GC/MS. In all 50 compounds were identified; Davanone [60.56%], Cis Chrysanthenyl acetate [8.65%], Limonene [5.68%], alpha Pinene [3.74%], Davanone ether isomer + [3.6%] and alpha Thujene [3.6%] were the main components of the oil respectively