Evaluation of residual diazinon and chlorpiryfos in children herbal medicines by headspace-SPME and GC-FID

The oldest method for the managing of the illness is the use of medicinal plants. The use of herbal products as the first choice in self-treatment of minor conditions continues to expand rapidly across Iran. This makes the safety of herbal products an important public health issue. Pesticides are used widely in agriculture to increase the production by controlling the harmful insects and disease vectors, however it has some hazards on biological system of human especially children. The present study was designed to examine the residual amount of organophosphorus pesticides [Diazinon and Chlorpyrifos] in children herbal medicines available in the Iranian market. Five children herbal medicine liquid dosage forms were purchased from pharmacy store. They were extracted with SPME [Solid Phase Microextraction] using the PDMS-DVB fibre. Then the extracts were injected into a GC. The gas chromatograph was Younglin model YL 6100 equipped with a flame ionization detector. The column was Technokroma 60 m length, 0.53 mm internal diameter and 1.25 jam film coated. The presence and quantity of Diazinon and Chlorpyrifos were evaluated using their standard curves. Trace amounts of Chlorpyrifos and diazinon were detected in a few herbal medicines. Based on European pharmacopeia, threshold limits of Chlorpyrifos and diazinon residues for medicinal plant materials are 0.2 and 0.5 mg/Kg. respectively. Our analysis results showed that residue limits of these two pesticides in five children herbal medicines are ignorable

effects of Adiantum capillus-veneris on wound healing: an experimental in vitro evaluation

A lot of remedies, mostly plant based, were mentioned in the Persian old pharmacopoeias for promoting of burn and wound healing and tissue repairing. The efficacy of most of these old remedies is unexplored till now. Adiantum capillus-veneris from Adiantaceae family is one of them that was used to treating of some kinds of chronic wounds. Methanol extract was fractionated to four different partitions that is, hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and aqueous. The potential of A. capillus-veneris fractions in wound healing or prevention of chronic wounds were evaluated through angiogenesis and fibroblast proliferation, in addition to in vitrotests for protection against damage to fibroblasts by oxygen free radicals. The aqueous part of A. capillus-veneris promoted significant angiogenesis [P < 0.05] through both capillary-like tubular formations and proliferation of endothelial cells in vitro. In addition, in the tests for protection against damage to fibroblasts by oxygen free radicals, aqueous and butanol fractions showed significant protective effects in the concentrations 50, and 500 microg/ml [P < 0.05] in comparison with a control group. In the toxicity testing, it showed weak irritation in the Hen's egg test chorioallantoic membrane [CAM] bioassay at the vascular level on the CAM of the chicken and no significant cytotoxicity in the MTT assays on normal human dermal fibroblasts. Angiogenic effects and protective effects against oxygen free radicals suggested aqueous partition of A. capillus-veneris local application for prevention of late-radiation-induced injuries after radiation therapy and healing of external wounds similar to bedsores and burns

Evaluation of cardiovascular effect of pycnocycla spinosa decne. exbosiss. var. spinosa extract in anaesthetized rat

Hydroalcoholic extract of Pycnocycla spinosa Decne. exBoiss. var. spinosa has in vitro spasmolytic action, and at oral dose of 250 micro g/kg inhibits castor oil induced diarrhoea in mice. In this investigation, effects of P. spinosa var. spinosa extract in comparison with nifedipine on blood pressure and heart rate in animal model was studied. Injection of three bolus doses of P. spinosa var. spinosa extract [100 micro g/kg, 500 micro g/kg and 1mg/kg] into the jugular vein, temporary reduced blood pressure and heart rate. However, soon after completion of extract administration blood pressure and heart rate returned to normal. Nifedipine on the other hand caused a sustained reduction in blood pressure and decreased heart rate compared with the control group. From this study it was concluded that P. spinosa var. spinosa extract at antidiarrhoeal dose has no significant effect on blood pressure and heart rate

Effects of Otostegia persica [Burm.] boiss on morphine withdrawal syndrome in mice

Effect of Otostegia persica on naloxone-induced morphine withdrawal syndrome was studied in male mice. Dependence was induced using daily subcutaneous injections of morphine for three days. Morphine was injected to mice at doses of 30 and 45mg/kg on day 1 and 60 and 90mg/kg on day 2 [8:00 am and 6:00 pm]. On day 3, morphine [90mg/kg] was injected 1h before oral administration and 1.5h before intraperitoneal [i.p.] injection of hydroalcoholic and hexane extracts of the plant. Naloxone was injected [5mg/kg, i.p.] 2h after the final dose of morphine and the withdrawal signs including jumping, rearing, diarrhoea, piloerection, tremor and ptosis were recorded during a period of 30 minutes. While oral and i.p. administration of hydroalcoholic extract reduced the number of jumping and rearing, the hexane extract could not exert any significant change. Also the hydroalcoholic extract [1500mg/kg] significantly [p<0.05] reduced diarrhoea, piloerection, tremor and ptosis. The hexane extract only significantly [p<0.05] inhibited diarrhoea. Results of this study indicated that the extract of Otostegia persica contained component[s] that alleviate morphine withdrawal syndrome and the responsible constituent[s] is [are] found in polar fraction since the hexane extract had only a negligible effect

Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Pycnocycla spinosa on rat isolated bladder contraction

Hydroalcoholic extract of Pycnocycla spinosa is a relaxant of rat ileum and inhibits diarrhea in mice. As P. spinosa extract has spasmolytic activity on ileum, it could also affect other smooth muscles like bladder. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of P. spinosa extract on rat bladder contraction. In an in vitro study, the effects of P. spinosa extract, nifedipine and propantheline were tested on isolated rat bladder contractions induced by acetylcholine [ACh, 10 M] and KC1 [80 mM]. P. spinosa extract, concentration-dependently, inhibited the bladder contractions induced by ACh with an IC50 of 265 +/- 28 micro g/ml, and KC1 with an IC50 of 518 +/- 86 micro g/ml. The muscarinic cholinoceptor antagonist, propantheline, inhibited the response of ACh without affecting KC1 response. Nifedipine, on the other hand, abolished the KC1 response, while partially inhibiting the ACh contraction in rat bladder. The antispasmodic effect of P. spinosa extract on bladder was observed at higher concentrations as compared to that of ileum. Therefore, it is unlikely that P. spinosa extract at anti-diarrheal doses affect the normal bladder emptying function

Biotransformation of aromatic aldehydes by cell cultures of Peganum harmala L. and Silybum marianum [L.] Gaertn

Many aldehydes are important components of natural flavours. They are used in food, cosmetic, and biomedical industries in large amounts. Plant cells or microorganisms carry out their production by biotransformation, which is one of the biotechnological methods that allow them to be defined as 'natural'. Cell cultures of Silybum marianum and Peganum harmala have been studied with a view to investigate their abilities to produce flavonolignans and beta-carboline alkaloids respectively. However, we have isolated S. marianum and P. harmala culture strain, which are able to metabolise several aromatic aldehydes. Ten culture strains derived from S. marianum and P. harmala were examined for their ability to biotransform exogenous aromatic aldehyde compounds, including benzaldehyde, 2-methoxybenzaldehyde, 4-methoxybenzaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde and 3-methoxy, 4-hydroxy benzaldehyde. Callus cultures of Silybum marianum and Peganum harmala were established from seedlings, and healthy suspensions were grown using the Murashige and Skoog medium. Exogenous aromatic aldehydes were fed to S. marianum and P. harmala cell suspension cultures. Biotransformation reactions were detected over 24 h of incubation. The cultures then extracted with dichloromethane and extracts subjected to GC and GC-MS analysis. The S. marianum cultured cells in this study exhibit greater selectivity in the reduction of aromatic aldehydes than P. harmala cultured cells. The ability of cultured plant cells to biotransform substrate appears to be dependent on the culture strains as well as the nature and position of the substituent on the aromatic ring

Composition of essential oil of Artemisia persica boiss from Iran

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

Stereospecific biotransformation of [+/-] phenylethyl propionate by cell cultures of peganum harmala L.

The enzymatic potential of the cultured plant cells can be employed for bioconversion purposes. Plant enzymes are able to catalyze regio- and stereo-specific reactions, and therefore can be applied for the production of desired substances. The biotransformation of foreign substrates with suspension cells of Peganum harmala was tested with [ +/- ] phenylethyl propionate. The callus cultures of Peganum harmala were established from cotyledons, and healthy suspensions grown using Murashige and Skoog medium. In order to investigate the specificities of the hydrolysis, [-] and [+] phenylethyl propionate isomers were added to the cultures. The phenylethyl propionate isomers were converted to their corresponding alcohols. The two isomers showed different rates of conversion during the first 24 hours after feeding. These cultures were able to hydrolyse specifically the propionate group in [ +/- ] phenylethyl propionate. It was found that the cultured cells of P. harmala have the ability to hydrolyse the racemic phenylethyl propionate stereoselectively

Composition of the essential oil of phcnocycla spinosa Decne. E. X. Boiss. from Isfahan.

The hydrodistilled aerial parts oil of Pycnocycla spinosa var. spinosa was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Thirty three components were identified. Geranyl isovalerate [14.9%], caryophyllene oxide [10.6%], alpha -eudesmol [9.2%]