review on antimicrobial activities of sumac fruit [Rhus Coriaria L.]

Sumac is a shrub with a long history of application in traditional medicine and Iranian cuisine. It grows wild in the region from the Canary Islands over the Mediterranean area to Iran and Afghanistan. The word [sumac] is derived from Aramaic word [sumaqa] which means red. Aside from some studies on sumac as an antioxidant, an anti hyperglycemic, and an anti hyperuricemic agent, many articles have been recently published on antimicrobial activities of sumac because of the advent of new microbial resistances and the need to find new antimicrobial agents. Reviewing the articles suggests that total extracts of sumac fruit have antibacterial activity against both Gram- positive and Gram- negative bacteria but it also shows that sumac fruit has no effect on fungi and anaerobics. More investigation should be conducted on: 1] Fractionization of total extracts and purification of their components to recognize safety use of and ability of sumac as an antimicrobial; 2] Effects of sumac on resistant bacteria and its potential capability as an antimicrobial agent

Study on microscopical characteristic and composition of the volatile oil of fruit of petroselinum hortense hoffm

Parsley [Petroselinum hortense Hoffm.] is one of the most famous medical and nutritional herb. Fruits of parsley traditionally used as diuretic, appetizer, vasodilator, with out any side effects. Also, it is used in cosmetic industry as a deodorant to cure halitosis and in nutritional industry. Study of microscopical characteristic, extraction and identification of the essential oil of the chemical composition of Parsley seed, is the main aims of this study. For this research, fruits have seen purchased from the market of Tehran and Identified. Microscopical characteristic will be done using light microscope and extraction of the essential oil will be done with hydro-distillation method using Clevenger apparatus and then identified after GC/MS findings. Endosperm containing crystals of calcium oxalate and oil spots, parts of compact cells of Endocarp, a group of fibro vascular, Epiderm tissue containing fragment of a vitta, were the most fragments of the powdered seed. The total amount of the Essential oil was 1% V/W and the most analyzed compounds were: 1,8 cineol [59.2%]-alpha- phellandren [18.6%]-alpha-pinene [7.6%]. There was no difference between the microscopical characters of the powdered seeds of Iranian cultivated Parsley with the cultivated specimen in other country. The absence of two compounds; Apiol [aborticide agent] and Miristicin [agent causing euphoria] in Iranian cultivated Parsley is a significant safe character for the using of the Iranian specimen in food and pharmaceutical industries

Milk thistle and cancer

Milk thistle [Silybum marianum [L] Gaertn] is endemic of several European, African and Asian country like Iran. Althuogh literature on its uses in Iranian traditional medicine is not published, but is used extensively in some European country. Several clinical and experimental study undertaken to investigate efficacy of milk thistle seed extract [Silymarin] in several chronic disease. Silymarin contain several compound like flavonoid with antioxidative property and scavengering free radical. Free radicals are by-product of abnormal body metabolism in several chronic diseases and are important factor for late complication and secondary disease. Here in this article the published data on silymarin its effect on oxidative stress and cancer are reviewed