[Antimicrobial effect of some medicinal smoke, Iranian traditional medicine]

Background: Nowadays, science tries to find a way to control the pathogens in public place and health centers. The use of medicinal smokes is common in Iranian traditional medicine to improve air quality and purify air

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Herbal fume, contain frankincense, clove, sandalwood and camel grass against a variety of microorganisms

Methods: Herbal smoke include, sandalwood [Santalum album], camel grass [Cymbopogon schoenanthus], condor [Boswellia sacra] and clove [Syzygium aromaticum], against microorganisms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans, was investigated

Results: Sandalwood and camel grass fumes could inhibit C. albicans completely both in 7 minutes and inhibit B. subtilis in turn in 9 minute and 11 minute. Also they could inhibit E. coli and S. aureus in turn in 10 and 9 minute. Frankincense and clove fume had no significant effects. Mixing two plants, sandalwood and camel grass in the ratio 1:1, will enhanced the antimicrobial effects of these smoke and the inhibition time come shorter

Conclusion: According to this research, Sandalwood and camel grass smoke have significant effect. Microbes and fungi showed great sensitivity against herbal fume and the smoke expressed the possibility of industrial usage. Further research is required to identify the chemical composition of these plant smokes

[Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of hydroalchoholic extract of anethum graveolens L. seed]

There are many reports about anti-inflammatory effect of Anethum graveolens L.[A.g] in Iranian traditional medicine. In current decade, based on using of neutriceuticales for healing, the use of herbal drugs became very common. In this study, regarding the mentioned purposes, we have evaluated anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of Hydroalchoholic Extract of A.g seeds. In this research, male mice were used and in inflammatory test they were divided to 6 groups: control, dexamethasone [15 mg/kg], seed A.g. extract [100,200, 400,500mg/kg]. All of the drugs were administered intraperitonally. The inflammation was caused by xylene-induced ear oedema. In order to evaluate the antinocicetive of Anethum graveolens L. seed, we used formalin test. Mice were divided to 6 groups: control, seed A.g. extract [100,200, 400, 500 mg/kg]. All of drugs were administered intraperitonally. The results indicated that A.g. extract has anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects. This study suggests A.g extract as a candidate for pain relieving for further studies

ethnopharmacological study on antibacterial activity of some selected plants used in Iranian traditional medicine

Iran is a land of great heritage of ancient medical scholars. Herbal medicines, as a basement of treatment of diseases have been clearly described in the medical texts of these scholars including Rhazes, Avicenna, and others. Numerous plants are introduced in these texts to treat those diseases likely to be infective ones. Few attempts have been made to evaluate ethnopharmacological aspects of these plants. In the present study selected specimens of plants described in ancient Iranian medical texts to treat infective conditions were evaluated for antibacterial activity. The hypothesis of this study was that the plants described in the ancient medical texts possess antibacterial properties. In this study, ten specimens of these plants were selected from various texts. Their scientific terminologies were prepared based on various respected sources. The antibacterial activity of hydroalcoholic extracts of these herbs, as well as their MICs and MBCs were evaluated according to standard techniques. Results of this study showed that almost all of 10 specimens showed considerable antibacterial activity. The MIC and MBC of some herbs showed strong activity against gram positive and gram negative microorganisms. MICs and MBCs of Heracleum persicum and antibacterial activity of Zea mays are reported for the first time in this study. The antibacterial activity of the selected plants supports their old uses as anti-infective agents. The results of this survey also showed antibacterial activity of Arnebia euchroma [Royle] Johst. and Teucrium polium L. traditionally used as poultice for infective wounds. H. persicumi traditionally used in Iran as spice can play a valuable role in preventing food poisoning. The data of this study supported the importance of ethnopharmacological approach and opened also the new doors to future researches in this field

Essential oil constituents of Chimonanthus fragrans flowers population of Tehran

Chimonanthus fragrans Lindle [Calycanthaceae] is an aromatic plant which little information has been reported so far on the composition of its essential oil. In this study the essential oil of flower of this plant was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Forty nine components were identified corresponding to ca. 98.12% of the total components of the essential oil with 0.12% yield. The major components were elemol [20.06%], beta-caryophyllene [9.51%], beta-elemene [8.65%], bicyclogermacrene [8.15%], gamma-elemene [7.2%], germacrene-D [5.65%], trans-beta-ocimene [5.5%], sabinene [3.65%], linalool [2.6%], caryophyllene oxide [2.3%], and delta-cadinene [1.95%]. Comparison of the data of this study with other data including recent report by HS-SPME-GC-MS showed quantitative and qualitative differences due to geographical, agricultural, and technical factors