RESUMO
Nowadays, because of the concern about risks of hormone-therapy, many physicians and women prefer phyto-estrogens for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Hop is a plant with potent phyto-estrogenic ingredients. However, its effect on the symptoms has been evaluated only in one clinical trial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of hop [Humuluslupulus L.] in the treatment of early menopausal symptoms and hot flashes [primary outcomes]. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial, 60 perimenopausal women were randomly assigned to two equal groups [n=30]. One group received hop tablets, 500 mg/day and other group received placebo tablets 500 mg/day, for 90 days. Early menopausal symptoms were assessed by means of Greene Scale [0-63] before and at the 4[th], 8[th] and 12[th] weeks after intervention. ANOVA was used for data analysis. There was no loss to follow-up during the 12 weeks of intervention. The mean Greene total score was significantly lower in the hop group in comparison to the placebo group at the 4[th] [adjusted difference: -8.3, 95% confidence interval: -9.7 to -6.9],8[th] [-14.6, -16.5 to -12.7] and 12[th] [-18.2, -20.5 to -16.0] weeks after intervention. No side effects were reported in this study. Hop effectively reduced the early menopausal symptoms and the number of hot flushes in perimenopausal women. Therefore, phytoestrogens can be used for the treatment of climacteric symptoms in the perimenopausal women
RESUMO
The stimulating effects of medicinal plants on immune system were taken into consideration. In this relation, saponins and flavonoids are well known compounds. The presence of these compounds in Citrullus colocynthis [CC], also a report based on leucocytosis activity of C.C, it caused that we were going to investigate the effect of this plant on immune system. In the present paper, the histologic effects of pulps and seeds extracts of CC on gastrointestinal mucosal from the point of view of immunity were investigated. Aerial parts of CC were extracted with MeOH 70% and the presence of different groups of natural compounds were assessed by phytochemical methods. Then 30 male rabbits are used, they divided into 5 groups. One group is kept as diabetic control and from the other 4 groups, 2 groups were received 100 and 200 mg/kg/day of pulp extract and two groups were received 100 and 200 mg/kg/day of seed extract of C.C by gavage. After 1 month of experimental period, rabbits were sacrificed by chloroform and specimens from intestine were fixed in 10% formalin and studied with light microscopy. The number of penetrating lymphocytes to intestinal epithelium observed in morphometery were criteria of immune system functional marker. All of animals that received 200mg/kg/day pulp extract of C.C, and 46% of animals that received 100 mg/kg /day of pulp extract died. The number of intestinal mucosal lymphocytes enhanced in group of received 100 mg/kg/day pulp extract. Mean of penetrating lymphocytes was significant in 100 mg/kg/day pulp extract group in comparison to control group[p< 0.05]. Increasing of lymphocytes was significant in 100 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day of seed extract and mean of penetrating lymphocytes was significant in comparison to control group [p<0.005]. Immunostimulant effect of the extract of CC seed is higher than the extract of CC pulp but the toxicity of the pulp extract is more than the toxicity of the seed extract