Effect of camel milk in asthmatic children: A double-blind randomized pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Asthma is one of the prevalent diseases in children. There is some evidence regarding the benefits of camel milk in asthma. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of camel milk on asthmatic children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A randomized double-blind pilot study was operated in 2018 in a tertiary center. Sixty children aged more than 6 years with not well-controlled asthma were included. The intervention was consisting of 200-ml camel milk or placebo daily for 2 months. The medication regimen and spirometry parameters were assessed before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. RESULTS: A total of 57 patients completed the trial. Patients were similar in demographic and baseline characteristics (p > 0.05). There was a significant difference between groups after intervention in use of inhaled corticosteroids (96.7% vs. 70.4%, p value = 0.01), short-acting beta-agonists (53.3% vs. 29.6%, p value = 0.0001) and long-acting beta-agonists (53.3% vs. 40.7%, p value = 0.04) in control and intervention, respectively. The percent of changes in forced expiratory volume (FEV1) in the control and intervention groups was 18.54 ± 14.89 and 21.89 ± 17.83, respectively (p = 0.19). The percent of changes in FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) in the control and intervention groups was 8.11 ± 7.12 and 11.11 ± 8.33, respectively (p = 0.14). CONCLUSION: In our pilot study, some children with asthma may benefit from camel milk. Further studies would be useful to evaluate this hypothesis.

Olea europaea L. (olive) leaf extract ameliorates learning and memory deficits in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess olive leaf extract (OLE) effects on learning and memory deficits in a model of diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ) in rats. Materials and methods: The rats were divided as: (1) control rats, (2) diabetic rats, and (3-6) diabetic rats treated by 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of OLE or metformin. Using the passive avoidance test (PA), we investigated fear learning and memory behaviors. In cortical and hippocampus tissues, total levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and thiol were measured along with the activity of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Results: Learning and memory behavior impairment were significantly developed in diabetic rats as shown by the impairment of the PA task compared to the control group (p<0.001). In addition, elevated levels of MDA and reduced overall concentrations of thiol, CAT and SOD activity were obvious in diabetic rats' cortex and hippocampus tissues (p<0.01-p<0.001). Meanwhile, OLE in a dose-dependent manner, improved memory deficit and cognitive performance that was attributed to a reduction of lipid peroxidation and elevation of total thiol concentration, and CAT and SOD activity levels in the brain tissues (p<0.05-p<0.001). Conclusion: OLE could be effective in improving cognitive impairment in STZ-induced diabetes by oxidative stress depression.

Effects of hydroalcoholic extract of saffron petal on blood pressure and heart rate in hypertension induced by angiotensin II and L-NAME in anesthetized rats.

The saffron petals are a by-product part of the saffron flower with a cardiovascular effect. This study evaluated the effect of the saffron petal on hypertension induced by angiotensin II (AII) and NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, a NOS inhibitor). Rats were divided into 11 groups: 1) Control, 2) AII (50.00 ng kg-1), 3) Losartan+ AII, 4) L-NAME (10.00 mg kg-1), 5) sodium nitroprusside (SNP) + L-NAME, 6, 7) Saffron petals extract; 8, 9) saffron petals (100 and 200 mg kg-1) + AII and 10,11) saffron petals (100 and 200 mg kg-1) + L-NAME. Hypertension induced by intravenous injection of AII and L-NAME in separate groups. In treated groups, 30 min before injection of AII or L-NAME rats received two doses of extract via intraperitoneal administration. The femoral artery was cannulated and cardiovascular parameters recorded by a transducer connected to power lab apparatus. Maximal changes (∆) of mean arterial pressure (MAP), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) from baseline were calculated and compared to with those in hypertensive and control groups. Results showed that both AII and L-NAME significantly increased SBP and MAP than control, however, HR in AII was decreased and in the L-NAME group increased. Pre-treatment with saffron petals could significantly attenuate the cardiovascular responses induced by both AII and L-NAME. However, the effect of the extract in AII hypertensive rats was more effective than L-NAME groups. The findings showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of the saffron petals had an antihypertensive effect that mainly was mediated by inhibition of AII activity.

Efficacy and tolerability of hydroalcoholic extract of Paeonia officinalis in children with intractable epilepsy: An open-label pilot study.

Despite a wide range of medications available to control epilepsy, seizures in more than 30 % of patients remain uncontrolled. However, in traditional medicine, Paeonia officinalis (P. officinalis), a native perennial herb of Southern Europe and Western Asia, has been used for an anticonvulsant effect for over 2000 years globally. In an open-label pilot study implemented on 30 children with intractable epilepsy aged 1-14 years, the hydroalcoholic extract of P. officinalis was administered. This study's purpose was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of the P. officinalis extract as an adjunct therapy to a patient's antiseizure medications in reducing the frequency and duration of the seizures in childhood intractable epilepsy. The mean frequency of seizures decreased significantly during treatment with the P. officinalis extract (P < 0.05). At the end of the intervention, 62.5 % and 36.7 % of the patients showed a≥50 % and a≥75 % reduction in seizure frequency, respectively. Regarding safety and tolerability, no serious adverse events occurred during the trial, although restlessness was reported in one child and the other children who experienced constipation, stopped treatment. The results show that the P. officinalis root extract was well tolerated and has contributed to a significant improvement in seizure control in children with medically intractable epilepsy. This trial was registered with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (www.irct.ir; registration number: IRCT20131125015533N2.

Therapeutic peptides of Mucuna pruriens L.: Anti-genotoxic molecules against human hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis C virus.

To assist the development of new therapeutic strategies for several disorders, biologically active peptides/proteins obtained from plant sources can be considered. Current study expected to determine the biological activities of peptide fractions of Mucuna pruriens against hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HepG2/ADM, HepG2, SMMC-7721, and QGY-7703), as well as normal cell line to prove their selectivity. Moreover, anti-genotoxicity and antiviral activity against the hepatitis C virus (HCV) were assessed. The methods of this study were to isolate the peptides of M. pruriens and hydrolysate fractionation via fractionated pepsin-pancreatin hydrolysates by ultrafiltration/high-performance ultrafiltration cell, identify anti-hepatoma activity of peptide fractions human liver cancer and normal cells by (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-biphenyl tetrazolium bromide) (MTT) assay, determine anti-HCV, and assess anti-genotoxic effect of peptide fractions against damage that induced via alkylating agent methyl methanesulphonate in human mononuclear cells. The results showed that the fraction 5-10 kDa has been reported to exhibit significant cytotoxic activity against HepG2 and QGY-7703. It was proven that both of 5-10 and >10 kDa fractions are active against HCV. The cytotoxic concentration (CC50) of 5-10 kDa against the cell line was 703.04 ± 5.21 µg/ml. Anti-genotoxic activities of the peptide fractions were evaluated as mean values for the analyzed comet images. In this regard, the highest activity of protecting DNA damages was observed by the peptide fraction of 5-10 kDa. This study revealed the potential ability of peptide fractions of M. pruriens for the treatment of liver cancer, HCV, and high activities of protecting DNA damages.

Cardiovascular effects of standardized hydroalcoholic extract of Ribes khorasanicum fruit in acute hypertensive rats.

OBJECTIVE: Ribes khorasanicum (R. khorasanicum) traditionally has been used for the treatment of higher blood pressure. In this study, the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of R. khorasanicum fruit in normotensive and hypertensive rats was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Animals were assigned into the following groups: 1) Control, 2) AngII (50 ng/kg), 3) AngII + losartan (Los, 10 mg/kg) and 4-6) Doses 4, 12 and 24 mg/kg of extract +AngII groups. AngII and Los were injected intravenously and the extract was injected intraperitoneal. In R. khorasanicum groups, AngII injected 30 after injection of the extract. The femoral artery was cannulated and mean arterial pressure (MAP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and heart rate (HR) were recorded by Power Lab software. Maximal changes (∆) of cardiovascular responses were determined and compared with those of control and AngII groups. Finally, oxidative stress parameters in the heart and aorta were also determined. RESULTS: In normotensive rats, 12 mg/kg of the extract showed significant hypotensive effects while 24 mg/kg produced significant tachycardia. Increased ∆SBP and ∆MAP in AngII group were significantly blunted by Los. Doses 4 and 12 mg/kg of the plant also significantly attenuate the effect of AngII on ∆SBP and ∆MAP. Tachycardia induced by 24 mg/kg of the extract didn't affect by AngII. Extract also significantly improved the effect of AngII on MDA, total thiol content, CAT and SOD in both heart and aorta tissues. CONCLUSION: R. khorasanicum at lower doses showed hypotensive effects and attenuated cardiovascular parameters in hypertensive rats via its antioxidant effects.

Efficacy of a Herbal Formulation Based on Foeniculum Vulgare in Oligo/Amenorrhea: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the herbal tea based on Foeniculum vulgare, on inducing regular bleeding in women with oligomenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea( oligo/amenorrhea). METHODS: Forty women aged 18- 40 with oligo/amenorrhea were enrolled in this randomized controlled clinical trial and were allocated to two groups equally. The women in the first group were treated by Fomentex (Foeniculum vulgare / Mentha longifolia / Vitex agnus-castus) herbal tea 11.2 g/day in 2 divided doses for 2 weeks and the second group were treated by medroxy progesterone acetate (MP)10 mg/day for the last 10 days of their menstrual cycles. The intervention was repeated in three cycles of menstruation in both groups. Bleeding pattern was documented by the patient on diary cards. The occurrence (yes/no) of bleeding, the regularity of bleeding pattern, the interval of cycles, the duration of bleeding, the volume of blood flow, the hormonal parameters (total testosterone, free testosterone luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone), and the endometrial thickness in sonography before and after the intervention were evaluated and compared as outcomes. RESULTS: The number of women with bleeding during the first cycle was in the Fomentex group and the MP group 83.3% and 94.1% respectively (p = 0.61). The regularity of bleeding did not significantly differ in patients treated with Fomentex from those given MP (66.7% vs. 94.1%; p = 0.088). Mean interval of cycles decreased in both groups after intervention (P<0.001). Mean duration decreased significantly in MP group after the intervention but it was not different in patients treated with Fomentex. The difference between 2 groups was not significant (P=0.705). Volume of blood flow, with regard to Pictorial Blood Assessment Chart (PBAC), increased significantly in MP group after the intervention (P=0.001) and it was not different in patients treated with Fomentex (P=0.757); however, difference between 2 groups was not significant (P=0.063). The percentage of patients with on time menstruation in the next (drug-free) episode, was higher in the Fomentex group compared with the MP group (50% vs. 23.5%; p = 0.105). Secondary outcomes such as dysmenorrhea, acne and hirsutism reduced in the Fomentex group (P≤0.05), while they increased in the MP group (P=0.007). At the end of the treatment, there was a significant decrease in luteinizing hormone, total testosterone and free testosterone in patients taking Fomentex. The decrease of endometrial thickness, was significant in both groups after the intervention (P=0.001), but the difference between 2 groups was not significant (P=0.58). No notable complication or side effect was reported in relation to Fomentex. CONCLUSION: Fomentex herbal tea is a safe, well-tolerated, and effective choice in inducing bleeding and maintaining regular bleeding in women with oligo/amenorrhea.

A Pharmacological Review on Portulaca oleracea L.: Focusing on Anti-Inflammatory, Anti- Oxidant, Immuno-Modulatory and Antitumor Activities.

Portulaca oleracea L. (PO) or Purslane is an annual grassy plant that is distributed in many parts of the world, especially the tropical and subtropical areas. PO has some pharmacological properties such as analgesic, antibacterial, skeletal muscle-relaxant, wound-healing, anti- inflammatory and a radical scavenger. This review article is focused on the anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulatory, anti-oxidant and anti-tumor activities of the PO. Anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulatory, anti-oxidant and Anti-tumor effects of PO were searched using various databases until the end of August 2018. The online literature was searched using PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar and Web of Science. Our review showed that PO exerts its effects through anti-inflammatory properties and balancing the adaptive and innate immune system depending on situations. PO acts as immune-modulator and anti-oxidant agent in both inflammatory states by the dominance of Th2 response such as asthma, cancer and atopic dermatitis and evoked Th1 disorders including hepatitis and multiple sclerosis.

Analgesic Herbal Medicines in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a type of progressive rheumatoid disease, which leads to the degeneration of the articular cartilage, synovium, subchondral bone, tendons, and the surrounding ligaments.There are various treatments for knee OA, including pharmaceutical, nonpharmaceutical, and surgical treatments. Considering the chronic nature of the disease as well as the necessity for the long-term use of chemical medications, various side effects could occur that include gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension, congestive heart failure, hyperkalemia, and kidney failure. Therefore, suitable treatments with fewer side effects should be recommended. Recent investigations suggest increased tendency in people to use Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for knee OA treatment. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of herbal preparations for the treatment of OA. METHODS: The searched databases were Cochrane, Scopus, and PubMed. All the selected papers pertained to randomized controlled trials until August 8, 2017 in English in which one or several specific herbs had been used in knee OA treatment. RESULTS: We included 24 randomized trials (involving 2399 women and men). There were several different herbal medicines used within the included trials. CONCLUSION: The results show that the methods used in these trials may reduce symptoms and the extent of NSAID consumption and enhance the quality of life. Additional trials are suggested to investigate the safety and efficacy of herbs for the treatment of patients with OA.

Medical uses of Carthamus tinctorius L. (Safflower): a comprehensive review from Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine.

BACKGROUND: Carthamus tinctorius L., known as Kafesheh (Persian) and safflower (English) is vastly utilized in Traditional Medicine for various medical conditions, namely dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain and mass, trauma and pain of joints. It is largely used for flavoring and coloring purposes among the local population. Recent reviews have addressed the uses of the plant in various ethnomedical systems. OBJECTIVE: This review was an update to provide a summary on the botanical features, uses in Iranian folklore and modern medical applications of safflower. METHODS: A main database containing important early published texts written in Persian, together with electronic papers was established on ethnopharmacology and modern pharmacology of C. tinctorius. Literature review was performed on the years from 1937 to 2016 in Web of Science, PubMed, Scientific Information Database, Google Scholar, and Scopus for the terms "Kafesheh", "safflower", "Carthamus tinctorius", and so forth. RESULTS: Safflower is an indispensable element of Iranian folklore medicine, with a variety of applications due to laxative effects. Also, it was recommended as treatment for rheumatism and paralysis, vitiligo and black spots, psoriasis, mouth ulcers, phlegm humor, poisoning, numb limbs, melancholy humor, and the like. According to the modern pharmacological and clinical examinations, safflower provides promising opportunities for the amelioration of myocardial ischemia, coagulation, thrombosis, inflammation, toxicity, cancer, and so forth. However, there have been some reports on its undesirable effects on male and female fertility. Most of these beneficial therapeutic effects were correlated to hydroxysafflor yellow A. CONCLUSION: More attention should be drawn to the lack of a thorough phytochemical investigation. The potential implications of safflower based on Persian traditional medicine, such as the treatment of rheumatism and paralysis, vitiligo and black spots, psoriasis, mouth ulcers, phlegm humor, poisoning, numb limbs, and melancholy humor warrant further consideration.

Cuscuta campestris induces apoptosis by increasing reactive oxygen species generation in human leukemic cells.

OBJECTIVE: Cuscuta campestris or common dodder is a holoparasitic plant that has been valorized for treatment of liver injury and cancer prevention in traditional medicine. Recently, extract of C. campestris had shown moderate antimicrobial properties and cytotoxic effects. In this study, we examined the level of cellular oxidants, cytotoxicity, apoptosis and differentiation induced by hydroalcoholic extract of C. campestris (CCE) (12.5-200 µg/ml), as well as arsenic trioxide (As2O3, 50 µM), in human leukemic (HL60 and NB4) and normal polymorph nuclear cells after 72 hr treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Resazurin assay was used to determine cell viability following treatment with C. campestris. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptotic cells were measured by fluorimetry using carboxy 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide (PI), as staining reagents, respectively. The differentiation of leukemic cells was evaluated by Giemsa staining and nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction. RESULTS: C. campestris inhibited cell viability with IC50 values of 23.9 µg/ml for HL60 and 60.3 µg/ml for NB4 cells after 72 hr treatment. ROS formation was also concentration-dependently increased following treatment with C. campestris. In addition, the number of apoptotic cells significantly increased to 88.4% and 62.3% in CCE (200 µg/ml)-treated HL60 and NB4 cells, respectively, which was higher than that of As2O3 (50 µM)-treated leukemic cells (p<0.001). Nonetheless, C. campestris did not induce differentiation of leukemic cells towards granulocytic pattern. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that C. campestris induced apoptosis through ROS production without having differential effect on leukemic cells, in concentration- and time-dependent manners. Understanding of precise signaling pathway by which C. campestris induce apoptosis, needs further research.

Protective effects of long-term administration of Ziziphus jujuba fruit extract on cardiovascular responses in L-NAME hypertensive rats.

OBJECTIVE: Ziziphus jujuba stimulates the release of nitric oxide (NO). Because NO is involved in cardiovascular regulations, in this study the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Z. jujuba on cardiovascular responses in acute NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) hypertensive rats were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were divided into 6 group (n=6): 1) saline, 2) L-NAME received (10mg/kg) intravenously, 3) sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (50µg/kg)+L-NAME group received SNP before L-NAME and 4-6) three groups of Z. jujuba (100, 200 and 400mg/kg) that treated for four weeks and on the 28th day, L-NAME was injected. Femoral artery and vein were cannulated for recording cardiovascular responses and drug injection, respectively. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded continuously. Maximal changes (∆) of SBP, MAP and HR were calculated and compared to control and L-NAME groups. RESULTS: In L-NAME group, maximal ΔSBP (L-NAME: 44.15±4.0 mmHg vs control: 0.71±2.1 mmHg) and ΔMAP (L-NAME: 40.8±4.0 mmHg vs control: 0.57±1.6 mmHg) significantly increased (p<0.001 in both) but ∆HR was not significant as compared to control (p>0.05). All doses of Z. jujuba attenuated maximal ∆SBP and ∆MAP induced by L-NAME but only the lowest dose (100 mg/kg) had significant effects (ΔSBP: 20.36±5.6 mmHg vs L-NAME: 44.1±4.0 mmHg and ΔMAP: 20.8±4.5 mmHg vs L-NAME: 40.8±3.8 mmHg (p<0.05 to p<0.01)). The ∆HR at three doses was not significantly different from that of L-NAME group (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Because long-term consumption of Z. jujuba extract, especially its lowest dose, attenuated cardiovascular responses induced by L-NAME, we suggest that Z. jujuba has potential beneficial effects in prevention of hypertension induced by NO deficiency.

The Preventive Effects of Standardized Extract of Zataria multiflora and Carvacrol on Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rat: - Zataria multiflora and Carvacrol and Hepatotoxicity.

OBJECTIVES: The hepatotoxicity induced by Acetaminophen (AAP) mostly mediated by effect on oxidative stress parameters. The Zataria multiflora (Z.M) is an herbal medicine with well-known antioxidant effect. The aim of this study is investigation of preventive effects of Z.M and Carvacrol (CAR) on AAP-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into four groups including: 1) Control, 2) Acetaminophen (AAP), 3) and 4) CAR. The saline, Z.M (200 mg/kg) and CAR (20 mg/kg) were administrated orally for 6 days, after that AAP (600 mg/kg) was administrated in the 7th day. Blood sampling was performed on the first and last days. Also, the liver tissue was removed for evaluation of Malondyaldehide (MDA), Thiol content, Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase (CAT). Total Protein (tPro), Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (GOT), Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase (GPT) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) in liver tissue were evaluated. The changes (Δ) of enzymes activities were presented. RESULTS: The Δ GOT, Δ GPT and Δ ALP in CAR group significantly decreased compared to AAP group (P < 0.01 to P < 0.001) and Δ GPT in Z.M group was significantly reduced in comparison with AAP group (P < 0.05). Also, MDA, Thiol, SOD and CAT levels in treated groups were attenuated compared to AAP group (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Z.M and CAR have a powerful hepatoprotective effect. CAR is more effective than Z.M. Based on the results. Z.M and CAR could be potent supplementary agents against hepatotoxicity of AAP in patients.

Terminalia chebula attenuates quinolinate-induced oxidative PC12 and OLN-93 cell death.

BACKGROUND: Quinolinic acid (QA) is a product of tryptophan degradation and its pathologic accumulation has been found to induce neuroinflammatory and demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis via excessive free radicals generation. Recent studies showed that Terminalia chebula has several pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. The aim of this study was evaluation of the protective effect of T. chebula alcoholic extract (TCAE) on oxidative PC12 and OLN-93 cells death induced by QA. METHODS: The cells were pretreated with TCAE (6.25-50µg/mL) for 2h and then subjected to QA (8mM) for 24h. Cell viability and the parameters of redox status including the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage were measured using 2-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT), 2,7-dicholorofluorecin diacetate (DCF-DA), thiobarbituric acid and comet assays, respectively. RESULTS: Based on Folin-Ciocalteu method, the total phenolic compounds in TCAE were estimated about 1.18%. TCAE at concentration ranges of 6.25-50µg/mL had no toxic effect on cell viability (p>0.05). Treatment with TCAE significantly increased cell viability following QA insult at concentrations above 25µg/mL (p<0.01). Cytoprotective potential of TCAE also ameliorated ROS accumulation, lipid peroxidation and DNA damage induced by QA. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that TCAE exhibits neuroprotection and oligoprotection potential by means of alleviating oxidative stress parameters.

The effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Achillea millefolium on appetite hormone in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Achillea millefolium (A. millefolium) is known as an orexigenic herb in Iranian traditional medicine. In this study, the possible orexigenic effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of A. millefolium was investigated by measuring plasmaghrelin level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups. Control group received water. Treatment groups received 50, 100 or 150 mg/kg of A. millefolium extract for 7 days via gavage. Before the intervention, daily amount of the food eaten by each rat was measured for 10 days. During the investigation, the amount of energy intake of each rat was also estimated 1, 2, 4, 6 and 24 hr after each intake, for 7 days. Later, the orexigenic dose of extract and distilled water was fed to two separate groups of 6 male Wistar rats. Plasma ghrelin level was measured 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 hrafter extract intake. RESULTS: The change in energy intake after treatment by 50and 100mg/kg of the extract was significantly higher than other groups (p<0.001).Administration of Achillea 100mg/kg significantly (p<0.05) decreased ghrelin level one hrafter intervention but there was no significant (p>0.05) difference among control and treated group. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that A. millefolium had positive dose-related effects on appetite in rats. It seems that the orexigenicactivity of extract was not related to changes in plasma ghrelin levels.

An overview of skin lesions adapted to Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Persian Medicine.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) which is prevalent in all continents and is classified by the WHO as one of the neglected tropical diseases, existed in the past also, and discovered ancient works confirm this issue. The lack of adaptation of diseases between Persian Medicine (PM) and Modern medicine, led to no usage of effective therapeutic experiences of prior physicians. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is finding skin lesions adapted to CL in PM for usage of same disease treatment in the next clinical trials, and the use of approved therapies in CL. METHODS: In a narrative review, without time limitation, documentary study was conducted for different names and clinical aspects of CL in printed and electronic resources of modern medicine such as: Rook's Textbook of Dermatology, Harper's Textbook of Pediatric Dermatology, PubMed, and Embase. Then, found names were searched in printed and electronic resources of PM such as: Al-Qanun fi al-tibb, Al-Tasrif leman ajeza an-e-Taliff, JamiTib 1.5 published by Noorsoft.org. Then, skin lesions which were similar to CL with these aspects were searched: clinical manifestation and forms, chronicity, curability, mosquito bite, were studied in references of PM. Finally, matching, syllogism and logical inference were performed and conclusion was made. RESULTS: Forty-five names for CL were found in the searched resources. However, only Balkhieh, Kheyroonieh and Baghdadi button were names found in PM resources. Also, from 61 studied skin lesions in PM resources, only 6 cases had similarities to CL. CONCLUSION: In spite of the existence of CL's similarity with Balkhieh, Kheyroonieh and the Baghdadi button, there are serious differentiations. Zat-ol-asl rashes and reddish solb rashes, kinds of stranger rashes, probably adapted with CL.

The efficacy of hydro alcoholic extract of Seidlitzia rosmarinus on experimental zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions in murine model.

OBJECTIVE: Leishmaniasis is one of the most important parasitic infectious diseases in the world. Since last century, many efforts have been made to control and treat the disease, but appropriate vaccines, pesticides and medicines are not available or even eligible. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Seidlitzia rosmarinus on the lesions of experimental Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) in Balb/c mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The population study was 60 Ballb/c mice which divided to 6 groups, all infected with Leishmania major [MRHO/75/IR]. Soon after the ulcer started to appear in the early stage, a dose of provided herbal extract with 5, 10 and 15% concentration applied on each lesion. The surface area of the lesions measured during an interval of 10 days. Direct Giemsa stained smears prepared two and four weeks after treatment. RESULTS: Increasing the mean size of the lesions was statistically significant compared to those in control group (p>0.001). Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) developed in all of the mice including the control group that received Eucerine alone. Survival rate in group receiving 15% S. rosmarinus extracts showed significantly higher compared to mice in control group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Hydro-alcoholic extracts of S.rosmarinus with concentrations below15% did not show a therapeutic effect on experimental CL ulcers of Balb/c mice. Further studies with higher concentrations or nano particles are recommended.

Topical effectiveness of kiwifruit versus fibrinolysin ointment on removal of necrotic tissue of full-thickness burns in male rats.

Formation of necrotic tissues is a major issue affecting treatment of full-thickness burns. This study was designed to compare topical effectiveness of applying kiwifruit versus fibrinolysin on removal of necrotic tissue of burns. Ten adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups. For group 1, the right-side wounds were treated with kiwifruit and the other side with fibrinolysin. For group 2, the wounds on the right side were treated with kiwifruit or fibrinolysin, and the left sides were kept as control group 2. All wounds in group 3 were considered as control group 1. The control wounds were left to heal naturally. In each group and for each wound, the time of debridement were noted. The results indicated that for the wounds where kiwifruit was applied, the average time for removal of dead tissue was 5.7 days, which is significantly shorter than the average 18.5 days it took for treatment with fibrinolysin (p = 0.02). However, there were no significant differences between control wounds 1 and 2. Findings of the present study can open new horizons and provide a new treatment modality for patients with deep burns.