Protective Effects of the Aqueous Extract of Malva sylvestris Plant against the Lethality and Histopathological Damage in Experimental Envenoming of Hemiscorpius lepturus Venom in Balb/c Mice.

INTRODUCTION: Hemiscorpius lepturus envenomation is a serious health problem in the southern provinces of Iran. The antiserum produced in Iran to counteract this scorpion venom is not entirely effective due to the risk of anaphylactic shock and other adverse effects. METHODS: Therefore, more efficient alternatives to treat patients deserve attention, and plants are extensively good candidates to be studied. This study aimed to assess the potential of the aqueous fraction of Malva sylvestris in inhibiting the toxic effects of H. lepturus venom. Injection of sub-lethal dose of H. lepturus venom leads to severe tissue damage in vital organs including the kidney, liver, heart and intestine, after 24 hours. RESULTS: By injecting 80 mg of the aqueous extract of M. sylvestris into the peritoneum helped treat the damaged tissues caused by H. lepturus venom in mice. CONCLUSION: Thus, Malva sylvestris could serve as an alternative treatment for scorpion sting envenomation and may be used as a drug to neutralize relevant toxic effects in patients stung by H. lepturus.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) /Alginate nanofibrous mats containing Malva Sylvestris extract: Synthesis, characterization, in vitro and in vivo assessments for burn wound applications.

An important part of wound healing is providing effective wound care, coupled with preventing wound infection, which slows or disrupts healing. There are currently many herbal plants that have historical supernatural properties that show remarkable wound healing abilities. These herbal extracts have shown promising results when applied to electrospun nanofibrous mats platforms for wound healing. Accordingly, Malva Sylvestris extract (MS) was electrospun into polyvinyl alcohol/alginate nanofibrous mats (PVA/ALG). Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) demonstrated that the fiber diameter ranged from approximately 100-200 nm in nanofibrous mats, with a uniform appearance without beads. MS extract was detected in nanofibrous mats by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). A major benefit of incorporating MS extract into PVA/ALG nanofibrous mats is that their alterations have resulted in enhanced mechanical characteristics. The nanofibrous mats containing MS extracts showed significantly increased antibacterial efficacy against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Based on the findings from in vivo experiments, the PVA/ALG/MS1 (M2) dressing demonstrated a wound closure rate of 93-94 % within 21 days of treatment in rats, indicating its significant potential for use as a wound dressing agent in the treatment of burn injuries. The combination of PVA, ALG, and MS1 in this nanofibrous mats exhibited beneficial properties, including biocompatibility, suitable mechanical strength, and the ability to promote cellular proliferation and angiogenesis, further validating its effectiveness as a wound healing dressing.

Potential benefits of Malva sylvestris in dry-eye disease pathology in vitro based on antioxidant, wound-healing and anti-inflammatory properties.

Dry eye disease (DED) is a common chronic ocular surface disease. Available therapies are effective but often associated with side effects. This study investigates the potential of a Malva sylvestris L. flower extract and two defined preparations, a mucilage and a polyphenol rich fraction, on cells that are essential for the DED pathology. Furthermore, single compounds were isolated and characterised out of the polyphenol fraction. The M. sylvestris extract and its two fractions reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in an ultraviolet-induced model and promoted wound healing capacity of HCE-T cells, but only the polyphenol fraction and the flower extract exhibited significant radical scavenging activity. The flower extract and the polyphenol fraction inhibited cytokine secretion (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8) from HCE-T cells and THP-1 cells. In contrast, the mucilage fraction led to an increase in mediator secretion. The NF-κB activity and calcium influx in THP-1 and Jurkat cells, respectively was decreased by treatment with the flower extract and the polyphenol fraction, whereas the mucilage fraction had no influence on these parameters. Moreover, the flower extract and the mucilage fraction at low concentration could stimulate meibomian gland cells' lipid accumulation. The isolated single compounds showed no effect on analysed parameters, except a coumarin derivative and malvin which showed ROS inhibition effects.

Prevention of Inflammation Initiation on Acetic Acid-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Rats by Malva nicaeensis All.

BACKGROUND: Aerial parts of Malva nicaeensis All. are preferred in the prevention and treatment of intestinal infections and hemorrhoids in Turkish traditional medicine. This study is planned to evaluate the pharmacological activity of M. nicaeensis extracts on rats with acetic acid-induced colitis. METHODS: The plant material was subsequently extracted with n-hexane, ethanol, and water, respectively. All of these extracts were tested for efficacy in the acetic acid-induced rat colitis model. The aqueous and polysaccharide extracts regulated cytokine levels and antioxidant parameters. Furthermore, the aqueous extract in particular regulated myeloperoxidase and caspase-3 levels in this rat model. In addition, the polysaccharide-rich fraction was separated from the aqueous extract. RESULTS: The polysaccharide-rich fraction and aqueous extract regulated cytokine levels and antioxidant parameters. The aqueous extract also positively affected myeloperoxidase and caspase-3 levels. The phytochemical studies revealed that the aqueous extract had the highest phenolic content. In addition, the polysaccharide fraction was found to contain total sugars, sulfated groups, uronic acids, and total proteins in 78.4%, 0.9%, 1.5%, and 14.7%, respectively, and was rich in monosaccharide-type compounds, especially galactose (36.4%). CONCLUSIONS: M. nicaeensis was discovered to be a drug lead in the future treatment of irritable bowel diseases or as a complementary therapeutic agent that aided conventional treatments.

An edible coating utilizing Malva sylvestris seed polysaccharide mucilage and postbiotic from Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii for the preservation of lamb meat.

Currently, microbial bioactive substances (postbiotics) are considered a promising tool for achieving customer demand for natural preservatives. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an edible coating developed by Malva sylvestris seed polysaccharide mucilage (MSM) and postbiotics from Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii ATCC MYA-796 (PSB) for the preservation of lamb meat. PSB were synthesized, and a gas chromatograph connected to a mass spectrometer and a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer were used to determine their chemical components and main functional groups, respectively. The Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride techniques were utilized to assess the total flavonoid and phenolic levels of PSB. Following that, PSB has been incorporated into the coating mixture, which contains MSM, and its potential radical scavenging and antibacterial activities on lamb meat samples were determined after 10 days of 4 °C storage. PSB contains 2-Methyldecane, 2-Methylpiperidine, phenol, 2,4-bis (1,1-dimethyl ethyl), 5,10-Diethoxy-2,3,7,8- tetrahydro-1H,6H-dipyrrolo[1,2-a:1',2'-d] pyrazine, and Ergotaman-3',6',18-trione, 12'-hydroxy-2'-methyl-5'-(phenylmethyl)-, (5'alpha) as well as various organic acids with significant radical scavenging activity (84.60 ± 0.62 %) and antibacterial action toward Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria innocua as foodborne pathogens. The edible PSB-MSM coating effectively reduced microbial growth and increased meat shelf life (> 10 days). When PSB solutions were added to the edible coating, the moisture content, pH value, and hardness of the samples were also more successfully maintained (P < 0.05). The PSB-MSM coating inhibited lipid oxidation in meat samples considerably and diminished the formation of primary as well as secondary oxidation intermediates (P < 0.05). Additionally, when MSM + 10 % PSB edible coating was utilized, the sensory properties of the samples were maintained more well during preservation. As a significance, the use of edible coatings based on PSB and MSM is efficient in decreasing microbiological and chemical degradation in lamb meat during preservation.

The Lubricating Effect of Eye Drops Containing Hyaluronic Acid and Mallow Extract in Patients with Dry Eye Disease-A Pilot Study.

Background and Objectives: Mucilaginous substances from plants are known to be able to support the lubricating effect of hyaluronic acid (HA) in dry eye disease (DED). In this pilot study, the combined lubricating effect of HA and mallow extract (Malva sylvestris L.) in patients with DED was assessed. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients at five ophthalmological practices in Italy were treated with eye drops containing HA and mallow extract on the one hand, and with eye drops containing HA only, on the other hand, in a two-period crossover design. As primary endpoints, the tear film breakup time (TBUT), the reduction of lissamine green staining of the ocular surface (Oxford Scheme, OS), and the safety and efficacy assessment by the ophthalmologists were evaluated. As secondary variables, the patient symptom score, the ocular surface index (OSDI) and the satisfaction, preference and efficacy assessment by the patients were evaluated. All data were analysed descriptively in addition to an exploratory analysis being made of the target variables. Results: Both products were well-tolerated. There were no statistically significant differences with regard to the TBUT, OS and OSDI between the two treatments. Anyway, the efficacy and safety assessments by the ophthalmologists and the patients showed results in favour of the combined product. Conclusion: The addition of mallow extract to HA-containing eye drops enhances the treatment of DED, at least with respect to subjective measurements. Further assessments will have to be done to prove and explain this observation in terms of measurable parameters, e.g., markers for inflammatory cytokines.

Development and characterization of a new active and intelligent packaging system based on soluble soybean polysaccharide-Malva sylvestris extract.

This work aimed to develop an active and intelligent film based on soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS)/Malva sylvestris extract (MSE) to extend the shelf life of foodstuff and detect indirectly the food spoilage. The influence of MSE content on physico-mechanical properties, biological activity, and pH sensitivity of the SSPS-based films was examined. When the MSE concentration increased from 0 to 6% (w/w), water solubility and water vapor permeability of the films decreased (p ˂ 0.05). Clear antioxidant and antibacterial capacities were observed for SSPS films incorporated with different concentrations of MSE. SSPS/MSE films could sense the pH variation in a pH range of 7 to 8. SSPS/MSE film was used to detect the spoilage of shrimp and showed a pH-sensitive highly distinctive color variation from grey to dark green as the shrimp's quality altered. Overall, SSPS/MSE film can be introduced as a promising candidate for application as active and intelligent packaging.

Malva sylvestris, a new host of Puccinia modiolae in Korea.

Malva sylvestris (Malvaceae), known as common mallow, is native to Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. It was intentionally introduced to Korea as an ornamental plant in the early 20th century, and has become partly naturalized in several areas including the woods (Jung et al. 2017). Among nine microcylic Puccinia species attacking the Malvaceae plants, three species of P. heterospora, P. malvacearum, and P. modiolae have been reported on M. sylvestris (Classen et al. 2000, Colenso 1885, McKenzie 1998 and Melo et al. 2012). Only P. modiolae has been found on Alcea rosea and M. verticillata, and not M. sylvestris in Korea (Lee et al. 2022; Ryu et al. 2022). In August 2022, rust disease symptoms of a Puccinia fungus were observed on some overgrown seedlings of M. sylvestris, which were neglected in containers after sales at a wholesale nursery (36°50'19.8″N, 128°55'28.7″E) in Bonghwa, Korea. Typical rust spots were observed around 60% (on 111 seedlings of the 186 seedlings of M. sylvestris). The brown spots were produced on round chlorotic haloes on the adaxial leaf surface, and brown to dark brown pustules on the abaxial. Subepidermal spermogonia on the adaxial, were obovoid, and 112.1-160.0 × 88.7-149.3 µm in size. Telia were golden-brown to dark brown, round, mostly grouped, and 0.30-0.72 mm in diameter, and mainly hypophyllus. Fusoid teliospores were two-celled, rarely one- or three-celled, 36.2-92.3 × 10.6-19.3 µm in size, with many anomalies appearing notched at apex; wall was yellowish or almost colorless, smooth, 1.0-2.6 µm thick at the sides, and up to 6.8 µm thick at the apex; pedicel was hyaline, thick wall, persistent, and (39.3-)60.4-154.6(-189.9) µm long. Based on these morphological features together with the results of the phylogenetic analyses (e-Xtra 2) using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and partial large subunit (LSU) sequences according to the method described by Ryu et al. (2022), the fungus was identified as an autoecious P. modiolae, recently reported on M. verticillate and A. rosea in Korea (Lee et al. 2022; Ryu et al. 2022). A representative sample was deposited in the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency Herbarium (PQK220818). Pathogenicity tests were done using three host plants: M. sylvestris, M. verticillate and A. rosea. Three to four leaf discs with basidiospore-bearing telia were placed on the upper surfaces of healthy young leaves of the seedlings. Three replicates of each host plant set including an untreated control were tested. The plants were kept in an isolated glass house. At ten to twelve days after inoculation, typical telial spots of P. modiolae were recovered, but not in the control plants, showing all three tested species were highly susceptible (e-Xtra 1). The ITS and LSU sequences obtained from the genomic DNAs of each newly recovered rust spot were consistent with that of the inoculum (accession no. OQ542745). The previous A. rosea isolate (OP369290 by Ryu et al. 2022) also showed the pathogenesis on M. sylvestris and M. verticillata by the same tests, mentioned above (e-Xtra 1). To date, only one collection of P. modiolae on M. sylvestris has been reported in Louisiana, the United States (Aime and Abbasi 2018). The results of this study show that P. modiolae is firstly confirmed as the causal rust fungus of M. sylvestris and the same causal agent of M. verticillate and A. rosea rust disease, recently reported in Korea.

Effect of Malva neglecta and lactulose on survival of Lactobacillus fermentum and textural properties of synbiotic stirred yogurt.

Yogurt is a popular dairy product and its consumption has been progressively growing over the past few decades by raising consumers' health-consciousness. As yogurt is growing in popularity, manufacturers are continuously seeking for bioactive components such as probiotics and prebiotics, to produce functional yogurt with more beneficial health effects. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of Malva neglecta (MN, 0, 5, 10 and 15%) and lactulose (0, 1 and 2%) as prebiotic substances on survival of Lactobacillus fermentum in a half-fat synbiotic stirred yogurt. The results revealed that with increasing MN and lactulose concentrations, the count of Lb. fermentum significantly increased (p < 0.05). At the end of 21-day cold storage, the count of probiotics in yogurt sample having 2% lactulose and 10-15% MN significantly was higher than control (8.37-8.4 vs. 7.73 Log cfu/g). With increasing the amount of MN and lactulose, firmness and chewiness of yogurt samples decreased while adhesiveness increased (p < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy assessment shown that addition of MN and lactulose resulted in a higher moisture retention in the void spaces. The results revealed that by incorporating lactulose and MN in yogurt formulation, an appropriate synbiotic yogurt could be produced as a novel functional product.

Radioprotective effect of Malva sylvestris L. against radiation-induced liver, kidney and intestine damages in rat: A histopathological study.

Background: Ionizing radiation (IR) is widely used in the treatment of cancer in radiotherapy. One of the main concerns of patients with gastrointestinal cancers undergoing radiotherapy is the harmful side effects of IR on normal tissues. The liver, kidney, and duodenum are usually exposed to high doses of radiation in the treatment of some cancers in abdominal region radiotherapy. We aimed to assess the radioprotective effects of Malva sylvestris L. against IR damages to the abdominal region. Materials and methods: This current study was conducted on 45 rats divided randomly into nine groups of five: A) negative control group, B) sham group, C) irradiation group, D) mallow treatment-1(200gr/kg), E) mallow treatment-2(400gr/kg), F) mallow treatment-3(600gr/kg), G) mallow treatment-4(200gr/kg) plus irradiation, H) mallow treatment-5(400gr/kg) plus irradiation, I) mallow treatment-6(600gr/kg) plus irradiation. Irradiation was performed with a 6Gy x-ray. Histopathological evaluations were performed 10 days after irradiation. Results: The histopathological examination results confirmed that preventive therapy with the effective dose of mallow reduced the liver, kidney, and intestine damage induced by radiation. The dose of 400 mg/kg was more effective than other selected dose in improving the damage caused by irradiation in the studied tissues. Conclusion: This study concludes that Malva sylvestris L. contributed to significant improvements in radiation-induced histological parameters of the liver and kidney and, to a lesser extent, in the intestine. These results collectively indicate that mallow is an effective radioprotective agent.

Effects of glycerol and sorbitol on a novel biodegradable edible film based on Malva sylvestris flower gum.

There has been an increasing interest in the investigation of novel eco-friendly packaging materials. An edible film based on Malva sylvestris flower gum was fabricated with 40%, 50%, and 60% glycerol and sorbitol using casting method. FTIR analysis was applied to identify the functional groups of films with different concentrations of plasticizers. The lightness of the samples did not affect upon increasing the sorbitol and glycerol; nevertheless, the samples tended to be green and yellow. SEM images indicated that glycerol-based films enjoy heterogeneous and porous surfaces compared to the sorbitol-based samples. Although Tensile Strength and Young's Modulus characteristics declined considerably (p < .05) upon plasticizer addition, elongation at break increased by more than 10% in glycerol-based samples. A significant (p < .05) decrement was observed in the density of film strips via the addition of glycerol and sorbitol. Moisture content of films incorporated with both plasticizers saw a considerable improvement (p < .05) upon increasing the plasticizer concentration from 40% to 60% and is ascribed to the water-holding capacity of plasticizers. Water contact angle and water solubility increased via plasticizer supplementation, which is attributed to the hydrophilic characteristic of glycerol and sorbitol, are in line with SEM analysis.

The phytochemical profiling, pharmacological activities, and safety of malva sylvestris: a review.

Malva sylvestris is a plant commonly found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. The leaves and flowers of this plant have been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat various ailments such as cough, cold, diarrhoea, and constipation. Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were used to search for relevant material on the phytochemical profiling and pharmacologic activities of Malva sylvestris. The techniques used in phytochemical profiling and the pharmacologic activity of each compound were extracted from the included studies, including in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies. The phytochemical analysis of Malva sylvestris revealed that the leaves and flowers are the most commonly used parts of the plant and contain various bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, mucilages, terpenoids, phenol derivatives, coumarins, sterols, tannins, saponins, and alkaloids. These phytochemicals are responsible for the many pharmacological activities of Malva sylvestris, such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, laxative, antiproliferative and antioxidant properties. This review has presented an overview of the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities and the cytotoxic effects of Malva sylvestris on different types of cancer cells. It has also summarised the work on developing copper oxide nanoparticles using Malva sylvestris leaf extract and its potential use in food and medicine. This review aims to highlight the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and safety of Malva sylvestris.

Bioactivity and antidiabetic properties of Malva parviflora L. leaves extract and its nano-formulation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes is a drastic health problem resulting from an endocrine disorder. M. parviflora L. might represent an antioxidant-rich food source and thus applies to pharmaceutical and therapeutic applications in oxidative stress-related degenerative diseases. In the current work, we assessed the antidiabetic activity of M. parviflora L. leaves extract and its nano-formulation in rats. M. parviflora L. bioactivity was evaluated by both antioxidant and antimicrobial assays. The nano-formulation characteristics (Mass, TEM, and Zeta potential) were evaluated. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneally for only one dose (35 mg/kg body weight). All of the nutritional and biochemical parameters were statistically analyzed. The results showed that M. parviflora L. is rich in phenolics and flavonoids with high antioxidant action. The antifungal activity of the extract was evident, especially with Fusarium culmorum and aspergillus flavus. The extract and its nano-formulation have shown antidiabetic properties when tested on diabetic rats as they improved all the biochemical parameters; decreased glucose level in serum, increased insulin production, marked improvement in lipid profile, liver and kidney functions, and that was more proved with the histopathological examinations. Conclusively, M. parviflora L. extract and its nano-formulation could attenuate or effectively help in controlling diabetes through its therapeutic properties exhibited by the action of the plant antioxidant components.

The Phytochemical Profile and Biological Activity of Malva neglecta Wallr. in Surgically Induced Endometriosis Model in Rats.

Leaves and aerial parts of Malva neglecta Wallr. have been traditionally used in Anatolia for the treatment of pain, inflammation, hemorrhoids, renal stones, constipation, and infertility. This study investigated the effects of M. neglecta leaves in a rat endometriosis model. The dried plant material was extracted with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol, successively. Experimental endometriosis was surgically induced in six-week-old female, non-pregnant, Wistar albino rats by autotransplant of endometrial tissue to the abdominal wall. After twenty-eight days, rats were evaluated for a second laparotomy. Endometrial foci areas were assessed, and intraabdominal adhesions were scored. Rats were divided into five groups as control, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and aqueous extracts, as well as reference. At the end of the treatment, all rats were sacrificed and endometriotic foci areas and intraabdominal adhesions were re-evaluated and compared with the previous findings. Moreover, peritoneal fluid was collected to detect tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, and cDNA synthesis, and a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was done. The phytochemical content of the most active extract was determined using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Both endometrial volume and adhesion score decreased significantly in the group treated with methanol extract. In addition, significant decreases were observed in TNF-α, VEGF, and IL-6 levels in animals administered methanol extract. HPLC results showed that the activity caused by the methanol extract of M. neglecta was due to the polyphenols. Taken together, these novel findings indicate that M. neglecta may be a promising alternative for the treatment of endometriosis.

Optimization of process parameters for fabrication of electrospun nanofibers containing neomycin sulfate and Malva sylvestris extract for a better diabetic wound healing.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most concerning conditions, and its chronic consequences are almost always accompanied by infection, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Reducing excessive reactive oxygen species and the wound's inflammatory response is a necessary treatment during the acute inflammatory phase of diabetic wound healing. Malva sylvestris extract (MS) containing nanofibers containing neomycin sulfate (NS) were synthesized for this investigation, and their impact on the healing process of diabetic wounds was assessed. Using Design Expert, the electrospinning process for the fabrication of NS nanofibers (NS-NF) was adjusted for applied voltage (X1), the distance between the needle's tip and the collector (X2), and the feed rate (X3) for attaining desired entrapment efficacy [EE] and average nanofiber diameter (ND). The optimal formulation can be prepared with 19.11 kV of voltage, 20 cm of distance, and a flow rate of 0.502 mL/h utilizing the desirability approach. All the selected parameters and responses have their impact on drug delivery from nanofibers. In addition, M. sylvestris extracts have been added into the optimal formulation [MS-NS-NF] and assessed for their surface morphology, tensile strength, water absorption potential, and in vitro drug release studies. The NS and MS delivery from MS-NS-NF has been extended for more than 60 h. M. sylvestris-loaded nanofibers demonstrated superior antibacterial activity compared to plain NS nanofibers. The scaffolds featured a broad aspect and a highly linked porous fibrous network structure. Histomorphometry study and the in vitro scratch assay demonstrate the formulation's efficacy in treating diabetic wound healing. The cells treated with MS-NS-NF in vivo demonstrated that wound dressings successfully reduced both acute and chronic inflammations. To improve the healing of diabetic wounds, MS-NS-NF may be regarded as an appropriate candidate for wound dressing.

The Effect of Malva Sylvestris Cream on Episiotomy Pain and Healing: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Background: Episiotomy is one of the common procedures during childbirth in Iran, which causes pain, discomfort, and scar in the perineum. This study aimed to pursue the effect of Malva Sylvestris cream on episiotomy pain and healing. Methods: This study was a double-blinded randomized-controlled clinical trial that was conducted from April to December 2021 at the Sina hospital in Ahvaz, Iran. Sixty women were selected and randomly assigned to control and intervention groups using block randomization. The main outcomes included pain assessment and episiotomy wound healing that are assessed by the Visual analog scale (VAS), and perineal healing scale included redness, edema, ecchymosis/bruising, discharge, approximation (REEDA). The cream was used twice a day for up to 14 days. The participants were followed on the first, seventh, and fourteenth days postpartum. Independent T-test, Mann-Whitney, and Chi-square, and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) model were used by SPSS software version 22 for data analysis. Statistically significant level was considered less than 0.05. Results: There were no significant statistical differences between the two groups in demographic characteristics (P>0.05). No significant statistical differences were found in both groups in terms of perineal healing (B=-0.05; P=0.89) and pain scores (B=0.15; P=0.56). However, the chance of external dysuria in the intervention group decreased by 77% (P=0.01). Conclusion: Despite showing the positive effect of Malva Sylvestris extract on wound healing in animal and in-vitro studies, this clinical study failed to show the positive effect of this extract on wound healing and pain relief of episiotomy. However, future clinical trials are needed to substantiate the above findings.Trial Registration Number: IRCT20190826044621N1.

New Weed Hosts for Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus in Wild Mediterranean Vegetation.

Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV; genus, Tobamovirus, family, Virgaviridae) was first reported in 2015 infecting tomatoes grown under protected cropping in the Jordan Valley. Since then, ToBRFV has been detected in tomatoes grown in both protected and open fields across Jordan. The increased incidence of ToBRFV prompted this investigation of the potential role of natural weed hosts in the dissemination of ToBRFV. A survey was conducted in the Jordan Valley and highlands to determine possible reservoir hosts of ToBRFV in fields and greenhouse complexes in which tomatoes were grown. Detection of ToBRFV infection was made by double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) and further confirmation by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), followed by DNA cloning and sequencing, and bioassays. Thirty weed species belonging to twenty-six genera from sixteen families were tested. Twelve species belonging to eight families were infected of which ten species are newly reported hosts for ToBRFV. Seed transmission of ToBRFV in Solanum nigrum was confirmed in a grow-out experiment. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the natural occurrence of ToBRFV on weed hosts. Identification of natural reservoirs of ToBRFV can help to develop management practices focused on weed plant species to prevent ToBRFV transmission. The extent to which ToBRFV survives in diverse alternate weed host species outside tomato growing seasons in different world regions requires further research in order to establish the risk associated with the possible contribution of weeds as a reservoir for primary infections in tomato crops.

Self-Adhesive and Antioxidant Poly(vinylpyrrolidone)/Alginate-Based Bilayer Films Loaded with Malva sylvestris Extracts as Potential Skin Dressings.

Malva sylvestris (MS) is a medicinal herb known worldwide for its beneficial effects due to the several active molecules present in its leaves and flowers. These compounds have shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and thus can be helpful in treatments of burns and chronic wounds, characterized mainly by high levels of free radicals and impairments of the inflammatory response. In this work, we propose bilayer films as wound dressings, based on poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and sodium alginate loaded with M. sylvestris extracts from leaves and flowers and fabricated by combining solvent-casting and rod-coating methods. The top layer is produced in two different PVP/alginate ratios and loaded with the MS flowers' extract, while the bottom layer is composed of PVP and MS leaves' extract. The bilayers were characterized morphologically, chemically, and mechanically, while they showed superior self-adhesive properties on human skin compared to a commercial skin patch. The materials showed antioxidant activity, release of the bioactive compounds, and water uptake property. Moreover, the anthocyanin content of the flower extract provided the films with the ability to change color when immersed in buffers of different pH levels. In vitro tests using primary keratinocytes demonstrated the biocompatibility of the MS bilayer materials and their capacity to enhance the proliferation of the cells in a wound scratch model. Finally, the best performing MS bilayer sample with a PVP/alginate ratio of 70:30 was evaluated in mice models, showing suitable resorption properties and the capacity to reduce the level of inflammatory mediators in UVB-induced burns when applied to an open wound. These outcomes suggest that the fabricated bilayer films loaded with M. sylvestris extracts are promising formulations as active and multifunctional dressings for treating skin disorders.

Characterization of cinnamon essential oil and its application in Malva sylvestris seed mucilage edible coating to the enhancement of the microbiological, physicochemical and sensory properties of lamb meat during storage.

AIMS: Firstly, Cinnamomum zeylani essential oil (CZEO) was isolated and characterized. Secondly, CZEO was used in Malva sylvestris mucilage (MSM) coating and its antioxidant and antimicrobial effects on lamb meat slices were evaluated in 10 days at 4°C. METHODS AND RESULTS: The main chemical compounds and functional groups of the CZEO were identified and quantified by a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer and by an Fourier transform infrared spectrometer respectively. The total phenol and flavonoid contents of CZEO were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent-based and aluminium chloride methods respectively. Various microbiological, physicochemical analyses and sensory evaluations were also utilized regarding the coated lamb meat slices. CZEO contains benzyl benzoate (40.93%), caryophyllene oxide (26.07%) and (E)-cinnamaldehyde (13.01%), with strong radical scavenging activity and antibacterial effect against investigated pathogenic microorganisms. The CZEO-loaded MSM edible coating greatly postponed the growth of microorganisms and extended the product life (>10 days). The pH value, moisture content and hardness of the samples were also preserved more efficiently when high concentrations of the essential oil were incorporated into the edible coating (p < 0.05). The CZEO-rich MSM coating was also able to possess considerable activity against lipid oxidation in lamb meat samples, and significantly decreased the production of primary and secondary oxidation products (p < 0.05). Moreover, sensory parameters of the samples were preserved more efficiently during cold storage when the CZEO-enriched edible coating, particularly MSM + 2% CZEO was used. CONCLUSIONS: The use of edible coating based on MSM and CZEO is therefore effective in reducing microbial growth and chemical reactions in lamb meat during the storage period. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The importance of the results of this study is in order to increase the use of natural preservatives, maintain food safety and of course the health of the people in the community.

A network pharmacology approach to assess Reno-protective and -curative effects of methanolic extract of Malva neglecta Wallr in gentamicin induced renal toxicity rat model

Abstract The aim of present study was to explore protective and curative effects of Malve neglecta on kidneys. In silco study with network pharmacology was performed to find out potential target organs, genes and cellular cell lines which confirmed kidneys as target organ of phyto-constituents present in Malva neglecta extract. Gentamicin (40 mg/kg, i.p) was given to induce renal toxicity. Prophylactic study was performed with 300-, 600- and 900 mg/kg doses to find out nephro-protective and -curative effects and curative potential was evaluated at 900 mg/kg dose. Renal function biomarkers, blood urea, BUN, serum creatinine and uric acid, and oxidative stress measuring biomarkers, SOD, CAT, GSH and MDA levels in kidney homogenate were quantified at the end of study. Treatment groups showed decrease in blood urea, BUN, serum creatinine and uric acid levels dose dependently and curative group also showed decline in these biomarkers. SOD, CAT, GSH levels were increased and MDA level decreased in treatment groups significantly as compared to toxic control which revealed the role of oxidative stress in renal damage and anti-oxidant power of MN. Data suggested that use of MN along with drugs causing renal toxicity may prove beneficial due to its nephro- protective and curative effects.