Medicinal Plants in the Treatment of Hypertension: A Review.

Traditional medicine is a comprehensive term for ancient, culture-bound health care practices that existed before the use of science in health matters and has been used for centuries. Medicinal plants are used to treat patients with cardiovascular diseases, which may occur due to ailments of the heart and blood vessels and comprise heart attacks, cerebrovascular diseases, hypertension, and heart failure. Hypertension causes difficulty in the functioning of the heart and is involved in atherosclerosis, raising the risk of heart attack and stroke. Many drugs are available for managing these diseases, though common antihypertensive drugs are generally accompanied by many side effects. Medicinal herbs have several active substances with pharmacological and prophylactic properties that can be used in the treatment of hypertension. This review presents an overview of some medicinal plants that have been shown to have hypotensive or antihypertensive properties.

The Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Pistacia Lentiscus in a Rat Model of Colitis.

INTRODUCTION: The mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus), belonging to the Anacardiaceae family, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study aims to assay the anti-inflammatory effects of mastic in rats with colitis. METHODS: Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups of control, colitis without treatment, colitis with mastic (400 mg/kg/daily) administered orally or intra-rectally, colitis with prednisolone (5 mg/kg of body weight), and colitis with sesame oil for seven successive days. Treatment effects were evaluated by determining cytokines (TNFα, IL6) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, macroscopic scores, and histopathological parameters. The results of each group are compared with colitis without treatment group. RESULTS: After administering sesame oil, the MPO level was reduced significantly compared to colitis without the treatment group (P=0.025). The mastic oil (400 mg/kg orally) administration was effective in reducing colitis severity through the reduction in the total colitis index (p=0.046) after 7 days. The Intra-rectal administration of mastic decreased TNF-α significantly, similar to prednisolone and control groups compared to the colitis without treatment group (p=0.024). The IL-6 did not change in the mastic and sesame oil groups. CONCLUSION: According to our results, mastic and sesame oil have anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting that they could be used as natural sources to lessen the ulcerative colitis inflammation.

Correction to: Alginate-based hydrogels as drug delivery vehicles in cancer treatment and their applications in wound dressing and 3D bioprinting.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13036-020-0227-7.].

Alginate-based hydrogels as drug delivery vehicles in cancer treatment and their applications in wound dressing and 3D bioprinting.

Hydrogels are a three-dimensional and crosslinked network of hydrophilic polymers. They can absorb a large amount of water or biological fluids, which leads to their swelling while maintaining their 3D structure without dissolving (Zhu and Marchant, Expert Rev Med Devices 8:607-626, 2011). Among the numerous polymers which have been utilized for the preparation of the hydrogels, polysaccharides have gained more attention in the area of pharmaceutics; Sodium alginate is a non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable polysaccharide with several unique physicochemical properties for which has used as delivery vehicles for drugs (Kumar Giri et al., Curr Drug Deliv 9:539-555, 2012). Owing to their high-water content and resembling the natural soft tissue, hydrogels were studied a lot as a scaffold. The formation of hydrogels can occur by interactions of the anionic alginates with multivalent inorganic cations through a typical ionotropic gelation method. However, those applications require the control of some properties such as mechanical stiffness, swelling, degradation, cell attachment, and binding or release of bioactive molecules by using the chemical or physical modifications of the alginate hydrogel. In the current review, an overview of alginate hydrogels and their properties will be presented as well as the methods of producing alginate hydrogels. In the next section of the present review paper, the application of the alginate hydrogels will be defined as drug delivery vehicles for chemotherapeutic agents. The recent advances in the application of the alginate-based hydrogels will be describe later as a wound dressing and bioink in 3D bioprinting.

Therapeutic Effects of Hab Shabyar on Open-Angle Glaucoma: A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Open-angle glaucoma (OAG) is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. This study evaluates the therapeutic effects of hab shabyar in patients with open-angle glaucoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this clinical randomized controlled trial, 50 patients with OAG were randomized into two groups. The intervention group received a drop of timolol plus 500 mg of hab shabyar every 12 hours. The placebo group received a drop of timolol every 12 hours plus 500 mg of wheat germ as a placebo. The intraocular pressure in patients with OAG was measured in each group and compared before the intervention (t1), one month (t2), and two months (t3) after the intervention. RESULTS: The mean decrease in intraocular pressure for the right eye on three times in the intervention group was statistically significant, but the mean decrease in the placebo group was not significant. Similar results were obtained for the left eye at t1 when compared to t3. The intervention group patients expressed more satisfaction changes than the placebo group (P≤0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that consumption of timolol plus hab shabyar instead of consuming timolol alone was probably more effective for reducing intraocular pressure in patients with OAG.

Health Beneficial Effects of Moomiaii in Traditional Medicine.

Traditional medicine (TM) that developed over the years within various societies consists of medical experimental knowledge and practices, which apply natural methods and compounds for general wellness and healing. Moomiaii as a pale-brown to blackish-brown natural exudate is one of the natural compounds in traditional medicine that has been used over 3000 years in many countries of the world especially in India, China, Russia, Iran, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Kirgizstan. We reviewed all English-language studies about Moomiaii that we accessed them. In traditional medicine, many beneficial activities have been attributed to Moomiaii and to its main constituents, Humic acid and Fulvic acid, which are widely used to prevent and treatment of different diseases. Some modern scientific investigations showed that Moomiaii as a safe dietary supplement can be beneficial in various health complications. Even though the beneficial effects of Moomiaii have been confirmed in traditional and modern medicine, it seems that additional in-vitro/in-vivo studies and comprehensive clinical trials are necessary to explain the whole mechanisms of action and to determine the effective doses in various diseases. We discuss and clarify the claimed health beneficial effects of Moomiaii in some wide-spread diseases regarding its anti-ulcerogenic, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, antioxidative and anticancer properties.

Mummy Induces Apoptosis Through Inhibiting of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in Human Breast Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND: Mummy (Iranian pure shilajit) is a remedy with possessing anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer activities. This study aimed to examine mummy effects on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasiveness of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer (BC) cell lines with underlying its mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The dose-dependent inhibitory effect of the mummy on cell proliferation in vitro was determined using the MTT assay. Flow cytometry and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride staining were respectively used for quantitative and qualitative analysis of cellular apoptosis, and gene expression analysis was conducted using real-time PCR. RESULTS: MDA-MB-231 showed more sensitivity than the MCF-7 cell line to the anticancer activity of mummy, while mummy did not exhibit significant cell cytotoxicity against human normal cells (MCF-10A). The gene expression profile demonstrated a significant decrease in TGF-ß1, TGF-ßR1, TWIST1, NOTCH1, CTNNB1, SRC along with an increase in E-cadherin mRNA levels in mummy treated cells compared to the untreated control group (P≤0.05). CONCLUSION: Mummy triggers inhibition of EMT and metastasis in breast cancer cells mainly through the downregulation of TGFß1 activity, and more studies required to find its specific anticancer activity with details.

The Short-Term Effects of Pistacia Lentiscus Oil and Sesame Oil on Liver and Kidney Pathology of Rats and Human Cancer Cell Lines.

BACKGROUND: Vegetable oils recently have been evaluated in many tissues. Pistacia lentiscus (mastic) of the Anacardiaceae family and Sesamum indicum (sesame) of the Pedaliaceae family are conventionally used in the management of gastrointestinal, lung, and skin illnesses. This assay attempts to determine if the oral usage of mastic and sesame oils has any short-term toxic effects in vivo on the rat and evaluate the human anticancer effect in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one male Sprague-Dewley rats were assigned to three groups randomly: (A) control, (B) mastic oil (400 mg/kg), and (C) sesame oil (2cc/kg). The effects of these oils were investigated by determining histopathological and stereological parameters after six days, and the anticancer effects were evaluated on SW48, HepG2 human cell lines. RESULTS: A mild chronic interstitial inflammation was seen in just one kidney of mastic oil group (B) and the other ones were normal. In the sesame oil group (C), mild chronic interstitial inflammation was seen in six kidneys. In the liver samples of both groups, there were no specific pathological findings. Different concentrations of mastic oil (0.1%-5%) reduced the cell viability of SW48, HepG2, HEK293t, and human fat cells. CONCLUSION: Mastic and sesame oils have some side-effects on the kidney and might not be safe at high doses in rats. Sesame oil did not have any toxic effect on HepG2 and HEK293t human cancer cells. Mastic oil treatment has inhibited specific SW48 cells, so this oil seems to be a good adjuvant to chemotherapy in colon treatments.

Sericin alleviates restraint stress induced depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors via modulation of oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and apoptosis in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.

This study was aimed to examine the effects of sericin administration on restraint stress induced anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HIP) of mice. Animals were subjected to chronic restraint stress (3 h/day for 21 days) to induce a depressive-like model. Sericin was administered at different doses (100, 150, and 200 mg/kg/day, gavage for 21 days) along with immobilization. Elevated plus maze (EPM) and open field test (OFT) were performed to assess anxiety; while, the forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) were implemented to evaluate depressive-like behaviors. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and markers of oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis were evaluated in the PFC and HIP regions. Moreover, serum levels of corticosterone were measured. Results showed that sericin increased number of central entries in OFT and prolonged time spent in open arms of EPM apparatus, while it reduced immobility time in TST and FST. Moreover, sericin treatments decreased oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation levels, restored MMP, and enhanced total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and enzyme activity of GPx and SOD in both brain regions. Furthermore, sericin reduced serum corticosterone concentration and suppressed neuroinflammatory response in the HIP and PFC, shown by decreased NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1ß protein levels. Finally, sericin inhibited mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis pathway through down-regulation of Bax, cytochrome c, caspase-9 and -3, and up-regulation of Bcl-2 protein. These findings provide evidence for the protective effect of sericin therapy against psychopathological and behavioral changes induced by restraint stress.

Antidepressant Effects of a Persian Medicine Remedy on Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Double-Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS), an inflammatory neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system, is accompanied by some psychiatric disorders, one prominent example of which is depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a Persian herbal medicine treatment that contains Crocus sativus, Hypericum perforatum, Cinnamon verum, and Vitis vinifera on fatigue and sleep disorders in MS patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Persian medicine remedy containing C.sativus, H.perforatum, C.verum, and V.vinifera was tested for its ability to improve the symptoms of depression in MS patients. This randomized double-blind clinical study was performed among 52 patients with MS who were allocated to their respective research groups through blocked randomization. The patients were treated for 4 weeks with either the drug or the placebo. To quantify the symptoms of depression, Beck depression inventory (BDI) was used. RESULTS: Forty-six patients completed the study. In the course of the study, as the primary outcome, BDI decreased in the drug group (p =0.000) and the placebo group (p =0.001) significantly, but the rate of change in the drug group was significantly higher than in the placebo group (-13.9 ± 8.6 vs. -3.9 ± 4.3, p =0.000). While analyzing time and treatment effect for BDI, significant decreases in BDI were observed for the drug group, but not in the placebo group (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that Persian medicine remedy treatment in combination with chemical drugs may improve depression symptoms in MS patients. More investigations are needed to discover the exact mechanisms and processes involved.

In commemorating one thousandth anniversary of the Avicenna's Canon of Medicine: gastric headache, a forgotten clinical entity from the medieval Persia.

Although the connection between head and stomach and hence the condition known as "gastric headache" was well known to the ancients, it has received little attention since the early 20th century. Herein, we review the teachings of the medieval Persian physicians about the gastric headache along with the related signs, symptoms, types and causes. The medieval Persian scholars adopted the main ideas of the gastric headache from predecessors in the ancient Greece and Rome, added substantial sub-categories and details to the earlier descriptions and therapeutic options. The medieval Persian physicians' contributions to the concept of gastric headache influenced beyond doubt the later accounts of this condition.