Zahedan Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Volume:17 Issue: 7, Jul 2015

Melissa officinalis(lemon balm) which belongs to the Lamiaceae family is a known herb that has long been used in traditional medicine to treat many disorders, and several studies have been conducted to identify the plant and its healing properties. The purpose of this article is to review a series of studies on the effects of the herb extract on the function of various body organs. Due to its volatile organic compounds and active constituents such as terpenoids, flavonoids, quercetin, rutin, quercitrin, gallic acid and high antioxidant capacity, the extract of the plant can have a significant role in maintaining health and curing diseases. In this paper data have been collected from books and scientific papers published in the databases like Science Direct, Web Science, Scopus, EBSCO, Iran medex and PubMed. Search in the interval of the years 2006 to 2012 was carried out. To search for the key words Melissa officinalis, lemon balm, and balm mint were used. About 80 articles was reviewed and after rejection non-related or similar items, in the end about 50 the number was actually cited. Results indicate that the extract of the plant with its several antioxidant, anti- inflammatory, anti-pain, anti-spasmodic and anti-cancer properties as well as its cholinergic receptor activation have highly significant effects on improving behavioral symptoms, cognitive impairment, insomnia, anxiety, and stress. However, these studies have been vast and sparse, and doing more focused and extensive researches in this area is recommended.

Hydrazones belonging to azomethine class of compounds have attracted the attention of many chemists owing to their wide spectrum of pharmacological activity profile with structural flexibility and ligating behavior. We aimed to synthesize a potential ligand containing both, isonicotinoylhydrazide and 3-ethoxy-2-hydroxybenzilidine moieties, linked through azomethine group. In this descriptive study, a new ligand derived by the condensation of isonicotinoylhydrazide and 3-ethoxysalicylaldehyde have been synthesized. Ligand was characterized on the basis of various spectroscopic techniques like IR, 1H and 13C NMR studies, elemental analysis. The compound was subjected to antimicrobial and anti-tubercular activity screening using serial broth dilution method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is determined. The ligand was evaluated for its antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 9144) and Gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli ATCC 11303). New compound synthesized showed good biological activity against tested bacteria. Furthermore, ligand shows high levels of activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H37RV) in vitro. The elemental analysis, 1H and 13C NMR studies of ligand confirm the formation of title compound with the molecular formula C15H15N3O3. Ligand shows inhibition against mycobacterium at concentration 4 µg/mL. The schiff bases ligand was readily prepared for evaluation against M. tuberculosis in good yield. Compound show good activity in vitro.

The Iranian medicinal plants, such as Satureja bachtiarica have been utilized as traditional medicines by the indigenous people of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari in Iran. According to biologically active compounds and traditional use of the Satureja bachtiarica, seem that this plant has significant antimicrobial effects. In this experimental study, Satureja bachtiarica after extraction with watery, ethanol 96%, methanol 96% and 20% glycerin antimicrobial effect of extract were determined by “screening antimicrobial activity” and “disk agar diffusion test” in 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg/mL concentration of the extract against Streptococcus pyogenes PTCC 1447, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PTCC 1310 and Staphylococcus epidermidis PTCC 1435. Statistical analysis was carried out by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that all extracts were quite effective in 2 mg/mL concentration on S. pyogenes and S. epidermidis and were prevented from growth them on medium, while extracts have no certain antimicrobial effect on P. aeruginosa. In “disk agar diffusion method”, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg/mL aqueous, ethanol 96%, methanol 96% and 20% glycerin extract concentrations, was inhibited effect on S. pyogenes and S. epidermidis, but 40 mg/mL aqueous and 30 and 40 mg/mL ethanol, methanol and glycerin extract concentrations, has inhibited effect on P. aeruginosa prevent them growing. The results indicate that alcoholic and aqueous extracts of S. bachtiarica have the greatest effect on gram positive bacterium S. pyogenes. As a result aqueous and alcoholic extracts of S. bachtiarica, have been strong antimicrobial activity against many food pathogen bacteria.

Cyclophosphamide is an anticancer drug, which is used in chemotherapy. It causes alkylation of the DNA molecule. It is absorbed well by gastrointestinal tract and distributed extensively throughout the tissues and liquids of body. It also passes through the blood–brain barrier. It is turned into the active metabolites in liver and eventually excreted through the kidneys. In this study the effects of garlic (Allium sativum) on the side effects of this medicine has been studied. In this experimental study, the control group did not receive any kind of solvent or medicine, the sham group received solvent; the experimental groups I, II and III received 5 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide and 200, 400, 800 g/kg of hydro alcoholic garlic extracts each day. Fourth experimental group received 5 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide each day and the 5th experimental group received 800 g/kg of hydro alcoholic garlic extracts have been feed to animals and cyclophosphamide is used as injection in peritoneum during the 28 days of experimenting. The statistical evaluations on the amount of testosterone hormone serum in experimental groups I and IV shows meaningful changes at P ≤ 0.05 in reference to control group, and in experimental groups II and III a meaningful increase in reference to experimental group IV. The amount of FSH hormone also shows a meaningful increase in experimental groups I, II, III and V in reference to control groups and in experimental groups I, II, III, in reference to experimental group IV. The amount of LH hormone also shows a meaningful reduction in experimental group IV in reference to control group and in experimental group IV. It seems that compounds in the garlic controls the side destructive effects of cyclophosphamide and its metabolites and reduces the side effects of this medicine.

Emergence of bacterial resistance is critically an alarming situation in the health care industries. The medicinal plants have been used in the folk medicine to treat diseases without knowing their active compounds. The aim of present study was to screening the antibacterial activities of Withania somnifera leaf extract against antibiotic resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Patients and In this cross-sectional study, a total of 17 strains of S. aureus were isolated from hospitalized patients (Boo-Ali, Nabi-Akram and Imam-Ali hospitals, Zahedan, South-Eastern Iran) suffering from urinary tract infections during the years 2011 - 2012. The extract of W. somnifera obtained by rotary and the minimum inhibitory concentrations were investigated to characterize the antimicrobial activities of this extract. Overall, S. aureus showed resistance to 6 antibiotics including oxacillin (83.3%), ceftazidime (66.6%), penicillin (50%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazol (41.6%), cefixime (33.3%) and vancomycin (8.3%). The highest minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) values of extract were found to be 250 ppm against 12 strains and the least value was 63 ppm against 2 strains. Ethanol extract of W. somnifera leaf might be exploited as natural drug for the treatment of several infectious diseases caused by this pathogen.

Essences and extracts of herbs, possess a variety level of biological activities, in addition the antimicrobial activities of a large number of these have been proved. With regard to the biologically active compounds and traditional use of the Satureja bachtiarica, it seems that this plant has significant antimicrobial effects. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of S. bachtiarica against Enterobacter aerogenes, Bacillus subtilis and Listeria innocua of the important food pathogen. In this experimental study, antimicrobial effect of extracts was evaluated by two methods, Collins method and disk agar diffusion method on Enterobacter aerogenes ATTC 13048, Listeria innocua ATTC 33090 and Bacillus subtilis PTCC 1720. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) determined using a dilution method. Statistical analysis was carried out by analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique. All ethanolic extract concentrations had an inhibitory effect on the disk agar diffusion method. In Collins method ethanolic extract, prevented the growth of both strains on medium. The MBC of ethanolic extract of S. bachtiarica for B. subtilis and L. innocua was 16 and 32 mg/mL respectively, and for E. aerogenes was 64 mg/mL. But the MBC of aqueous extract of S. bachtiarica for B. subtilis and L. innocua was 32 and 64 mg/mL, respectively and for E. aerogenes was 128 mg/mL. The S. bachtiarica extract showed the more effective impact on the growth of B. subtilis PTCC 1720 and L. innocua ATTC 33090 than E. aerogenes ATTC 13048 (P < 0.05). The results indicated that ethanolic extract of S. bachtiarica had maximum effect on Gram positive bacteria B. subtilis PTCC 1720 and L. innocua ATTC 33090.

Manufacturing Gelatin nano-capsules merged with Ferula assa-foetida essential oil, antioxidant and antibacterial properties to produce drugs with properties targeted drug delivery to the body. In this study, we proved that gelatin nano-capsules grafted with F. assa-foetida essential oil have excellent physical, well as good antioxidant and antibacterial activity, which is suitable for producing nano-capsules of antioxidant antibacterial drug. In this experimental study, gelatinnano-capsules were prepared from gelatin solutions (10% w/v) containing F. assa-foetida essential oil (FAO) (2, 4, 6 and 8% w/w), glycerol (25% w/w) as plasticizer and glutaraldehyde (2% w/w) as cross-linker. The morphology, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the nano-capsules were achieved according to American Society for Testing and Materials. Gelatin nano-capsules exhibited low antioxidant activity while gelatin nano-capsules incorporated with FAO exhibited excellent antioxidant properties. The nano-capsules incorporated with FAO also exhibited excellent antibacterial properties against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. According to the results, gelatin nano-capsules are good nominations for a variety of antibiotic replacement industrial. The nano-capsules as well as due to the risk of bacterial resistance stay safe. The nano-capsules according to the origin of the whole plant do not have any negative effects on the body.

With respect to the emergence of susceptibility of some fungi to antifungal agents, making use of medicinal plants is progressing. The aim of this study was to verify the anti-fungal characteristics of mature and immature Cucumis melo fruit on Candida albicans. In this descriptive study, antifungal activity of aqueous, ethnolic and methanolic extracts of C. melo fruits were tested on C. albicans; also results were obtained by disc and well diffusion methods. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of mature C. melo fruit methanolic extract were 25 × 103 and 5 × 104 μg/mL, respectively. MIC and MFC of immature fruit methanolic extract was 25 × 103. For mature fruit ethanolic extract, MIC and MFC was 25 × 103 μg/mL and for immature C. melo fruit ethanolic extract MIC was 25 × 103 and MFC was 5 × 104 μg/mL. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) results showed that hexadecanoic acid was present in all of the extracts. The maximum size of inhibition zone for mature and immature methanolic extact in the disc method was 12 mm and in well method were 15 and 17 mm, respectively. In the disc method, for mature and immature ethanolic extracts maximum size of inhibition zones were 35 and 36 mm and in the well method, maximum size of inhibition zones for mature and immature ethanolic extracts were 28 and 15 mm, respectively. These results indicated that C. melo extracts contain compounds with therapeutic potential and anti-fungal characteristics against C. albicans.

Annatto dye is used extensively in food industry that has antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Aim of this paper was comparison of the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of annatto dye was extracted by conventional and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) methods. In this experimental study minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of annatto dye against the bacteria were determined by agar dilution method. Antioxidant activity of annatto dye was evaluated by DPPH method. Gram-positive bacteria show more sensitivity to annatto dye than Gram-negative bacteria. Annatto dye extracted by UAE has more antibacterial and antioxidant activity compared to conventional method. Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli have the highest and the lowest sensitivity to annatto dye, respectively. Annatto dye extracted by UAE showed a bactericidal effect against Salmonella enteritidis, however the dye extracted by conventional method the opposite is true.