Journal of Herbmed Pharmacology
Volume:4 Issue: 2, Apr 2015

Asafoetida (Ferula asafoetida) an oleo-gum-resin belongs to the Apiaceae family which obtained from the living underground rhizome or tap roots of the plant. F. assa-foetida is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of variety of disorders. Asafoetida is used as a culinary spice and in folk medicine has been used to treat several diseases, including intestinal parasites, weak digestion, gastrointestinal disorders, asthma and influenza. A wide range of chemical compounds including sugars, sesquiterpene coumarins and polysulfides have been isolated from this plant. This oleo-gum-resin is known to possess antifungal, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic and antiviral activities. Several studies investigated the effects of F. asafoetida gum extract on the contractile responses induced by acetylcholine, methacholin, histamine and KCl on different smooth muscles. The present review summarizes the information regarding the relaxant effect of asafetida and its extracts on different smooth muscles and the possible mechanisms of this effect.

Today, medicinal plants are being widely used due to being natural, available, and cheaper than synthetic drugs and having minimum side effects. Since there were reports about the antibacterial properties of Solanum tuberosum (SE), the aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial effects of SE ethanol extract in vitro condition on Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae Ethanol extract of SE peel was prepared by maceration method. Initially, antibacterial activity of ethanol extract of SE was qualitatively determined by disk diffusion test; then, the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration were qualitatively determined by micro-dilution method. SE peel extract had antibacterial properties and its effect was more pronounced on gram-positive bacteria, especially S. aureus (0.62±0.00 mg/ml). The extract had antibacterial activity on gram-negative bacteria, P. aeruginosa, too (8.33±2.88 mg/ml). SE peel extract has antibacterial activity and its effect on gram-positive bacteria was more pronounced than the investigated gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, it is suggested that SE peel constituent compounds be determined and to determine the exact mechanism of its antibacterial properties, and more comprehensive research be done to apply it, clinically.

Over the centuries, the genus Euphorbia was known to be toxic to humans and animals. Recently, in a primary study significant suppressive activity against phytohemagglutinin activated T-cell proliferation has been reported from this plant. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of different parts of E. kopetdaghi against cancer cell lines. Filtration and in vacuo concentration resulted in a green gum which was subjected on silica gel CC (hexane/Acetone, 0???50) to several fractions: F1-F8. The inhibitory effects of obtained fractions with 5, 50, and 500 μg/ml concentrations were evaluated on proliferation and viability of cancer cells (OVCAR and EJ-138) in 48 hours treatment. Finally, cell viability was determined at a wavelength of 570 by 3-4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. Based on studies of microscopic observation and viability testing, F1, F2, F4, F5, F6, and F7 showed significant cytotoxic effect at concentration of 50 and 500 μg/ml against EJ-138 and OVCAR-3 cell lines. These fractions inhibited growth of EJ-138 and OVCAR-3 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Fraction of F8 induced tumor promotion significantly in EJ-138 and OVCAR-3 cells, respectively. Due to the inhibitory properties of E. kopetdaghi extract and its fractions on cancer cells of OVCAR3 and EJ-13, isolation, purification and identification of compounds presented in the fractions possessing cytotoxic effects are recommended which were the area of our future research.

The brain and liver are highly vulnerable to oxidative stress in embryo developmental periods. The levels of antioxidant in these tissues are correlated with the mother’s nutrition during pregnancy. The present study was conducted to assess the level of carotenoids in liver and brain following the injection of Rice Bran Oil (RBO) to the chicken embryo. The eggs were divided into three groups (n=10, for each group). 0.1 cc of RBO was injected into the chorioallantoic membrane and into the egg yolk on the day 4 of incubation. The experiment was terminated on the day 20 of incubation, then, the liver and brain sample tissues were collected. The carotenoids level was measured and compared in the groups. The levels of carotenoids of the eggs yolks in which RBO were injected in them were 0.31±0.08 and 1.2±0.08 (μg/g tissue) in brain and liver, respectively. These changes were significant as compared with control group (P<0.05). RBO exposed embryo significantly increased carotenoids level of liver and brain. Therefore, the result of this study confirms health benefit of RBO consumption during embryonic development.

Celery (Apium graveolens) belongs to the Umbelliferae family, and has a plenty of nutritional and pharmaceutical applications. The presence of phytoestrogenic compounds has been reported in this plant. These compounds may affect the pituitary-gonad axis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of hydro-alcoholic extracts of celery leaves on serum levels of testosterone, LH and FSH in male rats. In this experimental study, 32 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups, eight rats included in each. The control group did not receive any treatment. The placebo group received distilled water and the case groups received 200 and 300 mg/kg/B.W of hydro-alcoholic celery leaf extract for 20 consecutive days by oral administration. After completion of the treatment, the rats were anesthetized and blood sampling from their heart was carried out. Then, serum levels of testosterone, LH and FSH were measured using immunoassay methods. The obtained data were analyzed by the SPSS using the statistical ANOVA test. The level of LH in the case group receiving 200 mg/kg B.W of celery extract showed a significant decrease compared with the control and placebo groups (P<0.05). The level of FSH and testosterone in case groups did not show any significant difference in comparison with the control group (P>0.05). The result of the present study shows that in the administered dose, celery extract does not have any considerable side effect on the secretion of hormones in male rats.

Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) is a protozoan parasite causing trichomoniasis or trichomonal vaginitis. The infection is considered as non-viral sexually transmitted disease (STD). Metronidazole and Tinidazole are now the drugs of choice for the treatment of this infection. However, resistant to these drugs has also been reported. So it is necessary to search for effective alternative drugs with fewer side effects. Chaerophyllum macropodum (C. macropodum) plant have been used against some parasites. Therefore, in this study the effects of different extracts of this plant on T. vaginalis in culture media have been investigated. In this experimental study hydro-ethanol extracts of C. macropodum leaves were prepared. Anti-T. vaginalis activities of the extracts were tested in concentrations of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100 and 150 mg/ml following 24, 48 and 72 hours of incubation of cultured media. All extract concentrations showed some degrees of growth inhibition activity on T. vaginalis. However crude extract was more efficient. C. macropodum showed an anti-T. vaginalis activity. More investigations are recommended to use this plant as an antiparasitic drug.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is one of the malignant proliferations of lymphoid cells in the early stages of differentiation and accounts for ¾ of all cases of childhood leukemia. Available treatment cannot completely treat this disease. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a polyphenolic compounds in the green tea that has demonstrated to have anticancer and antimitotic properties. The purpose of the present study was the evaluation of the effect of EGCG on the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction in a lymphoblastic leukemia cell line. Jurkat cell line was cultured in standard condition and in different concentrations of EGCG (0-100 micromolar) for 24, 48 and 72 hours. Cell viability was measured by MTS assay. Apoptosis induction was assessed by annexin V-FITC and flow cytometry analysis. The MTS assay revealed that EGCG has decreased cell viability with a time and dose dependent manner. The level of cell apoptosis in all used concentrations of EGCG (50, 70 and 100 μm) was higher than control group (71%, 40% and 31% respectively vs. 8%) and reached to significant level at 100 μm concentration. The study indicated that EGCG is effective on proliferation inhibition and apoptotic induction in Jurkat lymphoblastic cell line. Therefore, the study of the mechanism of apoptosis induction could be a step of progress toward target therapy which might be considered in the future studies.