Journal of Medicinal Herbs
Volume:8 Issue: 3, Autumn 2017

Extraction of natural antioxidant compounds has recently attracted the attention of researchers. Almond is one of the native products of  Iran, which annually during the process of production , large volumes of waste is achieved. The aim of this study is investigating the impact of two parameters (time and ethanol percentage) on the extraction of phenol and antioxidant compounds from almond shell optimization of these parameters using the RSM method. In this study, extraction process was assisted by ultrasound.

The fine powder was prepared from dried almond green shell. The powder was mixed with water- ethanol solvent in the ratio of 1:20 and exposed to ultrasound for a sufficient time at 35 °C. The tow variables of this study, eg the ethanol concentration (%) and time of extraction (each in 3 levels), were determined by the Design Expert software, and totally 13 experiments were performed for extraction. Afterwards, the concentration of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity were analysed by Folin-Ciocalteu and DPPH methods, respectively.

According to the results of the optimization, the optimal condition for extraction of maximum antioxidant compounds determined as 35.74 min, using a solvent contains 43.69 % of ethanol. In this condition, the antioxidant activity and concentration of phenolic compounds were 47.19 % and 0.917 (mg/mol) respectively. These results were confirmed by experimental analysis and it was shown that the model could well predict efficiency at the optimal point.

 This study showed that the green shell of almonds can be as a cheap and accessible source for extracting the compounds or antioxidant activities. Furthermore, we showed that the ultrasonic-assisted extraction is an efficient and quick method for extraction of antioxidant compounds.

The genus Satureja L. (Lamiaceae) includes 12 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plant in Iran. Satureja species have economic and medicinal importance because of their high essential oil content. In addition, they are used as culinary herbs and in the food, perfume and cosmetic industries. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sowing date and plant density on the quantity and quality yields of Satureja hortensis L. essential oils in Sari climatic condition.

A field experiment was conducted in Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources university by using of split-plot design in the base of randomized complete blocks with three replications in 2010. Main factors were three sowing dates (11 April, 22 April and 3 May) and sub factors were three plant density (15*35, 25*35 and 35*35cm). The plants were investigated in full flowering stage. Aerial parts of the plant were subjected to Hydro-distillation for 3 h using a Clevenger-type apparatus to produce essential oil. Chemical compositions of the essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Sowing date had significant effect on essential oils content and dry shoot yield. The result of mean comparison showed that first sowing date had highest essential oils content (2.15) and delay in sowing time increased dry shoot yield significantly(p<0.05). The dry shoot yield (3023.1 and 2663.9 kg/h) at third and second sowing times was the highest. Plant density and interaction of sowing date and plant density had no significant effect on dry shoot yield and essential oils content. The results indicated that the essential oil yield and main essential oil components (carvacrol, γ-terpinene, ρ-cymene, α-terpinene and camphene) were not affected by sowing date and plant density.

Dry shoot yield, essential oil and main constituents of the essential oils of Satureja hortensis L. can be increased with good management and choose of suitable solutions.

Since prior to any research on the drugs, it should be aware of its allergic dose, and considering the importance of hematological system, which reveals the changes in the body, in this study, we decided to investigate the hematologic effects of sumac plant and compare it with a chemical agent (levamisole). Therefore, in future studies, it will be used with confidence of its valuable properties especially antibacterial effects and may be replaced with some drugs, including levamisole.

In this study, 8 native breed dogs were tested for ten days. They were divided into four groups of two, which included the control group, the group receiving levamisole, the group receiving the sumac at a dose of 10 mg/kg, and the group receiving the sumac at a dose of 5 mg/kg. After the end of the period of sumac and levamisol powder administration, blood samples were taken and then the related tests were carried out.

Given that in most allergies and poisoning, there is an increase in eosinophils and basophils, as well as red blood cell lysis, and also decrease in hematocrit can be observed, and because no studies have been conducted so far on allergic factors such as eosinophils and basophils, there was no significant difference between treatment and control group (p>0.05) in the dose of sumac used in this study. So the lack of allergy to this plant is assured.

According to the same hematologic results of sumac plant and levamisole obtained in this study, it is possible to use the valuable properties of the sumac plant, especially the antimicrobial and immune plus effects in future studies, without worrying about allergic reactions and hematologic side effects at the dose specified in this study.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) includes species that have high drug and nutritional values. Considering the importance of the antioxidant enzyme system as an effective factor in increasing the resistance of plants to different environmental stresses, in this research, some biochemical properties of catalase and peroxidase enzymes of rosemary plants were investigated in three different situations.

Rosemary plant was kept at home after being prepared from the greenhouse. For live situation, leaves were extracted directly and for carved situations, they were first airborne for 10 days. For dried sample, plant leaves were exposed to air during 10 days at first and then were completely dried for 2 minutes with 100% microwave power. Extraction of all 3 samples was done separately. The catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) and peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) enzymes were extracted from the leaves using 0.1 pH phosphate buffer with pH 7.2.

According to results, the presence of an isoenzyme catalase with pH optimum 7 and three isoenzymes of peroxidase with optimum pH of 5 and 7 was confirmed in this plant by gel electrophoresis of Rosemary extract. In the enzyme peroxidase, the active isoenzymes in pH 5 were more resistant to temperature rising in the live plant compared to active isoenzyme at pH. Also, the catalase enzyme had higher resistance compared to peroxidase and its activity increased during stress.

This study showed that rosemary plant is an inexpensive and available source for the extraction of antioxidative compounds such as catalase and peroxidase enzymes. Also, this research with the gaining of more effective herbal ingredients can be of great help to the pharmaceutical industry.

The use of anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory drugs in clinical medicine is necessary and unavoidable. Since the use of synthetic drugs is associated with numerous side effects, the application of complementary therapies such as herbal medicine can accompany with less side effects while having anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Satureja bachtiarica contains different active compounds such as Thymol, Para syman, Menton and Carvacrol which may be involved in the control of nociception and/or inflammation.

 75 male mice (weighing 30 -20 g) were divided to 15 groups. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of hydroalcoholic Satureja bachtiarica extract at doses of 400, 600, 800 mg/kg were evaluated by writhing, formalin and xylene tests. Morphine (10 mg /kg) and dexamethasone (10 mg/kg) were considered as positive controls in analgesic and anti-inflammatory tests, respectively.

Different doses of hydroalcoholic extract of Satureja bachtiarica significantly reduced pain in comparison to control groups, however, the anti-inflammatory effect of this drug evaluated by xylene test, has not been established which needs further examination through other tests. 

According to present results, the analgesic effect of Satureja bachtiarica was comparable to morphine. However, it seems that further research is needed in the future to take advantage of this plant in relieving pain.

Nowadays, medicinal plants play a special role in the health and well-being of the community and they are always at the forefront of scientific and research centers. Traditional medicine and ethnobotany are two of the topics of interest in many countries in the world, including Iran which obtain from indigenous people in a region. Iran with a long historical, cultural and geographical diversity can be the origin suitable for such studies. The present study aims to collect, identify and Ethnobutanical study of medicinal plants of Sajasrood area and their traditional uses have been implemented.

In this study, which is a qualitative research in the field of ethnobotany, qualitative techniques for data collection was used such as an unstructured interview and participatory observation and some information including time of collection, ecological distribution, local name, therapeutic properties, method of use, and medication usage for plants were recorded.

A total of 52 drug species belonging to 22 families were identified in the region. The highest number of species belongs to the Lamiaceae family with 11 species and the Asteraceae family with 7 species. The highest local application was also reported to gastrointestinal diseases treatment.

It seems that ethnobotanical studies of plants are essential for herbal therapy and Iran has the potential to develop this field in medicine. Also, due to limitations in domestic resources, development of employment plans based on the cultivation and development of medicinal plants compatible with the ecological conditions of the area can be a good way to maintain resources.

Natural compounds can prolong the shelf life of food by inhibiting the growth of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Sheng and Ziziphora alcoholic extracts (at concentrations of 500, 1000 and 1500 ppm) on physico chemical properties and microbial quality of yogurt.

The sterilized extracts of the above plants were added to the yoghurt formulations in concentrations of 500, 1000 and 1500 ppm under sterile conditions. After inoculation, the inoculated milk was incubated at 45 ° C to reach 4 pH for approximately 3 hours. After reaching the desired pH, the yoghurts are cooled to a temperature of 6 ° C and then, at the same temperature were stored in order to undergo a secondary course of acidifying and producing aromatic compounds. After that, the physicochemical and microbial properties of yogurt were evaluated for 20 days on days 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20.

Results showed thataddition of Sheng extract can control the acidity in yogurt and prevent yogurt from getting sour over time. It was found that the best concentration of Sheng extract for controlling acidity in yogurt and preventing it from being sourded over time was 1500 ppm. Adding both extracts did not have a negative effect on the viscosity of yogurt. In the case of sheng concentration of 1500 and Ziziphora with a concentration of 500 ppm, were more effective on viscosity over storage time. Also, adding both Shang and Ziziphora extracts at a concentration of 1500 ppm increased the shelf life of yogurt by reducing the growth of molds and yeasts.

With the addition of alcoholic extract of Sheng and Ziziphora herbs to set yogurt, a product with a longer shelf life and expire time of more than 20 days can be produced.