Journal of Medicinal Herbs
Volume:6 Issue: 2, Summer 2015

By increasing resistance of fish pathogens to chemical drugs, using herbal plants with antimicrobial properties is necessary.In this study, the composition of the essential oil and antimicrobial activity of aerial parts of Achillea wilhelmsii C.Koch growing wild in Zagross mountain (Southwest of Iran) was analyzed against common bacterial and fungal pathogens of fish. Experimental: In the present study, aerial parts of A. Wilhelmsii were tested against five bacterial strains including Streptococcus iniae, Yersinia ruckeri, Vibrio angularum, Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and four pathogenic fungi namely Saprolegnia sp., Fusarium solani, Candida albicansand Aspergillus flavus. Also, the oil constituents of A. Wilhelmsii were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The major composition of the essential oil of A. Wilhelmsii was 1.8-cineol (25.2%), Camphor (18.9%), Linalool (6.9%), Borneol (5.7%) and Artemisia alcohol (4.3). All microorganisms showed more sensitivity to essential oil of A. Wilhelmsii than the control antibiotics. Maximum antibacterial and antifungal activity was observed against Y. ruckeri (25.4 mm)and C. albicans (25 mm) respectively, while S. iniae (16.4 mm)and A. flavus (14 mm)exhibited the least sensitivity. In addition, MIC test showed that minimum concentrations of the essential oil ranged from 125 to 800 μg/l were able to inhibit the growth of the selected bacterial and fungal pathogens. Industrial and practical recommendations: The results showed that the essential oil of A. Wilhelmsii could be a potential source of new and effective antibacterial components in aquaculture industry. Although, more study needed to purify, fractional and characterize various antimicrobial compounds from the essential oil of A. Wilhelmsii.

Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) is one of the most popular medicinal plants used in traditional medicine with antibacterial and antioxidant properties. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of marshmallow extract (Althaea officinalis L.) administration on blood cells and biochemical parameters of carp liver. Experimental: 150 carp (weighing 37.65 ± 4.40 g) were fed with diets containing 0.0 (control diet), 2.5, 5, and 10 g marshmallow extract for 60 days. Then, red blood cell indices (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCH), white blood cells differential count and biochemical parameters of liver such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured on days 30 and 60 of the experiment. On days 30 and 60 of the experiment, red blood cell indices (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCH), white blood cells differential count and biochemical parameters of liver such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured. On day 60, no significant difference was found (p>0.05) in RBC, Hb, Htc, MCV, MCH count, number of neutrophils, basophils, and eosophils in fish fed with different concentrations of marshmallow extract. Administration of marshmallow extract (5 g) significantly increased (p<0.05) WBC and lymphocytes on day 60. On the other hand, administration with 5 and 10 g of marshmallow extract decreased monocytes (p<0.05) on day 30. The significant increase was observed in AST, ALT, ALP and LDH levels in liver of fish fed with 10 g of marshmallow extract may be attributed to cytotoxicity, however 2.5 and 5 g of extract did not have adverse effects on liver enzymes. Industrial and practical recommendations: According to the results, it was concluded that preclinical administration of certain concentrations of marshmallow extract (2.5 and 5 g) was beneficial for carp.

Solenostemon monostachyus has remain invincible in Ibibio ethnomedicine for the management of numerous ailment including diabetes mellitus. Many of these ethnomedicinal claims are yet to be pharmacologically verified. The purpose of this study therefore was to subject the extract/fractions of Solenostemon monostachyus used in folkloric management of diabetes to scientific assay. Experimental: The crude extract and fractions of S. monostachyus (75 -225 mg/kg) were evaluated for antidiabetic activity in alloxan – induced diabetic rats. The antidiabetic activity during acute and prolong studies were investigated. Glibenclamide, 10 mg/kg, was used as positive control. The Blood Glucose Level (BGL) was measured by using a glucometer and the various lipids level were estimated using Randox diagnostic kits. Treatment of alloxan diabetic rats with the extract/fractions caused a significant (P<0.001) reductions in BGL of the diabetic rats both in acute and prolong treatment (2 weeks). The activities of extract and fractions were comparable to that of glibenclamide in prolonged study. S. monostachyus treatment showed considerable lowering of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and an increase in HDL cholesterol in the treated diabetic group. Industrial and practical recommendations: These results suggest that the extract of S. monostachyus possesses antidiabetic and hypolipidaemic effect on alloxan-induced diabetic rats which can be exploited in the management of diabetes.

The genus Thymus L. belongs to the Lamiaceae family, consist of about 215 species of herbaceous perennials and small shrubs in the world. They originated from Mediterranean region. This genus is presented in Iranian flora by 14 species, including: T. daenensis, T. carmanicus, T. fallax, T. persicus, T. trautvetteri, T. migricus, T. kotschyanus, T. pubesens, T. nummularius, T. transcaspicus, T. eriocalyx, T. caucasicus, T. transcaucasicus, and T. fedtschenkoi. Thyme is an aromatic and medicinal herb that has been widely used in folk medicine, food preservatives and pharmaceutical preparations. Overall, this genus is one of the most popular plants throughout the entire world due to its volatile constituents. Thymol and carvacrol are the major compounds in most of the Thymus essential oils. The therapeutic potential of thyme rests on contents of thymol, carvacrol, flavonoids, eugenol, aliphatic phenols as well as luteolin, saponins, and tetra methoxylated flavones. The essential oil of thyme has antibacterial, antiseptic, antifungal, anti-parasitic and antioxidant activity.

Cadmium is an important industrial and environmental pollutant. Cadmium is one of the most toxic and carcinogenic heavy metals to organisms. This heavy metal mainly distributes to the liver and kidney in humans and animal and, causing acute hepatic injury. Experimental: The ethanol extract of Satureja hortensis L. (Lamiaceae family), was evaluated for its activity against cadmium–induced in male Wister rats (150 – 180 g). The ethanol extract of S. hortensis (100 and 200 mg/kg/day for six weeks) was examined on serum bicochemical and hepatic histopathological characteristic of rats subcutaneously received with cadmium chloride (CdCl2) at 3 mg/kg/day for six weeks. The biochemical results indicated that aspartate transminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) significantly increased in serum by cadmium–induced. The liver histopathological results revealed that the ethanol extract of S. hortensis treatment at 200 mg/kg/day significantly reduced toxicity by cadmium–induced. The ethanol extract of S. hortensis prevents the cadmium–induced lesions in hepatic function. Recommended applications/industries: Known antioxidant, antimicrobial, antihepatotoxic, nephroprotective potentials of the extract of S. hortensis may be the mechanisms by which this plant protects animals against experimentally cadmium–induced.

Elaeagnus angustifolia and Elaeagnus orientalis have a lot of medical utilization. In folk medicine, the fruit and flower of these plants are used as a tonic and antipyretic agent. The aim of the present study was to chemical analysis of volatile constituents of E. angustifolia and E. orientalis flowers.  Experimental: The essential oils of E. angustifolia and E. orientalis flowers collected from Zahedan in Sistan and Baluchestan province were obtained by hydro-distillation. Chemical composition of oils were determined by GC/MS.  12 compounds representing 100% were identified in the essential oil of E. angustifolia flowers in which Ethyl cinnamate (73.24%(, Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, ethenyl ester (6.94%(, Isobutyl cinnamate (4.74%), Palmitic acid (4.39%), Buthyl cinnamate (2.38%), Ethanol (2.24%) and Methyl 9,9- Dideutero- Octadecanoate (2.05%( were the major constituents. In the essential oil of E. orientalis flowers twelve constituents representing 100% were identified in which Ethyl cinnamate (84.80 %(, Ethanol (7.86%), Tetra hydrogeranyl acetone (2.18%) and Phenantrenol (1.26%) were the major ones. The results showed that there are some differences and similarities between the oil compositions of Elaeagnus species growing in the same weather conditions. Although the main component of the essential oils of Elaeagnusspecies was Ethyl cinnamate, but its relative content was higher in the oil of E. orientalis. The percentage of Ethanol in the oil of Elaeagnusspecies also was less than 10%. Moreover, although the Isobutyl cinnamate, Buthyl cinnamate and Methyl 9, 9- Dideutero- Octadecanoate compounds were the main component of the essential oil of E. angustifolia flowers, but these compounds were not identified in the essential oil of E. orientalis. Industrial and practical recommendations: The results of the present study showed that the E. angustifolia and E. orientalis flower oils can be utilized as cheap commercially sources to isolation Ethyl cinnamate. In addition, extraction of the identified components can be useful for medicinal uses.

The traditional knowledge about medicinal plants is the basic step in many drug productions. Traditional medicine and herbal drug have absorbed attraction of many world authorities. Using medicinal plants has developed in many countries even those with a vast use of chemical drugs. Ethno-botanical studies result in documentation of many useful plants. In these studies the main aim is to identify such plants and introduce their active and biologic ingredients. Iran is a proper case of ethno-botanical studies due to its different habitats and rich plant vegetation types. Nowadays using new medicinal plants components and optimized usage of rich natural resources is a necessity. Experimental: In present project medicinal plants of Sardasht with local importance have been collected and identified during 2011 & 2012 growth seasons. Careful uses of medicinal herbs were determined by interview with native people. Scientific names and local medicinal uses are mentioned. There were totally recognized 70 medicinal species of 29 families. Results of present study showed that local people mainly used Asteraceae and Apiaceae then Lamiaceae, Rosaceae and Fabaceae medicinal taxa. Medical plants in this region are mainly used to treat circulatory system problems such as Diabetics and blood lipid. Industrial and practical recommendations: According to results of this study, the preservation and conservation of some herbs species is essential.  This document can play a role in preserving the indigenous knowledge of using these plants.

  Changes in lifestyle, decrease in physical exercise along with incidence of obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases indicate a need for low calorie formulations. The sweetness of Stevia, a natural sweetener, is estimated to be 300 times as much as that of sugar. Extraction of stevia leaves is considered a promoter of calorie balance and a beneficial part of a healthy diet. Stevia is also used to treat diabetes, obesity, tooth decay, hypertension, exhaustion and depression. Experimental:  Regarding the aforementioned applications and critical role of sucrose in the creation of texture, color and taste, the replacement of sucrose is an important issue. Most researches indicate the fact that sugar-free products are not pleasant and acceptable; thus, the presence of sugar is inevitable i.e. in case of complete substitution, concurrent consumption of both sugar and stevia (different combinations) seemingly gives it more flavors and makes it the most demanded product. This article reviews effective parameters in sucrose substitution with stevia and the results obtained from it. Industrial and practical recommendations:  Its bitter aftertaste can diminish its consumption in food formulation; however, other flavoring agents and fillers can modify this problem. With regard to its high sweetness (300 times as much as sucrose), its consumption is low and thus it is economically justifiable. Using this sweetener in daily industries, fruit juices and confectioneries as a sucrose substitute is possible with respect to the research findings.