Journal of Medicinal Herbs
Volume:5 Issue: 4, Winter 2014

Antiplasmodial activity of leaf extract of Breynia nivosa was evaluated to ascertain the folkloric claim of its antimalarial activity. The crude leaf extract (75 – 225 mg/kg), of Breynia nivosa was investigated for antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei infections in mice. The antiplasmodial activity during early and established infections as well as prophylactic were investigated. Artesunate 5 mg/kg and pyrimethamine 1.2 mg/kg were used as positive controls. Thin films made from tail blood of each mouse were used to assess the level of parasitaemia of the mice. The extract dose-dependently reduced parasitaemia induced by chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei infection in prophylactic, suppressive and curative models in mice. These reductions were statistically significant (p<0.001). They also improved the mean survival time (MST) from 11 to 27 days relative to control control (p  The plant, Breynia nivosa, possesses antimalarial property which can be exploited in the treatment of malaria.

Smirnova iranica Sabeti is one of the valuable and adapted shrub species native to the sandy fields of Central Iran and of Fabaceae family that in terms of the production of forage and soil conservation and creating a beautiful landscape and medicinal value is critically important. No study has been conducted on this plant essence in Iran, so far.  In the habitat of the plant, located in Kashan sandy areas, during flowering in the third week of April, leaves were collected and after extraction of essential oils using simultaneous method of distillation and extraction using organic solvents, a chromatography device connected to a mass spectrometer (GC / MS) was used in order to identify the combinations of essential oils.  The essence yield was 0.04% and the color of essential oils was yellowish. The important and main combinations of essential oils were β-Ionone, dodecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid, Phytol and (Z, Z, Z) -9,12,15-Octadecatrien-1-ol which consisted more than 6 percent of the composition.  Hence, it can be concluded that Smirnova iranica  sabeti is a versatile plant found in sandy fields of Iran with medicinal, anti-virus, anti-cancer and anti-bacterial properties and is rich in vitamin A precursor.

The major teeth problems associated with adults are: Plaque, Tartar, Tooth decay, Gingivitis, Periodontal disease. There is a long and venerable history of the use of plants to improve dental health and promote oral hygiene. There are a number of traditional herbal remedies for the treatment and management of diseases related to teeth, gum and oral hygiene. Good oral hygiene is necessary for the healthy teeth, gum and fresh breath.This review explains the pharmacological potential of medicinal plants used for the treatment of various dental problems. A number of formulation and method are used in oral hygiene to prevent and cure oral diseases. But now day’s number of medicinal plants plays an important role in oral hygiene. This review provides recently available knowledge of plants and their part for dental science in the treatment of various disease of oral cavity.

Achillea (Fam. Asteraceae) is a medicinal plant and different species of it have several uses in the folk medicine all around the world. Achillea species are used for feverish conditions, common cold, digestive complaints, slow healing wounds and skin inflammations. This study aims to investigate the essential oil composition and antioxidant activities from the aerial parts of Achillea eriophora collected from Khash city in Sistan and Baluchestan province. Chemical composition of the essential oils was obtained by hydro-distillation method using a Clevenger type apparatus and analyzed by GC/MS. In the essential oil of Achillea eriophora 33 compounds representing 100%, were identified in which Camphor (21.55 %), Artemesia ketone (13.84%), Alpha-Thujone (11.85%), Borneole (8.94%), Yomogi alcohol (7.74%), 1,8-cineole (5.19%), Terpinene-4-ol (4.23%) and Myrtenol (3.10%) were the major constituents. In addition, the antioxidant activity of ethyl acetate and ethanolic extracts of Achillea eriophora was analyzed using the 1, 1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging. According to antioxidant activity outcomes, the amount of IC50 of ethyl acetate and ethanolic extracts of the aerial parts of Achillea eriophora and also butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT) as a standard was 245.20 ppm, 89.25 ppm and 45.58 ppm, respectively. Ultimately, it was highlighted that the antioxidant activity of ethyl acetate extract was weaker than ethanolic extract. The antioxidant activity of both of them were also weaker than BHT as a synthetic antioxidant. Some compounds like 1, 8-cineole and terpinen-4-ol can be responsible for antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, while Camphor and borneol have not been proven to be strong antioxidant agents as emphasized elsewhere.  The results of the present study showed that Achillea eriophora from Sistan and Baluchestan may be considered as source of natural antioxidant to be used in medicinal and food products to promote human health and prevent diseases.

Chorisia is an important Bombacaceous plant that is traditionally used for a variety of ailments. Due to its richness in several bioactive phytocompounds, some Chorisia species showed a wide range of important biological effects. Accordingly, the present work was undertaken to comparatively evaluate the antioxidant potential and effects on adipogenesis of Chorisia chodatii Hassl. and Chorisia speciosa A. St.-Hil. in relation to their phenolic contents.  Total polyphenol contents and free radical scavenging potentials of the total ethanol extracts of leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds of both species, in addition to four main fractions of their leaf and flower extracts, were evaluated using the Folin-Ciocalteu's method and the DPPH assay, respectively. Besides, their effects on adipogenesis were studied using the 3T3-L1 preadipocytes model. A phytochemical screening of their different phytoconstituents was also considered.  Total ethanol extracts along with their successive fractions of various parts of both species caused a concentration-dependent induction of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes differentiation, but with a noticeable reduction of the size of the lipid droplets at the lower concentrations 5 and 10 µg/ml. In addition, these extracts showed a strong evidence of their richness in free radical scavengers. The ethyl acetate, aqueous and chloroform fractions of different plant parts exhibited the greatest effects on adipogenesis, substantial free radical scavenging properties and the highest polyphenol contents, respectively. Results collectively revealed that the observed effects of both Chorisia species on adipogenesis as well as their anti-radical properties are positively related to their pool of flavonoids and other phenolics. They also suggest their potential value in obesity-related disorders and for prevention of free radical mediated diseases. Further studies for investigating the molecular basis of their effects on adipogenesis accompanied by detailed phytochemical analysis, especially of their polar and flavonoids-rich extracts, will also be strongly recommended.

Belongs to Rosaecea family, Rosa foetida is one the Persian native plants which has not been investigated biologically. As it is traditionally used topically as poultice to treat infectious skin burns, the present paper focused on the assessment of the antibacterial activities of different extracts of R. foetida flowers against the main cause of skin burn wounds infections, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antibacterial activity and MIC value determination were investigated by cup plate method and micro plate dilution method respectively. All R. foetid extracts had inhibition activity on the growth of P. aeruginosa of which the aqueous and methanol extracts exhibited the strongest activities. Inhibition zone diameter and MIC values of the concentration of 125 mg/ml of both extracts were found to be somehow the same as those of the standard drug, Imipenem/Cilastatin (8/8 μg/ml). Results demonstrated that the plant is effective against the standard and pathogenic strains of P. aeruginosa and could be a potential source of effective natural antibacterial compounds to be applied in further phytochemical and invivo biological studies.

Salvia officinalis is known as a traditional medicine for several diseases in countries like Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, etc. In addition, S. officinalis has been subjected to several studies in a try to specify its medicinal effects. This study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of this plant. The aim of the present research was to study antibacterial effects of S. officinalis on some bacteria.  Three solvent extracts (de-ionized distilled water, Acetone, and Ethanol) of the plant were investigated against Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus by using disc diffusion method.  Ethanol extracts showed moderate antimicrobial effect, while acetone extracts showed the most powerful antimicrobial effect, especially acetone leaves extracts. However, the de-ionized distilled water extracts showed no antimicrobial activity against the bacteria tested. The results indicate the inhibitory effects of acetone extract of S. officinalis with MIC= 10 mg/ml for B. anthracis and MIC=30 mg/ml for S. aureus. Gram-negative microorganisms presented larger sensitivity for the extracts. As a result, organic solvent extracts (especially acetone leaves extracts) of this plant can be used as natural antimicrobial product. Results are in the aid of the fact as the polarity of the solvent decreases the antimicrobial compounds, and hence activity of the extracts, increases. Salvia officinalis extract can be used as ointment for wound treatment. Science this extract has activity against B. anthracis we can introduce a new drug for B. anthracis.

When the level of free radicals is increased and also when both the enzymatic systems and low molecular antioxidants are not sufficient to protect the organism, it seems necessary to get antioxidants from external sources. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant potential of different parts of Catharantus roseus The antioxidant potential of ethanol extracts of roots, stems, leaves, flowers, seed pods and seeds of C. roseus  plant were measured based on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation by ferric thiocyanate (FTC), and malondialdehyde inhibition by thiobarbituric acid method (TBA) against the standards: Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and ascorbic acid.   The phenolic content in the root (61.61 ± 2.58 µg of gallic acid per mg of dried weight extract) according to Folin–Ciocalteu method were more than any other organs. In scavenging a half of DPPH• free radicals (IC50), the extract of root, seed, and leaf (238.9 ± 2.02, 253.78 ± 1.42, 277.95 ± 2.56 µg mL-1),respectively, had the best performance.  In the inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation, the root extract had the best inhibitory power after ascorbic acid and BHT, and the leaf and seed extract had the performance similar to BHA. The root (78.68 ± 0.54%), and seed (77.44 ± 0.66%) had the best performance in the inhibition of MDA compared with other extracts. Pearson correlation coefficients between the phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of extracts were high and equal to -0.838, 0.895, and 0.740, respectively, according to DPPH, FTC and TBA methods. The results of this study can be promising in the potential of other applications of the plant organ especially in the inhibition of free radicals and lipids' peroxidation.