Journal of Medicinal Plants
Volume:3 Issue: 12, 2004

AB-Boshghabi (Centella asiatica) from Apiaceae family, has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in Asiatic countries for hundreds of years.This plant is indigenous to the warmer regions of both hemispheres, including southeast Africa, Asia, Srilanka, the Pacific Islands, Madagascar, Eastern South America, Venezuela, Columbia.It is especially abundant in the swampy areas of India, Iran (around the Anzali lagoon), and Pakistan, Upto an altitude of approximately 700m.This hygrophyte plant is considered as a “vulnerable species” in the Red data book of plant species of Iran. This valuable hygrophyte species has a definitely exclusive habitat around the Anzali lagoon.The major principles are the triterpenes asiatic acid and madecassic acid, and their derived triterpene ester glycosides, asiaticoside and madecassoside.The major clinical indications for the use of centella asiatica in human include the treatment of wounds, venous insufficiency of the limbs, Certain mycobacterial infections and cellulitus. In the present article, we review mainly medicinal aspect of Centella asiatica that hitherto has not received much attention.

Cleome belongs to Capparidaceae family which are annual or perenial forbs and or shrubs, often with bottomnal coverage. Research in other parts of world has determined that some species of this plant such as C.drosiflolia, C.hirta, C.gynandropsis, C.chrysantha and C.gunandra and several other species have had antibacterial effects and or native people use some of these species as traditianal drugs. Considering that different species of Cleome have wild separation in Iran and little research have been done about them. Aerial parts of Cleome coluteoides was collected from North East of Tehran (Khojir National Park), in June 2002 and was identified by Dr.Mozafarian. A voucher specimen has been deposited at the Herbarium of Research Institute of Forests and Ranglans (TARI), Tehran, Iran. Air-dried aerial parts at the plants were ground and subjected to hydrodistillation for 2h using a Clevenger-type apparatuse to give a yellew oil in (0.6% w/w) yield. Also some of the C. coluteoides was extracted with nonpolar solvent (n-hexan) and then the solvent was evaporated. The essential oil obtained from two methods were ananlysed through combination of GC (retention-indices) and GC/MS. The major components in essential oils of C. coluteoides In hydrodistillation Carvacrol (46.124%), Phethalic acid (10.682%) Heneicosane (5.382%) Solvent extraction Xylene (29.923%), Dodecane (14.435%) Essential oil obtained from extraction with water, has shown 46mm inhibitory effect on Bacilus cerius and 18mm effect on Staphilocucus ureus.

Drug addiction is destructive misfortune. At the present time we have over 1.2 million addicted people in Iran. So, proper and definite treatment must be noticed. Using the medical plants in ancientness like human life and thousand documents in medicinal history have valuable informations and expriments in this field.According to extant investigations, Trachyspermum copticum has numerous effects, such as antiseptic, expectorant, Spasm relaxation and useful in cholesteralemia. But in the belief of Iranian people, this plant is used for treatment of addiction. This project is the first investigation in the world that Iranian researchers evaluated the effect of trachyspermum copticum extract in treatment of morphine dependency. After preparing the trachyspermum copticum fruit from height of the mountain in KHozestan (between izeah and dehdaz), aqueous extract at different concentration (10%, 20%, 30%) was prepared by suckcele display. After the pilot study, 5 groups (50 rats) were dependent by subcotaneus injection with morphine. After insuring the animal dependency. First group has set as a testifire. Second group was affected with methadon treatment and other groups were treated by trachyspermum copticum at different concentration (10%, 20%, 30%). In all groups after naloxane injection by intraperitoneum injection, we studies morphine dependency that manifestated like diarrhea, weight loss and jumping. At 30% concentration, seven animals were deaed for the reason high concentration of extract. Data evaluation with ANOVA and LSD test showed that trachyspermum copticum is effective like methadone therapy to decrease withdrawal syndrome signs (p<0.05).

The prevalance of opioid addiction is releativly high in Iran. Since the mechanism (s) of opioid addiction are not clear, this social problem still remains unresolved. In the present study, the effects of water-alcohol extract of Papaver rhoeas on the acquisition and expression of morphine withdrawal in morphine-dependent N-MARI mice (20-25 g) were investigated. The animals became dependent to morphine and the extract of the Papaver Rhoeas was administered during and after induction of morphine dependence. Then, withdrawal syndroms were tested with naloxone (4 mg/kg) injection. Results showed that administration of naloxone after four days morphine treatment (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg), induced diarrhea and also increased the number of jumping in animals. The increase was significant for a dose of 50 mg/kg of morphine. On the other hand, administration of the plant extract (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) did not induce any changes in the feaces or number of jumping behaviour in the animals. Injection of the same extract (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) 30 min before morphine (50 mg/kg) administration, caused an increase in number of jumping but reduced the diarrhea in animals. Injection of the plant extract (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) on the test day, 30 min before naloxone administration also decreased the number of jumping and diarrhea in morphine-dependent animals. It could be concluded that the extract of Papaver rhoeas can amilorates the withdrawal syndrom in morphine-dependent mice. Therefore, the extract might be useful for treatment of withdrawal signs in opioid addicts.

The subacute toxicity of aqueous extract of Crocus sativus stigma and petal were studied in rats. Separate groups of animals were given daily intraperitoneal doses of aqueous extract of stigma (0.16, 0.32 and 0.48 g/kg) and petal (1.2, 2.4 and 3.6 g/kg) for two weeks. Blood samples and selected organs were prepared for biochemical, hematological and histopathological experiments. Significant reduction of RBC, HCT and Hb were recorded with all doses of two extracts. Stigma extract did not have any deleterious effect on organs. However, petal extract induced necrosis in liver and lung cells. The results indicated that petal and stigma extracts caused normochromic normocytic anemia and petal extract induced toxic effects on liver and lung.

In traditional medicine leaves of olive (Olea europaea L.) are used as a diuretic, hypotensive, antibacterial and antiatherosclerotic. In the present study, oral administration of 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5g/kg body wt. of the alcoholic extract of leaves of olive for 14 days on the level of glucose and insulin in healthy and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were evaluated. The results showed that oral administration of the alcoholic extract of olive exhibited a significant reduction in blood glucose and increased plasma insulin in diabetic rats. The extract didnot change the level of blood glucose and plasma insulin in healthy rats significantly. A comparison was made between the action of the alcoholic extract and a known antidiabetic drug, glibenclamide (600 g/kg body wt.). The hypoglycaemic effect of the extract was greater than that observed with glibenclamide.

Psyllium is a bulk-forming laxative and is high in both fiber and mucilage. The beneficial effect of dietary fiber in the management of type II diabetes has not been totally demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to determine the plasma- lowering effects of 5 g b.i.d. of psyllium husk fiber, as an adjunct to dietary therapy, on lipid and glucose levels, in Iranian patients with type II diabetes. Patients were randomly selected from an outpatient clinic of primary care to participate in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in which Plantago Psyllium or placebo was given in combination with a low fat diet. Forty-nine subjects were included in the study that were given diet counseling before and then followed an 8-week treatment period. Fasting plasma glucose was measured every 2 weeks, and total plasma cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, and insulin levels were measured every 4 weeks. Glycosylatd hemoglobin was also measured at the beginning and end of the treatment period. The test products (psyllium or placebo) were supplied to subjects in identically labeled foil packets containing a 5-g dose of product, to consume two doses per day (of 5 g each one), half an hour before breakfast and dinner. Both products were well tolerated, with no serious adverse events related to treatment reported in either. Some of the psyllium patients reported that their gastric tolerance to metformin became better. Fasting plasma glucose, and Glycosylated hemoglobin, showed a significant reduction (p < 0.05), whereas HDL cholesterol increased significantly (p < 0.05) following Psyllium treatment. Our results show that 5 g b.i.d. of Psyllium for persons with diabetes is safe, is well tolerated, and improves glycemic and lipid control in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypercholesterolemia.

In this study, the effect of Rosmarinus officinalis aerial parts essential oil was studied on intact memory and scopolamine-induced learning deficits in rats performing the Morris water maze task. The oil was injected intraperitoneally to rats 0.5 h before training for 5 consecutive days. During the training period, four trials were carried out each day. on the 5th day of the experiment, the locomotor activity was assesed using open field test. The oil at the doses of 125-250 mg/kg decreased the latency time to find the platform. The effect of the oil was also evaluated on hyoscine (0.5 mg/kg)-induced learning deficits in rats. The oil reduced the effect of hyoscine on memory. In the open field activity test, the oil at the doses 125-250 mg/kg did not change locomotor activity. The higher dose of rosemary (500 mg/kg) reduced the factors of open field test. The co-administration of oil with hyocine significantly compensated the reduction of locomotor activity in hyosine group alone. On the basis of these results, the R. officinalis aerial parts essential oil improved intact memory and the hyoscine impaired acquisition/performance activity. These agents can potentially be introduced as new drugs in the treatment of cognitive dysfunctions such as Alzheimer's disease.

In diabetic condition the oxygen free radical and reduced glutathione level are the important risk factor for cataract formation. The preventive effect of antioxidant and increased cellular glutathione level on cataract formation reported in experimental studies. However in present study silybum marianum seed extract (silymarin) due to its antioxidative property, increased cellular glutathione level and cellular membrane stabilizing properties was tested against development of galactose-induced cataract. Thirty male rats of 45 days old were divided in three groups and placed in same environmental condition. One group kept as healthy control, feed on normal rat chew, second group received 30% galactose diet, and third group received 30% galactose diet as well as silymarin orally in the dose of 200 mg/kg daily. Cataract development was observed by ophthalmoscope and necked eye in both the groups of animal during the 40 days of the study. The glutathione and lipid peroxides were determined after 20 days in one lens of all rats. Results indicate that in control group first stage of cataract development were observed after 7 to 9 days and fourth stage after 29 to 35 days. In silymarin treated group all stages of cataract development were significantly delayed as compared to control group. The first stage of cataract development were observed after 19 to 23 days and fourth stage after 37 to 43 days in only 60% of animals. These results indicate that silymarin retarded the process of cataract development in galactose-fed rats. In conclusion the preventive effect of silymarin on galactose induced cataract formation may be due to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, increased cellular glutathione level and membrane stabilizing properties of this herbal medicine.