Research Journal of Pharmacognosy
Volume:6 Issue: 4, Autumn 2019

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) oil has been introduced in Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) as an effective topical agent for urine dribbling. Additionally, the beneficial effects of garlic on prostatic proliferation have been revealed in recent studies. The purpose of this research was formulation of a topical ointment using garlic oil proposed by ITM and quality control of the product.

Garlic oil was prepared according to ITM instructions and analysed using GC/MS method. In order to formulate garlic ointment, several experimental formulations were examined. Microbial tests as well as physical assessments including thermal stability evaluation and study of rheological behaviour were performed on the final product.

GC/MS analysis of garlic oil showed the presence of dialyl trisulfide, one of the major organo-sulfur components of garlic. The herbal ointment containing garlic oil (70%), white petrolatum (23.7%) and white beeswax (6%), showed suitable physical properties as well as plastic tixotropic behaviour and was free of any microbial contamination.

Regarding the modern evidences about the beneficial effects of garlic and its sulphur compounds on improvement of BPH and prevention of prostate cancer, garlic ointment could be an appropriate candidate for studies in the field of prostate related diseases with respect to its traditional use in ITM.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver condition. On the other hand, coffee consumption has shown promising for gastrointestinal diseases.  Detection of the most valuable biomarkers of decaffeinated coffee treatment in healthy and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease conditions was the aim of the present study.

A previous proteomics study about effect of decaffeinated coffee (1.5 mL daily drinking coffee for two months) on protein expression change of rat liver was selected for protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis via Cytoscape v.3.7.1 and the related applications. The most central proteins with regards to a high degree and betweenness centralities in the coffee treatment condition of healthy and NAFLD were then analyzed by ClueGO for biological process (BP) derivation.

HSPA5, HSPA4, HSPA9, HSPA7, PARK7, HSP90AA1, P4HB, PRDX1, and PDIA3 were introduced as central proteins, which are involved in folding and antioxidant activities.

  There is a complicated combination of the components in coffee; some elements are involved in liver protection against NAFLD and the others are in contrast.

The present work aimed to evaluate the acute toxicity of Aeollanthus pubescens essential oil, whose antimicrobial activity has been proven in vitro by previous studies and to examine the effects of this essential oil on the biochemical parameters (transaminases ALT and AST, urea, creatinine and cholesterol) and hematological and histological factors in Wistar rats subjected to this volatile oil.

Nine male Wistar rats, 12 weeks old weighing more than 140 g were divided into three groups of three rats each; group one normal control rats; group two normal rats which received the extract of A. pubescens by gavage at a dosage of 2000 mg/kg of body weight and finally gropup three consisting of normal rats receiving the extract of A. pubescens by intramuscular injection at a dosage of 2000mg/kg body weight. The duration of the experiment was 14 days.

At the end of the study, the essential oil of A. pubescens did not cause any mortality in the experimental rats, which indicated that the extract did not exhibit acute toxicity at this dose. Biochemical and hematological analyses revealed no adverse effects (p>0.05) on the hepatic, renal, lipid and hematological parameters measured in these animals. Histological examination showed no alteration of the hepatic and renal structures.

This oil can be considered generally recognized as safe at the experimental dosage and can be used in the fight against pathologies of bacterial origin.

Plants are usually used for treatment of different diseases according to their traditional application. The use of the plant based medications is increasingly becoming popular all over the world. Traditional herbal medicines should be transformed into new forms to make better acceptance and more comfortable use by patients. The aim of the present study was to formulate a poly herbal gel based on Iranian traditional medicine (ITM), and determine its physicochemical characteristics.

The gel formulation consisted of Boswellia spp., Carum carvi L., Punica granatum L. and Myrtus communis L. extracts. The product was evaluated for the physicochemical parameters. The laboratory stability tests, microbiological tests and rheological behavior were performed on the gel. Additionally, total tannin content of the gel was measured as pyrogallol using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and hide powder.

Stability and physicochemical evaluations as well as microbiological tests showed that the prepared formulation was stable towards physical changes with no growth of pathogenic microorganisms. Moreover, it represented plastic behavior which is in favor of a topical product and alsototal tannins contents were determined to be 0.27 % in the gel.

The product was acceptable due to its physical characterisitcs and so appropriate for topical use. Regarding the antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties of the medicinal herbs in the gel and also, the role of tannins as astringent agents, this formulation could be a suitable candidate for abnormal vaginal discharge with regards to its traditional application in ITM.

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seeds have been a well-known oil crop in the world for many centuries. Lignans are functionally important compartments of sesame. Sesamin and sesamol are the main sesame lignans, which have recently shown various activities with health benefits, like anti-oxidative, anti-proliferative, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. The aim of this study was determination of sesamin and sesamol concentration in sesame seeds from three different regions of Iran with diverse climatic conditions (Dezful, Ardakan and Neka). In addition, the effect of roasting process on sesamin and sesamol content were investigated.

Analysis of sesamin and sesamol was performed using the mobile phase water: methanol (70:30) on a reversed phase ACE C18 with flow rate of 0.6 mL/min and UV detection at 290 nm.

HPLC analysis revealed that the highest content of sesamin (1.156±0.002 mg/g of seeds) and sesamol (2.393±0.002 mg/g of seeds) were observed in roasted Dezful seeds samples and hulled roasted Dezful sesame seeds, respectively. The amount of sesamin and sesamol in roasted seeds was higher than unroasted samples.

The present study showed that the roasting process and hot semi-arid climate increase the content of lignans in sesame seeds. Consuming sesame seeds with such characteristics will improve dietary lignan intake and has nutritive value. Moreover, sesame seed characterized by the highest amount of sesamin and sesamol is more strongly suggested for achieving biological properties of these components.

Menopause is associated with depression as well as emotional and memory disorders. Based on the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of pistachio, its effect on depression, cognitive function, anxiety and physical power in ovariectomized mice was investigated.

In the current study, fifty female mice were used. They were aliquoted into five groups: control, ovariectomy (OVX), ovariectomy + DMSO, ovariectomy +10 mg/kg pistachioextract and Ovariectomy +100 mg/kg pistachio extract. In order to prepare the required extract, pistachio nuts were powdered (100 g) and macerated in 1 L of ethanol (80%) for 72 h. Pistachio extract was used orally once a day in ovariectomized mice for sixty days. Anxiety, depression, working memory and physical power were evaluated by the Elevated plus-maze (EPM) test, Forced swimming test (FST), Y maze and swimming exhaustion test, respectively.

The results showed that extract of pistachio (more potentially at the dose of 100 mg/kg) decreased anxiety-like behaviors and depression; besides, increase in working memory and physical power was observed in the ovariectomized mice.

The findings of the current investigation suggest that pistachio extract could be used as a potential strategy for the attenuation of ovariectomy-related manifestation

People interest in traditional medicine has increased recently; however, traditional herbal medicines should be transformed into modern forms of medicine to increase patient acceptance. In this investigation, a polyherbal traditional combination “Monzej-e-balgham” has been based on according to Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) manuscripts and its quality control evaluations have been performed.

The main ingredients of the formulation including Vitis venifera L., Ficus carica L., Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Adiantum capillus-veneris L., Rosa damascena Herrm. and Onopordum acanthium L. were crushed, mixed and extracted with distilled water by decoction method. The mixture was used to prepare formulations of the syrup. Physicochemical, microbiological properties and rheological behavior of the syrup were studied and total phenolics content of the formulation was determined. The syrup was evaluated in accelerated stability test during 6 months.

The product was light brown semitransparent syrup with appropriate taste and odor. There was no cap locking and precipitation. Dry residue, sedimentation, pH, viscosity, density and total phenolics were found to be 14.82%, 0.015%, 5.40, 4.6 cP, 1.076 g/mL and 127.34 mg/100 mL, respectively. Microbial evaluations of syrupwere consistent with the WHO protocol. The rheogram of the product represented the Newtonian behavior. In the accelerated stability tests, no significant changes were observed. Total phenolics content reduced to 2.50% within 6 months in 40 ºC.

The outcome of this research was a pharmaceutical standardized formulation from the traditional “Monzej-e-balgham” which supports the idea of drug discovery based on traditional knowledge.

Tragopogon graminifolius DC. is widely used in Iranian traditional medicine as a gastro-protective and wound healer agent.  In the present study the hepatoprotective property of T. graminifolius DC. aqueous extract (TGAE) was investigated against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatocellular injury in mice.

  Fifty male mice were divided into five groups (n=10). Group 1 (control) received 1 ml/kg olive oil intraperitoneally (i.p.) and distilled water orally; Group 2 (untreated) received CCl4 (50% in olive oil, 1 ml/kg; i.p.); Groups 3, 4 and 5 received CCl4 and 30, 90 and 270 mg/kg of TGAE (TGAE30, TGAE90 and TGAE270), respectively. At the end of the 45-day treatment, the mice of all groups were euthanized, then blood and liver samples were collected for biochemical and histological parameters analysis. The data was analyzed by one way variance analysis and Duncan’s test using SPSS 21.

  Different doses of TGAE (especially TGAE270) could significantly (p≤0.05) reduce the raised levels of ALP, AST, ALT, Cholesterol, LDL and increased HDL, SOD, CAT as compared to the untreated group. The weight and volume of the hepatic structures decreased significantly (p≤0.05) in several doses of TGAE (especially TGAE270) when compared to the untreated group.

The results of the present study showed that under the present experimental conditions, TGAE indicated hepatoprotective abilities against CCl4 induced liver damage in mice.

The aerial parts of Artemisia marschalliana Sprengel as an indigenous species of genus Artemisia in the East Azerbaijan province of Iran, was subjected to phytochemical analysis, as well asanti-proliferative, free-radical-scavenging and anti-malarialactivities.

The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from the aerial parts of A. marschalliana was analyzed by GC/MS (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) and GC/FID (gas chromatography/ flame ionization detector). The anti-proliferative, anti-oxidant, and anti-malarial activities of the essential oil were assessed by MTT, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and cell-free β-hematin formation assays, respectively.

A total of 38 constituents were identified, which represented 95.55% of the oil. The essential oil was characterized by a high content of oxygenated sesquiterpenes. The major components of the oil were spathulenol (38.25%), isoaromadendrene epoxide (8.5%), and caryophyllene oxide (7.31%). The oil exhibited cytotoxic activity against the human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cell line. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of anti-malarial assay was 0.38±0.04 mg/mL; the oil, however, displayed low anti-oxidant activity.

These findings will be beneficial for the further development of new chemotherapeutic or anti-malarial agents.

Physalis, the fifth largest genus of the Solanaceae family, consists many species which are used as food and natural remedies. Phytochemical investigations on Physalis species have led to characterization of important secondary metabolites such as withaphysalins, physalins and phytosterols which are responsible for wide range of pharmacological effects such as potent cytotoxic activity against various type of human cancer cell lines, immunomodulatory and cancer chemopreventive effects. Theyare widely used in the indigenous system of medicine for treatment of kidney and urinary disorders, leishmaniasis, inflammations, skin infections and etc. Based on Iranian traditional medicine texts, Physalis is effective for treatment of several disorders such as asthma, liver, kidney and bladder dysfunctions, wounds, hemorrhoids, and helminthic diseases. Based on recent surveys, many of the above properties have not been investigated so far except the for the healing effects on liver dysfunction. This review might be a starting point for the development of the new therapeutic applications and more investigations on Physalis species in the future.