Research Journal of Pharmacognosy
Volume:7 Issue: 4, Autumn 2020

Limnophila aromatica (Lam.) Merr., a characteristic odorous vegetable, is commonly used in Thai dishes and folk medicine. Limnophila aromatica essential oil has never been investigated on brain activities before. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of L. aromatica essential oil inhalation on brain wave activities through EEG recordings and emotional states among healthy volunteers using a randomized crossover design.

Limnophila aromatica essential oil was extracted from the aerial parts by hydro-distillation method and its chemical components were analyzed by GC/MS. The essential oil was diluted to 8% v/v with sweet almond oil. Twenty-four healthy participants aged between 18 and 25 years, recruited from general public, inhaled both L. aromatica essential oil and sweet almond oil with seven-day washout period. Nicolet EEG v32 was used to record brain activities and the self-evaluated questionnaire on emotional states in Thai version of The Geneva Emotion and Odor Scale was used to measure the subjective feelings of the participants. Data were analyzed using paired t-test with a significance level of 0.05.

Limnophila aromatica essential oil icreases theta and alpha wave and induced more relaxed feelings compared to the vehicle.

The inhalation of L. aromatica essential oil could cause the relaxing effects on positive mood states and the relaxation of brain state.

Burn injuries impose heavy costs on the healthcare systems. Since the available treatments for burn injuries are costly and have several complications, the present study aimed to compare the effects of an Iranian traditional medicine product in the form of a herbal ointment with silver sulfadiazine ointment on second-degree burn wounds.

In this single-blind randomized clinical trial, the patients were divided into two groups of herbal ointment (Rosa damascena, Solanum nigrum, and Malva sylvestris) and SSD ointment (control). They were evaluated in terms of improvement, wound closure, wound appearance, and intervention complications prior to the treatment, on the fourth day, and after 1-4 weeks.

Fifty three participants completed the trial (27 in herbal ointment and 26 in SSD group). The mean burn wound healing time was 11.58±5.36 and 16.80±5.60 days in the herbal and SSD groups, respectively, which showed a significant difference in this regard (p=0.001). Moreover, the wound closure percentage in the first two weeks was significantly higher in the herbal group compared to the SSD group (p <0.05). Also, wound appearance was better in the herbal ointment group in all the assessment times. No significant difference was observed between the herbal and SSD ointment regarding the treatment complications.

The herbal ointment containing Rosa damascena, Malva sylvestris, and Solanum nigrum showed more considerable effects on the second-degree burn wounds compared to the SSD ointment.

The primary etiology for gingivitis is dental plaque resulting in gum inflammation. Beside mechanical procedures, chemical agents in mouthwash can help in removal of plaques. Oil of Trachyspermum ammi rich in thymol may provide beneficial effect in control of gingivitis; therefore, the present study aimed to compare the effect of mouthwash containing the oil with chlorhexidine to control dental plaque and inflammation of gingivae.

Essential oil of the plant was analyzed using GC-MS and amount of thymol was assayed by GC method. Herbal mouthwash was prepared and applied in an open-label non-randomized study, adult female and male suffering of gingivitis (N=30) entered in two groups after oral prophylaxis. Examining for plaque index (PI), bleeding index (BI), and modified gingival index (MGI) were conducted after two weeks administration of the herbal mouthwash.

The herbal mouthwash was stable for two months with no physical change and microbial contamination (0.05).

The effect of T. ammi oil in control of inflammation was comparable with chlorhexidine, while chlorhexidine reduced risks of PI, BI, and MGI higher than those receiving the herbal mouthwash.

Inflammation is associated with various diseases; Prunus africana (Hook f.) is commonly used in Meru community of Kenya in management of inflammation. Medicinal plants contain phytochemicals associated with pharmacological activities; so, the aim of the present study was evaluating the anti-inflammatory activity of Prunus africana bark extract and qualitative analysis phytochemical of its phytochemicals.

Five hundred mg of the powdered P. africana stem bark was extracted using 1.5 liters of dichloromethane for 24 h. The anti- inflammatory activity was evaluated against carrageenan paw induced edema in mice. The ability of the extracts to suppress the paw inflammation was expressed as a percentage inhibition of paw edema in five groups each comprising of five mice. Group I was treated with DMSO, group II with diclofenac (100 mg/Kg) and experimental groups III, IV and V with 50, 100 and 150 mg/Kg of the plant extract. The ability of the extracts to suppress the paw inflammation was expressed as a percentage inhibition of paw edema in mice.  The qualitative phytochemical analysis was conducted using the standard protocols. 

The percentages paw edema inhibition after the 4th h in the positive control and the experimental groups I, II and III were 13.61, 32.85, 25.15 and 5.92%, respectively. The qualitative evaluation of stem bark extract illustrated presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, quinones, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, phenolics and coumarins.

Dichloromethane stem bark extract of the P. africana presented anti-inflammatory activity hence a possible candidate for extraction of active anti-inflammatory compounds.

Hemorrhoids is the most prevalent rectal disease. Despite different medical efforts, its complications are not managed well. In the present research, a popular prescription for treatment of hemorrhoids was formulated as tablet dosage form and, its HPTLC fingerprint prepared.

Commiphora mukul was dissolved in Allium ampeloprasum juice (1:3). Then, this solution was blended with Terminalia chebula, Phyllantus emblica and Terminalia bellirica (1:1:1) powder. Different formulations were prepared from the mixture and the best one was selected for tablet preparation. Subsequently, the tablets were coated and their physicochemical characteristics and fingerprint pattern were obtained using silica gel plate, NP/PEG reagent and toluene: ethyl acetate: formic acid (70:15:15) as mobile phase. Laboratory stability studies were carried out as well.

Formulation C revealed excellent results in flowability studies (angle of repose: 26, carr’s index: 6, hausner ratio: 1.00). It was also demonstrated acceptable results in different tests including weight variation (500 mg), hardness (8.04 kg/cm2), disintegration time (28.50 min), friability (0.6%), dissolution (97.6% phenolics and 96.1% tannins, respectively) and the coating process. Total phenolics and tannins contents were determined as 125.8 mg/tab and 89.2 mg/tab, respectively. In fingerprinting study, characteristic spots of each species were distinguished. The film-coated tablets were stable in laboratory stability test.

With reference to anti-inflammatory, astringent and wound healing roles of phenolics and tannins in hemorrhoids, the present tablets could be an appropriate candidate for hemorrhoids regarding its historical backgrounds.

 Diabetes is associated with a wide range of disorders including oxidative stress. Solanum melongena L.  possessesantioxidant compounds and was introduced as an antidiabetic herb in Asian traditional texts. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of S. melongena green cap on blood glucose and antioxidant status of liver in diabetic rats.  In this experimental study, the extract was prepared by maceration method and 42 male Wistar rats (190-220 g) were divided into 6 groups (n=7/groups) including: 1. Control; 2. diabetic groups receiving 1 mL distilled water daily; groups 3 and 4 of normal rats receiving 100 and 200 mg/kg extracts, respectively, and diabetic treated groups 5 and 6 with 100 and 200 mg/kg extract, respectively. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg). At the end of study, serum levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein, nitric oxide (NO) level and total antioxidant capacity (FRAP) were measured. Histological changes of liver were also assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Treatment of diabetic animals with the extract of S. melongena cap (100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly reduced serum levels of FBG, ALT, ALP, NO (p <0.001) and AST (p=0.017), while total protein (p <0.001) and FRAP (p=0.007) levels increased significantly. The extract also improved the liver tissue changes induced by diabetes. Solanum melongena cap is effective in improving liver complications and serum antioxidant status in diabetic rats.

The roots of Centaurea behen L., (Asteraceae) known as Radix Behen Albi are used as an aphrodisiac, anti-lithiasis and general tonic. It is available as dried or powdered roots in the herbal markets of Iran. Confirming the identity of this medicinal root using conventional methods is challenging because of lack of the diagnostic characters and market samples are easy to misidentify or adulterate.

This study aimed to authenticate 13 Radix Behen Albisamples purchased from different herbal markets in Iran and to identify the potential adulterants through DNA barcoding. Nuclear (nrITS) and plastid (trnL-F spacer, matK and rbcL) DNA regions were used as barcoding markers. A reference database was compiled using sequences from herbarium voucher specimens and publicly available sequences.

Among used barcode regions nrITS was the best marker for species identification followed by trnL-F spacer. MatK and rbcL were able to identify samples to the family level. This study showed that none of the market samples belonged to the authentic Centaurea behen L. Sixty-nine percent of samples were Cousinia spp. (Asteraceae), 23% Korshinskya spp. (Apiaceae) and 8% Crambe spp. (Brassicaceae). This substitution does not only hinder consumers obtain the desired medicinal effects of Radix Behen Albi but also raises concerns about the pharmacovigilance of this medicinal root sold in the markets.

The present study shows the need for monitoring and authentication of crude herbal drugs in the markets of Iran, and that DNA barcoding is a suitable tool for this purpose.

Anxiety is one of the most common diseases in human societies. Since Artemisia persica has a significant antioxidant capacity with phenolic compounds, and thesesubstances have anti-anxiety effect, the purpose of this research was to determine theAnti-anxiety like effects of Iranian Artemisia persica extract in male rats.

Artemisia persica hydroalcoholic extract was prepared by maceration method.  Animals were divided into 5 experimental groups. The first group was injected with normal saline. Groups 2 to 4 were injected with Artemisia persica extract at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg. The fifth group received 2.1 mg/kg of diazepam. The ability to maintain balance of the rates was measured using the rotarod device, anxiety was measured with elevated plus maze, and the motor activity was measured by the open field device. Antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde levels were also measured in brain and serum tissues.

Intraperitoneal injection of doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg of the extract increased the number of entering and presence time in the open arm of the plus maze. Doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg of the extract showed significant increase in antioxidant capacity and significant reduction in malondialdehyde levels. In these experiments, the dose of 400 mg/kg showed less effect and in somecases reversed the effects.

it seems that the anti-anxiety effect of Artemisia persica is dose dependent and increases by increasing the dose to 200 mg/kg; however, at higher dose (400 mg/kg) it shows pro-oxidant effects.

The second cause of death in the world and the third cause in Iran is cancer which requires special attention for treatment. The previous reports of Gypsophila genus show significant toxic effects on different cancer cell lines. In this study, bioassay-guided fractionation was applied to determine the cytotoxic activity of root and aerial parts extracts and fractions of Gypsophila ruscifolia

n-Hexane, chloroform, and methanol: H2O (8:2) extracts of root and aerial parts were prepared. Inhibition of cell growth determined by MTT assay in MCF-7, HT-29, A-549, and AGO-1522 cell lines. The most effective extract was fractionated by column chromatography. The cytotoxic effect of fractions was evaluated by MTT assay and apoptotic property of the cytotoxic fraction was determined by annexin V/PI assay in MCF-7 cell line.

The chloroform root extract of G. ruscifolia showed cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cells with IC50 value of 111.6 ±11.78 μg/mL. MTT assay of five of fractions demonstrated that F3 and F4 with IC50 values of 73.09 ±14.22 and 67.98 ±15.31 μg/mL on MCF-7 cell line, respectively showed cytotoxic effects. Also, F4 demonstrated apoptotic potential in MCF-7 cell line.

Considering the results of cytotoxicity and apoptosis studies, isolation and identification of responsible compounds in the chloroform root extract of Gypsophila ruscifolia can be useful in cancer research studies.

Bridelia ferruginea Benth , a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine  in Ivory Coast to treat many pathologies such as diabetes mellitus, is usually taken during a short or long period and its bark used as vegetables contains anti-nutritional factors.. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of the plant extract on food consumption and body weight in Wistar female and male rats.

The aqueous extract was prepared using the powder (100 g) of the stem bark of Bridelia ferruginea macerated in distilled water (1 Liter) during 24 hours. For the present study, thirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups of 8 animals each (8; 4/sex). The experiment was performed in 90 days, according the protocol described by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development guideline 408 for testing chemicals in sub chronic toxicity study in rodents. Food consumption and animal body weight were measured each day during the experiment period.

The food consumption decreased in female group compared to the male rats receiving the same treatment (p <0.05). During three months of measurement, decrease of food consumption was observed in all female rat groups (control and treated, p <0.001) compared to male groups having the same treatment. Weekly measures of body weight showed decrease in female rats compared to male groups receiving the same dose.

Bridelia ferruginea caused lower body weight and food consumption in female rats compared to the male that suggested female Wistar rats were more sensitive than male.