Journal of Medicinal Plants
Volume:20 Issue: 78, Jun 2022

Ellagic acid, a major ellagitannin found in pomegranate extract, might be an attractive natural and safe bioactive compound for prevention of cardiac hypertrophy in many pathological conditions that are associated with elevated circulating angiotensin II (Ang II). Ang II stimulates multiple signal transduction pathways involved in hypertrophy including calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFAT).

The present study aimed to explore the possible anti-hypertrophic activity of ellagic acid against Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and the role of calcineurin/ NFAT signaling pathway in this action.

H9c2 myocardial cells were treated with different concentrations of ellagic acid one hour before exposure to Ang II. Biological markers of cardiac hypertrophy including changes in cell size and protein content, and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) protein expression were assessed using light microscopy, Bradford method and western blotting, respectively. The effects of ellagic acid on the protein expression of calcineurin and nuclear localization of NFATc4 were also investigated using western blotting and immunofluorescence assay, respectively.

The results showed that pretreatment with ellagic acid could efficiently prevent Ang II-induced hypertrophic response which was associated with changes in hypertrophy-related biomarkers including increase in cell size and protein content, and ANP overexpression. Moreover, ellagic acid inhibited Ang II-induced calcineurin up-regulation and nuclear localization of NFATc4.

In summary, our findings showed that ellagic acid effectively inhibited Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. This is the first report demonstrating the role of calcineurin/NFAT pathway inhibition in this protective effects. Future in vivo studies are required to elucidate if ellagic acid could ameliorate cardiac hypertrophy and its transition to heart failure.

Honey is one of the most valuable foods that used in human societies to treat many diseases due to its healing properties for centuries. The lack of an objective way to distinguish natural honey from counterfeit honey has strengthened the field of profiteering in this area and has led to the supply of counterfeit honey instead of natural honey. So honey quality must be controlled analytically with the aim of guaranteeing the reality and preserving the consumer from commercial speculation.

The present study was conducted to evaluate 24 samples of 9 commercial brands of honey in Tehran’s markets with number 1 to 9 (1-AB, 2-TF, 3-DP, 4-JK, 5-SN, 6-SK, 7-IM, 8-MD, and 9-MH). A number of physical, chemical, and biological parameters of the samples were evaluated.

Carbohydrate composition was determined by GC/Mass to evaluate the contents of fructose, glucose, and sucrose. 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfuraldehyde (HMF) was quantified by HPLC-UV and other physicochemical quality parameters including moisture, pH, proline content; and diastase activity were also evaluated according to the Codex Alimentarius.

Only 2 brands met all major international specifications. Although all the parameters of the other brands were conformed, the diastase activity was not in a specific range.

The diastasis activity is considered as the most important factor to evaluate honey quality based on the results of this study.

Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) seeds have a long history of treating allergic asthma known as “Rabv” in Persian medicine. The protective effects of fenugreek on asthma have been noted in Persian medicine texts.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of aqueous fenugreek seed extract (AFSE) on the reduction of Th2 cytokines via decreasing the levels of mRNA expression of Th2 cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).

28 female Balb/c mice were divided into four groups of seven animals. Negative and positive control groups received Phosphate-buffered saline and ovalbumin (OVA), respectively. The remaining two groups were firstly sensitized with OVA to induce asthma and then received Theophylline and AFSE. Thereafter, the mRNA expressions of Th2-type interleukins (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) and mucin5 as well as the concentrations of IL-5, IL-13, and IL-33 in BALF samples were measured and pathological alterations of lung tissues were analyzed.

AFSE treatment of Balb/c mice significantly decreased the number of eosinophils, the mRNA expressions of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and mucin5 and the concentrations of IL-5, IL-13, and IL-33 in their BALF specimens. It also considerably prevented peribronchial and perivascular inflammations, mucus hypersecretion, and goblet cell hyperplasia in lung tissues in comparison to OVA-sensitized mice.

The present study demonstrated that the aqueous fenugreek seeds extract could be an alternative medication for the treatment of allergic asthma.

Purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench, has long been used in herbal remedies to prevent and treat a wide range of diseases like common cold, simple cough, pulmonary infections, dermatologic disorder and chronic diseases due to immunodeficiency.

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of salicylic acid and yeast extract foliar application on caffeic acid derivatives production in coneflower.

Two factorial experiments were performed individually under greenhouse conditions during the years 2017-2018. In the first experiment, the effect of salicylic acid (0, 80, 160 and 320 mg/L) and each at four exposure times (24, 48, 72 and 96 hours) was studied. Also, in the second experiment, the effect of yeast extract (0, 0.75, 1 and 1.5 g/L) and each at four exposure times was investigated.

The results indicated that main effects and interactions of different concentrations of salicylic acid and yeast extract at different exposure times on caffeic acid derivatives content were significant (P ˂ 0.01). The highest cichoric acid, caftaric acid and echinacoside production was obtained after 96 hours of treatment at 160 mg/L salicylic acid treated plants. The highest cichoric acid production 7.150 mg/g DW was obtained after 96 hours of treatment at 1.5 g/L yeast extract treated plants, this was 3.58-fold higher compared to respective control. The lowest level of caffeic acid derivatives production was observed in control plants.

In conclusion, salicylic acid and yeast extract foliar application have a positive effect on caffeic acid derivatives production in Echinacea purpurea aerial parts.

Damask rose (DR) with the scientific name of Rosa × damascena Herrm. is a popular medicinal plant belonging to the Rosaceae family. According to the literature, DR cultivation was originally developed in the Layzangan valley, Darab region of Fars province in Iran.

In this study, quality control and standardization of Layazangan DR flowers were investigated.

Histological, physicochemical, and heavy metal analysis as well as the chromatographic fingerprints including GC-MS and HPLC analysis were studied.

According to the microscopic observations, secretory and simple trichromes in sepal, rosette crystals in ovule, and the tricolporate shape of pollen grain were found to be the major characteristics in DR flowers. The results of heavy metal analysis revealed that the amounts of zinc (82.5 ppm), copper (4.02 ppm), lead (0.11 ppm), and cadmium (not detected) were less than maximum permitted amounts. The essential oil of fresh petals was obtained by hydro-distillation and was analyzed by GC-MS method. Twenty-three components were identified representing 98.66 % of the total essential oil composition. Citronellol (41.44 %), nonadecane (16.44 %), and heneicosane (10.58 %) were the main components. According to HPLC analysis results, quercetin was determined as 7300.5 μg/g dried DR petals.

The essential oil obtained from Layzangan DR is rich in citronellol compound. On the other hand, the diagnostic characteristics presented in this study can help in better quality control and standardization of DR samples. It could also provide information for the authentication of relevant undeclared samples as well as the detection of adulterated materials.

Cancer is the second cause of death in developed countries. Colon and breast cancers are among the most prevalent ones. Research focusing on finding new natural products with fewer side effects to fight cancer is increasing.

The present study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of Centaurea albonitens Turrill methanol extract and its fractions against colon and breast cancer cell lines and a normal cell line of bovine kidney cells.

The methanol extract and petroleum ether, chloroform and aqueous fractions were provided from the aerial parts of C. albonitens by maceration method in three days. Each day the solvent was refreshed. Colon (HT-29) and breast (MCF-7) cell lines were treated with the extract/fractions for 48 h for evaluating the cytotoxic activity by MTT assay. The apoptotic induction potential was also evaluated with the Hoechst 33258 staining method.

The most considerable effect was reported from the chloroform fraction with IC50 values of 25.6 and 25.1 μg/mL in MCF-7 and HT-29 cells, respectively. In Hoechst staining, condensed chromatin of the apoptotic cells was observed in both cell lines.

Centaurea albonites can be suggested for further cancer research studies.

Coriander Triphala is one of the famous drugs in traditional medicine which is consisted of Terminalia chebula, T. bellirica, Phyllanthus emblica, Coriandrum sativum, almond oil and honey. Traditional dosage forms should be converted to modern forms for better acceptance and suitable characteristics and stability.

In the present investigation, the traditional form of Coriander Triphala was converted to film coated tablet and quality control of the tablet was performed.

The fruits of
T. chebula, T. bellirica, Ph. emblica, C. sativum in equal proportions along with almond oil and honey in different proportions were used for tablet formulation with other excipients. Sixteen formulations were made and after pre-formulation studies, twelve of them were selected for making tablet. Prepared tablets went through primary quality control tests such as weight variation, friability, hardness and disintegration time. Finally, the best formulation was coated by green colored water soluble material and its physicochemical characteristics were determined.

Among different formulations, the tablet consisted of 98 mg of each species, 14 mg almond oil, 148 mg honey along with lactose, Avicel PH-102, croscarmellose sodium, PVP K30, magnesium stearate and silicone dioxide was the best one. Weight variation, hardness, disintegration time, total tannins content as pyrogallol were found 1192 mg ± 5 %, 20 kp, 25 min and 64.19 mg/tablet, respectively. Over 90 % of tannins were released after 60 min during dissolution test.

The formulated tablet with suitable characteristics is a good substitution for traditional form and could be produced in industrial scale after complementary clinical trial studies.

Ginkgo biloba L. leaf extract is used in medicine due to its therapeutic actions such as regulating cerebral blood flow, lowering oxidative stress, delaying the progress of dementia and diabetes.

At the current study, the efficient micropropagation of G. biloba has been optimized by applying tissue culture method.

Different explants (leaves, stems and lateral buds) were disinfected superficially and were cultured in WPM supplemented with various types and concentrations of plant growth regulators for shooting and subsequently for root induction.

The best treatment for shoot induction frequency (100 %), regenerated shoot length (2.47 cm) and number of regenerated leaves per explant (6.5) was achieved by culturing the lateral buds on WPM medium having Kin at 1 mg/L and IAA at 0.5 mg/L. The best root induction medium on the basis of root induction (100 %) and regenerated root lengths (8.5 cm) was WPM medium with IBA at 1 mg/L and AC at 2 g/L. After acclimatization, 60 % of regenerated platelets were survived. Finally, based on HPLC analysis, no significant difference was observed between the amount of quercetin in the leaves of propagated seedlings under in vitro conditions and their mother base.

The optimized protocol proposed to be used as an efficient method for commercial micropropagation of ginkgo tree.