Journal of Medicinal Herbs
Volume:12 Issue: 4, Winter 2021

 Climatic and geographical conditions of Iran and some factors such as climate change, water limitation and the existence of soils with salinity limitation, the cultivation of medicinal plants compatible with such conditions is one of the most important strategies. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) is a valuable medicinal plant and will also contribute to community health. Quinoa has been cultivated in the Andes for about 5,000 years. The largest area under quinoa cultivation in Bolivia is 100,000 ha. In this review, the botany, traditional uses, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of quinoa are discussed.

In the current review keywords including quinoa and medicinal properties were searched in scientific websites such as Science Direct, PubMed and Google Scholar to compile the botanical and medicinal properties of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.).

 According to the literature review, quinoa protein is 8-22% with proper quality and balance of essential amino acids (lysine, methionine and thyronine). The amount of essential amino acids in quinoa is higher than the daily requirement set by the World Food Organization and the World Health Organization for each person. Compared to other grains, quinoa is high in alpha tocopherols (vitamin E), riboflavin, thiamine and vitamin C, and has 10 times more folic acid. Quinoa seeds are a safe, gluten-free alternative to cereal grains among celiac patients.

industries: Quinoa with a high amount of biochemical components and pharmacological effects can be used as a valuable herbal drug. It also provides a gluten-free diet, which is beneficial for celiac patients. Its cultivation for industrial and pharmaceutical purposes can help to improve the production of anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-celiac and anti-cancer drugs in Iran.

Fish, having a vast role in providing sufficient protein for most humans across the globe, requires strict standards and quality assurance. Disease prevalence in fish farms has been an obstacle considered by many farmers. Various synthetic therapeutics such as antibiotics and chemical substances exist vastly in the market and are constantly used for disease prevention. Nevertheless, chemicals come along with a set of drawbacks putting both fish and human health in danger.

In this study, we discussed and reviewed the chemical composition as well as the benefits of Echinacea as a natural growth promoter and an immunostimulant in aquaculture. We reviewed 31 different studies conducted on a variety of fish. Biological activities, following the administration of different levels of Echinacea, were discussed as well.

A variety of functions had been reported for Echinacea species. These properties were classified into growth increase, disease resistance, antioxidant and immunostimulating effects, along with the promotion of blood biochemical parameters.

Based on the reviewed literature, Echinacea could improve growth and immunity in cultured fish. Using natural compounds instead of chemicals could substantially help create sustainable aquaculture.

Withania genus has more than 200 species, of which two important species (W. somnifera) and (W. coagulans) have high medicinal value and their rapid and extensive reproduction with new methods is very important to expand the area of cultivation. Propagation of crops in vitro is an accessible method for mass propagation. Therefore, the selection of a suitable culture medium is necessary to motivate shoot regeneration from explants and proliferation. The main purpose of this study was to present a rapid and efficient method for mass propagation of virus-free and disease-free plants under in vitro culture conditions.

The experiment was designed in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicatesin. The seeds were sterilized and placed on MS medium after being collected from their natural habitat in Sistan and Baluchestan province. It was then cultured on MS medium containing benzyl amino purine growth regulator at four levels of 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mg/l for branching.

The results showed that in coagulans specie in MS medium containing 0.5 mg/l of benzyl amino purine (BAP) with an average proliferation of 3.66 of shoots and a length of 2.85 cm, the highest branching was obtained. Also, the highest propagation coefficient and number of leaves were obtained in benzyl amino purine (BAP) treatment with a concentration of 0.5 mg/l. The lowest propagation rate was reported in control (without hormones). In this experiment, application of benzyl amino purine at concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mg/l improved seedling quality which was more effective in coagulans and contained higher quality and fresher seedlings.  

In general, for the production of seedlings with high branching percentages, the use of benzyl amino purine at a concentration of 0.5 mg/l is recommended for optimal branching.

Glycyrrhiza glabra L. and Salvia officinalis L. due to their medicinal properties are valuable medicinal plants in Kermanshah province and the other western regions of Iran.

In this research, chemical analysis of the essential oils isolated from these valuable medicinal plants were performed. For this, aerial parts of the plants were gradually dried (shadow conditions at 25 °C), pulverized, their essential oils isolated by hydro-distillation method, and analyzed by GC-MS.

The results showed that there were important compounds in the essential oils of both plants. Total identification times of the compounds were estimated to be 38.469 and 38.230 min, respectively. Among constituents of G. glabra; Naphthalene, Decahydro-4a-Methyl (25.578 min-15.62%); 2, 6-Octadiene-1-ol, 3, 7-Dimethyl (24.702 min-6.96%); Butanoic Acid, 3, 7-Dimethyl-2 (23.587 min-5.79%), Lavandulyl Acetate (18.294 min-4.93%), 3-Hexene-1-ol, Benzoate (23.890 min-3.45%), and among S. officinalis constituents, Alpha-Thujone Bicyclo (8.904 min-24.22%); Bicyclo [2.2.1] Heptan-2-One (9.865 min-15.51%); 1, 8-Cineole 2-Oxabicyclo (7.250 min-10 %); Thujone Bicyclo [3.1.0] Hexan-3 (9.110 min-6.20%), and Veridiflorol (24.330 min-4.47%) were dominant, respectively.

These medicinal plants due to high diverse constituents could seriously be considered in medical, pharmacology, and toxicology researches.

A combined ethanol extract of Spermacoce radiata and Hypselodelphyspoggeana leaves are used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, but there is no scientific data on its safety level and effects on vital organs and biochemical parameters. This study investigated the effects of a combined ethanol extract of Spermacoce radiata and Hypselodelphyspoggeana leaves (CESHL) on the lipid profile and kidney function of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) induced rats.

A total of 21 rats were used for the acute toxicity study, while 30 were randomly distributed into five groups comprising six rats each (n = 6) for the BPH study. Group 1 served as normal control, while group 2 was BPH control that received 5 mg/kg of testosterone propionate/day for 28 consecutive days without treatment. Groups 3 – 5 received 5 mg/kg of testosterone propionate/day for 28 days but after an hour, they treated with 5 mg/kg of finasteride, 200 and 600mg/kg of CESHL/day, respectively, for 28 days.

The acute toxicity result of CESHL indicated no mortality or any sign of toxicity. Administration of the extract caused a significant reduction (p<0.05) of theprostate weight, triacylglycerol, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), urea and creatinine concentrations in the treated groups when compared to the BPH control. A significant increase (P<0.05) in High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) concentration was observed in all treated groups when compared to the BPH control group. Histological outcomes of rats’ kidneys corroborated these findings.

These results indicate that the combined extracts possess antilipidemic and nephroprotective effects, which might help in the management of complications that might arise during BPH.

Background &

Cocoa has long been prized for its high concentration of antioxidants and bioactive compounds. Fermentation is one of the processes involved in the manufacturing of cocoa. Fermentation has a substantial effect on the antioxidant potential as well as the bioactive compounds of cocoa beans according to studies. This present study sought to determine and compare the effect of fermentation on phenolic contents and antioxidant potentials of cocoa beans.Experimental: The experiment was accomplished by following the procedures. The cocoa pod was broken and the beans were extracted and separated into 3 groups. The cocoa beans of each group were wrapped with polyethylene and then subjected to different hours of fermentation (24, 72 and 120 hours). After aqueous extraction, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging ability assay, the ferric reducing property (FRAP) assay, the 2, 2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay, total phenol content assay, total flavonoid content assay were carried out using standard procedures.

The research found that fermentation enhances DPPH radical scavenging capacity, boosts ferric reducing antioxidant potential, has no effect on ABTS radical scavenging ability, decreases phenolic content, and increases flavonoid content of cocoa beans after a series of biochemical assays.Recommended applications/industries: cocoa has long been thought to aid in the prevention of disease because of its antioxidant properties. However, various industrial procedures that it goes through during manufacture, including fermentation, may have an impact on its antioxidant capability. Understanding the effects of fermentation on cocoa could lead to the development of more efficient manufacturing methods, potentially increasing cocoa's antioxidant potential.

Background &

Herbal medicines have historical use and is currently being used in treatment of various diseases largely due to its relative availability and cheap cost. Standardization and development of suitable dosage forms for herbal medicines is therefore pertinent for both practitioners and patients. This study aims to evaluate effect of diluents (microcrystalline cellulose, lactose and magnesium carbonate) on the compaction and compression properties of the stem bark extract of Terminalia avicennoides.
Experimental: The crushed powdered stem bark was macerated in 70 % ethanol for 72 h at room temperature with intermittent stirring. The filtrate was concentrated over a water bath at 100 °C to obtain the dried extract (TAE). Granules of the extract were prepared by wet granulation. Flow properties and moisture content of the granules were determined. Compatibility between the extract and the diluents was investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). Compacts were made and properties evaluated using the Heckel and Kawakita models.

Results of FTIR spectra showed no interaction between the ingredients of the tablet formulations. Granules prepared with microcrystalline cellulose (T-MCC) possessed better flow and showed more propensities to be compacted than the other tablet batches. All the tablet formulations were observed to exhibit plastic deformation but T-MCC showed faster onset of deformation, closer packing, less cohesiveness, greater densification and easier compaction ability than tablets prepared with lactose (T-LAC) and magnesium carbonate (T-MAG). Although T-MAG showed the highest tensile strength, it was the only formulation that disintegrated within the 30 min official specification for herbal tablets.
Recommended applications/industries: However, based on other parameters apart from disintegration time, microcrystalline cellulose is considered as the diluent of choice for preparation of standardized and robust tablets of stem bark extract of Terminalia avicennoides.

Background &

The genus Satureja has 38 species distributed throughout the Mediterranean Area, Caucasus and West Asia. Satureja Mutica and Satureja spicigera is two Iranian native species that are distributed in the North of Iran. Essential oil (EO) of Satureja specious was used to some medicinal, food and industrial purposes. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical compounds of EO in Satureja mutica and Satureja spicigera under dry farming. Experimental: In early April, before the effective rain fall, the seedlings were transferred to the main land in mid-March. In the %50 flowering stage, plants were harvested and 100 g of plant dried powder used for EO extraction. The EO was extracted by water distillation method and chemical components of essential oils were identified and subsequently characterized using GC and GC/MS techniques.

The EO percent in S. spicigera was 2.52% in first year and 3.08% in second years. The EO percent of S. mutica was 2.04% in first year and 2% in second year. In creeping savory EO, thirteen compounds were identified that were formed the major constituents of EO (about 98.74% in first year and 97.53% in second year). The main compounds of essential oil (more than 5%) were thymol (28.60- 28.96%), carvacrol (23.18- 24.47%), ρ-cymene (21.00- 24.25%) and γ-terpinene (18.57-13.05%). In white savory EO, nine different chemical compounds were identified which made up more than about 95.32% of EO content in the first year and 97.48% in the second year. The major compounds of EO were Thymol (48.25-48.60%), γ-terpinene (20.84- 21.89%), ρ-cymene (12.34- 12.61%) and Carvacrol (6.71- 6.95%) respectively.Recommended applications/industries: Thymol and carvacrol contents in savory essential oil are the two important factors in pharmaceutical properties of savory EO. White and Creeping Savory can be used to pharmaceutical and food industries. Also we recommended the increase of EO content, thymol and carvacrol compounds in white and creeping savory using different cropping and breeding methods for further studies.