Trends in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Volume:2 Issue: 1, Mar 2016

Professor Dr. Hassan Farsam left us with a lot of honors after more than half a century teaching pharmacy students. I became familiar with the name of this pharmacy professor during my pharmacy training around 1992 when my supervisor informed me about unique features of a pharmacy pioneer from Tehran Faculty of Pharmacy. After a couple of years, I encountered with Professor Farsam's publications and interests on the history of pharmacy and natural products. Also, recently when he was the head of the TUMS Museum of History of Medicine, I asked him regarding the situation of Iranian pharmacy in the past 50 years and his perspective on the following 50 years.

Amenorrhea is described as complete absence or cessation of menstruation. Besides conventional treatment approaches, traditional and complementary medical systems have suggested numerous natural medications for management of amenorrhea. Current study aimed to compile the pharmacological reports on amenorrhea from the standpoints of early Persian scholars. Medical and pharmaceutical manuscripts of Persian medicine from 9th to 18th centuries A.D. have been reviewed to extract the critical points and natural remedies. Based on Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM), impairment in uterus, brain and circulation are main causes of amenorrhea. Any obstruction, either anatomical or functional, in uterus and allied organs or tissues may lead the body to this disorder. Concerning herbal therapy of amenorrhea in TPM, 71 medicinal plants related to 35 families were found. The most prevalent families were Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Lamiaceae and Fabaceae, respectively. Usual routes of administration were oral, vaginal and topical. However, there was one report on a medicament, spoken to be effective nasally. Traditionally, emmenagogue medicines should possess diuretic activity to be effective for amenorrhea. All reported remedies were known as diuretic agents. However, this description is not corresponded with what is now accepted as diuretic. On the other hand, only Foeniculum vulgare showed therapeutic effects on amenorrhea in a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Despite lack of novel information on emmenagogue activity of these remedies, design and conducting evidence-based animal or human studies may be beneficial for new drug discovery from traditional knowledge.

Coughs lasting more than 3 weeks after airway infections are likely regarded as post-infectious coughs. A normal chest radiography unfavors possibility of pulmonary infection. These coughs are self-limited. This study reviews conducted studies in order to identify and define prevalence, pathogenesis, and cure of post-infectious constant coughs.

The necessary data and guidelines are gained from English articles in PubMed website. Post-infectious and cough are searched.

Post-infectious cough pathogeneses are not known; nevertheless, inflammation, epithelial damages of upper and lower airways, increased mucus secretion, and an increased reactivity of airways can cause these coughs. Despite self-limitedness of these coughs, dextromethorphan, antihistamines, ipratropium bromide, and decongestant are usually prescribed for cure of these coughs. Conversely, antibiotics play no significant role in this regard. These coughs constitutessmaller percentage of chronic coughs and are primarily classified in subacute coughs.

Pathogeneses of post-infectious coughs are not known. Experiential treatments are suggested despite self-limitedness of post-infectious coughs. Antibiotics play no significant role in this regard. Further studies should cover sub-acute and chronic properties of these coughs as well as their prevalence in different age groups and their determinants.

Brucella is an intracellular Gram-negative bacterium. Previous reports showed that gene polymorphisms of cytokines can affect resistance or susceptibility to Brucella infection. Interleukin-13, a cytokine secreted by Th2 lymphocytes, has an important role in immune responses against established infections. In this study, we investigated the association of three polymorphic sites of IL-13 with susceptibility to brucellosis in Iranian population. In this study 169 patients with brucellosis and 71 healthy controls were included. DNA was extracted and genotyped for three bi-allelic polymorphisms of IL-13 gene at positions -1512A/C, -1055C/T, and +2044G/A by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. None of the studied alleles and genotypes of IL-13 gene (-1512A/C, -1055C/T, and +2044G/A) showed significant relationship with susceptibility to brucellosis. However, among eight haplotypes, the distribution of TCG and CAA haplotypes were significantly higher in the patients compared with those in the controls (P=0.002 and P=0.034, respectively). Although, the later did not tolerate Bonferroni correction. On the contrary, the distribution of TCA haplotype was higher in the controls compared to that in the patients (P=0.01). Furthermore, TAG/TCA haplogenotypes were significantly higher among controls compared to the brucellosis patients (P=0.025). P value resulted from TCA and TAG/TCA did not tolerate Bonferroni correction. There is no association between the inheritance of different alleles and genotypes of interleukin-13 gene and susceptibility to brucellosis. However, it seems that the inheritance of some haplotypes and haplogenotypes of IL-13 can impact the susceptibility to brucellosis.

Xenobiotics-induced liver injury is a major challenge for clinicians and pharmaceutical industry. Hence, finding new therapeutic molecules against this complication has clinical value. The current investigation aimed to evaluate the potential protective effects of different fractions obtained from Gundelia tournefortii (GT) hydroalcoholic extract in a rat model of acute hepatic injury. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (200‑250 g) were treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) (1.5 ml/kg, i.p), then ethanol, water, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-Butanol fractions of GT extract were administered. Biochemical and histopathological markers of hepatic injury were assessed and glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation were monitored in liver samples. CCl4 administration caused hepatotoxicity as revealed by an increase in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, as well as pathological changes of the liver. Furthermore, a significant reduction in hepatic glutathione content and an elevation in lipid peroxidation were observed in CCl4‑treated rats. It was found that the n‑butanol (200 mg/kg) and the ethyl acetate (300 mg/kg) fractions of GT extract protected liver against CCL4‑induced damage as judged by lower AST, ALT, LDH and lipid peroxidation, prevention of tissue glutathione depletion, and alleviation of histopathological damages of liver in extract‑treated animals. As n‑butanol and the ethyl acetate fractions of GT effectively alleviated the liver injury induced by CCl4 and provide antioxidant properties, we might be able to propose that the hepatoprotective chemicals of Gundelia extract are present in these fractions.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an attractive preparation in regenerative medicine due to its potential role on the healing process in different experimental models. This study was designed to investigate the wound healing activity of a new formulation of PRP. Different gel-based formulations of PRP were prepared. Open excision wounds were made on the back of male Sprague-Dawley rats, and PRP gel was administered topically once daily until the wounds healed completely (12 days). The results revealed that the tested PRP formulation significantly accelerated the wound healing process by increasing the wound contracting, tissue granulization, vascularization, and collagen regeneration. Interestingly, we found that there were no significant differences between PRP formulation and its gel base in all above mentioned parameters. Although this investigation showed that PRP formulation had significant wound healing effects, but the PRP gel base also had significant wound healing properties. This might indicate the wound healing properties of the PRP gel ingredients in the current investigation.

Diabetes mellitus is a complex endocrine disorder. There is serious attempt to realize antidiabetic compound from natural sources to use with other drugs for reduction of diabetes complication. 

 Present study is based on the investigation of antihyperglycemic effect of anthocyanin fraction of Berberis integerrima (AFBI) fruits on some physiological parameters (glucose level, glycogen content and body weight) in normal and streptozotocin-induced (STZ-induced) diabetic rats and evaluation of synergic effect of this fraction with metformin and glybenclamid. Male Sprague dawley rat were divided into nine groups: healthy control group, diabetic control group, diabetic groups treated with anthocyanin fraction (200, 400 and 1000 mg/kg, respectively); diabetic groups treated with glybenclamide and metformin separately, diabetic groups treated with glybenclamide + anthocyanin fraction (1000 mg/kg), metformin +anthocyanin fraction (1000 mg/kg). 

 Treatment of diabetic rats with AFBI (400, 1000mg/kg) significantly decreased blood glucose as compared with control. Moreover AFBI (400, 1000mg/kg) significantly increased liver glycogen and body weight in compared to control. Nevertheless there were no synergistic effects between anthocyanin fraction and metformin or glibenclamid on blood glucose, liver glycogen and body weight.

The results of this study indicate that AFBI possesses hypoglycemic effects and may be considered for evaluation in future diabetes clinical studies.

Bearing essential oil, Damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) is widely applied in pharmaceutical and perfumery industries. In Iran, the oil and hydrosol are obtained in two famous centers, Kashan and Fars. The process can be performed either traditionally or conventionally. Moreover, rose oil samples are produced synthetically by commercial industries. Current work outlines the differences between collected samples. Eight samples yielded from those present methods were collected and analyzed using a gas chromatograph connected to a mass detector. Samples were prepared traditionally, conventionally or synthetically. Results revealed that phenyl ethyl alcohol, β-citronellol and phenethyl acetate were the most detected component in synthetic sample (38.77, 15.73% and 15.29%, respectively). The synthetic sample involved two more major constituents (9.52 and 2.86%). Traditionally and conventionally produced samples mainly contained hydrocarbons as nonadecane (17.42 – 40.38%), heneicosane (17.26 – 26.17%), 1-nonadecene (4.98 – 15.33%), heptadecane (3.96 – 10.33%) and eicosane (2.83 – 5.19%), but lower in total rose alcohol from 0.00% in concentrated traditional samples to 30.24% in the sample prepared by a conventional method. High amounts of hydrocarbons in samples might be related to prolonged and repeated distillation, and thus nearly total amount of rose alcohol is transferred into the water phase.

Taurine (2-aminoethane sulfonic acid) is a non-protein amino acid found in high concentration in different tissues. Glycine (Amino acetic acid) is the simplest amino acid incorporated in the structure of proteins. Several investigations indicate the hepatoprotective properties of these amino acids. On the other hand, antineoplastic agents-induced serum transaminase elevation and liver injury is a clinical complication. The current investigation was designed to screen the possible hepatoprotective properties of taurine and glycine against antineoplastic drugs-induced hepatic injury in an ex vivo model of isolated perfused rat liver. Rat liver was perfused with different concentration (10 µM, 100 µM and 1000 µM) of antineoplastic drugs (Mitoxantrone, Cyclophosphamide, Cisplatin, 5‑Fluorouracil, Doxorubicin and Dacarbazine) via portal vein. Taurine and glycine were administered to drug-treated livers and liver perfusate samples were collected for biochemical measurements (ALT, LDH, AST, and K+). Markers of oxidative stress (reactive oxygen species formation, lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant capacity and glutathione) were also assessed in liver tissue. Antineoplastic drugs caused significant pathological changes in perfusate biochemistry. Furthermore, markers of oxidative stress were significantly elevated in drug‑treated livers. It was found that taurine (5 and 10 mM) and glycine (5 and 10 mM) administration significantly mitigated the biomarkers of liver injury and attenuated drug‑induced oxidative stress. Our data indicate that taurine and glycine supplementation might help as potential therapeutic options to encounter anticancer drugs-induced liver injury.

Authentication and quality control of herbs in herbal markets is an important challenge for practitioners and food and drug organizations. Rapid and simple pharmacognostic evaluations are beneficial to overcome this problem. On the other hand, there is a mist about the scientific names of some of these herbs even in scientific literatures. Iklil-ul-Malik or Astragalus hamosus L. (Papilionaceae) is one of these medicinal plants. Pharmacognostic (macroscopic, microscopic and phytochemical) properties of Iklil-ul-Malik pods were investigated. Different ash and extractive values were determined. The HPTLC finger prints of the herbs fractions were prepared using different reagents and mobile phases. The fatty acids, steroids, alkene and terpenoids of the pods were investigated by GC-MS analysis. Soluble fatty acids and soluble sugar content were determined by spectroscopic methods. Total ash, acid insoluble and water soluble ash were determined 75.00±11.83, 8.33±2.89 and 40.00±5.00 mg/g. The extractive values for n-hexane, dichloromethane and ethanol fractions were 0.77%, 0.16% and 0.49% (w/w). Free amino acid and soluble sugar contents were 3.33±0.001 and 8.83±0.004 (w/w %). Polyphenols, triterpenes, glycosides and glycolipids were detected in different fractions. The principal fatty acids were linoleic acid (48.64%), linolenic acids (25.35%), lauric acid (8.12%) and stearic acid (6.38%). The pharmacognostic values and HPTLC fingerprints provided in this manuscript can be used to authenticate the herb.