Journal of Medicinal Herbs
Volume:13 Issue: 4, Winter 2022

Ferula persica is a medicinal plant belonging to the Apiaceae family and grows in some provinces of Iran, including Mazandaran, Tehran, Semnan, Alborz, and Qazvin. The plant is traditionally used as an expectorant, antispasmodic, anti-bloating and laxative, also it is used to treat indigestion with bloating and constipation, neurologic diseases, epilepsy, and various pain, especially joint pain. Due to the value and importance of F. persica in traditional medicine and its beneficial pharmacological effects, this review aimed to investigate the findings on the ethnobotany, phytochemistry, traditional uses, and pharmacological effects of this medicinal plant published up to 2022.

Experimental: 

The information and findings in this review were obtained via electronic search using Google Scholar, Pubmed, Science Direct, Wiley Online, and Taylor & Francis, as well as relevant books.

Various studies have shown that F. persica contains secondary metabolites such as coumarin, sulfur-containing compounds, steroids such as stigma-esterol, sitosterol, monoterpene and sesquiterpene, also numerous pharmacological activities including antitumor, anti-Alzheimer, antiepileptic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antigenotoxic, about the plant have been reported.

Recommended applications/industries:

 Due to high-value components, wide application in traditional medicine, and various pharmacological effects, F. persica may be addressed as a source of multiple herbal medicinal compounds.

Aju Mbaise is a polyherbal extract with nutraceutical properties that helps to replenish the volume of blood lost during childbirth and improves breast milk secretion and the general wellbeing of the mother. This study evaluated the ameliorative potentials of Aju Mbaise extract (AME) on Dutasteride-induced oxidative stress and hepatic injury in rats. Twenty-one rats were used to assess the acute toxicity of AME.

Experimental: 

The study for the hepatoprotective effects of AME had five groups of rats, including normal control, Dutasteride only, AME only, Dutasteride + AME (500 mg/kg) and Dutasteride+ AME (1000 mg/kg).

The acute toxicity result showed that AME is relatively safe for consumption. Dutasteride caused significant elevation of liver marker enzymes, including aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, malondialdehyde (MDA) and significantly reduced catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH), total proteins, albumin, and globulin levels in the rats received only Dutasteride. In contrast, Dutasteride induced rats treated with AME showed a significant decline in the AST, ALT, ALP, MDA, and bilirubin and significantly increased SOD, GSH, GPx, total proteins, albumin, and globulin levels compared to Dutasteride induced untreated rats. The AME-treated rats showed normal liver histo-architecture, unlike the Dutasteride-induced untreated rats that showed mild to moderate vacuolar degeneration of the hepatocytes.

Recommended applications/industries:

 The findings show that AME ameliorates Dutasteride caused rats oxidative stress and hepatic injury.

Active search for plants with diverse antioxidant and pharmacological properties capable of counteracting the deleterious effects of free radical-mediated pathologies, is still evolving. The current study investigates the phytochemical screening, antioxidant mechanisms and gas-chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) analysis of leaf extract of Sida acuta.

Experimental: 

Powdered leaves of the plant was extracted in ethanol, methanol and water. Total phenolic and flavonoids contents of the extracts were measured using established protocols. Also, free radical scavenging activity against 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide radicals (NO•.) as well as the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay were also evaluated. Furthermore, the structure and relative abundance of bioactive compounds in the methanolic leaf extract of Sida acuta was determined on GC-MS.

Results indicated that the total phenol and flavonoids content is significantly (P<0.05) higher in methanolic extract when compare with extracts from other solvents. Additionally, DPPH radical scavenging potency and FRAP of the extract is in the order; methanolic> aqueous> ethanolic, while the aqueous extract elicits significant NO• radical scavenging properties when compared with other solvents. The GC-MS chromatogram of the methanolic leaf extract of the plant reveals the presence of 23 bioactive compounds. Taking together, the relative abundance of phytochemical contents and antioxidant capacity of Sida acuta leaves is partly contingent on the choice of extraction solvent.

Recommended applications/industries:

 The presence of various bioactive compounds justifies the use of the plant for diverse remedies in traditional medicine and the need for further studies.

Mung bean knwn as a traditional food which has been used both as nutritional food and herbal medicine over 2000 years. Mung bean sprouts are one of the most commonly used bean sprouts and considered an as appropriate source for the extraction of highly valuable proteins.

Experimental:

 In this study, the effect of different solid to solvent ratios (1:5, 1:10, 1:15 and 1:20 g/mL in electrohydrodynamic (EHD)-assisted extraction on the extraction yield and functional characteristics of sprouted mung bean protein isolate (SMPI) was evaluated. In addition, the structural and thermal properties of SMPI were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively.

The highest protein extraction yield, protein solubility (PS), oil absorption capacity (OAC), foaming capacity (FC) and foaming stability (FS) were obtained in the solid to solvent ratio of 1:20 g/mL. The results of FTIR showed that in the solid to solvent ratio of 1:20, the α-helix structure in SMPI decreased and transformed to random coil structure, leading to increased protein solubility. According to the DSC analysis, the highest denaturation temperature and protein stability were attributed to the solid-to-solvent ratio of 1:20 due to higher water content.

Recommended applications/industries: 

The present results indicated that EHD pretreatment with the solid to solvent ratio of 1:20 could improve the functional properties of SMPI and EHD-assisted extracted SMPI could be considered as a potential nutraceutical or ingredient of functional and health-promoting foods.

Skin wounds are frequently encountered in heifers because of management practices that use bloody interventions, or owing to lesions caused by unsound installations or fights for establishment of herd hierarchy and lead to the development of myiasis with potential economic losses. Plants derived extracts increase healing and tissue regeneration through multiple connected mechanisms and have synergistic effect on the overall wound healing efficiency. Thyme and common thistle active compounds derived extracts have significant effects for proper wound remedy. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of common thistle and thyme derived extracts on Holstein heifer’s cutaneous skin lesions by second intention.

Experimental:

 The twenty Holstein heifers by average age, 15 months and average weight of 250±50 kg were selected to evaluate cutaneous lesions healing after treatment with common thistle and thyme derived extracts. Experimental wound excision model in heifers was created by means of a skin punch of 2cm diameter. The heifers were topically treated for 17 days with a saline control or decoctions of mixed with common thistle and thyme derived extracts with carboxymethyl cellulose. The centripetal retraction, clinical, and histological aspects of the wounds were observed until complete healing.

The phototherapeutics agent presents in thyme improved cicatrization of cutaneous lesions in cattle skin during the first days of treatment. The treatments were beneficial to the reparation process. The phytotherapeutics agent present in thyme and common thistle derived extracts exhibited positive effects in the inflammatory phase and on the reparation process. The herbal extract exhibited a positive effect on the macroscopic aspect of cutaneous lesions in cattle only during the first treatment days.

Recommended applications/industries:

 Both thyme and common thistle extracts improved fibroplasia. Phytotherapeutic activity of thyme was the most superior, and they may be used in topical treatment of cutaneous lesions in Holstein heifers.

Medicinal plants with antimicrobial activities have been used extensively in the West Africa regions. These plants of medicinal important have been proven to be very effective even where treatments with antibiotics failed. This study was aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of Morinda lucida and Vernonia amygdalina leaves extracts on some pathogenic microorganisms isolated from clinical samples.

Experimental: 

The antimicrobial activities were assayed using the agar well diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were evaluated using standard microbiological techniques. Phytochemical and mineral compositions of all the extracts were determined.

Phytochemicals such as saponins, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, anthraquinone and alkaloids were present in both extracts of the plants with alkaloids having a higher percentage. Minerals such as K, Ca, Fe, Na and Fe were presented in appreciable quantities in both extracts of the plants with the K and Ca levels in the ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of Morinda lucida significantly higher than that of V. amygdalina, while Na and Fe levels of Vernonia amygdalina was found to be higher than that of Morinda lucida. Heavy metals like Pb, Cd and As were presented in significant quantities in both extracts of the plants. All the extracts exhibited varying degrees of concentration-based antimicrobial activities against the tested pathogens. Both ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of Morinda lucida showed a high significant antifungal activity against Trichophyton sp and Candida sp while the ethanol extract of Vernonia amygdalina showed a high significant antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella sp and Candida sp.

Recommended applications/industries:

 The study provides information on the antimicrobial activities, phytochemical and mineral components of Morinda lucida and Vernonia amygdalina leaves. Also, it contributes to the development of alternative therapeutic agents against the pathogens tested in this study.

Extracts from plants, such as C. spectabilis (rhizome) traditionally used for the treatment of cataract may potentially contain anticataract lead compound(s). The current study aimed to isolate the constituent(s) of the extract of C. spectabilis and evaluate its anticataract effect.

Experimental: 

The isolation of the constituent was achieved using silica gel, sephadex column chromatography and preparative thin layer chromatography of the n-butanol fraction of aqueous ethanol extract of the rhizome, followed by analysis using NMR spectroscopy. The anticataract effect was investigated using H2O2-induced cataract model. Lenses freshly obtained from rats were cultured in the presence or absence of hydrogen peroxide (0.5 mM), and or in the presence of H2O2 (0.5 mM) with any of the three concentrations of compound SL1 (0.5 mgmL-1, 0.25 mgmL-1, or 0.125 mgmL-1 ) over a period of 24 hrs. Lens opacity (index of cataract) was quantified by scoring and image analysis. The lens total protein, antioxidant bio-molecules (GSH, SOD) and lipid peroxidation (MDA level) were determined according to standard methods.

Chromatographic fractionation of the extract led to the isolation of a compound characterised as 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-α-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (25R)-furost-5-ene-3β, 22α, 26-triol-26-O- β-D-glucopyranoside based on its NMR data. The lenses treated with hydrogen peroxide (only) demonstrated significantly higher indices of opacity compared to the normal or compound treated. The groups treated with the compound (at 0.5 and 0.25 mgmL-1 concentrations) significantly (P≤ 0.001) exhibited lower score of opacity and grey image pixel intensity compared to the untreated group. Although the compound significantly (P≤0.05) prevented the depletion of lens total protein at all concentrations used, the loss of GSH, SOD and increase in MDA levels induced by H2O2 were not prevented significantly.

Recommended applications/industries: 

The compound isolated can serve as a promising lead for the development of anticataract drug.

Background & Aim:

 Salt is an essential electrolyte; however, high salt loading is associated with numerous adverse effects including alterations in many biochemical parameters. This study investigated the effect of ethanol extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaves on the biochemical indices of high salt-fed albino rats.

Experimental:

 Twenty-four male healthy albino rats weighing 110-150g were randomly divided into four groups of six rats per group. Group 1 was administered with feed and water, which was the normal control. Group 2 was administered with 10 mL/kg of 18% NaCl only (Negative control), and groups 3 and 4 were administered with 10 mL/kg of 18% NaCl as well as 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of the extract, respectively.

 The acute toxicity of the methanol leaves extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum in rats recorded no mortality even at a high dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight of the animal, thus LD50 could not be determined. The negative control group was significantly (P<0.05) higher in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, cholesterol (CHOL), triacylglycerol (TAG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and bilirubin level when compared with other groups. There was a significant reduction in the Urea and Creatinine levels in the group administered with 400 mg/kg extract. The administration of high salt (18%) increased serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, Bilirubin, Urea, creatinine, TAG, Cholesterol, and LDL and reduced the high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

Recommended applications/industries:

 The result of the high salt-fed untreated rats suggested inflammation of the liver and lipid dysfunction; however, the extract showed a highly potent effect in preventing cell damage that could be caused by high salt intake.