مجله طب سنتی اسلام و ایران
سال پانزدهم شماره 2 (پیاپی 58، تابستان 1403)

One of the most important public health concerns worldwide is foodborne pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites). Egg white is one of the substances with high antimicrobial properties. The purpose of the present research is to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of egg whites of quail, duck, natural broiler chicken, and country chicken on a number of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria in vitro

In this study, using the micro-broth dilution and disc diffusion method were tested the antibacterial effects of egg whites of quail, duck, natural broiler chicken, and country chicken  on a number of Gram-negative and Gram positive bacteria. In this experiment, Shigella dysentery, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella oxytoca, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were exposed to different concentrations of egg white, and MIC, MBC, and the zone of growth inhibition  were determined according to the instructions of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).

The MIC of country chicken and quail egg whites were in the range of 6.25-50% and broiled chicken and duck egg whites were in the range of 25-50% for the studied bacteria. Moreover, the MBC the egg white of broiled and country chicken, quail, and duck was in the range of 50% for some of the studied bacteria. The zone of inhibition was found to be in a range of 9-14 mm for the studied bacteria.

The results of the present research show that egg whites of quail, duck, broiled chicken, and country chicken are effective in eradicating Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

According to the strategies proposed by the World Health Organization in the development of traditional medicine, it is necessary to create research infrastructures in order to develop the scientific research bases of traditional medicine to improve public health, and it is necessary to monitor the performance and evaluate research outputs in order to estimate the level of achievement of the goals. Therefore, in this study, we aim to present the results of evaluating the research activities of traditional medicine research centers in a five-year period.

This cross-sectional study was carried out in 2023 during three stages: compilation and design of the evaluation system, implementation of the evaluation process, and data analysis. The evaluation was carried out in the three basic axes of governance and leadership, knowledge production, and impact with 20 indicators and the ranking results were presented.

This study included 13 research centers of traditional medicine, complementary medicine, history of medicine, Quran and Hadith medicine from 11 universities of medical sciences. The number of active researchers in these centers is 89 and during the evaluation years, 1455 articles published by these centers have been indexed in ISI-WOS, PubMed and Scopus. The ratio of articles to academic staff in these centers is on average 3.26, and 22.3% of articles are published in top 25% journals (Q1) and about 16% are published in international collaboration. In the ranking, Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine of Shiraz, Herbal and Traditional Medicine Research Center of Kerman, and Persian Medicine and Pharmacy Research Center of Tehran ranked first to third, respectively.

The development of research infrastructure in the field of traditional medicine and the expansion of interdisciplinary scientific communication inside and outside the country will be effective in developing the frontiers of knowledge and responding to research needs.

Oral diseases, especially dental caries, are of particular importance due to their prevalence and significant economic burden. Considering the local and systemic side effects of drugs and preventive and therapeutic methods, researchers have tended towards herbal medicines in recent years. Persian medicine offers a range of alternatives for addressing dental caries under  the topic of “Ta’kkol wa Tasaghghob al-Asnan”. This review study was conducted by library method and using nine sources of Persian medicine, including Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb, Zakhireye Khwarazmshahi, Fī Hifz al-Asnān wa-al-Liththah wa-Istislāhihā, Al-Asbāb wa al-Alāmāt, Sharh al-Asbāb wa al-Alāmāt, Tuhfat ul-Momineen and Makhzan al-Adwiya. In Persian medicine, “Ta’kkol wa Tasaghghob al-Asnan” is the result of infectious and corrosive moisture, which results in the destruction of the dental tissue and leads to the creation of a hole in the dental structure. Astringent (Qabez) and drying (Mojaffef) drugs such as Myrtus communis and Nardostachys jatamansi are preferable in mild cases. Otherwise, drugs that dissolve carious moisture (Mohallel), such as Ferula gummosa and Mentha pulegium, should be added to the treatment. In modern dentistry, dental caries is caused by acid-producing pathogens, which leads to demineralization of the dental hard tissue and gradually creating cavity. Dental caries is equivalent to “Ta’kkol wa Tasaghghob al-Asnan”. Therefore, the therapeutic approaches of Persian medicine can serve as complementary treatments alongside conventional medications.

Professor Moslem Bahadori (1929-2022) is regarded as one of the prominent figures in Iran's modern medical science. As a seasoned expert and physician within the healthcare sector, he has contributed significantly to addressing challenges and shortcomings in the healthcare system of Iran. He asserts that national and Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) represents a valuable heritage that ought to be utilized in beneficial and practical manners. Furthermore, he emphasizes the necessity of conducting research on aspects that require further exploration while distinguishing superstitions from TPM. Considering the important role of community health worker in promoting health in villages and fostering personal and social health, it is necessary to provide them with education on TPM, so as to prevent the involvement of untrained and unqualified people with non-scientific methods in the field of TPM. In the final part of the article, while referring to Dr. Bahadori 's valuable statements about the delay in Iran's medical history, some of his views regarding scientific TPM and its role in the future of medicine and health system of Iran are also presented.

In recent decades, the use of complementary medicine in industrialized countries has increased significantly. This trend is particularly noticeable among women, with some continuing to use these methods during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Prenatal and pregnancy care for the expectant mother can have a substantial impact on the pregnancy process, fetal development, and the child’s health at various stages of life, including infancy and adulthood. This study aims to collect and analyze the guidelines related to pregnancy as indicated by traditional medical sources, especially the works of early Iranian physicians. In this research, a review study using library-based methods was conducted. By examining sources such as Kāmil al-Sinā`a al-Tibbīya, Firdaws al-Hikma fi al-Tibb as well as articles and reputable scientific databases, with relevant keywords in the field of women's care during pregnancy and breastfeeding were collected, analyzed and presented. Pregnancy and breastfeeding care in Persian medicine, referred to as Tadbir al-Hawamil (management of pregnant women), is described in two main categories: "general health maintenance guidelines" and "necessary measures for common pregnancy-related issues". Each category includes simple care practices and treatments using accessible herbal and animal-based remedies. In the general guidelines section, care practices are suggested to maintain the health of pregnant and nursing women, such as avoiding sadness, anger, and fear; refraining from consuming bloating, bitter, and spicy foods; taking moderate baths; and engaging in light exercise. The results of this study indicate that Persian medicine offers practical and comprehensive recommendations for the care of pregnant and nursing women. These guidelines emphasize maintaining the physical and mental health of the mother via simple and natural methods, such as the use of medicinal plants and the avoidance of harmful factors. Given the increasing use of complementary medicine during pregnancy and breastfeeding, incorporating these teachings could serve as a supplement to modern medical practices, contributing to improved health for mothers and infants.