Journal of Medicinal Plants
Volume:3 Issue: 9, 2004

Genus Plantago belongs to Plantaginaceae family. It has two important medicinal species, P. ovata Forsk. and P. psyllium L., named in common psyllium. In traditional medicine, the husk of this plant used as laxative. Recent studies have shown that the hydrocholoidal fiber of the husk has antidiabetic and antihypercholestrolemia effects. Also it has been shown that it could reduce the prevalence of colon cancer. This plant is safe and has not any serious side effects. In this article we review the uses and benefits of this plant, which grows in many parts of Iran.

The anti-emetic effect of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Trachyspermum ammi fruit was studied in young chickens. Emesis was induced in the chickens using copper sulfate (60 mg/kg, orally) and ipecac (600 mg/kg, orally). The LD50 values of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts (i.p.) were 2753 mg/kg and 747 mg/kg in the chickens, respectively. The aqueous extract (800-2000 mg/kg, i.p.) and ethanolic extract (40-100 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly prevented the emesis induced by copper sulfate and ipecac. These results indicate that the extracts of T. ammi fruit extracts have an anti-emetic activity in young chickens with peripheral and central mechanisms.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) converts the inactive angiotensin I to (a potent vasoconstrictor and aldosterone releaser) angiotensin II. Inhibitors of ACE are valuable drugs in the treatment of hypertension, and heart failure. These inhibitors have a natural origin and non-peptide drugs were synthesized from the natural lead compounds. However, because of some side effects such as dry cough, many investigators are searching in natural products to find better and more selective lead compounds. There are reports on the interaction between rennin-angiotensin system and endogenous opioid system. Morphine and endogenous opioids have reported to inhibit ACE. In this research we examined the possible inhibitory effects of purified papaver’s main alkaloids on the activity of purified rabbit lung ACE. We found that only papaverin at 1 mM inhibited the enzyme by 40%. The Km value of ACE increased while Vmax decreased in papaverin treated samples. We conclude that part of hypotensive effects of papaverin may be related to ACE inhibition, and this compound will be a suitable lead compound for further investigation.

Parotia persica syn. Hamamelis persica (Hamamelidaceae) is indigenous in north province of Iran. Other species, Hamamelis virginiana, is grown in north of America and has a little distribution in the Europe. Plentiful investigation was performed on the Hamamelis virginiana and species but there is no study about Hamamelis persica and this study is the first report regarding the clinical and phytochemical study of the plant.Hamamelis persica leaves were collected in May, August and October of 1999 from Mazandaran. Extraction was accomplished from the leaves through percolation by ethanol 70. Tannins were measured by spectrophotometric method. For the clinical study as antiperspirant, a roll-on preparation was formulated on the extract by using of glycerol, propylene glycol, water, carbapol 934p, antioxidant and preservative. The dry extract was used in amount of 5% in the preparation. The formulation was prepared in suitable viscosity. The product stability was evaluated during 5 months. Then the product and placebo were given to volunteers. The clinical; study was performed in a blind study by questionnaire. Results showed that the leaves contain mainly pyrogallol group tannins (6.11%). The product had suitable stability in clinical study. Sweating was reduced in 85 percent of the volunteers that used product as roll-on in armpit.

Many reports have shown the various effects of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) seed extract for example antioxidant, protecting RBC against UV, also hypotensive, hypolipidemic and vasodilatory effects. We have recently shown the relaxatory effect of grape leaf extract on rat ileum and uterus and frog isolated heart rate and contractility. The aim of present study was to investigate the relaxant effect of Vitis vinifera leaf hydroalcoholic extract (VLHE) on isolated rat thoracic aorta contractions induced by phenylephrine and KCl, and the role of aorta endothelium on this action. Rat aorta was removed and placed in an organ bath containing Krebs-Henseleit solution and aorta contractions were recorded isometrically. The results demonstrate that the VLHE at 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/ml reduces the endothelial intact aorta contracted by phenylephrine (1 μM) significantly and dose-dependently. Endothelial denuded aorta showed the same relaxation but in much less extent. The IC50 of these two groups were 0.454±0.08 and 1.73±0.23 mg/ml respectively. VLHE also reduced the aorta contractions induced by KCl (80mM). The relaxatory effect of VHLE on KCl –induced contractions were less than those evoked by phenylephrine. Soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor (methylene blue, 10 μM) and nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (L-NAME, 100μM) reduced the VHLE-induced relaxation in the intact aorta significantly but, atropine (1μM) was unable to decrease this vasorelaxant effect. These results suggest that the most vasorelaxant effect of VHLE on rat aorta is endothelium-dependent and also nitric oxide (NO) and cGMP are involved in this action.

In this report we investigated the effects of the aqueous fraction (AF) isolated from Delphinium denudatum on Sustained Repetitive Firing (SRF) in cultured neonatal rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Blockade of SRF is one of the basic mechanisms of antiepileptic drugs (AED) at the cellular level. The effects of aqueous fraction (0.2-0.6 mg/ml) were compared with the prototype antiepileptic drug, phenytoin (PHT). Using the whole cell current-clamp technique, Sustained Repetitive Firing was elicited in neurons by a depolarizing pulse of 500 ms duration, 0.3 Hz and 0.1-0.6 nA current strength. Similar to phenytoin, aqueous fraction reduced the number of action potentials (AP) per pulse in a concentration-dependent manner until no action potentials were elicited for the remainder of the pulse. There was a corresponding use-dependent reduction in amplitude and Vmax (velocity of upstroke) of action potentials. The Vmax and amplitude of the first action potential was not affected by phenytoin, while aqueous fraction exhibited concentration-dependent reduction. At 0.6 mg/ml aqueous fraction reduced Vmax to 58-63 % and amplitude to 16-20 % of the control values. The blockade of Sustained Repetitive Firing by aqueous fraction was reversed with hyperpolarization of membrane potential (-65 to –75 mV) while depolarization of membrane potential (-53mV to -48 mV) potentiated the block. The results suggest that aqueous fraction blocks Sustained Repetitive Firing in hippocampal neurons in a use-dependent and voltage-dependent manner similar to phenytoin. However, unlike phenytoin, which interacts preferably with the inactive state of the Na+ channel, the compounds present in aqueous fraction apparently also interact with the resting state of the Na+ channels as suggested by dose-dependent reduction of Vmax and amplitude of first AP. We conclude that aqueous fraction contains potent anticonvulsant compounds.

The genus Cymbopogon, a one of Poaceae family, is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions.‏The essential oils extracted from this genus used in food, soap, perfumary and other related industries. The C. citratus stapf species was cultivated for first time in the north of Iran. Therefor, recognition of essential oil composition is necessary. Essentiol oil extracted with hydrodistillation method from fresh leaves, and analysed by GC/MS. From 91.1% of identifed components, Citral (49.43%), Citronellal (20.25%) and Geranyl acetate (6.41%) were major components respectively.

A significant number of people are looking at alternatives to mainstream medicine for treating various ills in particular as sleep remedies. Because of the likelihood that our patients will be taking alternative and over the counter treatments, which often interact with other medications, it behooves us to be aware of their possible benefits and risks. In this paper, we review some of the herbal preparations that are marketed as treatment for disturbed sleep.

The growing interest in the substitution of chemical food preservatives, both antimicrobials and antioxidants, by natural ones has fostered research on the vegetable source and screening of plant extracts and essential oils in order to identify acceptable natural alternatives. In this study, log probability percentage (Log P%) of growth of Salmonella typhimurium in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) broth as affected by different concentrations of Zataria multiflora Boiss essential oil (0.0, 0.03 and 0.06%) during 21 days storage at three temperatures (35, 25 and 15ºC) was investigated. The Log P% of S. typhimurium was affected significantly (P < 0.05) by different concentrations of the essential oil. The Log P% of S. typhimurium in BHI broth with 0% essential oil at 35, 25 and 15ºC were 1.07, 1.07 and 0.41 respectively. While in BHI broth with 0.03 and 0.06% essential oils were -2.93, -3.24 and -4.23 and -4.23, -4.23 and -4.23 respectively. According to the results, the Log P% of growth of S.typhimurium was decreased by increasing of the concentration of essential oil.