Journal of Medicinal Plants
Volume:10 Issue: 39, 2011

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a commonly diagnosed childhood disorder that affects approximately 3 to 7% of children. As a result, ADHD is one of the most common presenting problems among children referred to mental health professionals. Pharmacotherapy is the most commonly recommended intervention for ADHD and it has been shown to be the optimal treatment option in cases where no other comorbid conditions are present. Herbal medicine is widely used by families of children with ADHD. This review focused on herbal medicine in the treatment of ADHD.

Anxiety disorders are amongst the most popular diseases which interfere with normal life. Benzodiazepines are used as a first line of treatment, but difficulties with pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders such as dependence and low response rate, encourage researchers to find new approaches. From the past, the role of medicinal plants have been a subject of intense interest. In this respect, Citrus aurantium, Coriandrum sativum, Crocus sativus, Echium amoenum, Nepeta persica Boiss, Stachys lavandulifolia and Salix aegyptiaca are widely used by Iranian population. This review summarized the information on Iranian plant species that have been explored for their potential anti-anxiety profile using validated animal models, doses and possible mechanism.

Autoxidation is considered to be the main route of edible oil deterioration, which produces undesirable odors and flavors during storage and heating. The unpleasant flavor of oxidized oil has been attributed to primary and secondary products of unsaturated fatty acids. The microwave heating is a rapid method when compared with other methods of heating. In this research, the effect of microwave heating on the oxidative stability of soybean oil amended with either of Satureja hortensis L. (SHEO) and Zataria multiflora Boiss (ZMEO) essential oils was evaluated and compared with synthetic antioxidant (butylated hydroxyl toluene= BHT; 200 ppm). Soybean oil containing with SHEO (200 and 1000 ppm), ZMEO (200 and 1000 ppm) and BHT (200 ppm) were heated using microwave oven (600 W) for 25 min and spectrophotometer was used to determine UV absorption. Peroxide value (PV), conjugated dienes (CD) and conjugated trienes (CT) indices were measured. Statistical results showed that PV after 25 min were increased in all treatments and the stability of soybean oil treated with synthetic antioxidant (BHT, 200 ppm) was higher than oil treated with the studied essential oils (SHEO and ZMEO, 200 and 1000 ppm). Diene and triene indices increased during the heating. There was a positive correlation between PV, diene and triene indices during the process of microwave heating. The two essential oils (SHEO and ZMEO, in concentrations of 200 and 1000 ppm) showed fairly good antioxidant activities as compared with BHT (200 ppm) in soybean oil control sample (refined- bleached- deodorized soybean oil without any additives).

Studies have emphasized the effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum extract on the reduction of pain and inflammation. In this research we investigated the mechanisms of Trigonella foenum-graecum extract in reducing pain and inflammation induced by formalin. Male Albino mice (weight 20 - 25 g) were evaluated through the injection of 2 microliters of formalin to the plantar part of right foot. Following this, the rate of animal foot pain and inflammation were measured using Dubbison-Dennis and immersion in mercury. Trigonella foenum-graecum extract was injected 30 minutes before administration of formalin to the animals intraperitoneally. In addition, blood samples were taken from animals and corticosterone concentrations were measured. In an in vitro study the effect of extract on the activity of cyclooxygenase type 1 and 2 was assessed. Our results showed that Trigonella foenum-graecum extract inhibits the first and second phase of pain induced by formalin, while inflammation is slightly reduced. Also the effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum extract is reversible with naloxone or memantine administration. Also Trigonella foenum-graecum extract could not increase plasma corticosterone level and was ineffective in activity of cyclooxygenase type 1 and 2 enzyme. Although Trigonella foenum-graecum extract can inhibit pain induced by formalin administration, but it seems that the reduction of pain is due to the possible interaction of components of Trigonella foenum-graecum extract with opioid and/or glutamate systems which occurs in the body and the mechanisms of inflammation reduction are not activated by the extract.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease that can affect cognitive function. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of Ginkgo biloba (GB) on improvement of memory impairment and quality of life in patients with MS. This study was an 8-week, open study of patients with MS. Thirty patients was recruited from a variety of outpatient settings. All participants met McDonald's diagnostic criteria for MS and had Wechsler score of<80. All subjects received Ginkgo 240 mg/day, TDS except one that received 120 mg/day, TDS due to history of gastritis Participants were assessed by Wechsler memory scale, MSIS-29 test and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) which measure memory, quality of life and depression respectively at baseline and after 8 weeks of treatment. Administration of Ginkgo significantly improved Wechsler and MSIS-29 scores. Subjects who were less impaired at baseline on the Wechsler test experienced more improvement with GB. The present study indicates Ginkgo biloba as a very well tolerated medication for improvement of cognitive impairments in people suffering from MS.

The genus Lomatopodium Fisch. & C.A.Mey., belongs to Apiaceae family and contains one herbaceous species growing wildly in Iran. There are only a few papers about the chemical constituents of these plants. Here, we focused on the isolation and identification of the main flavonoid glycosides and sterols from the aerial parts of L. staurophyllum, which has not been previously reported. Flowered aerial parts of the plant were dried and cut into small pieces, then extracted with ethyl acetate and methanol by percolation at room temperature. The separation process was carried out using several chromatographic methods. Structural elucidation was based on NMR and MS data, in comparison with those reported in the literature. The isolated compounds from ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of L. staurophyllum were identified as nonanal (1), stigmasterol acetate (2), beta-sitosterol (3), quercetin 3-O-glucoside (4) and quercetin 3 – O - rhamnoglucoside (5) by comparison of their NMR spectral data with those reported in the literature. Ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of L. staurophyllum contain various flavonol glycosides and sterols as the main components. Pelargonic aldehyde (nonanal), a growth promoting factor in plant cells, is found to be occurred in this species and might be a cause of anti -diarrhea activity.

St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) is an important medicinal plant that has been widely used for its antidepressant properties. In this study morphological characteristics variation of populations of H. perforatum were investigated. In this study, different morphological characteristics of 25 H. perforatum populations in Iran’s natural habitats were evaluated in 2010. The results indicated that the highest coefficients of variations were found in flowers number, the fifth internodes’ length and capsule length (respectively, 93.46, 85.28 and 84.7%); however the lowest coefficients of variations were seen in flower width (11.72%) and sepal length (11.91 %). The largest dimensions of flowers, sepals and petals related to the population which was gathered from Zanjan/Tarum city. The highest leaves dimensions and dark glands density on the bottom leaves were observed in Alamut and Kalaleh populations. The highest positive significant correlations were seen between flower length with flower width; dark glands density on the middle leaves surface area with dark glands density on the bottom leaves surface area; petal length with flower length and width; capsule length with capsule width; non-flowering branches number with branches number; light glands density on the middle leaves surface area with light glands density on the bottom leaves surface area. The lowest significant correlations were observed between capsule length with flower length and width. The principal components analysis showed that four components explained 68.9 % of total variance. The cluster analysis divided these populations into four clusters with no consistency in their geographical distributions. In conclusion, this study indicated that there were high variations among the Iranian St. John’s wort populations which can be utilized in the breeding programs.

In recent years, natural products, especially natural antioxidants, play an important role in various fields. In fact, Lippia citriodora is one of the medicinal plants which is cultivated in Iran and it may be has potential antioxidant activity.

The chemical composition of Lippia citriodora essential oil (LCEO) has been determined. The total phenolic content and antioxidative properties of LCEO were determined. Finally, the effect of the thermal treatment (80, 120, 180ºC) for 1, 2 and 3 hours on the antioxidant activity (AOA) and the chemical composition of LCEO were studied.

The unheated and heated LCEO components were identified by GC/MS. The antioxidant activity (AOA) of LCEO was determined by two complementary test methods, namely DPPH free radical-scavenging and β-carotene bleaching.

LCEO had different chemical components such as R-curcumene (14.1 %), caryophyllene oxide (6.6 %), 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (7.1 %), and spathulenol (7.0 %). The IC50 of LCEO was compared with that of synthetic antioxidant (BHT). Antioxidant activities of LCEO at different concentrations (0.6- 2.5 mg/ml) were determined by β-carotene bleaching method. The antioxidant activities of LCEO at this range of concentrations were 1.5 - 68.0 %. After heating up to 180ºC, the essential oil showed a significantly higher free radical-scavenger activity and evident changes in its chemical composition.

The study can be further extended to exploit not only the phenolic extracts but also the residual phenolic constituents associated with this herbal medicine as health supplement.

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by flagellated protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, which affects both humans and other mammals. Most of the available drugs against the disease are toxic and some are parasite resistance to them. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of Mespilus germanica extract on cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in BALB/c Mice. Ethanolic extract of Mespilus germanica with 40, 60 and 80% concentrations were prepared. Then, the BALB/c mice were inoculated subcutaneously by 0.1 ml liquid phase culture containing promastigotes of Leishmania major. Ethanolic extract of the leaves of Mespilus germanica in different concentrations, were used topically on CL lesions. The mean diameter of the lesions were decreased, and also the number of parasites in the lesions had declined with complete healing by ending the period time of treatment in 4 mice (26.7%), (p< 0.05) and in 9 animals (82%), (p<0.05) respectively, by using the 40% concentration of the extract. Also in a concentration of 60%, mean ulcer diameter decreased, with complete healing in 3 mice (20%), (p<0.001). In this concentration, the mean number of parasites in lesions had declined (66.4%), with total elimination in 8 animals (p< 0.001). We showed that the extract of Mespilus germanica has the highest effectiveness in concentration of 40%, causing greater reductions in both ulcer diameter and the number of parasites in the lesions compared with other prepared concentrations. Therefore, we suggest the use of 40% extract for the treatment of human cases.

Saffron is the dried stigmata of the flowers of saffron (Crocus sativus L., Iridaceae). Saffron and its major active constituents, crocin (crocetin glycoside), crocetin and safranal, have a variety of pharmacological effects including high antioxidant properties and crocetin has insulin sensitizing effect possibly due to its antioxidant activity. Oral crocin is not absorbed and is hydrolyzed and absorbed as the active metabolite crocetin in the rat intestines. Study of the saffron, crocin and safranal effects on the blood levels of fasting glucose, HbA1c (glycosylated hemoglobin) and liver/kidney function tests in alloxan-diabetic rats. The effects of 6 week's daily oral administration of saffron methanolic extract, crocin and safranal on the fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, insulin, creatinine and SGOT and SGPT levels after single alloxan intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 125 mg/kg in rats were evaluated. Alloxan injection resulted in significant increase of fasting blood glucose and HbA1c levels but decreased blood insulin levels significantly. Saffron methanolic extract (80 and 240 mg/kg), crocin (50 and 150 mg/kg) and safranal (0.25 and 0.5 ml/kg) significantly reduced the fasting blood glucose and HbA1c levels but significantly increased the blood insulin levels without any significant effects on the blood SGOT, SGPT and creatinine levels in the diabetic rats compared with the control diabetic rats. The results suggest that saffron may have anti-hyperglycemic and blood insulin level elevating effects without hepatic and renal toxicities in the alloxan - diabetic rats. Further, crocin, crocetin and safranal may be involved in these effects of saffron.

Several formulations of the Nigella sativa L. seeds (Black seed) have been used in traditional medicine for treatment and prevention of a wide range of diseases including diabetes. But blood glucose lowering effects of its oil in a clinical study is of an interest. The present study was undertaken to explore the possible blood glucose lowering effects of the Black seed oil on healthy subjects. A randomized clinical trial was conducted in 70 healthy subjects referring to Bagiatallah hospital. The subjects were randomly selected and enrolled in to two groups of 35 each. One group received 2.5 ml Black seed oil and the other group received similarly 2.5 ml mineral oil two times a day. The fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, liver and renal function test was determined at the baseline and after two months. Results showed that significant decrease in fasting blood glucose and HbA1c levels in Black seed oil treated patients as compared to control group at the end of the study. No notable liver, kidney and gastrointestinal side effects were observed in these two groups. Administration of 5 ml Black seed oil daily to healthy subjects for two months had beneficial effects on improving glycemic profile without any adverse effects.