Journal of Medicinal Plants
Volume:11 Issue: 41, 2012

Trigonelline is an alkaloid composition that involved hormone role in plants. This metabolite is synthesized by methylation of nicotinic acid in plant and is found in several plants species, including coffee, fenugreek, soybean, pea, alfalfa and etc. This alkaloid is claimed to have anticarcinogenic, antimigraine, antiseptic, hypocholesterolemic, and hypoglycemic activities. Several studies has indicated that trigonelline inhibit the major enzymes of glucose metabolism thus decrease the blood glucose level. Based on this, trigonelline metabolite may be cause of a new production drug for the management and treatment of diabetes. Trigonelline was identified as a leaf-closing factor in a nyctinastic plant, a signal in the response to oxidative stress in plants, an osmoregulator in response to drought and salt stress, a molecule promoting cell arrest in G2, and an inducer of nod genes during colonization of root legumes.

Trigonelline is an alkaloid composition that involved hormone role in plants. This metabolite is synthesized by methylation of nicotinic acid in plant and is found in several plants species, including coffee, fenugreek, soybean, pea, alfalfa and etc. This alkaloid is claimed to have anticarcinogenic, antimigraine, antiseptic, hypocholesterolemic, and hypoglycemic activities. Several studies has indicated that trigonelline inhibit the major enzymes of glucose metabolism thus decrease the blood glucose level. Based on this, trigonelline metabolite may be cause of a new production drug for the management and treatment of diabetes. Trigonelline was identified as a leaf-closing factor in a nyctinastic plant, a signal in the response to oxidative stress in plants, an osmoregulator in response to drought and salt stress, a molecule promoting cell arrest in G2, and an inducer of nod genes during colonization of root legumes.

The rheumatologic diseases like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lowback pain and fibromyalgia are very common. The synthetic drugs available for treatment of these diseases have low efficacy and considerable adverse effects. Numerous approaches are used as alternatives and complementary to synthetic drugs to treat these diseases. One of the approaches is use of herbal medications. Here, the effects of medicinal plants and herbal active constituents used in treatment of these diseases including gammalinolenic acid, glucosamine, devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens), Ocimum species, Salix species, feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), Tripterygium wilfordii, Uncaria species, nettle (Urtica dioica), ginger (Zingiber officinale), turmeric (Curcuma longa), chicory (Cichorium intybus), dog rose (Rosa canina) and avocado/soybean unsaponifiables obtained from search for english articles published in the databases PubMed and SCOPUS from 1966 to the end of 2011 using the keywords including the scientific, common and traditional names of plants are reviewed. Limited research has been conducted on the antirheumatic effects of these plants and active constituents so far. Thus it seems that further research to determine the mechanisms of action, drug interactions, efficacy and safety of medicinal plants and herbal active constituents potentially useful in treatment of these diseases are warranted.

Clostridium perfringence is one of the most important pathogens in animals and cause a lot of death in sheeps and goats every year. In human C. perfringence cause food intoxication and gastroentritis. This study was conducted to determine the antimicrobial effects of essential oils of Thymus daenensis, Hypericum Scabrum, pimpinella anisum on clostridium perfringens in the laboratory culture media. After extracting the essential oils by Steam Distilation method، antimicrobial activity were examined by two methods. At first in the plate method after culturing bacteria on the plate containing Nutrient Agar, 5 mm diameter hole was made by the sterile pastuer pipte and 0. 1 ml of each essential oils was added to each whole separetely. In the second step tube dilation method containing Tyoglycolate broth was used to determining the MIC and MBC of the essential oils. The results showed that the pimpinella anisum oils had not any effect on growth of C. perfringence, but the mean value of inhibitory zones for thymus daenensis and Hypericum Scabrum oils were 8. 1 ± 0. 2 and 6. 03 ± 0. 15 respectevely. The MIC for thymus daenensis and Hypericum Scabrum oils were 5% and 15% respectively. The results showed that the MBC of Thymus daenensis and Hypericum Scabrum oils for C. perfringence were 20% and 40% respectively. Regarding to the results of this study it is posible to use these essential oils as a natural preservative in foods also as a disinfectant on infected tissues.

Since long lasting administration of anti-seizure drugs produces undesirable side effects, many efforts have been made during recent decades to find and replace the chemical drugs by medicinal plants. The aim of present study was to study the antiepileptic (anti-seizure) effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Melissa officinalis on experimental epileptiform seizures, induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) in Wistar rat. After normalization, rats in experimental groups 1, 2 and 3 were injected (i.p) 50, 80 and 120 mg/kg hydroalcoholic extract of Melissa officinalis, respectively. Control animals were injected extract solvent as the same manner. After 30 minutes all rats were injected (i.p) 80 mg/kg PTZ and then examined for epileptiform behaviors for the next 60 minutes. The rate of mortality during the next 24 hour was also recorded. In comparison with control group, in all experimental groups the latent period of tonic-clonic generalized seizure was significantly (P<0.05) increased. Moreover, the mortality rate was decreased from 90% in control group to 30, 50 and 60% in experimental groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. It can be concluded that hydroalcoholic extract of Melissa officinalis has potential sedative and anticonvulsant effects and probably exerts its effects through GABAergic system.

Taxol is an effective anticancer drug used widely in the treatment of a variety of cancers, including carcinomas of the ovary and breast. Taxol was originally isolated from the bark of Pacific yew tree Taxus bervifolia L.. Increasing demand for taxol and resource paucity of Pacific yew trees has driven several research groups to advance the taxol production methodologies, including using elicitors in suspension cultures of Taxus spp. cells. Elicitors are often used to improve taxol production incultured cells. The aim of this work is to inject the Taxus baccata tree a single and combination of salaicylic acid and silver nitrate to improve taxol production. Salicylic acid and silver nitrate solution in different concentration were prepared and injected to tree. After 30 days of elicitors’ injection the leave for aerial parts of the tree was collected. The dried powder of the leave was extracted by maceration with ethanol 96%. To detect taxol, a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system was employed. The treated cells with salaicylic acid and silver nitrate displayed a significant decrease in taxol. Increasing concentration of elicitors resulted lower content of taxol. The injection of single and combine of salaicylic acid and silver nitrate on the Taxus baccata tree showed negative effect on taxol production. It seems that more researchs need to be done in order to understand the acting mechanisms of used elicitors.

The usage of “growth promoter” antibiotics has been banned recently. This is due to the possibility of bacterial resistance and the risk of transferring to consumers. Herbs with antimicrobial and hypolipidemic properties can suggest as proper alternatives for antibiotic. Comparative investigation of growth promoting effect of four medicinal plants (Cuminum L., Mentha piperita L., Achillea L., Teucrium Polium L.) on performance and concentration of serum lipids of broiler. Total 280 day-old male Ross broiler chicks were used in a CRD design with 5 treatments, and 4 replicates and 56 birds per each treatment. Cuminum, Mentha piperita, Achillea and Teucrium Polium was added to diets in levels of 1.5, 0.3, 0.2 and 0.2 percent, respectively. A treatment without any additive was considered as control group. Feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio were recorded weekly. Total cholesterol, Triglycerides, LDL and HDL were measured at 35 days of age. Among the medicinal plants that used in this study, inclusion Mentha piperita in finisher diets increased feed intake (2196.4 g) and weight gain (1005.3 g), significantly (p<0.05). At total rearing period, addition of Teucrium Polium to diets decreased weight gain (1821.3 g) of chicks compared to control (1963.7 g), decreased total cholesterol (151.33 mg/dl) and LDL (29.06 mg/dl); but it increased HDL (120.16 mg/dl) of serum (p<0.05). The results of this experiment suggest that Mentha piperita L., in diet, improves broiler performance compared to control and it can be used as growth promoter in broiler nutrition.

Bacillus cereus is a gram positive and spore-forming bacteria that often associated with food products such as meat, vegetables, soup, rice, and milk and other dairy products. 1 - 20% of total outbreaks of food intoxication in the world are caused by Bacillus cereus. There is an increasing interest in the use of plant-derived antimicrobial compounds as natural preservatives for foods; such as Cuminum cyminum L. essential oil that inhibition of the growth of several pathogens by it has been reported in various articles. The objective of this survey is evaluation of antibacterial effect of Cuminum cyminum L. essential oil on Bacillus cereus in a food model. The essential oil of Cuminum cyminum plant was obtained by steam-distillation and analyzed by GC/MS. Then, effects of different concentrations of this essential oil (0, 50, 150, 300 and 450ppm) on growth of Bacillus cereus were evaluated in commercial barely soup in two storage temperature (10 and 25°C) at 12 intervals (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 days). The logarithm of Bacillus cereus was significantly decreased by 300 and 450ppm EO concentration incubated at 10°C storage temperature and 450 ppm EO concentration incubated at 25°C storage temperature (p< 0.01). The results showed, the potential inhibitory effects of the Cuminum cyminum L. essential oil on Bacillus cereus in a food model (commercial barely soup).

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the leading bacterial species causing infection in human. This species is or becoming resistant to many antibiotics, including vancomycin. As vancomycin is one of the antibiotics used as a last resort for the treatment of the infections caused by S. aureus, therefore identification and application of new effective antibacterial compounds is of utmost importance. In this study, the anti VRSA effects of the hydro alcoholic extracts of 8 Iranian medicinal plants including bulb of Allium ascalonicum, Allium sativum, leave of Utica dioica, Falcaria vulgari, Achillea millefolium and Trigonella foenum and seeds of Trigonella foenum and Brassica alba were surveyed. The effects were studied using disk diffusion method and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration was determined using micro dilution broth methods against 15 VRSA strains. Among the extracts, the most effective was Allium ascalonicum bulb: MIC 50: 128 μg/ml and Achillea millefolium had the least effect: MIC 50: 1000 μg/ml. As VRSA strains are widespread in the world and treatment of the causative infections is becoming a major problem in medicine, these results, especially results of anti VRSA effects of Allium ascalonicum bulb extract, might be very helpful but clinical application of these extracts and identification of the fractions need further study.

Salvia multicaulis is a permanent herb belongs to Lamiaceae family which wildely grows in most regions of Iran. This plant is used as flavour and tea. Investigation on the essential oil composition and antioxidant activity of Salvia multicaulis from Lorestan province and comparison of these with other regions. The aerial parts of the plant were collected from Broujerd in Lorestan province. The air-dried samples were subjected to hydrodistillation using by Cleavenger apparatus for 2 h (in yield of 0.3%). The essential oil was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The samples were subjected to screening for their possible antioxidant activity by using DPPH and β-carotene-linoleic acid assay Forty-two constituents were identified, accounting for 90.96% of total oil. The main components of this oil were bornyl acetate (18.58%), borneol (17.16%), camphor (13.75%), camphene (5.62%) and β-caryophyllene (5.85%).The samples were subjected to a screening for their possible antioxidant activities by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-carotene–linoleic acid assays. In general, in both method the methanolic extract exhibited greater antioxidant activities than essential oil. Antioxidants act as radical scavengers, inhibit lipid peroxidation and other free adical-mediated processes and are able to protect the human body as well as processed foods from oxidative damage attributed to the reaction of free radicals.

Flavonoids are as one set of the polyphenolic compounds among secondary metabolites in different organs of plants that are used in plant chemotaxonomy and pharmacognosy. They have basic role in pollination and life cycle of anthmophyllus plants and also their spreading abroad and survival. The aim of this study was to compare the leaf flavonoids profiles of Chrozophora Neck populations in Markazi Province, Iran. Phytochemical studies on 25 collected Chrozophora populations of 2 species (C. hierosolymitana and C. tinctoria: Euphorbiaceae family) from different parts of Markazi Province area were done using 2-dimentional paper chromatography (2-DPC) and thin layer chromatography (TLC). Voucher specimens of each population were prepared for reference as herbarium vouchers. Results showed all of populations contain flavonoid sulphates, flavone C and C-/O-glycosides and aglycon. Also all of studied populations have apigenin and quercetin while rutin was just found in 4 populations of C. tinctoria species that is recorded first time for Markazi Province. All of studied populations have flavonoid compounds that have variation in their flavonoid type and number. layer chromatography, Markazi Province

It has been considered by researchers to study the possibility of replacing chemical food additives such as synthetic antioxidants by natural products especially medicinal plants. The aims of this study were as follow: (i) to determine the major components of the essential oil of Lavandula angustifolia. (ii) to evaluate the antiradical activities of this essential oil by DPPH°, ABTS°+ and β-carotene bleaching assays and (iii) to evaluate the antioxidant activity of this essential oil in crude soybean oil. The main chemical components of essential oil were identified by GC/MS. Antiradical activities of mentioned essential oil was measured by different methods and finally, its antioxidant activity was determined in crude soybean oil system by Oven method. Six main compounds were identified: linalool (27.89%), camphore (10.82%), 1, 8 cineol (9.05%), inalol acetate (8.86%), borneol (7.29%) and α-terpineol (5.04%). EC50 of essential oil was 35.54 ± 1.58 mg/ml. In ABTS°+ assay, maximum antioxidant activity was related to 40 mg/ml concentration of essential oil. In β-carotene bleaching assay, maximum antioxidant activity of essential oil was related to the 10 mg/ml concentration of it (54.4 percent radical scavenging activity). In oven test, essential oil could inhibit of primary and secondary oxidation products of crude soybean oil at 0.8 mg/ml that was almost equal to BHA at 0.2 mg/ml. Antiradical activity of essential oil of Lavandula angustifolia was proved and it seems that after complementary examination, it can be used as natural antioxidant in food, especially those containing edible oils.

Today, it has been revealed that some plants have active components with acaricidal properties, which they can be used as a promising alternative for the control of ticks and others arthropods. The main aim of this work was the evaluation of the effect of Consolida orientalis and Adonis vernalis extracts on eggs and larval stage of Rhipicephalus bursa and Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum. To determining the efficacy of plant extracts on eggs and larval stage of ticks, dipping method was used. Two extract suspensions with different concentrations (100%, 10% and 1%) were used. The number of hatched larvae was considered as a hatchability criterion and the immobility of larvae was considered as larval death. The plant extracts used in this study showed considerable acaricidal effects on treatment groups in comparison with control group (p<0.05%). The egg hatchability rate of R. bursa exposed to the highest concentrations of C. orientalis and A. vernalis extracts were 30% and 34% respectively, while the egg hatchability rate of H. anatolicum anatolicum exposed to the same concentrations of extracts was zero. The effects of different concentrations of extracts on larval stage of ticks were dose and time dependent. In light of LC50 in different days, the anti-tick effect of C. orientalis extract on eggs and larval stage was higher than A. vernalis. The results indicated that the resistance of R. bursa to the extracts was more than H. anatolicum anatolicum.

Inulin is widely used in functional foods throughout the world for its health-promoting and technological properties. Burdock tuber can be a valuable source of inulin. It is cultivated widely in the northern & western parts of Iran. But scarce studies about its extraction exist. It has been increasingly used in functional foods due to its texture improvement, sugar and fat replacer characteristics and beneficial nutritional attributes, as prebiotic ingredient. Optimize conventional extraction of inulin, by using central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM). In this Research, a series of statistically designed studies such as central composite design and response surface methodology were performed to investigate the effect of each of the independent variables, solvent: solid ratio (5 - 15 v/w), temperature (40 - 90°C) and time (5 - 40 min) on yield of inulin extraction from burdock tubers. Response surface methodology was employed to optimize multiple variables to predict the best performance conditions with a minimum number of experiments. According to determination of inulin content of extraction liquid, firstly total carbohydrate was determined by the phenolsulphuric acid method, then reducing sugar was determined by the dinitrosalicylic acid method and finally the inulin content was measured with the difference between total carbohydrate and reducing sugars. Inulin extraction yield (%) was calculated using the following relationship = (inulin content × volume of extraction liquid/mass of Burdock tuber powder) ×100. Based on canonical analysis, the optimal conditions for maximizing inulin extraction yield (12%) were at 66.14°C for 37.6 min and solvent: solid ratios of 14: 98 (v/w). Using the response surface methodology, the optimum set of the independent variables was obtained graphically in order to obtain the desired levels of inulin extraction.

Trichomonas vaginalis is the most common curable sexually transmitted disease world wide. In view of increased resistance of the parasite to classical drugs of the metronidazole family, the need for new unrelated agents is increasing. In Charmahal va bakhtiare province Stachys lavandulifolia traditionally used for vaginal infection. The study evaluates anti trichmonas activity of of ethanolic and watery extract of aerial parts Stachys lavandulifolia. This study has been carried out as double blind in test and control groups. Etanolic and watery were extracted by hydro distillations. The parasite was isolated from vagina. Sample were collected from vaginal discharges of six patients and cultured in laboratory. Identification were done through direct smear preparation, parasite was added to the 9 test tubes containing metronidazole, etanolic and watery extraction of Stachys lavandulifolia with concentration of (10, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000μL/ml) order to determine the effect of these concentration within 72 hours. finding suggested that the Trichomonas vaginalis could be alive in TYIS-33, watery and ethanolic extraction within 72 hours. In presence of metronidazole for no alive parasite was detected after 72 hours. Number of parasite in TYIS-33, watery (10, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000μg/ml) and ethanolic extraction (10, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000μg/ml) and ethanol was 1504, 1504, 100, 1304, <100, 577 respectively. Finding demonstrates further studies are required of of Stachys lavandulifolia to evaluate its microbicidal activity against other sexually transmitted infection.

Although the consumption of Pharmaceutical Plants has been eliminated during the development of chemical industries, it seems that the use of these plants is going to being increased. The attitude of people towards the consumption of Pharmaceutical Plants has been examined in this paper. The main aim of this study is the evaluation of Consumption Demand of Yasouj People towards Pharmaceutical Plants. This study has been done by survey method and via questionnaire about upper than 20 years old people of Yasouj city. Sample size, via Cochroan formula, was determined 380 cases. Sampling cases were specified by random cluster sampling. At first, 10 clusters selected out of all 20 clusters of Yasouj city, randomly. Then, from each selected cluster, 38 persons (include 19 men and 19 women) were selected (380 persons, totally). Using SPSS software, data were analyzed. Findings of study showed that the awareness level and Pharmaceutical Plants consumption among women is more than men (pv<0.001). There is significant difference between age groups due to the awareness level and Pharmaceutical Plants consumption (pv<0.001), so that the older persons have had more attitude towards and more consumption of Pharmaceutical Plants. Increasing the awareness level with the properties of pharmaceutical plants, training doctors in the field of herbal medicines, insurance support and the easy access of pharmaceutical plants compared to the chemical drug as the main factors will be increased the consumption of pharmaceutical Plants.

The antioxidant properties of medicinal plants as natural resources are located attention by researchers for use in food and biological systems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate antioxidant activity of essential oil and extracts of Mentha longifolia as asubstitute for synthetic antioxidants. In this laboratory study, the essential oil plant was analyzed by GC / MS. Antioxidant activity of essential oil and extracts was evaluated with DPPH free radical scavenging and beta-carotene bleaching methods and was compared with synthetic antioxidant BHT. The major components of Mentha longifolia essential oil were monoterpen oxygen compounds including Cis-piperitone epoxide %28.23, Alpha-terpineol %18.64, Menthone %10.97, Pulegone %9.73 and Cis-piperitone epoxide %8.73. IC50 of Mentha longifolia essential oil was 1765 ± 5 μg / ml and IC50 of aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic extracts were 100 ± 1.2, 53.8 ± 0.58, 50 ± 0.5, while IC50 of BHT was 4.9 ± 0.25 μg / ml.furthermore, in beta-carotene bleaching method, the antioxidant activity essential oil was 60 percent and IC50 of aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic extracts were estimated73.27,89.88, 84.79 percent respectively. while parameters for BHT 95 ± 0/9 percent. The antioxidant properties of essential oil tested was not significant, while the extracts showed considerable antioxidant properties that candidate them for using in foods as a natural antioxidant.

In order to ecological agriculture, application of bio-stimulators compounds can be increase the quantitative and qualitative yield of crops in company with reducing environmental stresses. To determine the effects of bio-stimulators compounds on quantitative and qualitative yield of German chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.), this experiment was conducted. This study was done in research farm of ACECR, Institute of Medicinal Plants in a randomized complete block design with three replications and ten treatments in 2010. The treatments were C (Control/no fertilizer), CF (Chemical fertilizer), A1 (Aminolforte 0.75 L.ha-1), A2 (Aminolforte 1.5 L.ha-1), K1 (Kadostim 0.75 L.ha-1), K2 (Kadostim 1.5 L.ha-1), H1 (Humiforte 0.75 L.ha-1), H2 (Humiforte 1.5 L.ha-1), F1 (Fosnutren 0.75 L.ha-1), and F2 (Fosnutren 1.5 L.ha-1). The results showed that the different treatments had significant effects on plant height, capitule diameter, capitule number per plant, fresh and dry matter yield of capitule per hectare, essential oil yield per hectare, chamazulene content, total flavonoid content (p<0.01) and plant harvest index (p<0.05). Also, the treatments didn’t have significant effects on plant water content. Application of bio-stimulators could be increased the quantitative and qualitative yield of German chamomile. However, treatments of A2 and F2 (Aminolforte and Fosnutren 1.5 L.ha-1) were the best treatments in respect of yield of capitule and essential oil per hectare. Also, the application of the bio-stimulators can lead to increasing crop production in company with minimizing of environmental pollution and sustainable agriculture.

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.), as the most important species of the genus, has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. Recently, the plant compounds are used to treat mild and moderate depression around the world. This study identified the constituents of essential oil and total phenolic compounds and also antioxidant activity of methanol extract of H. perforatum collected from wildly growing area in the north of Iran (Tonecabon, Mazandaran province). Essential oil was extracted by hydro-distillation of air dried flowering shoots using Clevenger apparatus. The essential oils were analyzed by both gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography −mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Total phenolic compounds in the methanol (80%) extract were determined according to the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent using tannic acid as standard. Antioxidant activity of extract was also evaluated by DPPH free radical method. Monoterpens (25.63%) were found to be the major fraction of the oil and α- Pinene (21.88%) was found to be the most abundant compound, followed by nonane (9.77%), n- octane (9.13%) and dodecanol (6.80%). In addition, the results indicated total phenol content (50 μg gallic acid equivalent/g) and antioxidant activity (34. 37 μg/ml) of methanolic extract. α- Pinene was the major constituent of essential oil of H. perforatum tested sample and its methanol extract contained the high amount of total phenolic compounds and consequently exhibited a considerable antioxidant activity.

Ocimum basilicum showed antinociceptive activity. The antinociceptive effect was inhibited by naloxone in hot-plate test. As O. basilicum antinociceptive activity was inhibited by an opioid antagonist, activity-guided fractionation of methanol extract of this plant was carried out to investigate the isolation of the active component(s) responsible for the alleviation of morphine withdrawal syndrome induced by naloxone. Dependence was induced using subcutaneous injections of morphine daily for three days (50, 50 and 75 mg/kg). On the fourth day, morphine was injected two hours prior to the intraperitoneal injection of naloxone. The number of jumps during the 30 minute period after naloxone injection was considered as measure of the withdrawal syndrome. The extract and fractions were injected 30 min prior to morphine injection. The methanol extract of plant was suspended in water and extracted with chloroform. The active chloroform layer was concentrated and partitioned between methanol-water (9:1) and petroleum ether. The extract or fraction was injected intraperitoneally at doses 0.15 - 1.46 g/kg. The methanol, chloroform and petroleum ether extracts decreased the jumping numbers more than the aqueous and hydro-alcohol extracts. Further fractionation on silica gel column chromatography yielded a fraction, which was 4 times as effective as the crude extract. The results of this study indicated that the plant extracts and fractions containing non- polar component (s) could be useful for the alleviation of morphine withdrawal syndrome

The α-glucosidase and α-amylase are the key enzymes involved in broken down of dietary polysaccharides to monosaccharides or simple sugars molecules. Inhibition of these two gastrointestinal enzymes especially in diabetic patients can reduce glucose absorption and decreases postprandial hyperglycemia. The present study was undertaken to explore the α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory effects of different silybum marianum seed extracts. Silybum marianum seeds were collected from the Institute of Medicinal Plants farm and total extract and different fractions were prepared by methanol, chloroform, hexane and ethyl acetate solvents. The inhibitory effects of the extracts were tested on α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme separately. In this experiment, the minimum concentration of the extract required for 50% inhibition of enzyme activity (IC50), was obtained and compared with acarbose as a positive control. The results showed that total methanol extract and hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol fractions of silybum marianum seeds have inhibitory effects on α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme activity. Statestical analysis showed that total methanol extract of silybum marianum seeds have stronger inhibitory effect than other fractions on α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme activity compared to acarbose. Methanol extracts of silybum marianum seeds have stronger inhibitory effect than methanol, ethyl acetate, hexane and chloroform fraction on α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme activity.

The Mentha spices can growth and adaptation with different climatology. This research was performed to investigate adaptation, suitable growth period, identification of suitable agronomy characters and identification of essential oil compounds of 2 ecotypes of water mint. This research was performed in Research Institute of Forest and Rangelands during 6 years in 1999 to 2004. Was conducted as a split plot at time by using of randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications. Main and sub factors were ecotype and year, respectively. There was difference significant between ecotypes on plant height, leaf long and total essential oil yield (α≤0.01) and lateral stem number, essential oil yield of flower and leaf yield (α≤0.05). There was significant difference between difference years on all traits at 0.01level. Investigation effect of year× ecotype showed that there was difference significant between plant heights (α ≤0.01), leaf long, essential oil percent of leaf and yield of flowering shoot (α≤0.05). There was difference significant between ectype2 with lateral stem number (29.44n/p), leaf yield (475579g/ha) and yield of essential oil (3314.5g/ha) than ecotype1 on lateral stem number (25.94n/p), leaf yield (460040g/ha) and yield of leaf essential oil (3224.2 g/ha). Mean comparison of years showed that highest and least flower yield with 48695 g/ha and 27733 g/ha belong to 2th and 6th years, respectively.The highest leaf yield were 506723, 506225 and 549352 g/ha 1n first, second and 3th years. Main components were carvone with 50.58% and 76.03% in Ardabil and ghilan ecotypes, respectively. There was different essential oil compounds between different ecotypes and suitable using period of water mint were 3-4 years.

Cinnamomum zeylanicum J. Presl (cinnamon) have been used as food and herbal drug in Asia and Europe. Although some studies have been shown that cinnamon has blood glucose lowering effect but some reports denied it. This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of cinnamon on blood glucose level in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study was a double blind randomized controlled trial study. 61 type 2 diabetic patients with fasting blood glucose of 140 to 250 mg/dl were randomly divided in to two groups. The patients in cinnamon groups received two 500mg cinnamon capsules and patients in placebo group received two 500mg placebo capsules daily. The patients fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and HDL were determined at starting and after 8 weeks at the end of the study. There was no significant difference in patients fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and HDL between intervention groups compared with placebo on starting of the trial. Further results indicated that there were no significant difference between two groups regarding lowering of blood glucose, HbA1c, and blood lipids after 8 week of cinnamon and placebo treatment. According to the study results, consumption of one gram of cinnamon per day, do not have blood glucose lowering effects.