Journal of Medicinal Plants
Volume:13 Issue: 51, 2014

Although some alternative therapies like botanical and herbal therapies have shown promise for relieving menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, more research is needed. Eighty-five percent of the women in the United States experience hot flashes of some kind as they approach menopause and for the first year or two after their periods stop. Between 20 and 50% of women continue to have them for many more years. As time goes on, the intensity decreases. In this review we focus on the evidence based herbal medicine in particular with herbs that have antidepressant effects.

Satureja bachtiarica Bunge, an endemic species with relatively wide distribution, is traditionally used as a medicinal and spice plant in Iran. Essential oils composition, antioxidant activities and phenolics content of wild and cultivated S. bachtiarica of Yazd origin were determined in this study. Hydrodistilled essential oils were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl3 methods were served to determine total phenolics and flavonoids of methanol extracts, respectively. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were examined by DPPH and FRAP methods and their rosmarinic acid content was measured by using HPLC. The oil content of cultivated and wild plants was 1.8% and 0.9% v/w, respectively. Oxygenated monoterpens (78.3 - 79.5%) constituted the major fraction of essential oils with carvacrol (71.4% and 57.4% in cultivated and wild plants, respectively. p - Cymene (8.6 - 12.5%) was another major components of essential oils. Methanol extract from wild growing plants exhibited the higher levels antioxidant activities in both DPPH and FRAP methods (29.04 and 58.25 mg Trolox/g, respectively). This extract also contained the higher amounts of total phenolics (24.5 mg caffeic acid /g sample), total flavonoids (87.99 mg catechin /g sample) and rosmarinic acid (3.73 mg/g dry weight) in comparison to cultivated ones (16.2 mg caffeic acid /g sample, 40.55 mg catechin /g sample and 1.73 mg/g dry weight, respectively). Obtained results may be helpful for domestication of this plant and development of natural antioxidants for use in different industries.

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum - graecum L.) is an annual medicinal plant belongs to the legume family and has anti-diabetic, anti-fertility, anticancer, anti-microbial, anti-parasitic and hypocholesterolaemic effects. Evaluation of growth and trigonelline /mucilage content in fenugreek under application of plant growth regulators (PGR). The experiment was conducted on randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) with 13 treatments and 3 replications. The treatments were consist of control (distilled water application), Giberrellic Acid (GA3) 25 and 50 ppm and Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) 25 and 50 ppm (for each concentration by soaking the seeds before planting, spray after planting, and soaking seeds before planting with spray after planting). Application of plant growth regulators significantly increased trigonelline and mucilage content of seed, shoots and pods dry weight per plant and 1000-seed weight. Application of plant growth regulators had no significant effect on the SPAD value. Mean comparisons showed that the highest shoot dry weight was related to NAA, GA3 50 ppm (soaking seeds before planting with spray after planting), and also the highest pods dry weight, 1000-seed weight, mucilage and trigonelline content of seeds were obtained from GA3 50 ppm (soaking the seeds before planting with spray after planting). Application of GA3 50 ppm as the soaking seeds before planting with spray after planting are effective to obtain maximum trigonelline and mucilage content in fenugreek.

Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) essential oil has been traditionally used in the ayurvedic system of medicine for healing burns, infections and seborrheic dermatitis. But yet, no controlled human study has determined its efficacy. The goal of the current study was to compare the efficacy of 5% tea tree essential oil (TTO) gel with placebo in the treatment of mild to moderate facial seborrheic dermatitis. Fifty four patients with mild to moderate facial seborrheic dermatitis reffered to Skin Diseases Research Center, in the Qazvin city, Iran, were randomly divided into two groups and treated with either 5% TTO gel or placebo three times daily for 4 weeks. The patients follow-ups were conducted in both groups after 2 and 4 weeks with evaluating of erythema, scaling, itching and greasy crusts. Forty two patients completed the treatment course. There were significant differences between the TTO and placebo groups in the improvement of erythema, scaling, itching and greasy crusts (p < 0.05). Allergic side - effects were seen in neither group. 5% TTO gel is effective in the treatment of mild to moderate facial seborrheic dermatitis.

S. alopecuroides, Z. officinale and M. officinalis are used traditionally in the treatment of pain. To evaluate the plants effects in the rat formalin test and their activity on the opioid receptors. Each rat was placed individually in a cage for 30 min to get acclimated. Then 0.05 mL of 10% formalin was injected subcutaneously into the dorsal surface of the right hind paw of the rat. Afterward, the animal was returned to the cage for observation. Pain responses were scored at 30 and 60 min after formalin injection. 90% ethanol extract was injected subcutaneously 30 min before formalin injection. To evaluate the role of opioid receptors in the analgesic effect of the extracts inhibiting the early phase of the test, naloxone was injected subcutaneously 30 min before extract injection. Moreover, the extracts effects on the Straub reaction were studied in mice. Mice were placed in individual cages immediately after extract injection for observation. The positive Straub tail response was considered as a persistent elevation of the tail at an angle more than 45º, 30 min after extract injection. S. alopecuroides and M. officinalis inhibited both phases of the formalin test (p<0.05), but Z. officinale inhibited only the late phase (p<0.05). Naloxone did not reverse the effects of S. alopecuroides and M. officinalis in the formalin test. Further, the extracts did not cause Straub reaction. The plants have analgesic effect without opioid including µ2 receptor activity and may not produce the side effects caused by activation of µ2 receptors.

Artemisia dracunculus L. belongs to the Anthemideae tribe of Asteraceae family. This plant has been used in traditional folk medicine. Also, it''s anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activity has been proved. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of leaves and inflorescence of A. dracunculus and also to identify its phenolic compounds. A. dracunculus was collected in inflorescenceing season from Urmia. In this study, phenolic and flavonoid content, and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity for methanol extracts of leaves and inflorescences of A. dracunculus were investigated. Also, phenolic compounds were determined and measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Phenolic content of methanolic extracts of inflorescence of the A. dracunculus showed higher values than leaves. The highest flavonoid content was determined in leaves. There was a positive correlation between total phenolic content and the percentage of DPPH radical scavenging. Based on the results of the HPLC, seven phenolic compounds were detected in leaves and inflorescences (gallic acid, p-hydroxy benzoic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, syrinjic acid, ferolic acid, sinapic acid). A. dracunculus contained phenolic compounds and showed significant antioxidant activity. High performance liquid chromatography results indicated significant differences (p<0.05) between different parts in case of phenolic compounds.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) as a member of the Lamiaceae family is a valuable aromatic and medicinal plant which is cultivated in large scale in Iran. Therefore, it is necessary to determine influence of factors affecting plant growth and drug metabolite production. This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of bio-stimulators compounds on growth and phytochemical traits of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.). This experiment was conducted on the basis of randomized complete blocks design with three replications at Medicinal Plants Institute (MPI) of ACECR in 2013. The treatments included commercial formulations of aminolforte, kadostim, fosnutren, humiforte (each of them at 0.75 and 1.5 L.ha-1), 120 kg.ha-1 chemical fertilizers (N.P.K, 15:8:15%), and control treatment (without any bio-stimulators and chemical fertilizer applications). The effects of treatments were significant (p≤0.01) on all of the traits in a way that the maximum value of plant height (42.94 cm), leaf length (34.92 mm), leaf width (4.2 mm), number of leaves per plant (465 leaves.plant-1), leaf SPAD value (56.1 SPAD), total dry weight (246.78 kg.ha-1) essential oil (1.4%), α-pinene (27.35%), was obtained by foliar application of 1.5 L.ha-1 fosnutren. Also, the highest of collar diameter of stem (10.77 mm) and number of branches per plant (24.63 branches.plant-1) and camphor (9.87%) was observed in chemical fertilizers treatment, 1.5 L.ha-1 aminolforte and humiforte, respectively. In contrast, the least amounts of traits were observed in control treatment. The growth and phytochemical traits of rosemary increased due to foliar application of bio-stimulators compounds.

Inflammation is a dynamic process that is elicited in response to various harmful stimulantsthat may threaten the well-being of the host. Herbs have been traditionally used as anti-inflammatory agents since very early times. Rubia tinctorum L. is one of these herbs that havebeen used for treating inflammatory diseases in Iranian traditional medicine. This study aims at considering anti-inflammatory effects of R. tinctorum and comparing its extracts in this property. The root of Rubia tinctorum (Rubiaceae) was collected from Yazd province, in the center of Iran. The root extracts of plant were studied for their anti-inflammatory activity by using carrageenan-induced hind paw edema in Wistarmale rats. Indomethacin and normal saline were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. Different concentrations of aqueous, ethanolic, and 50% aq. ethanolic extracts (600, 800, 1000 mg/kg) were given orally before carrageenan injection. The paw thickness was measured at 1, 3 and 5 hours after injection. Both, aqueous and 50% eq. ethanolic extracts reduced paw edema at 600 and 800 mg/kg concentrations. Moreover, ethanolic extract showed significant effect only in1sthour after carrageenan injection. The results indicated that the aqueous extract were exhibited higher anti-inflammatory effect compared with other extracts. Accordingly, the potent anti-inflammatory effect of the root extracts is attributed to the polar compounds which are extracted in the water.

The seeds of some medicinal plants and their compounds have long been valued for their numerous health benefits. To investigate some physical and chemical properties of Salvia spp. Some physico-chemical properties in five species of Salvia seeds (consisted of S. officinalis L., S. macrosiphon L., S. hypoleuca L., S. sclarea L. and S. nemorosa L.) were measured at 8.73 ± 0.09% moisture content (d.b.) in four categories of large, medium, small size and ungraded lots with replication. The largest major diameter (L1) value was recorded in S. hypoleuca L. The highest intermediate (L2) and minor diameters (L3), seed weight, volume, surface area, sphericity, arithmetic, geometric and square mean diameters, equivalent diameter and mucilage content were obtained in S. officinalis L. seeds. Also, the most percentage of oils content was observed in S. sclarea seeds. Maximum kurtosis index was obtained in S. officinalis L. for major and minor diameter, surface area, sphericity, arithmetic, geometric and square mean diameters and equinalant diameter, in S. hypoleuca L. for intermediate diameter and seed volume, and in S. nemorosa L. for seed weight. The highest skewness index was observed in S. hypoleuca L. for minor diameter, seed volume, surface area, arithmetic and square mean diameter and equivalent diameter, in S. nemorosa L. for major diameter and seed weight, in S. officinalis L. for intermediate diameter and sphericity, and in S. sclarea L. for geometric mean diameter. The maximum content of mucilage and oils were found in S. officinalis and S. sclarea, respectively. The mucilage content was significantly correlated to minor diameter and sphericity, while there was not significant correlation between content of seed oils and measured parameters.

Type 2 diabetes is a global health problem and a major cause of illness. Exercise, diet and medication are the three pillars in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of aerobic training combined with green tea hydroalcoholic extract consumption on blood glucose and lipid profile on diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in 40 male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of 50 ml/kg streptozocin. After two weeks the diabetic rats with fasting blood glucose of 150 to 300 mg/dl were divided into 4 groups of 10 rats each and named as: aerobic exercise, aerobic exercise with green tea, green tea, and control. Aerobic exercise was performed as running on Treadmill for 5 days a week daily for 30-90 minutes with Treadmill speed of 18 -24 meters per minute. Green tea extract (100 mg/kg) was gavages once a day for 5 weeks. At baseline and endpoint fasting blood glucose, cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c and triglyceride levels were determined in all groups. Fasting blood glucose level decreased significantly in all groups but triglyceride and cholesterol decreased in aerobic exercise and aerobic exercise + green tea groups at end point compared with baseline and also compared with control group. Fasting blood LDL-c level significantly decreased and HDL-c level significantly increase, in aerobic exercise and aerobic exercise with green tea at end point compared with baseline and also compared with control and green tea group. Aerobic exercise favorably affects glucose and lipid profile and in combination with green tea it has synergistic effects.

Thymus daenensis is on e of the endemic aromatic species in Iran that its essential oil is used in food and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, the effects of plant growth stages and distillation methods on essential oil content and thymol percentage of this species were evaluated. The aerial parts of Th. daenensis were collected in three stages of plant growth from Tehran province of Iran. The plant materials were dried in shade and their essential oils were isolated by hydro-distillation in three replications. In addition, the essential oils of plant materials at full flowering stage were obtained by hydro-distillation, water&steam distillation and steam distillation. The essential oils were analyzed by capillary GC and GC/MS. The result showed that the different plant growth stages and distillation methods had significant effect on essential oil content. The highest essential oil content was obtained at full flowering stage (2.28% w/w). Among distillation methods, the highest essential oil content was obtained by hydro-distillation (2.27%) that was significant difference with other distillation method. There was no significant difference between essential oil composition at different plant growth stages. Also, thymol, p-cymene and -terpinene were the main components. The highest percentage of thymol was obtained by hydro-distillation. Generally, it can be concluded that harvesting of Th. daenensis at full flowering stage and extraction of its essential oil by hydro-distillation were more suitable for obtaining the higher oil content and thymol percentage.