Journal of Herbmed Pharmacology
Volume:2 Issue: 1, Jun 2013

Leech may indwell in mucosa of the pharynx, tonsil, esophagus, nose, nasopharyngeal and rarely in larynx of hosts, however, the effective drugs against this parasite is scarce. This study was aimed to evaluate and compare the anti-leech effect of methanolic extract of onion (Allium cepa L) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) with levamisole and triclabendazole. In this study, 60 leeches (Limnatis nilotica) were collected from south of Ilam. The anti-leech effect of methanolic extract of onion and ginger in comparison with levamisole and triclabendazole drugs (positive controls) were evaluated. Distilled water was used as negative control. Paralysis and death of leeches were recorded in 720 minutes. Lethal effect of methanolic extract of ginger against Limnatis nilotica was equal to levamisole and more than triclabendazole and methanolic extract of onion. Ginger equal to levamisole has anti-leech activity and its methanolic extract might be used against Limnatis nilotica.

Traditionally Achillea millefolium L. has been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders. In this study the hydroalcoholic extract of A. millefolium was evaluated on ileum contractions of Wistar rats. In this experimental study 32 male Wistar rats were designated into 4 equal groups, including: acetyl choline, KCl, extract plus acetyl choline and the group which received extract plus KCl. The isotonic contractions of ileum (induced by 60 mM KCl or 1 μM acetyl choline) in tyrode solution were recorded, under 1 gr tension. Then, the effects of normal saline or extract (1%) were evaluated. The percentage changes were calculated and compared in different groups using ANOWA and Tukey tests. The mean of ileum contractions in acetyl choline and KCl groups were 18.83±4.91 and 18.31±11.12 (p=0.5). The percentage of contraction relieve in extract plus acetyl choline group was 53.16±12.06 and in extract plus KCl group was 62.96±11.08 (p=0.4). The contractions in extract groups were significantly less than acetyl choline or KCl groups (p<0.05). The results indicate that Achillea millefolium extract inhibits ileum contractions. Therefore, it might be used in patients to reduce ileum spasms.

Traditionally, burn wound healing activities have been claimed for Teucrium polium. Teucrium polium possesses antioxidant and inflammatory activities and seems to ameliorate burn wound healing. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of Teucrium polium on burn healing in Balb/C mice. In this preclinical experimental study 56 mice were randomly designated into 4 equal groups. Burn wounds were made using a hot plate with a surface area of 1.5 cm2. Animals were treated with Teucrium 2%, Silver sulfadiazine or Vaseline 2 times per day for 21 days. The forth group received no treatment. The percentage of burn wounds healing and total time required for complete healing were evaluated and compared in different groups. Data were analyzed using ANOVA test. Teucrium extract accelerated the burn wound healing more rapidly than control groups (p<0.01). Teucrium polium is effective on burn wounds healing and might be beneficial in these groups of patients.

The anticancer effect of tomato lycopene has been approved in some cancers. This study was aimed to determine the prohibitive and therapeutic effects of tomato extract on the growth of fibrosarcoma in mice. In this experimental study 3 groups of 10 male Balb/c mice were injected subcutaneously with 5×105 WEHI-164 tumor cells in the chest area. Prevention group was fed tomato extract (5 mg) for a 4 week period (from 2 weeks before tumor cell injection up to 2 weeks after injection) and the treatment group was fed simultaneously with tumor cell injection up to two weeks after injection daily by an oral gastric tube. The tumors areas were measured and recorded on days 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22. The data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. The results showed that the tumor areas in control group were significantly more after the intervention than two groups of treatment and prevention (p<0.05). The difference was not statistically significant between the two groups of prevention and treatment. With emphasize on antioxidant of tomato, it seems that tomato extract has an important role in prevention and control fibrosarcoma growth.

Brucellosis or Malta fever is one of the most prevalent bacterial zoonosis which is transmitted to human being from animals. High fever, myalgia, and arthralgia of the large joints are the important symptoms. This study was aimed to evaluate the anti-brucellosis effect of ethanol extract of wild snapdragon on Brucella melitensis bacteria. This is an experimental in which after preparing the ethanol extract of wild Snapdragon (Scrophularia deserti), the anti-Brucellosis impressions of the extract on Brucella melitensis which is separated from goat’s abortive fetus were studied by serial dilution and disc diffusion method. In disc diffusion test, the disc containing 60 μg/ml extract the inhibition zone was 9.7mm after 72, for streptomycin (20 μg/disc) 13.3 mm and for streptomycin plus 60 μg/disc extract discs it was 21.5 mm, after 72 hours incubation at 37 centigrade. After analyzing the data; the MIC for serial dilution test was 52% (576 μg/ml) for the first repetition and 50% (576 μg/ml) for the third repetition of the extract with OD600=1.56. For standard medicine "streptomycin" with OD600=1.67 it was 52% (360 μg/ml). Ethanol extract of wild Scrophularia deserti is effective on Brucellla melitensis and its consumption might be useful in these patients.