Evaluation of scientific evidence for abortifacient medicinal plants mentioned in traditional Persian medicine

Background:Miscarriage or spontaneous ending to a pregnancy takes place at the early stages of pregnancy without intervention.Pregnant women may use medicinal herbs to relieve some of the symptoms of pregnancy as they believe that all herbs are safe.Some abortion-inducing herbs were mentioned by the famous Iranian philosophers,Avicenna and Aghili,in documents of traditional Persian medicine titled Al-Qanun Fi Al-Tibb(The Canon of Medicine,written by Avicenna in the 11th century)and Makhzan Al-adviyah(The Storehouse of Medicaments,written by Aghili in the 18th century).Methods:Electronic databases such as PubMed,Scopus,Google Scholar,Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched to find new scientific evidence that these plants are toxic during pregnancy.Data was collected from 1831 to 2019.Results:Twenty-one plants were found to be abortive according to Al-Qanun Fi Al-Tibb(The Canon of Medicine)and Makhzan Al-adviyah(The Storehouse of Medicaments).Scientific research has shown that these plants possess abortifacient effects by the mechanisms of toxic alkaloids,uterine stimulants,and emmenagogue that interferes with implantation and results in fetus toxicity.These studies included in vivo or in vitro studies.Some of these plants showed abortifacient effects by more than one mechanism.Ruta graveolens,Nigella sativa,Curcuma longa,Lupinus termis,Apium graveolens,Mentha longifolia,and Peganum harmala possess uterine stimulant properties.Ruta graveolens,Juniperus sabina,Cicer arietinum,Piper longum,Artemisia absinthium,and Citrullus colocynthis interfere with implantation.Ruta graveolens,Nigella sativa,Curcuma longa,Tanacetum parthenium,Piper longum,Laurus nobilis,Apium graveolens,Mentha longifolia,and Cinnamomum iners exhibit emmenagogue effects.Lupinus termis,Delphinium staphisagria,Laurus nobilis,Trigonella foenum-graecum,Zataria multiflora,and Artemisia absinthium contain toxic alkaloids and possess teratogenic effects.Conclusion:The results of this study of traditional Persian medicine resources have been confirmed with new scientific evidence.Therefore,pregnant women should avoid consuming herbs without knowledge of their safety.

Ethnobotanical and traditional uses, phytochemical constituents and biological activities of Eryngium species growing in Iran

Objective: Eryngium with the 274 accepted species, is the largest genus of Apiaceae family which are distributed all over the world and have been used in traditional remedies to manage various ailments in different nations. Ten species of Eryngium have been identified in Iran including E. caeruleum M.B.(syn: E. caucasicum Trautv.), E. creticum Lam., E. bungei Boiss., E. billardieri F. Delaroche.(syn: E. kotschyi Boiss.), E. glomeratum Lam.(syn: E. parviflorum Sm.), E. bornumulleri Nab., E. pyramidale Boiss.& Husson., E. noeanum Boiss., E. wanaturi Woron.(syn: E. woronowii Bordz.), and E. thyrsoideum Boiss. The aim of the present research is to review pharmacological activity, and phytochemical constituents as well as ethnobotany and traditional uses of Iranian species of Eryngium. Materials and methods: Electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct (ISI Web of Knowledge) and Embase library were comprehensively searched for research on Eryngium. The search period was from 1966 to October 2018. The related articles were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criterias in our study. Results: A total of 57 papers were enrolled in analyses. The findings showed that Iranian species of Eryngium, had a noticeable diverse of traditional medicinal uses and also broad range of pharmacological activities as well as various phytochemical compounds. Some remarkable biological and pharmacological activities of these species have been demonstrated in present scientific studies, including antimicrobial, cytotoxic and anticancer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antinociceptive activities as well as antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-snake and anti-scorpion venom effects. Conclusion: Iranian Eryngium species have enormous potential for prospective preparation of herbal medicinal products and are good candidates for discovering new drugs.

The protective effect of a standardized hydroalcoholic extract of Prosopis farcta (Banks & Sol.) J.F.Macbr. fruit in a rat model for experimental ulcerative colitis

Background:Investigating new therapies for inflammatory bowel disease among natural products has recently been gaining attention.Although Prosopis farcta has repeatedly been mentioned in traditional Persian medicine as a therapeutic option for inflammatory bowel disease,no evidence-based investigations have been conducted on this topic.The aim of this study was to assess the impact of P.farcta on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats.Methods:A hydroalcoholic extract of P.farcta fruits was prepared.Thirty-six adult Wistar rats were divided into six groups,and colitis was induced in five groups,except the sham group,using acetic acid solution.The animals received distinctive daily doses of P.farcta(50,75,and 100 mg/kg/day,p.o.)and dexamethasone(1 mg/kg/day,i.p.)as standard treatment for two progressive days,starting from colitis induction.Microscopic and histopathological examinations were performed on inflamed colonic tissue.Tissue concentrations of interleukin-1βand tumor necrosis factor-αwere assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.To identify the role of oxidative stress in ulcerative colitis,the levels of malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase were measured in colon tissues.Results:Treatment with all concentrations of P.farcta attenuated inflammation and ulcers compared with saline treatment in the control group(P<0.01 for 50 mg/kg;P<0.001 for 75 and 100 mg/kg/day).The best suppression of tumor necrosis factor-αand interleukin-1βwas observed at a dose of 100 mg/kg P.farcta(P<0.001).This dose showed the best effect in reducing myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde in ulcerative colitis-induced rats(P<0.001).Conclusion:P.farcta can be considered a promising candidate for treating ulcerative colitis;thus,it requires further confirmation by clinical trials.

Jujube(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.(Rhamnaceae)):a review on its pharmacological properties and phytochemistry

Jujube(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.)belongs to the Rhamnaceae family.It is distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of Europe and Asia,including India,China,Iran,Russia,and the Middle East.Jujube is a highly tolerant tree that is resistant to soil salinity and alkalinity.Jujube possesses many phytochemical components and pharmacological properties that make it a good choice for the human diet.Jujube fruit is nutritious and rich in proteins,minerals,vitamins,organic acids,and carbohydrates.It also contains phytochemical components such as polyphenols,flavonoids,terpenoids,anthocyanins,alkaloids,and carotenoids.Jujube has both nutraceutical and cosmeceutical properties.All parts of this plant possess medicinal properties.Jujube has a long history of use in traditional medicine,especially in traditional Persian medicine.It has many pharmacological properties according to traditional Persian medicine,which include anti-pruritic and tranquilizing effects for renal and bladder pain.In Chinese medicine,jujube is used to increase appetite and treat diarrhea and fatigue.This indicates that jujube has several chemical constituents and beneficially affects multiple organs and tissues.These properties include antioxidant,anti-cancer,antimicrobial,neuroprotective,cardioprotective,and hepatoprotective activities.It also has health-promoting effects,including anti-aging properties.