Leishmaniosis phytotherapy: Review of plants used in Iranian traditional medicine on leishmaniasis

Many native plants in traditional medicine have been used for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis and the recent clinical trials have proven the efficacy of some of them. Researches conducted on these plants have shown that garlic, shallots, wormwood, yarrow, walnuts, thyme, henna plant, mimosa, aloe, wood betony, medlar, periwinkle, yeah, savory, black beans, etc. are ef ective on cutaneous leishmania. Synthetic agents in Iranian market have some disadvantages such as high cost and side ef ects and are painful in injections. Given the ef ectiveness of these plants, they can be a source of natural and safe compounds for the treatment of Leishmania. Therefore, more clinical researches should be done to determine the ef ectiveness and safety of these medicinal plants, their active ingredients and their possible toxic substances which can lead to the production of ef ective and safe drugs for leishmaniasis. It also might be an ef ective way to prepare herbal ointment on wound healing.

Antioxidant properties and inhibitory effects of Satureja khozestanica essential oil on LDL oxidation induced-CuSO_4 in vitro

Objective:To assess various antioxidative activities of Satureja khozestanica essential oil(SKE)and its effect on oxidation of low density lipoprotein(LDL)induced by CuSO_4 in vitro by monitoring the formation of conjugated dienes and malondialdehyde(MDA).Methods:The formation of conjugated dienes,lag time and MDA were measured.Inhibition of this Cu-induced oxidation was studied in the presence of several concentrations of SKE.Also total antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging of SKE were determinated.Results:It was demonstrated that SKE was able to inhibit LDL oxidation and decrease the resistance of LDL against oxidation.The inhibitory effects of SKE on LDL oxidation were dose-dependent at concentrations ranging from 50 to 200μg/mL.Total antioxidant capacity of SKE was(3.20±0.40)nmol of ascorbic acid equivalents/g SKE.The SKE showed remarkable scavenging activity on 2,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl,IC_(50)(5.30±0.11)ng/mL.Conclusions:This study shows that SKE is a source of potent antioxidants and prevents the oxidation of LDL in vitro and it may be suitable for use in food and pharmaceutical applications.

Brucellosis: Pathophysiology and new promising treatments with medicinal plants and natural antioxidants

Brucellosis is an old, infectious and common zoonosis whose causative agents are Gramnegative bacteria from the Brucella genus. Brucellosis is transmitted through direct contactwith infected animals or using unpasteurized dairy products of goats, pigs, camels, sheep,buffalo and cows. Brucellosis is still the most common zoonosis in the world, with mostof cases occurring in developing countries. Today, an approach to traditional medicine andmedicinal plants, especially with regards to the repeated recommendations of the World HealthOrganization, is a necessity. One-third of chemical drugs are produced by using plants andthere is a high potential to produce more drugs from plants. Medicinal plants are helpful inthe management of various conditions, especially bacterial diseases. Although there is notenough scientific evidence regarding the clinical effectiveness of herbal drugs for the treatmentof brucellosis, there is strong evidence on the antimicrobial effects of herbal drugs to preventinfection. Therefore, this article seeks to describe the antibacterial effects of some plantderived essential oils or extracts, so that they can serve as promising choices to develop newanti-Brucella medications, as suitable alternatives to conventional antibiotics for brucellosis, asmuch as possible, taking into account the benefits of these herbal drugs.

Astragalus adscendens extract shows antidiabetic effects through controlling oxidative stress,inflammation and apoptosis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Objective:To assess the effect of oral treatment of methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Astragalus adscendens in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Methods:In order to induce diabetes,rats intraperitoneally received streptozotocin at 65 mg/kg.Sixty adult male Wistar rats were allocated into six groups(10 rats per each)including the healthy control group,the diabetic group as well as the diabetic group treated with Astragalus adscendens methanolic extract at 50,100,and 200 mg/kg per day or glibenclamide(0.6 mg/kg/day)for 28 d.The effects of Astragalus adscendens methanolic extract on the levels of glucose,insulin,alanine aminotransferase,alkaline phosphatase,aspartate aminotransferase,bilirubin,creatinine,urea,uric acid,total protein,albumin,triglyceride,cholesterol,α-amylase,oxidant/antioxidant enzymes,and inflammatory cytokines were evaluated.Real time-PCR was also used for measuring the gene expression of caspase-3,Bcl2,and Bax.Results:The levels of glucose,cholesterol,triglyceride,creatinine,urea,uric acid,alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,alkaline phosphatase,bilirubin,and malondialdehyde considerably declined(P<0.001)in diabetic rats after treatment with Astragalus adscendens methanolic extract especially at a dose of 200 mg/kg.In addition,treatment with Astragalus adscendens methanolic extract noticeably increased the level of insulin,total protein,and albumin as well as improved the activities of catalase,glutathione peroxidase,and superoxide dismutase,as well as the expression levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,caspase-3,Bcl2 and Bax(P<0.001)compared to the diabetic control group.The extract also inhibitedα-amylase in a dose-dependent manner with an IC_(50)value of 19.6μg/mL.Conclusions:Astragalus adscendens methanolic extract shows potent antidiabetic,anti-inflammatory,anti-apoptotic,and antioxidant effects in diabetic rats.However,more studies are needed to verify the underlying mechanism of the effect of this plant extract and test its efficacy in clinical trials.

Identification of medicinal plants effective in infectious diseases in Urmia, northwest of Iran

Objective: To identify the medicinal plants effective in infectious diseases.Methods: Initially, we obtained a list of herbalists and traditional healers from Food and Drug Deputy. Direct observations and interviews as well as collection of herbarium specimens of indigenous medicinal plants effective in infectious diseases of urinary tract,reproductive, digestive, respiratory and skin systems were performed. This study was conducted through questionnaires and interviews; the questionnaires were distributed among traditional healers and simultaneous interviews were also run. The plants were herbariumized, herbarium specimens were authenticated, and their species were determined by using reliable flora and other sources. Finally, the data were input into Excel2010 and analyses were performed.Results: Out of the studied plants, 35 native medicinal plants belonging to 17 families were effective in the treatment of various diseases and infections. In this study, the Lamiaceae family had the highest frequency of plants for the treatment of infections.Traditional healers of Urmia in 24% of cases used the leaves of medicinal herb to treat patients. In 68% of cases, they prescribed medicinal herbs in the boiled forms. Most medicinal herbs showed therapeutic effect on the digestive system.Conclusions: Traditional medicinal sources, valuable knowledge of traditional healers in Urmia, the scientific investigation of the effects of the herbs offered in this study and their effects in traditional medicine may provide a good source for new drugs in modern medicine.

First molecular identification of Leishmania species in a new endemic area of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Lorestan,Iran

Objective:To identify Leishman{u using PCR.Methods:This studs was conducted from April2009 to March 2011 in order to identify Leishmania species in a new endemic area of CL in Lorestan.Iran.Samples were taken from 62 patients that referred to the health centers in different cities of Lorestan province,the presence of Leishmcania was confirmed using direct smear and then grown in NNN media and mass cultured in RPM!1640 medium supplemented with 10%heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum.DNA was extracted from cultured promastigotes and used in P15-PCR.Results:45(72.6%)samples out of 62 showed a hand in the range of 485 hp and 17(27.4%)with a hand in the range of 626 hp which were similar to standard strains of Leichmania tropica(L.tropical and Leishnrania major(L.major),respectively.50(65.80%)of samples were collected from people with no history of travel in at least a year prior to the onset which shows that indigenous source of infection.Conclusions:Since the vector and reservoir of the two species are different.so precise and extensive control and prevention methods should be designed and earned out.

Biosynthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles using Hypericum perforatum and Origanum vulgare extracts and their main components,hypericin and carvacrol as promising antibacterial agents

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the anti-bacterial activities of titanium dioxide(Ti O;)nanoparticles of Origanum(O.)vulgare and Hypericum(H.)perforatum extracts,carvacrol and hypericin against Staphylococcus(S.)aureus.METHODS:In this study,Ti O;nanoparticles of O.vulgare and H.perforatum extracts,carvacrol and hypericin,were prepared and their antibacterial effects were evaluated against Staphylococcus(S.)aureus.In this study,scanning electron microscope,fourier transform infrared spectrometer,atomic force microscopy,dynamic light scattering and zeta potential were used to investigate the structure of synthesized drugs.RESULTS:Anti-bacterial activity of synthesized NPs was tested by minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC),minimum bactericidal concentration and disc diffusion method.MICs of Ti O;-NPs synthesized using O.vulgare,H.perforatum,carvacrol and hypericin and Ti O;were obtained 250,62.5,250,and 250,and 500μg/m L,respectively.The MBCs for all of these were obtained 1000μg/m L.CONCLUSION:Green-synthesized of Ti O;nanoparticles provides a promising approach to the use of O.vulgare and H.perforatum,carvacrol and hypericin as novel agents and safer antibacterial compounds,especially anti-S.aureus compounds.