Early Description of Diet-Induced Blistering Skin Diseases in Medieval Persia: Avicenna's Point of View

Pemphigus is an autoimmune blistering skin disease that is strongly associated with different environmental factors. Among these, nutritional factors are considered to trigger pemphigus; however, their role may be underestimated. Investigated more recently in conventional medicine, this causative bond between dietary factors and blistering skin diseases was mentioned by Persian scholars such as Avicenna a thousand years ago. Avicenna, a well-known Persian physician and philosopher, who could be considered a pioneer in dermatology, discussed skin diseases in a chapter in The Canon of Medicine. He accounted for some nutritional triggers for skin blisters (mentioned as "hot swellings"), such as onion, garlic, leek, pepper, and wine. His precise description of causative factors based on principles of traditional Persian medicine (TPM) is appreciable and might well lead us to find more efficient ways for the prevention and treatment of blistering skin diseases.

Burn Wound Healing Activity of Lythrum salicaria L. and Hypericum scabrum L

OBJECTIVE

Burns are complicated traumatic injuries caused by several physical or chemical factors. Plants with a wide range of secondary metabolites, with valuable properties like antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, can be a promising source of wound healing agents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Effects of hydromethanolic extracts of Lythrum salicaria and Hypericum scabrum, individually and in combination, were assessed in second-degree burn wounds in rats in comparison to a white oleaginous base (negative control) and silver sulfadiazine (positive control). Histological assessments as well as total thiol molecules, lipid peroxidation, and total antioxidant power were evaluated in skin tissue samples. Total phenol, flavonoids, and tannins along with the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the extracts were also as- sessed.

RESULTS

Total phenol, total flavonoid, and total tannin amounts for L. salicaria and H. scabrum were 331 ± 3.7 and 308.1 ± 5.2 μg gallic acid/mg extract, 5.8 ± 0.4 and 4.3 ± 0.3 μg quercetin/mg extract, and 430 ± 2.33 and 13.4 ± 0.5 μg tannic acid/mg extract, respectively. H. scabrum significantly inhibited S. aureus and L. salicaria moderately suppressed Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans growth. Wound contraction percentage with L. salicaria and H. scabrum was 89.5 ± 3.7 and 77.6 ± 4.1, respectively. A well-organized epidermal layer and normal appearance in dermis layer were more observable in the L. salicaria group. Moreover, L. salicaria ointment individually displayed better influence on tissue oxidative stress parameters than H. scabrum and the negative control (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Results of this study clearly confirm the effectiveness of L. salicaria topical ointment as a wound healing agent, possibly due to the considerable polyphenolic content and antioxidant properties.

Designing mucoadhesive discs containing stem bark extract of Ziziphus jujuba based on Iranian traditional documents

OBJECTIVE S

Mucoadhesive disc is one of the various routes of drug delivery for curing buccal disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Every discs containing 70 mg stem bark extract of Ziziphus jujuba were formulated by using Carbopol 934, PVP k30 and gelatin as polymers. Discs were made by granulation and direct compression. Discs were standardized based on the total phenol. Properties such as in vitro and in vivo mucoadhesion, drug release, water uptake, and disintegration were carried out.

RESULTS

Discs showed excellent mucoadhesion and released high amount of the active ingredients (47%) immediately and completed after approximately the first hour. They had a good adhesion in buccal cavity.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that the kinetics of release of the active substance from the mucoadhesive disc obeyed the zero order kinetic and didn't follow the fick's law. The water uptake and dissolution (DS), increased with the passing of time.

An Evidence-Based Review on Medicinal Plants Used as Insecticide and Insect Repellent in Traditional Iranian Medicine

Context

Insects can be the cause of major ecological problems; they can transmit microbes and parasites that affect humans, and damage food crops, trees, and homes. The total economic cost of insect-related damage and disease is immeasurable. In traditional Iranian medicine (TIM), several medicinal plants have been identified as insecticides or insect repellents, but many of them are still unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to review the insecticidal or insect repellent activity of certain medicinal plants described in TIM.

Evidence Acquisition

Information about medicinal plants proposed as insecticides and insect repellents in the TIM was collected from the TIM literature, and searched in modern medical databases to find studies that confirmed their efficacy.

Results

Modern investigations have supported the claims of the insecticidal activity of several plants, including Allium sativum, Artemisia absinthium, Citrullus colocynthis, Laurus nobilis, Mentha pulegium, Myrtus communis, Nerium oleander, Ocimum basilicum, and Origanum majorana. However, in the cases of plants like Iris florentina and Malva sylvestris, there is not enough evidence in modern medicine to prove their effectiveness with regard to their insecticidal and insect repellent activities.

Conclusions

This study confirmed the Iranian traditional medicine claims of the insecticidal and insect repellent activity of certain plants. Further pharmacological and clinical studies are recommended to evaluate the overall efficacy and possible mechanisms underlying these herbs.

The Most Common Herbs to Cure the Most Common Oral Disease: Stomatitis Recurrent Aphthous Ulcer (RAU)

CONTEXT

Recurrent aphthous ulcer (RAU) is an oral disease and the most common oral lesion, with 2% to 66% of the world's population infected annually. Its prevalence is about 25% in Tehran and 27.6% in Mashhad. The etiology of RAU is multifactorial. Aphthous risk factors include: immunological factors, psychological factors, stress, trauma, sensitivity, family history, blood disorders, malnutrition, and use of certain medications, It should be noted that the best treatment for RAU is the topical application of drugs. The use of topical treatments is recommended not only because the drug can directly impact the source of the disease, but also systemic side effects of the drug are reduced. Treatment of RAU has been considered in Iranian traditional medicine (ITM), and is covered in therapeutic books. The use of herbs in RAU has a centuries-old history; accordingly, extensive research should be conducted for this treatment of the disease.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Iranian medical sources were reviewed and effective plants used in the traditional treatment of RAU were found and compared with new findings. Finally, we have created a table listing the plants that are part of the therapeutic protocol for RAU.

RESULTS

Based on this article we can explain some of traditional pharmacological effects of plants and how these plants can be a source for a cure.

CONCLUSIONS

The plants listed can be used as a prediction of RAU management. Of course, there are is no evidence for curing RAU by some of these plants in allopathic medicine, and the further investigations in this area could lead to the discovery of a new drug.

Effects of Coriandrum sativum Syrup on Migraine: A Randomized, Triple-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background:

Migraine is one of the most common and debilitating neurological problems. Although numerous preventive drugs are used to treat migraine, their complications are unavoidable. Application of herbal medicine, especially well-known medicinal plants, to treatment of chronic diseases, like migraine, could be effective. Coriandrum sativum L. (C. sativum) fruit is one of the most commonly prescribed herbs in Persian medicine, which has been used to treat headache.

Objectives:

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of C. sativum syrup on duration, severity and frequency of migraine.

Patients and Methods:

A total of 68 migraineurs, who had the eligibility criteria, according to international headache society diagnostic criteria, were randomly assigned to intervention group (n = 34) or control group (n = 34). In addition to 500 mg of sodium valproate per day, in intervention group, they received 15 mL of Coriander fruit syrup and 15 mL of placebo syrup, in control group, three times a day, during a month. The subjects were followed for clinical efficacy at weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4. The number of migraine attacks per week, as well as the duration and severity of attacks, were evaluated.

Results:

Of 68 patients randomized, 66 were included in analysis. The generalized estimating equations analysis showed that the Coriander fruit syrup decreased duration, severity and frequency of migraine, in the intervention group (P < 0.001). To be more precise, the mean migraine duration, severity and frequency, in the intervention group, were 5.7 hours, 3.65 units and about 50% less than control group, respectively.

Conclusions:

Results of this study showed that C. sativum fruit is efficient in reduction of the duration and frequency of migraine attacks and in diminishing pain degree.

Scientific evaluation of medicinal plants used for the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding by Avicenna

PURPOSE

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is one of the prevalent gynecological disorders that cause considerable morbidity and management of that plays an important role in protecting women's health. This review focuses on medicinal plants mentioned by Avicenna, a great Iranian philosopher and physician (A.D. 980-1037), in his book Canon for treatment of AUB.

METHODS

Medicinal plants mentioned in Canon for treatment of AUB were elicited and searched in electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and Cochrane library to find studies that confirmed their efficacy. Data were collected for the years 1980-2014.

RESULTS

The findings included 23 plants belonging to 18 families. Scientific findings have revealed that these plants control AUB through four mechanisms of action including inhibition of inflammatory process, inhibition of prostaglandins production, antiproliferative activity on human cervical cancer cells (HeLa), and estrogenic activity. All of the plants exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and/or in vivo. Cuscuta chinensis and Portulaca oleracea exhibited estrogenic activity. Boswellia carteri, Lens culinaris, Myrtus communis, Polygonum aviculare, Pistacia lentiscus, and Punica granatum have revealed inhibitory activity on biosynthesis of prostaglandins. Some of the mentioned plants including: Ceratonia siliqua, Cuscuta chinensis, Cuscuta epithymum, Cydonia oblonga, Paeonia sp., Portulaca oleracea, Solanum nigrum, Rumex acetosa and Onopordum acanthium have shown antiproliferative activity on HeLa cells.

CONCLUSION

Investigation of traditional Iranian medicine literatures can lead to the identification of effective natural medicines for the management of AUB; however, conclusive confirmation of the efficacy and safety of these treatments needs more evaluations.

α-Amylase inhibitory activity of some traditionally used medicinal species of Labiatae

Background

Natural α-amylase inhibitors of herbal origin are an attractive therapeutic approach to control post-prandial hyperglycemia via reducing the glucose release from starch and delaying carbohydrate absorption. These compounds are able to inhibit the activity of the carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes in the small intestine and potentially useful in control of diabetes. The enlarged Lamiaceae (Labiatae) family contains about 6,900 to 7,200 species worldwide and many species of this family possess medicinal properties and have been used traditionally for treatment of chronic illnesses including diabetes.

Methods

In the present study particular species of Labiatae family from the genera, Phlomis, Satureja, Salvia, Scutellarua, Stachys and Hymenocrater, which are growing wildly in Iran, selected to evaluate for possible in vitro α-amylase inhibitory activity, compared to acarbose as a positive control.

Results

The inhibitory activities of all the herbal extracts were varied from 1.9 to 18.6 (IC50, μg/mL). Additionally, the ethyl acetate extract of P. bruguieri (IC50 = 1.9 μg/mL) and the butanol extract of P. persica (IC50 = 3.6 μg/mL) exhibited the lowest IC50 values among all the species as the most potent herbal extracts, while the inhibitory activity of S. sahendica and S. macrosiphon (ethyl acetate extracts) as well as P. caucasica (butanol extract) on α-amylase enzyme was observed as weak and did not reach at least to the 50% of the enzyme inhibition level.

Conclusions

Taking together, P. bruguieri and P. persica among the Phlomis species can be the promising sources of α-amylase inhibitors. However, P. rigida, S. bizantina and H. bituminosus that exhibited moderate activity can be stand on second level of interest.

Comparison of the Volatile Composition of Stachys persica Gmel. and Stachys byzantina C. Koch. Oils Obtained by Hydrodistillation and Steam Distillation

The oils obtained by hydrodistillation and steam distillation of the aerial parts of Stachys persica Gmel. and Stachys byzantina C. Koch grown in Iran were analyzed by GC/MS. The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts of S. persica was characterized by a high amount of non-terpenoid components of which methyllinoleate (27.7%), hexadecanoic acid (9.8%) and 6,10,14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone (9.2%) were the major constituents, whereas the steam distilled oil of the plant contained hexadecanoic acid (27.2%), carvacrol (9.4%) and eugenol (5.2%).

Both hydrodistilled and steam distilled essential oils of the aerial parts of S. byzantina were rich in sesquiterpenes such as α-copaene (16.6% and 10.4%), spathulenol (16.1% and 18.5%) and β-caryophyllene (14.3% and 13.5%), respectively.

Bioassay-Guided Separation of an α-Amylase Inhibitor Anthocyanin from Vaccinium arctostaphylos Berries

Vaccinium arctostaphylos is a traditional medicinal plant in Iran used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In our search for antidiabetic compounds from natural sources, we found that the extract obtained from V. arctostaphylos berries showed an inhibitory effect on pancreatic α-amylase in vitro [IC50 = 1.91 (1.89 -1.94) mg/mL]. The activity-guided purification of the extract led to the isolation of malvidin-3-O-β-glucoside as an α-amylase inhibitor. The compound demonstrated a dose-dependent enzyme inihibitory activity [IC50 = 0.329 (0.316 - 0.342) mM].

Screening of Medicinal Plant Methanol Extracts for the Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles by Their Reducing Potential

Development of nontoxic, clean techniques for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles such as gold has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Although many reports have been published about the biogenesis of gold nanoparticles using several plant extracts such as Neem leaf broth (Azadirachta indica), the capacity of a large number of such extracts to form gold nanoparticles has yet to be elucidated. In this research a titrimetric assay was employed for preliminary evaluation of the reducing potential of different medicinal plant extracts. All the extracts were used separately for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles through the reduction of aqueous AuCl4 −. After the screening step, the methanol extracts of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Pelargonium roseum were selected for further studies. The reducing ability of these extracts was significantly enhanced as compared to Neem leaf broth (Azadirachta indica) which was used as control sample. Transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy and visible absorption spectroscopy confirmed the reduction of gold ions to gold nanoparticles. The E. camaldulensis and P. roseum extracts produced gold nanoparticles in the size ranges of 1.25 - 17.5 and 2.5 - 27.5 nm with an average size of 5.5 and 7.5 nm, respectively.

Umbelliprenin from Ferula persica Roots Inhibits the Red Pigment Production in Serratia marcescens

The chloroform extract of Ferula persica var. persica roots was found to inhibit red pigment production of Serratia marcescens. A bioguided fractionation study by preparative thin layer chromatography (PTLC) detected a fraction (Rf = 0.71, petroleum ether/EtOAc, 2:1 v/v), which was effective on depigmentation of Serratia marcescens. Using conventional spectroscopy methods, the active fraction was identified as umbelliprenin. Neither the chloroform extract nor the isolated umbelliprenin fraction showed any antibacterial activity against the test strain at a certain concentration. In contrast, they exhibited depigmentation zones on culture plates.

Effect of myrtle fruit syrup on abnormal uterine bleeding: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study

Background

Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) has been used in the Iranian Traditional Medicine as a treatment for abnormal uterine bleeding-menometrorrhagia. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of myrtle fruit syrup on abnormal uterine bleeding-menometrorrhagia.

Methods

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study was conducted on 30 women suffering from abnormal uterine bleeding-menometrorrhagia. Treatment comprised of giving 15 ml oral myrtle syrup daily (5 ml three times a day) for 7 days starting from the onset of bleeding. The myrtle syrup along with placebo was repeated for 3 consecutive menstrual periods. Menstrual duration and number of used pads were recorded by the Pictorial Blood loss Assessment Chart at the end of each menstrual period. The quality of life was also evaluated using the menorrhagia questionnaire.

Results

The mean number of bleeding days significantly declined from 10.6 ± 2.7 days to 8.2 ± 1.9 days after 3 months treatment with the syrup (p = 0.01) and consequently the participants in the intervention group used fewer pads after 3 months (16.4 ± 10.7) compared with the number of pads used at the beginning of the treatment (22.7 ± 12.0, p = 0.01). Bleeding days and number of pads used by the participants in the placebo group did not change significantly. Also significant changes of quality of life scores were observed in the intervention group after 3 months compared to the baseline.

Conclusion

Myrtle syrup is introduced as a potential remedy for abnormal uterine bleeding-menometrorrhagia.

Presence of monoterpene synthase in four Labiatae species and Solid-Phase Microextraction- Gas chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy analysis of their aroma profiles

Background:

The family Lamiaceae (Labiatae) has included some medicinal plants. some monoterpene synthases, including linalool and limonene synthases, have been cloned and functionally characterized from several plants of Labiatae family.

Materials and Methods:

In this study, presence of linalool and limonene synthases, in four species of Labiatae family including Nepeta cataria, Lavandula angustifolia, Hyssopus officinalis and Salvia sclarea has been determined by molecular biological techniques together with the Head space SPME – GC-MS analysis of the aroma profile of these species.

Results:

Indicated that none of the plant species produced distinguishable bands with primer pairs related to d-limonene synthase. Distinguishable bands around 1800 bp in cDNA samples of L. angustifolia, H. officinalis and S. sclarea were observed regarding to the presence of linalool synthase. Head space SPME-GC-MS analysis of the aroma profiles of the above-mentioned plants showed that linalool (31.0%), linalyl acetate (18.2%), were found as the major compounds of L. angustifolia, while geraniol (5.5%), nerol (34.0%) and α- citral (52.0%) were identified as the main compounds of the N. cataria. The major components of H. officinalis and S. sclarea oils were determined as cis-pinocamphone (57.3%), and linalool (19.0%), linalyl acetate (51.5%), respectively.

Conclusion:

H. officinalis was rich of cyclic monoterpenes, L. angustifolia, N. cataria and S. sclarea showed considerable amount of linear monoterpenes. The aroma profile of the above-mentioned plants contained low concentration of sesquiterpenes except N. cataria, which indicated no sesquiterpene. The profiles of the main components of these plants are in agreement with molecular assays.

Hypertension from the perspective of Iranian traditional medicine

Background:

Nowadays, hypertension is considered as a global public health issue and in recent decades, it has shown a growing trend due to changes in lifestyle.

Objectives:

The purpose of this investigation was to compare symptoms of hypertension with known diseases in ancient medical texts and to find a disease that had the maximum overlap of symptoms with hypertension.

Materials and Methods:

In this qualitative study, reliable sources of traditional medicine such as The Canon of Medicine by Avicenna, The Complete Art of Medicine (Kitab Kamil as-Sina’aat-Tibbiyya) by Haly Abbas, Facilitating Treatment and a letter for Health preservation (Tahsil Al-Elaj and Resale Hafez Al-Sehha) by Mohammad Taghi Shirazi, and some reliable resources of conventional medicine such as Harrison’s principles of internal medicine and databases such as Pubmed, Scopus, SID, and Magiran were probed base on keywords to find a disease that had the most overlapping symptoms with hypertension. By taking notes from the relevant materials, the extracted texts were compared and analyzed.

Results:

Findings showed that hypertension has the most overlap with Imila (accumulation of normal or abnormal fluid in the body) symptoms in Iranian traditional medicine. Although this is not a quietly perfect overlap and there are other causes and reasons including dry dystemperament of vessel wall (atherosclerosis), hot dystemperament of heart or damages to other organs like liver, kidney and nervous system that could also lead to hypertension according to Iranian traditional medicine.

Conclusions:

Finding the equivalent disease to HTN based on Iranian traditional medicine, could suggest a better strategy for preventing, treating and reducing debilitating its complications in the future. In conclusion, we can approach to hypertension with recommendations for reducing Imtila when we are dealing with a kind of hypertension that corresponds to Imtila. Therefore, if patient is suffering from another type of hypertension like dry dystemperament of vessel wall, it surely requires another treatment approach for reducing vessel wall dryness.

Bioactive Terpenoids and Flavonoids from Daucus littoralis Smith subsp. hyrcanicus Rech.f, an Endemic Species of Iran

Background

Daucus littoralis Smith subsp. hyrcanicus Rech.f. (Apiaceae) is an endemic species in northern parts of Iran where it is commonly named Caspian carrot. The fruits have been used as condiment.

Methods

In a series of in vitro assays, antioxidant (DPPH and FRAP assays), cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of different extracts of roots and fruits were evaluated for the first time. The separation and purification of the compounds were carried out on the most potent extracts using various chromatographic methods and identified by spectroscopic data (¹H and ¹³C NMR).

Results

The results showed that among the extracts only fruit methanol extract (FME) has significant antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 145.93 μg.ml^-1 in DPPH assay and 358 ± 0.02 mmol FeII/g dry extract in FRAP assay). The radical scavenging activity of FME at 400 μg.ml^-1 was comparable with α-tocopherol (40 μg.ml^-1) and with BHA (100 μg.ml^-1) (p > 0.05). FME did not show any toxicity against cancerous and normal cell lines. Fruit ethyl acetate extract (FEE) had cytotoxic activity against breast carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma cells (IC₅₀ 168.4 and 185 μg.ml^-1, respectively), while it did not possess antioxidant activity in comparison with α-tocopherol and BHA as standard compounds. Ethyl acetate and methanol extract of fruits showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC: 3.75 mg.ml^-1) and Candida albicans (MIC: 15.6 and 7.8 mg.ml^-1, respectively). Four terpenoids were isolated form FEE including: β-sitosterol (1), stigmasterol (2), caryophyllene oxide (3), β-amyrin (4). Also, three flavonoids namely quercetin 3-O-β-glucoside (5), quercetin 3-O-β-galactoside (6) and luteolin (7) were isolated from FME.

Conclusion

This study showed that FEE and FME of D. littoralis Smith subsp. hyrcanicus Rech.f. had the highest biological activities which may be correlated with in vitro cytotoxic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of terpenoids and flavonoids components of the extracts.

Discovery of new angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors from medicinal plants to treat hypertension using an in vitro assay

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors plays a critical role in treating hypertension. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate ACE inhibition activity of 50 Iranian medicinal plants using an in vitro assay.

METHODS

The ACE activity was evaluated by determining the hydrolysis rate of substrate, hippuryl-L-histidyl-L-leucine (HHL), using reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method and DPPH radical scavenging assay respectively.

RESULTS

Six extracts revealed > 50% ACE inhibition activity at 330 μg/ml concentration. They were Berberis integerrima Bunge. (Berberidaceae) (88.2 ± 1.7%), Crataegus microphylla C. Koch (Rosaceae) (80.9 ± 1.3%), Nymphaea alba L. (Nymphaeaceae) (66.3 ± 1.2%), Onopordon acanthium L. (Asteraceae) (80.2 ± 2.0%), Quercus infectoria G. Olivier. (Fagaceae) (93.9 ± 2.5%) and Rubus sp. (Rosaceae) (51.3 ± 1.0%). Q. infectoria possessed the highest total phenolic content with 7410 ± 101 mg gallic acid/100 g dry plant. Antioxidant activity of Q. infectoria (IC50 value 1.7 ± 0.03 μg/ml) was more than that of BHT (IC50 value of 10.3 ± 0.15 μg/ml) and Trolox (IC50 value of 3.2 ± 0.06 μg/ml) as the positive controls.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we introduced six medicinal plants with ACE inhibition activity. Despite the high ACE inhibition and antioxidant activity of Q. infectoria, due to its tannin content (tannins interfere in ACE activity), another plant, O. acanthium, which also had high ACE inhibition and antioxidant activity, but contained no tannin, could be utilized in further studies for isolation of active compounds.