The effect of two-month treatment with Zataria multiflora on inflammatory cytokines, pulmonary function testes and respiratory symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

The molecular basis of the immunomodulatory effects of natural products: A comprehensive review

BACKGROUND

Natural products (NPs) have long been recognized for their potential to modulate the immune system, offering a natural and holistic approach to enhancing immune function. In recent years, the immunomodulation effects of various natural products have attained significant attention.

PURPOSE

This article provides an overview of the role of natural products in immunomodulation, exploring their mechanisms of action, common types of NPs with immunomodulation properties, clinical applications, as well as considerations for their safety and efficacy.

METHODS

Extensive research has been conducted to compile important discoveries on the immunomodulatory properties of NPs through thorough searches of multiple databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus up until January 2024.

RESULTS

By decreasing the levels of Th2 cytokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines, the results suggested that NPs have the ability to modulate the immune system. Therefore, NPs alleviate inflammation in various disorders such as asthma and cancer. Furthermore, the observed increase in CD4 cells and IFN-ɣ/IL4 levels, along with an increased IFN-c/IL4 ratio, indicates a stimulatory effect of NPs on Th1 activity in various inflammatory conditions. Therefore, NPs regulate the immune system by inhibiting T-cells and decreasing the growth of young B-cell lymphoma cells.

CONCLUSION

Reviewing studies indicated that NPs have the potential to serve as immunomodulatory candidates for treating disorders characterized by immune dysregulation. However, additional experimental and clinical studies are necessary before these agents can be implemented in clinical settings.

Effect of alginate coating activated by solid lipid nanoparticles containing Zataria multiflora essential oil on chicken fillet's preservation

The current study aimed to assess the chemical, microbial, and sensory properties of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) in chicken fillets stored at 4 ± 1 °C for 12 days. As a result, the optimized ZEO-SLNS sample exhibited a spherical morphology with a droplet size of 251.51 ± 1.11 nm and a PDI of 0.34 ± 0.01 under transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The encapsulation efficiency (EE) and zeta potential were approximately 55.4 % and -20.87 ± 1.39 mV, respectively. Furthermore, encapsulating ZEO in SLNS enhanced antibacterial and antioxidant activity compared to pure ZEO. As a result, the application of alginate-loaded ZEO-SLNS extended the storage time of fresh chicken fillets. Thus, the application of this edible coating showcased a remarkable ability to substantially decelerate both microbial and chemical changes in chicken fillets during cold storage conditions. This finding underscores the potential of the edible coating as an effective means to enhance the safety and quality of chicken products.

The effects of aromatherapy with thyme oil on disease symptoms, vital findings, and hemodynamic parameters in COVID-19 patients

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of aromatherapy with thyme oil on disease symptoms, vital signs, and hemodynamic parameters in COVID-19 patients.

METHODS

We conducted the randomized controlled trial with 140 (experimental group=70, control group=70) COVID-19 patients. Patients admitted to the COVID-19 service of the Batman Training and Research Hospital were included in the sample between 31.01 - 31.08 2022. Patients in the experimental group inhaled thyme oil 3 times a day during 5 days. At the end of day 5, symptoms and hemodynamic parameters were measured as posttest. Vital signs were measured 3 times a day during 5 days. The control group only received routine treatment.

RESULTS

Thyme oil was found to be effective in relieving symptoms of shortness of breath, dizziness, secretion, diarrhea, weakness, loss of appetite, cough, headache and muscle joint pain. Although there was improvement in the symptoms of nausea-vomiting, runny nose and loss of taste-smell, the effect was not statistically significant. Thyme oil significantly decreased body temperature, pulse rate and respiratory rate (p<0.05), increased SPO 2 (p<0.05), and did not affect systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p>0.05). It had a significant effect on the regulation of pH, decreased CO2 and increased O2 significantly (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Thyme oil aromatherapy was effective in reducing symptoms, regulating vital signs and hemodynamic parameters. Accordingly, thyme oil is recommended as non-pharmacological treatment method in COVID-19 patients.

Effects of Lamiaceae family plants and their bioactive ingredients on coronavirus-induced lung inflammation

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a family of viruses that cause infection in respiratory and intestinal systems. Different types of CoVs, those responsible for the SARS-CoV and the new global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 in people, have been found. Some plants were used as food additives: spices and dietary and/or medicinal purposes in folk medicine. We aimed to provide evidence about possible effects of two Lamiaceae family plants on control or treatment of CoVs-induced inflammation. The keywords including coronaviruses, Thymus vulgaris, Zataria multiflora, thymol, carvacrol, antivirus, and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects were searched in various databases such as PubMed, Web of Sciences (ISI), and Google Scholar until September 2022. The medicinal herbs and their main ingredients, thymol and carvacrol, showed antiviral properties and reduced inflammatory mediators, including IL-1β; IL-6, and TNF-α, at both gene and protein levels but increased the levels of IFN-γ in the serum as anti-inflammatory cytokine. These medicinal herbs and their constituents also reduce oxidative stress and enhance antioxidant capacity. The results of molecular docking analyses also indicated that polyphenol components such as thymol, carvone, and carvacrol could inhibit the entry of the viruses into the host cells in molecular docking analyses. The antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects of these plants may be due to actions of their phenolic compounds that modulate immune response and may be useful in the control and treatment of CoV-induced lung disorder.

Effects of Ipratropium Bromide Combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention on the Pulmonary Function and Psychological Status of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Recently, most scholars have advocated multidisciplinary comprehensive intervention measures for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to improve lung function, relieve symptoms of dyspnea, and improve quality of life. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has rich experience in the treatment of various respiratory system diseases and the rehabilitation of their syndrome differentiation. In this study, total 68 patients with COPD from November 2019 to November 2021 in the hospitals were divided into the control group, ipratropium bromide (IB)-treated group, and IB + TCM-treated group for clinical efficacy observation and to explore the effect of IB combined with TCM on the pulmonary function and psychological status of COPD patients. Patients in the control group were subjected to routine oxygen inhalation, cough and expectorant, and antiviral treatments, while the patients in the IB-treated group were treated with IB and those received in the control group. Patients in the IB + TCM-treated group were treated with IB and TCM intervention. All patients were treated for a month. The results showed that after different interventions, the levels of FEV1, FEV1% pred, FVC, and PEF (P < 0.05) were significantly increased in all the groups, while levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and CRP in serum as well as Hamilton Anxiety Scale and Hamilton Depression scores were significantly decreased. Compared with the control group and IB-treated group, the IB + TCM-treated group presented the greatest changes on all abovementioned indicators and the lowest total incidence of adverse reactions, indicating the biggest improvement of IB + TCM on the symptoms of COPD patients. Therefore, the combination of IB and TCM intervention effectively improved the pulmonary function and psychological status of COPD patients and could be used as an important adjunct for COPD treatment.