Effects of Viola odorata as an Add-On Therapy on Insomnia in Patients with Obsession or Depression: A Pilot Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial

Diversity analysis of endophytes with antimicrobial and antioxidant potential from Viola odorata: an endemic plant species of the Himalayas

Viola odorata, also known as "Banafshah" in high altitudes of Himalayas, is well known for its pharmaceutical importance in Ayurvedic and Unani medicinal system. The plant is a source of various drugs for its anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, antipyretic, and laxative properties. The endophytes of plants have been reported for their role in modulating various physiological and biological processes of the host plants. In the present study, a total of 244 endophytes were isolated in pure cultures from the roots of Viola odorata, and genetic diversity was evaluated using amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC). The molecular fingerprinting revealed variation among various rRNA types among morphologically different endophytes based on ARDRA and ERIC-PCR. The screening of endophytes showed antimicrobial activity of 11 bacterial isolates and one actinomycete SGA9 against various pathogens Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The antioxidant activity revealed the majority of the bacterial isolates able to scavenge the free radical in the range of 10-50% and 8 bacterial isolates in the range of 50-85%. Principal component analysis separated eight isolates away from the central eclipse and form a separate group based on antimicrobial and antioxidant potential. The identification of these eight isolates showed affiliation with different species of the genus Enterobacter, Microbacterium, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, and Streptomyces. This is the first report on the characterization of endophytic bacteria and actinomycetes from endemic Viola odorata. Results suggested that these endophytes could be explored for the production of antimicrobial and antioxidant products.

The Efficacy of V. odorata Extract in the Treatment of Insomnia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Aim

This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to assess the effect of Viola odorata (V. odorata) extract in the treatment of insomnia.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases, as well as references of related articles, were searched. Finally, four articles with five clinical trials including 224 patients were included in the analysis.

Results

The obtained results indicated a greater improvement in total PSQI scores (MD,−4.67; P = 0.0002), subjective sleep quality score (MD,−0.91; P = 0.003), sleep duration score (MD,−0.77; P < 0.00001), and ISI score (MD,−6.30; P = 0.009) in the Viola extract group compared with the placebo group. However, the Viola extract group did not significantly differ in sleep latency (MD,−0.85; P = 0.08), habitual sleep efficiency (MD,−0.61; P = 0.21), sleep disturbances (MD,−0.36; P = 0.11), and daytime dysfunction (MD,−0.94; P = 0.12) from the placebo group.

Conclusions

Viola extract supplement led to a greater improvement in total PSQI scores, subjective sleep quality score, sleep duration score, and ISI score compared with the placebo group of patients with chronic insomnia.