Antioxidant Activity and Teratogenicity Evaluation of Lawsonia Inermis in BALB/c Mice

Evaluation of antibacterial efficacy of Lawsonia inermis Linn (henna) on periodontal pathogens using agar well diffusion and broth microdilution methods: An in-vitro study

Background

Although widely explored in medicine, limited evidence exists in the literature regarding the efficacy of Lawsonia inermis Linn (henna) in the dental field.

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial effect of henna on Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis in vitro.

Methods

The agar well diffusion and broth microdilution methods were used to evaluate the antibacterial effect of henna extracts. Dimethyl sulfoxide was used to prepare the ethanol extract of henna, and distilled water was used to prepare the water extract. For both ethanol and water extracts, 4 different concentrations were prepared as 15, 30, 60, and 120 mg/mL.

Results

It was determined that the water and ethanol extracts of the henna samples did not show an inhibition zone on P.gingivalis and A.actinomycetemcomitans. As a result of the evaluations made with the broth microdilution method, it was found that the ethanol extract had a higher inhibitory effect on both bacteria, and both extracts had more inhibitory effects against A.actinomycetemcomitans.

Conclusion

To understand the effect of henna on periodontal pathogens, more comprehensive in vitro studies should be performed on henna samples at different concentrations and with different bases.

Medicinal Plants with Abortifacient or Emmenagogue Activity: A Narrative Review Based on Traditional Persian Medicine

Introduction: Traditional Persian medicine (TPM) has a rich background and has introduced various plants with abortive or emmenagogue activity since ancient times. However, many of them are unknown in modern medicine, and a few trials have been conducted describing their efficacy and safety. These plants may be helpful for the management of incomplete abortion, with potentially lower side effects than chemical agents. Objectives: This review introduced these plants and their potential efficiency to link traditional and modern medicine and suggested further studies. Methods: The search strategy for citations in this narrative review was performed in two steps. At first, medicinal plants used as abortifacient or emmenagogue to manage incomplete abortions or retained products of conception were searched and extracted in the most famous TPM literature, including Al-Qanun Fi at-Tibb, Tuhfat-al-Momenin, and Makhzan-ul-advia. The next step was searching electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar with the same keywords and herbal plants between 1970 and 2021. The overlapped plants between the manual and electronic search were found and briefly described. Results: In TPM literature, 88 plants with abortifacient activity were found, of which 47 were used to manage incomplete abortions or retained products of conception. Also, in the electronic database search, 14 plants were found to have abortifacient or emmenagogue activity. Among them, six plants, including Sesamum indicum L. (Sesame), Commiphora myrrha (myrrh), Lawsonia inermis L. (Henna), Opopanax chironium L. (Jooshir), Plumbago rosea (Shitraj or Stumbag), and Juniperus sabina (Abhal), overlapped with the manual search results. The abortifacient or emmenagogue activity and properties of all these 14 plants were described. Conclusions: The properties of many traditional plants with abortifacient activity are unknown in modern medicine; however, they should not be used in pregnant women. Nonetheless, they may have the power to be entered into modern medicine. Identifying their pharmacology and action mechanisms may be helpful to introduce them as a potential alternative to chemical agents in the management of induced or incomplete abortion with possibly lower side effects.

Hair Cosmetics for the Hair Loss Patient

Medical professionals that treat patients with alopecia usually lack knowledge about hair cosmetics. Trichologists focus on hair cycling and growth problems and not on the hair shaft integrity. This may lead to abandon of the use of the prescribed treatment, such as topical minoxidil or to inadequate traumatic grooming habits that may jeopardize hair follicle health. Shampoos, hair dyes, and hair-straightening products may alter hair fiber structure, remove lipids, and elude protein. Hair procedures such as hair dying and straightening have side effects and health concerns, especially for pregnant women or sensitive hair and scalp patients. Hair breakage, follicle traction, frizz, contact dermatitis, and mutagenicity are possible side effects of hair cosmetics misuse. The proper use of hair care products may help to increase patients' adherence to alopecia treatments and avoid health problems related to inadequate application of hair cosmetics and procedures.

A Critical Review and Scientific Prospective on Contraceptive Therapeutics from Ayurveda and Allied Ancient Knowledge

Commonly used synthetic or prescribed hormonal drugs are known to interfere with the endocrine system and may have adverse reproductive, neurological, developmental, and metabolic effects in the body. These may also produce adverse effects such as polycystic ovarian disorder, endometriosis, early puberty, infertility or toxicity to gonads, testicular germ cell cancer, breast or prostate cancer, brain developmental problems, and even birth defects. Globally, the emergence of renewed interest in natural products for reproductive health is on the rise, which offers opportunities for new contraceptive developments. The search for alternate, safer contraceptive products or agents of natural origin is of scientific interest. Ayurvedic classical texts offer knowledge and information about the reproductive function and therapeutics including those for enhancement and limiting male and female fertility. Review of ancient, medieval, and recent—including texts on erotica that provide information on approaches and large numbers of formulations and drugs of plant, mineral or animal origin—claimed to have sterilizing, contraceptive, abortifacient, and related properties is presented. Few among these are known to be toxic and few are not so common. However, most of the formulations, ingredients, or modes of administration have remained unattended to, due to issues related to consumer compliance and limitations of standardization and lack of appropriate validation modalities. Several of these ingredients have been studied for their phytoconstituents and for the variety of pharmacological activities. Efforts to standardize several classical dosage forms and attempts to adapt to modern technologies have been made. List of formulations, ingredients, and their properties linked with known constituents, pharmacological, biological, and toxicity studies have been provided in a series of tables. The possible effectiveness and safety of selected formulations and ingredients have been examined. Suggestions based on new drug delivery systems integrated with advances in biotechnology, to provide prospects for new therapeutics for contraception, have been considered. Ayurveda is built on a holistic paradigm of biological entity rather than limited gonadal functions. Graphic presentation of a few carefully chosen possibilities has been depicted. New approaches to standardization and ethnopharmacological validation of natural contraceptive therapeutics may offer novel mechanisms and modalities and therapeutic opportunities to satisfy unmet needs of contraception.

Evaluation of Antifungal Efficacy of Ethanolic Crude Lawsone and Listerine Mouthwash in Uncontrolled Diabetics and Denture Wearers - A Randomized Clinical Trial

INTRODUCTION

Lawsonia Inermis (LI) is a shrub cultivated throughout India. Many in vitro studies have been done on antifungal activity of LI, although none of the studies have been conducted invivo.

AIM

To evaluate the antifungal efficacy of ethanolic extract of crude lawsone in comparison with listerine mouth wash in known diabetics and wearing dentures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 60 subjects were taken and randomly divided into two groups of 30 each. Group 1 received crude lawsone mouthwash and Group 2 received listerine mouth wash. Oral rinse technique was performed. Each subject was given distilled water at baseline and Colony Forming Units (CFU) of candidal species was determined. Post therapeutic samples were then collected 1hr and 1week following drug usage and they were further advised to use given mouth washes twice daily with volume of 5ml/rinse for 30 seconds and CFU was evaluated.

RESULTS

Crude lawsone mouthwash showed superior antifungal activity when compared to listerine mouthwash. On individual comparison of both mouth washes at baseline, 1hr and 1week highly significant results were obtained using inferential statistics. The inter group comparison was done using independent t-test where lawsone was considered to be more effective in reducing CFU, at 1hr and 1week of using the mouth wash (p<0.01). Subjective symptoms like taste and smell were determined by chi square test where good taste was felt for lawsone and olfactory satisfaction was good with listerine (p<0.01). Burning sensation was found to be more with listerine mouth wash.

CONCLUSION

The present study revealed superior antifungal activity with ethanolic extract of crude lawsone mouth wash compared with listerine mouthwash.

The Abortificient Effects of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Lawsonia Inermis on BALB/c Mice

INTRODUCTION

According to the traditional beliefs of certain cultures, Lawsonia inermis has been reported to cause the abortion or termination of an undesirable pregnancy. The present study was undertaken with the goal of studying the effect of Lawsonia inermis extract on abortion in pregnant BALB/c mice in 2013 in Shahrekord, Iran.

METHODS

This research study used an experimental methodology and was conducted in 2013 in Shahrekord, Iran. Forty female BALB/c mice (30-40 gm, 8-12 weeks old) were randomly assigned to 4 groups. One male mouse was included for each two female mice (1:2) and they were maintained in a protective cage habitat. Pregnancy of the mice was confirmed by means of a vaginal smear. The doses of 1 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg of the hydroalcoholic extract of Lawsonia inermis were injected intraperitoneally into pregnant mice beginning on the first day and continuing through the seventh day of pregnancy. The control group did not receive any treatment, but was left completely unadministered. On the eighteenth day of pregnancy, the uterine tubes of mice were removed. The subsequent embryonic absorption is considered to be an abortion. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22 using Fisher's exact test and the Kruskal-Wallis H tests.

RESULTS

Abortions were observed more often in the experimental groups (p< 0.01). The mean of the serum estrogen level was significantly higher in the case control groups (p< 0.01) and the mean of progesterone level was also significantly lower in the experimental groups (p< 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The use of Lawsonia inermis during pregnancy may cause abortion and therefore it should be considered as contraindication or use with caution.