Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss (Parsley): An Updated Review of the Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology

Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss (parsley) is a popular medicinal plant widely used in different traditional medicines all over the world. This paper provides an updated review on the traditional use, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of parsley. Parsley contains volatile compounds such as terpenes and terpenoids in the essential oil, as well as phenolic compounds in the plant extract. Parsley is traditionally used as a diuretic, liver and stomach tonic, and for urolithiasis and indigestion. Pharmacological investigations also confirm several biological activities of parsley including hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, antiurolithiatic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and antineoplastic effects in animal and cell-based studies. Parsley has currently demonstrated several pharmacological activities in preclinical studies; however, there is a big lack in clinical evidence. Considering parsley as a possible valuable medicinal food, future clinical trials are recommended to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the plant in different health conditions.

Apigenin and its dermatological applications: A comprehensive review

Apigenin is one of the abundant flavonoids in fruits and vegetables of human diet with several demonstrated health benefits. The aim of the present study is to provide an overview of the current evidence regarding the effect of apigenin on different dermatological complications. Electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched to retrieve all papers assessing the dermatological effects of apigenin. Preclinical studies support beneficial effects of apigenin on UV-induced skin damage, vitiligo, dermatitis, wounds, skin aging, and some types of skin cancer. The compound mostly acts via inhibition of inflammation through suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and intracellular inflammatory mediators, as well as antioxidant properties such as improvement of endogenous antioxidant defense mechanisms. There are also some studies for the design and development of novel drug delivery systems for apigenin to improve its oral and topical bioavailability. Nevertheless, no clinical study has evaluated apigenin as a natural supplement for skin conditions. Considering the benefits of apigenin in preclinical models of dermatological disorders, as well as the acceptable safety of this compound, apigenin may be a future candidate to be used in dermatological disorders. Future clinical studies are needed to further confirm the safety and efficacy of apigenin in skin care products.

Medicinal Plants as Efficacious Agents for Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies

A diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a chronic, nonhealing wound that occurs in approximately 15% to 25% of patients with diabetes, and amputation is necessary in approximately 5% to 24% of these patients. Medicinal plants have demonstrated promising wound healing activities in animal models of DFUs as well as in clinical studies. These plants, which are described as medicinal in different regions of the world, are not considered to be standard medicinal treatments in Western medicine at this time. Some medicinal products, such as bromelain-an herbal protease currently used for enzymatic debridement of wounds-have been obtained from plants, showing the important role of these natural products as sources of wound healing agents. This paper aims to review clinical studies on the effects of medicinal plants in patients with DFUs based on the improvement of local and systemic parameters related to wound healing. Electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library were searched for studies from inception through May 2019 using the keywords "diabetic foot ulcer" and "plant," "phytochemical," "extract," or "herb." Inclusion criteria were controlled or before-after clinical studies with English-language full-text in which topical or systemic herbal preparations for DFUs were evaluated by considering outcomes such as reduction of wound healing time and wound area, markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, and number of cases requiring amputation. Studies on non-herbal materials and human studies other than clinical trials were excluded. Fourteen studies were included in the present review. Herbal medicines were administered as add-on therapy to standard wound care in the form of topical (cream, gel, oil) or systemic (capsule, decoction, injection) preparations. Parameters such as ulcer width and depth, phagocytic function, tumor necrosis factor α level, epithelialization, vascularization, and wound closure were evaluated in clinical trials, several of which were significantly improved in patients compared with their baseline values or control group. Per the studies included in this review, medicinal plants can be recommended as promising adjuvant therapies to conventional wound care to accelerate wound healing in patients with DFUs.