Journal of Medicinal Plants
Volume:16 Issue: 64, 2017

Hot flashing is the most common symptoms experienced by women around the menopause time. The most common therapy for relief of menopausal symptoms is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), but it has side effects. So, many women are interested in herbal medicines because of fear of side effect of hormone therapy.
The aim of this study was assess the effectiveness of different herbal medicine on the hot flash in menopausal women in clinical trial.
The database of Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched to investigate randomized controlled clinical trials on the efficacy of herbal medicines on hot flash from Feb 1994 to Feb 2017.
Fifty nine randomized controlled trials found according to the inclusion criteria. The results demonstrating that different herbal medicines such as Glycine max, Cimicifuga racemose, Vitex agnus-castus, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Humulus lupulus, Valeriana officinalis, Linum usitatissimum, Salvia officinalis, Pimpinella anisum, Trifolium pretense, Hypericum perforatum and Ginkgo biloba can have role in reduction of the hot flashes.
Our study show that many herbal medicines can reduce the frequency and number of hot Flash but it needs more future studies to find reliable result.

Renal disorders including renal failure are common complications which affect the whole body system. The treatment methods in modern medicine seem to be inadequate in a large number of cases. Regarding the increasing interest of the community towards traditional and complementary medicine, the potential of Persian medicine (PM) in management of renal diseases, could be put to test in research programs in order to find possible effective treatment.
The aim of this study is to introduce materia medica which are commonly used in PM for the purpose of protection and functional empowerment of the kidneys against destructive factors.
This research is a literature-based study on effective material medica used in the treatment of two significant renal disorders; renal weakness and renal atrophy (Hozal). Six pharmaceutical references of Persian medicine from different historical periods were searched by certain keywords related to renal weakness and renal atrophy.
Fourteen materia medica related to the prevention or treatment of renal weakness and fifteen for renal atrophy were found. Poppy (Papaver somniferum), Amber and shellac are the most repeated medicines in the treatment of renal weakness; whereas fig (ficus carica), banana (musa sapientum) and hazelnut (corynus avelana) are mostly repeated for either prevention or treatment of renal atrophy.
Medicinal plants represented by Persian medicine references could be a basis for experimental and clinical researches for drug development in the field of prevention or even treatment of acute or chronic renal failure.

The use of organic and biological stimulants at different stages of plant growth may increase growth and yield of plants in addition to reducing environmental stresses.
The aim of this study was to determine the induction effect of various formulations of chitosan, humic acid, and nicgtric acid on nepetalactone content and biochemical traits in catnip.
This study, which was based on a completely randomized design (CRBD), was conducted in the research greenhouse of Medicinal Plants Research Institute, ACECR. Treatments consisted of: control, citric acid, different concentrations of humic acid, dual combinatorial formulations of chitosan and citric acid, and triple combinatorial formulations of chitosan, citric acid, and humic acid. First, the roots of the transplants were treated before being transferred to the pot. Then, about 20 days after planting, treatments were sprayed on the plants three times – once every15 days.
Results showed that the induction of different formulations of humic acid, citric acid, and chitosan had significant effects on plant height (P≤0.05), the number of lateral branches, the number of leaves, dry weight of leaves, stems, and shoot, content of soluble sugar, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, and nepetalactone (P≤0.01). The highest amounts - in most morpho-physiological traits - were observed 400 ppm chitosan 800 ppm humic acid 400 ppm citric acid treatment. The maximum content of nepetalactone was obtained at 200 ppm chitosan 800 ppm humic acid 400 ppm citric acid.
The use of biostimulants formulation including humic acid, citric acid, and chitosan had a significant positive effect on improving vegetative characteristics and especially on phytochemical traits of catnip (Nepeta cataria L.).

Obesity and Metabolic Disorders is one of the risk factors for health in the world. Physical activity and herbal supplements is the research topic in the field of health and reducing obesity.
The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of five weeks circuit resistance training with garlic supplementation on serum levels of adiponectin in over weight female.
In a double-blind trial quasi-experimental design, 32 healthy overweight women were selected and randomly divided into following four groups: Placebo, supplement, training and placebo and training and supplement groups. The experimental subjects received circuit resistance training was performed three times a week. All groups were given 1000 mg garlic supplements or placebo for five weeks in two doses of 500 mg daily. Anthropometric indices, and blood sampling were measured before and after five weeks of circuit resistance training.
After five weeks, levels of adiponectin in serum increased in resistance training group with garlic with compared to other groups, but this increase was not statistically significant (p=0.123) also body weight did not show significant difference (P=0.99).
Based on the results suggested that more research investigate effect of garlic supplementation with resistance exercise on weight loss and serum adiponectin levels and other indicators associated with obesity in obese women.

Thymol and Carvacrol are the two important secondary metabolites from Thymus vulgaris that productions of them are controlled by genetic and environmental factors.
Evaluation of Water stress effects on expression of three important genes of thymol and carvacrol biosynthetic pathway and also physiological and phytochemical properties of Thymus vulgaris.
The present study was conducted in a randomized complete block design with 4 treatments and 3 replications in Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR, Karaj.
For this purpose, the treatments were selected as control (FC), 70% of FC, 40% of FC, and 20% of FC. Gene expression was studied using real-time PCR method, and HPLC was applied to essence analysis. Also physiological characteristic including chlorophyll content, relative water content, electrolyte leakage percentage and carotenoids content were analyzed.
The results revealed that water stress significantly influenced the gene expression (P≤ 0.05). The highest gene expression of DXR and Tctps5 was observed in 70% of FC, while the highest one of TvTPS1 was recorded in 40% of FC. Moreover, the maximum thymol and carvacrol was found in 70% of FC. In other hand the highest chlorophyll content and corotenoids content were obtained in 100% and 70% of FC respectively. Also there were not significant differences between treatments for relative water content and electrolyte leakage percentage.
The 70% of FC through influencing of genes in the firs and last of MEP pathway increased thymol and carvacrol production.

There is need to more research because of extent drug trade in country and diversity of proposal cures such as non pharmacological ways including exercise and herbal supplements medicine.
The aim of this study was investigation of synchronic effect of Curcumin and swim training on depression in morphine dependent male mice.
In an experimental research, 40 Albino NMRI male mice with 19- 21 gr were selected as subjects and they were divide randomly to care groups of control, morphine, swim training, Curcumin, Swim training Curcumin. Subjects swam 60 min/day, 5 days/week for 1 week with receiving Curcumin. Then, they were taken morphine (2.5 mg/ml/kg) for 5 days with swim training. Therefore FST was done and after 10 days this test was taken again.
Training increased swimming activity time, but it had no significant effect on immobility and climbing activities. At this period, Curcumin supplement caused increasing the time of climbing activities and no alteration in immobility and swimming times. Curcumin supplement with swim training caused increasing immobility time and decreasing swimming time, but it had no significant effect on climbing activities time.
The results of this research showed that morphine consumption didn’t cause depression. Also, combination of Curcumin supplement and swim training didn’t cause depression decreasing in morphine consumption term.

Exercise and nutrition are basic pillars of taking care and management of diabetes.
Aim of present study was to review the hypoglycemic interaction effects of swimming and Aloe barbadensis in diabetic rats.
72 diabetic rats selected and divided in 9 groups (1) first week control, (2) fourth week control, (3) sixth week control, (4) 4 weeks Aloe barbadensis, (5) 6 weeks Aloe barbadensis, (6) 4 weeks swimming, (7) 6 weeks swimming, (8) 4 weeks swimming with Aloe barbadensis, (9) 6 weeks swimming with Aloe barbadensis. For review the effect of diabetes induction 24 healthy rats selected and divided in 3 groups (10) first week control, (11) fourth week control and (12) sixth week control. Groups 6 and 8 swam for 4 weeks and rats of groups 7 and 9 swam for 6 weeks, 5 sessions per week and 30 minutes per session also groups 4, 5, 8 and 9 received 100 mg/kg Aloe barbadensis daily. For statistical analysis of data used one-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA and bonferroni post hoc tests (P≤0.05).
Diabetes induction has significant effect on increase of glucose and insulin resistance and reduction of insulin in diabetic rats (P 4 and 6 weeks swimming and Aloe barbadensis have hypoglycemic interaction effects in diabetic rats.

The application of methanol biostimulant and potassium sulfate with reducing of photorespiration and transpiration in C3 plants, increasing the absorption of water and food, and biosynthesis of amino acids can have a direct or indirect effect on the growth and metabolic index of plants.
This study was directed to investigate the effect of methanol and potassium sulfate foliar application on morpho-physiological and phytochemical changes in dill.
This study was conducted as a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design at institute of medicinal plants. Experimental treatments included foliar application of methanol at 3 levels (0, 20, 40 v/v%) and potassium sulfate at 4 levels (0, 1, 1.5, 2 g.L-1).
Methanol application increased the leaf and stem dry weight, and inflorescence fresh weight. Foliar application of different levels of potassium sulfate also increased the plant height, leaf dry weight, and inflorescence and shoot fresh weight. The use of methanol was not effective on the amount of essential oil in the dill. But, increased the amount of α-pienene. Low concentration of methanol increased the content of thymol, myrcene, α-phellandrene, and p-cymenen. So, increasing the concentration of methanol reduced their amount.
Phytochemical and morphophysiological traits of dill were increased with application of methanol and potassium sulfate. As, the highest amount of leaf and stem dry weight, inflorescence fresh weight, and α-pienene was obtained with 40% methanol application. Also, the use of 2 g.L-1 of potassium sulfate produced the highest amount of plant height, leaf dry weight, inflorescence and shoot fresh weight.

Pimpinella affinis (Apiaceae family) is a vegetable in the north of Iran.
This study was conducted to investigate antibacterial activity of Pimpinella affinis (against E. coli and S. aureus) and separate its active fractions.
Antibacterial activities of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of leaves of P. affinis (against E. coli and S. aureus) were measured using broth microdilution method in MIC. Subsequently, the ethyl acetate extract was separated in to 29 fractions using column chromatography and thin layer chromatography (TLC). Also, antibacterial activities of the fractions have been measured.
According to the results, among the extracts, ethyl acetate extract showed the best activities against E. coli and S. aureus (MICs=1.0 and 2.0 mg/ml, respectively). Also, among the obtained fractions from ethyl acetate extract, F3-F5, F8 and F9 showed best inhibitory activities (MIC=5.0μg/ml, P The results showed that the Gram positive S. aureus is more sensitive to the extracts than the Gram negative E. coli. Also, partitioning of the ethyl acetate extract leaded to obtain antibacterial fractions (F3-F5, F8 and F9) with 200-fold more active than the ethyl acetate extract.

Medicinal plants have been used for thousands of years as an important source of medicinal. Traditional botany offer valuable methods to finding new medicinal plants and herbal medicines.
The aim of this study was to identify the important native medicinal plants used by traditional healers of Jiroft.
The ethno-medicinal data of the plants were collected through field surveys, face-to-face interview with local herbalist and documentary studies. The traditional ethno-medicinal knowledge was recorded and for each species scientific name, local name, life form, therapeutic characteristic, used plant parts were aerial parts.
A total of 147 species of medicinal plants belonging to 132 genera in 48 families were recorded. In this study the most frequently used plant was as comforting, healing wounds, stomach tonic, painkiller and anti-inflammation and other use in traditional medicine that they can be exploited with careful planning and management.
Prevalence and widespread use of medical herbs provide a context for identification of new treatment characteristics of plants in the region. Limited internal resources, development of employment plans based on cultivation and development of medicinal plants compatible with ecological conditions can lead to maximum productivity and provide a proper way to preserve these resources.

Since the essential oil of lavender (Lavandula officinalis L.) was used for the treatment of diseases related to the nervous system and rheumatism, phytochemical evaluation of this plant is essential especially in terms of cultivation and production.
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different culture media on the amount of essential components, chlorophyll content, nutrients, growth characteristics, and rooting of lavender.
The experiment was done the basis of randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) in 10 treatments and 3 replications. Substrates and culture media for plant production in this study were M1; sand, M2; sand:perlite (2:1), M3; sand:peat-moss (2:1), M4; sand:vermicompost (2:1), M5; sand:perlite:peat-moss (2:1:1), M6; sand:perlite:vermicompost (2:1:1), M7; sand:peat-moss:vermicompost (2:1:1), M8; sand:vermicompost:peat-moss:perlite (2:1:1:2), M9; sand:vermicompost:peat-moss:perlite (4:1:1:2), and M10; sand:vermicompost:peat-moss:perlite (6:1:1:2).
Results showed that culture media had significant effect on the all characteristics of rooting, chlorophyll and nutrient content and essential oil components in lavender plants. Limonene, borneol, and camphor were the highest amount of essential oil compounds in lavender, respectively. The highest content of limonene and oxygenated monoterpenes in M1, rooting percentage and number of main root in M3, camphor and chlorophyll content and root dry weight in M5, borneol content in M8, and hydrocarbon monoterpenes in M10 were observed.
The application of different culture media in the production and propagation of lavender in addition to changes in morpho-physiological characteristics of lavender can directly alter the properties of essential oil and phytochemical compounds.

Primary dysmenorrhea is a common and frequently disabling condition among women in adolescence and reproductive age. Based on results of large epidemiological studies, it is estimated that over a half of the population of young women suffers from dysmenorrhea. Some people are now seeking alternatives to conventional medicine such as herbal drugs.
This study was designed to compare the analgesic effect of Valeriana officinalis with Mefenamic acid in treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.
A randomized, controlled trial was undertaken among 39 female aged 16 to 42 who suffered from primary dysmenorrhea referred to gynecology clinic in Hajar hospital, Shahrekord, Iran. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: Valeriana officinalis (n=18) and Mefenamicacid (n=21). In intervention group, the patients took350mg Valerian three times a day, and in mefenamic group, the patients took 250 mg Mefenamic three times a day for three days(for three cycles), starting from the onset of bleeding or pain. Participants were followed for three cycles. Main outcome measures was the mean of pain severity at 3 months which recorded by Visual Analogue Scale.
There were no significant differences in age, menstural duration, menstural interval, and pain severity score at the beginning of the study in two groups (P>0.05). After the intervention, findings of the study revealed statistically significant reductions in mean of pain score in Valeriana officinalis (P0.05).
Results shows that valerian has positive effect on treatment of primery dysmenorrheal. More clinical trials are needed to establish the efficacy of Valeriana officinalis in primary dysmenorrhea.

Senna leaf belongs to stimulant laxatives. The laxative effect of this medicinal plant is because of sennosides, aloe-emodin and dynatron which they all belongs to among anthraquinone derivatives family and uses to treat constipation, discharge of the intestine before surgery or abdomen surgeries and tests.
In this study, different methods of extracting from the Senna plant was compared and the extraction of the active ingredient, sennoside B, was optimized by using the response level statistical method.
For the extraction of Senna extract, various extraction methods, including maceration, dynamic maceration (stirrer), ultrasound assisted extraction, microwave assisted extraction and soxhlet extraction using ethanol 96° and 60° as solvent in different times. Regarding to the meanweights of the extracts and active substance sennoside B, The best method was selected. In the next phase, the amount of active substance of sennoside B was optimized using the statistical method of response surface.
Considering the mean weights of the extract and amount of sennoside B, dynamic maceration (stirrer) method is the most suitable method to obtain senna extract in the industrial and medicinal extraction. The results of the optimization of the best extraction method (maceration) showed that when influential variables temperature, time, the ratio of substance to solvent and filter mesh were 84°C, 119.7 minutes, 0.04 and 29.7 microns, respectively, the maximum amount of the active substance (3.009%) has been reached.
Finally, it can be concluded that active maceration extraction method (stirrer) is suggested as one of the best method to obtain senna extract in industry and the output efficiency of the active substance of sennoside B is affected by introduced optimized conditions mentioned.

The use of plants for the synthesis of nanoparticles, because of not using pollutants and toxins, is considered an eco-friendly method.
The purpose of this study is silver nanoparticles biosynthesis using Artemisia turcomanica extract and evaluating the toxicity of synthesized silver nanoparticles on gastric cancer cell line (AGS).
For synthesizing silver nanoparticles, the leaf extract of Artemisia turcomanica was used. Phytomorphology of bio silver nanoparticles using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis was evaluated. Cytotoxicity effects of bio nanoparticles in two cell lines of gastric cancer (AGS) and fibroblast normal cell (L-929) in concentrations of 3, 5, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 µg/ml were evaluated in 24 hours by MTT assay. Apoptosis was analysed by flocytometry.
The IC50 value for silver nanoparticles was 4.88 µg/ml during 24 h on AGS cell line, which was significant comparing to the control group. Also the IC50 value for silver nanoparticles in 24 hours for normal cells was 14.56 µg/ml. Apoptosis was detected in test group which was more than necrosis. A significant difference was observed between apoptosis and necrosis.
In this study the extract of Artemisia turcomanica was used for the first time for biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles and results suggest that synthesized silver nanoparticles have cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction effect on gastric cancer cells.