Zahedan Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Volume:15 Issue: 8, Aug 2013

Bee venom (BV), like many other complementary medicines, has been used for thousands of years for the treatment of a range of diseases. More recently, BV is also being considered as an effective composition for the treatment of cancer. Cancer is a major worldwide problem. It is obvious that the identification of compounds that can activate apoptosis could be effective on the treatment of cancer. BV is a very complicated mixture of active peptides, enzymes, and biologically active amines. The two main components of BV are melittin and phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Of these two components, melittin, the major active ingredient of BV, has been identified to induce apoptosis and to possess anti-tumor effects. We tried to review antineoplastic effects of BV in this study. The related articles were derived from different data bases such as PubMed, Elsevier Science, and Google Scholar using keywords including bee venom, cancer, and apoptosis. According to the results of this study, BV can induce apoptosis and inhibit tumor cell growth and metastasis. Results of in vivo experiments show that the anti-tumor effect of the BV is highly dependent on the manner of injection as well as the distance between the area of injection and the tumor cells. The results obtained from the reported studies revealed that BV has anti-cancer effects and can be used as an effective chemotherapeutic agent against tumors in the future.

Consumption of unsaturated fats reduces the serum level of lipids and leptin. Thyroid hormones and leptin play pivotal roles in metabolism and their amounts are inter-related. This study was done to compare the effects of Mellissia officinalis extract and atorvastatin on the serum levels of thyroid hormones in hypercholesterolemia rats. Consumption of unsaturated fats reduces the serum level of lipids and leptin. Thyroid hormones and leptin play pivotal roles in metabolism and their amounts are inter-related. This study was done to compare the effects of Mellissia officinalis extract and atorvastatin on the serum levels of thyroid hormones in hypercholesterolemia rats. The results showed that in experimental groups receiving the plant extract and atorvastatin, the concentration of thyroid hormones increased, whereas the amount of the thyroid-stimulating hormone showed a significant decrease (p<0.05). Mellissia officinalis extract decreases TSH but it increases T3 and T4. Further studies are required for applying this extract to the treatment of hyperthyroidism.

In the present research, the effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of zingiber officinale (ginger) on treating lead-poisoned kidney of neonatal rats was studied. This research was conducted as a laboratory work. The neonatal rats were divided into 7 groups of 10 samples. The first control group received no treatment. The second control group received 0.1 mg of distilled water. As an experimental group, the one received an amount of 0.6 g/l lead. The fourth group received only 2 g/kg body weight of hydro-alcoholic extract of ginger. Groups 5 to 7 each initially received 0.6 g/l lead and then amounts of 0.5, 1 and 2 g/kg hydro-alcoholic extract of ginger. The injections were administered via oral gavage during 10 consecutive days. According to the obtained results, the body and kidney weights showed a significant reduction in experimental groups that had received amounts of 1 and 2 g/kg in comparison with the group that had received lead. The kidney weight of the group that had received only extract showed no significant difference in comparison with the control group. As for the body weights, however, it showed a significant increase. Moreover, the body and kidney weights of the lead-injected group showed a significant increase in comparison with the control group. Lead can cause damage to kidney tissues. Due to its antioxidant and protective effect, ginger can be a medication to nephrotoxicity of lead and prevent kidney tissues from destruction.

Gundelia tournefortii was used as a food and medicinal in human life from past time. The present study has been investigated the effects of Gundelia tournefortii on number and motility of sperms and testosterone concentration. In this experimental study, male mice were divided into control and 4 experimental groups (Gundelia tournefortii extract at doses of 100, 200, 400, 800 mg/kg was administered intraperitoneally for 14 days). One week after the last injection, blood samples were collected for hormonal assay. Also weight of testes, motility rate and number of sperms were assessed. Data analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test. Studies showed the number of sperms increased significantly at dose of 400mg/kg (2.88±0.4580) (p=0.001).The percentage of sperm motility (p=0.001) and the testicular weight (p=0.012) significantly increased at doses of 200 (36.83± 1.2506) and 400 mg/kg (57. 51±2.1113) (p=0.001). Testosterone serum level significantly increased at doses of 100 (p=0.05), 200 (p=0.05) and 400 mg/kg (p=0.001) as compared to control group. Gundelia tournefortii extract increases the number, motility of sperm and testosterone level because of antioxidant components for example Quercetin presumably.

Different Tanacetum species have been widely used in traditional medicine as a remedy for the pain and inflammation since ancient times. Because of the few studies conducted on the mechanism of Tanacetum parthenium (TP), this study has been conducted to determine the effects of TP on pain relief and its action mechanism. In this experimental study, 100 male mice (25-35 g) were randomly grouped into receivers of distilled water, morphine (0.5 mg/kg), ibuprofen (100 mg/kg), different doses of the extract including 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg/kg of the extract. In order to study the pain relief effect of this herb, two groups were also received naloxon (0.5 mg/kg) and naloxon together with the 40 mg/kg of the extract. Animals were injected with 0.9% acetic acid for visceral pain induction. 15 minutes after each injection antinociceptive effects were recorded by counting the number of writhes for 30 minutes. Achieved data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software, Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn post hoc test. 40 mg/kg of the extract of TP caused a significant reduction in the pain response. Group receiving a dose of 40 mg/kg extract had higher antinociceptive effects than the group receiving ibuprofen (p<0.001) but it didnt have any significant difference with the group receiving morphine. Group receiving naloxone had a statistical significant difference with the group receiving 40 mg/kg extract with naloxone and the group receiving 40 mg/kg extract (p<0.001). Antinociceptive activity of TP extract is due to the activation of opioid system, however further studies are needed to be conducted for finding out the suitable position or the role of the antispasmodic effect of TP.

The prevalence of diabetes is increasing around the world. Oxidative stress is one of the risk factors in diabetes. The purpose of this study is to examine the protective effects of the essential oil of Satureja khuzestanica on the level of serum lipids and atherogenic indices in the male rats with diabetes. This experimental study was conducted on thirty male rats randomly divided into three groups including: 1- control group, 2- rats with untreated diabetes 3- rats with treated diabetes (through orally intake of water containing 500 ppm of the essential oil of Satureja khuzestanica). The second and third groups also developed diabetes through injection of alloxan tetrahydrate (120 mg/kg). After eight weeks of treatment, their blood sample was taken, and then the levels of glucose, lipids and atherogenic indices of the serum were measured. The levels of glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and atherogenic indices of plasma in treated diabetic group were significantly decreased. The amount of high density lipoprotein (HDL) was significantly increased in the treated group. The results obtained from this study showed that the essential oil of Satureja khuzestanica has beneficial effects on the level of serum lipids and atherogenic indices of rats with type 1 diabetes.

By increasing resistance of several bacterial and fungal species to many kinds of antibiotics, applications of natural base compounds e.g. honey and medicinal herbs have been more attractive. The aim of present research is evaluation of anti-bacterial and anticandida effects of three kinds of honey of Iran together with alcoholic extract of mint and zataria, as well as extract and starch of ginger on Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aueoginosa, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans, as pathogens of human body. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum additive inhibitory concentration (MAIC) were determined by the agar diffusion method by dilution method in Sabouraud agar. By inoculation of 10 μL from suspension and appearance of colorless vesicles, MIC was determined. Growth inhibition was calculated by ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U and t-student tests. All experiments were conducted three times. MIC for three variety of honey on Staphylococcus aureus (32, 30, 29 %v/v), Pseudomonas aeroginosa, (70, 67, 71 % v/v), Escherichia coli (40, 35, 39 % v/v) and Candida albicans (45, 48, 50 % v/v) are reported. While, the MAIC for the growth inhibition of honeys together with extract of mint and zataria, as well as extract and starch of ginger were reduced. The results show that ginger extract has more significant impact on microorganism growth with respect to others. Pseudomonas aeroginosa was the most susceptible microorganisms to ginger extract. Growth inhibitory effect of ginger extract was more significant than ginger starch. Addition of herbal extract increases antibacterial and anticandida properties of honey thus letting hope for a honey benefit and would constitute an alternative way against the resistance to bacteria.

Teucrium polium L. is a medicinal plant, which due to its antimicrobial, antispasmodic and anti-tumor properties has been used in traditional medicine for over 2000 years. The aim of this research was to study the effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Teucrium polium L. against three strains of Candida albicans (ATCC 62061, ATCC 1677, and NCPF 3153), Malassezia furfur and Malassezia globosa using pour plate method. Teucrium polium L. was collected from Broojen area during the spring. The plant was dried and powdered. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts were prepared from the fine powder. Different concentrations of extracts (1, 2, 4, and 8 mg/ml) were made in Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) and modified Leeming-Notman Agar (MLNA) medium for Candida albicans, Malassezia furfur and Malassezia globosa. 1.5×106 cfu/ml of yeasts, were cultured on media and incubated at 37ºC and 32ºC respectively. Pour plate method was used to assess the antifungal activity of these extracts. The inhibitory effect of ethanolic extract of Teucrium polium L. on the three strains of Candida albicans was depended on concentration level of extracts in media. Aqueous extract had inhibitory effect on Candida albicans (NCPF 3153) only, and with increasing of the extract concentration, the number of colonies was decreased, so that in concentration of 8 mg/ml, no growth was seen. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts had no inhibitory effect on Malassezia species. Teucrium polium L. extracts have considerable inhibitory effect on different strains of Candida albicans. Further investigations are needed to detect the effectiveness of this plant in treatment of Candida infections.

Anagalis is the name of Scarlet pimpernel, with about 20 to 25 species of flowering plants in the family Myrsinaceae. The common variety (A. arvensis) is a low-growing annual plant found in Europe, Asia and North America. In this investigation, the inhibitory effects of methanol extract of Anagalis arvensis leaves and drug nystatin on clinical isolates and standard strain of Candida albicans (14053 PTCC) isolated from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis were studied. In the laboratory study of 45 clinical isolates of Candida albicans was used and inhibitory effects of the extract were evaluated using by serial dilution Method. Chemical compounds of A. arvensis extract including alkaloids, glycosides, phenolic compounds, Terpenoids and amino acids were identified. The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) nystatin against clinical isolates and standard strain of Candida albicans were similar and drug nystatin revealed the better MIC against standard strain and clinical isolates of C. albicans. Methanol extract of A. arvensis were inhibitory on standard strain and clinical isolates of C. albicans. The minimum inhibitory concentration of extract in comparison with the drug nystatin was less while the composition of the growth inhibitory concentration was greater than drug solely. This study indicated that the antimicrobial activity of this plant extract was considerable compared to drug nystatin and it demonstrate a basis for further research to isolate the active components in a variety of microbial strains.

Therapy of plant is not any side effects and drug resustant for inhibition of disease in world. In this study, antimicrobial effects of Melissa officinalis L. ethanol exteract and essential oil on E. coli have been investigated. In this investigation, diameter of inhibitory zone of these materials was measured in disk agar diffusion method. Therefore, Melissa officinalisL. ethanolic exteract (80%) and essential oil have been supplied. Then, antimicrobial activity these substances next for 24 hour for ethanol extraction 80% concentration 50 to 1000 mg/mL and essential oil concentration with 3% to 100% has been considered. Also, comparison of mean diameter of inhibitory zone between treatment and control groups of ANOVA has been used. Results of these investigations were shown that extract ethanol Melissa officinalis L. was any inhibitory effect on E.coli growth 24 hour after of treatment. Also, diameter of inhibitory zone for 100% essential oil have been 33.2±0.13mm in E.coli that has been increased in comparison control groups significantly (p=0.001). This inhibitory effects was more than cefixime and cefteriaxone (p=0.00, p=0.01). These found were shown that this plant prevents growth of E.coli In vitro condition. This essential oil could be suggested as antimicrobial agents for inhibition of bacterial diseases in human.

Medicinal plants have been used for different diseases in past. There is an increasing need for substances with antiviral activity since the treatment of viral infections with the available antiviral drugs often leads to the problem of viral resistance. Therefore in the present study Echium amoenum L plant with ethnomedical background was screened for antiviral activity against HSV-1 in different times. Flower part of Echium amoenum L plant collected from Iran was extracted with different methods to obtain crude aqueous extract. This extract was screened for its cytotoxicity against Hep II cell line by CPE assay. Antiviral properties of the plant extract were determined by cytopathic effect inhibition assay. Echium amoenum L extract exhibited significant antiviral activity at non toxic concentrations to the cell line used. Findings indicated that plant extract has the most antiviral activity when it used an hour after virus inoculation. Echium amoenum L plant had not toxic effect at highest concentrations to the cell lines used and showed the most antiviral activity when it used an hour after virus inoculation. Further research is needed to elucidate the active constituents of this plant which may be useful in the development of new and effective antiviral agents.