علیرضا قنادی

Eucalyptus consists of various species from the genus Eucalyptus which are endemic to Australia and have been taken from this region to other part of the world like Iran. Among these species, Eucalyptus globulus is the important medicinal species described in all of medicinal plants reference books. It is received much attention because of containing acceptable amount of 1,8- cineol or eucalyptol (more than 70%). Eucalyptus has a hot and dry temperament and it has been used by Australian natives for treatment of wounds. In other regions, it has been claimed to be locally beneficial for catarrh and respiratory disorders, gingivitis and headache. E.globulus has been suggested as the important medicinal species corresponding to Eucalyptus.

Background and Diarrhea is a well-recognized side effect associated with pelvic radiotherapy. The change in the intestinal bacterial flora and increased permeability of mucous cells may cause radiation-induced diarrhea. In this research the effects of honey with Nigella sativa mixture against radiation –induced diarrhea are evaluated. Honey is a putative nutritional with a variety of health effects, including antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and prebiotic. Seed of Nigella sativa commonly known as black seed which is used in folk medicine in the Middle East such as Iran for the promotion of good health and the treatment of a variety of ailments including Asthma, headaches, some infections, hypertension and gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea. Forty-one adult patients with pelvic cancer were treated with pelvic radiotherapy for 5 weeks and randomized to receive honey with Nigella sativa mixture (30gr honey and 3gr Nigella sativa powdered in every day) (n = 17) or placebo capsules (n = 24). Diarrhea grade was recorded weekly according to the Common Toxicity Criteria system and scored the stool consistency grade using the Bristol scales. Consumption of honey with Nigella sativa mixture was found to have a significant effect in decreasing in daily number of bowel movements (P = 0.004) and diarrhea grade (in fourth and fifth week; p = 0.001and p = 0.002 respectively) and also increasing in the stool consistency (in fourth and fifth week; p = 0.005and p = 0.015 respectively) in the patient when compared to the controls. The antidiarrheal drug necessity was observed in patients in the honey with Nigella sativa mixture group significantly less than the placebo group (p = 0.028) during the treatment. It seems that honey with Nigella sativa mixture can reduce the incidence of radiation-induced diarrhea and the need for anti-diarrheal medication.

Since ancient times، medicinal plants have been considered as valuable sources of medicine and some texts in ancient books point to the topic. Nowadays، the extensive use ofmedicinal plants and their derived compounds have also an important position. In the current paper، the necessity and importance of studying and researching on plants considered in the holy Quran، hadiths، and valuable sources of traditional medicine are addressed. For this purpose، holy Quran as well as general interpretation books and traditional and new medicine textbooks were used as references. In some verses in the holy Quran، man is asked to look at his surrounding nature، including plant with more scrutiny، and in this way to attempt to achieve a better cognition about the Almighty God and His signs. Man should always keep this in mind that Quran is not a book of experimental sciences; rather it is a book which leads to development of righteous human and the view toward the book should not be limited to the appearance of signs of thedivine creation. The signs should be considered as the symbols of existence of the all knowing Creator. Therefore، it should not be expected to find the details of different sciences such as evolution، botany، pharmacognosy، and so on. However، this does not prevent some quick glances at the signs present in creations for development of man. In general، all these items can be guides for man to consider them as the reminders of more careful thinking to achieve better cognition about God and not passing them carelessly. In addition to the holy Quran، getting familiar with hadiths is necessary and would be helpful in solving the problems arising from the differences in various interpretations. Moreover، hadiths provide more sensible comparisons for the signs. So، this is a responsibility of scientists to continue theirattempts for discovering more principles in the holy Quran and make them more sensible for others. This would help people in being developed and getting closer to God. Islamic and Iranian traditional medicine sources can help us to know، find and interpret details about mentioned topics.

Medicinal smoke has been in natural health products by many nations all over the worlds. Dung''s smoke called «Anbar Nasara» is one of the most used medicinal smokes in Iranian traditional medicine. Anber Nasara has been administered as inhalation in the treatment of viral or bacterial infections as well as for tumors and cysts in vaginal diseases in women. Its cytotoxic effects have been proposed in these studies. Dung''s of female donkey have been collected from Shahreza، Isfahan province in summer 2011. The samples were burned in a specially designed apparatus and its smoke was collected in n-hexane solvent over ice-cold water. Solvent was evaporated in the air and dried residue was dissolved in DMSO and diluted in RPMI So that the final concentrations of 0. 4، 0. 3، 0. 25، 0. 2، 0. 125، 0. 1، 0. 0625، 0. 0312 mg/ml were obtained for MTT assay as a cytotoxic evaluation method against two cancer cells (KB and Hela) and a normal one (L929). After 48h incubation percent cell survival and IC50 values were obtained using ELISA plate reader at 540nm. Results showed that dung''s smoke were cytotoxic in tested concentrations against cancer cell lines in a dose dependent manner. The IC50 was calculated ≥ 0. 2 mg/ml. Dung''s smoke consists of too many constituents and its cytotoxic effect may belong to one or complexes of constituents. More researches are under way to clarify these aspects of the study.

Sulfur compounds in plants can differ in number of sulfur groups، being cyclic or acyclic، and saturation number. They affect the flavor and fragrance of herbal products. Plants rich in sulfides like Allium and Ferula have beneficial effects on skin. Allium sulfides are disinfectant، antifungal، and hair stimulant. Likewise، Ferula sulfides have disinfectant and antifungal properties. Sulfides such as diallyl sulfide have been shown to possess antitumor activities on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced mouse skin carcinogenesis and to reduce cell proliferation. Diallyl sulfide also regulates p21/rat sarcoma protein expression in dimethylbenzanthracene-induced neoplastic changes in mouse skin. Moreover، sulfur compounds are antileishmanial agents and improve hair and nail growth. It seems that sulfide derivatives of medicinal plants can be used in some dermatological products and cosmetics.

Khārshotor، also known as Oshtorkhār، Hāj، Āqūl and Davatikāni in Iranian traditional literatures، is a perennial thory herb which produces manna named Taranjebin based on activity of a kind of Larinous or Pophilus species in some regions of Iran (especially south of Khorasan). There are some reports of this plant inIranian traditional medicine such as restraint، detergent، apertive agent، and antidote of poisons. It is useful for hemorrhoids both internally and externally. Its distilled water is diuretic and beneficial for treatment of kidney stones. Also، Taranjebin is nominated as laxative and expulsive agent for yellow bile. Here، it is tried to determine names of the plant and related manna according to characteristics mentioned in traditional Iranian literatures. Characteristics of “Kharshotor” and its related manna in traditional medicine are completely matched with Alhagi persarumBoiss. Buhse. Syn: Alhagi camelorum L. from the family Papillionaceae

Medicine is a science that is old as the human life، as the pain and suffering is a part of human life. Iranians have long been a leader in science and culture. The brilliance of Iranian scholars is obvious to all and shows off on the apex of the history of science. Traditional medicine in Iran is a keepsake that great Iranian scholars gifted us. Baraginceae (Echium amoenum Fisch. Et Mey) was long known in Iran. The morphological and therapeutic characteristics of this plant have been recorded with a certain delicacy like many other plants by Iraninan physicians. In the past، this plant has been known as enlivening and nutritious of board members and senses، laxative of Soda and bile routine and treatment for soda، meningitis and pleurisy diseases. Nowadays، some of above properties have been proven through experimental investigations. The aim of the present study is to comparative analysis of aforementioned properties by review of the Iranian sources of traditional medicine on this treatment plant and a review of recent scientific evidences in the field of therapeutic properties of this plant to prove the valuable scientific legacy of the predecessors. This in turn could be the beginning of the expansion of the frontiers of knowledge in Islamic Republic of Iran.

The general structure of reasoning (collection of information، development، and evaluation of the hypotheses) in modern medicine is similar to that in the Traditional Iranian Medicine (TIM). However، contrary to a physician in modern medicine، traditional physicians did not only try to diagnose the disease on the basis of patients’ chief complaints. Rather، traditional physicians attempted to determine the general temperament of the patient. Reasoning in the TIM is of the deductive type. Therefore، in the TIM، there is not any disease considered as idiopathic and without any specific etiology. In both modern and traditional medicine schools، there are therapeutic and diagnostic reasoning. However، in the TIM، treatment is defined as the diagnosis is determined. This is while in modern medicine، even when the physician achieves the diagnosis، treatment requires further processing of the patients’ information. This paper addresses reasoning in the TIM. To this end، modern medicine is compared with the TIM in methods of clinical reasoning.

Gastroesophageal reflux accompanied with heartburn is caused by anatomical factors and dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter. In the Traditional Iranian Medicine (TIM)، heartburn is mostly called herqat-al me’deh (gastric burn)، and three types of underlying causes have been mentioned for it. The first cause is taking hard-to-digest foods، which could be eliminated by life style modification and following nutritional rules. The second cause is presence of raw moisture in the first part of stomach. Maturative and laxative drugs can help these patients. The third cause is a condition in which the yellow bile humor is excessively secreted from the spleen in the upper part of the stomach. Soft drinks are prescribed in such cases. Considering the high frequency of heartburn، it is suggested to carry out clinical trials to evaluate these items in the TIM and to introduce the TIM approaches to physicians in order to improve the treatments for this condition. Finally، some comparisons between these topics in the TIM and traditional Chinese medicine were provided

In the view point of Traditional Iranian Medicine (TIM)، many diseases in different organs of the body result from the foods and drinks، and also the gastrointestinal (GI) system disorders. Therefore، diseases of stomach as one of the most important parts of the GI system are of great importance. Gastric pain is one of these conditions، for which the physiopathology with regard to the quality of pain and its relationship with eating and other symptoms have been well defined in the TIM. The three major causes of gastric pain mentioned in the textbooks of the TIM are dystemperament، tafarroghe ettesal، or both; and some treatments and strategies have been provided for treatment of each of these causes and pain relief. In the TIM references، the causes of gastric pain، which seems to be functional in many cases، have been defined and methods of treatment have been specified. Also، some hypotheses have been proposed for the underlying causes of functional gastric pain in modern medicine. In the current study، the causes of gastric pain in the TIM references were investigated، and were compared versus dyspepsia with the dominant symptom of pain in modern medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

In the Traditional Iranian Medicine (TIM)، 36 different drug formulations have been mentioned. Each of these formulations is used for specific diseases، and deliberate points should be followed in their development. In the present paper، one of the most important drug formulations in the TIM، etrifal، is described. Firstly، according to recent studies، the antioxidant، anti-arthritis، anti-cancer، and ant-bacterial effects، as well as the pharmaceutical studies on the formulation have been mentioned. Then، viewpoint of the TIM toward atrifel and some major forms of etrifal، its properties، the formulation temperament، dosage، effect، and duration of action were considered according to major books on drug formulations in the TIM. These books were called Qarabadin. Finally، the phytochemical evaluation of etrifal-e saghir prepared according to the TIM sources is addressed.

Constipation is a common gastrointestinal complaint. More than one seventh of the adult population throughout the world experience chronic constipation. Different factors cause establishment or aggravation of constipation. In conventional modern medicine، specific and reasonably accurate criteria have been proposed for definition of constipation، and also some treatments are used for the condition. In the Traditional Iranian Medicine (TIM)، some terms such as hasr، ghabz-e shekam، and eteghal-e batn are used for constipation. Moreover، the type of constipation accompanied with pain is called qolanj. Comparative study of physiopathology and treatments of constipation in conventional medicine and TIM، and making use of different treatment approaches along with each other would lead to achievement of some approaches with higher cost-effectiveness. The aim of this study is to review the knowledge in the TIM about constipation and investigating the possibility of comparison of definitions، etiology، and treatments of the condition in the TIM with the corresponding items in modern medicine. Finally، some comparisons between these topics in the TIM and traditional Chinese medicine were provided.

Traditional medicine is a combination of knowledge، skills، and activities that are based upon the native theories، beliefs، and experience of different cultures and are used in prevention، diagnosis، and treatment of physical and psychological diseases. Medicinal foods and food medicines are parts of this set، which can be currently used for introduction and design of functional foods. Functional foods and nutraceuticals are novel topics in medical sciences that have applicable definitions، which are to a great extent compatible to the definitions of medicinal foods and food medicines in the Traditional Iranian Medicine (TIM). The TIM also contain and introduce several medicinal foods and food medicines. The close relationship of these topics in the TIM and modern sciences and this unique characteristic of the TIM can be demonstrated by introduction and revision of these cases and then comparing them with modern scientific references. To this end، the orders، routes of administration، contraindications، and therapeutic properties of these products in the sources of traditional and modern medicine can be found and also some effective cases in the TIM sources be introduced. In fact، using this source، novel functional foods could be introduced using the information lies in the TIM sources and in future a comprehensive source could be introduced. In this paper، by evaluating three valuable TIM sources of the Canon of medicine، Al-Shamel، and Makhzan Aladvieh، some edible products were scientifically introduced. These products are used and food and also have therapeutic and medicinal effects; as mentioned in the TIM sources. In this study، the items adopted from the TIM sources were classified s follows: bread and cereals، dairies، spices، nuts، grains، vegetables، fruits، drinks، meats، fried foods، and miscellaneous products.

Foods play an important role in the maintenance of human health. Food is a permanent need; so that what is consumed by internal and external factors would be replaced. It is evident that without having an appropriate nutrition، it is not possible to be healthy. Proper nutrition and cure through food have been emphasized in the Traditional Iranian Medicine (TIM); such that the great Iranian physician of the 10th century، Razi، considered modification or prescription of diet as the first therapeutic modality. In some of the TIM manuscripts، some qualities and functions have been specified for foods، some of which are consistent with modern sciences، and there are no equivalents for some of them in modern sciences. In this paper، we have accurately described the classification of foods in the TIM textbooks، and tried to compare the TIM definitions with terminology of modern nutrition science. Furthermore، the common items between TIM and traditional Chinese medicine were addressed.

It has been claimed that by using different washing methods, the sperms can be separated according to size, motility, density, chromosomal content and surface markings and charge. These methods also reduce sperm chromatin deficiencies and screen the sperms before applying in assisted reproduction techniques. This study compared simple density gradient methods and a combined method with albumin density gradient and PureSperm separation (alb/PureSperm) for sex preselection by double fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) versus chromomycin A3 staining to determine chromatin integrity. 30 normal semen samples were prepared with PureSperm, albumin gradients and alb/PureSperm. All samples were then stained by FISH and chromomycin A3. The results were compared with SPSS 11.5 and the Kruskal-Wallis test. The proportion of X-bearing spermatozoa by PureSperm separation (47.58±5.67) and Y-bearing spermatozoa by albumin gradient (46.13±3.83) methods were slightly higher than in putative normal sperm samples (1:1), but there were no significant differences in the X- or Y- bearing spermatozoa counts among the three methods. Albumin gradient separation tended to underestimate abnormal spermatozoa compared to PureSperm and combined alb/PureSperm. Routine separation methods slightly enriched X- or Y- bearing spermatozoa, but the differences were not significant for clinical purposes. The combined alb/PureSperm method had no advantages for assessing sex ratio or chromatin integrity compared to simpler gradient methods.

The Crataegus genus is widely distributed in Iran. This genus belongs to Rosaceae family and has 17 species in Iran one of which is Crataegus pontica C. Koch. In this paper، we analyzed some microscopic and macroscopic characteristics of this plant، then compared them with other features that were presented previously in previous reports. We analyzed all components in C. pontica، using thin layer chromatography method and then specified the type of flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acid in C. pontica. Hyproside، rutin and chlorogenic acid were the main flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic occurred acid in this plant. Also، we analyzed its flavonoids quantitatively based on Deutsch Pharmacopoeia method according to hyproside content. Because، to determine the chemosystematic relevancies in some species flavonoids are used، so in this paper we compared C. pontica with 3 other species of its genus such as C. monogyna، C. melanocarpa and C. curvisepala that are found in Iran، and also with the medicinal standard species of Crataegus genus which is called C. oxyacantha. Finally we concluded that hyproside، rutin and chlorogenic acid were the main and common structural components in all species of that genus which were mentioned above.

Sabr is a popular plant in Traditional Iranian Medicine, recognized with different names such as Sabara, Fiqara, and Alwa. The leaf dried latex has been identified as Sabr-e-Saqoutari, Sabr-e-Arabi, and Sabr-e-Semenjani. In Traditional Iranian Medicine, Sabr is used as the cathartic of humors of different organs; especially head, stomach, and joints. Considering the botanical description of the plant in traditional medicinal and pharmaceutical resources, Sabr can be complied with Aloe vera L., from the Liliaceae family.

Diagnosis and treatment of diseases relies on the understanding of abnormality in temperaments and the equable human and drug temperaments. Temperament is a quality produced by interaction of opposite qualities present in very tiny elements. In rational classification, temperaments are divided into true equable and inequable ones. In the true equable temperament, the amounts of opposite qualities are the same. However, such temperament does not exist. Contrary to the true equable temperament, the inequable temperament is inclined towards one or two qualities of hotness, coldness, dryness, or wetness. In medicine, human equatability is compared with the inequable temperaments from eight aspects and with respect to genus, species, individual, and organ. Human inequable temperaments are also categorized into eight types, all of which are opposite to the equable temperaments. Other types of human temperaments include with and without matter temperaments, temperaments of organs, temperaments of different ages, obesity and thinness temperaments, temperament according to sex, and habit temperament.Temperaments of drugs are also grouped into two main categories of equable and inequable. Other drug temperaments are combined temperament, primary temperament, secondary temperament, robust or stable secondary temperament, and weak or unstable secondary temperament. In this paper, we have described the human and drug temperaments to provide a novel scientific approach to the disease and treatment entities. We hope that carrying out research in this field result in providing appropriate therapeutic approaches with respect to the patient and drug temperaments; and subsequently achieving more desirable effects of various drugs in different people.

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of a mixture herbal remedy on herpes labialis.

The efficacy of a combined topical preparation with liquorice, sumac and lemon balm extracts and geranium essential oil was investigated in a clinical trial. 78 patients with HSV-1 infection were included in the study and were instructed to apply the herbal gel and placebo for five times a day up to five days. Total duration and severity of clinical signs and symptoms (time of healing, pain, size of lesions) were evaluated on the first and fifth days of the trial.

In our clinical trial, a herbal gel, initiated within 12 hrs of symptoms onset, demonstrated efficacy in reduction of time to healing and size of lesions compared with placebo. There were no statistically significant differences in the course of other symptoms.

The combined topical gel proved to be more effective than placebo and can be used as an active treatment for recurrent herpes labialis.