nafiseh khosravi dehaghi

Ajuga genus is used as wound healing in traditional Persian medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Ajuga chamaecistus ssp. tomentella ointment on healing pressure ulcers in patients admitted to the intensive care unit.

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 131 patients with grade 1 or 2 pressure ulcers were randomly assigned into one of two groups through simple randomization. The study group received 3% Ajuga ointment, containing 17.26 µg/mL of 20-hydroxyecdysone (ecdysterone) as the main compound, while the control group received placebo twice a day for 14 days in addition to the standard care for pressure ulcers Changes in the degree and size of wounds were considered as the primary outcomes of the study based on the 2-digit Stirling scale.

Forty patients in each group completed the research. Mean (95% confidence interval) difference values, for wound degree, between two groups on day 7 vs. day 0 was -0.88 (-1.01 to -0.76, p<0.001), and on day 14 vs. day 0 was -1.57 (-1.78 to -1.36, p<0.001). Mean (95% confidence interval) difference values, for wound area, between two groups on day 7 vs. day 0 was -1.730(-1.979 to -1.48, p<0.001), and on day 14 vs. day 0 was -3.142(-3.563 to -2.72, p<0.001).

Topical application of Ajuga ointment significantly improved pressure ulcers  on days 7 and 14 compared to placebo. Evaluation of the effects of this plant on a larger sample size, for a longer period of time and in different medical centers is recommended.

Malaria, a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, continues to be a major global health concern. The emergence of drug-resistant strains of Plasmodium highlights the urgent need for new antimalarial agents.

This study aimed to evaluate the antimalarial activity of hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from Artemisia persica and Artemisia spicigera against Plasmodium berghei in albino mice.

In this study, the hydroalcoholic extracts of the aerial parts of A. spicigera and A. persica were investigated for their effects on parasitemia in mice. Fifty mice were randomly divided into two categories with five groups, with each group receiving either the extract of A. spicigera, A. persica, or a control treatment.

Both extracts of A. persica and A. spicigera inhibited parasitemia on average by 75% and 83.5%, respectively. There was a significant increase in parasitemia at 150 mg/kg of A. persica compared with the negative control group on day 4 (P<0.05). Significant internment of parasitemia was illustrated at 75 mg/kg of A. spicigera in comparison to the negative control group on day 4 (P<0.05).

The findings elucidated that hydroalcoholic extracts of A. persica and A. spicigera plants have the antiplasmodial action to suppress P. berghei infection in mice.

SARS-CoV-2 has been infrequently isolated from conjunctival swabs; it is associated with ocular manifestations, including conjunctivitis, blurred vision, dry eye, and hyperemia in patients with confirmed COVID-19. In some cases, ocular manifestations may be the first and only symptoms of COVID-19 related to the greater severity of the systemic disease. According to the eye manifestations, physicians have prescribed different medications. For example, drugs such as azithromycin eye drops, dexamethasone, moxifloxacin, and ganciclovir ophthalmic gel have been used for the treatment of conjunctivitis. The role of ophthalmologists in the prevention and screening of COVID-19 is highlighted due to the ocular manifestations. The most common ocular symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection, treatment, and potential side effects of drugs utilized to combat these complications are reviewed in this article.

Barberries are well known for their anti-inflammatory properties. The extract of this fruit may help accelerate epithelial tissue recovery; therefore, it could be considered as a potential substitute for synthetic medications. The current study aims to examine the impact of barberries hydro-alcoholic extract on open wound healing pathologic parameters and macroscopic size.

An incision was made in the lumbar region of twelve male rats under anesthesia. They were subsequently divided into treatment and control groups (n=6, each) and were treated with hydro-alcoholic extract of barberries-mixed with eucerin oil, and eucerin oil respectively for twenty-one days; i.e., once every 12 hours. In order to evaluate macroscopic changes in wounds, all rats were photographed daily. Furthermore, pathologic samples were obtained on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 14th, and 21st days to investigate the parameters affecting wound healing.

The findings show that applying 150 mg/kg hydro-alcoholic extract of barberries has a significant effect on open wound healing in rats. The extract boosted angiogenesis, granulation tissue, epithelial thickness, fibroblast cells, and collagen production in the treatment group while dramatically reducing the macroscopic scar size and epithelial gap. Eventually, the healing skin was thoroughly replaced by normal skin tissue.

Hydro-alcoholic extract of barberries (Berberis vulgaris) significantly accelerates the healing process of open wounds in male rats.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) rapidly spread worldwide and infected multiple age groups. The best way to reduce the risk of spreading new coronavirus (coronavirus disease 19, COVID-19) is the rapid and accurate identification of carriers and infected patients in society. Although several diagnostic tests are available, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing is commonly used for this purpose. In this review, various methods were introduced for the identification of COVID-19 patients using clinical manifestations, gastrointestinal symptoms, and molecular and serological diagnostic techniques. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of diagnostic tests, including molecular and serological tests, were evaluated to identify the novel coronavirus.

Flavonoids, a group of natural substances, are found in flowers, fruits, roots and stems. These natural products are well known for their health-beneficial effects. Hence, isolation and purifying of flavonoids from the ingredients is worthwhile. Flavonoids are now considered indispensable in various nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, medicinal and cosmetic applications. Apigenin, quercetin, and apigenin-7-O-glycoside have therapeutic properties that these two are in the flavonoid group.

In this study, apigenin, quercetin, and apigenin 7-O-glycoside were purified by column chromatography and identified by NMR and HPLC UV-visible techniques.

Total extracts of three plants (Apium graveolens, Petroselinum crispum, Allium cepa) were divided into different solvent fractions. Column chromatography is used to purify these fractions. Finally, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and mass spectrometry techniques were used for identification. Also, the HPLC technique was used for identifying these compounds and standardized.

In the present work, apigenin was extracted from ethyl acetate fraction of Apium graveolens seeds. High purity of apigenin 7-O-glycoside isolated from the butanol fraction of Petroselinum crispum aerial parts. Also, ethyl acetate fraction isolated quercetin from the Allium cepa. Identification of the data obtained from 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR, which were proofed by comparison with the sources of purified compounds.

The methods used in this research were able to produce these three compounds with a high percentage of purity to be used in industry as standards.

Plant cell suspension cultures are widely used as an in vitro culture technique for primary and secondary metabolites production. Fructans are one of the herbal metabolites that considerably accumulate in the Asteraceae family, especially in chicory root. In this study, the amount of glucose, fructose, sucrose, 1-kestose, nystose, inulin, mean degree of polymerization (mDP) of inulin and expression of genes involved in inulin biosynthesis (1-SST, 1-FFT, 1-FEHI, and 1-FEHII) were investigated in the roots and the cell suspension cultures of chicory. The results showed that inulin quantity and the mDP of inulin in cell suspension cultures are less than roots. Quantitative Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that the gene expression of 1-FFT was significantly down-regulated in the cell suspension cultures compared to the root. For other genes, no significant differences were detected between the roots and cell suspension cultures. High quantity of fructose and glucose in cell suspension culture indicates the high activity of fructan hydrolyzed enzymes (FEHI and 1-FEHII), therefore, lower inulin content and mean degree of polymerization could be due to low expression of 1-FFT gene and high activity of 1-FEHs. The results showed that the quantity of inulin in cell suspension culture is lower than roots, but cell suspension cultures have desirable capabilities in inulin production in a short time.

 Ficus benghalensis (Moraceae) is an evergreen tree found in south and southeast of Iran as wild and cultivated plants. Different parts of this plant have different effects such as antitumor, antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory. Aims The aim of this study was investigated the phytochemical screening and antioxidant activities of different fractions of plant roots.

Phytochemical investigation was done by different methods in references. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH and FRAP assay. All chemical materials and solvents were prepared from Sigma-Aldrich, Scharlau and Merk.

All measurements were carried out in triplicate and the data were expressed as mean ± SD. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and tukey test. Results Phytochemical screening showed steroids, flavonoids, tannins, phenolic compounds, and anthraquinone glycoside are F. benghalensis constituents. This plant had antioxidant activity, but it was lower than the Indian kinds.

This study elucidated Ficus benghalensis could be useful plant with antioxidant activity. Further investigation needs for details.

Labor pain is a major reason behind preferring cesarean section over normal vaginal delivery. Aromatherapy is among the most common nonpharmacological therapies for pain.
The objective of this study aimed to evaluate the effects of inhalation aromatherapy with Boswellia carterii (BC) essential oil on the intensity of labor pain among nulliparous women.
This randomized controlled trial was carried out on 126 nulliparous women. Women were randomly allocated to an aromatherapy (n = 63) and a placebo (n = 63) group. For each woman in the aromatherapy group, a piece of gauze was soaked with 0.2 ml of 0.2% BC essential oil diluted in 2 ml of normal saline, and then, it was attached to the collar of each woman. The intervention was repeated for each woman every 30 min up to a cervical dilation of 10 cm. The intervention in the placebo group was the same as the aromatherapy group except that the gauze was soaked only with 2 ml of normal saline. A numeric pain rating scale was used to assess the labor pain intensity before the intervention and at cervical dilations of 3–4, 5–7, and 8–10 cm. Statistical analyses were performed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as the Chi-square, the independent sample t- test, and paired t-test.
Between-group comparisons revealed that labor pain intensity in the aromatherapy group was significantly lower than the control group at cervical dilations of 3–4 (4.98 ± 0.93 vs. 6.68 ± 1.28, P 0.05).
Inhalation aromatherapy with BC essential oil has positive effects on labor pain. Therefore, it can be used for relieving labor pain in the first stage of labor.

Buprenorphine is opium poppy derivative. From curative qualities, this drug is used for the swoon, relief of the acute pain, and in addiction treatment centers. Because of possibility appearance of harmful problems that are created following to using of amphetamine drugs, in this survey the histopathological effects administration of buprenorphine, on testis of male rats were evaluated.
In this experimental study, 30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided to three groups: control group received 2ml of distilled water and first and second treatment groups received 30 and 45 mg/kg buprenorphine every day intraperitoneally for 21 days. The rats were killed humanly at the end of treatment period and their testes were removed and weighed. For histopathological evaluations, tissue sections stained by Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E). The result obtained for the 3 groups were compared using nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test. P The volume of testis in the treatment group 2 in comparison with control and treatment group 1 showed a decrease and necrosis of seminiferous tubules and increasing of interstitial tubules in treatment group 2 in comparison with the other two groups showed a significant increase. Number of seminiferous tubules, leydig-cells, thickness of germinal epithelium, spermiogenesis index, tubules differentiated index in treatment groups 1 and 2 was significantly lower than the control group (pž Using buprenorphine drug can increase infertility to reasons, decrease spermatogenesis and necrosis on seminiferous tubules.

Malaria is considered a major health problem in Iran. There are different methods for vector control. In this study we tested the larvicidal effects of some Iranian plants. The methanolic extracts of 11 plants were prepared with percolation method. The larvicidal activities of them against malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi were studied using World Health Organization standard method. All LC50 values of methanolic extracts of plants that we screened were lower than 300 ppm. The methanolic extract of aerial parts of Lawsonia inermis and Stachys byzantina showed high larvicidal activity with LC50 values 69.40 ppm and 103.28 ppm respectively. The results obtained from this study suggest that the methanolic extracts of these plants have larvicidal effects against Anopheles stephensi larvae and could be useful in the search for new natural larvicidal compounds.