مجله طب سنتی اسلام و ایران
سال دهم شماره 2 (پیاپی 38، تابستان 1398)

Background and Purpose:

Due to the importance and widespread use, many studies have been done on the date-palm kernel. Animal studies have shown that the use of palm kernel extract has been effective in reducing blood glucose level. Caffeine-free artificial coffee is an excellent alternative for people who use a lot of coffee. Due to the characteristics of the palm kernel, its conversion into reproducible powders has many challenges which can reduce the willingness of the manufacturer and the consumer to use this inexpensive product with desirable properties. New approaches to optimization based on statistical sciences provide a high degree of certainty to explore the conditions for optimal pharmaceutical production.

Methods and Materials:

Kabkab date kernel was identified by a laboratory expert of medicinal plants, washed and dried with water. Fifty grams of dates were heated in a furnace at 200°C for 25 minutes. After the initial shear cutting, to obtain a uniform powder, the factors affecting the reduction of particle size were evaluated by Design-Expert software using ball mill via D-optimal design. The particle size distribution was considered as a response, and the optimum powder was evaluated for pharmaceutical characteristics.

The obtained model indices for powders are statistically acceptable and appropriate. The value of 0.81 for the Pred R-Squared is proportional to the Adj R-Squared of 0.93. The calculated equation shows that in case of increasing milling time and decreasing the rate of miller, and if there is a reverse rotation, a smaller particle size distribution will be obtained.

The obtained powder, while having an appropriate particle size and particle size distribution, has acceptable flow characteristics for the modernization of this traditional medicine product. Also, the method used in this study can be a good model for other traditional medicine products that need processing through the preparation.

Background and Purpose:

In traditional Persian medicine, the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, especially the stomach, is particularly important due to its close relationship with other organs of the body. The prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms is high and the incidence of these diseases is increasing day by day. Considering the importance of gastrointestinal diseases, in this study, we examined the simplicity, availability, fewer side effects, the prevalence and risk of symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases.

Methods and Materials:

It was a qualitative study that was carried out in Tehran, 2018. In this study, after studying various sources of traditional and conventional medicines regarding symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases, a questionnaire was designed for the evaluation of symptoms in terms of simplicity and the availability of treatment, complications, lower cost, as well as the importance of these symptoms in terms of prevalence and risk. The questionnaire was designed by 13 faculty members of Persian medicine in Iran. The results were analyzed using SPSS software.

The results of this study showed that salivation increase (74%), indigestion (76%), belching (74%), regurgitation (75%), constipation (76%), and flatulence (77%) along with other symptoms with relatively high percentages among different GI symptoms are most important indicators considering the availability of treatment, complications, lower cost, prevalence and risk.

The results of this study showed that Persian medicine could be more effectively evaluated by increasing salivation, eliminating halitosis, indigestion, belching, constipation and flatulence among different signs of gastrointestinal diseases considering the availability of treatment, complications, lower cost, prevalence and risk.

Background and Purpose:

Hypothyroidism is the second most common metabolic and endocrine disorder in the world. It is also considered as a cause of morbidity and mortality due to its association with metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, particularly at old age. Although Levothyroxine is the standard and selected treatment for hypothyroidism, expected results of the current treatment are not achieved in some patients. It seems that the use of the traditional Persian medicine (TPM) capacity can help to better treat these patients. To achieve this, the disease must be explained in traditional Persian medicine. In this regard, it is necessary to compare symptoms of hypothyroidism with symptoms of cold dystemperament (Su-e-Mizaj-e Barid).

Methods and Materials:

The present study is a literature review investigating documented sources of the conventional medicine and the TPM as well as available databases and Comprehensive Library of Medicine software. Differences and similarities of Su-e-Mizaj-e Barid and hypothyroidism were extracted and studied after data classification.

Hypothyroid symptoms including fatigue, lethargy, increased cold sensitivity, constipation, dry skin, nail and hair dryness, puffy face, hoarseness of voice, unexplained weight gain, muscle tenderness and stiffness, arthritis, menstruation disorders (especially menorrhagia) and depression, significantly overlap with symptoms of cold dystemperament according to the traditional Persian medicine. Furthermore, diseases accompanied by hypothyroidism like fatty liver can be associated with cold dystemperament.

Considering the association of hypothyroidism and symptoms of Su-e-Mizaj-e Barid as well as medical strategies of TPM in the cold dystemperament, it seems that the diagnosis and management of imbalanced temperament in patients with hypothyroidism improve the patients’ lifestyle, enhance their health, and decrease hypothyroid symptoms. It is suggested that therapeutic approaches in Su-e-Mizaj-e Barid be evaluated to improve symptoms of hypothyroid patients and regulate the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), as the current criteria for diagnosis and follow-up, by designing clinical studies.

Background and Purpose:

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the main causes of dementia. Symptoms include memory loss and forgetfulness. In terms of traditional Persian medicine, Nesian has a relative similarity to Alzheimer's disease and memory disorders. We decided to review the causes and methods of preventing and treating it from a different and credible point of view in traditional Persian medicine.

Methods and Materials:

The search was carried out with the keywords of Nesian and forgetfulness in the chapter of head diseases in traditional Persian medicine reference books such as Ibne Sina's Qanoon, Razi's Al-Havi, Tib-e Akbari of Hakim Arzani, Asbab va Ellal of Nafis ibn-e Evaze Kermani, Exir-e Azam of Hakim Azam Khan Chashti, Zakhireh Kharazmshahi of Seyed Esmaeel Jorjani, and in Google scholar, PubMed, Scopus, SID, and Science Direct databases using the keywords of Nesian, Alzheimer, Traditional Persian Medicine.

The most common cause of Nesian, especially in the “mention corruption”, is the dominancy of coldness and moisture. Also, in traditional Persian medicine, it is important to observe the principles of health and nutrition in both aspects of prevention and treatment of Nesian.

Despite the recognition of Alzheimer's disease in the 20th century, prominent Iranian scholars such as Avicenna, Razi and Seyed Esmaeel Jorjani have introduced and presented the therapeutic strategies for this disease centuries ago. By studying the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, some types of Nesian could have a relative correlation with this disease. In traditional Persian medicine, there are valuable methods and herbal medicines that new studies have been done on them and their beneficial effects on Alzheimer's prevention have been proven.

Background and Purpose:

Traditional Persian medicine is a collection of theoretical and practical sciences that are used in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of physical, mental or social disorders. It has the solution to some of the diseases that modern medicine is incapable of dealing with. The search for and discovering a new drug has always been costly and time-consuming. Therefore, the use of traditional Persian medicine experiences increases the likelihood of discovering new drugs and reduces the cost of research. The problem of opioid dependence and abuse is one of the most important problems in the world's health systems. In Iran, the most common abuse and dependence is related to opium and its derivatives. Considering that the treatment of opioid addiction has not been achieved so far, it is possible to use different methods of traditional medicine to cure addiction. In this regard, there are many drugs in traditional Persian medicine books for the treatment of opium addiction, which are mentioned in this article.

Methods and Materials:

This is a library study based on the review of traditional Iranian texts. In this study, effective drugs for addiction treatment in six authoritative reference books of traditional medicine (Resaleh Afyunyeh, Makhzan al-Advieh, Qarabadyn-e Kabir, Resaleh Bikh-e Chini, Kholasat al-Tajareb, Tohfat al-Momenin) have been searched. The research steps included finding keywords, searching in the sources, generating unit lists, finding synonyms, and finally, summarizing, scoring, and prioritizing 29 mufradah drug (single drug) treatments for addiction.

The 29 mufradah were derived from different natural plant and animal origin. Based on the scores obtained in the table, the results of the Smilax glabra L., Curcuma zedoaria, Castoreum, Hyoscyamus Niger and Ferula assafoetida earned the highest score.

The list of drugs collected in this study can be based in basic and clinical studies to design and manufacture new effective drugs in treating opium addiction.

Background and Purpose:

The use of traditional knowledge in the use of plants is a way of identifying plants and their properties which can be suitable in new drugs’ formulation. Since traditional knowledge is being eroded with the loss of local informants, the study presents local communities’ traditional knowledge of wild plants in Chupanan rural district, Isfahan Province, Iran.

Methods and Materials:

The ethnobotanical information from the region' wild vegetation was obtained through participatory observation, semi-structured and open interviews with 114 informants. Classification was used to analyze the data. Indicators of Informants Consensus Factor (ICF), Cultural Importance (CI), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), and Use Value (UV) were also used to quantitatively analyze the plant species uses and importance.

A total number of 114 plant species were recorded in 36 families. They were categorized in 13 classes including medicinal, food, toxic, instrumental, handicraft, construction, forage, fuel, washing, ornamental, religious, pesticide, and others. The plants of Asteraceae and Chenopodiaceae families were most used in the region. The highest level of informant consensus factor (ICF) was in the class of endocrine and metabolic diseases that were treated or alleviated using plants. The most important medicinal plants in the region were Amygdalus lycioides, Zataria multiflora Boiss, Teucrium polium, Alyssum meniocoides Boiss., Ziziphora tenuior, Echinops ilicifolius Bunge, Amygdalus scoparia Spach and Ferula assafoetida which had the highest CI and RFC among the medicinal plants in the region.

Findings showed the richness of indigenous knowledge and ethnological indices indicate the relationship between the importance of plant species and sharing of medical knowledge with plants among local people. They are more likely to use herbs to treat digestive disorders. One of the most important properties of wild plants is the nature of plants. Further research is needed to identify this aspect of plants’ properties in ethnopharmacology and disease treatment.

Background and Purpose:

Considering the increasing trend of using oral form of Esfand (Peganum harmala) as the equivalent of Harmal in traditional Persian medicine and reports of its complications and controversies in its efficacy, it seems that conducting a review study on Peganum harmala and its relationship with Harmal in traditional sources is a necessity. 

Methods and Materials:

At the first step, different names and equivalents of Esfand and Harmal were extracted using Jamie Tibb software. Then, each extracted name was evaluated in the main and older traditional medical sources. Phytochemical and botanical properties of each related herb were evaluated in modern sources. Also, common Esfand in the Iranian markets were evaluated and its phytochemical properties were searched in the web and PubMed database. At the end, a comparison between the results was done.

Phytochemical and botanical properties of Peganum harmala is different from the Harmal which is mentioned in traditional medical sources. Rhazia stricta which is known in Iran as Eshvarak has the nearest morphology to the Harmal.

According to phyitochemical and morphology of these two different herbs, considering the therapeutic effect of Harmal for Esfand is in doubt.

Background and Purpose:

Persian carrot is one of the indigenous plants of Iran's plateau, cultivated over the centuries as a medicinal herb. The purpose of this study is to review the active ingredients of various organs of the Zardak plant, especially its roots in traditional and modern medicine.

Methods and Materials:

This study, which is a library type, was conducted in a narrative review method and utilized important books of traditional medicine and explored in accessible databases such as Science Direct, Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus and SID.

The Persian carrot is considered as a valuable herbal medicine because of the presence of various nutritious compounds such as vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. In addition, due to the numerous phytochemical compounds, it has become one of the most widely used herbs in the prevention and treatment of some chronic diseases in traditional and modern medicine. Research results showed that amount of Persian carrot sugar is more than carrot and its iron content is about three times higher. For this reason, Persian carrots are recommended to prevent anemia. The Persian carrot having carotenoids, such as alpha-carotene and lutein, is one of the most valuable antioxidant sources that can play a role in preventing many eye diseases, cardiovascular disorders, skin diseases, and cancers.

It seems that Persian carrot as one of the indigenous herbs of Iran, is considered to be popular and various products derived from its root could be a part of the diet in all age groups.