Research Journal of Pharmacognosy
Volume:4 Issue: 4, Autumn 2017

Withania coagulans Dunal (Solanaceae) fruits are recommended to treat asthma, dyspepsia, biliousness, flatulent colic, liver complaints, intestinal infections, strangury, wounds and as diuretic, emetic and sedative agent in Indian traditional system of medicine. The objective of this study was to describe the systematic fatty acid composition of the petroleum ether extract of W. coagulans fruits.

Petroleum ether extract of W. coagulans fruits was prepared by maceration. Components of the W. coagulans petroleum ether extract were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and their concentrations were determined.

The fixed oil of W. coagulans fruits constituted of twenty nine components including unsaturated (52.36%) and saturated (22.15%) fatty acids, alkenes (5.65%), phytosterols (4.39%), fatty alcohols (4.14%), aromatic acid (3.56%), monoterpenes (3.22%), triterpenoids (1.83%) and alkanes (2.7%). Most of the saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were identified as their methyl esters.

Palmitoleic and 11-eicosenoic acids have been reported for the first time in petroleum ether extract of the W. coagulans fruits. The present study has illustrated the chemical nature of W. coagulans fruit and described its fatty acids composition.

Drugs with analgesic properties such as opioids and NSAIDs have not been effective in all cases, because of their low potency and side effects. As a result, looking for other alternatives is necessary. Plants are important sources of new phytochemicals that possess significant therapeutic effects. Regarding the traditional use of Artemisia sieberi fruit as a natural painkiller and anti-inflammatory agent and the high content of essential oil in the fruits, we were prompted to investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of A. sieberi fruits oil.

Artemisia sieberi fruits essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation method. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the oil were studied by formalin and carrageenan tests, respectively at the doses of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg for the experimental animals. Control group received sweet almond oil as the vehicle and standard groups received morphine (2 mg/kg) and indomethacin (5 mg/kg) for the formalin and carrageenan tests respectively.

All doses of A. sieberi fruits essential oil induced antinociceptive activity during the second phase of the formalin test but the maximum effect was observed at the dose of 0.8 mg/kg. In carrageenan test all the experimental doses of theoil significantly reduced the inflammation (p<0.05). Anti-inflammatory activity of A. sieberi oil (0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg) was found to be as considerable as the standard drug indomethacin (5 mg/kg).

Artemisia sieberi fruit essential oil showed analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects which might be attributed to the major components of the studied oil, camphor and 1,8-cineole.

Phlomis bruguieri Desf. (Lamiaceae) is a perennial herbaceous plant distributed in Iran, Turkey and Iraq. Despite medicinal potentials of this species, the current knowledge on its phytochemical constituents is limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the phytochemical constituents of the essential oil and various extracts of this species.

Essential oils of the plant aerial parts were extracted by hydrodistillation and steam distillation methods and analysed using GC and GC/MS.Column chromatography with silica gel (normal and reversed phases) and Sephadex LH-20 were also used for the isolation of compounds from various extracts obtained from P. bruguieri aerial parts. The structures of isolated compounds were established by 1D and 2D NMR techniques.

By GC and GC/MS analysis, germacrene D (29.8%), apiole (20.7%) and myristicin (16.63%) were identified as the main compounds of hydrodistilled oil. Apiole (53.20%) and myristicin (34.87%) were also detected as the main compounds of the oil extracted by steam distillation method. Phytochemical analysis of the plant extracts resulted in the isolation and structural elucidation of  β-sitosterol (1), p-coumaric acid methyl ester (2), chrysoeriol 7-O-(3''-(E)-p-coumaroyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), chrysoeriol 7-O-(3'',6''-di-O-(E)-p-coumaroyl)-β-D glucopyranoside (4), chrysoeriol 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), chlorogenic acid (6) and verbascoside (7).

the results of the present study introduce steam distilled oil of P. bruguieri as a new source of apiole and myristicin. Moreover, identification of coumaroyl flavone glycosides and cinammic acid derivatives from the aerial parts of this species highlighted the species as a good candidate for further biological and pharmacological studies.

Argyreia pilosa (Convolvulaceae) has been utilized for many aliments in the conventional system ethnomedicinally; most significantly against sexually transmitted diseases, skin troubles, diabetes, rheumatism, cough, and quinsy. The key challenge experienced in the standardization of herbal drugs is the correct identification of the plant source. Thus, setting up quality control parameters by means of pharmacognostic and phytochemical analysis which assures the purity, safety, and efficiency of A. pilosa is necessary. The current research was conducted to assess the pharmacognostic characteristics including macroscopic, microscopic, phytochemical and physicochemical parameters of the stems of A. pilosa.

Micro as well as macroscopic characteristics were investigated. Physicochemical parameters had been done by implementing WHO suggested parameters; preliminary phytochemical and fluorescent evaluation of stem was executed for appropriate identification and standardization.  

The color, shape, size, odor and surface characteristics were reported from the stem and powdered stem material of A. pilosa. Light microscope images of cross section and powdered stem revealed the presence of phloem fibers, multicellular uniseriate trichomes, sclerides, lignified xylem fibers, xylem vessels, parenchyma cells and medullary rays. Phytochemical testing confirmed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, phenols, steroids, fixed oils, fats, acid compounds, glycosides, amino acids, and proteins. Physicochemical parameters such as moisture content, ash value, extractive value and fluorescent behavior of stem powder have also been established.

The current research would be useful in order to supplement the information regarding to standardization, identity and in performing additional explorations in Ayurvedic system of medicine.

Migraine is the seventh most common cause of disability among all ailments according to the World Health Organization. Despite the availability of some medicines for prevention of migraine, their complications are a cause for concern. Traditional system of medicine and use of medicinal herbs can be beneficial in management of migraine. “Gol-e-ghand” is one of the most commonly prescribed products for the management of headaches in the Iranian traditional medicine. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of “Ghol-e-ghand” on decreasing the frequency of migraine attacks.

Nineteen migraine patients, who met the eligibility criteria, according to the International Headache Society diagnostic criteria were assigned to the intervention. The study was conducted as a before-after clinical trial and included two phases of drug administration. Propranolol was given during the first phase, while “Ghol-e-ghand” was administered along with propranolol in the second phase. The severity, duration, and frequency of headaches were measured before and after the intervention.

The analysis showed that “Ghol-e-ghand” decreased the frequency of migraine (20%, p=0.04), but it was not effective in decreasing the duration and severity of the attacks.

“Ghol-e-ghand”can be suggested in migraine patients for reducing frequency of attacks.

Cancer cell resistance to common chemotherapy agents is on rise. Plants are considered valuable sources of herbal drugs for cancer therapy. The present study was conducted to investigate the in vitro antioxidant, anti-proliferative, and apoptosis-inducing properties of clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.) extract in human gastric carcinoma (AGS).

Crude ethanol extract of S. aromaticum dried buds was prepared and  in vitro anti-proliferative effects of the extract on AGS and normal Human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) cell lines were studied by MTT assay. To examine apoptosis induction, AGS cells were incubated with IC50 concentrations of the extract, stained with propidium iodide (PI) and annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), and analyzed by flow cytometry. Antioxidant activity and total phenolics and flavonoids contents were evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, Folin-Ciocalteu method, and aluminum chloride colorimetric method, respectively.

The IC50 of DPPH and total phenolics and flavonoids contents of the extract were 10.05±1.93 μg/mL, 225.6±40 mg GAE/g, and 29.30±2.35 mgRUT/g, respectively. The IC50 of the extract against HDFs was 649 µg/mL, higher than AGS cells, which was 118.7 g/mL at 48 h after treatment. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the extract induced cell apoptosis.

Crude ethanol S. aromaticum extract had high total phenolics content, and suppressed the proliferation of human gastric cancer cells, likely due to apoptosis induction. Further studies should be conducted to determine the mechanisms of its anticancer effects.

In recent years, biological control of parasites by essential oils (EOs) derived from plants is one of the alternatives to synthetic pesticides.Melissa officinalis from Lamiaceae family is distributed in many parts of Iran. It is known as an excellent source of antioxidants, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal constituents. The present study investigated the insecticide properties of M. officinalis against Tetranychus urticae tick.

The EO of different parts of plant was extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The ticks were placed on the filter paper in the bottom of a petri dish (9 mm), and contact toxicity assay was then performed by contacting the extract with the ticks.

The EO of leaves showed the most potent insecticidal effect while the stem EO demonstrated the weakest effect. The lowest concentration of EO from the leaves showed more considerable insecticide activity compared to the highest concentration of stem and flower EOs.

Melissa officinalis is an effective insecticide with potent effect against T. urticae and it could be suggested as a natural pesticide against T. urticae.

Thegenus Centaurea from the Asteraceae family is one of the most widely distributed plant genera worldwide that has been extensively used in folk medicine for hundreds of years. The present study is the first investigation about the principal constituents of Centaurea albonitens Turrill which is native to Iran.

Theaerial parts of C. albonitens were extracted via maceration. Phytochemical analysis of the methanol extract was carried out via different chromatography approaches like HPLC, SPE and preparative TLC. Structures of the purified compounds were revealed through spectral analysis from 1D and 2D NMR including DQF-COSY, HSQC and DEPT in comparison with the relative data in published reports. Subsequently, the antioxidant property of the extract was evaluated via scavenging the free DPPH radicals. In addition, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extract were ascertained based on Folin-Ciocalteu and colorimetric aluminum chloride methods, correspondingly.

Analysis of the extract yielded in the isolation and identification of arctiin and apigenin-4'-O-rhamnoside. Moreover, the antioxidant assessment determined IC50 value of 389.9 µg/mL for the plant extract in DPPH assay. The total phenolics and flavonoids content of the plant extract were 2.87 g gallic acid equivalent and 0.28 g quercetin equivalent both in 100 g dried plant material.

The findings of this study introduce C. albonitens as a suitable source for isolation of lignans (like arctiin).

Natural products are one of the major sources for investigations of novel medicines. Zataria multiflora Boiss (ZM) has shown pharmacological activities especially in gastrointestinal tract; however, there are limited studies about its cytotoxicity effects. In this study, the effect of Zataria multiflora was examined on two colon cancer cell lines (SW-48 and HT-29).

Hydro-alcoholic extract of ZM and its fractions including chloroform, petroleum ether and methanol extract were prepared by warm maceration method. Different concentrations were prepared and examined on SW-48 and HT-29 cell lines using 2-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) 2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

The results of the present study have shown the cytotoxic effect of some fractions of ZM. The most considerable cytotoxic effect was shown against HT-29 cell line. Also, total ZM extract and the petroleum ether fraction demonstrated cytotoxic effects with IC50 values of 44.22 and 33.42 µg/ml on SW-48 and HT-29 cell lines, respectively.

Zataria multiflora was cytotoxic to against colon cancer cell lines HT-29 and SW-48.

Skin hyperpigmentation is characterized as increased production and accumulation of melanin, which could be aesthetically unfavorable and develops serious skin diseases. There is a need to find new depigmenting agents, since many current natural and synthetic products present undesired side effects. In Iranian traditional medicine (ITM), plants have been used for the treatment of skin diseases such as hyperpigmentation. In this study, topical herbal medicines, for the treatment of hyperpigmentation were searched in ITM references, and their scientific names were identified, using different comprehensive glossaries. Thereafter, depigmenting mechanisms of these genera were reviewed in recent scientific literatures. Seventy-nine plants were made known as herbal remedies for skin hyperpigmentation. Furthermore, modern literatures have shown depigmenting effect of about 40% of these plants or their isolated compounds, with different melanogenesis inhibitory mechanisms with tyrosinase inhibition as the most revealed method. Regarding the new approach to medicinal plants in recent years, a large number of medicinal herbs that were mentioned in ITM references would be good candidates for exploring new herbal medicines for skin hyperpigmentation disorders.