Journal of Medicinal Plants
Volume:6 Issue: 22, 2007

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza sp.) belongs to family of Leguminosae. A number of components have been isolated from licorice, including triterpene saponins, flavonoids, isoflavonoides, chalcones and various other substances. Glycyrrhizic acid is the main biologically active component of it. The aim of this review is to provide an updated overview ofexperimental investigations focused on the antivirus effects of Glycyrrhiza and its active component, glycyrrhizin. A computerized search of published articles was performed using the electronic database such as MEDLINE from 1980 to 2005. Glycyrrhiza exerts antiviral activity toward a number of viruses, including hepatitis A, B, C, varicella zoster, HIV, herpes simplex type-1, SARS, cytomegalo virus. Now glycyrrhizic acid has been used for the treatment of the patients with chronic active hepatitis and about the mechanism of glycyrrhizin’s activity against other viruses, it seems that glycyrrhizin inhibits replication, affects cellular signaling pathways, upregulate expression of inducible nitrous oxide synthase and production of nitrous oxide in macrophages. Thus, it seems that future clinical research is needed to define the possible use of licorice and it active component, glycyrrhizic acid as effective antivirus agents for treatment other viral infections.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a deciduous shrub and native to Iran having ancient culture in this country and Iran is one of the biggest producers of pomegranate in the world. This fruit is used in traditional medicine because of its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and alleviative characteristics. Extracts of different parts of pomegranate fruit is rich in phenolic compounds and its rind extract and seed oil have vigorous antioxidant activity. Elagic acid is one of the most important phenolic compound with antioxidant activity, present in the pomegranate rind extract. Inhibitory effect of pomegranate seed oil on breast and skin cancer has been reported. Use of seed oil and extracts of different parts of pomegranate fruit has been considered in production of phytostrogenic compounds. At the present time, the fruit of pomegranate besides its use as a fruit and having nutritional value is also considered for its pharmaceutical characteristics. This paper is a review on articles and different sources in order to get more familiarity with medicinal characteristics of this fruit.

A common varicose vein of the lower organs occurs for women four times more than men and nearly half of them are from a family suffering from varicose veins. This disease causes ambiguous ache, feeling pressure on feet after long time standing, feeling heaviness on feet, mild edema on ankle, skin ulceration near ankle. It seldom causes varicose veins to tear and bleed. The aim of this research is to survey how to provide herbaceous medicine containing the extract of Indian chestnut to treat varicose and its related primary clinical study. the extract of Indian chestnut was prepared and different formulations; a suitable topical gel has been produced. After the standardization of the product, the drug and placebo effects on those suffering from varicose veins through random sampling has been evaluated. The amount of the extract of Indian chestnut has determined 5.4%. In the performed clinical study the effect of the medicine in comparison with placebo about reducing ache, inflammation, feeling weight on feet values p < 0.000, edema valiums p < 0.05 and itching values p < 0.007 was meaningful and 86.4% of the consumers are generally satisfied with the product.Conclution: Drug from Aseculus hippocastanum extract can be useful in prevention and treatment of Varicose disease symptoms.

The genus Zosimia is one of Umbelliferae family, widely distributed in different world regions, and have important essential oils. This genus is represented in Iran by two species: Z. radians Boiss. & Hohen. and Z. absinthifolia (Vent.) Link, which Z. radians is endemic plant. Investigation and identification of essential oil compositions of Zosimia absinthifolia collected from Khalkhal area Water - distilled essential oil from the aerial parts of Zosimia absinthifolia (Vent.) Link, collected from Khalkhal area in June 2004, analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Among the 21 identified components constituting 96% of the oil, Octyl acetate (24.69%), β – Caryophyllene (22.24%), and (Z) - β- Ocimen (8.9%) were found to be the major constituents. In the essential oil of the plant, sesquiterpenes predominated over monoterpenes.

Phytoestrogens with a biological activity like estradiol are naturally found in many plants. This study was designed to investigate the effect of red clover (RC), a phytoestrogen-rich member of the legume family (Trifolium pratense L.) on the development of atherosclerosis in male hyperlipidemic rabbits. Twenty rabbits were semi-randomly distributed into four groups of five each. Two groups received either normal diet or normal diet supplemented with RC. Two other groups received similar diets to both of which 1% cholesterol was added. Dietary use of RC in hyperlipidemic rabbits significantly decreased C-reactive protein (CRP), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) whereas, HDL - cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly increased in those animals (p<0.05). Fatty streak formation was also significantly lower in aorta and left and right coronary arteries in the same animals due to use of dietary RC supplementation. These findings suggest that dietary RC may reduce cardiovascular risk factors.

Regarding side effects of acute and especially chronic inflammation and incomplete treatment of patients who suffering from these side effects, the new and affective strategies are needed. For this purpose in the present study, we scientifically evaluate an introduced folk herb Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), for treatment of inflammation. The control and treatment groups (rats which received the extract) were subjected to four methods in order to measure the inflammation: 1) Following production of inflammation by injection of formalin in hind paw, evance blue dye was injected to circulation and due to cutting the paws in border of wrist, they segmented to number parts. These segments set-aside in aceton+sodium sulfate sulotion for 24 hour in room temperature. Finally the light absorption of the santrifuged sulotion was measured as the data. In 2 and 3 methods respectively xylene and acetic acid were applied to ear and peritoneum. However, light absorption of the solution separated from ear segments solution and fluid of the peritoneum was read as the data. In 4th method the difference in weight of cottons which implanted in groin border of rats, before and after 7 days were compared in control and treatment groups. Statistical analysis has shown a significant difference between rate of inflammation in control and treatment groups. The extract in doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg could reduce inflammation produced by formalin 34.52 ± 2.2 (p < 0.001) and 22.71 ± 2.1 % (p < 0.05) respectively. The dose of 100 mg/kg could nearly diminish inflammation 35.48 ± 1.2 % (p < 0.05) in the inflamed ears. However, three doses of the extract (20, 50 and 100 mg/kg) have significant effect on peritonitis produced by acetic acid application in peritoneum. These effects calculated as 21.45 ± 2.1 (p < 0.05), 35.55 ± 2.2 and 27.49 ± 1.8 % (p < 0.001) respectively. Finally, our finding on chronic pain showed that the extract in doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg could alleviate the inflammation 24.08 ± 2.1 and 19.04 ± 04 % respectively (p < 0.05). This study showed that alcoholic Urtica dioica extract could markedly reduce the chronic and acute inflammation.

Great interest has recently been focused on the addition of herbs and their derivatives to foods and biological systems, due to their well-known abilities to scavenge free radicals. For this reason, the antiradical activities of essential oils of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.) were studied. The essential oils of these medicinal plants were analyzed by GC/MS and the major chemical components were identified. Also, antiradical activities of these essential oils were evaluated by using DPPH radical. Samples were kept at 120 and 180ºC for 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 hours to evaluate the influence of heating on the essential oils, then compared with controls (essential oils before heat treatment). Results showed that clove oil had the highest antiradical activity and followed by summer savory and thyme oil, respectively. The essential oils showed various behaviors under different treatments of heating. All tested essential oils had radical scavenging activities at room temperature. These essential oils showed various behaviors under different heat treatments which it may be due to their different compositions.

DNA damage and oxidative stress are widely recognized as major factors in many degenerative diseases and aging. The protective properties of Satureja hortensis L. on the rat lymphocytes DNA lesions were tested. Lymphocytes were isolated from blood samples taken from healthy rats. DNA breaks and resistance to H2O2-induced damage were measured with the comet assay. Rat lymphocytes were incubated in S. hortensis ethanolic extract (SHE) (0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 2.5 mg/ml), essential oil (SHEO) (0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 2.5 µl/ml), H2O2 (50, 100 and 200 µM), a combination of H2O2 (200 M) with either SHE (1, 2.5 mg/ml) or SHEO (1, 2.5 µl/ml) at 4oC for 30 minutes. The extent of DNA migration was measured using a single-cell microgel electrophoresis technique under alkaline conditions. Treatment of rat lymphocytes with SHE or SHEO resulted in significant reduction of H2O2-induced DNA damage compared to controls. SHE exhibited a significant (p<0.01) inhibitory effect on oxidative DNA damage at 2.5 mg/ml. SHEO (1 and 2.5 µl/ml) also showed significant inhibitory effects (p <0.01) on H2O2 induced chromosomal damage. Both the ethanolic extract and the essential oil of the plant were able to reverse the oxidative damage on rat lymphocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide.

One of the essential problems of using medicinal plants which are mostly collected from the wild is their fungus and microbial infections. Nowadays, exposing the plants to Gamma radiation apparently removes the problem. But, as the plants contain outstanding amount of chemical substances, the exposition can lead to a change in the composition of the plants chemicals and therefore a change in their medicinal effects. Making poisonous, carcinogen or stimulant substances in the plants could be examples of this change. The aim of this research was evaluating effect of Gamma radiation on chemical composition of ten medicinal plants essential oils; Mentha, Coriandrum, Foeniculum, Zingiber, Cuminum, Bunium, Melissa, Thymus and Zataria. Essential oil of the species before and after Gamma radiation were obtained over Clevenger apparatus, analyzed using GC and GC/MS and identified based on RT, KI and authentic references. Results showed that within ten species, the Coriander oil was affected with the 10 & 25 KG of Gamma radiation and changed to the another components. These results of experiment can alert the world, to the threatening consequences of using Gamma radiation concerning human health.

Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. has been used for centuries as an herbal medicine for treatment of liver disease. Fruits of S. marianum contain silymarin, which is composed of the flavonolignans, silybin, isosilybin, silydianin and silychristin. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of environmental conditions on silymarin content and morphological characteristic of S. marianum. The dried fruits of S. marianum were collected from 13 area of Iran and cultivated at greenhouse conditions. Morphological characteristic were studied and silymarin content analyzed by HPLC. The results showed that silybin is the main component of silymarin and was affected by environmental conditions. The amount of silymarin was very different in cultivated and endemic plants in comparison with together. The silymarin content had a significant positive correlation with seed yield/plant, stem diameter and number of capsules/plant.

About 30% of people in developed countries at least once a year experience a food borne disease. Therefore, there is a need for new methods to prevent the growth of food borne pathogens or decrease the number of them in foods. One of the methods is to use plant essential oils as antimicrobial additives in foods. To establish the usefulness of plant essential oils, they must be evaluated alone or in combination with other preservation factors (such as temperature, storage time and …) first in the laboratory models and then in food model systems. The aim of this study was to determine of the effect of Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus in commercial barley soup using different essential oil concentrations (0.0, 0.005, 0.015 and 0.03%) and temperatures (8 and 25˚C) during 21 days. The effect of different concentrations of essential oil on growth rate of Staphylococcus aureus was statistically (ANOVA) significant (p<0.01). The correlation coefficient of Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil with log10 of the number of Staphylococcus aureus was -0.588. The effect of storage time on growth rate of the organism was also statistically (ANOVA) significant (p<0.05). The correlation coefficient of storage time with log10of the number of microorganism used in this study was -0.2 which showed a decrease in the growth rate of the organism when the storage time was increased. In addition the correlation coefficient of storage temperature with log10 of the number of Staphylococcus aureus was 0.449. In other words, by decreasing the storage temperature (from 25 to 8˚C), the decreasing of the growth rate of the microorganism was observed. The effect of different storage temperatures and their interaction with different concentrations of essential oil on growth rate of Staphylococcus aureus was also statistically (ANOVA) significant (p<0.01). The results suggested that the Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil can be considered as a natural preservative in some foods.

About 130 species of genus Anthemis occur throughout the world. Thirty-nine of them could be found in flora of Iran which Anthemis cotula is one of them. According to literature, this species was not the subject of research up to now. The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition of leaves and flowers essential oils of Anthemis cotula L. from Gilan province. In this study samples were collected from Rudbar in Gilan province on late June 2005. The volatile constituents of leaves and flowers of Anthemis cotula L. were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The major constituents of flower oil were n-nonadecane (10.8%), cedrane (9.2%) and (E, E) --farnesene (6%), while the leaf oil contained 1-eicosane (11%), benzyl salicylate (8.9%) and aromadendrene (7.1%). This study indicated an obvious difference between chemical compositions in flowers and leaves of Anthemis cotula L. with other species of Anthemis.