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Objective: This study was performed to determine the effect of olive cream on the severity of pain and healing of caesarean section wounds. Method: This study is a parallel randomised clinical trial that was conducted on women who had caesarean sections at Ayatollah Taleghani Hospital in Arak, Iran. Women were assigned to intervention, placebo and control groups by a block randomisation method. Women in the intervention and placebo groups were asked to use olive cream and placebo cream, respectively, twice a day from the second day after surgery to the tenth day. The wound healing score and pain intensity score were assessed using the REEDA and VAS scales, respectively, before and at the end of the intervention. Results: The intervention group consisted of 34 women, the placebo group of 34 women and the control group of 35 women. We found a statistically significant difference between the intervention and placebo groups, intervention and control groups, and placebo and control groups in terms of the pain intensity (pConclusion: Olive cream can be effective in relieving pain and enhancing caesarean section wound healing, and since no specific side effects were reported, the use of olive cream is recommended.

Objectives Rhus coriaria L. (RC) is a deciduous shrub with several pharmacological activities. Evidence of the effects of RC on weight, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension and diabetes mellitus have been presented in this study. Books, thesis and internet-based resources such as PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane, Ovid and Google Scholar were searched for the English, Arabic and Persian literature from 1966 to 2020 (December). The keywords were Rhus coriaria L., Sumac, metabolic syndrome and all its medical conditions (hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, obesity and diabetes mellitus). The inclusion criteria were full-text animal and human studies conducted on RC to evaluate its efficacy on any components of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Jadad scale was used to assess the quality of evidence. Key findings Reviewing 23 relevant studies demonstrated that RC is able to decrease the level of blood glucose, glycated haemoglobin, serum insulin and insulin resistance. Studies on hyperlipidaemia and obesity have very contradicting results, and there is no definite conclusion on the effect of RC on lipid profile. However, the hypotensive and effect of RC was confirmed in the existing studies. Summary According to the literature, RC can be considered as a promising curative candidate for MetS. However, further studies with larger sample size and higher methodological quality are needed.

Introduction: Persian medicine (PM) is one of the oldest branches of medicine in the world. The purpose of this research was to analyze published articles about PM in the PubMed indexed journals. Method: Articles indexing in the PubMed database (2015-2019) searched for keywords "Iranian traditional medicine", "Iranian medicine", "Persian traditional medicine" and "Persian medicine". The finding data evaluated for subject relevance and categorized based on the journal metrics. Finally, all data were analyzed and reported. Results: From the 3,000 records, 359 PM related articles were extracted. The most abundant number of published articles was in the year 2016, followed by a downward trend. The mean citation per article was 6.6. The largest portion of published articles belonged to the Iranian journal of medical sciences. Among the top ten journals, the highest impact factor was 3.414 for the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Most of the journals were in the Q1 category according to Cite score Quartile. The highest impact factor (IF) was 7.995 for the JAMA Dermatology Journal and the average IF of all Journals was 1.39. The highest Citescore among all journals was 5.27 and the highest journal h-Index was 170 for the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Conclusion: The total number of published PM articles over the past five years, despite a downtrend in 2016, has increased compared to previous years.

Plantago major (P. major) has traditionally been used in Iranian Persian medicine to treat gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeding.This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of the leaf and seed extracts of P. major in rats with acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis (UC).To this end, 49 rats were randomly divided into seven groups. UC was induced in all groups but the control (vehicle) group using a single intra-rectal administration of 2 ml of 4% acetic acid. Other groups received daily intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of the seed extract of P. major (400 mg/kg and 700 mg/kg), the leaf extract of P. major (400 mg/kg and 700 mg/kg), and sulfasalazine (400 mg/kg) for seven consecutive days, respectively. The rats' rectum was surgically removed and evaluated for macroscopic and microscopic damage. The tissue levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers were measured using the ELISA method.The high-dose leaf extract significantly decreased ulcer index and histopathologic damage as well as the tissue levels of IL-6, TNF-α, PGE2, IL-1β, MPO, and MDA compared to the damage group. The low-dose leaf extract also significantly reduced the levels of some markers. The seed extract in the two used doses caused a modest decrease in the histopathological damages and ulcer index.P. major leaf extract effectively reduces inflammation and mucosal damage in rats with UC, especially when administered in high doses. P. major seed extract has minimal protective effects on UC.

Context: Artemisia genus and its chemical constituents show antiviral activity against different viruses. The aim of this study was to review the effects of selected Artemisia species and their components against respiratory viruses like influenza and coronavirus. Methods: All the articles published in English or Persian related to the effects of Artemisia and its components on viral respiratory infections and relevant mechanisms of action were searched throughout Medline, Science Direct, Scopus, Ebsco, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library Database from 1966 up to April 2020. Results: A few numbers of Artemisia species such as A. scoparia, A. rupestris, and A. annua and their components showed efficacy against the influenza virus and coronaviruses. Furthermore, some chemical compounds isolated from Artemisia species, like rupestonic acid, showed potent anti-influenza activity. The mechanism of antiviral activity was also determined for some of these compounds. Conclusions: The present study summarized the efficacy of a number of Artemisia species and their components against respiratory viruses like influenza and coronavirus. Future studies on other Artemisia species may lead to the discovery of new antiviral drugs against the influenza virus and coronaviruses.

Context: According to Persian medicine text, there are some topical herbal remedies for insomnia such as pumpkin oil as a nasal drop. Aims: To evaluate the effect of pumpkin oil (a Persian medicine product) in patients with chronic insomnia. Methods: This study was conducted as a randomized double-blind clinical trial on pumpkin oil efficacy in 74 patients with chronic insomnia. The participants received two drops of intranasal pumpkin oil or placebo every night for two weeks. The effects of pumpkin oil and placebo on the pattern of sleep and sleep quality were assessed at baseline and at the end of two weeks of treatment by Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaires. Results: The scores of the ISI questioner were statistically different between groups after two weeks of intervention and patients in the pumpkin oil group had fewer scores for ISI questioner (p

Objective. This study aims to evaluate the effects of Plantago major (P. major) seed on liver enzymes and ultrasound patterns in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Design. In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, 74 patients with NAFLD were administered either 2 g P. major or placebo twice daily for 12 weeks. All patients were advised to follow the recommendations for daily exercise and diet modification. Levels of liver enzymes as well as other laboratory indexes were measured at the beginning of the study and after 12 weeks. Indeed, the alteration in ultrasound grade was evaluated in NAFLD patients. Results. Sixty-three participants completed the study in the intervention and control groups. The mean age of participants was 43.3 (±8.927) and 38.7 (±8.48) years in the intervention and control groups, respectively. P. major group showed significant reduction in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (47.32 ± 21.77 IU/L vs. 50.03 ± 21.19, P = 0.021), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (28.29 ± 10.49 IU/L vs. 32.03 ± 13.30, P = 0.004), triglyceride (TG) (200.93 ± 106.741 mg/dl vs. 183.75 ± 73.96, P = 0.001), waist circumference (WC) (101.25 ± 9.27 cm vs. 101.18 ± 8.63, P = 0.027), and grade of fatty liver in ultrasonography ( P = 0.038), comparing to the placebo group. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding serum levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol, and other outcomes. Conclusion. P. major supplementation with a daily dose of 2 g for 12 weeks improved serum levels of ALT, AST, and TG in patients with NAFLD. Further studies with a larger sample size are recommended.

Objective. This study aimed to appraise the potential effects of Rosa damascena preparation on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Design. In the randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials, seventy-four patients with NAFLD were prescribed either 1 g Rosa damascena powder or placebo three times in a day for 12 weeks. All patients were provided the lifestyle modification instructions and recommended following them precisely. ALT, AST, FBS, and lipid profiles were measured at the baseline after 12 weeks of studying. The Mann–Whitney U test was correctly used to compare the changes of variables among the groups. Results. Seventy-two patients completed the study in two groups. Sixty-seven patients were men, and the mean ± standard deviation of age was 40.11 ± 9.05 years. The Rosa damascena group showed a considerable decrease in the serum ALT (23.83 ± 24.82 vs. 16.19 ± 27.41, p = 0.042 ), waist circumference (99.73 ± 10.01 vs. 101.52 ± 8.84, p = 0.003 ), triglyceride (TG) (186.29 ± 76.75 vs. 184.47 ± 73.05, p = 0.001 ), cholesterol (167.47 ± 34.48 vs. 184.11 ± 33.54, p = 0.001 ), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (99.17 ± 28.66 vs. 107.52 ± 25.42, p = 0.001 ), and elevation in serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (41.85 ± 6.56 vs. 39.20 ± 5.00, p < 0.007 ) compared to the control group. Improving fatty liver degree due to liver ultrasound was higher in the Rosa damascena group than the control group ( p = 0.001 ). Conclusion. Rosa damascena meaningfully improves liver function in NAFLD. Hence, it can be recommended along with lifestyle modification for these patients. Further studies are recommended with a larger sample size.

Objectives: Regarding the high prevalence of cancer in Iran and the cytotoxic properties of T. polium, the current study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic and anti-mutagenicity effect of T. polium essential oil (TpEO) on human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (HT29). Methods: HT29 cells were cultured in L-glutamine, RPMI Sigma (1640), with 10% of FBS (fetal bovine serum). Then, the cultures were incubated with 5% CO2 at 37°C, and MTT assay was used to recognize cell proliferation under the inhibitory influence of TpEO. The cell cycle progression was monitored by Sub-G1 apoptosis assay using flow cytometry. Eventually, the anti-mutagenicity property was evaluated using the Ames test employing TA100 and exposure to sodium azide as the carcinogenic substance. Results: The cytotoxic effect of TpEO on HT29 cells was 66.867 ± 1.37 µg/mL. Cultured HT29 cells treated with TpEO exhibited morphological features of apoptosis. TpEO preventive effect was about 78.18%. Conclusions: This study showed that TpEO may be useful for treating colon cancer.

Background: Natural products derived from various sources are being used to develop chemotherapeutic drugs. Euphorbiaceae is widely used to treat different types of cancers. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second and third cause of cancer in women and men, respectively. CRC is strongly associated with the deregulation of the Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene and Poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase (PPAR) protein. Objectives: The current study aimed to examine the effect of doxorubicin, ethanol extract, and the flavonoid-rich fraction of Euphorbia Splendida Mobayen on colon cancer HT-29 cell line death, APC gene expression, and PPAR concentration. Methods: Following treatment of cells by Euphorbia ethanol extract, Euphorbia flavonoid-rich fraction, and doxorubicin, cell viability assay was used to investigate the viability status of the HT-29 cell line. Total RNA was isolated from the cell line and converted into cDNA. The expression level of the APC gene was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PPAR) protein was detected by the ELIZA method. Results: We found that Euphorbia ethanol extract, Euphorbia flavonoid-rich fraction, and doxorubicin can stimulate dose-dependent cell death in the HT-29 cell line, increase ACP gene expression (P = 0.001, P = 0.041, P = 0.019), and decrease PARP level (P = 0.001, P = 0.001, P = 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: The findings indicated that doxorubicin, ethanol extract, and the flavonoid-rich fraction of Euphorbia Splendida Mobayen had cytotoxic effects on human colon cancer HT-29 cell line by possibly stimulating apoptosis.

The objective of the current study was to investigate the anti-epileptogenic and anticonvulsant effects of Dorema ammoniacum gum, which is used in Iranian traditional medicine for the treatment of seizures. Animals received pentylenetetrazol (IP, 30 mg/kg/48 h) for inducing seizures. Five different seizure stages were evaluated for 20 min and parameters including maximum seizure stage, the latency to the onset of stage 4, stage 4 duration, and seizure duration were measured. D. ammoniacum (50 and 100 mg/kg) or its vehicle was administered 30 min before or after pentylenetetrazol injection in different groups. In addition, the effective dose of D. ammoniacum (100 mg/kg) on different seizure stages was compared with the common antiseizure drug phenobarbital. In another set of experiments, we investigated the effective dose of D. ammoniacum on fully kindled animals in which an interictal electroencephalogram was recorded by superficial electrodes placed on the skull. The results showed that D. ammoniacum administration, before and after pentylenetetrazol injections, significantly decreased seizure stage, seizure duration, stage 4 duration, and 1/stage 4 latency. The anti-epileptogenic effect of D. ammoniacum was about 50 to 60% of phenobarbital. In addition, D. ammoniacum significantly decreased seizure stage, seizure duration, stage 4 duration, and 1/stage 4 latency when administered to fully kindled animals but had no effect on the power of EEG sub-bands. These results indicate that D. ammoniacum has anti-epileptogenic and anticonvulsant effects in a chemical kindling model of seizures.

Objective: Tension-type headache is the most frequent type of headache. Considering the effectiveness of Valeriana officinalis (Valerian) in treatment of some types of headache, the effect of valerian root was studied in patients with tension-type headache. Materials and Methods: The current study is a double-blind randomized clinical trial that was conducted in Shams Hospital of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran, from January to June 2018. We included 88 participants with tension-type headache and randomly assigned them to intervention and control group by block randomization in a 1:1 ratio. The intervention group received Sedamin® capsule (530 mg of valerian root extraction) while the placebo group received 500 mg of breadcrumbs both given as two capsules daily for a month -after dinner. The headache impact on activity of daily livings performance, headache disability, and headache severity were measured using questionnaires in baseline and one month after intervention in both groups. Results: The average age (±SD) of the participants was 34.9 (±8.7) years old. After one month, the impact of headache on daily livings performance, significantly reduced in intervention group (mean=51.2) versus the placebo (mean=57.0), (p

In this study, the effect of doxorubicin, flavonoid extract of white Morus alba leaf (MFE) and a combination of doxorubicin and flavonoid extract on Bax and Bcl2 levels and caspase 3 activity of cancer A-172 GBM cell line was investigated. Bax/Bcl2 levels of treated A-172 GBM cell line with flavonoid extract of white mulberry leaf were estimated by ELISA methods. Caspase 3 activity of treated A-172 GBM cells was determined by calorimetric assay. The flow cytometry assessment was used to estimate the apoptosis percent of treated A-172 GBM cells. Treatment of A-172 GBM cells with MFE, doxorubicin and a combination of MFE and doxorubicin caused a significant decrease in Bcl2 level and an increase in Bax level. The apoptosis percent of treated cells were also elevated significantly. Present results suggest that concomitant use of herbal medicine and chemotherapy may be an effective alternative method for the treatment of cancers.

Objective The Juglans regia leaf (walnut leaf) has been traditionally used to treat diabetes in Iran. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of Juglans regia leaf on blood glucose in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods Thirty-seven type 2 diabetic patients aged 35–70 years with fasting blood glucose levels between 130mg/dl (7.2mmol/L) and 250mg/dl (13.9mmol/L) and HbA1c more than 7% despite using conventional oral hypoglycemic drugs received the Juglans regia capsule (250mg/TDS) or toast powder capsule (placebo) randomly for 3 months. Fasting blood glucose (FPG), postprandial blood glucose (PPG), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were assessed as primary outcome measures. Lipid profile and hepatic and renal function were assessed as secondary outcome measures. Nonparametric statistical tests were employed to compare the results with baseline in both groups using SPSS version 17. Results Nineteen patients in the Juglans regia group and 18 in the control group with a mean (±SD) age 55.8 (±7) completed the study. The FPG ( p =0.02), PPG ( p =0.008) and HbA1c (p=0.003) levels decreased significantly in the Juglans regia group after 3 months compared to baseline without any side effects. The changes of the variables were not significant in the control group. Conclusions This study suggests that the aqueous extract of J. regia leaf had a lowering effect of FPG, PPG and HbA1c in type 2 diabetic patients. Conducting further clinical studies is suggested with larger sample sizes to make precise conclusions about the efficacy and safety of this herb.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Epilepsy is one of the most common serious neurological conditions. The current therapeutic treatment of epilepsy with modern antiepileptic drugs is associated with side effects, dose-related and chronic toxicity, and teratogenic effects and in approximately 30% of the patients is ineffective. Alpinia officinarum is used in Iranian traditional medicine for treatment of different diseases like back pain and seizure. METHODS In this study, anticonvulsant effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Alpinia officinarum rhizomes were examined by using pentylentetrazole (PTZ) model in mice. Alpinia officinarum rhizomes extract (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg), diazepam (1 mg/kg) and normal saline (10 mL/kg) were injected (ip) 30 minutes before PTZ (90 mg/kg, ip). The time taken before the onset of clonic convulsions, the duration of colonic convulsions, and the percentage of seizure and mortality protection were recorded. For further clarification of the mechanism of action for Alpinia officinarum, flumazenil (2 mg/kg, ip) and naloxone (5 mg/kg, ip) were also injected 5 minutes before Alpinia officinarum extract. RESULTS Alpinia officinarum extract at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg prolonged the time of onset of seizure and decreased the duration of seizures compared to control (saline) group (p < 0.05). At the dose of 600 mg/kg, percentage of seizure protection was 16.66%. Naloxone and flumazenil could suppress anticonvulsant effects of Alpinia officinarum. CONCLUSIONS It seems that Alpinia officinarum could be a good candidate and be useful for seizure control and treatment, and in these effects, opioid and benzodiazepine receptors might probably be involved.

This study investigated the anticonvulsant activity and possible mechanism of action of an aqueous solution of Dorema ammoniacum gum (DAG) which has been used traditionally in the treatment of convulsions.In this study, the anticonvulsant activity of DAG was examined using the pentylentetrazole (PTZ) model in mice. Thirty male albino mice were divided randomly and equally to 5 groups, and pretreated with normal saline, diazepam, or various doses of DAG (500, 700, and 1000 mg/kg, i.p.), prior to the injection of PTZ (60 mg/kg, i.p.). The latency and duration of seizures were recorded 30 min after PTZ injection. Pretreatments with naloxone and flumazenil in different groups were studied to further clarify the mechanisms of the anticonvulsant action. Phytochemical screening and thin layer chromatography (TLC) fingerprinting of ammoniacum gum was also determined. DAG showed significant anticonvulsant activity at all doses used. The gum delayed both the onset and the duration of seizures induced by PTZ. Treatment with flumazenil before DAG (700 mg/kg) inhibited the effect of gum on seizure duration and latency to some extent and administration of naloxone before DAG also significantly inhibited changes in latency and duration of seizure produced by DAG. The percentage inhibition was greater with naloxone than with flumazenil. This study showed that DAG had significant anticonvulsant activity in PTZ-induced seizures, and GABAergic and opioid systems may be involved. More studies are needed to further investigate its detailed mechanism.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Undesired effects of synthetic antidiabetic agents have made researchers to seek for safer and healthier resources. With this aspect, herbal materials have attracted substantial research interest and are being extensively investigated. Considering that herb-drug interactions can be a double-edged sword presenting both risks and benefits, investigation of such interactions is greatly in demand. Aim of the study to investigate possible beneficial effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Securigera Securidaca seed (HESS) on antioxidant capacity, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and insulin resistance in Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, alone and in combination with glibenclamide. Materials and methods Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided in to eight equal groups including healthy and diabetic controls and six treated groups with a various doses of HESS alone and in combination with glibenclamide, for 35 consecutive days. Serum samples were taken and analyzed for biochemical profile, HOMA indexes, FGF21, oxidative/nitrosative stress and inflammatory biomarkers as compared with the controls. Moreover, total phenolic and flavonoid contents of herbal extract were assessed. Results The herbal extract was found to be rich in flavonoid and phenolic components. Both of glibenclamide and the HESS decreased glucose and insulin resistance, as well as increased body weight and insulin sensitivity. Moreover, the extract could mitigate oxidative/nitrosative stress and inflammation dose-dependently, however, the standard drug was less effective than HESS. Induction of diabetes increased FGF21 levels and both of the treatments could reduce its contents, however, glibenclamide was more effective than HESS. Conclusions The results clearly show that there is no contradiction between HESS and glibenclamide. Moreover, the herbal extract could augment antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the standard drug.

Background: The main goal of the present study was to evaluate the effect of topical mastic oil, compared to placebo on treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD). Materials and Methods: Sixty-three patients with FD were included. Thirty-two subjects received the topical mastic oil (10 drops/TDS after meal) with massage and 31 patients received topical sesame oil with massage. Both groups received pantoprazole (40 mg daily) along with oil and massage. The severity of early satiation, postprandial fullness, epigastric pain and epigastric burning was assessed after 4 weeks using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) as well as frequency of symptoms. Satisfaction with the treatment was also assessed using a researcher-made questionnaire. Changes in the severity of symptoms were evaluated by Friedman’s test. Results: Mean and standard deviation of age of the subjects were equal to 36.95±13.64 and 50 (79.4%) patients were female. Both groups experienced a significant decrease in the severity of all the four symptoms (P

Background: Ziziphus jujuba, which is known as “Annab” or “Onnab” in Iran, is an effective compound against some cancer cell lines. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-mutagenic and anticancer effects of the aqueous extract of Z. jujuba on C643 human thyroid carcinoma cells. Methods: C643 cells were cultured in (Roswell Park memorial institute) RPMI 1640 medium (Sigma) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), penicillin-streptomycin, and L-glutamine. After incubating the cultures at 37oC with 5% CO2, MTT assay was used to determine the inhibitory effect of Z. jujuba on cell proliferation. Cell cycle progression was monitored by sub-G1 apoptosis assay using flow cytometry. Finally, anti-mutagenicity properties of the extract were evaluated using a standard reverse mutation assay (Ames test), which was performed with a histidine auxotroph strain of Salmonella typhimurium (TA100) and exposure to a carcinogenic substance (sodium azide). Results: The aqueous extract of Z. jujuba inhibited the growth of C643 cells in a concentration range of 0.5 - 2 mg/mL and exhibited cytotoxic effects on C643 cells in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50: 1.671 mg/mL). The mechanism of action was the induction of apoptosis in the cells. The results of Ames test indicated a significant difference in the anti-mutagenic effects of Z. jujuba aqueous extract and controls (distilled water and sodium azide) (1.671 mg/mL) (P < 0.01). In addition, the herbal extract prevented reverted mutations and the hindrance percent was 87.97%. Conclusions: According to the results, the aqueous extract of Z. jujuba fruit exerted anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects on C643 thyroid carcinoma cell lines and may be potentially useful as an anticancer agent.

This study investigated the anticonvulsant activity and possible mechanism of action of an aqueous solution of Dorema ammoniacum gum (DAG) which has been used traditionally in the treatment of convulsions. In this study, the anticonvulsant activity of DAG was examined using the pentylentetrazole (PTZ) model in mice. Thirty male albino mice were divided randomly and equally to 5 groups, and pretreated with normal saline, diazepam, or various doses of DAG (500, 700, and 1000 mg/kg, i.p.), prior to the injection of PTZ (60 mg/kg, i.p.). The latency and duration of seizures were recorded 30 min after PTZ injection. Pretreatments with naloxone and flumazenil in different groups were studied to further clarify the mechanisms of the anticonvulsant action. Phytochemical screening and thin layer chromatography (TLC) fingerprinting of ammoniacum gum was also determined. DAG showed significant anticonvulsant activity at all doses used. The gum delayed both the onset and the duration of seizures induced by PTZ. Treatment with flumazenil before DAG (700 mg/kg) inhibited the effect of gum on seizure duration and latency to some extent and administration of naloxone before DAG also significantly inhibited changes in latency and duration of seizure produced by DAG. The percentage inhibition was greater with naloxone than with flumazenil. This study showed that DAG had significant anticonvulsant activity in PTZ-induced seizures, and GABAergic and opioid systems may be involved. More studies are needed to further investigate its detailed mechanism.

Background: Insomnia is one of the most prevalent sleep disorders which affect the quality of life. Due to high prevalence of this disease and the side effects of sedative drugs, people tend to use herbal remedies. There are some oral or topical prescriptions in Persian medicine texts for the treatment of insomnia. The aim of this study was to investigate topical treatments for insomnia in Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) and comparing them with current therapies in modern medicine. Methods: In this study, ITM textbooks including the Canon of Medicine, Teb-e-Akbari, Kholasat al-Hekmah, Makhzan al-Advieh, Exir-e-azam, Al-Aghraz al-Tibbia, Val Mabahess al-Alaiia, Sharh-al-Asbab-val-Alamat, Tohfa-al-Momen, and Qarabadeen-e-Kabir were searched to investigate effective topical therapies for treating insomnia. Further, relevant studies on these topical remedies were searched at databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and ScienceDirect from the beginning till June 2018 and the results were presented as tables. Results: There are some herbs which have been recommended in ITM for the treatment of insomnia in topical dosage form such as ointment, lotion, nasal drop, and oil. The most important herbs used in these topical dosage forms were lettuce, violet, almond, pumpkin, and water lily. Some of these herbal therapies including lettuce and violet have been studied in clinical trial for insomnia. Conclusion: Findings of the present study showed that according to ITM texts, there are some effective topical herbal remedies which can be used in treatment of insomnia with less adverse effects.

Background and Purpose Epilepsy is one of the most common serious neurological conditions. The current therapeutic treatment of epilepsy with modern antiepileptic drugs is associated with side effects, dose-related and chronic toxicity, and teratogenic effects and in approximately 30% of the patients is ineffective. Alpinia officinarum is used in Iranian traditional medicine for treatment of different diseases like back pain and seizure. Methods In this study, anticonvulsant effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Alpinia officinarum rhizomes were examined by using pentylentetrazole (PTZ) model in mice. Alpinia officinarum rhizomes extract (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg), diazepam (1 mg/kg) and normal saline (10 mL/kg) were injected (ip) 30 minutes before PTZ (90 mg/kg, ip). The time taken before the onset of clonic convulsions, the duration of colonic convulsions, and the percentage of seizure and mortality protection were recorded. For further clarification of the mechanism of action for Alpinia officinarum, flumazenil (2 mg/kg, ip) and naloxone (5 mg/kg, ip) were also injected 5 minutes before Alpinia officinarum extract. Results Alpinia officinarum extract at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg prolonged the time of onset of seizure and decreased the duration of seizures compared to control (saline) group (p < 0.05). At the dose of 600 mg/kg, percentage of seizure protection was 16.66%. Naloxone and flumazenil could suppress anticonvulsant effects of Alpinia officinarum. Conclusions It seems that Alpinia officinarum could be a good candidate and be useful for seizure control and treatment, and in these effects, opioid and benzodiazepine receptors might probably be involved.

Echium amoenum Fisch. and Mey. (Boraginaceae) is a plant which is used widely in Iranian folk medicine, especially for anxiety and depression. In this study, published scientific reports about the composition and pharmacological properties of this plant were reviewed. The electronic databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, and Scientific Information Database were searched from 1970 to May 2016 and the data were summarized.Efficacy of E. amoenum (especially petals of E. amoenum) was studied in different in vitro, in vivo, and clinical evaluations. Furthermore, some chemical compounds such as rosmarinic acid, echimidine, and cyanogenic glycosides were isolated from E. amoenum petals. According to the results, E. amoenum showed various biological activities such as antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, antidiabetic, analgesic, immunomodulatory, and anxiolytic effects. Clinical studies on E. amoenum showed effectiveness of this plant in depression and anxiety disorders. More clinical trials are recommended for evaluating different beneficial effects of this plant in human models and synthesis of new drugs from the active ingredients of this plant in the future.

This study investigated the anticonvulsant activity of Citrullus colocynthis fruit extract used traditionally in the treatment of convulsion. Albino mice were pretreated with extract in different doses (10, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg), prior to injection of pentylenetetrazole. Animals received pretreatments with naloxone and flumazenil to further clarify the mechanisms of anticonvulsant action. The total flavonoid content of Citrullus colocynthis extract was also determined. Citrullus colocynthis hydroalcoholic extract with doses 25 and 50 mg/kg prolonged the onset of seizures and decreased the duration compared with control group. Pretreatment by flumazenil could inhibit the effect of Citrullus colocynthis on latency of seizure to some extent and administration of naloxone significantly inhibited changes in latency and duration of seizure produced by Citrullus colocynthis. This study showed that Citrullus colocynthis has significant anticonvulsant effect in pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in mice, and these effects may be related to its effect on γ-aminobutyric acid-ergic and opioid systems. These results confirmed the traditional use of Citrullus colocynthis in Iranian traditional medicine.

Background The importance of inflammatory diseases and side effects of conventional drugs necessitate the finding of new anti-inflammatory agents from natural sources. In this study, for the first time, the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the aqueous extract of Astragalus arbusculinus gum were evaluated in animal models. Methods Thirty-five male Wistar rats were divided into five groups and pretreated with different doses of A. arbusculinus gum extract before the injection of formalin. Paw edema was measured by a plethysmometer at time 0 and after 8 days and compared to controls. The analgesic effect of the extract was evaluated using the hot-plate test in 42 male albino mice. Results The extract of A. arbusculinus gum decreased the rat paw edema in a dose-dependent manner. The effect on inflammation of the highest dose of extract was comparable to sodium salicylate. Astragalus arbusculinus gum extract at doses of 300 and 1000 mg/kg showed analgesic effects comparable to sodium salicylate and morphine, respectively. A preliminary phytochemical study and the determination of the total phenolic content of the gum extract were performed for the first time. Conclusions The aqueous extract of A. arbusculinus gum reduced the inflammation and pain in a dose-dependent manner and is a good candidate for further studies of safety and efficacy. The clarification of active components of the plant is necessary.

Introduction: The harmful action of the free radicals which cause the oxidative stress can be blocked by antioxidant substances, and different plant extracts showed antioxidant activity. The aim of this study is was evaluation the antioxidant activity of total methanol extract (ME) and subfractions of Euphorbia splendida Mobayen. Materials and Methods: Aerial part of E. splendida was extracted by maceration with methanol and then subfractionated by liquid–liquid fractionation using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and water. Antioxidant activity was assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity assay, reduction of ferric ions and ferrous ion chelating potential. Total phenolic contents (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC) were estimated with Folin-Ciocaltue and aluminum chloride methods, respectively. Results: The findings revealed that E. splendida ME and subfractions showed a dose-dependent antioxidant activity. ME showed the highest antioxidant activity based on total reduction capability and ferrous ions chelating assay tests. Aqueous fraction and then ethyl acetate fraction showed the best IC50in DPPH radical scavenging test in comparison to butylated hydroxytoluene. ME showed the highest value of TPC and TFC (270.74 ± 0.005 mg/g and 208.23 ± 0.007 mg/g, respectively). Conclusion: This study showed that the extract and subfractions of E. splendida have antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity of the extract and fractions might be attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds. More studies are needed to determine the active antioxidant compounds of this plant. SUMMARY Total extract and subfractions of Euphorbia splendida showed antioxidant activity. Abbreviations Used: TPC: Total phenolic content, TFC: Total flavonoid content, DPPH: 2, 2’- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, BHT: Butylated hydroxytoluene, EDTA: Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic acid, ME: Total methanol extract, EAF: Ethyl acetate fraction, AQF: Aqueous fraction, PEF: Pertolium ether fraction, CHF: Chloroformic fraction

Background: There are some factors such as age, stress and emotions that may lead to impaired learning, memory loss, amnesia, and dementia or threats like Schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Traditional Iranian medicine (TIM) recommended some herbs and herbal preparations for treatment or prevention of CNS problems. In this study, the scientific evidences related to effectiveness of TIM herbal medicine on memory and learning will be reviewed. Materials and Methods: The scientific evidences of the plant efficacy were searched in electronic databases including Pub Med, Scopus, SID, Science Direct, and Google Scholar by keywords like memory, Alzheimer, amnesia, learning and scientific plant names from 1969 to 2014. Results: The finding of this study confirmed effectiveness of some of TIM medicinal plants on enhancing memory and learning or in treatment or prevention of amnesia and AD. Some of TIM plants like Melissa officinalis, Crocus sativus and Nigella sativa showed improving effect on memory in clinical trials. In some cases, the active principles responsible for efficacy of these plants on memory were also determined. Conclusion: Most of the studies on TIM plants were designed in animal models and a few herbs were evaluated in clinical trials on AD. Also, for some of the herbal medicine used in TIM, there are no or not enough studies to confirm their effectiveness on memory and learning. Therefore, further experimental and clinical studies are necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of these plants on memory and AD and also to determine the active components of them.