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Background: Osteoporosis is a chronic and systemic skeletal disease that is defined by low bone mineral density (BMD) along with an increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture. This study aimed to overview clinical evidence on the use of herbal medicine for management of osteoporosis. Methods: Electronic databases including Pubmed, Medline, Cochrane library, and Scopus were searched until November 2022 for any clinical studies on the efficacy and/or safety of plant-derived medicines in the management of osteoporosis. Results: The search yielded 57 results: 19 on single herbs, 16 on multi-component herbal preparations, and 22 on plant-derived secondary metabolites. Risk of fracture, bone alkaline phosphatase, BMD, and specific bone biomarkers are investigated outcomes in these studies. Medicinal plants including Acanthopanax senticosus, Actaea racemosa, Allium cepa, Asparagus racemosus, Camellia sinensis, Cissus quadrangularis, Cornus mas, Nigella sativa, Olea europaea, Opuntia ficus-indica, Pinus pinaster, Trifolium pretense and phytochemicals including isoflavones, ginsenoside, Epimedium prenyl flavonoids, tocotrienols are among plant-derived medicines clinically investigated on osteoporosis. It seems that multi-component herbal preparations were more effective than single-component ones; because of the synergistic effects of their constituents. The investigated herbal medicines demonstrated their promising results in osteoporosis via targeting different pathways in bone metabolism, including balancing osteoblasts and osteoclasts, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and estrogen-like functions. Conclusion: It seems that plant-derived medicines have beneficial effects on bone and may manage osteoporosis by affecting different targets and pathways involved in osteoporosis; However, Future studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness and safety of these preparations.

Sciatica commonly refers to radicular leg pain which is mainly caused by lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and affects the daily functional ability of many patients in the world. However, according to the side effects and short-term benefits of its treatments, new therapeutic agents such as natural products are needed. The aim of this study was to comprehensively review the effectiveness of plant-derived products for the treatment of sciatica. Electronic databases, including Medline (via PubMed), Scopus, and Web of Science, were searched from inception to 17 August 2023 for this comprehensive review. English language papers reporting preclinical and clinical evaluations of the effectiveness of herbal products, including medicinal plants, multi-component herbal preparations, and phytochemicals on sciatica, radicular pain, or LDH, were included. Studies on neuropathic pain due to reasons other than sciatica, radicular pain, or LDH were excluded. From a total of 5666 papers identified in the primary search, 16 (including 4 clinical and 12 preclinical studies) were finally included. Most of the plant-derived treatments mentioned in this review belonged to the polyphenol family or contained high concentrations of various polyphenols. From the results obtained, polyphenols relieved sciatica by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, mainly through the inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinases pathways. In conclusion, plant-derived medicines have the potential to improve the quality of life and functional ability of sciatica patients by relieving symptoms. However, further preclinical and clinical studies are suggested to prove the safety and efficacy of such herbal medicines for sciatica.

Background and objectives: Vaginitis is one of the most common diseases in women. Oak gall and ajwain have been used in traditional Persian medicine for treatment of vaginitis. The purpose of this study was to formulate a vaginal preparation containing oak gall and ajwain and evaluate its effectiveness on the recovery and recurrence of vaginitis. Methods: The present pilot study is a randomized, double-blind clinical trial performed on 24 women with mixed vaginitis, including bacterial vaginitis and trichomoniasis in a gynecology center. Subjects were divided into two groups receiving herbal vaginal tablets or metronidazole vaginal tablets for 7 days. The vaginal tablets were prepared using dried extract of oak gall and essential oil from ajwain by direct compression method. Clinical signs and laboratory tests were assessed after treatment. The symptoms were evaluated on day 10, and also 4 and 12 weeks after intervention. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in sexual function, and characteristics of secretions including amount, pH, odor, leukocyte count and parasite content in both groups of herbal (oak gall and ajwain) and metronidazole vaginal tablets before and after treatment (p

The approach of personalized medicine has received a great deal of attention over the last century, emphasizing attention to the patient rather than the disease. Personalized medicine tries to plan the patient's condition and treatment method by considering the culture, personal preferences and experiences and health beliefs of the person as well as the values and lifestyle of the person, and even considering the psychosocial condition. Acknowledging the lack of knowledge of traditional medicine such as Persian, Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine about "Omixes", it can be argued that these medical paradigms have been emphasizing individual differences and their relationship with health for thousands of years. Many people know Iranian medicine as the famous theory of temperaments and quadrant humor. Without entering into a philosophical fallacy about the abrogation or obsolescence of this theory, from a practical point of view, it should be said that the separation of human beings and attention to their inherent differences and consequently the same functions and responses of their bodies, whether congenital (Intrinsic temperament) and whether under the influence of extrinsic and environmental factors (acquired temperament) is the basis of this thinking. Therefore, every human being, in turn, is an independent book that is influenced by his inner and outer and all direct and indirect biological factors of his life, and the spectrum of his health and illness is defined in this framework. In this study, the relationship between traditional persian medicine and personalized medicine has been studied.

Introduction: As no specific pharmacological intervention has been known for COVID-19, medicinal plants may be a suitable candidate for management of this disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a herbal syrup from licorice as an adjuvant treatment in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Materials and methods: 213 hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were assigned to receive either standardized licorice syrup as an adjuvant treatment plus standard care [Syrup Group (SYRUP), N = 91], or standard care alone [Standard Group (STANDARD), N = 104], for 7 days. The primary endpoint was duration of hospitalization in survivors. The secondary endpoints included 25% increase in oxygen saturation, C-reactive protein (CRP) difference and lymphocyte difference from baseline, number of death and number of patients transferred to ICU. Results: Mean duration of admission was 5.24 days in SYRUP and 7.14 days in STANDARD (p

Cardiac arrhythmias, characterized by an irregular heartbeat, are associated with high mortality and morbidity. Because of the narrow therapeutic window of antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs), the management of arrhythmia is still challenging. Therefore, searching for new safe, and effective therapeutic options is unavoidable. In this study, the antiarrhythmic effects of medicinal plants and their active constituents were systematically reviewed to introduce some possible candidates for mechanism-based targeting of cardiac arrhythmias. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library were searched from inception to June 2021 to find the plant extracts, phytochemicals, and multi-component herbal preparations with antiarrhythmic activities. From 7337 identified results, 57 original studies consisting of 49 preclinical and eight clinical studies were finally included. Three plant extracts, eight multi-component herbal preparations, and 26 phytochemicals were found to have antiarrhythmic effects mostly mediated by affecting K+ channels, followed by modulating Ca2+ channels, upstream target pathways, Nav channels, gap junction channels, and autonomic receptors. The most investigated medicinal plants were Rhodiola crenulata and Vitis vinifera. Resveratrol, Oxymatrine, and Curcumin were the most studied phytochemicals found to have multiple mechanisms of antiarrhythmic action. This review emphasized the importance of research on the cardioprotective effect of medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds to guide the future development of new AADs. The most prevalent limitation of the studies was their unqualified methodology. Thus, future well-designed experimental and clinical studies are necessary to provide more reliable evidence.

Silk cocoon, naturally produced by silkworms scientifically named Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera, Bombycidae), is one of the well-known medicinal agents with several therapeutic activities. The present study aims to review the various aspects of the silk cocoon, including chemical composition, traditional uses, biological and biotechnological activities, and toxicological issues, to provide a scientific source for scholars. For this purpose, Electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and traditional literature, were searched up to December 2021. According to the historical data, silk farming is acknowledged as one of the most ancient agricultural findings. The silk is generally composed of 75–83% fibroin, 17–25% sericin, and 1–5% non-sericin components, including secondary metabolites, wax, pigments, carbohydrates, and other impurities. Flavonoids, especially quercetin and kaempferol, alkaloids, coumarin derivatives, and phenolic acids, are among the secondary metabolites isolated from the silk cocoon. In recent years the biological properties of the silk cocoon, especially its major proteins, namely fibroin and sericin, have drawn special attention. Scientific literature has investigated several pharmacological effects of the silk cocoon and its ingredients, including cardioprotective, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemia, gastroprotective, as well as ameliorated skin health activities. In addition, it has been extensively taken into consideration in drug delivery and tissue engineering study fields. Furthermore, its toxicity is in acceptable range.

Abstract Objective Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease. It can involve any body skin area, particularly the scalp, lower back, elbows, and knees. There are several topical and systemic therapies for the treatment. Nowadays, herbal medicines are popular treatments for dermatologic conditions. This two-arm parallel, randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted to examine the hypothesis of the efficacy of Melissa officinalis syrup on patients with mild-to-moderate Plaque psoriasis. Result Among 100 patients, 95 participants completed the trial and five of them withdrew. The mean pruritus intensity and PASI scores decreased significantly in the intervention group compared to the placebo group (P

The genus Cymbopogon belongs to Poaceae family and contain about 54 species, commonly known as "lemongrass". Cymbopogon is a medicinal plant native to tropical and subtropical areas which is applied traditionally for its numerous properties including antirheumatic, antispasmodic, analgesic, antiseptic, hypotensive, antitussive and anticonvulsant ctivities, and as a treatment for gastrointestinal and nervous disorders and fever. The aims of this study were to discuss about current state of phytochemistry, pharmacology, and pharmacological effects of different species of Cymbopogon. Electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane library and Google Scholar were searched with the scientific name and the common name of the plant until November 2019. In spite of the small number of clinical investigations, Cymbopogon genus is widely evaluated for its phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology and biological activities. Monoterpenes specially geranial, citronellol and citral are the chief components of the essential oil. Biological activities including antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, insecticidal, anticancer, hepatoprotective activities as well as its effect on skin, urogenital, gastrointestinal, neuropsychological and cardiovascular systems are proved in cell lines and animal models. Extensive studies have been done on various biological activities of lemongrass; nevertheless, safety and efficacy of Cymbopogon species are not fully evaluated in human and further well-designed clinical trials are required to confirm preclinical findings.

Background and purpose: Obesity is a global health problem and also a well-known risk for many diseases. Although some synthetic drugs have been marketed for the treatment of obesity, natural remedies may be considered as safe and cost-effective alternatives. Lac (Kerria lacca Kerr) is a product from animal origin and is sold as seedlac or shellac. This drug is very famous among Unani practitioners for its antiobesity effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antiobesity potential of lac in rats. Experimental approach: The effect of lac on rats fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) was investigated through determination of the changes in body weight, and serum levels of leptin. In addition, the effect of lac on total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) was studied. Male Wistar rats (170-220 g) were divided into eight groups; a control group with normal diet, the HFD group received a HFD, and the experimental groups received the HFD containing 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4% (w/w) of seedlac or 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4% (w/w) of shellac for 12 weeks. The body weight of each rat was measured once a week. At the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed and serum concentrations of cholesterol, TG, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and leptin were determined. Results: The study showed that seedlac and shellac significantly prevented increasing body weight and the levels of serum leptin were decreased in treated groups compared with HFD group. Also, shellac decreased TG level and both shellac and seedlac exerted a significant increase in HDL-C concentration. Conclusion and implications: Lac had weight-reducing properties and could be a promising alternative for controlling obesity.

Background and objective: Trachyspermum ammi (T. ammi) has been used for the treatment of various digestive disorders with considerable therapeutic effects such as anticholinergic and anti-oxidant activities.This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the hydro-alcoholic extract of the fruits of T. ammi in an experimental model of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Methods: The rats were classified into seven groups, including sham (no stress), control (saline recipients), loperamide and fluoxetine (10 mg/kg/day) (positive controls), and the plant groups at the doses of 150, 250 and 500 mg/kg/day for 5 days under restrictive stress, 2 days before receiving the treatment. All medicines were given as gavage. The effect of the plant extract on gastric emptying and the transit of the small intestine was evaluated. The levels of the inflammatory and oxidative related biomarkers, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and lipid peroxidation (LPO), also the myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were measured. Results: The gastric emptying and the transit of the small intestine were significantly reduced in all T. ammi treated groups, and no significant difference was observed at the dose of 500 mg/kg/day compared with the loperamide group. The levels of TNF-α and MPO activities decreased in the treatment groups compared with the control, and the LPO level was decreased at the concentrations of 250 and 500 mg/kg/day compared to the control. The antioxidant levels significantly increased in the rats treated with T. ammi at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg/day. Conclusions: The severity of stress-induced IBS was reduced in a dose-dependent manner by the hydro-alcoholic extract of the fruits of T. ammi, confirming the effectiveness of this plant in the management of IBS.

Objective(s): Gallic acid is a natural phenolic compound found in several fruits and medicinal plants. It is reported to have several health-promoting effects. This review aims to summarize the pharmacological and biological activities of gallic acid in vitro and animal models to depict the pharmacological status of this compound for future studies.Materials and Methods: All relevant papers in the English language were collected up to June 2018. The keywords of gallic acid, antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, gastrointestinal-, cardiovascular-, metabolic-, neuropsychological-, and miscellaneous- diseases were searched in Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus.Results: Several beneficial effects are reported for gallic acid, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antineoplastic properties. This compound has been reported to have therapeutic activities in gastrointestinal, neuropsychological, metabolic, and cardiovascular disorders. Conclusion: Current evidence confirms the pharmacological and therapeutic interventions of gallic acid in multiple health complications; however, available data are limited to just cellular and animal studies. Future investigations are essential to further define the safety and therapeutic efficacy of gallic acid in humans.

Tragopogon graminifolius DC. is a perennial plant from the family Asteraceae which grows in West parts of Iran. Several biological activities like antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects are reported for the plant. The aim of this study was to assess the wound healing activity of standardized extract from T. graminifolius (TG) aerial parts. Topical standardized TG extract with 5% and 10% concentrations in eucerine base was assessed for its healing properties on second degree burn in rats during a 14-day period. Biomarkers of oxidative damage including total antioxidant power, lipid peroxidation and total thiol molecules of the skin tissue samples were also evaluated. Results showed that 10%TG had the best efficacy with 80 ± 3% wound closure and tissue repair in comparison to negative control (p

Persian Medicine (PM) references contain valuable information which can be useful for health preservation, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and can promote health in society. Introducing this school of medicine to the medical community requires a set of valid English equivalents to communicate PM’s fundamental concepts. This study gathers the most frequent words in PM in three forms: Persian name, English or Latin name and Persian name with English spelling, and finally a uniform English and Persian name is suggested for every word. “Iranian Scientometric Information Database – ISID” were used to find those researchers in PM and Persian pharmacy who have a PhD degree and an H-Index equal or more than 4. Then all of their review articles about PM indexed in Scopus were analysed to pinpoint the frequent words of basic principles in PM. An expert panel of five including PM and Persian pharmacy specialists, and an English language specialist decided about the best word as the final suggestion for each concept. There were 17 researches with 478 articles 77 of which were review articles. Totally 62 words were taken out of these articles. In addition, the experts decided to add 18 more words to the list. This study provides a fairly exhaustive list of words of basic principles in PM. Using these words in future studies can contribute to the uniformity of the key vocabulary in PM articles.

Objective(s): Periodontal diseases are among prevalent oral health problems which may ultimately lead to severe complications in oral cavity. Herbal products can be designed as single or multicomponent preparations for better oral health. This study aims to review current clinical trials on the effectiveness of herbal products in gingivitis. Materials and Methods: Electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Cochrane library were searched with the keywords “gingivitis” in the title/abstract and “plant/ extract/ herb” in the whole text for clinical trials on herbal treatments for gingivitis. Data were collected from 2000 until January 2018. Only papers with English full-texts were included in our study. Results: Herbal medicines in the form of dentifrice, mouth rinse, gel, and gum were assessed in gingivitis via specific indices including plaque index, bleeding index, microbial count, and biomarkers of inflammation. Pomegranate, aloe, green tea, and miswak have a large body of evidence supporting their effectiveness in gingivitis. They could act via several mechanisms such as decrease in gingival inflammation and bleeding, inhibition of dental plaque formation, and improvement in different indices of oral hygiene. Some polyherbal formulations such as triphala were also significantly effective in managing gingivitis complications. Conclusion: Our study supports the efficacy and safety of several medicinal plants for gingivitis; however, some plants do not have enough evidence due to the few number of clinical trials. Thus, future studies are mandatory for further confirmation of the efficacy of these medicinal plants.

A new coronavirus causing severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) has emerged and with it, a global investigation of new antiviral treatments and supportive care for organ failure due to this life-threatening viral infection. Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) is one of the most ancient medical doctrines mostly known with the manuscripts of Avicenna and Rhazes. In this paper, we first introduce a series of medicinal plants that would potentially be beneficial in treating SARS-CoV-2 infection according to TPM textbooks. Then, we review medicinal plants based on the pharmacological studies obtained from electronic databases and discuss their mechanism of action in SARS-CoV-2 infection. There are several medicinal plants in TPM with cardiotonic, kidney tonic, and pulmonary tonic activities, protecting the lung, heart, and kidney, the three main vulnerable organs in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Some medicinal plants can prevent “humor infection”, a situation described in TPM which has similar features to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Pharmacological evaluations are in line with the therapeutic activities of several plants mentioned in TPM, mostly through antiviral, cytoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms. Amongst the primarily-introduced medicinal plants from TPM, rhubarb, licorice, garlic, saffron, galangal, and clove are the most studied plants and represent candidates for clinical studies. The antiviral compounds isolated from these plants provide novel molecular structures to design new semisynthetic antiviral agents. Future clinical studies in healthy volunteers as well as patients suffering from pulmonary infections are necessary to confirm the safety and efficacy of these plants as complementary and integrative interventions in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Bunium persicum (Boiss) B. Fedtsh (Apiaceae, Persian name: Zireh Kermani) has been used to treat various diseases in traditional and folkloric medicine including gastrointestinal, respiratory, nasopharyngeal, cardiac, ocular, neurological, rheumatological and urinary tract diseases. Its essential oil contains different monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and phenyl propenes. Other chemical constituents identified in B. persicum are phenolic compounds, fatty acids, carboxylic acids, and carbohydrates. Wide range of biological and pharmacological activities including antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory, anticonvulsant, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitory, anti-pancreatic lipase, anticancer, antidiabetic, antihistamine, antidiarrheal, antispasmodic, antihematoxic, antityrosinase and antimicrobial activities have been reported from this plant in modern medicine. This article summarizes comprehensive information attributing traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of Zireh Kermani.

Vaginal infections are one of the major reasons women visit a gynecologist. Increased re­sistance to conventional antibiotics is one of the main factors mitigating the development of new antimicrobial agents, especially those of natural origin. In traditional Persian medicine, Trachyspermum ammi has been claimed to clear vagina from excessive discharge. Therefore, in this study, the antimicrobial activity of Ajwain essential oil was evaluated against some vaginal pathogens. The essential oil of ajwain was picked up and the minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) were revealed. The most frequently detected microorganisms involved in genital infections including Candida spp., Gardnerella vagina­lis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae and Lactobacillus acidophilus were considered. Evaluation of the essential oil of Trichomonas vaginalis was done by calculation of percent of growth inhibition. The essential oil showed a remarkable activity against the studied bacteria and fungi with MIC at a range of 0.0315 - 0.5 mg/ml and MBC at a range of 0.125 - 4 mg /ml. The highest inhibition and bactericidal activity was ob­served in S. agalactiae and G. vaginalis. 100% inhibition of T. vaginalis growth was shown at a concentration of 2000 μg/ml after 48 h by essential oil. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil was more than that of thymol. Supposedly essential oil of Trachyspermum ammi fruit could inhibit vaginal pathogens growth .Further preclinical and clinical studies are re­quired to confirm the efficacy of this natural agent in vaginitis.

Objective: Postoperative ileus (POI) is a common complication after surgery that requires a multifactorial therapeutic approach. This study aims to assess the effect of topical chamomile oil on postoperative bowel activity after cesarian section. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was carried out in 2015 at Chamran Hospital in Iran. A block randomization list was generated for 142 parturient divided into three groups. In the intervention group (arm A) (n = 47), chamomile oil was applied topically on abdominal region after the stability of the patient. Placebo group (arm B) (n = 47) received placebo oil and control group (arm C) (n = 48) had no intervention. A recovery program was used after surgery for all participants. The primary outcome was time to first flatus. Secondary outcomes were time to bowel sounds, defecation, return of appetite, hospital stay, and rate of nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain. Findings: Times to first flatus were significantly shorter in Group A (arm A vs. B, P < 0.001 and arm A vs. C, P < 0.001). In addition, time to first bowel sounds (arm A vs. B, P < 0.001 and arm A vs. C, P < 0.001) and return of appetite (arm A vs. B, P < 0.001 and arm A vs. C, P < 0.001) were significantly shorter in arm A. The times from surgery to first defecation were shorter in Group A versus B and C. However, there were no statistically significant differences between three groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that topical chamomile oil has a potential therapeutic effect on gastrointestinal motility and can reduce the duration of POI.

Introduction: Menopause symptoms can have harmful effects on women's life and affect their quality of life. Most of post-menopausal women have turned to complementary medicine therapies such as herbal therapy and the use of phytoestrogens for compatibility with menopausal symptoms. This study was performed with aim to assess the effect of fennel as a phytoestrogen in treatment of menopausal physical symptoms. Methods: This clinical randomized trial was performed in 2016 on 90 post-menopause women aged 45-60 years in Tehran. The subjects were randomly assigned to two groups of fennel and placebo. Women in fennel group received 8 weeks of treatment with daily two 100mg fennel soft capsules and in placebo group with two 100 mg sun flower oil capsules. The menopausal physical symptoms were measured by the physical part of Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 14) and Independent t-test and Paired t-test. P0.05). Conclusion: Fennel is effective in reducing menopausal physical symptoms without any serious side effect. More researches are needed to definite the results of this study.

NAFLD is a chronic liver disease that affects a high proportion of the world's population which causes metabolic and hepatic damages. Rosa damascena Mill is traditionally used as a dietary supplement for liver disorders. This study was carried out to determine the beneficial effect of standardized extract of R. damascena on animal model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD was induced by high-fat diet (HFD) in Wistar rats. HFD rats showed an increase (p

A newly diagnosed coronavirus in 2019 (COVID-19) has affected all human activities since its discovery. Flavonoids commonly found in the human diet have attracted a lot of attention due to their remarkable biological activities. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the benefits of flavonoids in COVID-19 disease. Previously-reported effects of flavonoids on five RNA viruses with similar clinical manifestations and/or pharmacological treatments, including influenza, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and Ebola, were considered. Flavonoids act via direct antiviral properties, where they inhibit different stages of the virus infective cycle and indirect effects when they modulate host responses to viral infection and subsequent complications. Flavonoids have shown antiviral activity via inhibition of viral protease, RNA polymerase, and mRNA, virus replication, and infectivity. The compounds were also effective for the regulation of interferons, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and sub-cellular inflammatory pathways such as nuclear factor-κB and Jun N-terminal kinases. Baicalin, quercetin and its derivatives, hesperidin, and catechins are the most studied flavonoids in this regard. In conclusion, dietary flavonoids are promising treatment options against COVID-19 infection; however, future investigations are recommended to assess the antiviral properties of these compounds on this disease.

Objective(s): Cucurbita moschata Duchesne (pumpkin) is a well-known plant with several pharmacological effects. The aim of the present study was to assess burn wound healing activity of C. moschata peel extract (CE). Also, standardized CE was assessed for antioxidant activity and antibacterial effects against major pathogens of burns. Materials and Methods: Healing properties of topical preparation of 10% and 20% concentrations of CE were assessed on second degree burn in rats during a 14-day period as well as histological studies, total antioxidant power, lipid peroxidation and total thiol content of skin tissue samples. Results: Radical scavenging IC50 and ferric-reducing antioxidant power value were 4.015±0.20 mg/ml and 142.63±2.65 mmol Fe2+/g, respectively. Total mucilage content was 13.8%. The optimal results were obtained by 20% CE that showed 90.80±5.86 % wound closure and tissue repair as well as significant reduction of tissue oxidative stress biomarkers. Histological analyses confirmed wound healing activity of pumpkin peel extract. Conclusion: Considering the high mucilage content of the plant, providing a moist environment for wound, C. moschata peel extract could be a natural remedy for treatment of burns. Further clinical studies are suggested to confirm C. moschata peel extract as a wound healing agent.

Objective: Rose oil is obtained from the petals of difference Rosa species especially Rosa centifolia L. and Rosa damascena Mill. Various pharmacological properties have been attributed to rose oil. The aim of the present study was to review the rose oil therapeutic effects which had been clinically evaluated in trial studies. Materials and Methods: Google scholar, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus were searched for human studies which have evaluated the therapeutic effects of rose oil and published in English language until August 2015. Results: Thirteen clinical trials (772 participants) were included in this review. Rose oil was administered via inhalation or used topically. Most of the studies (five trials) evaluated the analgesic effect of rose oil. Five studies evaluated the physiological relaxation effect of rose oil. Anti-depressant, psychological relaxation, improving sexual dysfunction, and anti-anxiety effects were the other clinical properties reported for rose oil. Conclusion: Numerous studies on the pharmacological properties of rose oil have been done in animals, but studies in humans are few. In this study, it was observed that rose oil had physiological and psychological relaxation, analgesic and anti-anxiety effects. To obtain conclusive results on the efficacy and safety of rose oil, further clinical trials with larger sample size and better designation are required.

Blood pressure is one of the vital signs, and is the pressure of circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels. When the large arteries lose their natural elasticity and strength, and the smaller ones are narrowed, blood pressure rises and the pressure is exerted by blood on the walls of blood vessels. High blood pressure is dangerous and very harmful for the heart and blood vessels, and is a major cause of mortality in all nations. Many patients tend to use herbal products for controlling their blood pressure, as they are concerned of the side effects of the chemical drugs. There are huge amount of research work exploring the safety and efficacy of a single herb, or combined herbal products on lowering blood pressure, among which some have shown certain effects, and some are negative in results. Grape seed, Garlic, Saffron, Green and White Mulberry, Quince, and some other herbs have more scientific evidence in lowering blood pressure. In this study, we systematically reviewed the scientific literature of clinical trials and animal studies, in which the safety and effectiveness of herbs on lowering blood pressure were evaluated.

Vaginal infections are one of the most common reasons a woman visits a gynecologist. The increased resistance to conventional antibiotics is one of the main reasons for searching and developing new antimicrobial agents, especially those of natural origin. In traditional Persian medicine, the gall of Quercus infectoria has been claimed to eliminate vagina and cervix from excessive discharge. So, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of Quercus infectoria gall as well as its active constituent, gallic acid, against some vaginal pathogens. In this study, the ethanolic extract of Quercus infectoria gall was obtained by maceration and standardized based on amount of gallic acid. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of this extract as well as its active compound, gallic acid, were determined against Candida spp., Gardnerella vaginalis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Trichomonas vaginalis and Lactobacillus acidophilus. The results demonstrated remarkable activity of ethanolic extract of Quercus infectoria gall against investigated pathogens with MIC and MBC in the range between 0.125 mg/ml and 16 mg/ml. The most inhibitory and bactericidal activity was observed on Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus. The effects of gall dried ethanolic extract on Trichomonas vaginalis showed 100 % inhibition of the parasitic growth with concentration of 800 µg/ml after 24 h incubation. The antimicrobial and anti-trichomonas activity of extract was more than gallic acid. It seems that ethanolic extract of Quercus infectoria gall could inhibit the growth of vaginal pathogens. Further preclinical and clinical studies are required to confirm the efficacy of this natural extract in vaginitis.

Makhzan al-Adviyeh is a medicinal book on simple drugs written with eloquent and fluent prose in Persian by Mohammad Hossein Aghili Khorasani Shirazi in 12th AH century. This book is for sure one of the most comprehensive Persian books on medicinal simple drugs and is very much addressed by traditional medicine researchers. One of the interesting points about this book is the consideration of the scientific names of some of the herbs which are being noted in a Persian book for the first time by Aghili. In this paper, this subject has been addressed together with collecting and describing information regarding the herbs mentioned by their scientific names in the book of Makhzan al-Adviyeh.

Chronic wounds reduce patient's quality of life by complications such as pain, secretions, and reduction of movement and impose large costs to health system. Thus, looking for treatment methods with higher success and less complications seems to be necessary. In Persian medicine, a variety of specific nutrients and medicinal plants have been recommended for chronic wounds. The aim of present study is to scientifically evaluate the nutrients and medicinal plants claimed to be effective for chronic wounds in Persian medicine. Nutrients and medicinal plants recommended for chronic wounds in Persian medicine have been extracted from corresponding literatures. The obtained items were individually searched in electronic databases to obtain any in vitro, animal, or clinical evidence of their efficacy and possible underlying mechanisms. The treatment of chronic wounds in Persian medicine consists of three steps .At first step some special foods like egg yolk and fig with special characteristics such as hematopoietic effect and antimicrobial activity are recommended. Administration of natural remedies in order to reduce internal inflammation and improve wound healing process such as Crocus sativus and Aloe vera consists of the second step. Finally the third step includes the use of topical natural agents that affects various stages of wound healing and can complete the wound healing process. According to Persian medicine, administration nutrients and medicinal plants is prior to topical treatments for management of chronic wounds. This strategy provides a new approach for management of chronic wounds and seems to be more useful than conventional treatment which is mostly focused on topical treatment

Background & Aim: Menopause is one of the natural phases of women’s life. At this phase, due to the large fluctuations in hormones, undesirable physical, mental and sexual symptoms would occur that have negative effects on the quality of life of women. Due to the side effects of hormonal therapy, many women would prefer complementary medicine and especially herbal medicine. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of fennel on the quality of life in menopausal women. Methods & Materials: This randomized triple-blind clinical trial was conducted on 90 menopausal women aged 45-60 years in Tehran. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups of fennel and placebo. The participants in the fennel group received oral soft capsules containing 100mg of fennel twice a day for 8 weeks and women in the placebo group received the same doze of placebo capsules containing 100mg of sunflower oil. The measured outcomes in the present study were the quality of life in menopausal women and its different aspects including vasomotor, socio-psychological, physical and sexual aspects which were measures using Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS14. Results: After 8 weeks of intervention, covariance analysis showed a significant difference in the score of quality of life and its four measured aspects between the two studied groups (for quality of life, vasomotor aspect, physical aspect and socio-psychological aspect: p < 0.001, for sexual aspect: p=0.013). In the fennel group, the score of quality of life and its aspects had a significant decrease after the intervention compared to before the intervention (p < 0.001). In the placebo group the scores of quality of life and socio-psychological, physical and sexual aspects had a significant decrease after the intervention (p < 0.05) but the score of vasomotor aspect was increased. Conclusions: The present study showed that the fennel could decrease the symptoms of menopause with no serious side effects and consequently improve menopausal women’s quality of life.

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The study aimed to assess the efficacy of topical rose oil in women with pregnancy-related low back pain. A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 120 women with pregnancy-related low back pain. Patients were allocated to 3 parallel groups to receive topical rose oil (in the carrier of almond oil), placebo (carrier oil), or no intervention. All groups were followed for 4 weeks. All participants were evaluated by Visual Analog Scale and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaires to assess the pain intensity and its impact on daily activities before and after the intervention. Significant decrease in pain intensity compared to carrier oil or no intervention was observed. The rose oil also improves the functional ability of these patients in contrast with no intervention, while its effect on function is not significant compared to carrier oil. Rose oil reduced pregnancy-related low back pain intensity without any significant adverse effect.

Origanum majorana L. commonly known as sweet marjoram has been used for variety of diseases in traditional and folklore medicines, including gastrointestinal, ocular, nasopharyngeal, respiratory, cardiac, rheumatologic, and neurological disorders. Essential oil containing monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes as well as phenolic compounds are chemical constituents isolated and detected in O majorana . Wide range of pharmacological activities including antioxidant, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, anti-platelet, gastroprotective, antibacterial and antifungal, antiprotozoal, antiatherosclerosis, anti-inflammatory, antimetastatic, antitumor, antiulcer, and anticholinesterase inhibitory activities have been reported from this plant in modern medicine. This article summarizes comprehensive information concerning traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of sweet marjoram.

Adiantum Capillus veneris L. from the family Polypodiaceae, is one of the medicinal herbs used in Iranian traditional medicine (ITM). It has been identified as “Parsiavashan” in Iranian traditional medicine and commonly known as “Maidenhair fern” in English. Triterpenoids and flavonoids are the major compounds identified in Maidenhair fern. It has been used in Iranian traditional medicine for treating respiratory tract diseases, irregular menstruation, flatulence, jaundice, splenomegaly and scrofula. It has been topically used in skin and hair disorders, too. The pharmacological activities reported from this plant are anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, diuretic and antioxidant. However, there is not direct relationship between pharmacological activities of this plant in Iranian traditional medicine and modern phytotherapy; the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of this plant could make it useful for respiratory tract disorders. Anyway, it is recommended to design experimental and clinical studies on pharmacological activities and indications of Adiantum capillus veneris mentioned in Iranian traditional medicine literatures

Date palm pollen (DPP) is the male reproductive dust of palm flowers used as dietary supplement especially as aphrodisiac and fertility enhancer in both women and men from ancient times. Although there are few clinical trials evaluating the beneficial effects of DPP in humans, various experimental studies have been conducted on the reproductive effects of DPP. Among the compounds isolated from DPP are amino acids, fatty acids, flavonoids, saponins, and estroles. The present review summarizes comprehensive information concerning the phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of DPP and its application in fertility disorders.

Recent evidence has extensively demonstrated the anticancer potential of nutraceuticals, including plant polyphenols. Polymeric nanocarrier systems have played an important role in improving the physicochemical and pharmacological properties of polyphenols, thus ameliorating their therapeutic effectiveness. This article summarizes the benefits and shortcomings of various polymeric systems developed for the delivery of polyphenols in cancer therapy and reveals some ideas for future work.

Oxidative stress has been considered a key causing factor of liver damage induced by a variety of agents, including alcohol, drugs, viral infections, environmental pollutants and dietary components, which in turn results in progression of liver injury, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, non-alcoholic liver disease, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. During the past 30 years and even after the major progress in the liver disease management, millions of people worldwide still suffer from an acute or chronic liver condition. Curcumin is one of the most commonly used indigenous molecules endowed by various shielding functionalities that protects the liver. The aim of the present study is to comprehensively review pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms, as well as clinical evidence, of curcumin as a lead compound in the prevention and treatment of oxidative associated liver diseases. For this purpose, electronic databases including “Scopus,” “PubMed,” “Science Direct” and “Cochrane library” were extensively searched with the keywords “curcumin or curcuminoids” and “hepatoprotective or hepatotoxicity or liver” along with “oxidative or oxidant.” Results showed that curcumin exerts remarkable protective and therapeutic effects of oxidative associated liver diseases through various cellular and molecular mechanisms. Those mechanisms include suppressing the proinflammatory cytokines, lipid perodixation products, PI3K/Akt and hepatic stellate cells activation, as well as ameliorating cellular responses to oxidative stress such as the expression of Nrf2, SOD, CAT, GSH, GPx and GR. Taking together, curcumin itself acts as a free radical scavenger over the activity of different kinds of ROS via its phenolic, β-diketone and methoxy group. Further clinical studies are still needed in order to recognize the structure-activity relationships and molecular mechanisms of curcumin in oxidative associated liver diseases.

Kidney stones are one of the oldest known and common diseases in the urinary tract system. Various human studies have suggested that diets with a higher intake of vegetables and fruits play a role in the prevention of kidney stones. In this review, we have provided an overview of these dietary plants, their main chemical constituents, and their possible mechanisms of action. Camellia sinensis (green tea), Rubus idaeus (raspberry), Rubia cordifolia (common madder), Petroselinum crispum (parsley), Punica granatum (pomegranate), Pistacia lentiscus (mastic), Solanum xanthocarpum (yellow-fruit nightshade), Urtica dioica (stinging nettle), Dolichos biflorus (horse gram), Ammi visnaga (khella), Nigella sativa (black-cumin), Hibiscus sabdariffa (roselle), and Origanum vulgare (oregano) have received considerable interest based on scientific evidence. Beside these dietary plants, phytochemicals—such as catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, diosmin, rutin, quercetin, hyperoside, and curcumin—as antioxidant dietary phyto-phenols were found to be effective for the prevention of urolithiasis (the process of stone formation in the urinary tract). The main underlying mechanisms of these dietary plants and their isolated phytonutrients in the management of urolithiasis include diuretic, antispasmodic, and antioxidant activity, as well as an inhibitory effect on crystallization, nucleation, and aggregation of crystals. The results as presented in this review demonstrate the promising role of dietary plants and phytophenols in the prevention and management of kidney stones. Further investigations are required to confirm the safety and efficacy of these compounds.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) includes a group of chronic liver disorders caused by irregular accumulation of fat in liver tissue. The current study aimed to evaluate chemical composition and the effect of fruit extract and essential oil of Pimpinella anisum in experimental model of NAFLD. Materials and Methods: Sixty rats were randomly divided into ten groups, six in each group. NAFLD was induced in rats using choline-deficient diet for 90 days, followed by 30 days of treatment with 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day of hydroethanolic extract (AE) as well as 0.125, 0.25, and 0.5 mg/kg/day of essential oil (AO). Blood samples were collected in the final day, and lipid profile, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) as well as biomarkers of oxidative damage including myeloperoxidase, lipid peroxidation, total thiol molecules, and ferric-reducing ability of plasma were measured. Liver tissue sections of the sacrificed rats were also assessed histologically. Results: AE and AO significantly reversed increase in the plasma levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triacylglycerol and decrease in high-density lipoprotein level in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Serum levels of AST and ALT were also significantly modified by treatment with AE and AO (P < 0.05). Biomarkers of oxidative stress were modulated by administration of AE and AO (P < 0.05). Histological assessments also confirmed the effectiveness of treatments by reduced macrovesicular steatohepatitis. Conclusion: It could be concluded that P. anisum fruit extract and essential oil have beneficial effects in the treatment of NAFLD. Further studies are necessary to confirm safety and efficacy of this medicinal plant in clinical setting.

Tragopogon graminifolius DC. (TG), Compositae family, is traditionally used for the treatment of various diseases like gastrointestinal and hepatic disorders. The aim of the present study is to standardize extracts from TG used for preparation of different dosage forms in traditional Iranian medicine (TIM) based on phenolic compounds. For this purpose, total phenolic content and some phenolic compounds were determined in ethanolic extracts from aerial part and root of TG by HPLC method. Furthermore, antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH-HPLC methods. Caffeic acid, gallic acid, ρ-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and catechin were detected in root and aerial part of TG. ρ-Coumaric acid (6.357 ± 0.014 mg·g−1) was dominant phenolic compound in aerial part followed by ferulic acid (1.24 ± 0.018 mg·g−1). Also, ρ-coumaric acid (2.685 ± 0.031 mg·g−1) was highly abundant in root, followed by catechin (2.067 ± 0.021 mg·g−1). Antioxidant activity of root extract (460.45 ± 0.78 µg Vit.E.E·mL−1) was better than that of aerial part. Generally, phenolic compounds are one of the major constituents of TG and could be used as markers for standardization of dosage forms prepared from this plant. Also, TG demonstrated significant antioxidant activity using DPPH-HPLC method. Phenolic compounds of TG may be responsible for its marked antioxidant properties.

Pistacia, a genus of flowering plants from the family Anacardiaceae, contains about twenty species, among them five are more popular including P. vera, P. atlantica, P. terebinthus, P. khinjuk, and P. lentiscus. Different parts of these species have been used in traditional medicine for various purposes like tonic, aphrodisiac, antiseptic, antihypertensive and management of dental, gastrointestinal, liver, urinary tract, and respiratory tract disorders. Scientific findings also revealed the wide pharmacological activities from various parts of these species, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anticholinesterase, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antidiabetic, antitumor, antihyperlipidemic, antiatherosclerotic, and hepatoprotective activities and also their beneficial effects in gastrointestinal disorders. Various types of phytochemical constituents like terpenoids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and sterols have also been isolated and identified from different parts of Pistacia species. The present review summarizes comprehensive information concerning ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of the five mentioned Pistacia species.