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The pressing need to discover more effective drugs for various CNS disorders has resurrected the idea of investigating the effectiveness of traditional medicines in modern science. ...Tongluojiunao (TLJN) is an example of revived modern herbal preparation based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with a long history of administration for various types of cerebrovascular injuries and neurodegenerative diseases. TLJN is prepared from the herbal roots of Panax notoginseng (Sanchi) and dried fruits of Gardenia jasminoides (Cape Jasmine), and so far, it has demonstrated promising results in patients with vascular dementia and cerebral ischemic stroke. TLJN has also demonstrated therapeutic ability regarding the slowly-progressed neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. So it tempted us to undertake a thorough review of various features of TLJN therapeutic effects on the mentioned CNS conditions, including the cellular and molecular targets, inflammatory responses, neurogenesis and angiogenesis mediators and cognitive function. For this purpose, multiple global and local databases, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were checked out and the retrieved information was grouped according to their scope of studies. Among these, TLJN is reported to restore the deregulated cell-cell communication in the neurovascular unit, prevent the stress-related challenges imposed by ischemia/reperfusion insult, help with the cerebral tissue recovery after traumatic brain damage, avoid the epileptic seizure attack and limit the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. We hope that the current review provides new insights into TLJN medication as a prospective neuroprotective medication for further more in-depth investigation in the future.
Highlights • Scutellaria pinnatifida A. Ham. (Lamiaceae) is a herb that is used in traditional medicine of eastern countries. • Wogonin and neobicalein are flavonoids that are isolated from S. ...pinnatifida. • Among different extracts of the plant CH2 Cl2 extract is the most cytotoxic extract on the K562 and HL-60 cell line. • Apoptosis is a possible mechanism of plant cytotoxicity.
This study was executed to explore soil redistribution and soil quality changes induced by land degradation and then rehabilitation by orchard plantation in different slope positions in a semi-arid ...region in central Iran. A total of 72 surface soil samples (0–30 cm) were collected from three land uses (natural rangelands, dryland farming, and apple orchards) in four slope positions (shoulder, backslope, footslope, and toeslope). The soil physicochemical properties and magnetic parameters were measured, and soil redistribution was determined in the selected soil samples using the 137Cs technique. The results showed that rangeland degradation and, subsequently, rainfed cultivation, led to a significant decline in the soil quality indicators, such as soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), available potassium (Kava), and available phosphorous (Pava), thus incurring further soil loss, as determined by the 137Cs technique. Conversely, the conversion and rehabilitation of drylands to apple orchards cultivated on the contour terraces improved soil quality significantly and decreased soil loss (p < 0.05) and soil quality grade (p < 0.01). Additionally, the findings indicated that slope positions relative to land use change had a reasonable impact on the variability of soil properties and soil loss and deposition. The results of 137Cs analysis showed that the drylands had the highest soil loss (185.3 t ha−1 yr−1) and maximum sedimentation (182. 5 t ha−1 yr−1) in the shoulder and footslope positions, respectively. The random forest model applied between 137Cs inventory and soil properties indicated that calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE), TN, Pava, Kava, and bulk density (ρb) could explain 75% of the total variability in 137Cs inventory with high R2 (0.94) and low RMSE (111.29). Magnetic measurements have shown great potential as a cost-effective and fast method for assessing soil redistribution in hilly regions, as confirmed by the findings of the 137Cs analysis, which agreed well with the magnetic susceptibility at low frequency (χlf). Overall, the results confirmed that restoring abandoned dryland by orchard cultivation may improve soil quality and diminish soil loss in the semi-arid region of Iran. However, further research is required to assess other aspects of the ecosystem affected by this restoration.
Objective： To investigate the effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of Launaea acanthodes, a blood glucose lowering plant in folk medicine of Iran, on the structure of seminiferous tubules and serum ...gonadotropin and testosterone levels in hyperglycemic rats. Methods： Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups （n=6）： control, streptozotocin （STZ）, STZ ＋ insulin STZ ＋ Ins, 5 IU/（kg·day）, and STZ ＋ Launaea acanthodes extract STZ ＋ Ext, 150 mg/（kg·day）. Blood samples were collected at the 2nd and 4th weeks for detection of testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone （FSH） and luteinizing hormone （LH） with enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay （ELISA）, and the dght testes of rats were removed at the 7th week for the evaluation of diameter and wall thickness of seminiferous tubules and number of Leydig cells using unbiased stereological techniques. Results： in comparison with the control group, at the 2nd week FSH （0.45 vs 0.03, 0.02, 0.02 lUlL in STZ, STZ ＋ Ins and STZ ＋ Ext groups, respectively） and LH （1.02 vs 0.37, 0.2, 0.29 IU/L） showed significant decreases （all P〈0.05） and testosterone （4.2 vs 8.37, 7.78, 11.8 ng/mL） showed a remarkable increase （all P〈0.05）. The levels of these hormones became closer in the STZ ＋ Ext and the STZ ＋ Ins groups to the control at the 4th week. A significant decrease in diameter and wall thickness of seminiferous tubules and number of Leydig cells were observed in the STZ group as compared with the control （P〈0.01）. Conclusions： Administration of Launaea extract demonstrated a beneficial impact on the protection of testis from pathogenic and degenerative effects of hyperglycemia which may be partly due to its potential antioxidative effects.
Farnesiferol C (FC) is a sesquiterpene coumarin, with a unique chemical structure, isolated from Ferula (Apiaceae) species including Ferula assa-foetida and Ferula szowitsiana. The compound is an ...important natural product with different biological activities. Recently, researchers have been interested in FC and begun to investigate its biological effects. They have shown that FC possesses various biological properties including cytotoxic, apoptotic, MDR reversal, antitumor, antimutagenic, and antiviral activity. In addition, FC has shown moderate neuroprotective activity against oxygen-glucose deprivation in vitro. This review summarizes the biological activities of FC that has been published to date. A complete search performed on relevant databases consists of Pubmed, Scopus, Web of science, Google scholar, Science direct, and Magiran. Selected keywords were sesquiterpene coumarin, farnesiferol C, biological activity, cytotoxicity, pharmacology, anticancer, and anti-angiogenesis. All of the data were checked out and irrelevant articles were discarded.
Dracocephalum kotschyi (Lamiaceae family) has been used in traditional medicine for stomach and liver disorders, headache and congestion. In the present study, we have investigated phytochemical ...properties and antioxidant activities of dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of D.kotschyi.
Antioxidant activities of extracts were evaluated using the integration of HPLC-DPPH and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods. In addition, the luteolincontent was determined using HPLC method.
The highest antioxidant activity was observed for the methanol extract (among the three tested extracts) showing 50% DPPH scavenging activity at 4.85µg/ml as compared to butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT) and ascorbic acid (3.00 µg/ml, 0.97 µg/ml). Also, luteolin was detected in methanol extract; it was identified by comparing its retention time and DAD spectra with standard and it was one of antioxidant components of this plant. In addition, the antioxidant activity of methanol extract was higher than BHT, in FRAP assay. Total phenolic content was in the range of 11.62-22.29 mg Gallic acid /gram of dry extract and flavonoid content was in the range of 3.97-5.042 mg Quercetin/ gram of extract for dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts. The quantity of luteolin in D.kotschyiwas found to be 1061.005 µg/g of dried plant.
The results of this investigation indicated that luteolin plays major role in the antioxidant activity of the plant.
Context: Essential oils are secondary metabolites with versatile organic structures that, due to their compounds, have useful medicinal properties. There are about 250 species of the genus of ...Scutellaria perennial flowering plants from the Lamiaceae family. Its application for the treatment of allergy, inflammatory, hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, and hepatitis has a long history. Evidence Acquisition: Various studies on the chemical compounds of the Scutellaria genus have identified several compounds, especially essentials oils. The current review is based on the evidence found in Chemical Abstract, Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Knowledge, and Google Scholar databases. Results: Many studies on the chemical components of essential oils from the Scutellaria genus have identified several compounds. We summarized the chemical compositions and biological activities of Scutellaria essential oils. Hexadecanoic acid, germacrene D, β-caryophyllene, linalool, β-farnesene, and eugenol are the main compounds in essential oils of this genus. Despite many reports about essential oils of Scutellaria species (more than 38), a large number of species have not been studied yet. Therefore, several studies should be conducted on the chemical compounds and biological activities of unstudied Scutellaria essential oils. Conclusions: This review has summarized reports on the chemistry and biological activities of Scutellaria essential oils, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifeedant, phytotoxic, and acaricidal toxicities, based on the recent literature.
The purpose of this study was to comparison of personality characteristics and resiliency in people with cardiovascular disease and normal subjects. The method of this study was comparative with ...descriptive methods. The statistical population of this study was all patients with coronary artery disease in Shiraz, Kowsar, and Ordibehesht hospitals in summer of 2017, A total of 80 patients were selected through targeted sampling and the normal group (without physical illness) was selected by 80 people matched by age, sex, education, employment and marriage. Both groups were evaluated with a researcher's satisfaction with personality assessment and resiliency questionnaires. Data collected by descriptive statistics (mean & standard deviation) and inferential statistics (analysis of variance & T-test for testing hypotheses) were analyzed using SPSS-22 software. The results of the data analysis showed that cardiovascular patients scored more significant scores in the personality component of psychosis and less significant scores in the personality flexibility component compared to the normal group. Also, in the resiliency variable, the heart disease group had less significant scores compared to the normal group. It is suggested that the results of this study be used to design the educational programs of cardiac patients.
Ziziphora clinopodioides is an edible medicinal plant (belongs to the family Lamiaceae) that widespread all over Iran. In Iranian folklore, the dried aerial parts of this plant have been frequently ...used for culinary and also in cold and cough treatments. Present work aimed to evaluate the effect of storage conditions on essential oil composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Treatments were three levels of storage temperatures including room temperature (21°C), refrigerator temperature (4°C) and freezer temperature (-20°C) in 10 days. Essential oils after extraction with hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC-MS and their antioxidant and antibacterial activities were evaluated by DPPH and DISC diffusion methods. The results showed that in each of three storage temperatures, some compounds such as pulegone and menthone were main compounds in essential oil, but some of them were reduced in essential oil at room temperature. In antioxidant activity assay, freezing essential oil was stronger than other essential oils. The strongest antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, E. coli, and C. albicans was observed from room temperature essential oil; It can be due to the presence of a higher amount of 1,8-cineol, isomenthone and p-menth-4-en-3-one in this essential oil. In conclusion, the storage of secondary plant products especially essential oils, is an interesting research area which needs further studies with different aromatic plants essential oils.
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