Phytopharmacology and medicinal properties of Salix aegyptiaca L.

Salix aegyptiaca L. is known as Musk Willow. S. aegyptiaca extracts and essential oils are important areas in drug development with some pharmacological activities in the Middle East, especially in Iran. For a long time S. aegyptiaca has been used in traditional medicines for the relief of anemia and vertigo, as a cardiotonic agent, as well as a fragrance additive in the preparation of local candies. S. aegyptiaca has recently been shown to have antioxidant, anxiolytic activity and hypocholestrolemic effect. High amounts of phenols and flavonoids such as gallic acid, caffeic acid, myricetin, catechin, quercetin as well as salicin, are reported from the leaves of this plant. 1,4-dimethoxybenzene, phenylethyl alcohol, carvone, citronellol, methyleugenol, eugenol, n-tetradecane and 4-methoxyacetophenone were identified as the major constituents of the essential oil in leaves of S. aegyptiaca. Due to the easy collection of the plant, being widespread and also its remarkable biological activities, this plant has become both food and medicine in Iran. This review presents comprehensive analyzed information on the botanical, chemical and pharmacological aspects of S. aegyptiaca.Key words: Salix aegyptiaca, Salicaceae, Musk Willow, essential oil

Phytochemistry and pharmacologic properties of Myristica fragrans Hoyutt.: A review

Myristica fragrans is known as “nutmeg”, its extracts and essential oil are important in drug development with numerous pharmacological activities in South Africa, India and other tropical countries. For a long time, M. fragrans has been used in traditional medicines as a carminative, stimulant, narcotic, emmenagogue and abortifacient. Nutmeg is also prescribed for the treatment of many diseases, such as rheumatism, muscle spasm, decreased appetite and diarrhea. M. fragrans has recently been shown to have antioxidant, anticonvulsant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antibacterial and antifungal activities. Trimyristin, myristic acid, myristicin, safrole and elimicin are reported from nutmeg. Due to the easy collection of nutmeg and being widespread and also remarkable biological activities, it has become both food and medicine in tropical countries especially in India and China. This article presents comprehensive analyzed information on the botanical, chemical and pharmacological aspects of M. fragrans.Key words: Myristica fragrans, Myristicaceae, phytopharmacology, essential oil

Study of the antibacterial activity of total extract and Petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions of aerial parts of heliotropium bacciferum against staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E.coli, Salmonella enteritidis

Heliotropium bacciferum is One of the plants belonging to the family Boraginaceae , which is Restricted distribution in the south of Iran. It is used for Hypotension, fever, stomach ulcers in traditional medicine. In this study, the antibacterial effects of extracts and fractions of chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous, aerial parts of Heliotropium bacciferum Forssk was evaluated against five bacterial strains. The methanol extract were prepared using the percolation method. Fractions of chloroform, Petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous respectively by Liquid - Liquid fractionation of the total extract were prepared. The antibacterial activity against two Gram positive bacteria, three Gram negative bacterial using Minimum inhibitory concentration in microplate and well plate method. Results showed that H. bacciferum extracts exhibited a significant activity against strains Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus,Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E.coli, Salmonella enteritidis. MIC and well plate is between 7.6-125 μg/ml. The results of this study indicate that extracts of the plant H.bacciferum has a antimicrobial effect against strains are listed And among the extracts, aqueous part is that most antibacterial effect of the other fraction and then methanolic extract has the greatest effect

In vitro antiglycation activity of Eremurus persicus (Jaub. Et Sp.) Boiss

Diabetes mellitus is a common endocrine disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and long-term complications affecting the eyes, nerves, blood vessels, skin and kidneys. Increased glycation of proteins and accumulation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEPs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Glycation and AGEP formation are also accompanied by the formation of free radicals via autoxidation of glucose and glycated proteins. Since this plant Eremurus persicus is used as an antidiabetic agent in Iranian traditional medicine, we were prompted to evaluate the antiglycation activity of this species. Here, we reported the isolation of a known compound, 5,6,7- trimethoxy-coumarinfor the first time for the antiglycation properties of this plant.Key words: Antiglycation, Eremurus persicus, 5,6,7-trimethoxy-coumarin

Analgesic and antiinflammatory activities of the essential oil from Artemisia sieberi Besser

The analgesic activity of Artemisia sieberi oil was assessed by acetic acid-induced writhing test and Eddy’s hot plate method; while the acute anti-inflammatory effect was investigated by inflammatory paw edema test in rats. The administration rout of the essential oil, standard drugs and the vehicle used in all assays was intraperitoneal injection. The 1 and 2.5 mg/kg doses of the studied oil significantly decreased the number of acetic acid-induced writhes in mice. The dose of 1 mg/kg of the oil also exhibited a central analgesic effect as evidenced by a significant increase in reaction time at several time points after 15 min treatment in the hot plate method. In addition, the 1 mg/kg dose of the oil significantly reduced carrageenan induced paw edema in rats at the first hour of the test by 72.7% inhibition and lasted to the third hour of the test by 74.3% inhibition found to be very close to that of the standard drug, diclofenac sodium (50 mg/kg). The major components of the oil were characterized as camphor (31.2%) and 1,8-cineole (20.0%). The results suggest that A. sieberi essential oil has a significant effect against acute inflammation and has central and peripheral anti-nociceptive effects

The essential oil composition of Carthamus tinctorius L. flowers growing in Iran

The composition of the essential oil obtained from the dried flowers of Carthamus tinctorius L. growing in Iran was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS). 29 compounds were identified in the oil. The major compounds of the oil were 1-hydroxy-3-propyl-5-(4-methyl-penten)-2-methylbenzene (25.2%), 2,5,5 trimethyl-3-propyl,tetra hydro 1- naphtol (19.8%) and benzaldehyde (8.0%).Key words: Carthamus tinctorius L., Asteraceae, essential oil composition, flower

Volatile composition of the peel and leaf essential oils of Citrus nobilis Lour. var deliciosa Swingle

The fruits and leaves of Citrus nobilis Lour. var deliciosa Swingle were collected from south of Iran and their essential oils were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS). The oil yields of the fresh peel and leaves obtained separately by hydrodistillation were 1.2 and 0.2% (V/W), respectively. 17 components accounting for 99.2% of the peel oil and 34 components accounting for 98.5% of the leaf oil were identified. The main classes of compounds were found to be monoterpenes [monoterpene hydrocarbons (96.0%) and monoterpene alcohols (1.8%)] in the peel oil and monoterpenes [monoterpene hydrocarbons (47.6%), monoterpene alcohols (36.9%)] and sesquiterpenes [sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (2.9%) and sesquiterpene alcohols (3.7%)] in the leaf oil. The major constituent of the peel oil were limonene (87.8%) and γ-terpinene (6.1%), while the major constituents of the leaf oil were linalool (32.8%), sabinene (28.8), (E)-β-ocimene (6.2%) and limonene (5.2%).Key words: Citrus nobilis Lour., chemical composition, essential oils, class composition

Antiglycation Activity of Otostegia persica (Burm.) Boiss

Diabetes mellitus is a common endocrine disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and long-term complications affecting the eyes, nerves, blood vessels, skin and kidneys. Increased glycation of proteins and accumulation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEPs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Glycation and AGEP formation are also accompanied by the formation of free radicals via autoxidation of glucose and glycated proteins. Compounds with combined antiglycation and antioxidant properties may offer therapeutic potential. Since the antioxidant activity of different extracts and fractions of aerial parts of Otostegia persica has been evaluated and this plant is used as an antidiabetic agent in Iranian traditional medicine, we evaluated the antiglycation activity of this species. Here, we report the isolation of known compound 3´, 7-dihydroxy-4´,6,8-trimethoxy-flavone for the antiglycation properties of this plant

Anti-inflammatory Activities of Nannorrhops ritchieana (Griff.) Aitch Inflorescence Extract in an Animal Model

Materials and Methods: The carrageenan-induced paw edema method was used to evaluate the acute anti-inflammatory effects of the NRE extract (50,100, and 200mg/kg, i.p.). The postive and negative control groups received mefenamic acid and normal saline, respectively. Then, the rats’ paw tissues were removed and collected for studying tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) level. In addition, the cotton pellet-induced granuloma method was utilized to assess the chronic anti-inflammatory effects of the extract (100 and 200 mg/kg daily for 8 days, i.p.). The postive and negative control groups received indomethacin and saline, respectively. On the last day of the cotton pellet test, the rat’s serum was collected for interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) determination. Results: In the carrageenan test, the extract significantly reduced the paw edema compared to that of the control (p<0.05). The anti-inflammatory activity (100 and 200 mg/kg) of the extract was similar to that of the mefenamic acid group (P<0.05). TNF-α levels demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory effects just at the dose of 200 mg/kg. In granuloma induced by cotton pellets, NRE was also effective based on the granuloma formation and the transudate amount. The anti-inflammatory activity of the inflorescence extract was found to be the same as the indomethacin group, whereas IL-1β did not represent significant changes

Antinociceptive effect of the endemic species Nepeta depauperata Benth

Background: Nepeta depauperata Benth is an endemic species and is extensively exploited as an anti-inflammatory agent in Iranian traditional medicine. Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the antinociceptive activity of methanol extract of N. depauperata in male mice. Materials and Methods: The anti-nociceptive activities of the extract were investigated by the formalin test and Hot plate test respectively. Comparisons between the groups were carried out using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and post Hoc Tukey test. Results: N. depauperata extract showed anti-nociceptive effect. Doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg reduced the paw flexing time in formalin test from the control (P < 0.05 in both phases). The doses of 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg; 100 and 200 mg/kg reduced the pawlicking time in first and second phases of the formalin test from the control, respectively (P < 0.05). The observed effect was not reversed by naloxone. In Hot plate test, doses of 160 and 250 mg/kg significantly reduced the nociception in comparisons to control (P < 0.05). All doses of the studied extract also showed antinociceptive activity. Conclusions: This study revealed that the methanol extract of N.depauperata may minimize both the acute and chronic forms of nociception and may have potent role against inflammation. © 2016, School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences