Treatment of liver and spleen illnesses by herbs: Recommendations of Avicenna’s heritage "Canon of Medicine"

Objective: Avicenna (Abu Ali al-Hossein ibn Abdullah ibn Sina) who had a special attention toward diseases treatments, gathered results of ages of herbal medicine experiments on humans and animals in his book “Al-Qānūn fī Ṭibb” or "The Canon of Medicine", which is a reliable book in Iranian traditional medicine. The aim of this research was to build a reliable list of plants effective against liver and spleen diseases, based on Avicenna's book (volume 2). Materials and Methods: By studying the monographs, introduced agents that have been effective in liver and spleen diseases were identified. Upon their origin and effectiveness in diseases of the liver, spleen or both, treatments were organized. Results: From a huge number of drugs, 163 plants from 73 families were found to be effective in treatment of liver and spleen illnesses. In addition, 30 non-herbal agents effective in treatment of liver diseases were detected. The Lamiaceae family have the most effective herbs for treatment of diseases of the liver, spleen or both. Hemp Agrimony, Irsā, and Fūdhanj achieved the highest scores. Conclusion: The effects of different plants on liver and spleen diseases were indicated in Avicenna's book. Due to the report on the above book, further studies needed specially on the effect of Irsā (Iris ensata) and family Lamiaceae on liver and spleen diseases

A comprehensive review on phytochemical, pharmacological and therapeutic properties of Agrimonia eupatoria L.

Agrimonia eupatoria is a perennial herb belonging to the Rosaceae family that all its parts are used to treat various diseases. In this article, we aimed to present a comprehensive review on the phytochemical, pharmacological, and therapeutic effects of this plant. We searched various databases and summarized the data documented in literature from 1976 to 2020. Agrimonia eupatoria has effects on various kinds of cancer, oxidative stress, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis B, and liver damage. It also has anti-adhesive, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and wound healing properties. It induces nitric oxide and inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines production. Phytochemical studies related to this plant has led to isolation and identification of tannins, coumarins, and flavonoids as the most active chemicals with biological effects. Based on this comprehensive review about Agrimonia eupatoria, there will be more opportunities for investigators to search and discover ways to use bioactive agents of this herb to develop new Agrimony based medicines

A comprehensive review on phytochemical, pharmacological and therapeutic properties of Agrimonia eupatoria L.

Agrimonia eupatoria is a perennial herb belonging to the Rosaceae family that all its parts are used to treat various diseases. In this article, we aimed to present a comprehensive review on the phytochemical, pharmacological, and therapeutic effects of this plant. We searched various databases and summarized the data documented in literature from 1976 to 2020. Agrimonia eupatoria has effects on various kinds of cancer, oxidative stress, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis B, and liver damage. It also has anti-adhesive, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and wound healing properties. It induces nitric oxide and inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines production. Phytochemical studies related to this plant has led to isolation and identification of tannins, coumarins, and flavonoids as the most active chemicals with biological effects. Based on this comprehensive review about Agrimonia eupatoria, there will be more opportunities for investigators to search and discover ways to use bioactive agents of this herb to develop new Agrimony based medicines

The effects of concurrent treatment of silymarin and lactulose on memory changes in cirrhotic male rats

Introduction: Chronic liver disease frequently accompanied by hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Changes in the permeability of the blood-brain barrier in HE, make an easier entrance of ammonia among other substances to the brain, which leads to neurotransmitter disturbances. Lactulose (LAC), causes better defecation and makes ammonia outreach of blood. Silymarin (SM) is a known standard drug for liver illnesses. The purpose of this research was to determine the results of LAC and SM combined treatment, on the changes in memory of cirrhotic male rats. Methods: The cirrhotic model established by treatment with thioacetamide (TAA) for 18 weeks. Cirrhotic rats randomized to four groups (n = 7): TAA group (received drinking water), LAC group (2 g/kg/d LAC in drinking water), SM group (50 mg/kg/d SM by food), SM+ LAC group (similar combined doses of both compounds) for 8 weeks. The control group received drinking water. The behavior examined by wire hanging (WH), passive avoidance (PA), and open field (OF) tests. Results: Our findings showed that treatment with SM+LAC effectively increased PA latency, compared with the control group. The results showed that the administration of LAC and SM+LAC affected the number of lines crossed, the total distance moved and velocity in the OF tests. Conclusion: SM and LAC have anti-inflammatory effects that are memory changing. It may be due to their useful effects. These results indicated that SM+LAC restored memory disturbance and irritated mood in the cirrhotic rats. Comparable neuroprotection was never previously informed. Such outcomes are extremely promising and indicate the further study of SM+LAC

Effects of lactulose and silymarin on liver enzymes in cirrhotic rats

Silymarin (SM), a mixture of anti-hepatotoxic flavonolignans is being used for liver diseases and lactulose (LAC), a non-absorbable synthetic disaccharide were used in this study to analyze their probable synergic effects on hepatic cirrhotic rat model to see whether they cause improvement of this illness or vice versa. Upon thioacetamide (TAA) withdrawal and treatment administration. The curative effects of SM and LAC were confirmed by significant decrease of liver enzymes and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. In SM+LAC group, the liver enzymes and malondialdehyde levels were decreased significantly compared with TAA group. All treatments were able to regenerate and trigger an enhanced regeneration. Silymarin and lactulose alone or in combination had potent curative effects and reduced thioacetamide effects induced liver damage.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

A Review on Garlic as a Supplement for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Mechanistic Insight into its Direct and Indirect Effects

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most complicated neurodegenerative diseases causing dementia in human beings. Aside from that, the incidence of AD is increasing and its treatment is very complicated. There are several known hypotheses regarding the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease, including the amyloid beta hypothesis, tau hypothesis, inflammation hypothesis, and cholinergic hypothesis, which are investigated in different researches to completely elucidate the pathology of AD. Besides, some new mechanisms, such as im-mune, endocrine, and vagus pathways, as well as bacteria metabolite secretions, are being explained as other causes to be somehow related to AD pathogenesis. There is still no definite treatment for Alzheimer’s disease that can completely cure and eradicate AD. Garlic (Allium sativum) is a traditional herb used as a spice in different cultures, and due to the organosulfur compounds, like allicin, it possesses highly anti-oxidant properties; the benefits of garlic in cardiovascular diseases, like hypertension and atherosclerosis, have been examined and re-viewed, although its beneficiary effects in neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD, are not completely unders-tood. In this review, we discuss the effects of garlic based on its components, such as allicin and S-allyl cys-teine, on Alzheimer’s disease and the mechanisms of garlic components that can be beneficiary for AD pa-tients, including its effects on amyloid beta, oxidative stress, tau protein, gene expression, and cholinesterase en-zymes. Based on the literature review, garlic has been revealed to have beneficiary effects on Alzheimer’s dis-ease, especially in animal studies; however, more studies should be done on humans to find the exact mechanisms of garlic’s effects on AD patients