MICROMORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATIONS AND PHYTOCHEMICAL CONTENTS OF SOME PHLOMIS SPECIES FROM IRAN

Objective: Microscopic characterization of a plant is a valuable method for accurate identification of the plant powder. The plants of Phlomis genus (Lamiaceae) are mostly distributed in the north and west of Iran with about 10 endemic species. In the present investigation, microscopic characterization of some Phlomis species including Phlomis bruguieri, Phlomis rigida, Phlomis kurdica, and Phlomis olivieri were assessed along with their phytochemical contents. Methods: The powders of the mentioned plants were analyzed using Zeiss microscope attached to a digital camera. Phytochemical contents of the plants extracts including total phenol, tannin, and polysaccharide were measured as well as a radical scavenging activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl method. Results: The results of this study indicated that diacytic stomata, glandular trichome, stellate trichome, and crystals were the characteristic features of the examined species. Total phenol, tannins, and polysaccharides of the plants were assessed ranging 66.0-101.8 µg gallic acid equivalent in mg dry extract (µg GAE/mg EXT), 6.9-9.5 µg tannic acid equivalent in mg dry extract (TAE/mg EXT), and 512-559 µg glucose equivalent in mg dry extract (GE/mg EXT), respectively. Moreover, half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of radical scavenging activity of the extracts were calculated according to the plot of inhibition percentage against different concentrations of each extract as 218.6, 112.0, 113.3, and 58.7 µg/ml, respectively.Conclusion: The observed differences between Phlomis species can be applied in the accurate identification of these medicinal plants particularly in dried powdered materials regarding their microscopic characterizations and phytochemical contents.Â

Effects of aqueous methanolic extract of Salvia limbata on antinociceptive activity and withdrawal syndrome in mice

It is quite clear that the repeated use of opioid drugs leads to physical dependence and tolerance. Dependence can be measured by evaluation of self-restraint signs from abrupt drug withdrawal or administration of a narcotic antagonist or both. Effects of some Salvia genesis, of Salvia aerial parts extract on morphine dependence were investigated in mice. After induction of dependence by morphine, distilled water was injected into the control group and different concentrations of plants aerial extract were injected into the other five groups. To assess morphine withdrawal, mice were injected with naloxone (5 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (i.p.) on the 5th day. After four consecutive days of morphine injection, withdrawal syndrome was assessed by placing each mouse in a 30 cm high glass box and recording the incidence of escape jumps for 60 min. Animal receiving acute treatment with morphine displayed dependence. The animals treated with different Salvia limbata aerial (flowered browse) parts extracts concentration decreased incidence of escape jumps in number or decreased development of morphine dependence and on the other hand, addiction was observed following naloxone administration (P<0.001). Results from the present study showed that the methanolic extract from aerial parts of Salvia limbata produced a statistically significant inhibition of pain induced by hot plate latency at (500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg) i.p. dose, as compared to the control groups. A significant increase in pain threshold after 30 and 60 min of i.p. injection of extract, compared with the control groups (P<0.001). The activity was comparable to that of morphine (30 mg kg-1 i.p., p> 0.05). The anti-nociceptive activity of S. limbata increased until the 60th min as compared to morphine (P<0.05).Key words: Morphine dependence, anti-nociceptive activity, Salvia limbata, jumping, hot plate method

Phantom Tumor of the Lung

Background: Localized interlobar effusions in congestive heart failure (phantom or vanishing lung tumor/s) are uncommon but well-known entities.Case Report: The patient is a 60-year-old male with a history of dyspnea and surgical removal of kidney stonein 1 year ago.Results: In chest-X-ray prior to the surgery an olive-shaped homogenous density, with a size of 30 mm × 20 mm in the right lung have been detected. Computed tomography (CT) scan has been performed, and a homogenous mass with a well-delineated border in major fissure of the right lung and mediastinal lymphadenopathy had been detected. Serial CT scans revealed mass enlargement. In Ct guided, Transthoracic biopsy fluid collection along the major fissure of the right lung had been detected. Biopsy of mediastinal lymph node silicoanthracotic changes with focal hyaline fibrosis had been shown.Conclusions: The diagnosis of the phantom tumor must be considered in any patient with congestive heart failure and lung mass. In this patient, there was no history of congestive heart failure which shows that phantom tumor could happen in non-chronic heart failure patients. Although the accurate diagnosis of the phantom tumor with imaging modalities in patients without congestive heart failure is very difficult but at least this diagnosis must be considered in a patient with a lung mass in the major fissure of the lungs

Antinociceptive Activity and Effect of Methanol Extracts of Three Salvia Spp. on Withdrawal Syndrome in Mice

Purpose: There are several reports about effects of Salvia spp. on CNS. The present experiment is undertaken to study effect of S. limbata, S. hypoleuca and S. macrosiphon on withdrawal syndrome in mice. Methods: Antinociceptive activities of aerial parts of Salvia spp. is investigated using hot plate method. In addition, the effect of its aerial parts on morphine dependence is investigated in mice. After induction of morphine dependency, different concentrations of plant extract are injected. To assess morphine withdrawal, naloxone (5 mg kg-1, i.p.) are injected into mice on the 5th day. Withdrawal syndrome is assessed by placing each mouse in a glass box 30 cm in height and recording the incidence of escape jumps for 60 minutes. Results: A decrease in incidence of escape jumps is observed in morphine dependence mice. S. limbata and S. hypoleuca extracts produced a statistically significant inhibition of pain induced by hot plate latency at (500, 1000 and 1500 mg kg-1) i.p. A significant increase in pain threshold is observed after 30 and 60 minutes (p 0.05). The antinociceptive activity increased up to 60 minutes. Conclusion: S. limbataand S. hypolecuca extracts produced statistically significant inhibition of pain and development of morphine dependence in mice

Quantification of sucrose in the root of Geum iranicum Khatamsaz

Geum iranicum Khatamsaz (Rosaceae) is an endemic plant in Iran. The infusion and decoction of the plant have been used by local people for medicinal purposes. Our previous work on phytochemical studies on G. iranicum showed that the root was rich in sugars and sucrose was identified as a major one in it. In this study, the content of sucrose in the hydro-alcoholic (1:1) extract of the root of G.  iranicum was analyzed using HPLC. The amount of sucrose has been evaluated as 31.75% in the extract and 8.16% in the dried root. As a result, the presence of high amount of sucrose in the root of G. iranicum can be applicable for preparation of any pharmaceutical formulations of this plant

Single Cotton Wool Spot as a Late Manifestation of Head Trauma

Purpose: To report a patient with a single cotton wool spot (CWS) following head trauma. Case Report: A 37-year-old male electrician presented with painless paracentral blurred vision in his left eye of one month duration together with three transient episodes of obscuration of vision in the same eye lasting for 10 minutes. He reported blunt head trauma due to a fall 40 days before referral. Fundus examination at presentation was normal but after 4 months, revealed the appearance of a white spot along the superotemporal arcade in the absence of other fundus lesions. A comprehensive systemic workup was performed revealing no specific findings. Ophthalmoscopic examination after 6 weeks disclosed resolution of the CWS with no intervention. The patient′s complaint of paracentral visual field defect improved and subsequent optical coherence tomography showed retinal thinning in that area. Conclusion: Herein, we report a patient with a single CWS near the optic disc four months after head trauma along with normal systemic and paraclinical evaluations. Head trauma may thus be considered as a cause of CWS

Enhancement Effect of Berberis vulgaris var. integerrima Seeds on the Antibacterial Activity of Cephalosporins against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli: Synergistic effect of Berberis vulgaris and cephalosporins

To evaluate the enhancement effect of Berberis vulgaris var. integerrima seeds on the antibacterial activity of cephalexin and ceftizoxime against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli ethanol extract of the seeds were prepared. Disk diffusion and broth dilution methods were used to determine the antibacterial activity of two cephalosporins in the absence and presence of the extract and its various fractions separated by thin layer chromatography. Clinical isolates of S. aureus and E. coli were used as test strains. Total extract and one of its fractions enhanced the antibacterial activity of cephalexin and ceftizoxime. The active component of the extract involved in the enhancement of cephalexin and ceftizoxime antimicrobial activities had an Rf of 0.47 on TLC and a lmax of 209 nm. The highest fold decreasein minimum inhibitory concentration was observed for ceftizoxime plus the active fraction of the extract against E. coli. Our preliminary results on the column chromatography and identification of the active component by high resolution mass spectroscopy showed that this minor compound may be categorized as a protoberberine structure compound. Therefore, the ethanolic extract of B. vulgarisvar. integerrima seeds combined with cephalosporins may be useful against S.aureus and E. coli