Antibacterial activity of Achillea tenuifolia Lam. extract against standard bacteria and isolated strains

Researchers have been trying to develop new broad-spectrum antibiotics against the infectious diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites for many decades. Prolonged usage of the antibiotics has led to the emergence of drug resistance among bacteria; therefore, there is a tremendous need for novel antimicrobial agents from different sources such as plants which are used in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate antibacterial effect of Achillea tenuifolia. The plant material was extracted by maceration method using methanol three times at room temperature. The extract was concentrated after removing the solvent by rotary evaporator and then lyophilized using freeze dryer. Inhibitory effect of the extract was examined against four standard bacteria strains and two isolated strains from diseased hen using disk diffusion method and microdilution method to evaluate their inhibition zone diameter (IZD) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), respectively. The results showed that the extract of the plant was active against standard strains including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis with IZDs of 10.3±0.5, 14±0.0, 12±0.0 and 11.6±0.5, respectively. However, growths of isolated strains were not inhibited in the presence of the extract. Although, the growths of isolated strains were not inhibited by the plant extract, the standard strains were moderately susceptible to the extract; among those P. aeroginosa was more sensible than other tested strain

Phthalate contamination of some plants and herbal products

Phthalate derivatives cause a number of risks to human health and the environment. Essential oil and volatile fractions of some vegetables and herbal products were extracted by hydrodistillation and percolation methods to analyze using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for evaluation of phthalate contaminations. The results revealed that four vegetables and all aromatic waters were contaminated by phthalate derivatives including di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), diisobutyl phthalate and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) (0.1-7.95%). Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a widely used synthetic antioxidant, was also found in the most of the aromatic waters in the range of 3.15-61.3%. In addition, three vegetable samples contained diazinon (0.36-4.61%), an organophosphorus insecticide. Plants and herbal preparations may be contaminated by the absorption of phthalates from contaminated water or soil or by the migration of phthalates from inexpensive recycled plastic. Regarding the widespread use and associated health risks of phthalates, effective quality and safety regulations for herbal products should be implemented with respect to their phthalate content.Keywords: Aromatic water, BHT, DBP, DEHP, diazinone, diisobutyl phthalate

Synergistic Effect of Honey and Propolis on Cutaneous Wound Healing in Rats

Accelerating wound healing is now considered as a principle clinical treatment and increasing the quality and speed of healing which has always been emphasized by the scientists. Propolis and honey are natural bee products with wide range of biological and medicinal properties. This study was aimed to determine the synergistic effect of honey and propolis in wound healing of rat skin. A total of 75 Wistar rats weighing 200-250 gr were placed under general anesthesia and sterile conditions. Then a square shape wound with 1.5*1.5 mm dimension was made on the back of the neck. Animals were randomly divided into control, honey, propolis, combined honey propolis and phenytoin 1% groups, respectively. Rats were randomly divided into the following groups: 4th, 7th and, 14th days of treatment in each period of study. Wound area in the experimental group was covered once daily with a fixed amount of thyme honey, propolis, propolis and honey and phenytoin cream (1%), the control group did not receive any treatment. For histological studies, during the fourth, seventh and fourteenth day’s rats were sacrificed and samples were taken from the wound and adjacent skin. After histological staining fibroblast, neutrophils, macrophages and vascular sections were counted in the wound bed. The macroscopic and microscopic evaluations showed that the percentage of wound healing on different days in the experimental and control groups were significant (P<0.05). The macroscopic and microscopic evaluation showed that the percentage of wound healing on different days in combined propolis and honey experimental group was significantly different from the control group (Multivariate ANOVA test) (P<0.05). Combined application of propolis and honey on the open wound healing in rats has a synergistic effect

Chemical Composition of the Essential Oils of Peucedanum ruthenicum (M. Bieb.) Rochel Leaves and Flowers from Kalardasht: Essential oil of Peucedanum ruthenicum

The essential oils of leaves and flowers of Peucedanum ruthenicum (M. Bieb.) Rochel (Umbelliferae) were prepared by hydrodistillation separately and analyzed by GC and GC-MS, and the composition of both essential oils were compared together. Sixteen and eleven compounds were identified in leaves and flowers essential oils representing 100% and 96.4% of total oils, respectively. The major components were thymol (57.79%), b-bisabulene (6.10%) for the leaves oil, germacrene-D (45%) and germacrene-B (18.5%) for the flowers oil. The amounts of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes were not found nearly to be equal in oils of the two parts of the plant