Phytochemistry, pharmacology, and therapeutic uses of black seed (Nigella sativa)

Black seed (Nigella sativa) is an annual flowering plant from Ranunculaceae family, native to southwest Asia. This plant has many food and medicinal uses. The use of its seeds and oil is common for treatment of many diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, inflammatory diseases, diabetes and digestive diseases. The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive review on the scientific reports that have been published about N. sativa. The facts and statistics presented in this review article were gathered from the journals accessible in creditable databases such as Science Direct, Medline, PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, EMBASE, SID and IranMedex. The keywords searched in Persian and English books on medicinal plants and traditional medicine, as well as the above reputable databases were “Black seed”, ”Nigella sativa“, “therapeutic effect”, and “medicinal plant”. The results showed that N. sativa has many biological effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-microbial, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, and wound healing activities. It also has effects on reproductive, digestive, immune and central nervous systems, such as anticonvulsant and analgesic activities. In summary, it can be used as a valuable plant for production of new drugs for treatment of many diseases

Effect of apium graveolens leaf extract on serum level of thyroid hormones in male rat

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Celery (APium graveolens) is a medicinal Plant with antioxidant benefits and rich of flavonoid. Since flavonoids have great imPact on Physiological functions of body and esPecially thyroid function, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of celery leaf on serum level of thyroid hormones. METHODS: In this exPerimental study, 40 male rats were divided into 5 grouPs of eight rats each. They were control, sham (received normal saline) and the exPerimental grouPs received 1 ml of hydro-alcoholic extract of celery with doses of 50,100 and 200 mg/kg during 21 days by using gavage method. One day after the last gavage, the blood samPles were collected by bloodletting from the heart. After PreParing serum, the level of T3‘T4 and TSH hormones were measured using ELISA method. FINDINGS: The serum levels of T3 (0.95±0.04 and 0.95±0.06, resPectively) and T4 (5.42±0.85 and 5.87±0.89, resPectively) hormones decreased (p0.0 5). CONCLUSION: The results showed that prescribing these doses of celery extracts caused the decrease of thyroid hormone level so it could be considered as a balance hyperthyroidism. © 2014, Babol University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Anti-fertility effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) seed in male Wistar rats

The study aimed to investigate the anti-fertility effect of fennel (Foeniculim vulgare Mill) seed extract in male rats. Material and Methods: Forty Wistar rats were divided into five equal groups. The control group received distilled water and the experimental groups were orally administered 1 ml of hydro-alcoholic extract of fennel seed in four doses of 35, 70, 140, and 280 mg/kg/b.w. daily for 60 days. After the last gavage, the rats were anaesthetised and the caudal part of the right epididymis was used for sperm counting. After fixation of the testes, microscopic sections were prepared and histological changes were evaluated. Results: The number of spermatogonia after doses of 140 and 280 mg/kg and Sertoli cells after a dose of 140 mg/kg decreased significantly as compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The number of primary spermatocytes and sperm count decreased significantly in the experimental groups (70, 140, and 280 mg/kg) when compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, thickening of the basement membrane, cell apoptosis, and irregular arrangement of the germinal epithelium were observed in the experimental groups. Conclusion: Hydro-alcoholic fennel seed extract at these doses could reduce reproductivity and has anti-fertility activity in male rat

Anti-fertility effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) seed in male Wistar rats

Introduction: The study aimed to investigate the anti-fertility effect of fennel (Foeniculim vulgare Mill) seed extract in male rats