Thyroid diseases: Pathophysiology and new hopes in treatment with medicinal plants and natural antioxidants

The thyroid gland regulates a wide range of physiological activities such as growth, metabolism, homeostasis, and cell proliferation and differentiation through the secretion of thyroid hormones (THs). Thyroid diseases are among the most common endocrine disorders, hypothyroidism is the most common clinical thyroid dysfunction. Hyperthyroidism means increased thyroid function and refers to excess metabolic state due to excessive synthesis and secretion of TH. Medicinal plants have been identified and used by humans throughout history. To name the herbs and natural antioxidants used to treat thyroid disorders including hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Related articles were obtained using the Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases. The results of this study indicate that medicinal plants include Fucus vesiculosus, Aegle marmelos, Coleus forskohlii, Linum usitatissimum, Withania somnifera, Commiphora mukul, Nigella sativa, and Bacopa monnieri. They can improve the hyperthyroidism in improving hyperthyroidism and herbal remedies, Melissa officinalis A. marmelos, Lycopus europaeus, Leonurus cardiaca, and Aloe barbadensis be effective. Herbal drugs cause comparatively fewer side effects. It is believed that the drugs derived from the plants are very safe and produce significant effects in the treatment of various diseases. Today, traditional medicine is being widely used and plants are still considered a major source of natural antioxidants that can serve as a clue for the development of new drugs

In vivo antioxidant activity of Zataria multiflora Boiss essential oil

Zataria multiflora Boiss. (Lamiaceae) is an endemic plant to Iran with many traditional uses. We have reported previously in vitro antioxidant activity of the essential oil of the plant. In the present work we aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the oil in rat. Antioxidant activity was measured by the test of 1,1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical inhibition and inhibition of lipid peroxidation by measuring the index of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs). Three doses of 100, 200 and 400 μL/ kg of the essential oil of Z. multiflora (ZMO) was administered to animals by i.g routh for 10 days. The blood was collected in 11th day through direct puncture and the liver was rapidly excised. The histopathology studies of the animals was compared to animals in butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT) group. The results showed that ZMO in all tested doses significantly was able to scavenge DPPH radical (p<0.05). ZMO also decreased TBARs in a dose dependent manner. No alteration in LFT enzymes or changes in histopathology of the liver was considered in ZMO treated groups. The results indicated that ZMO might be used in healthy medicine and food industry