The relaxant effect of <em>Ferula assafoetida</em> on smooth muscles and the possible mechanisms

Asafoetida (Ferula asafoetida) an oleo-gum-resin belongs to the Apiaceae family which obtained from the living underground rhizome or tap roots of the plant. F. assa-foetida is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of variety of disorders. Asafoetida is used as a culinary spice and in folk medicine has been used to treat several diseases, including intestinal parasites, weak digestion, gastrointestinal disorders, asthma and influenza. A wide range of chemical compounds including sugars, sesquiterpene coumarins and polysulfides have been isolated from this plant. This oleo-gum-resin is known to possess antifungal, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic and antiviral activities. Several studies investigated the effects of F. asafoetida gum extract on the contractile responses induced by acetylcholine, methacholin, histamine and KCl on different smooth muscles. The present review summarizes the information regarding the relaxant effect of asafetida and its extracts on different smooth muscles and the possible mechanisms of this effect

The effects of Curcuma longa and curcumin on reproductive systems

Objective. Curcuma longa (C. longa) was used in some countries such as China and India for various medicinal purposes. Curcumin, the active component of C. longa, is commonly used as a coloring agent in foods, drugs, and cosmetics. C. longa and curcumin have been known to act as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagen, and anti-carcinogenic agents. Th e attempt of the present review was to give an effort on a detailed literature survey concentrated on the protective effects of C. longa and curcumin on the reproductive organs activity. Methods. The databases such as, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Iran- Medex, were considered. The search terms were “testis” or “ovary” and “Curcuma longa”, “curcumin”, “antioxidant effect”, “anti-inflammatory effect” and “anti-cancer effect”. Results. C. longa and curcumin inhibited the production of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and increased the caspases (3, 8 and 9) activities in HL-60 prostate cancer. Furthermore, C. longa and curcumin suppressed the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), phosphorylated signal transducers and activators of the transcription 3 (STAT) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in ovarian cancer cell line. Conclusion. C. longa and curcumin might decrease the risk of cancer and other malignant diseases in the reproductive system. C. longa and curcumin have a protective effect on the reproductive organs activity such as, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant effects in normal cells but showed pro-apoptotic effects in the malignant cells. Therefore, different effects of C. longa and curcumin are dependent on the doses and the type of cells used in various models studied