A review of the most important medicinal plants effective on cough in children and adults

Cough is referred to the strong explosive exhalation which causes removal of secretions and foreign bodies from tracheobronchial tract. Given the prevalence of children's and adults' involvement with and acquisition of cough, this review article was aimed to report the plants used to treat and relieve cough in traditional culture and ethnobotany of Iran's different regions. To select the articles, the key words such as ethnobotany, ethnopharmacoligy, ethnomedicine, phytopharmacology, phytomedicine, traditional medicine, and Iran in combination with the words cough, upper respiratory tract, and children were used to search in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, International Science Citation Center, and Magiran.The findings indicated that 51 medicinal plants are used in Iran traditional medicine to specifically treat cough. Most of the plants identified in this study were antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, which can affect the upper respiratory tract because of containing antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory compounds, and relieve and treat cough. The anti-cough property of some of these plants has been studied in clinical trials but not confirmed, which could be a basis for clinical trials in future

The importance of some native medicinal plants of Iran effective on gastrointestinal disorders in children: A review

Most people opt to use natural and traditional methods instead of chemical drugs and intrusive methods of modern medicine to treat minor illnesses and disorders of children or newborns. Since gastrointestinal, infectious, and respiratory diseases are the most significant diseases in children, this review article sought to identify and report the native medicinal plants of Iran which have been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders in children. For this study, the key words consisting of digestion, children, medicinal plants, traditional medicine, and Iran were used to search in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Islamic Science Citation Center, and Magiran and relevant articles were selected. The findings indicated that in Iran, nine medicinal plants, Foeniculum vulgaris, Pimpinella anisum, Acorus calamus, Anethum graveolens, Zingiber officinalis, Lavandula officinalis, Capiscum minimum, Mentha piperita, and Carum carvi are used to treat gastrointestinal disorders in children. These plants contain phenolic and antioxidant compounds, which could be used to prevent and treat bloat, colic, and anorexia

Iran's medicinal plants effective on fever in children: A review

Fever is an important very prevalent disease in children. Fever is developed in the body during response to releasing internal pyrogenic agents throughout infections, malignancy, and inflammatory and rheumatic processes as well as external pyrogenic agents including microbes and toxins. In Iran, medicinal plants have long been used to treat diseases, and fever have been commonly treated with medicinal plants, as well. Therefore, this review article sought to report the medicinal plants used to treat fever in children. In this study, the key words including fever, children, medicinal plants, traditional medicine, and Iran were used to search in the databases Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, International Science Citation Center, and Magiran, and the articles of interest were retrieved. The medicinal plants Matricaria recutita, Achilleamil lefolium, Sambucus nigra, Tilia cordata, Hyssopus officinalis, Allium sativum, Lavandula officinalis, and Mentha piperita were reported to have refrigerant properties. The antipyretic medicinal plants in the present study could relieve the intensity of fever in children and play a refrigerant role by means of the effective substances with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties through eliminating the involved factors of fever happening

Ethnobotanical identification of medicinal plants effective on toothache in Shiraz, south Iran

Pain is an unpleasant sensory experience which is developed by acute or potential tissue damage. Currently, some drugs such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen, opioids such as morphine, meperidine, methadone, tramadol, buprenorphine, butorphanol, and nalbuphine as well as other drugs including tricyclic antidepressants and corticosteroids are being used to control pain. These drugs could cause side effects. Given the high prevalence of toothache and that a variety of plants are used to relieve toothache in Iranian traditional medicine, this study was conducted to document the data of medicinal plants effective on relief of toothache in Shiraz. In this study, the data on traditional treatments were gathered from the groceries across Shiraz between 23 July, 2015 and 23 October, 2015 by pre-developed questionnaires administered to the grocers by researcher. The data obtained from the questionnaires were meticulously tabulated and recorded and analyzed by Excel. Finally 20 plants from 14 families were identified as being used for toothache in Shiraz. Most plants effective on toothache were from Composite family. Aerial parts were (38%) were the most frequently used organs and concentrated extract (70%) was the most frequent traditional method of use in the studied region. Papaver tennifolium (37.03%) obtained the highest percentage of frequency of citation of the toothache-relieving plants in Shiraz. It is necessary to identify the effective substances in the medicinal plants native to Shiraz used to relieve toothache and to study these substances' therapeutic effects

Impacts of Bacillus subtilis JQ61816 on lipid panel and expression of genes involved in cholesterol metabolism in hypercholesterolemic rats

Hypercholesterolemia is one of the major risk factors associated with the emergence and development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and atherosclerosis. The hypocholesterolemic effects of probiotics have been indicated by numerous studies. The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) and cytochrome P450 7A1 or cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) are two important genes in choletsterol metabolism. In this study, the effects of Bacillus subtilis JQ61816 on lipid panel, hepatic enzymes and expression levels of HMGCR and CYP7A1 were investigated. Twenty-one male Wistar rats were randomly allotted to 3 experimental groups; a) negative control group (ND) fed with normal diet, b) high-fat diet group (HFD) fed with high cholesterol diet, and c) probiotic group (BS) fed with high cholesterol diet supplemented with probiotic B. subtilis. Serum analysis of treatment groups was performed to measure fasting blood sugar (FBS), lipid profile parameters, hepatic enzymes, urea, and uric acid. Our results showed that B. subtilis could reduce the level of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL and it also could increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level. Moreover, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and uric acid were significantly lower in BS group compare to HFD group. Furthermore, up-regulation of HMGCR and down-regulation of CYP7A1 were observed in BS group. The results of our study suggest that consumption of probiotic B. subtilis JQ61816 may prevent or decline the development of hypercholesterolemia and other cardiovascular diseases

Effect of vitrification on morphology and in-vitro maturation outcome of human immature oocytes

Background. In assisted reproductive techniques, 85% retrieved oocytes are mature, and the rest are immature. These immature oocytes may be matured in vitro, and used in subsequent in vitro fertilization program. The purpose of this study was to determine the maturation capacity and morphology of human immature oocytes in both fresh and vitrified-thawed, in vitro matured oocytes with regard to the maternal age and cause of infertility. Materials & Methods. The first group of immature oocytes (n=103) were directly matured in vitro (fIVM), and the second group (n=102) were vitrified and stored in liquid nitrogen. After thawing, the samples underwent in vitro maturation (vIVM). Oocyte maturation was assessed by the presence of the 1st polar body and pronuclei. After 48 h incubation, each matured oocyte was assessed for ooplasm color, periviteline space normality and shape regularity. Results. After retrieval, 27% oocytes were immature (9.5 % metaphase I and 17.5% germinal vesicle stage). The rate of maturation of fIVM (61.2%) was significantly higher than that of vIVM (33.3%). The percentage of maturation in women under age of 30 was higher in both fIVM and vIVM. The maturation rate after IVM was higher in patients with male infertility than in those suffering of ovarian infertility. Conclusion. Vitrification is a suitable technique for preservation of immature oocytes, especially at the germinal vesicle stage, in stimulated ovarian cycles. It should be noted that the maturation outcome of oocytes at germinal vesicle stage was better than that of metaphase I oocytes. Therefore, we recommend vitrifying germinal vesicle stage oocytes for subsequent in vitro maturation

Frequency of Helicobacter pylori infection in children with gastroentritis

Background : Helicobacter pylori is a gram negative bacteria and it clearly causes histologic gastritis and its role in gastric cancers has been known. Its prevalence is different in various traditional populations and ages, but the majority is infected in early life and its infection is with manifestations such as gastritis, abdominal pain, anaemia and others. Materials and Methods: In this cross – sectional study, the sampling method was census. The studied population included hospitalized children in Shahid Madani hospital in 2010 with gastroenteritis that have received no anti Pylori treatment. The studied variables included sex, age, place of residence, kind of drinking water, having pets and the history of hospitalization. The data were gathered by questionnaire and serum samples were tested about anti-Hpylori IgG through ELIZA and then the data were analyzed. Results: Among 240 patients,16.7% were infected with H.pylori and it was most common in the male group( 60%) and age<2 years old, most of the infected children lived in the city and only 17.5% of them had pets, and 67.5% of the cases had the history of hospitalization especially for respiratory infections. Conclusion: 16.7% of the children with acute diarrhea had positive serologic test of H.pylori, therefor, diarrhea can not be considered as common symptom of H.pylori

Relationship between serum C-reactive protein and obesity in children

Background : Obesity predisposes individuals to cardiovascular diseases.The aim of this research is to study CRP as a prognostic inflamatory factor in children with obesity and overweight in comparison with non obese ones. Materials and Methods: We investigated 80 children aged 8- 10 years assessing obesity as case group and 80 non-obese children as control group. Serum level of Cholesterol , triglycerides , low-density lipoproteins (LDL), high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and C-reactive protein were measured . Finally the data were analysed using SPSS software, X2,t and fisher tests. Results: The results showed that there were significant correlations between CRP in obese children than non-obese children. 31% of the case group had positive CRP (PV=0.000001). Lipid analysis showed significant correlations between mean Cholesterol level and CRP in obese and non-obese children. Mean Cholesterol level in posetive CRP group was 201.9 mg/dl but mean Cholesterol level in control group was 183.1 mg/dl . (P=0.04,T=-2.1) Conclusion: This study showed significant correlations between CRP and obesity in 8-10 years old children

A girl with Sturge Weber syndrome and oro – maxillo -facial osteodystrophy

Background: Sturge-Weber syndrome is one of the rare neurocutaneous disorders with frequency of approximately 1 per 50,000. Sturge-Weber syndrome consists of a constellation of symptoms and signs including a facial nevus (port wine stain), seizure and hemiparesis. In many cases it may associate with mental retardation. Case presentation: A 7- year old girl with mental retardation and a large facial nevus at the birth time, recurrent severe seizures and drolling in 9 months of life without any treatment, was admitted because of severity of seizure, headache and weakness. Conducted follow up on here, indicated that she had Sturge –Weber syndrome with oro- maxilla -facial osteodystrophy. Conclusion: One of the rare radiological symptoms in Sturge Weber syndrome is oro-maxillo-facial osteodystrophy, by this time only few cases had been reported. All of the symptoms of this syndrome were found in our described patien

Factors related to reduction of height and weight in children under two years of Aleshtar township of Lorestan province

Background : Infants growth is one of the most important sources of information for the diagnosis of growth retardation and malnutrition in children. The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with reduction of height and weight of infants less than 2 years of Alashtar township of Lorestan province. Materials and Methods: This research was a cross-sectional study. The statistical population were all children under two years old referred to health centers of Aleshtar township in the first half of 2007. All data were collected using questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS statistical software. Results: From 299 infants, 77 (25.8% ) had reduction in weight curve and 24(8%) infants had reduction in height curve. There was a significant relationship between reduction of weight and following variables including place of residence, infectious diseases, the kind of used-milk, duration of breastfeeding, complementary feeding beginning time, interval of breast-fed from next birth, level of mother's education, mother's employment, father's job, using of iron-complementary and low birth weight. Also there were significant statistical relationship between reduction of height and place of residence, infectious diseases, duration of breastfeeding, the use of iron supplements and vitamin A+ D, mother,s education level, mother,s employment status, father's occupation and low birth weight. Conclusion: In this study, 25.8% of the cases had reduction in the growth curve of weight and 8% had reduction in the growth curve of hight. There was a significant relationship between reduction of height and weight graph and infectious diseases, mother education level, employment status, mother's occupation, father's job, the use of iron supplements and low birth weight