The Role of Zonulin as a Prognostic Biomarker in Liver Diseases: A Systematic Review

Liver diseases have become a serious concern in the health care systems worldwide. There is an association between gut permeability and several liver diseases. Zonulin is recognized as a marker of intestinal permeability. Hence, this study summarizes the current knowledge about the role of zonulin as a prognostic biomarker in liver diseases. The present systematic review was performed according to the guidelines of the 2015 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statements. Until May 2022, PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar as well as Google databases were searched using the relevant keywords including “Zonulin” and “Liver Diseases”, “Fatty Liver”, “Hepatitis”, “Cirrhosis”, “Carcinoma”, “Liver Steatosis”. Of 279 identified records through database searching, 37 articles were included in this systematic review. The evidence of this review revealed that the level of zonulin as the major biomarker of intestinal permeability increased in various types of liver diseases. Overall, we found that increased level of zonulin is associated with inflammatory responses in liver tissue and development of liver diseases. However, further studies could indicate the diagnostic and therapeutic role of zonulin in liver diseases including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), Hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

A review of the most important native medicinal plants of Iran effective on diarrhea

Diarrhea is an intestinal disease which is developed because of malabsorption of ions, solutes, and water or increased release of electrolytes which leads to water accumulation in duct. Diarrhea also is defined as over 200 g stool per day which is usually reported as decreased consistency of stool from clinical perspective. In this review article, we sought to report the medicinal plants that are used as antidiarrheal agents according to the traditional medicine and ethnobotany of different provinces of Iran. The relevant articles, books, and documents about Iranian traditional medicine were searched for by the words, diarrhea, ethnobotany, and medicinal plants, in domestic and international databases including International Sciences Institute, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Islamic World Science Citation Center. Achillea eriophora DC, Rhus coriaria L, Satureja hortensis, Agrimonia eupatoria L, Geum urbanum L, Artemisia sieberi Besser, Lonicera nummulariifolia, Jaub. & Spach, Rhus coriaria L, Achillea eriophora, Descurainia sophia, Fumaria parviflora, Rhamnus protrata, Amaranthus paniculatus L, Bunuim persicum, Foeniculum vulgare Miller, Phoneix dactylifera L, Ornithogalum persicum, Berberis vulgaris L, Descurainia sophia, Elaeagnus angustifolia L, Organumvulgare L, Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad, Stachis lavandulifolia L, Astragalus adscendens Boiss. & Hausskn, Faba vulgaris Moenchris, Medicago sativa L, Rumex pulcher L, Zizyphus spina-christi L. Willd, Crataegus curvisepala Lindm, Amaranthus retroflexus L, Nigella sativa L, Plantago psyllium L, Conyza canadensis (L) Cronq, Lythrum salicaria L, Sisymbrium irio L, Thymus daenensis celak, Achillea santolina, Chamomilla recutita L, Cydonia blonga Mill, Cuminum cyminum L, Allium cepa L, Elaeagnus angustifolia L, Mentha pulegium L, Viola tricolor L, Rumex crispus L, Punica granatum L, Plantago lanceolata Soejarto, Ocimum basilicum L, Foeniculum vulgare Mill, Rhus coriaria L, Cornus mas L, Urtica dioica L, Salix aegyptiaca L,Gundelia tournefortii L, Quercus brantii Lindl were reported to be some of the antidiarrheal plants of Iran. Because diarrhea may be developed by fungal, bacterial, viral, and non-infectious causes and many of the plants reported in this study contain antioxidant, pharmaceutically bioactive compounds, including flavones, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannins, and anthocyanins, then these plants can be investigated in the studies on treatments for diarrhea to produce nature-based and effective drugs used for this common disease with fewer side effects than chemical drugs

A review of therapeutic and pharmacological effects of thymol

Thymol (C10H14O) is a monoterpene which is considered a phenolic component and is present in many vegetable oils. Thymol is an aromatic essence which is known as disinfectant in traditional medicine. Thymol is found in plants and has properties such as antibacterial, antipyretic, antispasmodic, antifungal, antioxidant, and hepatorotective, anti worm, antispasmodic for rats tracheal smooth muscles, gastroprotective, antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, analgesic, acaricide, and antiepileptic. Thymol is a medicinal, plant-based component with pleasant taste and smell and is found in many medicinal plants including Thymus vulgaris, and Carum copticum. Because it is inexpensive and exerts pharmaceutically peerless effects, it could be used to heal many of the diseases and may be commercially available in different countries in the future

The most important medicinal plants effective on constipation by the ethnobotanical documents in Iran: A review

Constipation is a prevalent gastrointestinal disease in both children and adults. This disease which is associated with the inability to empty rectum completely is diagnosed when defecation is difficult and delayed for two weeks or more and obviously causes discomfort. The culture of Iran traditional medicine is full of the medicinal plants with purgative property which have the potential to be used for production of purgative drugs. Therefore, we reported the medicinal plants used to treat constipation in the cultures and customs of different regions of Iran. In this review article, the relevant articles, books, and documents of Iran traditional medicine were searched for with the key words including constipation, bowel disorders, rectal discharge, ethnobotany, Iran traditional medicine, medicinal plants, and natural components in the databases, WOS, PubMed, Scopus, Islamic World Science Citation Center, and Magiran. The findings indicated that in East Azarbaijan, West Azarbaijan, Isfahan, Ilam, Khouzestan, Sistan va Balouchestan, Kerman, Mazandaran, and Hormozgan, local people used 41 plant species to treat constipation

An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants administered for the treatment of hypertension.

INTRODUCTION The incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is very high in human societies and their prevention and treatment are the most important priority in many countries. Hypertension makes an important contribution to the development of CVDs. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to collect the ethno-medicinal knowledge of the traditional healers of Shiraz on medicinal plants used in the treatment of hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ethno-medicinal data were collected from September 2012 to July 2013 through direct interview. Twenty-five healers were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires and their traditional ethno-medicinal knowledge was recorded. Questionnaires were included apothecary personal information, plant local name, plant parts used, method of preparation, season of harvest and traditional use. Data collected from surveys and interviews were transferred to Microsoft Excel 2007 and analyzed. RESULTS Analysis of data showed that, 27 medicinal plants from 22 families are used for the treatment of hypertension. The families with most antihypertensive species were Apiaceae (8%), Rosaceae (8%) and Papaveraceae (8%). The most frequently used plant parts were leaves (36%) followed by fruits (30%), aerial part (17%) and branches (7%). The most frequently used preparation method was decoction (95%). Borago officinalis (51.85%), Berberis vulgaris (51.58%) had the highest frequency of mention. CONCLUSION The ethno-medicinal survey of medicinal plants recommended by traditional healers for the treatment of hypertension provides new areas of research on the antihypertensive effect of medicinal plants. In the case of safety and effectiveness, they can be refined and processed to produce natural drugs

Identification of medicinal plants for the treatment of kidney and urinary stones.

INTRODUCTION Kidney stones are the third most common urinary tract problems after urinary tract infections and prostate pathology. Kidney stones may cause extreme pain and blockage of urine flow. They are usually treated with medications that may cause a number of side-effects. Medicinal herbs are used in different cultures as a reliable source of natural remedies. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to determine native medicinal plants used by traditional healers of Shiraz for the treatment of kidney stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS The ethno-medicinal data were collected between July and September 2012 through face-to-face interview with local herbalist. RESULTS A total of 18 species belonging to 19 botanical families were recorded in study area. Species with the highest frequency of mentions were Alhagi maurorum (51.58%), Tribulus terrestris (51.58%), and Nigella sativa (48.14). The most frequently used plant parts were aerial parts (38%), leaf (33%) and fruits (17%). Decoction (68%) was the most frequently prescribed method of preparation. Most of the medicinal plants recommended by Shirazian herbalists have not been investigated in animal and humane models of renal stone which provides a new area of research. CONCLUSION In the case of safety and effectiveness, they can be refined and processed to produce natural drugs

A review of the most important native medicinal plants of Iran effective on gastric acid

Gastrointestinal diseases such as gastric acid hypersecretion are highly prevalent. Gastrointestinal diseases manifest frequently with gastric and duodendal ulcers, gastritis, and dyspepsia which are due to impaired gastric acid secretion. Given the frequency of developing gastrointestinal diseases such as gastric acid hypersecretion and consequently gastric ulcer, the aim of this review article is to report the native medicinal plants of Iran that are used to decrease or neutralize gastric acid. Ziziphora clinopodioidesl, Achillea wilhelmsii, Allium sativum, Amirkabiria odoratissim, Heracleum persicum L. and Medicago sativa are the most native medicinal plants of Iran used to treat gastric acid hypersecretion. Certain compounds such as pulegon, cisisopulegon, cineol, thymol, alpha and betapinene, piperitenone, terpenoids, flavonoids, allicin, tannin, terpenoids, saponin, sterol, and leucoanthocyanin, 3, 4, and 7-trihydroxy flavonol, caffeic acid, and fetalid existing in these plants may be the main agents for reducing gastric acid

A review of analgesic medicinal plants in Iran

Pain and inflammation are the main problems associated with different diseases in human communities. The currently available drugs including opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are helpful for all patients because of complications and side effects. Therefore, there is still the need for suitable analgesics and researchers are still studying in this regard. Medicinal plants are rich sources of bioactive substances and antioxidant, and could have analgesic uses. In this review study, analgesic medicinal plants were searched for. Medicinal plants and analgesics were used as key words. The findings indicated that Thymus vulgaris, Mentha pulegium, Ziziphora tenuior, Origanum vulgarel L.Spp, Satureja hortensis Linn, Salvia sclarea, Gundelia tournefortii L., Datura stramonium L., Carum copticum, Pistacia vera L., Coriandrium sativum, Cinnamomum zeylanicum,Artemisia herba-alba,Cuminum cyminum L., Elaeagnus angustifolia, Glycyrrhiza glabra, etc. are the most frequently used analgesics

Shigellosis phytotherapy: A review of the most important native medicinal plants in Iran effective on Shigella

Shigella is a gram-negative intracellular pathogen which causes bacillus diarrhea in humans. Besides clinical and gastrointestinal diseases, shigella causes food poisoning. In Iran, medicinal plants are used to treat infectious diseases. In this review article, the native medicinal plants to Iran that are effective on shigellosis were reported. For this purpose the key words Shigella, medicinal plants, essence, and extract were searched for in databases such as Scientific Information Database, Scopus, PubMed, Magiran, and Google Scholar and the related articles were retrieved and analyzed. Findings indicated that 18 medicinal plants native to Iran were effective on shigellosis, including Echinophora cinerea Boiss, Echinophora cinerea Boiss, Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl, Cuminum cyminum, Alliums stadium, Cymbopogon olivieri (Boiss), Salvia suffruticosa, Achillea wilhelmsii, Cleome iberica, Centaurea depressa, Teucrium polium L., Salvia mirzayanii, Haplophyllum canaliculatum, Geum coccineum, Mentha spicata L., Saliva aethiopis L., Salvia atropatana Bunge, Salvia oligophylla Auch. Ex Benth., Salvia macrosiphon Boiss. Identification of effective components of these plants could be a route to producing nature-based antibiotics for shigellosis

Identification of medicinal plants effective on common cold: An ethnobotanical study of Shiraz, South Iran

Common cold is a very prevalent disease with cough, rhinorrhea, stuffy nose, and sore throat as the most common symptoms. Other symptoms include myalgia, fatigue, headache, and dyspepsia. Nowadays, there is no specific treatment to common cold but some ethnopharmacoligical and ethnobotanical studies have been done to investigate different therapies used to relieve disease symptoms. The present study was conducted to identify the medicinal plants used to treat common cold in Shiraz. The traditional therapeutic data in this study were gathered between July, 2015 and September, 2015 by the questionnaires distributed among the groceries across Shiraz. The findings of this study indicated that 22 medicinal plants are used to treat common cold in Shiraz. Some of the plants presented in this study such as Althea aucheri Boiss., Adonis aestivalis L., and Amygdalus scoparia Spach. are native to Shiraz region, and have been used to treat common cold for the first time in Iran traditional medicine. These plants may be used to produce effective natural drugs on common cold if complementary studies are conducted on them