Medicinal Plants for the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: A Review of Recent Evidences

Context: Acne vulgaris affects about 85% of teenagers and may continue to adulthood. There are about two million visits to physicians per year for teenagers and the direct cost of acne treatment in the US exceeds $1 billion per year. Evidence Acquisition: A wide variety of treatment regimens exist for acne vulgaris including benzoil peroxide, retinoids, isotretinoids, keratolytic soaps, alpha hydroxy acids, azelaic acid, salicilic acid as well as hormonal, anti-androgen or antiseborrheic treatments. However, none of these methods is free of side effects and their exact role in therapy is not clear. In this paper apart from presenting the possible causes of acne vulgaris and its available drugs, recently published papers about medicinal plants used in the treatment of acne vulgaris were reviewed. Results: Consumption of alternative and complementary medicine, including medicinal plants, is increasing and is common amongst patients affected by acne and infectious skin diseases. Medicinal plants have a long history of use and have been shown to possess low side effects. These plants are a reliable source for preparation of new drugs. Conclusions: Many plants seem to have inhibitory effects on the growth of bacteria, fungi and viruses in vitro. However, there are a few clinical evidences about the effectiveness and safety of these plants in the treatment of acne and other skin infections

A review of the health effects and uses of drugs of plant licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) in Iran

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The effects of nutritional and medicinal mastic herb (Pistacia atlantica)

A wide variety of medicinal plants are used as pharmaceutical agents in the treatment of diseases, in Iran. One type of these plants is the mastic. The Genus of mastic is Pistacia and its family is Anacardiaceae. This genus has eleven species, some of them in Asia and the Mediterranean area, have many medical, social and economic importance. The main aim this study we review to present the new achievements in medical, social and economic uses of mastic. The results showed that N. sativa has many therapeutic effects such as antioxidant Activity, analgesic, antiInflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, anticholinesterase, so it can be used as a valuable plant for producing of drugs in treatment of so many disorders and diseases

Ethnobotanic study of medicinal plants in Urmia city: Identification and traditional using of antiparasites plants

Objective: To identify the native medicinal plants used in parasitic diseases treatment in Urmia. Methods: This study was conducted among 35 Urmia herbalists to identify medicinal plants used in parasitic diseases treatment. We used direct observation and interviews with collected herbarium specimens by native herbs commonly in the treatment of parasitic diseases. Questionnaires were included apothecary personal information and native plants list with information includes plant local name, plant parts used, method of their use and traditional therapies. Herbarium samples listed in the questionnaire collected from the area and were sent to agricultural research centers and Urmia University Faculty of Agriculture for genus and species determination. Results: Thirteen medicinal plants from six families for treatment of diabetes in Urmia were obtained from interviews. Most families have anti diabetic effect was included Asteraceae (36). The most used was boiling (65). Conclusions: In view of the findings of this study indicate that plants have the potential to be a parasitic infection so it is necessary ingredients of native plants be studied to demonstrate therapeutic effects and provide field work to evaluate the clinical effects of these herbs and ingredients they claim on parasitic diseases. © 2014 Asian Pacific Tropical Medicine Press

A comprehensive review on phytochemical, pharmacological and therapeutic properties of Agrimonia eupatoria L.

Agrimonia eupatoria is a perennial herb belonging to the Rosaceae family that all its parts are used to treat various diseases. In this article, we aimed to present a comprehensive review on the phytochemical, pharmacological, and therapeutic effects of this plant. We searched various databases and summarized the data documented in literature from 1976 to 2020. Agrimonia eupatoria has effects on various kinds of cancer, oxidative stress, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis B, and liver damage. It also has anti-adhesive, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and wound healing properties. It induces nitric oxide and inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines production. Phytochemical studies related to this plant has led to isolation and identification of tannins, coumarins, and flavonoids as the most active chemicals with biological effects. Based on this comprehensive review about Agrimonia eupatoria, there will be more opportunities for investigators to search and discover ways to use bioactive agents of this herb to develop new Agrimony based medicines

A comprehensive review on phytochemical, pharmacological and therapeutic properties of Agrimonia eupatoria L.

Agrimonia eupatoria is a perennial herb belonging to the Rosaceae family that all its parts are used to treat various diseases. In this article, we aimed to present a comprehensive review on the phytochemical, pharmacological, and therapeutic effects of this plant. We searched various databases and summarized the data documented in literature from 1976 to 2020. Agrimonia eupatoria has effects on various kinds of cancer, oxidative stress, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis B, and liver damage. It also has anti-adhesive, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and wound healing properties. It induces nitric oxide and inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines production. Phytochemical studies related to this plant has led to isolation and identification of tannins, coumarins, and flavonoids as the most active chemicals with biological effects. Based on this comprehensive review about Agrimonia eupatoria, there will be more opportunities for investigators to search and discover ways to use bioactive agents of this herb to develop new Agrimony based medicines

Effect of White Tea (Camellia sinensis) Extract on Skin Wound Healing Process in Rats

BACKGROUND White tea (Camellia sinensis) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and a protective effect against wrinkles, sunburn and UV damages on the skin. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the effect of white tea extract on the healing process of skin wounds in rats. METHODS This study was done in the Research Center of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran in 2019. Excisional skin wounds were created on five groups of healthy male Wistar rats (200-250 g, n=21) including control group, Eucerin-treated group, white tea 5% ointment (Eucerin) treated group, gel-treated group, white tea 5% gel treated group. Treatment was begun on day 1 and repeated every day at the same time until day 15. Pathologic samples were taken on days 4, 7 and 15 for histopathological examinations. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to analyze data by SPSS. Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05. RESULTS Wound closure rate of control group was more than other groups on day 4 (P<0.05). On day 7, reepithelisation and granulation tissue of control group were more than white tea 5% ointment-treated and its inflammation was less than others (P<0.05). Neo-vascularization of white tea 5% ointment-treated group was more than control group on days 4 and 15 (P<0.05). On day 4, intact mast cells of control group were more than white tea treated groups (P<0.05). Degranulated mast cells of white tea 5% gel treated group was significantly (P<0.05) more than control group on days 4 and 15. CONCLUSION Five percent white tea extract could not help the skin wound healing process

Preventive Effects of Pimpinella anisum L. and Dracocephalum moldavica L. Hydroalcoholic Extract Against Acute Contrast-induced Nephropathy

Background: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is nephrotoxicity due to contrast media characterized by elevated serum creatinine levels. The formation of oxygen free radicals is one of the causes of CIN. Objective: Given the antioxidant properties of Pimpinella anisum L and Dracocephalum moldavica L, this study aimed to investigate the effects of their hydroalcoholic extracts on kidney tissue histopathology and CIN biochemical factors. Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: 1) control, 2) contrast agent, 3) P. anisum + contrast agent, and 4) D. moldavica + contrast agent. After the tests, kidney tissue histopathological damages and related biochemical factors were evaluated. Results: Kidney tissue damage, levels of aspartate aminotransferase (GOT/AST), alanine aminotransferase (GPT/ALT) and blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine (P<0.001), and malondialdehyde (P<0.01) of kidney tissue were lower in both extract-treated groups than in the contrast agent group, but the decrease in serum MDA was significant only in the group given P. anisum extract (P<0.01). Serum antioxidant capacity was higher in P. anisum + contrast agent group than in the contrast agent group (P<0.01). Kidney tissue antioxidant capacity was significantly higher in the groups given P. anisum and D. moldavica than in the contrast agent group (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). In addition, hydroalcoholic extracts of P. anisum and D. moldavica resulted in a decrease in CIN. Conclusion: Given the decrease in CIN by P. anisum and D. moldavica extracts in rats, it seems that these plants are beneficial for people at risk who need to use contrast agents

The importance of M694V mutation in systemic lupus erythematosus; implications for its role in neutrophil extracellular traps associated renal involvement

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by multisystem organ involvement. Enhanced neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation and release as well as impaired clearance of NETs have been reported in SLE patients. Renal involvement is common in SLE which might be through deposition of immune complexes within the kidneys. M694V mutation is one of the hot spots of Mediterranean fever gene (MEFV). MEFV mutations have been previously reported in a number of auto-inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in Iranian patients. Objectives: This case-control study was aimed to evaluate the potential influences of M694V gene mutation in SLE disease and in development of renal involvement. Patients and Methods: Genotyping of 130 patients and 116 healthy controls was done for M694V mutation (rs61752717, c.2080A>G) using amplification refractory mutation system- polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) method. Results: Significant differences in the alleles and genotypes frequencies of M694V mutation between SLE patients and ethnically matched healthy controls were detected in this study (9.9% versus 2.4% P=0.000, OR [odds ratio]= 4.277, CI= 2.213-8.265). Furthermore a significant difference of renal involvement between M694V mutation carriers versus noncarriers (8.5% versus 10.4%, P=0.017, OR= 2.149, CI= 1.135- 4.072). Conclusions: The association between M694V mutation and SLE susceptibility was observed. Additionally, renal involvement was significant in SLE patients compared to controls. This finding probably is developed through NET-associated Dnase1 inhibition and maybe amyloidosis. This study may help to explain the nature of the inflammatory state in mutation carriers and assist to an accurate understanding of how it influences SLE pathogenesis

The preventive effect of Berberis vulgaris extract on contrastinduced acute kidney injury

Background: Oxygen free radicals are known as one of the causes of kidney injury. Therefore, Berberis vulgaris which has high level of antioxidant activity may be able to prevent this injury by elimination of free radicals. Objectives: This study was aimed to investigate the protective effect of B. vulgaris extract on contrast media-induced nephrotoxicity. Materials and Methods: To conduct this experimental study, 30 male rats were randomized to three groups; Control, contrast media, and contrast media + B. vulgaris extract. After the treatment, histopathological damages to the kidney tissues were comparatively studied. Results: Tissue damage was greater in the contrast media-treated group than the other two groups (P < 0.001). In group treated with B. vulgaris extract, the rate of tissue damage deceased significantly (P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study showed the positive effects of B. vulgaris on contrast media-induced nephrotoxicity. This inexpensive and non-toxic medicinal plant might be used as an effective agent for people at risk of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI)