Preparation and evaluation of clove oil in emu oil self-emulsion for hair conditioning and hair loss prevention

Introduction: From a consumer perspective, developing a hair care formulation that offers multi-purpose products to enhance routine hair care such as conditioning, cleaning and grooming hair and stimulating hair follicles is important. Eugenol comprising about 70 of clove essential oil shows an androgenic activity and stimulates hair root to feed and hence could be a good candidate for developing an anti-hair loss formulation. Thus in hair research, hair follicle is of great interest. The aim of this study was to develop a self-emulsifying product containing eugenol in emu oil as a carrier.Methods: Eugenol was identified in clove oil extraction by UV spectrophotometer. Emu oil was characterized according to national oil standards. All formulations were prepared and best one was selected for further pharmaceutical examinations such as pH, particle size, content uniformity and drug release. The optimum formulation was clinically evaluated on rats back compared with minoxidil standard lotion as a positive control and distilled water as a negative control.Results: The selected formulation was demonstrated to condition hair with grooming and enhanced hair growth with longer lag time compared with minoxidil but after one week the hair growth accelerated.Conclusion: The formulation containing clove oil in emu oil self-emulsion shows a conditioning and grooming property with hair shaft repair and hair growth

Portulaca oleracea seeds extract does not prevent dexamethasone-induced hypertension in rats

Introduction: Portulaca oleracea is used as a nutritional and medicinal plant. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of P. oleracea seeds in dexamethasone -induced hypertension in rats. Methods: For induction of hypertension, dexamethasone (30 µg/kg/d, subcutaneously) was administered for 14 days. Animals received P. oleracea extract as a pretreatment at various doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/d orally from 4 days before dexamethasone administration and during the test period. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate were measured using tailcuff method. The weight of thymus gland was estimated as a marker of glucocorticoid activity. Results: Dexamethasone injection significantly increased SBP (P < 0.001) while decreased the body and thymus weights (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). Oral administration of P. oleracea could not prevent rising in SBP and decreasing in thymus weight. It also increased heart rate in hypertensive rats at the dose of 400 mg/kg/d (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that hydroalcoholic extract of P. oleracea seeds aggregates hypertension in dexamethasone-induced hypertensive rats. Hence, it should be used with caution in hypertensive patients receiving glucocorticoids

Antihyperlipidemic Effect of Different Fractions Obtained from Teucrium polium Hydroalcoholic Extract in Rats

Background: This study was aimed to screen the antihyperlipidemic effect of different fractions of Teucrium polium to obtain the most efficient herbal fraction for isolation of bioactive constituents responsible for hypolipidemic activity. Methods: Chloroform, butanol, and aqueous fractions were obtained from hydroalcoholic extract of T. polium aerial parts using partitioning process. To induce hyperlipidemia, dexamethasone (Dex) was injected 10 mg/kg/day (s.c.) for 8 days. In the test groups, animals received 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg of T. polium hydroalcoholic extract and different fractions orally simultaneously with Dex. Serum lipid profile and hepatic marker enzymes were evaluated using biochemical kits. Results: All treatments, especially chloroform and aqueous fractions, reversed serum lipid markers in hyperlipidemic rats. Maximum reduction in triglyceride (60.2%, P < 0.001) and maximum elevation in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (35.0%, P < 0.01) was observed for chloroform fraction. Maximum cholesterol-lowering effect (29.0%, P < 0.001) and maximum reduction in low-density lipoprotein were found for hydroalcoholic extract (72.9%, P < 0.001). Aqueous fraction improved all lipid markers at the highest dose. Butanol fraction decreased triglyceride at the lowest dose (43.9%, P < 0.001) and increased HDL (33%, P < 0.05) at the highest dose. There was a significant increase in alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels in all tested groups compared to normal group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study showed strong antihyperlipidemic effect of various fractions derived from hydroalcoholic extract of T. polium. Chloroform and aqueous fractions may be worthy candidates for isolation of bioactive hypolipidemic constituents. However, possible hepatotoxicity should be considered for clinical application

In vitro antioxidant effects of different extracts obtained from the leaves and seeds of Allium ampeloprasum subsp. persicum

Introduction: This study evaluated antioxidant effects of hexane, chloroform, chloroform-methanol, aqueous and butanol extracts of leaves and seeds of Allium ampeloprasum subsp. persicum.Methods: Various extracts were evaluated for total phenolic content, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and H2O2 scavenging activities.Results: Total phenolic content varied from 2.46 to 8.12 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per gram for various extracts with the highest level for butanol leave extract. Butanol leave extract showed the lowest IC50 of DPPH scavenging. FRAP assay showed stronger antioxidant capacity for leaves than seeds’ extracts and butanol extract was comparable to ascorbic acid at the concentration 50 μg/mL. In H2O2 scavenging activity assay, butanol and chloroform-methanol leave extracts showed the least IC50 value.Conclusion: Our results revealed moderately low amount of phenolic compounds and weak DPPH scavenging activity for all extracts of A. ampeloprasum subsp. persicum. However, leaves extracts showed good total antioxidant capacity and H2O2 scavenging activity

Cardioprotective effects of Pinus eldarica bark extract on adrenaline-induced myocardial infarction in rats

Objective: To investigate the effect of Pinus eldarica bark extract on adrenaline-induced myocardial infarction. Methods: Hydroalcoholic extract was prepared using maceration method and its total phenolic content was determined using the Folin-ciocalteu method. Pretreatment was done by oral administration of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg Pinus eldarica bark extract for 16 days in male Wistar rats. Injection of adrenaline (2 mg/kg, s.c.) was performed on the 15th and 16th days for induction of myocardial infarction. Lead II EEG was recorded. Serum cardiac marker enzymes and antioxidative parameters were evaluated and a histopathological examination of heart tissues was performed. Results: Pretreatment with Pinus eldarica bark extract especially at its high doses significantly lowered the ST-segment elevation, improved heart rate, and decreased RR interval in ECG pattern of rats with adrenaline-induced myocardial infarction. It declined serum markers of heart damage including aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine phosphokinase-MB, and also decreased lipid peroxidation marker, and heart weight while raising total antioxidant capacity and considerably improved histopathological alterations of the heart induced by adrenaline. Conclusions: Pinus eldarica bark extract shows beneficial cardioprotective and antioxidant effects against adrenaline-induced myocardial infarction. It can be further explored as a potential treatment for myocardial infarction

Preparation and evaluation of a hair wax containing propolis and Eruca sativa seed oil for hair growth

Background: Hair growth as a key consumer objective has important role in the hair care products researches. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of a hair wax containing propolis, a resinous mixture produced by honeybees in Eruca sativa seed oil base on hair growth. Materials and Methods: The hair wax was designed and formulated compared with marketed brand hair wax and evaluated for pharmaceutical parameters including pH, homogeneity, consistency, spread ability, in vitro drug release, and stability. After selection of the best formulation containing 10% ethanolic extract of propolis and 10% E. sativa seed oil, the hair growth potential was evaluated by application of 1 g hair wax daily on 4 cm2 area of dorsal side of Wistar rats and compared with controls and standard medication (1 ml of 2% minoxidil). After 30 days treatment, the length and weight of hairs and percentage of hair follicles in different phases of growth in skin biopsies were assessed. Results: The selected hair wax formulation was stable and easy to wash. The formulation significantly increased hair length on 10th, 20th, and 30th day compared control group (5.8 ± 0.3 vs. 2.6 ± 0.4, 11.4 ± 0.6 vs. 5.8 ± 0.4, and 17.5 ± 0.5 vs. 12.7 ± 0.4 mm, respectively) and also the weight of newly grown hairs on 30th day (0.056 ± 0.006 vs. 0.043 ± 0.005). It improved hair follicles percentages in anagen phase without any sensitivity reaction. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the formulated hair wax containing of propolis and E. sativa seed oil could have significant effect on promoting hair growth

A review on epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is an important factor in the development of the gastrointestinal diseases because of irrational antibiotic prescription and antimicrobial resistance. In the past, this bacterium was introduced as an agent of the infection in the hospitals called &quot;hospital acquired Clostridium difficile infection&quot;. This infection is a main cause of morbidity and mortality internationally. But changing in the epidemiology of the infection was observed in recent years. People not taking antibiotics as well as any contact with the clinical system were hospitalized due to the infection named &quot;Community-Associated Clostridium difficile infection&quot;. Furthermore, the hypervirulent strains of C. difficile were identified outside of the health care facilities in different sources such as environment, animals and food products. Today the role of C. difficile has not been confirmed as a zoonotic agent or foodborne pathogen. Taking into account, it should be taken attention to the sensitive individuals such as pregnant women, elderly and children for the consumption of the contaminated food products with C. difficile spores and probable cause of the infection in these individuals. For this purpose, presentation of the guidelines or the prevention strategies for the transmission of bacteria in the society as well as the healthcare facilities is important. In this review study, the history, the risk factors of disease and the reports of infection in the healthcare facilities and outside of this environment in Iran were discussed. Finally, we supposed that based on the isolation of C. difficile with different genetic profile in Iran in comparison with international ribotypes, the existence of native strains leading to the infection in the community and the healthcare facilities is possible. This hypothesis shows the significance of regional differences in the epidemiology and microbiology of disease. In addition, according to the present reports on the irrational prescription of the antibiotics in our country, it seems that C. difficile infection is increasing but any continuous monitoring is not being occurred for the supervision in Iran. Approving these hypotheses need to the careful and continuous assessment besides comprehensive examination of molecular epidemiology of disease in the organizations related to the health in Iran

Portulaca oleracea seeds extract does not prevent dexamethasone-induced hypertension in rats

Introduction: Portulaca oleracea is used as a nutritional and medicinal plant. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of P. oleracea seeds in dexamethasone -induced hypertension in rats. Methods: For induction of hypertension, dexamethasone (30 μg/kg/d, subcutaneously) was administered for 14 days. Animals received P. oleracea extract as a pretreatment at various doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/d orally from 4 days before dexamethasone administration and during the test period. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate were measured using tail-cuff method. The weight of thymus gland was estimated as a marker of glucocorticoid activity. Results: Dexamethasone injection significantly increased SBP (P < 0.001) while decreased the body and thymus weights (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). Oral administration of P. oleracea could not prevent rising in SBP and decreasing in thymus weight. It also increased heart rate in hypertensive rats at the dose of 400 mg/kg/d (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that hydroalcoholic extract of P. oleracea seeds aggregates hypertension in dexamethasone-induced hypertensive rats. Hence, it should be used with caution in hypertensive patients receiving glucocorticoids