A computational model of DOPA regulation, dopamine synthesis in the presynaptic neuron, and release into the synaptic cleft

Background: Neurotransmitters and the way neurons communicate with each other have received a lot of attention in recent decades. Dopamine is one of the most important neurotransmitters. Unbalanced levels of dopamine can be associated with physical and psychological disorders like Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia and addiction[1]. This study shows different regulations performing in the presynaptic neuron to maintain bal- anced DA levels and DOPA as its precursor. Methods: Fortran subroutine LSODE were used to solve rate equations and model the assumed controlling system to find the relationship between molecules and enzymes contributing in this system. Results:This study shows that in the presence of different perturbation or even treat- ments, DOPA is the controlled variable and dopamine as controlling variable try to help DOPA maintain in homeostasis. In the studying of dopamine release into the synaptic cleft, the calculation suggested hysteretic behaviour. Conclusion:There should be a meaningful relationship between varied levels of dopamine and steady state conditions of DOPA in presence of different perturbation and var- ied amount of enzymes. The controller system should help homeostasis of DOPA and dopamine in presynaptic neurons, and robust response to significant signals like action potential

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

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

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

Identification of medicinal plants effective on sinusitis native to Shiraz province in Iran

Sinusitis is one of the most infectious diseases that affect holes around the nose such as frontal ethmoid sinuses, maxillary and sphenoid. Symptoms usually include nasal congestion and obstruction, feeling of pressure or fullness in the face, anterior or posterior nasal causing discharge, headaches, fever, swelling and erythema in forehead or cheek and cough. The symptoms might be edema and mucosal congestion, nasal drainage, posterior nasal discharge, nasal septum deviation and polyps. The medicinal plants identified for instance are Amygdalus scoparia Spach, Echinophora platyloba DC., Haplophyllum perforatum L, Lavandula stoechas L, Borago officinalis, Matricaria recutita, Descurainia Sophia (L.) Schr and Haplophyllum perforatum L to treat sinusitis in Shiraz. Many of these plants have antioxidant activity and contain bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, anthocyanins, tannins and many other pharmaceutical bioactive ingredients that have effects on sinusitis. This paper aims to review the recently published papers in this topic

A computational model of DOPA regulation, dopamine synthesis in the presynaptic neuron, and release into the synaptic cleft

Background: Neurotransmitters and the way neurons communicate with each other have received a lot of attention in recent decades. Dopamine is one of the most important neurotransmitters. Unbalanced levels of dopamine can be associated with physical and psychological disorders like Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia and addiction[1]. This study shows different regulations performing in the presynaptic neuron to maintain bal- anced DA levels and DOPA as its precursor. Methods: Fortran subroutine LSODE were used to solve rate equations and model the assumed controlling system to find the relationship between molecules and enzymes contributing in this system. Results:This study shows that in the presence of different perturbation or even treat- ments, DOPA is the controlled variable and dopamine as controlling variable try to help DOPA maintain in homeostasis. In the studying of dopamine release into the synaptic cleft, the calculation suggested hysteretic behaviour. Conclusion:There should be a meaningful relationship between varied levels of dopamine and steady state conditions of DOPA in presence of different perturbation and var- ied amount of enzymes. The controller system should help homeostasis of DOPA and dopamine in presynaptic neurons, and robust response to significant signals like action potential