In vitro and in vivo activity of Artemisia sieberi against Trichomonas gallinae

In Iranian folk medicine Artemisia sieberi has been used for treatment of parasite infections in human and animals. The present study was designed to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo effects of A. sieberi essential oil [EO] against Trichomonas gallinae. Trichomonas gallinae were recovered by wet mount method from infected native pigeons. The in vitro assays were accomplished in multi-well plates containing metronidazole [MTZ] as a standard antitrichomonal and EO in final concentrations of 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 micro g/ml of culture medium containing 10[4] parasites. The in vivo assay was performed on 40 experimentally infected pigeons receiving 25 and 50 mg/kg of MTZ and EO for 7 successive days. Gas chromatographic [GC] analysis was performed to reveal chemical constituents of the EO. At 20 micro g/ml, MTZ resulted in no viable trophozoite in culture medium after 24 h incubation period. While the 24 h MIC of EO was 10 micro g/ml. Treatment with EO at dose of 50 mg/kg after 4 days led to full recovery of infected pigeons but for MTZ at the same dose 5 days were spent. Major constituents of EO were alpha-thujone [31.5%] and beta-thujone [11.92%]. Data of the present study introduced A. sieberi as a natural potent antitrichomonal agent effective against T. gallinae

Oral zinc sulphate and prevention of radiation-induced oropharyngeal mucositis in patients with head and neck cancers: a double blind, randomized controlled clinical trial

This research was conducted to evaluate the potential benefits of zinc sulphate in the prevention of radiation induced mucositis in patients who are being treated for head and neck cancers. Forty patients with proven cancers of head and neck were randomly divided into 2 equal groups that either received zinc sulphate or placebo [control group]. Patients who received curative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy were instructed to take zinc sulphate capsules [30 mg] daily at 8 hours interval. They were to begin 10 days before the start of treatment and continued until 2 weeks after completing the schedule. Mucositis was evaluated weekly according to the Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale [OMAS]. In both groups [zinc and control] mucositis was evident during the first week but its prevalence was 40% and 70.5% in the zinc and placebo groups respectively at the end of this period. This difference was significant [p<0.0001]. The mean severity of oropharyngeal mucositis increased after commencement of radiotherapy and reached to maximum intensity in the 4[th] week. Control group showed higher severity [p<0.0001]. In comparison with the placebo group, the mucositis score of OMAS in the zinc group was lower until at 2 weeks after end of the treatment [p=0.0001]. The present study shows that Zinc sulfate is effective in reducing the severity of radiation induced oropharyngeal mucositis. In addition, it delays the development of mucositis and may be used at a lower dose [30 mg 3 times daily] with the same benefit but fewer side effects

[Evaluation of viscosity of traditional medicinal antihyperglycemic plant extracts and relationship with glucose diffusion in vitro]

One of the mechanisms in reducing blood glucose is preventing the digestive absorbtion of glucose. The aim of this study was to investigate the viscosity and impact some plants useful in reducing the glucose and their effects on decreased glucose movmentvia via dialysis bag in vitro. Eleven traditional antihyperglycemic plants Liquid extracts were prepared after confirmation. The viscosity of the plant extracts was measured using viscometer. Different concentration [6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 g/l] of the extracts were addad to dialysis bag content D - glucose 0.22 M. Dialysis bag having only D - glucose 0.22 M was considered as control. The Liquid glucose concentration out of dialysis bag in room temperature was measured in time interval during 24 hours using the glucose oxidase method. The area under the glucose curve [AUC] was calculated using trapezium rule and AUC of different groups were compared. Highest viscosity was belonging to Pyrus biosseriana 50 g/l [1.69 mpas] and Securigera securidaca [1.46 mpas]. Decreased glucose movement from dialysis bag considering AUC was related to extracts of 50 g/l of Eucalyptus globulues [% 82]. Decreased glucose movment were extract concentration dependent but in the each extract concentration decreased glucose movement was less than control. The extracts of the traditional antihyperglycemic plants reduce the glucose diffusion in laboratory model. It seem that viscosity is effective in the decrease glucose movment, but this was not observed in case of Eucalyptus globulues extract, that probably another reason has a role in this relation

effect of Frankincense in the treatment of moderate plaque-induced gingivitis: a double blinded randomized clinical trial

Extract of Boswellia Serrata species has been used in the Indian traditional medicine in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. The present study was designed to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects of Frankincense in the treatment of gingivitis, which is a periodontal tissue inflammatory disease. This double blind randomized placebo controlled trial was carried out among high school female students with moderate plaque-induced gingivitis. Based on either administration of 0.1 gram of Frankincense extract or 0.2 gram of its powder or placebo and whether the patients undergone scaling and root planning [SRP] or not, they were randomly assigned to 6 groups. The primary efficacy outcome was changes in Gingival Index [Loe and Sillness] and the secondary outcomes were alteration in plaque index [Sillness and Loe], bleeding index [Cowell] and probing pocket depth [WHO probe]. All indices were measured in the 0, 7th and 14th days of the study. Seventy five patients ranged of 15-18 years old were enrolled. At the end of the study, the indices in all groups showed significant decreases in comparison to the first day [p<0.05], except for the bleeding index in the group without SRP and drug therapy [p=0.111]. More precise analysis of data revealed that SRP in association with Frankincense application [either extract or powder] can lead to remarkable decrease in inflammatory indices in comparison to the groups without SRP and drug therapy [p<0.001]. In addition, no significant difference was observed between powder or extract therapy [p>0.05] and between patients received either SRP or treatment alone [p=0.169]. Frankincense, a safe and low-cost herbal medicine, may be feasibly applied to improve inflammation based disease of gingival as an adjunct to the conventional mechanical therapy

Effect of Clupeonella grimmi [anchovy/kilka] fish oil on dysmenorrhoea

To examine whether dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids from Clupeonella grimmi can relieve symptoms of dysmenorrhoea, we carried out a cross-over clinical trial on 36 girls aged 18-22 years. They were randomly allocated into 2 groups of 18. Group A received 15 mL fish oil daily [550 mg eicosapentaenoic acid; 205 mg decosahexaenoic acid] while Group B received placebo. After 3 months, the treatment regimens were swapped. The treatment groups reported a significant difference after 3 months of supplementation with fish oil [visual analogue scale score 20.9 compared with 61.8 for the placebo [P = 0.001]. There was also a marked reduction in low back pain and abdominal pain [P < 0.05], and participants needed significantly fewer rescue doses of ibuprofen while using fish oil

effect of ginger biscuit on nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy

Nausea and vomiting of early pregnancy [NVP] are often alleviated by eating dried biscuits or food. Natural products such as ginger have been suggested as herbal medicine for its treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of ginger in biscuit form for the treatment. This study was performed on 65 pregnant women with NVP before 17 weeks' gestation during 2004-2005. The subjects were randomized in a double-blind design and divided into two groups to take biscuits. Ginger [0.5 g] as fine powder was incorporated in each biscuit. Subjects received 5 ginger biscuits per day or an identical placebo biscuit for 4 days. They graded their severity of nausea using visual analog scales and recorded the number of vomiting episodes in the previous 24 hours and again during 4 consecutive days. Obtained data between two groups were compared using Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon Sumrank and Kruskall-Wallis H tests. All subjects except 3 in the ginger group remained in the study. The visual analog scores of post-therapy minus baseline nausea decreased significantly in ginger [2.6 +/- 1.83] compared with the placebo group [1.4 +/- 1.97, p=0.015]. The number of vomiting episodes also decreased in ginger [0.96 +/- 1.2] and placebo group [0.6 +/- 1.4]. Ginger in biscuit form is effective for relieving the severity of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy

comparison on histopathological effects of myrtle extract and silver sulfadiazine 1% on healing of second degree burn wound in rats

Myrtle [Myrtus Communis] is an indigenous plant of northern parts of Iran and has been traditionally used for its healing effect on burn wounds. To compare the histopathological effect of Myrtle extract and 1% silver sulfadiazine on healing of second degree burn wound in rats. This was an experimental study performed on 100 adult male rats. The rats were divided into 4 groups [25 in each group]. Following nesdonal anaesthesia, a second degree burn wound of 4 cm2 was made on back of each rat. Methanolic extract of Myrtle; ointment base; 1% silver sulfadiazine and normal saline [control group] were used as treatment protocols for burn wounds. Revascularization, number of neutrophils and fibroblasts were parameters studied histopathologically. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, One way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD tests. Histopathological study was indicative of an increase of 9.87 +/- 1.48 in revascularization [p<0.001] in Myrtle extract group which was greater than those in other. There was also a higher number of fibroblasts [23.62 +/- 2.2] [p<0.001] in this group. Silver sulfadiazine [1%] was only showed to have increased the number of neutrophils [p<0.001] in epidermis of injured areas of rats. Extract of Myrtus Communis was found to have more healing potential on second-degree burn wound. Faster healing process, less complications and easy availability of Myrtle are among the reasons suggesting more clinical trails using this preparation..

epidemiological study of poisoning in northern Islamic Republic of Iran

We examined the causes and mortality of poisoning in the province of Mazandaran. In all, 1751 poisoning cases referred to four main hospitals over a three-year period [1997-2000] were included. More poisoning cases were females [55.5%] than males [45.5%] but the proportional mortality for males was greater than for females [65% versus 35%]. The greatest proportion of poisonings occurred between the ages of 16 and 25 years. Most frequent was intentional poisoning, followed by accidental and occupational poisoning. Medicines were the most common cause, followed by chemicals such as pesticides. Poisoning by opiates, aluminium or zinc phosphide, rodenticides, petroleum and ethanol intoxication was also observed. Pesticide poisoning was most frequently fatal

General practitioner prescribing patterns in Babol city, Islamic Republic of Iran

To determine patterns of prescribing in Iranian primary care, we analysed 4000 randomly selected prescriptions from 52 general practitioners [GPs] in Babol city during 1999-2000. The mean number of drugs prescribed per encounter was 4.4 +/- 1.7, with 98% prescribed by generic name. The most commonly prescribed items were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [62.9% of encounters] and antibiotics [61.9%], followed by central nervous system drugs, gastrointestinal tract drugs, corticosteroids, vitamins and cardiovascular system drugs respectively. Injections were prescribed in 58.0% of encounters. Female and male doctors had significantly different antibiotic prescribing patterns. Our study confirms the tendency of GPs to overprescribe