Evaluation of fertility and embryo implantation in rats after the oral administration of Salvia officinalis (sage) extract / Evaluación de la fertilidad y la implantación de embriones en ratas después de la administración oral de extracto de Salvia officinalis (salvia)

SUMMARY: In Saudi Arabia, it is widely believed that women with reproductive problems can use the extract of the sage plant as a tea drink. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of this herb on the fertility of female rats and embryo implantation. Forty-eight Wistar virgin female rats were divided into four groups at random, with 12 rats in each group. The control group received distilled water orally. The three treatment groups received different concentrations of sage extract: 15, 60, or 100 mg/kg for 14 days before mating, then mated with a male and sacrificed on the 7th day of gestation, the uterine horns removed, and photographed. The total body weight of mothers, weight of uteri and ovaries and number of fetuses were determined. Ovarian and uteri tissues were cut into 5 µ sections and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Serum FSH, LH were determined by the ELISA method. The present study showed that low dose of sage (15 mg/kg) have no effects on serum concentration levels of FSH and LH hormones, also has no effect on the number of growing follicles. The present study showed a significant differences (P≤0.05) in body weight, ovary and uterus weight in the groups treated with high doses of Salvia officinalis as compared to control group. Also a significant differences (P≤0.05) found in FSH, LH hormones. Histological study showed overall histomorphological structural configurations including growing and matured graafian follicular countable changes, besides a number of corpora lutea and regressed follicles in the treated groups with high doses of Salvia officinalis as compared to control group. The researchers concluded that the extract of the sage plant with high doses can stimulate the growth graafian follicles and improve fertility in female rats.

RESUMEN: En Arabia Saudita, se cree ampliamente que las mujeres con problemas reproductivos pueden usar el extracto de la planta de salvia como bebida de té. Este estudio se realizó para investigar los efectos de esta hierba sobre la fertilidad de las ratas hembra y la implantación del embrión. Se dividieron cuarenta y ocho ratas hembra vírgenes Wistar en cuatro grupos al azar, con 12 ratas en cada grupo. El grupo control recibió agua destilada por vía oral. Los tres grupos de tratamiento recibieron diferentes concentraciones de extracto de salvia: 15, 60 o 100 mg/kg durante 14 días antes del apareamiento, luego se aparearon con un macho y se sacrificaron el día 7 de gestación, se extrajeron los cuernos uterinos y se fotografiaron. Se determinó el peso corporal total de las madres, el peso del útero y los ovarios y el número de fetos. Los tejidos ováricos y uterinos se cortaron en secciones de 5 µ y se tiñeron con hematoxilina y eosina. FSH sérica, LH se determinaron por el método ELISA. El presente estudio mostró que dosis bajas de salvia (15 mg/kg) no tienen efectos sobre los niveles de concentración sérica de las hormonas FSH y LH, tampoco tienen efecto sobre el número de folículos en crecimiento. El presente estudio mostró diferencias significativas (P≤0,05) en el peso corporal, peso de ovario y útero en los grupos tratados con altas dosis de Salvia officinalis en comparación con el grupo control. También se encontraron diferencias significativas (P≤0,05) en las hormonas FSH, LH. El estudio histológico mostró configuraciones estructurales histomorfológicas generales que incluyen cambios contables en los folículos maduros (de Graaf) y en crecimiento, además de una cantidad de cuerpos lúteos y folículos en regresión en los grupos tratados con altas dosis de Salvia officinalis en comparación con el grupo de control. Los investigadores concluyeron que el extracto de la planta de salvia en altas dosis puede estimular el crecimiento de los folículos maduros y mejorar la fertilidad en ratas hembra.

Efectividad del uso tópico de Salvia officinalis en la disminución del índice gingival en sujetos con gingivitis / Effectiveness of topical use of Salvia officinalis in the gingival index decrease in subjects with gingivitis

Introducción: La gingivitis es el problema periodontal de mayor prevalencia en la población, por lo que deben buscarse más alternativas de tratamiento y prevención. Objetivo: Evaluar efecto del uso de Salvia officinalis en disminución del índice gingival modificado (IG) en alumnos de Odontología de la Universidad del Desarrollo diagnosticados con gingivitis, año 2010. Sujetos y Método: Fue realizado un estudio cuantitativo, ciego, experimental del tipo ensayo clínico controlado con placebo, sobre la acción de extracto de S. officinalis en dentífrico y colutorios para gingivitis inducida por placa bacteriana, en 33 alumnos de odontología de la Universidad del Desarrollo, Concepción; 13 mujeres y 20 hombres entre 21 y 29 años. Fueron divididos en tres grupos; placebo, colutorio y dentífrico. Luego del inicio del tratamiento fueron citados a los 7, 14 y 28 días, finalizando el tratamiento el día 14. Resultados: En el control no se encontró diferencias significativas (p=0.061) la primera semana, mientras que en los grupos con colutorio o dentífrico si hubo diferencias significativas (p=0.000 y p=0.002). La última semana al retirar el placebo, el IG se mantuvo, por otro lado en los grupos con S. officinalis no continuó el descenso. La disminución del IG fue mayor para los grupos colutorio y dentífrico que para el control. Discusión: El uso de S. officinalis es efectivo en la disminución del IG. El colutorio y dentífrico logran disminuir con mayor rapidez el IG. El colutorio logró la mayor disminución del IG.

Background: Gingivitis is the most prevalent periodontal problem in people, so we need to find new alternatives for treatment and prevention. Aim: To evaluate the effects of Salvia officinalis in the declining modified gingival index (GI) in dentistry students of the Universidad del Desarrollo diagnosed with gingivitis, year 2010. Subjects and Methods: This was a quantitative study, blinded, experimental type of placebo-controlled clinical trials on the action of extract of S. officinalis in toothpaste and mouthwash for plaque-induced gingivitis in 33 dental students from Universidad del Desarrollo, Concepción; 13 women and 20 men between 21 and 29 years old, were divided into three groups: placebo, mouthwash and toothpaste. After the first appointment we call the patients every 7, 14 and 28 days, we ended the treatment at day 14. Results: In the control group there was no significant difference (p=0.061) the first week, while groups with mouthwash and toothpaste, there were significant differences (p=0.00). The last week, as we remove the placebo, the GI was maintained. On the other hand, in groups with S. officinalis the drop did not continue. The decrease of GI was higher in groups with mouthwash and toothpaste than in the control group. Discussion: The use of S. officinalis is effective in reducing the GI. The mouthwash and toothpaste decrease more rapidly the IG. The mouthwash achieved the greatest reduction of IG.

In Vitro Effects of Some Herbs Used in Egyptian Traditional Medicine on Viability of Protoscolices of Hydatid Cysts

The present work evaluated the effects of alcoholic extracts of salvia (Salvia officinalis), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), and 2 pure compounds (thymol and menthol) on the viability of Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices in vitro. Four different concentrations of each extract (2,500, 1,500, 1,000, and 500 microg/ml) and 3 different concentrations each of thymol and menthol (50, 10, and 1 microg/ml) were used. Concentration of 2,500 microg/ml of both extracts showed a significant protoscolicidal activity on the 6th day. Complete loss of viability of protoscolices occurred with 500 microg/ml concentration of both extracts at day 6 and day 7 post-treatment (PT), respectively. Pure compounds, i.e., menthol and thymol, showed potent effects with 50 microg/ml concentration at day 2 and day 5 PT, respectively. These effects were compared with those of albendazole sulfoxide (800 microg/ml), a commonly used treatment drug for hydatidosis. Krebs-Ringer solution and the hydatid cystic fluid at a ratio of 4:1 was a good preservative solution which kept the protoscolices viable for 15 days.

Ação de potenciais hidrogeniônicos no crescimento e produtividade de sálvia (Salvia officinalis L. ) / Action of potentials of hydrogen on growth and productivity of sage (Salvia officinalis L. )

O potencial hidrogeniônico (pH) do solo é um parâmetro que indica o nível de acidez ou alcalinidade do mesmo. Sabe-se que as plantas respondem de diferentes maneiras às mudanças no pH dos solos. Poucos artigos relacionam o crescimento e produtividade de plantas medicinais à variação do pH dos solos. O objetivo deste experimento foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes potenciais hidrogeniônicos, em solo Latossolo Vermelho Distroférrico, no crescimento e produção de sálvia. Com o auxílio de curva de neutralização da acidez do solo foram aplicadas diferentes doses de CaCO3 para atingir pH de 4,5; 5,0; 5,5; 6,0 e 6,5. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação durante 18 meses, perfazendo as fases de semeadura, transplantio e três cortes. Os parâmetros avaliados foram altura de plantas, massa seca de folhas, raízes e da parte aérea (soma das massas secas das folhas, ramos e caule), área foliar e volume das raízes. O crescimento e produção das plantas de sálvia foram diretamente afetados com a variação do pH do solo. A manutenção de pH > 5,0 foi suficiente para aumentar significativamente a área foliar, a massa seca das folhas e da parte área das plantas de sálvia em 52,2 por cento, 60,5 por cento e 42,4 por cento, respectivamente, e não afetou o desenvolvimento das raízes de sálvia cultivadas em solos com diferentes pHs.

The soil potential of hydrogen (pH) is a parameter that indicates the acidity or alkalinity level. Plants are known to react differently to changes in the soil pH. Few studies have related growth and productivity of medicinal plants to the soil pH variation. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of different potentials of hydrogen in Oxisol on sage growth and productivity. With the aid of a soil acidity neutralization curve, different CaCO3 levels were applied to reach pH values of 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 and 6.5. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse during 18 months, covering sowing, transplanting and three-pruning phases. Plant height, leaf, root and shoot dry matter (sum of leaf, branch and stem dry matter), leaf area and root volume were evaluated. Sage growth and productivity were directly affected by the soil pH variation. The maintenance of pH > 5.0 was enough to significantly increase leaf area, and leaf and shoot dry matter of sage plants at 52.2 percent, 60.5 percent and 42.4 percent, respectively, and did not affect root development of sage plants grown in soils presenting different pH levels.

Antimicrobial activity of some plant extracts against undesirable and toxin-producing microorganisms

This work aims to study the bioactivity of five plant extracts against the 3 fungal species of Aspergillus flavus, Asp. parasiticus and Asp. ochraceus, as well as 3 bacterial species Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and staphylococcus aureus. Both the fungal and bacterial isolates were identified as undesirable and toxin producing microorganisms. The five plants of clove [Syzygiurn aromaticum], sage [Salvia officinalis], rosmary [Rosmariinus officinalis], basil [Ocimum basilicurn] and lemon grass [Cymbopogon citrates] were collected from local markets then extracted to obtain the oil fraction. The crude oil extracts were used to determine its inhibitory effects on the previous strains of fungi and bacteria. Also, the minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] of each extract and its content of the phytochemicals of plenols, flavonoids and terpenoids were determined. Data exhibited wide range of the bioactivity of the 5 plants, reached its maximum using clove and its minimum using sage extracts against the tested microorganisms. No antimicrobial activity was observed in the treatment[s] of sage extract against the mold Asp. ochraceus. The other 3 extracts of rosmary, basil and lemon grass showed roughly the same bioactivity. Also, data obtained from MIC and semi-quantitative determinations confirmed the results obtained from the antimicrobial bioactivity study. Except sage extract, the MIC of the other 4 extracts ranged between 0.2-1.5 mg/me, reached, its maximum using clove and its minimum using lemon grass extracts. As well, the semi-quantitative determination of the phytochemicals of phenols, flavonides and terpenoids proved that clove extract had the highest concentration of terpenoids, while sage extract showed traces from the 3 phytochemicals. The other 3 extracts of basil, rosmary and lemon grass showed roughly the same content of the sum of the 3 phytochemicals