The Effect of Short-term Treatment with Fennel on Lipid Profile in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES: The present trial aimed to assess the effects of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) on lipid profiles. METHODS: In this double blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial, sixty eligible postmenopausal women were randomly assigned into the fennel and placebo groups. Total blood cholesterol, cholesterol fractions, and triglycerides were tested at the baseline, and after three-month follow-up. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in triglyceride (P = 0.679), total cholesterol (P = 0.103), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; P = 0.146) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; P = 0.266) levels between the two groups. In addition, in both groups, a paired t.test showed no significant difference in all mentioned parameters, except for HDL-C, indicating significant borderline improvement (P = 0.052) in the fennel group. CONCLUSIONS: The fennel group revealed a very slight positive change in LDL-C, triglyceride and HDL-C. Further studies with longer durations, higher doses, and larger sample sizes are recommended to validate the results.

The Effect of Short-term Treatment with Fennel on Bone Density in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study is to assess the effect of fennel on bone density. METHODS: This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, which studied sixty eligible postmenopausal women, who were randomly assigned to fennel and placebo groups. Then, the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry was utilized to measure bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) of the spine, femoral neck, intertrochanter, and trochanter at the baseline and after three-month follow-up. RESULTS: The mean BMD and BMC at lumbar spine (P = 0.14, P = 0.504), total hip femoral (P = 0.427, P = 0.471), trochanter (P = 0.075, P = 0.07), intertrochanter, (P = 0.864, P = 0.932) and femoral neck (P = 0.439, P = 0.641) was not significantly different between the fennel and placebo groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study did not approve the effect of fennel on bone density in post-menopausal women. However, to gain deeper insights, further studies with longer durations and larger sample sizes are recommended.

[Investigation of antifungal activity of methanol and aqueous extracts of walnut [Juglans regia] leaves and peel against candida species]

Background and Aim: The occurrence of fungal species resistant to antifungal drugs and also their numerous side-effects have persuaded researchers to work on new therapeutic methods. The aim of the present study was to assess anticandidal activities of aqueous and methanol extracts of walnut fruit, peel, and leaves on different Candida species

Materials and Methods: In the current study, antifungal effects of aqueous and methanolic extracts of fruit peel and leaves of walnut [Juglans regia] against four Candida species [Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis and Candida krusei] were examined using broth microdilution method. The tested fungal species were associated with different concentrations of the plant extracts, and then, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration [MIC] and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration [MFC] of these extracts were obtained for tested Candida species

Results: Both aqueous and methanol extracts of fruit peel .and leaves of walnut showed antifungal effects against candida species. The MICs of fluconazole, clotimazole, nystatin and aqueous and methanol extracts of fruit peel and leaves of walnut for different Candida species were 6.25-50, 3.125-25, 12.5-50 and 3.125- 25 mg/ml, respectively MFCs of methanol extracts of fruit peel and leaves of walnut were 6.25-25 mg/ml. The aqueous extracts of fruit peel and leaves of walnut were without fungicidal effects only through inhibiting fungal growth

Conclusion: It was found that methanol extracts of walnut leaves and peels contain compounds with thrapeutic potential against candida species and it looks promising that some effective antifungal agents with minimal side effects from walnut leaves and pills extract can be obtained in the future

Potentiating effects of Lactuca sativa on pentobarbital-induced sleep

Traditionally, Lactuca sativa [lettuce] has been recommended for its hypnotic property. The present study was planned to investigate sleep-prolonging effect of this plant. The hydro-alcoholic extract [HAE] of lettuce and its water fraction [WF], ethyl acetate fraction [EAF], and n-butanol fraction [NBF] were administrated [IP] to mice 30 min before the pentobarbital injection. Moreover, both in-vivo and in-vitro toxicity of the extracts were determined. The quality of HAE and NBF was also evaluated using HPLC fingerprint. The HAE prolonged the pentobarbital-induced sleep duration at dose of 400 mg/Kg. The NBF was the only fraction which could increase the sleep duration and decrease sleep latency. The effects of NBF were comparable to those of induced by diazepam. The LD[50]-value for HAE was found to be 4.8 g/Kg. No neurotoxic effect was observed either by HAE or by its fractions in cultured PC12 neuron-like cells. The results suggest that lettuce potentiates pentobarbital hypnosis without major toxic effect. The main component[s] responsible for this effect is most likely to be non-polar agent[s] which found in NBF of this plant

Effects of Coriandrum sativum extracts on glucose/serum deprivationinduced neuronal cell death

This study was planned to investigate whether Coriandrum sativum [C. sativum] is capable of protecting neurons against glucose/serum deprivation [GSD]-induced cytotoxicity. The PC12 cells were cultivated for 24 h in standard media [high-glucose DMEM containing Fetal Bovine Serum] or for 6 h in GSD condition [glucose-free DMEM, without serum] in the absence or presence of various concentrations [0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 mg/ml] of hydro-alcoholic extract [HAE], water fraction [WF], ethyl acetate fraction [EAF] or N-butanol fraction [NBF] of this plant. At the end of the treatments, the cell viability was determined using MTT assay. With the exception of 1.6 mg/ml of EAF or NBF which decreased cell survival, the HAE and its fractions exhibited no cytotoxicity under standard condition. Exposure of the cells to GSD condition showed 52% decrease in the viability. In this condition, the HAE, EAF and NBF not only failed to increase cell viability but also increased the toxicity. On the other hand, WF at 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 mg/ml significantly attenuated the GSD-induced decrease in cell survival. The present study revealed that C. sativum bearing water-soluble compound[s] could induce neuroprotective activity. Also, we showed that some constituents from this plant may serve as cytotoxic agents under stressful conditions like hypoglycemia and serum limitation

Evaluation of antidepressant effect of ethanolic extract of Rosa damascena using forced swimming test

Rosa damascena mill L [R. damascena] is a medicinal plant mostly known in the world for its perfume. It also has beneficial effects on stress, tension and depression. In this experiment antidepressant effect of ethanolic extract of R. damascena by forced swimming test [FST] was evaluated. Animals received ethanolic extract [15, 60 and 90 mg/kg, i.p], imipramine [15mg/kg, i.p; positive control], or saline [negative control]. Thirty min post- injection, immobility and swimming times were measured and compared in the different studied groups. Intraperitoneal injection of lower concentration of extract [15 mg/kg] did not change swimming and immobility times compared to the control group. The higher concentrations of extract [60 and 90 mg/kg] significantly increased immobility time and decreased swimming time. Therefore ethanolic extract at tested doses had no antidepressant effect in this study. Although ethanolic extract did not have antidepressant effect, we cannot rule out this effect altogether. In our opinion, antidepressant effect is masked by CNS depression effect of ethanolic extract of R. damascena

Analgesic effect of clove essential oil in mice

Results obtained from literature reviews and human studies have shown the analgesic effects of clove plant in toothache. The present work was undertaken in order to investigate the possible analgesic effect of clove oil in mice. Fifty mice were divided into 5 groups: 1] Saline; 2] Essential oil [Ess] 2%, 3] Ess 5%, 4] Ess10% and 5] Ess 20%. The hot plate test [55+/-0.2[degree]C; Cut-off 60 sec] was performed as a base record 15 min before injection of drugs [Saline or 2, 5, 10 and 20% concentrations of Essential oil] and consequently repeated every 15 minutes after injection. Repeated measures ANOVA test showed that maximal percent effect [MPE] in animal groups treated by 5, 10 and 20% essential oil was significantly higher than saline group. Comparison between 4 treated groups showed that MPE in 10% essential group was higher than 2 and 5% groups however; there was no significant difference between 10% and 20% groups. The result of present study showed that clove essential oil has analgesic effect inmice using hot plate test. More investigations are needed to elucidate the exact mechanism

In vitro and in vivo study of the antibacterial effects of Nigella sativa methanol extract in dairy cow mastitis

Nigella Sativa [N. Sativa] seeds were used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a variety of diseases. The seed extracts and oil of this plant have shown various pharmacological properties including antimicrobial actions. In this study, the in vitro and in vivo antibacterial effects of methanol extract of the seeds against pathogenic bacteria causing mastitis in cows have been investigated. In in vivo experiments, 10 cows with mastitis were treated by local injection of different concentrations of methanol extract of the seeds into the infected breasts. In in vitro experiments, the microorganisms were collected from the same infected breasts and used for the assessment of the antimicrobial effects of the extract by means of agar dilution and disk diffusion methods. The extract showed significant in vitro and in vivo inhibitory effects on causative organisms compared to standard drugs and also induced healing of the disease. This is the first veterinary experiment, to our knowledge, that investigated the antibacterial effects of Nigella sativa

Antimicrobial activity of aqueous and methanolic extracts of pomegranate fruit skin

Punica granatum, commonly known as pomegranate, has emerged as a medicinal plant with potential antimicrobial activity. The present study was planned to evaluate this activity against both Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus [S. aureus] and negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa [P. aeruginosa] bacteria as well as against pathogenic yeast, Candida albicans [C. albicans]. The aqueous and methanolic extracts of pomegranate fruit skin were prepared using a Soxhalet apparatus. Antimicrobial effect of the extracts was studied and compared with commercial antibiotics using three different methods; agar dilution, cylinder plate, and disk inhibition zone techniques. Both extracts showed good antibacterial activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Also the methanolic extract presented strong antifungal effect on C. albicans. The antimicrobial activities against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and C. albicans were comparable with those of cloxacillin, gentamycin and clotrimazole, respectively. The methanolic extract was found to be more effective than aqueous one against all the tested microorganisms. The extracts from pomegranate fruit skin possess strong antimicrobial activity against the tested microorganisms. Therefore this plant could be an important source of new antimicrobial compounds to treat bacterial and fungal infections

Antidepressant-like effect of aqueous extract from Rosa damascena in mice

Rosa damascena mill L [R. damascena] is an ornamental plant that has several therapeutic [such as sedative and hypnotic] effects. It also heals depression, grief, nervous stress and tension. In the present study we evaluated antidepressant-like effect of R. damascena using forced swimming test [FST]. Three doses of aqueous extract [15, 60 and 90 mg/kg] was injected intraperitoneally. After 30 min of injection, immobility and swimming times were measured and compared with control [negative control] and imipramine [positive control]. The results showed that low dose [15mg/kg] of extract significantly increased swimming time and decreased immobility time. However, the two high doses of extract [60 and 90mg/kg] had no significant effect on these parameters. These results proposed antidepressant-like effect of low concentration of aqueous extract of R. damascena

[Study of cytotoxicity effect of total saffron extract on hepatocarcinoma cells line [HepG2]]

The anti-tumor effect of saffron extract has been proved in both in vitro and in vivo in recent years. In this study, cytotoxicity effect of total saffron extract on human liver carcinoma cells [HepG2] investigated in in vitro condition. In this experimental study, the effects of total saffron extract on quantitative proliferation of all cell lines were determined by using 3- [4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2yl] -2.5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide [MTT] colorimetric assay. Also, effects of extract on mouse fibroblast cells [L929] were evaluated as the control. MTT assay is a fast, sensitive and quantitative method for all kind of cells' proliferation by spectrophotometry. Amount of required extract for occurring 50% cytotoxicity to the cells [IC 50] was achieved by administering different concentration of extract, and comparing the left alive cells with cells that no drug was used on them. 50% inhibition of tumor cells growth was achieved at 400 microg/ml. Extract had no inhibitory effect on normal cells growth. Total saffron extract can be used as cytotoxic agent against Cancer in vivo by producing cytoplasmic and nuclear changes