Comparison of Vitamin D, Neurofeedback, and Neurofeedback Combined with Vitamin D Supplementation in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, some treatments such as neurofeedback and Vitamin D Supplementation are of great importance in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). To determine the efficacy of the combined treatment, the present trial was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of each one of them with combined neurofeedback and vitamin D supplementation in the reduction of ADHD symptom in children suffering from this disorder. METHODS: In this study from March 2020 to June 2020, we enrolled a total of 120 patients (6-15 years old) who were referred to the Mehr psychiatric hospital (affiliated to Lorestan University of Medical Sciences). Patients were then randomly categorized into three experimental groups and one control group. The first, the second, and the third experimental groups consumed vitamin D pearl, neurofeedback combined with vitamin D, and neurofeedback for 12 weeks, respectively. The control group was given no treatment. Vitamin D serum level was evaluated at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks in all participants. For data collection, the Parent Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS-IV) was applied. The obtained information was analyzed using repeated measure variance analysis. RESULTS: The mean scores were significantly different across the groups. Repeated measure variance analysis showed that the mean score was lower in the combined group in comparison with the other three groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Combined treatment could be considered as more effective compared to separate treatments. In addition, in this study, by applying the combined intervention, the duration of treatment decreased significantly.

Biosynthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles using Hypericum perforatum and Origanum vulgare extracts and their main components, hypericin and carvacrol as promising antibacterial agents.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-bacterial activities of titanium dioxide (TiO) nanoparticles of Origanum (O.) vulgare and Hypericum (H.) perforatum extracts, carvacrol and hypericin against Staphylococcus (S.) aureus. METHODS: In this study, TiOnanoparticles of O. vulgare and H. perforatum extracts, carvacrol and hypericin, were prepared and their antibacterial effects were evaluated against Staphylococcus (S.) aureus. In this study, scanning electron microscope, fourier transform infrared spectrometer, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering and zeta potential were used to investigate the structure of synthesized drugs. RESULTS: Anti-bacterial activity of synthesized NPs was tested by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration and disc diffusion method. MICs of TiO-NPs synthesized using O. vulgare, H. perforatum, carvacrol and hypericin and TiO were obtained 250, 62.5, 250, and 250, and 500 µg/mL, respectively. The MBCs for all of these were obtained 1000 µg/mL. CONCLUSION: Green-synthesized of TiO nanoparticles provides a promising approach to the use of O. vulgare and H. perforatum, carvacrol and hypericin as novel agents and safer antibacterial compounds, especially anti-S. aureus compounds.

Effect of Nectaroscordum koelzi Methanolic Extract on Acute and Chronic Inflammation in Male Mice.

INTRODUCTION: The present study deals with the effect of Nectaroscordum koelzi fruit extract on acute and chronic inflammation. METHODS: A total of 84 NMRI mice were used in this study. The effect of the extract on acute inflammation was analyzed by increasing vascular permeability via acetic acid and xylene induced ear edema among mice. The extract was evaluated in terms of effects on chronic inflammation by means of the cotton pellet test among mice. For the assessment of inflammation degree, the mice paw edema volume was measured by the plethysmometric test. RESULTS: The findings showed that the extract was effective on acute inflammation induced by acetic acid in mice. In the xylene ear edema, N. koelzi extract indicated a significant activity in mice. In the cotton pellet method, the methanol extract produced a significant reduction in comparison with the control and dexamethasone. Mice paw edema volume decreased with the extract. CONCLUSION: In general, the data from the experiments indicated that the methanol extract of N. koelzi has an anti-inflammatory effect on acute and chronic inflammation. However, the exact contributing mechanisms have not been investigated for the pharmacological effects.

The synergistic effect of hydroalcoholic extracts of Origanum vulgare, Hypericum perforatum and their active components carvacrol and hypericin against Staphylococcus aureus.

AIM: This study was designed to evaluate the synergistic activities of hydroalcoholic extracts of medicinal plants Origanum vulgare and Hypericum perforatum and their active components, carvacrol and hypericin against Staphylococcus aureus. METHODS: The synergistic effects of the plants, as well as carvacrol and hypericin, were examined using a checkered method against S. aureus (ATCC 12600). RESULTS: A fractional inhibitory concentration of 0.5 was obtained for combination of O. vulgare and H. perforatum and 0.49 for combination of the active ingredients carvacrol and hypericin, both of which indicated a synergistic effect. CONCLUSION: This preliminary evaluation demonstrated a synergistic property of O. vulgare and H. perforatum extracts in treating S. aureus infection. This study indicates that combination of the plants, as well as combination of carvacrol and hypericin, might be used as a new antibacterial strategy against S. aureus.

Phytochemical Profiles and Antibacterial Activities of Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Origanum vulgare and Hypericum perforatum and Carvacrol and Hypericin as a Promising Anti-Staphylococcus aureus.

OBJECTIVES: Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram-positive bacteria, is ranked second among the causes of hospital infections and is one of the three main causes of food poisoning. In recent times, the spread of antibiotic resistance in S. aureus has become very worrisome. Therefore, research for new effective drugs is important. The present study aims to investigate the phytochemical profiles and antibacterial effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of Origanum vulgare (Lamiaceae family) and Hypericum perforatum (Clusiaceae family) and their active compounds on S. aureus (ATCC 12600) in vitro. METHODS: The identification of phytochemical compounds in both plants was performed by Highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC), headspace-solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). To investigate microbial susceptibility, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and disc diffusion method (DAD) were used. Finally, the results of the study were compared with methicillin. RESULTS: Of the 42 combinations of O. vulgare, carvacrol (48%) and of the 38 combinations of H. perforatum, hypericin (46.2%) were the most abundant. The MIC, MBC and DAD of O. vulgare and H. perforatum, carvacrol, hypericin and methicillin were 625, 625, 312.5, 78.12 and 384 µg/mL, 10000, 10000, 2500, 2500 and 384 µg/mL, and 15.66 ± 4.49, 12.66 ± 0.47 and 22 ± 0.81 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: Due to the significant effects of O. vulgare and H. perforatum and their active components against S. aureus, it is expected that in the future, hypericin, carvacrol and their derivatives can be used as effective antibacterial agents against S. aureus.