Phytochemical and biological activities of some Iranian medicinal plants.

CONTEXT: Due to adverse effects of synthetic compounds, there is a growing interest in utilization of plant-derived natural products in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Iranian endemic medicinal plants widely used in traditional practice have attracted much attention as antibacterial and antioxidant agents. OBJECTIVE: This review attempts to compile the accessible scientific research pertained to phytochemical compounds, antibacterial and antioxidant effects of essential oils obtained from some of the most widely used and distributed medicinal plants in Iran. METHODS: This review has been compiled using references via reliable databases (Google Scholar, SID and Science Direct) from 2010 to 2020. This literature review was limited to references published in English and Persian languages. RESULTS: Based on studies heretofore carried out, essential oils isolated from mentioned medicinal plants exhibited strong antioxidant activity which is attributed to their main phytochemical compounds; thymol, carvacrol, p-cymene and γ-terpinene. In addition, the antibacterial activities of essential oils of most plant species from Apiaceae and Asteraceae families were more susceptible against Gram-positive bacteria; Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus than Gram-negative bacteria; however, essential oils of other studied plant species manifested similar behaviours against both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: As there is rich ethnobotanical knowledge behind Iranian endemic medicinal plants, further scientific research is required to prove their safety and efficacy. This review revealed that there are numerous valuable medicinal plants adoptable in food and pharmaceutical industries in the near future.

A new perspective of aroma face mask on COVID-19 pandemic.

In times of the COVID-19 pandemic, wearing face masks is strongly recommended as a public health measure to stop the spread of the Sars Coronavirus. However, there are still people who ignore using this effective protective tool due to the lack of comfortable face masks on the market. Therefore, in the current study, we assessed commercially available face masks namely N95 masks, surgical masks, and cloth masks in order to find out their weakness. In addition, the identification needs of people from a face mask were collected by an online questionnaire. According to the information obtained; we achieved key factors required to design a new type of face mask using the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and the final design was printed. Moreover, the long-term use of herbs in Iranian Traditional Medicine persuaded us to add a humidifier containing aromatic plants essential oils such as Eucalyptus globules Labill. and Rosa damascene Mill. with scientifically proven health benefits such as pain reliever, relaxing properties and antimicrobial activities. We are expected that these aromas would be an effective way to eliminate the problems of individuals suffering from air pollutants, respiratory disorders, and COVID which leads to encouraging more people to use face masks during pandemics or air pollution.

Investigating the rus and petI operon expression patterns in exposed Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans sp. FJ2 to different doses of gamma irradiation.

The bioleaching process is developing as an economic and successful biotechnology method in the metallurgy industry. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is one of the most important bacteria involved in uranium bioleaching which converts insoluble U4+ to soluble U6+ by oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ using several periplasmic proteins encoded by the genes in rus and petI operons in its electron transport pathway. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to consider the expression of these genes through exposed A. ferrooxidans sp. FJ2 to γ-ray in 17 different doses targeting uranium extraction yield. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans sp. FJ2 was irradiated by gamma rays at 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 300, 450, 600, 750 Gy and 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 kGy doses. Moreover, the Eh value of 9k culture media was measured as special screening criteria to select the four treatments. The selected bacteria were cultured in 9k media, containing 50% uranium ore powder in the bioleaching process. Then, the value of pH & Eh of culture media, Fe2+ and uranium concentrations in 4, 8 and 13 day's period of incubation were measured. In followings, the expression levels of cyc1, cyc2, rus, coxB, petA, petB, petC and cycA genes at the end of each period were investigated by real-time PCR. Overall, all samples demonstrated a decrease in pH value and Fe2+ concentration and an increase in Eh value and U concentration in time intervals. The gamma irradiation in given doses raised the expression levels of all genes encoded in rus and petI operons, except petB gene during the bioleaching process, although, it had no effect either on the pH, Eh values or on Fe2+ and uranium concentrations. This result implies that during the oxidation of ferrous iron and formation of Jarosite sediment, the decreasing trend of pH and the increasing trend of Eh occurred in all samples. However, the differences in expression of the genes of rus and petI operons in the samples did not have an effect on uranium extraction.

Synergistic effects of deuterium depleted water and Mentha longifolia L. essential oils on sepsis-induced liver injuries through regulation of cyclooxygenase-2.

CONTEXT: Mentha longifolia L. (Lamiaceae), a traditional medicinal herb, has been highly valued for exhibiting antimicrobial, antioxidant and antispasmodic properties. OBJECTIVE: For the first time, the synergetic anti-inflammatory effects of deuterium depleted water (DDW) and M. longifolia essential oils (ML) were investigated in experimental sepsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups (n = 10): negative control (laparotomy), CLP, treatment groups including the combination of DDWs (15 and 30 ppm) and ML (100 mg/kg b.w) and indomethacin. At 24 h after CLP induction, lipid peroxidation (LP), glutathione (GSH), glutathione in S-transferases (GST), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and COX-2 expression were determined in the plasma and liver tissues. RESULTS: Compared with the CLP group, the administration of DDWs and ML significantly (p < 0.05) prevented the increase of LP, COX-2 and PGE2 levels and liver enzymes. Additionally, the decreased levels of FRAP and GSH induced by sepsis were remarkably (p < 0.05) risen by the administration of DDWs and ML in comparison to the CLP group. However, no significant (p > 0.05) differences were observed regarding GST, ALP and bilirubin levels. Our results also proved the synergistic anti-inflammatory activities of the DDWs and ML. The anti-inflammatory effects of the DDWs and ML were confirmed by histopathological studies. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The combination of DDWs and ML exerted synergistic anti-inflammatory activity against CLP-induced sepsis possibly through modulating oxidative stress/antioxidant parameters.

Chemotherapeutic effect of Berberis integerrima hydroalcoholic extract on colon cancer development in the 1,2-dimethyl hydrazine rat model.

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a Berberis integerrima hydroalcoholic extract as a chemotherapeutic agent in colon carcinogenesis in the rat induced by 1,2-dimethyl hydrazine (DMH). Male Wistar rats were divided into five groups: a negative control group without DMH treatment; a control group injected DMH (20 mg/kg b.w); two groups receiving B. integerrima extract (50 and 100 mg/kg b.w), concomitant with injected DMH, as chemotherapeutic groups; a positive control group receiving 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) along with DMH. The effects of the extracts were determined by assessment of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), and the activities of hepatic glutathione S-transferase and cytochrome P450 (GST and CYP450). Additionally, colon tissues were assessed for colonic ß-catenin and histopathological analysis. In DMH-treated rats, the extracts partially normalized the levels of FRAP, CYP450, ß-catenin, and GST. Likewise, formation of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in colon tissue of DMH-treated was reduced by the extracts. Thus, the extracts possess chemotherapeutic activity against colon carcinogenesis.