Protective effect of standardized extract of Myrtus communis L. (myrtle) on experimentally bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis: biochemical and histopathological study.

CONTEXT: Myrtle (Myrtus communis L) has been used widely in traditional medicine for different respiratory disorders. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an inflammatory disease characterized by progressive loss of lung function with poor prognosis. The pathogenesis of disease has not been completely elucidated, but probably persistent epithelial damages are involved. OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of biochemical and histopathological effect of preventive and therapeutic doses of myrtle against bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Methanolic extract of M. communis was prepared by maceration method. Total flavonoid content was determined and experimentally PF was induced in rat with intratracheal instillation of a single dose of BLM (5 mg/kg) only on day 0. Myrtle antifibrotic effect was evaluated as preventive (50 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection, from day 0-13) and therapeutic agent (50 mg/kg, i.p., from day 14-27) in comparison with methyl prednisolone (M-pred) (4 mg/kg, i.p. for 14 days). RESULTS: Parenchymal inflammation and fibrotic changes significantly were reduced by myrtle and M-pred. Significant decrease in hydroxyproline content and lipid peroxidation were observed in animals receiving myrtle extract while catalase activity was increased by myrtle. Improvement in inflammation and fibrosis was observed in myrtle group especially in the early phase of fibrosis (preventive regime). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Myrtle extract effectively inhibited the inflammation and fibrosis of lung parenchyma in both preventive and therapeutic methods. This effect might be due to the reduction of tissue inflammation and inhibition of oxidative stress. More studies are being carried out to find main mechanisms and separation of active compounds.

Accelerated Burn Wound Closure in Mice with a New Formula Based on Traditional Medicine.

BACKGROUND: A combination of the oils of sesame, hemp, wild pistachio, and walnut has been used for treatment of skin disorders, including wound burns, in some parts of Kerman, Iran. Evaluation of this remedy in the form of a pharmaceutical formulation in animal models can pave the way for its future application in wound burn healing in humans. OBJECTIVES: This experimental study investigated the healing potential of a new formula (NF) based on folk medicine from Iran for the treatment of third degree burns in mice. The formula was a combination of the oils of four plants: sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), wild pistachio (Pistacia atlantica Desf.), hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), and walnut (Juglans regia L.). METHODS: Twenty-four mice were selected based on simple random sampling. Twenty-five percent of the total body surface area was burned by exposure to boiling water, according to the Walker-Mason method. NF and silver sulfadiazine (the positive control) were applied topically twice a day for 21 days. The burned area in the negative control group was left untreated. Epithelialization time and the percent of wound contraction were measured during the treatment period. The process of wound repairing was evaluated using histological (H and E and trichrome staining) and immunohistological (anti-pancytokeratin) methods. RESULTS: When compared to the controls, NF significantly improved wound contraction after day 10. Epithelialization time in the NF group was significantly faster than in the other groups (20 vs. 25.5 days) (P < 0.001). Histopathological and immunohistochemical findings confirmed the efficacy of the NF. CONCLUSIONS: A new therapeutic remedy was introduced for the treatment of burn wounds. Further clinical and molecular studies are suggested to determine the exact mechanism(s) involved in the burn wound healing effect of NF.