The Therapeutic Effects of Nigella sativa on Skin Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

The aim of this systematic review was to identify randomized controlled trials that looked at the effects of Nigella sativa in any form on different skin diseases. Up to March 2022, the online databases of Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and Cochrane trials were searched. This study included 14 records of people who had experienced different types of skin disease including atopic dermatitis, vulgaris, arsenical keratosis, psoriasis, vitiligo, acute cutaneous leishmaniasis, warts, eczema, and acne. The mean SD age of the patients was 28.86 (4.49); [range: 18.3-51.4], with females accounting for 69% (506 out of 732) of the total. The follow-up mean SD was 8.16 (1.3) (ranged: 4 days to 24 weeks). The odds ratio (OR) was found to be 4.59 in a meta-analysis (95% CI: 2.02, 10.39). Whereas the null hypothesis in this systematic review was that lotion had no impact, OR 4.59 indicated that lotion could be effective. The efficacy of N. sativa essential oil and extract has been demonstrated in most clinical studies. However, more research is needed to completely evaluate and validate the efficacy or inadequacy of therapy with N. sativa, although it appears that it can be used as an alternative treatment to help people cope with skin problems.

Rosemary as an adjunctive treatment in patients with major depressive disorder: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Rosemary has shown antidepressant and anxiolytic properties. Thus, the present study aimed at assessing the therapeutic effects of orally administered rosemary capsules in patients with major depressive disorder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rosmarinic acid content of rosemary was determined using high performance liquid chromatography method. Hard gelatin capsules of rosemary were prepared, and their physicochemical properties were assessed. In this clinical trial, patients with major depressive disorder were randomly divided into rosemary and control groups. They received one capsule of rosemary or placebo twice a day for 8 weeks. The anxiety subscale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Beck Depression Inventory - Second Edition were respectively used to measure the symptoms of anxiety and depression in the patients before initiating the treatment and four and eight weeks after the treatment. RESULTS: The amount of rosmarinic acid in rosemary was found to be 21.13 ± 0.56 mg/g dried plant. The scores of anxiety subscale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Beck Depression Inventory significantly decreased in the rosemary group compared to those in the control group 8 weeks after the treatment. Memory improvement was a beneficial side effect observed in the study. CONCLUSION: The use of rosemary as an adjunctive therapy could improve the symptoms of anxiety and depression in people with major depression.

Evidence for Rosa damascena efficacy in mental disorders in preclinical animal studies and clinical trials: A systematic review.

The aim of this systematic review was to identify animal preclinical studies and randomized controlled trials that looked at the effects of R. damascena in any form on different mental diseases. Up to September 2021, the online databases of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane trials, as well as SID and MagIran, were searched. This study included 10 animal studies. Except for one research, the rest of the studies confirmed the positive effects of the plant in treatment of mental disorders. A total of 38 studies met the criteria for inclusion. Individuals who have encountered various sorts of mental problems, such as anxiety, sleep disturbance, and depressive disorder, were studied. R. damascena essential oil (EO), essence, extract, and dried plant were used in aromatherapy and oral administration. A decrease in sympathetic nervous system activity, induction of neurotransmitters, induction of nerve growth factors by neurogenesis and synaptogenesis mechanisms, a decrease in prolactin and an increase in noradrenaline, estradiol, and progesterone secretion are some of the mechanisms of action. In general, R. damascena is an effective herb for the treatment of mental disorders. However, further research timing and duration of intervention are needed to extrapolate the findings.

Chemical composition, anticancer and antibacterial activity of Nepeta mahanensis essential oil.

BACKGROUND: Conventional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, often affect the patients' quality of life due to their serious side effects, indicating the urgent need to develop less toxic and more effective alternative treatments. Medicinal plants and their derivatives are invaluable sources for such remedies. The present study aimed to determine the chemical composition, anticancer and antibacterial activities of Nepeta mahanesis essential oil (EO). METHODS: The chemical composition of EO was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Cytotoxicity and apoptosis/necrosis induction of EO was analyzed by MTT assay and Flow cytometry. Real-time PCR was performed to evaluate the Bax/Bcl2 gene expression. Also, the effect of the EO on the cells' mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and ROS level was assessed. DPPH assay was done to assess the free radical scavenging activity of the EO. The Antimicrobial activity, MIC, and MBC of the oil were determined via well-diffusion and broth microdilution methods. RESULTS: Based on the GC-MS analysis, 24 compounds were identified in the EO, of which 1,8-cineole (28.5%), Nepetalactone (18.8%), germacrene D (8.1%), and ß-pinene (7.2%), were the major compounds. Also, the EO showed considerable cytotoxicity against MCF-7, Caco-2, SH-SY5Y, and HepG2 after 24 and 48 h treatment with IC50 values between 0.0.47 to 0.81 mg/mL. It was revealed that this compound increased the Bax/Bcl2 ratio in the MCF-7 cells and induced apoptosis (27%) and necrosis (18%) in the cells. Moreover, the EO treatment led to a substantial decrease in MMP, which is indicative of apoptosis induction. A significant increase in ROS level was also detected in the cells following exposure to the EO. This compound showed strong DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50: 30). It was also effective against Gram-positive E. faecalis (ATCC 29,212) and Gram-negative E. coli (ATCC 11,333) bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrated that the EO of N. mahanesis could be considered a bioactive product with biomedical applications that can be used as an alternative cancer treatment and applied in the biomedical industries.

Inhibitory Effect of Standardized Extract and Fractions of Nigella sativa L. on Nystatin Susceptible and Clinically Nystatin Resistant Candida albicans.

INTRODUCTION: Candidiasis infection is caused by different species of Candida, which are characterized by host immunologic weakness. Black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa) have shown an inhibitory effect against Candida albicans. In this work, the inhibitory effect of standardized extract and different fractions of Nigella sativa seeds has been evaluated on both nystatin-susceptible and resistant strain of C. albicans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Canadida albicans (NSCA) with ATCC 76645 and nystatin-resistant Candida albicans (NRCA) were prepared from oral samples of HIV individuals. Total extract and different fractions of N. sativa were prepared using maceration and sonication methods. Thymoquinone (TQ) content of the plant was determined by spectrophotometric method. Total extract (TTE) and the fractions along with TQ were evaluated on NSCA and NRCA by the microdilution method. RESULTS: TQ content of the plant was 0.92 ± 0.37g/100g dried extract. The least MIC and MFC (62.5 and 125 µg/ml, respectively) were due to petroleum ether fraction (PEF) against both NSCA and NRCA, followed by chloroform fraction (CHF) with MIC and MFC of 125 and 250 µg/ml, respectively. TQ exhibited MIC of 0.78 and 3.12 µg/ml against NSCA and NRCA, stronger than nystatin (MIC of 2 and 16 µg/ml, respectively). Thymoquinone was detected in the PEF and CHF. CONCLUSION: Considering more inhibitory effects of PEF and CHF than TTE, we can conclude that active components of the plant belong to non-polar compounds. PEF showed identical inhibitory effects on NRCA and NSCA, which is a valuable result for finding novel medicaments against NRCA infections.

Protective effect of Zataria multiflora Boiss. and its main compound, rosmarinic acid, against malathion induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in HepG2 cells.

Malathion (MT) is one of the most widely used organophosphorus insecticides which induces toxicity through oxidative stress induction, free radical production and acetylcholinesterase inhibition. In this work, HepG2 cells were used to determine the effect of Zataria multiflora methanolic extract (MEZM) and rosmarinic acid (RA) on MT-induced cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were determined and plant was further standardized based on RA content using HPLC method. The cultured HepG2 cells were pretreated with MEZM (1 µg/ml) and RA (0.1 µg/ml) for 4 h and exposed to MT (100 µM). Cell viability, oxidative stress biomarkers, ROS production, and cell death were examined after 24 h. The amount of RA was determined 73.48 mg/g dried extract. IC50 values of MEZM and MT were 368.56 µg/ml and 99.43 µM, respectively. Pretreatment with MEZM and RA decreased the cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and cell percentage in the late apoptosis and necrosis stages induced by MT. There was no significant difference between MEZM and RA effects. The present study showed the significant protective effects of MEZM against toxicity induced by MT in hepatocytes which can be attributed to the plant antioxidant constituents including RA.

Pharmacokinetic profile of diosgenin and trigonelline following intravenous and oral administration of fenugreek seed extract and pure compound in rabbit.

Diosgenin (DI) and trigonelline (TRG) are the main bioactive compounds of fenugreek seed. A micro-extraction method using magnetic nanocomposites coupled with ion-pairing reversed phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) method was used to determine the analytes in rabbit plasma. The main PK parameters after oral administration of pure DI and the extract were: Cmax: 0.48, 0.057 µg/ml; tmax: 1, 2 h; and t1/2ß: 6.23, 15.04 h, respectively. Pure TRG and the extract PK parameters were: Cmax: 0.121, 0.081 µg/ml; tmax: 1.30, 1.30 h; and t1/2ß: 20.06, 24.70 h, respectively. Generally, the PK profile of the two compounds was best fitted on the two-compartment model.[Formula: see text].

Fenugreek dermal patch, a new natural topical antinociceptive medication for relieving the postherniotomy pain, a double-blind placebo controlled trial.

Background Fenugreek seeds have shown antinociceptive effect in animal studies. This double-blind placebo controlled trial was designed to study the effect of fenugreek transdermal patch 10% (FDP) for management of inguinal hernia (IH) post-operative pain. Methods Standardized extract of fenugreek seeds was used for FDP formulation. Ninety patients treated with 10% FDP, diclofenac dermal patch 1% (DP) and placebo twice daily after IH surgery. The pain intensity score was evaluated using a visual analogue score (VAS) up to 48 h after operation. Morphine consumption and diclofenac suppository demand were evaluated too. Results The pain score was significantly reduced in FDP group in comparison with the placebo group. This effect was also significantly different from DP up to 6 h after surgery (p<0.05). Morphine consumption and diclofenc suppository demand were significantly decreased in FDP group (p<0.05). Conclusion In all, results of the present study indicated that FDP decreases pain score and demand for morphine in post-surgery patients in comparison to diclofenac patch, and this preparation could be a suit option as a natural antinociceptive agent for pain management.

A Review on Biosynthesis, Analytical Techniques, and Pharmacological Activities of Trigonelline as a Plant Alkaloid.

Trigonelline (TRG) as a polar hydrophilic alkaloid is extracted from many plant species, for example, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Allium sepapea, Coffea sp, Pissum sativum, Glycine max, and Lycopersicon esculentum. Numerous biological activities have been reported for TRG such as protection of heart and liver and treatment of hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, nervous and hormonal disorders, and cancers. Thus, the aim of this review is to summarize some information about TRG's biosynthesis pathway, pharmacological activity, pharmacokinetics, and analytical techniques to introduce TRG as an alternative choice to treat the various diseases. However, current evidence is still inadequate for introducing TRG as a novel drug, and it is necessary to examine more clinical trials to determine its acute and chronic side effects, bioavailability, pharmacokinetic parameters, and mechanisms of action.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants of hezar mountain allocated in South East of iran.

This manuscript is the result of ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology survey on the Hezar Mountain in SE of Iran. Traditional botanical medicine is the primary mode of healthcare for most of the population of this region. The plants were collected in and around Hezar mountain from 2008-2010. The authors have conducted an interview of total 75 informants; The traditional uses of 92 species belonging to 35 vascular plant families and 78 genera have been recorded. The largest number of medicinal species came from Lamiaceae (15.2%). The most common preparations were decoction and infusion. These species are utilized to treat several ailments which the most common of them are digestive disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, (25.4%), renal and genital disorders (13%), respiratory tract system disorders (11.8%), and heart-blood circulatory system disorders (10.2%) respectively.