A comprehensive review of ethnomedicinal approaches, phytochemical analysis, and pharmacological potential of Vitex trifolia L.

Plants, renowned for their rich reservoir of metabolites, play a pivotal role in addressing health-related issues. The Verbenaceae family stands out, showcasing immense potential in preventing and treating chronic diseases. Vitex trifolia L. (V. trifolia), a shrub with a rich history in traditional medicine, particularly in Eastern Asia, has garnered attention for its diverse therapeutic applications. This comprehensive review aims to bridge traditional knowledge and contemporary insights by investigating ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacological effects of V. trifolia. The keyword "V. trifolia" and its synonyms were searched within the main scientific databases including PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Baidu Scholar (from 1974 to 2022, last search: 21.10.2023). Phytochemical analyses reveal a spectrum of secondary metabolites in V. trifolia, including terpenoids, flavonoids, lignans, phytosterols, anthraquinones, and fatty acids. Notably, terpenoids and flavonoids emerge as the main bioactive metabolites. Pharmacological studies validate its therapeutic potential, demonstrating significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anticancer, anti-amnesic, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-malaria, antispasmodic activities, and reported insecticidal effects. Despite existing literature exploring pharmacological attributes and secondary metabolites of related species, a conspicuous gap exists, specifically focusing on the pharmacological activities and novel methods of purification of pure metabolites from V. trifolia. This review aimed to fill this gap by delving into traditional medicinal applications, exploring secondary metabolites comprehensively, and providing an in-depth analysis of pharmacological effects of pure metabolites. Combining traditional uses with contemporary pharmacological insights, this article sought to serve as a crucial reference for future research and practical application of V. trifolia. This approach contributes substantially to understanding the plant, fostering scientific inquiry, and facilitating its broader application in healthcare.

Therapeutic Implications of Curcumin in the Treatment of Inflammatory Eye Diseases: A Review.

Curcumin is the main active constituent of the medicinal plant Curcuma longa L., used traditionally as a medicinal spice in several ancient civilizations. Different preclinical and clinical studies support the anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin in various inflammatory diseases. As inflammation has an essential role in the pathophysiology of many ocular diseases, curcumin has been suggested as a promising therapeutic agent with anti-inflammatory properties. Based on the extent of experimental and clinical evidence, curcumin can exert protective effects against the corneal, uveal, retinal, optic nerve, orbital, and lacrimal gland inflammatory disorders. Herein, the available literature on the beneficial effects of curcumin in inflammatory eye diseases is reviewed. The limitations and future directions of these investigations are also discussed.

Effect of topical povidone-iodine 10% plus levofloxacin 0.5% 1 hour before cataract surgery in eliminating perioperative conjunctival flora: randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of a single administration of topical povidone-iodine (PVI) 10% plus levofloxacin 0.5% at 1 hour before cataract surgery on perioperative elimination rate of conjunctival flora. SETTING: Poostchi Ophthalmology Research Center, Shiraz, Iran. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. METHOD: Patients who required cataract surgery were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: intervention (administration of PVI 10% plus levofloxacin 0.5% at 1 hour preoperatively) or control. The patients in both groups received PVI just before the operation. Conjunctival cultures were obtained using thioglycollate broth at 4 timepoints: T1, before intervention; T2, before the second application of PVI; T3, 3 minutes after the second administration of PVI; and T4, just postoperatively. RESULTS: The study comprised 142 patients. The comparative rates of positive cultures in the intervention vs control groups were as follows: T1 (70.4% vs 73.2%, P = .709); T2 (15.5% vs 71.8%, P < .001); T3 (7.0% vs 19.7%, P = .027); and T4 (5.6% vs 4.2%, P = .698). Coagulase-negative Staphylococci was the most common isolated microorganism. CONCLUSIONS: Results showed that a single adjuvant application of PVI 10% plus levofloxacin 0.5% eyedrops at 1 hour before operation leads to a further increase in the rate of sterile conjunctiva just preoperatively.