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(1) Background: Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. is an important pharmaceutical crop that remains a focus point for researchers worldwide due to its complex phytochemical constituents, medicinal effects, and nutraceutical properties. The literature data are based on animal and cell culture studies, so the clinical evidence for the therapeutic effects is poorly outlined. The aim of this review was to provide an updated and thorough understanding of Perilla frutescens applications in clinical practice using data derived from human studies, and to outline the potential directions and perspectives for further studies on this crop. (2) Methods: Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases were used to find relevant studies. All interventional studies that evaluated the effect of Perilla frutescens in human subjects were assessed. (3) Results: The main perspectives that can be contoured from the presented literature evaluation are an important clinical effect of Perilla frutescens extracts on allergic rhinoconjuctivitis, especially in young populations, a potent hypolipemiant effect that, in conjunction with increased serum biological antioxidant potential, determines significant improvements in cognitive function and a wide variety of miscellaneous clinical effects that need further exploration. (4) Conclusions: Supplementary research is needed in order to demonstrate the therapeutic effects of Perilla frutescens in controlled clinical settings.
ABSTRACT
(1) Background: Chronic renal disorders (CRD) are associated with significant comorbidities and necessitate complex therapeutic management. As time passed, Perilla frutescens (PF) became a promising therapeutic option for CRD. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to outline the therapeutic effects of PF extracts on various models of immunoglobulin a (IgA) nephropathy; (2) Methods: Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases were used to find relevant studies. All prospective interventional studies that evaluated the effect of PF extract versus placebo on rat models of chronic renal disorders were assessed according to the international guidelines; (3) Results: Our search yielded 23 unique records, out of which only five were included in the analysis. Our results showed that administration of PF extracts led to a statistically significant reduction in proteinuria and PCNA levels in rats that received high doses of the extract as well as in the PCNA level and DNA synthesis in rats that received low doses of the extract. The evaluated outcomes benefited from a low degree of heterogeneity; (4) Conclusions: Some of the evaluated outcomes were significantly reduced by both high and low doses of extracts from Perilla frutescens. Further studies are needed to determine the exact effect over IgA nephropathy in human subjects.
ABSTRACT
Conyza canadensis is a plant widely used in traditional medicine in Morocco for the treatment of varied health challenges. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no scientific study justifying the traditional use of Conyza extract as an anxiolytic and antidepressant agent. Moreover, data regarding the polyphenolic fraction is limited. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the chemical composition of an aqueous extract obtained from the aerial parts of Conyza, its antioxidant potential, and the anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects of the sample (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight (bw)) in the scopolamine (Sco) (0.7 mg/kg bw) rat model. To achieve this purpose, a variety of antioxidant tests (including free radical-scavenging activity and lipoxygenase-inhibitory potential assays) and behavioral procedures, such as the elevated plus-maze and forced swimming tests, were performed. The results demonstrated that the aqueous extract of Conyza canadensis is rich in catechins and flavonoids which possess good antioxidant activity. Additionally, concentrations of 100 and 200 mg/kg of the extract exhibited significant anxiolytic and antidepressant-like profiles following scopolamine treatment. Therefore, we propose that the use of Conyza canadensis could be a new pharmacological target for the amelioration of major depression.
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AIM: The structure of the inflorescences of two subspecies of Lavandula angustifolia sL. angustifolia ssp. angustifolia and. L. angustifolia ssp. pyrenaica (D.C.) Guineat was studied to determine the range of variation in certain histo-anatomical characters. METHODS: The flower and leaf structure has been analysed on cross and superficial section using the usual techniques and methods applied in plant histo-anatomical research. RESULTS: In cross-section, inflorescence axis has a squared-shape contour, with four proeminent ribs. On the epiderme of inflorescence axis there are present stomata, trichoms and secretory hairs. The trichoms are pluricelullar and T-branched. The secretory hairs have a short pedicel and a uni-or bicellular head. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that there are only quantitative differences, referring to the degree of sclerification and lignification of mechanical elements and the size of the vascular bundles.
Subject(s)
Flowers/anatomy & histology , Lavandula/anatomy & histology , Plant Leaves/anatomy & histology , Lavandula/classification , Plant Stomata/anatomy & histology , Plant Vascular Bundle/anatomy & histologyABSTRACT
AIM: In this paper, we studied comparatively volatile fractions obtained by hydrodistillation from 5 samples of lavender flowers (L. angustifolia ssp. angustifolia, L. hybrida, L. angustifolia spp. pyrenaica, L. angustifolia spp. angustifolia cv. Munstead and cv. Hidcote blue) cultivated during 2009 in the Botanical Garden from Galati. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The essential oils have been characterized using gas-chromatography and mass spectroscopy analysis (GC-MS). RESULTS: The main compounds in all lavender volatile oils were: linalool (20.60%-35.99%), linalyl acetate (12.58%-19.65%), lavandulyl acetate (3.74%-10.48%), t-p3-ocimene (1.26%-9.23%), a-terpineol (3.67%-6.73%), nerol (0.81%-3.32%), neryl acetate (0.95%-3.64%) and beta-caryophyllene (0.93%-2.43%). CONCLUSIONS: None of the separated volatile fractions met the minimal quality parameters for the standard volatile oil of fine lavender used in aromatherapy. Low concentration in monoterpene esthers could be explained by the fact that, on one hand, the average daily temperature during the blooming period is below the one from Mediterranean Sea area, and, on the other hand, the city of Galati is only 42 meters above the sea level (the volatile oil from fine lavender used in aromatherapy is obtained from plants cultivated at 800-1200 meters altitude).