Therapeutic uses and pharmacological properties of garlic, shallot, and their biologically active compounds.

OBJECTIVE(S): Garlic (Allium sativum L. family Liliaceae) is well known in Iran and its leaves, flowers, and cloves have been used in traditional medicine for a long time. Research in recent decades has shown widespread pharmacological effects of A. sativum and its organosulfur compounds especially Allicin. Studies carried out on the chemical composition of the plant show that the most important constituents of this plant are organosulfur compounds such as allicin, diallyl disulphide, S-allylcysteine, and diallyl trisulfide. Allicin represents one of the most studied among these naturally occurring compounds. In addition to A. sativum, these compounds are also present in A. hirtifolium (shallot) and have been used to treat various diseases. This article reviews the pharmacological effects and traditional uses of A. sativum, A. hirtifolium, and their active constituents to show whether or not they can be further used as potential natural sources for the development of novel drugs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this purpose, the authors went through a vast number of sources and articles and all needed data was gathered. The findings were reviewed and classified on the basis of relevance to the topic and a summary of all effects were reported as tables. CONCLUSION: Garlic and shallots are safe and rich sources of biologically active compounds with low toxicity. Further studies are needed to confirm the safety and quality of the plants to be used by clinicians as therapeutic agents.

Pattern of self-medication with analgesics among Iranian University students in central Iran.

BACKGROUND: Self-medication is defined as the use of drugs for the treatment of self-diagnosed disorders. It is influenced by factors such as education, family, society, law, availability of drugs and exposure to advertisements. This study was performed to evaluate self-medication with analgesics and its pattern among different groups of Iranian University Students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized, cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted from December 2009 to February 2010. The target population of this study was 564 students out of 10,000 students attending four medical and non-medical science universities in Qom state. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16, and analysis was conducted with descriptive analysis procedures. RESULTS: 76.6% of the students had used analgesics in self-medication in the previous 3 months. The frequency of analgesic use in the study period was once in 19.2% of the participants, twice in 22.2%, three times in 16.3% and more than three times in 35.5% of the participants, although 6.8% of them were not sure when they were used. Of all the respondents, 49.8% reported headache as the problem. This was the most common problem, after which came Dysmenorrhea,headache and stomach ache. Bone and joint pains were other problems that led to the use of analgesics. The most commonly used source of information for self-medication with analgesics was advice from friends and family (54.7%), previously prescribed medications (30.1%), their medical knowledge (13.3%) and recommendation of a pharmacist (1.9%). CONCLUSION: Self-medication with analgesics is very high among Iranian students in Qom city. This could be an index for other parts of the Iranian community. Because the source of information about analgesics is inappropriate, we would recommend education courses about analgesics and self-medication on the radio and television for the entire population.

Concentrations of Serum Zinc, Hemoglobin and Ferritin among Pregnant Women and their Effects on Birth Outcomes in Kashan, Iran.

OBJECTIVES: Zinc and Iron are essential micronutrients in fetus growth and development. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of maternal serum Zinc, Hemoglobin and Ferritin levels with their newborns weight, height and head circumference. METHODS: This cross sectional-analytical study carried out among pregnant women referred to Naghavi Polyclinic, Kashan, Iran from November 2009 to October 2010. One hundred and twenty-nine pregnant women in the third trimester were selected and anthropometric factors of their newborns (weight, height and head circumference) and their relation to serum Zn, Hemoglobin and Ferritin concentrations were assessed. RESULTS: Serum Hemoglobin deficiency (<11g/dl), serum Ferritin deficiency (<12 µg/L) and serum Zn deficiency (<66 µg/dl) were present in 11 (8.5%), 9 (7%) and 9 (7%) women, respectively. The proportion of newborns with birth weight of 2500-2999 g was greater among mothers with lower Hemoglobin (<11 g/dl) compared to mothers with normal Hemoglobin (≥11 g/dl; p=0.04). Multiple regression analysis showed that among biochemical characteristics of pregnant women, serum Hemoglobin levels were positively correlated with low birth weight (ß=0.26; p=0.04). But serum Zn and Ferritin levels were not significantly associated with weight, height and head circumference. CONCLUSION: Low maternal serum hemoglobin levels are associated with low birth weight and does not have any association with birth height or head circumference; but there was no significant association between maternal serum zinc and Ferritin levels with weight, height and head circumference.

The effects of green Ocimum basilicum hydroalcoholic extract on retention and retrieval of memory in mice.

The purpose of this study was evaluation of green Ocimum basilicum (sweet basil) hydroalcoholic extract on memory retention and retrieval of mice by using passive avoidance apparatus. For this purpose, after weighting, coding and classifying the mice, they were grouped (n = 8) as follow as: test groups (electric shock plus sweet basil extract by doses: 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg, i.p.), control group (Only electric shock) and blank group (electric shock plus normal saline). In all mentioned groups delay time of leaving the platform for both retention and retrieval test of memory was measured. In retention test, sweet basil extract was administered immediately after receiving electric shock and in retrieval test it was administered 24 hours after receiving electric shock. The results indicated that hydroalcoholic extract of green Ocimum basilicum significantly (P < 0.05) increased memory retention. The best response was achieved with 400 mg/Kg of the extract. Also, results showed that sweet basil extract significantly (P < 0.05) increased memory retrieval and the best result was achieved with 400 mg/Kg too. It can be concluded that memory enhancing effects of green Ocimum basilicum is because of antioxidant activity of flavonoids, tannins and terpenoids.

Assessment of the relationship of vitamin D with serum antioxidant vitamins E and A and their deficiencies in Iranian pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between vitamin D and serum antioxidant vitamins E and A, and their deficiencies in pregnant women. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the maternity clinic of Naghavi Specialists and Subspecialities Polyclinic, affiliated to Kashan University of Medical Sciences Kashan, Iran between April 2008 and August 2009. One hundred and forty-seven pregnant women were recruited. Vitamin D, A, and E status were assessed using serum at 5-9 months of pregnancy. The prevalence of vitamin deficiency was reported using defined cutoff values. Correlations between vitamin D and vitamins A and E were reported. Data were compared using the analysis of variance and coefficient correlation linear Pearson's. The relative difference between the groups were considered statistically significant (p<0.05). RESULTS: Serum concentrations of vitamin D were 7.2 +/- 2.31, 17.72 +/- 5 and 33.05 +/- 0.94 ug/ml, for vitamin E 2.15 +/- 1.3 and 8.07+/- 2.3 ug/ml, and for vitamin A 0.16+/- 0.05 and 0.46+/-0.13. We used the defined cutoff values in determining vitamins D, A, and E deficiency. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 95.8%, vitamin A was 7%, and vitamin E was 58.6%. The correlation coefficient between serum vitamin D and vitamin E shows an inverse relationship (r=0.24, p=0.004). CONCLUSION: Extent vitamins D, A, and E deficiency among pregnant women is a major public health problem in Kashan, Iran.

Cannabinoid CB1 receptors of the rat central amygdala mediate anxiety-like behavior: interaction with the opioid system.

Cannabinoids, which are the active compounds of marijuana, produce some pharmacological effects similar to the opioids. In addition, there are functional interactions between the cannabinoid and opioid systems. In this study, we investigated the effects of intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of opioid drugs on responses induced by intracentral amygdala (intra-CeA) microinjection of cannabinoid CB1 receptor agents in rats, using the elevated plus maze test of anxiety. I.p. injection of morphine (6 and 9 mg/kg) 30 min before testing, increased the percentage open arm time (%OAT) and the percentage open arm entries (%OAE), but not locomotor activity, showing an anxiolytic-like response. I.p. administration of the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone (1 mg/kg) 15 min before testing, significantly reduced %OAT, but not %OAE and locomotor activity. The drug, however, tended to decrease locomotor activity. Intra-CeA administration of arachidonylcyclopropylamide (ACPA, an agonist shown to selectively activate CB1 receptors; 1.25 and 5 ng/rat) increased %OAT and %OAE but not locomotor activity, indicating an anxiolytic-like response. Coadministration of morphine (6 mg/kg, i.p.) plus ACPA (0.125 ng/rat, intra-CeA) increased the anxiolytic-like response. Administration of naloxone reversed the effects of intra-CeA injection of ACPA. Intra-CeA administration of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist, AM251 (2.5, 25, and 100 ng/rat) did not alter %OAT and %OAE, but the higher doses of the drug (25 and 100 ng/rat) reduced locomotor activity. Coadministration of morphine (6 mg/kg) or naloxone (0.1 mg/kg) with AM251 showed an anxiolytic-like response. In conclusion, the results may indicate an anxiolytic-like effect for cannabinoid CB1 receptors of the CeA and the existence of an interaction between the cannabinoid and the opioid systems in the modulation of anxiety.