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Cucurbita moschata Duchesne (pumpkin) is a well-known plant with several pharmacological effects. The aim of the present study was to assess burn wound healing activity of peel extract (CE). Also, standardized CE was assessed for antioxidant activity and antibacterial effects against major pathogens of burns. Healing properties of topical preparation of 10% and 20% concentrations of CE were assessed on second degree burn in rats during a 14-day period as well as histological studies, total antioxidant power, lipid peroxidation and total thiol content of skin tissue samples. Radical scavenging IC and ferric-reducing antioxidant power value were 4.015±0.20 mg/ml and 142.63±2.65 mmol Fe /g, respectively. Total mucilage content was 13.8%. The optimal results were obtained by 20% CE that showed 90.80±5.86 % wound closure and tissue repair as well as significant reduction of tissue oxidative stress biomarkers. Histological analyses confirmed wound healing activity of pumpkin peel extract. Considering the high mucilage content of the plant, providing a moist environment for wound, peel extract could be a natural remedy for treatment of burns. Further clinical studies are suggested to confirm peel extract as a wound healing agent.

The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-hypoxia activity of polyphenolic extracts of Crataegus microphylla and Crataegus pentaegyn on mice. Three experimental models of hypoxia were considered, including asphyctic hypoxia, haemic hypoxia, and circulatory hypoxia. Polyphenolic extract of both plants exhibited significant anti-hypoxic activity and prolonged animal survival time. Anti-hypoia activity of C. pentaegyn was found to be superior to that of C. microphylla in circulatory and asphyctic hypoxia. Antihypoxic activity of these extracts may be attributed to their phenolic compounds.

Background The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Echium amoenum (EA) on the severity of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in comparison with placebo. Methods The present study was a randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial. A checklist questionnaire was completed by 120, 18 to 35-year-old, college students. And then, 84 eligible women (20 to 35 years old) were enrolled in the trial; they were randomly assigned to two groups of intervention (EA) and control (placebo), with 42 participants in each group. Participants in the intervention group received 450 mg capsules of EA per day (three times a day) from the 21st day of their menstrual cycle until the 3rd day of their next cycle for two consecutive cycles. The severity of PMS was measured and ranked using the premenstrual symptoms screening tool (PSST). The generalized estimating equation was used to compare the total score of the severity of PMS between the two groups. Results Sixty-nine women with regular menstrual cycles suffering from PMS completed the study. The mean scores of the symptoms in the EA group were 35.3 and 16.1 ( P  ≤ 0.001) at baseline and after 2 months, respectively, while the mean scores of the symptoms in the placebo group were 31.0 and 28.3 ( P  = 0.09) at baseline and after 2 months, respectively. The evaluation of the first and the second follow-ups in the intervention group showed that, after being adjusted for age and body mass index ( P ≤  0.001), the mean scores of the premenstrual syndrome, using GEE analysis, have decreased to 6.2 and 11.6, respectively. Conclusion Based on the results, in comparison with the placebo group, EA was found to be more effective in improving the symptoms of PMS, and is highly recommended for treatment of this syndrome. Trial registration IRCT2015110822779N3 ; Registration date: 2015–11–27.

According to these results, the extract of this plant was classified in \"practically nonpoisonous \". The LD50 was calculated using nonlinear sigmoid regression and Probit technique. [...]the correlation between effect and administered dose was analyzed using Pearson correlation test. After treatment for at least 8 weeks, systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly (P=0.003, 95% CI: -19.7, -15.1; P=0.0006, 95% CI: -10.23, -13.15; respectively) (Table 2). [...]systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased after 45 days treatment (P=0.025, 95% CI: -15.4, -10.6; P=0.034, 95% CI: -7.71, -7.85; respectively). Conclusion OSE synergistically with diuretic and plasma ACE inhibitor activity reduced blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic) in the patients under treatment with losartan, and did not show remarkable side effects in patients with primary hypertension. Because of the low number of samples, this medication may be not safely recommended.

Background: Scrophularia striata is a perennial plant which is native in all parts of Iran, Turkey, and Azerbaijan. In this study, the total phenol content, antioxidant and larvicidal activities of total extract and different fractions of this plant were evaluated. Methods: The aerial parts of S. striata were collected from Boli village, Illam Province, western Iran in Apr 2013. The total phenol content of total extract and different fractions were evaluated by Folin-Ciocalteu method. Moreover, antioxidant activity was tested by DPPH and FRAPS assays. Larvicidal activity was investigated according to stand­ard method described by WHO. Results: Ethyl acetate fraction (EF) had the highest content of total phenol (75.9±0.06mg Gallic acid equivalent/g dry extract). Furthermore, among the tested extract, methanol-water fraction (MWF), total methanol extract (TME) and water fraction (WF) showed the highest antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay (IC50= 226.8, 283.66 and 299.4 μg.ml-1, respectively). In FRAP assay MWF and WF and TME had the highest antioxidant activities (664.4±0.002, 565.3±0.003, 519.5±0.003mmol FeII/g dry extract, respectively). Ethyl acetate fraction had maximum larvicidal activity (LC50 49.1ppm) followed by TME (LC50 64.26ppm) and hexane fraction (HF) (LC50 89.69). Conclusion: Scrophularia striata collected from west of Iran illustrated considerable antioxidant and larvicidal ef­fects and further in vitro and in vivo experimental models for investigation would be required.

Mucoadhesive disc is one of the various routes of drug delivery for curing buccal disease. Every discs containing 70 mg stem bark extract of Ziziphus jujuba were formulated by using Carbopol 934, PVP k30 and gelatin as polymers. Discs were made by granulation and direct compression. Discs were standardized based on the total phenol. Properties such as in vitro and in vivo mucoadhesion, drug release, water uptake, and disintegration were carried out. Discs showed excellent mucoadhesion and released high amount of the active ingredients (47%) immediately and completed after approximately the first hour. They had a good adhesion in buccal cavity. This study showed that the kinetics of release of the active substance from the mucoadhesive disc obeyed the zero order kinetic and didn't follow the fick's law. The water uptake and dissolution (DS), increased with the passing of time.

BackgroundDespite the improvements to enhance skin flap viability, the effects of ischemia-reperfusion (IR), oxidative stress, necrosis, and apoptosis are still challenging. Crocus sativus L. (Saffron) is highly noticeable due to its tissue-protective and antioxidant properties. So, we aimed to investigate its effects on skin flap viability, oxidative stress, apoptosis markers, histopathological changes, and mTOR/p-mTOR expression.Materials and Methods40 Sprauge-Dawley rats, weighting 200–240 g, were divided into four groups including: (1) Sham (8 × 3 cm skin cut, without elevation); (2) Flap Surgery (8 × 3 cm skin flap with elevation from its bed); (3) Saffron 40 mg/kg + Flap Surgery; and (4) Saffron 80 mg/kg + Flap Surgery. Saffron was administrated orally for 7 days. At day 7, flap necrosis percentage, histopathological changes, malondialdehyde level, Myeloperoxidase and superoxide dismutase activity, Bax, Bcl-2, mTOR, and p-mTOR expression were measured. Protein expressions were controlled by β-Actin.ResultsSaffron administration decreased flap necrosis percentage (p < 0.01), which was not dose-dependent. Treatment groups showed significant histological healing signs (Neovascularization, Fibroblast migration, Epithelialization, and Epithelialization thickness), decreased MDA content (p < 0.01), increased SOD (p < 0.01) and decreased MPO activity (p < 0.01). Bax and Bcl-2 expression, decreased and increased respectively in treated groups (p < 0.0001). mTOR and p-mTOR expression were not changed significantly in Saffron treated groups.ConclusionSaffron could increase skin flap viability, alleviate necrosis, decrease oxidative stress and decrease apoptotic cell death, after skin flap surgery, but it acts independent of the mTOR pathway. So, Saffron could potentially be used clinically to enhance skin flap viability.No Level AssignedThis journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.https://www.springer.com/00266

[...]it seems that different causes can lead to hy- pertension and hypertension according to the Ira- nian Traditional Medicine. [...]it is neces- sary to determine the main cause of blood pres- sure rise in every patient and then choose a proper treatment for each one based on his/her etiology since selecting an appropriate treatment will yield maximum efficiency. [...]the approach to hypertension from new perspectives and selection of appropriate strategies can help physicians to prevent or treat hypertension more effectively.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of Melissa officinalis, a major antioxidant plant, against neuron toxicity in hippocampal primary culture induced by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or ecstasy, one of the most abused drugs, which causes neurotoxicity. 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2 thiazoyl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to assess mitochondrial activity, reflecting cell survival. Caspase-3 activity assay and Hoechst / propiedium iodide (PI) staining were done to show apoptotic cell death. A high dose of ecstasy caused profound mitochondrial dysfunction, around 40% less than the control value, and increased apoptotic neuronal death to around 35% more than the control value in hippocampal neuronal culture. Co-treatment with Melissa officinalis significantly reversed these damages to around 15% and 20% respectively of the MDMA alone group, and provided protection against MDMA-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in neurons. Melissa officinalis has revealed neuroprotective effects against apoptosis induced by MDMA in the primary neurons of hippocampal culture, which could be due to its free radical scavenging properties and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitory effects.

The objectives of the study were to present the hemostatic effect of hydroalcoholic extract of L. in localized bleeding and to evaluate the safety of this plant after topical usage in rat's liver. The aerial parts of this plant were macerated for 2 days using methanol. After anesthesia and laparotomy of 12 female Wistar rats (120-220 g), the liver was exposed and two incisions were performed for bleeding. One was packed by sponge with and another without as a control group. Animals were divided into two groups that (150 mg/kg) was used in the first incision for one group and in the second incision for another. Liver biopsy was taken after 4, 6, and 8 weeks. We observed that usage of for liver incisions, either in the first incision or in the second incision; bleeding time decreases significantly (36.1% and 31.9%, respectively). Histopathological evaluations revealed no signs of toxic and hepatic damage for periods 4, 6, and 8 weeks in the female rats. This study confirmed the hemostatic effect of hydroalcoholic extract of in localized bleeding and also the safety of this plant for topical usage.