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Background: In traditional medicine, Lavender and Rosemary are referred as antispasmodic agents. However, so far their direct effects on uterus contraction have not been reported. This study aimed to assess antispasmodic effect of hydroalcoholic extracts of rosemary and lavender on rat isolated uterus contractions. Methods: In this research, the relaxant effect of hydroalcoholic extracts of these plants on rat isolated uterus contraction induced by KCl, acetylcholine, oxytocin, and electrical field stimulation (EFS) was determined and compared with nifedipine. Findings: Hydroalcoholic extracts of Lavender and Rosemary inhibited uterus contractions induced by KCl, acetylcholine, oxytocin, and EFS in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion: Hydroalcoholic extracts of Lavender and Rosemary have relaxant effects on uterus smooth muscle, and can be useful in prevention of premature labor.

Background: Hydroalcoholic extract from aerial part of Pycnocycla spinosa have shown to possess antispasmodic and anti-diarrhoeal activities. Anti-diarrhoeal effect of the extract, both quantitatively and qualitatively, are very close to loperamide. The aim of this research was identification of active fraction separated from extract of Pycnocycla spinosa via applying bioassay method on contraction of rat ileum. Methods: From aerial part of Pycnocycla spinosa methanolic, extract was prepared and then medium polar fractions were separated. The antispasmodic activities of separated fractions were assessed on rat isolated ileum contraction induced by KCl and compared with total extract. After that, the most active fraction was identified for further comparison with control group. Contractions were measured as maximum recorded amplitude and express as percent of initial contraction. Full concentration response curve was plotted for each group of experiment and the IC50 value (inhibitory concentration of extract causing 50% of maximum response) was calculated. Findings: From nine fractions isolated from Pycnocycla spinosa extract, the third fraction identified as the most active fraction which contained the active substance(s). Five fractions had a medium activity and two fractions were ineffective. Conclusion: This research demonstrated that Pycnocycla spinosa possessed a number of active substances with different potencies. The most potent substance was in the third fraction and therefore, purification and identification of this substance is recommended.

Background: Tichomoniasis is a very common sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by Trichomonas vaginalis. Metronidazol with vast side effects is now the only drug approved for the treatment of this infection in many countries. The effect of Viola odorata on several parasites is shown in previous studies. In this study, in an attempt to find an alternative drug, the effect of different extracts of this plant on Trichomonas vaginalis in culture medium was investigated. Methods: Three different fractions of leave, flower, and root including diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, and water fractions were prepared from crude extract. The extracts were dried using vacuum rotary evaporator and then, they were used for in-vitro anti-trichomonas vaginalis experiments. Findings: The crude extract of leave (4 mg/ml), flower (4 mg/ml), and root (2 mg/ml) of Viola odorata showed 100% growth inhibition (GI) during 24 hours. Diethyl ether fraction of leave, flower, and root of Viola odorata in concentration of 6 mg/ml showed 100% growth inhibition during 24 hours. The ethyl acetate fraction of leave, flower, and root revealed 100% growth inhibition in the first 24 hours with the minimum concentration of 20 mg/ml, 25 mg/ml, and 25 mg/ml, respectively. Water fraction of leave, flower, and root showed 100% growth inhibition during 24 hours in concentrations of 5, 3, and 1.5 mg/ml, respectively. Conclusion: Considering the appropriate effect of Viola odorata on Trichomonas vaginalis, more investigation is recommended to convert this plant to an anti-Trichomonas vaginalis drug.

مقدمه: Taxus baccata L به عنوان منبعی برای داروی ضد سرطان تاکسول به شمار می‌رود. مطالعه‌ی حاضر با هدف بررسی هم‌خوانی نتایج حاصله از معرفی یک سیستم بهینه‌ی حلال جهت استخراج تاکسان‌ها از گونه‌ی Taxus baccata با مطالعات بیولوژیک انجام گرفت. روش‌‌ها: سه رده‌ی سلولی MDA-MB-468، Hela و K562 در محیط RPMI-1640 با 10 درصد سرم جنین گاوی کشت داده شدند. پودر سر شاخه‌های گیاه T. baccata L با استفاده از 8 سیستم حلال به روش ماسراسیون عصاره‌گیری شد. جهت استانداردسازی عصاره‌ها از روش HPTLC (High performance thin layer chromatography) استفاده شد. سمیت سلولی غلظت‌های مختلف عصاره‌ها (استون 100، 50 و 20 درصد و اتانول 96، 50 و 20 درصد و استون-دی کلرومتان 1 به 1 و متانول خالص) بر روی سلول‌های کشت داده‌شده با استفاده از روش MTT بررسی شد. یافته‌ها: نتایج تست MTT نشان داد که عصاره‌ی استون- دی کلرومتان و سپس استون خالص بیشترین سمیت سلولی را داشتند. به علاوه در بین 3 رده‌ی سلولی مورد آزمایش، بیشترین اثر سیتوتوکسیک این عصاره‌ها روی رده‌ی سلولی K562 مشاهده شد. نتیجه‌گیری: در بین عصارهای مورد مطالعه، اثر سیتوتوکسیک، بیشتر از عصاره‌ی استون- دی کلرومتان و سپس عصاره‌ی استون خالص دیده می‌شود، همان گونه که آنالیز ترکیبات توسط TLC Scanner و HPLC بیشترین میزان تاکسان‌ها را در عصاره‌های مذکور( استون– دی کلرومتان و استون خالص) نشان می‌دهد، می‌توان نتیجه گرفت که ارتباط مستقیمی بین میزان تاکسان‌ها و اثر سیتوتوکسیک وجود دارد.

Introduction: Gag reflex is one of the most common problems during dental procedures, especially during radiography and impression taking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Elaeagnus angustifolia drug film on gag reflex. Materials and methods: One hundred patients referring to the Radiology Department of Isfahan School of Dentistry were selected for the purpose of this double-blind clinical trial and randomly divided into two groups. The gag reflex was provoked and then in 50 patients, medication A (placebo) and in 50 others medication B containing Elaeagnus angustifolia were placed for 3 minutes in zones which were trigger zones for the gag reflex. Then the patients’ gag reflex was evaluated again. Data was analyzed with Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney and chi-squared tests (α=0.05).Results: In group A (placebo), frequency of distribution of gag reflex in the soft palate, tonsils and tongue were not significantly different before and after drug use. However, in group B, frequency of distribution of gag reflex exhibited significant differences in the tonsils (p value < 0.001) and soft palate (p value < 0.003) after drug application. In addition, there were no significant differences in sex distribution between the two groups.Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that a thin film of a medication containing Elaeagnus angustifolia has a positive effect on gag reflex in the tonsil and soft palate areas, and it can be used during dental procedures such as radiography procedures. Key words: Gagging, Drug, Placebo, Radiography.

Background: Eczema is one of the most common dermatologic disorders with specific clinical characteristics, unknown etiology, and not yet known curative treatment. Introducing any kind of treatment to relieve itching and inflammation will be considered as therapeutic success. The use of herbal essential oils has attracted widespread attention as a new natural treatment of dermatologic diseases and thus a step for revival of traditional medicine. Methods: In this study, essential oils of peppermint (Mentha piperita), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), clove (Eugenia caryophyllata) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum ceylanicom) were selected as potential therapeutic candidates for eczema. Different concentrations of menthol and camphor were also added to increase the skin penetration and anti-itching effects of the ointment. Hydrocarbons were used as ointment base due to high solubility, stability, and good covering properties of essential oils in this base. A combination of 27% liquid paraffin and 35% paraffin wax was used as the best base of the ointments. Clinical evaluations were then performed on 110 patients among whom 50 patients received herbal ointment. Findings: Complete improvement was observed in 66% of the herbal group compared to 43.3% of the standard care and 13% of the placebo groups. Patients who received the herbal ointment experienced fast and stable relief of itching (after 1-2 weeks of using the ointment). Mild and transient side effects such as irritation and redness were seen in 20% of the cases in the herbal group. Conclusion: Fast relief of itching and short treatment period were some advantages of herbal ointment. Different concentrations of the active ingredients were prepared and some modifications were made to increase penetration, accelerate relief of itching, and decrease skin irritation induced by essential oils. This herbal ointment was most effective in chronic eczema and its efficacy on exogenous eczema was less than endogenous eczema.