23 results on '"Zahra Memariani"'
Search Results
2. Nine Steps to Discover New Medicines from Traditional Sources: The Example of Persian Medicine
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Hoda Shirafkan, Zahra Memariani, Seyyed Ali Mozaffarpur, Mohammad Kamalinejad, Akram Moradi Farahani, Reyhaneh Moeini, Mohammad Ali Shams, Mohsen Naseri, and Narjes Gorji
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Prioritization ,Traditional Persian ,Materia medica ,Signs and symptoms ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Terminology as Topic ,Selection (linguistics) ,Humans ,Medicine ,Persian ,Information retrieval ,biology ,business.industry ,Persia ,biology.organism_classification ,Popularity ,language.human_language ,030205 complementary & alternative medicine ,Complementary and alternative medicine ,Materia Medica ,language ,Medicine, Traditional ,Periodicals as Topic ,Citation ,business ,Algorithms - Abstract
Objectives: Developing a new medicine is a costly and time-consuming process. This study presents a novel method to collate a new materia medica from previously documented traditional Persian medicine (TPM) references. A well-documented materia medica will facilitate a quick and easy process to find traditional medicine for specific symptoms or diseases. Materials and methods: A nine-step algorithm is proposed to collate a new materia medica by searching and matching descriptions and references stated in various traditional Persian literature: (1) finding the equivalent of traditional description of symptoms or diseases; (2) determining the keywords to search in the references of TPM, including The Canon of Medicine (Book by Avicenna); (3) determining the best references of TPM for the aim of the study; (4) weighing up the references (a) based on the prominence of the author's prominence (b) determining whether the references are the author's own clinical findings or has citation from other scholars been used, (c) the popularity of the book that the references feature in, among other later scholars of TPM, the geographical and historical span across which the book has been distributed; (5) searching the references using keywords of symptoms or diseases; (6) finding the synonyms of terminologies in the various materia medicas and categorizing the findings; (7) revision (of references found) to ensure that nothing is neglected; (8) scoring the findings based on the defined criteria; (9) prioritization: sorting the materia medica based on the total scores. Some important economic, cultural or historical factors cannot be included in the main process of prioritization during the initial searching of the TPM materia medica. Therefore, it is necessary to take these factors into account after discovering the medicine and before using in practice to ascertain that they are a good match of a specific treatment, disease or symptom. Conclusion: A process to compile a new materia medica has been proposed which will enable the quick and easy selection of herbal treatments for various signs and symptoms of illnesses.
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- 2020
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3. Chemoprotective and chemosensitizing effects of apigenin on cancer therapy
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Shabnam Heydarzadeh, Zahra Memariani, Zahra Nozhat, and Amirhossein Ahmadi
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Chemoprotective agent ,Cancer Research ,Combination therapy ,Review ,Flavones ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Therapeutic index ,Genetics ,medicine ,Apigenin ,Side effects ,RC254-282 ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,QH573-671 ,business.industry ,Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens ,Cancer ,Chemoprotective ,Molecular mechanisms ,Chemosensitizing ,medicine.disease ,Oncology ,chemistry ,Cancer cell ,Cancer research ,Cytology ,business - Abstract
Background Therapeutic resistance to radiation and chemotherapy is one of the major obstacles in cancer treatment. Although synthetic radiosensitizers are pragmatic solution to enhance tumor sensitivity, they pose concerns of toxicity and non-specificity. In the last decades, scientists scrutinized novel plant-derived radiosensitizers and chemosensitizers, such as flavones, owing to their substantial physiological effects like low toxicity and non-mutagenic properties on the human cells. The combination therapy with apigenin is potential candidate in cancer therapeutics. This review explicates the combinatorial strategies involving apigenin to overcome drug resistance and boost the anti-cancer properties. Methods We selected full-text English papers on international databases like PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, and ScienceDirect from 1972 up to 2020. The keywords included in the search were: Apigenin, Chemoprotective, Chemosensitizing, Side Effects, and Molecular Mechanisms. Results In this review, we focused on combination therapy, particularly with apigenin augmenting the anti-cancer effects of chemo drugs on tumor cells, reduce their side effects, subdue drug resistance, and protect healthy cells. The reviewed research data implies that these co-therapies exhibited a synergistic effect on various cancer cells, where apigenin sensitized the chemo drug through different pathways including a significant reduction in overexpressed genes, AKT phosphorylation, NFκB, inhibition of Nrf2, overexpression of caspases, up-regulation of p53 and MAPK, compared to the monotherapies. Meanwhile, contrary to the chemo drugs alone, combined treatments significantly induced apoptosis in the treated cells. Conclusion Briefly, our analysis proposed that the combination therapies with apigenin could suppress the unwanted toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents. It is believed that these expedient results may pave the path for the development of drugs with a high therapeutic index. Nevertheless, human clinical trials are a prerequisite to consider the potential use of apigenin in the prevention and treatment of various cancers. Conclusively, the clinical trials to comprehend the role of apigenin as a chemoprotective agent are still in infancy. Graphical Abstract
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- 2021
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4. Application of Natural Products in Radiotherapy-Induced Dermatitis: A Comprehensive Review
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Raju Dash, Maedeh Rezghi, Farideh Asadi, Seyed Ali Mozaffarpour, Zahra Memariani, Sarmistha Mitra, and Akram Moradi Farahani
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Complementary and Manual Therapy ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Radiotherapy ,business.industry ,Skin disorders ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,Phytochemical ,Dermatology ,Natural (archaeology) ,Radiation therapy ,Radioprotective ,Complementary and alternative medicine ,medicine ,Radiodermatitis ,Herbal medicine ,Public aspects of medicine ,RA1-1270 ,business - Abstract
Radiodermatitis (RD) is experienced by many cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. An increasing number of these patients demand alternative natural therapies. This study aimed to review the natural products application in cancer patients who experience RD. A search of studies published from 1990 to 2020 in the databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar was performed with the keywords relevant to “Radiotherapy” “Dermatitis” and “Natural Products”. Out of 73 papers obtained, 40 papers were excluded which described only protocols or were non-clinical, non-English language, or without full text. The obtained studies were discussed in detail according to the outcomes and potential mechanisms of action for each natural product. Clinically studied natural products were found to show several outcomes from non-effective to effective in diminishing various items of RD. Outcomes on the effectiveness of Aloe vera were diverse. Some trials suggest that Silybum marianum, Boswellia, Nigella sativa, olive oil, Lianbai, and Hypericum perforatum as well as some multi-ingredient products might be effective prophylactic treatments for RD. Potential mechanisms of these natural products included topical hydrating, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound healing activities. Results from this review shows that there are some promising natural product options for the prevention and treatment of RD via their multifactorial bioactivities. However, additional research is needed before any definitive conclusions. A larger sample size, optimum doses and duration of intervention as well as investigation of treatment effects in diverse populations and comorbid complications would also be essential in future studies.
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- 2021
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5. Gastroprotective herbs for headache management in Persian medicine: A comprehensive review
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Fatemeh Kolangi, Maryam Naeimi, Zahra Memariani, Mohammad Kamalinejad, Narjes Gorji, and Reihaneh Moeini
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Stomach Diseases ,0211 other engineering and technologies ,02 engineering and technology ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,021105 building & construction ,medicine ,Humans ,Medicinal plants ,Plants, Medicinal ,biology ,Traditional medicine ,business.industry ,Stomach ,Headache ,Persia ,Hypericum perforatum ,General Medicine ,Helicobacter pylori ,biology.organism_classification ,030205 complementary & alternative medicine ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Phyllanthus emblica ,Zingiber officinale ,Medicine, Traditional ,Gastritis ,medicine.symptom ,Headaches ,business ,Phytotherapy - Abstract
The gut-brain axis is a bidirectional communication system that exists between the brain and gut. Several studies claimed that some types of headaches are associated with various gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. In Persian medicine (PM), physicians believed that gastric disturbances could stimulate headache and introduced some herbs for boosting gastric function as a therapeutic remedy for headache. Here we review the current evidence for the gastroprotective and antiheadache effects of herbs used in PM. Herbs used for their gastrotonic effects in PM were identified from selected Persian medical and pharmaceutical textbooks. PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar were used to search for contemporary scientific evidence relating to the gastric and neurologic effects of these plants. A total of 24 plants were recorded from the selected sources included in this review, most of which belonged to the Rosaceae family. Phyllanthus emblica, Zingiber officinale, Boswellias errata, Punica granatum and Hypericum perforatum had the most recent studies related to GI disorder and headache, while current research about quince, rose, apple, hawthorn and pear was limited. Reducing Helicobacter pylori growth, gastritis, erosion of the stomach lining, hemorrhage and perforation, improving gastric mucosal resistance, antisecretary, antiulcer, antipyretic, analgesic, sedative, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, neuroprotective and antioxidant effects as well as improvement in memory scores were some of the gastrotonic and neuroprotective mechanisms described in the current research. These results confirmed that medicinal plants prescribed in PM may improve headache in patients through the management of GI abnormalities. However, further studies are recommended to investigate the efficacy and safety of the mentioned medicinal plants.
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- 2020
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6. Therapeutic Application of Achillea millefolium L. in Female Reproductive Diseases from the Viewpoint of Persian Medicine and Current Medicine
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Somayeh Zakeri, Zahra Memariani, Narjes Gorji, and Reihaneh Moeini
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Pharmacology ,Achillea millefolium ,Traditional medicine ,business.industry ,achillea millefolium ,persian medicine ,RM1-950 ,language.human_language ,herbal medicines ,Complementary and alternative medicine ,RA1190-1270 ,Toxicology. Poisons ,language ,Medicine ,Therapeutics. Pharmacology ,business ,female disease ,Persian - Abstract
Introduction: In Persian medicine (PM), Achillea millefolium L. has a wide range of applications in the treatment of several diseases. The aim of this study is to introduce the viewpoints of PM scholars about this herb in the field of female diseases and to compare them with the recent studies. Methods: In this review study, therapeutic applications of Achillea millefolium in the field of female diseases were collected from credible Persian medical sources from 4th to 14th lunar centuries then current scientific databases such as PubMed and Google scholar were searched by using key world Achillea millefolium for collecting the findings of clinical, experimental and in vitro studies about this herb in the field of obstetrics and gynecology to compared to the PM scholarschr('39') viewpoints. Results: in PM, Achillea millefolium is recommended for treatment various female reproductive diseases such as menstrual disorders, facilitating labor, reducing adhesions of cervix, controlling uterine infections. In recent studies, therapeutic effects of this herb on ovarian cyst, menstrual cycle regulation and dysmenorrhea have been reported. Also, in several studies, the antibacterial and antifungal effects of this plant on controlling infections have been investigated; as well the extract of this plant has been effective in inhibiting the proliferation of ovarian adenocarcinoma cells. Conclusion: Considering the extensive uses of Achillea millefolium reflected in PM and recent studies, it seems that this plant can be used in many fields of female diseases to provide ideas for research and therapy
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- 2019
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7. Nepeta menthoides Boiss. & Buhse, an endemic species in Iran: A review of traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology
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Zahra Memariani, Mohammad Hosein Farzaei, Niloofar Zakaria Nejad, and Atena Rahimi
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Medicine (General) ,food.ingredient ,Web of science ,Terpenoids ,RM1-950 ,Pharmacology ,01 natural sciences ,law.invention ,03 medical and health sciences ,R5-920 ,0302 clinical medicine ,food ,law ,Drug Discovery ,Medicine ,Ostokhodus ,Essential oil ,biology ,business.industry ,Lamiaceae family ,Traditional medicine ,Nepeta menthoides ,biology.organism_classification ,030205 complementary & alternative medicine ,0104 chemical sciences ,010404 medicinal & biomolecular chemistry ,Search terms ,Phytochemical ,Herb ,Therapeutics. Pharmacology ,business ,Lavandula stoechas - Abstract
Nepeta menthoides Boiss & Buhse is one of the endemic species in Iran. Named Ostokhodus, it is almost used as substitute of the Lavandula stoechas –the original Ostokhodus- in traditional Persian medicine (TPM) over the time and widely used for the management of some ailments such as anxiety, depression, dementia and chronic pain. The aim of this study is to review the pharmacological and phytochemical evidence on Nepeta menthoides for the assessment of the recommended traditional indications of this herb. In this review, all the relevant articles that met our inclusion criteria [English or Persian articles, having full text, evaluating therapeutic effects of N. menthoides and dated mainly from the year 1980 to 2018] were included by searching studies in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and SID. The search terms were "Nepeta menthoides, "Ostokhodus". Triterpenes and monoterpenes were the most chemicals reported from essential oil of N. menthoides. Several pharmacological properties via in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies have been reported including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive, antidepressant and anxiolytic, anticholinesterase, neuroprotective, memory enhancing, anti-Alzheimer’s disease, anticancer and effect on opioid dependence. Some proposed traditional indications of this herb in TPM books are in accordance with pharmacological evidence like anti-nociceptive, anti-seizure, anti-Alzheimer’s disease, memory enhancing, neuroprotective, antidepressant, anxiolytic activity and anti-infective properties. Although some properties in TPM, such as anti-tussive and gastrotonic effects are not supported by scientific evidence, they need more investigations.
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- 2019
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8. Natural products against cisplatin-induced male reproductive toxicity: A comprehensive review
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Soharb Kazemi, Farideh Asadi, Zahra Memariani, Farangiz Soorani, Maedeh Rezghi, and Atena Rahimi
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Infertility ,Male ,Testicular Disorder ,DNA damage ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Antineoplastic Agents ,Pharmacology ,Toxicology ,Biochemistry ,Neoplasms ,Testis ,medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,Spermatogenesis ,Molecular Biology ,Cisplatin ,Chemotherapy ,Biological Products ,business.industry ,General Medicine ,medicine.disease ,Oxidative Stress ,Toxicity ,Molecular Medicine ,Animal studies ,Reproductive toxicity ,business ,Reactive Oxygen Species ,medicine.drug ,DNA Damage - Abstract
Cisplatin is widely used as one of the most effective anticancer agents in the treatment of some neoplasms. Reproductive toxicity is the most common outcome associated with cisplatin testicular damage. Alternative natural medicines for treating male testicular disorders and infertility have received extensive attention in research. Natural products, medicinal herbs, and their secondary metabolites have been shown as promising agents in the management of testicular damage induced by chemotherapy drugs. This study aimed to review the research related to natural substances that are promising in mitigation of the cisplatin-induced toxicity in the reproductive system. PubMed and Scopus were searched for studies on various natural products for their potential protective property against reproductive toxicity induced by cisplatin from 2000 to 2020. Eligibility was checked based on selection criteria. Fifty-nine articles were included in this review. Mainly in animal studies, several natural agents have positively affected cisplatin-reproductive-toxicity factors, including reactive oxygen species, inflammatory mediators, DNA damage, and activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Most of the natural agents were investigated in short-term duration and high doses of cisplatin exposure, considering their antioxidant activity against oxidative stress. Considering antioxidant properties, various natural products might be effective for the management of cisplatin reproductive toxicity. However, long-term recovery of spermatogenesis and management of low-dose-cisplatin toxicity should be considered as well as the bioavailability of these agents before and after treatment with cisplatin without affecting its anticancer activity.
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- 2021
9. Berberine in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases: From Mechanisms to Therapeutics
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Mohamad Fawzi Mahomoodally, Sherif T. S. Hassan, Antoni Sureda, Lovro Ziberna, Devesh Tewari, Karel Šmejkal, Zahra Memariani, Luigi Barrea, Milan Malaník, Aizong Shen, Suowen Xu, Gokhan Zengin, Davide Barreca, Alice Sychrová, Samineh Jafari, Xiaojun Feng, Giuseppe Annunziata, Seyed Mohammad Nabavi, Selçuk Üniversitesi, Fen Fakültesi, Biyoloji Bölümü, and Zengin, Gökhan
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0301 basic medicine ,Drug ,Ayurvedic medicine ,Berberine ,media_common.quotation_subject ,humanos ,enfermedades cardiovasculares ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,Review ,Pharmacology ,Cardiovascular System ,metabolic diseases ,berberina ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,therapeutics ,Animals ,Humans ,Medicine ,Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics (miscellaneous) ,enfermedades metabólicas ,media_common ,business.industry ,Berberine, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, targets, therapeutics ,AMPK ,cardiovascular diseases ,030104 developmental biology ,chemistry ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,sistema cardiovascular ,Molecular targets ,animales ,targets ,business - Abstract
WOS: 000461767700008, PubMed: 31037148, Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (CVMD) are the leading causes of death worldwide, underscoring the urgent necessity to develop new pharmacotherapies. Berberine (BBR) is an eminent component of traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for more than 2000 years. Recently, BBR has attracted much interest for its pharmacological actions in treating and/or managing CVMD. Recent discoveries of basic, translational and clinical studies have identified many novel molecular targets of BBR (such as AMPK, SIRT1, LDLR, PCSK9, and PTP1B) and provided novel evidences supporting the promising therapeutic potential of BBR to combat CVMD. Thus, this review provides a timely overview of the pharmacological properties and therapeutic application of BBR in CVMD, and underlines recent pharmacological advances which validate BBR as a promising lead drug against CVMD., National Nature Science Foundation of ChinaNational Natural Science Foundation of China [81603339, 81602344]; Natural Science Foundation of Anhui ProvinceNatural Science Foundation of Anhui Province [1708085QH175]; American Heart AssociationAmerican Heart Association [18CDA34110359]; Slovenian Research Agency ARRSSlovenian Research Agency - Slovenia [J3-8209]; Institute of Health Carlos IIIInstituto de Salud Carlos III [CIBEROBN CB12/03/30038], The work was supported by National Nature Science Foundation of China (81603339, 81602344) and Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province (1708085QH175). S. X. is a recipient of Career Development Award from American Heart Association (18CDA34110359). L. Z. was supported by Slovenian Research Agency ARRS (J3-8209). A. S. was supported by the Institute of Health Carlos III (Project CIBEROBN CB12/03/30038).
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- 2019
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10. Herbs with Potential Nephrotoxic Effects According to the Traditional Persian Medicine: Review and Assessment of Scientific Evidence
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Mohaddeseh Mirzapour, Zahra Memariani, Fatemeh Kolangi, Seyyed Ali Mozaffarpur, and Mahboubeh Bozorgi
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Mastic Gum ,Traditional Persian ,education ,Clinical Biochemistry ,02 engineering and technology ,01 natural sciences ,Scientific evidence ,Nephrotoxicity ,Renal injury ,Animals ,Humans ,Medicine ,In patient ,Medicinal plants ,Pharmacology ,Plants, Medicinal ,biology ,Traditional medicine ,010405 organic chemistry ,business.industry ,Renal damage ,Persia ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,biology.organism_classification ,0104 chemical sciences ,Kidney Diseases ,Medicine, Traditional ,Plant Preparations ,0210 nano-technology ,business - Abstract
BACKGROUND The increased use of herbal remedies particularly in patients with kidney diseases indicated the importance of studies, which focused on nephrotoxic plants. OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to review and assess the kidney-damaging herbs mentioned in the Persian medicine [PM] books. METHOD The main PM books were searched for nephrotoxic herbs and their relevant reformers traditionally proposed for preventing renal damage. PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar were investigated for evaluation of the scientific evidence relating to the nephrotoxicity of herbs. RESULTS A total of 64 plants with kidney damage potential and their reformer medicaments were recorded in 7 sources included in this review. Allium schoenoprasum and Marrubium vulgare were the most repeated and emphasized nephrotoxic plants in PM books, but there was no relevant scientific evidence. Despite the lack of clinical studies, some evidence was found for 38% of plants that were related to renal damage. The most repeated reformers for reducing the renal side effects mainly consisted of gum tragacanth, gum Arabic, mastic gum, anise, jujube and honey and some evidence was found for their nephroprotective activities. CONCLUSION The present study reviewed and assessed the herbs with adverse renal effects in the main PM books. Some evidence was in line with the potential nephrotoxicity of plants and their .reformers. Despite the lack of clinical research for evaluation of their renal damage, the herbs may be focused in term of their nephrotoxicity; and there is a need for further studies on the scientific basis of their nephrotoxicity.
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- 2018
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11. Almond, hazelnut and walnut, three nuts for neuroprotection in Alzheimer’s disease: A neuropharmacological review of their bioactive constituents
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Narjes Gorji, Zahra Memariani, and Reihaneh Moeini
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0301 basic medicine ,Phytochemicals ,Juglans ,Disease ,Neuroprotection ,03 medical and health sciences ,Corylus ,0302 clinical medicine ,Alzheimer Disease ,Memory ,Animals ,Humans ,Nuts ,Medicine ,Pharmacology ,Traditional medicine ,business.industry ,Persia ,food and beverages ,Cholesterol lowering ,Prunus dulcis ,Neuroprotective Agents ,030104 developmental biology ,Tau phosphorylation ,Medicine, Traditional ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Abstract
An increase in the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) as a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder is an almost obvious issue in the world. Researches on natural products for finding effective drugs to prevent the disease are in progress. There is special attention to the three types of nuts including almond, hazelnut and walnut in manuscripts of traditional Persian medicine (PM) as the preventive agents against brainatrophy and memory loss. The purpose of this study is a pharmacological review of their bioactive constituents and introducing the value of these nuts as the effective supplements and natural medicinal foods in AD patients. Databases including PubMed and ScienceDirect were searched in title, abstract and keywords from year 2000 to present for AD-related researches on these tree nuts, their major phytochemicals and their mechanisms of action. As result, almond, hazelnut and walnut provide macronutrients, micronutrients, and phytochemicals which affect several pathways in AD pathogenesis such as amyloidogenesis, tau phosphorylation, oxidative stress, cholinergic pathways, and some non-target mechanisms including cholesterol lowering and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as effect on neurogenesis. These nuts are recommended in PM for their brain-protective activity and particularly reversing brain atrophy in case of hazelnut. The therapeutical statements of PM scholars mentioned in their books are based on their clinical observations with support of a long history of experiences. Beyond the molecular activities attributed to the phytochemicals, the use of these tree nuts could be more considered in scientific researches as the effective nutrients for prevention or even management of AD.
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- 2018
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12. Nutritional and bioactive characterization of unexplored food rich in phytonutrients
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Ahmad Ali, Zahra Memariani, Mohammad Hosein Farzaei, and Saeedeh Momtaz
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education.field_of_study ,business.industry ,Population ,food and beverages ,Biology ,Health benefits ,medicine.disease ,Indigenous ,Biotechnology ,Malnutrition ,Nutraceutical ,Nutrient ,medicine ,Life expectancy ,Food systems ,business ,education - Abstract
Phytonutrients refer to nutrients in plants, or phytochemicals, that have potentially positive health benefits that are useful for maintaining well-being and the normal functions of the body, and increasing life expectancy. They have also been proven to contribute to the prevention or treatment of diseases. Different unexplored plant species can provide further sources of nutrients, as well as bioactive phytochemicals with various health benefits. Bringing these edible plants into local food systems might help to reduce malnutrition, especially in indigenous communities with underprivileged population groups. Many underutilized and unexplored plants provide the potential to variegate the human diet; so introducing these neglected herbs would increase the consumption of nutrient-rich food plants. In addition, application of multidisciplinary research and modern techniques would provide nutritional or anti-nutritional information about these underutilized plant resources, and could stand as a platform for future use of unique botanicals/phytochemicals for the next generation of functional foods, foods with fewer anti-nutrients or toxicological factors, nutraceuticals, and biofortified foods. The collaboration of relevant international/national organizations and associations, with academic groups and industrial organizations, could accelerate the addition of underutilized plant species into consumers’ diets.
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- 2020
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13. Treatment of Patients with Refractory Functional Dyspepsia Using Nardostachys jatamansi (D.Don) DC. Hydroalcoholic Extract: A Case Series
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Zahra Memariani, Javad Shokri, Soraia Khafri, Morteza Mojahedi, and Mohaddese Mirzapour
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Complementary and Manual Therapy ,medicine.medical_specialty ,biology ,business.industry ,lcsh:Public aspects of medicine ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,Nardostachys jatamansi ,lcsh:RA1-1270 ,biology.organism_classification ,law.invention ,Post-prandial ,Postprandial ,Complementary and alternative medicine ,Refractory ,Rating scale ,law ,Internal medicine ,Dyspepsia ,Herbal medicine ,N. jatamansi ,Traditional medicine ,medicine ,Population study ,In patient ,Phytotherapy ,business - Abstract
Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a highly prevalent condition with high impact on healthcare costs. Considering the complimentary therapies options like phytotherapy, this study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of Nardostachys jatamansi (D.Don) DC. extract in sixteen FD patients. The subjects received capsules of 500 mg N. Jatamansi, 3 times daily before meals for 30 days. The severity of early satiation and postprandial fullness were assessed by self-report of improvement at least 50% of symptoms and other FD symptoms assessed by Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) before intervention and at end of treatment. The mean GSRS score level decreased significantly after intervention among study population. Five patients had chief complaint of early satiety and post prandial fullness who all of them reported 50% improvement. According to the results N. jatamansi seems to be effective in patients with refractory FD. Randomized clinical studies seem to be required.
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- 2019
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14. Improvement in Semen Quality and Occurrence of Pregnancy Treated with an Herbal Medication: a Case Report
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Maryam Naeimi, Seyyed Ali Mozaffarpur, Zahra Memariani, Hamid Shafi, Mohammad Kamalinejad, and Fatemeh Kolangi
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Complementary and Manual Therapy ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Pregnancy ,business.industry ,Obstetrics ,lcsh:Public aspects of medicine ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,lcsh:RA1-1270 ,medicine.disease ,Sperm ,Male infertility ,Galangin ,Semen quality ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Complementary and alternative medicine ,chemistry ,Antioxidan ,Semen parameters ,Medicine ,business - Abstract
Male infertility is one of the most important subjects in medical sciences. It can cause private, social, and economic problems. Idiopathic male infertility is a situation where abnormal sperm parameters are created due to no specific cause and without definite standard treatment. Some herbal antioxidants can improve semen quality and assist infertile patients. We here report a case with idiopathic infertility who had been trying to have a child for 4 years, but he failed. A 33-year-old non-smoker, overweight man referral from urologist due to idiopathic infertility to the traditional medicine clinic. He had been trying to have a child for 4 years, and the first three years received antioxidant supplements but he was unsuccessful. Alpinia officinarum (Lesser galangal) rhizome in powder form was prepared and administered to the patient for three months. After the intervention, all the semen parameters were improved. A. officinarum has a high amount of galangin that has antioxidant effects. In this study, we showed that the spouse of an idiopathic infertile male becomes pregnant after receiving A. officinarum rhizome
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- 2019
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15. Protective effect of essential oil of Pistacia atlantica Desf. on peptic ulcer: role of α-pinene
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Mannan Hajimahmoodi, Zahra Memariani, Farideh Siavoshi, Mohammad Hosein Farzaei, Parastoo Saniee, Mahdi Gholami, Mohammad Sharifzadeh, and Mahbubeh Bozorgi
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Male ,Peptic Ulcer ,Protective Agents ,Ulcer index ,01 natural sciences ,Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ,law.invention ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,law ,Oils, Volatile ,Animals ,Humans ,Plant Oils ,Medicine ,Oleoresin ,Rats, Wistar ,Essential oil ,Bicyclic Monoterpenes ,Medicine(all) ,Pinene ,Helicobacter pylori ,Traditional medicine ,biology ,Pistacia ,business.industry ,General Medicine ,biology.organism_classification ,Acute toxicity ,Anti-Bacterial Agents ,Rats ,0104 chemical sciences ,010404 medicinal & biomolecular chemistry ,chemistry ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Monoterpenes ,Pistacia atlantica ,business ,Antibacterial activity - Abstract
To evaluate the efficacy of Pistacia atlantica Desf. oleoresin essential oil on peptic ulcer (PU) and its antibacterial effect on metronidazole-resistant Helicobacter pylori, as well as chemical composition of the essential oil.The essential oil was standardized using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. Acute toxicity of the essential oil was assessed in animal model. In vitro anti-Helicobacter pylori activity was performed through disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration method. For gastroprotective assay, rats received Pistacia atlantica Desf. essential oil (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg orally) 1 h before induction of ulcer by ethanol. Macroscopic (ulcer index and protection rate) and microscopic examination were performed.The GC/MS analysis of the essential oil led to the identification of twenty constituents and α-pinene is predominant constituent. The essential oil was safe up to 2000 mg/kg. All Helicobacter pylori strains were susceptible to the essential oil and the MIC ranged from 275 to 1100 μg/mL. The ulcer index for treated groups was significantly reduced compared to control (P0.001) with EC(50) value of 12.32 mg/kg. In microscopic examination, Pistacia atlantica attenuated destruction and necrosis of gastric tissue.Current study exhibited protective effect of standardized Pistacia atlantica essential oil against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer and its antibacterial activity on Helicobacter pylori. α-pinene might be the responsible agent.
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- 2017
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16. Experimental and Pathalogical study of Pistacia atlantica , butyrate, Lactobacillus casei and their combination on rat ulcerative colitis model
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Zahra Memariani, Mohammad Abdollahi, Maryam Baeeri, Faheem Maqbool, Seyedeh Farnaz Ghasemi-Niri, Mahdi Gholami, and Iraj Pousti
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Male ,0301 basic medicine ,Lactobacillus casei ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Necrosis ,Combination therapy ,Colon ,Butyrate ,medicine.disease_cause ,Gastroenterology ,Pathology and Forensic Medicine ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Animals ,Rats, Wistar ,Colitis ,Peroxidase ,biology ,Plant Extracts ,business.industry ,Probiotics ,Cell Biology ,biology.organism_classification ,medicine.disease ,Ulcerative colitis ,Rats ,Butyrates ,Disease Models, Animal ,Lacticaseibacillus casei ,Oxidative Stress ,Treatment Outcome ,030104 developmental biology ,Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Myeloperoxidase ,Pistacia ,Immunology ,biology.protein ,Drug Therapy, Combination ,medicine.symptom ,business ,Oxidative stress - Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of Pistacia atlantica (P. atlantica), butyrate, Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) and especially their combination therapy on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)-induced rat colitis model. Rats were divided into seven groups. Four groups received oral P. atlantica, butyrate, L. casei and the combination of three agents for 10 consecutive days. The remaining groups were negative and positive controls and a sham group. Macroscopic and histopathological examinations were carried out along with determination of the specific biomarker of colonic oxidative stress, the myeloperoxidase (MPO). Compared with controls, the combination therapy exhibited a significant alleviation of colitis in terms of pathological scores and reduction of MPO activity (55%, p=0.0009). Meanwhile, the macroscopic appearance such as stool consistency, tissue and histopathological scores (edema, necrosis and neutrophil infiltration) were improved. Although single therapy by each P. atlantica, butyrate, and L. casei was partially beneficial in reduction of colon oxidative stress markers, the combination therapy was much more effective. In conclusion, the combination therapy was able to reduce the severity of colitis that is clear from biochemical markers. Future studies have to focus on clinical effects of this combination in management of human ulcerative colitis. Further molecular and signaling pathway studies will help to understand the mechanisms involved in the treatment of colitis and inflammatory diseases.
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- 2016
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17. The effect of Achillea Millefolium L. on vulvovaginal candidiasis compared with clotrimazole: A randomized controlled trial
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Somayeh Zakeri, Ali Bijani, Seddigheh Esmaeilzadeh, Reihaneh Moeini, Zahra Memariani, and Narjes Gorji
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Adult ,Complementary and Manual Therapy ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Antifungal Agents ,Dose ,law.invention ,03 medical and health sciences ,Minimum inhibitory concentration ,0302 clinical medicine ,Double-Blind Method ,Randomized controlled trial ,law ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Clotrimazole ,Candida albicans ,Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal ,Advanced and Specialized Nursing ,Achillea millefolium ,biology ,Plant Extracts ,business.industry ,Dermatology Life Quality Index ,biology.organism_classification ,Achillea ,Complementary and alternative medicine ,Vulvovaginal Candidiasis ,Quality of Life ,Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies ,Female ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Vulvovaginal candidiasis is the second most common cause of vulvovaginal infections. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of vaginal cream of Achillea millefolium extract in women with vulvovaginal candidiasis in comparison with vaginal clotrimazole.This double-blind randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 80 women diagnosed with vulvovaginal candidiasis clinically and by laboratory test; 40 women received vaginal cream clotrimazole 1 % and 40 received vaginal cream containing the aqueous extract of A. millefolium for 7 days. Clinical and laboratory assessments were performed before and after the intervention. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the extract was evaluated with Broth micro-dilution procedure.The Dermatology life quality index score showed significant reduction in both groups after treatment, but it was significantly more reduced in control group (p 0.05). Improvement in vulvar erythema was observed in both groups with no statistically difference (p = 0.1). Vaginal culture was negative in term of Candida in 28(77 %) patients of control group and in 18(53 %) patient of experimental group (p 0.05). The Minimum inhibitory concentration of the extract was 37.5 mg/mL for the standard strain.Study results showed that vaginal cream containing A. millefolium could reduce the complaints of vulvovaginal candidiasis. But, future studies with a larger sample size and different dosages are recommended to assess the outcomes of this new treatment.
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- 2020
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18. Comparison of the efficacy of ranitidine and quince syrup on gastroesophageal reflux disease in children
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Maryam Naeimi, Ali Bijani, Hamidreza Kianifar, Narjes Gorji, Roshanak Saghebi, Mohammad Kamalinejad, and Zahra Memariani
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Complementary and Manual Therapy ,Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Vomiting ,Iran ,Ranitidine ,Severity of Illness Index ,law.invention ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Randomized controlled trial ,Swallowing ,Double-Blind Method ,law ,Internal medicine ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,medicine ,Humans ,Burping ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Rosaceae ,Advanced and Specialized Nursing ,business.industry ,Plant Extracts ,Reflux ,Infant ,medicine.disease ,Abdominal Pain ,Complementary and alternative medicine ,Child, Preschool ,GERD ,Gastroesophageal Reflux ,Female ,medicine.symptom ,business ,Choking ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Introduction Since the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms in children is of the utmost importance, the current study is aimed to evaluating the efficacy of quince syrup and ranitidine in the management of pediatric patients with symptomatic GERD. Methods and Materials This double-blind, randomized clinical trial was performed on 96 children suspected of suffering from GERD. The patients referred to the gastrointestinal clinic of Ghaem Hospital, Iran, during 2017. The participants were randomly categorized into two groups (ranitidine and ranitidine plus quince syrup). The GERD symptoms, including the severity and frequency of vomiting, refusal of eating, difficulty in swallowing, choking at the time of eating, burping or belching, and abdominal or belly pain, were gathered before and after the intervention (4 weeks) using standardized Global Severity Questionnaire (GSQ-YC). Results The comparison of two groups in terms of vomiting, refusal of eating, burping or belching, and abdominal or belly pain showed a significant difference 4 and 6 weeks after the intervention (P ≤ 0.05). However, the comparison of difficulty in swallowing and choking at the time of eating between the two groups showed that there was no significant difference after 2, 4, and 6 weeks of the intervention (P > 0.05). The comparison of the total scores between the two groups showed that there was a significant difference 2 (17.8 ± 2.6 vs 23.4 ± 4.0; P ≤ 0.05), 4 (11.5 ± 2.3 vs 18.8 ± 3.6; P ≤ 0.05), and 6 (12.2 ± 2.3 vs 21.1 ± 4.1; P ≤ 0.05) weeks after the intervention. Conclusion The results showed that the administration of ranitidine plus quince syrup was useful to improve pediatric GERD. However, it is recommended to conduct the future studies with a larger sample size and different dosage.
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- 2019
19. Medicinal plants with antithrombotic property in Persian medicine: a mechanistic review
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Shokooh Sadat Hamedi, Seyyed Ali Mozaffarpur, Zahra Memariani, Reihaneh Moeini, and Narjes Gorji
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food.ingredient ,01 natural sciences ,Rosmarinus ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,food ,Fibrinolytic Agents ,Antithrombotic ,Medicine ,Medicinal plants ,Bunium persicum ,Plants, Medicinal ,biology ,Traditional medicine ,business.industry ,food and beverages ,Persia ,Hematology ,biology.organism_classification ,0104 chemical sciences ,010404 medicinal & biomolecular chemistry ,Carum carvi ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Officinalis ,Boswellia serrata ,Lamiaceae ,Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine ,business ,Phytotherapy - Abstract
Thrombosis is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in a wide range of vessels diseases. Due to the high prevalence of thromboembolic disorders investigations are being carried out on new antithrombotic agents with limited adverse side effects in which herbal medicines are considered as alternative remedies. Persian medicine (PM) as a traditional medicine has a good potential for pharmacotherapy based on its own principles and development of drugs via investigating PM literature. In PM manuscripts there are some concepts that express the management of blood clots and antithrombotic properties. This study reviewed the pharmacological effects of medicinal plants mentioned in PM literature for blood clot management in light of current knowledge. Plants mentioned in PM for management of blood clot belong to 12 families in which Apiaceae, Lamiaceae and Compositae were the most repeated ones. Among the proposed plants Allium sativum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Boswellia serrata, Sesamum indicum, Matricaria chamomilla and Carthamus tinctorius have been the most researched plants in modern antithrombotic studies while for some plants such as Helichrysum stoechas, Dracocephalum kotschi, Carum carvi, Bunium persicum and Lagoecia cuminoides no evidence could be found. One of the interesting notes in clot management in PM texts was introducing the target organ for some of the recommended herbs like Carum carvi and Bunium persicum for dissolving blood clot in stomach and Commiphora mukul for thrombosed hemorrhoid. It seems review of PM recommendations can help to design future researches for antithrombotic drugs discovering with more effectiveness and safety.
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- 2017
20. An application of nasal drug delivery for management of head and neck diseases from the perspective of Persian Medicine
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Narjes Gorji, Reihaneh Moeini, Zahra Memariani, and Mohammad Allah Gholipur
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medicine.medical_specialty ,Complementary and alternative medicine ,business.industry ,Perspective (graphical) ,Drug delivery ,language ,medicine ,Intensive care medicine ,business ,Head and neck ,language.human_language ,Persian - Published
- 2019
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21. Effect ofAlpinia officinarumHance rhizome extract on spermatogram factors in men with idiopathic infertility: A prospective double-blinded randomised clinical trial
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Zahra Memariani, Hamid Shafi, Ali Bijani, Mohammad Kamalinejad, Seyed Gholam Ali Jorsaraei, Fatemeh Kolangi, Soodabeh Bioos, Hoda Shirafkan, and Seyyed Ali Mozaffarpur
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Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Urology ,030232 urology & nephrology ,Semen analysis ,Placebo ,Male infertility ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,Endocrinology ,Double-Blind Method ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,Adverse effect ,Cell Shape ,Infertility, Male ,030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine ,Sperm Count ,biology ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,Plant Extracts ,business.industry ,General Medicine ,biology.organism_classification ,medicine.disease ,Spermatozoa ,Sperm ,Semen Analysis ,Galangin ,Clinical trial ,Treatment Outcome ,chemistry ,Alpinia ,Sperm Motility ,Alpinia officinarum ,business - Abstract
Despite scientific advances, many of the treatments in male infertility remained indeterminate. In recent years, the attention to herbal remedies as an effective treatment for male infertility is considerable. We designed this study to determine the effects of Alpinia officinarum on the results of semen analysis in men with idiopathic infertility. In this clinical trial, seventy-six participants with idiopathic infertility were included in the intervention (plant treatment: n = 31; placebo: n = 29). Participants were randomised to take capsules containing dried extract of A. officinarum rhizome or placebo on a daily (total daily dosage of 300 mg) basis for 3 months. After 12 weeks of intervention, the sperm count and total number of spermatozoa with normal morphology were increased in participants treated with A. officinarum extract compared with the placebo group. The mean sperm count was initially 52 × 106 ± 24 × 106 /ml which changed to 71 × 106 ± 23 × 106 /ml, after intervention (p = 0.043). Also, the mean percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology was 14.34% ± 9.16% before the treatment which significantly increased to 19% ± 14.89% (p
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- 2018
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22. Popular medicinal plants in Iran for the treatment of GI disorders
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Masumeh Mobli, Sh. Hamedi, Mahbubeh Bozorgi, and Zahra Memariani
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Pharmacology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Traditional medicine ,business.industry ,Organic Chemistry ,Alternative medicine ,Pharmaceutical Science ,Analytical Chemistry ,Complementary and alternative medicine ,Drug Discovery ,medicine ,Molecular Medicine ,business ,Medicinal plants - Published
- 2011
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23. Historical root of precision medicine: an ancient concept concordant with the modern pharmacotherapy
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Zahra Memariani, Parvin Pasalar, Narjes Gorji, and Reihaneh Moeini
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0301 basic medicine ,Structure (mathematical logic) ,030103 biophysics ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Root (linguistics) ,business.industry ,Alternative medicine ,Analogy ,Usability ,Building and Construction ,Precision medicine ,Personalized medicine ,language.human_language ,Persian medicine ,03 medical and health sciences ,030104 developmental biology ,language ,Medicine ,Pharmacoproteomics ,Avicenna ,business ,Letter to the Editor ,Cognitive psychology ,Persian - Abstract
Pharmacogenomics and pharmacoproteomics are new sciences that their goal is achieving therapeutics with maximum results and minimal side effects for each individual due to the pattern of his genome and proteome. Although they considered new and high technology sciences but in distant past, Persian sages like Avicenna also knew about importance of “personalized medicine” and used specific patterns to detect individual differences in order to select suitable medication. Based on experience and analogy they divided individuals into different categories considering characteristics like body color, body temperature, sleep-awake pattern and skeletal structure. They also paid attention to effect of environmental conditions such as climate, job and the change of seasons on the influence of medication. Considering the low cost and ease of use of these experiences, it seems that researching their opinions can uncover the historical roots of modern pharmacoproteomics and can possibly infuse new ideas in this field.
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