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Green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have received lots of attention due to being used as potential therapeutic agents. For the first time, this research investigated the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using the extract of Daphne mucronata seeds, which are rich in phenolic and polyphenolic substances and evaluated their antibacterial, antifungal, and scavenging activities. The process of nanoparticle (NPs) preparation was confirmed using UV–vis spectroscopy with an absorption peak at a wavelength of 440 nm. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) was used to determine the particles' distribution. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) validated the functional groups contributing to the reduction of Ag+ to Ag. Moreover, X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) approved the crystalline nature and spherical shape of the particles with mean and standard deviation of particle size to be 60.25 and 24.88 nm, respectively. The antibacterial, antifungal, and scolicidal activities of AgNPs were studied using disc diffusion against four standard bacteria species and microdilution methods for four Candida strains. The greatest effect of AgNPs with the highest concentration (80 µg/mL) was observed on Staphylococcus aureus (22.26 mm) and the lowest on Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19.07 mm). In the case of Candida fungus, the highest effect of AgNPs was reported for Candida krusei (7.93 µg/mL) and the lowest for Candida albicans (63.49 µg/mL). Also, these nanoparticles were able to register 100% lethality on the Echinococcus granulosus parasite in 15 min at a concentration (80 µg/mL). Therefore, the production of AgNPs as a renewable and cheap material can be effective after performing all the necessary tests as antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic agents with the least side effects in biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, from June 2019 to May 2019 aerial parts of Scrophularia striata Boiss. were collected from Ilam city and those of Scrophularia deserti Delile from Dehloran city, Ilam province in western Iran. The aerial parts of the medicinal plants were pulverized. The essential and volatile oils were extracted by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and their chemical compounds analyzed by Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Using HS-SPME, 68 and 49 chemical compounds were identified from S. striata and S. deserti, respectively. Spathulenol (18.41%) was the highest chemical compound of the essential oil of S. striata, followed by caryophyllene oxide (15.38%), linalool (11.85%), alpha-terpineol (8.34%), trans-caryophyllene (4.44%) and geraniol (3.10%). The most important identified compounds from S. deserti were caryophyllene oxide (15.38%), linalool (11.85%), alpha-terpineol (8.34%), trans-caryophyllene (4.44%) and geraniol (3.10%). The most important chemical compounds of S. deserti essential oil included alpha-pinene (25.54%), alpha-phellandrene (19.60%), beta-myrcene (11.29%) and trans-caryophyllene (6.78%). Results show major constituents of this two plant include with a high amount of Spathulenol and caryophyllene oxide has high pharmaceutical and healthful value.

In 2019, a new disease called Covid-19 was detected in Wuhan located in China which caused seriously disease or death at any age. This disease has various symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, sore throat, headache, body pain, muscle pain, diarrhoea, and vomiting. In this review study, articles related to the subject were searched using scientific sites such as Medline, PubMed, and Google Scholar using the keywords of traditional medicine, medicinal plants, and Covid-19. After downloading the articles, irrelevant articles were removed and related articles were reviewed. According to the results obtained from the review of the literature, the effective medicinal herbs including Zingiber officinale, Alpinia officinarum, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Nigllea sativa, Citrus paradise, Laurus nobilis L. and Echinacea purpura were the most important medicinal herbs used in treatment of Coronavirus. Antiviral chemical drugs usually inhibit the virus by disrupting the key protein and viral virulence factors. Probably, medicinal plants inhibit corona virus with a mechanism similar to the chemical drugs. Therefore, it is possible to produce effective herbal medicines as alternative for synthetic drugs and reduce the pain and suffering from Covid-19 in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Today, cardiovascular diseases are the prominent cause of death in industrialized countries which include a variety of diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, thromboembolism, coronary heart disease, heart failure, etc. Recent research findings haveshown that not only the extent of cultivation and production of medicinal plants have not beenreduced, but also day-to-day production and consumption have increased. In traditional botanicalknowledge, herbal medicines are used for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. In this study,we sought to gather and report medicinal plants used to treat these diseases in different regionsof Iran.Methods: The articles published about ethnobotanical study of cardiovascular diseases in variousregions of Iran, such as Arasbaran, Sistan, Kashan, Kerman, Isfahan Mobarakeh, Lorestan andIlam were prepared and summarized.Results: The results of ethnobotanical studies of various regions of Iran, such as Arasbaran, Sistan,Kashan, Kerman, Isfahan Mobarakeh, Lorestan and Ilam were gathered. The results showed thatsumac plants, barberry, yarrow, wild cucumber, horsetail, Eastern grape, hawthorn, wild rose,spinach, jujube, buckwheat, chamomile, chicory, thistle, Mary peas, nightshade, verbena, sorrel ,cherry, citrullus colocynthis, Peganum harmala, sesame and so many other plants are used for thetreatment of cardiovascular diseases and disorders.Conclusion: Herbal medicines are used effectively for some cardiovascular diseases. Rigoroustraining of patients to take precautions and drug interactions into account and to avoid thearbitrary use of medicinal plants is very important.

ABSTRACT Background: In aging, a host of molecular and cellular changes occur which accelerate alteration and progression of inflammatory diseases. These conditions in the elderly people cause appearance of a [...]

Introduction: Diabetes and hypertension are amongst the most prevalent diseases in the world, while they can be controlled and prevented, create many problems and complications for affected patients. This study was aimed to identify and report the most important and effective herbs for diabetes and high blood pressure treatment in Lorestan province (West of Iran). Methods: By gathering and integrating indigenous data from local inhabitants of Lorestan, Iran, the goal of this study was accomplished. Data were gathered by cooperation of the agents of public health services network all over the towns of Dorud, Boroujerd, Khorramabad, Aleshtar, Poledokhtar, Aligoodarz, Nurabad and Kouhdasht. Results: Results of this study showed that there were overall 17 medicinal plants which were used for treatment and controlling of diabetes and high blood pressure. Conclusion: Medicinal plants reported in this study are indigenous to the Lorestan province. Some of the foresaid herbs seem to have some unknown therapeutic effects which are reported in this study for the first time, and some others have various known therapeutic effects mentioned in other similar studies. It is essential for researchers to find out the actuality of clinical effectiveness of the herbs and their active substances. Once the positive effects of these herbs proved, it would be possible to produce drugs which are useful in curing and controlling diabetes and hypertension.

Introduction: Brucellosis or Malta fever is one of the most prevalent bacterial zoonosis which is transmitted to human being from animals. High fever, myalgia, and arthralgia of the large joints are the important symptoms. This study was aimed to evaluate the anti-brucellosis effect of ethanol extract of wild snapdragon on Brucella melitensis bacteria. Methods: This is an experimental in which after preparing the ethanol extract of wild Snapdragon (Scrophularia deserti), the anti-Brucellosis impressions of the extract on Brucella melitensis which is separated from goat’s abortive fetus were studied by serial dilution and disc diffusion method. Results: In disc diffusion test, the disc containing 60 μg/ml extract the inhibition zone was 9.7mm after 72, for streptomycin (20 μg/disc) 13.3 mm and for streptomycin plus 60 μg/disc extract discs it was 21.5 mm, after 72 hours incubation at 37 centigrade. After analyzing the data; the MIC for serial dilution test was 52% (576 μg/ml) for the first repetition and 50% (576 μg/ml) for the third repetition of the extract with OD600=1.56. For standard medicine "streptomycin" with OD600=1.67 it was 52% (360 μg/ml). Conclusion: Ethanol extract of wild Scrophularia deserti is effective on Brucellla melitensis and its consumption might be useful in these patients.