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Background: Infertility is one of the most common problems in the world; there is a growing demand for herbal medicines to treat infertility-related problems. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled trial with three groups was conducted, each with 30 participants. The first group was administered 1.5 grams of Carob daily, the second group was administered 1.5 grams of Ginseng daily, and the third group received a placebo. The treatment was administered for 12 weeks, and before and after the intervention, semen parameters, testosterone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, thyroid hormones, and sexual function were evaluated. Sexual function was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire. Results: The mean (SD) age of participants was 34.83 (6.22), 34.60 (5.78), and 33.67 (5.82) years in Carob, Ginseng, and Placebo groups, respectively. The results showed that in the Carob group, the normal volume of semen (Z 133 = 3.05, p = 0.02) and the normal shape of sperm (Z 134 = 2.97, p = 0.01) increased significantly compared to the control group. In the Ginseng group, the normal volume (Z 133 = 3.90, p = 0.001) and the normal viscosity of semen (Z 133 = 2.36, p = 0.01) increased significantly compared to the control group.The Carob group showed a significant increase in normal sperm counts and testosterone hormone levels (Z 131 = 2.81, p = 0.05). The Ginseng group demonstrated a significant improvement in orgasm function (H2 = 6.14, p = 0.04) and the total score of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) (H2 = 5.8, p = 0.05). Conclusions: Carob supplements are suggested to enhance some semen parameters and male sex hormones. For infertile men, Ginseng can be beneficial in improving sexual function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer is a common human neoplasia in women. Species of the Lamiaceae plant have been found to exert in vitro anti-proliferative activity on breast cancer cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of the extracts of ten species from the Lamiaceae family on a breast cancer cell line. We also examined the selective indices of the fractions and essential oil of the most effective extract. Methods: The plant species were harvested, dried and authenticated. The hydro-alcoholic extract of each plant was examined for its cytotoxicity on the breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) using MTT assay. The n-Hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions were prepared from Nepeta crispa extract. Hydro-distillation method was used to isolate the Nepeta crispa's essential oil. The essential oil and the fractions were examined in vitro for the cytotoxic effects against both HEK293 and MCF-7 cell lines. Results: The Nepeta crispa extract exhibited significant cytotoxic activity on MCF-7 (IC50 = 59 ±3.4μg/mL) compared to other extracts. The n-hexane fraction of Nepeta crispa demonstrated the highest cytotoxicity (IC50 = 65.47 ±4.3μg/mL) among other fractions. The essential oil exhibited concentration-dependent inhibition against the growth of cancer cells, and showed the most inhibitory effect against MCF-7 cells (IC50 = 18.15 ±2.7μg/mL) with a selectivity index of 9.69. Conclusions: Based on the results, the n-hexane fraction and essential oil of Nepeta crispa may be the potential sources of biologically active components to develop novel drugs for breast cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Artemisia absinthium L. (AA) is a large, diverse genus of the family Asteraceae. AAhas long been used as customary herbal medicine in world for the treatment of gastric pain, cardiacstimulation, improvement of memory and for the restoration of declined mental function. The aimof present study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of AA on some factors ref lecting thedevelopment of oxidative toxic stress in plasma.Methods: Twenty male rats were equally divided in to 4 groups (5 rats each). Group I actedas control (received normal salin). Treatment groups were II, III and IV which were givenArtemisia 10, 50 and 100 mg/kg/day respectively only by gavage for 24 hours. After treatment,blood specimens were collected. Liver enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST) andalanine aminotransferase (ALT) with total antioxidant power (TAP) and total thiol groups (TTG)concentrations were measured.Results: Levels of ALT, AST and TTG were decreased in the group II compared to the control(group I). ALT and AST in 50 mg/kg group was observed compared with control group. Also, TTGincreased in Artemisia 50 mg/kg group compared to control group.Conclusion: Results suggests that alcoholic extract of Artemisia can ameliorate liver toxicity inrats through reducing the serum levels of ALT, AST, and oxidative damage.

Silymarin, a mixture of antihepatotoxic flavonolignans used in the treatment of liver diseases, and lactulose, a nonabsorbable synthetic disaccharide, were investigated to analyze their probable synergic and healing effects in a hepatic cirrhotic rat model. Liver damage was induced by the administration and subsequent withdrawal of thioacetamide. The significant decrease in liver enzymes and malondialdehyde levels confirmed the curative effects of silymarin and lactulose. In the silymarin + lactulose group, liver enzyme and malondialdehyde levels were significantly reduced compared with those in the thioacetamide group. All treatments led to liver regeneration and triggered enhanced regeneration. Silymarin and lactulose alone or in combination have potent curative effects and reduce thioacetamide-induced liver damage. Key words: liver cirrhosis, rat, silymarin, thioacetamide. La silymarine, un melange de flavonoides anti-hepatotoxiques utilise dans le traitement de maladies hepatiques, et le lactulose, un disaccharide synthetique non-absorbable, ont ete examines afin d'analyser leur effet synergique et curatif probable dans un modele de cirrhose hepatique chez le rat. Le dommage hepatique a ete induit par l'administration et le retrait subsequent de thioacetamide. La diminution significative des niveaux d'enzymes hepatiques et de malonaldehyde a confirme les effets curatifs de la silymarine et du lactulose. Chez le groupe silymarine + lactulose, les niveaux d'enzymes hepatiques et de malonaldehyde etaient significativement abaisses comparativement ceux du groupe traite au thioacetamide. Tous les traitements menaient la regeneration du foie et provoquaient une regeneration accrue. La silymarine et le lactulose seuls ou combines exercaient des effets curatifs puissants et reduisaient le dommage hepatique induit par le thioacetamide. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : cirrhose hepatique, rat, silymarine, thioacetamide., Introduction Cirrhosis is a result of chronic liver injury defined by the development of regenerative nodules bordered by fibrous bands that leads to portal hypertension and end-stage liver disease (Schuppan [...]

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the antioxidant supplement of CoQ10 and placebo in the male infertility treatment. Materials and Methods: The randomized controlled trial study was designed as a clinical trial. Samples in each group consisted of 30 members. The first group received 1 daily dose of 100 mg coenzyme Q10 capsules and the second group received a placebo treatment. Treatment in both groups lasted 12 weeks. Before and after the intervention of semen analysis, hormonal measurement of testosterone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were done. Sexual function was assessed before and after the intervention by using the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction questionnare. Results: The mean age of participants was 34.07 (5.26) years in the CoQ10 group and 34.83 (6.22) in the placebo one. Normal volume of semen (P=0.10), viscosity (P=0.55), sperm count (P=0.28), and sperm motility (P=0.33) in the CoQ10 group increased without statistically significant differences. But the normal sperm morphology increased with statistically significant differences in the CoQ10 group (P=0.01). There was an increase in normal FSH levels and testosterone levels in the CoQ10 group compared with the placebo patients, but these differences were not statistically significant (respectively P=0.58, P=0.61). The results also revealed that the scores of erectile function (P=0.95), orgasm (P=0.86), satisfaction with sexual intercourse (P=0.61), overall satisfaction (P=0.69) and the score of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF, P=0.82) were greater after the intervention in the CoQ10 group than in the placebo group although the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The use of CoQ10 supplement can improve sperm morphology; however, in other sperm parameters and also in some hormones increased after the intervention, this was not statistically significant and therefore the result is not conclusive (registration number: IRCT20120215009014N322). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights a study aimed to assess the effects of inhalation aromatherapy with Rosa damascena on stress, anxiety, and hemodynamic parameters of patients undergoing coronary angiography. It discusses that Coronary arteries angiography is used commonly for diagnosing cardiovascular diseases and could lead to stress, anxiety and consequently hemodynamic changes in patients.

Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) has been reported to be involved in different biological processes such as degradation of extracellular matrix proteins, activating or degrading some significant regulatory proteins, wound healing, tissue remodeling, cartilage degradation, bone development, bone mineralization, ossification, cell migration, and tumor cell invasion. Further, MMP-13 participates in many oral diseases such as tooth decay, gingivitis, and degradation of enamel and tissue around the implant. In addition, inhibition of MMP-13 has shown therapeutic properties for Alzheimer's disease (AD). We performed molecular docking to assess the binding affinity of 29 flavonoid compounds with the MMP-13. Additionally, pharmacokinetic and toxicity characteristics of the top-ranked flavonoids were studied. The current study also intended to identify the most important amino acids involved in the inhibition of MMP-13 based on topological feature (degree) in the ligand-amino acid network for MMP-13. Molecular docking and network analysis were studied using AutoDock and Cytoscape software, respectively. Pharmacokinetic and toxicity characteristics of compounds were predicted using bioinformatics web tools. The results revealed that nine of the studied flavonoids had considerable estimated free energy of binding and inhibition constant: Rutin, nicotiflorin, orientin, vitexin, apigenin-7-glucoside, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, quercitrin-3-rhamnoside, and vicenin-2. Proline-242 was found to be the most important amino acid inhibiting the enzyme. The results of the current study may be helpful in the prevention and therapeutic procedures of many disorders such as cancer, tooth caries, and AD. Nevertheless, validation tests are required in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Chemoprevention of cancer by application of natural phytochemical compounds has been used to prevent, delay or suppress cancer progression. Cuscuta chinensis a traditional Iranian medicinal herb, has biological properties including anticancer, antiaging, immuno-stimulatory and antioxidant effects. In this study, anti-proliferative effects of hydroalcoholic extract of C. chinensis on prostate (PC3) and breast (MCF7) cancer cell lines were investigated. Materials and Methods: In the current study, we investigated treatment of PC3 cells with different concentrations of C. chinensis (0, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 µg/ml) for 24 and 48 hr; also, MCF7 cells were treated with various concentrations (0-600 µg/ml) of C. chinensis for 48 and 72 hr and cell viability was assessed by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. mRNA expression of BCL2 Associated X (Bax), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), Cysteine-aspartic proteases (Caspase3) and Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. Annexin V/PI staining and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cytotoxicity assay were used to detect apoptosis. Results: C. chinensis decreased PC3 and MCF7 cells viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner (p<0.01 to p<0.001). The gene expression of BAX/Bcl2 ratio, Caspase3 and PTEN increased in C. chinensis-treated cells compared to the control group. C. chinensis induced apoptosis (p<0.001) and LDH activity (p<0.01 to p<0.001). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that C. chinensis extract is able to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in PC3 and MCF7 cell lines. Therefore, C. chinensis extract exerts antitumor activity against cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]