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Background and Objective: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a complication that is usually unilateral and can be accompanied by tinnitus and vertigo. Although various infectious, vascular, and immune etiologies have been proposed for SSNHL, the cause is unknown in most cases. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of coenzyme Q10 in the treatment of SSNHL. Materials and Methods: This study was a double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial, which was conducted using the available sampling method. A total of 60 patients with SSNHL (18-70 years old) lasting less than one month were divided into two groups: intervention and control. The routine treatment of both groups included weekly injections of dexamethasone in the middle ear for 3 weeks. The intervention group also received 100 mg of coenzyme Q10 per day for 4 weeks, while the control group received a placebo. Patients were evaluated by basic audiological tests at the baseline and third and sixth months after the treatment. Statistical analysis of findings was done in SPSS26 software. Results: The difference in the mean pure tone hearing thresholds of the intervention and control groups was significant in the third month (29.33±15.96 dB and 35.34±12.24 dB; P=0.02) and sixth month (dB 28.00±16.27 and dB 34.33±11.87; P=0.01). Conclusion: In patients with SSNHL, combined treatment with oral coenzyme Q10 at the rate of 100 mg per day, along with intratympanic injection of dexamethasone for four weeks, can improve pure tone hearing thresholds and facilitate the treatment

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.

Introduction: Cuscuta, (Ces as Persian name) is a parasitic plant with different biological effects and applications. The metabolic profile and effects of the Ces depend on the host on which it grows. Its main components are phenols and flavonoids. Considering the antioxidant effects of these compounds, the purpose of this research was to investigate the antioxidant activities and total phenolic and flavonoid contents of Cuscuta as well as Mellissa officinalis and Alhaji murarum as hosts. Methods: Aqueous, hydroalcoholic extracts of the Cuscuta grown on two hosts were prepared separately. Hydroalcoholic extracts of host plants were also prepared. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were evaluated using Folin- Ciocalteu reagent and aluminum chloride colorimetric assays, respectively. In order to investigate the antioxidant activity, the ability of extracts to scavenge DPPH free radical (DPPH 2, 2-(diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and their capacity to reduce iron 3+ion were measured by FRAP method. Results: The results showed that all the examined extracts have significant phenolic and flavonoid contents. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in hydroalcoholic extracts, which was proportional to the amount of phenolic and flavonoid contents in the extracts. In addition, the extracts of host plants were richer than the parasite extracts. The extract of Mellissa officinalis showed better effects than Alhaji murarum in all of four investigated factors. Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, the hydroalcoholic extracts of the Cuscuta plants are rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds, which may be the cause of the antioxidant activity. Of course, the compounds and effects of Cuscuta depend on the host. In future studies, the plant can be grown in different hosts.

Background: Nepeta crispa Willd. (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant endemic to Iran with numerous ethnobotanical uses. Objective: The current study focuses on the quality control of N. crispa growing in Hamadan province. Methods: Hydro-distilled essential oil from aerial parts of N. crispa was obtained using the Clevenger apparatus. Four samples of N. crispa distillate were purchased from various locations. Methanol extracts from aerial parts of this plant were obtained by the maceration method. Micromorphological characteristics, antioxidant properties, and chemical constituents of N. crispa essential oil and distillates were evaluated. Determination of the total phenols and flavonoid contents of the extract was performed. Results: GC/MS analysis revealed that the major components of N.crispa essential oil were 1,8-cineole (70.93 %), nepetalactones (5.29 %), and β-pinene (5.5 %). The volatile constituents of one of the distillates resemble the essential oil of N. crispa. The extract from aerial parts of N. crispa consistently exhibited more anti-oxidative power than its essential oil with an IC50 of 2.792 ± 0.385 mg/ml. The results from assays for total phenols and flavonoids revealed that this plant possesses phenolic and flavonoid content of 69.24 ± 3.34 µg GAEs/mg and 12.01 ± 0.26 µg QEs/mg of extract, respectively. Covering, glandular trichomes, diacytic stomata, and spiral vessels were seen in microscopic studies. Conclusion: Our results suggest that N. crispa possess considerable anti-oxidative potential with relatively high phenolic and flavonoid content in which 1,8-cineole is the major component. Due to the rarity of this plant, there are fraudulent specimens among its commercial distillates.

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).

Objective: The purpose of this study is comparison of carob with placebo in the treatment of male infertility. Materials and methods: This study was performed as a clinical trial with two-group pretest-posttest design. Each group consisted of 30 members. The first group received 1.5 grams of carob per day, and the second group received placebo treatments. Treatment lasted for 12 weeks. Semen analysis as well as testosterone, prolactin, (LH), (FSH) and (TSH) were performed before and after drug treatment in two groups. Sexual function was assessed in the groups in two stages before and after the intervention using the standard International Index of Erectile Function. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Statistical analysis of data was performed using SPSS 16. Results: The participants’ mean age was 34.83 ±6.22 in the placebo and 33.67 ±5.82 years in the Carob group. The results showed in the carob group compared to the placebo group, the rate of normal sperm counts increased by 17% and also the normal level of testosterone was 40% higher than the abnormal levels of the placebo group and these differences were statistically significant (P 0.05). Conclusion: It is recommended to use carob supplements to improve spermogram parameters and male sex hormones.

Background: Falcaria vulgaris and Echinophora platyloba, two members of Apiaceae family, are native flora of Iran and have numerous ethnobotanical applications. Objectives: The present study focuses on the chemical composition of the essential oils and the evaluation of the antioxidant capacity of F. vulgaris and E. platyloba growing in Hamadan province. Methods: Hydrodistillated essential oil from aerial parts of F. vulgaris and E. platyloba were obtained using clevenger apparatus. The chemical composition of the essential oils was determined using GC-MS analysis. Methanol extracts from aerial parts and seeds of F. vulgaris and E. platyloba were obtained by Soxhlet extractor. The antioxidant properties of the extracts were determined through use of several antioxidant assays (DPPH, FRAP, β-carotene-linoleic acid and iron-chelating test). Results: GC-MS analysis revealed that the major components of F. vulgaris essential oil were spathulenol, and palmitic acid. The main components of E. platyloba were γ-decalactone and (E)-sesquilavandulol. The extract from aerial parts of F. vulgaris consistently exhibited more antioxidative power than the rest of the extracts, followed by the extracts from aerial parts of E. platyloba. The results of DPPH, FRAP and β-carotene-linoleic tests were well correlated with each other, but they were somewhat different from the results of the iron-chelating test. Conclusion: The results of this research showed that F. vulgaris and E. platyloba contain significant antioxidant properties; therefore, their use in food and pharmaceutical industries as preservatives will be fruitful.

Objectives: Hypertrophic scars (HSs) are caused by abnormal wound healing. To date, no standard treatment has been made available for HSs. Scrophularia striata has been reported to accelerate wound healing and has the potential to prevent HS formation. In this study, we investigated the anti-scarring effects of S. striata extract (SSE) in a rabbit ear model of scarring.Methods : In this study, New Zealand white rabbit (weight: 2.3-2.5 kg) were used. In the prevention phase of the study, three test groups received 5%, 10%, and 15% ointments of SSE in the Eucerin base, the fourth group received Eucerin, and the fifth group received no treatment. The samples were obtained on day 35 after wounding. In the treatment phase of the study, the test groups received an intralesional injection of SSE (5%, 10%, and 15%), the fourth group received an intralesional injection of triamcinolone, the fifth group received a solvent (injection vehicle), and the sixth group received no treatment. To evaluate the anti-scarring effects of SSE, the scar elevation index (SEI), epidermis thickness index (ETI), collagen deposition, and MMP2 and MMP9 gene expression were evaluated.Results : A significant reduction in SEI, ETI, and collagen deposition was noted in animals treated with SSE compared with the control groups. In addition, topical SSE stimulated MMP2 and MMP9 gene expression.Conclusion : The findings of this study demonstrate the potential for SSE in the prevention and treatment of HS. SSE could be prepared as an appropriate formulation to treat wounds and prevent abnormal scarring.

Background: Nepeta crispa Willd., a member of Lamiaceae family, is an annual plant native to western Iran, especially Hamedan, with many traditional uses. The plant effects have not been investigated yet. Iron chelating activity is a suitable test for measuring antioxidant activity. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate Iron-chelating activity of extract, fractions, and essential oil of the N. crispa, in vitro. Methods: The methanolic extract of N. crispa was prepared adopting maceration method. Then, the total methanolic extract was fractionated using hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and water. The essential oil was isolated by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. Chelating activity of total extract, each fraction and essential oil of N. crispa on Fe2+ ions was determined using Iron-chelating assay. EDTA was employed as positive control. Results: EDTA as positive control had the best activity with IC50 = 0.02 ± 0.001 mg/mL, and ascorbic acid came second in this regard (IC50 = 0.386 ± 0.021 mg/mL). The hexane fraction was the most active fraction among the different fractions of N. crispa (IC50 = 0.435 ± 0.032 mg/mL). Chelating activity of hexane fraction was followed by aqueous, ethyl acetate, chloroform fractions, and methanolic extract with ICs50 of 1.433 ± 0.098, 2.158 ± 0.074 mg/mL, 3.624 ± 0.112, and 3.051 ± 0.174, respectively. The essential oil showed extremely poor activity in the tested concentrations. Conclusion: It was concluded that the n-hexane fraction had promising Iron chelating activity, and was likely capable of reducing Fe2+ ions concentration and preventing oxidative damage.

Background: Nepeta crispa, is an annual plant native to certain regions of Hamadan province in Iran. Objective: This study aims to investigate the antioxidant potential of N. crispa. Methods: Hydro-distillated essential oil and methanol extract from aerial parts of N. crispa were obtained. They were subjected to several assays (DPPH, FRAP, TBARS, peroxide value and β-carotene-linoleic acid assay) in order to evaluate their antioxidant properties and their effect on prevention of oxidation in sunflower oil. Results: The extract consistently exhibited more activity than the essential oil in each and every one of the assays. The activity of the essential oil was not significant compared to positive controls or even the extract. The results from DPPH and FRAP assays correlated well with one another but those obtained from β-carotene-linoleic acid assay were to some extents inconsistent with the others. The results from TBARS and peroxide value assays revealed that certain concentrations of the extract effectively prevent the oxidation process in sunflower oil. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the methanol extract of N. crispa may be considered as novel bio-resource of natural antioxidants for using in pharmaceutical and food industries. Hopefully as the future research progress, new lights will be shed on characterization of components in the extract and the mechanisms through which they provide antioxidant activity.

Background and objectives: Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) is a proteolytic enzyme playing an important role in the activation of the MMP cascade, which seems to be vital in both bone metabolism and homeostasis. However, the up-regulation of MMP-13 is involved in developing several human disorders such as aggressive tumors, tooth decay, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, skin ageing, and Alzheimer's disease. We performed a molecular docking analysis to discover the potential MMP-13 inhibitors in a total of 21 anthraquinone derivatives. Methods: The binding affinity of the tested compounds to the MMP-13 catalytic site was estimated by the Autodock 4.0 software. Moreover, the stability of the docked pose of the top-ranked compounds were examined using molecular dynamics simulations. Results: Pulmatin, sennidin A, emodin-8-glucoside, emodin, rhodoptilometrin, chrysophanol, knipholone, sennidin B, aloe emodin 8-glucoside, and aloe-emodin demonstrated considerable binding affinity to the MMP-13 active site. However, the molecular dynamics simulations showed that the docked poses of sennidin A and sennidin B were not considerably stable. Conclusion: The present study suggested that pulmatin, emodin-8-glucoside, emodin, rhodoptilometrin, chrysophanol, knipholone, aloe emodin 8-glucoside, and aloe-emodin may be considered as drug candidates for therapeutic applications in many human diseases. However, the validation of this finding is needed in the future.

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, anti-aging, 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 BAX/Bcl2 ratio, Caspase3 and PTEN increased in C. chinensis-treated cells compared to the control group. C. chinensis induced apoptosis (p

Background: The prevalence of vaginal candidiasis is high in women and proper treatment is essential in this regard. Materials and Methods: This single-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 120 women who were referred to Hamadan health centers in 2019. The patients were randomly divided into Clotrimazole cream and Nika vaginal cream groups each including 60 cases. The intervention group received Nika vaginal cream once a day for a week and those in the control group were given Clotrimazole vaginal cream in the same way. The clinical symptoms were studied by clinical examinations and the culture of vaginal discharge before and 7 days after the treatment to confirm the diagnosis of Candida albicans. The results were analyzed by SPSS 21.0 using an independent t test, Mann–Whitney U test, and Chi-square, Fisher's exact, and McNemar's tests, the significance level was set at 0.05. Results: Most patients in both groups reported no clinical symptoms after the intervention, and no significant difference was observed between the two groups in this regard (χ2 = 2.23, p = 0.566). Conversely, a significant difference was found in Nika and Clotrimazole groups before and after the intervention regarding improving Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC) symptoms χ2 = 86.01, χ2 = 99.41, respectively (p < 0.001). Finally, 84.48% and 75.86% of women in the Nika χ2 = 45.02 (p < 0.001) and Clotrimazole cream χ2 = 40.02 (p < 0.001) groups had negative culture results after the intervention. Conclusions: In general, the Nika and Clotrimazole vaginal creams have the same effects concerning improving the symptoms of vaginal candidiasis and thus can be used to treat VVC.

Agrimonia eupatoria is a perennial herb belonging to the Rosaceae family that all its parts are used to treat various diseases. In this article, we aimed to present a comprehensive review on the phytochemical, pharmacological, and therapeutic effects of this plant. We searched various databases and summarized the data documented in literature from 1976 to 2020. Agrimonia eupatoria has effects on various kinds of cancer, oxidative stress, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis B, and liver damage. It also has anti-adhesive, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and wound healing properties. It induces nitric oxide and inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines production. Phytochemical studies related to this plant has led to isolation and identification of tannins, coumarins, and flavonoids as the most active chemicals with biological effects. Based on this comprehensive review about Agrimonia eupatoria, there will be more opportunities for investigators to search and discover ways to use bioactive agents of this herb to develop new Agrimony based medicines.

Background: It is shown that kiwifruit elevates serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and exhibits beneficial effects on human health due to its antioxidant potential. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of kiwifruit on the activity of the paraoxonase 1 (PON1) enzyme, as a main antioxidant enzyme in HDL functionality, in a high-fat diet (HFD). Methods: To this end, 42 male Syrian hamsters were divided into 6 groups including hamsters receiving a normal diet (the control normal group), a regular diet supplemented with kiwifruit at two concentrations (i.e., 1.86 g/kg and 3.73 g/kg), a HFD comprised of 15% butterfat + 0.05% cholesterol (the control high-fat group), and a HFD supplemented with kiwifruit at two concentrations (i.e., 1.86 and 3.73 g/kg) for 8 weeks. Results: The results showed that supplementation of kiwifruit to the HFD increased the levels of HDL-C and remarkably reduced the concentrations of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) compared with the control-HF group. In addition, the paraoxonase activity of PON1 significantly increased in HFD supplemented with kiwifruit (1.86 g/kg), and finally, arylesterase (ARE) activity increased in all treated groups when compared with untreated groups. Conclusion: Our findings suggested that kiwifruit can improve the lipid profile and prevent oxidative stress-induced by lipid peroxidation in hamsters receiving HFD, thus increasing the ARE and paraoxonase activities of PON1.

Background: Nipple fissure is one of the most common diseases in breastfeeding which leads to maternal pain and disruption of the mother-infant relationship. Since the most important consequence of nipple fissure is the deprivation of the infant from breast milk, it is very important to prevent and treat this condition. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the topical form of Achillea millefoliumon on nipple fissure in breastfeeding women referring to the comprehensive health centers of Hamadan, Iran.Methods: This study was a randomized double-blind clinical trial that was conducted in Hamadan comprehensive health centers in 2018. Treatment methods were taught by the researcher to 80 eligible breastfeeding women who were randomly divided into two groups of 40 subjects. After breastfeeding, the intervention group covered their own nipples with a tea bag of Achillea millefolium, while the control group applied some of their own hindmilk on their nipple. These interventions were performed at least 4 times a day for 14 days. Checklists of store fissure scale, visual analog scale, and midwifery and demographic characteristic questionnaire were completed in both groups before the treatment and 4, 8, and 14 days after starting the treatment. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 16).Results: The results showed that the intensity of fissure and the mean pain score in the two groups were not statistically significant in the pre-intervention phase. However, the scores of the intensity of fissure and pain in the Achillea millefolium group were lower than those in the breast milk group on days 4, 8, and 14 after the intervention, and these differences were statistically significant (PConclusion: The results of this study showed that the topical form of Achillea millefolium was more effective than breast milk in treating nipple pain and fissure.

Introduction: Coronary artery angiography is a common diagnostic procedure in cardiovascular diseases which could cause fear, stress, anxiety and probably some instability at hemodynamic parameters in the patients before this diagnostic procedure. This study aimed to assess impact of inhalation aromatherapy with damask rose on anxiety of patients undergoing coronary angiography. Methods: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted with 98 patients at aromatherapy and control group undergoing coronary angiography in the Besat educational hospital of Hamadan, Iran, in 2017. Patients inhaled 5 drops of 40% Rosa Damask essential oil for 20 minutes before the angiography at aromatherapy group and inhaled 5 drops of distilled water for 20 min before the angiography at the control group. Anxiety was measured before and 2 minutes after intervention by state section of state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16 using independent t-test and paired t-test. Results: There was no significant difference between mean of patient’s anxiety at aromatherapy and control group before intervention. There was significant difference between mean of patient’s anxiety before and after intervention at the aromatherapy group (P

Abstract Background Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen that causes nosocomial infections especially in patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Accordingly, the aim of our study was to detection of adeABC efllux pump encoding genes and antimicrobial effect of the essential oil of Mentha longifolia and Menthol on the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of imipenem and ciprofloxacin in clinical isolates of A. baumannii. Methods A total of 75 clinical isolates of A. baumannii were collected. The presence of efflux pump genes was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the essential oil of Mentha longifolia and Menthol and their combined effect with antibiotics were measured by microbroth dilution method and fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index. Results The frequency of adeA, adeB, and adeC genes in clinical isolates of A. baumannii were 86.7, 90.7, and 92%, respectively. When the essential oil of Mentha longifolia was combined with ciprofloxacin and imipenem, MICs decreased 4- and 8-fold, respectively. In the combination of menthol with imipenem, the resistance to imipenem was reduced from 0- to 16-fold in 90% (63/70) of the isolates. Conclusion The presence of efflux pump genes in more than 90% of A. baumannii isolates indicates its potential role in inducing imipenem- and ciprofloxacin-resistance in this bacterium. Menthol has an antimicrobial effect as an active ingredient in Mentha longifolia. In the future, the combination of medicinal plants with antibiotics can be used as a complement in treating diseases caused by drug-resistant bacteria such as A. baumannii infections.

Scrophularia. striata from Scrophulariacea family has been used in Iranian folk medicine for the treatment of infectious diseases. In this study we evaluated the synergistic effect of S. striata hydroalcoholic extract (SSE) and commercially available antibiotics against P. aeroginosa and Methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The resazurin-based microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of plan extract and standard antibiotics. The interaction between standard antibiotics and SSE was evaluated by using checkerboard method. The results of this study revealed that SSE enhance the antibacterial activity of antibiotics. The combination of SSE and Vancomycin had synergistic to additive effects against MRSA. SSE in combination with Gentamicin had synergistic to additive effects against P. aeruginosa. The interaction between Ceftazidime and SSE was additive against P. aeruginosa. The best result was the synergistic effect between SSE and Piperacillin-Tazobactam against P. aeruginosa. In conclusion the results of this research indicated that S. striata has the potential to enhance the antibacterial activity of antibiotics and could be a source to the designing new compounds with synergistic effect in combination with standard antibiotics.

This study was undertaken to investigate the Crataegus extract (CE) eff ;ects on diabetes-induced memory deficit in passive avoidance learning (PAL), blood glucose, and lipid profile panel. Male Wistar rats were divided into five groups: Control (CTRL); Diabetic (DM); and Diabetic animals treated with three doses of CE (100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg) (DM + CE). Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats (50 mg/kg, ip) were orally administrated with CE once a day for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, PAL task was used to evaluate the passive avoidance learning and memory. At the end of experiment, the level of plasma glucose, triglycerides (TG), cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were determined. Our results showed that the step-through latency (STLr) in diabetic animals was less than the control group (P = 0.0009). Crataegus (300 mg) increased STLr in diabetic animals (P = 0.0418). Diabetic animals spent more time in the dark compartment (TDC) (P = 0.0009). Crataegus (300 and 1000 mg) decreased TDC in diabetic animals (P = 0.0175). Crataegus (100 and 300 mg) decreased blood glucose in diabetic animals (P 0.05). CE (1000 mg) increased HDL in diabetic animals (P

Introduction: Vasomotor disorders including hot flushes are of the most painful symptoms of menopause and affect the women's quality of life. This study was performed with aim to compare the effects of Salvia and Black Cohosh on hot flashes in postmenopausal women. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was performed on 80 postmenopausal women referring to Hamadan health centers in 2016. After reviewing the inclusion criteria, the subjects were randomly assigned to two groups of black cohosh (n=40) and salvia (n=40) and consumed the medicine for 2 months. The researcher-made checklist including duration, severity and frequency of hot flashes was completed before the intervention and within 8 weeks by the subjects. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 20) and t-test, Mann-Whitney U, Friedman and Wilcoxon tests. P

Objective: The effects of kiwifruit on the histology and cell size of adipose tissue in hyperlipidemic models have not yet been reported. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of kiwifruit on the adipose tissue cell size and activity as well as the gene expression of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) in high-fat diet (HFD) fed hamsters. Materials and Methods: Forty-two male Syrian hamsters were divided into six groups. Control normal (CN) hamsters received normal diet, control HFD (CHF) were fed with a HFD plus a normal diet (15% butter fat + 0.05% cholesterol + a normal diet). Two groups were fed with normal diet including kiwifruit (1.86; Nd.1 or 3.73 g/kg; Nd.2) and two groups were fed with HFD including kiwifruit (1.86;HFd.1or 3.73 g/kg; HFd.2), for 8 weeks. Results: Histological examination of adipose tissue showed that the cell size was significantly reduced in the kiwifruit-treated groups (low and high dose) in comparison to their control groups (p Conclusion: Kiwifruit consumption reduces the size of adipocytes and increases the expression of CETPgene in adipose tissue cells. Despite the increases in CETP expression in adipose tissue, its activity in serum was not changed following kiwifruit supplementation.

Introduction: Premenstrual syndrome is a set of physical and psychological symptoms which occur periodically during the secretory phase of the menstrual period. This study was performed with aim to compare the effect of Evening Primrose Capsule and vitamin B6 and placebo on the severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms. Methods: This randomized double-blind clinical trial was conducted on 120 students with premenstrual syndrome at Hamadan University of Medical Sciences in 2016. The subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups of 40 cases and for two consecutive cycles, the first group received daily 2 tablets (40 mg) vitamin B6, the second group received evening primrose capsules (1000 mg) twice daily, and third group received daily 2 placebo, 14 days before menstruation up to 5 days after it. The severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms was compared at the end of each cycle by daily status recording form. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 21) and Chi-square, ANOVA, paired t-test, and Tukey test. P

Background. Some anorexic agents are used to fraudulent augmentation herbal weight loss formulations. This study was designed to evaluate the potential existence of illicit substances in 63 herbal weight loss formulations collected from local apothecaries in Hamadan, Iran. Methods. The thin-layer chromatography method was applied for the primary screening of potential illicit substances in the samples. The positive samples were analyzed using an isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography method. Results. The results showed that 26.98% of the samples contained 17.76 ± 6.02 mg/cap of sibutramine. Daily therapeutic dose intake of sibutramine is in the range of 5 to 15 mg daily. Conclusion. Since apothecaries have advised consumers to take at least two capsules a day, it seems that the blood concentration of sibutramine will likely rise beyond the therapeutic concentration and become toxic. Therefore, the usage of such products could pose serious risks to consumers’ health.

Background: The results of the previous studies on the effects of mint on cracked nipple are contradictory. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of mint tea bag, mint cream and breast milk on the healing of cracked nipple during lactation. Methods: This study was a clinical trial with a control group , pre and post-test design conducted in health centers of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran from 2016 to 2017.Samples were divided into three groups (n=72 subjects in each group). Interventions were performed at least 4 times a day for 14 days after the start of treatment. Data were collected through the cracked nipple measuring checklist, the amount of wound and demographic questionnaire before the intervention and on 4, 8, and 14 days after the intervention. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS software (version 21). Results: There was a decreasing trend in the mean score of crack pain on days 0-14 in the groups of mint cream, mint tea, and breast milk after the intervention; however, there was a statistically significant difference in the breast milk group (P

Introduction: Dysmenorrhea is a common disorder that manifests during the menstrual cycle, causing cramps in the lower abdomen. The discomfort interferes in the daily activities of the individual. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of fenugreek seeds on the severity and duration of pain in primary dysmenorrhea in the students at Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Methods: This randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted on 100 students at Hamadan University of Medical Sciences in 2016. The subjects were equally divided into two groups of intervention (Fenugreek seeds) and control (placebo). Medications were administered for two months. Data were collected using demographic questionnaires, McGill pain questionnaire, and multidimensional speech scale before the intervention and one and two months after the medication administration. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 19 using independent and paired t-test and Chi-square at the significance level of

Background and purpose: Hydatidosis is highly prevalent worldwide which mainly involves liver and lung. There are some drugs sensitive to the hydatid disease but surgery is still the most common form of treatment. Different chemical agents are used for inactivation of protoscolices during surgery but most leave serious side effects. Therefore, herbal extracts have received more attention as replacing agents that have acceptable scolicidal effects and no adverse effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the scolicidal effects of mixture of Artemisia, Eucalyptus and ginger extracts on hydatid cyst protoscolices in vitro. Materials and methods: Hydatid liver cysts isolated from sheep were collected from a slaughterhouse in Hamedan, Iran. The cysts fluid containing live protoscolices were aspirated aseptically. The effect of two concentrations of the methanolic extracts of the mixture (50 and 100 mg/ml) was investigated at 15 and 30 min. Viability of protoscolices was confirmed by 0.1% eosin staining. Data analysis was done applying Chi-square test. Results: The mixture of eucalyptus and ginger extracts showed acceptable scolicidal effects in which after 15 and 30 min exposure at 50 and 100 mg/ml concentrations it killed 97.24% and 100% of protoscolices, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that mixture of Eucalyptus and ginger had high scolicidal activity in vitro condition. Therefore, it could be used in surgical treatment of hydatid cyst after complementary researches.

Introduction: Streptococcus mutans is the most common cause of tooth decay. Parabens, and other commonly used as anti-Streptococcus agents in toothpaste industry have numerous side effects such as discoloration of teeth. Thymus vulgaris essential oil has profound antimicrobial activity against a wide range of species. The aim of present study was the aim of the present study was to formulate and evaluate the physicochemical properties of a kind of toothpaste formulated with Thymus vulgaris essential oil. Thyme oil components were also analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Methods: Toothpaste was formulated in forms of gel and opaque and Thyme essence was added to it. The formulation was evaluated in terms of stability in different temperatures, pH, consistency, uniformity, taste, smell, and compatibility with special packaging for toothpaste at three temperatures. Profilometry was used to determine abrasivity. The rate of contaminations with lead and arsenic was determined by atomic absorption. The amount of fluoride was measured by potentiometry. Results: Forty-one different components, representing 99.64% of the total oil were identified in essential oil. Addition of thyme essence to formulation had no deleterious effect in stability, consistency, taste and smell. The pH of opaque and gel formulations was 7.02 and 7.45, respectively. The abrasiveness of opaque and gel formulations was in standard ranges. The fluoride content was 1000 ppm. Lead and arsenic were not detected at all. Conclusion: Formulation of toothpaste with T. vulgaris essential oil was acceptable and might be considered as a desirable herbal toothpaste.

Context: High-fat diet (HFD) can cause deficits in learning and memory through oxidative stress and increase Alzheimer disease risk. Rosa damascena Mill. (Rosaceae) extract possesses potent antioxidant properties. Objective: This study investigated the effects of the hydroalcoholic extracts of petals of R. damascena on learning and memory in male rats consuming an HFD. Materials and methods: Forty male Wistar rats (200–250 g) were randomly assigned to four groups: control, R. damascena extract, HFD and HFD + extract. The extract (1 g/kg bw daily) was administered by oral gavage for 1 month. Animals were allowed free access to high-fat chow for 3 months. The Morris water maze and the passive avoidance learning tests were used to assess learning and memory. Results: In the passive avoidance learning test, the step-through latencies in the retention test (STLr) of the extract (147.4 ± 23.3) and HFD (150.3 ± 25.2) groups were significantly lower than those of the control group (270.4 ± 10.5) (respectively, p

Background: Multidrug-resistant bacteria make many problems in clinical therapy, design and manufacture of synthetic drugs. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most important multidrug-resistance bacteria leads to variety infections in human especially in immunocompromised, patients with severe burns, and nosocomial infections. It Recent years, this organism makes a big challenge in clinical treatment of infections using a wide range of antibiotics. Medicinal herbs for thousands of years to prevent or treat infectious diseases were considered. Today, pharmacists have high interest of using medicinal herbs to prepare a new antimicrobial compounds. The goal of this study was to investigation the effect of aqueous and alcoholic extract of fresh garlic on the expression of genes encoding elastase and exotoxin A virulence factors, in P. aeruginosa PAO1 strain. Methods: Present study was an experimental study and performed from 2015 to 2016 in Hamadan University of Medical Science, Iran. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of aqueous and alcoholic extract of garlic was determined. Then in order to investigation the gene expression of elastase and exotoxin A genes, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method was performed at sub-MBC concentrations. Results: According to the results aqueous extracts of garlic had better impact in comparison with alcoholic alone. At concentration of 64 and 8 mg/ml of aqueous extract the expression of both elastase and exotoxin A genes were decreased. Although, the expression of elastase gene was most affected by garlic at different concentrations than exotoxin A. Conclusion: The results suggested that the compositions of garlic extracts can inhibit the production of virulence factors in P. aeruginosa. So in order to treat infectious diseases in the near future, medicinal plants known as new antimicrobial drugs can be used alone or with antibiotic drugs against pathogenic bacteria.

Introduction: Phlomis bruguieri and Phlomis olivieri are two species of genus Phlomis, growing in Iran. Different species of this genus have shown various biological activities and also contain a wide range of compounds. It has been proved that both species increase sunflower oil stability and inhibit its oxidation. The aim of this study was to analyze fatty acid composition of these two species, of which P. olivieri is endemic in Iran and yet there is no report on their fatty acid composition. Methods: Aerial parts of two plants were collected, hexane extracts were prepared through soxhlet extraction and concentrated by recovering the solvent, derivatization was performed and then gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was done for detecting fatty acids. Results: Both plants contained saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. In hexane extract of P. bruguieri 10 fatty acids were identified and 9-octadecenoic acid, 6-octadecynoic acid and hexadecanoic acid were found in high concentrations. P. olivieri also contained 8 fatty acids of which 9-octadecanoic acid, 12,15-otadecadiynoic acid and 7-hexadecenoic acid were detected in high concentrations. Conclusion: Two investigated plants are common in 3 fatty acids and in both of them octadecenoic acid is found in the highest amount. Unsaturated fatty acids have higher amount than the saturated fatty acids in both plants. This study opens new frontiers and applications of P. bruguieri and P. olivieri due to various bioactive components, especially for pharmaceutical applications.

Introduction: Cisplatin is one of the most potent chemotherapeutic antitumor drugs. Also, oxidative stress has been established to be involved in cisplatin-induced toxicity. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to examine the antioxidant and anti-inflammation potential of green tea hydroalcoholic extract (GTE) against the liver function of cisplatin in male rats. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats (180–250 g) were divided into 4 groups (n = 5) treated as follows: (1) control group (saline solution, 1 ml kg−1 body weight, i.p.), cisplatin group (7 mg kg−1 body weight, i.p.). Animals of Groups III received only green tea extract (30 mg/kg/day, by gavage). Group IV was given green tea extract+ cisplatin once daily for 24 hours. Liver function was evidenced in the cisplatin group by the increased serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). The mechanism of cisplatin induced liver function was considered as being decreased the total antioxidant power (TAP). Systemic inflammation was assessed by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels. Results: A decrease in TAP level in cisplatin group was observed compared with control group. GTE administration decreased TNF-α and increased TAP compared to cisplatin group, but showed no significant differences between groups. Conclusion: The results suggested that green tea could ameliorate cisplatin liver function in rats through reduction of oxidative toxic stress and inflammation.

Background: Pain is one of the common problems encountered by patients with burns, which increases after each dressing. This study aimed to investigate the effect of inhalation aromatherapy with damask rose essence on the pain of patients with burns that is caused after dressing. Materials and Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted on 50 patients with second- and third-degree burn wounds. The baseline pain of the patients was assessed 30 min before they entered into the dressing room on the first and second days of intervention. The patients in the experimental group inhaled five drops of damask rose essence 40% in distilled water, while those in the control group inhaled five drops of distilled water as placebo. The pain intensity was assessed using Visual Analogue Scale at 15 and 30 min after the patients exited from the dressing room. Data were analyzed by SPSS (version 18) using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: There was significant difference between the mean of pain intensity before and after intervention at 15 and 30 min after dressing (P < 0.001). Moreover, there was significant difference in reduction of pain intensity before and after aromatherapy in the experimental group (P < 0.05). Also, there was a significant reduction in severity of pain after dressing in the experimental group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Inhalation aromatherapy with damask rose could be effective for relieving the pain caused after dressing in patients with burns. Therefore, it could be suggested as a complementary therapy in burn patients for pain relief.

Background: Medicinal plants, owing to their different mechanisms such as antioxidants effects, may improve learning and memory impairments in diabetic rats. Calendula officinalis (CO), has a significant antioxidant activity. Aims: To examine the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of CO on passive avoidance learning (PAL) and memory in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male rats. Settings and Design: A total of 32 adult male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to four groups: Control, diabetic, control + extract of CO and diabetic control + extract of CO groups with free access to regular rat diet. Subjects and Methods: Diabetes in diabetic rats was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg STZ. After confirmation of diabetes, oral administration of 300 mg/kg CO extract to extract-treated groups have been done. PAL was tested 8 weeks after onset of treatment, and blood glucose and body weight were measured in all groups at the beginning and end of the experiment. Statistical Analysis Used: The statistical analysis of data was performed by ANOVA followed by least significant difference post-hoc analysis. Results: Diabetes decreased learning and memory. Effect of CO extract in retention test (after 24 and 48 h) has been shown a significant decrease in step-through latency and increase in time spent in the dark compartment part. Also the extract partially improved hyperglycemia and reduced body weight. Conclusion: Taken together, CO extract can improve PAL and memory impairments in STZ-diabetic rats. This improvement may be due to its antioxidant, anticholinergic activities or its power to reduce hyperglycemia.

Background & aim: The decrease of serum glucose level and lipids in diabetic patients is clinically significant. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Commiphora mukul extract on blood sugar and lipid profile in diabetic rats. Methods: In the present experimental study, thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, control treated with the extract, diabetic and diabetic treated with the extract. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin. In an eight week period, the control group of normal saline and the control group and diabetic recipient extract of CM oleo gum blue resin was given by gavage. Treatment resumed eight weeks with onset of hyperglycemia. The control and diabetic control groups received normal saline orally. Extract treated control and extract treated diabetic groups received extract of Commiphora mukul gum (300 mg/kg P.O.) daily by gavage. At the end of this period, blood samples were collected from each rat and biochemical tests for investigation of glucose level and lipid profile was performed. One- way analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical test and Post-hoc test Tukey’s were used for data analysis Results: The study indicated that diabetes increases the serum levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL. Administration of Commiphora mukul gum extract in diabetic groups significantly decreased the serum level of glucose, cholesterol(p