Artemisinin is an antimalarial compound that is naturally found in A. annua L. (Asteraceae) The leaves of A. annua L. growing wild in the north of Iran are collected and extracted for measuring artemisinin by HPLC. The most amount of artemisinin(0.097%) was found in the sample collected from Macaroud and the lowest amount (0.024%) belonged to the sample grown in Doab.

It has been shown that garlic, the ancient medicinal herb, has a wide range of antimicrobial properties. Application of garlic as preservative in tomato paste can has been studied. During a separate study, It has been known that the main bacterial spoilage in canned tomato paste is called “Flat sour” which is caused by Bacillus Coagulance. The effect of fresh garlic and chroformic extract of garlic on the Bacillus Coagulance growth was inverstgated. Serial dilutions of 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 (%v/v) from fresh garlic and chlorofomic garlic extract were prepared and examined against Bacillus Coagulance. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MJC) of fresh garlic and chlirofromic garlic extract agaist Bacillus Coagulance were 3% v/v and 0.5% v/v respectively. Addition of above concentrations of fresh garlic and chlonofromic garlic extract had no significant effects on the chemical and physical characteristics of tomato paste can.

Echinacea is one of the most widely used medicinal herbs which is native to north America. The genus Echinacea consists of nine species, three of which E. angustifolia, E. pallida, and E. purpurea are used medicinally. Echinacea has been used for centuries, customarily as a treatment for the common cold, coughs, bronchitis, upper respiratory infections, and some inflammatory conditions. Although many of the active compounds of echinacea have been identified, the mechanism of action is not known. Studies show that the plant and its active component affect the phagocytic immune system, but not the specifically acquired immune system. Currently, Echinacea is being used to combat bacterial, viral, protozoan, and fungal infections, as an anti-inflammatory agent, and as an a possible chemopreventative agent.

Poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) is a member of the papaveraceae family. It is indigenus of south east of Europe and Asia. It is cultivated in over the world and there is not any wild type of this specie. Until now more than 40 different alkaloids have been known in this species which the most important ones are Morphine, Codeine, Thebaine, and Noscapine. Alkaloids are affected with genetical characteristics and environmental conditions. The most important application of papaver alkaloids is due to their analgesic properties. Total import of poppy alkaloids to the Great Britain and United States was 87 MT (based on CPS) in 1998. In this paper we review poppy at the view of agriculture, alkaloids biosynthesis and pathways.

Common thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) is a member of the lamiaceae family which distributes in different areas of Mediteranea and Asia and is cultivated in all over the world and Iran. Common thyme contains 0.8- 2.6% (usually ca. 1%) volatile oil consisting of highly variable amounts of phenols, monoterpene hydrocarbons, and alcohols. Thymol is normally the major phenolic component in common thyme. The leaves of Thymus vulgaris are used as a herb in food preparations, while the essential oil extracted from the leaves is used in beverages and the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Thyme oil is used as antispasmodic, carminative, antiseptic, anthelmintic, expectorant, antimicrobial (bacteria and fungi), antirheumatic, antioxidative, natural food preservative and mammalian age delaying. Thyme volatile oil has been reported to be among the top ten essential oils which have an important place in an expanding world market.

Helicobacter pylori, a gram negative microaerophilic bacterium has been recognized as the main cause of peptic ulcers as well as some malignancies. In this study stomach biopsy samples taken from patients complaining of stomach disturbances were tested for H. pylori infection. out of 150 samples tested 91 (60%) turned to be positive using a standard urease as well culture methods. Disk diffusion method was used to determine the sensitivity of the isolates to the selective antibiotics and also ten herbal extracts known for their antimicrobial activities. All the isolates showed sensitivity to gentamycin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin while 70% were sensitive to erythromycin and amoxicillin and 39% were metronidazole sensitive. Of the herbal extracts tested, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Salvia officinalis, Myrtus communis, Artemisia absinthium and Melina azedarach showed significant inhibitory effect on H. pylori while others had no effect. These results indicate that some traditional herbal medicines e.g. Glycyrrhiza glabra could be considered as alternatives to the current antibiotic therapy on H. pylori infection.

Genus Plantago belongs to Plantaginaceae family. It has two important medicinal species, P. ovata Forsk. and P. psyllium L., named in common psyllium. In traditional medicine, the husk of this plant used as laxative. Recent studies have shown that the hydrocholoidal fiber of the husk has antidiabetic and antihypercholestrolemia effects. Also it has been shown that it could reduce the prevalence of colon cancer. This plant is safe and has not any serious side effects. In this article we review the uses and benefits of this plant, which grows in many parts of Iran.

Many women are interested to use complementary and alternative medicines for relief from their menopausal symptoms. The prevalence of herbal medicinal product use among menopausal women highlights the need for investigation into these interventions. The goal of this study was to evaluate the benefit of herbal medicinal products for the treatment of menopausal symptoms by performing a systematic review of clinical trials. Literature searches of four computerized databases were done to identify randomized clinical trials of herbal medicinal products for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Manufacturers of herbal products were contacted, and our own files were also searched. There were no restrictions on the language of publication. Trials were considered if the outcome measures related to the physical or psychological impact of menopause, whether by compendium scores, questionnaires, or women's symptom diaries, excluding studies describing artificially induced menopause. This review was not concerned with biochemical or pathological data. Eighteen randomized clinical trials that fit our criteria were identified. These studies investigated black cohosh (n = 4), red clover (n = 4), kava (n = 3), dong quai (n = 1), evening primrose oil (n = 1), ginseng (n = 1), and combination products (n = 4). Trial quality was generally good, with 16 of 18 studies scoring 3 or more (maximum 5) on the Jadad Scale. There is no enough evidence for any herbal medical product in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. However, the evidence for black cohosh is promising.The studies involving red clover show it may be of benefit for more severe menopausal symptoms. There is some document for the use of kava, but safety concerns mean this herbal product is not a therapeutic option at present.

Silymarin is the seed extract of silybum marianum herbal medicine widely used for liver and bilary abnormality in China and several European country. It protect liver from several toxicity including acetaminophen, alcohol and amanita mashrom poisoning. Silymarin is composed of several flavonoids with antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and increasing cellular glutathion level properties. Although several experimental and clinical investigation indicating its efficacy against liver and prostate cancer, cisplatin induced kidney toxicity, and type II diabetes, but further clinical study need for its clinical use. However no adverse effect is reported by its chronic use or its administration to children, or pregnancy and lactation women.

AB-Boshghabi (Centella asiatica) from Apiaceae family, has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in Asiatic countries for hundreds of years. This plant is indigenous to the warmer regions of both hemispheres, including southeast Africa, Asia, Srilanka, the Pacific Islands, Madagascar, Eastern South America, Venezuela, Columbia. It is especially abundant in the swampy areas of India, Iran (around the Anzali lagoon), and Pakistan, Upto an altitude of approximately 700m. This hygrophyte plant is considered as a “vulnerable species” in the Red data book of plant species of Iran. This valuable hygrophyte species has a definitely exclusive habitat around the Anzali lagoon. The major principles are the triterpenes asiatic acid and madecassic acid, and their derived triterpene ester glycosides, asiaticoside and madecassoside. The major clinical indications for the use of centella asiatica in human include the treatment of wounds, venous insufficiency of the limbs, Certain mycobacterial infections and cellulitus. In the present article, we review mainly medicinal aspect of Centella asiatica that hitherto has not received much attention.

Articholce (Cynara Scolymus L.) is one of non- native plants being cultivated in Iran. This plant is mostly used in foods, so that it is probably harmless. In this Article we are going to coucentrate on different stages of its cultivation and the clinical uses of it in relation with some clinical studies.

Background: Garlic is one of the medicinal plants, which is efficate in treatment of mild hypertension and lipid profiles. Objective: Along this study allicin content and botanical traits are evaluated in pre-planting stage. Method: Bulb mean weight clove mean weight and clove number per bulb were the evaluated morphological characters. Allicin content evaluation was done by HPLC. The correlation existed between evaluated characters were analyzed. Results: We found that all samples were rich in allicin with values higher than pharmaceutical grade (4.5 mg/g). This study showed that ecological conditions had not detectable relation with allicin content. A cluster analysis of data was performed based on morphological characters and allicin content. Conclusion: In general we did not detect significant relationship between genetic diversity and geographical origins, which suggests that probably the genetic factors have more influence than ecology.

Importance of yew tree (Taxus spp.) originates from the entering of Taxol (Paclitaxel) in the treatment of breast cancer since 1982. Taxus spp. is one of the Taxaceae family, distributed in North America, Europe, meditranean region, Asia and North forests of Iran. Efficacy of Taxol in the treament of some cancers and low concentration of this compound in tree, stimulated semi synthetic preparation of taxol from other more aboundant compounds such as baccation–III which is found with higher concentrations in all tree tissues. Despite entering some other routs for preparation of taxol e.g. cell culture, cultivation and studies on yew tree is in high importance, therefore review on this plant was made by authors.

Hyperlipedimia especially increased blood cholesterol level is a chronic metabolic disease with several risk factor in etiology. Although several lipid-lowering drugs are prescribed but still hyperlipedimia is a main corn stone of attention in patients suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Presently, the use of herbal medicines for prevention and control of chronic hyperlipidemia is in the focus of attention for both the patients and physicians. The reasons for such shift toward the use of herbal medicine include: the expensive cost of conventional drugs, adverse drug reactions, and good efficacy of lipid lowering herbal medicine. Epidemiological studies indicate that diet restriction, alternative treatment and use of herbal medicine are a low coast and good direction in for controlling hyperlipedimia. Presently the use of herbal medicine by hyperlipedimic patients is considerably increases even in industrialized societies. However its uses is more pronounce among those patients which are resistant to conventional drug therapy. Although herbal therapy may induce beneficial effect, but due to irregular consumption and unspecified doses may render unsatisfactory lipid control and even herbal-conventional drug interaction. In present article the efficacy, drug interaction and side effect of common antihyperlipidemic herbal medicine is reviewed.

Hypericum perforatum L., also known St. John's wort, is a herbaceous perennial belonging to Hypericaceae family that is a native of Western Europe, North Africa, and Asia. The importance of this plant as a phytopharmaceutical, especially for treatment of mild to- moderately severe depression, has significantly increased in the last few years. The major active constituents are considered to be Hypericin (a naphtodianthrone) and Hyperforin (a prenylated phloroglucinol), although other biologically active constituents eg. Flavoneids and tannins are also present. However, Hypericin is utilized as the key compound in measuring the quality of St.Johns wort and is typically used as the measure of extract potency, although recent studies indicated that hyperforin may be the antidepressive agent in St. John's wort. However, St. John's wort is one of the top- selling herbal products, which has an important place in world market.

Taxol is a diterpeniod with complex structure, which is extracted frequently from the genus Taxus. At present, this drug is one of the most important anticancer natural agents with different mechanism from other similar drugs, used for remedy of different cancers such as, melanoma, lung cancer, non-hodgkins lymphoma, meatus urinarius cancer, esophagus cancer, etc. At present, many scientists are trying total synthesis and semi-synthesis of taxol and also its extraction from cell culture. however, these methods have characteristic problems. The increasing demand of taxol for clinical use as an anticancer drug combined with limited supply from plant sources require a thorough understanding of its biosynthesis and extraction methods.

Endemic of dry and warm climate, True Aloe with the scientific name Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. is an invaluable medicinal plant. It is cultivated in Iran in two southern provinces of Hormozgan and Boushehr and also grown in greenhouse in some other regions. Many derivatives of Aloe plant are in use in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Despite the fact that Aloe is endemic of Southern Iran, several kinds of finished products such as soft drinks and cosmetics are being imported to the country now. Since Aloe can be cost-effectively cultivated in poor soil and water resource conditions of the southern provinces of Iran, expansion of its cultivation and processing facilities can be a remarkable step for both job creation and efficient exploitation of the poor farmlands in this part of the country.

Background: Mastitis as a widely spread health problem does not only cause the largest economic disease-related losses in dairy farms, but also is responsible for the extended use of antibiotics in these enterprises. As this disease is considered multifactorial, development of new infection depends both on the presence of mastitis pathogens and a series of additional factors that act concomitantly. Therefore, for treatment and prevention of mastitis, determination of these factors is necessary. Antibiotic therapy is the common choice to control acute mastitis, but it is necessary to look for new options like immune modulators to better work out this problem and support the treatments. Objectives: The current study was to evaluate the use of softener cream with Mentha spicata (Addermint) therapy as a supportive treatment in management of acute mastitis in Holstein cattle. Methods: In a large dairy farm, 120 clinical cases (Class II acute Mastitis) were divided into three groups (A, B and C). All of the animals had received an antibacterial therapy including 50ml of oxytetracycline 5% IV and one tube of Tetranebalone intramamary infusion every 12 hours. Addermint, Phenylbutazone or Dam cream liniments were used on external skin of udders in A, B and C groups every 8 hours, respectively. Milk samples were taken from each cow prior to the treatment and were cultured on blood and MacConkey agar media. The genuses of isolated bacteria were determined microscopically and by results of biochemical reactions. Daily inspection of milk and udder were recorded. The withdrawal time of treated cows was 3 days and recurrent cases were recorded for the following 30 days. Results: The results of this study showed that, E. coli had the highest incidence in positive cultures (n=46) followed by Staphylococcus spp. (n=19) in 72.5% of positive cultures. No bacterium was isolated in 27.5% of cultures. Bacillus spp. (n=12), Streptococcus spp.(n=3), Klebsiella spp.(n=4) and Corynebacterium spp. (n=3) were isolated in 10% , 2.5 % , 3.5% and 2.5% of cultures, respectively. The recovery times were 26.7, 26.9 and 44.9 hrs. in A, B and C groups, respectively. The recurrence percentiles were 32.5%, 42.5% and 45% in A, B and C groups, respectively. Conclusion: Our results showed that softener cream (Addermint) usage is more effective than phenylbutazone and Dam cream in supporting the antibiotic treatment. It reduced the treatment period, withdrawal time and recurrence, dramatically.

Conclusion: From the results of this study it is concluded that essential oils of some plants may use as a natural preservative in some foods.

Results: The concentrations of 10 and 40 mg/l, showed inhibitor effects on F. poae. The methanol extracts at different concentrations were tested. 20, 30and 40 mg/l (Specially 30 mg/l) of metanolic extract showed antifungal activity agianst F. poae. The phenolic compouns (0 - 25mg/l) showed high antifungal activity on F. solani and F. poae.