Background: Compounds with anti-oxidant properties cause reduction of lipid peroxidation, LDL and increment of HDL serumic level. Catechins are the major component of the green tea and have strong anti-oxidant properties. One of these catechins is epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Selenium is the cofactor of glutathione peroxidase enzyme and has anti-oxidant properties. Objective: The purpose of this investigation was the comparison of EGCG and SiO2 on rats serumic lipid level. Methods: In this investigation 20 Wistar rats were selected and were fed a diet high fat for 4 weeks. Then blood samples from rats were prepared and serumic level of triglyceride, cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were measured by kits. 15 rats of these were selected and were randomly divided to three experimental groups consisting of 5 animals each. All groups were fed with the same high fat diet. One group were control, another group was injected with EGCG and the other group was injected with SiO2. Blood samples from rats were prepared again and sermic level of triglyceride, cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were measured. Results: EGCG has stronger reductive effects on serumic cholesterol than SiO2 and it is EGCG was decreased serumic level of HDL-cholesterol more than SiO2. Also EGCG was decreased serumic level of cholesterol and triglyceride more than SiO2.

Background: Due to increasing drug resistance among pathogenic bacteria toward current and new generation antibiotics, researchers have been investigating to find herbal antimicrobial agents as alternative medicines. Objectives: In this study, the inhibitory effects of alcoholic extract of Zataria multiflora Boiss leaves, flowers and root on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated and compared. Methods: 50 grams of dried thyme leaves, flowers and root were added to 250 ml hydroethanol separately, and were then distilled. The antibacterial properties of the extracts were assessed by Broth Dilution Method and after determining dried weights of the extracts per ml, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of them were obtained. Finally, by using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), effective compounds of the extracts were detected. Results: Thyme leaves alcoholic extract at 3/031 mg/ml and 6/062 mg/ml concentration, flowers alcoholic extract at 5/687 mg/ml and 11/375 mg/ml concentration and root alcoholic extract at 5/437 mg/ml and 10/875 mg/ml concentration, in order, were able to inhibit and kill all the strains and no difference were observed between them. Analysis of the chromatograms showed that thymol and carvacrol are the main compounds of this herb. Conclusion: However clinical application of herbal extracts and oils sounds valuable because of their less side effects in comparison with current drugs, in order to clinically use thyme alcoholic extracts, further investigations must be done in clarifying the mechanism of action of its effective compounds on microbial agents.

Background: Advantages of herbal drugs have been known to human being for many years and they have been used for treatment of many diseases. Nowadays, inflammation is known to be one of the basic pathologic causes of the diseases. Objective: In this study the anti-inflammatory effect of Thymus kotschyanus Boiss & Hohen was investigated. Methods: Forty two Wistar rats were used in three divided groups. In the first group, extract of Thymus kotschyanus Boiss & Hohen in doses of 50, 100, 150, 200 mg/kg was injected intra peritoneal and after one hour they were treated with hind paw edema test with carrageenan. In the second group, Indomethacin with the dose of 5 mg/kg was injected one hour before carrageenan and in the third one, saline was injected before carrageenan, every hours after carrageenan injection to rat’s right hind paw the inflammation was separately measured by the change in the volume of mercury (plethysmometer). Results: Indomethacin and Thymus kotschyanus Boiss & Hohen extract had significantly reduced edema in all five measurements (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between Indometacin and the extract in reducing edema in the first to fourth hour, but in the fifth hour, the herbal drug showed a significant difference of anti-inflammatory effect with Indometacin in all doses (p<0.05). Conclusion: The methanolic extract of Thymus kotschyanus Boiss & Hohen has anti- inflammatory effect in all doses which is dose dependant and can be used instead of or as a synergist for Indometacin. Higher doses of herbal extract may have more anti-inflammatory effects.

Background: Trigonella L. is a well-known worldwide growing genus of the Fabaceae family. In addition to food, the plants have various medicinal properties, including reducing fat and blood sugar, antibacterial, anti-ulcer, and analgesic. Objective: Variability in agro-morphological traits, phenolic compounds, and proximate composition of the aerial parts of some Iranian Trigonella and its relative e.g. Medicago L. species was studied to introduce the superior species for further use in breeding and exploitation programs. Methods: The seed samples of T. astroides, T. elliptica, T. filipes, T. foenum-graecum, T. spruneriana, M. crassipes (syn: T. crassipes), M. monantha (syn: T. monantha), M. monspeliaca (syn: T. monspeliaca), M. orthoceras (syn: T. orthoceras), and M. phrygia (syn: T. aurantiaca) were collected from different regions of Iran, and then were cultivated at the same agronomic conditions. Morphological traits were measured by a ruler, digital caliper and scales. Proximate composition (moisture, ash, fibre, protein, fat, and carbohydrates) and phenolic acids of the aerial parts were determined by the AOAC method and HPLC, respectively. Results: Significant morphological differences among the studied species were observed. The highest protein content was measured in M. orthoceras (13.4 ± 0.4 %), followed by T. filipes (11.5 ± 0.8 %), and T. spruneriana (11.1 ± 0.4 %). Fibre content was ranged from 0.7 ± 0.04 % to 4.9 ± 0.4 %. In the extracts of the studied species, catechin, chlorogenic acid, and p-coumaric acid were found in abundance (0.01 ± 0.05 - 69.32 ± 0.7 mg/g DW). Conclusion: Trigonella filipes and T. spruneriana could be selected as suitable species for further exploitation in food and pharmaceutical industries.