Background: It may be necessary to accomplish an investigation based on the extensive and deep studies about the situation and status of herbal medicines in different societies. Investigation of prescribed herbal medicines by physicians -as one of the high educated portion of the society and also as the eligible population for prescription of herbal medicines - and also evaluation of drug prescriptions considering the administration of herbal medicines can determine the situation and status of herbal medicines in health policy of a country. Objective: In this article the interest of the physicians for administration of herbal medicines, the effect of different variables such as age, sex and type of specialty of physicians, the effect of type of season and finally the effect of type of municipal district as the marker for determination of quality of life on amount of prescribed herbal medicines have been studied. Methods: This study, was accomplished in the time period between 1st Farvadin till 30th Esfand of the year 1386 in 3 university related drugstores – i.e. Taleghani, Abedini and Isar- the drug stores have been selected in the manner that different districts of the city is included in the study. Totally, 5040 drug prescriptions for all over the year have been statistically investigated. Results: The interest for prescription of herbal medicines by physicians is very low. Variables include municipal district of the city with different levels of quality of life, age of physicians, type of specialty, level of education and therapeutic category of drugs have influenced on the interest of physicians for prescription of herbal medicine but sex of physician has no significant effect on this interest. Conclusion: Totally, there is a low interest for prescription of herbal medicines by physicians.

Background: Physical activity combined with some herbal supplementations can affect body energy metabolism, blood lipids and physical fitness levels. However, the effect of exercise training combined with fenugreek on lipid metabolism and body composition in patients with type2 diabetes is unknown.
Objective: The aim of present study was to investigate the effects of eight weeks’ endurance training along with fenugreek seed supplement on lipid profile, body composition, insulin resistance and VO_2max in obese women with type2 diabetes.
Methods: For conducting present study, 40 obese women with type2 diabetes and mean age 44.2 ± 2.5 years and body mass index (BMI) 32.58±1.67 kg/m² assigned in four groups (each group 10 person) include Placebo, Fenugreek, Exercise training and Exercise training+Fenugreek groups. Running endurance training program performed for eight weeks, three sessions in a week and 30-55 minutes in each session. Training intensity increased from %45 reserve heart rate in the first week to %65 reserve heart rate in the last week. Subjects in Fenugreek and Exercise training+ Fenugreek groups consumed daily 15g fenugreek seeds mixed with yogurt in three meals (each meal five g) include morning, noon and night.
Results: results indicate a significant decrease of percent body fat and significant increase of VO_2max in both trained groups (P<0.05). Moreover, lipid profile improvement and glucose and insulin resistance decrease in Exercise training groups were significant. In addition, HDL-c increase and LDL-c decrease in Exercise+Fenugreek group was also significant compared to Exercise alone.
 

Conclusion: Fenugreek consumption increases the endurance training induced adaptations in obese women afflicted with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Medicinal plants play a significant role in preventing and treating diseases due to their traditional uses. Objective: The aim of the study was to isolate, purify and identify phytochemicals from the n-hexane extract of Teucrium hircanicum L. roots and evaluate the antioxidant activity of the extract and its purified compounds. Methods: The n-hexane extract (2.27 g) was extracted from the roots of this plant. The extract was fractionated by column chromatography with normal phase by eluting with n-hexane-EtOAc and following with EtOAc-Methanol. Fractions with similar phytochemical fingerprints combined to produce 23 main fractions. Final purification was carried out by preparative reversed-phase HPLC-UV. The structures of isolated were secured by different spectroscopic methods such as 1D, 2D NMR, and mass spectroscopy methods and comparing of these data with literature reported values. The antioxidant activity of the n-hexane extract of T. hircanicum roots and its purified diterpenoids was evaluated in DPPH assay and radical scavenging activity was calculated. Results: Extraction and isolation methods were used to purify three rearranged abietane-type diterpenoids villosin A (1), teuvincenone B (2) and 5, 8, 11, 13, 15-abietapentaen-7-one (3), a phenethyl ester namely 4-hydroxyphenethyl pentacosanoate (4) and one sterol namely 22-dehydroclerosterol (5). Conclusion: The n-hexane extract from roots of T. hircanicum and three rearranged abietane type diterpenoids were showed good antioxidant activities ranged from 3.5-4.3 μg/ml compared with the reference value (BHT = 16.5 μg/ml).

Background: Flavonoids, a group of natural substances, are found in flowers, fruits, roots and stems. These natural products are well known for their health-beneficial effects. Hence, isolation and purifying of flavonoids from the ingredients is worthwhile. Flavonoids are now considered indispensable in various nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, medicinal and cosmetic applications. Apigenin, quercetin, and apigenin-7-O-glycoside have therapeutic properties that these two are in the flavonoid group. Objectives: In this study, apigenin, quercetin, and apigenin 7-O-glycoside were purified by column chromatography and identified by NMR and HPLC UV-visible techniques. Methods: Total extracts of three plants (Apium graveolens, Petroselinum crispum, Allium cepa) were divided into different solvent fractions. Column chromatography is used to purify these fractions. Finally, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and mass spectrometry techniques were used for identification. Also, the HPLC technique was used for identifying these compounds and standardized. Results: In the present work, apigenin was extracted from ethyl acetate fraction of Apium graveolens seeds. High purity of apigenin 7-O-glycoside isolated from the butanol fraction of Petroselinum crispum aerial parts. Also, ethyl acetate fraction isolated quercetin from the Allium cepa. Identification of the data obtained from ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR, which were proofed by comparison with the sources of purified compounds. Conclusion: The methods used in this research were able to produce these three compounds with a high percentage of purity to be used in industry as standards.Background: Flavonoids, a group of natural substances, are found in flowers, fruits, roots and stems. These natural products are well known for their health-beneficial effects. Hence, isolation and purifying of flavonoids from the ingredients is worthwhile. Flavonoids are now considered indispensable in various nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, medicinal and cosmetic applications. Apigenin, quercetin, and apigenin-7-O-glycoside have therapeutic properties that these two are in the flavonoid group. Objectives: In this study, apigenin, quercetin, and apigenin 7-O-glycoside were purified by column chromatography and identified by NMR and HPLC UV-visible techniques. Methods: Total extracts of three plants (Apium graveolens, Petroselinum crispum, Allium cepa) were divided into different solvent fractions. Column chromatography is used to purify these fractions. Finally, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and mass spectrometry techniques were used for identification. Also, the HPLC technique was used for identifying these compounds and standardized. Results: In the present work, apigenin was extracted from ethyl acetate fraction of Apium graveolens seeds. High purity of apigenin 7-O-glycoside isolated from the butanol fraction of Petroselinum crispum aerial parts. Also, ethyl acetate fraction isolated quercetin from the Allium cepa. Identification of the data obtained from ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR, which were proofed by comparison with the sources of purified compounds. Conclusion: The methods used in this research were able to produce these three compounds with a high percentage of purity to be used in industry as standards.