Background: Acne vulgaris, a common skin disease, is a chronic inflammation of the pilocebaceous units these areas include the face, the upper part of the chest, and the back. Antibiotices that inhibit “propionibacterium acne” are the selective treatment for acne. Now, because of antibiotic resistant, treatment is less effective. Therefore finding the alternative cure is nessesary. Objectives: The goal of this study is the comparison of arnebia solution effect with placebo on the treatment of mild to moderate acne. Methods: This study has been designed as double blined clinical trial on 68 patients with mild to moderate acne. The patients were divided in two groups. Pregnant and milk-feeding women,childeren with the age less than 12 years and patients that received related drugs to acne have been excluded from this study .The groups were treated topically with arnebia and placebo solution two times per day for 8 weeks. The inflammatory and non inflammatory lesions and the side effects were assessed in both groups. Results: These finding show that the arnebia solution was decreased the inflammatory signs, significantly (p<0.001). In this period of time no adverse effect was seen. Conclusion: In conclusion the arnebia solution was effective in the treatment of mild to moderate acne.

Conclusion: According to the study results, consumption of one gram of cinnamon per day, do not have blood glucose lowering effects.

Background: In traditional medicine “Crataegus melano carpa” is one of the medicinal plants that has many therapeutic effects. One of them is its effect on nerveous system.
Objective: Evaluation of Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of alcoholic extract of “Crataegus melano carpa” leaves on fear behavior in presence pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in adult male rat.
Methods: Animals were divided into 3 groups: experimental, saline and, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) 20 mg/kg as positive control (I.P). In the experimental group, the animals received 4000 µg/Rat alcoholic extract of “Crataegus melano carpa” leaves (ICV) and PTZ (I.P). Then plus maze was used for evaluation of the fear. Open arm entries percentage (%OAE) and open arm time percentage (%OAT) were evaluated.
Results: The results show that intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of alcoholic extract of “Crataegus melano carpa” leaves increased %OAE and %OAT significantly (p<0.05).
Conclusion: We concluded that alcoholix extract of “Crataegus melano carpa” is effective on fear reduction in presence pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in adult male rat.

Background: Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) essential oil has been traditionally used in the ayurvedic system of medicine for healing burns, infections and seborrheic dermatitis. But yet, no controlled human study has determined its efficacy. Objective: The goal of the current study was to compare the efficacy of 5% tea tree essential oil (TTO) gel with placebo in the treatment of mild to moderate facial seborrheic dermatitis. Methods: Fifty four patients with mild to moderate facial seborrheic dermatitis reffered to Skin Diseases Research Center, in the Qazvin city, Iran, were randomly divided into two groups and treated with either 5% TTO gel or placebo three times daily for 4 weeks. The patients follow-ups were conducted in both groups after 2 and 4 weeks with evaluating of erythema, scaling, itching and greasy crusts. Results: Forty two patients completed the treatment course. There were significant differences between the TTO and placebo groups in the improvement of erythema, scaling, itching and greasy crusts (p < 0.05). Allergic side - effects were seen in neither group. Conclusions: 5% TTO gel is effective in the treatment of mild to moderate facial seborrheic dermatitis.

Background: The seeds of some medicinal plants and their compounds have long been valued for their numerous health benefits. Objective: To investigate some physical and chemical properties of Salvia spp. Methods: Some physico-chemical properties in five species of Salvia seeds (consisted of S. officinalis L., S. macrosiphon L., S. hypoleuca L., S. sclarea L. and S. nemorosa L.) were measured at 8.73 ± 0.09% moisture content (d.b.) in four categories of large, medium, small size and ungraded lots with replication. Results: The largest major diameter (L1) value was recorded in S. hypoleuca L. The highest intermediate (L2) and minor diameters (L3), seed weight, volume, surface area, sphericity, arithmetic, geometric and square mean diameters, equivalent diameter and mucilage content were obtained in S. officinalis L. seeds. Also, the most percentage of oils content was observed in S. sclarea seeds. Maximum kurtosis index was obtained in S. officinalis L. for major and minor diameter, surface area, sphericity, arithmetic, geometric and square mean diameters and equinalant diameter, in S. hypoleuca L. for intermediate diameter and seed volume, and in S. nemorosa L. for seed weight. The highest skewness index was observed in S. hypoleuca L. for minor diameter, seed volume, surface area, arithmetic and square mean diameter and equivalent diameter, in S. nemorosa L. for major diameter and seed weight, in S. officinalis L. for intermediate diameter and sphericity, and in S. sclarea L. for geometric mean diameter. Conclusion: The maximum content of mucilage and oils were found in S. officinalis and S. sclarea, respectively. The mucilage content was significantly correlated to minor diameter and sphericity, while there was not significant correlation between content of seed oils and measured parameters.

Introduction: The medicinal plant milk thistle with the scientific name of Silybum marianum is an annual or biennial herb native to the Mediterranean regions and is found through the world. Extracts from the seeds of this plant have been used to cure liver disorders since ancient times. Featured phytochemicals of this medicinal plant are flavonolignan compounds and silybin is the most important one.
Aim: In this study, the effects of applying different incoming feeds, defatting procedures and solvents on silymarin extraction process from the seeds of milk thistle have been investigated.
Procedure: Reflux extraction was used to obtain extracts. All extracts have been refluxed for 6 hours and the temperature was fixed at 60°C. Different incoming feeds including ground seeds, solvent defatted meal, cold press defatted meal, and separated pericarps have been subjected to the extraction system. Also, three different solvents including methanol, methanol 80%, and ethanol 80% were employed. Prepared extracts were weighed and then HPLC method analysis was used for quantifying silymarin compounds.
Results: According to the presented data, the concentration and amount of silymarin in different extracts was compared. The extract obtained from ground seeds with methanol was able to reach the most amount of silymarin while the highest concentration of silymarin was obtained from the extract of ground pericarp with ethanol 80%.

Background: The Apiaceae family is defined with the diversity of essential oil. Some of composition could be used to control of storage pests.
Objective: This study was conducted to estimate and identification of the seed essential oil composition of four Apiaceae species.
Methods: The essential oil composition of the seeds of the four Apiaceae’s species including (Pimpinella anisum L., Foeniculum vulgar Mill, Coriandrum sativum L. and Petroselinum hortense) were identified by Gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and compared with each other. Finally, biological effects of the four different species of Apiaceae family were evaluated against adult insects of two important storage pests.
Results: The results of analysis showed Anethol with 76.56% and 76.22% is the original component of Pimpinella anisum L., Foeniculum vulgar Mill, respectively. Also, Linalool with 58.80% and α-Pinene with 42.15% are the original components of Coriandrum sativum L. and Petroselinum hortense, respectively.
Discussion: Regarding to the identified components of the essential oils and obtained results, Pimpinella anisum L. and Coriandrum sativum L. showed the most fumigant toxicity on the storage pests.
 

Background: Punica granatum var. pleniflora (Golnar in Persian) is a subspecies of pomegranate that only has the blooms with no fruit generation. The plant has been used for the treatment of liver diseases in Iranian folk medicine. Objective: In the present study, the hepatoprotective effects of aqueous extract of Punica granatum var. pleniflora (APG) were evaluated in carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatotoxicity in male rats along with its in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities. In vitro free radical scavenging and antioxidant properties of APG were also measured by DPPH method and the determination of polyphenol and flavonoids contents. Methods: Hepatotoxicity was induced in rats by CCl₄ administration and the extract were administered orally at three different doses. Results: At the end of the experiment, the serum biomarkers of liver injury, including alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), bilirubin, and total protein were significantly decrease in APG-treated animals when compared to CCl₄-intoxicated rats (P<0.001). Besides, in vivo examination showed that the extract prevented CCl₄-induced hepatic oxidative stress in rats, which demonstrated by the restoration of reduced glutathione (GSH) and the lessening of lipid peroxidation (P<0.001). In addition, APG diminished the increase of relative liver weight induced by CCl₄ in rats (P<0.001). Conclusion: To conclude, this study showed that APG possesses potent free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities. Also, the hepatoprotective properties of APG against CCl₄-induced liver injury may be partly mediated by its antioxidant activity due to the presence of polyphenols and flavonoids in the plant.

Background: Coriander Triphala is one of the famous drugs in traditional medicine which is consisted of Terminalia chebula, T. bellirica, Phyllanthus emblica, Coriandrum sativum, almond oil and honey. Traditional dosage forms should be converted to modern forms for better acceptance and suitable characteristics and stability. Objective: In the present investigation, the traditional form of Coriander Triphala was converted to film coated tablet and quality control of the tablet was performed. Methods: The fruits ofT. chebula, T. bellirica, Ph. emblica, C. sativum in equal proportions along with almond oil and honey in different proportions were used for tablet formulation with other excipients. Sixteen formulations were made and after pre-formulation studies, twelve of them were selected for making tablet. Prepared tablets went through primary quality control tests such as weight variation, friability, hardness and disintegration time. Finally, the best formulation was coated by green colored water soluble material and its physicochemical characteristics were determined. Results: Among different formulations, the tablet consisted of 98 mg of each species, 14 mg almond oil, 148 mg honey along with lactose, Avicel PH-102, croscarmellose sodium, PVP K30, magnesium stearate and silicone dioxide was the best one. Weight variation, hardness, disintegration time, total tannins content as pyrogallol were found 1192 mg ± 5 %, 20 kp, 25 min and 64.19 mg/tablet, respectively. Over 90 % of tannins were released after 60 min during dissolution test. Conclusion: The formulated tablet with suitable characteristics is a good substitution for traditional form and could be produced in industrial scale after complementary clinical trial studies.

Background: Arum rupicola Boiss. (Araceae Family) is used by the native people of southern areas of Iran as a soup called "kardeh soup". Several flavonoids and phenol compounds have been identified from Arum species. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate antioxidant effect and total phenol contents as well as cytotoxic activity of the leaves of A. rupicola. Methods: Antioxidant activity of total methanol extract and fractions including n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and water residue were evaluated using FRAP and DPPH methods. Total phenol content was measured using Folin-Ciocalteu method. Cytotoxic activity of the extract and fractions were investigated against human breast cancer MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and T47D cell lines by MTT assay. Further phytochemical isolation was done on the water residue using column chromatography. Results: According to the results, water residue showed the lowest IC₅₀ value (186.7 µg/ml) and the total methanol extract showed the most antioxidant power (163.62 mmol FeSO4/100 g extract) and phenol content (135 µmol Gallic acid/g extract). The hexane fraction also showed the highest cytotoxic effect against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line with IC₅₀ equal to 118.9 μg/ml. Phytochemical analysis of the water residue resulted in isolation and identification of three isoflavonoids named orobol, genistein and genistein 8-c-glucoside. Conclusion: Based on the identification of isoflavonoid compounds in this plant, its ability to be used as a phytoestrogenic supplement can be considered in future studies.

Background: The genus Phlomis is a member of Lamiaceae (Labiatae) family. About 10 species of this genus, among more than 100 species, are endemic to Iran. Phlomis rigida Labill. can be used as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, wound healing and antioxidant in drug investigations, based on literature. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the composition, antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxic activity of essential oils and extract from leaves and flowers of P. rigida from Iran. The present study is the first research on P. rigida from Iran. Methods: Essential oils of leaves and flowers of P. rigida were studied by GC-MS and GC-FID to evaluate the chemical compositions. DPPH free radical scavenging method was used to evaluate the antioxidant effect of leaves and flowers extracts. Antimicrobial properties of the essential oils and extracts were investigated against various microorganisms in brain heart infusion agar to evaluate the minimum inhibitory concentration. A brine shrimp test (BST) was done to study the cytotoxicity of methanol extracts and essential oils from leaves and flowers in different concentrations. The growth inhibitory effects of the methanol extract from leaves and flowers were assessed against four cancer cell lines including MCF-7, MDBK, HT-29 and A-549. Results: Essential oils analysis showed 34 compounds and the main compounds were (Z)-β-ocimene (25.6 %), isobornyl acetate (16.6 %), trans-verbenol (12.6 %) and α-pinene (7.6 %). As a result of analysis of methanol extracts from leaves, luteolin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside and rosmarinic acid were isolated and identification for the first time from P. rigida growing in Iran. Investigation of antibacterial properties of the essential oil of flowers also showed 16 mm diameters of inhibition zone against Proteus vulgaris. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the antibacterial effect of P. rigida essential oil could be due to the presence of its monoterpenes.

Background: Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. (Milk thistle) is a perennial herb with medicinal properties. The seeds of these plants contain silymarin compounds with flavonolignan structure and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects. The major bioactive constituent of S. marianum is silybin A and B. It is used in the treatment of various liver conditions and exhibits high anti-tumor promoting activity. Objective: The purpose of this study was to purify, identify, and standardize of silybin A and B from the seeds extract of Silybum marianum. Methods: At first, the milk thistle seeds were defatted with hexane and then extracted with methanol as solvent. Isolation and further purification of silybin A and B was carried out by column chromatography using Diaion HP-20 resin, silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 as stationary phase, respectively. ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR techniques were used to identify these compounds. Finally, the HPLC method has been used to standardize. Results: ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR techniques characterized the structure of silybin A and B extracted from Silybum marianum L. and standardization and determination of their purity was performed using HPLC. Conclusion: Our proposed system presented significant advantages in increasing efficiency and reducing cost, and the diastereoisomers of silybin A and silybin B in silymarin were successfully isolated with high purities.

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.