Hyoscyamus is one of the important genus in Solanaceae which distribution of some of its species is restricted to Iran and some of the neighboring countries. The main medicinal substances in this plant are alkaloids (tropane alkaloids). One of Hyoscyamus species which has not been analysed yet, is Hyoscyamus insanus.This plant was collected from southern part of Iran and dried in shaddow and after milling was macerated in 96% ethanol. After maceration, total alkaloids were extracted and using successive column and preparative thin layer chomatography, extract fractionated into three parts. The alkaloids is each fraction was identified using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Mass Spectrometry (MS) and Ultra Violet (UV) spectrophotometry. These three alkaloids were hyoscyamine (atropine), hyoscine and apoatropin. More than 70% of the total alkaloids was hyoscyamine. Regarding this high percentage of hyoscyamin, this species could potentially be used for large scale production. It should be metioned that this is the first report on alkaloid contents of this plant.

Background: In traditional medicine, a gum resin obtained from Boswellia carterii, has been used as an agent for enhancing memory and learning abilities. Objective: In the present research, the effect of fractions obtained from gum resin of Boswellia carterii was assessed on enhancement of memory in intact and on memory impairments induced in rats by hyoscine using the Morris water maze task. Methods: The ethyl acetate (0.1 mg/kg) and N-butanol (0.1 mg/kg) fractions were injected intraperitoneally to rats 1 h before training for 5 consecutive days. During the training period, four trials were carried out each day. On the 5th day of the experiment, the locomotor activity was assessed using open field test. The effect of ethyl acetate fractions was evaluated on memory impairment induced by hyoscine (0.5 mg/kg). Results: The ethyl acetate (0.1 mg/kg) and N-butanol (0.1 mg/kg) fractions showed significant effects in enhancing the memory ability in intact rats. This effect was much significant with ethyl acetate fraction (p<0.001). The ethyl acetate (0.1 mg/kg) fraction reduced the deficit effect of hyoscine on memory (p<0.001). The N-butanol and ethyl acetate fractions (0.1 g/kg) have no effect on locomotor activity. Conclusion: On the basis of these results, B. carterii gum resin improved intact memory and the hyoscine impaired acquisition/performance activity. This effect may be mediated via cholinergic system.

Background: Hyoscyamus niger L. from Solanaceae is an important pharmacological plant which contains tropane alkaloids. tropane alkaloids constitute one distinct group of secondary metabolites of the Solanaceae. Hyoscyamus species are rich source of tropane alkaloids, mainly hyoscyamine and hyoscine (scopolamine), which are widely used for their mydriatic,antispasmodic, anticholinergic, analgesic and sedative properties. Therefore determine of optimized method is necessary for extraction of hyoscine from Hyoscyamus niger L. Objective: The purpose of this research is determine of optimized conditions for extraction of hyoscine from Hyoscyamus niger L. Methods: Three factors, temperature, extraction time and mesh size of plant were studied using three level box-behnken design. the hyoscine content were measured by Gas chromatograph, Younglin Acm 6000 model. Results: The results showed that the best conditions for extraction of hyoscine from Hyoscyamus niger L. is Ultrasonic extraction in 43 C, 130 min and 45 mesh size. Conclusion: It can be concluded that in order to efficient extraction of hyoscine from Hyoscyamus niger L., special conditions should be considered.

Conclusion: Since hyoscine as an anticholinergic drug with analgesic effects has some undesired side effects, combination of Z. officinale extract with hyoscine can cause antinociception with minimum dose and the side effects related to hyoscine.