The aerial parts of Dracocephalum multicaule Montbr. & Auch. (Fam. Labiatae) collected in August 1995 from Lasom Valley, Haraz Road, Province Tehran. The essential oil of the plant obtained by hydrodistillation (0.28%) by clevenger type apparatus and was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. 27 components were identified, constituing 90% of the oil, major component were limonene, -pinene and methyl geraniate.

Herbal medicinal products are not only used for general well-being and to prevent or treat common minor ailments, but they are also used by individuals with serious chronic disease. Nowadays many patients are taking multiple grugs, herbs and vitamins concurrently which may interact with each other. It is necessary to know about possible herb-drug interactins, because of increasing tendency to using medicinal herbs all over the world. Interactions usually can be classified as pharmacokinetic (when the absorption, distribution, metabolism or elimination of one substance is affected by another) and pharmacodynamic (including antagonistic and synergistic interactions). An example of pharmacokinetic interaction is inhibition of Lithium absorption by psyllium because of high musilage content. Ginkgo increase anticoagulant activity of warfarin as a synergistic effect. In this article, interactions between 32 herbs and drugs are reviewed and presentsd in tables.

There are a number of studies on the biology and chemistry of the Tanacetum genus. The purpose of this investigation was to analyza the chemical composition of the aerial parts of T. khorassanicum, an Iranian native plant. Water- distilled essential oil of T. khorassanicum (Krasch.) Parsa (Composirae) was examined by GC and GC/MS. Thirteen constituents representing 90% of the oil, were characterized of which Myroxide (19.80%), Comphor (16.40%), Isopulegone (13.42%), 1,8- Cineol (11.41%), Borneol (8.31%) and Geraniol (7.9%) were the main compounds identified.

The essential oils of leaves and flowers Achillea wilhelmsii (compositae) collected from the suburb of Neka, north of Iran, in June 2001, were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by means of GC and GC/MS. Fifteen and nineteen components were identified in the oils of the leaves and flowers of Achillea wilhelmsii, respectively. The major constituents of the essential oil of the leaves of A. wilhelmsii were camphor (24.1%), 1,8-cineole (22.3), borneol (11.1) and myrtenol (8.5%). The major constituents of the essential oil of the flowers of A. wilhelmsii were camphor (21.2%), myrtenol (14.4%), myrtenyl acetate (8.9%), yomogi alcohol (8.7%) and borneol (8.2%).

In this study essential oils of 7 species from Compositae, Labiatae, Graminae, Dipsacaceae and Capparidaceae families including: Achillea wilhelmsii, Acroptilon repens, Centaurea depressa, Salvia suffruticosa, Cymbopogon olivieri, Pterocephalus canus and Cleome iberica were extracted by hydrodistillation method and their antimicrobial effects on some kinds of microbes including three species of Staphylococcus genus (aureus, epidermidis, saprophyticus), Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri and Escherichia coli were investigated. The antibacterial properties of essential oils were tested by repeated experiments using the evaluation of diameter of the growth inhibitory zone with well method. The results showed that the essential oils extracted from aerial parts of plants have antimicrobial effects. Among species, Cymbopogon olivieri, Achillea wilhelmsii and Salvia suffruticosa showed stronger antibacterial effect. Acroptilon repens, only inhibited the growth of Gram (+) bacteria. Pterocephalus canus showed the lowest antibacterial effect. Two species Cleome iberica and Centaurea depressa have the moderate effect on the Gram (+) and Gram (-) bacteria.

Subject of this study was the evaluation of effect of the total methanolic extract of Phytolacca decandra L. on isolated male rat heart and specialy effect of this extract on electrophysiological properties of AV node. Male rat heart after isolation was infused with Tyrode solution (Longendorfe method) and with electrophysical methods, all heart electrical parameters for example record from atrium and ventricle, measurment of myocardial contraction force and conduction rate in AV node were done. Various protocols for measurment of AV node recovery kinetic, AV conduction time ERP and wenckebach cycle length in presence and absence of extract were done for studing effects of the extract and finding the mechanism of them. The result of this study show that the methanolic of Phytolacca decandra L. in a dose dependent model via effect on basic and functional parameters has depressed these parameters and this plant can be useful in supraventricular arrhytmias.

In this report we investigated the effects of the aqueous fraction (AF) isolated from Delphinium denudatum on Sustained Repetitive Firing (SRF) in cultured neonatal rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Blockade of SRF is one of the basic mechanisms of antiepileptic drugs (AED) at the cellular level. The effects of aqueous fraction (0.2-0.6 mg/ml) were compared with the prototype antiepileptic drug, phenytoin (PHT). Using the whole cell current-clamp technique, Sustained Repetitive Firing was elicited in neurons by a depolarizing pulse of 500 ms duration, 0.3 Hz and 0.1-0.6 nA current strength. Similar to phenytoin, aqueous fraction reduced the number of action potentials (AP) per pulse in a concentration-dependent manner until no action potentials were elicited for the remainder of the pulse. There was a corresponding use-dependent reduction in amplitude and V_max (velocity of upstroke) of action potentials. The V_max and amplitude of the first action potential was not affected by phenytoin, while aqueous fraction exhibited concentration-dependent reduction. At 0.6 mg/ml aqueous fraction reduced Vmax to 58-63 % and amplitude to 16-20 % of the control values. The blockade of Sustained Repetitive Firing by aqueous fraction was reversed with hyperpolarization of membrane potential (-65 to –75 mV) while depolarization of membrane potential (-53mV to -48 mV) potentiated the block. The results suggest that aqueous fraction blocks Sustained Repetitive Firing in hippocampal neurons in a use-dependent and voltage-dependent manner similar to phenytoin. However, unlike phenytoin, which interacts preferably with the inactive state of the Na+ channel, the compounds present in aqueous fraction apparently also interact with the resting state of the Na+ channels as suggested by dose-dependent reduction of V_max and amplitude of first AP. We conclude that aqueous fraction contains potent anticonvulsant compounds.

The growing interest in the substitution of chemical food preservatives, both antimicrobials and antioxidants, by natural ones has fostered research on the vegetable source and screening of plant extracts and essential oils in order to identify acceptable natural alternatives. In this study, log probability percentage (Log P%) of growth of Salmonella typhimurium in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) broth as affected by different concentrations of Zataria multiflora Boiss essential oil (0.0, 0.03 and 0.06%) during 21 days storage at three temperatures (35, 25 and 15ºC) was investigated. The Log P% of S. typhimurium was affected significantly (P < 0.05) by different concentrations of the essential oil. The Log P% of S. typhimurium in BHI broth with 0% essential oil at 35, 25 and 15ºC were 1.07, 1.07 and 0.41 respectively. While in BHI broth with 0.03 and 0.06% essential oils were -2.93, -3.24 and -4.23 and -4.23, -4.23 and -4.23 respectively. According to the results, the Log P% of growth of S. typhimurium was decreased by increasing of the concentration of essential oil.

The growing interest in the substitution of chemical food preservatives, both antimicrobials and antioxidants, by natural ones has fostered research on the vegetable source and screening of plant extracts and essential oils in order to identify acceptable natural alternatives. In this study, log probability percentage (Log P%) of growth of Staphylococcus aureus in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) broth as affected by different concentrations of Zataria multiflora Boiss essential oil (0.0, 0.03 and 0.06%) during 22 days storage at three temperatures (35, 25 and 15ºC) was investigated. The Log P% of S. aureus was affected significantly (p < 0.05) by different concentrations of the essential oil. The Log P% of S. aureus in BHI broth with 0% essential oil at 35, 25 and 15ºC were –0.89, 1.24 and 1.55 respectively. While in BHI broth with 0.03 and 0.06% essential oils were -0.45, 0.24 and -4.21 and -0.45, -0.45 and -4.45 respectively (strong inhibitory action).

Composition of the volatile oils of the C. bigaradia, C. limon and C. delicosa have been investigated. The plant materials (leaves) were collected in spring 2000 from Corta (The medicinal plants garden) near Tonecabon, North of Iran. The oils were collected by means of hydrodistilation procedure. The yields were 1.4% v/w, 1.1 % v/w and 1% v/w respectively. Subesequently the oils were analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The main constituents of C.bigaradia were linallol (38.72%), linalyl acetare (36.52%), α-terpineol (8.68%), of C. limon were geranial (31.45%), neral (23.16%), β-pinene (22.39%) and limonenc (6.7%) and of C. deliciosa were sabinene (37.64%), linallol (36.60%), δ-3-carene (4.42%) and citronellal (3.81%).

The excessive use of chemical preservatives, many of which are suspect because of their potential carcinogenic and teratogenic attributes or residual toxicity, has resulted in increasing pressure on food manufacturers to substitute of them by natural ones e.g. plant essential oils. The study of the effects of plant essential oils on different growth kinetics of food borne pathogens or food spoilage microorganisms in different model systems is requested to establish the usefulness of them as a natural antimicrobial preservatives. In this study, lag phase of growth (Lag) of Staphylococcus aureus in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) broth as affected by different concentrations of Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil (0.0, 0.03 and 0.06%) during 43 days storage at three temperatures (35, 25 and 15ºC) was investigated. The Lag of S. aureus affected significantly (p< 0.05) by different concentrations of the essential oil. The Lag of S. aureus in BHI broth with 0% essential oil at 35, 25 and 15ºC were 7.25, 15.25 and 82 h respectively. While in BHI broth with 0.03 and 0.06% essential oils were 34.05, 94.8 h and 235.5 and 44.5, 110.5 and >1032 h respectively.

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.

Cleome belongs to Capparidaceae family which are annual or perenial forbs and or shrubs, often with bottomnal coverage. Research in other parts of world has determined that some species of this plant such as C. drosiflolia, C. hirta, C. gynandropsis, C. chrysantha and C. gunandra and several other species have had antibacterial effects and or native people use some of these species as traditianal drugs. Considering that different species of Cleome have wild separation in Iran and little research have been done about them. Aerial parts of Cleome coluteoides was collected from North East of Tehran (Khojir National Park), in June 2002 and was identified by Dr.Mozafarian. A voucher specimen has been deposited at the Herbarium of Research Institute of Forests and Ranglans (TARI), Tehran, Iran. Air-dried aerial parts at the plants were ground and subjected to hydrodistillation for 2h using a Clevenger-type apparatuse to give a yellew oil in (0.6% w/w) yield. Also some of the C. coluteoides was extracted with nonpolar solvent (n-hexan) and then the solvent was evaporated. The essential oil obtained from two methods were ananlysed through combination of GC (retention-indices) and GC/MS. The major components in essential oils of C. coluteoides In hydrodistillation method: Carvacrol (46.124%), Phethalic acid (10.682%) Heneicosane (5.382%) Solvent extraction method: Xylene (29.923%), Dodecane (14.435%) Essential oil obtained from extraction with water, has shown 46mm inhibitory effect on Bacilus cerius and 18mm effect on Staphilocucus ureus.

The prevalance of opioid addiction is releativly high in Iran. Since the mechanism (s) of opioid addiction are not clear, this social problem still remains unresolved. In the present study, the effects of water-alcohol extract of Papaver rhoeas on the acquisition and expression of morphine withdrawal in morphine-dependent N-MARI mice (20-25 g) were investigated. The animals became dependent to morphine and the extract of the Papaver rhoeas was administered during and after induction of morphine dependence. Then, withdrawal syndroms were tested with naloxone (4 mg/kg) injection. Results showed that administration of naloxone after four days morphine treatment (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg), induced diarrhea and also increased the number of jumping in animals. The increase was significant for a dose of 50 mg/kg of morphine. On the other hand, administration of the plant extract (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) did not induce any changes in the feaces or number of jumping behaviour in the animals. Injection of the same extract (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) 30 min before morphine (50 mg/kg) administration, caused an increase in number of jumping but reduced the diarrhea in animals. Injection of the plant extract (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) on the test day, 30 min before naloxone administration also decreased the number of jumping and diarrhea in morphine-dependent animals. It could be concluded that the extract of Papaver rhoeas can amilorates the withdrawal syndrom in morphine-dependent mice. Therefore, the extract might be useful for treatment of withdrawal signs in opioid addicts.

Backgrond: Thymus daenensis Celak. subsp. daenensis is one of the endogenous Thymus species in Iran. The plant is traditionally used as carminative, digestive, antispasmodic, antitussive and expectorant in Iran. Objective: To study the Composition of the Volatile Oil of Thymus daenensis Celak. subsp. Daenensis. Method: In this study, the hydrodistilled oil of the aerial parts of T. daenensis subsp. daenensis was analyzed using GC/FID and GC/MS. The result indicates that the oil contains over twenty-six components (99.7%). The main components were thymol (74.7%), p-cymene (6.5%), β-caryophyllene (3.8%) and methyl carvacrol (3.6%). Conclusion: This species has rich in phenolic substances specially thymol which might considered as a substitute for Thymus vulgaris.

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.

Background: There is an increasing attention to and usage of herbal drugs around the world. Medicinal products containing senna herb are very popular herbal remedies. In order to assess the quality of Iranian herbal products, as a part of national effort to achieve profile of quality of pharmaceuticals, this study was designed to evaluate the quality of products containing senna herb. Method: Samples were purchased directly from drugstores in Tehran in 2002. The comparative study was conducted according to pharmacopoeial procedures. Also Iranian products were compared to appropriate forign known-brands. Conclusion: Some defects were observed in Iranian products in respects to uniformity of contents and weights, and even content of the dosage forms. But in total, most of the products were found to be acceptable and at appropriate quality.

Background: The name “badrashbu” has been applied to some species of Dracocephalum (Labiatae) in Iran. Dracocephalum kotschyi is an indigenous herbaceous plant, used in folk medicine as a flavor in Iran. D. subcapitatum grows in both Iran and Turkmenistan. D. arguense is another species of Badrashbu found in Japan. Objective: In this study we aimed to examine the phylogenetic relationship between some Dracocephalum species. Method: Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis (RAPD), a molecular biological method, and analysis of volatile extracts (GC) were used. Results: Genetic distances were calculated to construct phylogenetic dendrograms of closely related samples. Based on the results the genetic distance between two samples of D. kotschyi was fonud to be short and their RAPD banding patterns were quite similar, also there was a close relationship between two samples of D. arguense. Gas chromatography analysis supported the taxonomic classification. Iranian samples of D. subcapitatum and D. kotschyi contained of limonene- 10- al which could not be detected in Japanese samples of D. arguense. Conclusion: D. subcapitatum show very close relationship to D. kotschyi rather than D. arguense in both phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic aspects.

Background: Dracocephalum polychaetum Bornm. (Lamiaceae) is one of the endemic species of Dracocephalum genus in Iran. There is no report on chemical composition of this species. This plants in Kerman folk medicines is known as Mofaroo and used for its pleasant odor, and for the releif of stomach pain. Objective: In this investigation volatile oil components and flavonoids of D. polychaetum was studied. Method: Dried and ground aerial part of D. polychaetum were subjected to hydro distillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The oil was analyzed by GC-MS. Identification of compounds was based on a comparison of their mass spectra with standards and using retention indices and co injection. Methanolic extracts was chromatographed on Silica gel PTLC and two fraction separated. The structures of them were determined by UV spectra and 1H-NMR. Results: The aerial part of D. polychaetum yielded 1.3% of pale yellowish oil, which contained perilla aldehyde (69.60%) and limonene (16.55%). Two flavons apigenin and luteolin were isolated from this plant. Discussion: Chemical composition of other Dracocephalum species showed that essential oil and flavonoides are common in this genus and yields of oil of D. polychaetum is higher than other members of this genus. Apigenin and luteolin here been found in some Dracocephalum species.