Antiviral activity in vitro of Urtica dioica L., Parietaria diffusa M. et K. and Sambucus nigra L

Carnosic Acid Inhibits Herpes Simplex Virus Replication by Suppressing Cellular ATP Synthesis

Acquiring resistance against antiviral drugs is a significant problem in antimicrobial therapy. In order to identify novel antiviral compounds, the antiviral activity of eight plants indigenous to the southern region of Hungary against herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) was investigated. The plant extracts and the plant compound carnosic acid were tested for their effectiveness on both the extracellular and intracellular forms of HSV-2 on Vero and HeLa cells. HSV-2 replication was measured by a direct quantitative PCR (qPCR). Among the tested plant extracts, Salvia rosmarinus (S. rosmarinus) exhibited a 90.46% reduction in HSV-2 replication at the 0.47 μg/mL concentration. Carnosic acid, a major antimicrobial compound found in rosemary, also demonstrated a significant dose-dependent inhibition of both extracellular and intracellular forms of HSV-2. The 90% inhibitory concentration (IC90) of carnosic acid was between 25 and 6.25 μg/mL. Proteomics and high-resolution respirometry showed that carnosic acid suppressed key ATP synthesis pathways such as glycolysis, citrate cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. Inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation also suppressed HSV-2 replication up to 39.94-fold. These results indicate that the antiviral action of carnosic acid includes the inhibition of ATP generation by suppressing key energy production pathways. Carnosic acid holds promise as a potential novel antiviral agent against HSV-2.

Fabrication of Multifunctional Nanocomposite Fiber Extracted from Sambucus nigra: Anti-nociceptive, Anti-inflammatory, Self-Cleaning, and UV Blocking

This article describes how to extract chemical compounds from Sambucus nigra and make multifunctional nanofabric doping/undoping nano-zinc oxide particles using an electrospinning apparatus. The created sample was examined using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), which revealed that the manufactured fibers have an approximate diameter of 35 nm. An elemental mapping study also demonstrated the excellent distribution of nano-ZnO over the surface of the nanocomposite. The anti-nociceptive effect of the samples was studied, and the results suggested that the presence of Sambucus nigra caused pain prevention, and this effect demonstrated the anti-nociceptive effect in the samples studied by tail-flick experiments. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory properties of the samples were tested and showed favorable data results. Meanwhile, the self-cleaning of the prepared nanocomposites was studied. The results show that nano-zinc oxide doping has a direct impact on improving self-cleaning properties. Furthermore, ultraviolet (UV) transmission analysis of the samples showed that the prepared nanocomposites had excellent UV-blocking properties.

Plants in Menstrual Diseases: A Systematic Study from Italian Folk Medicine on Current Approaches

Background: Plant-based remedies have been used since antiquity to treat menstrual-related diseases (MD). From the late nineteenth to the early to mid-twentieth century, Italian folk remedies to treat "women's diseases" were documented in a vast corpus of literature sources. Aim: The purpose of this paper is to bring to light the plant-based treatments utilized by Italian folk medicine to heal clinical manifestations of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea and menstrual disorders in an attempt to discuss these remedies from a modern pharmacological point of view. Moreover, we compare the medical applications described by Hippocrates with those utilized by Italian folk medicine to check if they result from a sort of continuity of use by over two thousand years. Results: Out of the 54 plants employed in Italian folk medicine, 25 (46.3%) were already documented in the pharmacopoeia of the Corpus Hippocraticum for treating MD. Subsequently, a detailed search of scientific data banks such as Medline and Scopus was undertaken to uncover recent results concerning bioactivities of the plant extracts to treat MD. About 26% of the plants used by Italian folk medicine, nowadays, have undergone human trials to assess their actual efficacy. At the same time, about 41% of these herbal remedies come back to in different countries. Conclusions: Active principles extracted from plants used by Italian folk healers could be a promising source of knowledge and represent strength candidates for future drug discovery for the management of MD.

Evaluation of radioactivity levels and radiological hazards of some endemic plants used as medicine in Ankara, Turkey

In this study, natural radioactivity levels (226Ra, 232Th, and 4 K) of some medicinal plant samples with known anti-oxidative properties, which are frequently consumed by animals and humans, were obtained from Ankara province and its surroundings (Mamak, Kızılcahamam, Beypazarı, Kahramankazan, and Polatlı districts) were determined using a thallium-doped sodium iodide NaI(Tl) gamma spectrometry. By using the determined natural radioactivity concentrations in the collected plant samples, the number of radiological doses that people could be exposed by consuming these plants was calculated. As a result of the study, 226Ra, 232Th, and 4 K radioactivity concentration ranges of the plant samples were found be 14.69 ± 1.27-59.08 ± 3.12 Bq kg-1, 1.78 ± 0.04-50.05 ± 2.76 Bq kg-1 and 207.24 ± 34.09-826.13 ± 25.40 Bq kg-1, respectively. The highest 226Ra, 232Th, and 4 K activity concentrations were measured in Astragalus densifolius subsp. ayashensis (Kahramankazan), Astragalus kochakii (Kahramankazan) and Rumex patientia (Patience Dock) (Kahramankazan) plants, respectively. The lowest 226Ra, 232Th and,4 K activity concentration plants were determined respectively as Rumex patientia (Mamak), Lavandula angustifolia (Kızılcahamam), and Astragalus acikirensis (Polatlı). The establishment and routine repetition of environmental radioactivity monitoring programs in each region are important for human and animal health, and the results of this study gain importance for Ankara and its surroundings in terms of environmental health.

Sambucus nigra L. (fam. Viburnaceae) in Sicily: Distribution, Ecology, Traditional Use and Therapeutic Properties

Sambucus nigra, the elderberry, has long been used for its medicinal properties in treating numerous diseases. Based on this traditional knowledge, its different pharmacological activities have been the focus of active research. All parts of the tree have long been used in traditional medicine, that is, the bark, the leaves, the flowers and the fruit. This study, carried out in Sicily (Italy), concerns the traditional uses of elder against human diseases. In order to trace the history of man's interaction with elder on the island, multidisciplinary research was carried out, aiming at (1) presenting a comprehensive overview of elderberry's applications and activities and (2) bridging traditional knowledge (uses and beliefs) with modern science, i.e., the most recent scientific findings in the biomedical and pharmacological fields. A rigorous literature review of scientific (and other local) reports on the elderberry tree and its application in food, health and household applications was undertaken. This article also provides a synthetic and updated picture of the ecology and distribution of S. nigra in Sicily. The elderberry is quite widespread in Sicily, yet its distribution is discontinuous. It prefers hedges, riparian woodlands, forest margins and clearings and is rather common along the watercourses flowing in the canyons of the Hyblaean Plateau, in the Madonie Mts. and in Enna province. Indeed, many old plants are often found near sacred places and rural houses, suggesting that in the past, it was extensively planted on purpose for its multiple uses. The complementary data obtained from multidisciplinary research confirm the usefulness of this approach in building a comprehensive and correct picture of the distribution of the most common woody species, for which the available knowledge is often fragmentary and imprecise.

Sambucus ebulus (Elderberry) Fruits Modulate Inflammation and Complement System Activity in Humans

Sambucus ebulus (SE) fruits are used for immune stimulation and amelioration of gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions. Currently, there is no scientific evidence of their effects on various aspects of the immune response mechanisms in humans. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory potential of SE fruit infusion intake in healthy humans. Anthocyanin content was determined with UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Fifty-three volunteers enrolled in a 4-week SE infusion intake intervention. Blood count, serum total protein, Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNFα), High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), C3, and C4 levels were measured on automatic analyzers, and Interleukin 8 (IL-8) was measured manually with an ELISA kit. Cyanidin-3-O-galactoside (48.15 mg/g DW), followed by cyaniding-3-sambubioside (43.41 ± 1.07 mg/g DW), were the most abundant anthocyanins in SE samples. A significant decrease in total protein (2.82%), IL-6 (20.15%), TNFα (5.38%), IL-8 (5.50%), C3 (4.16%), and C4 (14.29%) was established in the whole group. Total protein, IL-8, TNFα, and C4 decreased in women (3.11%, 4.76%, 5.09%, and 11.11%), and IL-6 decreased (40.61%) in men. Hb (1.20%) and hematocrit (1.55%) levels decreased in the whole group and in the women group (1.61% and 2.20%). SE fruits exert immune-modulatory activity as revealed by decreased pro-inflammatory status and complement activity markers in healthy volunteers after a 4-week intervention.

Phytochemical and pharmacological profiling of Trewia nudiflora Linn. leaf extract deciphers therapeutic potentials against thrombosis, arthritis, helminths, and insects

The objective of the current study was to examine the phytochemical and in vitro thrombolytic, anti-arthritic, anthelmintic, and insecticidal effects of Trewia nudiflora (TN) methanolic leaf extract with its methanol (MTN), chloroform (CTN), and ethyl acetate (ETN) fractions. Pheretima posthuma and Tribolium castaneum were employed for evaluating the antihelmintic and insecticidal properties, respectively. All the tested extracts showed the presence of copious potential constituents in phytochemical analysis. Among all extracts, MTN extract exhibited the utmost clot lysis (35.95 ± 4.81%) property compared to standard streptokinase (SK) (53.77 ± 7.52%). All samples displayed striking protein denaturation activity in a dose-dependent manner (100–500 µg/mL), where the highest inhibition was observed for MTN (67.26 ± 6.39% at 500 µg/mL). Each extract demonstrated considerable anthelmintic activity at 25–75 mg/mL dose ranges. ETN showed the strongest anthelmintic activity at the highest dose. Among all samples, the CTN extract displayed the utmost mortality rate (77.22%) in the insecticidal test. The results of the study suggest that T. nudiflora leaf extracts may have potential against thrombosis, arthritis, helminths, and insects, which warrants the necessity of extensive isolation and identification of bioactive compounds to develop newer effective drugs upon preclinical and clinical investigations.

The Pros and Cons of Using Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) for Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19

BACKGROUND

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 emerged in 2019. Health-care systems around the world are looking for alternative prevention and treatment remedies. Herbal supplements are popular among consumers as a complementary method to prevent and treat illnesses. One of them is Sambucus nigra.

METHODS

We searched for related articles in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Directory of Open Access Journals using the following keywords: elderberry, S. nigra, and COVID-19.

RESULTS

Elderberry has antiviral properties due to its ability to modulate inflammatory cytokines. The current evidence suggests elderberry is appropriate for the prevention and initial treatment of viral disease. Concerns have been raised that elderberry may overstimulate the immune system, increasing the risk of a cytokine storm. There is not yet enough evidence to support this claim.

CONCLUSIONS

For COVID-19 patients, further research is required since elderberry may provoke a cytokine storm if administered therapeutically.

Phytochemical and Pharmacological Profiling of Heritiera fomes Buch. Ham. Deciphered Thrombolytic, Antiarthritic, Anthelmintic, and Insecticidal Potentialities via In Vitro Approach

Medicinal plants have been crucial in treating various chronic ailments since ancient times. The objective of this study was to evaluate in vitro pharmacological properties of petroleum ether, chloroform, and ethyl acetate soluble fractions of ethanolic extract (leaf, bark, and root) of Heritiera fomes Buch. Ham., including the phytochemical screening of the plant. Thrombolytic and antiarthritic properties were assessed through the clot lysis and protein denaturation experimental method, correspondingly. Anthelmintic and insecticidal activities were studied against Pheretima posthuma and Tribolium castaneum, respectively. The phytochemical analysis exhibited numerous active phytochemicals in different solvent fractions. In thrombolytic investigation, among all crude extracts, ethanolic leaf extract showed the highest 33.12 ± 7.52% clot lysis as compared to standard streptokinase (67.77 ± 9.78%). In antiarthritic assay, all the tested samples exhibited noteworthy protein denaturation in dose-dependent manner (100–500 μg/mL), whereas the utmost percentage inhibition was noticed for chloroform extract of roots (63.28 ± 5.96% at 500 μg/mL). All crude extracts exhibited a significant anthelmintic activity in different concentrations (25–75 mg/mL) and revealed paralysis and death of earthworms in comparison with albendazole; ethanolic extract of the bark was found to be more potent at the highest dose. For the insecticidal test, ethanolic extract of the leaf showed the utmost mortality rate (73%). The outcomes of the investigation confirmed the potential thrombolytic, antiarthritic, anthelmintic, and insecticidal activities of the different extracts of H. fomes, and hence, advanced studies on the isolation and identification of active phytocompounds are highly needed for new drug development.

Nutritional and pharmacological importance of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.): A review

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) is a wild herbaceous perennial blooming plant that is commonly known as stinging nettle. It’s a common, multi-purpose crop that’s sometimes overlooked. Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North America are all home to stinging nettle. It is a plant that’s edible and has nutritional and medicinal properties. Young leaves can be used to make curries, herb soups, and sour soups. The root of the stinging nettle is used to treat mictional difficulties associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia, while the leaves are used to treat arthritis, rheumatism, and allergic rhinitis. Its leaves are abundant in fiber, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidant compounds like polyphenols and carotenoids, as well as antioxidant compounds like polyphenols and carotenoids. Stinging nettle has antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-infectious, hypotensive, and antiulcer characteristics, as well as the ability to prevent cardiovascular disease, in all parts of the plant (leaves, stems, roots, and seeds). Stinging nettle improves fish reproductive performance, making it a cost-effective aquaculture plant. Fertilizer and insecticides can be made from the plants. This review examines the nutritional and pharmacological aspects of stinging nettle, as well as its possible health advantages. Scientists, farmers, and academicians interested in stinging nettle collecting, cultivation, research, and development would find this review useful.

Urtica dioica-Derived Phytochemicals for Pharmacological and Therapeutic Applications

Urtica dioica belongs to the Urticaceae family and is found in many countries around the world. This plant contains a broad range of phytochemicals, such as phenolic compounds, sterols, fatty acids, alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, and lignans, that have been widely reported for their excellent pharmacological activities, including antiviral, antimicrobial, antihelmintic, anticancer, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, antiarthritis, antidiabetic, antiendometriosis, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiaging effects. In this regard, this review highlights fresh insight into the medicinal use, chemical composition, pharmacological properties, and safety profile of U. dioica to guide future works to thoroughly estimate their clinical value.

Biological Actions and Molecular Mechanisms of Sambucus nigra L. in Neurodegeneration: A Cell Culture Approach

Sambucus nigra flowers (elderflower) have been widely used in traditional medicine for the relief of early symptoms of common cold. Its chemical composition mainly consists of polyphenolic compounds such as flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and triterpenes. Although the antioxidant properties of polyphenols are well known, the aim of this study is to assess the antioxidant and protective potentials of Sambucus nigra flowers in the human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell line using different in vitro approaches. The antioxidant capacity is first evaluated by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and the free radical scavenging activity (DPPH) methods. Cell viability is assessed by the crystal violet method; furthermore, the intracellular ROS formation (DCFH-DA method) is determined, together with the effect on the cell antioxidant defenses: reduced glutathione (GSH) and antioxidant enzyme activities (GPx, GR). On the other hand, mTORC1 hyperactivation and autophagy blockage have been associated with an increase in the formation of protein aggregates, this promoting the transference and expansion of neurodegenerative diseases. Then, the ability of Sambucus nigra flowers in the regulation of mTORC1 signaling activity and the reduction in oxidative stress through the activation of autophagy/mitophagy flux is also examined. In this regard, search for different molecules with a potential inhibitory effect on mTORC1 activation could have multiple positive effects either in the molecular pathogenic events and/or in the progression of several diseases including neurodegenerative ones.

PVA based nanofiber containing cellulose modified with graphitic carbon nitride/nettles/trachyspermum accelerates wound healing

Today, bacterial cellulose has received a great deal of attention for its medical applications due to its unique structural properties such as high porosity, good fluid uptake, good strength, and biocompatibility. This study aimed to fabricate and study bacterial cellulose/graphitic carbon nitride/nettles/trachyspermum nanocomposite by immersion and PVA/BC/g-C₃ N₄ /nettles/trachyspermum nanofiber by electrospinning method as a wound dressing. The g-C₃ N₄ and g-C₃ N₄ solution were synthesized and then were characterized using Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, Zeta Potential, and scanning electronic microscope analyzes. Also, the antibacterial properties of the synthesized materials were proved by gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria using the minimum inhibitory concentration method. Besides, the toxicity, migration, and cell proliferation results of the synthesized materials on NIH 3T3 fibroblasts were evaluated using MTT and scratch assays and showed that the BC/PVA/g-C₃ N₄ /nettles/trachyspermum composite not only had no toxic effect on cells but also contributed to cell survival, cell migration, and proliferation has done. To evaluate the mechanical properties, a tensile strength test was performed on PVA/BC/g-C₃ N₄ /nettles/trachyspermum nanofibers, and the results showed good strength of the nanocomposite. In addition, in vivo assay, the produced nanofibers were used to evaluate wound healing, and the results showed that these nanofibers were able to accelerate the wound healing process so that after 14 days, the wound healing percentage showed 95%. Therefore, this study shows that PVA/BC/g-C₃ N₄ /nettles/trachyspermum nanofibers effectively inhibit bacterial growth and accelerate wound healing.

Cyanogenic Glycoside Analysis in American Elderberry

Cyanogenic glycosides (CNGs) are naturally occurring plant molecules (nitrogenous plant secondary metabolites) which consist of an aglycone and a sugar moiety. Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is released from these compounds following enzymatic hydrolysis causing potential toxicity issues. The presence of CNGs in American elderberry (AE) fruit, Sambucus nigra (subsp. canadensis), is uncertain. A sensitive, reproducible and robust LC-MS/MS method was developed and optimized for accurate identification and quantification of the intact glycoside. A complimentary picrate paper test method was modified to determine the total cyanogenic potential (TCP). TCP analysis was performed using a camera-phone and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. A method validation was conducted and the developed methods were successfully applied to the assessment of TCP and quantification of intact CNGs in different tissues of AE samples. Results showed no quantifiable trace of CNGs in commercial AE juice. Levels of CNGs found in various fruit tissues of AE cultivars studied ranged from between 0.12 and 6.38 µg/g. In pressed juice samples, the concentration range measured was 0.29-2.36 µg/mL and in seeds the levels were 0.12-2.38 µg/g. TCP was highest in the stems and green berries. Concentration levels in all tissues were generally low and at a level that poses no threat to consumers of fresh and processed AE products.

Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Sensory Properties, and Emotions Induced for the Consumers of Nutraceutical Beverages Developed from Technological Functionalised Food Industry By-Products

This study aims to develop nutraceutical beverages containing food processing by-products in their formulation, and determine the opinion of consumers. This is done by testing whether they know that the main ingredients of the product are by-products, performing an overall acceptability test of the developed beverages, and evaluating the emotions induced by the newly developed beverages for consumers. The main ingredients used for the preparation of added-value beverages were fermented milk permeate (containing galactooligosaccharides), extruded and fermented wheat bran (WB) (containing ≥6.0 log₁₀ CFU g⁻¹ viable antimicrobial properties showing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains), and different fruit/berry by-products (FBB) (as a source of compounds showing antioxidant properties). The definition of the quantities of bioactive ingredients was based on the overall acceptability of the prepared beverages, as well as on emotions induced in consumers by the tested beverages. Functional properties of the developed beverages were proofed by the evaluation of their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, as well as viable LAB count during storage. Desirable changes in extruded and fermented WB were obtained: Fermentation reduced sugar concentration and pH in samples with predominant lactic acid isomer L(+). In addition, the viable LAB count in the substrate was higher than 6.0 log₁₀ CFU g⁻¹, and no enterobacteria remained. By comparing the overall acceptability of the beverages enriched with WB, the highest overall acceptability was shown for the samples prepared with 10 g of the extruded and fermented WB (7.9 points). FBB showed desirable antimicrobial activity: Shepherd inhibited—2, sea buckthorn—3, blueberries—5, and raspberries—7 pathogens from the 10 tested. Comparing different beverage groups prepared with different types of FBB, in most cases (except sea buckthorn), by increasing FBB content the beverages overall acceptability was increased, and the highest score (on average, 9.5 points) was obtained for the samples prepared with 5.0 and 7.5 g of blueberries FBB. Moreover, a very strong positive correlation (r = 0.8525) was found between overall acceptability and emotion “happy” induced in consumers by the prepared beverages enriched with extruded and fermented WB and FBB. By comparing the samples prepared with the addition of WB with samples prepared with WB and FBB, it was observed that most FBB increased total phenolic compounds (TPC) content (on average, by 9.0%), except in the case of samples prepared with sea buckthorn. A very high positive correlation (r = 0.9919) was established between TPC and antioxidant activity. Finally, it can be stated that the newly developed nutraceutical beverages were acceptable for consumers, induced positive emotions, and possessed desirable antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, while being prepared in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.

Immunity and growth improvement of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed dietary nettle (Urtica dioica) against experimental challenge with Saprolegnia parasitica

In this study, effects of nettle (Urtica dioica) on growth, immunity, and gene expressions were examined in rainbow trout after an 8-week feeding period. A total of 264 juvenile rainbow trout (10.72 ± 0.55 g) were selected and stocked randomly in 12 aquaria. Nettle powder was added to the fish feed at three doses, 0.5,1 and 1.5% served as treatments. At the end of 8-week feeding period, the fish were exposed to Saprolegnia parasitica for 3 weeks. Results showed that all treatments fed with nettle diets exhibited significant increases in weight gain and SGR, and decreased FCR compared to the control. Feeding the fish with dietary nettle resulted in significant rises in blood indices and non-specific immunity in comparison with the control. Furthermore, fish fed 0.5% of dietary nettle showed significantly increased expressions of TNF-α, IL-1b, IL-6 and IL-8 genes following 8 weeks of feeding. A significant reduction in mortality rate was observed in the fish treated with 0.5% of nettle compared to the control following challenging with S. parasitica. Our observations indicate that the use of 0.5% nettle powder in rainbow trout diet can improve growth and immunity parameters as well as fish resistance against S. parasitica contamination.

Myth Busters: Dietary Supplements and COVID-19

News and social media platforms have implicated dietary supplements in the treatment and prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). During this pandemic when information quickly evolves in the presence of contradicting messages and misinformation, the role of the pharmacist is essential. Here, we review theoretical mechanisms and evidence related to efficacy and safety of select supplements in the setting of COVID-19, including vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, elderberry, and silver. Evidence evaluating these supplements in COVID-19 patients is lacking, and providers and patients should not rely on dietary supplements to prevent or treat COVID-19. Rather, reference to evidence-based guidelines should guide treatment decisions.

Sambucus nigra (black elder) as alternative treatment for cold and flu

Common cold and flu are caused by common respiratory viral pathogens, which results in hospitalization and death in the world. Among the viral infections, influenza viruses have worldwide spread with major effects on health of societies. Change in antigenic structures of influenza viruses is associated with the lack of effective treatments. Therefore, the use of herbal medicine as alternative choice can be used for management of flu and cold. The flowers of Sambucus nigra or black elders have been approved by commission E for cold, and flu. Although, elders are used in different herbal formulates, but there is no comprehensive study. The subject of this review article was to summarize the efficacy of black elder in treatment of cold and flu. For preparing this manuscript, the electronic resources, books, and thesis were searched by key words of Sambucus, elder, cold, flu, and viral infections. The results of investigations exhibited that there are four clinical trials for elder berries, which it reduced the cold duration and severity (fever, pain, congestion, cough), while there is no clinical trial for elder flower on common cold and flu in spite of its approval by commission E. So, evaluating the efficacy of elder flowers in comparison with its berries and standard treatment on patients with viral respiratory infections should be the subject of large clinical studies.

Inhibitory Effects of Urtica thunbergiana Ethanol Extract on Atopic Dermatitis-Induced NC/Nga Mice

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease that persists or repeatedly recurs in both childhood and adulthood. Urtica thunbergiana (UT) is an aroma herb with little-known pharmacological effects and anti-inflammatory activities against AD. This study investigated the immunomodulatory efficacy of 50% ethanol-extracted UT in necrosis factor-alpha/interferon-gamma (TNF-α/IFN-γ)-stimulated HaCaT cells in vitro and AD-Biostir-induced NC/Nga mice in vivo. The results showed that UT exhibits a dose-dependent increase in scavenged free radicals, reaching 76.0% ± 1.4% of scavenged 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl at a concentration of 250 µg/mL. In addition, UT significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of the following pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in TNF-α/IFN-γ-stimulated HaCaT cells: interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine, macrophage-derived chemokine, and regulated on activation normal T expressed and secreted. UT-treated HaCaT cells showed inhibition of the overexpression of chemokine-regulated signaling molecules, such as nuclear factor-kappa B, inhibitor of kappa B (IκBα), signal transducer and activator of transcription 1, and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). UT dietary administration in AD-Biostir-induced NC/Nga mice treated and improved AD-like symptoms, such as scales, epidermal thickening, the dermatitis severity score, high trans-epidermal water loss, reduced skin hydration, increased mast cells, elevated serum immunoglobulin E levels, and an enlarged spleen. UT treatment inhibited the expression of phosphorylated forms of MAPKs, nuclear factor of activated T-cells 1, and regulator IκBα. It also upregulated filaggrin (FLG) production. Therefore, UT shows high anti-AD activity both in vitro and in vivo, and can be a useful anti-AD agent.

Hospital diet for COVID-19, an acute respiratory infectious disease: An evidence-based Protocol of a Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 caused a global pandemic problem. No confident management is introduced for it yet. This study aimed to propose a dietary protocol for hospitalized patients with the diagnosis of acute respiratory infectious disease caused by COVID-19 based on Persian Medicine.

METHODS

This study was conducted in three phases. In the first phase, any diseases that could be matched with the clinical features of infection with COVID-19 were searched in selected PM references. In the second phase, medicinal herbs and foods that were available and could be used in the hospital diet were extracted and summarized. In the third phase, the new documentation of these pharmaceutical and food items was conducted.

RESULTS

The signs and symptoms of infectious respiratory disease caused by COVID-19 can be categorized in the field of Zato al-rieh that can mainly be matched with pneumonia. Based on the described criteria, some nutrients and medicinal materia medica have been introduced for acute respiratory infection including Cydonia oblonga, Honey, Citrus sinensis, Malus domestica, Citrus medica, Crocus sativus, Raisin, Rosa Damas Cena, D.Carota, Camellia Sinensis, Anethum graveolens dhi, Punica granatum, Petroselinum Crispum, Coriandrum sativum, Urtica dioica, Allium sativum, Sesamum indicum.

CONCLUSION

Most materia medica has documents in current articles including anti-cough suppressants, antiviral properties, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory etc. A protocol of hospital diet for patients with infectious respiratory syndrome caused by COVID-19 has been introduced in this manuscript.

Selected metal content and antioxidant capacity of Sambucus nigra flowers from the urban areas versus soil parameters and traffic intensity

The metal accumulation and antioxidant contents in flowers of wild specimens of European elder (Sambucus nigra L.), a famous medicinal plant and valuable component in the urban landscape, were determined. The total reflection X-ray fluorescence revealed the presence of K, Rb, Ca, Sr, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn associated with flowers. A typical, large, non-industrial city with considerable traffic and atmospheric pollution resulting from smog was chosen as a place of sampling. Obtained results were correlated with selected parameters of soil and the intensity of surrounding traffic. The flowers were relatively rich in elements K, Ca, Cu, Rb, and antioxidants, while it did not accumulate heavy metals potentially bioavailable in the soil. The correlation between street traffic and the content of Fe, Cr, and Zn in elderflowers was revealed; the metal quantities were below levels harmful to humans. Flowers from the city center exhibited higher antioxidant and radical scavenging capacities comparing to plants from the areas of little traffic. The antioxidant parameters were negatively correlated with the silty fraction content and positively with the potentially bioavailable levels of Ti and Mn in soils and increased with the amount of Rb in the flowers. It was proven for the first time that the urban specimens of wild S. nigra can perform as a local source of beneficial flowers providing cost-effective support in disease prevention and treatment.

Bioactivity-guided isolation of flavonoids from Urtica dioica L. and their effect on endometriosis rat model

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Urtica dioica L. has been used traditionally for centuries. U. dioica leaves and roots are used as a blood purifier, emmenagogue, and diuretic, as well as to treat menstrual hemorrhage, rheumatism, and eczema. The present study aimed to evaluate the activity of U. dioica L. aerial parts in endometriosis rat model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To evaluate the effects of the plant in endometriosis, n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and methanol (MeOH) extracts were prepared from the aerial parts of the plant and utilized in a rat surgical endometriosis model. In this model, adhesion scores of endometriotic implants and the spherical volumes of ectopic uterine tissues were evaluated. In addition to these parameters, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels of the peritoneal fluids were evaluated. Furthermore, histopathological studies were conducted on the endometriotic tissues.

RESULTS

Post-treatment implant volumes and adhesion scores were significantly reduced in the reference and the MeOH extract treated groups. Significant differences were found between the peritoneal TNF-α, VEGF, and IL-6 levels of MeOH extract treated group and those of control group. Moreover, histopathological findings supported the biological activity results. Furthermore, isolation studies were conducted on the MeOH extract, which showed prominent activity in the rat endometriosis model. Rutin (1), isoquercetin (2), the mixture of kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside (nicotiflorin) (3a) and isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside (narcissin) (3b) (3), the mixture of kaempferol-3-O-glucoside (astragalin) (4a) and isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside (4b) (4) were isolated from the active fraction.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrated that aerial parts of U. dioica exhibited promising activity in the endometriosis rat model due to its flavonoids.

Flower and Leaf Extracts of Sambucus nigra L.: Application of Membrane Processes to Obtain Fractions with Antioxidant and Antityrosinase Properties

This study aimed at evaluating and comparing the chemical profile as well as the antityrosinase and antioxidant activities of ethanol (EtOH) and methanol (MeOH) extracts of Sambucus nigra L. (Adoxaceae) flowers and leaves in order to discover new candidates for food additives and cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. For this purpose, a novel lower-melting-point ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene (LMP ECTFE) nanofiltration (NF) membrane was employed in order to produce the concentrated fractions of S. nigra. Floral extracts were richer in phytochemicals in comparison to the leaf extracts. The High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profile revealed rutin, quercetin, protocateuchic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, and neochlorogenic acid as the most abundant compounds. Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2’-diphenil-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) radical scavenging, and 2,2’-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) tests were used to investigate the antioxidant properties. NF retentate fractions of floral ethanol extracts exerted the highest tyrosinase inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ of 53.9 µg/mL and the highest ABTS radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀ of 46.4 µg/mL). In conclusion, the present investigation revealed the potential benefits of NF application in S. nigra extracts processing, suggesting the use of retentate fractions as a promising source for antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory compounds which could pave the way for future applications.

Concentration of Bioactive Compounds from Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) Juice by Nanofiltration Membranes

For the first time the chemical profile, physico-chemical parameters, inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolysing enzymes associated with type 2 diabetes, and radical scavenging properties of Sambucus nigra L. (elderberry) juice treated by nanofiltration (NF) were investigated. Three commercial NF membranes with different molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) (400 and 1000 Da) and polymeric material (composite fluoro-polymer and polyethersulphone) were tested. According to HPLC analyses, most part of bioactive compounds were retained by the NF membranes producing a retentate fraction of interest for the production of functional foods. The NP030 membrane, a polyethersulphone membrane with a MWCO of 400 Da, exhibited the highest rejection towards phenolic compounds when compared with the other selected membranes. Accordingly, the produced retentate fractions exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity.

A Comprehensive Study on the Biological Activity of Elderberry Extract and Cyanidin 3-O-Glucoside and Their Interactions with Membranes and Human Serum Albumin

In our research we used the extract from dietary supplement of elderberry (EE) and its dominant anthocyanin—cyanidin 3-O-glucoside (Cy 3-gluc). By interacting with a model membrane that reflects the main lipid composition of tumor membranes, the extract components, including Cy 3-gluc, caused an increase in packing order, mainly in the hydrophilic region of the membrane. It can thus be stated that EE caused a rigidifying effect, which is fundamental for understanding its anticancer and antioxidant activity. This study represents the first attempt to unravel the mechanism of interaction of elderberry extract with membranes. The results of the interaction with human serum albumin (HSA) proved that the studied substance quenches the fluorescence of HSA through a static mechanism in which the main interaction forces are Van der Waals and hydrogen bonding. The antioxidant activity of EE and Cy 3-gluc on liposomal membranes, antiradical properties and ability to inhibited the activity of the enzymes cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 were also demonstrated. Moreover, the anticancer activity of EE and Cy 3-gluc on human breast adenocarcinoma cell line were investigated. In addition, EE also exhibited the ability to form lipid aggregates in the form of liposomal capsules that can be applied as carriers of active biological substances, and the highest efficacy of EE encapsulation was obtained for multilayered liposome formulations.

Medicinal Plants Used in the Treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Since the beginning of the epidemic, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has infected around 70 million people worldwide, most of whom reside is sub-Saharan Africa. There have been very promising developments in the treatment of HIV with anti-retroviral drug cocktails. However, drug resistance to anti-HIV drugs is emerging, and many people infected with HIV have adverse reactions or do not have ready access to currently available HIV chemotherapies. Thus, there is a need to discover new anti-HIV agents to supplement our current arsenal of anti-HIV drugs and to provide therapeutic options for populations with limited resources or access to currently efficacious chemotherapies. Plant-derived natural products continue to serve as a reservoir for the discovery of new medicines, including anti-HIV agents. This review presents a survey of plants that have shown anti-HIV activity, both in vitro and in vivo.

Bioactive properties of Sambucus nigra L. as a functional ingredient for food and pharmaceutical industry

European black elderberry naturally occurs in most of Europe and has been introduced into various parts of the world for fruit and flower production. Elderberry is rich in nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fatty acids, organic acids, minerals, vitamins and essential oils. Elderberry also contains cyanogenic glycosides which are potentially toxic. Polyphenols, known for their free radical scavenging (antioxidant) activity, are the most important group of bioactive compounds present in elderberry in relatively high concentration. The high antioxidant activity of elderberry fruit and flowers is associated with their therapeutic properties. Elderberry has for a long time been used in folk medicine as a diaphoretic, antipyretic and diuretic agent. In recent years it was also found to have antibacterial, antiviral antidepressant and antitumour and hypoglycemic properties, and to reduce body fat and lipid concentration. Due to its health-promoting and sensory properties, elderberry is used primarily in food and pharmaceutical industry.

Immunological responses and disease resistance of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) juveniles following dietary administration of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)

The present study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) on growth performance, skin mucus, immune response and disease resistance of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed with diets supplemented with U. dioica at 0, 1, 2 and 3%. After 8 weeks of feeding, the addition of U. dioica at 3% level resulted in improved weight gain, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio significantly when compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). Hematological responses including: hematocrit (Htc), hemoglobin (Hb), lymphocyte and neutrophil populations enhanced significantly in fish fed 3% of stinging nettle when measured after 4 weeks; while, total red blood cells, white blood, Htc, Hb, lymphocyte and neutrophil populations significantly increased after 8 weeks in the same group (P < 0.05). Total serum protein and glucose contents increased significantly in fish fed stinging nettle at 3% when compared to the other groups after 8 weeks; however, triglycerides decreased significantly in the same group on the 4th and 8th week (P < 0.05). Additionally, several immune parameters, namely, IgM, lysozyme, complement components C3 and C4, and respiratory burst of blood leukocytes significantly increased in the 3% fed group on the 4th week; while, after 8 weeks the immune responses enhanced in fish fed 2 and 3% diets (P < 0.05). At the end of the feeding trial, mucus samples obtained from the fish fed stinging nettle supplementation exhibited improved antagonistic activities against several bacterial pathogens (Streptococcus iniae, Yersinia ruckeri, Vibrio anguillarum and Lactococcus garviae), skin mucus enzymes activities (alkaline phosphatase, lysozyme, protease and esterase) and protein levels in 2 and 3% groups with the highest being in case of 3% group when compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). The cumulative mortality of rainbow trout subjected to Y. ruckeri infectious exhibited relatively low mortality levels in all supplemented groups with the lowest being in fish fed 3% stinging nettle. The present findings demonstrated that dietary administration of U. dioica enhanced growth and stimulated fish immunity; thus, enabling the fish to be more resistant against bacterial infections.

Exploring the Urtica dioica Leaves Hemostatic and Wound-Healing Potential

The present paper investigated the efficiency of Urtica dioica (U. dioica) on hemostatic and wound healing activities. U. dioica leaf extracts were evaluated for their antibacterial and antioxidant effects as well as their flavonoid and polyphenol content. The hydroethanolic extract (EtOH-H₂OE), showing the most potent antibacterial and antioxidant activities in vitro, thanks to its flavonoid and polyphenol richness, was selected for hemostatic and wound healing evaluation. Twenty-four rats completing full-thickness wounds were split into four groups. The wounds were topically treated with saline solution, glycerol, “CICAFLORA,” and U. dioica EtOH-H₂OE (50 µL/mm²) until day 11. The wound healing effect was assessed by macroscopic, histological, and biochemical parameters. Rats treated with EtOH-H₂OE showed fast wound closure (92.39%) compared to the control animals (60.91%) on the 11th day of wounding (P < 0.01). Histopathological and biochemical explorations showed full epidermal regeneration and an improvement of the hydroxyproline content in the U. dioica EtOH-H₂OE treated rats. Analysis of fatty acids and sterols by GC-MS showed the presence of unsaturated fatty acids and a high concentration of lupeol known for their involvement in reepithelialization. These results prove the efficiency of U. dioica EtOH-H₂OE in wound healing and supported its traditional use.

Role of medicinal plants on growth performance and immune status in fish

Disease outbreaks increase proportionally with increases in intensive aquaculture. Natural products including medicinal plants have been known from thousands of years for treating some human diseases. It is well known that many active compounds are responsible for potential bio-activities. For that reason, there has been considerable interest in the use of medicinal plants in aquaculture with a view to providing safe and eco-friendly compounds for replacing antibiotics and chemical compounds as well as to enhance immune status and control fish diseases. This article describes a wide range of medicinal plants such as herbs, seeds, and spices with different forms such as crude, extracts, mixed and active compounds, used as immunostimulants and resulting in a marked enhancement in the immune system of fish to prevent and control microbial diseases. Moreover, different activity was recorded from plant parts like seeds, roots, flowers and leaves. The mode of action of medicinal plants was stimulation of the cellular and humoral immune response which was monitored through elevation in immune parameters. Various levels of immune stimulation have been shown by medicinal plants at different concentrations through injection or immersion or oral administration. However, it is critically important to determine the optimal dose to enhance the immune system of fish and avoid the risk of immunosuppression. Some medicinal plants have been used to replace the protein in fishmeal as a cheap source of protein and proved to be efficient in this respect. Medicinal plants can act as a growth promoter and immunomodulator at the same time. Further investigations should be carried out to examine the influence of those plants on fish health (including physiological and histological parameters) as a preliminary step for use in large scale in aquaculture. The current review describes the role of medicinal plants and their derivatives on innate and adaptive immune status as well as growth performance in fish.

The Phenolic Contents and Antioxidant Activities of Infusions of Sambucus nigra L

The aim of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant potential of teas prepared from twenty-four commercially available berries and flowers of Sambucus nigra L. in relation to their phenolic profile, as reflected by the most representative phenolic acids (caffeic, chlorogenic, p-coumaric, ferulic, gallic and syringic acids); flavonols (quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin and rutin); and total phenolic (TPC), phenolic acid (TAC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents. The infusions prepared from elderflowers contained more abundant phenolic compounds than the elderberry infusions. The TPC of these infusions ranged from 19.81 to 23.90 mg of gallic acid equivalents/g dry weight of sample (GAE/g DW) for elderberries and from 15.23 to 35.57 mg GAE/g DW for elderflowers, whereas the TFC ranged from 2.60 to 4.49 mg of rutin equivalents/g dry weight of sample (RUTE/g DW) in elderberry infusions and from 5.27 to 13.19 mg RUTE/g DW in elderflower infusions. Among the phenolic compounds quantified in this study, quercetin (2.07-9.48 mg/g DW) and myricetin (1.17-9.62 mg/g DW) had the highest concentrations in the teas prepared from berries and flowers, respectively. Moreover, the antioxidant potential of elder infusions assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays revealed that the teas prepared from flowers had higher mean DPPH and FRAP activities than the teas prepared from berries. Therefore, elder beverages could be important dietary sources of natural antioxidants that contribute to the prevention of diseases caused by oxidative stress.

HPLC Fingerprint Combined with Quantitation of Phenolic Compounds and Chemometrics as an Efficient Strategy for Quality Consistency Evaluation of Sambucus nigra Berries

Sambucus nigra L. berries have been traditionally used as culinary and medicinal ingredients. To ensure the highest quality of elderberry plant products for consumers, the objective of this study was to develop a HPLC fingerprint procedure for quality consistency evaluation of S. nigra berries obtained from various herbal manufacturers in Poland. The HPLC profiles of thirteen batches of elderberries showed more than sixty peaks in each chromatogram, including fourteen well-resolved common peaks. Four of these were assigned to caffeic acid, syringic acid, myricetin and quercetin. Based on the chromatographic profiles of all the samples, the reference HPLC fingerprint and similarity values were calculated by Matlab 9.1 software. Quantitation of phenolic compounds (flavonols and phenolic acids) revealed that the S. nigra samples with the highest quantity differ to a small extent with regard to the mean content of phenolic compounds. On the other hand, in batches of elderberries with lower similarity values, higher differences in the mean phenolic compound content were observed. The results of hierarchical cluster and principal component analyses showed that samples classified into one group are associated with a similar chemical composition, reflected in fourteen common HPLC peaks and similarity values. Chromatographic fingerprint combined with quantitation of plant bioactive compounds and unsupervised data analysis techniques can be a useful and efficient strategy for monitoring the quality consistency of elderberry fruits.

The response of fish to immunostimulant diets

In order to maintain fish health and to improve performance immunostimulants have been used as dietary additives to improve weight gain, feed efficiency, and/or disease resistance in cultured fish. In aquaculture, non-specific immunostimulants have been widely used probably due to the limited knowledge of the immune response in fish and the ease of their application. Many studies have been carried out to assess the effect of dietary immunostimulants in fish including algal derivatives, herb and plant extract containing diets using a wide range of downstream analytical techniques. Many immunostimulants are based upon tradition and folklore transferred through generations and specific to certain geographical regions rather than known biological properties. However, there are studies in which it is possible to observe a clear and direct dose-dependent stimulatory effect upon the immune system. Other dietary supplements used contain PAMPs (Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns) as immunostimulants whose recognition depends upon PRR (pathogen recognition receptor) interactions including the TLRs (Toll-like receptor). Despite the growing interest in the use of immunostimulants across the aquaculture industry the underlying mechanisms of ligand recognition, extract composition and activation of the fish immune response remains fragmented. In this review we focus upon the last 15 years of studies addressing the assessment of: (1) plant, herb and algae extracts; and (2) PAMPs, upon non-specific immune parameters of activation and immunostimulant diet efficacy.

Herbal plants and plant preparations as remedial approach for viral diseases

Herbal plants, plant preparations and phytoconstituents have proved useful in attenuating infectious conditions and were the only remedies available, till the advent of antibiotics (many being of plant origin themselves). Among infectious diseases, viral diseases in particular, remain the leading cause of death in humans globally. A variety of phytoconstituents derived from medicinal herbs have been extensively studied for antiviral activity. Based on this rationale, an online search was performed, which helped to identify a large number of plant species harboring antiviral molecules. These herbal sources have been reported individually or in combinations across a large number of citations studied. Activities against rabies virus, Human immunodeficiency virus, Chandipura virus, Japanese Encephalitis Virus, Enterovirus, Influenza A/H1N1 and other influenza viruses were discovered during the literature search. This review includes all such plant species exhibiting antiviral properties. The review also encompasses composition and methodologies of preparing various antiviral formulations around the globe. An elaborate section on the formulations filed for patent registration, along with non-patented formulations, has also been included in this article. To conclude, herbal sources provide researchers enormous scope to explore and bring out viable alternatives against viral diseases, considering non-availability of suitable drug candidates and increasing resistance to existing drug molecules for many emerging and re-emerging viral diseases.

Effects of dietary administration of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) on the growth performance, biochemical, hematological and immunological parameters in juvenile and adult Victoria Labeo (Labeo victorianus) challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila

We investigated effects of dietary administration of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) on growth performance, biochemical, hematological and immunological parameters in juvenile and adult Victoria Labeo (Labeo victorianus) against Aeromonas hydrophila. Fish were divided into 4 groups and fed for 4 and 16 weeks with 0%, 1%, 2% and 5% of U. dioica incorporated into the diet. Use of U. dioica in the diet resulted in improved biochemical, hematological and immunological parameters. Among the biochemical parameters; plasma cortisol, glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol decreased while total protein and albumin in fish increased with increasing dietary inclusion of U. dioica. Among the haematology parameters: red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC) counts, haematocrit (Htc), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and netrophiles increased with increasing dietary inclusion levels of U. dioica, some depending on the fish age. Serum immunoglobulins, lysozyme activity and respiratory burst were the main immunological parameters in the adult and juvenile L. victorianus measured and they all increased with increasing herbal inclusion of U. dioica in the diet. Dietary incorporation of U. dioica at 5% showed significantly higher relative percentage survival (up to 95%) against A. hydrophila. The current results demonstrate that using U. dioica can stimulate fish immunity and make L. victorianus more resistant to bacterial infection (A. hydrophila).

Cytotoxic activity evaluation of some medicinal plants, selected from Iranian traditional medicine Pharmacopoeia to treat cancer and related disorders

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

By studying the Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM) Pharmacopoeia, we have collected information about medicinal plants which had been used to manage cancer-like disorders over eight hundred years, from medieval to the early modern era. Exploring the ITM herbal knowledge, the selected species have been subjected to MTT assay for examining their in vitro cyototoxic activity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cancer was reviewed through the ITM and some terminologies were acquired. Five ITM Pharmacopoeia in Arabic and Persian languages from 10th to 18th century AD were explored. These Pharmacopoeia contained the ITM plants which were used to cure cancer and cancer-like diseases. The ITM names were matched with the scientific names. Then the medicinal plants were collected, authenticated and were evaluated for cytotoxic activity using MTT assay, against MCF-7, HepG-2, A-549 and HT-29 cell lines. Finally, the apoptosis induction ability of the most cytotoxic medicinal plant was investigated by activated caspase 3 inspection in MCF-7 cell line.

RESULTS

Six species of the evaluated medicinal plants revealed cytotoxic activity. The most cytotoxicity was observed in Tanacetum polycephalum subsp. argyrophyllum (K.Koch) Podlech with IC50 values of 28.3 μg mL(-1), 53.9 μg mL(-1) and 43.3 μg mL(-1) against MCF-7, A-549 and HT-29 cell lines, respectively. Caspase 3 activation was also observed in MCF-7 cells by Tanacetum polycephalum subsp. argyrophyllum. This is the first time that the cytotoxic activity of this species has been reported.

CONCLUSION

In the present study, some reliable references of ITM have been introduced and though many technical difficulties, linguistic problems and some other hindrances were encountered during the study, using traditional medicine texts for medicinal plant selection could be considered as a helpful starting point in the field of cancer drug discovery.

Biochemical and hemato-immunological parameters in juvenile beluga (Huso huso) following the diet supplemented with nettle (Urtica dioica)

The present study investigated the effects of different dietary nettle (Urtica dioica) levels on biochemical, hematological and immunological parameters in beluga (Huso huso). Fish were divided into 4 groups before being fed for 8 weeks with 0%, 3%, 6% and 12% of nettle. The blood samples were collected on week 4 and 8. The use of nettle did not significantly change the mean cell volume, mean cell haemoglobin, lymphocytes, eosinophils, albumin, glucose, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and lysozyme activity on week 4 and 8. After 4 weeks, the total red blood cell (RBC) and hematocrit (Ht) showed a significant increase in 12% nettle group compared to the 3% nettle and control groups but haemoglobin (Hb) had a significant change in 12% nettle compared to the control. At the same time was not found a significant change in the mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), total white blood cell (WBC), neutrophils, respiratory burst activity (RB), total immunoglobulin (Ig) and total protein (TP), triglyceride (Tri) and cholesterol (Chol). After 8 weeks, the fish treated with nettle exhibited significantly increase in neutrophil and Hb levels compared to the control and between treatment groups, 12% nettle group shown the highest Hb while RBC and Hct values significantly rose in fish fed by 12% compared to the control. Supplementing 6% and 12% nettle increased the WBC and MCHC compared to the other groups. The group fed 12% showed a highly significant difference in RB, TP and Ig after 8 weeks. However, Tri and Chol were significantly decreased in the juvenile beluga fed by the 6% and 12% nettle diet compared to the other groups. The results suggest that by using this herb there will be an improvement in hemato-biochemical parameters and immune function of juvenile beluga.

The in vitro anti-viral potential of Setarud (IMOD™), a commercial herbal medicine with protective activity against acquired immune deficiency syndrome in clinical trials

Objectives:

Setarud (IMOD™) is a herbal medicine with beneficial effect for patients suffering Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and has been approved for IV (intra venues) injection. The beneficial effect of IMOD administration for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patient has been proved in previous clinical trials. Here the in vitro inhibitory effect of IMOD against HIV-1, Herpes simplex virus (HSV) and murine leukemia viruses (MLV) was evaluated.

Materials and Methods:

HIV single cycle replication and HSV plaque reduction assays were used to evaluate the anti-viral effect. The level of HIV replication was monitored by p24 capture Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The single round infection [with green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter MLV and HIV], virucidal and time-of-additions (HSV) assays were utilized to determine the mode of anti-viral activity. The toxicity of IMOD for cells was monitored by XTT (sodium 3_-[1 (phenylaminocarbonyl)- 3,4-tetrazolium]-bis (4-methoxy-6-nitro)benzene sulfonic acid) cell proliferation assay kit.

Results:

IMOD inhibited 50% of HIV-1 and HSV replication (IC₅₀) at 6.5 × 10^-4 and 4.3 × 10^-3V/V concentrations, respectively. The IC₅₀ value against HIV-1 and MLV infection were 6 × 10^-4V/V and 4.9 × 10^-4V/V. Virucidal assay showed that IMOD reduces the potency of HIV and HSV particles to 41 and 54% of control, respectively. Time-of-addition study revealed that IMOD inhibits the replication of HSV at a stage after penetration of virions to the target cells.

Conclusions:

Data from this study indicate that IMOD has significant anti-viral activity against HIV, HSV and MLV. Setarud could be subjected to further investigation after isolation of the constituents and determination of the toxic components.

Medicinal plants used for dermatological affections in Navarra and their pharmacological validation

AIM OF THE STUDY

This paper provides significant ethnopharmacological information on plant used in dermatological affections in Navarra.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Information was collected using semi-structured ethnobotanical interviews with 667 informants (mean age 72; 55.47% women, 44.53% men) in 265 locations. In order to confirm the pharmacological validation of the uses reports, the European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy (ESCOP), German Commission E, World Health Organization (WHO), European Medicines Agency (EMA), European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) and Real Farmacopea Española (RFE) monographs have been revised. A literature review has been carried out with the plants without monograph and high frequency citations, using a new tool of the University of Navarra, UNIKA.

RESULTS

A total of 982 pharmaceutical uses are reported from the informants, belonging to 91 plants and 42 families, mainly represented by Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Crassulaceae. The most frequently used parts of the plants are aerial parts followed by leaves and inflorescences. Seventeen out of 91 plants (19%) and 148 of 982 popular uses (15%), have already been pharmacologically validated.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors propose seven species for their validation (Allium cepa, Sambucus nigra, Hylotelephium maximum, Chelidonium majus, Ficus carica, Allium sativum and Anagallis arvensis).

An evaluation of the inhibitory effects against rotavirus infection of edible plant extracts

Background

Rotaviruses are the single most important cause of severe diarrhea in young children worldwide. The developments of specific, potent and accessible antiviral treatments that restrain rotavirus infection remain important to control rotavirus disease.

Methods

150 plant extracts with nutritional applications were screened in vitro on MA-104 cells for their antiviral activity against rhesus rotavirus (RRV). One extract (Aspalathus linearis (Burm.f.) R.Dahlgren) was also tested for its effect on the loss of transepithelial resistance (TER) of Caco-2 cells caused by simian rotavirus (SA-11) infection.

Results

Aqueous extracts of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. fruit, Urtica dioica L. root, Aspalathus linearis (Burm.f.) R.Dahlgren leaves, Glycyrrhiza glabra L. root and Olea europaea L. leaves were found to have strong significant antiviral activity with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) < 300 μg/ml. The pure compound 18ß-glycyrrhetinic acid from Glycyrrhiza glabra was found to have the strongest antiviral activity (IC50 46 μM), followed by luteolin and vitexin from Aspalathus linearis (IC50 respectively 116 μM and 129 μM) and apigenin-7-O-glucoside from Melissa officinalis (IC50 150 μM). A combination of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. + Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. and Urtica dioica L. + Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. showed synergy in their anti-viral activities. Aspalathus linearis (Burm.f.) R.Dahlgren showed no positive effect on the maintenance of the TER.

Conclusions

These results indicate that nutritional intervention with extracts of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., Aspalathus linearis (Burm.f.) R.Dahlgren, Urtica dioica L., Glycyrrhiza glabra L. and Olea europaea L. might be useful in the treatment of diarrhea caused by rotavirus infection.

An ethnomedicinal survey on phytotherapy with professionals and patients from Basic Care Units in the Brazilian Unified Health System

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In this study, an ethnomedicinal survey was conducted in the city of Pelotas, Brazil, with professionals and patients in the Unified Health System (SUS). With the approval of the National Policy on Medicinal Plants and Herbal Medicines, and with the adoption of a National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices in the SUS in Brazil, there is growing concern regarding Brazilian medicinal plants and their proper use in medicine. The expansion of the therapeutic options offered to the users of the SUS includes access to medicinal plants and herbal drugs, as well as related services, such as phytotherapy. For improving health and for the social inclusion of phytotherapies, safety, efficacy, and quality are important strategies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Interviews of both professionals and patients were conducted at five Basic Care Units, and a sample size of 393 was obtained.

RESULTS

Of the patients attending the Basic Care Units, 91.6% had experienced the use of medicinal plants at least once to treat certain diseases. Of the professionals, 65% had used medicinal plants but only 10% prescribed phytotherapeutics to their patients. Generally, the users were homemakers (26%) of the female gender (71.5%) who were older than 60 years (26%) and had a family income between 1 and 2 Brazilian minimal salaries. The professionals were predominantly female (80%), and a high proportion (80%) believed in the positive effects of phytotherapy (80%), even though these professionals had not been taught phytotherapy as undergraduate students (75%) and had not discussed the topic with their teachers (85%). Patients (81.5%) and professionals (45%) reported that their knowledge of medicinal plants came from their parents or grandparents. From a total of 66 different herbs used by the subjects, mauve (24%) was the most commonly used, often to treat toothaches (24.2%).

CONCLUSION

It is concluded that a high proportion of users and professionals made use of medicinal plants, and of the large number of plants mentioned in the questionnaire, mauve was the most commonly used, mainly for the treatment of toothaches. The major source of the transmission of knowledge concerning herbal medicine was parents or grandparents.

Anti-Viral Activity of Indian Plants

Plants continue to be a major source for new chemical entities to develop novel therapeutic agents. Large number of plants has been shown to be active in vitro against a variety of human pathogenic viruses or their near congeners. In several cases the active compounds have been isolated and characterized. Very few of them, however, have been investigated in detail in vivo or taken to the clinic. Pure compounds like andrographolide, curcumin and glycyrrhizic acid as well as extracts of Azadirachta indica have shown activity against several viruses and should be investigated further for their therapeutic potential. An analysis of available data from several hundred species indicates that antiviral activity is more likely to be found in plants belonging to certain families. It is necessary to screen more plants of these families which are available in India to obtain further leads.

Effect of Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae) on testicular tissue in STZ-induced diabetic rats

Urtica dioica L. (Stinging nettle) has already been known for a long time as a medicinal plant in the world. This histopathological and morphometrical study was conducted to determine the effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of Urtica dioica leaves on testis of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Eighteen male Wistar rats were allocated to equally normal, diabetic and treatment groups. Hyperglycemia was induced by Streptozotocin (80 mg kg(-1)) in animals of diabetic and treatment groups. One week after STZ injection (80 mg kg(-1)), the rats of treatment group received the extract of U. dioica (100 mg/kg/day) IP for 28 days. After 5 weeks of study, all the rats were sacrificed and testes were removed and fixed in bouin and after tissue processing stained with H and E technique. Tubular cell disintegration, sertoli and spermatogonia cell vacuolization and decrease in sperm concentration in seminiferous tubules were seen in diabetic and treatment groups group in comparison with control. External Seminiferous Tubular Diameter (STD) and Seminiferous Epithelial Height (SEH) significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the diabetic rats compared with controls and these parameters in the treatment group were similar to diabetics animals. This study showed that hydroalcoholic extract of Urtica dioica leaves, after induction of diabetes; has no treatment effect on seminiferous tubules alterations in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

A comparison of traditional anti-inflammation and anti-infection medicinal plants with current evidence from biomedical research: Results from a regional study

Background:

In relation to pharmacognosy, an objective of many ethnobotanical studies is to identify plant species to be further investigated, for example, tested in disease models related to the ethnomedicinal application. To further warrant such testing, research evidence for medicinal applications of these plants (or of their major phytochemical constituents and metabolic derivatives) is typically analyzed in biomedical databases.

Methods:

As a model of this process, the current report presents novel information regarding traditional anti-inflammation and anti-infection medicinal plant use. This information was obtained from an interview-based ethnobotanical study; and was compared with current biomedical evidence using the Medline^® database.

Results:

Of the 8 anti-infection plant species identified in the ethnobotanical study, 7 have related activities reported in the database; and of the 6 anti-inflammation plants, 4 have related activities in the database.

Conclusion:

Based on novel and complimentary results from the ethnobotanical and biomedical database analyses, it is suggested that some of these plants warrant additional investigation of potential anti-inflammatory or anti-infection activities in related disease models, and also additional studies in other population groups.

Inhibitory activity of a standardized elderberry liquid extract against clinically-relevant human respiratory bacterial pathogens and influenza A and B viruses

BACKGROUND

Black elderberries (Sambucus nigra L.) are well known as supportive agents against common cold and influenza. It is further known that bacterial super-infection during an influenza virus (IV) infection can lead to severe pneumonia. We have analyzed a standardized elderberry extract (Rubini, BerryPharma AG) for its antimicrobial and antiviral activity using the microtitre broth micro-dilution assay against three Gram-positive bacteria and one Gram-negative bacteria responsible for infections of the upper respiratory tract, as well as cell culture experiments for two different strains of influenza virus.

METHODS

The antimicrobial activity of the elderberry extract was determined by bacterial growth experiments in liquid cultures using the extract at concentrations of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. The inhibitory effects were determined by plating the bacteria on agar plates. In addition, the inhibitory potential of the extract on the propagation of human pathogenic H5N1-type influenza A virus isolated from a patient and an influenza B virus strain was investigated using MTT and focus assays.

RESULTS

For the first time, it was shown that a standardized elderberry liquid extract possesses antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive bacteria of Streptococcus pyogenes and group C and G Streptococci, and the Gram-negative bacterium Branhamella catarrhalis in liquid cultures. The liquid extract also displays an inhibitory effect on the propagation of human pathogenic influenza viruses.

CONCLUSION

Rubini elderberry liquid extract is active against human pathogenic bacteria as well as influenza viruses. The activities shown suggest that additional and alternative approaches to combat infections might be provided by this natural product.