Therapeutic Effects of Standardized Formulation of Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl on Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Crossover, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study

Botanical description, phytochemical constituents, ethnobotany, traditional medicinal use, and pharmacological activities of Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl

Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl known as "mountain tea", is a perennial flowering plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family and is widespread in Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Turkey and Turkmenistan. S. lavandulifolia is widely used in traditional medicine for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic properties. This plant has different chemical compounds classes including terpenoids, iridoids, flavonoids and phenylethanoids that have been isolated from the aerial parts of it. This review covers the plant botany, traditional medicinal uses and chemical composition of S. lavandulifolia, along with its biological and pharmacological activities including clinical trial data. The information of this review article was obtained from different scientific databases such as Google scholar, Science Direct, Hindawi, SID, Scopus, PubMed, and ACS as well as traditional Persian books. Pharmacological and clinical studies, especially Anxiolytic activity and anti-inflammatory on the plant are relatively low, so these studies are suggested in the future. Also, phytochemical investigation on root of the plant is necessary.

Genus Stachys-Phytochemistry, Traditional Medicinal Uses, and Future Perspectives

The genus Stachys represents one of the most extensive genera within the subfamily Lamioideae and ranks as one of the largest genera in the Lamiaceae family. Many Stachys species are associated with a rich history in traditional medicine across various cultures, and their extracts and essential oils are rich in non-volatile and volatile compounds. Because of their complex profile of bioactive substances, Stachys members are considered to possess an extensive spectrum of therapeutic properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, cytotoxic, and wound-healing effects, as well as benefits for memory enhancement, lipid profile regulation, blood glucose control, and weight management. Despite the wide distribution and chemical diversity of the genus, studies on its biological activities remain limited. The aim of this review is to summarize the most relevant data from studies on the bioactive compounds, traditional uses, and pharmacological properties of Stachys species found in databases such as Science Direct, PubMed, and Scopus. Specific keywords were used in the search strategy, including "bioactive compounds", "Stachys", "Lamiaceae", "Stachys extract", "Stachys essential oil", "traditional uses", "chemical composition", "therapeutic potential", "clinical trials", "in vivo studies", "in vitro studies". The search strategy was performed according to the guidelines for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Data from 171 studies were included. The manuscript highlights the drug-discovery potential of Stachys species, emphasizing their potential applications in medicine, cosmetics, dietary supplements, and the food industry. Moreover, it provides important data that could assist Stachys research programs.

TREATMENTS FOR DYSMENORRHEA IN ADOLESCENTS: A SCOPING REVIEW OF THE LAST 5 YEARS

Dysmenorrhea has a high prevalence in the female population with a great impact on affected women, the present study evaluated the literature of the last 5 years to evaluate possible treatments for this condition. It found studies reaffirming therapeutic options already available and studies showing promising alternative therapeutic options.

Effect of stachys lavandulifolia on occupational stress in emergency medical technicians

OBJECTIVE

According to studies, occupational stress is quite prevalent among Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). On the other hand, it has been shown that Stachys lavandulifolia, also known as the Mountain Tea in Iran, has anxiolytic properties. Considering the current increasing trend of using remedies based on alternative medicine for stress management, the present clinical trial intended to investigate the effect of Stachys lavandulifolia on occupational stress in EMTs METHODS: The present study included 60 EMTs working in Arak, Markazi province, Iran, who were randomly divided into study and control groups. The study group was treated with tea made of Stachys lavandulifolia (2 g daily) for 2 months, while the control group was treated with black tea. Moreover, the level of occupational stress in the study participants was assessed using the Hospital Stress Scale (HSS-35) before and after the intervention. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS software version 22.

RESULTS

According to our results, the mean occupational stress score was significantly decreased in the study group after the intervention (p < 0.05). Moreover, the post-intervention scores were significantly lower in the study group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant change in occupational stress in the control group after the intervention (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In combination with other stress-relieving options, the tea made of Stachys lavandulifolia can be used as a complementary therapy for alleviating occupational stress in EMTs.

Medicinal Plants with Abortifacient or Emmenagogue Activity: A Narrative Review Based on Traditional Persian Medicine

Introduction: Traditional Persian medicine (TPM) has a rich background and has introduced various plants with abortive or emmenagogue activity since ancient times. However, many of them are unknown in modern medicine, and a few trials have been conducted describing their efficacy and safety. These plants may be helpful for the management of incomplete abortion, with potentially lower side effects than chemical agents. Objectives: This review introduced these plants and their potential efficiency to link traditional and modern medicine and suggested further studies. Methods: The search strategy for citations in this narrative review was performed in two steps. At first, medicinal plants used as abortifacient or emmenagogue to manage incomplete abortions or retained products of conception were searched and extracted in the most famous TPM literature, including Al-Qanun Fi at-Tibb, Tuhfat-al-Momenin, and Makhzan-ul-advia. The next step was searching electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar with the same keywords and herbal plants between 1970 and 2021. The overlapped plants between the manual and electronic search were found and briefly described. Results: In TPM literature, 88 plants with abortifacient activity were found, of which 47 were used to manage incomplete abortions or retained products of conception. Also, in the electronic database search, 14 plants were found to have abortifacient or emmenagogue activity. Among them, six plants, including Sesamum indicum L. (Sesame), Commiphora myrrha (myrrh), Lawsonia inermis L. (Henna), Opopanax chironium L. (Jooshir), Plumbago rosea (Shitraj or Stumbag), and Juniperus sabina (Abhal), overlapped with the manual search results. The abortifacient or emmenagogue activity and properties of all these 14 plants were described. Conclusions: The properties of many traditional plants with abortifacient activity are unknown in modern medicine; however, they should not be used in pregnant women. Nonetheless, they may have the power to be entered into modern medicine. Identifying their pharmacology and action mechanisms may be helpful to introduce them as a potential alternative to chemical agents in the management of induced or incomplete abortion with possibly lower side effects.

Genus Stachys: A Review of Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Bioactivity

The present review highlights that Stachys spp. consist an important source of bioactive phytochemicals and exemplifies the uncharted territory of this genus for new research studies.

The clinical efficacy of lavender oil inhalation on intensity of menstrual pain from primary dysmenorrhea

Introduction: Primary dysmenorrhea is defined as painful menses with cramping sensation in the lower abdomen with normal ovulatory cycles which has no pelvic pathology. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of inhalation of Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) essential oil on alleviating primary dysmenorrhea.Methods: This randomized double-blinded clinical trial included 96 students (48 in lavender and 48 in placebo groups) from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Single students with regular menstrual cycles suffering from primary dysmenorrhea regarding the verbal multi-dimensional scoring system were included. The intervention group was administered to inhale lavender essential oil (diluted in sesame oil in 2:1 ratio). The control group only inhaled sesame essential oil. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the pain score at the baseline and 1, 2, 4, and 48 hours after intervention. Generalized estimation equations method was used for data analysis.Results: The students’ mean ± standard deviation (SD) age was 20.32±1.38 years. No significant difference was found in demographic and menstrual characteristics between groups. The mean VAS was not significantly different between groups at the baseline. Lavender inhalation reduced the mean±SD primary dysmenorrhea score of 2.92±0.2 according to VAS significantly during 48 first hours adjusted for baseline VAS (P < 0.001).Conclusion: It could be concluded that lavender inhalation can decrease primary dysmenorrhea. The observed effectiveness of lavender inhalation as an inexpensive therapy without evidence of adverse event supports the interest for potential application of this therapy.