Efficacy and safety of aniseed powder for treating gastrointestinal symptoms of COVID-19: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Gastrointestinal symptoms are prevalent amongst patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and may be associated with an increased risk of disease severity. This trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of aniseed (Pimpinella anisum L.) powder as an add-on therapy to standard care for treating gastrointestinal symptoms experienced by adults with an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: The study was a randomized parallel-group double-blinded placebo-controlled add-on therapy trial. Adults with an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection who did not require hospitalization and reported at least one gastrointestinal symptom in the preceding 48 h were assigned to either the aniseed or placebo group in a 1:4 ratio. All 225 participants (45 in the aniseed group and 180 in the placebo group) were instructed to use 25 g of powdered aniseed or placebo twice daily for 2 weeks. The primary outcomes were the proportion of patients who experienced an improvement of at least one point in the symptom score after adjusting for age group, gender, and time. Backwards stepwise logistic regression was applied to calculate the risk ratios. The clinical symptoms and adverse events were assessed at the beginning, 1 week later, and at the end of the trial (week two). Results: Participants in the aniseed group were significantly more likely to report symptom improvement for abdominal pain [adjusted risk ratio (RR):0.55; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.46-0.72], anorexia (RR:0.62; 95% CI: 0.47-0.82), and diarrhea (RR:0.19; 95% CI: 0.12-0.30), but not nausea/vomiting (RR:0.87; 95% CI: 0.71-1.08) or bloating (RR:0.87; 95% CI: 0.72-1.05). Two participants in the aniseed group and three participants in the placebo group reported mild to moderate adverse events. Conclusion: This study showed that 2 weeks of aniseed powder containing trans-anethole (87%-94%) may help improve abdominal pain, anorexia, and diarrhea in COVID-19 patients. The findings align with the known biological, multitargeted activity of P. anisum and trans-anethole, which includes inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 along with other anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and anti-dysbiosis properties. Multicenter trials with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up are warranted to confirm these findings. Clinical Trial Registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20120506009651N3).

Preventive Efficacy of Dried Lime (Citrus aurantifulia) in Common Cold Among Hajj Pilgrims: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Background

Dried lime (Citrus aurantifulia) is one of the herbal preparations used especially by Iranian pilgrims as a preventative agent and self-remedy for respiratory tracts symptoms in folklore medicine. Therefore, we evaluated the preventive efficacy of dried lime preparation in common cold among Iranian pilgrims.

Materials and Methods

In this randomized, double-blinded, clinical trial patients in the drug group received dried lime capsules, 500 mg in a single dose per day for four weeks. In the placebo group, the patients received placebo capsules using the same method. The primary outcome measure in this trial was the severity of cold symptoms assessed by a self-administered questionnaire.

Results

There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the trend of cold symptoms severity during the study period. However, in the second week, the severity of all the cold symptoms in the drug group was less, compared to the placebo, but at the end of the study, comparison of the two groups revealed no significant difference in any of the investigated options.

Conclusion

The findings revealed that although the severity of all the cold symptoms in the drug group was less as compared to the placebo group, the dried lime capsule showed no statistically significant effect on the control of these symptoms in Iranian pilgrims.

The effectiveness of a traditional Persian medicine preparation in the treatment of chronic cough: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVES

The roots and rhizomes of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) are used in traditional Persian medicine for the treatment of numerous diseases. A chronic cough is a non-specific reaction to irritation anywhere in the respiratory system. It usually lasts for more than eight weeks. The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of a modified traditional Persian medicine preparation, licorice pastille, in healing a chronic cough.

METHODS

Through a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed in a respiratory disease clinic in Shiraz, Iran; between October 2016 and December 2017. Seventy participants with a chronic cough took part in the trial. The outcome measures were as the daily cough scores (the score being logged via patient symptoms, diary, and the visual analogue scale) and the quality of life measure of chronic cough according to the Leicester Cough Questionnaire.

RESULTS

At baseline, there were no significant differences in the demographic or clinical (cough score) characteristics between the two groups. There was complete adherence to protocol in both groups but, the drop-out rate was 4 patients in the placebo and 6 ones in the intervention groups. The results at the end of the trial (Week 2) and follow-up (Week 4) demonstrated the efficacy of the licorice pastille in terms of the cough severity score against the placebo group. This item showed a significant decrease in the intervention group (1.2 ± 0.93) comparing to the placebo one (1.8 ± 1.03) at follow-up time. No major side effects were reported during the study and follow-up time.

CONCLUSIONS

Licorice pastille could be a promising choice in the treatment of a chronic cough of unknown origin.

Efficacy of Anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) oil for migraine headache: A pilot randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial

Seyed Hamdollah Mosavat has made substantial contributions in conception, designing, acquisition of data and preformed clinical trial., Amin Moayedfard and Abbas Rahimi Jaberi had contribution in designing and preformed clinical trial. Zahra Sobhani and Maryam Mosaffa-Jahromi designed and prepared drugs of study. Aida Iraji has made drug biochemical assay. Seyed Hamdollah Mosavat had contribution in designing and revised the manuscript critically for important intellectual content and had contribution in designing and analyzing of data. Seyed Hamdollah Mosavat, Amin Moayedfard and Abbas Rahimi Jaberi had contribution in conception and designing and revised the manuscript critically for important intellectual content. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Urinary Bladder Stone Passing Using a Persian Herbal Recipe

Objective.

The intrauterine device (IUD) is a popular contraceptive instrument with reported complications. IUD migration to the urinary bladder, a rare genitourinary tricky situation, may cause stone formation and result in urinary system sequels such as a stone formation and a recurrent infection.

Case Report.

This is a case report of IUD migration to the urinary bladder, mineralization, and subsequent complications. We report the case of a 35-year-old woman with a copper IUD nidus stone in her urinary bladder. She received a Persian medicine formulation including goat’s head, cornflower, silk corn, field horsetail, cumin, black Spanish radish, and common dandelion. She passed an oxalate stone 3 days later.

Conclusion.

Inexpensive common traditional recommendations might be helpful in current obstetrics and gynecology practice in our region.

Properties Related to Bile as Viewed in Makhzan ol-Adviya

BACKGROUND

The human body has simple and compound organs that obtain their nourishment through four humors. One of them is bile (yellow bile). According to Iranian traditional medicine (ITM), there are various kinds of natural medicines with their specific mechanisms of action affecting on bile in the human body. Hakim Aghili Shirazi (18th century), one of the great scholars in ITM field, introduced all types of natural medicines influencing bile in his valuable book written in Persian, "Makhzan-ul-Adwiah", about single herbal medicines (mofradat). The aim of this review article was to introduce all types of natural medicines influencing bile in the human body.

METHODS

The classification of natural medicines influencing bile was studied in this article as viewed by Hakim Aghili Shirazi in Makhzan-ul-Adwiah.

RESULTS

Reviewing Makhzan-ul-Adwiah, this natural influencing bile is defined in ten categories. These are Haabes-e Safra (obstructive of bile), Daafe-e Safra (expellant of bile), Raafe-e Safra (resolver of bile), Ghaate-e Safra (stopper of bile), Ghaame-e Safra (suppressant of bile), Kaasere-e Safra (fractionating of bile), Mohregh-e Safra (burner of bile), Moder-e Safra (bile diuretic), Mosaken-e Safra (bile reliever), and Mos'hel-e Safra (bile laxative).

CONCLUSION

Each group has a specific function and mechanism on bile. Recognition of the precise mechanisms of these natural medicines is necessary to prescribe a suitable remedy for bilious diseases by traditional medicine specialists.

Alshamel fi Sana'at Tebbi'at: A Comprehensive Book on the Materia Medica

BACKGROUND

Ala-al-din abu Al-Hassan Ali ibn Abi-Hazm al-Qarshi al-Dimashqi, known as Ibn al-Nafis (1210-1288 AD), was a Muslim Syrian physician primarily famous for being the first to describe the pulmonary circulation of the blood. The most voluminous of his books is Alshamel fi Sana'at tebbi'at, which is a comprehensive medical encyclopedia. It comprised 300 volumes of notes, from which only 80 volumes are published. His writings are cataloged in many libraries around the world. The aim of this review article, as a tribute to Ibn al-Nafis, was to introduce his valuable but neglected encyclopedia of Materia Medica.

METHODS

Ibn al-Nafis' traditional approach in his "Alshamel fi Sana'at tebbi'at" book is studied in the present article.

RESULTS

Alshamel fi Sana'at tebbi'at covers three branches of knowledge. The first category is devoted to theoretical traditional medicine. The second is in four sections where much of it is not available yet. The third category is on Materia Medica covering the aspect of Unani medicine, from which only 28 volumes of the comprehensive book on the traditional medicine have been found so far. The latter, introduces mono-ingredient medications in alphabetical order. Each chapter, in several parts, is dedicated to the botanical characteristics and nature of each mono-ingredient medication. In addition, this book explains traditional pharmacokinetic of every single medication for each human body organs.

CONCLUSION

Based on pharmaco-mechanistic perspective on Alshamel fi Sana'at tebbi'at, it could be considered as the main reference book on traditional medicine and pharmacy, worthy of revival.

Effectiveness of Anise Oil for Treatment of Mild to Moderate Depression in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomized Active and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Depression is a prevalent disorder among patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. The current study was performed to evaluate the effect of a traditional Persian medicine product, anise oil, in removing the symptoms of mild to moderate depression in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. In a randomized double-blinded active and placebo controlled clinical trial, 120 participants with mild to moderate depression according to the Beck Depression Inventory-II total scores were categorized into 3 equal groups and received anise oil, Colpermin, and placebo. The results at the end of trial (week 4) and follow-up (week 6) demonstrated significant priority against active and placebo groups. Although the mechanism is unknown yet, anise oil could be a promising choice of treatment for depressed patients with irritable bowel syndrome.