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In this work, biosynthesis potentials of Dracocephalum kotschyi leaf extract for the production of gold nanoparticle (AuNPs) were studied, and the biological (catalytic, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer) activities of studied AuNPs were evaluated. Different analytical techniques including UV–visible spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X‐ray analysis, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used for the characterization of AuNPs. Moreover, Different testing methods were used for evaluating biological activities of biosynthesized AuNPs. The formation of AuNPs was confirmed by color change and UV–visible spectroscopic analysis. Field emission (FE)‐SEM and TEM images were used to characterize phytosynthesized AuNPs which were predominantly spherical in shape with size in the range of 5–21 nm. These spherical NPs were found to be 39.79 ± 5 nm in size as determined by dynamic light scattering particle size analyzer. XRD pattern confirms the crystalline nature of the biosynthesized nanoparticles. The phytoconstituents involved in the reduction and stabilization of nanoparticles have been identified using FTIR spectra. The phytosynthesized AuNPs showed effective antioxidant, antibacterial and catalytic reduction activities. Furthermore, they have inhibited H1229 and MCF‐7 cancer cell lines proliferation in a dose‐dependent manner. These results have supported that D. kotschyi leaf extract was very efficient for the synthesis of AuNPs, and synthesized NPs showed enhanced biological activities which make them suitable for biomedical applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 621–630, 2019.

Essential oils are aromatic compounds widely used in the perfumery, pharmaceutical and food industries. There are several methods to extract essential oils and extracts. These methods include distillation, pressure or scraping, pressing and razor technique, headspace solid-phase micro extraction (HS-SPME), solvent extraction, extraction by bioactive hydrolyzing enzymes, and CO2 extraction. The aim of this study was to investigate the amounts of active ingredients of essential oils of medicinal plants Ziziphus nummularia and Ziziphus spina-christi by HS-SPME so that it can more easily move towards production of effective herbal remedies by identifying the main and active ingredients of the plants. The main chemical compound of Z. spina-christi essential oil was found to be trans-caryophyllene (17.31%), followed by alpha-pinene (15.50%), beta-caryophyllene (10.86%), and beta-pinene (7.32%). The main compound of Z. nummularia essential oil was tetradecane (16.76%), followed by hexadecane (9.35%), dl-limonene (5.75%), cyclohexan-1-ol, 3 meth (5.54%), trans-caryophyllene (5.47%), and beta-myrcene (5.28%). Chemical compounds of Ziziphus spina-christi included carbobicyclic or bicycleheptane, sesquiterpenes derived from germacrene, bicyclic monoterpenes, and monoterpenes, while the main compounds of Z. nummularia included monoterpenes, aliphatic hydrocarbons, alkane hydrocarbons, primary terpene compounds, and decarbonated alcohol. Identification of chemical and biological constituents of essential oils of medicinal plants is a valuable way to identify medicinal compounds that can be used to treat diseases by combining the traditional effects and the main compounds in the experimental pharmacy studies.

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BackgroundSalvia, known as Maryam Goli in the Persian language, is an important genus that includes approximately 900 species in the Lamiaceae family. There are 58 Salvia species growing naturally in Iran, including Salvia chloroleuca Rech. f. and Allen., which grows wild in the northeastern and central parts of the country.ObjectivesThis study was designed to determine the chemical composition, in vitro antioxidant activity, and total phenol content of various extracts of S. chloroleuca.Materials and MethodsDried aerial parts of the plant were crushed, then sequentially extracted with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol. The fractions of S. chloroleuca were subjected to silica gel column chromatography and Sephedex LH-20. The antioxidant activities of these extracts were measured by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and the total phenolic contents of the extracts were evaluated using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent.ResultsThe separation and purification processes were carried out using different chromatographic methods. Structural elucidation was on the basis 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectral data, in comparison with that reported in the literature. The isolated compounds were salvigenin (1), luteolin (2), cirsiliol (3), β-sitosterol (4), and daucosterol (5). Ethyl acetate extract displayed the highest level of total antioxidants and total polyphenols compared to the other analyzed extracts (n-hexane and methanol). In the FRAP assay, ethyl acetate extract had the highest (230.4±10.5) FRAP value, followed by methanol (211.4 ± 8.3) and n-hexane (143.4 ± 12.04). Total phenol contents were calculated to be 13.8 ± 0.3, 58.25 ± 0.05, and 43.48 ± 0.38 mg of gallic acid/100 g in the n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts, respectively.ConclusionsThe above-mentioned compounds were isolated for the first time from S. chloroleuca. The antioxidant activity of this plant could be in part related to isolated flavonoids and sterols. The results of this study indicated that S. chloroleuca could be an important dietary source of phenolic compounds with high antioxidant capacity.

Background. Sumac fruit is an antioxidant and reduces serum triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol (CHOL) levels. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of sumac fruit on serum lipids and body mass index (BMI) of hemodialysis (HD) patients. Materials and Methods. This triple-blind randomized clinical trial study was conducted for 12 weeks on HD patients. Participants were randomly divided into three groups of 2-gram sumac (N = 40), 3-gram sumac (N = 40), and placebo (N = 40) by nonprobability consecutive sampling and stratified block randomization method based on inclusion criteria. Serum lipids and BMI were measured at the beginning of the study and also at the end of the sixth and the twelfth weeks. The physical activity and 24-hour dietary recall questionnaires were used to collect data. Results. No significant difference was found between the level of nutrient and micronutrient intake ( P > 0.05 ), physical activity ( P = 0.159 ), and BMI ( P = 0.718 ) of patients in the three groups before and after the intervention. However, the difference in serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in each studied group was significant over time ( P < 0.001 ). The difference was not statistically significant between the groups before the intervention, 6 and 12 weeks after the intervention (group effect), and between the study groups over time (time-group interaction). No statistically significant difference was observed between the mean levels of TG ( P = 0.875 ), CHOL level ( P = 0.969 ), LDL level ( P = 0.998 ), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level ( P = 0.136 ), and BMI ( P = 0.608 ) in the groups over time. Conclusion. Consumption of sumac fruit significantly changed the LDL level over time. Although BMI and serum lipids changed in HD patients, these changes were not significant. Future studies are needed to determine the effective dose of sumac and any dose increase should take toxicity into account and consider a larger sample size and longer intervention and follow-up times.

Background: Today, the present protoscolicidals used to minimize the serious risks during hydatid cyst surgery are not completely safe and have various adverse side effects. The present study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and apoptotic activity of Ferula macrecolea essential oil (FMEO) as well as its in vitro and ex vivo protoscolicidal effects against hydatid cyst protoscoleces. Methods: Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis was performed to determine the chemical composition of FMEO. Protoscoleces of hydatid cysts were collected from liver fertile hydatid cysts of infected sheep and were then treated with various concentrations of the essential oil (75, 150, and 300 µL/mL) for 5–60 min in vitro and ex vivo. Then, by using the eosin exclusion test, the viability of the protoscoleces was studied. The caspase-3-like activity of the FMEO-treated protoscoleces was also evaluated through the colorimetric protease assay Sigma Kit based on the manufacturer’s instructions. Results: According to GC/MS, the main constituents of the essential oil were terpinolene (77.72%), n-nonanal (4.47%), and linalool (4.35%), respectively. In vitro, the maximum protoscolicidal activity of FMEO was observed at the concentrations of 150 and 300 µL/mL, such that 100% of the protoscoleces were killed after 30 and 20 min of exposure, respectively. Based on the obtained findings, the results demonstrate that FMEO required a longer time to kill protoscoleces ex vivo; after 12 min of exposure to FMEO, only 13.4% of the protoscoleces remained alive. After 48 h of the treatment of protoscoleces, FMEO, in a dose-dependent manner and at doses of 75, 150, and 300 µL/mL, induced the activation of the caspase enzyme by 24.3, 35.3, and 48.3%, respectively. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate the potent protoscolicidal effects of FMEO in vitro and ex vivo; however, further studies are required to assess the safety and the efficiency of FMEO as a promising scolicidal agent in a preclinical model and clinical setting.

Background: Plants and their phytochemicals have immense potential for the management of different types of wound. Salvia multicaulis Vahl. is an evergreen shrub species, which traditionally used as a wound healing agent. Objective: The aim of the present study is to evaluate phytochemicals and wound healing activity of S. multicaulis in an excision wound model. Methods: Preliminary phytochemical screening tests were performed on the methanol (80%) extract. Total phenolic content was measured using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Antioxidant activity of the extract was assessed by (DPPH) free radical scavenging test. 2x2 excision wounds were induced in the dorsal area of 30 Wistar rats. Animals were received topical eucerine, 1% phenytoin as well as 5%, 10% and 20% ointments of the plant extract in eucerine base. Wound areas were photographed and wound contraction was calculated as the reduction percentage of wound size compared with zero days. Last day skin samples of wounded area were used for histological evaluations. Results: Collagen deposition for positive control group and A20% were low fibrils and A10% high fibrils and A5% highest fibrils. Total phenolic content was 262.083 ± 47.15 mg GAE/g extract. IC50 was 54.02 µg/mL. All concentrations of the extract ointments were significantly effective in the animal model of excision wound (P<0.05) which was also confirmed in histological study. Conclusion: It is concluded that S. multicaulis extract could act as a wound healing agent. This activity is possibly due the high concentrations of phenolic compounds.