Traditional and Integrative Medicine

Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used in Ilam City in Western Iran with Anti-Headache Application

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 13:16:02 +0430

Headaches are one of the main causes of disability worldwide and have a negative impact on various aspects of people's lives. Considering inadequate advances in pain management, this ethnobotanical research was carried out to identify medicinal plants for the treatment of headaches within the city of Ilam in western part of Iran. For this purpose, the questionnaires were first distributed to the traditional healers of the city of Ilam, and the regional traditional medical information was collected. The data was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Results showed that medicinal plants including Seidlitzia rosmarinus Boiss., Melissa officinalis L., Dianthus orientalis Adams, Prunus haussknechtii C.K.Schneid. , Isatis raphanifolia Boiss, Cannabis sativa L., Cichorium intybus L., and Prunus lycioides (Spach) C.K.Schneid. were used for treating headache in this region. The most used plant family was the Rosaceae family. The aerial part was the most used part (37%) and decoction was the most traditional method of use. Although some of the plants mentioned are used worldwide to treat headaches, this study recommends using Seidlitzia rosmarinus and Melissa officinalis as analgesic. The identification, isolation, purification, and other pharmaceutical analyses of the biochemical compounds of these plants pave the way for new pharmacological treatments.

Study of Antidepressant, Anxiolytic, Sedative-hypnotic, and Anticonvulsant Activities of Haplophyllum acutifolium (DC.) G.Don Aqueous Extract in Mice

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 13:52:31 +0430

In traditional Persian medicine, Haplophyllum acutifolium (DC.) G.Don has been utilized as a treatment for central nervous system (CNS) disorders with sedative-hypnotic effects, as recommended by Avicenna. This plant is recognized for its pharmacological characteristics stemming from the existence of various bioactive compounds including alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, and lignans. However, a comprehensive investigation of the sedative-hypnotic, anxiolytic, antidepressant, and anticonvulsant activities of H. acutifolium extracts has yet to be conducted. The present investigation aimed to assess the sedative-hypnotic, anxiolytic, antidepressant, and anticonvulsant potential of various extracts obtained from H. acutifolium in NMRI and Swiss mice. Total of 250 mice randomly distributed into specific groups based on the test type. The sedative-hypnotic, anxiolytic, antidepressant, and anticonvulsant properties of extracts of H. acutifolium were assessed using various tests, including open field, the pentobarbital-induced sleep, elevated plus maze, forced swimming, maximal electroshock, and pentylenetetrazol tests. Aqueous, methanol and dichloromethane extracts were administrated intraperitoneally at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg. Additionally, the concentration of quercetin in H. acutifolium aqueous extract was determined using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC) were assessed by spectroscopic methods as well. Upon behavioral tests, it was found that the aqueous extract has the biggest sedative-hypnotic, anxiolytic, antidepressant, and anticonvulsant effects. TPC and TFC of H. acutifolium hydrolyzed aqueous extract were measured as 61.48 ± 2.34 mg GAE/g and 21.13 ± 3.15 RE/g respectively on the basis of colorimetric findings. The RP-HPLC analysis revealed the average quercetin content of 49.87 ± 0.24 mg/100 g dry matter in the aqueous extract. The findings provide a reliable approach for measuring the quantity of quercetin existing in hydrolyzed H. acutifolium aqueous extract, as well as its neuropharmacological effects.

Effect of Commiphora mukul (Hook. ex Stocks) Engl.-Based Herbal Product on Menorrhagia: A Pilot Randomized Triple-Blind Clinical Trial

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:09:50 +0430

Use of traditional medicinal plants offers an effective non-surgical treatment for menorrhagia with a prevalence of 19.2% in Iran. Thus, Commiphora mukul (Hook. ex Stocks) Engl. (guggul) was investigated in this study. This was a randomized, triple-blind clinical trial. The participants were 24 patients suffering from menorrhagia. Group A received 250 mg of mefenamic acid; while group B received 250 mg of guggul capsules, both administered three times a day for three cycles. The primary outcomes were the pictorial blood loss assessment chart (PBAC) score and menstrual duration, which assessed the volume of bleeding. The secondary outcome was the safety of the drug. Demographically, there was no significant difference between the guggul and mefenamic acid groups. In both groups, the number of days of bleeding decreased, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.353). Similarly, there was no significant difference in PBAC scores between the groups (p = 0.604), although the guggul group showed a significant decrease over time (p < 0.001). The results indicate that guggul may be as effective as mefenamic acid in reducing the volume and duration of menstrual bleeding in women with menorrhagia. No side effects were observed during the treatment period. Therefore, the herbal product guggul could be considered a safe and effective remedy for decreasing the volume and duration of menstrual bleeding in patients with menorrhagia. It is recommended that these findings be confirmed through multicenter clinical trials with higher precision.

Antioxidant and Protective Effect of Ajuga chamaecistus ssp. tomentella on CCl4 -Induced Liver Toxicity in Rat

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 11:27:03 +0430

Ajuga chamaecistus ssp. tomentella (known as “komafitoos”) has been used in traditional Persian medicine for treating various illnesses including liver ailments. This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effect of A. chamaecistus ssp. tomentella. Chloroform, ethyl acetate (EAF), and the remaining hydroalcoholic fractions were separated from the total extract of the aerial parts of the plant and their antioxidant activity was evaluated using radical scavenging assay method (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH). The EAF was assessed against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced toxicity in rats. Rats were parted into 7 groups each containing 6 animals: sham (normal saline), CCl₄ (single dose of 1 mL/kg b.w., i.p.), treatment groups 3, 4, 5 (treated 7 days with 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg EAF, respectively, p.o.) and 6 (treated 7 days with 100 mg/kg silymarin, p.o.) following a single dose of 1 mL/kg CCl₄, i.p.). Group 7 received 100 mg/kg ethyl acetate fraction for 7 days. Animals were sacrificed 24 h after the last dose and total protein content and biochemical parameters were assayed in the serum. Glutathione, malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase levels were measured in the liver homogenates. Histological changes in the liver tissue were examined using a light microscope. EAF showed the best antioxidant activity according to the DPPH free radical scavenging assay (IC₅₀=60.5 µg/mL) in comparison to the other fractions. It significantly alleviated serum transaminase levels, alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase, especially with 25 and 50 mg/kg doses. Treatment with EAF increased superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione content; while decreasing the malondialdehyde level similar to the Silymarin group. Histological examination further confirmed our biochemical findings. A. chamaecistus ssp. tomentella showed acceptable hepatoprotective activity, as described by traditional Persian medicine.

Ethnobotanical Survey of Antidiabetic Medicinal Plants Used by Patients Visiting Health Facilities in the SALÉ Region (Morocco)

Youssef S'HIH, Ibrahim Hinad, Abdechahid Loukili, Moulay Laarbi Ouahidi — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 11:37:47 +0430

Herbal medicine (HM) is frequently used by diabetic patients in Morocco, although limited information exists about the specific plants used by diabetic patients in the SALÉ region. This study aims to collect a list of plant species used by diabetic patients as traditional remedies. This study is based on an ethnobotanical survey. It was carried out using questionnaires with a sample of 300 diabetic patients visiting the health centres in SALÉ. The results indicate that 93% of type 2 diabetic patients and 7% of type 1 diabetic patients use HM alongside modern medications. Patients justify their use of HM due to its easy accessibility (34.3%), greater efficacy (27.7%), and low cost (27%). The majority (60.3%) are unable to specify the dosage used, and 95.3% are unaware of the toxicity of the plants. This study identified 32 medicinal plant species from 18 botanical families, with the most commonly used plants being Olea europea L. (9.3%), Coriandrum sativum L. (7.7%), Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (7.3%), Marrubium vulgare L. (6%), Lepidium sativum L., Lawsonia inermis L., Capparis spinosa L. (5.7%), and Artemisia absinthium (5%). The most used plant parts are leaves (40%) and seeds (23.67%); with infusion and decoction being the preferred preparation methods for oral administration. The findings indicate that the SALÉ region has a wide range of HM knowledge for treating diabetes, which needs further scientific study. This knowledge can serve as a foundation for pharmacological studies to assess the antidiabetic effects of these plants.

Comparison the Effect of Kermanshahi Massage with and without Plastic Masking (Shrink Therapy) on Symptoms of the Trigger Points in the Upper Trapezius Muscle

Kamran Mahlooji, Mahsima Abdoli, Fataneh Hashem-Dabaghian — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 12:23:20 +0430

The Kermanshahi method of massaging (KM) has been conducted traditionally by this family for many years. This study compared the effect of KM in addition to plastic masking with KM on pain and disability caused by myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). In this randomized controlled trial, 48 females aged 18 to 70 complaining of pain in the upper trapezius area with MTrPs were randomly divided into two groups. Both groups received four sessions of KM at one-week intervals, and one of the groups received plastic masking treatment after the massage (group 2). The patients’ pain severity was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) before each session, and shoulder and neck pain and disability indices (SPADI and NPDS) were measured before the 1^st and 4^th sessions. Twenty participants in each group completed the study. The participants’ mean age and standard deviation were 47.69 ± 13.08 years. A significant decrease in VAS, SPADI, and NPDS scores was observed in both groups after the interventions (p < 0.001). The percentage of SPADI score reduction in group 2 (50.42 ± 27.15%) was significantly higher than the group 1 (24.92 ± 25.6%) (p = 0.002). KM can be used as an effective method to reduce neck and shoulder pain and disability in patients with upper trapezius MTrPs. In this study, plastic masking had a slight preference over the control group. Conducting similar studies with larger sample sizes and different methods of plastic masking is recommended.

Electroacupuncture (EA) Treatment for a Chronic Severe Femoral Nerve Injury: A Case Report

Hossein Haghir, Hamid Reza Bahrami-Taghanaki — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 11:46:12 +0430

Although there have been a few reports of improvement in peripheral nerve injury (PNI) with electroacupuncture (EA), this seems to be the first report of treating a patient with chronic femoral nerve injury using EA. A 35-year-old Iranian woman visited the university acupuncture clinic because of severe difficulties in hip flexion, extension of knee, and sensory loss on the medial side of leg on the right side. The diagnosis of femoral nerve injury was confirmed by physical examination and nerve conduction study (NCS). EA treatment was done three times a week for 12 sessions. A post-treatment physical examination and NCS showed improvement in the patient's motor and sensory symptoms. The patient continued to improve at the follow-up physical examination 7 months after treatment. This case report provides clinical and NCS evidence that EA may effectively treat a chronic severe femoral nerve injury.

Evaluation of Multiple Sclerosis from the Perspective of Conventional Medicine and Traditional Persian Medicine, Considering the Concept of Hemorheology

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 12:05:33 +0430

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a persistent inflammatory disorder of uncertain etiology. Certain observations suggest that the pathology might not solely stem from primary immune dysregulation. Advanced imaging techniques reveal decreased cerebral blood flow in MS subjects compared to healthy controls, suggesting a widespread cerebral hypoperfusion present from early to advanced disease stages. One of the effective factors in reducing tissue perfusion is a change in the rheological properties of blood, which has been mentioned in recent articles. By attention to this concept in complementary and traditional medicine, including Persian medicine, this can be a common point that connects the view of Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) on MS to the existing hypotheses about the role of hemorheology in the development of MS. For this study, a two-step literature search was conducted. The initial search focused on concepts related to MS disease and changes in blood consistency in most important TPM texts. For the second inquiry, the PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases were explored using the keywords related to MS and blood viscosity concepts. TPM, believes that the imbalance of the four Humors in the body, changes the physical properties of blood, leading to changes in the tissues blood supply and can cause nerve injury in the long run. On the other hand, in modern physiology, some evidence shows that circulatory disorders precede immune responses in the development of MS and the reaction of the immune system is actually secondary to the ischemia created as a result of reduced blood supply. We believe that discussing Hemorheology, not only in MS, but also in many other diseases, can open new horizons for knowing the root cause of the disease and thus discovering better treatments.

A Review of Heart Mizaj Indices in Persian Medicine along with a Look at Chinese Medicine

Mostafa Alizadeh, Narjes Gorgi, Vahid Ghasemi, Li Wei Hong, Morteza Mojahedi — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 13:33:07 +0430

Mizaj is a fundamental concept in Persian Medicine (PM), based on which individualized prevention and treatment of diseases is achieved. In addition to the general Mizaj of the body, each organ has a specific Mizaj, the determination of which requires extraction and standardization of diagnostic indices. The purpose of this study is to extract indices of heart Mizaj from PM written sources as a prerequisite to design a standard tool for heart Mizaj. The study was conducted by extracting concepts related to heart Mizaj from reliable PM textbooks. Subsequently, the keywords Mizaj, heart Mizaj, and their equivalents including heart, and syndrome differentiation in complementary medical systems including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) were searched in reputable scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Magiran. Our findings indicated that out of the 196 obtained articles on the subject of Mizaj, 19 were related to indices of body and organ Mizaj. None of the two articles related to heart Mizaj specifically categorized the criteria for determining the Mizaj of this organ. In PM references, heart Mizaj indices are discussed in anthropometric, physiological and psychological categories. Pulse indices, chest width, and emotional states are the most frequently mentioned indices of heart Mizaj. Indices of heart status in TCM have substantial similarities with heart Mizaj indices in PM. The results of this study can be used to achieve a standard method of determining the Mizaj of the heart that helps provide recommendations in PM-based prevention and treatment of diseases.

Exploring Therapeutic Potential of Luteolin in Periodontal Therapy: A Scoping Review

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 14:42:11 +0430

Periodontal disease is a destructive inflammatory process of the tooth-supporting tissues, that frequently results in tooth loss. Traditional periodontal therapies that use conventional instrumentation, often struggle to eliminate the disease effectively in inaccessible tooth parts. In addition, currently employed adjuvant agents in periodontal therapy have many undesirable side effects. This has encouraged the exploration of natural compounds with higher biocompatibility, therapeutic index, safety and lower cost. Luteolin, a flavonoid found in many herbs, vegetables, and fruits, exhibits several beneficial properties for periodontal health, suggesting that it could be an effective therapeutic agent in countering periodontal diseases. However, further exploration of its therapeutic potential is necessary. Thus, this study aimed to review the current evidence on luteolin’s therapeutic role in periodontal therapy. A comprehensive search in the scientific literature databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) was conducted for studies investigating luteolin’s role in periodontal therapy. The search yielded 106 papers and after discarding 86 papers that did not fit the inclusion criteria, 20 studies were considered for analysis. These included 11 studies on cell lines, 4 related to animal experiments, 3 on microbiological profiling and 2 on human participants. Data regarding the study characteristics were extracted and summarized. All the evidence gathered from the reviewed papers consistently demonstrated that luteolin has potent biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that combat the etiopathogenic factors affecting the establishment and progression of periodontal diseases. In conclusion, luteolin holds considerable promise as an adjuvant therapeutic agent in periodontal disease management. With further research, it could become a key component in periodontal treatment strategies.

What Natural Materials Are Used to Treat Primary Tooth Pulp? A Literature Review

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:48:59 +0430

Among the various medicaments used for pulp treatment, natural materials have gained attention due to their potent antibacterial activity and fewer complications compared to standard chemical agents. This study aims to analyze the existing literature on the effectiveness of herbal medicines in comparison to conventional pulp therapy agents in primary teeth. A comprehensive search was conducted across three databases—PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus— and google scholar to identify relevant studies. Only articles that met the predefined inclusion criteria were selected for review. A total of 33 clinical trials were included in this review, evaluating the clinical and radiographic outcomes of herbal pulp therapy agents in primary teeth. Among the natural substances investigated, propolis and aloe vera appear to be suitable candidates for pulp capping. Additionally, garlic extract and green tea show promise as effective cleaning agents within the root canal.

Efficacy and Safety of Dead Sea-Derived Components in Oral Health Applications: A Systematic Review

Elisabetta Ferrara, Giovanna Murmura, Manlio Santilli, Bruna Sinjari — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 12:06:04 +0430

The therapeutic potential of Dead Sea-derived components in oral health management has gained increasing attention, yet remains largely unexplored. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Dead Sea-based products in oral health applications. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for studies published up to March 2023, yielding seven studies that met the inclusion criteria. The evidence suggests potential benefits of Dead Sea-derived products in managing periodontal conditions and chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis. Randomized controlled trials demonstrated that Dead Sea salt-containing mouthwashes significantly reduced plaque and gingival indices compared to controls, with efficacy comparable to chlorhexidine in some cases. An observational study reported reduced mucositis intensity in cancer patients using Dead Sea mineral products. In vitro research showed Dead Sea salt solutions reduced concentrations of bacterial leukotoxin, lipopolysaccharide endotoxin, and glucan sucrase. A clinical trial found significant reductions in salivary viral loads with a Dead Sea salt-based mouthwash. However, a Dead Sea salt-based tooth whitening regimen was less effective than conventional peroxide treatment. The unique mineral composition and microbiological characteristics of the Dead Sea appear to confer antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Nevertheless, the evidence is limited by the small number of studies, their heterogeneity, and lack of long-term follow-up data. Further research is needed to establish the long-term efficacy and safety of these products in oral health care.