Background: Oils in traditional medicine are important products and used routinely for therapeutic purposes. Rose oil (Rosa damascene Mill), a product of Persian medicine, is advised for the treatment of Infectious diseases related to the female genitourinary tract. In the present study, R. damascena petal oil, aqueous, and hydroalcoholic extracts were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial and anti-Trichomonas vaginalis effects. Methods: Anti-trichomonas activity evaluation of extracts and oil were assayed by the Homocytometery method. Their antibacterial effects against Escherichia coli, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and clinically isolated Group B Streptococcus were assayed by broth microdilution in 96-well plates. Results: The MIC of hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts ranged from 25-50 and 25-100 mg/ml, respectively. Rose oil at all administered doses failed to show any antibacterial activity. Conclusion: All extracts and oil concentrations showed some degree of growth inhibition activity on T. vaginalis; however, hydroalcoholic extract was more efficient.

Considering the side effects of current anti-inflammatory drugs, novel therapeutic agents are desired. We have succeeded in separating flavonoid-rich fractions with anti-inflammatory effect from fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.). In this work, we aimed to carry out further fractionation to find active anti-inflammatory subfractions. Trigonelline content of the plant was determined by spectrophotometric method. Fenugreek seeds were extracted consecutively with petroleum ether, acidified chloroform (ACC), alkaline chloroform (AKC), methanol, and water. ACC fraction, which had exhibited the highest anti-inflammatory effect, was further fractionated using column chromatography. Obtained subfractions were evaluated using carrageenan-induced paw edema (CIPE) method. Animals were pretreated by test compounds, and after 30 minutes edema was induced by subcutaneous injection of 100 µl of 1% w/v carrageenan into the right paw of animals. Volume difference of both paws was measured at different times after carrageenan injection. The concentration of trigonelline was determined as 16.2%. ACC fraction inhibited paw edema significantly in comparison to control (p < .05). Four subfractions (dry weight percentage basis) were selected for pharmacological study. F3 subfraction exhibited the greatest inhibition at 15 mg/kg (p < .001). ACC fraction and F4 significantly inhibited paw edema at doses of 5, 10, and 15 mg/kg (p < .001). Phytochemical studies indicated the presence of flavonoids in ACC and active subfractions. Further separation can lead to finding active components from active subfractions, which probably belong to flavonoid phytochemicals. Considering the gastroprotective effect of fenugreek, we hope the separated fractions also would be free of gastrointestinal side effects.

Background: Henna (Lawsonia inermis) with anti-bacterial properties has been widely used in traditional medicine especially Persian medicine. Henna oil is suggested for diseases of infectious origin, such as cervical ulcers. Group B Streptococcus agalactiae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and, Trichomonas vaginalis are involved in the infection of women especially cervicitis. Henna grows in dry and tropical regions. The main important landraces of henna landraces are cultivated in Kerman, Sistan and Baluchestan, Hormozgan, and Bushehr provinces in Iran. Proper use of antimicrobial agents, use of new antimicrobial strategies, and alternative methods, such as herbal methods may help reduce drug resistance in the future. This study’s objective was to investigate the anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity of three different henna landraces and antimicrobial effects against group B Streptococcus agalactiae and, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methods: Total phenol content was measured by Folin ciocaltu method. Antibacterial effect of landraces of Henna against P. aeruginosa and S. agalactiae were assayed by well diffusion method and minimal inhibitory concentration assessments were done using the broth micro-dilution technique. Anti-Trichomonas effect of Henna landraces were assayed by Hemocytometery method. Results: Total phenol content of Shahdad, Rudbar-e-Jonub, and Qaleh Ganj was 206.51, 201.96, and 254.85 μg/ml, respectively. Shahdad, Rudbar-e-Jonub, and Qaleh Ganj had MIC against GBS at 15, 15 and, 4 μg/ml. The growth inhibition diameter of the most effective henna (Shahdad landrace) at a concentration of 20 μg/ml on P. aeruginosa was 2.46 ± 0.15 cm and in the MIC method at a concentration of 5 μg/ml of Shahdad landrace, P. aeruginosa did not grow. IC50 of shahdad Henna after 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h was 7.54, 4.83 and 20.54 μg/ml, respectively. IC50 of Rudbar-e-Jonub extract was 5.76, 3.79 and 5.77 μg/ml in different days. IC50 of Qaleh Ganj extract was 6.09, 4.08 and 5.74 μg/ml in different days. Conclusions: The amount of total phenol in Qaleh Ganj was higher than the other varieties. In the well diffusion method, Qaleh Ganj was more effective against group B Streptococcus (Gram-positive bacterium) than the other two landraces, and Shahdad landrace was more effective against P. aeruginosa (Gram-negative bacterium) than other. In the MIC method, the same result was obtained as in the well diffusion method, but at a lower concentration.

Background: Persian Medicine is one of the oldest and richest complementary and alternative options in the field of medicine and has a comprehensive medical system. Henna oil is recommended in Persian Medicine for the treatment of numerous women's diseases such as cervicitis. To date, henna has been used for many medical purposes, including astringent, bleeding, cardioinhibitory, hypotension, and relaxation. Accordingly, the present study aimed to provide the formulation of a henna-oil-based vaginal suppository and examine its physicochemical and antimicrobial properties. Methods: The present study was approved and performed in accordance with the regulations of Research Council, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. in July 2016. Different percentages of henna oil, glycerin, and gelatin, as well as henna oil and polyethylene glycol 400 and 4000, were mixed to achieve a formulation with proper appearance features and, particularly, without any oil leakage from the suppository surface. Uniformity of weight, uniformity of content, disintegration time, and dissolution test of the suppositories were evaluated. The growth-inhibiting activity of the suppositories and aqueous extract of henna was evaluated against bacteria, including the Gram-positive bacterium Gardnerella vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and group B streptococcus. Results: The formulations had a smooth appearance without any cracks or fractures. Disintegration times for glycerogelatin and polyethylene glycol suppositories were 60 and 10 min, respectively. 40% of the drug was released from polyethylene glycol suppositories after 60 min, but glycerogelatin suppositories had no release after three hours. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of suppositories and aqueous extract were 0.4 mg/mL and 0.01 mg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: Polyethylene glycol suppositories had acceptable physicochemical properties, and the henna extract and suppositories inhibited the three studied pathogens.

Introduction: Cervicitis is an inflammatory condition of the cervix associated with upper genital tract infection and reproductive complications. Treatment for cervicitis in conventional system is the use of antibiotics and antifungal therapies and surgical interventions, but none of these treatments provides the definite efficacy in spite of high cost and side effect. So there is a need for an alternate therapy which is safe, effective, easily available and free from side effects. This review focuses on medicinal plants mentioned in main Iranian Traditional Medicine reference books. Materials and Methods: Medicinal plants mentioned in Iranian Traditional Medicine for treatment of Cervicitis were elicited and searched in electronic databases including Pub Med, Scopus, Science direct and Google Scholar to find studies that confirmed their efficacy. Results and Discussion: The findings included 31 plants belonging to 21 families. Research findings showed that the plants mentioned in Iranian Traditional Medicine resources can contribute to the recovery and treatment of cervicitis through anti- inflammatory, anti- oxidant, anti- bacterial and anti- fungal, wound healing and analgesic effects. Conclusion: Finding the medicinal plants effective on cervicitis based on ITM could suggest a better strategy for relieving and management of cervicitis symptoms especially in recurrent or persistent condition.