Trichomonas vaginalis, a parasitic flagellated protozoan, is one of the main non-viral sexually transmitted diseases worldwide. Treatment options for trichomoniasis are limited to nitroimidazole compounds. However, resistance to these drugs has been reported, which requires the development of new anti-Trichomonas agents that confer suitable efficacy and less toxicity. In the present work, we assessed the effectiveness of the liposomal system containing essential oils of Bunium persicum and Trachyspermum ammi against T. vaginalis in vitro. The chemical composition of B. persicum and T. ammi were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Liposomal vesicles were prepared with phosphatidylcholine) 70%) and cholesterol)30%) using the thin-film method. The essential oils of B. persicum and T. ammi were loaded into the liposomes using the inactive loading method. Liposomal vesicles were made for two plants separately. Their physicochemical features were tested using Zeta-Sizer, AFM and SEM. The anti-Trichomonas activity was determined after 12 and 24 h of parasite cultures in TYI-S-33 medium. After 12 and 24 h of administration, the IC₅₀ of the B. persicum essential oil nano-liposomes induced 14.41 μg/mL and 45.19 μg/mL, respectively. The IC₅₀ of T. ammi essential oil nano-liposomes induced 8.08 μg/mL and 25.81 μg/mL, respectively. These data suggested that nano-liposomes of the essential oils of B. persicum and T. ammi may be a promising alternative to current treatments for Trichomonas infection.

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.

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.

Peganum harmala, a well-known medicinal plant, has been used for several therapeutic purposes as it contains numerous pharmacological active compounds. Our study reported an anti-parasitic activity of P. harmala seed extract against Acanthamoeba triangularis. The stress induced by the extract on the surviving trophozoites for Acanthamoeba encystation and vacuolization was examined by microscopy, and transcriptional expression of Acanthamoeba autophagy-related genes was investigated by quantitative PCR. Our results showed that the surviving trophozoites were not transformed into cysts, and the number of trophozoites with enlarged vacuoles were not significantly different from that of untreated control. Molecular analysis data demonstrated that the mRNA expression of tested AcATG genes, i.e., ATG3, ATG8b, and ATG16, was at a basal level along the treatment. However, upregulation of AcATG16 at 24 h post treatment was observed, which may indicate an autophagic activity of this protein in response to the stress. Altogether, these data revealed the anti-Acanthamoeba activity of P. harmala extract and indicated the association of autophagy mRNA expression and cyst formation under the extract stress, representing a promising plant for future drug development. However, further identification of an active compound and a study of autophagy at the protein level are needed.

Context: Group B Streptococcus has the capacity of being colonized in the rectovaginal organ of women and causes infections in a mother and her fetus, thereby leading to neonatal diseases. Evidence Acquisition: The aim of this review was to summarize all of the relevant articles published to highlight the prevalence of group B Streptococcus colonization or infection in different regions of Iran. A systematic literature review was conducted by searching PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (ISI), ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and domestic databases for papers published in English or Persian from 1992 up to July 2019, concerning the prevalence of group B Streptococcus among Iranian women. All information regarding year, location of cases, frequency, author’s name, date of publication, participants, pregnancy period, sampling, and quality assessment were recorded. Summary effects were derived using the random effects model. Results: Among 61 suitable papers, data revealed that 36,807 cases of pregnant and non-pregnant women had been tested for group B Streptococcus during 1992-2018. Overall, 11.9% of pregnant and 5.3% of non-pregnant women were positive. Further results were as follows: vaginal, recto-vaginal, rectal, and endocervical colonization rates were 12.9%, 9.7%, 18.5%, and 3.7%, respectively. Group B Streptococcus incidence was the highest in Sanandaj (61.5%), and the lowest in Tabriz (1.8%). Conclusions: Although the prevalence distribution in Iran seems to be acceptable, more investigations are needed to represent the real incidence of group B Streptococcus around the country. In addition, a program with a standard lab technique is needed to screen pregnant women for further treatment before birth.

Parasites may affect the dynamics of bird populations. Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon and Haemoproteus are well-known avian haematozoa that can trigger decreased productivity and high mortality in domesticated birds. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of avian blood parasites (Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon and Haemoproteus) against 335 birds of 8 species in the Yazd province in central Iran. To detect blood parasites, Giemsa-stained blood smears were prepared. Of the birds, 11.64% (39/335) were infected with at least one parasite genus, particularly Haemoproteus (32.6%; 23/335). The total prevalence values for Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon were 1.7, 6.8 and 2.9%, respectively. Plasmodium had lower prevalence rates of 1.7% (6/335). Among birds, pigeons, hens and ducks have the highest prevalence of Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon and Plasmodium parasites at 1.7%, 6.8% and 2.9%, respectively. Results from this research extend our knowledge on the incidence of avian blood parasites in domesticated birds living in central Iran. The overall low incidence of avian blood parasites in birds was found in the Yazd province, Iran.