Several Ferula (Umbelliferae) species have been used in Iranian traditional medicine as antiflatulent, antispasmodic, anticonvulsant, expectorant, etc. In the present study, cytotoxicity and anticonvulsant activity of the methanol extracts from several Ferula species were evaluated. Air-dried samples of different parts of these plants (Ferula diversivittata Regel & Schmalh. (roots), Ferula persica Willd. (aerial parts), Ferula ovina (Boiss.) Boiss. (roots), Ferula badrakema Kos.-Pol. (roots), Ferula diversivittata (flowers), Ferula latisecta Rech. F. & Aell. (roots), and Ferula badrakema (fruits)) were macerated with methanol for 3 days. The mixtures were then filtered, concentrated and dried. For determination of the cytotoxicity of the extracts and also the oleo-gum-resin of F. assafoetida L., the brine shrimp (Artemia salina) was employed as a model assay system since it provides a convenient in-house pre-screening method for evaluating general cytotoxicity. The methanol extracts of different Ferula species and the oleo-gum-resin of F. assafoetida exhibited cytotoxic effect with LC₅₀ values in the range of 6-321 μg/mL. For the anticonvulsant testing, seizure was induced by injection of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), 90 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.). This dose was given to 10 groups, each consisting of 6 mice, which were pretreated i.p. with the extracts (300 mg/kg), Diazepam (10 mL/kg) or saline (10 mL/kg). The results showed that none of the tested Ferula species can prevent PTZ-induced seizure at the used dose. In conclusion, all of the extracts and the oleo-gum resin of F. assafoetida showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity which was highest in F. badrakema fruits and lowest in F. badrakema roots. Our findings also revealed that the methanol extracts and F. assafoetida oleo-gum resin do not possess anticonvulsant activity.

Background and the purpose of the study: The early stage of diabetes mellitus type 2 is associated with postprandial hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia is believed to increase the production of free radicals and reactive oxygen species, leading to oxidative tissue damage. In an effort of identifying herbal drugs which may become useful in the prevention or mitigation of diabetes, biochemical activities of Polygonum hyrcanicum and its constituents were studied. Methods: Hexane, ethylacetate and methanol extracts of P. hyrcanicum were tested for α-glucosidase inhibitory, antioxidant and radical scavenging properties. Active constituents were isolated and identified from the methanolic extract in an activity guided approach. Results: A methanolic extract from flowering aerial parts of the plant showed notable α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 15 μg/ml). Thirteen phenolic compounds involving a cinnamoylphenethyl amide, two flavans, and ten flavonols and flavonol 3-O-glycosides were subsequently isolated from the extract. All constituents showed inhibitory activities while compounds 3, 8 and 11 (IC₅₀ = 0.3, 1.0, and 0.6 μM, respectively) were the most potent ones. The methanol extract also showed antioxidant activities in DPPH (IC₅₀ = 76 μg/ml) and FRAP assays (1.4 mmol ferrous ion equivalent/g extract). A total phenol content of 130 mg/g of the extract was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Conclusion: This study shows that P. hyrcanicum contains phenolic compounds with in vitro activity that can be useful in the context of preventing or mitigating cellular damages linked to diabetic conditions.

Plant-based systems continue to play an essential role in healthcare, and their use by different cultures has been extensively documented. Asphodelus L. (Asphodelaceae) is a genus of 18 species and of a total of 27 species, sub-species and varieties, distributed along the Mediterranean basin, and has been traditionally used for treating several diseases particularly associated with inflammatory and infectious skin disorders. The present study aimed to provide a general review of the available literature on ethnomedical, phytochemical, and biological data related to the genus Asphodelus as a potential source of new compounds with biological activity. Considering phytochemical studies, 1,8-dihydroxyanthracene derivatives, flavonoids, phenolic acids and triterpenoids were the main classes of compounds identified in roots, leaf and seeds which were correlated with their biological activities as anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory or antioxidant agents.

The genus Salvia (Lamiaceae) contains more than 50 shrub species in Iran, and Salvia limbata C.A. Meyer grows widely in the north and central parts of the country. Six flavones and rosmarinic acid were isolated from the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the flowered aerial parts of S. limbata collected from Semnan province. The separation process was carried out using several chromatographic methods. Structural elucidation was based on NMR data, in comparison with those reported in the literature. The isolated compounds were identified as ladanein (1), salvigenin (2), luteolin 7-methyl ether (3), cirsiliol (4), eupatorin (5), luteolin 7-O-glucoside (6) and rosmarinic acid (7). Some of these flavonoids have been reported to show antibacterial and cytotoxic activities.