Stroke is the third leading cause of mortality and disability in industrial countries. Treatment with herbs with antioxidant properties has been reported to be an alternative to the conventional treatments. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Anchusa italica extract on hippocampal injury induced by transient global cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in the rat. To do so, 50 rats were randomly assigned to five groups; control, sham, ischemia, and 50 or 100 mg/kg of Anchusa italica treated animals. Ischemia was induced by occlusion of carotid artery for 30 minutes. Afterward, behavioral tests and biochemical analyses were conducted. Induction of ischemia/reperfusion caused a decline in learning and passive avoidance memory in rats. Moreover, Anchusa italica caused an increase in learning and improved the passive avoidance memory. Induction of ischemia/reperfusion caused a decrease in the antioxidant capacity of the brain and serum as well as an increase in the malondialdehyde of the brain and serum. Anchusa italica led to an increase in the antioxidant capacity of the brain and serum and decrease in the malondialdehyde of the brain and serum. Overall, because of its protective effects on spatial memory, passive avoidance learning, antioxidant capacity, and lipid peroxidation during ischemia/reperfusion, Anchusa italica might be beneficial in ischemic patients.

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This study was conducted to investigate the neuroprotective effect of Citrus aurantium essential oil on hippocampal injury induced by transient global cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rat. In total 50 rats were randomly assigned into five groups; control, sham, ischemia, and essential oil-treated (50 or 75 mg/kg) rats. Ischemia was induced by occlusion of the carotid artery for 30 min. Spatial memory, passive avoidance learning, anti-oxidant capacity, and lipid peroxidation during ischemia/reperfusion were evaluated. The compounds of the essential oil were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Induction of ischemia/reperfusion caused a decline in learning and passive avoidance memory in rats.  C. aurantium exerted protective effects on the spatial memory, passive avoidance learning, anti-oxidant capacity, and lipid peroxidation during ischemia/reperfusion in animals. The main compounds of the  essential oil were camphor (45.9%), thymol (11.2%), linalool (6.6%), carvacrol (6.3%) and borneol (2.9%). The essential oil with anti-oxidant compounds significantly decreased the symptoms of ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Background and Aim: Urinary tract stones are the third common urinary tract disease that may lead to renal failure. Kelussia odoratissima is traditionally used in the treatment of kidney stones in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari region. This study was designed to investigate in vitro effect of crude extract and fractions of K. odoratissima on kidney stones (calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate). Materials and Methods: A total of 70% ethanolic extract of K. odoratissima was prepared by maceration method followed by liquid-liquid extraction with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and saturated n-butanol to get four fractions. Calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate were synthesized and then were treated with hydroalcoholic extract and fractions. Their effects on the dissolution of generated stone were assayed by calcium kit. The stones were synthesized and confirmed by fourier-transform infrared technique. Results: Results showed that total extract and its fractions had significant potency to dissolve calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate crystals. The results indicate the higher potency of fractions containing nonpolar compounds to dissolve calcium phosphate and calcium oxalate stones compared to the fractions containing polar compounds. n-butanolic fraction had the least effect and hexane fraction had the greatest effect on the calcium phosphate stones. Furthermore, the total extract has less dissolution ability, compared to the fractions. Conclusion: The obtained results of this study exhibited that the use of K. odoratissima extract and its fractions could help to dissolve urinary stones. Therefore, it can be effective in prevention and treatment of kidney stones on people who are prone to the formation of calcium oxalate and phosphate stones.

Background: Astragalus fascicolifolius manna is used to treat different diseases. Because pregnant women tend to use Astragalus. fascicolifolius and Iranian traditional medicine emphasizes the abortifacient potential of this plant, this study aimed to investigate Astragalus fascicolifolius manna abortifacient property and effects on estrogen, progesterone, LH and FSH levels in BALB/c mice. Method: This experimental study was conducted with 70 female BALB/c mice assigned to seven groups: Nonpregnant, untreated; nonpregnant, Astragalus. fascicolifolius extract (400 mg/kg)-treated; pregnant, Astragalus. fascicolifolius extract (400, 800 and 1200 mg/kg)-treated; and two pregnant control groups. On 18 and 19 days of pregnancy, cesarean section performed on mice, resorbed embryos counted; then Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen and progesterone levels were measured by the ELISA. Results: Astragalus. fascicolifolius extract caused a significant increase abortion in mice. The levels of progesterone, FSH and LH were significantly different among the groups such that mean progesterone level was lower and mean LH and FSH levels were higher in the Astragalus. fascicolifolius extract-treated groups than the pregnant, untreated group. Conclusion: This extract has abortifacient properties and this plant can be used cautiously in pregnancy. Decreasing progesterone, increasing FSH and LH feedback in response to decreased progesterone by this extract is one of the potential mechanisms involved in abortion.