Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is a vision-threatening condition associated with retinal-detachment (RD), primarily caused by fibrocellular scar membrane formation. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of adlay seed extract fractions in mitigating PVR-associated pathways, focusing on oxidative stress, proliferation, inflammation, and fibrogenesis in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Adlay seed extract fractions (methanolic: MeOH and residual: Res) were obtained through solvent extraction and characterized for carbohydrate, protein, flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCorneal activated keratocytes (CAKs) -representing the injured phenotype of corneal stromal cells- are associated with several corneal diseases. Inflammatory cytokines are the key drivers of CAK formation subsequently leading to fibrogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of adlay seed extract on the expression of genes involved in inflammation (IL-6, IL-1b, LIF) and fibrogenesis (TGF-β) in CAK cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Type 2 Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world and has many complications. Due to the importance of using alternative therapies in managing symptoms of this disease, the present study was designed and conducted to investigate the effect of co-supplementation of berberine and fenugreek in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 50 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Alopecia areata is a chronic inflammatory disease that characterized by round or oval patches of non-scarring hair loss. From the past, Urginea maritima (white squill) was used for the treatment of hair loss in Iranian traditional medicine. We aimed the comparison of Clobetasol lotion and squill extract efficacy in treatment of alopecia areata in a randomized, double-blind clinical trial.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTyrosinase is a key enzyme in melanin production. Therefore, tyrosinase inhibitors are used in cosmetic and medicinal industries to prevent or treat overproduction of melanin such as melasma, solar lentigo and post inflammatory melanoderma. Due to safety of natural whitening agents, in the present study, anti-tyrosinase and anti-melanogenesis activities of some selected red macroalgae of the Persian Gulf were investigated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRespir Res
February 2019
Background: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease which is usually associated with chronic airway inflammation. Saffron has anti-inflammatory effects and may has beneficial effects on asthma.
Hypothesis: The present study was intended to survey the effects of saffron supplementation on blood pressure, lipid profiles, basophils, eosinophils and clinical symptoms in patients with allergic asthma.
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic progressive and inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that is characterized by demyelination in the central nervous system. In regard to the prevalence of diseases and enormous costs imposed on society and the health system, finding a way to stop the progression of the disease using drugs with fewer side effects seems a serious sanitation issue to the health of the international community. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of evening primrose oil (EPO) on fatigue and quality of life in patients with MS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to assess the effect of fennel on sexual function in postmenopausal women. It was a randomized controlled trial in 60 postmenopausal women with sexual dysfunction who were randomly assigned to two groups receiving either fennel vaginal cream (n=30) or placebo (n=30). Vaginal atrophy in the women was assessed using symptoms such as pallor, dryness, dyspareunia, itching and burning.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of central nervous system (CNS) and is the most common cause of neurologic disability in young adults (20-40 years old). About 2.5 million patients all over the world are suffering from MS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe blood-red sap of Dragon's blood has been used in folk medicine for fractures, wounds, inflammation, gastrointestinal disorders, rheumatism, blood circulation dysfunctions, and cancer. Existing in vitro and in vivo bioactivity of this herb on different mechanisms of healing shows strong potential of this sap in wound healing. This clinical trial study was designated to evaluate the wound healing effect of Dragon's blood on human wounds.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Vaginal atrophy is one of the main concerns of postmenopausal women. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of fennel vaginal cream on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women in Ahvaz, Iran.
Materials And Methods: This double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on 60 postmenopausal women (45-65 years of age) in Ahvaz, Iran.
Background: The key enzyme in the process of melanin biosynthesis is tyrosinase. Skin hyperpigmentation and browning of foods are undesirable phenomena which tyrosinase represents. Therefore, tyrosinase inhibitors have been used increasingly for medicinal and cosmetic products.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJundishapur J Nat Pharm Prod
March 2014
Background: Boswellia serrata has been used in a wide variety of diseases, including diabetes mellitus and inflammatory diseases.
Objectives: This study focused on the effects of Boswellia serrata aqueous extract on blood glucose and the complications of diabetes in the liver and kidneys and examined the impact of plant on reproduction in diabetic rats.
Materials And Methods: The antioxidant capacity of plant extract was performed using FRAP assay.
Background: Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is one of the well-known spices extensively used worldwide especially in India, and Southeast Asia. The presence of alkaloids in the pepper, namely, piperine and its three stereoisomers, isopiperine, chavicine and isochavicine are well noticed.
Objectives: The current study evaluated the effect of lyophilization and oven drying on the stability and decomposition of constituents of black pepper ethanolic extract.
Putrescine N-methyltransferase (PMT) is a key enzyme of plant secondary metabolism at the start of the specific biosynthesis of nicotine, of tropane alkaloids, and of calystegines that are glycosidase inhibitors with nortropane structure. PMT is assumed to have developed from spermidine synthases (SPDS) participating in ubiquitous polyamine metabolism. In this study decisive differences between both enzyme families are elucidated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF