https://hmj.lums.ac.ir/ Herbal Medicines Journal en daily 1 Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0330 Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0330 https://hmj.lums.ac.ir/article_239010.html Introduction: Khyung-lnga, a Bhutanese Traditional Medicine, is composed of five crude ingredients and is commonly used to treat skin diseases, leprosy, neck stiffness, rheumatic arthritis, abscesses, and stomach cramps in Sowa Rigpa and was registered with Bhutan's Drug Regulatory Authority. Despite its widespread use, there is no scientific evidence supporting its antimicrobial properties. To address these, two batches of crude extracts of khyung-lnga, prepared in 2016 and 2018, were tested in 2019 for antimicrobial activity against four bacteria. Methods: The sample extraction was performed using the cold extraction method, as outlined by Addo PW, which is currently used by Menjong Sorig and Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited for extracting small samples. For testing the antimicrobial properties, the disc diffusion method of Kirby Bauer was used, following the guidelines provided by the Royal Center for Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Bhutan.Results: The khyung-lnga batch manufactured in 2018 demonstrated a maximum inhibition zone of 20 mm at a concentration of 1000mg/10ml. The 2016 batch of khyung-lnga showed slightly lower inhibition compared to the 2018 batch. Two-factor ANOVA revealed significant differences between batches (p < 0.05) and among concentrations (p < 0.01), with higher inhibition zones observed for the 2018 batch and at higher concentrations.Conclusion: Recent studies show that khyung-lnga has antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium responsible for skin infections like abscesses and boils. This suggests it could be used as a complementary treatment, reducing reliance on imported medicines. However, further in vivo studies are needed to confirm its clinical effectiveness. https://hmj.lums.ac.ir/article_241335.html Introduction: Fungal infections impose a great burden on the health system. Medicinal plants are widely used in the treatment of various infectious diseases. Hence, this study tried to investigate synergistic inhibitory effect of Echinophora platyloba (E. platyloba) and Mentha piperita (M. piperita) essential oils on Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) in vitro.Materials and Methods: The study was conducted to determine the antifungal activities of E. platyloba and M. piperita essential oils on a standard strain (PTCC: 5006) and 10 clinical isolates of A. flavus. Inhibitory effect of essential oils on growth of A. flavus was evaluated using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using 96-well microplate analysis according to CLSI methods protocol M38A2.Results: Our results showed that M. piperita essential oil exhibited the strongest antifungal activity, with MIC values mostly below 625 ppm across clinical isolates and the standard strain of A. flavus. E. platyloba essential oil demonstrated MIC values up to 1250 ppm. Notably, the combination of both essential oils produced a synergistic effect, significantly reducing the MIC values compared to each oil alone. According to the GEE model, the combination reduced the MIC by an average of 175.52 ppm compared to E. platyloba alone (p=0.009). This indicates enhanced efficacy of the combined essential oils in inhibiting fungal growth at lower concentrations.Conclusion: these findings revealed that both essential oils and their combinations had antifungal effects. M. piperita and E. platyloba essential oils can be used as a secondary treatment along with antifungal chemical drugs and also as food preservatives. https://hmj.lums.ac.ir/article_243350.html The escalating crisis of carbapenem resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, particularly strains producing Class A carbapenemases, necessitates urgent development of therapeutic strategies. This study investigated the potential of the methanolic extract of T. chebula fruit, a well-known medicinal plant, to restore the activity of Imipenem against resistant P. aeruginosa. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing confirmed the resistance of clinical isolates to Imipenem alone. Experimental evaluation using agar well diffusion assays demonstrated that T. chebula extract possesses intrinsic antibacterial activity and significantly enhances the efficacy of Imipenem against these resistant strains, as evidenced by a substantial increase in zones of inhibition (p < 0.05). To elucidate the underlying mechanism, molecular docking studies were performed on representative compounds of T. chebula, Chebuloside II and Pedunculoside, against the active site of a Class A carbapenemase, alongside Imipenem. Docking revealed that both Chebuloside II and Pedunculoside exhibited superior binding free energies (−9.14 and −8.31 kcal/mol, respectively) compared to Imipenem (−7.94 kcal/mol). Docking analysis suggests these phytochemicals may act as competitive inhibitors by occupying the catalytic pocket through extensive hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, thereby hindering carbapenemase activity. Preliminary in silico toxicity predictions suggested a favorable safety profile for Chebuloside II and Pedunculoside.Collectively, this research supports a dual mechanism: the extract inherently disrupts bacterial processes (likely membrane integrity) while its key components act as potent competitive inhibitors of carbapenemase. This combined action validates T. chebula as a promising natural agent to combat serious β-lactam resistance in Gram-negative pathogens, paving the way for the development of natural adjunctive therapeutics. https://hmj.lums.ac.ir/article_238149.html Meningioma is the most common primary intracranial tumor, affecting a significant number of people worldwide. Therefore, discovering effective strategies for its prevention and treatment is vital to minimizing its impact. Quercetin is a flavonoid found in fruits, vegetables, leaves, seeds, and grains. Studies have shown its effectiveness in treating various types of neurological cancer. This review summarizes the mechanisms of action and therapeutic effects of quercetin in the treatment of meningioma. Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched to find relevant articles published in these databases from 1993 to 2025. According to our findings, quercetin, via microRNA-mediated mechanisms and interactions with type II estrogen binding sites, induces cell death, inhibits proliferation, and reduces cell growth in cancer cells. Thus, based on limited in vitro evidence, quercetin may represent a promising candidate for further investigation as a therapeutic approach for meningioma. However, the encouraging preclinical data should be evaluated in clinical settings through additional studies, with appropriate methods. https://hmj.lums.ac.ir/article_241491.html Introduction: This study aimed to identify the most significant medicinal plants used in the treatment of constipation within traditional Iranian medicine and to compare traditional evidence with findings from modern research.Methods: This research was conducted as a documentary review. The sources included credible texts of traditional Iranian medicine, reference books on herbal therapy, and online scientific databases. After gathering the data, the therapeutic properties reported in traditional texts were compared with results from recent preclinical studies and experimental research.Findings: Based on a review of the sources, plants such as Khakshir, Esfereza, Rose flower, Shirkhisht, Senna, Flous, Fig, Chia seeds, Peach, Sweet Almond, Nettle, Tajerizi, Fennel, Green Tea, Chamomile, Ginger, Licorice, Peppermint, Flax, Borage, Basil, Thyme, Cinnamon, Cumin, Olive, Sesame, Castor, Dandelion, and Vexing are among the plants used in the treatment of constipation in traditional Iranian medicine and herbal therapy.Conclusion: The existing evidence indicates that the medicinal plants introduced in traditional Iranian medicine can be considered as natural alternatives or complementary options to conventional treatments for managing and treating constipation. https://hmj.lums.ac.ir/article_239214.html With increasing public and scientific interest in herbal medicines, emerging evidence suggests that certain herbal compounds may serve as adjunct therapies to reduce postoperative pain and control inflammation. These interventions have the potential to improve patient experience, reduce healthcare costs, and shorten hospital stays. However, robust clinical evidence remains limited, as most studies are small, preclinical, or animal-based, and data on optimal dosing, timing, long-term safety, pharmacological effects, and drug interactions in surgical patients are insufficient. Some herbal compounds may interact with anesthetics, anticoagulants, antihypertensives, or analgesics, posing potential risks if used without proper guidance. Effective evaluation requires multidisciplinary collaboration among surgeons, anesthesiologists, and clinical pharmacists, as well as education for healthcare teams and patients to enhance knowledge, informed decision-making, and awareness of potential adverse effects. Key research opportunities include randomized controlled trials on postoperative outcomes, pharmacological and toxicological studies to determine mechanisms and safe dosages, drug-herb interaction assessments, and long-term multicenter investigations to evaluate real-world efficacy and safety. Rigorous, evidence-based research is essential to support the safe integration of herbal medicines into perioperative care. https://hmj.lums.ac.ir/article_239213.html Karimian et al. investigated the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of Quercus infectoria fruit hulls (Jaft-e-Baloot) in male mice using a formalin-induced pain and inflammation model. The study demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in paw edema and nociceptive behavior, with the 200 mg/kg dose showing effects comparable to diclofenac, suggesting bioactive compounds modulate inflammatory mediators. However, translational relevance to surgical settings is limited, as postoperative pain involves tissue injury, ischemia-reperfusion, immune activation, and wound healing—factors not captured by the formalin model. Critical perioperative considerations such as hemostasis, wound repair, infection risk, and interactions with anesthetic agents were not addressed. Additionally, the study’s exclusive use of male NMRI mice and intraperitoneal administration limits generalizability and clinical translation. For anesthesiology, the extract’s effects on central analgesic pathways, sedative properties, and cardiovascular or respiratory safety remain unknown. Overall, while promising, the findings are exploratory. Future research should include surgical pain models, pharmacokinetics, safety profiling, and evaluation within multimodal analgesic regimens to establish clinical relevance. https://hmj.lums.ac.ir/article_239011.html Vinca herbacea Waldst. & Kit. is a lesser-known member of the family Apocynaceae, distributed mainly across temperate regions of Asia and Europe. According to GBIF data, its confirmed occurrence in Iran is limited to northern provinces along the Alborz Mountains. The Apocynaceae family is rich in monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs) such as vincamine, vinblastine, and vincristine, known for their anticancer, antioxidant, and neuroprotective activities. In this study, the aerial parts (leaves, stems, and flowers) of Vinca herbacea were collected in June 2024 from the Baleskuh protected area, Tonekabon County, Mazandaran Province, Iran, and authenticated by the Iranian Biological Resource Center (IBRC, code: IBRC P1006834). The dried samples were extracted using 96% ethanol and 96% n-propanol by cold maceration, followed by LC–MS (ESI⁺) analysis. In the ethanolic extract, Vincaminoreine was identified in flowers (m/z = 355.25, RT = 12.55 min) and leaves (m/z = 355.29, RT = 12.41 min), but not in stems. In the n-propanol extract, the compound was detected in all three organs with m/z values around 355.25–355.27 and retention times near 10.3 min. MassLynx analysis confirmed isotopic and molecular ion matches with reference data, validating the presence of Vincaminoreine. This study reports, for the first time worldwide, the occurrence of Vincaminoreine in Vinca herbacea, and it is also the first record from northern Iran. The results suggest that biosynthesis of this alkaloid is more active in photosynthetic tissues and provide a foundation for future research on phytochemistry, plant biotechnology, and natural product-based drug development.