A review of phytotherapy of acne vulgaris: Perspective of new pharmacological treatments

Aim

This review focuses on plants currently used and those with a high potency for the future development of anti-acne products.

Methods

All relevant literature databases were searched up to 25 March 2011. The search terms were plant, herb, herbal therapy, phytotherapy, and acne, acne vulgaris and anti-acne. All of the human, animal, and in vitro studies, and reviews were included. Anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-androgen effects were the key outcomes.

Results

Studies on cell lines revealed that flavonoid, alkaloid, essential oil, phenol and phenolic compound, tannin, xanthone and xanthone derivative, and the bisnaphthquione derivative are effective in treatment of acne. Animal studies showed that diterpene acid, phenylpropanoid glycosides, acteoside and flavonoids have anti-inflammatory activity. Eleven human studies revealed that Camellia sinensis has 5α-reductase inhibitory and anti-inflammatory activities. Also anti-bacterial effect was shown by oleoresin of Commiphora mukul.

Conclusion

In addition to the standardization of these herbs, screening herbs as anti-acne agents may help to find new sources of therapy for acne.     

Impact of local slope and aspect assessed from LiDAR records on tree diameter in radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) plantations

Context

Reliable information on tree stem diameter variation at local spatial scales and on the factors controlling it could potentially lead to improved biomass estimation over pine plantations.

Aims

This study addressed the relationship between local topography and tree diameter at breast height (DBH) within two even-aged radiata pine plantation sites in New South Wales, Australia.

Methods

A total of 85 plots were established, and 1,302 trees were sampled from the two sites. Airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) was used to derive slope and aspect and to link them to each individual tree.

Results

The results showed a significant relationship between DBH and local topography factors. At both sites, trees on slopes below 20° and on southerly aspects displayed significantly larger DBHs than trees on steeper slopes and northerly aspects. Older trees with similar heights also exhibited a significant relationship between DBH and aspect factor, where greater DBHs were found on southerly aspects.

Conclusions

The observed correlation between tree DBH and LiDAR-derived slope and aspect could contribute to the development of improved biomass estimation approaches in pine plantations. These topographical variables are easily attained with airborne LiDAR, and they could potentially improve DBH predictions in resource inventories (e.g. stand volume or biomass) and support field sampling design.     

Evaluation of the relationship between endometriosis and omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids

Background: Endometriosis is a common chronic inflammation causing major problems including infertility. The role of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as their potential anti-inflammatory effects in endometriosis needs to be further explored. The objective of this study was to compare serum phospholipid fatty acid profile in endometriosis patients with controls, and to explore the correlation of this profile with the severity of the disease. Methods: Sixty-four endometriosis patients and 74 control women, in reproductive age, participated in this study. Among the endometriosis patients, 19 cases were in stage I, 27 cases in stage II, 8 cases in stage III, and 10 cases in stage IV. Each patient underwent laparoscopy. Before surgery, 5 ml of blood was obtained. After extraction of the total lipids, serum total phospholipid fraction was isolated by thin layer chromatography. Fatty acid composition of the phospholipid fraction was determined by gas chromatography and the resulted profile was compared in endometriosis patients and controls. The profile was also compared in the endometriosis group based on the severity of disease. Results: Stearic acid was significantly lower in the endometriosis group as compared to controls (P= 0.030). No other fatty acid compositions were significantly different between patients and controls. Serum ratio of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to arachidonic acid (AA) was in reasonable correlation with the severity of endometriosis (r = 0.34, P = 0.006). Conclusion: According to these findings, levels of fatty acids in serum total phospholipids seem not to be a marker for endometriosis, but the EPA to AA ratio was a relevant factor indicating severity of illness.Key Words: Endometriosis, Phospholipids, Omega-3 fatty acids     

Distribution, fauna and seasonal variation of sandflies, simultaneous detection of nuclear internal transcribed spacer ribosomal DNA gene of Leishmania major in Rhombomys opimus and Phlebotomus papatasi, in Natanz district in central part of Iran

Background: Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) due to Leishmania major is increasing in many parts of Iran. This disease originally is a disease found in gerbils. Leishmania parasites are transmitted by sandflies that live and breed in gerbil burrows. Nested PCR amplified Leishmania ITS1-5.8S rRNA gene in both main reservoir host “Rhombomys opimus” and in the “Phlebotomus papatasi” main vector of ZCL, in Iran. Population differentiation and seasonal variation of sandflies were analyzed at a microgeographical level in order to identify any isolation by distance, habitat or seasons. Methods: Populations of sandflies were sampled from the edges of villages in Natanz, Isfahan province, Iran, using the Centers for Disease Control traps and sticky papers. Individual sandflies were identified based on external and internal morphological characters. Nested PCR protocols were used to amplify Leishmania ITS1-5.8S rRNA gene, which were shown to be species-specific via DNA sequence. Results: A total of 4500 sandflies were collected and identified. P. papatasi, Phlebotomus sergenti and Phlebotomus jacusieli from genus Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia sintoni and Sergentomyia clydei from genus Sergentomyia were identified in this region. P. papatasi was the most abundant sandfly in the collections. Ten out of 549 female P. papatasi and four out of 19 R. opimus were found to be infected with L. major. Conclusion: Seasonal activity of sandflies starts in June and ends in November. Abundance of P. papatasi was in September. Finding and molecular typing of L. major in P. papatasi and R. opimus confirmed the main vector and reservoir in this region.Key Words: Leishmania major, Sandflies, Leishmaniasis, Iran     

Evaluation of a new CHROMagar medium for detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Four laboratory methods including, E-test MIC, Oxacillin screen agar, manitol salt agar plus oxacillin and CHROMagar MRSA were compared for detection of methicilin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). CHROMagar MRSA had a high sensitivity and specificity comparing to conventional E-test method. Sensitivity and specificity by manitol salt agar was 95 and 100%, respectively, while oxacillin screening agar method had 100% sensitivity and 95% specificity.     

Study on antagonistic effects of Talaromyces flavus on Verticillium albo-atrum, the causal agent of potato wilt disease

Talaromyces flavus a fungal antagonist, was isolated from soil samples collected from potato fields in Varamin and Karaj districts, Tehran province, Iran. Antagonistic effects of T. flavus isolates against Verticillium albo-atrum, the causal agent of potato wilt disease were investigated in the laboratory and greenhouse conditions. T. flavus colonies were recovered after three weeks from soil samples cultured on selective medium. Antagonistic effects of volatile and non-volatile extracts of T. flavus isolates on V. albo-atrum growth were investigated in the laboratory and five that caused higher growth inhibition of V. albo-atrum, were selected for greenhouse experiments. Infection index was compared in the greenhouse in a split plot trial with five isolates applied to soil, seed, or both arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The minimum infection index was observed when seed were treated with T. flavus with the most effective isolate being Tf-Po-V-52. On seed, the minimum infection index was observed with Tf-Po-V-50. The most effective T. flavus isolate was also evaluated in a field experiment. Results indicated that infection index in seed treatment contained this isolate was 0.15 whereas that of control was 3.5. The overall results of this study showed that it may be possible to manage potato Verticillium wilt disease effectively by using T. flavus, a biocontrol fungus.     

Isolation of the most common Fusarium species and the effect of soil solarisation on main pathogenic species in different climatic zones of Iran

Understanding the distribution pattern of the Fusarium species can help prevent crop diseases and large yield losses. While several approaches have been used to control soil-borne pathogens, soil solarisation has shown promising results in managing these pathogens. The main objectives of this study were to: (i) describe the biogeography of Fusarium species in four different climatic zones in Iran and (ii) explain the effect of soil solarisation on main pathogenic Fusarium species in wheat grains, beans and date palms. A total of 12 sub-samples were collected from four different climatic zones including, Rasht (humid), Zanjan (semi-arid), Isfahan (extra-arid) and Ahwaz (arid). For precise identification, molecular-phylogenetic analyses of the species were also performed. From these four sites 17 Fusarium species were recovered. F. solani complex, F. oxysporum and F. equiseti were the only species found in all four regions; whereas F. compactum, F. sambucinum and F. fujikuroi were restricted to Ahwaz, Zanjan and Rasht, respectively. Furthermore, soil solarisation treatments were applied to F. pseudograminearum, F. solani and F. oxysporum, as the main cause of root rot pathogens and wilt disease of wheat, bean and date palm, respectively. After 6 weeks of soil solarisation application, the population densities of these species were decreased from 900 to 100 CFU g^?1 in F. solani, from 600 to 50 CFU g^?1 in F. oxysporum and from 550 to 0 CFU g^?1 in F. pseudograminearum showing a promising result in controlling soil-borne pathogens. Mycogeography of Fusarium species and the effect of soil solarisation can help improve the management control strategies of these soil-borne fungi.     

A comprehensive review of vaginitis phytotherapy

To overview phytotherapy of vaginitis in order to identify new approaches for new pharmacological treatments. All related literature databases were searched for herbal medicinal treatment in vaginitis. The search terms were plant, herb, herbal therapy, phytotherapy, vaginitis, vaginal, anti-candida, anti-bacterial and anti-trichomonas. All of the human, animal and in vitro studies were included. Anti-candida, anti-bacterial and anti-trichomonas effects were the key outcomes. The plants including carvacrol, 1,8-cineole, geranial, germacrene-D, limonene, linalool, menthol, terpinen-4-ol and thymol exhibited anti-candida effects. A very low concentration of geranium oil and geraniol blocked mycelial growth, but not yeast. Tea tree oil including terpinen-4-ol, alpha-terpinene, gamma-terpinene and alpha-terpineol showed anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-protozoal properties against trichomonas. Allium hirtifolium (persian shallot) comparable to metronidazole exhibited anti-trichomonas activity due to its components such as allicin, ajoene and other organosulfides. The plants having beneficial effects on vaginitis encompass essential oils that clear the pathway that future studies should be focused to standardize theses herbs.     

Tissue and plasma antioxidant status in response to dietary methionine concentration and source in broilers

This study hypothesized that plasma and tissue antioxidant status of broilers is positively influenced when dietary Met concentrations exceed, and negatively when they go below NRC recommendations. In addition, different Met sources are hypothesized to affect the antioxidant defence system differently. Day‐old male Cobb‐500 broilers (n  = 336) were allotted to seven groups and phase‐fed three wheat–soya bean meal‐based basal diets during days 1‐10, 11‐21 and 22‐35. The basal diets (Met? group, Met + Cys concentration 15% below NRC recommendations) were supplemented with 0.10%, 0.25% or 0.40% Met either as DL ‐Met (DLM ) or DL ‐2‐hydroxy‐4‐(methylthio) butanoic acid (DL ‐HMTBA ) (equimolar comparison). Growth performance and carcass weights were lower in the Met? group compared to the groups whose diets met or exceeded Met requirements. The antioxidant defence system was not influenced by the Met source. However, in the liver, concentrations of glutathione increased with increasing dietary Met concentrations. Tocopherol concentrations in the liver at days 10 and 21 were lower in the Met? group than in the groups supplemented with Met. However, liver concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBA ‐RS ) and protein carbonyls (PC ) were largely not influenced by dietary Met concentration. Plasma tocopherol concentrations at day 35 were lower, and those of TBA ‐RS and PC at day 35 were higher in Met? group than in the groups fed the Met‐supplemented diets. In jejunum, but not in liver, relative mRNA abundances and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were higher in the Met? group than in the groups fed Met‐supplemented diets. These data indicate that suboptimum supply of Met results in decreased antioxidant concentrations in plasma and body tissues, and increases oxidative stress in the jejunum mucosa. However, supplementation of Met in excess of the requirements (based on NRC ) compared to diets adequate in Met + Cys did not influence the antioxidant defence system.