Enayatollah Kalantar Hormezi , Mostafa Delavar, Saeed Kianbakht, Mohammad Ali Payani,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (Winter 2002)
Abstract
Introduction: Tribulus was traditionally used as a diuretic, mild laxative, urolithiasis, dysurca for treatment of urinary tract problems including stones, cystitis and infections, particularly Gonohrea. Antimicrobial cffects of methanol extract of Tribulus fruit on few gram positive and negative bacteria, the causative agents of some bacterial infections was evaluated and then compared with some in use antibiotics for these infections.
Materials and Methods: In this research as an experimental study. 40 gr powder of Tribulus fruit was dissolved in 100 ml pure methanol as a solvent with cold maseration method, the suspension was filtered after 5 day. The filtered suspension were concentrated with rotary evaporator apparatus in vaccum and was then dilluted with methanol to yield different concentrations. The antimicrobial activity of the extract and antibiotical were examined with disc diffusion and tube dilution standard methods to measure the diameter of inhibition zones, minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal bacterial concentration.
Results: The results were shown that the antimicrobial effect of the methanol extract of Tribulus fruit on ATCC strains of Streptococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas acroginosa had bactriostatic effect with the concentration of 400, 200, 100, 100 ug/ml in order. The comparison of urinary tract infections, including Oxacilin, Ciprofloxacin, Penicilin G, Gentamycin, Cotrimoxazole, Nalidixic acid and Nitroforantoin were shown that Tribulus fruit extract in concentration used in this research had a similar or even better effect than some antibiotics on some of the bacteria used in this evaluation.
Conclusion: The Tribulus fruit extract has an efficient bactriostatic and bactricidal activity of few gram positive and negative bacteria, the causative agents of some bacterial infections and these cffects are comparable to those antibiotics in usc for treatment of these infections. Tribulus fruit extract could be suggested for treatment of these infections after the pharmacological and clinical complementary studies.
Saeed Kianbakht , Ali Ghazavi, Zahra Ghafari , Masoumeh Kalantari, Marjan Mehri ,
Volume 6, Issue 1 (Spring 2003)
Abstract
Introduction: Saffron (crocus sativus L.), an important spice rich in carotenoids, is used in folk medicine to treat numerous diseases. This study examines the effects of saffron consumption on innate and humoral immunity of healthy male students.
Materials and Methods: 41 healthy volunteered university students in two control and case groups were included in this study and consumed respectively milk and milk containing saffron for 6 weeks. Blood samples were collected from the subjects at weeks 0, 3 and 6. Innate immunity was evaluated by determining the percentage and counts of monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, platelets and the total white cells, CRP concentration and C3 and C4 concentrations and humoral immunity was assessed by deterning the percentage of lymphocytes and the concentrations of IgG, IgM and IgA.
Results: Three weeks after saffron consumption, monocytes percentage and IgG concentration increased significantly (P<0.05, P=0.01). Total white blood cells and platelets count also reduced significantly (P<0.05). After 6 weeks, monocytes percentage and IgG concentration reduced significantly (P<0.05, P< 0.001) and platelets count increased significantly (P<0.05) as compared with week 3.
Conclusion: This investigation demonstrated that saffron consumption enhances innate and humoral immunity systems and has anti-inflammatory effects. These effects depending on the duration of saffron consumption.