Research Journal of Pharmacognosy

List of Papers (Total 492)

Coumarin-Hemiterpene Ethers of Plant Origin and Their Bioactivities

Natural coumarin-hemiterpene ethers (NCHEs) are secondary metabolites characterized by the attachment of an isoprenyl group to the coumarin scaffold via an ether bond. There is no review of the biological activities of these compounds. This paper reviews the various bioactivities of coumarin-hemiterpene ethers of plant origin, whether synthesized or isolated from plant species...

Dracocephalum subcapitatum Alleviates Hyperglycemia, Dyslipidemia, Oxidative Stress, and Organ Injury in STZ-Induced Diabetic Rats: a Dose-Response Study

Background and objectives: Dracocephalum subcapitatum is a plant indigenous to northeastern Iran with some traditional applications and limited pharmacological data. Since antidiabetic activities have been reported for several species of Dracocephalum genus, this study aimed to explore the effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of D. subcapitatum in an animal model of diabetes...

Phytochemical Investigation of Sanguisorba minor Scop. and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity: a Bio-Guided Approach

Background and objectives: Sanguisorba minor Scop. is a perennial species widely distributed throughout Iran. Its leaves are commonly used in salads, beverages, and various dishes. Sanguisorba minor has been used in traditional medicine to treat bleeding, diarrhea, duodenal ulcers, and intestinal infections. The present study aimed to isolate the non-volatile constituents of S...

The Hepatoprotective Effects of Sida rhombifolia Leaf Extract Against Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background and objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has increased in prevalence, morbidity, and mortality. Sedentary lifestyles and poor dietary habits contribute to those rates, highlighting the importance of effective prevention and treatment. Sida rhombifolia exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, but its potential in NAFLD remains insufficiently explored. In...

The Potential of Gum-Based Rectal Drug Delivery in Traditional Persian Medicine as Functional Excipients

Gums are well-known representatives of the polysaccharides class and are used extensively in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries as gelling, dissolving, emulsifying, stabilizing, and thickening agents. Plant-based gums are used in traditional Persian medicine (TPM) for rectal drug delivery as versatile natural compounds. Following the importance of using...

Anti-Mycobacterial Activity and Inhibition of Polyketide Synthase 13-Thioesterase (Pks13-TE) by Aaptamine Alkaloids from the Sponge Aaptos aaptos: an in Vitro and in Silico Investigation

Background and objectives: Sponge Aaptos aaptosSchmidt is reported to have bioactive chemicals that can serve as medication substances. This research aimed to determine the antimycobacterial activity of alkaloid aaptamines from the sponge A. aaptos and study the molecular docking of the active compounds. Methods: The structural characterization of the isolated compounds was...

Protective Effects of Oliveria decumbens Hydroalcoholic Extract in an Acetic Acid-Induced Ulcerative Colitis Rat Model

Background and objectives: Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by mucosal and submucosal damage in the colon. This study evaluated the protective effect of Oliveria decumbens Vent. (locally known as “Moshkoorak”), a plant used in the folk medicine of southwest Iran for treating infectious and digestive disorders, as well as acetic acid-induced...

Elettaria cardamomum Effects on Sleep-Deprived Induced Chronic Fatigue in Rats

Background and objective: Fatigue is a complex condition impacting both physical and mental performance, classified into acute and chronic types. Chronic fatigue can arise from prolonged sleep deprivation, negatively affecting cognitive function and quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-fatigue effects of Elletaria cardamomum (cardamom), in a rat model of chronic...

Rosa damascena Methanol Extract Ameliorates Cerulein-Induced Acute Pancreatitis in Mice

Background and objectives: Acute pancreatitis is a severe inflammatory disease with increasing incidence in the population. Rosa damascena Mill. is widely distributed worldwide, and its antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects have been confirmed. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the methanol extract of R. damascena in an animal model of cerulein-induced...

A Comprehensive Review on Traditional Uses, Phytochemical Constituents and Pharmacological Properties of Tribulus terrestris L.

Tribulus terrestris L. is a well-recognized medicinal plant with a long-standing history in traditional healing systems, including Ayurveda, Unani, and Chinese medicine. It is widely known for its therapeutic efficacy in enhancing reproductive health, regulating lipid metabolism, and supporting liver and kidney functions. This review compiles and analyzes the existing scientific...

Herbal Remedies and Their Gastrointestinal Side Effects: an In-Depth Analysis

The use of herbal remedies is globally increasing due to the supposed advantages of being natural means of health. Serious concerns regarding the safety and efficacy of these remedies, especially gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, have arisen. A literature search was done using Google Scholar, Web of Science, and PubMed databases with recent time frame (2002 to 2025). This...

6-Gingerol Protects Against Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in High-Fat Diet/Low-Dose Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Background and objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM)-induced hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the main reason for the high morbidity rate. 6-Gingerol has been shown to alleviate HCM by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. The present study investigated its underlying mechanism, focusing on the activation of the AMPK/PGC-1a/SIRT1 pathway, aiming to reveal its therapeutic...

Chemo-Protection and Berries: Nutritional Strategies in Oral Oncology, a Systematic Review

This review focuses on the phytochemical composition and biological activity of frequently consumed berries, including bilberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, and strawberries, with a focus on their anti-proliferative properties in preventing oral cancer. To analyse the cytotoxic effects of berry phytoextracts on oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC) from January 2014 to...

Green Zucchini Vaginal Cream: Formulation and Irritation Assessment in Rabbit

Background and objectives: Cucurbita pepo L. subsp. pepo (green zucchini morphotype) is rich in phytochemicals, making it a promising candidate for vaginal dryness according to Persian medicine. This study aimed to formulate a vaginal cream containing green zucchini extract and to assess the vaginal irritation potential of the product in vivo. Method: A vaginal cream was...

Evaluation of Long-Term Treatment with Ginkgo biloba Extract on Hepatocellular Carcinoma: a Network Analysis Study

Background and objectives: Ginkgo biloba extract with beneficial effects to treat some diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular and nervous system disorders has wide spread application in medicine. Due to several side effects of G. biloba extract consumption, gene expression profiles of the long term treated mouse liver was analyzed via protein-protein interaction (PPI) network...

Impact of Opuntia ficus-indica Fruit Extracts on Toxicity Induced by Doxorubicin in Cardiomyocytes

Background and objectives: Doxorubicin is an antineoplastic agent whose administration may cause cardiotoxicity. Opuntia ficus-indica is a widely consumed cactus species with nutritional and antioxidant value. In this study, the effect of fruit extracts of Opuntia ficus-indica on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity was investigated in vitro. Methods: Hydroalcoholic and anthocyanin...

Persian Medicinal Plants for Oral Diseases: Investigated in Fars Province

Background and objectives: This study seeks to document the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants from Fars Province, Iran, used in the treatment of common oral diseases. Methods: A structured questionnaire, developed at the School of Pharmacy, was administered in health centers across Fars province to conduct a large-scale survey on the effects of medicinal plants on various...

Evaluation of Angiogenic Activity of Aqueous Extract from Peucedanum knappii Using CAM Assay

Background and objectives: Angiogenesis, the biological process of new blood vessel formation from existing vasculature, plays a critical role in wound healing and tumor progression. This study aimed to evaluate the angiogenic activity of the aqueous extract of Peucedanum knappii Bornm. using the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Methods: The crude extract (80% methanol...

Assessment of Sleep Effects of Flaxseed Consumption: a System Biology Study

Background and objectives: Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) as an outstanding food with beneficial properties contains omega-3 fatty acids, lignans, α-linolenic acid, and digestible proteins. Investigation of sleep improvement of flaxseed via network analysis was the main aim of this study. Methods: The dysregulated genes in response to flaxseed consumption were derived from...

A Systematic Review on the Efficacy of Rowatinex® and Renotinex® in the Management of Adults’ Urolithiasis

In this study, we performed a systematic review to evaluate the efficacy of Rowatinex® and Renotinex®, two almost similar terpene combination in managing urolithiasis. After searching various databases, thirty-one studies of different types and settings were chosen for full review. We selected six efficacy indicators to assess the success of these products in treatment. The data...

Unraveling the Immune Modulating Potential of Zingiber officinale Bioactive Compounds in Infants Born to Obese Mothers: a Network Pharmacology Approach

Background and objectives: Pregnant mothers with obesity may increase the risk of adverse health outcomes for their infants, such as weakened immune systems. Currently, there is no standardized treatment for obese pregnant women to reduce risks to the mothers and their infants. Zingiber officinale (ginger) is a commonly used medicinal plant to relieve symptoms associated with...

The Effects of “Dava al-Basal”, a Persian Medicine Product, on Sexual Dysfunction and Testosterone Levels in Men Undergoing Methadone Maintenance Treatment: a Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Background and objectives: Sexual issues, especially erectile dysfunction, are common among men undergoing methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). This study aimed to explore the effects of a Persian Medicine product, “Dava al-basal”, on erectile dysfunction and testosterone levels in men receiving MMT. Methods: This double-blind randomized clinical trial involved 60 men who were...

The Effect of a Traditional Product, Hazelnut-Zante Currant Mixture, on an Animal Model of Autism

Background and objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complicated disorder. Hazelnut and Zante can be of great importance in controlling autism due to their high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities. Methods: Zante currant was mixed with distilled water and condensed. Hazelnut and honey were added afterwards. The mixture was diluted with distilled water to obtain...

Physical Dependence and Inhalation Toxicity in Rats Exposed to Smoke of Mimosa pudica L.

Background and Objectives: Mimosa pudica L., belonging to the Fabaceae family, has been used in the Cuban traditional culture by exposure to smoke of aerial parts combustion and in the smokable form of cigarettes, for recreational or leisure purposes and medical applications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity and physical dependence of M. pudica by the acute...

The Protective Effects of Kaempferol and Quercetin on Cisplatin‐Induced Oxidative Stress and Genotoxicity in Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes

Background and objectives: Cisplatin is one of the most widely used anti-cancer drugs. Some less well-known side effects, like genotoxicity, are linked to the widespread use of cisplatin. Kaempferol and quercetin are two antioxidant flavonoids. This study aimed to investigate the genotoxicity of cisplatin in human peripheral lymphocytes, as well as the protective effects of...