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Background & Objective: There is an increasing interests in substitution of natural products for synthetic chemicals in drugs and foodstuff. Reports of antibiotic resistant bacteria and side effects of chemical food preservatives suspected to be carcinogenic have drawn attention towards application of herbal and natural substances. Towards this end, edible plants are more safe and therefor have priority for investigation. In this study, antibacterial activities of six medicinal plants including Thymus (T.) eriocalyx and T. persicus, Allium (A.) haementhaides, Fumaria (F.) parviflora Lam, Buxus (B.) hyrecana pojark, and Tragopon (Tr.) carcifolus Lorestan province in Iran were examined. Materials & Methods: In this study, flowers and leaves from T.persicus, T. eriocalyx, and leaves from other plants were collected from Zagros highlands, dried and soaked in hexan for 48. The solvent was separated then evaporated under reduced pressure. The concentrated extracts were shaken and foze at -10°C. Then it was centrifuged and the solvent was evaporated. The extracts were finally resuspended in sterile PBS containing DMSO. Antibacterial activities were examined by disk diffusion and broth microdillution technique , using standard (ATCC) gram positive and negative bacteria and standard (Muller Hinton agar and broth or Isosensitest agar) media in order to determine Minimum Inhibitory (MIC) or Bactericidal (MBC) concentration. Results: Strong antibacterial activities were observed against both gram positive and negative bacteria including E.coli, S. aureous and P. aeroginosa by T.eriocalyx and F. parviflora. Also B. hyrecana pojark showed antibacterial activity against S. aureus at a concentration of MIC=320 µg/ml and MBC=80 µg/ml. Conclusion: This study showed that T.eriocalyx, F. parviflora and B. hyrecana pojark have antibacterial effects in vitro. Therefore it is suggested the application of these extract in medicine and food industings could be helpful.

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Background and Objective: Candida albicans is the most frequent etiological agent of oral candidiasis. This study was done to compare the anticandidal effect of Thymus vulgaris and Myrtus communis to nystatin on Candida albicans. Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study thirty-two strains of Candida albicans isolated from patients with oral candidiasis. Yeast suspension of Candida yeast cells was provided, subsquntly a serial dilution from Thymus vulgaris and Myrtus communis and Nystatin in Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) medium were prepared. Then a loop of Candida suspension was cultured on all of the solid media and was incubated at 25°C. The findings of fungus growing were recorded during 7 days. Results: MIC of Thymus vulgaris, Myrtus communis L, mix of these essences and Nystatin was 0.390µl/ml, 12.5 µl/ml, 0.78 µl/ml and 160 IU/ml, respectively. Conclusion: Thymus vulgaris contained antifungal activity against Candida albicans, but Myrtus communis demonstrated a very low activity against Candida albicans.

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Background and Objective: Several studies reported the immunological activity of Lycium barbarum. This study carried out to determine the effect of aqueous extract of fruits of Lycium ruthenicum L. on morphometric and histomorphometric indices in mice lymphatic organs. Methods: In this experimental study, 36 adult mice were randomly allocated into six experimental and control groups. The experimental groups were received Lycium ruthenicum L. fruit aqueous extract in the doses of 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg/bw, daily by feeding tube for 21 days. In the control group animals were recived 100 mg/kg/bw of saline using feeding tube. After the treatment, the relative increase in the body weight, morphometric, histomorphometric and histopathologic indices in thymus, lymph node and spleen were measured. Results: The administration of extract in doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg/bw did not effect on body weight of mice but in the doses of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg/bw significantly reduced the body weight (P<0.05).Thymus index in 800 mg/kg/bw of extract significantly reduced in comparison with controls (P<0.05). Thickness of thymus medulla in low doses significantly increased while it was not visible in higher doses (P<0.05). Thickness of capsule in lymph node and spleen in dose of 800 mg/kg/bw significantly increased in comparison with control group (P<0.05). Low doses of the Lycium barbarum extract increased stimulation and infiltration of the immune cells and hematopoiesis in the lymphoid organs while in doses of 400 and 800 mg/kg/bw caused pathological changes including fibrosis in capsule, degeneration in follicles and stromal cell apoptosis. Conclusion: Aqueous extract of fruits of Lycium ruthenicum L. in doses of 400 and 800 mg/kg/bw causes histopathological alterations in the lymphoid organs.

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Background and Objective: Hyperlipidemia and high level of serum total cholesterol are risk factors contributing to prevalence and severity of cardiovascular complications like coronary heart diseases. Lamiaceae plants have terpenoids and flavonoids can reduce triglyceride and cholesterol, therefore. This study was done to evaluate the effect of feeding with essential oil of Thymus deanensis Celak. on lipid profile, blood urea and liver enzymes in hyperchlostrolemic male Wistar rats.

Methods: This experimental study was performed on 36 male Wistar rats. Animals were randomly divided into 6 groups (there were 6 rats in each groups). The groups including control, sham, two groups receiving 200 and 500 ppm Thymus deanensis essential oil and hyperchlostrolemia groups treated with doses of 200 and 500 ppm of Thymus deanensis essential oil. Hyperchlostrolemia was induced by giving high cholesterol (2%) and sweet almond oil (97.5%) diet. The animals were treated for 32 days with essential oil of the thyme. At the end of the 32-day trial, blood sampling was performed. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, urea and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) liver enzymes were measured.

Results: The level of ALT and AST in hypercholesterolemia rats were significantly increased in comparison with the control group (P˂0.05). Thymus daenensis essential oil significantly reduced level of triglycerides and cholesterol (P˂0.05). The high dose of Thymus daenensis (500 ppm) essential oil more than a low dose (200 ppm) significantly reduced the level of cholesterol and triglyceride (P˂0.05). Blood urea nitrogen significantly increased in hypercholesterolemia group in compare to control group (P˂0.05). After the administration of essential oil with a minimum and maximum dose in hypercholesterolemia rats, the level of urea in the blood significantly decreased (P˂0.05). The level of ALT and AST in hypercholesterolemia rats significantly increased in comparison with the control group (P˂0.05). AST level significantly reduced in the groups of rats which received minimal and maximal doses compared to the group hypercholesterolemia (P˂0.05).

Conclusion: By lowering blood lipids, urea and liver enzymes after the use of essential oils, it seems that the Thymus daenensis dose-dependent is effective in improving liver function, kidney and high level of  lipid.