Iranian Traditional Medicine Research Articles

Prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use by Iranian infertile women: A multi-center cross-sectional study

ObjectivesIt has been speculated that infertile women use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) frequently in addition to conventional therapy. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use by Iranian infertile women. DesignThis multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted in four public and private referral infertility clinics located in different metropolitan areas of Iran including Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan and Shiraz from August to December 2019. Any infertile woman attending an infertility clinic was checked for eligibility and 282 infertile women were selected by convenience sampling. A self-structured questionnaire consisted of three parts of demographic, infertility-related and CAM-related data was administered. This was completed on a self-report basis. SPSS-IBM 25 was used for data analysis using descriptive statistical methods and Logistic regression models. ResultsThe mean number of different CAM methods used was 2.95 ± 1.88. Also, 49.61% of women used CAM at least once for infertility in the last year. CAM use included Iranian traditional medicine (ITM), Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and other CAM methods. The most commonly used method and mode of CAM were ITM (95. 4%) and Iranian herbal medicine (70.2%), respectively. Most of participants (61. 3%) did not disclose their use of CAM to the physicians. The majority of participants (72. 7%) received recommendations from family and friends for CAM use. ConclusionsCAM use was prevalent among Iranian infertile women and ITM as well as herbal medicines were the most common. Therefore, it is required that a coherent plan be developed to integrate CAM use into the allopathic medicine.

A new perspective of aroma face mask on COVID-19 pandemic

In times of the COVID-19 pandemic, wearing face masks is strongly recommended as a public health measure to stop the spread of the Sars Coronavirus. However, there are still people who ignore using this effective protective tool due to the lack of comfortable face masks on the market. Therefore, in the current study, we assessed commercially available face masks namely N95 masks, surgical masks, and cloth masks in order to find out their weakness. In addition, the identification needs of people from a face mask were collected by an online questionnaire. According to the information obtained; we achieved key factors required to design a new type of face mask using the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and the final design was printed. Moreover, the long-term use of herbs in Iranian Traditional Medicine persuaded us to add a humidifier containing aromatic plants essential oils such as Eucalyptus globules Labill. and Rosa damascene Mill. with scientifically proven health benefits such as pain reliever, relaxing properties and antimicrobial activities. We are expected that these aromas would be an effective way to eliminate the problems of individuals suffering from air pollutants, respiratory disorders, and COVID which leads to encouraging more people to use face masks during pandemics or air pollution.

Teucrium polium L: An updated review of phytochemicals and biological activities.

Objective:Medicinal plants and their components are potential novel sources for developing drugs against various diseases. Teucrium polium L. (syn Teucrium capitatum L. or felty germander) from the Lamiaceae family, is widely distributed in the dry and stony places of the hills and deserts of almost all Mediterranean countries, southwestern Asia, Europe, and North Africa. Based on traditional Iranian medicine (TIM), T. polium is used for treating many diseases, including abdominal pain, indigestion, and type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods:In our previous review article published in 2012 and based on 100 articles published from 1970 to 2010, the main compounds purified from T. polium were terpenes, terpenoids, and flavonoids with antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. Results: In this article, the phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of the plant reported from 2011 to 2020 have been evaluated. Therefore, a search was done in the databases PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science with the terms "T. polium," "T. capitatum." and felty germander’, which included about 100 articles published since 2011 about T. polium pharmacological activities and isolated compounds. Most studies of this review focused on the antioxidant and antidiabetic effects of the plantConclusion:Considering the position of T. polium in folk medicine, mainly as an antidiabetic agent, purification, structural and biological characterization of the active components appears essential for effective use of the plant.

Investigating the role of body force or strength (Quwa) in causing diseases in Iranian traditional medicine and the role of cellular energy in causing diseases in conventional medicine.

Although much of conventional medicine has its roots in traditional medicine, from the point of view of Iranian medicine, health means when organs function naturally, and disease occurs when organs cannot performproperly. Doing actions naturally requires force, some actions require one force and some require two or more. The forces of the human body include the natural forces, the spiritual forces, and the vital forces, with the help of which human actions are performed. Therefore, in order to perform actions normally, a person must have all the forces of his body in a proper situation. According to the principles of modern medicine, the function of the body and cells depends on the energy content of cells, and most of the chemical reactions in the cells are related to the availability of energy in foods for various cell physiological systems. Any event that leads to a drop in energy production or energy loss or a reduction in cells' access to energy can lead to a range of related diseases. On the other hand, if the body cells have enough access to energy and perform all functions well, the disease will not occur and the ability to fight possible diseases will be higher. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of potency in causing diseases in Iranian medicine and the role of cellular energy in causing diseases in conventional medicine. It was concluded that all principles of health refer to the optimization of energy production and consumption in the cells. Accordingly, more energy available to the cell leads to the normal function of cells and the higher ability of the body cells to fight disease.

Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Stachys lavandulifolia on Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures in Male Mice: The Role of GABAergic and Opioidergic Systems.

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders. Though there are several effective drugs for treating epilepsy, most drugs are associated with side effects and drug interactions. Stachys lavandulifolia used in Iranian traditional medicine has proven anti-anxiety and sedative properties. The current study aimed to evaluate the anticonvulsant effect of hydroalcoholic extract of S. lavandulifoliaon the Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure in male mice and the role of benzodiazepine and opioid receptors. This study was conducted on 100 male mice, randomly categorized into 10 groups: Normal Saline (NS), two diazepam groups (0.025 and 0.1 mg/kg), three S. lavandulifolia extract groups (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg), diazepam 0.025 mg/kg+S. lavandulifolia extract 50 mg/kg, and three groups that pretreated with NS, flumazenil, or naloxone, 5 min before injection of 200 mg/kg S. lavandulifolia extract. After 30 min, PTZ (80 mg/kg) was injected into animals, and seizure indices were evaluated. The S. lavandulifoliaextract attenuated the PTZ-induced seizures in a dose-dependent manner, and pretreatment with flumazenil reversed this effect. However, pretreatment with naloxone could not reverse this effect because seizure indices in the naloxone pretreated group were lower than that in the normal saline group. The combination of an ineffective dose of diazepam and S. lavandulifoliaextract decreased PTZ-induced seizures. The results of our study showed the anticonvulsant properties of hydroalcoholic extract of S. lavandulifolia. These effects might be due to the impact of the components of this extract on the central benzodiazepine system. Hydroalcoholic extract of S. lavandulifolia attenuated the PTZ-induced seizures in a dose dependent manner.Pretreatment with flumazenil (blocker of benzodiazepines receptor) reversed anti-seizure effect of S. lavandulifolia extract.Combination of an ineffective dose of diazepam and S. lavandulifolia extract decreased PTZ-induced seizures. Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders after stroke and is characterized by recurrent seizures due to abnormal excessive neural activity in the brain. Although there are many anticonvulsant drugs on the market, not all patients with epilepsy can be treated and one-third of patients suffer from recurring epilepsy despite using different antiepileptic drugs and more than 50% of them show side effects drugs during treatment. So, it is necessary to conduct further studies to develop more effective anti-epilepsy drugs with the minimum side effects. In recent years, plenty of studies have been conducted on medical plants, and S. lavandulifolia reported among the Iranian traditional medicine with antianxiety and sedative features. Some studies have mentioned the sedative and anti-inflammatory function of S. lavandulifolia, and its significant effects on anxiety have been approved comparable to diazepam. Overall, considering the anti-anxiety, analgesic, and sedative effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of S. lavandulifolia, it might possess anti-convulsive effects, too. The purpose of the current study was designed to investigate whether the effect of intra peritoneal injection of hydroalcoholic extract of S. lavandulifolia on the PTZ-induced convulsion in male mice and assessed the role of benzodiazepine and opioid receptors. Results of this study demonstrated that S. lavandulifolia extract attenuated the PTZ-induced seizures in a dose dependent manner, and pretreatment with flumazenil (blocker of benzodiazepines receptor) reversed this effect. However, pretreatment with naloxone (Non-selective blocker of opioids receptor) could not reverse this effect but the combination of an ineffective dose of diazepam and S. lavandulifolia extract decreased PTZ-induced seizures, thus anti-epileptic effect of S. lavandulifolia mediated by benzodiazepine receptors.

Effects of a polyherbal formulation on inflammation and histopathological alterations in mice with ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma.

Objective:Allergic asthma is a complex inflammatory disorder that affects the airways. As an ancient medical system, Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM) recommends a polyherbal formula called “Monzej-e-balgham” for the treatment of asthma. In the present investigation, the antiasthmatic effects of “Monzej-e-balgham” were examined in a murine model of allergic asthma.Materials and Methods:Twenty-eight Balb/c mice weighing 15-20 g were allocated into 4 groups. As negative and positive controls, groups I and II received phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and ovalbumin (OVA) solutions, respectively. Groups III and IV were first sensitized with OVA and then respectively treated with “Monzej-e-balgham” (63 mg/kg) and budesonide. Finally, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues of the animals were collected and used for eosinophil counting, Th2 type interleukins (IL-5, IL-13, and IL-33) measurement, and histological examinations.Results:“Monzej-e-balgham” significantly reduced the number of eosinophils and the levels of IL-5, IL-13, and IL-33 in BALF specimens compared to OVA-sensitized group (p<0.05). It also ameliorated histopathological changes of the lung tissues such as goblet cells hyperplasia and mucus overproduction in comparison to group II. Interestingly, the results of the “Monzej-e-balgham”-treated group were comparable with those obtained for budesonide-inhaled mice.Conclusion:The present data indicated a mechanism that involves Th2 inflammatory responses in allergic asthma and suggested a polyherbal mixture for the treatment of this disease.

The Mechanism of Action and Potential Impact of Flaxseed on Gastrointestinal Manifestations in Cystic Fibrosis: A Narrative Review

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease, which leads to death at a young age. No definite treatment has yet been found for CF. Therefore, it is important to find new therapeutic and medicinal approaches for CF. Flaxseed is an antioxidant dietary and anti-inflammatory supplement with a high omega-3 fatty acid content. Objectives: In this article, the mechanism of action of flaxseed as a novel supplemental treatment for CF is discussed. Methods: In this review, we searched Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) sources, such as Zakhire Kharazmshahi and Canon of Medicine. Then, from inception to October 2020, data sources, including Google Scholar and PubMed in the English language were comprehensively explored for the mechanism of action of this herbal remedy on CF. Results: Flaxseed may possess effects on CF gastrointestinal disorders due to its properties, including consumer acceptance as a functional food, being the best non-animal reservoir of omega 3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and soluble fiber, as well as its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects with modulating intestinal microbiota. Conclusions: Regarding the mentioned potential mechanisms of action, it could be hypothesized that flaxseed can be served as a novel medicine for CF.

Retraction Note: Assessment and Comparative Analysis of Individual Temperament and Somatotype in Young Athletes According to Iranian Traditional Medicine and Heath-Carter Method

Retraction Note: Assessment and Comparative Analysis of Individual Temperament and Somatotype in Young Athletes According to Iranian Traditional Medicine and Heath-Carter Method

The effects of Melissa officinalis leaf extract on anxiety among patients undergoing orthopedic surgeries

Background andobjectivesIn European Traditional Medicine and Iranian Traditional Medicine, Melissa officinalis L. is commonly regarded as an anti-anxiety agent. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Melissa officinalis leaf extract on anxiety among patients undergoing orthopedic surgeries. MethodsIn this randomized clinical trial (RCT), 80 candidates for orthopedic surgery were selected by purposeful sampling in an urban area of Iran. These patients were assigned to intervention and control groups using minimization methods. The intervention group consumed 500 mg capsules containing Melissa officinalis leaf extract at 4 pm and 10 pm on the day before the surgery. In the control group, the patients consumed a 500 mg capsule containing starch as a placebo at hours similar to those in the intervention group. Data gathering tools were a demographic questionnaire and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The STAI questionnaires were completed before the intervention and again at 8:00 am on the next day before the surgery. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18. ResultsAccording to the results, no significant difference was found between the two groups before the intervention (Mann-Whitney test, P = 0.67). But there was a significant difference between the two groups on the next day before the surgery, and the mean anxiety level was lower in the intervention group (Mann-Whitney test, P < 0.05). ConclusionsResults of the present study showed that Melissa officinalis extract could reduce anxiety among patients before surgery.

A Case Report on the Effectiveness of Diet and Lifestyle Changes Based on the Principles of Iranian Traditional Medicine with the Focus on Cellular Energy in Treatment of Liver Cirrhosis: Health Triangle

Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) is a school of medicine that has been a source of medical care since ancient times. Based on the teachings of ITM, a balance between six essential principles governing a person’s body can lead to health and cure disease. The current paper reports of a case of liver cirrhosis managed according to these principles in an approach known as the triangle of health. A combination of dietary, medicinal, and therapies was prescribed for a patient with a definitive diagnosis of autoimmune-induced liver cirrhosis. Adherence to the prescribed regimen has led to the improvement of the patient’s condition over the last few months.

Mineralogical characterization of the traditional geopharmaceutical ithmid by XRF and XRD

Geopharmaceuticals, specifically minerals were used to treat various diseases from antiquity. Ithmid or kohl stone is one of the most-applied geopharmaceuticals in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. The usage of ithmid for eye make-up caused many concerns about the possible toxicity and lead poisoning, because the concentration of lead content is usually higher than the international standard limit. The goal of this study was mineralogical investigation of ithmid stones (three samples) from Iran using XRD and XRF. Also, traditional applications of ithmid were extracted and reported. X-ray diffractometer and X-ray fluorescence analysis was used to determine the composition of three samples of ithmid stone from Tehran, Shiraz, and Kerman. The indications suggested for ithmid in Traditional Iranian Medicine were extracted from Makhzan al advieh, Qarabadin Salehi, and Qarabadin Kabir. Major phase of ithmid samples were galena (PbS), and the main element was lead with a high concentration in all three samples. Based on traditional books, ithmid was used for ocular injuries, infectious wounds, and visual disorders. It was proved that ithmid has antimicrobial effects against pathogens involved in ocular infections, but regular application of such products is a potential threat for costumer health. Therefore, regular check-out of kohl products by authorities is necessary to avoid the risk of lead toxicity and resultant health issues.

Medicinal Herbs with Anti-Inflammatory Activities for Natural and Organic Healing

One of the principal causes of different disorders is an uncontrolled inflammatory response. Alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenolic, proanthocyanidin, terpenoid, and steroid compounds are the main reasons for the anti-inflammatory activities of medicinal herbs and plants. The current manuscript introduces a series of potential anti-inflammatory plants, particularly those which are routines in Iranian and Chinese traditional herbal medicine, and simplifies the function and mechanisms of natural constituents for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory disorders. PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Wiley Online Library, Springer, Taylor, Francis, etc., have been used to search for collecting of scientific publications for a full evaluation of current documentation in the literature showing the importance of medicinal plants with anti-inflammatory characteristics and natural medicines. The most notable medicinal plants with anti-inflammatory activities are Baccharis dracunculifolia, Aconitum bulleyanum, Crateya adansonii, Alliums spp., Centella asiatica, Flos lonicerae, Corydalis dubia, Syringae folium, Coptis chinensis, Casearia decandra, Nigella sativa, Cannabis sativa, Tamarindus indica L., Glycyrrhiza glabra, Panax ginseng, Panax notoginseng, Pistacia vera, Smilax china, Scutellaria baicalensis, Rosemarinus officinalis, Moringa olifera, Pulsatilla radix, Pistacia atlantica, Rullia tuberose, Canarium album, Dodonaea polyandra, Forsythia suspense, Polygala tenuifolia, Radiz Isatidis, Hypericum sampsonii, Geranium koreanum, Typha capensis, Isatidis folium, Ginkgo biloba, Houttuynia cordata, snow lotus, etc. Herbal medicine mainly uses numerous parts of plants or combinations of them to prevent and remedy diseases and promote health. More investigations and clinical experiments are needed to provide more information on the importance of medicinal plants as well as their roles in the treatment and prevention of inflammatory diseases.

Traditional botanical flora of medicinal plants in the treatment of kidney stones in Iran

Medicinal plants have long been considered for the treatment of many diseases among Iranians and in recent years the use of medicinal plants has increased. In traditional Iranian medicine, many plants have been described to eliminate kidney stones, dissolve kidney stones or prevent stone formation. Based on the results Medicinal plants Cichorium intybus L. Biarum straussii Engl., Tribulus terrestris L., Nasturtium officinale R. Br., Alhagi camelorum Fisch., Adiantum Capillus-Veneris L., Anchusa italic, Alhagi maurorum, Achila mellifolium, Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medicus., Adiantum capillus- Veneris L., Pistacia khinjuk, Acanthophyllum khuzistanicum Rech. F., Malva parviflora L., Allium iranicum (Wendelbo Wendelbo), Centaurea solstitialis L., Cerasus vulgaris Miller, and etc. are medicinal plants that are used in different parts of Iran used to treat kidney stones. It was found that plant families including Fabaceae (10 plants), Asteraceae (10 plants), Brassicaceae (6 plants) and Zygophyllaceae (6 plants) have the most medicinal plants in the discussion of medicinal plants affecting kidney stones and parts such as leaf (27%), fruit (15%), aerial parts (15%) and flower (14%) are the most plant organs that are used in this area for the treatment of kidney stones. The great tendency of people in the knowledge of ethno-botany and plant flora in traditional medicine is evident in the use of medicinal plants and the historical history of the use of medicinal plants. Iranian ethno-botanical knowledge can play a good role in presenting pure ideas of traditional medicine for modern medicine.

Treatment of Lupus Nephritis from Iranian Traditional Medicine and Modern Medicine Points of View: A Comparative Study.

Objective Nephritis or kidney inflammation is characterized as one of the most common renal disorders leading to serious damage to the kidneys. Nephritis, especially lupus nephritis (LN), has remained as the main cause of chronic renal failure which needs serious therapeutic approaches such as dialysis and kidney transplant. Heredity, infection, high blood pressure, inflammatory diseases such as lupus erythematosus and inflammatory bowel disease, and drug-related side effects are known as the main causes of the disease. According to Iranian traditional medicine (ITM), infectious diseases and fever are the main reasons of nephritis, which is called “Varam-e-Kolye” (VK). Results There are various plant-based remedies recommended by ITM for the treatment of nephritis, as discussed herein, comparing with those available in the modern medicine. There is no definite cure for the treatment of nephritis, and immunosuppressive drugs such as corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, diuretics, analgesics, and finally dialysis and kidney transplantation are usually used. Based on the efficacy of medicinal plants, jujube (Ziziphus jujuba), almond (Prunus amygdalus), pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita pepo), purslane (Portulaca oleracea), and fig (Ficus carica) were found to be effective for the treatment of kidney inflammation in ITM. Conclusion Considering the fact that there is no efficient strategy for the treatment of nephritis, use of herbal medicine, particularly based on the fruits or nuts that have been safely used for several years can be considered as a versatile supplement along with other therapeutic methods.

Extraction and identification of the components of Thymbra spicata L. and Satureja khuzestanica Jamzad Oils native to Ilam province by headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)

Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad (Lamiaceae) and Thymbra spicata L. (Lamiaceae) are medicinal plants belonging to the genera of Satureja and Thymbra, having many uses in traditional Iranian medicine. S. khuzistanica is used to treat different diseases such as cramps, nausea, and infectious diseases. Medicinal plants, extracts and essential oils are of special importance for pharmacy, health and food industries. S. khuzistanica and T. spicata plants were collected from Dehloran located in south of Ilam province in western Iran. Then, they were dried and powdered. Headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and Gas Chromatography-mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques were used to obtain extracts of mentioned plants and identify their active compounds. Essential oil from T. spicata contained 45 chemical compounds, whose main ones were isothymol (36.24%), gamma-terpinene (17.94%), O-cymene (10.92%), trans-caryophyllene (7.81%), alpha-pinene (7.24%), and camphene (3.61%). Also, essential oil from S. khuzestanica contained 43 chemical compounds which main ones were carvacrol (71.99%), camphene (2.84%), alpha-pinene (1.63%), 1,8-Cineole (1.51%). carvone (1.44%) and beta-pinene (1.42). Results from present study indicated that antioxidative and antimicrobial compounds such as carvacrol were found in both plants (S. khuzestanica and T. spicata) from the Laminaceae family. Therefore, essential oils of these plants can find applications as antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiseptic compounds for medicinal and health purposes.

Isolation and Characterization of Crab Haemolymph Exosomes and Its Effects on Breast Cancer Cells (4T1).

Objective The use of animal or plant exosomes in cancer treatment is promising because of their easy access and low cost. Freshwater crabs are used in traditional Iranian medicine to treat cancer. This study aims to determine the anti-cancer properties of exosomes removed from freshwater crabs on a breast cancer cell line (4T1) compared to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Materials and Methods In this experimental study, crab haemolymph exosomes were isolated via the precipitation method and characterised by electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Western blot analysis. The protein concentration and total antioxidant capacity of these exosomes were determined by bicinchoninic acid (BCA) and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC). The 4T1 cells and BMSCs were treated with exosomes and we assessed the cell survival by the resazurin and MTT assays. The level of nitric oxide (NO) secretion from the 4T1 cells was determined after treatment with the exosomes. Results Electron microscopy, DLS and Western blot for CD63 confirmed that the isolated exosomes were <100 nm in size and expressed CD63. The total antioxidant capacity in these exosomes was 1.003 µM/ml and the protein concentration was 650 mg/ml. Resazurin and MTT assay results showed a decrease in survival of the 4T1 cells (P≤0.001) after treatment with the exosomes compared to cell growth in the exosome-treated BMSCs. ConclusionCrab haemolymph contains protein-rich exosomes with antioxidant activities that can have anti-cancer effects on 4T1 cells. These exosomes may be proposed for breast cancer therapeutics.

Role of Jundi-Shapur in Streamlining of ILM-E-TIBB (Medicine)

People have always felt the need to seek the knowledge from time immemorial. Be it the knowledge of religion or science or philosophy or astronomy. The knowledge of medicine was confined to cultures till 4th century AD. Every subcontinent and every civilization was having its own traditions to treat the diseases, e.g. Ayurved in India, Egyptian traditional medicine in Egypt, Chinese traditional medicine in China, Iranian Traditional medicine in Iran etc etc.&#x0D; It was during the 5th century AD when Roman Empire cracked down on its seminaries and the intellectuals were forced to leave the country. Those intellectuals were given refuge by Persian Empire where in a city was established with ultimate autonomy under Khusro, Jundi-Shapur became a prosperous metropolis, refuge, and melting pot for intellectuals from many regions. Shapur II (309-379 A.D.) is credited for conceiving and establishing the nucleus of the university in the latter part of the fourth century. The closing of the Athenian school by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian (AD 539) also drove many leaned Greek physicians to Jundi-Shapur. This was the start of the integration of different traditional medicine of different civilizations. This formed the basis of what we see today as modern medicine. In this way JundiShapur has important role in the development of Medical knowledge and it remained in the leading role until 9th Century AD.

Diaphragma juglandis extracts modifies the gut microbiota during prevention of type 2 diabetes in rats

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe diaphragma juglandis (DJ) comes from the wooden septum in the core of Juglans regia L, also known as the walnut septum. In Iranian traditional medicine, walnut distraction wood was widely used in the treatment of diabetes. However, there is a lack of research data on the mechanism of DJ against diabetes.Aim of the study: To explore the protective effect of diaphragma juglandis extract (DJE) on type 2 diabetic rats and the hypoglycemic mechanism of DJE. Material and methodsSupplemented DJE and fed a high-fat diet for five weeks, and then injected low-dose STZ, successfully induced type 2 diabetic rats. Collected rat serum, liver, pancreas and feces to determine the biochemical parameters of serum and liver, analyze the pathological damages of pancreas and liver, and measure the changes of gut microbes in feces. ResultsDJE could inhibit the metabolic abnormalities of T2DM by improving insulin resistance, abnormal lipid metabolism, liver damage, oxidative stress, and reducing inflammation. DJE significantly held fasting blood glucose, glycosylated serum protein, serum low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein, oral glucose tolerance test, nitric oxide, superoxide dismutase and catalase, serum and liver triglycerides, total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, malondialdehyde, lipopolysaccharide, fasting insulin and tumor necrosis factor-α and prevented the pathological damage of pancreas and liver. The 16SrRNA gene sequencing results showed that DJE intercepted the disorders of the fecal gut microbes, mainly including Lactobacillaceae, Rikenella, Pygmaiobacter, Oscillospiraceae and Klebsiella. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the changes of gut microbes were closely relative with biochemical parameters. ConclusionDJE might prevent type 2 diabetes and its complications and hold up the disorders of gut microbes.

COVID-19 Telephone Consultation by Iranian Traditional Medicine as an Integrative medicine: Benefits and Challenges

The COVID-19 disease started in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and spread across the world, including the Islamic Republic of Iran. Due to the high prevalence of this disease, it resulted in worry in many people and has led to several unnecessary visits to medical centers which may have increased the risk of infection. Preventive measures are necessary to control outbreaks and decrease disease burdens. Telemedicine such as telephone consultation is an efficient and safe platform to control disease in times of infectious epidemics by reducing the communication between people and the presence of non-infected people in medical centers. Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) as integrated medicine, is a collection of scientific principles and methods for the prevention and treatment of disease. The Nobaan’s telephone consultation system was set up by ITM specialists to provide consultations for COVID-19. A total of 43 ITM physicians have been consulting health seekers every day from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. based on national guidelines for COVID-19 and a specialized guide from academic resources of ITM. From 18 March to 17 April 2020, the doctors received a total of 2778 calls and provided a total of 11221 minutes of consultation. In total, 50% of physicians answered more than 90% of the calls and the average length of each call was 4.5 minutes. Finally, it seems except few limitations compared with face to face patient visit, this newly consultation by ITM specialist may provide considerable help to prevent and manage COVID-19 outbreak in Iran.

Diagnostic Protocol of Warm and Cold Uterine Temperaments Based on Persian Medicine: A Qualitative Study

Objective: Uterus is an important body organ in women responsible for purifying blood and carrying fetus. In Traditional Iranian Medicine (TIM), identifying the uterine temperament (mizaj) is necessary for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this organ’s diseases. Many gynecological disorders in TIM including infertility, oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, hypermenorrhea, vaginitis, cervicitis, urinary incontinence and pelvic pain are related to uterine distemperament (Su-e mizaj). Therefore, their appropriate treatment depends on the correct diagnosis and treatment of uterine distemperament. Criteria for uterine distemperament in TIM resources are qualitative with no method for precise measurement of its symptoms. This study aims to develop a standard diagnostic protocol of uterine temperament and distemperament for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Methods: This is a qualitative study using hybrid concept analysis including three phases: theoretical, fieldwork, and final analytical. In the theoretical phase, TIM resources were reviewed. In the fieldwork phase, experts in TIM and patients were interviewed to extract concepts related to uterine temperaments and distemperaments. Results: In the final analytical phase, major and minor criteria for determination of uterine temperament were presented. Then, we had a several meetings with a panel of experts in TIM in order to design the protocol which led to the development of a standard diagnostic protocol of warm and cold uterine temperament/distemperament. Conclusion: The proposed protocol is an important step towards harmonizing the methods of diagnosis and treatment in TIM, and can be used for treatment or research purposes.