Introduction: Iran is a privileged country with a high rank in plant biodiversity, including 11 of the 13 globally known climates. According to botanists and researchers, there are about 8000 medicinal plants species, which is at least twice the European continent's species diversity.Methods: Studies have shown that over 2300 plant species in the country have medicinal and aromatic properties and could be as spices andcosmetics. The high diversity of medicinal plants in Iran has made traders aim to export these products. The tariff code (HS Code) for medicinal plants in world customs is 121190. Iran was evaluated as the number one leading country in terms of medicinal plants export in 1998 and the fifth in 2003, and it came to 32 in rankings due to some problems. In 2018, the share of Iran from medicinal plants trade was 440 million dollars, while the total global transaction of medicinal plant import was about 124 billion dollars. This outstanding amount of trade creates unique opportunities for the traders of these products.Conclusion: The highest export of Iran currently belongs to saffron; damask rose, licorice cumin, and cilantro, with 80-90% of the exports was in bulk and only 10% as essential oils and extracts. The first destinations for medicinal plants export are Pakistan and UAE, followed by Germany, Japan, and China.

Hibiscus sabdariffa L., belonging to the Malvaceae family, has been long used as herbal medicine, food, beverage, flavouring, and colouring agents. This study aims to review and document the evidence regarding the potential use of H. sabdariffa as ethnomedicine in some countries and its bioactive constituents and therapeutic properties. The electronic databases were used to search for the relevant information to the aims of this review up to March 2022. The high usage of H. sabdariffa as traditional medicine is due to its easy accessibility and low price. The plant is often used to treat intestinal problems, stomach disorders, and blood or liver toxicities. The plant contains phenolic compounds, including anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. The in vivo, in vitro, and clinical studies provide evidence that H. sabdariffa possesses therapeutic effects such as antihypertensive, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidants, antimicrobial, and antitumor activities. The studies provided scientific evidence for the statement of H. sabdariffa and its bioactive constituents in treating various diseases.

Background & Objective: In December 2019, the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was observed in China, and it it spread rapidly throughout the world. Iranian traditional healers have applied different medicinal plants to prevent and treat COVID-19 based on their ethnopharmacological knowledge. This research aimed to investigate the ethnomedicinal knowledge of Iranian traditional healers to alleviate COVID-19 signs and symptoms. Materials & Methods: Due to the limitations caused by COVID-19 pandemic, oral interviews were conducted by 26 traditional healers in Kerman and Zahedan cities in Iran. The names of recommended remedies for COVID-19 were collected, and their scientific names were authenticated. Next, a comprehensive research was carried out in the scientific databases. Finally, the herbs with any related proved properties to the respiratory system were listed; these herbs were probably useful for the COVID-19 prevention or treatment. Results: Zataria multiflora, Althaea officinalis, Hordeum vulgare, Malva sylvestris, Matricaria chamomilla, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Allium sativum and Zingiber officinale are considered as the most popular herbs by Iranian traditional healers for prevention and/or treatment of COVID-19. Recent studies have demonstrated that the above-mentioned herbs can be considered as good sources for alleviating the respiratory disorders such as influenza. Moreover, they have antitussive and immune-modulatory properties. Conclusion: Since there is no effective treatment for COVID-19, the capacity of different traditional medicine and ethnomedicine knowledge can be used as good sources for new drug discovery after accurate studies.

Background: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have broad biomedical applications and may result in a high risk of human and environmental toxicity. Scrophularia striata possesses a strong antioxidant capacity. Objectives: This study seeks to examine the modulatory influence of Scrophularia striata hydroalcoholic extract on the toxicity of silver nanoparticles on blood granulocytes, agranulocytes, and general parameters in male Wistar rats. Methods: Thirty male rats weighing an average of 200, 20 were divided into five experimental groups of six. In 30 days, rats were given 2 mL of distilled water in group 1 (negative control), 200 ppm AgNPs (hepatotoxicity dosage) in group 2, as well as 20, 60, and 180 mg/kg Scrophularia striata extract and 200 ppm AgNPs in groups 3, 4, and 5. Rats’,blood samples were taken 24 hours following their last partial anesthesia treatment. One-way ANOVA was used to evaluate the data, followed by Tukey’, s post hoc test. Results: When compared to the control groups, oral treatment of AgNPs resulted in substantial changes in WBC, NE, LY, MO, EO, BA, RBC, Hb, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, PLT, and MPV levels. In comparison to the positive and negative groups, the extract’, s modulatory effects on hematological parameters demonstrated substantial variations, especially in groups 4 and 5 (60 and 180 mg/kg). Conclusions: Due to the presence of some unique components, such as flavonoids, the extract of the Scrophularia striata plant was discovered to be an efficient hematomodulatory, compensating to some extent for the cytotoxic side effects of AgNPs within the body.

Background and Purpose: Ethnopharmacology has been one of the important sources for drug discovery from ancient times. The principles of ethnopharmacology research include compiling a list of plants used by an ethnic group and explaining how these plants are utilized by individuals. Basht and Gachsaran regions in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, residence place of Bavi tribe, are the habitat of different plant species that used for therapeutic purposes. Materials and Methods: Information was obtained via interviews and questionnaires from eleven local healers. Subsequently, the plant samples mentioned by local healers were collected by a researcher and identified by a botanist. The results were arranged in tables based on therapeutics uses, plant families, part of plant used, route of administration, and disease categories according to the 2019 International Classification of Diseases. Finally, the informant consensus factor was analyzed. Results: 56 herbal therapeutic agents are used in Bavi tribe. Most therapeutical recommendations were for gastrointestinal diseases with a frequency of fifty herbs. Lamiaceae was recognized as the most used family with seven plants. The main plant parts used in this tribe were aerial parts. The most used mode of administration in this tribe was decoction with a frequency of 72 instances. The highest informant consensus factor in plant species was related to skin diseases with a value of 0. 35 and the highest informant consensus factor in plant families was in the category of pregnancy, childbirth, or the puerperium with a value of 0. 75. Conclusion: Given the wide range of herbal medicine use in this tribe, the urgent need to preserve this indigenous knowledge, use it for the benefit of the ethnic group, and protect intellectual property rights of this knowledge for this ethnic group is essential. In this regard, it is recommended that appropriate cultural, legal, and regulatory actions be taken to preserve and expand the ethnopharmacology of ethnic tribes.