Traditional plants have huge demand as medicines to treat a wide range of illnesses. Tylophora is an important genus of medicinal plant in India, used to treat asthma and other ailments. The plants of this genus have been studied in vivo and in vitro for various pharmacological properties. In this article, we have given information regarding ethnomedicinal importance, phytochemistry and pharmacological uses of 18 species of Tylophora. Comprehensive information regarding different species of Tylophora were collected using different keywords in various electronic databases such as ACS, Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, SciFinder, Web of Science, Springer Link, library search, J gate, Wiley, Semantic Scholar and ResearchGate since 1960 to 2023. Additionally, data was collected from some textbooks and chapters like Flora of India and Indian medicinal plants. This article highlights the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of the few studied taxa of Tylophora that would serve as a reference for pharmaceutical research. More than 100 compounds have been isolated from selected species of the genus Tylophora. Among them, phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids have received the most attention and are the most abundant active constituents of the plant. Other types of active components of genus Tylophora include C21 glycosides, secoiridoids, triterpenes, and furano alkaloids. These compounds have shown a variety of therapeutic activities like antiasthmatic, antitumour, antimicrobial, antidiabetic and antiallergic properties. This review can be an important scientific resource for further research.

Background: Amygdalin has many pharmacological activities, such as analgesic and antiasthmatic effects. Although several studies supported the cytotoxic effects of amygdalin on different cancer cell lines, no general agreement has been reached on the anticancer aspect of amygdalin. Objectives: This review aims to focus on the pharmacological and toxicological effects of amygdalin and provide a reference and perspective for further investigation. Methods: Electronic databases, including the Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, were searched to identify eligible studies on the pharmacological and toxicological effects of amygdalin and provide a reference and perspective for further investigation. Totally, 90 papers about in vitro or in vivo studies on amygdalin have been reviewed. Results: Pharmacological activities of amygdalin have been well documented over the years,however, in some cases, dose-dependent toxicity has been reported in the human body. Since the acute toxicity of oral administration of amygdalin is far greater than the intravenous route, several in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to assess the amygdalin’, s pharmacological value for the induction of apoptosis and anticancer effects. Conclusion: Amygdalin generally has dose-dependent effects. It has positive or desirable effects at lower doses and undesirable impact at a higher intake level. However, there are substantial inter-individual variations.

The astonishing renaissance of herbal medicine in our country and also all over the world renders a review of this topic timely. Particular emphasis should be placed on the efficacy and safety of herbal treatments. The reasons for consumers to turn to herbal medicine are complex and differ according to many factors. The daily press is biased strongly in favor of herbal medicine. Other factors include; perceived safety, naturality, accessibility, rejection of science and technology, desperation, ineffectiveness and adverse effects of certain common drugs. We conducted a before-after trial for evaluation of one of these herbal remedies; Artemisia extract produced by Barij Essence Company, which according to the drug leaflet, has an antiasthmatic effect. Our cases were 11 healthy volunteers and 19 asthmatic patients. Instruments included a questionnaire and a forced expiratory volume maneuver done by American Thoracic Society Standards. The questionnaire was filled and spirometry was done before and 5, 15, and 30 minutes after nebulization of Artemisia extract. Treatment effects were tested by student t-test. No clinically or statistically significant effect was detected after Artemisia extract administration. We therefore concluded that in spite of factory claims, Artemisia extract has no clinically or statistically significant effect on asthma recovery.

Protecting and enhancing plant biodiversity, as well as obtaining biofunctional substances derived from plants that are environmentally pure and do not harm plants during the vegetative and yield phases, are among the most pressing challenges of our day. In this study, the biopotential value of dark-red autumn leaves of Smilax exselca L. (DRALS) was examined. Biologically potent substances in bioextract were studied by GC-MS method, identification of anthocyanins by UV-Vis spectroscopy method in a comparative manner, mineral content of green and DRALS were studied by EDXRF method. As a result of the study, it was confirmed that the bioextract contains 18 biologically potent substances and 25 mineral chemical elements that have antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, anticarcinogenic, immunomodulatory, desulphosinigrin as potential anti-diabetic drug against alpha-glucosidase, antiasthmatic and anti-inflammatory effects. The results of this research indicate that DRALS could be a significant potential source of natural chemical compounds that may serve as therapeutic agents in the treatment and prevention of various diseases, as well as dyes in the cosmetics industry and secondary metabolites in the food industry.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined as a disorder with multiple abnormalities, including obesity, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and high blood glucose. MetS is the best-known risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and obesity. With the globally increasing prevalence of MetS and its related abnormalities, attention to safe and effective prevention and treatment of this complex disorder has been increased. In particular, most treatments have been devoted to using natural agents that could provide more reliable and effective medicinal products with fewer side effects. Portulaca oleracea L. (purslane) is an herb whose therapeutic properties could be found in some ancient medical books. Purslane has shown analgesic, antispasmodic, skeletal muscle relaxant, bronchodilator, antiasthmatic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, diuretic, antibacterial, antipyretic, and wound-healing properties. In addition, purslane’, s hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties have been reported in different studies. The positive effects of this plant include reducing stress oxidative and inflammation along with the atherogenic index, improving insulin level and glucose uptake, decreasing lipid profiles, and ameliorating weight gain. These activities could reduce MetS complications. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of various in vitro, animal, and human studies regarding the effect of Portulaca oleracea on metabolic syndrome to better understand the underlying mechanisms of action for designing more effective treatments.

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-ebalgham) were examined in a murine model of allergic asthma. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight Balb/c mice weighing 1520 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 budesonideinhaled 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.