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Stachys
... Some new sections have also been introduced elsewhere (Koeva-Todorovska, 1978;Krestovskaya, 2003Krestovskaya, , 2006Krestovskaya, , 2007. Moreover, several taxonomic and morphological studies have been conducted on the genus focusing on certain geographical regions (Table 1), such as North America (Nelson, 1981), Mexico and Central America (Turner, 1994) and southern Africa (Mulli-gan, Munro & McNeill, 1983;Codd, 1985;Basset & Munro, 1986;Mulligan & Munro, 1989), tropical East Africa (Demissew & Harley, 1992), Europe (Ball, 1972), Turkey (Bhattacharjee, 1982) and the Iranian Highlands (Rechinger, 1982). ...
... have been included in the molecular phylogenetic studies so far. Even based on this reduced sampling, monophyly of several sections (sensu Bhattacharjee, 1980Bhattacharjee, , 1982Rechinger, 1982) was questioned and the need to identify possible synapomorphies for more naturally circumscribed units/sections was emphasized. Micromorphological studies (Krestovskaya & Vassiljeva, 1997, 1998Salmaki et al., 2008aSalmaki et al., , 2009aSalmaki, Zarre & Jamzad, 2008b) gave further hints to the current circumscription of most sections not being natural. ...
... Furthermore, the distribution of each Stachys sp. in Iran has not fully been investigated. According to Rechinger (1982) there are 34 species and four hybrids of Stachys in Iran covering 12 sections, reflecting major morphological lineages. There are, however, several taxonomic problems that could not be referred to in the mentioned treatment. ...
Stachys is a large and taxonomically complex genus of Lamiaceae (Lamioideae: Stachydeae). On the basis of morphological examination and field investigation, we revised the genus Stachys in Iran. We examined about 3500 specimens from various herbaria and produced a key for identification of all taxa found in Iran. The following are provided for each taxon: a description along with the complete synonymy, notes on nomenclature and relationships within the genus, geographical distribution, habitat, IUCN conservation status assessment and selected materials examined. The following taxa are reported here as new for Iran: S. atherocalyx, S. kotschyi, S. melampyroides and S. recta subsp. subcrenata. Several taxa are placed in synonymy for the first time here: S. persica is a synonym of S. alpina, S. koelzii is a synonym of S. aucheri, S. ballotiformis is a synonym of S. kurdica subsp. kurdica, and S. setifera subsp. daenensis and S. setifera subsp. iranica are synonyms of S. setifera. Two taxa are reduced to the rank of subspecies: S. kurdica subsp. asterocalyx and S. pilifera subsp. ixodes. According to the present revision, the genus contains 32 species, nine subspecies and two hybrids in Iran with 17 endemic taxa.
... Consequently, the genus is regarded as notoriously difficult with respect to its taxonomy. The most comprehensive classification of Stachys was proposed by Bhattacharjee (1980) and is commonly used as a framework for systematic treatments in the genus (e.g., Rechinger, 1982;Harvey and Demissew, 1994;Ílçim et al., 2008;Pool, 2007). Bhattacharjee (1980) recognized two major subgenera: Betonica L. and Stachys, the latter including 19 sections and 22 subsections (Table 2). ...
... Hence, Multibracteolatae (emend. Rechinger, 1982) appears to be monophyletic, while the phylogenetic status of the other subsection remains uncertain. ...
... According to the most comprehensive treatment, Old World species are grouped in two subgenera (Betonica and Stachys), with a total of 20 sections and 19 subsections (Bhattacharjee, 1980). The two subgenera are distinguished by several physical features-flowers/ inflorescences, lower cauline leaves and fruits-but there is a long-standing taxonomic debate concerning the prospect of segregating Betonica at the genus level (Koeva-Todorovska, 1979;Rechinger, 1982). This debate has stimulated a number of independent studies, which support the distinctiveness of the two taxa concerning glandular trichomes, and also concerning chemotaxonomic markers such as glycosides (Giuliani and Maleci Bini, 2012;Marin et al., 2004). ...
... Floral leaves ovate to ovatelanceolate, rarely lanceolate, apex acute, margin sharply serrate to entire, sessile, as long as or longer than verticillasters. Verticillasters 2-8, usually the lower (1)(2)(3)(4)(5) (Rechinger, 1982). It resembles S. balansae, but it can be distinguished from subsp. ...
As a part of a revisional study of Stachys L. sect. Eriostomum (Hoff manns. & Link) Dumort. (Lamiaceae),
4 taxa [S. tymphaea Hausskn., S. thracica Davidov, S. cretica L. subsp. cretica, and S. cretica L. subsp. salviifolia (Ten.)
Rech.f.] were recorded for the fi rst time from Turkey. S. cretica subsp. trapezuntica Rech.f., which was described based
on 3 syntypes [Bourgeau 695; Sintenis 3432 (designated here as the lectotype); Handel-Mazzetti 324] near Trabzon, had
not been collected again since 1907. It was found in 2 syntype localities from Trabzon in 2010 during this study, for the
fi rst time in 103 years. For 2 taxa, the categories of other authors were accepted, as opposed to those in Flora of Turkey:
S. germanica L. subsp. bithynica (Boiss.) R.Bhattacharjee (a subspecies) was replaced with S. bithynica Boiss. as a species,
and S. balansae Boiss. & Kotschy subsp. carduchorum R.Bhattacharjee (a subspecies) was replaced with S. carduchorum
(R.Bhattacharjee) Rech.f. as a species. In one taxon, the category of Haussknecht was accepted: S. tymphaea Hausskn.
Th e status of S. libanotica Benth. var. minor Boiss. was changed to S. minor (Boiss.) Akçiçek & Dirmenci comb. et stat.
nov. One species (S. ehrenbergii Boiss.) was removed from the fl ora of Turkey because it was mistakenly reported to
grow in Turkey. Descriptions, diagnostic characters, detailed illustrations, distribution maps, and taxonomic comments
for these taxa are presented. A phylogenetic analysis using the ITS of the nuclear ribosomal DNA of the examined taxa
further confi rmed the rearrangements suggested.
The Effect of different levels of Wood Betony (WB), Stachys lavandulifolia extract, as complement in feed, on the performance of common carp, Cyprinus carpio was evaluated. The fish (44 +/- 0.62 g) was assigned to four treatments, three replicates each. The fish was fed on normal diet with no WB (control) vs. diet containing 2, 4 and 8% of WB extract. Fish were successively fed on the diet, 2% live body weight, three daily for 70 days. The results revealed that final weight, mean weight gain and specific growth rate were significantly improved by increasing WB levels in the diet. The highest growth performance and the lowest feed conversion ratio were recorded for 8% WB treatment. No significant changes were observed in the proximate whole body composition among different groups. Hemoglobin content and hematocrit value increased significantly in the second group in comparison with the others (P< 0.05). The highest serum total protein (5.05 +/- 1.4 g dl(-1)) and globulin (2.47 +/- 0.3 g dl(-1)) were recorded in the fish fed on the highest dose of WB (8%). Inclusion of 2% of WB in the diet reduced serum triglycerides (317.44 +/- 89 mg dl(-1)) and cholesterol (141.51 +/- 35 mg dl(-1)) in comparison with control (P< 0.05). It could be concluded that feeding common carp with the diet enriched with WB extract could enhance growth rate, improve some hematological and biochemical characteristics with no adverse effects on body composition.
Stachys lavandulifolia is a native plant that has been used as an anxiolytic and sedative in Iranian folk medicine. In Iran, 34 species of this genus are present, among which 13 are endemic. The plant is known as Chay-e-kohi in Persian and its English name is betony. It is used as herbal tea in gastrointestinal disorders. Tea made from the whole plant or leaves is used for its sedative, antispasmodic, diuretic and emmenagogic activity. The decoction of leaves and flowers is used by the tribal people of Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari for the treatment of skin infection, menorrhagia and as an antibacterial agent. Also, the aerial part of Stachys lavandulifolia has been used by tribal people of Ilam Province West Iran, as carminative, sedative and cardiotonic, and for treatment of rheumatism, indigestion and headache. The essential oil of Stachys lavandulifolia from Zagros Mountains, Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province, Southwest Iran were analysed by GC and GCMS. The major components of Stachys lavandulifolia oil were β-phellandrene (37.93%), α-thujene (23.76%), benzaldehyde (6.28%), β-myrcene (4.41%), γ-elemene (3.98%) and bicyclogermacrene (2.64%).
Stachys vuralii Yıldız, Dirmenci & Akçiçek (Lamiaceae), a new species of the section Eriostomum is described from north Anatolia, Turkey. Detailed illustrations and taxonomic comments are provided along with a table listing the differential characters to the closely related S. byzantina and S. thirkei. Delimitations towards S. byzantina and S. thirkei and existence of putative hybrids are discussed. A phylogenetic analysis using ITS of nuclear ribosomal DNA confirmed the status of S. vuralii as a distinct species. The geographical location of S. vuralii is also presented.
Stachys L. (Lamiaceae) exhibits a great range of variation with cosmopolitan distribution. An area extremely rich in taxa including 34 species has been introduced in Iran. This study documents the genetic diversity and morphological variations of 48 accessions from fifteen Stachys species and two subspecies belonging to six sections. All of the specimens were collected from natural habitats in Zagros region of Iran. In order to evaluate morphological variations, 21 characters were used. Eleven ISSR primers with DNA samples of leaves were applied to assess the genetic variations among species and populations of the Stachys genus. Based on the results, from the eleven primers screened, nine primers produced reproducible bands. The highest percentage of polymorphism included 100% in section Aucheriana. Analysis of molecular variance revealed a high proportion of gene variation (42%) among populations within species. In total sections, the UPGMA clustering dendrogram genetically detected different groups. Based on the morphological analysis, each section was definitely positioned. A high genetic diversity and polymorphism was found among Stachys accessions belonging to each section. Based on the findings, the germplasm diversity was due to the wealth genetic resources in the central Zagros region which are important in plant breeding and gene conservation purposes. In addition, morphological and ISSR molecular markers are useful to display the diversity in Stachys genus.
Background and purpose: Therapeutic effects of Stachys lavandulifolia include anxiolytic effects; also, it
has beneficial effects in rheumatic diseases, genital tumors and cancerous ulcers but it showed adverse effects on liver
and kidney. We investigated the subacute and subchronic toxic effect of Stachys lavandulifolia water extract in rat.
Materials and methods: The animals were randomly divided into four groups as cases and one group as
control respectively received doses of 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg of the water extract and normal saline,
intraperitoneally, daily, for 14 days. At 8th and 15th days, the serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate
aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutathione (GSH), creatinine (Cr), and blood urea nitrogen
(BUN) were evaluated in different groups.
Results: On the subacute study, there was significant increase of AST and ALT levels at dose of 100 mg/kg,
BUN level at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, GSH level at all doses except the dose of 150 mg/kg compared to the
control group (P < 0.05 for all). On the subchronic administration, only the AST level significantly increased at the
dose of 200 mg/kg compared to the control group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Stachys lavandulifolia extract caused severe toxic effects on the liver and weaker toxic effects
on the kidney; therefore, it should be used warily in the public.
Keywords: Stachys lavandulifolia, subacute toxicity, subchronic toxicity, water extract
Stachys lavandulifolia grows wild in Iran and is claimed to be effective for the treatment of infection, asthma, inflammatory diseases, and especially rheumatism. Thus, four populations of this species were studied karyologically. The basic chromosome number, the ploidy level, the total length of the chromosomes, and five different measures of karyotype asymmetry were investigated. The basic chromosome number of the studied populations was obtained as x = 15. The presence of 60 chromosomes in all of populations corresponds to tetraploidy (2n = 4x = 60) levels. The size of mitotic chromosomes was small and the mean length varied from 1.30 to 1.48 μm. The smallest chromosomes were observed in Manbar population and the largest in Angoran population. In all of the populations, metacentric chromosomes were the most common, whereas sub-metacentric chromosomes were rare. Karyotypic indices obtained for all populations revealed that the karyotypes were slightly asymmetrical. The intrachromosomal asymmetry index (A1) index varied from 0.16 to 0.25, interchromosomal asymmetry index (A2) ranged between 0.05 and 0.14, and Paszko’s asymmetry index (AI) ranged from 0.08 to 0.44. Gachsar population showed the highest levels of karyotypic heterogeneity. Finally, the results of the present study are important for breeding programs and for understanding the taxonomic position of this species.
The present study deals with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Stachys lavandulifolia (S. lavandulifolia). Total phenolic content was assessed using Folin-Ciocalteu's method. The antioxidant activity was determined by measuring the scavenging activity of DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and lipid peroxidation assay. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO) inhibitory assay. Quercetin was used as a standard drug for the study of anti-inflammatory activity. The methanolic extract of S. lavandulifolia showed highest total Phenolic content. The methanol and ethyl acetate extracts possessed strong scavenging activity in DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods. Both ethyl acetate and methanol extracts showed Dose-Dependent protective effect against lipid peroxidation and free radical generation in liver homogenates. All extracts of S. lavandulifolia screened for anti-inflammatory LOX assay and hexane extract showed significant LOX inhibition compare to quercetin as positive control. For further investigation hexane extract was subjected to thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). One of TLC fraction showed significant LOX inhibition. The results obtained in this study confirm the traditional use of S. lavandulifolia for the treatment of painful and inflammatory conditions.
Stachys schtschegleevii Sosn. (Lamiaceae alt. Labiatae) is one of 34 Stachys species found in Iran, and is morphologically similar to Stachys inflata. This plant has been used in the Iranian traditional medicine as a remedy for bacterial infections, rheumatic fever and other inflammatory conditions. The n-hexane, dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol (MeOH) extracts of the non-flowering aerial parts of this plant were assessed for their antibacterial and free-radical-scavenging activities using the micro-titer-based antimicrobial assay incorporating resazurin as an indicator of cell growth and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, respectively. While the n-hexane extract did not show any free-radical-scavenging activity, the MeOH extract showed the highest level of activity with a RC50 value of 2.94 x 10(-2) mg/mL, which was about ten-fold less active than the positive control Trolox (R) (RC50 = 2.60 x 10(-3) mg/mL). None of the extracts showed any antibacterial property against Bacillus cereus and B. subtilis at test concentrations. However, all extracts were active against ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The MeOH extract was the most potent (MIC range 1 56-6.25 mg/mL) among the extracts and was most active against ampicillin-resistant E. coli (MIC = 1.56 mg/mL).
Stachys pseudobombycina Kaynak, Daşkın & Yılmaz sp. nov. (Lamiaceae) from south Anatolia, Turkey is described and illustrated. It belongs to section Olisia and appears to be close to S. bombycina. Its diagnostic characters, ecology and geographical distribution are described and compared with closely related species.
Objective
To examine the chemical variability in inflorescences of wild populations of Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl (S. lavandulifolia) collected throughout two provinces (Isfahan and Chaharmahal va Bakhtiary), Southwest Iran.
Methods
The essential oils of S. lavandulifolia Vahl from seven locations were obtained by hydro-distillation and analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Results
The results revealed that distinct differences in the content of compounds depending on region of sample collection. The main constituents of the essential oils were α-thujone (0.3%–32.3%), α-pinene (trace to 37.3%), myrcene (0.5%–15.9%), β-phellandrene (1.1%–37.9%), germacrene D (0.4%–11.3%), Δ-cadinene (trace to 11.6%) and 1, 4-methano-1 H-indene (trace to 10.1%).
Conclusions
The results of the present study indicated that essential oil components of S. lavandulifolia Vahl can be varied with genetic (ecotype), environmental conditions and geographic origin. In general, the essential oils of various populations of S. lavandulifolia Vahl were rich in monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids.
Trichomes of 37 taxa of the genus Stachys and one species of Sideritis (S. montana) were examined using light and scanning electron microscopy. The indumentum shows considerable variability among different species, but is constant among different populations of one species, and therefore, affords valuable characters in delimitation of sections and species. The characters of taxonomic interest were presence of glandular and non-glandular trichomes, thickness of the cell walls, number of cells (unicellular or multi-cellular), presence of branched (dendroid) trichomes, presence of vermiform trichomes, orientation of trichomes in relation to the epidermal surface, curviness of trichomes, and presence of papillae on trichome surface. Two basic types of trichomes can be distinguished: glandular and non-glandular trichomes. The glandular trichomes can in turn be subdivided into subtypes: stalked, subsessile, or sessile. The stalks of the glandular trichomes can be uni-or multi-cellular. Simple unbranched and branched trichomes constitute two subtypes of non-glandular trichomes. Our data do not provide any support for separation of Sideritis from Stachys. The following evolutionary trends are suggested here for Stachys: vermiform trichomes with stellate base are primitive against vermiform trichomes with tuberculate base, long vermiform trichomes are primitive against the short simple trichomes, appressed trichomes are advanced against spreading ones, and loss of glandular trichomes is advanced against their presence. Overall, trichome micromorphology is more useful in separation of species within sections rather than characterizing large natural groups known as sections, except for few cases.
Pollen grains of 30 taxa of the genus Stachys (29 spp. and one subsp.), representing 9 of the currently recognized sections and 1 species of the closely related genus Sideritis (Si. montana) distributed in Iran were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. Twenty-eight taxa are studied for the first time under aspects of pollen morphology. The basic shape of the pollen grains in most taxa studied is prolate-spheroidal, but subprolate, spheroidal and oblate-spheroidal pollen grains can also be found in few species. The grains are usually tricolpate (the amb triangular), but also tetracolpate (the amb circular to more or less square) in some species (S. iberica, S. atherocalyx and Si. montana). The surface is microreticulate (the frequent type), reticulate, perforate, foveolate-psilate or foveolate. The lumina are separated by smooth or sinuate muri which make them polygonal, more or less rounded and elongate. Major pollen morphological features of the taxa studied are compared and discussed on the basis of taxonomical concepts. In some cases, these characters are useful in delimitation of formerly introduced sections while they mostly provide further characters in separating related species from each other. For example, all members of S. sect. Aucheriana are characterized by elongated lumina. Based on the oblate-spheroidal shape of its pollen as well as tetracolpate aperture type, the results of the present study confirm sect. Pontostachys as including S. angustifolia, S. iberica, S. sparsipilosa as well as S. atherocalyx. Our results also suggest that although some species like S. fruticolosa and S. lavandulifolia are morphologically well characterized, they cannot be separated from other species of Stachys based on pollen morphology.
The new species Stachys ketenoglui Kaynak, Daşkın & Yılmaz (Lamiaceae) is described and illustrated from south Anatolia, Turkey. It is closely related to S. cataonica and S. pumila, but differs from them by its longer petiolated basal leaves, longer calyx, pale pink and longer corollas. Notes are also provided on its ecology, geographical distribution and conservation status. In addition, SEM photos of pollen grains for S. ketenoglui, S. cataonica and S. pumila are provided.
Fresh leaves of 150 individuals from 15 populations representing five putative species of Stachys sect. Fragilicaulis, subsect. Fragiles distributed in the Zagros mountains in western Iran were analyzed for isoenzyme variation. Four enzyme systems (peroxidase, esterase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase) have been studied and a total of 32 bands representing seven putative loci have been analyzed by UPGMA using the Euclidean distances. UPGMA analysis resulted in the recognition of three distinct clusters among the considered populations. The average value of Shannon diversity index (H′) estimated for each population ranged from 0.05 to 2.17. The mean number of bands per isoenzyme ranges from 1.60 to 2.50. The value of Euclidean distance ranges from 0.85 to 3.79. The analysis of isoenzyme variation patterns suggests recognizing following species in Stachys sect. Fragilicaulis subsect. Fragiles: Stachys benthamiana (including Stachys megalodonta), Stachys kurdica (including Stachys ballotiformis) and Stachys asterocalyx. These data also suggest paying more attention to geographical distribution of taxa in Stachys for their taxonomic delimitation. This study provides another strong support for application of electrophoretic analysis of isoenzymes in taxonomy at species level.
Stachys sylvatica L. are presented in Table 1. Both essential oils were light yellow with a distinct sharp odor, and the total yield of both plants was 0.20% v/w. The yield from other species were: S. chrysantha, 0.18%; S. candida, 0.12%; S. setifera, 0.18%, S. obliqua, 0.075%; Stachys schtschegleevii, 0.2%; and Stachys balansae, 0.3% [5, 13, 14, 17]. In Stachys atherocalyx thirty six components were identified representing 98.1% of the total oil; spathulenol (22.1%) was the major component. Eighteen monoterpenes, representing 47.9%, thirteen sesquiterpenes, representing 42.9%, and two aromatic hydrocarbons, representing 1.6% of the total oil, were detected, in which 71.2% of them were oxygenated compounds. The more abundant sesquiterpene was β-bourbonene (5.7%), and the major monoterpenes that were found were β-pinene (9.6%), linalool (9.1%), linalyl acetate (8.9%), α-pinene (4.8%), and α-terpineol (4.3%). Also β-ionone (3.8%) was found with good aboundance. In Stachys sylvatica L. twenty-five components representing 93.9% of the total oil were identified. β-Caryophyllene (19.6%) was the major component, and nine sesquiterpenes and thirteen monoterpenes comprising 75.9% and 19.6% of the total oil were detected, respectively. Other major components were δ-cadinene (13.4%), spathulenol (12.5%), α-humulene (11.2%), δ-3-carene (7.4%), α-copaene (6.4%), and bicyclogermacrene (6.2%). In spite of the large size of the genus Stachys, the composition of the essential oil in only a small number of species has been reported. Previous works on the oil of members of the Stachys genus showed varying compositions [5, 11–19]. For example, the principal constituents of the oil of Stachys officinalis from Yugoslavia were a mixture of β- and isocaryophyllene (22.9%) [12]; the oil of Stachys candida consisted of manoyl oxide (12.07%), caryophyllene oxide (11.5%), and β-caryophyllene (9.58%) [5]; in the oil of Stachys balansae from Turkey [15], β-caryophyllene (24.3%), β-pinene (24.1%), and α-pinene (16.0%) were the major components; also, in our previously reported study, we have found in Stachys schtschegleevii germacrene-D (25.8%), limonene (8.8%), valencene (6.1%), α-pinene (5.6%), bicyclogermacrene (4.5%), δ-cadinene (3.3%); and in Stachys balansae we have found germacrene-D (16.4%), α-pinene (12.1%), β-pinene (11.9%), and valeranone (10.4%) as the major components [17].
Stachys (Lamiaceae: Lamioideae) is a species-rich, widespread, and taxonomically complex genus. A comparative anatomical study of
the petioles and leaf lamina of 34 Stachys taxa representing 12 sections of the genus distributed in Iran was carried out to evaluate interspecific relationships and
anatomical features that may be useful in species identification and subgeneric classification. The general leaf anatomy of
Stachys species presented here corroborates earlier studies in Lamiaceae and on a few studied species in the genus. Leaf anatomy
provides valuable characters that are useful in subgeneric classification as well as species discrimination in Stachys. The most important diagnostic characters are as follows: the shape of transverse section, length of ventral and dorsiventral
axis, number of median bundles in the petiole, number of cell layers of palisade and spongy parenchyma, type and thickness
of collenchyma as well as trichome type. Based on the present study and in accordance with previous works, some large sections
such as Ambleia, Aucheriana, and Fragilicaulis appear to be natural and need minor or no changes in delimitation, while circumscription of sect. Olisia should be revised. Isolated positions of some monotypic or oligotypic sections, such as Pontostachys, Thamnostachys, and Trinerves, as well as Zietenia, are supported by unique leaf anatomical features.
Keywords
Stachys
–Lamiaceae–Leaf anatomy–Taxonomy–Trichome–Iran
Stachys lavandulifolia is used as the herbal tea and its wide and potent medical effects have been reported for the extract in animal studies. This study aimed to find the safety profile of the extract to find the appropriate doses for further human studies. The aerial parts of the plant were air-dried and the hydroalcoholic extract was obtained and concentrated by percolation method with 140 mg/ml concentration. To assess the toxicity profile of this extract, 60 female mice (30 cases, 30 controls, 24.8 ± 2.1 g, 4-6 weeks) were administered the extract by oral gavages in acute (24 hrs), subacute (14 days) and subchronic (45 days) models. All clinical, hematological, biochemical and histopathological changes were assessed in appropriate midpoints and endpoints and compared with control group. Doses up to 140 mg⁄kg were recognized as maximum tolerated dose in subchronic model. Abnormal changes in kidney and liver weight in treatment groups as well as the significant elevation of biochemical parameters in 45 days study has suggested the possible hepatic and renal toxicity potentials of this extract with doses upper than 140 mg⁄kg. Doses up 70 mg⁄kg could be considered as no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) and could be used in further clinical trials on the possible therapeutic effects of this plant.
Immunomodulation using medicinal plants provides an alternative to conventional chemotherapy for several diseases, especially when suppression of inflammation is desired. The "Canon of Medicine", the epochal work of Avicenna, the great Persian scientist of the middle ages, provides comprehensive information about medicinal plants which used to cure inflammatory illnesses in traditional Iranian medicine. Taking into consideration that the mechanisms of damage in these illnesses are mediated by immune responses, it is reasonable to assume that the plants used for such diseases may suppress the immune responses and the resultant inflammation. In Iran, because of great diversity of climate and geographical conditions, numerous varieties of plants grow and at least 1000 species are recorded as medicinal plants. Many of these plants such as Punica granatum, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Foeniculum vulgare and Polygonum species prescribed by ancient Iranian physicians have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. In recent literature, different species of native medicinal plants such as Stachys obtusicrena, Salvia mirzayanii, Echium amoenum, Dracocephalum kotschyi and Linum persicum have been shown to have appreciable anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects including inhibitory effects on lymphocyte activation, suppression of cellular and humoral immunity and induction of apoptosis. This review focuses on plants that are used in Iranian traditional medicine and have been reported to act as immunoinhibitory agents.
Extracts obtained from aerial parts of Stachys inflata have been used in Iranian folk medicine in infective, rheumatic and other inflammatory disorders. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory properties of total methanol extract isolated from aerial parts of Stachys inflata were investigated in two well-characterised inflammatory models in rats, carrageenan-induced paw oedema and formalin-induced paw licking. Intraperitoneal injection of the extract, 60 min before induction of inflammation, revealed a dose-related inhibition of carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema over the dose range 50-200 mg/kg. In the formalin test, the extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) had no effect against the first phase (0-5 min) of the formalin-induced pain, but all three doses produced a significant blockade of the second phase (P < 0.001). Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was determined, and a histopathological study was carried out in paw tissue 4 h after induction of inflammation. The hydroalcoholic extract (200 mg/kg) substantially reduced MPO activity (P < 0.05), which was increased in the control group. Histological examination showed a marked reduction in tissue injury and inhibition in neutrophil infiltration in rats treated with the extract (200 mg/kg).
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