Medicinal Plants with Abortifacient or Emmenagogue Activity: A Narrative Review Based on Traditional Persian Medicine

Introduction: Traditional Persian medicine (TPM) has a rich background and has introduced various plants with abortive or emmenagogue activity since ancient times. However, many of them are unknown in modern medicine, and a few trials have been conducted describing their efficacy and safety. These plants may be helpful for the management of incomplete abortion, with potentially lower side effects than chemical agents. Objectives: This review introduced these plants and their potential efficiency to link traditional and modern medicine and suggested further studies. Methods: The search strategy for citations in this narrative review was performed in two steps. At first, medicinal plants used as abortifacient or emmenagogue to manage incomplete abortions or retained products of conception were searched and extracted in the most famous TPM literature, including Al-Qanun Fi at-Tibb, Tuhfat-al-Momenin, and Makhzan-ul-advia. The next step was searching electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar with the same keywords and herbal plants between 1970 and 2021. The overlapped plants between the manual and electronic search were found and briefly described. Results: In TPM literature, 88 plants with abortifacient activity were found, of which 47 were used to manage incomplete abortions or retained products of conception. Also, in the electronic database search, 14 plants were found to have abortifacient or emmenagogue activity. Among them, six plants, including Sesamum indicum L. (Sesame), Commiphora myrrha (myrrh), Lawsonia inermis L. (Henna), Opopanax chironium L. (Jooshir), Plumbago rosea (Shitraj or Stumbag), and Juniperus sabina (Abhal), overlapped with the manual search results. The abortifacient or emmenagogue activity and properties of all these 14 plants were described. Conclusions: The properties of many traditional plants with abortifacient activity are unknown in modern medicine; however, they should not be used in pregnant women. Nonetheless, they may have the power to be entered into modern medicine. Identifying their pharmacology and action mechanisms may be helpful to introduce them as a potential alternative to chemical agents in the management of induced or incomplete abortion with possibly lower side effects.

Nephroma orvoi (Nephromatoideae, Peltigeraceae) – a new lichen species for Russia

The lichen species Nephroma orvoi is reported as new to Russia from two localities in Murmansk Region. Description and colour illustrations of the material studied are provided. The species was previously known from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Canada (Alberta and British Columbia), USA (Washington), and Greenland. In Russia, it grows on rock outcrops in open habitat along the shore of a Paz River (Pasvik Nature Reserve) and in the bed of a small unnamed stream (neighborhood of Fedorova Tundra Mt.). The specimens were identified by the morphology (mostly laminal, brown, corticate soredia; faveolate, wrinkle-ridged lobes; lower side with short pseudotomentum in middle and inner part) and the identification was confirmed by lichen substances (a series of specific triterpenoids).

Experimental Test on Nonuniform Deformation in the Tilted Strata of a Deep Coal Mine

Taking a deep-mine horizontal roadway in inclined strata as our research object, the true triaxial simulation technique was used to establish a model of the inclined strata and carry out high-stress triaxial loading experiments. The experimental results show that the deformation of surrounding rock in the roadway presents heterogeneous deformation characteristics in time and space: the deformation of the surrounding rock at different positions of the roadway occurs at different times. In the process of deformation of the surrounding rock, deformation and failure occur at the floor of the roadway first, followed by the lower shoulder-angle of the roadway, and finally the rest of the roadway. The deformation amount in the various areas is different. The floor heave deformation of the roadway floor is the greatest and shows obvious left-right asymmetry. The deformation of the higher side is greater than that of the lower side. The model disassembly shows that the development of cracks in the surrounding rock is characterized by more cracks on the higher side and fewer cracks on the lower side but shows larger cracks across the width. The experimental results of high-stress deformation of the surrounding rock are helpful in the design of supports, the reinforcement scheme, and the parameter optimization of roadways in high-stress-inclined rock, and to improve the stability control of deep high-stress roadways.

Ramalina arsenii, an additional new species in the R. pollinaria group in Western Europe

Ramalina arsenii sp. nov. belongs to the R. pollinaria group and is easily recognized by its ITS barcode and several micro-morphological characters that are diagnostic in a European context: small size, less than 3 cm long; soralia developing on the underside of lobe apices; absence of excavate depressions on the lower side. Its ecological niche (i.e. rock outcrops and especially underhangs of slightly calcareous rocks, at low and mid altitudes) is also unique. Ramalina arsenii is frequent and locally abundant in France (Alps, Cantal) and Switzerland (western Alps), and is also known from Germany and the Spanish side of the Pyrenees.

Analysis of Risks Associated With Water Pipes in Rapid Flow Waterways Through Waterway Modeling Experiments

In this study, waterway modeling experiments were conducted by incorporating the information obtained by analyzing accident sites to prevent frequent accidents of firefighters that occur during water rescue operations conducted near water pipes in rapid flow waterways. Based on the conducted experiments, it was observed that the flow velocity increased with decreasing distance from the water pipe. Furthermore, the maximum flow velocity was found to be 3.99 times higher at the posterior end than at the anterior end of the water pipe, and the flow velocity was found to be higher at the lower side than at the upper side of the water pipe’s anterior end. The maximum flow velocity was measured to be 1.65 m/s at a distance of 10 cm from the entrance to the pipe, 2.63 m/s at a distance of 5 cm from the entrance to the pipe, 7.12 m/s within the pipe, and 5.33 m/s at a distance of 5 cm from the pipe’s exit. The average flow velocity was measured to be 0.94 m/s at a distance of 10 cm from the entrance to the pipe, 5.53 m/s within the pipe, and 4.64 m/s at a distance of 5 cm from the pipe’s exit. Furthermore, in this study, relevant standard operating procedures and regulations were taken into consideration. Based on the results obtained from this study, recommendations and guidelines were then accordingly devised for preventing accidents of firefighters that occur during water rescue operations.

Potential of Tithonia diversifolia Hemsley A. Gray (Kembang Bulan) Leaf Extract as Anti-Cancer Agents

The main objective of this review is to explain the great potential of herbal plants as anticancer agents. Cancer is a disease caused by abnormal cell growth in the body. The high number of cancer incidents still become a global concern because of the high mortality rate. The treatments of cancer such as chemotherapy can cause serious side effects by killing the normal cells. This is the reason why it is necessary to develop an alternative treatment of cancer. I discussed a plant that is believed to has health benefit. Many studies have showed the positive effect of Tithonia diversifolia plant for health. After 2000, the researchers discovered a new potential through its cytotoxicity to neoplastic cells. This plant needs to be developed sustainably. However, in the future this plant might become an effective alternative to treat cancer with lower side effects.

New Candidates for Furin Inhibition as Probable Treat for COVID-19: Docking Output

Furin is a serine protease that takes part in the processing and activation of the host cell pre-proteins. The enzyme also plays an important role in the activation of several viruses like the newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 disease with a high rate of virulence and mortality. Unlike viral enzymes, furin owns a constant sequence and active site characteristics and seems to be a better target for drug design for COVID-19 treatment. Considering furin active site as receptor and some approved drugs from different classes including antiviral, antibiotics, and anti protozoa/anti parasites with suspected beneficial effects on COVID-19, as ligands we have carried out docking experiments in HEX software to pickup those capable to bind furin active site with high affinity and suggest them as probable candidates for clinical trials assessments. Our docking experiments show that saquinavir, nelfinavir, and atazanavir with cumulative inhibitory effects of 2.52, 2.16, and 2.13, respectively seem to be the best candidates for furin inhibition even in severe cases of COVID-19 as adjuvant therapy, while clarithromycin, niclosamide, and erythromycin with cumulative inhibitory indices of 1.97, 1.90, and 1.84, respectively with lower side effects than antiviral drugs could be suggested as prophylaxes for the first stage of COVID-19 treatment.

Multicentre Comparison of the Toxicity and Effectiveness of Lobaplatin-Based Versus Cisplatin-Based Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Oesophageal Carcinoma

ObjectivesLobaplatin (LBP), a third-generation cisplatin derivative has shown promising activity and few side effects in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in previous reports. We compared LBP plus docetaxel with cisplatin plus docetaxel as adjuvant chemotherapy in ESCC patients to determine the effects on overall survival (OS) and toxicity.MethodsA multicentre retrospective study was performed using propensity score matching (PSM) with the Medicine-LinkDoc database. Patients diagnosed with stage II-III ESCC treated with adjuvant chemotherapy (cisplatin plus docetaxel or LBP plus docetaxel) between January 2013 and December 2016 were selected from 6 centres in China.ResultsThere were 733 eligible ESCC patients. After PSM (1:1 ratio), 458 patients remained. The 5-year OS rates of the cisplatin and LBP groups were 25.9% and 23.6%, respectively (P=0.457). Leukopenia (grade III-IV/I-II/0: 2.62%/34.5%/59.39% versus 5.24%/43.23%/45.85%; P=0.0176), neutropenia (grade III-IV/I-II/0: 6.55%/37.56%/51.09% versus 4.37%/53.28%/36.34%; P=0.0015), nephrotoxicity (grade I-II/0: 13.97%/76.86% versus 26.64%/65.94%; P<0.001) and gastrointestinal symptoms (grade III-IV/I-II/0: 2.18%/54.59%/32.31% versus 6.55%/65.07%/20.88%; P=0.0011) were more frequent in the cisplatin group.ConclusionsCompared with cisplatin plus docetaxel, LBP plus docetaxel provided the same survival benefits but lower side effects of myelosuppression and gastrointestinal symptoms. LBP plus docetaxel might be a choice for adjuvant chemotherapy in ESCC.Clinical Trial RegistrationLobaplatin or Cisplatin in Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Oesophageal Carcinoma, identifier NCT03413436.

Effect of Nozzle Type and Adjuvants on Spray Coverage on Apple Leaves

Three non-ionic adjuvants, Agral, Silwet, and Greemax, at three concentrations, were applied on apple leaves with the use of hollow cone nozzles (TR) and air-induction nozzles (ID) to verify the assumption that adjuvants may improve spray coverage obtained by coarse droplets, and thereby ensure both satisfactory application quality and an environmental advantage. Spray coverage and droplet density were measured on both sides of the leaves. The adjuvants enhanced the spray coverage when applied at a certain concentration level. In general, the adjuvant coverage produced by the ID nozzles equaled the pure water coverage produced by the TR nozzles, thereby showing the adjuvants’ potential to compensate for the lower spray coverage usually obtained by coarse spray. A higher spray coverage was obtained on the lower side of leaves, which is discussed in terms of leaf surface properties. In the experiment with the mixture of Silwet and the fungicide Delan (dithianon), the product interacted with the adjuvant, resulting in the reversed picture of spray coverage and droplet density on the upper and lower leaf sides compared to the results obtained for the adjuvant alone. The combination of coarse spray nozzles with adjuvants may reduce environmental pollution without compromising the quality of spray applications in fruit growing.

Experimental Investigation on Granite Cutting by Means of Diamond Frame Saw

A great quantity of granite sawing experiments was carried out to explore the cutting performance offrame sawing machine with the horizontal reciprocating cutting mode.A model of average thickness of cutting chip was established, and characteristics of cutting forces were analyzed. The mechanism of wear was revealed by analyzing the width of the saw kerf and the wear morphology of the diamond segments. The results showed that the wear resistance and the cutting forces ncrease as the feed speed. The cutting forces change abruptly at the reversing point during granite cutting. At the same time, the proportion of macro-fractured and pulled-out particles and the mean wear rate of segments increase with the feed speed, and the mean protrusion height of the grits is less than 100 μm. The width of the saw kerf is gradually reduced as the sawing progresses, forming an inverted cone with a large upper side and a small lower side. Besides, the studies found that the wear of the segments remains consistent in two directions. The prominent phenomenon of the diamond particles on the side surface is more obvious as the feed speed increases.The research can provide certain data support for granite cutting, and lay the foundation for the subsequent optimization of the structure and equipment.