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 Background and purpose: This research aimed at investigating the effect of herbal medicine on reduction of pulmonary complications in patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Materials and methods: Forty patients with COVID-19 infection older than 18 years of age (60% men) with the average age of over 55 years old enrolled in this study. Written consent was obtained and participants with the following symptoms were divided into experimental group and control group: body temperature higher than 38℃, lymphocyte counts of less than 1200, positive CRP, respiratory symptoms, and pulmonary involvement in lung CT scan. The control group was treated with 400 mg Kaletra® and 200 mg hydroxychloroquine oral every 12 hours, and the experimental group, in addition to this regimen, received 5 ml of a herbal medicine (consisting of Satureja hortensis L., Hypericum perforatum L. and Foeniculum vulgare L.) three times a day. Statistical analysis was done in SPSS applying Chi-square test and t-test.
Results: The herbal medicine was found to be significantly effective in decreasing the time of hospitalization and recovery from the disease (8.5 days in control group vs. 5 days in experimental group, (P<0.05). Also, CRP levels decreased significantly in experimental group and CRP level changes in the control group were 4.75 times higher than the experimental group (P<0.05). Furthermore, pulmonary involvement improved by 8.34% in experimental group compared to the control group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The herbal drug administered in this study, considerably improved lung symptoms and decreased the course of treatment of COVID-19 infection.
 
(Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT20200404046935N1)

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Background and purpose: Gastric ulcers pose significant health challenges due to their high prevalence in various populations. Several factors contribute to the development of this condition, including Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, excessive use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), smoking, age, and gender. Given the high incidence of gastric ulcers induced by NSAID consumption, this study aims to investigate the protective effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of Satureja hortensis and Froriepia subpinnata against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers in animal models.
Materials and methods: n this experimental study, the leaves of Satureja hortensis and Froriepia subpinnata were dried and extracted using 60% ethanol. The toxicity of these plant extracts was assessed using Artemia salina. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extracts were measured spectrophotometrically. For the animal study, 48 Balb/c mice (n= 6 per group) were used. The treatment groups included omeprazole (30 mg/kg) and three different doses (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg) of Satureja hortensis and Froriepia subpinnata, administered separately by gavage. A negative control group received normal saline. One hour after treatment, indomethacin was administered via gavage to induce gastric ulcers. Four hours after indomethacin administration, the animals were anesthetized, and their stomachs were collected for histopathological evaluation.
Results: Histopathological findings revealed that inflammation, gastric tissue bleeding, and congestion were reduced in the Satureja hortensis and Froriepia subpinnata groups. Moreover, the 1000 mg/kg dose of both extracts demonstrated greater efficacy compared to the lower doses tested.
Conclusion: Extracts of Satureja hortensis and Froriepia subpinnata exhibit a protective effect against gastric ulcers induced by NSAIDs. This protective effect is likely attributed to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of phenols and flavonoids present in the extracts and appears to be dose-dependent.