Leurus Cardiac Case Study

Background: Leonurus cardiaca L., is an important medicinal plant, which is grown in many parts of Iran. In this study, phytochemical constituents, antioxidant properties and scolicidal activity of two Iranian cultivars were examined. Materials and Methods: Phytochemical constituents (total phenolic, flavonol and flavonoid) of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Leonurus cardiac were determined by established methods. The antioxidant properties of the extracts were investigated by using various methods such as DPPH and ferric reducing power. In scolicidal efficacy test, different concentrations of alcoholic extracts of L. cardiac were used for different time points (1, 3, 5, 10, 20 and 30 min). Viability of protoscolices was confirmed by

Reducing power assay

The ability of extracts to reduce ferric ions (Fe+3) was determined according to the method of Yen and Chen. [21] Various concentrations of the ethanolic and methanolic extracts (100, 200 and 400 µg/ml) were mixed with 2.5ml of phosphate buffer (0.2M, pH 6.6) and 2.5mlof potassium ferricyanide (1%w/v). This mixture was kept at 50ºC in water bath for 20 minutes. After cooling, 2.5 ml of 10% trichloro acetic acid was added and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 min whenever necessary. The upper layer of solution (2.5 ml) was mixed with distilled water (2.5 ml) and a freshly prepared ferric chloride solution (0.5 ml). The absorbance was measured at 700 nm.

2.6. Preparation of protoscolices and Scolicidal effect on protoscoleces

Hydatid cysts protoscoleces were collected from the livers of infected sheep at Mazandaran Amol, Northern Iran. The viability of protoscolices was assessed by 0.1% eosin staining under light microscopy. To determine the scolicidal activity of metanolic and ethanolic extracts against protoscoleces of hydatid cysts, Five dilution (20, 40, 60, 90 and 120 mg/ml) of extracts were used for 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 and 30 min. 0.5 ml of the protoscoleces solution was placed in test tubes and 0.5 ml of various concentrations of extracts was added to each test tube. Contents of the tubes were gently mixed and incubated at 37ºC for 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 and 30 min. the upper parts of the solution were removed with a pipette and 1 ml of 0.1% eosin stain was added to protoscolices. The protoscolicidal activity of each solution was determined by counting of 250