- 1Department
of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Traditional Medicine, Tehran
University of Medical Sciences, 1417653761, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
PURPOSE:
Abnormal
uterine bleeding (AUB) is one of the prevalent gynecological disorders
that cause considerable morbidity and management of that plays an
important role in protecting women's health. This review focuses on medicinal plants mentioned by Avicenna, a great Iranian philosopher and physician (A.D. 980-1037), in his book Canon for treatment of AUB.
METHODS:
Medicinal plants
mentioned in Canon for treatment of AUB were elicited and searched in
electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and
Cochrane library to find studies that confirmed their efficacy. Data
were collected for the years 1980-2014.
RESULTS:
The findings included 23 plants belonging to 18 families. Scientific findings have revealed that these plants
control AUB through four mechanisms of action including inhibition of
inflammatory process, inhibition of prostaglandins production,
antiproliferative activity on human cervical cancer cells (HeLa), and
estrogenic activity. All of the plants
exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and/or in vivo. Cuscuta
chinensis and Portulaca oleracea exhibited estrogenic activity.
Boswellia carteri, Lens culinaris, Myrtus communis, Polygonum aviculare,
Pistacia lentiscus, and Punica granatum have revealed inhibitory
activity on biosynthesis of prostaglandins. Some of the mentioned plants
including: Ceratonia siliqua, Cuscuta chinensis, Cuscuta epithymum,
Cydonia oblonga, Paeonia sp., Portulaca oleracea, Solanum nigrum, Rumex
acetosa and Onopordum acanthium have shown antiproliferative activity on
HeLa cells.
CONCLUSION:
Investigation
of traditional Iranian medicine literatures can lead to the
identification of effective natural medicines for the management of AUB;
however, conclusive confirmation of the efficacy and safety of these
treatments needs more evaluations.
- [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
