title: Biological activity and microscopic characterization of Lythrum salicaria L.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are several plants have been used worldwide in the folk medicine with high incidence for treatment of human disorders, of which Lythrum salicaria belongs to the Lythraceae family has traditionally reputation for some medicinal usage and recently many biological and pharmacological activity of the plant have been studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, microscopic characterizations of the aerial parts of the plant were determined. Moreover, the plant extract (aqueous methanol 80%) was subjected to an anti-diabetic activity test (in a rat model of streptozocin induced diabetes), anti-Helicobacter pylori (using disc diffusion method) along with antioxidant activity against DPPH (stable free radical) tests. Besides, total flavonoids, phenols, tannins, as well as polysaccharides contents have been assessed using spectroscopic methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The microscopic properties of the plant fragments revealed anomocytic stomata, conical shape trichomes, and abundant spherical pollen grains as a characteristic pattern for the aerial parts of the plant. The extract of the plant at concentration of 15 g/kg showed mild lowering activity on blood glucose level to 12.6% and 7.3% after 2 and 3 h of administration. Additionally, clinically isolated H. pylori strain was inhibited with the plant extract at concentration of 500 mg/mL (zone of inhibition: 17 ± 0.08 mm). Moreover, IC50 values for DPPH inhibition of the plant extract, vitamin E, BHA were examined as 13.5, 14.2, and 7.8 μg/mL, respectively. Total flavonoids, phenols, tannin, and polysaccharides contents of the extract were successfully evaluated as 5.8 ± 0.4 μg QE/mg EXT, 331 ± 3.7 μg GAE/mg EXT, 340 ± 2.3 μg TAE/mg EXT, 21 ± 0.2 μg GE/mg EXT, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggested that L. salicaria has low anti-diabetic and anti-Helicobacter pylori effects, but high antioxidant activity, just the same as positive standard (vitamin E), which might be attributed to the high content of phenolic compounds in the extract.
authors.forename: Azadeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manayi
authors.forename: Mahnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khanavi
authors.forename: Soodabeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saeidnia
authors.forename: Soodabeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saiednia
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Azizi
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mahmoodpour
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vafi
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malmir
authors.forename: Farideh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siavashi
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hadjiakhoondi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D031561:Lythrum / Q000737:chemistry*; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000382:microbiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013311:Streptozocin