title: Scientific evaluation of medicinal plants used for the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding by Avicenna.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors: Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 1417653761, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Masumeh
authors: M
authors: Mobli
authors: Marzieh
authors: M
authors: Qaraaty
authors: Gholamreza
authors: G
authors: Amin
authors: Ismaeil
authors: I
authors: Haririan
authors: Mannan
authors: M
authors: Hajimahmoodi
authors: Roja
authors: R
authors: Rahimi
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000266:history
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts