title: Olfactory Loss Management in View of Avicenna: Focus on Neuroprotective Plants.
abstract: Loss of olfaction can cause noticeable reduction in general quality of life. Only a small portion of patients with olfactory loss respond to current medications. Thus, development of novel therapeutic strategies seems to be necessary. Looking into traditional medical knowledge can be of great value in addressing useful remedies. Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) has been practiced in Persia for more than 2000 years. Avicenna is the most eminent Persian physician.
  
  
  
  To survey Avicenna's views on etiology and management of olfactory loss and to search for relevant modern pharmacological data.
  
  
  
  Avicenna's views on etiology and management (including suggested medicinal plants) of olfactory loss were obtained from "Canon of Medicine". In addition, a detailed search in ScienceDirect, PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases was performed to elucidate relevant pharmacological actions and mechanisms of the plants and their major compounds with special focus on neuroprotective activity.
  
  
  
  Acorus calamus L., Allium cepa L., Allium sativum L., Aloe spp., Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J.Presl, Lavandula stoechas L., Mentha longifolia (L.) L., Nigella sativa L., Peganum harmala L., Piper nigrum L. and Zingiber officinale Roscoe were found to be the most emphatic plants for the treatment of olfactory loss. Pharmacological studies revealed biological activities including neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, free radical scavenging activities and promoting endogenous antioxidant capacity for these plants and their major components.
  
  
  
  regarding the lack of effective treatments for recruiting normal smell in many cases, treatments suggested by Avicenna worth entering pharmacologic experiments and clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran. Iran.
authors.forename: Farnaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sinaei
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad. Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Ahmad
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Emami
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad. Iran.
authors.forename: Amirhossein
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahebkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad. Iran.
authors.forename: Behjat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Javadi
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D019071:Persia; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Avicenna; anti-inflammatory.; medicinal plants; neuroprotective; olfactory loss; traditional persian medicine