Sweet violet — a fragrant flower for coughs and nerves?

Aim of the study: Common violet (Viola odorata L., Violaceae) has shown various medical applications. The current study aimed to compile a review of the chemical composition and medicinal properties of this plant in modern phytotherapy, as well as related multipotential products from traditional Persian medicine (TPM).

Results: Some medical uses of V. odorata in TPM have been supported by recent studies. However, more studies are needed to confirm these medicinal properties. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Aim of the study: In a search for effective preventive and potentially curative treatments for SARS-CoV-2, a historical-ethnopharmacological approach was used to select plants described in the Receptarium of Burkhard III von Hallwyl (RBH), a recipe text from 16th-century Switzerland. Ten plant species were selected from the pre-established RBH database based on specific historical uses thought to be linked with the treatment of viral infections.

Results: Of the ten plants tested, four showed antiviral activity ≥ 50% at 16.7 μg/ml with acceptable cell viability (> 75%): Artemisia vulgaris L. (aerial parts), Geranium robertianum L. (aerial parts), Sambucus nigra L. (leaves), and Viola odorata L. (leaves). The crude extracts were separated into aqueous and organic pre-fractions and further analyzed. The ethyl acetate pre-fractions of G. robertianum, S. nigra, and V. odorata showed significant antiviral activity of nearly 100% at 5.6 μg/ml (P < 0.05). The strongest inhibitory activity was observed for the ethyl acetate pre-fraction of Viola odorata leaves, with 87% at 1.9 μg/ml (P < 0.0001). Phytochemical fingerprints were also produced alongside the bioactivity tests, to provide a preliminary characterization of the active crude extracts. An overview of published phytochemical and antiviral data on the four active plants reveals a fragmented picture, especially regarding the plant parts studied.

Aim of the study: Five medicinal plants: Mentha piperita L., Trachyspermum ammi L., Viola odorata Linn., Matricaria chamomilla L., and Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

Results: In vitro evaluation was performed using the disk diffusion method, and minimum inhibitory concentrations were recorded. Rat models were used to assess in vivo activity against four Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from gastric mucosa. Mentha piperita showed the largest zone of inhibition, with a diameter of 9 mm, among all the extracts. All the plants showed promising anti-Helicobacter pylori activity against four isolates and a reference strain at concentrations of 125, 250, 500, and 1000 μg/ml, compared with Amoxicillin at 1 μg/ml. However, Mentha piperita showed the lowest MIC. In subsequent in vivo testing, it competed with Amoxicillin at 1000 mg/kg, achieving 80% eradication of Helicobacter pylori in the mucosa of infected rats, as confirmed by histological examination of the stomach. The study concluded that medicinal plants have strong anti-Helicobacter pylori activity and could be a potential source of safe and effective alternative treatments for eradicating Helicobacter pylori.

Aim of the study: As an alternative approach, the use of phytotherapeutic agents to manage benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is growing rapidly. Various authors have reported the effectiveness of Viola odorata L. (Violaceae), Echium amoenum Fisch. & C.A.Mey. (Boraginaceae), and Physalis alkekengi L. (Solanaceae) in treating BPH. However, no one has yet reported the beneficial outcomes of using the mixture.

Results: In the treatment group, IPSS scores for incomplete urination (42.3 ± 2.04%), frequency of urination (20.08 ± 1.02%), intermittency (40.78 ± 2.16%), urgency (60.91 ± 3.14%), weak stream (50.58 ± 2.14%), straining (55.67 ± 2.53%), and nocturia (40.14 ± 1.89%) decreased significantly after treatment compared with the placebo group. In addition, prostate volume (16.92 ± 0.89%) and residual urine volume (28.12 ± 1.36%) also decreased significantly in the treatment group compared with the control group. No significant side effects or abnormalities in biochemical tests or urinalysis were observed during the study. Based on the results, the mixture was safe and effective in improving the quality of life of patients with BPH.

Results: There were no significant differences between patients in the three groups before the intervention (P > 0.05). However, after the intervention, there were significant differences between the three groups in ISI scores (P<0.002) and PSQI scores (p<0.001). When comparing the data before and after treatment, ISI and PSQI scores improved significantly in all three groups: violet oil (P<0.001), almond oil (P<0.001), and placebo (P<0.001). The results also showed that violet oil had the greatest effect of the three treatments. In addition, it was more effective for sleep quality than sleep quantity. Given the effects of a natural nasal remedy on improving sleep quality in patients with insomnia, this study proposed using violet oil as a natural herbal medicine, administered by a non-oral route, to treat insomnia without serious side effects.