1- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Solid Tumor Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Research Institute, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
2- PhD in Biochemistry, Post-doctorate in Food and Diabetes, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Canada , f.abdi@mail.utoronto.ca
Abstract: (347 Views)
Objective: Anemia, characterized by an insufficient number of healthy red blood cells, can be caused by blood loss, hemolysis, or impaired erythropoiesis. Types of anemia include iron-deficiency anemia and vitamin-deficiency anemia. Given their high iron and nutrient content, certain medicinal plants offer potential therapeutic benefits for anemia. This review aims to identify medicinal plants from Northwest Iran traditionally used for treating this condition.
Methodology: To identify relevant literature, a comprehensive database search was conducted using keywords such as 'medicinal plants,' 'Iran,' 'anemia,' 'hematopoietic,' 'Urmia,' 'Tabriz,' 'Ardabil,' 'West Azerbaijan,' 'East Azerbaijan,' and 'ethnobotany. Databases such as Google Scholar, SID, Magiran, PubMed, and Scopus were used to search for relevant articles, particularly ethnobotanical studies related to the subject.
Results: The review identified that medicinal plants such as Nasturtium sp., Salvia officinalis, Centaurea depressa, Centaurea virgate, Achillea biebersteinii, Cichorium intybus, Urtica dioica, Prunus cerasifera, Cichorium intybus, Saponaria officinalis, Foeniculum vulgare, Achillea millefolium, Berberis vulgaris, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Crataegus aronia, Adiantum capillus-Veneris, Anthemis cotula, Gandelia tourenfortii, Rheus ribes, Lactuca virosa, Hyssopus officinale, and Salix alba are used in traditional and ethnobotanical practices to treat anemia.
Conclusion: Further research is recommended to conduct phytochemical analysis of these medicinal plants, identifying the active compounds that influence anemia and hematopoiesis. Additionally, clinical trials involving animal and human models could explore the potential of these plants as a basis for developing effective and affordable herbal combination drugs for the treatment of anemia.
Received: 2024/08/8 | Accepted: 2025/02/28 | Published: 2025/02/28