Are medicinal plants the future of medicine?

• Traditional iranian medicine has used medicinal plants for years. Prof. Rahimmalek is researching the science behind them

Teamwork is the key to success in any area of work – science is no different. That's why Prof. Mehdi Rahimmalek has travelled to Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences under the NAWA Programme to conduct a scientific scholarship under the supervision of Prof. Antoni Szumny. Together they are expediting Prof. Rahimmalek’s research on the medicinal aspects of Iranian native species of Lamiaceae and Apiaceae plants.

The Lamiaceae are a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the mint or deadnettle or sage family, whereas the Apiaceae is a family of mostly aromatic flowering plants and commonly known as the celery, carrot or parsley family, or simply as umbellifers.

As Prof. Rahimmalek from Isfahan University of Technology says, the UPWr has many good facilities and equipment needed for him to further improve his research. Although the scholarship is set to last from July 2022 till February 2024. Prof. Rahimmalek first heard about the university in 2014, when he was introduced to Prof. Antoni Szumny by Prof. Adam Matkowski from the Wrocław Medical University. That’s how their partnership began. After publishing quite a few scientific articles together, Professor Antoni Szumny from the Department of Food Chemistry and Biocatalysis at UPWr introduced the Iranian scientist to the idea of completing a scholarship under the NAWA programme. NAWA is the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange.

Endemic Iranian plants used medically have scientific backing

During this project, Prof. Mehdi Rahimmalek will be collecting and examining mostly aerial parts of Iranian native Lamiaceae and Apiaceae plants. He’ll be studying secondary metabolites, which are not well recognized yet in these plants. Those include: Thymus karmanicus, Trachyspermum ammi, Perovskia abrotanoides (roots), Ducrosia anethifolia and other endemic plants. They were chosen based on their essential oil content and their medicinal potential.

– Researching the secondary metabolites could lead to finding new compounds, not described in literature yet. The analysis will determine the essential oils, phenol, flavonoids and alkaloids in the plants. Additionally we’ll perform a sensory analysis of the collected plants. We’re looking to find medicinal properties in them. For example, one of the studied plants is ajwain, which is mostly endemic to Iran and India. The seeds are used as spices but they also contain thymol which can be found in thyme. It has anti-cough properties. Another plant that we are working on is Ducrosia anethifolia. This plant, for example, is used in our country as an aromatic vegetable. It might catch on in Europe too. But we’re more interested in the seeds. They have been traditionally consumed to relieve headache, backache and colic pain. They have also antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiproliferative and cytotoxic properties – explains Prof. Rahimmalek. Another plant that the scientists are working on is Perovskia abrotanoides.

Apart from the ornamental qualities of this plant. Perovskia has medicinal properties, mostly in the root – it is antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anticancer.– This is one of our most important studies which we started back in 2014. We have written many papers on this plant during the years – says Prof. Mehdi Rahimmalek.

During his visit to Wrocław the scientist will conduct the separation of fractions and pure compounds by column chromatography as well as p-TLC. Fractions and pure compounds will be also submitted to cytotoxic, antimicrobial, antiprotozoal activities. Additionally the scientists will investigate the effect of drying methods, such as vacuum-microwave, convection, freeze-drying, shade drying and other, on the profile of the essential oils as well as losses of compounds during the process.

The results of this project can lead to introducing new compounds from native plants and the determined compounds can be valuable for further chemical analyses for further purifying. The scientists will also obtain data describing the effect of drying methods on essential oils and other fraction’s profiles. This scientific partnership will help Prof. Mehdi Rahimmalek to advance his technical lab skills and will allow for an exchange of scientific knowledge between the Polish and Iranian labs. International partnerships are crucial for improving interdisciplinary scientific collaborations that provide novel discoveries and ideas through new publications. 

Furthermore, introducing a new plant germplasm along with the European ones can be beneficial for UPWr to find and introduce new compounds from native Iranian and Asian medicinal plants. – The collaboration so far has resulted in scientific publications and a great deal of exchanged ideas. After the project ends, I will take all the knowledge I have obtained at UPWr and pass it onto my students in Iran – says Prof. Rahimmalek about his research at the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences under the NAWA programme.

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