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Review of Scientific Evidence of Medicinal Convoy Plants in Traditional Persian Medicine

Seyede Nargess Sadati1, Mohammad Reza Shams Ardekani1,2, Nastaran Ebadi1, Maryam Yakhchali1, Azadeh Raees Dana1, Fatemeh Masoomi1, Mahnaz Khanavi1,2, Farid Ramezany1★★ Corresponding author

  1. 1Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Traditional Iranian Medicine, IRAN.
  2. 2Department of Pharmacognosy and Persian Medicine, Pharmacy Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IRAN.

CORRESPONDENCE

Farid Ramezany

Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Traditional Iranian Medicine, IRAN.

farid.ramezany@gmail.com

Volume 10, Issue 19 · pp. 33–38 · PUBLISHED · DOI: 10.4103/0973-7847.176546

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ABSTRACT

One concept used in traditional Persian medicine (TPM) for multidrug therapy is that of the convoy drug (Mobadregh). According to TPM texts, convoy drugs are substances (or drugs), which facilitate the access of drugs or foods to the whole body or to specific organs. This study reviewed some convoy drugs presented in TPM, their biological effects, and their probable interactions with main drugs, considering the increased absorption through inhibition of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux function, bioavailability-enhancing effects, and decreased metabolism of the main drug using electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar in November and December, 2013. Recent studies have proven the beneficial effects of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) and camphor on the heart and brain, the cerebral therapeutic effects of Asarum europaeum (hazelwort), the hepatoprotective effects of Cichorium intybus (chicory), and Apium graveolens (celery) seeds, and the diuretic effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon), and Cucumis melo (melon) seeds. The effects of vinegar in targeting the liver and brain have also been demonstrated. An evaluation of the results demonstrated that the suggested convoy drugs, including Piper nigrum (black pepper), Piper longum (long pepper), red wine, Camellia sinensis (tea), hazelwort, Mentha longifolia (pennyroyal), Anethum graveolens (dill), Foeniculum vulgare (fennel), cinnamon, and Sassafras albidum (sassafras) can increase the bioavailability of coadministered drugs by inhibition of P-gp or cytochrome P450s (CYP450s) or both of them. This evidence could be a good basis for the use of these agents as convoys in TPM.

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    Sadati, S. N., Ardekani, M. R. S., Ebadi, N., Yakhchali, M., Dana, A. R., Masoomi, F., Khanavi, M., & Ramezany, F. (). Review of Scientific Evidence of Medicinal Convoy Plants in Traditional Persian Medicine. Pharmacognosy Reviews, 10(19), 33–38. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.176546