The use of medicinal herbs in gynecological and pregnancy-related disorders by Jordanian women: a review of folkloric practice vs. evidence-based pharmacology

Context National statistical reports in Jordan indicate a decrease in the total fertility rate along with a parallel increase in contraceptive use. The folkloric use of medicinal herbs in gynecological disorders has been growing in Jordan, despite of deficient reports on the evidence-based safety and efficacy of these practices.

Objective The aim of this comprehensive article is to review medicinal plants with claimed ethnonpharmacological usage in various gynecological and pregnancy-related issues in Jordan, and to assess their evidence-based pharmacological studies as well as their phytochemistry.

Methods The published literature was surveyed using Google Scholar entering the terms “ethnopharmacology AND Jordan AND infertility AND gynecology OR gestation”. We included ethnopharmacological surveys in Jordan with available full-text.

Results Twelve articles were reviewed. Plant species which are commonly used for female gynecological issues such as Artemisia monosperma Del. and A. herba-alba Asso. (Asteraceae) have been found to exert an antifertility effect. Ricinus communis L. (Euphorbiaceae) and Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. (Cucurbitaceae) had antifertility effects in male rats, but Nigella sativa oil L. (Ranunculaceae) and Cinnamon zeylanicum J. Presl (Lauraceae) were found to enhance it.

Conclusion Using plants for gynecological disorders is a common practice in Jordan. Many of them, whether utilised for gynecological or non-gynecological conditions equally, were found to have detrimental effects on female or male fertility. Thus, couples planning pregnancy should be discouraged from the consumption of these herbs. Further local studies are warranted to confirm the appreciable beneficial pharmacological effects and safety of these plants.     

关节盘无移位的症状性颞下颌关节的核磁共振研究

目的：本研究的目的是应用核磁共振成像（MRI）诊断颞下颌关节紊乱病（TMD），讨论在关节盘位置正常的TMD关节中的核磁共振影像发现，并探讨这些影像发现与临床症状间的关系。方法：本研究对2000－2002年期间在芬兰欧鲁大学牙学院颌面外科就诊的78名TMD患中，经MRI发现为关节盘位置正常的68侧关节作了影像及临床症状的对比分析。结果：在此68侧关节MRI中，发现了髁突运动异常：过度运动（61.8%）及运动受限（2.9%）；发现了怀疑为翼外肌上头和／或下头的肥大、萎缩及挛缩等病理改变（58.9%）。在关节盘形态方面，未发现明显的关节盘畸形，但发现了关节盘整体变厚的病理影像表现（22.1%），还到涉及关节囊上腔、下腔和／或双板区的炎性渗出（35.3%）。髁突过度运动及翼外肌病理改变与症状组有显性关系。结论：本研究的结果提示，髁突过度运动及可能发生的翼外肌病理改变，在引起关节盘位置正常的颞下颌关节的临床TMD症状中，扮有十分重要的角色。     

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage of the right lower lobe shown by CT scans

A case is reported in which the diagnosis of partial anomalous pulmonary venous return was first suggested on computed tomographic (CT) scans. Abnormal pulmonary vessels could be seen on serial CT sections to drain into the superior vena cava. The diagnosis was confirmed at angiographic study.