Hyssop essence and the biochemical factors
The demand for herbal medicines is growing given their fewer side-effects and higher diversity of the affecting compounds. Diversity of herbal plants in many cases lead to synergic effects so that despite gradual effects, the effects are more stable compared to other medicines [1-3]. More than 80% of pharmaceutical research works in the world are focused on these plants [4]. Over the recent years, application of herbal medicine to achieve preventive and therapeutic effects have been reported on a wide range of neural, digestive, and cerebral diseases [5-9]. Hyssop or Hyssopus officinalis of mint family [10] is recommended for viral infections like the flu, sore throat, bronchitis, and asthma [9]. In addition, hyssop essence and essential are used in food industry for products like sauce, liquor, and hot spices [11]. The compounds found in hyssop vary depending on the region it is found and growth condition so that different compounds like flavonoids, tannin, thymol, carvacrol, mirtonic acid, pinik acid, and so on are found in it. Each one of these compounds are the source of a specific therapeutic effect such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiinflammation, and painkilling effects [12, 13]. Ghasemi et al. studied the antifungal effects of alcoholic essence of Hyssop on saprolegnia fungus and compared the results with Nystatin antifungal chemical drug in fish. They showed that Hyssop inhibited the fungus growth and had a better antifungal effect compared to chemical drugs [14]. Another study showed that Hyssop has antimicrobe effects on bacteria and yeast due to the compounds like thymol, gamaterpinen, carvacrol, and parasmin [11]. In addition, there are reports about the antibacterial effects of hyssop on E coli, staphylococcus aureus, and listeria monocytogenes and positive effects of Hyssop on preventing bacterial growth [10]. Salehie et al. examined painkilling and antiinflammation effect of ethanolic essence of Hyssop in mice and showed that the essence had painkilling and antiinflammation effects in small mice [15]. Moreover, antiplatelet activity of Hyssop has been reported by some studies on mice and pigs [16]. Hyssop contains a wide range of phenolic compounds with antioxidant effects [17]. Dorman et al. (2012) showed that acetonic essence of Hyssop has a considerable effect on surpassing free radicals [18]. The majority of studies on Hyssop have been limited to specific cases and a fundamental study in vivo on physiological effect is absent. Taking into account the key role of the kidney and liver in keeping the physiological balance of the body, the present study is an attempt to examine the effects of Hyssop on these two organs through blood parameters.