Neonatal jaundice treatment with Iranian native medicinal plants: Cotoneaster persicus, most important medicinal plant affecting on neonatal jaundice

Abstract

Neonatal diseases are important now 1-9. Hyperbilirubinemia is a common problem of neonatal period has been seen in 80% of preterm and 60% of normal infants. Cord blood's bilirubin level is 1-3 mg/dl, which increase to less than 5 mg/dl in the second and third day of life, normally 10. Current treatments for hyperbilirubinemia include phototherapy and exchange transfusion. Blood transfusion complications include hemodynamic instability, apnea, pulmonary hemorrhage, thrombocytopenia, coagulopathy, hypoglycemia, electrolyte imbalances, vasospasm, vascular thrombosis, hypertension, arrhythmia, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis and bowel perforation 11. Factors affecting the incidence of neonatal jaundice are maternal diabetes, race, prematurity, polycythemia, gender, skin bruising, Cephalohematoma, Trisomy, induction with oxytocin and calorie deprivation 12,13. Many plant medicines are used to diseases treatment in Iranian traditional medicine, such as: Berberis vulgaris L., Artemisia absinthium L, Adonis dentate Delile., Cerasus vulgaris, Cotoneaster persicus, Cressa cretica L., Anagalis arvensis, Ziziphus jujuba., Lycium shawiiRoem. & Schult., Lavandula angustifolia mill., Salix alba L., Alhagi persarum Boiss. & Buhse, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Cichorium intybus L, Linum usitatissimum L., Vicia faba L., Raphanus niger Mill. And FumariaasepalaBoiss14,15. Most important medicinal plant for treatment of neonatal jaundice is Cotoneaster persicus. A medicine with a yellowish whit color and a sweetish taste known as Purgative manna of Rosaceae family. The most extracted compounds of Cotoneaster plant are mannitol, fructose, glucose and sucrose 16. Medicinal plants are rich sources of antioxidants that their use increases plasma antioxidant capacity and are effective in preventing and treating many diseases 17-66. Mannitol is probably active ingredient of this plant in treatment of Neonatal jaundice.