Phytochemical investigation and antimicrobial, antifungal and synergistic activities of chloroform fractions of the root of Ferula szovitsiana

زمینه و هدف: گیاه کمای بیابانی (Ferula szowitsiana) متعلق به خانواده چتریان و از گیاهان دارویی بومی ایران و آسیای مرکزی می‌باشد. صمغ حاصل از ریشه گیاهان جنس کما در درمان بیماری های گوارشی و روماتیسم کاربرد دارد. این مطالعه با هدف بررسی اثرات فراکسیون های عصاره کلرفرمی ریشه گیاه کمای بیابانی طراحی و اجرا شده است. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه تجربی اثرات ضد باکتریایی، ضد قارچی و هم افزایی عصاره‌ی کلروفرمی و فراکسیون های فعال ریشه (CEF1-CEF15) بر روی برخی باکتری‌های گرم مثبت و گرم منفی و قارچ های کاندیدا کفیر و کریپتوکوکوس نئوفورمانس (غلظت‌های 2/0 تا 4 میلی‌گرم بر میلی‌لیتر و با مضرب 2) با روش انتشار در آگار و تعیین حداقل غلظت مهارکنندگی بررسی گردید. یافته‌ها: نتایج نشان داد که عصاره‌ و اجزای مختلف آن ، اثرات ضد میکروبی قابل ملاحظه‌ای بر روی میکروارگانیسم‌های مورد آزمون دارند. میانگین قطر هاله‌های عدم رشد بین 7 تا 23 میلی متر برای اجزای مختلف عصاره ثبت شد. عمده‌ترین اثر ضد میکروبی از 15 جزء حاصله در جزء CEF6 و روی باکتری باسیلوس سوبتیلیس و قارچ کریپتوکوکوس نئوفورمانس (به ترتیب با قطر هاله 4/15 و 1/23 میلی متر) دیده شد. جزء CEF5 اثر مهار کنندگی روی رشد هیچکدام از میکروارگانیسم‌ها نداشت. بیشترین اثرات هم افزایی اجزا، با آنتی‌بیوتیک‌های اریترومایسین و تتراسایکلین با اجزای CEF1، CEF9، CEF10 و CEF11 روی باکتری استافیلوکوکوس اورئوس مقاوم به متی سیلین و باسیلوس سوبتیلیس مشاهده شد. نتیجه گیری: نتایج نشان داد عصاره و اجزای حاصله از گیاه کمای بیابانی خواص ضد قارچی و ضد باکتریی قابل قبولی از خود نشان می‌دهند که می‌توانند به عنوان منبع بالقوه برای ترکیبات جدید ضد باکتری در نظر گرفته شوند

Fruit quality, bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity of 6 Iranian peach cultivars

Knowledge of fruit biochemical properties is very important for perception ofproduct behavior during harvesting, transportation, packaging, storing and regenerationprograms. In this study, physicochemical properties of fruit in 6 Iranian peach cultivars:‘Tak-daneh’, ’Zoodras’, ‘Anjiri-ye-khouni’, ‘Haj-kazemi’, ‘Zaferani’ and ‘Kosari’ weredetermined. For evaluation of antioxidant capacity and its relation with total phenolicsand flavonoids, total antioxidant capacity [measured with 3 methods: ferric-reducingantioxidant potential (FRAP), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2, 2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulfonic acid) radical scavenging assay (ABTS)] and totalphenolics and flavonoids in fruits extracts of aforementioned peach cultivars weremeasured and then, correlation of these parameters were evaluated. The highest °Brix anddry matter content among the studied cultivars corresponded to ‘Anjiri-ye-khouni’ andthe highest fruit humidity correlated to ’Zoodras’ and ‘Haj-kazemi’. The highest values ofvitamin C corresponded to ‘Anjiri-ye-khouni’ and ’Zoodras’ had the lowest vitamin C.Total ascorbic acid content was higher, then reported for other peach cultivars in the literature cited. Results revealed that ‘Anjiri-ye-khouni’ among the studied cultivars hadthe best antioxidant activity, flavonoid content and fruit quality attributes

Contrastive response of Phlomis tuberosa to salinity and UV radiation stresses

Growth, photosynthetic characteristics and antioxidant defense system were investigated under salinity stress and UV radiation in Phlomis tuberosa (Lamiaceae) grown under environmentally controlled conditions for two weeks. Salinity at 40 mM results in significant reduction of shoot growth up to 20%, while UV radiation at 10 kJ m-2 d-1 did not affect plants dry matter production. Salinity did not influnce PSII photochemistry, while UVA+B radiation caused a significant reduction of maximum quantum yield of PSII. The net photosynthesis rate was inhibited by both salinity and UV stress following reduced stomatal conductance. Leaf osmotic and water potential were decreased by salinity but not UV radiation. Activity of antioxidant enzymes increased under both salinity and UV radiation stress, however, membrane damage was occurred only under UV stress. Our data implied that, high salinity sensitivity in this species was mainly attributable to the salt-induced disturbance in water relations and reduced assimilation rate rather than to other factors such as damage to PSII, oxidative stress or membrane damage. However, PSII photoinhibition, membrane damage and significant reduction of net assimilation rate were not able to affect negatively plants performance under UV stress implying involvement of other factors in high UV stress tolerance in Phlomis tuberosa

Exogenous ascorbate improves antioxidant defense system and induces salinity tolerance in soybean seedlings

Germination, growth and antioxidant defense system were investigated under salinity stress and pre-treatment with ascorbate (ASC) in two soybean cultivars SAHAR and DPX. Sterilized seeds were soaked in distilled water or ASC solution (0, 400 mg L-1) for 4 hrs before they were sown in distilled water or NaCl solution (0, 12.5 and 50 mM). Salt stress reduced the growth of both cultivars through reduction in percentage of germination, shoot and root length and dry weight of seedling. ASC induced enhancement in growth of salt-stressed plants coupled with an increase in catalase and peroxidase activity in seedlings only in SAHAR cultivar, and an increase in superoxide dismutase activity in both cultivars. These findings led us to conclude that applied ASC counteracts the adverse effects of salt stress on growth of soybean; however, these effects were cultivar specific

Evaluation of Prescription Appropriateness of CT Scan for Low Back Pain in Shiraz’s Referral Trauma Hospital Using RAND Appropriateness Method

Introduction: This study aims to identify the appropriateness of CT Scan prescriptions for Lumbar Spine using the RAND Appropriateness Method in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS). Methods: A total of 281 patients referred to the hospitals affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences were selected as sample of the study in 2016. The scenarios derived through the RAND Appropriateness Method were compared with medical records of these patients by educated physicians. Results: Out of 281 cases of lumbar spine MRI prescriptions, 57.7% were appropriate, 32.7 % were uncertain, and 9.6 % were considered to be appropriate. In addition, some related factors to appropriateness of prescriptions were identified. Conclusions: Clinical guidelines developed using RAND Appropriateness Method can be an appropriate instrument for policy makers, health care providers, and health insurance companies in order to reduce inappropriate cares and quality improvement, especially in developing countries. It is recommended that appropriateness of prescriptions will be considered as the criteria for payment and reimbursement to prescribers. In this way, inappropriate cares may be reduced

Synergistic effects of quercetin and regular exercise on the recovery of spatial memory and reduction of parameters of oxidative stress in an animal model of alzheimer's disease

It has widely been reported that the brain in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is affected by increased oxidative stress, and this may have a role in the pathogenesis of this disorder. Quercetin, a polyphenol extensively found in nature, has recently been considered. Also, physical activities have a paradoxical effect on brain function in older adults. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the synergic effects of quercetin (as chemical treatment) and exercise (as physical treatment) on AD-induced learning and memory impairment. Fifty-six adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into one of the following eight groups (n=7): The Control, Sham (saline), AD (intracerebro-ventricular administration of streptozotocin (STZ)), AD+80 mg/kg Quercetin (STZ+Q80), Quercetin vehicle (1 % Ethanol)+STZ, Exercise pretreatment (EX)+STZ, Off the treadmill+STZ, and EX+Q80+STZ. Quercetin administration was done intraperitoneally for 21 days after STZ injection. The rats ran on the treadmill for one hour a day for 60 days at a speed of 20-22 m/min. After the treatment, the spatial memory and levels of oxidative stress parameters were evaluated. The results showed that STZ caused spatial memory impairment and increased oxidative stress in the hippocampus. Exercise pretreatment or Quercetin injection improved the spatial memory impairment and oxidative stress caused by STZ injection. However, the combination of quercetin and exercise pretreatment was more effective. It can be concluded that the combined exercise pretreatment and Quercetin injection affected the antioxidant defense system and improved STZ-induced memory impairment. Keywords:Alzheimer Disease; streptozotocin; quercetin; exercise; oxidative stress; hippocampu

Effect of Temperature on the Critical Micelle Concentration and Micellization Thermodynamic of Nonionic Surfactants: Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Fatty Acid Esters

In this study, non-ionic surfactants, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters (polysorbate) are chosen to examine the temperature effect on the CMC over a wide temperature range. The enthalpy and entropy of micelle formation are evaluated according to the phase separation model. The surface tension of solutions was determined by means of Du Nöuys ring. The CMC values were taken from the sharp breaks in the surface tension vs. logarithms of surfactant concentration plots. As the surfactants’ chain length increases the CMC at a constant temperature decreases, which is directly related to the decrease of hydrophilicity of the molecules. For each surfactant, as the system temperature increases, the CMC initially decreases and then increases, owing to the smaller probability of hydrogen bond formation at higher temperatures. The onset of micellization tends to occur at higher concentrations as the temperature increases. To evaluate the enthalpy of micellization, the CMCs are first correlated by a polynomial equation. It is found that ΔG°m decreases monotonically as the temperature increases over the whole temperature range. Both ΔH°m and ΔS°m appear to be decrease monotonically with an increase in temperature. The compensation temperature was found to be 42 oC by linear regression over the whole temperature range and for all three surfactant systems together

Novel thermosensitive poly (N-isopropylacrylamide-co-vinylpyrrolidone-co-methacrylic acid) nanosystems for delivery of natural products

The purpose of this research was to synthesize polymer based smart nanosystems for delivery of important bioactive natural products such as sesquiterpene coumarin derivatives of ferula szowitsiana, farnesiferol C as a potent anticancer. To this aim, polymeric micelles were prepared using N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAM), vinyl pyrrolidone (VP) and methacrylate (MAA) as monomers which were cross-linked with N, N-methylene bis-acrylamide (MBA). The molar ratio of the PNIPAAm: VP: MAA group was 75.7:9.5:14.8. These micelles were further characterized upon their physicochemical properties using particle size analyzer, FT-IR, H-/C-NMR, HPLC. Particle size analyzer resulted in ~500 nm micelles with ~95% drug entrapments. Drug release from the polymeric micelles after 300 hours at 37°C and 40°C were 60 and 98 %, respectively. Upon these findings, it is proposed that the P (N-isopropylacrylamide-co-Methacrylic acid-co-Vinylpyrrolidone) micelles may be considered as thermosensitive delivery nanosystem.Keywords: N-isopropylacrylamide; Thermosensitive; Nanoparticles; Farnesiferol C; Amphiphilic polymers

The Comparison of Composition and Biological Activities in Wild and Cultivated of Thymus kotschyanus Essential Oils and Methanolic Extracts From East Azarbayjan, Iran

Objective: The gathering of wild type Thymus kotschyanus as medicinal plant is common in Iran because of their several biological properties which caused destruction of them. The aim of this research was to compare the chemical composition, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of wild and cultivated type of T. kotschyanus collected from East Azarbayjan, Iran. Material and Methods: The essential oils (EOs) from aerial parts of wild and cultivated T. kotschyanus were investigated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Antibacterial activity of (EOs) and methanol extracts were tested against bacteria by disc diffusion method and determining of their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values by agar dilution method and antioxidant activity by DPPH and FRAP assays. Results: Thirty-five components were identified representing more than 90% of the total oil constituents. The oils were dominated by monoterpene hydrocarbons (50.2%) for wild type and oxygenated monoterpenes (63.38%) for cultivated type. The major components in the oils of the wild type were; thymol (29.96%), p-cymene (21.35%) and α-pinene (12.72%) and for the cultivated type were; thymol (47.48%) and α-pinene (5.49%). The MIC values of bacterial strains, which were sensitive to the EO of T. kotschyanus, were in the range of 2-128 μg/mL in wild type and 2-16 μg/mL in cultivated type. Conclusion: Our data shows that, cultivation significantly affects the EOs’ chemical composition and antioxidant potential of T. kotschyanus. They signify a reasonable source of natural antibacterial substances that exhibited potential as a drug for use in pathogenic bacteria