Effects of formulation and baking process on acrylamide formation in Kolompeh, a traditional cookie in Iran

Thermal treatments and recipes are two critical aspects for the formation of acrylamide at ordinary household cooking conditions and industrial level. Kolompeh is a traditional Iranian cookie, and the aim of this study was to monitor acrylamide formation in four different recipes: traditional sugary Kolompeh (TSK), traditional simple Kolompeh (TSIK), industrial sugary Kolompeh (ISK), and industrial simple Kolompeh (ISIK). Along with the measurement of reducing sugars, moisture, and pH, acrylamide was quantified by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results indicated that acrylamide content was 1758, 1048, 888, and 560 μg/kg for TSK, TSIK, ISK, and ISIK, respectively, revealing that the kind of thermal treatment in combination with higher concentrations of reducing sugars were the major driver for acrylamide formation. In particular, acrylamide concentration in TSIK direct heating was 1.87 times higher than industrial indirect heating treatment, highlighting that domestic preparation of Kolompeh required a specific attention as a source of potential toxic molecule formation

Seroepidemiological study of Toxoplasma gondii infection of mentally retarded patients (Chahrmahal Va Bakhtiari Province, Iran)

Toxoplasmosis is a widespread zoonosis disease in the world. Although the infection by Toxoplasmo gondii is widely prevalent, the disease is not common and the most of acquired infections are asymptomatic. Whereas congenital Toxoplasmosis can occur with passing the trophozoite of the parasite from mother to child and the important aspect of this parasitic infection are the probable danger of congenital transmission and its severe effects of the fetus. In this case- control study, a total of 108 mentally-retarded cases inhabited in 3 rehabilitation centers and 50 apparently healthy donors as a control were screened to detect Toxoplasmosis antibodies. In this study serum of all participants (including mental retard & voluntary blood donors) were kept at - 20°C until laboratory examination. Samples were tested by commercial kit to detect anti Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies. The survey showed that 35.2 of the mental retard group and 30 of control group had anti Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies. From 31 cases in the group of mental retard who were positive for IgG antibody of Toxoplasmosis, 22 cases were male and 9 cases were female that indicated a positive relationship between presence of anti Toxoplasma IgG antibody and being male (P<0.05). Out of 50 volunteer blood donors 15 cases (30) had IgG and IgM antibodies of Toxoplasma gondii and statistic tests showed that there was no significant difference between cases and controls for IgG and IgM antibodies of Toxoplasma gondii. The rate of Toxoplasma infection in the mentally retarded group was approximately the same as in the normal control group that indicated Toxoplasmosis is not a serious problem in this individual group and played little or no role as a predisposing factor in the occurrence of congenital mental deficiency in this setting

Antifungal activity of the essential oil of Iranian medicinal plants

Plant materials continue to play a major role in primary health care as therapeutic remedies in many developing countries. Medicinal plants contain physiologically active principles that over the years have been exploited in traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments as they contain antimicrobial properties. Antifungal activities of essential oil of four Iranian herbs including, Thymus daenensis var daenensis Celak, Zataria multiflora Boiss, Thymbra spicata var. spicata L. and Bunium persicum (Boiss.) K.-Pol. were investigated against of Aspergillus niger (PTCC 5298), Aspergillus fumigates (PTCC 5009), Aspergillus flavus (PTCC 5004) and Aspergillus parasiticus (PTCC 5018) by agar disc diffusion assay. Some of the essential oils showed relatively antifungal activity against the tested fungal. Of the herbs studied, the most active extracts were those obtained from essential oil of T. daenensis and T. spicata. The MIC values for active extract ranging between 64 and 256 µg/ml. The results obtained appeared to confirm the antifungal potential of the herbs investigated. The essential oils of T. daenensis and T. spicata could be used as natural antifungal against A. niger, A. fumigates, A. flavus and A. parasiticus in the food preservation and human health

Antimicrobial activity of some Iranian medicinal plants

The major aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of the extracts of eight plant species which are endemic in Iran. The antimicrobial activities of the extracts of eight Iranian traditional plants, including Hypericum scabrum, Myrtus communis, Pistachia atlantica, Arnebia euchroma, Salvia hydrangea, Satureja bachtiarica, Thymus daenensis and Kelussia odoratissima, were investigated against Escherichia coli O157:H7, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes and Candida albicans by agar disc diffusion and serial dilution assays. Most of the extracts showed a relatively high antimicrobial activity against all the tested bacteria and fungi. Of the plants studied, the most active extracts were those obtained from the essential oils of M. communis and T. daenensis. The MIC values for active extract and essential oil ranged between 0.039 and 10 mg/ml. It can be said that the extract and essential oil of some medicinal plants could be used as natural antimicrobial agents in food preservation.

Phase coupling in the cardiorespiratory interaction.

Markovian analysis is applied to derive nonlinear stochastic equations for the reconstruction of heart rate and respiration rate variability data. A model of their 'phase' interactions is obtained for the first time, thereby gaining new insights into the strength and direction of the cardiorespiratory phase coupling. The reconstructed model can reproduce synchronisation phenomena between the cardiac and the respiratory systems, including switches in synchronisation ratio. The technique is equally applicable to the extraction of the multi-dimensional couplings between many interacting subsystems

Anti-Candida activity of ethanolic extracts of Iranian endemic medicinal herbs against Candida albicans

It has long been known that herbs and their extracts have antimicrobial activities. Heracleum lasiopetalum Boiss., Satureja bachtiarica Bunge., Thymus daenensis Celak., Echiophora platyloba L., Dracocephalum multicaule Benth., Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. and Achillea kellalensis Boiss. are Iranian endemic plant species that have been traditionally used as medicinal herbs and spices in different regions of Iran especially Central Zagross. Seven ethanolic extracts of endemic medicinal herbs and one extract of native medicinal herb (Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl.) collected from Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province of Iran were assayed for the in vitro antifungal activity against Candida albicans (ATCC1023), using agar dilution methods. Most of the extracts showed relatively high anti-Candida activity against the tested fungi with the diameter of inhibition zone ranging between 8 and 17 mm. The extracts of S. bachtiarica and T. daenensis exhibited high inhibitory effect against C. albicans. The extracts of S. bachtiarica and T. daenensis were characterized using HPLC, the major components of S. bachtiarica and T. daenensis were carvacrol and thymol, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for active extract range between 25 and 50 µg/ml. In conclusion, it can be said that the extract of some of the Iranian endemic medicinal plants (S. bachtiarica and T. daenensis) could be used as natural anti-Candida

Sensitivity of Lactococcus garvieae isolated from rainbow trout to some Iranian medicinal herbs

Lactococcus garvieae is one of the most important bacterial pathogens that affect different farmed fish species in many countries. Some of the medicinal plants and their extracts have an antibacterial activity. In this study, antibacterial activity of ethanol extracts and essential oils of fifteen Iranian medicinal plants including, Satureja bachtiarica Bunge., Thymus daenensis Celak., Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl., Zataria multifora Boiss., Thymbra spicata L., Teucrium polium L. (Lamiaceae); Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae); Heracleum lasiopetalum Boiss., Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff., Bunium persicum (Boiss.) K.-Pol., Echiophora platyloba L. (Apiaceae); Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae); Qurcus branti Lindle (Fagaceae); Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Alhagi maurorum L. (Fabaceae) were investigated against Lactococcus garvieae isolated from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) by agar disc diffusion and serial dilution assays. Just the extracts of M. communis and T. daenensis showed relatively antibacterial activity against L. garvieae. Almost the essential oils showed strong antibacterial activity against fish pathogen. The results obtained appeared to confirm the antibacterial potential of the essential oils of B. persicum, Z. multifora, T. daenensis, S. bachtiarica and T. spicata against L. garvieae isolated from rainbow trout. The MICs and MLCs of Z. multifora essential oil against L. garvieae were found as 4-8 µl/ml

Extraction and measurement of the Quercetin flavonoid of Prosopis farcta in Khouzestan climatic condition

Background and aims: Medicinal plants are a valuable resource for flavonoids extraction. Prosopis fracta is one of the plants with medicinal properties. Prosopis fracta was found in abundance in southern regions in Iran. Coersetin is medicinal substance found in the fruit of this plant. Quercetin is used in treatment of cancer and viral infections. This study was conducted to determine the Quercetin flavonoid in Prosopis fracta samples in different regions of Khuzestan. Methods: The Prosopis fracta fruit collected from different regions of Khuzestan (Susangerd, Ahvaz, Abadan, Mollasani, Behbahan and Ramhormoz). The beads were isolated from the fruit. Shell and the flesh were dried in an Oven. The dried materials were mixed and flavonoids extracted with a suitable solvent. The extract was injected into the High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) system. Then, the compound, Quercetin quantity and standard peak in each sample have been determined. Results: Based on the results, the Susangerd samples (0.0033 mg/ml) and Abadan (0.0008 mg/ml) have maximum and minimum levels of Quercetin flavonoid, respectively. Conclusions: Quercetin flavonoid extracted from Prosopis farcta fruits of Susangerd is richer than other regions of Khuzestan province. Therefore, it is recommended to use the Prosopis fracta fruit grown in Susangerd for extraction of the Quercetin flavonoid

Mutation screening of exons 7 and 13 of the TMC1 gene in autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) in Iran

Mutation screening of exons 7 and 13 of th