Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Tamarix dioica on Liver Histopathological Changes in Rats Fed with High Fat Diet

Background and Objectives: Tamarix dioica is a medicinal herb in Sistan and Baluchestan, which has antidiabetic and antioxidant properties. This research aimed to investigate the effects of the hydro-alcoholic extract of this plant on liver damage caused by a high fat diet.   Methods: In this experimental study, 30 males adult Wistar rats, were randomly divided into 3 equal groups. The first group or the control group received a normal diet. The second group (hyperlipidemic group) received a high fat diet (HFD) for 30 days, and the third group received a high-fat diet for 30 days. In the following, the rats orally received hydroalcoholic extract of tamarix dioica (dose, 200mg/kg bw) for 30 days. serum liver enzymes. At the end of the period, blood samples were taken from the heart of the rats to assess liver enzymes and serum levels of cholesterol and triglyceride. After euthanasia, liver tissue samples, were taken and examined under a light microscope after staining with hematoxylin-eosin.   Results: Administration of the extract of Tamarix dioica (200mg/kg bw), significantly reduced serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels compared to the hyperlipidemic rats with no treatment (p<0.001). Furthermore, the treatment with the extract of Tamarix dioica decreased the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) compared to the untreated hyperlipidemic rats (p<0.01). In histopathological evaluation, fat accumulation in cells, was significantly lower in Tamarix dioica treated rats compared to the hyperlipidemic rats.   Conclusion: Administration of Tamarix dioica extract can reduce the liver damage induced by high fat diet

Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Berberis Vulgaris Root on Serum Levels of Glucose, Malondehyde and HbA1c in Diabetic Rats

Introduction and Aims Diabetes is a common endocrine disorder associated with a variety of diseases such as, stroke, kidney failure and liver cirrhosis. Berberis vulgaris (B. vulgaris) root extract contains various alkaloids that are considered as antioxidants. The aim of this study was to examine serum glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in diabetic rats treated with hydro-alcoholic extract of wild berberis. Materials and Methods In this experimental study, 40 male wistar rats were randomly divided to four groups of healthy control, diabetic control, and two diabetic groups treated with root extract of wild type berberis vulgaris (150 and 300 mg/kg body weight). Type 1 diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin 42 mg/kg. After 30 days, blood samples were collected from heart and serum glucose, serum MDA, and HbA1c levels were determined by commercial kits. Results Serum glucose, HbA1c, MDA levels were significantly higher in diabetic rats compared to the normal control rats. Oral administration of barberry extract significantly decreased those parameters compared to the untreated diabetic rats. Conclusion Berberis vulgaris root extract has hypoglycemic effect and attenuates lipid peroxidation in diabetic rats * Corresponding Author: University of Zabol, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Email: [email protected]

Evaluation of Sulfur SC 80% and Penconazole EW 20% Effects on Grape Powdery Mildew Disease and Quantitative and Qualitative Traits of Grape

Introduction: Fungal diseases are a major problem in the cultivation of grapevine, Powdery mildew disease caused by plant pathogenic fungus, Erysiphenecator is one of the most important and destructive diseases of grape in many countries of the world including Iran. Due to extend viticulture area in Iran and the high prevalence of the grape powdery mildew in vineyards, application of sulfur based fungicides is mainly recommended for the disease control. This study was conducted aimed to investigate the effect of new formulations fungicide of sulfur SC 80% and penconazole EW 20% to control grape powdery mildew disease. Material and Methods: The experiments were conducted on Askari cultivar as susceptible in Ardabil, KhorasanRazavi and Kohgiluye and Boyer-Ahmad provinces and in vineyards, which in previous years had a history of infected and trees were similar in age and growth conditions. Experiments were carried out in a completely randomized block design with four replications. Treatments were composed of penconazole EW 20% 0.125 ml L-1, sulfur SC 80% 2, 2.5 and 3 ml L-1 and control. The spray was carried out three times, including when the young shoots were between15 and 35cm, before falling flowers and stage of sours. One week after the last spray sampling of leaves and clusters was carried out in four directions main canopy trees randomly in each plot. Efficacy of treatments was evaluated based on infection severity found in 60 leaves and 12 clusters in per plot. To determine the amount of sugar and tartaric acid in the grape fruit, sampling of the healthy and infected clusters were carried out and healthy and infected the samples were then separated into a plastic bag and crushed. Then, the juice wasprepared (fruit juice was obtained from 700 g fruit in each sample).To determine the amount of sugar, hand-held refractometer was used and the amount of sugar was determined in healthy and infected fruit. For the determination of tartaric acid in grape juice titration using sodium hydroxide, 1.0 M was carried out. To determine the yield of grapes per healthy and infected plants and determination of the quantity of the yield damage caused by the disease, after fruit ripening, all clusters of grapes were picked by hand and weighed. Then in each province data were transformed and statistical analysis of data using SAS software was carried out. The mean comparisons were conducted with Duncan's Multiple Range test and Fisher's Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at the 5% level. Results and Discussion: Combined analysis of variance studied traits showed that between locations in terms of severity of disease in leaves and fruits, between treatment and locations and treatment interaction in terms of severity of disease in leaves and fruits, yield there was the significant difference. Analysis of variance amounts of sugar and acid concentration in the grapes in Ardabil (Meshginshahar) showed between treatments in terms of the amount of sugar and acid concentration in grape was observed the significant difference. According to the results sulfur SC 80% fungicide at concentrations of 2.5 and 3 per thousand the greatest effect in reducing the powdery mildew disease and increase yield and quality of grapes. Analysis of variance for amounts of sugar and acid levels in the grapes in Ardabil (Meshginshahar) showed highly significant differences among treatments in grape sugar and acid concentration at 1% level. Comparison of means indicated that control treatment (without spraying) had the highest concentration of sugar and acid. In this study, increasing the severity of the disease on the leaves and fruit tended to increased acid concentration in the fruit. In this study, the yield of the grape was decreased depending on the disease severity on the leaves and clusters. In this experiment, increasing the severity of the disease on the leaves and fruit tended to increased sugar amount. The intensity of infection was higher in the leaves and fruits as well as the amount of sugar in sugar increases that were consistent with findings of another researcher. Conclusions: According to the results and taking into consideration environmental protection, the lowest intensity of infection in the leaves and fruit, the highest yield, the most normal sugar and acid concentration were on the treated plants with the sulfur concentration of 2.5 per thousand. According to the results of this study, spraying sulfur SC 80% in the control programs of the disease to prevent the emergence of resistant races of grape powdery mildew would be desirable

Investigation of Genetic Diversity of Wilsonomyces carpophilus in Khorasan Razavi Using rep-PCR Marker

Introduction: Shot hole disease of stone fruit trees resulted from Wilsonomyces carpophilus can weaken the trees and reduce the quantity and quality of the crops worldwide particularly in semi-arid regions. Coryneum blight or shot hole disease infects all the stone fruit trees including peach, nectarine, apricot, sour cherry, plum, cherry, and almond. One of the most important strategies to manage any plant disease is to use resistant cultivars. In this way, it is very important to have knowledge about the status of genetic diversity and to determine the relationship between isolates of the causal agent fungus. The main objective of the present research was to study the genetic diversity of W. carpophilus in Khorasan Razavi province using the rep-PCR molecular fingerprinting method. Materials and Methods: Sampling was performed from peach, nectarine, plum, apricot and cherry orchards of Quchan, Torqabeh, Shandiz, Chenaran, Neishabur, Kalat, Torbat Heidarieh and Mashhad during spring and summer of 2012 and 2013. Mono-conidial isolates were recovered from infected leaves, fruits, and twigs of different parts of orchards. Infected collected leaves, twigs, and fruits were transferred to the laboratory. By using techniques of Klimesova and Prasil (1989) and Mehta (1998) from the cut parts between infected and healthy tissues of each isolate, cuts of 2-3 mm from leaf, fruit and twig were prepared by the scalpel. These pieces were surface sterilized with 1% sodium hypochlorite liquid about 1 to 3 minutes based on the thickness of tissue. Then, the samples were cultured on PDA, MEA, and WA media and incubated at 18, 20, and 25 °C. The isolated fungi were purified and identified. The research was performed on 20 fungal isolates collected from different stone fruit trees. Genomic DNA was amplified using BOX A1R, ERIC2, ERIC1R, REP2-I, and REP1R-I primers. Thirty-eight of 39 fragments amplified were polymorphic for 100 to 5000 base pairs. Similarity matrix between isolates was calculated based on Jacquard Coefficient and cluster analysis and construction of dendrogram were done based on UPGM using NTYSIS.PC 2.0 software. Results and discussion: From 39 amplified bands, 38 bands (97.5%) showed polymorphism. The molecular weight of amplified DNA fragments was between 100 to 5000 bp. Based on analysis of banding pattern of REP primer set, isolates of W. carpophilus were categorized into 12 groups at the 69% similarity level. The most genetic similarity of isolates (94%) was between AK (apricot of Kalat) and PK (peach of Kalat) and the least genetic similarity of W. carpophilus isolates was between AQ (apricot of Quchan), AN (apricot of Neishabur), AC (apricot of Chenaran), PlM (plum of Mashhad), PM2 (peach of Mashhad number 2), and CC (cherry of Chenaran) with the other isolates. Based on the results of this study rep-PCR could separate isolates of W. carpophilus very well and also could separate similar isolates and hosts which have the close genetic relationship. Similar results were obtained by Edel et al. (1995) and Jedryczka et al. (1999). Edel et al. (1995) compared three different molecular methods for characterization of Fusarium oxysporum strains. The marker also separated isolates of Kalat and Chenaran geographically and to some extent isolates of plum in terms of hosting from the other isolates. Toda et al. (1999) in their study, about the investigation of genetic correlation among and within different isolates of Rhizoctonia solani by rep-PCR divided the 41 isolates into 7 groups which indicate considerable genetic diversity among isolates. Also, Karimi et al. (2010) in their study about the investigation of genetic diversity of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum at 64% similarity level, divided the isolates into 7 groups and separated most of the isolates geographically. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study indicated that rep-PCR is a practical, rapid, and accurate technique for separation of W. carpophilus isolates. Considering the high genetic diversity observed in the population of this fungus, making attempts to plant cultivars with high resistance and resistant genes can largely prevent the outbreaks and intensity of the pathogen. Therefore, further researches in this area can be placed in breeding, production and reproduction of cultivars with particular resistance programs against shot hole disease. The present research study is a prelude to solving problems related to this important disease