Comparison of Essential oil of Ocimum sanctum L. from Fresh and Dry Aerial Parts by Hydro-distillation and Steam Distillation

The use of natural products as medicinal agents presumably predates the earliest recorded history. Ocimum sanctum L., is a plant which is used in several traditional medicine systems to cure various diseases. In this study aerial parts of Ocimum sanctum were collected on august 2014 from Shahr-e-Rey in Iran. Fresh and dry partsof plants essential oils were extracted with hydro-distillation and steam distillation and then essential oils injected to GC/MS. Main component for dried leaves and flower with hydro-distillation method were chavicol (75.66%), linalool (6.69%) and cis-sabinene hydrate (2.84%) and 0.18% yield and for dry flower were chavicol (38.2%), linalool (32.8%), 10-epi-cubebul (3.89%) and 0.28% yield. Main component with steam distillation method for dry leaves were chavicol (60.95%), linalool (4.38%), E-β-farnsene (3.8%) and 0.21% yield. Main component of steam distilation for dry flower were chavicol (31.4%), linalool (24.7%), (E, E)-farnesole (20.8%), and 0.37% yield. Main component for fresh and dried leaves with hydro-distillation method with dry leaves were chavicol (75.66%), linalool (6.69%), cis-sabinene hydrate (2.84%), and 0.20% yield. Main component with fresh leaves were methyl chavicol (27.64%), spathulenol (13.92%), β-eudesmol (11.5%), and 0.18% yield. Main component for steam distillation method with dry leaves were chavicol (60.95%), linalool (4.38%), E-β-farnsene (3.8%) and 0.23% yield.  Main component with fresh leaves were methyl chavicol (38.96%), linalool (12.19%), spathulenol (6.73%), and 0.21% yield. Main component for fresh and dry flower with hydro-distillation method with dry flower were chavicol (38.2%), linalool (32.80%), α-cadinene (4.08%), and 0.25% yield. Main component for fresh flower were methyl chavicol (26.99%), linalool (17.98%), β-eudesmol (13.12%), and 0.28% yield. Main component for steam distillation method with dry flower were chavicol (31.44%), linalool (24.70%), α-cadinene (5.28%), and 0.35% yield. Main component with fresh flower were chavicol (25.2%), linalool (17.99%), germacrene D (6.87%), and 0.37% yield.  Chavicol is used as an odorant in perfumery and it is miscible with alcohol, ether, and chloroform

Metabolic effects of fasting in adolescents with diabetes type 1

Type I diabetes mellitus is a common chronic disease in adolescents. According to statistics, 12,243 diabetic Muslims fast in thirteen Islamic countries, 43% of whom have type I diabetes. This longitudinal study was conducted on volunteer adolescents with type I diabetes aged 13-18 years for 15 days using the census method. Three days before Ramadan and during the last three days of the study period, changes in the insulin dose, HbA1C, lipid profile, and body mass index (BMI) were evaluated. Among 10 volunteer patients, eight individuals could complete Ramadan fasting. Blood glucose analysis indicated a significant difference between the reported blood glucose levels (

Arbutin attenuates behavioral impairment and oxidative stress in an animal model of Parkinson's disease

Objective: Arbutin has been shown to have antioxidant and free-radical scavenging properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of arbutin administration on behavioral impairment, and oxidative and nitrosative stress in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP)-induced animal model of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Materials and Methods: PD model was developed by 4 intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of MPTP (20 mg/kg) with 2 h intervals in mice. Experimental groups received once daily injection of saline as vehicle (control group) or arbutin (50 mg/kg, i.p.) one week before MPTP injections and this protocol was continued seven days post lesion. Behavioral deficits were evaluated using locomotion test, hanging wire test and forepaw stride length. Parameters indicating the oxidation levels including lipid peroxidation marker (TBARS), nitrite, protein carbonyl levels and antioxidant activity including ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were assessed in serum and midbrain samples. Results: Treatment with arbutin improved motor functions in an MPTP-induced PD model compared to control group (

The Association of the Dietary FatandFunctional OvarianCystsin Women ofReproductive Age Referring toThree Hospitals in Mashhad, Iran, 2014

Background:Functionalovariancysts (FOC) areoneofthe most commongynecologicalproblemsamongwomen of reproductive age. Some studieshave shownthatdiet mayaffectthefunction of the ovaries, so this study was performed to determine the association between the amount of dietary fatandfunctionalovariancysts. Methods: This case-control study was performed on 264 female patients (132 with cyst in the case group and 132 in the control group) aged 13 to 49. The case group had ovarian cyst with a size of less than 8 cm and the control group didn’t have any ovarian cyst. Data were collected by questionnaires including a demographic questionnaire, and medical and midwifery characteristics questionnaire; the amount of fat in the diet was measured using foodfrequency questionnaire(FFQ). Data were analyzed using SPSS software. P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: The meanof fat consumption in the case group was 119.84±103.09gandin the control group it was109.90±54.66g. The result of data analysis showed thatthere was nostatistically significantrelationship between theamount offatin the dietandFOC in confidence level of 95% (P=0.056). Conclusion: According to the findings of thisstudy,the amount of fat consumption was higher in womenwithovariancysts; however, thisdifference wasnot statistically significant. Inthisregard, it is recommendedthat womenof reproductive age should reduce theirfat intake

The relationship between functional ovarian cysts and vitamin A, vitamin E, and folate intake

This study aimed to clarify the relationship between functional ovarian cysts and vitamin A, vitamin E, and folate intake. This case-control study evaluated 265 women of reproductive age who presented at gynaecology clinics of three hospitals in Mashhad, Iran. While women in the ovarian cyst group [n = 132] had functional ovarian cysts, control group [n = 133] consisted of women without functional ovarian cysts. The participants’ vitamin A, vitamin E, and folate intake was assessed using the Food Frequency Questionnaire. Results showed that folate intake was significantly higher in the ovarian cyst group [p = .040]. No significant differences in vitamin A and vitamin E intake were observed between the two groups [p = .950 and .230, respectively]. It is concluded that women with functional ovarian cysts had significantly higher folate intake. Vitamin A and vitamin E intake had no significant effects on the incidence of these cysts

The effect of local injection of the human growth hormone on the mandibular condyle growth in rabbit

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of local injection of human growth hormone (GH) in stimulating cartilage and bone formation in a rabbit model of temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Materials and Methods: In an experimental animal study, 16 male Albino New Zealand white rabbits aged 12 weeks were divided into two groups: In the first group (7 rabbits) 2 mg/kg/1 ml human GH and in the control group (9 rabbits) 1 ml normal saline was administered locally in both mandibular condyles. Injections were employed under sedation and by single experienced person. Injections were made for 6 times with 3 injections a week in the all test and control samples. Rabbits were sacrified at the 20th day from the beginning of study and TMJs were histologically examined. ANOVA (two-sided) with Dunnett post hoc test was used to compare data of bone and cartridge thickness while chi-square test was used to analyze hyperplasia and disk deformity data. P < 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Cartilage layer thickness was greater in the GH-treated (0.413 ± 0.132) than the control group (0.287 ± 0.098) (P value = 0.02). Although bone thickness and condylar cartilage hyperplasia were greater in the GH-treated group, these differences were not statistically significant (P value = 0.189 and 0.083, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference between two groups regarding the disc deformity (P value = 0.46). Conclusion: Local injection of human GH in the TMJ is able to accelerate growth activity of condylar cartilage in rabbit

Gene Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Strategies to Select Therapeutic Genes

Significant advances have been achieved in recent years to ameliorate rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in animal models using gene therapy approaches rather than biological treatments. Although biological agents serve as antirheumatic drugs with suppressing proinflammatory cytokine activities, they are usually accompanied by systemic immune suppression resulting from continuous or high systemic dose injections of biological agents. Therefore, gene transfer approaches have opened an interesting perspective to deliver one or multiple genes in a target‐specific or inducible manner for the sustained intra‐articular expression of therapeutic products. Accordingly, many studies have focused on gene transferring methods in animal models by using one of the available approaches. In this study, the important strategies used to select effective genes for RA gene therapy have been outlined. Given the work done in this field, the future looks bright for gene therapy as a new method in the clinical treatment of autoimmune diseases such as RA, and by ongoing efforts in this field, we hope to achieve feasible, safe, and effective treatment methods