Increasing gland number and red pigments in St. John’s wort in vitro

In order to develop a protocol for increasing the gland number and red pigments of Hypericum perforatum, this study was carried out to evaluate the effect of hydrolyzed casein (0.0 and 500 mg l-1), mannitol (0.0, 5 and10 g l-1) and sucrose (20 and 30 g l-1) on the synthesis of these pigments and glands on the produced leaves. Leaf discs of in vitro plantlets, were prepared and cultured on MS medium with 0.5 mg l-1 BAP to induce the shoot. All the cultures were incubated in the dark at 25 ± 2°C for 1 month. In all of the treatments, callus and shoot induction were observed. Percentage of calli and leaves containing red pigments, number of glands and percentage of leaves containing gland were noted as indicating the presence of hypericin and pseudohypericin pigments. Percentage of calli and leaves containing red pigments were significantly influenced by different concentrations of the hydrolyzed casein, mannitol and sucrose. The highest percentage of calli containing red pigments was observed in the culture medium which had 500 or 0.0 mg l-1 hydrolyzed casein and 20 g l-1 sucrose, without mannitol. Glands were observed on all the produced leaves. Number of glands and percentage of leaves containing gland were significantly influenced by the different concentrations of mannitol and sucrose and their interaction. The highest number of gland and percentage of leaves containing gland was achieved when explants were cultured in medium that included 30 g l-1 sucrose with 5 or 10 g l-1 mannitol and in medium containing 20 g l-1 sucrose, with 5 g l-1 mannitol. Morphological changes induced by carbon source and hydrolyzed casein were observed and described in detail. The obtained results will be applied in experimental botany and in the technology of H. perforatum cultivation for pharmaceutical applications.Key words: Hydrolyzed casein, hypericin, Hypericum perforatum, mannitol, pseudohypericin, sucrose

Inhibition of fatty acids profile changes of cobia (Rachycentron canadum) fillets during frozen storage by packaging under vacuum system

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of vacuum packing (VP) on the fatty acids profiles in cobia (Rachycentron canadum) fillets during an extended frozen storage period. Cobia fillets were treated under vacuum system then stored at -18°C for up to 6 months and compared to control conditions. As a result of a frozen storage period of 6 months, a marked content decrease was found in the fatty acid groups such as MUFA, PUFA and ω-3 PUFA, as well as in the ω-3/ ω-6 ratio. However, a preserving effect on such fatty acid parameters could be observed due to the VP treatment. Assessment of the polyene index (PI) indicated an increased lipid oxidation development as a result of the frozen storage time; however, this increase was partially inhibited by the vacuum packaging. Results indicate that vacuum packaging was a proper way to reduce lipid oxidation in Cobia fillets and extend their shelf life by omitting available oxygen. Thus the employment of VP alone or in combination with other protective strategies is recommended

Changes of fatty acid profiles in fillets of Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) during frozen storage

In this study changes in fatty acids profile during frozen storage at -18°C of Cobia (Rachycentron canadum), caught from the Persian Gulf (Bandar Abbas) were studied. Changes in saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), EPA+DHA/C16, n-3 PUFA/n-6 PUFA (n-3/n-6) and polyunsaturated fatty acids /saturated fatty acids (PUFA/SFA) were investigated during a six- month storage at -18°C. Eighteen fatty acids were found in Cobia, with higher percentage of saturated fatty acids (46.07%), monounsaturated fatty acids (33.72%) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (15.44%). The MUFAs and PUFAs reduced from 33.72 to 26.26% and 15.44 to 10.78%, respectively. Palmitic acid (C16:0, 27.42% of total fatty acids) and stearic acid (C18:0, 12.62%) were the dominant saturated fatty acids. The major unsaturated fatty acids were determined as docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n3, 5.76%), oleic acid (C18:1n9, 25.76%) and linoleic acid (C18:2n6, 4.38%). As a result of the frozen storage (up to 6 months), marked content decreases were found in fatty acid groups such as monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and n-3 polyunsaturated, as well as in the n-3/n-6 ratio and it means that the nutritional value of Cobia has decreased

Length-weight frequency and sex ratio of crayfish, Astacus leptodactylus, in Aras Reservoir, west Azerbaijan, Iran

The length-weight frequency and sex ratio of crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus) in Aras Reservoir, was studied seasonally from spring 2008 to winter 2009. The total mean length and weight for the crayfish were 106.43±7.94mm and 35.81±10.86g, respectively. A measured 18.99% of the caught crayfish exceeded the standard commercial size (120mm) and only 16.43% of the catch weighed higher than the standard commercial weight 50 grams. The standards have been set forth by West Azerbaijan Fishery Office. Generally, the male crayfish dominated the samples. Comparisons of growth equations confirmed that the males are heavier than females with the same size. The results showed that crayfish Astacus leptodactylus has critical condition in Aras Reservoir

Comparison of antibacterial activities of Ircinia mutans extracts in two different seasons from Kish Island, Persian Gulf, Iran

Sponges, which constitute the phylum Porifera, are the most primitive of the multicellular animals, among all marine organisms screened. Marine sponges produce the largest number of structurally diversified natural products. In this study we investigated in vitro antimicrobial activity of Ircinia mutans collected from the Kish Island in the Persian Gulf against strains of bacteria Escherichia coli (ATCC 15224), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 25619), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 1764), and Bacillus subtilis spizizenii (ATCC 6633). Diethyl etter, methanol and aqueous extracts of sponge were evaluated by using the Bacterial Broth Dilution Method. The results showed that the aqueous extracts didn’t have any antibacterial activity. Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) of the winter diethyl etter extract was 2 mg/ml for E.coli and 20 mg/ml for P. aeruginosa, whereas the summer diethyl etter extract and both of methanol extracts did not show any activity. The MIC and MBC (Minimum Bacterial Concentration) of summer diethyl etter extracts were 2 mg/ml and 3mg/ml against S. aureus; and 5mg/ml and 10mg/ml when tested on B. subtilis. The MIC and MBC of winter diethyl etter extracts were measured as 1.5 mg/ml and 2mg/ml against S. aurous; and 5mg/ml and 10mg/ml when examined on B. subtilis. Summer and winter methanol and aqueous extracts of I. mutans did not show any activity against these bacteria. Therefore secondary metabolite solutions in diethyl etter contain components with antibacterial properties and can be used as antibiotics products

Effects of fish meal replacement by silkworm pupae on growth, survival and body chemical composition of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Silkworm pupae meal is a non-conventional animal protein feedstuff. It is the by-product after the silk thread has been wound off from the cocoon. To investigate the effects of animal protein on growth and survival of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), a sixty-day feeding experiment was conducted. Four replacement levels (0, 5, 10 and 15 percent) of silkworm pupae meal were compared using a completely random design. We used 360 juvenile rainbow trout (average weight 55±3.42g) divided into 4 groups and 3 replications, each containing 30 trout for 60 days. Sampling for nutritional effects was carried out every 10 days and at the end of the experiment, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate, protein and efficiency ratio were compared which showed no significant differences (P>0.05) among the treatments. Total length and survival rate were not significantly affected in the treatment groups. The highest percentage of carcass protein and the lowest percentage of carcass fat belonged to the control treatment. Our findings showed that silkworm pupae meal could replace 15% of fish meal diet in rainbow trout culture

Histopathological effects and toxicity of atrazine herbicide in Caspian kutum, Rutilus frisii kutum, fry

This study aimed to investigate the toxic effects of atrazine herbicide on the fry of Caspian kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum, Kamensky, 1901). First the 96-h LC50 of the fry were exposed to atrazine at the concentration of 24.95 ppm was determined. Then the toxicity of this herbicide on Caspian kutum fry exposed to the concentration of 12.47ppm (1/2 LC50), for four days was measured and compared with a control group. Comparison of the length, weight and condition factor showed no significant differences between atrazine exposed and control group. The concentration of Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Cl- in the whole body of fry in control and atrazine exposure groups were as the following order: Ca2+>K+>Na+>Cl->Mg2+ and Ca2+>Na+>K+>Mg2+>Cl-, respectively. Results showed that the concentration of all these ions were higher in atrazine exposure group than control group, except for Cl-, and the only significant differences was found in Na+ concentration. Major histopathological effects of atrazine on the gills were hyperplasia and thickening of the filaments, separation of the pavement cells of the lamellae epithelium from the pillar cells and swelling of the epithelial cells. Results of the present study showed that atrazine could affect the ion composition of the body, and caused major damages in gill epithelium even at sublethal concentration and acute exposure, but had no effects on the growth parameters

The Staphylococcus aureus Exotoxin Recognition Using a Sensor Designed by Nanosilica and SEA genotyping by Multiplex PCR

Considering the ever increasing population and industrialization of the developmental trend of human life, we are no longer able to detect the toxins produced in food products using the traditional techniques. This is due to the fact that the isolation time for food products is not cost-effective, and even in most of the cases, the precision of practical techniques like bacterial cultivation and other techniques suffers from operator errors, or the errors of the mixtures used. Hence, with the advent of nanotechnology, the design of selective and smart sensors has turned into one of the greatest industrial revelations of the quality control of food products that, in few minutes time and with a very high precision, can identify the volume and toxicity of the bacteria. In this research, based on the bacterial antibody's connection to nanoparticles, a sensor was used. In this part of the research, as the basis for absorption for the recognition of bacterial toxin, medium sized silica nanoparticles of 10 nm in the form of solid powder were utilized with Notrino brand. Then the suspension produced from the agent-linked nanosilica, which was connected to the bacterial antibody, was positioned near the samples of distilled water, which were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus bacterial toxin with the density of  10-3 molar, so that in case any toxin exists in the sample, a connection between the toxin antigen and the antibody would be formed. Finally, the light absorption related to the connection of antigen to the particle-attached antibody was measured using spectrophotometry. The 23S rRNA gene that is conserved in all Staphylococcus spp. was used as the control. The accuracy of the test was monitored by using the serial dilution (l0-6) of overnight cell culture of Staphylococcus spp. bacteria (OD600: 0.02 = 107 cell). It showed that the sensitivity of PCR is 10 bacteria per ml of cells within few hours. The results indicated that the sensor detects up to 10-4molar density. Additionally, the sensitivity of the sensor was examined after 60 days; by the 56 day, it had confirmatory results, which started to decrease after this time. Comparison of practical nanobiosensory method with the conventional methods including culture and bio-technology methods (such as polymerase chain reaction) confirmed its accuracy, sensitiveness and uniqueness.  It also reduces the time from hours to 30 minutes

Coral relocation in Chabahar Bay, the North-east of Oman Sea

Corals are marine benthic animals typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual polyps (Barnes, 1987; Gateno et al., 1996; Sumich, 1996). Coral reefs are important for many reasons including: a) Most importantly, they provide protection and shelter for many different species of fish. b) They turn surplus carbon dioxide in the water into a limestone shell. Without coral, the amount of carbon dioxide in the water would increase dramatically and that would affect all living things on Earth. c) Similar to a barrier, the coral reefs protect coasts from strong currents and waves by slowing down the water before it gets to the shore. d) Coral reef ecosystems support a variety of human needs such as fisheries and tourism (James and Spurgeon, 1992; Moberg and Folke, 1999; Cesar, 2000). Therefore, the conservation of coral colonies is very vital for marine organisms and human. In Chabahar Bay, the coral reefs are in danger of destruction due to the development program of Shahid Beheshti Port. Since the corals are very sensitive to turbidity and suspended sediments from land reclamation and dredging projects, therefore appropriate measures should be conducted for conservation and recovery of them. At present, the coral relocation is suggested as a good method for recovery of coral reefs after a disturbance in condition of their native habitats. In our project, over 28,000 hard corals were transported to coast of Hotel Lipar (Fig. 1), an area at a distance of 3.5 km far from Shahid Beheshti Port. Also, the new techniques were used for coral reattachment and transportation