Anticonvulsant effects of hesperetin in animal model of pentylenetetrazole-induced-seizures

Background and objective: Hesperetin as the main flavonoid in citrus possesses various pharmacological properties including anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, the effects of hesperetin on seizures behavior and its function on total antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation has been investigated in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures model. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, thirty-five mice were divided into 5 experimental groups as control, saline and hesperetin at doses of 10, 20 or 50 mg/kg. Animals received orally the related interventions for 7 days. On day 7, 30 minutes after oral gavage, convulsion was induced by single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of PTZ at dose of 60 mg/kg. After recording of convulsion behaviors including latency to myoclonic jerks, latency and duration of generalized tonic-clonic seizures, time to death, measuring of Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) carried out in hippocampus tissues. Findings: Pretreatment with hesperetin at dose of 50 mg/kg significantly increased the latency of myoclonic jerks (hesperetin 50: P=0.0323) and generalized tonic-clonic seizures (hesperetin 10: P= 0.0003, hesperetin 20: 0.0017, hesperetin 50: P=0.0040). Hesperetin application at dose of 10 mg/kg significantly reduced the levels of TBARS compared to control group. Any significant difference in FRAP levels was not observed between different experimental groups. Conclusion: The results of study indicate that hesperetin might be effective as supplementary treatment in epilepsy disorder

Assessment of Sesame and Chickpea Yield and Yield Components in the Replacement Series Intercropping

Abstract\ud This experiment was carried out for assessment of sesame and chickpea intercropping under climatic condition of Mashhad. The Experiment included main factor A (planting methods) whit two levels a1(row planting) and a2(mixed planting) and factor B (replacement planting pattern) consisting of five levels b1 (chickpea monoculture), b2 (75% chickpea+25% sesame), b3 (50% chickpea+50% sesame), b4 (25% chickpea+75% sesame) and b5 (sesame monoculture) and was carried out in context of split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications. results indicated that was significantly affected land equivalent ratio, that 50% chickpea+50% sesame and 75% chickpea+25% sesame row ratios with 1.46 and 1.34 respectively had the most and treatment 25% chickpea+75% sesame mixed with 0.94 had the least land equivalent ratio. So, according to these results, intercropping of sesame and chickpea with ratio of 50% optimum density of chickpea + 50% optimum density of sesame and 75% optimum density of chickpea + 25% optimum density of sesame under climatic condition of Mashhad is considerable.\ud \ud Keywords: Yield components, Harvest index, Land equivalent ratio, Row intercroppin

Study of Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) Control in Potato (Solanum tuberosum)

Abstract\ud In order to study chemical control of purple nutsedge in potato, a field experiment was conducted in 2007 at the Research Field of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Experimental design was randomized complete block with 7 treatments and 3 replications. Treatment included Glyphosate (pre plant ‘PP’ at 1.5 L ai ha-1), Glyphosate (PP at 1 ai ha-1), Glyphosate (post emergence ‘POST’ reduced at 100 ml ai ha-1), Sencore (pre emergence ‘PRE’ at 1.3 kg ai ha-1), hand weeding (two times) weed free and weed infested check. Results showed that effect of different treatments on potato yield was significant. The highest yield was obtained in Sencore (32.31 t ha-1) which had no significant difference with weed free check. The lowest yield (6.27 t ha-1) was obtained when Glyphosate was applied on potato at reduced rate. Sencore controlled purple nutsedge effectively at recommended dose, but applying glyphosate PP and POST was not effective for purple nutsedge control in potato.\ud \ud Keywords: Hand Weeding, Potato, Purple nutsedge, Glyphosate, Sencor

Evaluation the Effect of Different Planting ratios on Yield and Yield Components of Intercropping Sesame and Chickpea in Additive Series

Abstract\ud In order to evaluate the effect of different planting ratios on yield and yield components of sesame and chickpea in intercropping, an experiment was conducted in Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in 2007. The treatments were arranged in split plots based on randomized complete block design with three replications, consisting of two planting methods namely row planting and mixed planting as main plot and five planting ratios including chickpea monoculture, sesame monoculture, 10% chickpea+100% sesame, 20% chickpea+100% sesame, 30% chickpea+100% sesame as sub plot. The results showed that the highest sesame yield of 1.8 t/ha was obtained in 20% chickpea+100% sesame intercropping at row planting pattern and the lowest yield of 0.74 ton/ha was obtained from 10% chickpea+100% sesame ratio with mixed planting. Land equivalent ratio (RYT) showed that with 20% chickpea+100% sesame, 30% chickpea+100% sesame and 10% chickpea+100% sesame ratio the yield was respectively 39% (RYT=1.39), 28% (RYT=1.28) and 24% (RYT=1.24) more than monoculture. This could be attributed to better utilization of environmental resourses by these combinations of the crops.\ud \ud Keywords: Yield components, Harvest index, Land equivalent ratio, Planting rati

Antihyperglycemic and antioxidant activity of Viscum album extract

The antihyperglycemic and antioxidant effects of water extract of local Viscum album in alloxanizedrats were investigated. This study performed during 2009 in Babol University of medical sciences (Mazandaran Province, Iran). V. album leaves growing on oaks collected and extracted with hot water. The 90 animals that were used in this investigation were male Wistar rats. 60 rats were gavaged with 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day of V. album extract. One hour after final feeding, freshly prepared alloxan injected subcutaneously. Then blood glucose level was measured according to glucose oxidase method. The antioxidant activity of serum was determined by FRAP assay and serum insulin level was measured with ELISA. The administration of V. album extract (500 and 1000 mg/kg/day) significantly reduced the increase in serum glucose concentration in alloxan-hyperglycemic rats. Both the extracts from V. album enhance the serum insulin level as compared to control rats. Serum antioxidant activity in low dose of extract was significantly higher at 48 and 72 h after alloxan injection. Serum antioxidant activity in the high dose was significantly higher at 24, 48 and 72 h. This study demonstrated that V. album extract reduced the blood glucose and increases the antioxidant power of alloxanized-rats. Much more work is clearly needed before phytotherapy for diabetes can be advanced to the clinic. © 2011 Academic Journals

The assessment of function, histopathological changes, and oxidative stress in liver tissue due to ionizing and non-ionizing radiations

Background: Compared to past decades, humans are exposed to rapidly increasing levels of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiations (RF-EMF). Despite numerous studies, the biological effects of human exposure to different levels of RF-EMF are not fully understood yet. This study aimed to evaluate the bioeffects of exposure to "900/1800 MHz" and “2.4 GHz" RF-EMFs, and x-rays alone as well as their potential interactions, i.e. inducing simple additive, adaptive, or synergistic effects. Methods: 120 Wistar rats were randomly divided into ten groups of 12 each. The rats were exposed to RF-EMF, 10 cGy, and 8 Gy x-rays, a combination of these exposures, or only sham-exposed. The levels of liver enzymes were determined in serum samples by an autoanalyzer. Moreover, the histopathological changes, and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide, ferric reducing antioxidant power, total thiols, and protein carbonyl (PCO) were measured. Results: Among the markers of liver function, gamma-glutamyltransferase was not associated with irradiation but, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase showed some levels of association. MDA and PCO levels after 8 Gy irradiation increased, but pre-exposure to RF-EMF could modulate their changes. At the cellular level, the frequency of lobular inflammation was associated with the type of intervention. Conclusion: The exposure to both ionizing and non-ionizing radiations could alter some liver function tests. A short term pre-exposure to RF-EMF before exposure to an 8 Gy challenging dose of x-rays caused the alterations in oxidative stress markers and liver function tests, which indicate that oxidative stress is possibly involved in the adaptive response

Relationship between seminal malondialdehyde levels and sperm quality in fertile and infertile men

The aim of this study was to determine the level of malondialdehyde in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men and investigate its relationship with sperm quality. Results showed that the mean of &plusmn; S.D. MDA concentration in seminal plasma of infertile men (0.94 &plusmn; 0.28 nmol/ml) was significantly higher than fertile men (0.65 &plusmn; 0.17 nmol/ml) (p value< 0.001), and had negative relationship with sperm count, motility and morphology. Therefore it could be concluded that increase in lipid peroxidation was associated with sperm membrane destructed and high level of MDA