فهرست مطالب بهنام مهدوی

Frankincense is a resinous gum obtained from some species of the Boswellia genus. The use of frankincense for food and medicinal uses dates back to more than five thousand years ago, but despite its importance and application, only 27-35% of it is soluble in water. As most frankincense gum is insoluble, this research used the response surface method to study the effect of different chemical modification conditions (NaOH concentrations (X1), reaction temperatures (X2), and MCA concentrations (X3)) on increasing the solubility percentage. The results of the optimization process of the chemical modification of frankincense gum indicate that the conditions of maximum solubility are equal to 85.49, with a desirability rate of 0.97. Therefore, the concentration of NaOH and MCA equal to 0.048, 0.01 mol, and a temperature of 75 degrees Celsius chose as the best optimization conditions. In addition, the intrinsic viscosity and molecular weight of the native gum were higher than the modified gum under optimal conditions. There is a significant difference between the apparent viscosity of natural gum (18.02 ± 0.726 mPa.s) and modified (17.36 ± 0.681 mPa.s) (p>0.05). The results indicate that native and modified gum in optimal conditions show a shear thinning behavior with increasing shear rate, and their behavior is similar to pseudoplastic. The colorimetric test with image J software indicated that carboxymethylation of frankincense gum led to significant changes (P < 0.05) in the total color difference factor (ΔE) and whiteness index (WI), L*, a*, and b*factor.

Isfahan sage with the scientific name of Salvia reuterana belongs to the genus Labiatae and has a wide distribution in Iran. The genus Salvia is one of the important genera of the genus Labiatae. Because of the carcinogenic effects of synthetic antioxidants on the market, researchers are keen to replace them with natural compounds that have similar properties. Antioxidant compounds such as phenolic acids, polyphenols and flavonoids inhibit free radicals such as hydroperoxides and thus prevent the oxidative mechanism that leads to erosive diseases. In this study, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of aerial parts of Isfahan sage by five tests including free radical scavenging activity (DPPH), iron ion chelating (FIC), determination of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content ( TFC) and antimicrobial test (DD assay) were evaluated. For this purpose, different parts of Isfahan sage plant including flowers and leaves were collected from Sabzevar in May 2014. The samples were dried, powdered and soaked in methanol solvent, and the crude extract was fractionated with n-hexane, water and ethyl acetate solvents, respectively. The water fraction of the flower in RSA (DPPH) test showed the highest activity with values of 6.35 ± 0.29 μ g / mL.The ethyl acetate part of the leaf had the highest TFC with 176.76 ± 1.51 mg RU / g and the aqueous ethyl acetate part of the flower had the highest TPC with 76.5 2 ± 2.07 and 68.95 ± 2 2.07 mgGEA / g. Antimicrobial test of ethyl acetate extract of leaves and flowers showed significant antimicrobial activity against Citrobacter frurdii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while little activity was observed against Serratio (-).

SARS-CoV-2 is a type of coronavirus that causes COVID-19 disease. The virus can infect various organs by triggering hormones, regulatory and messenger molecules, and immune-inflammatory responses. Given the vital role of thyroid in metabolism, it is important to understand the potential effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the thyroid gland. In this article, reports and studies examining the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on thyroid are reviewed, and possible effects of this virus on thyroid function are discussed. According to the available evidence, SARS-CoV-2 can adversely impact thyroid function directly by affecting the pituitary-thyroid axis or indirectly by triggering immune-inflammatory responses. COVID-19-dependent thyroid disorders have been biochemically observed in three forms: hypothyroidism, thyrotoxicosis, and nonthyroidal illness syndrome. Subacute thyroiditis has been one of the most common clinical conditions of SARS-CoV-2-dependent thyrotoxicosis. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 may cause recurrence of improved thyroid diseases or exacerbate current diseases. There is no evidence that thyroid disease, including thyroid cancer, increases the risk of COVID-19 or exacerbates its complications. According to current studies, COVID-19 medications, including glucocorticoids and anticoagulants, have no adverse effects on thyroid function in non-acute COVID-19 patients. Further studies are needed to investigate the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 infection and thyroid function.

Polygonum species are belonging to Polygonaceae family and they have various uses in the traditional medicine of Asian countries such as China, Japan and Iran. In this study, antioxidant activities of two methanolic extracts of root of Polygonum afghanicum, one collected in spring and the other in fall, and the one methanolic extract of root of Polygonum cuspidatum were measured and compared with each other. So, the antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated using various antioxidant tests, including total phenolic content TPC), total flavonoid content TFC), radical scavenging activity RSA), ferric ion chelating FIC), and beta-carotene bleaching. The results showed the highest values of TPC 347.2 ± 3.1) and TFC 165.2 ± 1.6) for P. cuspidatum, while the P. afghanicum, collected in spring, exhibited slightly higher antioxidant activity than the others for RSA IC50 = 14.5 ± 1.5 µg/mL), FIC 96.7 ± 1.7%), and BCB 50.9 ± 3.6%) tests. According to the obtained results, the P. afghanicum collected in spring, as a local species, showed the better activity in the some of the antioxidant tests, probably due to the presence of other active metabolites in this plant.

Culex spp is the prevalent in many tropical countries, is causing filarial fever among human beings. The easiest way to prevent this disease is to eliminate the vector. In this study, we used the extract of aerial parts of Hyoscyamus niger and Nerium oleander, to destroy the larvae of this vector and the results of these two plants were compared together.
Collected and dried aerial parts of the plant were extracted using methanol, solvent was then removed with a rotary evaporator. Mosquito larvae were collected and identified from stagnant water pits and ponds around the Birjand, Iran; The larvae were then placed on a plate containing a certain concentration of the extract of oleander or henbane separately, and their mortality were recorded and analyzed.
H. niger and N. oleander extract of aerial parts both had a positive effect on the elimination of larvae of the Culex spp. Among the results, the flower extract of henbane was the most powerful extract after 72 hours to eliminate the larvae of Culex spp (LC50= 0/46 ppm) and the stem extract of henbane was the weakest one (LC50= 37/57 ppm).
Due to strong larvicidal effect of the extract of henbane in 72 hours than other extracts, suggesting that the extract of henbane can be used as an organic pesticide to eliminate Culex spp larvae.

In this study a cell-based biosensor for measurement of BOD was designed and developed. Activated sludge collected from wastewater treatment plant of Shahinshahr was used as biological receptor and a Clark cell was used as transducer. According to the results obtained from the sensor calibration، a linear relationship between the current changes and glucose-glutamic acid (GAA) standard concentrations up to 50 mg/L was observed. The BOD values of different industrial wastewaters، inlet and outlet of treatment plant of Ardineh Company (Isfahan)، and also inlet and outlet of domestic wastewater treatment plant of Shahinshahr، and outlet of treatment plant of Pegah Company (Isfahan) were measured using this biosensor. Comparison of the results of this biosensor and the results of the standard BOD test (BOD5) showed that the mean percentage error measured by the sensor was +29. 6%. The results concerning the stability of the designed biosensor showed a stability time of 3 days for the response of biosensor.