محمود رفیعیان کوپایی

 Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders after stroke. Due to the side effects and poor response of conventional anticonvulsant drugs, researchers have turned their attention to find new drugs. Carvacrol is a phenolic compound with neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticonvulsant effects. The aim of the study was to investigate the anticonvulsant effects of carvacrol in PTZ-induced seizures in male mice and to investigate the role of N-Methyl-D-Aspartic Acid (NMDA) receptor.

 In the present experimental study, 90 mice were randomly divided into 9 groups (n=10). Drugs were injected intraperitoneally 30 minutes before PTZ injection. Then, seizure onset time, serum and brain antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and NMDA receptor gene expression in the hippocampus were examined.

 Seizure onset time in the group received carvacrol (20 and 40 mg/kg) was significantly longer than the PTZ group (P<0.05). Treatment with carvacrol (20 and 40 mg/kg) significantly increased serum and brain antioxidant capacity and reduced serum and brain MDA in compared to the PTZ group (at doses of 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg). The expression of NR2A and NR2B subunits of hippocampal NMDA receptors in carvacrol-received mice was significantly lower than the PTZ group (P<0.05).

Carvacrol has anticonvulsant effects, possibly by inhibiting oxidative stress and reducing the expression of subunits of NMDA receptors.

Saffron is the most perennial plant species considered as valuable medicinal and aromatic plant worldwide. Dried stigmas (saffron) of Crocus sativus is commonly used as a flavor, food coloring and a drug and comprises several beta carotenes including a yellow pigment Crocins, a bitter-tasting substance Picrocrocin and a good perfume Safranal which not only exerts a hypoglycemic effect but also expressions antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. this study evaluated the effect of PEG 6000 on some secondary metabolite content and morphophysiological traits. The results showed that the highest and lowest levels of proline, relative water content, hydrogen peroxide and chlorophyll a, b and total pigments were obtained in 12% polyethylene glycol treatment and control treatment, respectively. The highest content of Crocins, Picrocrocin and Crocetin were obtained using PEG 12% by 29.04%,24.17% and 0.04% respectively. The highest and lowest IC50 inhibitory potency was observed in 12% polyethylene glycol and control treatments, respectively. The optimum enzyme activity (unit/mg) of superoxide dismutase, catalase and Ascorbate peroxidase were also triggered by the application of PEG 12%. The results of the present study showed that the application of polyethylene glycol elicitor improves the content of important secondary metabolites and morphophysiological characteristics of saffron plant and this solution can be suggested to increase the economic productivity of saffron.

Oxidative stress reflects an imbalance in the redox status of the body and plays an important role in the pathogenesis and development of several human diseases such as cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and cytotoxic effects of peptides derived from enzymatic and microbial hydrolysis of Liza klunzingeri muscle. L. klunzingeri muscle was hydrolyzed using enzymatic hydrolysis with alkalase and microbial hydrolysis by Bacillus licheniformis. The antioxidant activity of samples was measured using DPPH, ABTS and hydroxyl radical scavenging, Fe3+ reduction and Fe2+ chelating effects. The cytotoxic effects of hydrolysates on 4T1 cell line were evaluated using MTT assay. The molecular weight distribution of hydrolysates was determined using HPLC. The microbial sample showed better antioxidant activity in the inhibition of ABTS, chelating and reducing of iron (P<0.05). The cytotoxic activity of the microbial sample was significantly higher than that of the enzymatic sample (P<0.05). The percentage of peptides with a molecular weight of less than 1000 Da was 26.15% in enzymatically prepared protein hydrolysate and 75.15% in the microbial sample. The protein hydrolyate derived from microbial hydrolysis shows better antioxidant and cytotoxic activity, probably due to the presence of low molecular weight peptides.

Increasing consumer’s awareness of the risk associated with synthetic food additives and the relationship between nutrition and health, has led to the development of functional foods i.e. those with additional health benefits beyond their basic nutrition. Marine animals that comprise about half of the world's biodiversity provided a wide spectrum of bioactive compounds, including peptides. Marine peptides with different biological activities might be used in the production of functional foods. The aim of this study was to review the studies conducted on the therapeutic effect of marine bioactive peptides in animal models and humans.

In this study, we used scientific articles about the therapeutic effects of marine bioactive peptides, indexed in the ISI, SID, PubMed, PubMed Central, Scopus, Web of Science databases during 2000- 2016.

Marine bioactive peptides produced from different proteinaceous raw materials through enzymatic hydrolysis or fermentation have been demonstrated to possess diverse physiological functions such as immune stimulation, blood pressure and lipids lowering, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidative stress, anti-obesity, skin protection and wound healing activities as well as memory and learning enhancing property in animal model or in human.

Marine bioactive peptides have potential as a functional ingredient in food product or nutraceuticals to increase consumer health and wellbeing.

Research and studies on the pharmacological effects of medicinal plants, have been recently considered by many researchers. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is one of the oldest medicinal plant known by human and its application came back to the ancient Greece. This paper presents a review on the studies conducted on pharmacological effects of chamomile.

The papers regarding the pharmacologic effects of chamomile, which has been indexed since 2000 till 2017 in ISI, Web of Science, Scopus, Pubmed Central, Pubmed, and SID databases, are used in this study.

Therapeutic effects of chamomile on gastrointestinal and neurological diseases, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer properties as well as wound healing activity have been shown in clinical and experimental studies.

Matricaria chamomilla has been recognized as an important medicinal plant in the world. Different uses of this plant in the pharmaceutical and food industries indicate considerable commercial value of this plant in the world.

Achillea wilhelmsii has antioxidant properties and it has been recommended in traditional medicine for depression. The objective of this study was to investigate the chemical compounds of essential oils of aerial part of A. wilhelmsii with and its antidepressant effects in male mice using forced swim and tail suspension tests.

In this study, 60 mice were examined in 6 groups (n = 10), including normal saline as control group, reserpine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) as negative control group, reserpine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) and amitriptyline 18 hours thereafter (2 mg/kg) as positive control group, reserpine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) and essential oil (50, 75 or 100 mg/kg, i.p.) 18 hours thereafter as the intervention group. Forced swim and tail suspension tests were used to measure depression in mice. Antioxidant capacity and chemical composition of the essential oil, as well as antioxidant and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in serum and brain of mice were determined.

Reserpine injection significantly increased the time of immobility in the forced swim and tail suspension tests. Essential oil (50, 75 and 100 mg/kg) and amitriptyline reduced the immobility time. Reserpine and amitriptyline significantly increased serum and brain malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and decreased antioxidant capacity of serum and brain. Essential oil increased antioxidant capacity of serum and brain and reduced malondialdehyde level. Antioxidant power of essential oil was determined 2.32 mg/ml. The major compounds of essential oil were chrysanthenone (14.31%), camphor (13.95%), 1-8 cineole (10.01%), and trans-pinocarveol (9.50%).

Due to the antioxidant power of A. wilhelmsii essential oil in reducing serum and brain malondialdehyde, it seems that the this plant decreased depression symptoms in mice by reducing oxidative stress that it is probably due to terpene bioactive compounds in the essential oil.

Learning and memory play a key role in daily human life. Memory is the basis of all teaching and training programs. Identification of compounds that improve learning and memory would be helpful for people with mental and memory impairment. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of physical training and essential oil (EO) of Matricaria chamomilla on passive avoidance memory in rats.

Forty-six rats (250-300g) were randomly divided into 6 groups of 8 animals, including control group, group that received 50 mg/kg M. chamomilla EO, group that received 75mg/kg M. chamomilla EO, group that received physical training +50 mg/kg M. chamomilla EO, groups that received physical training +75 mg/kg M. chamomilla EO. Animals were treated with physical training and M. chamomilla EO for 10 days. Passive avoidance learning was evaluated after the 6th EO administration for 4 days using shuttle box apparatus. Blood samples were then collected and serum antioxidant capacity was determined.

In passive avoidance test, there was no significant difference between experimental groups in initial latency. The secondary latency in groups receiving 75 mg/kg EO, physical training, physical training+50 mg/kg EO and physical training +75 mg/kg EO was significantly higher than the control group. Serum antioxidant capacity in physical training and physical training +75 mg/kg EO groups were higher than the control group.

Physical training and chamomile essential oil alone or in combination improve learning and memory in rats.

Depression is a common and debilitating disease that has many economic, social, and personal consequences for the society. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of red clover extract on depression induced by reserpine in mice.

Sixty male mice were randomly divided into 6 groups of 10 mice in each. Control mice received normal saline (1 mg/kg, i.p.), negative control received reserpine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) and positive control received reserpine (5mg/kg, i.p.) + fluoxetine (20 mg/kg, i.p.). Intervention groups received reserpine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) and red clover extract at doses of 250, 500, 750 mg/kg. Depression was tested using forced swimming test and motor coordination was evaluated using Rotarod. Serum and brain antioxidant capacity and MDA level were also determined.

Reserpine significantly increased immobility time in the forced swimming test. Red clover extract at doses of 500 and 750 mg/kg significantly reduced the duration of immobilization. There was no significant difference in motor coordination between control and reserpine-treated mice.  Reserpine injection significantly decreased brain and serum antioxidant capacity and increased their malondialdehyde level. Red clover extract significantly increased brain antioxidant capacity and reduced the malondialdehyde level.

Red clover extract has antidepressant effects due to its components.

Shallot is a plant which belongs to Alium and Albale family , this is a native plant from Iran which is self – grown in high Zones. By regard to further use of medicine and plant’s product , use of herbal plants has on important nole in medical treatment and preventi of diseale. The purpose of this study is the photo chemistry properties and anti – bacterial effects of this plant.

In this study we prepared plant’s essence by use of maceration method and specify the extent of phenol and compound by use of folin eiocalteu and Aluminium V method . In order to effect , the DPPH method and in onder to investigate anti – bacterial effect , the method has been used . Analysis of data u(a) done by use of SPSS & dnausing the graphs was done by Excel.

The most amount of phenol and compound in each gnam of dried essence is : 13/5, 0/77 , 9/59 . Moneouer , anti – bacterial results showed that of shallot’s leaf and onion has acceptable fatal and disincentive effects on staphylococcus accrues and Ancinetobacter baumanni The lowest fatal concentatti on staphylococcus bacteria has been observed has been observed in 1280micrognam / ml.

The results show that Allium hartifolium Boiss has anti – oxidant effect and it’s leaf has more phenol compounds in nelatti to the onion and can disincentive the DDPH free ladical . Also shallot’s leaf and onion has anti – bacterial effect and can be use as anti – bacterial compound.