فهرست مطالب mehran arabi

This study was hypothesized to evaluate the beneficial effects of Melilotus officinalis extract on blood lipid indices in adult male rats under chronic immobility stress. In the present study, 40 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 8 (n=8) including: Control (intact), sham (under chronic stress receiving normal saline), and treatment (under chronic stress receiving M. officinalis extract at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg). To induce chronic immobility stress, the animals were placed in a restraint device for 2 hours daily for 21 days. The plant extract was injected intraperitoneally daily for 21 days, 30 min before induction of chronic stress. At the end, after deep anesthesia, the blood samples were taken out via cardiac puncture. Blood sera were used to evaluate lipid indices. In the sham group compared to the control, a significant increase was observed in triglyceride (P<0.001), total cholesterol (P<0.05), and VLDL (P<0.05) values. A dose of 100 of plant extract caused a significant decrease in triglyceride (P<0.001), LDL (P<0.05), and VLDL (P<0.01) and an increase in HDL (P<0.01) values. A dose of 50 of plant extract significantly lowered total cholesterol (P<0.001), triglyceride (P<0.001), and LDL (P<0.001) values. Meanwhile, a dose of 25 of plant extract caused a significant decrease in total cholesterol (P<0.01), triglyceride (P<0.001), and LDL (P<0.01) values. M. officinalis extract has the ability to improve blood lipid indices in animals under chronic stresses.

Stress affects the body's systems and can lead to many disorders, including depression. To deal with stress and depression, the use of medicinal plants that have fewer side effects than chemical drugs has attracted the attention of researchers. Melilotus officinalis L. contains compounds such as coumarin, flavonoids, triterpene, saponin, and volatile oils with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The present study investigated the effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of the M. officinalis plant on depression caused by chronic immobility stress in adult male rats.

In this experimental study, 48 male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 grams were used. The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups of 8 (n=8) including control (intact), sham (under chronic immobility stress and receiving normal saline), experimental groups (under chronic immobility stress and subjected to doses 25, 50, and 100 mg.kg-1 of M. officinalis extract), and the positive control group (under chronic immobility stress and receiving fluoxetine). To establish an animal model of chronic immobility stress, the rats were placed in the restraint device daily for 2 hours, for 3 weeks. Injections were made intraperitoneally (IP), 30 minutes before stress induction. The depression model was evaluated by the Forced Swimming Test (FST) and motor activity by the Open Field Test (OFT). Then with deep anesthesia in the animals, blood was taken from the heart. By separating the serum, the amount of corticosterone in the rats’ blood was evaluated and measured using special kits and the ELISA method.

The results of this research showed that in the sham group, the duration of immobility in the FST increased significantly in comparison to the control group (P<0.001). In the experimental groups, a high dose of M. officinalis extract led to a significant increase in the duration of immobility in the FST (P<0.01). However, the lower doses of the extract led to a significant decrease in immobility duration compared to the sham group (P<0.001) (P<0.01). The fluoxetine-receiving group also showed a significant reduction in immobility duration compared to the sham group (P<0.01). Lower doses of M. officinalis extract caused a significant increase in blood corticosterone relative to the sham group (P<0.001). Administration of fluoxetine also caused a significant increase in corticosterone levels in the blood in comparison to the sham group (P<0.001). In the OFT, the number of crossing lines in the sham group showed a significant increase relative to the control group (P<0.01) in the experimental groups, a high dose of M. officinalis extract resulted in a significant decrease in the number of times the rats crossed the lines in comparison to the sham group (P<0.01).

Phytochemical studies have shown some active substances, such as quercetin and phenolic acids in M. officinalis, which have antioxidant and antidepressant activity by inhibiting monoamine oxidase and increasing dopamine and serotonin. Therefore, due to active biological molecules, M. officinalis can play a vital role in preventing depression. The results have also shown that M. officinalis extract, particularly in lower doses, has better antidepressant effects in rats under chronic stress.

Nanotechnology, the main technology in the twenty-first century, is the perception and control of matter at the dimensions 1-100 nanometers which revolutionized many aspects of modern life. Birds have not been used as commonly animal models in experimental toxicology but have proven useful in monitoring of environmental quality. This study aimed to evaluate zinc oxide nanoparticle (nano-ZnO) toxicity on kidneys in the homing pigeons (Columba livia f. urbana). The experimental groups orally received doses of 0, 30, 50, and 75 mg kg-1 b.w. of nano-ZnO (1 ml per bird, everyday) for time periods of 7 and 14 days. The lipid peroxidation (MDA/LPO) content, catalase (CAT) activity, and carbonyl protein (CP) content were increased and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) level was lowered in kidney samples. The plasma levels of uric acid, urea, and creatinine were also slightly elevated (p>0.05). Histopathological examinations showed glomerular nanoparticle aggregation and tubular necrosis lines in the kidney parenchyma. In brief, nano-ZnO affected kidney function and structure in homing pigeons through the induction of oxidative stress.

Wound healing is a complex programmed sequence of cellular and molecular processes. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the ability of earthworm’s hydro-alcoholic body extract (EBE) to heal the experimental skin wound in goldfish (Carassius auratus gibelio).

Fish (independent triplicate, 14/group), for 14 days, were divided into 5 groups 1) negative control (Unwounded); 2) pseudo-control (sham): wound treated with EBE carrier (mixture of castor oil and white vaseline); 3) Positive control: wound treated with sodium phenytoin 1%; 4) 1 mg/gr EBE-treated wound, 5) 10 mg/gr EBE-treated wound. In this study, macroscopic and microscopic evaluations and collagen turnover (Hydroxyproline content) in the skin, along with determination of lysozyme activity in blood sera were carried out.

In fish in group 4 (1 mg/gr EBE-treated wound), an increase in the epithelium diameter, good presence and appropriate synthesis of collagen with and low edema in dermis; increased hydroxyproline content; and elevated blood lysozyme activity were observed comparing to other groups.

Our results revealed that application of 1 mg/gr EBE might be as an effective medicinal material in the process of animal wound healing particularly in aquatics.

Using herbal products like Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) plays an important role in wound healing. This study aimed to evalutea the curative influence of Aloe vera (AV) fresh gel on healing of open cutaneous wounds in mouse.

Mice were 1) pseudo-control (sham): wound treated with physiological serum; 2) wound treated with 2 gr AV fresh gel. Two equal full-thickness skin wounds were made on vertebral column in the sacral region. On 8th and 16th post wounding day, skin sampling for the purpose of gene expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGF-R) under RT-PCR evaluation was taken place. Urine samples were used to determine the concentration of hydroxy proline (HP) as a marker of collagen turnover in wounds, using HP assay kit.  

AV fresh gel could up-regulate the expression of FGF-R gene as compared to negative and pseudo-controls (P<0.05). In addition, HP concentration was incresed in AV gel-treated groups comparing to others.

We revealed that AV fresh gel was capable of healing wounds via elevation in collagen turnover and represents a good candidate for a wound healing process in human and animals.

Amylase catalyzes the hydrolysis of starch, glycogen and gives rise to certain products such as maltopentose, maltotetrose, maltotriose, maltose, and glucose. In the present study, earthworm Allolobophora choloretica, from Lumbricidae family, was used as animal model system. First, the earthworm cell extracts were precipitated by using a gradient of saturated ammonium sulfate and multi-step dialysis, and then α-amylase was purified by Amicon® Ultra filter. The purified enzyme was analyzed on SDS-PAGE and a single 37 KD band observed on the gel. Subsequently, optimum pH and optimum temperature of the purified α-amylase were estimated to be 7 and 53 ℃, respectively. Based on our results, at extreme acidic and alkaline pH conditions, the enzyme showed higher pH stability at pH 9 than 4. Moreover, the values of 〖∆H〗_D^#, 〖∆S〗_D^#and 〖∆G〗_D^# were 63.75 kcal.mol-1, 0.113 cal.mol-1K-1 and 26.66 kcal.mol-1, respectively. In conclusion, the purified moderately thermophilic amylase from earthworm Allolobophora choloretica can be exploited in different industries.

Amylases are a family of endoamylases that randomly hydrolyze starch. This study for the first time aimed to explore α-amylase enzyme activity and the existence of amylases in coelomic fluid and body extract from the earthworm Allolobophora chlorotic. In practice, the worms were homogenized in ice-cold water and centrifuged to obtain a supernatant form earthworm body. Moreover, to prepare coelomic fluid electric shock was used and subsequently the activities of amylase in coeloimc fluid and body extract were measured at different pHs and temperatures. Based on results, the optimal pH and temperature for amylase activity in the body extract and coelomic fluid were 8 and 50°C, respectively. Additionally, thermostability and pH stability of the enzyme was measured at different temperatures and pHs. At the other extreme, results indicated that metal salts, including CuSO4, CaCl2, NaCl, MgCl2, KCl have enhanced amylase activity and, HgCl2 and EDTA have inhibited the enzyme form both sources. As a consequence, it can be concluded that novel amylases in coeloimc fluid and body extract from the earthworm Allolobophora chlorotica behave similarly and the amylase can be purified in large scale from the earthworms and exploited in various biotechnological applications.

Cash flow prediction is an essential component of economic decision making, particularly in investment and credit evaluation. This paper examines the comparative predictive ability of earnings and operating cash flows variables on future operating cash flows, during short-term, medium, and long-term periods. For this purpose, the data collected from financial statements of 203 companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange, during a ten-year period (2005-2015) were used. In regression model, the changes of current operating cash flows (as proxy for future operating cash flows) under the influence of past one, three and five years of earnings and operating cash flows (as predictors), are evaluated. The results from the regression analysis reveal earnings and operating cash flows are significant in predicting future operating cash flows but their predictive powers are different, so that comparative predictive ability of operating earnings variable about future operating cash flows is more than that of the operating cash flow itself. The results also show that using both operating earnings and operating cash flow with each other for the prediction, has better outcomes. Moreover, the results indicate that the longer the period of prediction is, the higher the prediction power will be.

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) are one of the most widely used nanomaterials recently. Despite the wide application of nanomaterials, there is limited information concerning their impact on human health and the environment. This study aimed to find the effects of Ag-NPs (40 nm) on blood serum, liver and kidney tissues of homing pigeons (Columbia livia).
Columba livia, in vivo model used in ecotoxicity experiments were gavaged 3 times daily with 75 and 150 ppm of Ag-NPs within 14 days. A group of 30 Pigeon were randomly divided into three groups: Ag-NPs exposed and control groups (n=10). Data analysis was counducted by performing one-way variance (ANOVA) in SPSS.v.16.0

The results of this study illustrated that in the enzyme activity of Glutathione S –transferase (GST), Aspartate amino transferase (AST), Alanine amino transferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenas (LDH) there is a significant difference between treatment groups with Ag-NPs and the control group. Also, lipid peroxidation (LPO) analysis and catalase activity CAT) suggest Ag-NPs cause the main damage to the liver tissue. On the other hand: Ag-NPs have toxic and harmful effects in both concentrations (75 and 150 ppm), and cause LPO induction, oxidative stress and increase of biomarkers of liver necrosis in under treatment pigeons.
The results of this study show that the organism’s exposure to Ag-NPs cause toxicity that is dose-dependant. in this study, the highest damage was observed in the liver. However, this issue will have to be considered more extensively in further studies.

Nanosilver is one of the most widely used nanomaterials in consumer products. However, little attention was paid to the dermal toxic of These particles on human health. This study aimed to examine the effect of nanosilver dermal absorption on renal function parameters. In this experimental study, 40 male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups of 10 (nanosilver, positive control, sham control and negative control groups). After general anesthesia and shaving the back of all animals in near the vertebral column, the Bandage surface was treated in the nanosilver group, with a volume of 50 microliters of the nanosilver solution (100 µg/ml), and in the positive control group with the same amount of silver nitrate solution (100 µg/ml), and in the sham control group with the same amount of distilled water, then the Bandages were fixed in the skin surface, but the negative control group was without treatment and bandage. After 3 and 7 days, the bandages had opened, and the serum levels of Creatinine (Cr) and Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) were measured. On 3 and 7 days, in nanosilver group, creatinine did not change significantly(p>0.05), but BUN levels showed significant increase compared to other groups (p<0.05). In addition, there wasn’t significant changes in the renal function parameters in 7-day compared to 3-day (p>0.05). In this study, a significant increase in BUN of nanosilver group can be indicate kidney dysfunction, therefore nanosilver dermal absorption can be have the toxic effects on the kidney function.

Biocontrol of nematode agents to decrease the hazardous impacts of chemical pesticide application including problems of public health and environmental pollution is a priority. In this study, solid (Vermicompost) and liquid products (Liquid Vermicompost, Vermiwash and Coelomic fluid) of the earthworm species Eisenia fetida were tested against root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica in vitro and greenhouse conditions.

Results showed that Liquid Vermicompost, Coelomic fluid and Vermiwash had the greatest effect on egg hatching inhibition, respectively, and Coelomic fluid, Vermiwash and Liquid Vermicompost had the highest effect on mortality of larvae (J2), respectively, in vitro. All earthworm-based products were added to the cucumber pots and then a root-knot disease as well as plant growth indices was recorded. Results showed that all products could reduce the number of nematode juveniles and gall index in greenhouse conditions. The best combination for controlling disease was Vermicompost + 10 % Liquid Vermicompost and the highest rates of growth related to plants were treated with Vermicompost + 10 % Vermiwash.

It is concluded that earthworm products have a remarkable potential as control agents against root-knot nematode and improving host plant health.

Aloe vera (AV) (Aloe barbadensis Miller) is a tropical plant which has been introduced for healing of burns and wounds. The current study was aimed to assess the effects AV mucilage on wound healing process in mouse damaged skin.

In this experimental study، 30 balb/c male mice with weight range 22±2 gr were divided into 5 groups without wound)negative control (، wound treated with physiological serum for a period of 8 days) sham-operated (، wound treated with physiological serum for a period of 16 days، wound treated with Aloe mucilage for a period of 8 days (experimental) and wound treated with Aloe mucilage for a period of 16 days (experimental). Two equal full-thickness wounds of 10±2 mm were made with taking full-thickness skin. On 8th and 16th post wounding day، sampling was performed to assess IGF (insulin-like growth factor) receptor gene expression by RT-PCR and histological changes. Data were analyzed using one way ANOVA and (Tukey’s hsd post hoc) statically tests.

AV mucilage treatments significantly increased IGF gene expressions compared to sham-operated group during 8 and 16 days following wounding (P<0. 05). AV treatments elevated re-epithelization production with increased mitotic activity in fibroblasts، fibrocytes، collagen fibers and angiogenesis in damaged areas.

AV mucilage may use as a strength wound healer to heal skin damages in many kinds of animal skin damages.

Nanosilver is one of the most widely used nanomaterials due to its strong antimicrobial activity. Thus, because of increasing potential for exposure of human to nanosilver, there is an increasing concern about possible side effects of these nanoparticles. In this study, we tested the potential dermal toxicity of nanosilver bandage on serum chemical biomarkers in mice. In this study, 20 male BALB/c mice were randomly allocated into the treatment and control groups (n=10). After general anesthesia and shaving the back of all animals in near the vertebral column, in the nanosilver group, a volume of 50μl of 10 μg/ml of nanosilver solution (40 nm), and in the control group the same amount of distilled water was added to the sterile bandage of mice, then the bandages were fixed on the skin surface with cloth glue. After 3 and 7 days, the bandages were opened and serum levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured by using standard kits for two groups of mice. In treatment group, a significant increase in ALT, AST and BUN levels were observed compared with control group during experiment periods (p<0.05), but there wasn’t a significant increase in Cr level in treatment group during experiment periods (p>0.05). The present results indicated that the dermal absorption of 10 μg/ml nanosilver (40 nm) can lead to hepatotoxicity and renal toxicity in mice.

The extensive use of nanoparticles in a variety of applications has raised great concerns regarding their biological effects and environmental fate. Silver nanoparticle، often referred to as nanosilver (n-Ag)، may be cause health problems because of its wide and ever growing use in many applications. n-Ag is used in treatments of wounds، disinfection of water and/or air and coatings textiles. n-Ag is shows toxic effects only when oxidized to silver ions (Ag+). There is a limited knowledge concerning environmental and health consequences of exposure to n-Ag. In the current study، we aimed to evaluate the potential ecotoxicity of n-Ag for freshwater crustacean model organism، Gammarus pseudosyriacus. Three low concentration solutions of n-Ag (2. 5، 5 and 7. 5 ppm) were used over a period 96 hr. The concentrations of n-Ag used in this study are not environmentally relevant but provide a model system to examine its ecotoxicity. It was revealed that n-Ag imposes a severe lipid peroxidation (LPO/MDA) in Gammarus whole body extract. In addition، the activity of some antioxidant enzymes changed. Catalase (CAT) activity was decreased and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity significantly increased. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was also markedly decreased. An abnormal vigorous movement was observed among animals. Briefly، n-Ag was found highly toxic to aquatic organisms and with the potential to exert a strong oxidative stress، leading to altered physiological state.

Manufactured nanoparticles have a wide range of application due to their advantageous properties when compared with their bulk forms. There is a growing concern regarding the safety of nanoparticles. This study aimed to evaluate the cell membrane lipoperoxidation (LPO) and DNA integrity in red earthworm Lumbricus rubellus when exposed to artificial soil systems containing different concentration of zinc oxide nanoparticles (n-ZnO). Exposure to n-ZnO led to an increase in LPO content and DNA damage (in terms of halos) in earthworm coelomocytes. We identified a positive strong correlation (r = +0.891, p<0.01) between LPO and DNA damage/ halos. In summary, we show that n-ZnO are toxic to soil organisms and may imposed a sever oxidative stress/ LPO leading to DNA damages.

As a result of growing applications of manufactured nanoparticles, there is an increasing concern about possible side effects of exposure to these materials on human and environment. Nanosilver (n-Ag) has found wide use in medical applications including development of silver-based dressings and silver coated medical devices. However, toxicity of these particles resulted from dermal use has not been fully identified. In this study, we analyzed the potential dermal toxicity of n-Ag bandage (100 μg/mL) over a period of 3 and 7 days in mice balb/c. Silver nitrate bandage (100 μg/mL) was applied in the positive control group. We found no cutaneous inflammatory responses such as erythemia and/or eschar for n-Ag. However, exposure to these nanoparticles resulted in considerable increase of hepatic necrosis biomarkers viz. ALT and AST. On the other hand, TGF-beta1 levels, an anti-inflammatory biomarker was found to be decreased significantly in mice blood sera following application of n-Ag bandage. No mortality was observed in n-Ag treated groups. Also, differences between n-Ag treated groups and positive control in hepatic and anti inflammatory biomarkers was found to be significant. Briefly, our results reveal that dermal application of n-Ag does not lead to any external changes and observable inflammatory responses in animal skin. However, it can alter the level of some biomarkers related to liver function in blood serum of samples.

Despite increasing application of silver nanoparticles in industry and medicine، there is still little information about their potential toxicity، particularly to male genital system. Therefore، the present study was carried out to investigate the cytotoxicity and protein expression alteration induced by nanoparticles of silver in the male rat genital system. In this experimental study، 24 male wistar rats were randomly divided in 4 equal groups. In experimental group one، two، and three، nanosilver was given orally for 45 consecutive days at the doses of 1، 10 and 20 ppm respectively. Rats in group four (control group) received 20 ppm ethylene glycol orally for 45 consecutive days. Results from DNA diffusion assay studies were analyzed statistically using ANOVA، and Tukey test. Also results of the electrophoresis were compared using Image J software. DNA diffusion assay results about apoptosis showed a significant increase in the experimental group in the number of sperms that occurred apoptosis (P<0. 05). Furthermore، the assessment results of an alteration in protein expression of testis cells showed an increase in expression of intracellular proteins with nanoparticles concentration increasing compared to control group. Based on the present study، it can be concluded that nanoparticles of silver can increase the incidence of apoptosis in rat sperm and cause alteration in protein expression in rat testis.