فهرست مطالب narges chamkouri

Nanoparticles and nanocomposites in low concentrations can be a suitable alternative to antibiotics. In this study, for the first time, silver-zinc oxide nanocomposites were synthesized from the cellulose of Barhi date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) seeds.

In this study, the chemical compounds of Berhi date palm seed extract (such as phenols, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid) were first assessed, and silver-zinc oxide nanocomposites were synthesized. The properties of the synthesized nanocomposites were evaluated using different spectroscopy and microscopy techniques. The antibacterial activity of the extract and silver-zinc oxide nanocomposites was investigated against standard strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus. The cytotoxicity of the extract and nanocomposites against breast cancer cells MCF-7 and normal cells MCF-10A were finally evaluated.

In the extract, there were high concentrations of flavonoids and phenols. Based on scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, the size of synthesized nanocomposites was 20±5 nm with a spherical shape. The diameter of the inhibition zones was 21.3±0.5 mm and 19.4±0.7 mm for Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli, respectively. According to the MTT assay results, the nanocomposites were more cytotoxic to MCF-7 breast cancer cells than normal cells MCF-10A.

The synthesized zinc oxide-silver nanocomposites have antibacterial and anticancer properties with fewer side effects and significant efficacy, which can be used as a potential therapy in the future.

During the current SARS‑CoV‑2 (COVID‑19) pandemic, some reports were presented based on those nonsteroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids may exacerbate symptoms in COVID‑19 patients. According to this, we aimed to collate information available in published articles to identify any evidence behind these statements with the aim of helping clinicians on how best to treat patients. We could not find published conclusive evidence for or against the use of NSAIDs in COVID‑19 patients. Meanwhile, there appeared to be some evidence that corticosteroids may be beneficial if utilized in the early acute phase of infection, however, conflicting WHO (World Health Organization) evidence surrounding corticosteroid use in certain viral infections means this evidence is not conclusive. Given the current availability of literature, caution should be exercised until further evidence emerges surrounding the use of NSAIDs and corticosteroids in COVID‑19 patients. However, the availability of reliable information for clinicians and patients is paramount.

A rapid and simple method was investigated for determining the concentration of some contaminants including heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium(Cd), chromium (Cr), and anthraquinone in black tea samples in Iran.

Heavy metals such as Pb, Cd, and Cr in tea samples were detected using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) after microwave acid digestion (MAD). The anthraquinone in infusion tea samples was determined via liquid chromatography photodiode array detector after the dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method (DLLME). 

Recoveries of all the tea samples in heavy metals and anthraquinone were in the range of 75% - 89% and 71%-96, respectively. The results of recoveries are in the range of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) and the European Union. RSD in the MAD and DLLME methods was less than 5%. The mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cr, and anthraquinone were 0.724, 0.021, 2.98 ppm, and 2.27 ppb.

Overall our results showed that MAD and DLLME methods could successfully determine the concentration of some contaminants such as Pb, Cd, Cr, and anthraquinone in black tea samples.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia that results from inadequacies in secreting insulin and/or the action of insulin. Increased exposure to particulate matter at high concentrations is associated with increased mortality in heart diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of insulin and crocin on cardiac electrophysiological parameters, blood pressure, and oxidative stress in alloxan-induced diabetic rats exposed to the total suspended particulate (TSP). 

Adult male Wistar rats (n=60) with bodyweight between 200 and 250 g were divided into 10 experimental groups (6 animals per group): control, crocin, diabetic, TSP (5 mg/kg TSP, intratracheal instillation), diabetic-crocin, diabetic-insulin, diabetic-TSP, crocin-TSP, diabetic-TSP-insulin, and diabetic-TSP-crocin. The effects of chronotropic (heart rate), inotropic (QRS voltage), and dromotropic (P-R intervals and QTc intervals) were evaluated with standard bipolar limb lead II. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements were recorded with the tail cuff. Antioxidant and lactate dehydrogenase enzymes were also measured. 

The diabetic groups and groups exposed to TSP experienced a deleterious effect on cardiac electrophysiological parameters and blood pressure, with a significant decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes. These changes were improved with crocin and insulin. 

In this work, the protective role of crocin and insulin alone was observed in diabetic groups and groups exposed to TSP by improving the electrophysiological parameters of the heart, blood pressure, and oxidative stress. 

The effect of total suspended particulate matter (TSP) was investigated on the expression of inflammatory and apoptotic factors in diabetic rats, and the effect of crocin and insulin was examined on these factors. 

Fifty-four adult male wistar rats were divided into nine experimental groups: control group, crocin group (received crocin, 50 mg/kg), diabetic group (received a single dose of alloxan at 120 mg/kg, IP), TSP group (5 mg/kg TSP instilled intratracheally), diabetic-crocin group (received crocin at 50 mg/kg after the induction of diabetes by alloxan (120 mg/kg)), diabetic-insulin group (received regular insulin (5 U/kg), crocin-TSP group (received crocin at 50 mg/kg, IP, and then 5 mg/kg TSP was instilled intratracheally), diabetic-TSP-insulin group (after receiving alloxan (120 mg/kg) and instilling TSP (5 mg/kg, intratracheally), a single dose (5 U/kg) of regular insulin), and diabetic-TSP-crocin group (after receiving alloxan (120 mg/kg) and instilling TSP (5 mg/kg, intratracheally), a single dose of crocin (50 mg/kg, IP)). Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to measure the expression of the mRNAs of apoptotic (Bax and Bcl2) and inflammatory mediators (TNFα, COX2, iNOS/eNOS) in Wistar rats.

In diabetic and TSP groups the inflammatory factors and BAX/Bcl2 ratio significantly increased compared to the control group. In diabetic-TSP-insulin and diabetic-TSP-crocin, a significant decrease was observed in the rate of inflammatory factors and BAX/Bcl2 ratio.

The results suggested that diabetes and exposure to TSP increase the rate of apoptosis and inflammation, and also demonstrated the anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammation role of insulin and crocin.

Inflammatory pain is caused by tissue inflammation and injury. Formalin is one of most important compounds used to induce inflammation. At the moment, the recognition and development of anti-inflammatory drugs that are naturally occurring have been very much taken into consideration. Cuminum is one of plants with anti-inflammatory potentials. Considering the importance of a more complete understanding of the mechanisms that create and advance inflammation in order to find better, more complete and less complicated ways to improve inflammation and inflammatory pain, much and sometimes intense side effects of chemical treatments, The growing importance of medicinal plants in various medical fields and importance and diverse applications of Cuminum in medical sciences.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Cuminum aqueous extract in male rats.

36 rats were used in different groups. Aqueous extract of Cuminum fruits was prepared at doses of 200, 500, 1000 mg / kg. Inflammation induced by subcutaneous injection of formalin in animal's foot and then, inflammatory pain was evaluated. One-way ANOVA was used to analyze the data.

Different doses of the extract reduced the acute and chronic inflammation. The highest reduction effect in the acute phase was related to dose of 200 mg/kg and in the chronic phase, the dose was 1000 mg/kg.

aqueous extract of the Cuminum plant has an acute and chronic anti-inflammatory effect, and this effect is dose-dependent.

This study was carried out to determine elements (Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Ba, B, Al, Si, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Ag and P) in the Suaeda vermiculata (S. vermiculata) and Suaeda aegyptiaca (S. aegyptiaca) in three different regions of Southern Iran using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) after microwave-assisted acid digestion.

The present study was carried out the common halophytes, S. vermiculata and S. aegyptiaca in three different region of Dashti in Busher province, Iran, in early summer, 2013. S. vermiculata and S. aegyptiaca are native to the south, southern- east and Persian Gulf coastal and are recognized as Tahma and Kakol in Bushehr province. After drying at 95°C for 1 h to a constant weight, the samples were separated and weighed individually. The dried samples were homogenized and grounded using a mortar.

A new, simple and highly sensitive method was proposed for determination some elements in halophytes by ICP-OES. The limit of detection (LOD) was below 10 ngkg−1,and the relative standard deviations (RSD) were below 5%.The recoveries of all the elements were in the range of 88% to 108%, and the linear correlation coefficients (R) were 0.99.

Advantages of this method were low limit of detection (LOD), the relative standard deviations (RSD), recoveries of all the vitamins were in the range of 88% - 108%, and the linear correlation coefficients (R) 0.99. Finally to the best of our knowledge there are no published research studies about determination of some element concentrations in halophytes and the proposed ICP-OES method has been successfully applied for determining element concentrations in halophytes.