seyed mohammad masoumi

Pollen grains of eight species of Gagea were examined using Light Microscope (LM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Results showed that selected quantitative characters of pollen grains (polar axis, equatorial axis, P/E ratio, width of muri, lumina or pore number per 2 μm2 in the exine surface, and lumina or pore size) show significant variation providing potential diagnostic characters in discrimination of taxa in the genus. Among the pollen qualitative characters, pollen shapes varied from oblate to oblate-spheroid, and pollen size can be classified as medium (less than 50 μm) and large (more than 50 μm). Exine ornamentation in equatorial view and on sulcus margin region show also variation among the studied taxa. Cluster analysis of selected pollen morphological characters indicated two pollen groups and three types. The palynological types supported taxonomical situation of G. sect. Didymobulbos, G. sect. Plecostigma, and G. sect. Platyspermum. There is no pollen type for studied taxa of G. sect. Stipitatae. In addition, palynological issues suggest a close relationship between G. sect. Didymobulbos and G. sect. Stipitatae.

Candida species are among the major causes of opportunistic fungal infection in immunocompromised individuals, cancer patients, and organ transplants patients. Resistance to the antifungal medications has been on the rise. On the other hand, there have been several reports about the antimicrobial effects of different species of Ephedra major extract. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antifungal effects of Ephedra major against some Candida species.

In this experimental-laboratory study, after collecting E. major in the spring of 2014 from the mountains located in the west of Kermanshah Province, plant extraction was performed with ethanol, methanol, petroleum ether, and chloroform solvents. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) of E. major against Candida albicans (ATC1677), Candida tropicalis (CBS94), and Candida glabrata (CBS2175) were evaluated by macrodilution method. Then its chemical composition was determined by GC-MS.

Based on the results of this study, ethanolic, methanolic, petroleum ether, and chloroform extracts of Ephedra major had antifungal effects. Also, the most desirable rate of MIC and MFC were 15.6 and 31.25 mg/ml respectively for chloroform extract against Candida glabrata. The results of GC-MS also showed that phenolic compounds were the most abundant compounds in this plant.

The results showed that the anti-candidal activity of ethanolic, methanolic, petroleum ether, and chloroform extracts of E. major was considerable.

The genus L. Crataegus belongs Rosaceae family. It has economic importance due to its widespread use in traditional medicine and landscaping. This genus has a lot of complexities from a taxonomic point of view and so far many plans have been presented to classify the species of this genus into sections or subgenera. In this study, morphological traits along with ribosomal DNA (ITS) region sequences were used to study the progeny relationships as well as to determine the species boundary in this genus. In morphological studies, 43 traits (14 quantitative traits and 29 qualitative traits) of vegetative and reproductive organs of 14 species of this genus were studied and the obtained data were statistically analyzed by specialized software such as PAST and SPSS. . In phylogenetic studies, the nuclear genomes of 14 species were extracted by DNA Extraction Kit (MBST) and their DNA sequences along with ITS sequences of 19 non-Iranian species of this genus were extracted from NCBI site and then analyzed by PAUP and Figtree softwares were analyzed based on Maximum Parsimony (MP) method. Although the classification of species based on The maximum Parsimony method was consistent with the monograph presented by Christensen, but these results did not confirm the proposed schemes for classifying species in the flora of Iran.

Carduus L. species (belong to Asteraceae Bercht. and J. Pres) replace endemic plant species by forming dense colonies and can compete with native vegetation for light, nutrition, and moisture. In order to obtain more information about this invasive genus, the chromosomal number of Carduus pycnocephalus L. were investigated from Hamedan and Kermanshah provinces in the west of Iran. 14 special stations were selected of some parts of these provinces. Chromosomal counting was done in the metaphase stage of the root meristems by seed germination and by using the standard squash method. Results showed that chromosomal number in these studied taxa was 2n=2x=34 in 14 populations gathered in this research. By comparing the chromosome number found in this study with previous research, this chromosome number is belonging to C. pycnocephalus subsp. arabicus (Jacq. ex Murray) Nyman. Therefore, the diploid chromosome number in the taxa of this species can be taxonomical value.

Western forests of Iran are considered the richest biological resources of Iran. The rangelands of forest provide the bulk of the forage needed for livestock of nomads and villagers in the region. Therefore, research on this forest vegetation is very necessary. In this research, the studied area is part of the middle-sized Zagros forest ecosystem located in the Kaseh-Garan of Gilan-e-Gharb area (Kermanshah province, Iran). This research aims to achieve the effect of the canopy cover of bean trefoil (Anagyris foetida) as a nursing plant in identifying accompanying species and also identifying the dominant flora of the region. For this purpose, 55 samples were taken based on a randomized pattern with 100 * 100 m network dimensions. By inserting 1 × 1 m microplates into each plot, the total number of plants per unit area was investigated. The results of land surveying in the forests of the region showed that A. foetida with 61.5% had the highest coverage. Also, all of the plant specimens of this area were collected and identified using botanical resources in the Razi University herbarium (RUHK). In the floristic study, a total number of 333 plant species were belonging to 225 genera and 58 families. Among the plant families, Asteraceae had the highest number of plant species with about 19%. In terms of life forms, the highest percentage for both therophytes and hemicritophytes (41%) were found. In the chorological study, the highest frequency related to the Irano-Turanian elements (66%), Irano-Turanian, and Mediterranean areas (9%), Irano-Turanian, the Mediterranean, and Euro-Siberian (8%), Irano-Turanian and Euro-Siberian (7%), and remaining 10 percent related to species with other geographical distribution in the area. Although the Kaseh-Garan area is phytogeographically related to Irano-Turanian, elements from the Mediterranean and Sahara-Sindian have infiltrated this region. Therefore, the presence of bean trefoil stands (with 61.5% coverage), high floristic diversity, and special vegetation of Kaseh-Garan shows the importance of this region and the protection of vegetation in this area is necessary.

In this research, pollen morphology of 10 species of 8 attractive plants for bees were studied using SEM microscopy from different parts of Kermanshah province. The methods used in this study included: 1- Field visit and pollen collection directly from the flowers; 2- Using the trapping device installed in front of the hive lid; 3- Removing the pollen from the inside of the hive. Several reference books and relevant websites were used for pollen identification. Results showed that the majority of pollen grains had medium size but there were few large and very large pollen grains. Their shape was prolate - spheroidal, prolate and the outline of pollen grain is as the oblate-spheroidal form in polar view and as an elliptical from in equatorial view. The position of aperture in studied pollens were monosulcate, tricolpate, tricolporate, monoporate and pantoporate. The exine ornamentation were reticulate, striate, granulate, psilate, echinate. Also, the highest pollen collected by the bee was, respectively, Asteraceae, Rosaceae, papilionaceae and Apiaceae.

Cheilanthes persica (Bory) Mett. ex Kuhn. (Pteridaceae) is one of the resurrection ferns that fully dries during drought stress and after re-watering will be revived. Fresh material obtained from Kermanshah province, west of Iran (Tagh-e-bostan) and cultured in growth chamber and its developmental stages and life cycle were examined. The spore morphology was studied. The spore had tetrahedral tetrad with discontinuous microreticulate ornamentation.

Candida species is one of the main fungal pathogens in immunodeficient, organ transplantation, and cancer patients. Resistance to antifungal therapy, is observed in candida species, such as Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida tropicalis. For this purpose, screening of the medicinal plants and investigation of their antifungal effect is necessary. This study was conducted with the aim of in vitro evaluation of inhibitory effect of Allium saralicum on candida species.
In this descriptive-comparative study, Allium saralicum plant was collected from Shahoo mountain in Kermanshah, and extracted using soxhlet apparatus. Antifungal activity of methanol and petroleum ether extracts, were investigated against C. albicans, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis. Well diffusion method was used as a screening method, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC), were determined. Results were analyzed by nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests.
In this research, the highest inhibition zone of Allium saralicum extracts against all species, was observed in concentration of 250mg/ml, and inhibition zone diameter decreased with decrease in concentration. MIC and MFC results showed that C. albicans is more sensitive to the petroleum ether extract, while C. tropicalis growth was significantly inhibited by the methanol extract. The results of both extracts was equal for C. glabrata.
According to the results of this research, methanol and petroleum ether extracts of Allium saralicum have antifungal activity against Candida species. Therefore, this plant can be used as a natural antimicrobial source.