Comparison of ferrous ion chelating, free radical scavenging and anti tyrosinase properties of Thymus daenensis essential oil with commercial thyme oil and thymol

Utilization of plants as antioxidants in food processing has a potential for substitution of synthetic antioxidants. In the present work, some unexplored biological activities of Thymus daenensis, commercial thyme essential oils and thymol were comparatively studied. Ferrous ion chelating was assessed by spectrophotometry by mixing the essential oils with diluted FeSO[4] followed by addition of ferrozine. Antioxidative properties were assessed by beta carotene bleaching and 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] free radical scavenging tests. Gallic acid equivalent of ferric reduction was carried out using FeCl[3]. Super oxide anion radical scavenging was determined using xanthine oxidase and anti tyrosinase inhibitory activity was determined by a spectrophotometry method using a modified dopachrome method with L-DOPA as the substrate. Chelating reaction of T. daenensis oil was dose dependent, and its super oxide anion radical scavenging property was higher than the commercial oil. Lipid peroxidation inhibition by T. daenensis oil was stronger and those of the commercial oil and thymol were approximately equal. DPPH free radical scavenging property of T. daenensis oil was higher than trolox, butylated hydroxytoluene and anisol [BHT and BHA]. Ferric-reducing antioxidant power [FRAP] of T. daenensis oil was greater. The total phenolics anti tyrosinase IC[50] were also determined. The results point to the nutritional value of these plants in preventing formation of toxic reactive oxygen species, and show that Thymus daenensis, as a good antioxidant, can directly scavenge free radicals. The results from biological properties of Thymus daenensis are indicative of its potentials for use in food and drug industries

Lipid peroxidation inhibition, superoxide anion and nitric oxide radical scavenging properties of thymus daenensis and anethum graveolens essential oils

Safety and efficacy of the synthetic antioxidants used in the food industry are frequently questioned because such antioxidants are unstable and highly volatile, therefore, interest in finding naturally occurring antioxidants that have the potential to protect human beings from damage induced by oxidative stress has intensified. Bioactivities of Thymus daenensis and Anethum graveolens essential oils with special reference to their antioxidative properties are studied. Total phenolic content [TPC], lipid peroxidation inhibition [LPI], ferrous-ion chelating [FIC], superoxide anion and nitric oxide radical scavenging, and tyrosinase inhibition activities of the essential oils were determined. TPC of T. daenensis and A. graveolens oils were 644.07 +/- 6.79 and 174.91 +/- 2.05 mg GAE/100 g. T. daenensis and A. graveolens oils showed the highest LPI activity with FICs of 63.28 +/- 0.21 and 70.22 +/- 1.9 percent respectively. Superoxide anion and nitric oxide radical scavenging activities of the above oils had IC[50] of 0.013, 0.001 and 0.005, 0.0014 mg, respectively. A. graveolens oil showed 6 fold higher anti - tyrosinase activity than T. daenensis oil. There was not correlation between lipid peroxidation or ferrous ion chelating activities with total phenolics implying that the oils contain chelating ligands. The effects of antioxidant phytochemicals in the biological systems are ascribed on their ability to scavenge radicals, chelating metals, activate the antioxidant enzymes, and to inhibit the oxidases. T. daenensis and A. graveolens oils have good commercial potential in both food processing and cosmetic industries

[Assessment of referral system in health care delivery center of Paeengatab [Babol, 2003]]

Since equal distribution of health services is impossible in different levels of health network, small centers should refer patients to upper level for special services and if it doesn't be according to referral system, causes crowding and insufficiency of health services in upper levels and leads to uselessness of medical services in small centers. This study was done to assess the function of referral system in Babol health care delivery network. This cross-sectional study was performed in Paeengatab health center during autumn 2003. All referred patients to upper levels were included in this study. Data was collected by interviewing with patients and referral forms and then were analyzed. From 445 forms, 200 had complete data. Most referred patients were female [73%] and were at the age of 20-29 [42%]. Most people [58.2%] were referred for paraclinical services [Sonography and laboratory] and the most referred cases were the patients with gynecological and obstetric disorders [18.6%]. Shahid Beheshti, Yahyanejad and Amirkola hospitals accepted the most referred patients, respectively. The feedback rate from hospital to health centers was zero. Referral system is only being performed as one way from health centers to hospitals and there is no feedback, since, gynecological and obstetric disorders make the largest number of referred patients, it is necessary to increase health and treatment services in rural health centers in order to decrease the number of patients who referred to hospitals