effect of heat treatment on chemical composition and antioxidant property of lippia citriodora essential oil

In recent years, natural products, especially natural antioxidants, play an important role in various fields. In fact, Lippia citriodora is one of the medicinal plants which is cultivated in Iran and it may be has potential antioxidant activity. The chemical composition of Lippia citriodora essential oil [LCEO] has been determined. The total phenolic content and antioxidative properties of LCEO were determined. Finally, the effect of the thermal treatment [80, 120, 180°C] for 1, 2 and 3 hours on the antioxidant activity [AOA] and the chemical composition of LCEO were studied. The unheated and heated LCEO components were identified by GC/MS. The antioxidant activity [AOA] of LCEO was determined by two complementary test methods, namely DPPH free radical-scavenging and beta -carotene bleaching. LCEO had different chemical components such as R-curcumene [14.1%], caryophyllene oxide [6.6%], 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one [7.1%], and spathulenol [7.0%]. The IC50 of LCEO was compared with that of synthetic antioxidant [BHT]. Antioxidant activities of LCEO at different concentrations [0.6- 2.5 mg/ml] were determined by beta -carotene bleaching method. The antioxidant activities of LCEO at this range of concentrations were 1.5 - 68.0%. After heating up to 180°C, the essential oil showed a significantly higher free radical-scavenger activity and evident changes in its chemical composition. The study can be further extended to exploit not only the phenolic extracts but also the residual phenolic constituents associated with this herbal medicine as health supplement

Effect of heat treatment on chemical composition and antioxidant property of Thymus daenensis essential oil

Thymus daenensis Celak. Is one of the medicinal plants which cultivated in Iran. This plant involve high amount of polyphenols including thymol and carvacrol, which were reported to possess the high antioxidant activity. Antioxidative activity [AOA] and chemical constituents of Thymus daenensis essential oil [TDEO] were examined. Also, the effect of thermal treatments [80,120 and 180°C] for 1, 2 and 3 hours on the AOA and chemical constituents of TDEO was studied. The chemical constituents of Thymus daenensis essential oil was analyzed by GC/MS. Antioxidant activity [AOA] of TDEO was determined by two complementary test methods, namely DPPH free radical-scavenging and beta -carotene bleaching. TDEO had different chemical components, including thymol [54.7%], carvacrol [5.0%], linalool [1.9%], 1-octene-3-ol [1.6%], p-cymene [11.3%], terpin-4-ol [1.5%], gamma-terpinene [12.9%], alpha -terpinene [2.0%], myrcene [1.1%], beta -caryophelene [2.6%] and borneol [1.1%]. The IC[50] of TDEO was compared with synthetic antioxidant [BHT]. Antioxidant activities of TDEO at different concentrations [0.1- 3.1 mg/ml] were determined by beta -carotene bleaching method. Antioxidant activity of TDEO at these range of concentration were 20 - 96.0%. After heating up to 180°C, essential oil showed a significantly higher free radical-scavenger activity and evident changes in its chemical composition. Owing to this property, the studies can be further extended to exploit not only the phenolic extracts but also the residual phenolic constituents associated with this herbal medicine as health supplement and nutraceutical

[Wild lettuce toxicity: case - series]

Wild lettuce [Lactuca virosa] is a famous herb in the world but is unknown in Iran. It has many dangers when used randomized or over dosage. Wild lettuce grows in the North of Iran and some natives consume it unaware of its adverse side effects. Here, we presented 8 patients with manifestations of wild lettuce toxicity, admitted to a general hospital affiliated to Golestan University of Medical Sciences. All patients recovered [except for an ICU admission] and no chronic complications were reported. Toxicity happened because wild lettuce was fresh and out of the time of harvest. Clinical suspicious to toxicity and history taking are the basis of diagnosis. It should be suggested to avoid using any suspicious substance like herbal materials, except when aware of its complications and effects

Cadmium bioremediation by metal-resistant mutated bacteria isolated from active sludge of industrial effluent

Bioremediation of metal pollutants from industrial wastewater using metal resistant bacteria is a very important aspect of environmental biotechnology. In this study, three species of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated from active sludge of a food factory in the city of Kerman. The bacterial identity was determined by various biochemical tests. Among them, isolate number one could grow on Muller-Hinton agar medium containing 6mM cadmium ion [Cd[2+]] and was therefore selected for further study. The isolates were subjected to mutation by two mutagenic agents [Acridine Orange and Acriflavine] using gradient plate and SIC techniques. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of Cd[2+] for the isolate one after mutation was increased to 7mM. Removal of Cd[2+] using mutated and wild type strains of this bacterium was carried out at different time intervals [10-300 minutes]. It was observed that within 60 minutes, 94.7% of cadmium was removed in 30mg/L of Cd[2+] solution. However, with 60mg/L Cd[2+] solution, only 53.58% and 38.68% Cd[2+] removed were achieved by mutated and wild type bacteria, respectively. The equilibrium data was fitted by Langmuir isotherm equation and the related parameters for Cd[+2] were derived. Based on the data obtained in this study, it can be concluded that biomass of this bacterium can be used for bioremediation of cadmium from industrial waste processing plants with high efficiency

effect of active education on knowledge of health care workers of Golestan university of medical sciences about avian influenza

The main goal of medical education is preparing experts in health care fields. Medical education should answer the population needs and develop in accordance with technology changes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of active education on knowledge of health care workers of Golestan University of Medical Sciences about avian influenza. In 2005-2006, this semi experimental study was conducted through before-after design. At the beginning, knowledge of the samples regarding to avian influenza was evaluated with self-administered questionnaire. After intervention [active participation in lectures and group workshops] the questionnaires were distributed once again. Data were analysed by non-parametric tests [Wilcoxon, Mann- Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis] to evaluate the effect of active education on knowledge about Avian Influenza. The mean score of knowledge increased significantly after educational intervention [P-value < 0.001]. Previous information was significantly related to pretest scores. The mean score of knowledge was not significantly related to gender and age. Educational workshops are effective in increasing knowledge of healthcare workers about avian influanza. While educational programs of the mass media are effective knowledge, it doesn't meet the special educational needs in the field of health

[Gastrointestinal and abdominal Tuberculosis in Golestan-Iran: a 5-years report]

15-20% of TB cases are extra pulmonary tuberculosis [EPTB]. Abdominal TB is the most common type of extra intestinal TB. Signs and symptoms of abdominal TB are unspecific. In this study, we identified all GITB cases in Golestan province [Iran] between 1999 and 2003 and determined their demographic characteristics. We reviewed all new cases of TB reported during 1999-2003 from TB centers of Golestan province.Then EPTB and especially GI and abdominal TB cases were selected. We completed a questionnaire containing demographic information for each of them. The information entered the computer in SPSS-13 was used to analyze the data. 30 patients had been treated for GI and abdominal TB, most of them were females [22 cases, 73.3%]. Mean age of the patients was 32.03 +/- 13.73 with higher incidence in age before 40 years old [70%]. Most common complaints of the patients were fatigue, weight loss, anorexia, fever and abdominal pain, respectively. In 66.7% of patients the diagnosis was pathologically documented. Our data suggest that 38.46% of all TB cases in Golestan province were EPTB, and this scale is higher than other studies. In this study, 5.27% of EPTB cases were GI and abdominal TB, higher than the world reports [3%]

Study of the P53 gene expression by immunohistochemistry in patients with gastric cancer at 5th azar hospital in Gorgan, Iran

Background and Purpose: P53 gene is a tumor suppressive gene and its product, P53 protein, is a protective factor against tumor formation that inhibits the extension of genetically damaged cells. P53 aggregation in tumoral cell nucleus is related with p53 gene mutations, which can be detected by immunohistochemical methods. This study was designed to investigate the protein aggregation in patients with gastric cancer in Gorgan, Iran

Methods and materials: All paraffin-embedded blocks of gastric cancer cases during the years 2000 to 2004 in the pathology ward of the 5th Azar Hospital in Gorgan, Iran [111 cases altogether] were evaluated and stained, for detecting microtome cutting. The obtained data were entered into SPSS and chisquare was used for analysis

Results: 111 cases with gastric cancer were investigated. The most frequent type of gastric tumor was adenocarcinoma [66.7%]. In 59.5% of the affected cases, P53 protein was detected. No significant relationship was observed between P53 expression and factors such as age, gender, and histological type of the tumor

Conclusions: In this study, P53 protein rate was high but it showed no significant relationship with other variables. We suggest further studies to discover the relationship between protein aggregation in tumor cells and other variables in affected cases