The Effect of Short-term Treatment with Fennel on Lipid Profile in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES: The present trial aimed to assess the effects of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) on lipid profiles. METHODS: In this double blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial, sixty eligible postmenopausal women were randomly assigned into the fennel and placebo groups. Total blood cholesterol, cholesterol fractions, and triglycerides were tested at the baseline, and after three-month follow-up. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in triglyceride (P = 0.679), total cholesterol (P = 0.103), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; P = 0.146) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; P = 0.266) levels between the two groups. In addition, in both groups, a paired t.test showed no significant difference in all mentioned parameters, except for HDL-C, indicating significant borderline improvement (P = 0.052) in the fennel group. CONCLUSIONS: The fennel group revealed a very slight positive change in LDL-C, triglyceride and HDL-C. Further studies with longer durations, higher doses, and larger sample sizes are recommended to validate the results.

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using pine pollen and evaluation of the antifungal efficiency

Background: Nanoparticles have been applied to medicine, hygiene, pharmacy and dentistry, and will bring significant advances in the prevention, diagnosis, drug delivery and treatment of disease. Green synthesis of metal nanoparticles has a very important role in nanobiotechnology, allowing production of non-toxic and eco-friendly particles

Objectives: Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles [AgNPs] was studied using pine pollen as a novel, cost-effective, simple and non-hazardous bioresource. The antifungal activity of the synthesized AgNPs was investigated in vitro

Materials and Methods: Biosynthesis of AgNPs was conducted using pollen of pine [as a novel bioresource] acting as both reducing and capping agents. AgNPs were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. In evaluation for antifungal properties, the synthesized AgNPs represented significant in vitro inhibitory effects on Neofusicoccum parvum cultures

Results: Pine pollen can mediate biosynthesis of colloidal AgNPs with an average size of 12 nm. AgNPs were formed at 22[degree]C and observed to be highly stable up to three months without precipitation or decreased antifungal property. AgNPs showed significant inhibitory effects against Neofusicoccum parvum

Conclusion: The first report for a low-cost, simple, well feasible and eco-friendly procedure for biosynthesis of AgNPs was presented. The synthesized AgNPs by pine pollen were nontoxic and eco-friendly, and can be employed for large-scale production. The nanoparticles showed strong effect on quantitative inhibition and disruption of antifungal growth

The Effect of Short-term Treatment with Fennel on Bone Density in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study is to assess the effect of fennel on bone density. METHODS: This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, which studied sixty eligible postmenopausal women, who were randomly assigned to fennel and placebo groups. Then, the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry was utilized to measure bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) of the spine, femoral neck, intertrochanter, and trochanter at the baseline and after three-month follow-up. RESULTS: The mean BMD and BMC at lumbar spine (P = 0.14, P = 0.504), total hip femoral (P = 0.427, P = 0.471), trochanter (P = 0.075, P = 0.07), intertrochanter, (P = 0.864, P = 0.932) and femoral neck (P = 0.439, P = 0.641) was not significantly different between the fennel and placebo groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study did not approve the effect of fennel on bone density in post-menopausal women. However, to gain deeper insights, further studies with longer durations and larger sample sizes are recommended.

[ effect of Honey bee venom on induction of differentiation of k562 cell line to erythroid linage]

Complementary medicine uses bee venom [BV] to treat several diseases, including arthritis and skin diseases. BV contains mellitin, phospholipase A2, apamin and several other bioactive substances. According to the venom compounds, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of BV on differentiation of K562cell line. In this experimental study, K562cells were treated with different doses of BV in different durations. BV toxicity was evaluated by MTT assay. Benzidine staining was used to investigate the effects of BV on K562 cell differentiation toward the erythroid line. In order to determine the type of cell death, annexin-V gene expression was analyzed by flow cytometry. Colony assay was used to measure BV ability in inhibiting colony formation. Morphological changes in the cells undergone treatment with BV were evaluated by wright-giemsa staining. MTT assay showed that bee venom with concentrations of 5.5-6 microg/ml and 3.5-4.5microg/ml result in 505 cell death in 24h and 48h, respectively. Morphological examination and benzidine staining showed that lower doses in longer period induce differentiation in these cells. Flow cytometry data showed significantly increased in annexin-V gene expression in cells which were treated with bee venom for 24 h. Colony assay demonstrated that the concentration of 1 microg/ml of BV results in 50% reduction in colony formation

Anti-influenza activity of a novel polyoxometalate derivative [POM-4960]

There are many effective chemotherapeutic agents used in influenza disease which some of them inhibit virus replication by interfering with FluV [influenza virus] viral binding or its penetration into cell membrane. A series of polyoxometalates compounds such as POM-523 and PM-504 have been synthesized and have showed inhibitory effects on viruses. In this study we examined anti influenza activity of a novel polyoxometalate derivative [POM-4960] synthesized in the Faculty of Chemistry of Damghan University of Basic Sciences. To evaluate the anti-influenza activity of POM, following the treatment of FluV with POM at different temperatures and incubation periods, viral titer reduction was assessed by haemaglutination assay [HA]. The 3-[4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide [MTT] assay was used to determine TCID50 [tissue culture infective dose] of virus, CC50 [median cytotoxic concentration] of POM, protection percentage and antiviral activity of POM in cell culture. RT-PCR and direct Immunofluorescent assays were performed to evaluate the effect of POM on viral infection and viral RNA load, respectively. POM reduced HA titer near to zero in all cell culture specimens and showed high protection against viral infection of the cells. Reduction in viral infection was confirmed by RT-PCR and Immunofluorescent staining methods. Moreover, this POM derivative has a dual [cumulative] effect on attachment and penetration inhibition compared to other POM's with just one inhibitory effect. POM-4960 could be considered as a powerful antiinfluenza agent with low toxicity and high antiviral potency.