[Growth inhibition and morphological alterations to Penicellium citrinium in response to Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil]

The growing interest in substitution of chemical food preservative with natural ones has fostered researches on plant essential oils and extracts. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil on growth respose, the percent of growth inhibitory and morphology of Penicellium citrinum. Different concentrations of the essential oil [0, 50, 100, 200, 400, 600 ad 1000 ppm] were used in agar dilution method to evaluate growth and spore production parameters. The cultured mold were studied by scanning electron microscope. Values among groups were compared using 1-way ANOVA. It was found that the effect of different concentrations of essential oil on radial growth and sporulation was statistically significant [p<0.05]. The minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] and minimum fungicidal concentration [MFC] both were 400ppm. According to scaning electron microscopy the treatment with the oil led to alterations in hyphal morphology. Our results suggest that Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil can be used as a natural preservative against Pencillium citrinum in foods

[ study on internal teat sealant for mastitis prevention in a dairy cows]

Mammary glands are particularly susceptible to new infections during the dry and early lactation periods. Dry cow antibiotic therapy in all quarters of all cows has been a traditional method to reduce the effect of these new infections. The objective of this study which was done for the first time in Iran was to determine the effect of infusion with Masti-Seal at dry off. Eighty Holstein Frisian dairy cows parity of 2 to 5 in 7 month of pregnancy were selected from a commercial dairy farm. All cows didn't show clinical mastitis in last month. The cows of group A [n=10] were randomly assigned to be treated in two quarters [LF/RR or RF/LR] with the sealant while two quarters in each cow remained as untreated controls. The cows of group B [n=10] were randomly treated with the dry cow therapy [DCT] and sealant. The cows of group C were randomly assigned to be treated in two quarters [LF/RR or RF/LR] with the DCT and sealant while two quarters were treated just with antibiotic DCT. In group D the effect of Masti-seal and Orbiseal in rear quarters were compared. Milk samples were collected for bacterial culture and somatic cell count [SCC] at dry off, 10-15 DIM. At calving, the Mastiseal was manually stripped from each quarter prior to collecting of colostrum. The clinical evaluations of teats were done in all groups at days 7, 14 and 28 after treatment. No changes in teats of cows were seen. Corynebacterium bovis and one yeast were isolated from 2 and 1 samples, respectively. The SCC of cows in group B increased significantly after parturition compared with cows treated by DCT. In other groups there were no significant differences between dry period and after parturition. Results revealed that using of Masti-seal in combination with DCT is useful. However, use of Masti-seal is a necessity even without antibiotics

Evaluation of serum and milk amyloid A in some inflammatory diseases of cattle

This study was designed to evaluate serum and milk amyloid A [SAA] as an inflammatory indicator in inflammatory diseases. Twenty clinically healthy cows and 100 cows with various inflammatory diseases were selected for this study. Blood samples were collected from the coccygeal vein of both healthy and diseased groups. Milk samples were taken from four quarters of both groups. Milk samples of four quarters from each cow were mixed, then one sample was taken from pooled milk. There was significant difference in concentrations of serum and milk AA between clinically healthy cows and diseased cows [P<0.05]. The difference of SAA and MAA between cows with subclinical mastitis and other inflammatory disease of cows was also significant [P<0.05]. In conclusion, serum and milk amyloid A are useful diagnostic indicators in the inflammatory diseases of cows

[Effect of wild pistachio oil on serum leptin concentration and thyroid hormones in the male rat]

Unsaturated fatty acids are known to decrease serum leptin level. Considering that wild pistachio oil is a rich source of UFA and the reciprocal effects between leptin and thyroid hormones, the aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of dietary wild pistachio oil on serum leptin concentration and its relationship with thyroid hormones. We took 28 healthy adult male rats and divided them randomly in to the four groups; group 1 a control, and the other 3 groups received a normal diet without, 5, 10 and 20% of wild pistachio oil, respectively. RIA for thyroid hormones assay [T3 and T4] and ELISA for leptin, fT3 and fT4 measurement were used. After 60 days, serum leptin levels reduced with increasing wild pistachio oil concentration in the diet; in the control group with normal diet, no significant alterations were seen. This reduction also was not statistically significant in the 10% wild pistachio oil group, whereas differences between groups were significant, indicating the increasing effects of increased amounts of wild pistachio oil percent on the reduction process observed. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between leptin and thyroid hormones in the different sampling times. Control group did not have any significant correlation. In group 2 [fed with 5% wild pistachio oil], leptin concentration had a negative significant correlation with T4 and fT3 and a positive significant correlation with fT4 in the third stage of sampling [day 30]. A positive significant correlation between leptin concentration and fT4 in the fifth stage of bleeding [day 60] was observed in group 3 [fed with 10% wild pistachio oil]. In group 4 [fed with 20% wild pistachio oil] a significant negative correlation between leptin concentration and fT3 was observed in the second stage of sampling [day 15]. Wild pistachio oil has a high content of unsaturated fatty acids, and reductions in serum leptin levels in the rats studied can be due to these acids. Oral consumption of wild pistachio oil has a positive effect on reduction leptin and LDL-cholesterol thyroid hormones and prevention of cardiovascular diseases