Comparison of the effect of hydrodistillation and microwave extraction methods on the identified chemical composition of tarragon [artemisia dracunculus l.] essential oil using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Background: Tarragon [Artemisia dracunculus L.] has been utilized as a spice for many years

The essential oil of Tarragon can be used as a natural food preservative since the plant has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties

There has been a variety of methods to extract essential oils. Different methods of extraction might affect extraction rate, percentage and chemical composition amounts of the extracted essential oils

Objective: To find the best method of essential oil extraction, comparing different methods can be performed. In this research two methods of extraction have been compared

Methods: Essential oil of Tarragon was obtained by hydrodistillation and solvent free microwave extraction

Oils were analyzed and the components were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Results: The major components of the oil extracted by hydrodistillation were estragol [29.05%] and limonene [11.87%]. Estragol [62.40%] and thymol [9.25%] were the major components isolated by microwave free solvent

Conclusion: Considering temperature and time of extraction, different extraction methods make noticeable changes in chemical composition of the oils

Effect of alcoholic extract of Ginger during fetal life and breastfeeding on serum level of testosterone, LH, FSH and spermatogenic cells line in male mature offspring rats

Background and Objective: Ginger as a medicinal herb is used as a food flavoring and thraphy of many diseases including infertility and male sexual disabilities. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of alcoholic extract of Ginger during fetal life and breastfeeding on serum level of testosterone, LH, FSH and spermatogenic cell lines in male mature offspring rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 72 female adult mice were r and omly allocated into the 9 groups, including: control group [no treatment], sham groups including neonatal and perinatal groups which were received normal salin [0.5 ml daily] and 6 interventional groups. Animals in interventional groups were received doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/bw of alcoholic extract of Ginger, during neonatal and perinatal period, orally. After puberty eight male rats from each group were sacrified. Serum level of testosterone, LH, FSH were measeared and then by isolating testes, the cell numbers of leydig, sertoli, spermatogonia, spermatocyte and spermatid were counted. Results: The extract of Ginger dose-dependently significantly increased the level of testosterone [P<0.05] and the number of spermatogenic cells in compared to controls [P<0.05]. The dosage of 100 and 200 mg/kg/bw of alcoholic extract of Ginger significantly reduced the FSH and LH in compared to controls [P<0.05] Conclusion: The oral consumption of Ginger during pregnancy and lactation dose-dependently increase the level of testosterone and the number of spermatogenic cells

effect of meat marinating with lactic and citric acid on some physicochemical and electrophoretic pattern of beef burger

Meat products may be unacceptably tough because of the high connective tissue content of meats used in their manufacture. The aim of this study was using meat acid marination method on some physicochemical and sensory characteristics of beef burgers. Meat was marinated in three concentrations [0.5%, 1% and 1.5%] of lactic and citric acid solutions [1:4 w/v] at 4 °C for 15h and was used in formulation of beef burgers. According to control sample, the highest redness [a[*] value was found in the lowest concentration of lactic acid while the lowest a[*] value was in the highest concentration of citric acid. Shear force value indicated that lactic acid had a tenderizing effect particularly at the lowest concentration and had a positive effect on overall acceptability. Electrophoresis of proteins showed that band intensity had decreased in 0.5% acid treatments, compared to the control sample. It seems that meat acid marination is an applicable technique to tenderize beef burgers with high percentage of meat

effect of interference of Nicotine and immobility stress on performance pituitary-adrenal axis in mature male rats

Introduction: Nicotine is the alkaloid used by millions of people around the world through smoking and at the same time these people also exposed to some kind stressors that effect on body including endocrine system. The aim of this study was to investigate the interference of nicotine and immobility stress on plasma levels of hormones of ACTH and corticosterone in mature male rats

Method: In this empirical research study, we used 70 mature male Wistar rats were enrolled as the control, sham and experiment groups randomly. 3 experimental groups of different types received doses of 0.3, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg BW nicotine, and 2 experimental group, one received for 2 hours immobility stress and other for 2 hours immobility stress and other plus nicotine with doses of 0.3 mg/kg BW and the sham group received 1cc of saline intraperitoneally for 5 days. 24 hours after the last injection, mice were bled from the heart and were measured hormones ACTH and corticosterone levels. The data were evaluated using ANOVA and Tuky test

Results: The results showed that the nicotine at different doses and immobility stress and immobility stress with nicotine increases plasma levels of ACTH and corticosterone hormones. Discussion and conclusion: According to the result of this study it can be concluded that the effect of immobilization stress and nicotine enhances the stimulatory effects of nicotine and stress on corticosterone and ACTH

Effect of modified starch on some physico-chemical and sensory properties of low fat Hamburger

Fat replacers are ingredients that can replace fat in many foods, therefore, many consumers have limited their dietry intake of fat and calories due to diet and health concerns. The present study investigated the effect of modified starch on some physico-chemical and sensory properties of low fat Hamburger. In this research, modified starch potato, tapioca [Acetylated distarch adipate] and waxy maize [Hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate] at 0.5, 1.5 and 3% levels were used as the fat replacers. The amount of fat was reduced from 20% to 10% in control. Physical [cooking losses], chemical [e.g. moisture, protein, fat, ash] and sensory characteristic were assessed compared with control one. Results showed that moisture content in samples containing starch was decreased and there was a significant difference between samples containing starch and the control [p<0.05]. Among the samples by increasing the amount of starch and reduced added water, the moisture content was decreased. Ash and protein showed no significant difference between starch samples and control. The sensory analysis showed, the panelist group nominated the sample containing 1.5% tapioca modified starch as the best specimen. Cook loss revealed that the cooking losses of the control sample were more than the samples containing starch. This study shows that modified starch can be used successfully as a fat replacer in ground meat product

[ effect of extremely low frequency pulsed electromagnetic field on serum lipids in male rabbit with and without hypercholesterol diet]

Increasing blood lipids is one of the mortality factors in human communities. In this study the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field [EMF] exposure on the lipid profile [total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL] in 48 male rabbits with normal diet and hyper-cholesterol diet were investigated. This study was experimentally conducted on 48 New Zealand adult male rabbits. The rabbits in control groups, C1 [normal diet] and C3 [hyper-cholesterol diet], were not exposed to any electromagnetic field. Sham exposed groups male rabbits, containing C2 [normal diet] and C4 [hyper-cholesterol diet] were exposed to sham stimulated [without electromagnetic stimulation] for 5 days, 2 hours per day, and the rabbits in the treatment groups, including T1 [normal diet] and T2 [hyper-cholesterol diet], were treated with triangular form 10 Hz of electromagnetic field for 5 days, 2 hours per day. Immediately after the mentioned period, blood samples were obtained from ear vein, and levels of so-called factors were measured. Acquired data were compared with statistical method of One-Way ANOVA. In the exposed groups, the levels of Total cholesterol, Triglycerides, and LDL were significantly decreased compared with the control groups; and the amount of HDL was significantly mounted [p<0.05]. The results acquired indicate extremely low frequency triangular electromagnetic field can positively alter the levels of serum lipids both in rabbits with normal diet and rabbits with hyper lipid diet

[ effects of nicotine on the serum level of insulin in adult male Wistar rats]

Nicotine is an alkaloid of dried Nicotiana tobacum leaves used by millions of people worldwide through cigarette smoking. Nicotiine affects central nervous centers and causes changes in cardiovascular, nervous, and endocrinal activities. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of nicotine on the serum level of insulin in adult male Wistar rats. In this empirical research work, 50 adult male Wistar rats were divided to 5 groups of sham, control and 3 experimental groups. The test group was divided into 3 subgroups containing 10 animals per group received intraperitoneally [IP] 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 mg/kg body weight nicotine in 1 ml saline for 5 days. The control group received only the saline through the same route for the same period of time. Twenty four hours after the last injections, blood was drawn from the rat ventricles and serum level of the insulin was measured using ELISA and related kits. The data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA using SPSS version 18. The results showed that nicotine administration at various doses enhances the serum level of insulin and an increase in the dose further elevates the insulin level significantly [P<0.01]. According to the results it can be concluded that nicotine in mice with a shortage of insulin, stimulates insulin secretion. Therefore, further investigations for the drugs that can be used in the treatment of pancreatic gland could be benefitial

[Effect of educational program based on PRECED model on quality of life in patients with typeII diabetes]

The Problems caused by diabetes have direct and indirect impacts on quality of life of diabetic patients. By increasing of these problems quality of life of patients will decrease. This study was done to assess the effect of the educational program based on PRECEED [predisposing reinforcing enabeling causes educational diagnosis evaluation] model in promoting quality of life of patients with typeII diabetes. This pre-and post-intervention quasi-experimental study was conducted on 78 patients with type 2 diabetes referred to diabetes clinic in Minoodasht located in Golestan province of Northern Iran. The educational program based on PRCEDE Model and patients educational needs was designed. The data were collected using two questionnaires. lifequality WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire and PRCEDE Model-based educational questionnaire. The subjects were followed for one month after intervention to identify the role of educational intervention on patients. The data was analyzed by using SPSS-16 and Paired t-test. After the intervention, the mean score of quality of life increased from 80.39 +/- 11.35 to 81.35 +/- 8.31. No significant difference was existed in the total score of quality of life after intervention but there were significant differences in the physical health [P<0.05], self-evaluation of quality of life of patients [P<0.01] and self-assessment of health of patients after educational intervention. This study showed that the educational program based on PRECEDE model was effective in improving quality of life of patients with regard to physical health and selfassessment of their health status

Comparison of overall performance between moving-bed and conventional sequencing batch reactor

The main objective of present work was to compare the overall performances of [moving-bed] and [conventional] sequencing batch reactor. For this purpose, different experimental parameters including COD and dye concentration, turbidity, MLSS concentration, MLVSS/MLSS ratio, sludge volume index [SVI] and Oxidation-Reduction Potential [ORP] were calculated. One conventional sequencing batch reactor and three moving-bed sequencing batch reactors [MB-SBR] were operated in this study. Each MB-SBR was equipped with a type of moving biofilm carrier. The results of dye, COD and turbidity analysis showed that there were no significant differences between the moving-bed and conventional sequencing batch reactors in the matters of effluent quality. A higher fluctuation of MLSS concentration and also higher SVI were observed in moving-bed compared to that of the conventional sequencing batch reactor. Higher ORP values which mean higher oxidation potential were measured in the reactors equipped with the moving carriers in comparison with those measured in the conventional sequencing batch reactor

Treatment of open tibial fractures: converting or continuing external fixation?

The treatment of open tibial fractures is still an orthopaedic challenge and full of complications. In many cases the use of external fixator that has been known as a nonunion machine is obligatory with a high incidence of pin track infection and other complications. The aim of this study was to compare the use of external fixation as a definite method for treatment of open tibial fractures with its subsequent conversion to internal fixation or casting. Sixty-seven young patients with type III open tibial fractures [Gustilo-Anderson classification] were treated with half pin external fixation. Twenty of them were converted into internal fixation after a period of 6-8 weeks. For another twenty-five, external fixator was removed and treatment continued with casting for a period lasting from 16 to 20 weeks. And for twenty two patients the fixator continued until complete union. The patients followed up for 10-16 months and were evaluated in terms of union time, union rate, infection, range of motion, malunion, non-union, nerve injury, and reduction. There was a meaningful difference only in the union time and superficial infection between the first group and the other two groups. The conversion of external to internal fixation can be considered as a safe, effective, less complicated, and more acceptable method for the treatment of open tibial fractures