[Phytochemical and morphophysiological responses of dill [anethum graveolens l.] to foliar application of potassium sulfate and methanol biostimulant]

Background: The application of methanol biostimulant and potassium sulfate with reducing of photorespiration and transpiration in C3 plants, increasing the absorption of water and food, and biosynthesis of amino acids can have a direct or indirect effect on the growth and metabolic index of plants

Objective: This study was directed to investigate the effect of methanol and potassium sulfate foliar application on morpho-physiological and phytochemical changes in dill

Methods: This study was conducted as a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design at institute of medicinal plants. Experimental treatments included foliar application of methanol at 3 levels [0, 20, 40 v/v%] and potassium sulfate at 4 levels [0, 1, 1.5, 2 g.L]

Results: Methanol application increased the leaf and stem dry weight, and inflorescence fresh weight. Foliar application of different levels of potassium sulfate also increased the plant height, leaf dry weight, and inflorescence and shoot fresh weight. The use of methanol was not effective on the amount of essential oil in the dill. But, increased the amount of "-pienene. Low concentration of methanol increased the content of thymol, myrcene, "-phellandrene, and P-cymenen. So, increasing the concentration of methanol reduced their amount

Conclusion: Phytochemical and morphophysiological traits of dill were increased with application of methanol and potassium sulfate. As, the highest amount of leaf and stem dry weight, inflorescence fresh weight, and a-pienene was obtained with 40% methanol application. Also, the use of 2 g.L[-1] of potassium sulfate produced the highest amount of plant height, leaf dry weight, inflorescence and shoot fresh weight

[Effect of moderate-intensity resistance exercise training on plasma antioxidant capacity and inflammation factors in healthy males]

Improvement of antioxidant capacity and lessening the concentration of inflammatory markers by physical activity and exercise has received a lot of attention by researchers. The present study was performed to assess the effects of moderate- intensity resistance exercise training on total antioxidant capacity [TAC], creatine kinase activity [CK], resting levels of interleukin-6 [IL-6] and interleukin-1beta [IL-1 Beta]. 20 healthy volunteer men participated in the study and assigned randomly to resistance training [RT] [n=10] and control [n=10] groups. Blood samples were obtained from antecubital vein in pre and post-test steps. Then activity of CK and alterations in the plasma levels of TAC, IL-6 and IL-1 Beta were measured. The subjects commenced resistance training on alternate days [3 days/week] for eight weeks using 65 to 70% of their one repetition maximum [1RM]. Considering groups x time interaction, no significant differences were found in the variables of CK [P=0.321], TAC [0.523], IL-6 [P=0.085] and IL-1 Beta [P=0.11] between RT and control groups after eight weeks of training. However, we found that CK activity and TAC increased insignificantly in RT in the post test step. We concluded that moderate- intensity resistance exercise training for eight weeks could not increase plasma antioxidant capacity and did not change inflammation factors. However, it seems that this protocol did not produce any significant change in oxidative stress and it did not lead to increased basal concentration of cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-1 Beta