Phytochemistry and biological activities of Heracleum persicum: a review / 中西医结合学报

Heracleum persicum Desf. ex Fisch is used in Iranian traditional medicines, for the treatment of various diseases including neurological, gastrointestinal, respiratory, rheumatological and urinary tract diseases. In phytochemical analysis of H. persicum, several classes of natural chemicals including volatile (aliphatic esters, carbonyls, phenyl propenes and terpenes) and nonvolatile (flavonoids, furanocoumarins, tannins and alkaloids) constituents as well as different minerals have been identified. Scientific studies on H. persicum proved that it has a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities. This article has provided comprehensive information on Iranian traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of H. persicum.

Comparison of antioxidant activity and total phenolic contents of some Persian Gulf marine algae

Marine algae, especially brown species, produce a wide range of metabolites with various biological activities. Since marine algae are rich source of dietary fibers, minerals, proteins, vitamins and phenolic components with antioxidant effect, in addition to the rule of oxidative stress in pathogenesis of chronic diseases, the aim of this study was to investigate possible antioxidant activity and total phenolic contents of three brown algae species [Sargassum swartzii, Cystoseira myrica, Colpomenia sinuosa] collected from Asaloye-Niband marine protected area of the Persian Gulf. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic contents of partitional fractions of Hexan, Chlorofrom [CHCL[3]], Ethylacetate [EtOAc] and Methanolic extract of the samples were studied. Total phenolic contents was measured using Folin-Ciocalteu method while ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP] assay were used to study their antioxidant activity. MeOH -H[2]O and chloroform fractions of Sargassum swartzii 12.3, 55.32 +/- 4.8 +/- were found to have the highest antioxidant activity as 73.92 0.5, 11.05 +/- mmol Fe[II] per 100 g dried plant and total phenolic contents, 12.0 0.64 mg gallic acid equivalents per 100 g dried plant respectively. There was a significant Correlation [R[2]=0.999] between the antioxidant activity and total phenolic contents of MeOH-H[2]O fractions obtained from total extracts of these algae. It is recommended that these algae could be potential sources of natural antioxidants

Application of remote sensing in monitoring of faults

The Siyah Bisheh area is located in central part of Alborz zone, 40km south of Amol, Iran. Rock units exposing in the area consists of sedimentary [carbonates, sandstone, siltstone], volcano- sedimentary [andesite to andesitic tuff, tuff], ignimbrite and basalt. When erosion and tectonics have rendered volcanic structures undetectable, remote sensing provides an invaluable tool for their identification, with finding relation between lithology and vegetation is showed that the integrated use of remote sensing techniques and field studies as a powerful tool to distinguish and map the relationships between rock units, structures and alteration zones associated with mineral deposits along the siyah Bishe area. The main image analysis techniques involved in this study were principal component analysis [PCA] and false color composite [FCC]. In this study, an anomaly area is distinguished in the southeastern part of the Siyah Bishe area. Hydrothermally altered rocks contain economic mineral deposits whereas unaltered country rocks are non-mineralized. Approximately 5 km[2] of the area is underlain by altered rocks, but less than 1 km[2] of the altered area contains economic minerals