Introducing the glycyrrhizic acid and glabridin rich genotypes from the cultivated Iranian licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) populations to exploit in production systems.

Currently, the stable, uniform, and highly efficient production of raw materials for pharmaceutical companies has received special attention. To meet these criteria and reduce harvesting pressure on the natural habitats of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.), cultivation of this valuable plant is inevitable. In the present study, to introduce the glycyrrhizic acid (GA)- and glabridin-rich genotypes from cultivated Iranian licorice, forty genotypes from eight high-potential wild populations were cultivated and evaluated under the same environmental conditions. The GA content varied from 5.00 ± 0.04 mg/g DW (TF2 genotype) to 23.13 ± 0.02 mg/g DW (I5 genotype). The highest and lowest glabridin content were found in the K2 (0.72 ± 0.021 mg/g DW) and M5 (0.02 ± 0.002 mg/g DW) genotypes, respectively. The rutin content in the leaves of the studied genotypes varied from 1.27 ± 0.02 mg/g DW in E4 to 3.24 ± 0.02 mg/g DW in BO5 genotypes. The genotypes from the Ilam population were characterized by higher vegetative growth and yield traits in the aerial parts and roots. The average root dry yield was 2.44 tons per hectare (t/ha) among the studied genotypes and a genotype from Ilam (I5) yielded the maximum value (3.08 ± 0.034 t/ha). The highest coefficient of variation among the genotypes was observed for leaf width (CV = 34.9%). The GA and glabridin-rich genotypes introduced in this study can be used in the future breeding programs to release new bred licorice cultivars.

Study the yield and quality of bitter gourd fruit (Momordica charantia) in inoculation with two species of mycorrhizal fungi and phosphorus fertilizer under different irrigation regimes.

Drought is known to be the most important constraint to the growth and yield of agricultural products in the world, and plant symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can be a way to reduce drought stress negative impacts. A two-year experiment to investigate the factorial combination of mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mosseae, Glomus intraradices, Control) and phosphorus fertilizer (application and non-application of phosphorus) on fruit yield and phenolic acids changes bitter gourd under different irrigation regimes as a split factorial based on a randomized complete block design. Three irrigation regimes, including irrigation after 20%, 50%, and 80% available soil water content depletion (ASWD), were considered in the main plots. The results showed that under water deficit stress, fruit yield and physiological (photosynthesis rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs), RWC, total chlorophyll, and root colonization) parameters decreased compared to 20% ASWD, and biochemical (proline, soluble sugar, MDA, CAT, SOD, phenol) parameters and fruit phenolic acids (caffeic acid, coumaric acid, ferulic acid) increased. However, the inoculation of AMF and phosphorus fertilizer in three irrigation regimes decreased MDA content, but physiological and biochemical parameters and fruit phenolic acids were increased. In this study, the factorial combination of AMF and sufficient phosphorus improved the resistance of bitter gourd to water deficit, and this not only improved fruit yield but also increased fruit phenolic acids under 80% ASWD, which can be an innovation in the management of water resources and the production industry of medicinal plants with high antioxidant properties in water deficit areas.

In vitro micropropagation and conservation of endangered medicinal plant Nepeta asterotricha Rech.f. (Lamiaceae): genetic fidelity, phytochemical and biological assessment.

An efficient in vitro protocol was introduced for the conservation of Nepeta asterotricha, a vulnerable and endangered medicinal species found in the central of Iran for the first time. Growth, phytochemical, and biological traits of in vitro regenerated plant (RP) and acclimated plant (AP) were compared to the mother plant (MP). In addition, the genetic stability of AP was assessed by using inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers. The highest number of lateral branches (4.25) was obtained from the medium with 3 mg/mL kinetin (KIN), while the highest length of lateral branches (13.25 cm) was achieved on the medium culture fortified with 3 mg/mL thidiazuron (TDZ) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). The highest number of leaves (20.25) and main branch length (12.25 cm) were obtained from the medium containing 3 mg/mL TDZ. The highest number of roots (46.25) and root length (2.25 cm) was measured from the medium fortified with 1 mg/mL indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 0.6 mg/mL indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), respectively. RP was successfully acclimated (85%) in vivo. Molecular analysis showed that the AP was true to the type of the MP. cis-Sabinene hydrate (26.8-57.7), 1,8-cineole (6.2-24.1), 4aα,7ß,7aα-nepetalactone (4.1-12.3), and terpinene-4-ol (3.2-15.0) were the major essential oils compounds. The studied samples contained rosmarinic acid (2.55-5.97 mg/g DW), cichoric acid (1.68-12.7 mg/g DW), chlorogenic acid (1.91-64.21 mg/g DW), rutin (0.59-1.09 mg/g DW), apigenin (0.52-0.72 mg/g DW), betulinic acid (0.17-2.20 mg g DW), oleanolic acid (0.84-5.37 mg/g DW) and ursolic acid (3.46-15.70 mg/g DW). Acclimated plant exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (IC50 = 196.4 µg/mL), while the methanolic extract of MP displayed the highest antibacterial activity (MIC = 8 mg/mL) against Staphylococcus aureus. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-024-01416-x.

Predicting the quality attributes related to geographical growing regions in red-fleshed kiwifruit by data fusion of electronic nose and computer vision systems.

The ability of a data fusion system composed of a computer vision system (CVS) and an electronic nose (e-nose) was evaluated to predict key physiochemical attributes and distinguish red-fleshed kiwifruit produced in three distinct regions in northern Iran. Color and morphological features from whole and middle-cut kiwifruits, along with the maximum responses of the 13 metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) sensors of an e-nose system, were used as inputs to the data fusion system. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the first two principal components (PCs) extracted from the e-nose features could effectively differentiate kiwifruit samples from different regions. The PCA-SVM algorithm achieved a 93.33% classification rate for kiwifruits from three regions based on data from individual e-nose and CVS. Data fusion increased the classification rate of the SVM model to 100% and improved the performance of Support Vector Regression (SVR) for predicting physiochemical indices of kiwifruits compared to individual systems. The data fusion-based PCA-SVR models achieved validation R2 values ranging from 90.17% for the Brix-Acid Ratio (BAR) to 98.57% for pH prediction. These results demonstrate the high potential of fusing artificial visual and olfactory systems for quality monitoring and identifying the geographical growing regions of kiwifruits.

Variability in proximate composition, phytochemical traits and antioxidant properties of Iranian agro-ecotypic populations of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.).

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is a multi-use annual forage legume crop that is widely used in food products such as syrup, bitter run, curries, stew, and flavoring. In the present study, morphological traits, proximate composition (moisture, crude fibre, protein, fat, carbohydrate, and energy value), total phenol and total flavonoid contents, and antioxidant properties of 31 Iranian agro-ecotypic populations of the plant was investigated. Among the leaf and seed samples studied, the seeds exhibited the high ash (3.94 ± 0.12%), fat (7.94 ± 0.78%), crude fibre (10.3 ± 0.25%), protein (35.41 ± 1.86%), and carbohydrate (50.5 ± 1.90%) content. In general, more energy value (kcal/100 g) was also obtained from the seed (318.88 ± 1.78-350.44 ± 1.27) than leaf samples (45.50 ± 1.32-89.28 ± 0.85). Antioxidant activity and power of leaf samples were ranged from 67.95 ± 0.05‒157.52 ± 0.20 µg/ml and from 45.17 ± 0.01‒361.92 ± 0.78 µmol Fe+2 per g dry weigh, respectively. Positive linear correlations between antioxidant activity and total phenolic compounds were observed. A significant correlation between proximate composition (dependent variable) and some morphological features (independent variable) was observed. Considerable variability in the studied traits among the plant samples can be interestingly used in further food and production systems.

Natural Phenolic Compounds with Neuroprotective Effects.

Neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction and subsequently oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis that contribute to neuronal cytotoxicity and degeneration. Huntington's (HD), Alzheimer's (AD), and Parkinson's (PD) diseases are three of the major neurodegenerative diseases. To date, researchers have found various natural phytochemicals that could potentially be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Particularly, the application of natural phenolic compounds has gained significant traction in recent years, driven by their various biological activities and therapeutic efficacy in human health. Polyphenols, by modulating different cellular functions, play an important role in neuroprotection and can neutralize the effects of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in animal models. This review focuses on the current state of knowledge on phenolic compounds, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, stilbenes, and coumarins, as well as their beneficial effects on human health. We further provide an overview of the therapeutic potential and mechanisms of action of natural dietary phenolics in curing neurodegenerative diseases in animal models.

Evaluation of antibacterial properties of nisin peptide expressed in carrots.

Nisin, derived from Lactococcus lactis, is a well-known natural food preservative. In the present study, the gene of nisin was transformed to carrot by Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 harboring the recombinant binary vector pBI121 containing neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) gene, peptide signal KDEL, and Kozak sequence. The integration of nisin and nptII transgenes into the plant genome was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and dot blot analysis. The gene expression was also performed by RT-PCR and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. The level of nisin expressed in one gram of transgenic plant ranged from 0.05 to 0.08 µg/ml. The stability of nisin varied in orange and peach juices depending on the temperature on the 70th day. The leaf protein extracted from the transgenic plant showed a significant preservative effect of nisin in peach and orange juice. A complete inhibition activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in orange juice was observed within 24 h. After 24 h, log 1 and log 2 were obtained in a peach juice containing Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. Results of HPLC indicated that Chlorogenic and Chicoric acid compounds were increased in transgenic plants, but this increase was not significant. The study of determining the genetic stability of transgenic plants in comparison with non-transgenic plants showed high genetic stability between non-transgenic plants and transgenic plants. This study confirmed the significant inhibitory effect of nisin protein on gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Quantification of fatty acids in seed oil and important bioactive compounds in Iranian Rosa canina L. ecotypes for potential cosmetic and medicinal uses.

Rosa canina L. (Rosaceae), commonly known as the rose hip, is originated from Europe, Africa, and Asia with a long history in medicinal applications. This study aimed to analyze the morphological traits, fatty acids profile, and content of phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, vitamin C, total carotenoid, total phenol, total flavonoid, and antioxidant activity of the fruits of eleven Iranian R. canina ecotypes (RCEs). The highest coefficient of variation was obtained in 1000 seed weight (46.57%). The seed oil varied from 8.08 ± 0.17% to 16.91 ± 0.35%. Linoleic (35.41 ± 0.78% to 49.59 ± 0.96%) and eicosanoic (17.67 ± 0.06% to 25.36 ± 0.54%) acids were the predominant fatty acids in the studied samples. The anthocyanin content in the fruits was ranged from 0.98 ± 0.03 to 4.41 ± 0.04 mg cyanidin 3-glucoside/100 g of dry weight (mg C3G/100 g DW). The high content of vitamin C (103.51 ± 1.24-419.70 ± 3.12 mg/100 g DW), total carotenoid (111.22 ± 0.78-206.98 ± 1.25 mg ß-carotene equivalents per g of dry weight (mg ß-CARE/g DW)), total phenol (52.87 ± 0.82-104.52 ± 0.23 mg GAE/g DW), and total flavonoid (14.20 ± 0.12-25.18 ± 0.47 mg RE/g DW) were observed in the studied samples. Catechin (20.42 ± 0.47-19.22 ± 0.13 µg/g DW) was the major phenolic compound. The high antioxidant activity in the fruits of the plant was recorded in the studied RCEs (IC50 = 12.54 ± 0.18-26.33 ± 0.13 µg/ml). A significant correlation between some phytochemical compounds (dependent variable) and morphological features (independent variable) was found. Based on our findings, the fruit of the studied ecotypes can be used for future breeding programs and drug development.

Biochemical changes and enhanced accumulation of phenolic compounds in cell culture of Perilla frutescens (L.) by nano-chemical elicitation.

Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt is a renowned medicinal plant with pharmaceutically valuable phenolic acids and flavonoids. The present study was aimed to study the eliciting effect of silver and copper nanoparticles (AgNPs and CuNPs, 50 and 100 mg/L), and methyl jasmonate (MeJa, 50 and 100 µM) on the biochemical traits, the accumulation of phenolic compounds and antioxidative capacity of P. frutescens cell suspension culture. Suspension cells were obtained from friable calli derived from nodal explants in Murashige and Skoog (MS) liquid medium containing 1 mg/L 2,4-D and 1 mg/L BAP. The 21 days old cell suspension culture established from nodal explant derived callus supplemented with 100 mg/L MeJa resulted in the highest activity of catalase and guaiacol peroxidase enzymes, and CuNPs 100 mg/L treated cells indicated the maximum content of total phenol, total anthocyanin, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and H2O2. Also, the highest content of ferulic acid (1.41 ± 0.03, mg/g DW), rosmarinic acid (19.29 ± 0.12, mg/g DW), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (16.81 ± 0.18, U/mg protein) were observed with 100 mg/L CuNPs, exhibiting a total increase of 1.58-fold, 2.12-fold, and 1.51-fold, respectively, higher than untreated cells. On the other hand, AgNPs 100 mg/L treated cells indicated the most amounts of caffeic acid (0.57 ± 0.03, mg/g DW) and rutin (1.13 ± 0.07, mg/g DW), as well as the highest scavenging potential of free radicals. Overall, the results of the present study can be applied for the large-scale production of valuable phenolic acids and flavonoids from P. frutescens through CuNPs and AgNPs 100 mg/L elicited cell suspension cultures.

Development and Optimization of Culture Medium for the Production of Glabridin by Aspergillus eucalypticola: An Endophytic Fungus Isolated from Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (Fabaceae).

Glabridin is a well-known active isoflavone found in the root of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) that possess a wide range of biological activity. Plant cells, hairy roots, and fungal endophytes cultures are the most important alternative methods for plant resources conservation and sustainable production of natural compounds, which has received much attention in recent decades. In the present study, an efficient culture condition was optimized for the biomass accumulation and glabridin production from fungal endophyte Aspergillus eucalypticola SBU-11AE isolated from licorice root. Type of culture medium, range of pH, and licorice root extract (as an elicitor) were tested. The results showed that the highest and lowest biomass production was observed on PCB medium (6.43 ± 0.32 g/l) and peptone malt (5.85 + 0.11 g/l), respectively. The medium culture PCB was produced the highest level of glabridin (7.26 ± 0.44 mg/l), while the lowest level (4.47 ± 0.02 mg/l) was obtained from the medium peptone malt. The highest biomass (8.51 ± 0.43 g/l) and glabridin (8.30 ± 0.51 mg/l) production were observed from the PCB medium adjusted with pH = 6, while the lowest value of both traits was obtained from the same medium with pH = 7. The highest production of total glabridin (10.85 ± 0.84 mg/l) was also obtained from the culture medium treated with 100 mg/l of the plant root extract. This information can be interestingly used for the commercialization of glabridin production for further industrial applications.

Comprehensive RNA-Seq-based study and metabolite profiling to identify genes involved in podophyllotoxin biosynthesis in Linum album Kotschy ex Boiss. (Linaceae).

Linum album is a well-known rich source of anticancer compounds, i.e., podophyllotoxin (PTOX) and other lignans. These compounds play an important role in the plant's defensive system. The RNA-Seq data of flax (L. usitatissimum) were analyzed under various biotic and abiotic stresses to comprehend better the importance of lignans in plant defense responses. Then, the association between the lignan contents and some related gene expressions was experimented with HPLC and qRT-PCR, respectively. Transcriptomic profiling showed a specific expression pattern in different organs, and just the commonly regulated gene EP3 was detected with a significant increase under all stresses. The in silico analysis of the PTOX biosynthesis pathway identified a list of genes, including laccase (LAC11), lactoperoxidase (POD), 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL), and secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase (SDH). These genes increased significantly under individual stresses. The HPLC analysis showed that the measured lignan contents generally increased under stress. In contrast, a quantitative expression of the genes involved in this pathway using qRT-PCR showed a different pattern that seems to contribute to regulating PTOX content in response to stress. Identified modifications of critical genes related to PTOX biosynthesis in response to multiple stresses can provide a baseline for improving PTOX content in L. album.

Comparative assessment of the biological activity of the green synthesized silver nanoparticles and aqueous leaf extract of Perilla frutescens (L.).

Green synthesized nanoparticles (GSNPs) display fascinating properties compared to physical and chemical synthesized ones. GSNPs are currently used in numerous applications such as food packaging, surface coating agents, environmental remediation, antimicrobial, and medicine. In the present study, the aqueous leaf extract of Perilla frutescens L. having suitable capping, reducing, and stabilizing compounds was used for green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Pf-AgNPs). The bioreductant capacity of aqueous leaf extract of P. frutescens for Pf-AgNPs was determined by different confirmatory techniques including UV-Visible spectroscopy, XRD, FESEM, EDX, zeta potential, DLS, SERS, and FTIR analysis. The results exhibited that Pf-AgNPs had optimal size (< 61 nm), shape (spherical), and stability (- 18.1 mV). The antioxidant activity of Pf-AgNPs with both DPPH and FRAP assays was significantly higher compared to P. frutescens extract. Furthermore, Pf-AgNPs had high antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 0.78 mg/mL), and Candida albicans (MIC = 8 mg/mL) while the plant extract showed low antimicrobial activity against both bacterial strains and the fungus tested. Pf-AgNPs and P. frutescens extract also exhibited moderate toxicity on MCF-7 cancer cells with IC50 values of 346.2 and 467.4 µg/mL, respectively. The results provide insights into using the biosynthesized Pf-AgNPs as an eco-friendly material for a wide range of biomedical applications.

Thymol screening, phenolic contents, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Iranian populations of Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague (Apiaceae).

The seeds of Trachyspermum ammi were gathered at the ripening stage from different regions of Iran and grouped into 14 populations (P1-P14) accordingly. The essential oil (EO) extraction yielded in the 3.16-5% range. EOs were analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and 11 constituents were identified. Thymol (59.92-96.4%), p-cymene (0.55-21.15%), γ-terpinene (0.23-17.78%), and carvacrol (0.41-2.77%) were the major constituents. The highest contents of thymol and carvacrol were found in the Ghayen population (P2). Also, P2 and P8 (Estahban) had the highest value of total phenol (TPC) 43.2 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g DW, and total flavonoids (TFC) 8.03 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g DW, respectively. P1 (Kalat) had the highest total coumarin (TCC) value (0.26 mg coumarin equivalent CE/g DW). Based on EO constituents, principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis classified populations into two chemotypes of thymol/p-cymene/γ-terpinene and thymol/carvacrol. The highest positive correlation coefficient was between α-terpinene and limonene (0.96), while the highest negative correlation was between thymol and p-cymene (-0.984). The antioxidant activities of extracts and EOs were evaluated by phosphomolybdenum (total antioxidant capacity; TAC), diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH IC50), and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Also, the antimicrobial activity of EOs was studied against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. P8 with high thymol, EO content (%v/w), TFC, and antibacterial and antioxidant activities is recommended but further studies are needed to confirm the chemotype introduction.

Optimization of Dendrimer Polyamidoamin Electrospun Nanofibers: Preparation and Properties.

Background: The most common polymers in the treatment of wounds are natural (e.g., polysaccharides, proteins, and peptides) and synthetic polymers (e.g., poly-glycolic acid, polyacrylic acid, polylactic acid, and polyvinyl alcohol) due to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, and their structural resemblance to the macromolecules known to the human body. Objectives: The current study aimed to develop an electrospinning method using the nanofibers of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/polyamide amine (PAMAM)/tetracycline (Tet) to cover the wound. The antibacterial effect of PAMAM was also tested against E. coli and S. aureus bacteria. Materials and Methods: The morphology of the composite nanofiber was studied by a field emission scanning electron microscope. Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to characterize the nano chemical structure. Results: Nanofibers were evaluated based on the release of different amounts of the antibiotic tetracycline (1%, 3%, 5%, and 7% by weight) while preventing wound infection. The findings indicated that the highest-profile release of all nanofibers occurred early within 12 hours. It was found that nanofiber membranes loaded with 1%, 3%, and 5% tetracycline released drugs for over 28 days, while those containing 7% tetracycline released drugs for more than 14 days. Conclusions: According to the findings related to the drug release of PVA/CMC/15% PAMAM/Tet and surface morphology of the nanofibers, the optimal amount of Tet was 5%. The results of FTIR spectroscopy indicated that the tetracycline and polyamidoamine were successfully placed in nanofibers.

Gene expression pattern and taxane biosynthesis in a cell suspension culture of Taxus baccata L. subjected to light and a phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) inhibitor.

Taxus baccata L. cell culture is a promising commercial method for the production of taxanes with anti-cancer activities. In the present study, a T. baccata cell suspension culture was exposed to white light and 2-aminoindan-2-phosphonic acid (AIP), a phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) inhibitor, and the effects of this treatment on cell growth, PAL activity, total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), taxane production and the expression of some key taxane biosynthetic genes (DXS, GGPPS, T13OH, BAPT, DBTNBT) as well as the PAL were studied. Light reduced cell growth, whereas AIP slightly improved it. Light increased PAL activity up to 2.7-fold relative to darkness. The highest TPC (24.89 mg GAE/g DW) and TFC (66.94 mg RUE/g DW) were observed in cultures treated with light and AIP. Light treatment also resulted in the maximum content of total taxanes (154.78 µg/g DW), increasing extracellular paclitaxel and cephalomannin (3.3-fold) and intracellular 10-deacetyl paclitaxel (2.5-fold). Light significantly increased the expression level of PAL, DBTNBT, BAPT, and T13αOH genes, whereas it had no effect on the expression of DXS, a gene active at the beginning of the taxane biosynthetic pathway. AIP had no significant effect on the expression of the target genes. In conclusion, the light-induced activation of PAL transcription and altered expression of relevant biosynthetic genes reduced cell growth and increased the content of total phenolic compounds and taxanes. These findings can be applied to improve taxane production in controlled cultures and bioreactors.

Phenolics diversity among wild populations of Salvia multicaulis: as a precious source for antimicrobial and antioxidant applications.

The genus Salvia L. belongs to the Lamiaceae family including several known species rich in natural compounds that are extensively used in pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries. Salvia multicaulis populations contain a broad diversity of flavonoids and phenolic acids. The present study aimed to explore biological and pharmacological effects including antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of nineteen S. multicaulis populations (SMPs) grown in Iran for the first time. High content of rosmarinic acid (RA) in SMP12 (Gazan) (5.65 ± 0.33 mg/g DW) caused high antimicrobial activity against two bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli) and the fungus Candida albicans, while methanolic extract of SMP1 (Taleghan) showed high antioxidant activity due to high content of salvianolic acid A (SAA) and quercetin (0.53 ± 0.04 and 0.49 ± 0.12 mg/g DW, respectively). Altogether these results can be considered for further commercial exploitations to meet the demands of the food and pharmaceutical industries.[Formula: see text].

Effect of atorvastatin on delirium status of patients in the intensive care unit: a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Delirium is one of the most prevalent complications in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, which is related to worse clinical outcomes including a longer ICU stay, longer duration of mechanical ventilation, higher mortality rates and increased risk of cognitive impairment. Observational studies have suggested that statins might have a positive effect on delirium status of hospitalized patients. To date, there has been no trial assessing the effect of atorvastatin on delirium status in critically ill patients. Thus, the aim of the current study was to determine the efficacy of atorvastatin on delirium status of patients in the ICU. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind and controlled trial, a total of 90 patients in the general ICU who had delirium for at least 2 days were randomly divided into atorvastatin (40 mg/day) (n = 40) and control (n = 50) groups. Delirium status of the patients was determined twice a day at 10:00 a.m. and 18:00 p.m. using the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS). RESULTS: Administration 40 mg/day of atorvastatin significantly reduced the mean RASS score and increased delirium-free days at both morning and afternoon time points compared to the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Administration of atorvastatin had a significant positive effect on delirium status in patients admitted to the ICU.

Platelet-rich fibrin-loaded PCL/chitosan core-shell fibers scaffold for enhanced osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.

Here, we fabricated the platelet-rich fibrin (PRF)-loaded PCL/chitosan (PCL/CS-PRF) core-shell nanofibrous scaffold through a coaxial electrospinning method. Our goal was to evaluate the effect of CS-RPF in the core layer of the nanofibrous on the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (HMSCs). The elastic modulus of PCL/CS-PRF core-shell scaffold (44 MPa) was about 1.5-fold of PCL/CS scaffold (25 MPa). The specific surface area of the scaffolds increased from 9.98 m2/g for PCL/CS scaffold to 16.66 m2/g for the PCL/CS-PRF core-shell nanofibrous scaffold. Moreover, the release rate of PRF from PCL/CS-PRF nanofibrous scaffold was measured to be 24.50% after 10 days which showed slow and sustained release of PRF from the nanofibrous. The formation of Ca-P on the surface of scaffold immersed in simulated body fluid solution indicated the suitable osteoconductivity of PCL/CS-PRF core-shell nanofibrous scaffold. Also, the value of ALP activity and calcium deposited on the surface of PCL/CS-PRF core-shell nanofibrous scaffold were 81.97 U/L and 40.33 µg/scaffold, respectively after 14 days, which confirmed the significantly higher amounts of ALP and calcium deposition on the scaffold containing PRF compared to PCL/CS scaffold. Due to higher hydrophilicity and porosity of PCL/CS-PRF core-shell nanofibrous scaffold compared to PCL/CS scaffold, a better bone cell growth on surface of PCL/CS-PRF scaffold was observed. The Alizarin red-positive area was significantly higher on PCL/CS-PRF scaffold compared to PCL/CS scaffold, indicating more calcium deposition and osteogenic differentiation of HMSCs in the presence of PRF. Our findings demonstrate that PCL/CS-PRF core-shell scaffolds can provide a strong construct with improved osteogenic for bone tissue engineering applications.

Triterpenic and phenolic acids production changed in Salvia officinalis via in vitro and in vivo polyploidization: A consequence of altered genes expression.

The induction of polyploidy is an efficient technique for creating a diversity of genetic, phenotypic, and phytochemical novelties in plant taxa. Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) is a well-known medicinal plant rich of valuable bioactive molecules such as triterpenic and phenolic acids. In the present study, the effect of in vitro and in vivo polyploidization on morphological characteristics, anatomical structures, phytochemical traits, and expression level of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of major triterpenic acids (ursolic, betulinic, and oleanolic acids) of the plant was studied. The sterile seeds treated with different concentrations (0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2%) of colchicine for 24 and 48 h were considered for polyploidy induction. Flow cytometry and chromosome counting were used to confirm the ploidy level of diploid (2n = 2x = 14, 2C DNA = 1.10 pg) and tetraploid (2n = 4x = 28, 2C DNA = 2.12 pg) plants after seven months. The highest polyploidy induction was obtained by applying 0.1% (w/v) colchicine for 48 h with an efficiency of 19.05% in vitro tetraploidy. Polyploids showed differences in leaf shape and color, leaf and stem thickness, trichrome density, root length, plant height, and number of leaves compared to diploid plants. There was also a significant decrease in rosmarinic acid content in polyploid (plants) as compared to diploid plants. Although a significant decrease in ursolic acid content was observed in polyploids, betulinic acid content associated with the expression levels of genes encoding enzymes being active in triterpene biosynthesis such as squalene epoxidase (SQE) and lupeol synthase (LUS). The expression of SQE and LUS was significantly increased in in vitro tertaploids (2.9-fold) and in vivo mixoploids (2.4-fold). The results confirm the idea that induced polyploidy can randomly alter breeding traits of plants as well as the content of bioactive compounds.