Chitosan-Enriched Salicylic Acid Nanoparticles Enhanced Anthocyanin Content in Grape (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Red Sultana) Berries.

Given the effects of salicylic acid (SA) on enhancing the phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and especially anthocyanins at higher doses in grapes as well as some toxic effects of SA at higher doses, the use of nano-carriers and nano-forms could assist SA in enhancing the accumulation of these compounds while reducing its toxic activity. Chitosan (CTS) has gained attention as a safe transporter and control releaser for a variety of chemicals, particularly in the agriculture industry. In this regard, the nano-form combination of SA and CTS (CTS-SA NPs) could boost the effectiveness of SA, particularly at lower dosages. Therefore, in the present study, SA (10, 20 mM), CTS (0.1%), and CTS-SA NPs (10, 20 mM) were applied on grape (Vitis vinifera L.) berries cv. Red Sultana at the pre-véraison stage to evaluate their actions on phenolic compounds, particularly anthocyanins. The CTS-SA NPs treatments provided the highest results in terms of the total phenolic compounds, flavonoids (10 mM), anthocyanins (in particular oenin, the main anthocyanin of red grapes) (10 and 20 mM), and PAL enzyme activity (20 mM). In conclusion, the CTS-SA NPs could be applied as a potential effective elicitor for phenolics, particularly anthocyanin enhancement of grape berries at pre- véraison stage with synergistic effects between SA and CTS in nano-forms predominantly at lower doses.

Bioremediation of potentially toxic elements of sewage sludge using sunflower (Heliantus annus L.) in greenhouse and field conditions.

The bioremediation of sewage sludge, containing potentially toxic elements (heavy metals), by the hyperaccumulator sunflower (Helianthus annus L.), was determined in greenhouse (G) and field (F) conditions in Isfahan, Iran. The soil pots, mixed with dried sewage sludge at 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 mg/kg, were planted with sunflower seedlings and kept in the greenhouse (G) and in the field (F). Different soil physicochemical and plant biochemical properties including heavy metal uptake of nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) were determined. In contrast with the soil pH, soil salinity, organic matter, nitrogen, and not soil CaCO3, were significantly enhanced by increasing sewage sludge. Sewage sludge was significant on plant uptake of Ni (2.27-4.25 mg/kg), Cr (3.27-4.75 mg/kg), Cd (13.85-15.27 mg/kg), and total chlorophyll (1.69-1.99 mg/g) in the greenhouse, and plant uptake of Ni (1.75-2.75 mg/kg) and Cd (1.37-2.25 mg/kg), and chlorophyll b (0.06-0.26 mg/g), total chlorophyll (0.57-1.16 mg/g), and carotenoids (1.10-1.61 mg/g) in the field. Although Pb was not significantly affected by sewage sludge, it showed the highest bioaccumulation factor of 0.96 at 15 mg/kg. Interestingly, the heavy metals were all positively and significantly correlated with each other and with plant carotenoids, similar to the positive and significant correlations between Pb with chlorophyll a and b. Accordingly, the increased levels of carotenoids, acting as antioxidant, may be an indicator of oxidative stress. Sunflower plants can be used as an efficient method for the bioremediation of the soils polluted with sewage sludge including Ni, Cr, and Cd.

Cardioprotective Effects of Essential Oil of Lavandula angustifolia on Isoproterenol-induced Acute Myocardial Infarction in Rat.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a common presentation of the ischemic heart disease. Lavandula angustifolia is an herbaceous plant with antioxidative effects. This study was designed to investigate the cardioprotective effects of lavandula angustifolia essential oil against isoproterenol-induced MI in rats. The dried sample was subjected to hydrodistillation by using a Clevenger and the oils were dried over anhydrous Na2SO4. Male Wistar rats were assigned to 6 groups of control, sham, isoproterenol and treatment with 5, 10, 20 mg/Kg of the essential oil. MI was induced by subcutaneous injection of Isoproterenol (100 mg/Kg) for 3 consecutive days at an interval of 24 h. The essential oil was given intraperitoneally every 24 h started at MI induction. Following anesthesia, hemodynamic parameters were measured. After sacrificing the animals, the hearts were removed to measure the heart to body weight ratio and histopathological examination. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in heart tissues for evaluating the activity of neutrophils and lipid peroxidation, respectively. The essential oil amended ECG pattern by suppressing ST-segment elevation and increasing R-amplitude. 10 mg/Kg of the essential oil significantly decreased heart to body weight ratio (P<0.001) and the elevation of MDA and MPO in myocardium, it also increased dp/dtmax from 2793 ± 210 to 4488 ± 253 mmHg/sec (P<0.001), and 20 mg/Kg of it significantly lowered LVEDP from 14 ± 3.43 to 4.3 ± 0.83 mmHg (P<0.001).The results demonstrated that L. angustifolia protects myocardium against isoproterenol-induced MI that it could be related to its antioxidant properties.