Nova Biologica Reperta

Effects of salinity on some morphological and physiological parameters in four canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars

Abbaspour

A laboratory experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of salinity on some morphological and phys-iological parameters in four Canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars (Talaye, Sarigol, Zarfam and Opera) under salinity stress. Plants were grown in hydroponic solution (Hoagland 1/4 strength) under greenhouse conditions and on five-leaf stage, treated with different concentrations of NaCl: 0 (control), 50, 75 and 100 mM. After 14 days of treatment, plants were harvested and the length of shoots and roots, photosynthesis, chlorophylls and carotenoids contents of leaves were measured on four studied cultivars. In general the results showed that increasing salinity reduced leaf relative water co-ntent, shoot and root lengths and leaf area. Photosynthetic rate was declined in Talaye and Sarigol, but it was elevated in Opera and Zarfam. It should be noted that the changes induced by salinity on photosynthetic pigments was not regu-lar. The results of this study showed that among the investigated cultivars, in vegetative phase, Opera and Zarfam had higher capacity and function to salt stress tolerate than other cultivars. It also seems that Sarigol may be more vuln-erable than other cultivars under salinity stress.

Numerical taxonomy study of Salvia L. (Lamiacae) species in southern slope of Central Alborz, Iran

Behnaz Alijanpour

The cosmopolitan genus salvia L. (Lamiaceae) consists of nearly 1000 species distributed throughout the Old and New Worlds. America and South- West of Asia are the two most important distribution centers. Of the 70 species reported in the flora Iranica area nearly 56 species belong to Iran. This investigation deals with the morphology of Salvia. The morphological studies were performed on 36 populations of 11 species which grow in Central Alborz Mo-untains. In this analysis 42 quality and quantity characters were used. The results of this analysis have been used for the preparation of the identification key. Clustering, cladistics and PCA ordination reveals the relationships of the species in this genus.

Diversity in floral morphological characters of the genus Alchemilla L. (Rosaceae) from Iran and its taxonomic significance

Marzieh Beygom Faghir

Floral morphology of 24 species of the genus Alchemilla in Iran was studied by means of light and digital mi-croscopes. Flower samples were collected from different species and their morphological traits, including hypanthium, calyx, epicalyx, pedicels, ovaries and stamens, were measured. The most useful features for the separation of species were turned out to be the calyx shape and length, trichomes position on calyx and pedicle. Principal Component Anal-ysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA) were used to determine the potential contribution of floral morphological char-acters in the expression of species relationships. A total of 17 qualitative and quantitative characters were utilized in both analyses. The results of UPGMA and PCA methods were found to be consistent and in agreement with current classifications.

The role of cholestasis in brain hippocampus trauma in male Wistar rat

Delaram Eslimi Esfahani

In cholestasis syndrome, the change of bile acids, salts, endotoxins and opioidsis is accompanied with hepaticencephalopathy and brain trauma; therefore, in this study, the histopathological changes of hippocampus after bile duct ligation were investigated. This study was performed on male Wistar rats. The rats were divided into three groups, namely the control, sham and cholestatic groups. After two weeks, the rats were killed under anesth-esia and their brains were dissected with no delay. The specimens were processed routinely and were sectioned into slices of 6-micron thickness. The sections were stained by Hematoxiline-Eosin (H&E) method. Subsequently, they were studied using optical microscope. Necrotic cells, the diminution of cell density and wrinkled chromatic nuclei were observed in hippocampus section. In addition, the thickness of hippocampus was mostly decreased. However, in the sham and control groups no changes were observed. Since endotoxin causes tissue trauma, the increase of en-dotoxin may result in tissue changes in the brain.

Histological investigation of the effects of nano titanium dioxide on the development of the first mandibular molar bud in NMRI mouse strain in vivo

Mona Farhadi

Nowadays, with the applications of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂-NPs) in pharmacy, food industry, cosmetics, toothpaste and sunscreens, pregnant women are exposed to nanoparticles. Since tooth development is vuln-erable to environmental impacts and mandibular first molar bud develops before maxillary first molar bud, in this ex-perimental study the effects of TiO₂-NPs on the development of first mandibular molar bud in NMRI mouse was inve-stigated. Twenty five female NMRI mice were randomly divided into five groups (N=5); Control group (pregnant mice without any treatment), sham group (treated with distilled water), experimental groups 1, 2 and 3 (treated with 50, 150 and 500 mg/kg BW TiO₂-NPs, respectively, via gavage from embryonic days 10.5-14.5). On E14.5, embryos heads were prepared for histological examination and dental tissues were evaluated. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and post hoc test (Tukey). Microscopic observation showed tissue disorganization in experimental groups. Findings showed that in experimental groups 1 and 2, the diameter of bud and dental papilla and the length of dental bud decreased sign-ificantly. In experimental group 2, decrease in the diameter of dental follicle, dental bud and dental papilla and the le-ngth of dental bud was significant. On the other hand, in experimental group 3, only the decrease in the length of dental bud was significant. These findings showed that nano titanium dioxide can reduce the size of dental buds and is capable of preventing tooth development.

The effect of different treatments on seed dormancy and germination of Astragalus podolobus

Majid Mohammad Esmaili

The species Astragalus podolobus is one of the endemic species of winter pastures that grows in arid and semi-arid areas in the north of Gonbad-e Kavous. To investigate effective methods of breaking seed dormancy of Astr-agalus podolobus, an experiment was carried out in the framework of a completely randomized design with 15 treatm-ents and 3 replications. Treatments included controls, 98% sulfuric acid, dry chilling for 10 and 15 days, wet chilling for 10 and 15 days, and boiling water 1, 3, 5, 10 and 15 minute, respectively. Analysis of variance showed that the perc-entage and speed of germination were significant in different groups while the average time of germination in different treatments was not significant. The results of comparing mean values showed that the percentage and the speed of germination in boiling water treatments were best in comparison with other treatments with significant differences. The results of this experiment also showed that reducing the exposure time of seeds to boiling water increases the germination percentage and speed, consequently, the highest percentage and speed of germination was observed in boil-ing water 1 minute. Boiling water 1 minute treatment can increase the germination percentage up to 47% and the seed germination speed from 0.43 to 3.09 seeds per day

Effect of nitric oxide on antioxidative responses under salinity conditions in Zygophyllum fabago L. (Zygophyllaceae)

Nader Chaparzadeh

In recent years, the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in numerous physiological processes, particularly the mitigation of stress-induced negative effects on plants, has been clarified. Under salinity conditions, plants are subjected to a secondary oxidative stress. The present work was designed to examine the exogenous application of nitric oxide (NO), in the form of its donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP), in mitigating the deleterious effects of salinity on Zygoph-yllum fabago L. plants. SNP (200 µM) was applied to plants growing medium under saline (200 and 400 mM NaCl) and non-saline conditions. Growth, oxidative stress markers [cell membrane stability index (MSI) and H₂O₂ conc-entration], antioxidant enzymes activities [peroxidase (POX, EC 1.11.1.7) and catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6)], as well as the contents of some antioxidant compounds (flavonoids and carotenoids) were determined. Salinity lowered the shoot and root dry weights, while it enhanced peroxidase and catalase activities. High salinity increased H₂O₂; however, it de-creased the carotenoids content of leaves. Exogenous NO enhanced the growth, MSI, flavonoids and carotenoids co-ntents of salinized plants. In salinity plus SNP treated plants, H₂O₂ concentration and the activities of the examined en-zymes were reduced. Data suggest that a cooperative process is performed by the antioxidant systems in Syrian bean ca-per in order to cope with salinity. Also, the application of exogenous NO was found to be useful in the mitigation of salinity-induced oxidative stress in plants.

Quantity and quality of secondary metabolites in lavender plant under the influence of ecological factors

Ali Ghanbari

Secondary metabolites have great pharmaceutical value in medicine. This study evaluates the effect of alti-tude on the amount and variety of secondary metabolites in lavender plant from two sites located in Mazandaran prov-ince. Sampling was performed in a randomized design with three replications. After the plants were dried, essential oil was extracted by distillation. Isolation and identification of constituents of the oil were performed by gas chromato-graphy and gas chromatography connected to mass spectroscopy. The results of this research led to the identification of 22 (99.96% of the total constituents) and 24 (97.01% of the total constituents) constituents in Baladeh and Behshahr sa-mples, respectively. Characteristics constituents included Andoyorneol (22.36%), 1, 8 cineole (20.7%), camphor (8.69%), α-Cadinol (7.60%), Caryophyllene oxide (5.09%) and Propanol (18.4%) in Behshahr population samples and Borneol (26.78%), 1, 8 cineole (20.19%), camphor (9.59%), α-Cadinol (5.80%), caryophyllene oxide (4.99%) and pr-opanol (3.41%) in Baladeh population samples. The differences in the output and combination of the essential oils in-dicated that the environmental as well as genetic factors can affect the production and amounts of the chemical comp-ounds in medical plants. Therefore, medicinal plants should be cultured in proper areas based on the aim of cultivation and the desired type of active materials.

Investigation of hairy root induction in some Salvia L. species

Reza Norouzi1

Hairy root induction in plants is the result of the insertion of T-DNA from Agrobacterium rhizogenes into the plant genome. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of bacterium strain and plant species type on hairy root induction in two endemic (Salvia eremophila and S. reuterana) and five non-endemic (S. macrosiphon, S. multicaulis, S. nemorosa, S. verticellata and S. virigata) Salvia by four bacteria strains including 1724, 2659, ATCC-15834 and A4. Petiole and stem explants were not capable of inducing hairy roots, while almost all leaf segments produced it. Confirmatory studies were carried out by direct detection of inserted rol C by the PCR. The results showed that different Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain and Salvia spices had significant effect on hairy roots number and frequency. The infection of S. macrosiphon via A. rhizogenes strain ATCC15834 showed the highest number of infe-cted roots per explant (5.12 hairy roots) and root frequency (82%). The highest number of hairy root per explant in S. eremophila (3.32 hairy roots) and S. reuterana (3.92 hairy roots) were achieved by inoculation with strain A4. Strain 2659 produced the highest hairy roots number in S. nemorosa (2.6 hairy roots), S. multicaulis (4.36 hairy roots) and S. verticillata (5 hairy roots). Also hairy roots formation occurred at the highest number in S. virigata (3 hairy roots) with infection by strain ATCC15834.

Effect of Urtica dioica hydroalcoholic extract on liver inflammatory factors in polycystic ovarian syndrome induced in Wistar rats by estradiol valerate

Akram Tayanloo

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women at childbearing age. Metabolic syndrome is present from 28% to 46% of patients with PCOS. Non-alcoholic fatty liver di-sease (NAFLD) is considered the hepatic expression of metabolic syndrome. In this study Urtica dioica moderator ef-fect on liver function in PCOS rats was examined. 120 adult female Wistar rats were divided into control, PCOS and nettle-treated groups. The PCOS group was injected subcutaneously 2 mg/kg estradiol valerate. After confirmed poly-cystic in ovaries, the experimental group was injected of the nettle extract doses (150,250, 450 mg/kg BW). Then rats were killed and blood samples were evaluated. Data were analyzed using ANOVA one-way and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. ELISA test showed a decrease in IL-6 level and CRP levels reduced in PCOS rats were treated with various concentrations of nettle. Our results show that nettle due to its antioxidant properties reduce the levels of IL-6 and CRP in nettle extract treated-PCOS compared to the PCOS.

Interaction between dorso-hyppocampal histaminergic and medio-septal opioidergic systems in anxiety behavior

Farhad Valizadegan

Septohippocampal system plays an important role in regulating fear and anxiety behaviors. In this study, the effects of histamine injected into the dorsal hippocampus and opioidergic agents into medial septum on the anxiety-like behaviors in rats were analyzed, using the Elevated Plus-Maze (EPM) test. Injection of 1 and 5 μg/rat histamine into dorsal hippocampus had no effect on anxiety-like behavior, while injection of 10 μg/rat histamine increased the percentage of open arm time (%OAT) and open arm entry (%OAE), which indicated the anxiolytic effects of histamine. Microinjection of morphine, μ-opioid receptor agonist, into the medial septum (1μg/rat) increased the (%OAT) and (%OAE). Doses of 0.25, 0.5 μg/rat morphine had no effect on anxiety. Co-administration of histamine ineffective dose (1μg/rat) to the dorsal hippocampus and ineffective dose of morphine (0.25µg/rat) to the medial septum increased the (%OAT) and (%OAE). Subsequently, injection of different doses of naloxone (1, 2, 4 µg/rat), as an opioid receptor antagonist, into the medial septum in the presence and absence of an effective dose of histamine (10 µg/rat) in the dorsal hippocampus, was studied. Injection of naloxone (4 µg/rat) into medial septum decreased the (%OAT) and (%OAE), but did not alter the locomotor activity, which indicated the anxiogenic effects of naloxone. Simultaneous injection of histamine (10 µg/rat) into dorsal hippocampus with doses of naloxone (1, 2, 4 µg/rat) into the medial septum, indicate anxiolytic effects and increased %OAT and %OAE in Elevated Plus Maze, although when the dose of naloxone was 4μg/rat, this effect was less observed. The results indicate that hippocampus histaminergic system interact with medial septum opioidergic system and the interaction of these systems modulates anxiety behavior.