Parichehr Hanachi, Zahra Adibi, Zahra Gharari, Bahareh Attaran, Roshanak Zarrin Ghalami,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (9-2025)
Abstract
Plant secondary metabolites like phenols and flavonoids neutralize free radicals and are linked to antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. Due to rising drug resistance in pathogens such as Salmonella paratyphi, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, medicinal herbs are increasingly explored for antimicrobial properties. This study evaluated the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant capacity, and antibacterial effects of Arctium lappa. TPC, TFC, and antioxidant levels were measured using Folin-Ciocalteu, Aluminum chloride, FRAP, and DPPH assays, respectively. Antibacterial activities were assessed by microdilution broth and disc diffusion methods to determine MIC50 and MBC values. Results showed that A. lappa ethanolic extract, prepared with diluted water and the boiling method, had the highest flavonoid content (7.9 ± 0.40 mg/g DW). The leaves and flowers extract, using methanol and the boiling method, had the highest phenolic content (62.13 ± 0.73 mg/g DW) and antioxidant capacity. The ethanolic extract of A. lappa leaves also demonstrated the strongest antibacterial activity, with an MBC of 0.140 mg/mL and an 8 ± 0.4 mm inhibition zone against all tested bacteria. These findings suggest A. lappa bioactive compounds, particularly phenolics and flavonoids, offer promising potential for treating bacterial infections in pharmacognostic applications.
Mr Javad Ghorbanzadeh, Dr Saeed Zeinoaldini, Dr Mahdi Zhandi, Mr Sayyed Mohammad Hadi Hussaini,
Volume 13, Issue 1 (4-2026)
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effect of adding cysteine to an Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)-based extender on some quality parameters of goat sperm after freezing. This study was conducted in a completely randomized design with four treatments, including: egg yolk-based extender without cysteine (EY), LDL-based extender containing zero (LDL-C0), five (LDL-C5), and 10 (LDL-C10) mM cysteine, and six replicates. Semen samples after dilution with the aforementioned extenders, were frozen. After thawing, total and progressive motility, sperm plasma membrane integrity, functionality, and sperm morphology were evaluated. Total motility was higher in LDL-C5 compared to EY and LDL-C10 (P <0.05). Progressive motility in all treatments using LDL-based extender was significantly higher than EY. Other motility parameters were higher in LDL-C5 compared to EY (P <0.05). However, no significant differences were observed between the LDL-C0, LDL-C5, and LDL-C10, except for the VSL, which was significantly lower in LDL-C0 compared to LDL-C5 (P <0.05). Sperm plasma membrane integrity, functionality, and sperm morphology were higher in all treatments using LDL-based extender compared to EY (P <0.05), with the highest values observed in LDL-C5. Overall, the results showed that adding five mM cysteine to the LDL-based extender can improve some quality parameters of goat sperm.
