Nova Biologica Reperta

The effect of environmental conditions on the functional traits of the endemic species Seseli olivieri Boiss.

Mina Rabie

Abstract. Seseli olivieri (Apiaceae) is an exclusive species of the Alborz Mountains, Iran. In this research, the effect of environmental conditions on the vegetative traits and essential oil compounds of this species was investigated. For this purpose, three habitats with different heights were selected and the vegetative characteristics of this species were measured. In each habitat, soil samples and flowering branches of this species were collected and analyzed in the laboratory. The relationship between the functional traits of this species and environmental factors was determined using CA and PCA. Variance analysis of functional traits and soil parameters showed a significant difference between the three habitats. The highest values of vegetative traits were related to Tuyeh habitat. In Tange Kavard habitat, the main effective substances were Apiol and cis-Cadina-1(6),4-diene; in Enzo habitat, Apiol and Bornyl acetate; and in the Tuyeh habitat, Bornyl acetate and α-Pinene. Among the environmental factors, altitude, annual precipitation, annual temperature, minimum temperature of the coldest month, minimum absolute temperature, lime and nitrogen had the most significant correlation with the functional traits of this plant. Based on the IUCN criteria, the conservation status of this species was determined in the critically endangered.

Effects of Astaxanthin on Learning and Memory Disorders and Oxidative Damage Induced by Ethanol in the Hippocampal Area in Mice

Akbar Hajizadeh Moghaddam

Long-term ethanol consumption leads to the destruction of neurons in the central nervous system and cells in the hippocampus by causing oxidative stress. Astaxanthin (ATX) is a carotenoid that serves as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. This study sought to examine the impacts of astaxanthin on learning and memory impairments and oxidative damage within the hippocampus of mice induced by ethanol. 35 mice were divided into five groups (n=7): the control group didn't receive any treatment. The positive control group received 20 mg/kg ATX. The ethanol group received 20% ethanol, and two ATX treatment groups received doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg, which first received 20% ethanol and then ATX. All treatments were done orally for 14 consecutive days. In this research, the novel object recognition test (NORT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and dopamine (DA) levels, and activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were analyzed in the hippocampus of mice. Ethanol consumption decreased the discrimination index in NORT, activities of CAT and SOD, and increased the levels of DA and MDA, compared to the control group. ATX treatment led to an increase in the discrimination index in NORT, activities of CAT and SOD, and a decrease in the levels of DA and MDA, compared to the ethanol group. Results showed astaxanthin's antioxidant properties can improve ethanol-induced cognitive defects and oxidative damage. Therefore, astaxanthin can be used as a potential food and drug supplement to reduce ethanol-induced disorders.

Morphological and micromorphological analyses of two species of N. persica and Nepeta kotschyi to determine their taxonomic status

Fatemeh Rabizadeh

Iran, having about 79 species of the genus Lamiaceae, is one of the regions of origin of this genus. About 77% of the identified species of the mentioned genus in Iran have been registered as exclusive species. There is an Iranian Nepeta species, which was previously taken as a separate species in botanical reference sources, but has been reclassified as a variety of Nepeta kotschyi in the flora of Iran (Jamzad, 2012). In this research, the correctness of the taxonomic position of these two species by examining their various morphological and micromorphological traits such as plant height, leaf size, canopy, type of hairs and nuts, using stereo electron microscope (SEM) photos and SPSS statistical studies. The results of morphological and microstructural studies of the two species N. persica and N. kotschyi showed that there is a significant difference in the characteristics such as the shape of the leaf, the hairs of its apertures and also the height of the two species. Although these differences in the size and shape of the seeds were not clearly observed, in this study, both N. kotschyi and N. persica species had reticulated nuts with papilus. Also, the appearance of the long hairs on the leaves of the two species is completely different. The hairs in N. persica species have papilus, but the hairs in N. persica species have a smooth surface. Therefore, it was suggested that the two species are independent.

Investigating the chemical composition of Anthriscus nemorosa root essential oil and its allelopathic effect on some morphological characteristics of lettuce

Seyed Mehdi Razavi

Using the allelopathic property of some plant species is one of the proposed methods to reduce the use of chemical poisons. Anthriscus nemorosa is an aromatic plant belonging to the Apiaceae that grows naturally in the western and northern parts of in this study. Considering that so far the biochemical and allelopathic properties of this plant have not been investigated in Iran, in this study, the roots of this plant were collected from Khalkhal county and after drying in the shade, the essential oil was extracted by hydro-distillation. The essential oil was analyzed by GC and GC-MS. 52 compounds were identified from the essential oil, representing 80.21% of the total oil. The main constituents were Myristicin (16.92%), Heptane (12.98%), Elemicin (12.54%), Gamma-Terpinene (12.50%), Decane (3.08%), Beta-Eudesmol (2.95%) and Beta-phellandrene (2.52%) and these compounds were remarkably different with that of A. nemorosa native to Serbia. To investigate the allelopathic effects of this plant, an experimental design was factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with four replications. The results of examining the effects of n-hexane, dichloromethane and methanolic extracts (with concentrations of 0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mg/ml) of the root of this plant on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var.capitata) showed that all three extracts had an inhibitory effect on the germination percentage (%), shootlet growth and rootlet growth of lettuce. However, the hexane extract in all treated concentrations had a more inhibitory effect on the germination and shootlet growth of lettuce seed.

Using machine learning to model different levels of salinity stress and silica fertilization of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

Ebrahim Fani

In recent years, the use of machine learning methods in various fields of agriculture is increasing, and these methods provide us with very good information for predicting and checking different levels of performance in plants. In the current research, according to the results of the preliminary experiment carried out previously with specific levels of salinity stress and fertilization (salinity stress levels of zero, 75 and 150 mM sodium chloride and fertilization levels of zero and 3 grams per liter of silica) which were previously carried out and using the nonlinear regression model (NLR) and Python programming language, the morphological and physiological traits of the fenugreek medicinal plant at the newly defined levels of salinity stress and silica fertilization (salinity of up to 300 mM level and silica fertilization in two levels of 1 and 2 grams per liter) were predicted without conducting practical tests and based on the levels of salinity and initial fertilization. The non-linear regression model is a widely used algorithm in data analysis where the relationship between variables is non-linear and can create meaningful relationships between variables using non-linear functions. The results showed that the positive effect of silica on the amount of chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) can be seen from zero to 180 mM salinity level and the amount of greenness index (SPAD) from zero to 100 mM salinity level. It seems that according to the results of the present research, it is possible to use machine learning to investigate and analyze the morphological and physiological characteristics of the fenugreek medicinal plant at other defined levels of salinity stress and other defined silica fertilization with no need conduct a practical experiment.

شناسایی کاندید‌های دارویی جدید آنزیم ترانس کریپتاز معکوس ویروس ایدز در محل جایگاه فعال با غربالگری مجازی مبتنی بر داکینگ مولکولی و مکانیک کوانتومی

Mehdi Yoosefian

ایدز (سندروم نقص ایمنی اکتسابی) یک وضعیت شدید و پیشرفته از عفونت ویروس نقص ایمنی انسانی (HIV) است که باعث ضعف سیستم ایمنی بدن می شود و برای عفونت های فرصت طلب و برخی از انواع سرطان ها پیش زمینه فراهم می کند. چرخه حیاتی HIV شامل چندین آنزیم است که در تکثیر ویروس نقش دارند. یکی از این آنزیم ها، ترانس کریپتاز معکوس نام دارد. برای مدیریت بهتر درمان، معمولاً از ترکیبات درمانی مانند HAART استفاده می شود که از ترکیب چندین دارو تشکیل شده است تا بهبود اثربخشی درمان و کاهش مقاومت دارویی را فراهم آورد. در این مطالعه، با هدف ارزیابی داروهای نویراپین، رالتگراویر، ایندیناویر و کاندید های دارویی جدید در مهار آنزیم ترانس کریپتاز معکوس، ابتدا ساختارهای دارویی به روش های محاسباتی B3LYP و مجموعه پایه ی 6-311G بهینه سازی شدند و پارامترهای ترمودینامیکی مرتبط با آن ها محاسبه گردید. همه ترکیبات از مجموعه داده و ترکیبات طراحی شده برای پیش بینی ADMET استفاده شدند تا ویژگی های آن ها بررسی شود و همچنین برای ارزیابی داروهای بالقوه استفاده گردد. در پایان، با استفاده از شبیه سازی های داکینگ مولکولی، اثر مهارکنندگی نویراپین، رالتگراویر، ایندیناویر و کاندید های دارویی جدیدNVP2، RAL2 وIND2 با بهترین انرژی بایندینگ -9.34، -11.28 و -9.30 بر آنزیم ترانس کریپتاز معکوس مورد ارزیابی قرار گرفت. تحلیل های انجام شده در طول شبیه سازی نشان داد که ترکیبات NVP2، RAL2 وIND2 به خوبی در مهار آنزیم ترانس کریپتاز معکوس ویروس HIV-1 عمل می کنند.