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This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Arctium lappa (AL) on gentamicin (GM)-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Twenty-four Wistar rats were divided into four groups including: control group; GM group (intrapritoneal injection, IP, of 100 mg/kg GM B.W.); GM+AL group (received IP injection of 100 mg/kg GM and 500 mg/kg AL orally) and AL group (received 500 mg/kg AL orally). The experimental period lasted for 10 days. Nephrotoxicity was biochemically and histologically evaluated. The concentrations of creatinine, urea, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxide hydrogen (H₂O₂) in the serum samples were determined. Moreover, histological examinations were performed. The animals treated with gentamicin showed significantly higher serum urea, creatinine, MDA and H₂O₂ levels and lower SOD activity. However, co-administration of AL produced amelioration in biochemical indices of nephrotoxicity in serum. Histomorphological examination showed necrosis and desquamation of tubular epithelial cells in the renal cortex in animals treated with gentamicin whereas simultaneous administration of AL and GM reduced histological damages. The data obtained suggest that treatment with AL extract can help to reduce gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity.
 
 
 

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Aloe barbadensis is perennial, monocotyledonous, fleshy plant belongs to Aloaceae family. In this study, somoclonal variations of regenerated A. barbadensis plants were investigated. The plantlets of forth subculture transferred to the soil for further study. The genomic DNAs of 40 regenerated plantlets were extracted and genetic variations were studied using SPAR markers including RAPD and ISSR primers. The amounts of Aloe gel also were extracted from regenerated A. vera plants. Average percentage of polymorphism, Shannon index, Nei's genetic diversity and number of effective alleles based on RAPD data were higher than genetic parameters obtained from ISSR data. NJ cluster and STRUCTURE plot based on molecular markers grouped regenerated plants to distinct clusters. AMOVA analysis also showed a significant (P = 0.01) genetic distinction between studied groups. This result also confirmed differentiation of regenerated plants. The amount of Aloe gel in the four groups (based on clustering method) was compared by using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed no significant (P = 0.746) differences between the amount of gel in four group. In total, our findings showed somaclonal variations on genomic level while no significant differences were observed in amount of gel among regenerated Aloe plantlets.
 

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Lallemantia (Lamaceae; Nepetoideae) is a small genus species with a wide distribution area in Iran, is a traditionally used in folk medicine. In this study, we comparatively investigated Lallemantia species in terms of vegetative anatomy in order to evaluate usefulness of this characteristics for taxonomic porpuse. For anatomical examination, cross sections taken from stems and leaves of species were investigated using hand cutting method and bismak brown, carmin and metylenblue staining. Also, the anatomical characters were numerically analyzed by cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). Athough general stem and leaf anatomical charactristics are very similar in the studied species, But, multivariate analysis indicated that some anatomical quantitative characters such as the thickness of lamina, palisade and spongy parenchyma provides valuable characters that would be taxonomically useful in this genus. Morphological similarity between L. baldshuanica and L. royleana have supported by stem and leaf anatomical data. 

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Special properties and various applications of Spirulina species have led to the growing focus of biotechnology to the cost effective cultivation. Open ponds used in the most commercial cultivation have many deficiencies such as risk of contamination, lack of light penetration, inefficient mixing and low productivity. In this study, an innovative reactor was designed and manufactured. By adding a control area, it was possible to control some environmental conditions for a limited amount of open pond volume. The conventional pumping system was replaced by a new elevator system to reduce the damage of to the fragile cells. The baffles structure and aeration from bottom, contributed to better mixing system. The effect of tree factors (Circulation Cycle (Cir. Cyc.), Control Volume (Con.Vol.) and Irradiance Intensity (Irr. Int.) in units of hours, percentage and Lux respectively) on the quantity of biomass (Specific Growth Rate (SGR, day^-1) and fifth and seventh day dry weight (g/L)) were evaluated using RSM-CCD. The maximum biomass dry weight (0.915 g/L) was achieved in longest circulation cycle (12 hours), 30% Con. Vol. and 7000 Lux light intensity. The optimal irradiance intensity to achieve the highest biomass was 8700 Lux. According to the results, due to the great influence of Con. Vol. and Cir. Cyc., it is possible to increase the productivity and enhance the culture dry weight by controlling a limited amount of ponds volume (20%), subject to economic considerations. These successful results can provide the context using a control zone for several open ponds to improve the overall efficiency.
 

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In order to investigate different treatment effects on germination in Gundelia tournefortii, three factorial experiments were carried out in the completely randomized design with three replications. The first factor was stratification at 4^oC in three levels including 0, 3 and 6 weeks, the second factor was mechanical scarification in two levels including seeds with/without scarification and the third factor was chemical treatments of seed dormancy breaking in three levels including distilled water and gibberellic acid at concentrations of 1000 and 1500 mg/l and Thiourea 0.1%. The results showed that the effects of stratification, scarification and chemical treatments of dormancy breaking and their interactions were significant on all studied parameters (p<0.01). Mean comparison values were significant for the effects of spate treatments together with mechanical scarification for the improvement of all traits. The results also revealed that treatment of mechanical scarification treatment together with gibberellic acid 1000 mg/l in six weeks stratification, due to maximum germination speed, seedling dry weight, seedling length, large-scale germination percentage and seedling vigor index and modest average germination period, was the most influential treatment for seed dormancy breaking of this plant. Correlation between germination percentage with germination rate, dry weight and seedling length was significant. It seems that seed dormancy type in Gundelia tournefortii is physiological and physical, as eliminating physiological and physical factors leads to its germination improvement.
 

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The Basolateral Amygdala (BLA) has modulatory effects on working and reference memory. The aim of this study was the evaluation of effects of dopaminergic system in the BLA of rats on working and reference memory behaviors. The number of working and reference errors and time spent in the arms by rats were measured in the radial arm maze according to DSWS protocol. The animals were cannulated in the BLA bilaterally. The microinjection of low dose (0.005µg/rat) and high dose (0.5 µg/rat) of apomorphine have indicated a significant decrease in number of working memory error. But, there was not any change in the numberof reference memory error that showing the improvement of working memory. While the injection of moderate dose apomorphine (0.05 µg/rat) increased these parameters and also enhanced the spent time in working arm that presenting both memories damage. The chlorpromazine injection (2 µg/rat) decreased the number of working and reference memory errors representing the improvement of these memories. Microinjection of chlorpromazine (2 µg/rat) with different doses of apomorphine had no significant change on the both number of errors and the time spent in comparison with control groups. These findings show that BLA dopaminergic system modulates the working and reference memory through that both of (D1/D2) receptors. Also, the effect of this system in BLA is the resultant function of the both receptor families.
 

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11, 25 dihydroxy vitamin D3, an active metabolite of vitamin­D3 has been reported to inhibit the growth of number neoplasms such as prostate, breast, colorectal, leukemia and skin cancers. Valproic acid, as a potent histone deacetylase inhibitor, also plays an important role in inhibition of proliferation of tumor cells. However, there are no reports so far on the cooperation between valproic acid and vitamin­ D3 for anti-leukemic effect. The goal of the present research was to evaluate whether low doses of vitamin D3 potentiate the toxicity of valproic acid and whether this toxic action is mediated via apoptotic mechanisms. In this study HL-60 cells were treated either with different concentrations of valproic acid and vitamin­ D3 alone and in combination with each other for 24 hours. Cell survival was determined by MTT assay and then Hoechst staining was used to determine the type of death cell. This present study indicates that vitamin ­D3 potentiates the antitumor effects of valproic acid. Also, the results of staining cells showed that valproic acid and vitamin ­D3 induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells. In total, the new combination of valproic acid and vitamin D3 showed synergistic anti-proliferative effect and induced apoptosis on HL-60 cancer cells.
                                                                       

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Feeding frequency and stocking density are important factors affecting growth and maturation of cultured fishes. The aims of this investigation were to determine the effects of stocking density (10, 20, 30 and 40 fish per aquarium) and feeding frequency (2, 3 and 4 times per day) on growth parameters and hematocrit of the Rutilus rutilus caspicus. The experiment was continued for 45 days in two replicates. The results of this study showed that growth parameters, including weigh gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and specific growth rate (SGR) were affected significantly by stocking density (P<0.05), but not significantly affected by feeding frequency (P>0.05). The highest WG and SGR were recorded with the lowest stocking density (10 fish / aquarium). The least FCR was obtained in density of 10 fish/aquarium, FCR value was significantly higher with high stocking density (P<0.05). Also, interactions between stocking density and feeding frequency were no significant on growth parameters (P>0.05). Density and feeding frequency hand no significant effect of hematocrit concentration (P>0.05). On the other hand, interactions between stocking density and feeding frequency significantly affected hematocrit levels (P<0.05). The lowest level of hematocrit was observed in density of 10 fish/aquarium at two times / day feeding frequency. The results of this study indicated that density is significantly affected the growth, but increasing of feeding frequency there is not effect on growth in the Rutilus rutilus caspicus.
 

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Sex steroid hormones play important roles in many physiological processes, particularly in the reproduction of teleostei. Therefore, study of steroid hormones in fish is one of the important indicators of reproductive biology. In the present research, serum steroid hormones such as testosterone (T), 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) in Esox lucius brood stocks, during one year, from autumn 2010 to summer 2011, in five periods (autumn, first half of winter, second half of winter, spring and summer) with three longitudinal classes: 300-360, 360-420 and 420-480 millimeters were studied. The results showed significant difference between levels of steroid hormones in three longitudinal classes and showed an increasing trend by increased length (P<0.05). In addition, there was significant different between levels of gonadal steroid hormones and different seasons (P<0.05). The highest level of 17-β estradiol was observed in autumn season. In the case of testosterone and progesterone hormones, higher levels were recorded in first and second half of winter, respectively.
 

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Nutlets of 20 taxa of Phlomoides, representing most of the currently recognized sections were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The basic shape of nutlets in most taxa studied is broadly ovate, but ovate, triangular and oblong ones can also be found in few species. Regarding the sculpturing pattern of nutlet surface, four basic types can be distinguished: reticulate, scalariform, ruminate and rugose. The reticulate type is the most common among the studied species, but the variation in alignment, size and shape of its composing cells provide further evidence that are useful as diagnostic characteristics. However, the type of sculpturing is more useful for separating species within the sections, rather than correlating them to each other. For example, sect. Filipendula show four different types of sculpturing. Therefore, nutlet microsculpturing is not useful in separating large natural groups like sections in this genus. It seems also that contrary to other genera of Lamiaceae, nutlet characters are of low phylogenetic value in this genus.
 

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Abstract. Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea), with 18 subspecies, has a wide distribution in deciduous forests of Eurasia. The subspecies S.e.persica is a resident bird in the Zagros Mountains, from north-west to south-west of Iran. The aim of this study was to evaluate the taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships of this subspecies to European, Asian, as well as Caucasian clades. For this purpose, 10 individuals of two populations from Zagros forests in Kermansha and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad provinces were captured and blood samples were collected. Furthermore, we used ND2 sequence data (1041 bp) for 136 sequnces from GenBank. were used from Then genetic variations and Genealogical analysis was calculated using complete ND2 gene sequence (1041bp) and TRN+G model, Bayesian trees and maximum likelihood, respectively. Also, median joining algorithm showed the relationships among haplotypes. We found four new haplotypes for the Zagros populations. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed that the genetic distance between Zagros population and Caucasian clade was significantly small, demonstrating Zagros populations are part of the Caucasian clade. F_ST statistical values, resulted from Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA), represented significant variations in genetic structure among Eurasian Nuthatch populations. Moreover, F_CT revealed significant variation among European, Asian, and Caucasian clades. Overall our result suggests that Eurasian Nuthatch populations in Eurasia comprise three phylogenetic species, and likely biological species. Hoewever, the previous nomenclatured subspecies, S.e.caucasian and S.e.persica, can be considered as a common phylogenetic species.

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In patients with cerebral ischemia, both during hospitalization and in the community, the prevalence of major depression is evident. Since the depression has a negative impact on recovery, its timely diagnosis and treatment is essential. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the oral administration of Chevilan extract (Ferulago angulata hydroalcoholic extract; 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) on brain oxidative stress indices and depression after permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion or ischemia/hypoperfusion in male adult rats. A number of 35 rats were divided into a control group, an ischemic group and ischemic groups receiving doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of Chevilan extracts for 14 days by gavage. To make animal models of permanent cerebral hypo perfusion/ischemia, right common carotid artery was ligatured first and the left one ligatured with an interval of one week. To evaluate depression, immobility in the forced swimming time of each rat was measured and then the rat’s brain tissues were extracted to separate hippocampus and measure malondialdehyde. The results showed that ischemia/hypoperfusion increased brain oxidants such as lipid per oxidation (LPO) and immobility. Also, ischemic rats treated with all three doses of the Chevilan show significant reduction in the concentration of MDA hippocampus and in immobility time at a dose of 100 mg/kg and 200 / 400mg, respectively. Increased swimming time was observed in all three groups of extract recipients. It was found that Chevilan extract with antioxidant effect can reduce the side effects of ischemia such as depression.
 

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Strictosidine synthase-like (SSL) is a group of gene families in the Arabidopsis genome, which whose orthologues in other plants are key enzymes in mono-terpenoid indole-alkaloid biosynthesis pathway. The SSL7 is upregulated upon treatments of Arabidopsis plants with signaling molecules such as SA, methyl jasmonate and ethylene. To find the functional role of the gene, a T-DNA-mediated knockout mutant (ssl7) along with the wildt ype were treated with different concentrations of NaCl. The expression level of salt stress genes including P5CS1, NCED3, AAO3 and RD29A at 150 mM NaCl demonstrated that the expression was significantly higher in ssl7 compared with the expression in Col-0. The activities of Catalase (CAT), Ascorbate Peroxidase (APX), Peroxidase (POD) and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) were measured in different concentrations of NaCl. The results suggested that the enzymes activities were significantly higher in ssl7 compared with wild-type Col-0. In total, the results suggest that SSL7 might have a salicylic acid-dependent negative regulatory role in plant resistance to salt stress.
 

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The XIAP protein is a member of apoptosis proteins family. The XIAP protein plays a central role in the inhibition of apoptosis and consists of three Baculoviral IAP Repeat domains. The BIR3 domain binds directly to the N-terminal of caspase-9 and therefore it inhibits apoptosis. N-terminal tetrapeptide region of SMAC protein can bind to BIR3, inhibit it and subsequently induce apoptosis. In this study, fifteen tetrapeptides were docked into the BIR3 domain and then 10 ns molecular dynamics simulations were performed on each of the BIR3-peptide complex obtained from docking. MM/PBSA method was subsequently used to calculate the binding free energy of peptides to BIR3. The results of MM/PBSA method were in good coordination with docking and existing expermental results.  The results showed the most potent peptides with the lowest binding free energy for binding to BIR3 included ATPF, AKPW and ARPF peptides. Also, investigation of bonds between these peptides and BIR3 domain in the final structure of complexes showed that Leu 307, Thr 308, Glu 314 and Tyr 324 of the BIR3 domain were essential for binding of peptides. Energy decomposition results for binding these peptides to the BIR3 domain during MD simulation was inconsistent with previous results and approved the roles of the same residues. The higher affinity of these peptides relative to native peptide (AVPI) and comparing them with other peptides revealed that the existence of positive charge in the second position and the existence of the aromatic group in the fourth position led to more binding affinity.

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A laboratory research carried out to evaluate the effect of drought stress on germination characteristics in two 'Indian' and 'Isfahanian' populations of Fenugreek. This experiment performed in a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replicates. Four levels of drought stress applied by using polyethylene glycol 6000. Percentage of germination, germination rate, vigor index, root and shoot length as well as fresh and dry weight were measured after 7 days. The results showed that drought stress caused a significant reduction in both population growth and germination, although the percentage of germination, seedling growth and vigor index in the Isfahanian population was higher than the Indian. With the increase of water stress and the reduction of water potential from -3 Bar to -7 Bar, the percentage of germination, vigor index, root and shoot length as well as fresh and dry weight significantly decreased.

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In this study, the associations between ISSR markers with some agronomic traits in 22 ispaghula ecotypes were used by stepwise regression analysis. The results of stepwise regression analysis showed a significant association between traits and some of loci markers positions. For some traits was detected more than one informative marker. Totally 90 informative ISSR markers were revealed that due to the associated of some markers in control of several traits, finally, the 48 markers were significantly associated with traits. The UBC816-2, UBC826-2 and UBC826-3 markers showed a significant correlation with grain yield and controlled 53.5% of the phenotypic variation. Among the ISSR primers, special attention should be drawn to primer UBC811 and UBC813-11 marker, because of the highest associated had exist between this primer and this marker with the studied traits. Some of these markers were associated with more than one trait that these traits had very close linkage together or possibly were controlled by pleiotropic effects. These primers have been found useful for improved Ispaghula.

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Medicinal plants are rich sources of secondary metabolites. Lepidium sativum possess active compounds and secondary metabolites, including polyphenol, anthocyanin, flavonoid compounds, which are of special pharmaceutical and economic importance. Melatonin as bio-stimulator compound has a regulatory role on the amount of secondary metabolites and plant tolerance to environmental stresses. In this study, the effect of exogenous melatonin on secondary metabolites production on Lepidium sativum plants was carried out in a completely randomized design with 5 melatonin treatments (0, 5, 10, 50 and 100 μM) and 3 replications. After applying the treatment, the growth rate and content of the photosynthetic pigments, the leaf water content, as well as the content of flavonoids, anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds were investigated. Seed treatment with melatonin, especially at concentrations of 50 and 100 μM, improved the growth parameters and content of photosynthetic pigments. High levels of melatonin also increased the plant's secondary metabolites, including anthocyanins, carotenoids, and plant phenolic compounds. These effects can confirm the role of melatonin as a growth regulator and its impact on plant growth and resistance.

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In this paper, the urinary infection, that is a common symptom of the decline of the immune system, is discussed based on the well-known algorithms in machine learning, such as Bayesian networks in both Markov and tree structures. A large scale sampling has been executed to evaluate the performance of Bayesian network algorithm. A number of 4052 samples wereobtained from the database of the Takestan Department of Health, a center affiliated to Qazvin University of Medical Sciences. According to the goals of the study and using the expert opinion of the laboratory and urologist, 15 variables were selected. The database included both urine analysis and culture tests. The results indicated 99.7% accuracy of the diagnosis for the training data, (75% of total data), and 99.8% accuracy of the diagnosis for testing data (25% of total data). Based on the Bayesian network model, the important covariates influencing the Urinary infection have been proved to be the increase of bacteria and the decrease of white blood cells in different age groups. The results of this study can be used in the context of machine learning and intelligent systems for rapid diagnosis of the disease and the treatment of people suspected of suffering from it.
 

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. In this study, morphological variation of three species of Squalius in Iranian basins was studied. For this purpose, 709 specimens were captured from the Caspian Sea, the Urmia Lake, the Namak Lake and the Tigris basin. After anesthetizing in clove oil solution and fixing in 10% neutralized formalin, specimens were transferred to the Isfahan University of Technology Ichthyology Museum (IUT-IM) for further studies. In the laboratory, some 14 meristic characters were counted under a streomicroscope. Also, images were analyzed with ImageJ software and 19 morphometric characteristics were measured. In addition, 13 landmarks were defined and digitized on images taken in tpsDig2 software in order to extract geometric morphometric data. Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Kruskal-Wallis, ANOVA, Duncan test, PCA, CVA and cluster analysis methods were used to analyze the differences among the populations. The results of PCA and CVA meristic and morphometric analyses showed no significant differences among the studied populations. The populations of the species studied were significantly different in 11 meristic and 15 morphometric characteristics. Also, the major differences observed in the results of geometric morphometric analysis were related to the position of the pectoral fin, body and head depth. In general, the studied populations highly overlapped, and we suggest that the populations of genus Squalius should be further studied by molecular methods.
 

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With the increase of cancer disease and the side-effects of the current treatments, researchers are attempting to find methods with less side-effect. The fern Adiantum capillus-veneris L. has triterpenoid compounds which have anti-tumor characteristics. This study aims to investigate the fatal effect of the extract of this plant on breast cancer (MCF-7) and normal (MRC-5) cell lines using MTT method. A. capillus-veneris specimens were collected from Marzoon Abad Village and were dried at the temperature of 40° C by the use of Soxhlet and Ethanol % 96. Hydroalcoholic extract was produced from the aerial and underground parts of this plant and 3 fractions, i.e., Hexane, Chloroform and Ethyl acetate, were prepared from the extract. The compounds of the plant extract were identified by GC-Mass. The results demonstrate the presence of polyphenolic compounds, terpenoid, fatty acids, wax, alkaloid, N-oxide and fibers, with strong antioxidant effect. The results of the MTT test proved that this extract had a dose-depending fatal effect on the MCF-7 cells and is capable of eradicating the cancer cells. On the other hand, its effect on cancer cells is more than its effect on normal cells. Also, IC₅₀ in both of cell lines induced by the extracts of aerial and underground parts showed a significant difference. The fatal characteristics of the extract are comparable with the cisplatin anti-cancer drug.