Journal of Cell and Molecular Research

Number 1(1), 2009

1-17
Contributions to the flora and vegetation of Binalood mountain range, NE Iran: Floristic and chorological studies in Fereizi region

Authors: Farshid Memariani, Mohammad Reza Joharchi, Hamid Ejtehadi and Khatere Emadzade

Abstract

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The mountainous area of Fereizi is located in northwestern Binalood range, Khorassan, northeast of Iran. Special climatic and geographical characteristics of the area make it a suitable habitat for various plant species. As a part of a research project on the flora and vegetation of Binalood mountain range, the floristic composition of this area, life forms and chorology of vascular plants have been determined with emphasis on endemism. During several collection excursions in 2005 to 2007, a total number of 484 vascular plant taxa were identified in the area belonging to 229 genera and 59 plant families. The largest plant families in the area are Asteraceae (63 species), Poaceae (51 species), Fabaceae (50 species) and Brassicaceae (43 species). Astragalus (25 species) and Allium (13 species) are the richest genera. The dominant life forms are hemicryptophytes and therophytes. The floristic composition of the area is strongly influenced by Irano- Turanian elements (56.8%). The analysis of endemism shows that the area inhabited by 49 subendemic taxa and 21 Iranian endemic species from which 13 species are endemic to northeast of Iran and three rare and threatened species including Ferula flabelliloba, Cousinia termei and Sisymbrium integerrimum are local endemics to Binalood mountain range. Geranium charlesii is recorded as a new species for the flora of Iran.

19-27
Scanning electron microscopy of scales in cyprinid fish, Alburnoides bipunctatus (Blotch, 1782)

Authors: Hamid Reza Esmaeili* and Zeinab Gholami

Abstract

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The normal and lateral line cycloid scales of a cyprinid fish; Alburnoides bipunctatus (Blotch, 1782) have been subjected to SEM to study their detailed structure. It shows the general architectural pattern of a cycloid cyprinid scale. The focus of the scale is clear and sharp located in the anterior field. Circuli are observed in all fields. Primary radii which originate from very near the focus divide the posterior field of scale into compartments. Originating far away from the focus, the secondary radii are seen. But the tertiary radii are few. The anterior radii are absent. Lepidonts (teeth-like structures) are absent or are very week on the circuli. Tubercles (granules) at the posterior filed of scale are not well developed. Many resorbtion regions are seen on the scale. Presence of a long, straight, S-shape or J-shape central canal originating from the upper margin of anterior region which in most cases extending down to the posterior margin is characteristic feature of lateral line scale. The architectural specification of scales such as focus shape and position, circuli, chromatophore, lepidonts and lateral line canal might be used as important taxonomic tools.

29-33
Neuroprotective effects of Equisetum telmateia in rat

Authors: Morteza Behnam Rassouli, Fatemeh Gholizadeh Nasari, Mohammd Reza Nikravesh and Ali Moghimi

Abstract

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Equisetum telmateia (Equisetaceae) seems to have anti inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In the present study, the neuroprotective effects of organic and inorganic silica were investigated on spinal cord alpha motoneuron of rats after injury of sciatic nerve. After highly compression of sciatic nerve in 42 Wistar rats, the injured rats were divided into sham (n= 6) and two experimental groups which each were divided into 3 subgroups (n= 6). The first subgroups received 3, 6 or 9 injections (15 mg/kg/injection, ip) of horse tail extract and the second subgroups received 3, 6 or 9 injections (6 mg/kg/injection, ip) of sodium meta silicate, respectively. The first injection was made after sciatic nerve injury and the others by 72 hours intervals. After a month, the rats were sacrificed and their spinal cord lumber segment sampled, processed for histological preparation and analyzed stereologicaly (the dissector technique) for estimation of numerical density of alpha motoneurons. The results showed significant decrease in the numerical density of alpha motoneurons in shams (p< 0.05) and no significant differences between experimental and control groups. This may suggest the neuroprotective effects of silica on the survival of alpha motoneurons.

35-40
Investigation of the effect of Curcumin on Inflammatory Biomarkers in Arthritic Rats

Authors: Fatemeh Aghaei Borashan, Mino Ilkhanipoor, Mohammad Hashemi and Farah Farrokhi

Abstract

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by joint swelling, synovial inflammation and joint destruction. Curcumin (diferuolymethane) is the most active component of Curcuma longa L. Several clinical trials have indicated curcumin to be a notable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound. Therefore the aim of this study is investigating the effects of curcumin on levels of inflammation and inflammatory biomarkers in arthritic rats. Arthritis was induced by subcutaneous injection of Freund’s complete adjuvant (0.5 mL) into the right hind paw of Wistar male rats. Animals were divided into four groups (n=8). GroupI acted as control, group II arthritic rats received vehicle, group III arthritic rats were treated with curcumin (30 mg/kg, orally) and another group arthritic rats were treated with indomethacin (3 mg/kg, orally) seven days after injection of Freund’s Complete Adjuvant for 15 days. The changes caused by chronic inflammation were evaluated by measurement of the ankle circumference three times per week. At the end of the experimental period, blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture to determine erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C.reactive protein levels and White blood cells count. An increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C. reactive protein concentrations, White blood cells count and ankle circumference was observed in arthritic rats compared with control rats (p<0.05). Curcumin significantly decreased inflammation and inflammatory biomarkers in arthritic rats (p<0.05).These results suggest that curcumin can possess beneficial effects in alleviating arthritic symptoms in Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis model.

41-46
Ozone inhalation can induce chromosomal abnormalities in bone marrow cells of Wistar rats

Authors: Farhang Haddad, Vajiheh Golami and Maliheh Pirayesh Shirazi Nejad

Abstract

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Number of views: 412

Due to the wide range of applications for ozone and its increasing use for medical and industrial purposes, studying its effects has become a very important line of research. The ozone has been suspected to be a carsinogen. Because of the increasing use of ozone, the human could be more and more exposed to this gas. In this study the effects of ozone inhalation on chromosomes and its clastogenic consequences have been investigated using in vivo micronucleus assay in bone marrow cells of treated rats. Animals were treated for 6 hours a day at 3 ppm of ozone during 10 consecutive days. The micronucleus assay was performed immediately and 11 days after the last exposure. The frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocyte of bone marrow (MNPCE) increased in both groups compared to the control. Such increase confirmed the clastogenic effects of ozone. The elevated frequency of MNPCE did not decrease after 11 days of the last ozone exposure. Results indicate that ozone inhalation could induce persistent chromosomal damages even to bone marrow cells which were not in direct contact to it. Also, once more, the results confirmed the usefulness of the micronucleus assay in toxicological studies.

47-50
Antibacterial activity of a malodor neutralizer containing silver nanoparticles

Authors: Kiarash Ghazvini; Edriss MirzaHesabi; Mohammad Mehdi Akbarein

Abstract

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Number of views: 299

In this study bactericidal activity of a malodor neutralizer containing silver nanoparticles manufactured in Iran has been tested. For this purpose different concentrations of the product encounter with Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus cereus then the activity were evaluated in different contact times. The products containing at least 200 ppm of silver nanoparticles were effective on all of bacterial strains and higher exposure time increased its antibacterial activity. Bactericidal activity against spore of Bacillus cereus was less obvious in comparison with other bacteria. It seems that silver nanoparticle is a valuable antibacterial agent even in presence of aromatic fragments and could be applied as disinfectant in many situations.

51-55
Cytotoxic activity of Isatis campylocarpa, an Iranian endemic plant, on human cancer cell lines

Authors: Sasan Mohsenzadeh, Leila Najafi, Zahra Amirghofran and Ahmad Reza Khosravi

Abstract

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The antineoplastic activities of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the roots, stems and leaves of Isatis campylocarpa an endemic species of the Brassicaceae family from Iran, investigated on the growth of Jurkat as an acute lymphocytic leukemia cell line, K562 as a chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line and Fen as a bladder cancer cell line using colorimetric assay. Results showed that 1 to 200 μg/ml concentrations of all the extracts inhibited the proliferation of the cells and may be it relate to the Indirubin compounds. The maximum effect on the Jurkat cells observed for the aqueous root extract. The effect of the extracts on the Jurkat cells was greater than on the K562 cells, which may be indicate more sensitivity to lymphocytic cells than myeloid ones.

57-60
Effects of salicylic acid on photosynthetic pigment content in Ocimum basilicum L. under UV-C radiation stress

Authors: Seyed Moosa Moosavi Koohi, Jalil Khara and Reza Heidari

Abstract

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Basil plants (Ocimum basilicum L.) were sprayed with salicylic acid (1mM) and exposed to Ultraviolet-C (UV- C) radiation (40 Wm-2) after emergence of six developed leaves. Plants were grown for 18 days and exposed to UV-C for 5 mind-1 alternatively. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoide were considered for analysis of photosynthetic pigments. The results showed that the photosynthetic pigments were decreased under UV-C radiation. Decreasing of photosynthetic pigments under UV-C radiation was significantly alleviated by salicylic acid treatment.