Antinociceptive diterpene from Euphorbia decipiens

One myrsinol-type diterpene ester (1) isolated from Euphorbia decipiens was evaluated for analgesic activity in the acetic acid induced writhing test in mice. Different dose (5-20 mg/kg i.p.) of the compound showed significant antinociceptive activity, which was comparable to standard analgesic drugs, aspirin and ibuprofen (100 mg/kg i.p.).     

Herbicide risk assessment during the Wheat Self-sufficiency Project in Iran

BACKGROUND: The present study describes the quantitative changes in herbicide use during the specific observation periods in the Wheat Self-sufficiency Project in Iran from 1994 to 2004 and the associated changes in herbicide risk, area and yield in this context. A risk index, the environmental impact quotient (EIQ), was used to estimate the environmental impacts (EIs) of herbicides applied to wheat agroecosystems. RESULTS: The results suggest that, during this period, the overall risk posed by the herbicides applied to wheat agroecosystems increased substantially, as evidenced by a 71% increase in herbicide usage (weight of pesticide applied) and a 62.2% increase in EI rating, in spite of an 8.2% decrease in overall EIQ rating and an 89.2% decrease in mean application rate. Furthermore, a 0.57% increase in the area and a 23.6% and 22.7% increase in irrigated and rainfed yields, respectively, were observed. The results also indicate that the EIQ(FUR) of two herbicides, dichlorprop-P/mecoprop-P/MCPA and difenzoquat, is much higher than that of other herbicides, and they could be qualified as high-risk herbicides. CONCLUSION: As a whole, an increase in herbicide usage (weight of pesticide applied) was an important factor on herbicide environmental impact boost. However, this increase has not led to a similar increase in wheat yield, which could be attributed in part to the negative impact of high herbicide consumption in wheat fields and subsequent threat to the long-term sustainability of these agroecosystems.     

Chemical composition and in vitro antifungal activity of Sambucus ebulus and Actinidia deliciosa on the fish pathogenic fungus,Saprolegnia parasitica

The aim of the present study was to determine the chemical composition of Sambucus ebulus and Actinidia deliciosa ethanolic extracts as well as their in vitro antifungal activity on the mycelial growth of the water mold, Saprolegnia parasitica. The preliminary minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) and minimum lethal concentration (MLC) were determined by the HeMP method and finally, concentrations of each extract ranging from 1 to 10% were prepared by an agar dilution method to assess the in vitro antifungal activity, quantitatively. Both herbal extracts inhibited growth of Saprolegnia hyphae in vitro. Complete in vitro growth inhibition was found at a concentration of ≥5% for S. ebulus, whereas it was not observed even at 10% concentration of A. deliciosa. Based on gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis, the main constituents of S. ebulus include monophthalate (66.17%), fatty acids (26.47%), phytol (4.25%), and acetic acid (2.11%). Using colorimetric assays, A. deliciosa contained phenolic contents at 162 mg gallic acid (GAE)/g DW and flavonoid contents at 2.31 mg quercetin (QE)/g DW. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that S. ebulus and A. deliciosa showed some antifungal activities against S. parasitica with formerly exhibiting stronger activity (p < 0.05).

     

Effects of Surgical Wound Infiltration with Bupivacaine on Postoperative Analgesia in Cats Undergoing Bilateral Mastectomy

The analgesic effect of wound infiltration with bupivacaine was evaluated in cats undergoing bilateral mastectomy. Twenty-one female cats with mammary gland tumors were anesthetized with propofol and oxygen-isoflurane anesthesia following premedication with atropine. In the trial group (Group I; n=11), 30 ml of saline containing 2 mg/kg of bupivacaine was infiltrated topically into the surgical wound right after removal of the mammary glands, whereas only saline solution was infiltrated in the control group (Group II; n=10). At the same time, carprofen (4 mg/kg) was also administered subcutaneously in both groups. Behavioral signs of pain were monitored during the recovery period after general anesthesia. In order to examine the behavioral changes associated with acute pain, a questionnaire was prepared and given to the owners to be completed 4 hr and then 10 hr after the operation. According to the owners’ anwers to the questionnaire, a pain score was specified using a “numerical rating scale” for each cat. Although some cats showed mild to moderate pain, the pain score recorded at 4 hr after the operation was significantly lower in Group I (P<0.001). No significant difference was found at 10 hr after the operation between the groups. The incidence of vocalization, aggression and convulsion within 2 hr after the operation was also lower in Group I. In conclusion, wound infiltration with bupivacaine before incisional closure provided reliable analgesia at least 4 hr after bilateral radical mastectomy in cats.     

Karyological analysis of endangered Caspian salmon, Salmo trutta caspius (Kessler, 1877)

The karyotype and chromosomal characteristics of endangered Caspian salmon, Salmo trutta caspius, in the southern part of the Caspian Sea were investigated. From the total of 60 mitotic metaphases achieved from 15 individuals, 15, 9 and 36 metaphases were with the mode <76, 76 and 80 representing 25%, 15% and 60% of metaphases respectively. So, the most common pattern of chromosome number was 80 (36 metaphases, 60%) and the number of diploid chromosomes was thus confirmed as (2n=80) of this subspecies. The karyotype consists of seven metacentric, five submetacentric and 28 telocentric pairs. The karyological parameters of the Caspian salmon, the centromic index, arm ratio, relative length and length variation range of chromosomes, were 0–0.5, 1–∞, 0.011–0.045 and 0.507–2.028 μm respectively. The total length of chromosomes in haploid series was 44.776 μm and fundamental number of chromosome arms was 104. This study may provide the first knowledge on chromosome analysis in Caspian salmon and add basic information useful for its chromosomal manipulations.     

Pre-treatment effect of different doses of soy isoflavones on spatial learning and memory in an ovariectomized animal model of Alzheimer's disease

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different doses of dietary soy meals (with or without isoflavone) on dementia in ovariectomized (OVX) animal model of Alzheimer's disease. Female Wistar's rats with the exception of intact group were ovariectomized at the first line of study. Animals were divided into 2 main groups: control (c) and pre-treatment groups. Animals in pre-treatment groups received one of five types of diet during four weeks prior Nucleus Basalis Magnocellularis (NBM) electrical lesion normal diet (0), 10 g soy with isoflavone (10), 20 g soy with isoflavone (20), 10 g soy without isoflavone (-10) and 20 g soy without isoflavone (-20) in 30 g daily diet. The spatial learning and memory were tested using Morris water maze after electrical lesion. Rats were trained in water maze to find a hidden escape Platform. Rats received 6 blocks that each block consisted of 3 trials. Following acquisition trials, one probe trial was conducted in which the platform was removed. Soy meal diet (with or without isoflavone) in ovariectomized rats with Alzheimer's disease caused improvement of performance across 18 trials of Acquisition. Our results suggest that soy meal is a potential alternative to estrogen in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.     

Balanced nutrient density for broiler chickens using a range of digestible lysine-to-metabolizable energy ratios and nutrient density:Growth performance,nutrient utilisation and apparent metabolizable energy

Currently, specific nutrient concentration, metabolizable energy (ME) and digestible amino acids are used as feed formulation criteria. A balanced nutrient density (BND) concept based on 2 criteria of nutrient density and balanced amino acids-to-ME ratio may offer more flexibility in optimisation of profit in formulation of diets compared with current formulation based on set values per unit of feed mass. A total of 672 one-d-old off-sex male Ross 308 broiler chickens were used across two 42-d performance trials in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with each diet replicated 8 times (14 birds per replicate). The experimental factors were 2 nutrient density levels (low [LD] and high [HD]) and 3 digestible lysine-to-ME ratios (DLYS:ME; low, medium, and high). Low density diets had ME of 2,876 and 3,023 kcal/kg for starter and finisher, respectively, while values for HD diets were 3,169 and 3,315 kcal/kg with proportionally higher non-nitrogenated nutrients. Separate digestibility and apparent metabolizable energy (AME) assays were conducted at d 21 and 42. Digestibility assays at d 7 were conducted on birds used for performance trials. Regardless of the diet density, birds fed low DLYS:ME had a lower (P < 0.01) feed intake (d 0 to 42) than medium and high DLYS:ME. Without interaction, birds fed low and medium DLYS:ME had a similar body weight gain being the heaviest while birds low DLYS:ME were the lightest. By an interaction (P < 0.05), the highest overall FCR value was observed for birds fed LD × low DLYS:ME and improved linearly when DLYS:ME increased to the highest level reaching a limit for birds fed HD × medium DLYS:ME. Calorie conversion linearly decreased (P < 0.001) with increments in DLYS:ME. Jejunal and ileal starch and protein digestibility were affected on d 21 and 42 but not on d 7 of age. Given the independence of response on BW and feed consumption, the use of BND as a flexible system in diet formulations has the potential to enable more accurate formulation for optimisation of growth performance of broiler chickens.