Native Iranian Research Articles

Screening of Actinomycetes From Lipar Area of Oman Sea to Investigate the Antibacterial Compounds

compounds. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to isolate the actinomycetes producing antibacterial compounds. Materials and Methods: A total of 35 actinomycetes were isolated from Oman Sea (Lipar Area). To investigate antibacterial activity, the isolated actinomycetes were assessed against reference and pathogenic bacteria, including Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcu intermedius, Staphylococcu chromogenes, Staphylococcu saprophyticus, Bacillus cereus and methicillin-resistance Staphylococcu aureus, Pseudomonas, Listeria, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Acinetobacter, and Escherichia coli O157:H7, using the cross streak method. Results: Based on the morphological characterization, 35 isolated cases belonged to actinomycetes and %94 of them had the ability to produce antibacterial compounds. In the cross streak method, most of the isolated bacteria have antibacterial activity against reference S. aureus among Gram-positive bacteria and Acinetobacter among Gram-negative bacteria. Inhibition zone diameters were measured between 2-25 and 1-20 mm for Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, receptivity. Conclusions: Preliminary results indicate that the native Iranian Actinobacteria could be considered a suitable option for screening of the new antibacterial compounds. Molecular research and antibacterial compound extraction against the aforementioned pathogenic strains are also being conducted.

Cone-beam computed tomography evaluation of maxillary first and second molars in Iranian population: a morphological study.

The aim of this in vitro study was to identify the root and canal morphology of maxillary first and second molars in Iranian population by taking and analyzing cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. Extracted maxillary first (n=125) and second (n=125) molars were collected from native Iranians and scanned by using a CBCT scanner. The number of roots and configuration of root canal system were classified according to Vertucci's classification. Two (1.6%) maxillary first and two (1.6%) maxillary second molars had four roots. Prevalence of root fusion was 2.4% and 8.8% in maxillary first and second molars, respectively. The most common canal morphology in the mesiobuccal roots of three-rooted first and second molars was type I (46.4% and 80.8%, respectively), followed by type VI (17.6%) in first molars. The predominant morphology of distobuccal and palatal roots in first and second molars was type I. Additional canal types were also identified. Profound knowledge of anatomic variations is necessary prior to cleaning and obturation of the root canal system. The most common discovered root morphology was three separate roots in both tooth types. The greatest variation in canal anatomy was discovered in the MB canals of both the first and second molars.

Modular Design of Urban Furniture for Relaxing and Dining Based on the Iranian-Islamic Life-Style

What can mean Iranians life, is identity thats comes from their rich culture and its roots refer to native Iranians customs and Islam commands. Family in Iran is the basic and main element in the society that because of keeping Iran identity and culture, should attention to its essential requires. Keeping close and effective relationships among Iranian family members can be achieved by designing recreational spaces for spending Leisure. The main purpose of this paper is designing urban furniture for families resting and serving a meal in the urban space. Unfortunately in the current product there is not any sign of Iran-Islamic costume and culture. By making use of library as well as field research by employing questionnaire, personal interview and observation manners as interaction design tools, design criteria are obtained and finally, the premier design with details is illustrated.

Therapeutic Effect of Hedera helix Alcoholic Extract Against Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Caused by Leishmania major in Balb/c Mice.

Background:Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is common and endemic in many areas of Iran, caused by species of a protozoan parasite belonging to the genus Leishmania. There is not any effective vaccine against leishmaniasis; so, therapy is important for prevention and separation of disease. Herbal extract for treatment of CL is cost-effective, applicable topically to lesions, and can avoid the development of drug resistance.Objectives:The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo activity of an alcoholic extract of Hedera helix (a native Iranian plant) on the experimental ulcer of zoonotic CL in Balb/c mice.Materials and Methods:At least 5x l06 promastigotes of Leishmania major (MHOM/64/IR/ER75) were inoculated subcutaneously in the tail base of Balb/c mice. Fifty six infected mice were distributed in four groups, two groups (16 mice for 20% alcoholic extract of H. helix and 13 for 70% extract) were used as experimental groups, one (15 mice) as placebo control (Control A), and one (12 mice) as negative control. Treatment effects of two concentrations were determined by comparison of placebo and nontreated groups via measuring the size of skin lesions and the number of parasitologically positive and negative mice after the therapy period.Results:This study showed that the main lesion size did not decrease significantly, or the small lesions did not completely disappear after treatment by H. helix alcoholic extract. Amastigotes counts (mean ± SD) of the skin lesions decreased in control A and 20% concentration groups, but in negative control and 70% concentration groups the number of parasites did not reduce.Conclusions:The present study did not support the in vivo antileishmanial effect of H. helix extract. We recommend further studies using major components of H. helix, especially hederasaponin (saponin K10), to investigate the antileishmanial effect of this plant on L. major.

Dracocephalum: novel anticancer plant acting on liver cancer cell mitochondria.

Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss. (Labiatae) is a native Iranian medicinal plant which has been used in combination with Peganum harmala L. as a remedy for many forms of human cancer especially leukemia and gastrointestinal malignancies. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. In this investigation HCC was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) in corn oil at 200 mg/kg body weight to rats. Two weeks after DEN administration, cancer development was promoted with dietary 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) (0.02%, w/w) for 2 weeks. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentration, serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were also determined for confirmation of hepatocellular carcinoma induction. Then rat hepatocytes were isolated with collagen perfusion technique and tumoral hepatocytes were sorted by flow cytometry. Finally isolated mitochondria obtained from both tumoral and nontumoral hepatocytes were used for any probable toxic effect of Dracocephalum kotschyi ethanolic extract. Our results showed that D. kotschyi extract (250 µg/mL) induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, mitochondrial membrane permeabilization (MMP), and mitochondrial swelling and cytochrome c release only in tumoral but not nontumoral hepatocyte. These findings propose Dracocephalum kotschyi as a promising candidate for future anticancer research.

Comparative prevalence of hepato-pulmonary hydatidosis among native and imported cattle in north of Sistan and Baluchestan: Iran

The objective of present study was comparison of hepato-pulmonary hydatidosis among imported and native cattle. The present study was performed during 2011-2012. 2,657 and 525 imported and native cattle were inspected in slaughter house of Zahedan and Zabol respectively. The present and number of hydatid cysts were evaluated. Also the fertility rate of cysts has been estimated. The prevalence of infection in imported and native cattle were 15.1 and 5.3% respectively and the statistical correlation was significant (P value <0.001). Also the fertility rate of hydatid cysts in the imported and native cattle were 16 and 18.2% respectively and the statistical correlation was not significant (P value >0.05). The results of present study shows significant differences in hydatidosis rate between native Iranian and imported cattle in Sistan and Baluchestan provinces of Iran. Slaughtering of imported livestock should be done in industrial centers to prevent potential increasing in canine echinococcosis and consequently human and farm animals hydatidosis.

Immunological evaluation of OMP-F of native Iranian Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a protective vaccine

This study involved 300 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from patients admitted in four Tehran hospitals. Using standard O-specific typing sera, they were all grouped into 16 strains out of 17 known P. aeruginosa. The strains were lyophilized and each was given a code according to the Collection of Standard Bacteria, Pasteur Institute of Iran (CSBPI) for further investigations. Among all clinical samples, CSBPI: 16-190 was the most prevalent P. aeruginosa serotype which showed a high agglutination titer (4+, 320) against homologous O-specific typing sera. This serotype was selected for extraction of P. aeruginosa major outer membrane vesicles (OMP-F). OMP-F vesicles were extracted and purified according to the Deoxycholate Ultracentrifuge Differentiation Technique. Purity and molecular weight of OMP-F were determined by SDS-PAGE and the ability of OMP-F vesicles to induce high titers of antibody in rabbit, which was shown as a sharp antibody-antigen precipitation line in the agarose gel immune-diffusion technique. Passive immunization of mice with anti-rabbit OMP-F antisera induced a high level of protection when the mice were post-challenged with 2×LD50 of live P. aeruginosa CSBPI: 16-190. Furthermore, active immunization of mice with 50 µg of OMP-F could protect mice against 2xLD50 of live homologous (100% protection) and 15 heterologous native Iranian P. aeruginosa serotypes with 50-100% level of protection. These investigations indicate that purified OMP-F of CSBPI: 16-190 can be regarded as a safe protective immunogen in vaccinothrapy against all P. aeruginosa immunotype isolated in Iran.

Anti-tuberculosis drug resistance and associated risk factors in a tertiary level TB center in Iran: a retrospective analysis

This study aimed to determine first-line anti-tuberculosis drug resistance rates in new and previously treated cases and to identify risk factors associated with multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) at the National Reference Tuberculosis Laboratory of Iran. This was a retrospective analysis of all confirmed TB patients from December 2000 to June 2005. Drug susceptibility testing to isoniazid, rifampicin, streptomycin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide was performed on Löwenstein-Jensen (LJ) medium according to the proportion method. Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains were isolated from 1,742 patients with TB, of whom 935 (53.7%) were male. The mean age of patients was 44.2 ± 17.4 years (SD). A total of 1,074 patients were native Iranians while 668 (38.3%) were immigrant patients. Out of 1,139 (65.4%) new cases, 340 (29.9%) had at least one drug resistance. Of 603 (34.6%) previously treated cases, 416 (69.0%) had resistant strains. There were 263 patients (15.1%) with MDR-TB, 72 of whom were new (6.3% of all new cases) and 191 were previously treated (31.7% of all previously treated cases). Factors associated with MDR-TB included age under 45 years, male sex, previous TB treatment, immigration, poor living conditions, and unemployment. The high rate of initial resistance in MDR-TB cases and the high rate of MDR-TB in a young age group were indicators of recent transmission. Therefore, closer monitoring of transmission trends of drug resistant strains should be considered as priority, to ensure a successful TB control programme.

Influence of temperature on the in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube growth of various native Iranian almonds (Prunus L. spp.) species

Pollen germination and pollen tube growth was quantified among various native Iranian wild almonds (P. dulcis (Mill.) D. A. Webb, P. eleaegnifolia Mill., P. orientalis Mill., P. lycioides Spach, P. reuteri Bioss. et Bushe, P. arabica Olivier, P. glauca Browick and P. scoparia Spach in order to identify differences in the tolerance of pollen to temperature variations. Pollen germination and pollen tube growth were observed after incubation in darkness in a germination medium for 24 h at 10–50°C at 5°C intervals. Maximum pollen germination of the wild almond species and specify that 60% was obtained for P. orientalis pollen and 98% for P. scoparia. Pollen tube length ranged from 860 μm was obtained in P. lycioides and 1490 μm in P. scoparia. A modified bilinear model best described the response to temperature of pollen germination and pollen tube length. Almond species variation was found for cardinal temperatures (Tmin, Topt and Tmax) of pollen germination percentage and pollen tube growth. Mean cardinal temperatures averaged over eight almond species were 14.7, 24.2, and 43.7°C for maximum percentage pollen germination and 14.48, 25.3, and 44.4 °C for maximum pollen tube length. The principal component analysis (PCA) identified maximum percentage pollen germination and pollen tube length of the species, and Tmax for the two processes as the most important pollen parameters in describing a species tolerance to high temperature. PCA also classified Prunus L. spp. into four groups according to the tolerance of pollen to temperature variations. The Tmin and Topt for pollen germination and tube growth, rate of pollen tube growth were less predictive in discriminating species for high temperature tolerance.

Using PCR for early diagnosis of bovine leukemia virus infection in some native cattle

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV), the causative agent of enzootic bovine leukosis, is an exogenous, B lymphotropic retrovirus belonging to the Retroviridae family that induces persistent lymphocytosis in cattle and sheep. PCR has proven to be particularly suitable for investigating herds of cattle with a very low incidence of BLV infection and for clarifying doubtful serological results obtained by immunodiffusion or ELISA. The native Iranian and Russian cattle have a series of valuable traits that discriminate them as unique breeds that are well able to compete with western analogues. However, their gene pools have not been analyzed with molecular markers, including detection of BLV by PCR. Two pairs of primers were used: gag1 and gag2, and pol1 and pol2, which encompass 347- and 599-bp fragments of the BLV gene, respectively. Sixty-five Iranian Sistani, 120 Yaroslavl, 50 Mongolian, and 35 Black Pied cows were investigated. Among these 270 animals, we obtained 42 positive and 15 doubtful results in the first PCR. The second PCR was very effective in increasing BLV test reliability data to support detection of BLV.

COMPARISON OF PECTIN BIOSYNTHESIS IN LOCAL APPLE CULTIVAR 'AZAYESH' AND SOME COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS AS AFFECTED BY PH AND CARBOHYDRATES CONTENT

In order to study the characteristics of commercial apple cultivars grown under climatic conditions in Karaj 32 different characters were evaluated in 30 native Iranian and introduced cultivars based on Apple Descriptor during 2008. Some of the important pomological characteristics such as: weight, shape, skin and flesh color and other physicochemical characteristic including: pectin content, carbohydrates, pH, TSS, TA, flesh firmness of 'Golden Delicious', 'Red Delicious', 'Granny Smith' and a very dwarf native Iranian crab 'Azayesh' were measured. All of the pomological evaluations were done at the fruit ripening phase. The results of mean comparison obtained from the collected data related to measurements of physicochemical variables under experiment showed that 'Granny Smith' and 'Azayesh' had the highest levels of pectin compared with 'Golden Delicious' and 'Red Delicious'. Further analyses confirmed that cultivars containing more pectin biosynthesis capacity present lower pH values, the difference showed to be statistically significant among cultivars. There was in fact significant difference between 'Golden Delicious' and 'Red Delicious'. Supplementary studies showed that pectin biosynthesis is positively correlated with lower pH of cell sap. Consequently, a pectin biosynthesis increase was always accompanied with a pH decrease. Contrarily, pectin biosynthesis was positively correlated with carbohydrates content. In fact, total carbohydrate measurements confirmed a higher content of carbohydrates in 'Azayesh', while the other cultivars show a low pectin producing capacity in contest of genetic variability. It is clearly known that the high economic value of 'Granny Smith' in the fresh consumption market is a limiting factor for being used as pectin source, while pectin may be abundantly extracted from 'Azayesh' because other researches showed the high fruit set percent in Karaj climatic conditions. 'Azayesh' is a well known dwarf rootstock, adapted to the typical compact and calcareous soils of Iran. Demonstrating its potential in pectin biosynthesis in this research, makes it more valuable and could be also recognized as a new cultivar to be used for pectin extraction.

Antibacterial Activity of Twenty Iranian Plant Extracts Against Clinical Isolates of Helicobacter pylori

Objective(s) Due to increasing emergence of drug-resistance in Helicobacter pylori isolates, traditional plants are potentially valuable sources of novel anti-H. pylori agents. In this research, anti-H. pylori activity of the organic extracts of twenty native Iranian plants was determined against ten clinical isolates of H. pylori. Materials and Methods Disc diffusion was used to determine the biological activity of 20 plant extracts as well as 8 antibiotics commonly used to treat H. pylori infections. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were also measured by tube and agar dilution methods for the biologically active plant extracts. Results Of the twenty plant extracts analyzed, sixteen exhibited good anti-H. pylori activity, using disc diffusion. The ten most active extracts were Carum bulbocastanum, Carum carvi, Mentha longifolia, Saliva limbata, Saliva sclarea, Ziziphora clinopodioides, Thymus caramanicus, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Xanthium brasilicum and Trachyspermum copticum. Minimum inhibitory concentrations measured for the 10 biologically active plant extracts were within the range of 31.25 to 500 µg/ml. Conclusion Among the ten plant extracts effective against H. pylori clinical isolates, Carum carvi, Xanthium brasilicum and Trachyspermum copticum showed the highest activity.

A directed search around caprine candidate loci provided evidence for microsatellites linkage to growth and cashmere yield in Rayini goats

Four genomic regions located on goat chromosomes 1, 2, 5 and 13 previously reported as significant DNA regions harboring quantitative trait loci (QTL) for growth and fleece traits in goat were considered as candidate genomic regions. The objective of conducting this study was to determine whether there is evidence for association of growth traits and cashmere yield in native Iranian Rayini goats with markers flanking these candidate regions. One hundred and twenty kids from 6 Rayini bucks (20 half-sib offspring per buck) were used in the present study. The six bucks and their offspring were genotyped for eight microsatellite markers flanking the candidate intervals. Body weights recorded on the kids were birth weight (BW0), weaning weight (BW3) and weight at 6 months of age (BW6). Average daily gains from birth to weaning and weaning to 6 months of age were computed based on the values obtained for BW0, BW3 and BW6. Cashmere yield was also recorded for the kids at the first, second and third year of age. QTL analysis in the candidate intervals was conducted using the least squared regression interval mapping approach. Linkage analysis indicated significant QTL for growth traits on goat chromosomes 1, 2 and 5 (chromosome-wide significance of P < 0.01). Three of the candidate regions located on chromosomes 2, 5 and 13 were linked to cashmere yield. QTL effect ranged from 0.8 to 4.3 in units of residual standard deviation for different traits and families.

Building for the Shah: Market Entry, Political Reality and Risks on the Iranian Market, 1933–1939

Unlike other Western European companies operating in Iran between the first and second world wars, the Danish construction firm Kampsax pursued a forestalling strategy in dealing with the political imperative of Reza Shah. The British Bank of the Middle East and the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, by contrast, pursued an absorption strategy. That is, they actively tried to “Iranize” their operations by appointing native Iranians to important managerial positions. Kampsax, however, made no attempt at “Iranization,” depending entirely on contractual relations with local builders and labor forces. This no doubt contributed to the firm's exposure as a totally foreign enterprise and lessened their chances of gaining favor with the Shah's advisors, who pursued an overtly nationalistic set of policies. The history of Kampsax in Iran therefore offers a useful case to use the concept of the political risks in relation to multinationals working in dictatorial settings. This paper undertakes such a study and concludes that the absorption strategy that was already being pursued by British firms offers a better way of managing such risks.

Building for the Shah: Market Entry, Political Reality and Risks on the Iranian Market, 1933–1939

Unlike other Western European companies operating in Iran between the first and second world wars, the Danish construction firm Kampsax pursued a forestalling strategy in dealing with the political imperative of Reza Shah. The British Bank of the Middle East and the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, by contrast, pursued an absorption strategy. That is, they actively tried to “Iranize” their operations by appointing native Iranians to important managerial positions. Kampsax, however, made no attempt at “Iranization,” depending entirely on contractual relations with local builders and labor forces. This no doubt contributed to the firm's exposure as a totally foreign enterprise and lessened their chances of gaining favor with the Shah's advisors, who pursued an overtly nationalistic set of policies. The history of Kampsax in Iran therefore offers a useful case to use the concept of the political risks in relation to multinationals working in dictatorial settings. This paper undertakes such a study and concludes that the absorption strategy that was already being pursued by British firms offers a better way of managing such risks.

Study on drought resistance indices in spring safflower

Safflower ( Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a native Iranian oilseed crop adapted to various environments in the country. It can be planted as a winter or spring crop. The calculation of drought resistance indices could help us to identify drought-resistant genotypes. To determine these yield-based indices, an investigation was carried out with 16 safflower varieties/lines in spring planting at six research stations located at Sararood, Maragheh, Ghamlo, Zanjan, Shirvan and Kohdasht in 2001. The experiments were laid out in a random complete block design under drought-stressed and non-stressed conditions with three replications. Drought resistance indices, including MP, GMP, TOL, STI and SSI, were calculated from the seed yield data. The genotypes were planted in a greenhouse and the cell membrane stability (CMS) was measured using PEG solutions. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences for all indices between the locations, so experiments should be conducted at different locations over several years for the accurate estimation of drought resistance indices. STI was the best index to identify superior genotypes in conditions both with and without drought stress. The estimation of STI from the mean of all locations showed that Gila had the highest STI (0.430), with high seed yield under both conditions. Analysis of variance showed significant differences between the genotypes for CMS at the 1% level of probability, with the highest value for S-541 and the lowest for Kino-76. There were significant and strong correlations between STI, MP and GMP with CMS, so cell membrane stability could be useful as a fast, cheap method for screening germplasm and identifying drought-resistant genotypes. Cluster analysis on the basis of STI, MP, GMP, CMS and seed yield under both stressed and non-stressed conditions divided the genotypes into three groups.

Screening of Iranian species for antibacterial activities

The landscape of Iran includes a great range of ecological diversity and a rich flora much still unstudied for phytochemistry or bioactivity. In the present study antibacterial activity of a number of native Iranian plants species are reported, the antifungal effect's has been reported before. Some of this species are used by rural inhabitants as herbal medicine and were collected from different locations of Iran since 1994. In this study 532 species were collected from different regions of Iran. The voucher specimens were authenticated and deposited in the herbarium of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The air-dried plant materials were powdered and extracted in a Soxhlet extractor with methanol 80%. The extracts were tested at a concentration of 100µg/ml against organisms using Kirby Bauer method [1]. Gentamycin and methanol were used as positive and negative control, respectively. Antibacterial assay organisms were: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus haemolyticus, Shigella sonei, Salmonella paratyphi-B, Esherichia coli, Nocardia astroides, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus antracis, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Vibrio cholerae, Klebsiella pneumoniae. Four species, i.e. Pistacia vera L., Cymbopogon parkerii Stapf., Myrtus communis L. and Echinophora platyloba DC showed the best antibacterial effects.The most sensitive organism was Nocardia astroides (+4, no growth) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the least sensitive (-, full growth). Among all tested plants the Anacardiaceae were highest ranked with 6 effective species.

Reproductive characteristics of Rayini male goats of Kerman province in Iran

An artificial vagina was used to collect semen from 14 native Iranian Rayini goats, at 15-day intervals starting on 1 July and ending on 30 December 2000. Testicular size, semen volume, sperm concentration, percent live sperm, percent normal sperm, and total number of live-normal sperm were significantly higher during the summer months. The average semen volume, percent live sperm and percent abnormal sperm during the sampling period varied between 1 and 1.4 mL, 60 and 78%, and 7 and 13%, respectively. The total number of live and normal sperm in the ejaculate during the sampling period varied from 1000 to 2500 million. Testicular size, semen volume and the total number of live and normal sperm were significantly greater in bucks weighing 55–60 kg as compared with 50–54 kg. Seminal fluid pH values were significantly lower from July to October (pH <6) than the values from November to December (pH >6.1). Lowest level of lactate dehydrogenase in the seminal fluid was recorded in early September (2.2 U/mL) and the highest level in November (2.5 U/mL). Seminal fluid K ion level increased gradually from July (52 mg/dL) to the November (97 mg/dL). Variation of seminal fluid Na ion concentration (71–74 mg/dL) was not significant during the sampling period. The correlation coefficients of total number of live-normal sperm with seminal fluid K level ( r = −0.65) and LDH ( r = −0.36) were negative ( P < 0.01). The data indicated that the semen quality and quantity of Rayini bucks were higher during summer and early autumn.

Anti-Helicobacter pylori activities of six Iranian plants.

Helicobacter pylori is the major worldwide cause of bacterial gastrointestinal infections in adults and children. Antibiotic therapy and a combination of two or three drugs have been widely used to eradicate these infections. However, development of drug resistance in bacteria calls for new sources of drugs, and plants seem to be a logical source of new antibacterial compounds. The anti-H. pylori activities of six native Iranian plants (Glycyrrhiza aspera, Juglans regia, Ligustrum vulgare, Thymus kotschyanus, Trachyspermum copticum and Xanthium brasilicum) and seven antibiotics were determined against 70 clinical isolates from children using the disk susceptibility assay. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were also measured for the biologically active extracts. One extract with the best anti-H. pylori activity was fractionated by silica gel and thin layer chromatography and the active compounds were identified by hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)HNMR) spectroscopy. All plant extracts showed anti-H. pylori activity by the disk sensitivity method, but the most active extracts were those from X. brasilicum and T. copticum. In fact, the anti-H. pylori activities of the two extracts were superior to the disk antibiotic susceptibility profile. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were within the range of 31.25-250 micro g/ml. Fractionation and chemical identification of the extract from X. brasilicum showed the presence of two substances, a flavonoid and a xanthanolide. Due to the rise in antibiotic resistance, new sources of anti-H. pylori drugs are needed. The use of medicinal plants and/or their chemical components may have potential benefit in eradicating such problems.

Hematological Values of Healthy Native Iranian Ducks

Abstract Tadjalli, M., Nazifi Habibabadi, S. and Saedi, M.S. 1996. Hematological values of healthy native Iranian ducks. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 10: 207–210. Blood samples were collected from 100 apparently healthy adult ducks of both sexes and hematological values were estimated. The mean values of RBCs, Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC and WBCs were 2.66±0.26x106/μl, 16.33± 1.4g/dl, 42.97±2.1%, 173.6±11.lfl, 62.76±2.7pg, 37.15±1.5g/dl and 17.65±1.75x103/μl, respectively. The leukocytes had 48.67, 6.56, 39.96, 3.10 and 1.70 percent lymphocytes, monocytes, heterophils, eosinophils and basophils, respectively. The mean of RBC counts, Hb concentration, PCV and MCHC was higher and that of thromobocytes lower in males as compared with females (P<0.01).