ABSTRACT Background: Agastache foeniculum is one of the perennial aromatic plants of the Lamiaceae family. The essential oil (EO) of this plant has potent antibacterial and antifungal properties, and hence it is extensively used in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Water-deficit stress occurring at any plant growth stage changes the morphological, phytochemical, and physiological processes. Melatonin is considered as a new kind of plant growth regulator which increases plant tolerance to environmental stresses. Hypotheses: The response to water deficit in A. foeniculum is Mel-dependent and affects their physiological and phytochemical characteristics Studied species: Agastache foeniculum Study site and dates: Tabriz, Iran, 2019. Methods: For this purpose, plants were subjected to water-deficit stress, which was followed by foliar application of melatonin as biostimulants on dry matter and secondary metabolites of A. foeniculum. Results: Results indicated that water-deficit stress (at 60 % of Field capacity) increased shoot dry weight, total phenol, anthocyanins and flavonoids content as well as EO content. Application of various melatonin concentrations improved the content of the mentioned traits. According to GC-MS analysis, ten chemical compounds were recognized in the EO composition of A. foeniculum. The most important EO compound (%) in the studied treatments was methyl chavicol, under severe water-deficit stress conditions with Mel at concentration of 100 μM. Conclusions: The results indicated that the application of Mel (at 100 µM) as a bio-inducer can alleviate the detrimental effects of water-deficit stress (at 60 and 30 % field capacity) and improve the quality of EO.

RESUMEN Antecedentes. Agastache foeniculum, planta aromática perenne de la familia Lamiaceae. Su aceite esencial (AE) tiene propiedades antibacterianas y antifúngicas, se utiliza ampliamente en las industrias farmacéutica y alimentaria. El estrés por déficit de agua en cualquier etapa de crecimiento de las plantas cambia los procesos morfológicos, fitoquímicos y fisiológicos. La melatonina se considera un nuevo regulador del crecimiento vegetal que aumenta la tolerancia al estrés ambiental. Hipótesis: La respuesta al déficit hídrico en A. foeniculum depende de melatonina y afecta características fisiológicas y fitoquímicas. Especie de estudio: Agastache foeniculum Sitio y años de estudio: Tabriz, Irán, 2019 Métodos: Las plantas fueron sometidas a estrés por déficit hídrico, seguido de la aplicación foliar de melatonina como bioestimulante sobre materia seca y metabolitos secundarios de A. foeniculum. Resultados: Los resultados indicaron que el estrés por déficit de agua (al 60 % de la capacidad de campo) aumentó peso seco, contenido total de fenol, antocianinas y flavonoides, así como contenido de AC. La aplicación melatonina mejoró el contenido de los rasgos mencionados. Según el análisis de GC-MS, se reconocieron diez compuestos químicos en la composición de AE. El compuesto de AE más importante (%) en los tratamientos estudiados fue el metil chavicol, bajo condiciones de estrés por déficit hídrico severo con melatonina a concentración de 100 μM. Conclusiones: Los resultados indicaron que la aplicación de melatonina (100 µM) como bioinductor puede aliviar los efectos perjudiciales del estrés por déficit hídrico (al 60 y 30% capacidad de campo) y mejorar la calidad del AC.

RESUMO CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Considerando a associação entre câncer colorretal (CCR), a resistência à insulina, à obesidade e o papel proeminente da grelina nessas doenças metabólicas, foi explorado se os níveis plasmáticos de grelina estavam associados ao CCR. Além disso, nos pacientes com CCR foram pesquisadas as possíveis correlações entre a grelina, insulina, resistência insulínica e índice de massa corporal (IMC) como indicadores de obesidade. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos neste estudo 170 indivíduos, sendo 82 com CRC e 88 controles. Os níveis plasmáticos de grelina, insulina e glicose foram medidos em todos os sujeitos utilizando métodos ELISA e glicose oxidase. Além disso, a resistência à insulina foi avaliada pelo cálculo do índice HOMA-IR. RESULTADOS: Os pacientes com CRC apresentaram redução dos níveis de grelina (P<0,001) e maior índice HOMA-IR (P<0.001) do que os controles. Curiosamente, quando os pacientes com CRC foram estratificados com base no local do tumor, níveis mais baixos de grelina e maior índice de HOMA-IR foram observados nos indivíduos com câncer de cólon ou retal versus controles também. Além disso, houve uma correlação negativa entre idade e IMC independente entre os níveis de grelina e HOMA-IR (r=-0,365, P<0,05) e uma correlação negativa independente da idade entre os níveis de grelina e IMC (r=-0,335, P<0,05) no subgrupo retal. CONCLUSÃO: Nossos achados apoiam o papel da grelina em relação à resistência à insulina e à obesidade na suscetibilidade do CRC; no entanto, ela precisa ser corroborada por estudos posteriores.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Considering the association between colorectal cancer (CRC) and both insulin resistance and obesity, and the prominent role of ghrelin in these metabolic disorders, we explored whether plasma levels of ghrelin were associated with CRC. Moreover, in the patients with CRC the possible correlations between ghrelin and insulin, insulin resistance, and body mass index (BMI) as an indicator of obesity were examined. METHODS: A total of 170 subjects, including 82 cases with CRC and 88 controls were enrolled in this study. Plasma levels of ghrelin, insulin, and glucose were measured in all the subjects using ELISA and glucose oxidase methods. Furthermore, insulin resistance was assessed by calculating HOMA-IR index. RESULTS: The cases with CRC had decreased ghrelin levels (P<0.001) and a higher HOMA-IR index (P<0.001) than controls. Interestingly, when CRC patients were stratified based on tumor site, lower ghrelin levels and a higher HOMA-IR index were observed in the patients with either colon or rectal cancer vs. controls too. Additionally, there were an age and BMI-independent negative correlation between ghrelin levels and HOMA-IR (r=-0.365, P<0.05), and an age-independent negative correlation between ghrelin levels and BMI (r=-0.335, P<0.05) in the rectal subgroup. CONCLUSION: Our findings support a role for ghrelin in connection with insulin resistance and obesity in CRC susceptibility; however, it needs to be corroborated by further studies.

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the therapeutic potential of honey, Nigella sativa (N. sativa) and their combination in rat model of excisional wound healing. Methods: A circular excision wound was established in the back region of 50 Wistar rats. Subsequently, they were divided into 5 groups and daily topical administration of lanolin in the control group, honey in the honey group, cold-pressed N. sativa seed oil in the N. sativa groups, mix of 1:1 ratio of honey and N. sativa seed oil in the mix group, and phenytoin cream in the phenytoin group were used. Then, wound surface areas were evaluated using digital camera immediately after the injury and at post excision days 5, 10, 15 and 20. Results: Significant reduction in wound surface area was observed within and between the groups (P < 0.001). In the post excision days 5, 10, 15 and 20 the wound surface areas in the mix group were significantly lower than the other groups followed by the phenytoin, honey, N. sativa, and control groups. Conclusion: The wound healing may be improved and accelerated by using topical solutions of honey, N. sativa seed oil and especially their mixture.

Resumo O monitoramento da seca é o fator mais importante na gestão de recursos hídricos. Este estudo centra-se na avaliação das características da seca, como intensidade, frequência e duração da seca, utilizando o Índice Padronizado de Precipitação (SPI) em diferentes escalas de tempo, tais como: SPI1, SPI3 (mensal), durante 1980-2012. Os resultados mostram que a seleção de diferentes escalas de tempo pode ser baseada em gerenciamento de metas e tipos de seca. Os resultados com base na frequência de ocorrência de seca mostraram que, com o aumento do período de tempo analisado, aumentou a duração da seca e a frequência máxima além do nível normal e não há nenhum procedimento específico em diferentes escalas de tempo. Além disso, os mapas de padrões de seca mostraram que as partes do norte e central da área de estudo experimentaram secas recentes mais do que outras regiões, tento esses locais grande potencial para catástrofes resultantes da seca. Assim, através da identificação de regiões mais sensíveis a esta ação climática, pode-se definir uma gestão apropriada para evitar grandes danos.

Abstract The monitoring of drought is the most important factor in water resources management. This study focuses on evaluation of the drought characteristics such as intensity, frequency and duration drought using Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) in different time scales such as: SPI1, SPI3 months, during 1980-2012. The results show that selection of different time scales can be based on management goals and kind of drought. The results of the drought occurrence frequency showed that, with increase of length of time scales, drought duration will increase and maximum frequency was at the normal level and there is no particular procedure in different time scales. Furthermore, Drought patterns maps showed that the northern and central parts of study area had experienced these recent droughts more than other places, and these place have potential to destroy the lands. So, by identification of sensitivity regions can be take appropriate management to prevent damage resulting of drought.