Leutea avicennia Mozaff. That belongs to Apiaceae family is an endemic species distributed in the west of Iran. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity and ACETYLCHOLINESTRASE (AChE) inhibition of the crude extract, fractions, and isolated compounds from methanol fraction of L. avicenniae. Five compounds were detected from methanol fraction; three phenolic compounds as p-coumric acid, caffeic acid, salicylic acid and also, two flavonoids as quercetin and astragalin. These structures were identified by spectroscopic techniques such as 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and UV. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by the free radical scavenging assay using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl- hydrazyl (DPPH) method. Ellman colorimetric method was used to determine ACETYLCHOLINESTRASE (AChE) inhibition. In the DPPH assay, Quercetin exerted the highest antioxidant activity (IC50=10.24 ± 1.3 mg/mL). Caffeic acid inhibited AChE with IC50=12.06 ± 2.01mg/mL which were comparable to Galanthamine as positive control (IC50=62.44 ± 2.2mg/mL). In conclusion, methanol extract of L. avicenniae contains bioactive components with antioxidant and AChE inhibitory effects.

17a-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17aP) hormone is a precursor of other steroid hormones and radioimmunoassay has already been used to measure it, but a simple and rapid "Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay" (ELISA) is described and validated here. A general procedure for prepara-tion of the acetylcholinesterase labelled steroid is described, which is applicable to any steroid. Use of acetylcholinesterase tracer increased the sensitivity of assay so that reliable measurements of each steroid could be achieved with only 10m l of plasma. The ELISA was applied to measure 17, 20a-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17, 20aP) steroid production from 17aP by 20 a-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (20a-HSD) from sperm of roach (Rutilus rutilus). The results showed that cyprinid sperm contains potent and active 20a-HSD enzymes which produce 17, 20aP hormone from 17aP substrate.

Organophosphate (OP) compounds have been used as pesticides and in chemical warfare (nerve agents). Two nerve agents called tabun and sarin were used by Iraqi army against the Iranian troops in Majnoon Island and during Halabjah massacre, respectively.Atropine sulfate has been used successfully in large doses to counteract the muscarinic effects of OP poisoning. The effects of oximes in human OP poisoning have not been well studied. Our aim was to study the effects of pralidoxime and sodium bicarbonate in treatment of OP pesticide poisoning. The patients were divided into three groups: Atropine (A), Atropine + Pralidoxime (AP), and Atropine + Sodium Bicarbonate (AB).Eighty-two patients with a mean age of 25 years were studied in the three groups (28A, 20AP & 33 AB). Atropine was given (IV) initially until controlling the muscarinc effects of OP poisoning and continued in constant infusion until discharge death. Loading of pralidoxime was 30 mg/kg in one hour followed by 8 mg/kg/hr as constant infusion. Sodium Bicarbonate was given as an initial dose of 3meq/kg in Dextrose 5% over one hour and the same dose in Dextrose 5% for every 24 hours until the Atropine was discontinued.Clinical features on admission and thereafter at certain intervals was recorded in a pre-designed forms and paraclinical investigations were also recorded. The results were analyzed statistically using computer software of Statistical Package for Social Sciences. There were no significant differences in major clinical findings and acetylcholinesterase activity on admission between the groups. Although the severity of intoxication particularly mechanical ventilation was higher in the AP group than the other two groups (P<0.05), there were no statistical significant differences in mortality between the groups. ACETYLCHOLINESTRASE reactivation was higher in the AP group than the other two groups (P<0.01).Although pralidoxime increased ACETYLCHOLINESTRASE activity, it did increase morbidity and did not reduce mortality. However, pralidoxime may be effective in certain OPs. It is thus required to investigate more cases of each OP and higher doses of sodium bicarbonate (5meq/kg) is required to be used under arterial blood gas control, which is currently undertaken in the Centre.