Background: Respecting the incidence of hot flashes in postmenopausal women and its effect on their socioeconomic lives and the controversies regarding its treatment, this double-blind clinical trial was conducted to determine the effects of ANISE abstract on hot flashes in these women referring to rural and urban health centers of Qazvin province during 2006.Materials and Methods: 72 postmenopausal women with hot flashes at different severities were randomly selected according to pre-determined criteria and divided into two groups of experimental and control. Their medical records at health centers were used for sampling. Each woman in the experimental group took a capsule containing 100 mg ANISE 3 times a day while, in the control group, women took 3 placebo capsules, each containing 330 mg starch. They took the capsules over 4 weeks. Before taking the capsules, they were assessed for a week about the frequency of hot flashes and the types of food they took. Data were collected by a questionnaire and an information form. Content and test-retest methods were used for validity and reliability of the tools. ANOVA and t-student test were applied for statistical analysis.Results: Demographic information of the subjects included: mean age=51.63, amenorrhea duration=2.39, body mass index=27.13, number of pregnancies=6.56, percentage of the married=95.8 and percentage of primary education=37.7. 80.6% of hot flashes occurred at nights. In the experimental group, the frequency and severity of hot flashes before treatment were 4.21% and 56.21% and, after that, were 1.06% and 14.44% at the end of the fourth week, respectively. There was no significant change in the frequency and severity of hot flashes in the control group.Conclusion: ANISE is effective on the frequency and severity of hot flashes in postmenopausal women. These women can be taught to choose different alleviating methods, preferably. Further studies with longer duration of treatment for assessing hot flashes are warranted.

The prediction of seed viability is important for seed producers, and its prediction in storage depends on the understanding of the quantitative relationships between seed loss, seed moisture and storage temperature. In order to study the effect of temperature, seed and time on the deterioration of the ANISE seed, and also quantitative characterization of this effect and determining the coefficients of life, this study was carried out in a randomized complete block design in a factorial experiment in the Agricultural Laboratory of Tehran University. The temperature was measured at 4 levels (5, 15, 25 and 35 o C), soil moisture contents in 4 levels (5, 9, 13 and 17%) and six times (one, two, three, four, five and six months) as the factors were this test. The results of analysis of variance showed that the effect of temperature on seed moisture content was significant for germination indices at 1% level. With increasing temperature and humidity, germination declined over time. Life coefficients after six months of storage showed that survival curves can be plotted with a single source. Also, the results showed that by increasing the moisture content at any temperature, especially at higher temperatures, the life expectancy decreases with increasing moisture content. Using the life-time equation, the coefficients KE=4/21, CW =1-66, CH =0 038/0 and CQ =0, 00039 were ca

Background: Medicinal plants synthesize a vast array of secondary metabolites that are important for human life. For medicinal purpose, antimicrobial activity of substances derived from plant extracts has been recognized for many years. Pimpinella anisum L. (Apiaceae) and Illicium verum Hook. f. (Illiciaceae) plant species, have been used for treatment of infectious diseases in Iranian traditional medicine.Objective: In this study methanol extracts of Pimpinella anisum L. (Apiaceae) and Illicium verum Hook. f. (Illiciaceae), were tested for their potential antifungal activities.Methods: Methanolic extracts were dried by freeze drying method, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was was determined according to agar dilution method and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) was determined by incorporating various concentrations of extracts (2-256 mg/ml) in Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) in tubes against 4 dermatophyte and one saprophyte fungi.Results: The extracts of ANISE seeds inhibited only dermatophyte species, while extracts of star ANISE fruits inhibited growth of all dermatophytes and saprophytes. MIC and MFC for each extracts were different and MFC was higher than MIC for all species.Conclusion: As a result of this experiment, these plants can be candidate for further studies due to their antifungal potencies.

Introduction: Silver nanoparticles are particles of silver with a size of 1 to 100 nm. These agents have various applications and particularly have received much attention for their antibacterial activity and their use in vaccine production. Among the various methods of synthesizing nanoparticles, using plants due to their high reducing capabilities and also their eco-friendliness is of interest. Methods: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using plant ANISE (Pimpinella anisum L. ) and validated using UVspectrophotometer, transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The produced AgNPs were used against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis to examine their antibacterial activities via agar well diffusion, disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration methods. Furthermore, AgNPs were used in combination with three antibiotic disks, namely, Ceftriaxone, Tetracycline and Gentamicin to seek any cooperative effect. Results: Antibacterial effects due to the synthesized AgNPs were observed toward E. coli, S. aureus, S. typhimurium in this order; however, E. faecalis showed the highest resistance to the synthesized AgNPs. Conclusion: AgNPs synthesized using ANISE had similar antibacterial effects as conventional antibiotics; however with potentially less side effects.

Introduction: Today herbal therapy has been developed as a non-invasive and less side effect treat for a variety of diseases. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of ANISE oil on the hippocampal damages followed by generalized seizures.Materials & Methods: ANISE oil was applied before seizure induction in rats. ANISE oil was administered at different doses before induction of seizure attacks.Results: ANISE oil reduced seizure severity and decreased hippocampal injuries in all treated groups.Conclusion: our findings suggest that ANISE oil may be a potential therapy in the generalized epilepsy.

Introduction World population increasing need for food have prompted the rapid development of chemical fertilizer technology and also consumed them as a source of nutrition for the food production. Recently, chemical fertilizer consumption in conventional agro-ecosystems imbalanced soil nutrient, declined quantitative and qualitative crop yields, and polluted water and soil. Chemical fertilizers provide crop nutrients need in the short time, and thus farmers had forgotten long-time soil fertility and its controlling processes by using these fertilizers. Hence, ecological and low input farming systems can be considered as a suitable replacement for traditional systems, and they can sustain production systems and maintain environmental health. In order to reduce the pollution caused by the use of chemical fertilizers and the restoration of agro ecosystems, along with the reduction of the dependence on non-renewable resources used in the production of fertilizers, the use of fertilizers that are derived from the environments known as an alternative. It seems that with good and proper management of biological and organic fertilizers, we can provide better nutritional conditions for the plant, stepping in the path of regeneration of agroecosystems and sustainable agricultural development. Therefore, in this experiment, the effect of biological, manure and chemical fertilizers on the growth characteristics of ANISE plant has been studied. It seems that the information obtained from such experiments can increase the economic efficiency of producers as a means to develop agricultural policies that are consistent with the environment. Materials and Methods In order to study the effects of single and combined applications of biofertilizers and organic fertilizers on growth indices of ANISE, a field experiment was conducted with 15 treatments based on a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications at Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, in 2011. Treatments were: (1) Mycorrhiza (Glomusin traradices), (2) Mycorrhiza + Cow manure, (3) Mycorrhiza+Vermicompost, (4) Mycorrhiza + Compost, (5) Mycorrhiza + Chemical fertilizer, (6) Biosulfur (Thiobacillus sp. ), (7) Biosulfur + Chemical fertilizer, (8) Biosulfur + Cow manure, (9) Biosulfur + Vermicompost, (10) Biosulfur + Compost, (11) Cow manure, (12) Vermicompost, (13) Chemical fertilizer (NPK), (14) Compost and (15) Control. Plant thinning and weeding were carried out in two stages of four and six leaves of ANISE, and finally the plant density reached 66 plants per square meter. Due to the adverse effects of chemical pesticides on medicinal plants, weed operation was carried out manually by the worker on several occasions. During the growing season, in order to determine the grow trend and leaf area of the ANISE, the sampling was started from 25. 05. 2011 at intervals of 15 days until the end of the growing season. The leaf area was determined by the Leaf Measurement System Area (I-COR model) and then leaf area index and other growth indices were calculated. At the same time as the plants were matured and yellowed on first of July, after removing the marginal effect, the biomass of the whole ANISE plant was harvested at an area equal to 5 square meters, and after drying in open air, seed yield and dry matter were determined. Data were analyzed, with SAS Ver. 9. 1 and MINITAB Ver. 16 statistical softwares. Duncan multiple test was used to compare the means at a probability level of 5%. Figures also were drawed with Excel Ver. 11 M. S office. Results and Discussion The results indicated that the highest (2. 4) and the lowest (1. 35) leaf area index (LAI) were shown in combination of Mycorrhiza + Chemical fertilizer and compost treatments, respectively. The highest dry matter production (DM) (348. 744 g. m-2) and crop growth rate (CGR) (14. 42 g. m-2. day-1) were resulted from combination of biosulfur+vermicompost treatment. Compost and control treatments produced the lowest DM (200 g. m-2) and CGR (4. 93 g. m-2. day-1), respectively. Conclusion In generally, the results revealed that the application of organic and biological fertilizers particularly mycorrhiza and biosulfur had a significant effect on improving the growth indices of ANISE. Furthermore, the combined application of organic and biological fertilizers had higher positive effects on growth index than their single application.

In order to evaluation of genetic variation and comparison of 8 populations of Iranian ANISEs, a study was conducted in the research farm of University of Zanjan in randomized complete block design during 1392 and 1393. Evaluated traits were days to flowering, days to maturity, grain filling period, plant height, number of fertile umbels, umbelet numbers per umbel, grain yield, biological yield, harvest index and grain essential oil percentage. Combined analysis of variance showed significant differences between years and between studied populations, point of all traits except grain filling period. The highest coefficients of genetic and phenotypic variation were found in traits of grain yield, biological yield and grain essential oil percentage and the highest heritability in traits of grain essential oil percentage, biological yield, grain yield, umbelet numbers per umbel and plant height, respectively. Based on cluster analysis, 8 under studied populations were divided into three groups that the first group of populations were better than others in terms of important traits such as days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of fertile umbels, grain yield and biological yield. The results showed that there has been a high diversity between ANISE populations and yield and essential oil percentage is able to increase by selection in ANISE populations. Also regarding to excellencey of Qazvin, Markazi and Sabzevar populations, selecting within them can be proposed to improve yield and essential oil percent.

Introduction: Previous studies revealed that ANISE (Pimpinella anisum L.) has several pharmacological effects including analgesic, antidepressant, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic activities. This study aimed to evaluate its effect on morphine physical dependence in mice.Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male NMRI mice (25-30 g) were randomly divided into 5 groups of 8. Control group received morphine and normal saline (10 mL/kg, i.p.) and other groups received diazepam (5 mg/kg) plus one of three doses of P. anisum (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg, i.p.). Dependence was induced by administration of increasing doses (50-75 mg/kg, i.p.) of morphine. A time of 30 minutes after naloxone injection was considered for the critical period of the withdrawal syndrome. The number of jumps and scores of 0 to 3 were given for incidences of wet dog shakes, teeth chattering, climbing, writing, diarrhea, grooming, and rearing during a 30-minute period.Results: All doses of P. anisum (P<0.01) reduced the number of jumps. Additionally, all doses of the extract reduced the behaviors of grooming (P<0.05, P<0.01 and P<0.01, respectively) and writhing (P<0.05, P<0.001and P<0.001, respectively). None doses of the extract could reduce diarrhea (P>0.05). Climbing, rearing and wet dog shakes reduced only by the high dose of the extract (P<0.05). Teeth chattering reduced by 100 and 200 mg/kg of the extract (P<0.05).Conclusion: These results obviously show that P. anisum ethanolic extract is effective in suppression of morphine physical dependence and further studies are needed to find out the responsible constituents and also the exact mechanisms of actions.

Background: Postpartum after pain relief is effective in convenience of the mother and improve her interaction with the newborn. One of the ways of pain relief is using herbal medicines.Objective: This study was conducted to compare the effect of mefenamic acid (the common pain reliever) and ANISE capsule on postpartum after-pain.Methods: In this clinical trial, a randomized, double-blind study was conducted. The sample included 96 Mothers in the state of two hours after their vaginal delivery. Their intensity of the pain was between moderate and savior. Women were entered into two groups of mefenamic acid and ANISE capsule. The capsules were used 4 times a day (each 6 hours one capsule). The pain intensity was evaluated before intervention and one hour after each intervention by the visual analogue scale (VAS). Data was analyzed by the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS version 17).Results: The two groups were matched in the number of parity and intensity of the pain before intervention. Results revealed that the Reduction of the pain was significantly higher in the ANISE capsule group (P<0.05). Reduction of the pain had no relation with the number of parity (P<0.05) and both mefenamic acid and ANISE capsule consume the same time to effect.Conclusion: The ANISE capsule is effective in order to relief postpartum after-pain.