Recent studies on physiological functions of oils containing conjugated linolenic acid (CLN), are indicative of the possible usefulness of these oils as a new type of the functional oils. In this study, the physicochemical properties of CATALPA seed oil (CATALPA bignonioides), the source of conjugated linolenic acid, were investigated. Firstly, the seed composition was determined. It mainly consisted of protein (30.46%) and oil (12.74%). The oil was extracted by soxhelet method and fatty acids profile was determined by gas chromatography (GC). The predominant fatty acid was linoleic acid (40.48%) followed by catalpic acid (27.08%) and oleic acid (10.50%). The results showed that CATALPA seed has high considerable oil which is rich in conjugated linolenic acid.

In Iran National Botanical Garden, ripe seeds of 5 Fragrant and Medicinal plants (Campsis grandiflora (Thunb.) Schuman, CATALPA SPECIOSA Warder, Cupressus sempervirens L. var. fastigiata, Melia azedarach L., Thuja orientalis L.) were collected in periods. They were put under pretreatment for consideration of suitable germination methods of seeds as follows.1- Phisical motive: Soaking the seeds for 1 to 24 hours, making a hole on the top of the seeds, scratching the cortex of the seeds.2- Chemical motive: sodium hypochloride, potassium nitrate, diluted and concentarated sulphoric acid. As a result the best method for germination of seeds were determined.This consideration shows the best times for collecting of seeds and the best pretreatment and treatment with high percentages in germination of seeds as well. The best pretreatment and treatment for Campsis grandiflora are: washing in sodium hypochloride and distilled water, 20:30oC temprature, 16h. light and 8h. darkness for 2 weaks, For CATALPA SPECIOSA are: washing in sodium hypochloride and distilled water, 20:30oC temprature, 16h. light and 8h. darkness for 1 to 2 weaks, For Cupressus sempervirens var. fastigiata are: soaking in water for 24h., 5 .minutes in potassium nitrate and washing in distilled water, chiling (1-5oC) for 8 to 12 weaks, For Melia azedarach are: soaking in water for 24h., scratching the cortex of seeds, 10 minutes in diluted sulphoric acid and washing in distilled water, planting in sand and 20:30oC temprature for 1 weak, For Thuja orientalis are: soaking in water for 24h., washing in diluted sodium hypochloride and distilled water, 20oC temprature, 16h. light and 8h. darkness for 21 days.

Introduction: Aqueous extract of Lagerstroemia SPECIOSA (EALS) (Lythraceae) is widely used to treat diabetes. This plant has been shown an in vitro thrombolytic activity that indicates its potential to prevent the formation of blood clots in vivo. Thus, this study was undertaken to evaluate the antithrombotic and antihemolytic effects of EALS. Methods: Rats of both sexes (200 ±,5 g) were divided into five groups of six animals. Each group received orally distilled water, EALS (250, 500, 1000 mg/kg), and acetylsalicylic acid (100 mg/kg) for five days. After treatment, the FeCl3-induced arterial thrombus formation method was used to determine occlusion time. A coagulometer was used to detect activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT). Rabbit blood was used to determine clot lysis activity in vitro and antihemolytic activity using the 2, 2-azobis hydrochloride (2-methylpropionamidine) (AAPH) method. Results: EALS increased the occlusion time in a dose-dependent manner. At the dose of 1000 mg/kg, EALS increased the occlusion time significantly, from 4. 59 ±,2. 45 minutes to 15. 52 ±,2. 38 minutes (P < 0. 01). At high concentrations (1-4 mg/mL), EALS showed a significant increase in aPPT and PT (P < 0. 05). Streptokinase and EALS (4 mg/mL) induced significant clot lysis with percentage values of 78. 48 ±,2. 2 % and 49. 5 ±,1. 53 %, respectively (P < 0. 001). EALS inhibited AAPH-induced hemolysis. Conclusion: EALS exhibited antithrombotic and antihemolytic activities. The antithrombotic property of the plant could be attributed to its anticoagulant and thrombolytic activities. Regular consumption of L. SPECIOSA leaves may prevent or treat thrombotic diseases.

Data from World Health Organization (WHO) shows that the number of people aged 60 years old and above will increase from 605 million to 2 billion from the year 2000 to the year 2050 (Rahim et al., 2018). Malaysia is currently battling with the increasing number of elderly and aging people....

This research was established to evaluate the effect of mycorrhizal symbiosis on nutritional elements absorption, morphological and physiological traits of gloxinia. Plants substrate was containing of zero (control), 8 and 16 V/V of Glomus hoei and Glomus intraradices (GI16, GH16, GI8, GH8). At the end of the experiment, leaf area, number of leaves, flower diameter, number of flowers, fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll and carotenoid content and amounts of N, P, K, Mn, Fe and Mg were measured. No significantly differences were observed between treatments in flower number and diameter, fresh weight, chlorophyll b and carotenoid contents. GI16 treatment had the highest amounts of N and Mn and the lowest amounts of Mg, and GH16 exhibited the highest amounts of P and K content. The highest and lowest Fe was absorbed tin GH8 and GI8, respectively. The control treatment showed the lowest amounts of N, P, K and Mn, however it had the highest Mg, but mycorrhizal treatments had the lowest Mg and thereby the lowest contents of chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll. Control plants showed a better growth and significantly differences than mycorrhizal treatments in traits such as leaf area, number of leaves, root length, root volume and dry weight, therefore, it can be concluded that G. hoei and G. intraradices cannot form a successful symbiosis.

The present report is an investigation of antiepileptic activity of Guettarda SPECIOSA (L.), is a well known plant which is being used in Indian Traditional Medicines for epilepsy and CNS associated disorders. The ethanolic (95%) extract of inner bark of G.SPECIOSA. Linn (EEGS) was subjected to acute toxicity and then screened for antiepileptic activity on Maximal Electroshock (MES) and Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures models in albino wistar rats. Acute toxicity of extract was non toxic up to the recommended dose 2000mg/kg body weight orally as per OECD guidelines No.423. Animals were pretreated with EEGS at the doses of 200 and 400mg/kg body weight. The study reported the significant delay in clonic seizure induced by PTZ and dose dependent decrease in duration of hindleg extensor phase in MES model. In MES model, EEGS showed significant reduction in duration of hindleg extension with 200 mg/kg dose and effect was dramatically reduced with 400mg/kg. Similar dose dependent results were obtained in PTZ model by delayed the onset of clonic convulsions. The complete protective effect against mortality was reported in both the tests. This study predicted possible mechanism of the formulation mediated through chloride channel of the GABA or benzodiazepine receptor complex. However, the exact mechanism of action is not clear, but attributed to its antiepileptic effect. The ethanol extract of the inner bark of G.SPECIOSA (L.) deserve further investigation for detailed elucidation of active constituents and the mechanisms of action.

Green roofs are a part of efforts to make the cities more sustainable and it is one of the modern solutions for urban problems. The physical development of cities led to loss of the natural environment. Therefore, the development of green spaces plays an important role in human life. In order to evaluate the effect of some culture media on yield of “ Oenothera SPECIOSA Rosea” in green roof situation, a factorial experiment conducted based on a complete random design with vermicompost (0, 5, and 10% v/v) and rice hull (0, 7, and 14% v/v) factors in three replications. The results showed that vermicompost treatment has a positive significant effect on the number of flowers, daily flowering average, flower diameter, stem diameter, root volume, fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots and soil humidity. Also, in most measured traits, it showed a positive effect compared to control plants. In this research, vermicompost (10% v/v) mixed with rice hull (14% v/v) improved quality and quantity traits of pink evening primrose. Then, overall results showed that this mixture can recommend as a medium for evening primrose in the green roof.

The aerial parts essential oils of nine populations of four Nepeta species (N. straussi Hausskn. & Bornm., N. amoena Stapf., N. haussknechtii Bornm. and N. SPECIOSA Boiss. & Noë), from Iran, were analyzed by gas chromatography, flame ionization detector (GC-FID), and mass spectrometric detection (GC/MS). In the oil of one population of N. straussi, 1, 8-cineole (40. 1%) was the main constituent. In contrast, the oil of the second population consisted of germacrene D (11. 6%), caryophyllene oxide (11. 9%), and n-nonadecane (10. 3%) as major compounds. Caryophyllene oxide (36. 2%) in one population and hexadecanoic acid (33. 4%) in another population of N. amoena were the major compounds. In the oils of two populations of N. haussknechtii, 1, 8-cineole (45. 1% and 48. 6%) was the main constituent, while 4aα-7α-7aα-nepetalacton (26. 7%) and 1, 8-cineole (24. 5%) were major components in the oil of third population. In the essential oil of one population of N. SPECIOSA, 4aα-7β-7aα-nepetalacton (74. 8%) and the other population, 1, 8-cineole (32. 3%), were the main constituents. Therefore, in addition to variations between essential oil compositions of different Nepeta species, there are variations in the oil composition of one Nepeta species from different localities that may be due to climatic conditions or having the potential to form chemotypes.

Background & Aim: Chorisia is an important Bombacaceous plant that is traditionally used for a variety of ailments. Due to its richness in several bioactive phytocompounds, some Chorisia species showed a wide range of important biological effects. Accordingly, the present work was undertaken to comparatively evaluate the antioxidant potential and effects on adipogenesis of Chorisia chodatii Hassl. and Chorisia SPECIOSA A. St.-Hil. in relation to their phenolic contents.Experimental: Total polyphenol contents and free radical scavenging potentials of the total ethanol extracts of leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds of both species, in addition to four main fractions of their leaf and flower extracts, were evaluated using the Folin-Ciocalteu's method and the DPPH assay, respectively. Besides, their effects on adipogenesis were studied using the 3T3-L1 preadipocytes model. A phytochemical screening of their different phytoconstituents was also considered.Results & Discussion: Total ethanol extracts along with their successive fractions of various parts of both species caused a concentration-dependent induction of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes differentiation, but with a noticeable reduction of the size of the lipid droplets at the lower concentrations 5 and 10 mg/ml. In addition, these extracts showed a strong evidence of their richness in free radical scavengers. The ethyl acetate, aqueous and chloroform fractions of different plant parts exhibited the greatest effects on adipogenesis, substantial free radical scavenging properties and the highest polyphenol contents, respectively.Industrial and practical recommendations: Results collectively revealed that the observed effects of both Chorisia species on adipogenesis as well as their anti-radical properties are positively related to their pool of flavonoids and other phenolics. They also suggest their potential value in obesity-related disorders and for prevention of free radical mediated diseases. Further studies for investigating the molecular basis of their effects on adipogenesis accompanied by detailed phytochemical analysis, especially of their polar and flavonoids-rich extracts, will also be strongly recommended.