Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal and incurable lung disease. Morin, a natural product with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, could reduce lung inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and liver fibrosis in previous studies. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifibrotic activity of Morin in the pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin in mice. Methods: Pulmonary fibrosis was induced by the intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (3 mg/kg) in C57Bl/6J mice. Morin (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg, p. o. ) was given to mice from day0to 21 after bleomycin administration. The mice were sacrificed on day 21 to measure the total number of cells, the percentage of leukocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), lung hydroxyproline content, lung index, and oxidative stress markers. Histopathological changes were evaluated by the microscopic examination of sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson’ s trichrome. Results: Our data showed that treatment with Morin significantly attenuated the infiltration of inflammatory cells, hydroxyproline content, lung index, and oxidative stress that were elevated in fibrotic lungs. In addition, Morin could reduce the pathological changes induced by bleomycin. Conclusions: Based on the study, Morin, probably by its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, can attenuate pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin in mice.

Edgar Morin believes that the contemporary education systems get in crisis, which due to a simplified and separate approach to science and breaking it down to separate disciplines and putting overemphasis on specialization and super specialization. He suggests a transdisciplinary approach to challenge this crisis. The goal of this paper is explaining the philosophical foundations of Morin's idea. Therefore, by using the analytical method, this article is going to discuss Morin’s explicit emphasis on the necessity of reforming thought and explain his contrivance named "transdisciplinary approach". From Morin's point of view, the transdisciplinary approach not only respects separation and detection of different disciplines, but also breaks down the boundaries between different disciplines and offers a unified, unique and integrated knowledge. As a conclusion, the transdisciplinary approach is a problem-center education and research that noting the wide range of knowledge can avoid the mono- dimensional education and alienation of disciplines.It seems that this approach prevents neglecting the problems of society and has the potential to evolve the educational systems.

Background and Objective: Studies have shown that anxiety and depression appear before memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease and controlling these dysfunctions may prevent the onset and progression of memory deficit. Morin is a natural flavonol that has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. In this study, we investigated the effect of Morin on anxiety and depression behaviors induced by amyloid-beta peptide in rats. Materials and Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were divided into control, Morin, amyloid-beta, and amyloid-beta-Morin groups. Amyloid-beta 1-42 was injected into the hippocampus (4 micrograms on each side) and Morin (20 mg/kg) was treated by gavage for 14 consecutive days. At the end of the period, elevated plus maze (EPM) and forced swimming tests were used to evaluate anxiety and depressive behaviors, respectively. Results: Intrahippocampal injection of amyloid-beta significantly reduced the percentage of entry into the open arm and the percentage of time remaining in the open arm in the EPM (P < 0. 001). Also, the total immobility time of these animals in the forced swimming test was significantly increased (P < 0. 001). Morin largely prevented these changes in amyloid-beta injected rats. Conclusion: Morin prevents anxiety behaviors and depression in Alzheimer's disease model rats and may have neuroprotective effects against amyloid-beta.

Background: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a tetrameric enzyme that catalyzes the interconversion of pyruvate to L-lactate. The importance of this enzyme is because LDH isoenzymes are involved in cancer, heart, and liver diseases. Inhibition of this enzyme can help prevent and treat different diseases. Morin is a flavonoid found in the Moraceae family and scopoletin is a coumarin found in Scopolia genus. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Morin and scopoletin as two natural products on the activity and structure of lactate dehydrogenase enzyme. Methods: Morin and scopoletin were examined for inhibition of the activity of LDH in 100mMsodium phosphate buffer pH 7. 5, at room temperature using UV-V spectrophotometry. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to characterize protein structural changes in the presence of Morin and scopoletin. Results: Km and Vmax of LDH for pyruvate were 11. 69 mM and 1. 258 mM/min, respectively. The kinetic results showed that Morin and scopoletin are LDH inhibitors. The Ki values of Morin and scopoletin were determined as 1. 78  M and 0. 8  M, respectively, using a secondary plot. Fluorescence intensity quenching and red shift of themaximumwavelength of emission in a concentrationdependent manner showed that Morin and scopoletin bind to LDH and affect its structure. Conclusions: The results suggest that Morin and scopoletin bind to LDH, influence its conformation and inhibit its activity. Scopoletin showed more effective inhibition of LDH activity and it can be a promising candidate in the field of tumor metabolism inhibitors.

Background and Objective: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that is a major cause of mortality in immunocompromised patients. One of the most important mechanisms of resistance of this bacterium is biofilm formation. The aim of this study was done to determine the Effect of Morin on Expression of Biofilm Gene of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from burn wounds by Real time PCR. Methods: In this descriptive-analytic study 60 sample were collected from burn wounds of patients admitted to the hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Samples were identified by using biochemical methods. The DNA of the isolates was extracted and then antimicrobial activity of Morin analyzed by microbroth dilution assay. The presence of biofilm production genes was investigated by PCR. Finally, the expression of lasI gene in combination with Sub-MIC concentration of Morin in biofilmproducing bacteria was evaluated using Real time PCR. Results: From 60 samples that analyzed by Multiplex-PCR, 12 (20%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were isolated in which 12 isolates (100%) were carried lasI and lasR, genes, respectively. 3 isolates (25%) were carried rhlI gene. Sub-MIC concentration of Morin in biofilm-producing bacteria reduced lasI gene expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Conclusion: Morin has significant efficacy on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and could be a good alternative for treatment of antibiotic resistant isolates.

Introduction: As stress affects the brain both physiologically and chemically, researchers try to find novel anti-stress compounds with beneficial therapeutic effects. In this regard, the effect of stress and its modulation by Morin hydrate was studied using different acute models in mice.Methods: The models employed were anoxic tolerance, swimming endurance, and acute restraint test. Morin hydrate or the vehicle was administered 30 minutes prior to each stress exposure while in the acute restraint test; the animals were pretreated for 7 days with Morin hydrate, vehicle, imipramine, or diazepam before stress exposure. The measured parameters were the onset of convulsion and immobility time in the anoxic tolerance and swimming endurance test, respectively, while in the acute restraint test, the animals were assessed for stress-induced anxiety using the elevated plus maze and depression using the forced swim test. Thereafter blood was withdrawn from the retro-orbital plexus and plasma separated, the brain was also isolated, homogenized, centrifuged, and the supernatant was obtained for biochemical estimation.Results: Morin hydrate (5, 10, 20 mg/kg) produced a significant reduction in immobility time in the swimming endurance test, while significantly increased the anoxic stress tolerance time. Acute restraint stress caused a significant decrease in reduced glutathione levels (which was reversed by Morin hydrate) and increased the level of malondialdehyde, a thiobarbituric acid reactive substance which is an index of oxidative stress and nitrite. These effects were attenuated by Morin hydrate. Also, pretreatment with Morin hydrate attenuates acute restraint stress-associated anxiety and depression, reversed the hyperglycemia evoked by the stressful exposure and normalized serum cholesterol levels.Conclusion: These findings suggest that Morin hydrate exhibits anti-stress effects and may be useful in the relief of stress.