s. samavat

Due to the similarity in appearance and properties of some medicinal plants, it is necessary to identify them more precisely by various methods. Accordingly, in the present study, Satureja rechingeri Jamzad and S. khuzistanica Jamzad were investigated and compared based on morphological, phytochemical, and molecular characteristics. S. rechingeri and S. khuzistanica seeds were collected from Ilam and Lorestan provinces, respectively, and after scientific identification, they were planted in the research greenhouse of the Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands. The seedlings were then transferred to the experimental farm of the mentioned institute based on a t-test (n=3). Several important morphological traits including inflorescence length, inflorescence stem internode length, length and calyx diameter, calyx three-large and two-short teeth length, length and corolla diameter, stamen length, stigma length, length and vegetative organ leaf width, length and leaflet width, stem diameter, plant height, number of main and sub-branches, largest and smallest canopy diameter, and length and reproductive organ leaf width were measured at full flowering stage in the third year of planting. The essential oils (EOs) were extracted from the plants floral branches in the third year of planting through water distillation. The EOs yield was calculated and their compounds were identified using ultra-fast gas chromatography (GC-FID). DNA barcoding and ITS marker were used for molecular studies on these two savory species. The results showed that these two species did not differ significantly (P<0.01) for all the morphological traits examined. 13 common compounds were identified in these two species EO. S. rechingeri and S. khuzistanica EOs contained 88.6% and 89.5% carvacrol, respectively. The EO yeild was obtained 3.3% for S. rechingeri and 3.04% for S. khuzistanica. These two species showed 100% nucleotide similarity with each other and were closely related to S. bachtiarica (98%). On this basis, it is probable that these two species are not only independent species, but can also be different accessions of the same species.

This study was conducted to investigate the impacts of organic fertilizers on soil water holding capacity in four different suctions (0, 0.05, 0.33 and 15 bar) and their impacts on water retention curve in three different soil textures in five governing climates of Iran, which were cultivated under wheat and maize for two consecutive years. Furthermore, the role of organic materials in aggregation process was surveyed. The influence of organic materials on soil water holding capacity was evaluated in five treatments, including 10000, 20000 kg/ha of animal manures; 10000, 20000 kg/ha of compost, and control treatment in factorial and completely randomized statistical design. The results revealed that the addition of materials resulted into an increase in the mean weight diameter of soils aggregates with more concentration on 250-500 and 500-1000µ diameter. Additionally, the improvement of soil aggregation was more in sandy loam soil and less in clay loam soil. Interestingly, the role of organic materials in increasing soil water holding capacity in different plants and consecutive years was not significant.  By adding organic materials in field capacity and permanent wilting point, soil volumetric moisture increased far better than other studied soil moisture points. Sandy loam texture and semi-arid climates indicated the greatest variability to the additional organic materials. In conclusion, compost fertilizer in arid and semi-arid climates with sandy loam texture had the most influence on soil water holding capacity, particularly in FC and PWP moisture points

There is an increasing interest in identifying potent cancer preventive and therapeutic agents. Silymarin is a flavonoids complex extracted from the milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.) seeds. Silymarin was found clinically successful in the treatment of various liver diseases. Silymarin is in the focus of cancer researchers due to its high antioxidant properties.

The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of silymarin on 4T1 cells and compared with taxol.

4T1 cell line (BALB/c mouse mammary tumors) was cultured in RPMI medium containing FBS 10%. Cells were incubated with 5% CO2 in presence of different concentration of silymarin (25-50-75-100-125 µg/ml), taxol (1.25-2.5-5-10-20 nM) and combination of silymarin and taxol separately for 24, 48 and 72 hours. Cell viability was assessed using trypan blue and MTT staining. The cells morphology was studied using fluorescent dye (Hochest, propidium iodide).

Silymarin and taxol showed significant cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cell in a dose and time dependent manner. Condensation and deformation of the nuclei were also observed similarly for both treatments. In combination treatment silymarin enhanced the sensitivity of 4T1 cells to taxol in all doses.

The cytotoxic effect of silymarin on mouse mammary tumors was comparable to taxol cytotoxicity. Treatment cells with combination of silymarin and taxol improved the cytotoxic effect of taxol.