---

Introduction: For decreasing of stress and its sequlae, researchers suggest different ways that one of them is using of medicinal plants. The medicinal plant, lavandula, has been shown to enhance learning and to decrease stress. In this study the molecular effects of lavandula aqueous extracts was explored in rat by using of proteomics techniques. Materials & Methods: Proteins extracted from the hippocampus of two groups of rats the control group and the group treated with lavandula aqueous extracts. At first dimension, the proteins were separated on electrophpresis strip according to their isoelectric pH (IEF). At second dimension, the proteins were separated on SDS page electrophoresis based on their molecular weight. For detecting protein spots, both gels were silver stained. Finally for bioin-formatics and statistical analysis (cluster analysis and principal component analysis) of proteins was studied with the progenesis same spot software. Findings: In the research, 990 protein spots were obtained from both experimental groups. Comparisons between groups suggested a new expression of 80 protein spots were affected in the rats treated with extracts whereas presence of extract cause protein expression inhibition of 140 proteins in the hippocampus. Clustering analysis divided proteins into three main clusters demonstrating the pattern of expressions of the proteins is the same in the clusters that may have similar performance and signaling pathway. Principle component analysis (PCA) analysis confirmed the results of clustering and showed the proteins have been classified in accordance with the test conditions. Discussion & Conclusion: It can be concluded that lavendula extract caused significantly expression changes in the proteome and possibly activated a biological process in rat hippocampus that is associated with enhanced learning

---

Introduction: Application of herbals subst-ances has been prevalent in the treatment of neoplasm diseases such as cancers. Laven-der has different biological activates and aqueous extracts of the plant has been shown promising future in the treatment of cancer neurodegenerative diseases. Materials & Methods: The lavender plant and its derivative substances were prepared from the herbarium of Shahid Beheshti University. Fibroblast cells were cultured at RPMI 1640 medium (containing 20% fetal bovine serum and 5% CO2 gas at 37ºC) to achieve appropriate cell numbers. Microscopic studies were performed in the presents of 100 μgml-1 of the extract. MTT assay was applied for cell survival determi-nation in the present of different concentrations of the extract from 0 to 100 μgml-1. Findings: Viability test and morphological studies indicated that the population of fibr-oblast cells decreased significantly at the concentrations of 0 to 100 μgml-1 of the lavender extract. Discussion & Conclusion: It could con-clude that application of the aqueous extract of lavender should be carry out under certa-in consideration due to its adverse side effects that might accompany with its eff-ective dosages in cancer therapy. In addi-tion, in vivo studies would be crucial to confirm cytotoxic effects on cancer and normal cells.

---

: One of the shortcuts to disco-ver drug targets is the utilizing of new kn-owledge of basic medical sciences such as genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, bio-informatics and biostatistics that are apply-ing holistic approaches to study biological and medical subjects. In this study pro-teomics, bioinformatics and biostatistics techniques were applied to identify prob-able therapeutic proteins targets for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Hippoc-ampus proteomes of normal and Alzhe-imeric rats treated with aqueous extract of lavender were evaluated with protein expr-ession clustering method. Materials & Methods: Proteins of hippoc-ampus samples from normal and Alzheim-eric rats that treated with aqueous extract of lavender (CE and AE) and without the extract (C and A) were extracted. Proteins were separated by using of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and the gels were stai-ned by silver staining methods. Bioinfo-rmatics and biostatistics analysis of the separated were accomplished by bioinfo-rmatics software. Findings: Bioinformatics and statistical analysis of the stained gels obtained 990 proteins in the four groups of rats. Prote-omic comparison of A and AE groups reve-aled that the expression of 49 proteins was inhibited, while the expression of 26 new proteins in the AE group was observed that may be due to the present of lavender extract. Proteomic comparison between gro-ups C and CE showed the expression of the 80 new proteins and inhibition of 104 pro-teins. Discussion & Conclusion: After the remov-al of common proteins between the two groups, those proteins that were affected by the extract assigned as drug targets for the treatment of Alzheimer. Changes at the molecular level were revealed with multi-variate statistical analyzes such as principal component analysis or correlation analysis and the clustering of proteins showed that the expression changes have been occurred in three main clusters. Finally, it could be concluded that lavender extract caused significant expression changes in the pro-teome and possibly activated specific biological processes in the rats’ hippoc-ampus that associated with enhancement of learning and memory in normal and Alzh-eimeric rats.

---

Introduction: Studies have shown that half of the mothers complain labor pain. Because of the side effects of pharmacological pain killers on mothers and neonates, those medications are used lower than non-pharmacological methods in these days. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lavender essence inhalation on labor pain in nulliparous women.

Materials & methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 120 pregnant women were selected by convenient sampling method and divided to case and control groups equally. The severity of the basal pain was measured at the beginning of active phase (4-5 cm cervical dilation) based on Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).Then, the case group received 2 drops of Lavandula oil inhaled at three stages  ) 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 cm cervical dilation( and severity of the labor pain was measured before and after intervention. Analytical statistics such as t-test and χ2 were used.

Findings: The results showed that difference in the labor pain before and after intervention in two groups was significant (P=0). But there was no difference in  mean duration of the active phase and second stage of labor  between the two groups .

Discussion & Conclusions: The results indicated that lavender essence can reduce labor pain. Therefore, the results of this study can be used to make the process enjoyable and also reduce the cesarean section because of the fear of vaginal delivery. Besides, one can reduce the patients' need to sedative drugs and their side effects.

---

Introduction: Occupational stress is recognized as one of the most serious occupational hazards in developed countries. Stress-related problems can cause behavioral, mental, and physical symptoms leading to a decrease in work performance. This study aimed to investigate the effect of aromatherapy using lavender extract on staff job stress in the operating room environment.
 
Materials & Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 25 staff in Hojat ibn-al-Hassan al-Askari Hospital in Isfahan during September 2017. The study sample was selected using the convenience method. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire with confirmed validity and reliability. The operating room staff were asked to complete the questionnaires before and after aromatherapy. The data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistical tests (mean and Wilcoxon test).
 
Findings: The results of the study showed that aromatherapy had only a significant effect on one of the symptoms of job stress (i.e., feeling calm at the workplace). However, there was no statistically significant difference before and after the intervention regarding the total occupational stress of the staff.
 
Discussion & Conclusions: Due to the effect of aromatherapy with lavender extract on some symptoms of occupational stress, this method can be used in the operating room environment to reduce occupational stress among staff.