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Abstract Introduction: The aim of present study is to investigate the effects of ethanol on mouse salivary glands. Materials & methods: Twenty healthy mice of about three-months old underwent this investigation. The adult mice were divided into two equal experimental and control groups. Diluted ethanol was injected twice daily in the morning and in the afternoon to the experimental group for three weeks, while the other group received normal saline at the same time. Salivary glands were removed after the elapsed period, then H and E stained specimens were prepared using different histologic procedures. Findings: Light microscopic study of the prepared specimens from salivary glands of the experimental group indicated an aggregation of Hyalin globular granules in different sizes with negative pas staining reaction. These granules were located in lumen or inter cytoplasmic cell. Conclusion: Ethanol metabolism takes place in liver and its product is of dysfunctional effects on different organs such as salivary glands and sublingual glands due to producing undetermined red granules.

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Introduction: Ethanol known as ethyl alc-ohol is a volatile, flammable, colorless liq-uid. It is primarily known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. Its consumption is very high around the world. It has been reported that ethanol intake is associated with different diseases. There-fore, here in this study the effect of ethanol on human fibroblast cells was investigated. Materials & Methods: We have carried out cell survival and morphologic studies via Invert Microscope and MTT assay methods to evaluate survival rate and morphological alterations of human fibroblast cells treated with different concentrations of alcohol. Findings: Our findings suggested that etha-nol could possibly change human fibroblast cells morphology and survival rate after 48 h incubation. In addition to this, examining fibroblast cells after 48 h culturing without ethanol showed the maintenance of these changes in next generation of the cells. Discussion & Conclusion: It can be conclu-ded that ethanol can possibly cause genetic alterations of the human fibroblast cells, so karyotype evaluations is required to deter-mine these consequences.

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Abstract Introduction: poly chlorinated biphenyls (PCB ) are occupational and environmental pollutants and hazardous organic compounds that have created major environmental and occupational challenge. PCB compounds are caused the different health effects in human depending of sex, age, route of entry, intensity and frequency exposure. This study was conducted to determine the effect of microwave rays, hydrogen peroxide, TiO2, catalyst and ethanol on the composition of PCB in order to reduce occupational hazards. Materials &Methods: In this experiment used a MW oven, Pyrex vessel reactor (250ml volume), Pyrex tube connector and condensing system. A hole was pierced on the top portion of the oven and the Pyrex vessel reactor was connected with the Pyrex tube connector . Ray powers used in 540, 720 and 900W. pH and temperature was continuously monitored. The experiments were repeated three times. The PCB were analyzed by GC-ECD and spss version 16 software package was used for statistical analysis. Findings: The degradation of total PCB in terms of 540,720 and 900W was 83.85, 88.89 and 96.33% respectively. The degradation of total PCB in terms of ratio to solvent with oil transformer in 1:1، 2:1 and 3:1 was 54.19، 79.16 and 95.07% respectively. The degradation of total PCB in terms of not using of / and using 10% of and 0.05, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2g was 70.72, 89.43, 90.40, 91.59and 93.21% respectively. The degradation of total PCB in terms of not using / and using 20% of and 0.05, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2 g was 70.72, 94, 95.07, 96.33 and 97.17% respectively. Discussion&Conclusion: The results of this experiments showed that using microwave Rays,H2O2 oxidant and TiO2 catalyst lead to a degradation efficiency of PCBs only in the presence of ethanol. Increasing the concentration of ethanol and H2O2 and also amount of TiO2 should increase the generation rate of hydroxyl radical and thus the oxidation and dechlorination of the PCBs.

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Introduction: Acute alcohol consumption leads to induction of lipid peroxidation in renal tissues, but its chronic consumption has moderate effects on biochemical and histological characteristics of this organ. Antioxidants have protective effects against ethanol-induced oxidative stress and tissue injury. The aim of this study was to assess antioxidant activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra leaf and stem extracts and the protective effect of its leaf extract on ethanol-induced nephrotoxicity.
 
Materials & methods: Total phenol and flavonoid contents of leaf and stem extracts of G. glabra were measured by Folin Ciocalteu and AlCl₃ assays, respectively. Antioxidant activity of both extracts was assessed using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging. In addition, protective effect of the leaf extract was assessed using biochemical and histological analyses of renal tissues of male Wistar rats, which were divided into four groups including group 1 or control (received 1 ml distilled water daily), group 2 or ethanol group (received 1 ml of 50% ethanol daily), group 3 or ethanol + leaf extract group (received 1 ml of 50% ethanol + 500 mg/kg leaf extract daily), and group 4 (received 500 mg/kg of leaf extract daily). All treatments are performed through intragastric administration. Biochemical and histological analyses were used for the evaluation of nephrotoxicity. For histological study, the samples were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin and examined by light microscopy. Finally, all the data were analyzed by SPSS (Ver. 20) and grouped by Duncan's Multiple Range Test at P <0.05 level.
 
Findings: There was no significant difference between total phenol contents of the stem and leaf extracts. However, the stem extract showed a higher total flavonoid content than the leaf extract. Also, both the extracts showed higher antioxidant activities (86-93%) than that of ascorbic acid (71%). Results from biochemical analysis indicated a significant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and H₂O₂ content in the renal tissues of ethanol-treated rats in comparison with other groups; however, there were no significant changes in total protein and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. Results from histological examination showed that alcohol consumption intensity injured kidney tissues, which was effectively moderated by the studied extract.
 
Discussion & Conclusions: Results from the present study showed that G. glabra extract has biological activity and can be used in future as a new natural antioxidant in food and drug industries.

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Introduction: Previous studies have revealed analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties of Mentha piperita (MP). Hence, in this study, the antidepressant effects of the ethanolic extract of MP in forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) in male mice were investigated.
 
Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, 96 male mice were randomly divided into 12 groups of 8 that received normal saline (10 ml/kg), imipramine (30 mg/kg), fluoxetine (20 mg/kg), and different doses of MP (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg), respectively. In FST, immobility time, swimming time, and climbing time and immobility time in TST were recorded during 6 minutes. In this study, all the drugs and extracts were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) at the constant volume of 10 ml/kg.
 
Findings: Results shows that 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract, as well as fluoxetine and imipramine reduced immobility time compared to the control group in FST and TST (p<0.001). In addition, the ethanolic extract and fluoxetine increased swimming time (p<0.001) without any significant change in climbing time (p>0.05). In contrast, imipramine increased climbing time without any significant change in swimming time (p>0.05).
 
Discussion & Conclusions: This extract like serotonergic agents (e.g., fluoxetine) decreases immobility time and increases swimming time without any significant change in climbing time. Hence, MP compounds (especially menthol) induced their effects through serotonergic mechanism. However, further studies are needed to clarify their exact mechanism of action.

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Introduction: According to previous research, Cucurbita pepo L. increases sex hormones in males. The purpose of this study was to survey the effect of Cucurbita pepo on the histomorphometrical changes of testes induced by ethanol administration in male Wistar rats.
 
Materials & Methods: Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups of five as follows: 1- Control group, 2- Experimental group1 (received 20% ethanol  [1 mg/gr, i.p.] for 30 days), 3- Experimental group2 (received 20% ethanol [1 mg/gr, i.p.] along with Cucurbita pepo as 20% of their meal for 30 days), and 4- Experimental group3 (received 20% ethanol (1 mg/gr, i.p.) along with Cucurbita pepo as 80% of their meal for 30 days).
 
Findings: Results showed that seminiferous tubule wall thickness, weight of the testes, and the number of spermatogenic cells were decreased in the Experimental group1. However, all these parameters were increased in the Experimental group3 compared to the Experimental group1. These reductions in the Experimental group1 in comparison with the control group were significantly different. However, all these parameters had increased in the Experimental group3 compared to the control group with no significant difference, while they were significantly different from experimental groups 1 and 2.
 
Discusion & Conclusions: It is concluded that high doses of Cucurbita pepo (80%) may prevent reduced number of spermatogenic cells caused by the consumption of alcohol. However, low doses of Cucurbita pepo (20%) cannot impede the destructive effects of alcohol.
 

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Introduction: The function of acetylcholinesterase accelerates the acetylcholine hydrolysis process and protects the hemostasis of this neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and the peripheral tissues. Due to the fact that in diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, the level of acetylcholine is reduced, the administration of acetylcholinesterase inhibitor drugs (AChEID) is one of the methods for preventing the progression of this disease. The majority of the researchers attempted to investigate drugs with lower side effects, especially from herbal sources. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of methanol extract of Mentha pulegium leaves on the enzyme activity of AChE.
 
Materials & Methods: In this study the AChE enzyme was partially isolated from the bovine brain using homogenization, centrifugation, ammonium sulfate precipitation, and dialysis at 4 ºC. The rate of production of thiocholine from acetylthiocholine iodide was measured according to Ellman's method. Subsequently, the methanolic extract of Mentha pulegium leaves was prepared by the maceration method. Then the inhibitory effect of the extract on the AChE was measured. Ethics code: IR.umz.rec 1397.090
 
 
Findings: The total activity and specific activity of the partially purified AChE were determined as 1143.78 U and 4.10 U/mg, respectively. The optimum pH and temperature of the acetylcholinesterase were determined to be 7.5 and 45°C respectively. Moreover, the Km and Vmax of this enzyme were estimated at 6.49 mM and 59.88 mM/min.
 
Discussion & Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the methanolic extract with a concentration of 26.66 mg/ml had significant effect on the activity of this enzyme. According to the results, this extract can inhibit the AchE in form of mixed inhibition. Therefore, Mentha pulegium leaf could be considered by the researchers in study and investigation of pharmaceutics.
 

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