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Background. Diabetes mellitus is a condition that causes biochemical and physiological changes in the body. In this study, the effects of carvacrol on blood biochemical factors related to diabetes in diabetic adult rats induced by streptozocin were investigated. Methods. In this study, 32 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups as follows: a) control group; b) diabetic control group that received normal saline as a solvent; c) diabetic rats treated with 75 mg/kg carvacrol; d) healthy rats that received 75 mg/kg carvacrol. The experimental groups were induced with diabetes by injecting a single dose of 50 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) (Sigma) dissolved in 5 ml citrate buffer (pH=4.5) intraperitoneally. Then, fasting blood sugar, serum insulin level, serum level of fat profile, and testosterone hormones LH and FSH were measured. Results. Fasting blood sugar and serum levels of TG and cholesterol increased significantly in the diabetic control group compared to the control group (P<0.05). Also, fasting blood sugar and serum TG, LH, FSH, and cholesterol levels in the groups treated with carvacrol showed a significant decrease compared with the diabetic control group (P<0.05). In all diabetic groups, compared to the control group, the amount of HDL, testosterone, and serum insulin decreased significantly (P<0.05). Also, in the groups treated with carvacrol compared to the diabetic control group, the levels of HDL, insulin, and serum testosterone increased. The weight of rats in the diabetic control group decreased significantly; however, in the carvacrol treatment groups, the weight of the rats increased compared to the diabetic control group (P<0.05). Conclusion. Carvacrol can be effective on fasting blood sugar, insulin serum level, serum level of fat, and hormone profile and prevent biochemical damage caused by diabetes in diabetic rats induced by streptozocin. Practical Implications. Investigating the level of lipid profile and hormones in diabetic rats treated with carvacrol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Different parts of quince (fruit, seeds and leaves) have been used as traditional remedies for cardiovascular diseases, cough, bronchitis, nausea, fever, diarrhea, constipation, hemorrhoids, diabetes, and hypertension. However, the obtained results showed higher total concentrations of phenolics in quince leaves than in pulps, peels, and seeds. During the last few decades, many researches have been carried out to identify suitable methods for extraction with high efficiency and environmental friendliness. Moreover, nowadays, special attention has been paid to plants that are a rich source of natural antioxidants and bioactive properties, one of these plants is the quince leaves. Due to quince leaf extract is rich in phenolic and antioxidant compounds, it can be used as a natural antioxidant and be a good substitute for synthetic antioxidants. Aims: In this research, the aim was to investigate the effect of cold plasma (CP) and ultrasound (US) pretreatments on the chemical compositions and antioxidant properties of the hydroalcoholic extract of the quince leaves. Methods: In this research, the samples of the quince leaves were pretreated with CP and US. After extracting the leaves extracts and its concentration, the amount of total phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, total chlorophyll, carotenoid, and color indices of the treated and control samples were investigated. Results: The obtained results showed that both CP and US processes caused a significant increase (P<0.05) in the amounts of phenolic and antioxidant compositions, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid. The color indices L*, a*, b* decreased significantly (P<0.05) compared to the control as a result of cold plasma pretreatment, but did not differ significantly compared to the control due to ultrasound pretreatment (P<0.05). Conclusion: Overall, based on this research's results, cold plasma pretreatment can be a better and more efficient method than ultrasoundassisted to extract bioactive compounds and replace conventional thermal methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sour cherry has unique anthocyanin content, and it is rich in phenolic compounds. Dried sour cherry has a long shelf life and therefore may be a fine alternative to fresh fruit all year round. Aims: In this research, it was tried to evaluate the ability of ultrasonic method in reducing the drying time of sour cherry, while also introducing a mathematical model that best describes the drying kinetics. Methods: To apply ultrasound pre-treatment, the sour cherries were placed inside the ultrasonic bath device for 0, 4, 8, and 12 min, and after leaving the device and removing extra moisture, the samples in thin layers were placed in the dryer. In order to investigate the kinetics and predict the drying process of treated sour cherries, kinetic modeling was done with the help of experimental data and using the mathematical models. Results: The results showed that sonication treatment, causes an increase in moisture removal rate from the sour cherries, an increase in the effective moisture diffusivity coefficient, and as a result, reduces the drying time. By increasing the sonication time from 0 to 12 min, the average drying time of sour cherries in the hot-air dryer was decreased by approximately 27%. Also, increasing the sonication time from 0 to 12 min increased the average effective moisture diffusivity coefficient by 38%. The sonication time had no significant effect on the rehydration of dried sour cherries, and increasing pretreatment time from 4 to 12 min only increased the rehydration of the samples by 7%. The Page model was selected as the best model to predict moisture ratio changes under the selected experimental conditions. Conclusion: Generally, it is recommended to apply 12 min of ultrasound before the sour cherry drying process due to increasing the mass transfer rate and reducing the drying time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, with the increase in diseases and consumers’ preference for organic foods, the use of natural plant compounds to improve and increase their shelf life is on the rise. In addition, the use of medicinal plants, which can have therapeutic properties, has attracted attention. Black seed oil has attracted a lot of attention in the past due to its unique therapeutic properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity and evaluate the antimicrobial activity of black seed oil against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus cereus. The amount of phenolic compounds in black seed oil was measured by Folin-Ciocalteu. The antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging methods. The antimicrobial effect of Nigella sativa oil was investigated according to well diffusion agar, disk diffusion agar, interaction, minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration methods.The Nigella sativa oil had 16.25 mg GAE/g phenolic compounds. The antioxidant activity based on DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging were 86.62% and 94.85%, respectively.The Nigella sativa oil showed a significant antimicrobial effect on the tested microorganisms. In the combined mode (interaction) of Nigella sativa oil with chloramphenicol antibiotic, synergistic mode was observed for all bacterial strains. Given the significant antioxidant activity and antimicrobial effect of Nigella sativa, it can be used in food and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical properties and antimicrobial effect of Thymus trautvetteri essential oil against some of the bacteria causing infection and food poisoning were evaluated in this study. For this purpose, T. trautvetteri essential oil was extracted with the help of hydrodistillation method and its total phenol content was based on Folin-Ciocalteu method, its antioxidant activity was based on DPPH and ABTS free radical inhibition methods and its antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus were investigated based on disc diffusion agar, well diffusion agar, minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration methods. The results showed that T. trautvetteri essential oil contained 6.27 mg of catechin/g total phenol and its inhibitory activity against DPPH and ABTS free radicals was obtained as 12.32 and 10.20 mg/ml, respectively. The results of the antibacterial activity of the essential oil showed that S. aureus and E. coli were the most sensitive and resistant bacterial strains against T. trautvetteri essential oil, respectively. The inhibition zone in the disc diffusion agar and well diffusion agar methods, and the minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations for S. aureus were 14.60 mm, 16 mm, 1 mg/ml and 4 mg/ml, respectively. According to the findings of this research, T. trautvetteri essential oil can be used as a natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agent to prevent oxidative reactions and microbial spoilage in food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]