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With the increase of cancer disease and the side-effects of the current treatments, researchers are attempting to find methods with less side-effect. The fern Adiantum capillus-veneris L. has triterpenoid compounds which have anti-tumor characteristics. This study aims to investigate the fatal effect of the extract of this plant on breast cancer (MCF-7) and normal (MRC-5) cell lines using MTT method. A. capillus-veneris specimens were collected from Marzoon Abad Village and were dried at the temperature of 40° C by the use of Soxhlet and Ethanol % 96. Hydroalcoholic extract was produced from the aerial and underground parts of this plant and 3 fractions, i.e., Hexane, Chloroform and Ethyl acetate, were prepared from the extract. The compounds of the plant extract were identified by GC-Mass. The results demonstrate the presence of polyphenolic compounds, terpenoid, fatty acids, wax, alkaloid, N-oxide and fibers, with strong antioxidant effect. The results of the MTT test proved that this extract had a dose-depending fatal effect on the MCF-7 cells and is capable of eradicating the cancer cells. On the other hand, its effect on cancer cells is more than its effect on normal cells. Also, IC₅₀ in both of cell lines induced by the extracts of aerial and underground parts showed a significant difference. The fatal characteristics of the extract are comparable with the cisplatin anti-cancer drug.
 

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Abstract. Cucurbita pepo L. seeds are very important in nutrition and pharmaceutical industries due to high amounts of oil. To investigate the effects of biochar (zero, 5, and 10 tons per hectare) and foliar spraying with zinc nanoparticles (zero, 2, and 4 milligrams/ litter), an experiment was conducted as factorial based on randomized complete blocks design, in the Farm. Fruit number and leaf Zn content were increased at 5 and 10 t/ha of biochar with both nano zinc foliar spray. Ten t/ha biochar treatments with both levels of nano Zn increased seed number per fruit, fruit yield, biological yield, harvest index, and plant oil yield. Five t/ha biochar with 4 mg/L of nano zinc and 10 t/ha biochar with foliar spraying with both nanoparticle concentrations increased hundred seed yield, biological yield, and chlorophyll index in the plant. The top amounts of phenolic content were observed in 5 and 10 t/ha biochar with 4mg/L of zinc nanoparticle spray. The relative water and anthocyanin content increased in 10 t/ha biochar. Overall, theresults of this study showed that the use of 10 t/ha biochar and foliarspraying of 2 and 4 mg/L zinc nanoparticles increased the yield and physiological characteristics of the plant.


 

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Ferula gummosa Boiss. as a valuable pharmaceutical and industrial plant grows in Iran. In order to minimize seed dormancy period and micropropagation, callus induction and embryogenesis were evaluated. The plantlets of the seeds were separated and cultured in the 1/2 MS medium. After 14 days, root, hypocotyl, cotyledon and leaf explants were separated. Then they were transferred to the basal MS medium containing different concentrations of growth regulators. Different developmental stages of somatic embryos were evaluated. Seedlings 2-3 days after locating in 1/2 MS medium germinated and whole plantlets were obtained after 12 days. In the callus induction phase growth regulator composition 1.5 mgl^-1 of NAA and 0.5 mgl^-1 of BA with root explants had proper results. In the somatic embryogenesis phase MS medium containing 0.5 mgl^-1 of 2,4-D accompanied by 1 mgl^-1 of BA lead to desirable results. Via taken sections from the embryos, different developmental stages of somatic embryos including pre-embryo, globular, heart shaped, torpedo and cotyledonary embryo were observed. In vitro culture of embryo to accelerate germination and elimination of long dormancy period and using this optimized method are strongly suggested for micropropagation of this plant so this valuable endemic plant may survive from extinction, too.