Fateme Shahsavari, Mahdi Abbasnejhad, Reihane Naderi, Saeed Esmaeeli Mahani,
Volume 2, Issue 1 (6-2015)
Abstract
Ascorbic acid (AA) as a vitamin and neuromodulator is present in most parts of CNS such as nucleus accumbens shell (Acbsh). This study evaluates the effect of intra-nucleus accumbens shell injection of AA on spatial learning and memory. 35 adult male Wistar rats (220-270 g) were divided into 5 groups: control (intact), sham AA (injected normal saline as AA vehicle) as well as 3 groups of AA (12, 24 and 48 μg/rat/side). After one week of recovery injections were performed. Thirty minutes after each injection the rats were trained in the Morris Water Maze (MWM) and spatial learning and memory parameters were recorded and then analyzed. The results showed that AA at the dose of 48 μg/rat/side significantly increased the travelled distance and latency time to reach the hidden platform in comparison with either control or sham groups (p<0.001). Intra-Acbsh injection of AA led to deficiency of spatial learning.
Shiva Shahsavari, Zahra Noormohammadi, Masoud Sheidai, Farah Farahani, Mohammdreza Vazifeshenas,
Volume 7, Issue 4 (2-2021)
Abstract
The pomegranate fruit is one of the most important horticultural products due to the presence of polyphenolic, antioxidant and anti-fungal compounds. In the present study, morphological and phytochemical compounds diversity was investigated in eight Iranian commercial pomegranate cultivars. Fourteen morphological characters and 10 chemical compounds were measured. Based on PCA analysis the most variable morphological characteristics among Punica cultivars studied were the wood surface, the leaf tip, the leaf incision, growth power and rained condition. High-performance liquid chromatograms of chlorgenic acid, caffeic acid, Para Coumaric acid as well as titrable acidity, total soluble solid, total phenolic contents, antioxidant activity in juice and peel of cultivars differentiated the cultivars studied. Comparing the two UPGMA dendrograms of Punica cultivars based on morphological data and chemical contents indicated certain disagreement between them. The correlation between morphological and chemical compounds and geographical distances of Punica cultivars was not statistically significant by the Mantel test. These findings indicate that Punica cultivars studied differ in their genetic content, however, this genetic difference is not correlated with their geographical distance.