Introduction: Based on the extensive application of Peganum harma/a (P.h) seeds in the Asian traditional medicine, we tried to investigate its possible anxiety effect.Method: The effect of P.h. extract inhalation was evaluated in adult male rats using elevated plus-maze apparatus. The humidity of prepared ethanol extract was 37%. Animals in different groups (n=6) received 2, 4, 6, 12 or 18gr/ml doses of the extract using Nebulizer. harmaline drug (0.13gr/ml) was used as positive control drug.Results: Compared with saline treated group, harmaline as the positive control significantly caused fear in rats as it was shown by increased time spent in closed arm of plus-maze (p<0.05). Also, ethanol extract of P.h was able to show anxiety effect at doses 6, 12 and 18mg/ml (p<0.05).Conclusion: Our data showed effective anxiety effect of ethanol extract of Peganum HARMALA. Its effect should be considered in the context of its extensive usage in the men daily life. More studies are required to elucidate its mechanism and site of action.

There are several reports in the literature indicating a great variety of pharmacological effects for peganum har-mala or aspand such as sedative anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral and antiprotozoal. Some people believe that can be used for treatment of some organic or psychiatric disorders. We introduce a woman with history of long time constipation that was disappointed in novel medical treatment and decided to use comminuted Aspand to relieve her problem. Two hours after use, the intoxication symptoms manifested as blurred vision, phonophobia, floating feeling, and tinnitus ringing. Here we report the treatment process and outcome of this case.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of Artemisia sieberi extract (0. 2%, 0. 4%, and control) ongermination, some morphological characteristics, photosynthesis pigments, and nutrients uptake ofPeganum HARMALA. Results showed that the extract of A. sieberi had a significant effect on seed germinationand morphological characteristics of P. HARMALA. The highest seed germination was calculated in 0. 2%treatment. The lowest seed germination was observed in the control treatment. The highest and lowestradicle lengths were calculated in the control and 0. 4% treatments, respectively. With increasingconcentration of the extract, dry weight and pedicel length of P. HARMALA decreased. A. sieberi extract hadphytotoxic effect on chlorophyll contents of P. HARMALA. The highest photosynthesis pigments were relatedto the control treatment, and by increasing the concentration of extract, photosynthesis pigments decreased. The highest contents of nitrogen and zinc were found in 0. 2% treatment. The lowest amounts of nitrogenand zinc were related to 0. 4% treatment. The highest amount of phosphorus was related to the controltreatment and with increasing concentration of extract, phosphorous content decreased. 0. 2% treatmentexhibited the highest potassium content while the lowest amount of potassium was related to the 0. 4%treatment. In general, results showed that A. sieberi besser, increased nutrients uptake of P. HARMALA, in 0. 2%treatment, but increased concentrations of the extract prevented germination and growth of P. HARMALA. Itis recommended not to cultivate the two plants together if we consider P. HARMALA as a medicinal plant.

Genetic diversity, correlation analysis, path analysis, and regression analysis are fundamental tools for developing innovative breeding programs aimed at improving desirable varieties and traits. To evaluate the relationships between traits affecting economic traits and identify habitats as natural potentials in western Iran, we conducted tests on samples from 4 Peganum HARMALA habitats using a randomized complete-block design. Some of the correlation results indicated a strong correlation between the fresh weight and dry weight of a single stem (0. 986**) and between the fresh weight and dry weight of the whole plant (0. 856**). Step-by-step regression analysis for the dry yield of the whole plant as the dependent variable revealed that stem height, number of leaves, and number of flowers per plant were successively included in the model. With a cumulative coefficient of determination of 93. 6%, these traits explained most of the changes in the dry yield of the whole plant. In the path analysis, stem height was found to have the most direct effect on the dry yield of the whole plant (0. 747). Therefore, these traits can be effectively utilized to increase the dry yield of the whole plant.

There has been limited information on the in-vitro propagation of Harmal. In this research, leaf, hypocotyl and embryo samples of this plant were examined for callus formation and regeneration. The present experiment was conducted as factorial based on a completely randomized design with three replications in two separate experiments with different hormonal treatments. In the first experiment, MS medium contained growth with different concentrations of Benzylaminopourine ((BAP) 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/L) in combination with Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) at concentrations (0, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/L. In the second experiment, BAP with concentrations (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/L) in combination with 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) with concentrations (0, 25 and 0.5 mg / L). The results of the first experiment showed that the highest callus and regeneration for the Harmal a plant was the combination of BAP hormone (0.5 mg/L) with NAA (0.5 mg/L). In this research, leaf, hypocotyl and embryo samples of this plant were examined for callus formation and regeneration. The results of the second experiment, on the other hand, showed that callus of explants was carried out in most of the BAP and 2,4-D hormonal treatments, and the highest regeneration was observed in the treatment of 1 mg/L BAP with 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D. High BAP concentration in the presence of NAA decreased callus formation and appeared to be better for NAA callus enhancement. The high concentration of BAP in the presence of NAA reduced callus formation and it can be said that NAA was better for increasing callus production. It was found that in the presence of 2,4-D and BAP, leaf explants were more efficient for regeneration and callus formation compared to hypocotyl and embryo explants. In the medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D and 1 mg/L BA for the leaf and hypocotyl explants, Maximum callus induction and shoot regeneration was obtained.

There has been limited information on the in-vitro propagation of Harmal. In this research, leaf, hypocotyl and embryo samples of this plant were examined for callus formation and regeneration. The present experiment was conducted as factorial based on a completely randomized design with three replications in two separate experiments with different hormonal treatments. In the first experiment, MS medium contained growth with different concentrations of Benzylaminopourine ((BAP) 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/L) in combination with Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) at concentrations (0, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/L. In the second experiment, BAP with concentrations (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/L) in combination with 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) with concentrations (0, 25 and 0.5 mg / L). The results of the first experiment showed that the highest callus and regeneration for the Harmal a plant was the combination of BAP hormone (0.5 mg/L) with NAA (0.5 mg/L). In this research, leaf, hypocotyl and embryo samples of this plant were examined for callus formation and regeneration. The results of the second experiment, on the other hand, showed that callus of explants was carried out in most of the BAP and 2,4-D hormonal treatments, and the highest regeneration was observed in the treatment of 1 mg/L BAP with 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D. High BAP concentration in the presence of NAA decreased callus formation and appeared to be better for NAA callus enhancement. The high concentration of BAP in the presence of NAA reduced callus formation and it can be said that NAA was better for increasing callus production. It was found that in the presence of 2,4-D and BAP, leaf explants were more efficient for regeneration and callus formation compared to hypocotyl and embryo explants. In the medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D and 1 mg/L BA for the leaf and hypocotyl explants, Maximum callus induction and shoot regeneration was obtained.

Background: Acanthamoeba is an opportunistic protozoan pathogen that is known to infect the cornea to produce eye keratitis and the central nervous system to produce lethal granulomatous encephalitis. The overall aim of the present study was to determine the anti-amoebic potential of natural compound Peganum HARMALA against the trophozoites and cysts of Acanthamoeba in vitro.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, a clinical isolate of Acanthamoeba was cultured and genotyped. The ethanolic extract of Peganum HARMALA was prepared. The trophozoites and cysts were collected by washing in page's saline. Various concentrations (1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/ml) of the ethanolic extract and polyhexanide 0.02% drop as positive control were tested at three different times (24, 48 and 72 h) on trophozoites and cysts of Acanthamoebain vitro. The viability of trophozoites or cysts was tested by eozin method, MTT, and flowcytometry analysis.Results: The results revealed that alcoholic extract had remarkable inhibitory effect on the proliferation of Acanthamoeba cysts as compared to non-treated control, and the inhibition was time and dose dependent. In the presence of 10 mg/ml ethanolic extract in medium culture after 72 h, no viable trophozoites were determined and 21.10% cysts of Acanthamoeba were viable. Percentage of trophozoites and cysts viability after adding polyhexanide 0.02% drop in medium culture after 72 hours was 0% and 23.71%, respectively.Conclusion: Ethanolic extracts of Peganum HARMALA could be considered a new natural compound against the Acanthamoeba trophozoites and cysts. Further works are required to evaluate the exact effect of this extract on Acanthamoeba agents in animal models.

The herbicidal properties of some plants species can be exploited successfully as a tool to reduce the herbicide application. Wild plant species, including medicinal herbs, usually contain much higher levels of chemicals compounds than the cultivated crops; therefore in the present study, the effects of drought stress on inhibitory properties of Esfand on purple weed in both laboratory and greenhouse conditions were investigated. Factorial design experiment in a completely randomized design with four replications was used. In laboratory conditions, the factors studied included the concentration of extract in four levels (0, 0. 4, 0. 8 and 1. 2%), irrigation treatment on the mother's base of the plant manufacturer in Esfand was irrigated at two levels (native rootstock and Irrigation was not done) and the type of extracted organ was considered in two levels (shoot and root). In greenhouse conditions, instead of extract of Esfand plant residual (0, 4, 8 and 12 g) in 1000 g of soil was used. The results showed that in both greenhouse and laboratory conditions, with increasing concentrations and amounts of shoot and root powder, the inhibitory effect was significantly increased on the most traits measured in the purple species (p <0. 01. also in laboratory conditions was more affected by inhibitory root extract. The findings also showed that the effect of inhibitory Esfand extract in irrigation levels on all traits, in laboratory conditions was. The powder from Esfand at different irrigation levels in the greenhouse showed similar performance on all traits. The findings indicate that drought stress can affect the deterioration properties of Esfand.