Introduction: Postpartom hemorrhage is one of the most major problems that threaten the mothers' health and is regarded as one of the most important reasons for mortality specially in the developing countries. So far, many studies have been conducted in regard to effectiveness of chemical and herbal medicine on decrease of Postpartom hemorrhage. This study aimed to investigate effectiveness of date (Rutab) on postpartum hemorrhage.Methods: This is a clinical trial study in which 94 subjects, having the adequate criteria for the research, were selected in Shahid Sadoughi Hospital. The participants were divided into two groups. In the first group, immediately after placenta delivery infusion, 20 unit oxytocin in 1000 ml 5% dextrose in water with normal salin solution (group 1) were given, whereas in the second group, infusion of 10 unit oxytocin in 1000 ml 5% dextrose in water with normal salin solution associated with 100 gram date (Rutab) were given and the patients were required to have them in 10 minutes. At the same time a plastic and a cotton sheet were widen under the patients. Blood loss was determined by regular weighting of the buttocks that were previously weighted. The difference was calculated before and after weight (1 gram increase in weight was considered to be equivalent to 1ml blood). Data were submitted to SPSS software and then analyzed by T-test, Chi-squre, Mann-whitney.Results: The two groups were homogenous in regard to all the variables. The study results indicated that the bleeding mean was 127/11 ml at the two hour after delivery in the first group and 68/5 ml in the second group. There was a significant difference between postpartum hemorrhages of the two groupsConclusion: Since date (Rutab) was more effective than infusion oxytocin on post partum hemorrhage and no side effect was reported for that, it is recommended that its significance will be prposed to related specialist. Moreover, extra investigations are necessitated for future studies.

In order to reduce microbial loads and prevent souring of Mozafati Rutab (fresh dates) during storage, antimicrobial agents were employed. One kilogram of Rutab in each of the triplicates were dipped for one minute in either plain water as control or solutions of permitted levels of sorbic acid (0.07%), propionic acid (0.25%) or sodium diacetate (0.2%). After drainage and surface drying by application of hot air, dates were packed in two types of packaging materials (cardboard boxes with cellophane lining and polyethylene terephthalate films) and stored for four months in ordinary storage room (without refrigeration). Results indicated that all the three tested antimicrobial agents were significantly effective in reducing microbial loads and total acidity without having any deteriorating effect on organoleptic quality of the date samples. Polyethylene terephthalate films, because of their strength, transparency and prevention of moisture loss in dates were significantly effective in preserving Rutab as compared to carboard boxes. Treating Mozafati Rutab with 0.2% solution of sodium diacetate and packing it in polyethylene terephthalate films was the most effective method in maintaining quality of dates during storage.

In this study, the effect of water and Sodium diacetate solutions on reduction of pollutions in Mazafati rutab was investigated. Date bunches were washed at the last stage of Khalal by spraying of pure water and Sodium diacetate solution (4000 ppm). Total microbial and fungal counts were determined before washing as well as two, three and four weeks after washing of the fruits on tree. Mazafati rutab samples were packed after harvest and stored in cold room and also at ambient temperature for 6 months. The results showed that surface and microbial pollutions significantly (P<0. 05) decreased after washing of the fruits with pure water and Sodium diacetate solution. Total microbial and fungal counts gradually increased during stage of fruit maturity. Rotting rate was significantly (P<0. 05) high in the dates treated with Sodium diacetate at harvest time. The moisture content of the dates decreased but total soluble solids (TSS) increased during storage at ambient temperature. In all treatments, pH content decreased and percent acidity (as lactic acid) increased during storage. Total microbial counts in the dates treated with Sodium diacetate was significantly (P<0. 05) lower than other treatments during storage. The results indicated that washing of Mazafati date bunches at the last stage of Khalal by spraying of pure water can be effective in reduction of surface pollutions on the fruits. Mazafati rutab should be stored in cold rooms to prevent the activity of microorganisms and pests and increase the storage life.

Date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit could be consumed in 3 stages of maturation; Khalal, Rutab, and Tamar. In Rutab stage fruits are soft, succulent with high quality but due to soft texture, high moisture and sugar content, they are easy target for microbial attack which makes their storage and handling difficult and expensive. In this study, to find out the optimum condition for reduction of moisture and increase fruit quality, the effect of 24, 48 and 72 hours of dehydration in 40 and 50°C on fruit quality characteristics such as flesh firmness, water content, water activity, surface color (L*, a* and b*), flesh darkening, titrable acidity, juice pH and total soluble solids (TSS) was studied. The results were shown that dehydration treatment darkened flesh color, increased flesh firmness, decreased water activity and fruit weight. Dehydration during 72h in 50oC cause severe dried fruit (with 18.3% moisture content), significantly increased fruit firmness (8.28 N) and reduced other fruit quality parameters. But in dehydration during 48 h in 40°C and 24 h in 50°C fruit moisture content reduced to 27٪ and flesh firmness increased to 6 N, where microorganism unable to grow on the fruit and fruit texture changed to more pliable and firm.

In this research using a digital camera, a PC and a graphical software; a simple and low cost method for the evaluation of colour of food materials is introduced. Analysis of digital pictures of the surface of samples can give L, a, b Hunter colour parameters and colour distribution. Drying of Kabkaab rutab in a range of temperatures (56, 66 76, 86 and 96oC) and times using a cabinet drier was investigated. colour changes of the dried samples and the control were evaluated by analysing the digital pictures of the samples and showed that increase of temperature and time caused a systematic reduction of L, a, and b values. Taken into account colour changes of the samples and their drying rates at different temperatures, the drying temperature of 76oC seemed to be the best condition for drying of Kabkaab rutab.

In this study, the chemical compositions, total phenolic content, antioxidant power and the antimicrobial effect of Heracleum lasiopetalum essential oil on Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria innocua and Candida albicans were determined. The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation. Its chemical composition was determined through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in comparison with standard mass spectra. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu and DPPH scavenging methods. The essential oil antimicrobial activity was quantified by disk diffusion, well diffusion agar, minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration methods. Eucalyptol was the major constituent of the essential oil with a percentage of 30. 75. The total phenolic content and antioxidant power of the essential oil were 35/44± 0. 95 mg GAE/g and 24. 20± 1. 60 mg/ml respectively. The antimicrobial activity based on disk diffusion and agar well showed that Candida albicans was the most sensitive species to the essential oil. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the essential oil was equal to 16, 16, 4, 8 and 4 mg/ml for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria innocua and Candida albicans respectively. The results of the bactericidal and fungicidal concentrations were totally equal to or higher than those of the minimum inhibitory concentration. The results revealed that Heracleum Lasiopetalum essential oil has appropriate antioxidant power and is able to control the growth of foodborne pathogens and can be utilized as a natural preservative in food industry.

Drying of Mazafati Rotab (date) is an effective method to prevent its spoilage. This study was carried out by sun drying of Mazafati Rotab in a suitable place without contamination by birds and Rodents. At a 12- hour interval, date samples were selected for sensory and chemical analysis including moisture content, acidity, texture, shrinkage, skin separation and overall acceptability. The sun drying of Mozafati Rotab was done in Kerman, a city in Iran (1753.8 m above sea level) with an altitude of 56o 58´ and longitude of 30o 15´. The temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and the energy from sun's ray was from 6.6 to 38.5 oC, 5.3 to 27.4%, 0.0 to 6.9 m/s and 803.8 to 954.9 W/m2, respectively. The results indicated that by increasing the drying time-especially after 48 hours that the moisture content reduced below 22% (d.b.), the Rotab quality decreases and the acidity increases due to microbial activity. In order to reduce the Mazafati Rutab's moisture content to an optimal amount of 22% (d.b.) by open sun drying (OSD) under Kerman city climate, a drying time of 48 hours is recommended. Longer drying times will deteriorate the product's quality and its overall acceptance and the moisture contents of above 22% will make it susceptible to fermentation and souring of the Rutab.

In this study, inhibitory effects of herbal products (licorice root and neem leaf extracts, Aloe vera gel) on Aspergillus niger growth isolated from Mazafati palm dates and control of this mold in Mazafati palm dates were studied. The mold was isolated from rotten Mazafati palm dates. Herbal products were added to melted potato dextrose agar medium in different concentrations (0. 1, 0. 5 and 1% for Licorice root and neem leaf extracts and 0. 25, 0. 35 and 0. 50% for Aloe vera gel). Plates containing the herbal products were inoculated with fungi discs (7mm diameter) and incubated at 25° C ± 1. The diameter of fungus colonies (mm) were measured daily. There was significant difference (P < 0. 01) among the herbal extracts and also their concentrations in preventing Aspergillus niger growth. The results showed that inhibitory effects of licorice root extract on Aspergillus niger growth were significantly more than that of neem extract and Aloe vera gel. High concentration of the extracts had also more inhibitory effects on the mold growth. The licorice root extract at 1% concentration showed more reduction in the growth of Aspergillus niger and also was effective on control of rot in Mazafati palm dates. The licorice root extract did not make any special taste in Mazafati palm dates and obtained the more score in the sensory attributes (taste, appearance, acceptability).

Microflora of agriculture's products is one of the important quality factors. Ten varieties of dates (Phoenix dactylifera) at three stage of edible maturation (kharak, rutab, tamr) were examined for total microbial count, yeast and molds in Khuzestan of Iran. In this study young (<I0 years) and old (>40 years) date palms were compared. Total counts, yeast and molds were high in kharak and increased sharply at rutab, then decreased at tamr. Microbial counts of kharak were higher than tamr. Total microbial, yeast and mold counts were the highest at rutab in all of the samples (p<0.001). Old of date palms did not significantly effect on microflora of date fruits (p<0.001). Aspergillus was detected only at kharak in two varieties and did not show in any samples. If condition of after harvesting is to be good, this product can export better.

The date palm bunch fading disorder/disease is one of the greatest challenges faced by date palm growers. In the present study, the effect of appropriate orchard management on some qualitative and quantitative features of date palm bunch was studied. For this purpose, two orchards of cv ‘Kabkab’ with a history of previous incidence were selected in two districts of Bushehr province; Tangestan and Dashtestan. The orchards were divided into two parts; one as control and another as treated plants. On the treated part, some management practices such as plowing, leaf pruning, proper nutrition, regular irrigation, pollination, regulation of leaf-bunch ratio, thinning in pollination stage, control of weeds, pests and diseases were conducted scientifically while the control part was maintained with conventional local practices. During the treatment phase, all bunches in the Khalal stage were covered with a white cloth bag. The results from both treatment plots showed that proper orchard management can improve fruit yield (Dashtestan 52.2 kg tree-1, Tangestan 88.1 kg tree-1) and reduce the severity of symptoms and therefore reduce date palm bunch fading disorder.