Extraction of phenol compound from Mentha piperita by ultrasonic waves based on a response surface methodology.

In this study, optimization of the extraction of phenol compounds from Mentha piperita using ultrasonic waves with response surface methodology (RSM) was assessed. In this regard, a central composite design with three independent variables of time (5, 27.5, and 50 min), temperature (25, 45, and 65°C), and concentrations of ethanol in the water-ethanol solution (0%, 50%, and 100%) was used. Besides, the antioxidant activity tests (DPPH radical scavenging assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP], and oxidative stability indexes [OSI]) were examined. Significant effects of independent variables on the extraction of phenol compound, DPPH radical scavenging power, and OSI of M. piperita extract, with the regression coefficients of 0.89, 0.92, and 0.94, respectively, were noted. However, no significant difference in terms of the FRAP among different treatments was noted. Also, the best antioxidant activity of M. piperita was obtained by using the ultrasonic wave for 50 min at 65°C and 59.6% v/v ethanol/water solution. While the findings of RSM confirmed the experimental results, due to the favored properties of M. piperita extract by the proposed method, further research to investigate possible applications in the food industry is recommended.

Incorporation of the nanoencapsulated polyphenolic extract of Ferula persica into soybean oil: Assessment of oil oxidative stability.

In the present study, for the first time, the biological activities of Ferula persica extract (FPE) coated with locust bean gum (LBG) and chitosan in W/O/W emulsions were investigated. Based on the findings, the Z-average size of emulsions coated by chitosan, LBG, and the complex of chitosan and LBG (1:1) (CCL) was 115.47, 128.37, and 68.12 nm, respectively. The encapsulation efficiency of the phenolic extracts in the powder produced by chitosan, LBG, and CCL decreased from 85.3 to 64.1, from 89 to 71.4, and from 93.3% to 77.9% during 24-day storage, respectively. Also, the application of the coating in the encapsulation of FPE increased the antioxidant efficacy in soybean oil while compared with tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) and un-encapsulated FPE. In this regard, The FPE nanoencapsulated by CCL showed the best antioxidative activity in soybean oil, followed by the FPE of nanoencapsulated by LBG and chitosan, respectively, which can be correlated with higher levels of polyphenolic compounds release over time in the sample coated with CCL. In this context, the encapsulation with CCL can be proposed as a promising technique to improve the antioxidant activity of extracts.

Perceived social support and self-esteem in sexual violence victims.

Background: Sexual violence can lead to serious consequences. Few studies have simultaneously evaluated Perceived Social Support and Self-Esteem of sexual violence victims. This study aims to investigate the relationship between self-esteem and perceived social support among sexual violence victims. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study which was conducted in forensic medical centers and all health centers affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences of Tehran. This study included 66 women in the sexual violence group (Women were considered sexual violence victims if vaginal or anal penetration had occurred) and 147 subjects in the non- sexual violence group (Women with no experience of sexual violence). Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale and Social support Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS statistical software version 22. The significance level for all tests was considered as p<0.05. Results: There were significant differences in the levels of perceived social support in all subscales between the two groups and it was higher in non-sexual violence group (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the self-esteem level between the two groups. There was a minor significant positive correlation between self-esteem level of the sexually abused victims and perceived social support level (r=0.274, p=0.026). Others relationships were not found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the female victims of sexual violence had low social support from their family, friends in their life, However friend's support had a minor positive effect on their self-esteem.

The comparison of spiritual health and self-esteem in women with and without sexual violence.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Sexual violence is a serious public health problem which is common around the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate spiritual health and self-esteem in sexual violence victims. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 66 subjects in the group of sexual violence women and 147 subjects in the group of women with no experience of sexual violence who referred to Tehran Forensic Medical Center and the health centers of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences respectively, in 2015, in Tehran, Iran. Sexual violence was considered as vaginal or anal penetration. Paloutzian & Ellison spiritual health questionnaire and Rosenberg self-esteem scale were used for data collecting. Data were analyzed using IBM-SPSS version 21. The Kolmogorov Simonov test was used for normality distribution of variables. Descriptive and the Mann-Whitney tests were used to analyze the data. Statistical significance was set to p<0.05. RESULTS: Sexual activity in both groups was started at 20 years old. Most of the abused subjects were single (48.8%), with education level below diploma (55.2%), unemployed (67%) and with an average annual income of 200 million Rials ($7,000). Familiarity with the offender was mostly as friendship (42.4%), and the offence had occurred through deception (37.8%). No significant difference was found between the total mean scores of self-esteem in the two groups (M1: 21.89, M2: 21.02; p=0.76) while a significant difference was seen between the mean scores of spiritual health, which indicates a lower level of spiritual health in women with sexual violence (M1: 74.59 (2.03), M2: 86.39 (3.12); p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study highlight the importance of spirituality in sexual violence so policies to promote spiritual health are recommended to protect women.