Zingiber officinalis and Eucalyptus globulus, Potent Lethal/Repellent Agents against Rhipicephalus bursa, Probable Carrier for Zoonosis.

BACKGROUND: Rhipicephalus bursa is a hard tick with importance in transmission of tick-borne diseases and zoonosis. Natural products are excellent alternative to pesticides. In this study for the first time, lethal and repellent activity of Zingiber officinalis and Eucalyptus globulus against Rh. bursa were studied. METHODS: In July till September of 2017, essential oils were extracted in Shahrekord University, Iran from fresh plant materials and engorged mature ticks were collected from infested sheep herd located in Saman, Iran. Ticks were challenged by different concentrations of essential oils including 300, 500 and 800µl/ml and 1 (pure) singly and/or in combination. Percentages of killed and repellent ticks as efficacy of acaricidal and repellent activity of essential oils against Rh. bursa were calculated and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Efficacy of eucalyptus essential oils was more in whole concentrations and its highest performance was observed in concentration 1 (pure). Efficacies of ginger and combined essential oils were different for each concentration but their highest efficacies were observed in concentration 1 (pure), too. CONCLUSION: This study showed considerable values of acaricidal and repellent activity against Rh. bursa for both essential oils singly and in combination, so they can be considered as potent lethal/repellent agents for control of ticks, but more studies need for this purpose, study on lethal/repellent activity of these essential oils and/or other plants against other important arthropods can be considered as subjects for next experiments.

In-vitro antigiardial activity and GC-MS analysis of Eucalyptus globulus and Zingiber officinalis essential oils against Giardia lamblia cysts in simulated condition to human's body

In order to finding of potent natural medication/agent which can kill giardial cysts in the interval between lysing of outer membrane of cysts due to exposure by acidic condition of stomach and their encystation in proximal small intestine, In-vitro antigiardial activity and GC-MS analysis of Eucalyptus globulus and Zingiber officinalis against Giardia lamblia were studied in simulated condition to human's body singly and in combination. Essential oils were extracted and their chemical components were identified via GC-MS method. After purification, cysts were exposure to acidic condition and were challenged by different concentrations of essential oils in simulated condition to human's body. Percentages of inactivated (killed) cysts as efficacy of antigiardial activity were calculated and analyzed statistically. Presence of 1,8-eucalyptol, α-pinene, α-terpineol acetate, etc. in essential oil of E. globulus and presence of geraniol, α-zingiberene, (E,E)-α-farnesene, etc. in Z. officinalis essential oil were identified. Highest antigiardial activity (73.55%) was observed for eucalyptus essential oil in time 480 minutes after exposure. Efficacies of ginger and combined essential oils were different in different times. This study shows considerable antigiardial activity for both of essential oils singly and in combination together against giardial cysts. In-vivo study of protective effect of these essential oils against giardiasis can be considered as a subject for next studies.

Mutations of Voltage-Gated Ionic Channels and Risk of Severe Cardiac Arrhythmias.

BACKGROUND: Arrhythmias as important malfunctions of heart are known as abnormal rhythm of heart. Several causes can make arrhythmias and most of them are related to generation and/or conduction of action potential in heart. Action potential in myocytes results from the sequential opening and closing of ion channel proteins that span the plasma membrane of individual myocytes. Action potential's conduction through the heart is depended on electrical coupling between myocytes, which is mediated by gap junctions. Generation and conduction of action potentials are related to perfect action of ionic channels in heart. OBJECTIVES: This novel review comprehensively addressed the ionic mechanisms of the arrhythmogenic mutations in cardiac voltage-gated ionic channels including: CACNA1C, CACNA1D, KCNA5, KCND2, KCND3, KCNE1, KCNE2, KCNE5, KCNH2, KCNJ2, KCNJ5, KCNQ1, SCN4A, SCN5A, SCN1B, SCN2B, SCN3B and SCN4B. METHODS: Current study, for the first time, review and discuses about relation between cardiac arrhythmias and whole of important voltage gated ionic channels from different families, altogether and at the same time. RESULTS: This review clears that mutations in voltage-gated ionic channels play important roles in generation of severe cardiac arrhythmias, and among them it is looked that mutations in voltage-gated potassium channels are more important. CONCLUSIONS: Most of induced arrhythmias due to voltage-gated ionic channels mutations result in action potentials prolongation and long QT syndromes. Study on ionic channel regulators can be considered as a subject for future research.

The insecticidal and repellent activity of ginger (Zingiber officinale) and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) essential oils against Culex theileri Theobald, 1903 (Diptera: Culicidae

Insecticidal and repellent activity of essential oils of Zingiber officinale and Eucalyptus globulus against Culex theileri Theobald, 1903 as a wide-distributed species of mosquitoes in different parts of world with an important role in transmission of infectious organisms and agent were studied. Essential oils were extracted from fresh parts of plants and different concentrations of 250 µl/ml, 500 µl/ml, 750 µl/ml and 1 (undiluted extract) were prepared for each of essential oils. Insecticidal and repellent activity of essential oils against adult form of Culex theileri Theobald mosquitoes, collected from small pools located near the Zayande-Rood River in the Saman city, Iran, were examined via direct exposure method and Y-tube olfactometer bioassay, respectively. Results of current study, as the first study on insecticidal and repellent activity of mentioned essential oils against Culex theileri Theobald, show considerable values of insecticidal and repellent activity against mosquitoes, concentration of one (undiluted extract) had the highest insecticidal and repellent activity against Culex theileri Theobald for both of essential oils and essential oil of Eucalyptus globulus (66% insecticidal and 74% repellent activity) was more potent than Zingiber officinale (45% insecticidal and 61% repellent activity). This study shows that these essential oils can be considered as good replaces for chemical pesticides but more experiments are need for this purpose. Study on insecticidal activity of these essential oils in the field condition can be considered as a subject for next experiments.

Prevalence and Rate of Parasitemia of Haemoproteus columbae in Columba Iiviadomesticain Southwest of Iran.

BACKGROUND: Parasites affect the health and productivity of birds. Haemoproteus columbae occurs in pigeons widely in tropical and subtropical regions. The present investigation was concentrated on the prevalence of H. columbae and rate of parasitemia in domestic pigeons in southwest of Iran. METHODS: Pigeons regimented in three groups, less than six months old, between six and twenty four months old and more than twenty four months old.Then stained blood smears were studied for presence of H. columbae and finally rate of parasitemia in every group calculated. RESULTS: Mature and immature stages of H. columbae gametocytes were found in 24% of blood smears prepared from 100 healthy domestic pigeons. Mean of parasitemia in infected pigeons was 9.58%. Mean size of macrogametocytes was 4µm×15µm and mean size of microgametocytes was 3µm×12µm. Mean of parasitemia in infected females was more than males and pipers. Mean of parasitemia in infected old pigeons (pigeons with more than twenty four months old) was more than pigeons with less than six months old and pigeons between six and twenty four months old. CONCLUSION: This study show the prevalence and rate of parasitemia in domestic pigeons in southwest of Iran. We should be care about this parasite in pigeons by knowing the prevalence and high risk groups.