“珍贵”系列在京揭幕

近日，经典钻饰品牌Forevermark历时数年倾力打造的Forevermark Precious Collection永恒印记“珍贵”系列隆重揭幕。

Growth Rate and Chemical Muscle Composition of Oreochromis niloticus Fish Cultured in Drainage Water and Fed Antioxidant Supplemented Diet

Irrigation of fish farms with agricultural drainage water may affect cultured fish species. So, the present study utilizes antioxidants supplemented diet to overcome deterioration of drainage water and its negative effect on fish. The studied groups are fish cultured in dechlorinated tap water as control group or drainage water and fed commercial basal diet. While, the other studied groups represented by Oreochromis niloticus fish cultured in drainage water and fed either commercial diet supplemented with vitamin C (5 g/kg diet) or fennel (5 g/kg diet) for 12 weeks. Results of the water physico-chemical parameters of all studied treatments revealed deterioration of the drainage water with a decrease in dissolved oxygen and an increase in pH, total hardness, total alkalinity, salinity, ammonia, nitrite and heavy metals (Cu, Pb and Cd) with significant differences (P ≤ 0.01) in comparison to that of the control dechlorinated tap water group. Data clarified also that Oreochromis niloticus cultured in drainage water showed a decrease in growth rate accompanied by deterioration of fish meat quality. However, fish reared in the same drainage water for the same exposure period and fed vitamin C or fennel supplemented basal diet (5 g/kg diet) recorded values of the studied parameters more or less similar to that of control group fish. Data of the present study, empowered aquaculturist to supplement fish rations with fennel or vitamin C as antioxidants to improve fish growth rate, meat quality as well as protect fish against heavy metals toxicity that could threat Human Being.

Valorization of organic biomass through the production of active biopolymer film based on sodium caseinate,guar gum,and beeswax

The objective of the work was to study the impact of the inclusion of fennel(FEN)and coffee humic(COF)substances on the structure,physical and functional properties of composite materials based on sodium caseinate,guar gum,and beeswax.NMR results revealed the prevalent contribution of beeswax and caseinate suggesting a faster relaxation time(t1rH)in biopolymeric films.The active films obtained with COF contained more hydrophilic group than FEN film,which negatively impacted water vapor barrier properties.The optical properties of the films were influenced by the presence of aromatic rings in the extracts.Moreover,the presence of the humus extract reduced the elastic modulus(EM)as compared to neat films,due to reduced interactions between the polymeric chains.The active films containing fennel extract displayed better antioxidant and antimicrobial potential as compared to neat film with coffee husk extract suggesting an innovative sustainable formulation for food preservation.

INTERFERENCE BY NON-HOST PLANT ROOTS AND ROOT EXUDATES IN THE INFECTION PROCESSES OF PHYTOPHTHORA NICOTIANAE

Crop rotations are widely used because they can significantly reduce the incidence of pests and diseases.The interactions between non-host roots and pathogens may be key in the inhibition of soilborne pathogens in crop rotations.Interactions between fennel(Foeniculum vulgare)roots/root exudates and Phytophthora nicotianae were investigated because of the known allelopathy between fennel and tobacco(Nicotiana tabacum).The effects of the key compounds in the fennel rhizosphere on the mycelial growth and zoospore behavior of P.nicotianae were assessed.The roots of fennel attracted P.nicotianae zoospores and inhibited their motility and the germination of cystospores,with some cystospores rupturing.4-ethylacetophenone,vanillin and N-formylpiperidine were consistently identified in the fennel rhizosphere and were found to interfere with the infection of P.nicotianae,especially vanillin.Hyphae treated with these compounds produced more abnormal branches and accumulated reactive oxygen species.These interspecific interactions between non-host roots and pathogens were found to be an important factor in the inhibition by fennel of infection by P.nicotianae.

Medicinal Properties of Foeniculum Vulgare Mill,in Traditional Iranian Medicine and Modern Phytotherapy

Foeniculum vu/gare Mill. （F. vu/gare）, commonly known as Fennel, is a popular medicinal plant with various pharmacological activities mentioned in traditional Iranian medicine （TIM） and modern phytotherapy such as antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, bronchodilatory, estrogenic, diuretic, lithontripic, galactogogue, emmenagogue, antithrombotic, hypotensive, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, memory enhancing, and antimutagenic activities. No serious adverse events were recorded after ingestion of F. vu/gare except some cases of allergic reactions. The estrogenic activity of F. vu/gare brings some side effects such as decrease in protein concentration and acid and alkaline phosphatase in male genital organs, increase in weight of mammary glands and reproductive organs in women and premature thelarohe in girls. However, no evidence of teratogenicity was recorded, it is better not to use F. vulgare during pregnancy due to its estrogenic activity. Because of inhibition of cytochrome P450 3A4 （CYP3A4）, the pharmacokinetic parameters of drugs mainly metabolized by this isozyme may be affected by F. vu/gare. In addition, a significant interaction between cyprofloxacin and F. vu/gare was demonstrated. The aim of current paper is to review pharmacological properties, toxicity and adverse events, and drug interactions of F.vu/gare and brings conclusive results about the use of this plant in men, women and during pregnancy.

Using the Box-Behnken Response Surface Method to Optimize the Preparation and Characterization of Lavender and Fennel Volatile oilβ-cyclodextrin Form Inclusion Complex

Objective:The objective of this study is to study the best inclusion technology of Lavender-and fennel-mixed volatile oil by beta?cyclodextrin(β-CD) and characterize the final product thereafter.Methods:Using the saturated water solution method,the volatile β-CD inclusion complex was produced.The effect of volatile oil weight ratio,inclusion temperature and inclusion time on the inclusive quality was studied by measuring the yield of inclusion and inclusion rate of volatile oil as evaluation indexes.The preparation method of inclusion complex was then optimized by the Box-Behnken response surface method.The inclusion complex was characterized by ultraviolet spectrophotometry,thin-layer chromatography,thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis,and the microscopic imaging method.Results:The optimized conditions were the weight ratio of β-CD to volatile oil was 8.13:1(g/ml).The inclusion temperature was 44°C.The inclusion time was 1 h.Conclusion:We were able to produce an inclusion complex with high inclusion rate of volatile oil and high yield of inclusion using the preparation method mentioned above.Furthermore,the method can also improve the stability of volatile oil in abnormal savda munziq.This study can provide a good reference for the development of new preparations.

Preventive role of chamomile fl owers and fennel seeds extracts against liver injury and oxidative stress induced by an immunosuppressant drug in rats

Aim:The present study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of chamomile fl owers methanolic extract(CFME)and fennel seeds methanolic extract(FSME)on azathioprine(AZA),an immunosuppressant drug,which induced a liver injury and oxidative stress in rats.Methods:Rats were divided into 6 groups(8 rats each)and treated orally for 28 consecutive days as follows.Group 1:rats were given normal saline and used as controls;group 2:rats treated with CFME(200 mg/kg);group 3:rats treated with FSME(200 mg/kg);group 4:rats treated with AZA(25 mg/kg);and groups 5 and 6:rats treated with CFME(200 mg/kg)or FSME(200 mg/kg)15 min prior to AZA(25 mg/kg)treatment.At the end of experimental period,blood and liver samples were collected from all groups for biochemical analysis and histological examination.Results:The obtained data revealed that AZA-induced hepatic injury in the rats as evidenced by the signifi cant increase in serum aspartate aminotransferase,alanine aminotransferase,alkaline phosphatase,cholesterol,and direct bilirubin as well as hepatic malondialdehyde level accompanied with signifi cant decrease in reduced glutathione content and total antioxidant capacity in the liver.Moreover,body weight gain showed the signifi cant decrease and relative liver weight showed the signifi cant increase on AZA treatment.The sequential signifi cant changes in biochemical parameters were accompanied by severe histological changes in the liver tissue,including hepatocytes disorganization with pyknotic nuclei,fatty degeneration,congestion,fi brosis,and bile duct necrosis around the portal tract.The areas of hemorrhages in blood vessels and in between hepatocytes were also seen.However,the results showed the potential hepatoprotective effects of CFME and FSME against AZA-induced liver injury and oxidative stress.They succeeded in restoring the biochemical parameters and improving the histological picture of the liver.This improvement was more pronounced in the rats pretreated with FSME.Conclusion:It could be concluded that CFME and FSME have hepatoprotective potentials against AZA probably due to their antioxidant properties and radical scavenging activity.

Fennel/容易吃的西餐—意大利菜

每次去意大利,一定要到远离城市的乡村或海岸线上去吃饭。品着只有在当地才能喝到的葡萄酒,吃着具有当地特色的美味,远比把时间花在奥特莱斯里购物更有价值。经常有人问我意大利。