---

Background & aim: A different characteristic of thymus daenensis such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-fungal and anti-viral makes it a suitable medicinal plant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of methanol extracts of roots, stems, leaves and seeds of three Thymus species collected from Goldasht region on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and human immunodeficiency virus replication. Methods: The present experimental study was conducted under laboratory conditions. Different parts of three Thymus subspecies including, Lance Flvious, Daynnsys thymus, Thymus vulgaris Karmanykvsv were collected and subsequently extracted. Subsequent to sampling from three healthy donors’ mononuclear cells, they were isolated using ficoll. The effects of different concentrations of extract (10, 100, 200, 800 and 1600 g/ml) on human immunodeficiency virus replication and amplification of human mononuclear cells was evaluated by P24 ELISA and MTT assay respectively. The gathered data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Results: All the extracts were able to increase peripheral blood mononuclear cells, so that the maximum and maximum effect was related to root and leaves extract respectively. Effective concentration for 50% inhibition of viral replication was obtained as 500 mg/ml for root extracts. Conclusions: Compared to other parts of the thymus daenensis, a root extract increased human peripheral blood mononuclear cell and able to inhibit the replication of human immunodeficiency virus.

---

Background and aim: Breast cancer is the most common cancer which is threatening the health of women worldwide. Recent studies have found that pomegranate seed oil extract, may have potential anti cancer effect(s). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of pomegranate seed oil on the proliferation of human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB468. Methods: MCF-7 and MDA-MB468 cell lines were provided and grown in the culture media of RPMI-1640 containing 10% fetal bovine serum with the proper antibiotic. The pomegranate seed oil was extracted using petroleum ether. Cells were treated with different concentrations of pomegranate seed oil (100-1500 µg/ml) and viability was evaluated by using MTT assay. All of the experiments were performed triplicate. Result: After a period of 24, 48, and 72 hrs, the IC50 in MCF-7 cell lines and MDA-MB468 cell lines were 1150,742,731µg/ml and 842,700,588 µg/ml, respectively. Conclusions: The results revealed that pomegranate seed oil has the cytotoxicity effect on the two mentioned cell lines. Moreover, at different times with different concentrations, it (time and concentration dependent) prevented the proliferation of breast cancer cells. Therefore, perhaps it takes as a nutritional factor in the prevention of breast cancer.

---

Background & aim: Utilizing tissue engineering techniques and designing similar structures of the damaged tissues require the use of tools such as scaffolds, cells, and bioactive molecules in vitro. Meanwhile, appropriate cell cultures with the ability to divide and differentiate on the natural scaffolds lacking features like immunogenicity and tumorgenesis is particularly important. Adipose tissue has attracted researchers’ attention due to its abundance of mesenchymal stem cells and its availability through a liposuction. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the reproducibility and viability of the adipose-derived stem cells on natural scaffolds of fibrin glue and agarose. Methods: In the present experimental study, the isolation and identification of the mesenchymal stem cells was performed on tissue obtained from liposuction. The tissues were extensively washed with PBS and were digested with collagenase I, then the mesenchymal stem cells were isolated. The cells were cultured in RPMI medium supplemented with antibiotic. Subsequently, the expression of cell surface markers including CD34, CD44, CD90, and CD105 were analyzed by flow cytometry to confirm the mesenchymal cells. After preparing fibrin glue and agarose scaffolds, the viability and proliferation of the adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells were examined at the period of 24, 48, and 72 hours by MTT and ELISA assays. The obtained results were analyzed by SPSS ver.19. Results: The results of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells culture on the fibrin glue and agarose scaffolds indicated that cell viability on fibrin glue and agarose scaffold were 68.22% and 89.75% in 24 hrs, 64.04% and 66.97% in 48 hours, 222.87% and 1089.68% in 72 hours respectively. Significant proliferation and viability cells on a synthesized agarose scaffold were seen compared to the fibrin glue scaffold after 72 hrs. The viability of the cells significantly increased on the agarose scaffold. Conclusion: Due to stability and permeability of scaffolding agarose, it seems that scaffolding agarose created better adhesion of cells in the performance of cell proliferation process compared with fibrin glue scaffold.

---

Introduction: Β-AR receptors are one of the proteins involved in cancer and stress. The therapeutic activity of β-blockers such as propranolol is attributed to the blockade of β1-adrenergic receptors (ARs). In this study, the effect of propranolol on the viability of K562 cell line was examined. Material and methods: In order to assessment of anti-tumoral effects of propranolol, different concentrations of propranolol were prepared. K562 cells were treated with different concentrations of propranolol, then the percentage of inhibitory effect of propranolol on K562 cell viability at different times (24, 48 and 72 hours) was estimated by MTT assay. Gel electrophoresis of DNA and DAPI staining were used for apoptosis investigation. Statistical comparisons were performed using two-sample t-test, Nominal significance level of each univariate test was 0.05. Results: Propranolol decreased viability of K562 cell line. The inhibitory effect of propranolol is time- and concentration-dependent, thus in higher concentrations and 72 hours after treatment, the maximum inhibitory effect was observed. (P<0.05). As the results showed, Propranolol induces apoptosis in K562 cell line. Conclusions: With respect to the inhibitory effect of propranolol on cell viability and its apoptotic effect on K562 cell line, this drug may be used for cancer therapy.