An Effective Protocol for Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) cv. 'Geolei' Explants Sterilization for Successful Callusing and Shoot Regeneration

Carnation is a popular floricultural crop grown widely for its attractive cut flowers. Micro-propagation can be used to create large-scale carnation output. For growth and development, plants require some necessary nutrients as well as growth regulators. Due to the importance of carnation, the present work is carried out using leaf and nodal segments to examine the potential of several plant growth regulators for in vitro callus formation and adventitious shoot regeneration. Explants were sterilized properly with bavistin, sodium hypochlorite and mercuric chloride. The minor contaminated cultures were created by consecutively treating the explants with 0.25% bavistin, 0.50% sodium hypochlorite, and 0.1% mercuric chloride for ten, fifteen, and two minutes. MS media with 2.5 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) in combination with 0.75 mg/l naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) resulted in the maximum callus induction (90.47%) from leaf explants. Maximum shoots (76.47%) were produced in MS media supplemented with 2.0 mg/l Thidiazuron (TDZ) + 0.25 mg/l NAA. NAA at 1.25 mg/l was most efficient for maximum root induction (83.32%). In the present study, an effective protocol of carnation explants sterilization was optimized for successful callusing and shoot regeneration.

The Effect of Thymol on Renal Toxicity Induced by Mercury Chloride in Rats

Background and Aims: Mercuric chloride is highly toxic once absorbed into the bloodstream, especially the kidneys in which it is collected. Mercury chloride increases hydrogen peroxide and enhances the destruction of protective enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), leading to oxidative stress. Besides, thymol has anti-oxidant effects and can increase the activity of SOD and GPX. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of thymol on mercury chloride-induced toxicity. Materials and Methods: In this study, 30 rats, consisting of 6 groups of 5, were used. Control group receiving a single dose of 0.5 mg/kg mercuric chloride for 15 days, third, fourth, and fifth group received intraperitoneal injection of mercuric chloride at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg for 15 days plus thymol at a dose of 10, 30, 50 mg/kg. The sixth group received mercuric chloride at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg for 15 days plus thymol at 30 mg/kg per day for ten days. Results: Results showed a significant difference in the activity of catalase enzyme in kidney tissue samples test. According to the results of SOD, there is a significant difference between the group of corn oil and the group of mercury chloride and between the group of mercury chloride and the group that receives thymol at a dose of 10, 30, 50 mg/kg (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: It can be concluded that mercury chloride-induced kidney toxicity and thymol have anti-oxidant protective effects for SOD and GPX.

The Antioxidant Efficacy of Wheatgrass (Triticum Aestivum) on Mercuric Chloride (HgCl2) - Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Model

Mercury is a harmful toxic pollutant, which has hepato-nephrotoxic, hematotoxic, genotoxic and neurotoxic, effects. The aim of the study was to evaluate the protective efficacy of wheatgrass on mercuric chloride (HgCl2) induced oxidative stress and associated complications in rat model. Albino rats were divided into four groups (three rats per group). Group I normal control group. Group II oxidative stressed group received mercuric chloride (0.5 mg/kg/day). Group III only received wheatgrass extract (100 mg/kg/day), whereas Group IV received wheatgrass (100 mg/kg/day) after one hour, followed by mercuric chloride (0.5 mg/kg/day) for 30 days. The results of the study showed that wheatgrass supplementation significantly decreased the HgCl2 induced elevated oxidative stress parameters Plasma Malondialdehyde (MDA) content, Plasma membrane redox system (PMRS), Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), simultaneously elevated lipid profile (Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides, Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), liver enzymes as, Plasma Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Serum Urea, and Creatinine levels in rats. In addition, wheatgrass treatment improved the antioxidant status in terms of intracellular Reduced Glutathione (GSH), Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2, 2- diphenyl -1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Therefore it can be concluded that wheatgrass has great potential to diminish the stress-mediated complications and improve the antioxidant status.