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Background: This study investigated the effects of some important meteorological parameters and filler type compounds on phytotoxicity of captan in peach trees in the north of Iran. Captan is a phthalimide fungicide which has frequently been used in northern regions of Iran to control certain plant diseases. This fungicide has caused intense phytotoxicity in peach trees which was first observed in the northern districts of Iran in 2005. Since early research has only reported that some changes in the climate could be associated with this phytotoxic effect and little is known on phytotoxicity of filler in the formulation, therefore, we studied the role of filler in this toxic effect and also its interaction with this phytotoxicity.
 Methods: Filler (calcium carbonate) and climatic parameters, including minimum and maximum temperatures, relative humidity, daily precipitation, and sunshine hour, were analyzed.
Results: The means of calcium carbonate concentrations measured by atomic absorption and EDTA analyses were 17.41± 0.4 and 20.93 ± 1.25 µg /ml, respectively. The final ranges of calcium carbonate in formulation were found to be 42-43.5%. pH values were measured from 8.55 to 8.75. Furthermore, there were no significant differences between meteorological parameters in the year 2005 in comparison with previous year (P>0.05).
Conclusion: The high amounts of calcium carbonate in the formulation of captan, resulting in alkaline hydrolysis followed by the increasing uptake of thiophosgen in peach trees and consequently interacting with meteorological parameters, have caused a broad spectrum of phytotoxicity in northern areas of Iran.

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ABSTRACT
 Background: Herbal distillates have been used for many centuries as drinks, flavors, and herbal medicine in Iran, especially in the city of Urmia. Recently, some studies claimed the presence of methanol in different types of herbal distillates. Methanol is a highly toxic compound which can cause acute or chronic toxicity in humans. Acute poisoning with methanol can cause different complications and even death while chronic methanol exposure has a wide range of nonspecific and misleading findings. The main purpose of this study was to determine methanol content in the commonly-used industrial herbal distillates produced in Urmia.
Methods: Five samples of six types of most commonly used herbal distillates (peppermint, musk willow, lemon balm, pennyroyal, dill, and rose water) were purchased from five active herbal distillates manufacturers in Urmia. All samples were transferred to the laboratory and methanol content of each sample was measured two times according to the standard method of analysis using spectrophotometer.
Results: The lowest and highest concentration of methanol were found in rose water (mean=72.4±32.1 ppm) and musk willow (mean=278.3±106 ppm) samples, respectively. One-way ANOVA showed statistically significant differences among methanol concentrations in the studied herbal distillates (F=60.9, P <0.001).
 Discussion: Different amounts of methanol were found in herbal distillates and it seems that there are statistically significant differences in methanol concentrations of various types of herbal distillates. Therefore, considering the harmful effects of methanol on human health, further studies are required for determining permitted levels of methanol in herbal distillates.

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Background: Acetaminophen is widely used as an analgesic and antipyretic drug and it is a frequent cause of acute drug poisoning.This study was carried out to investigate the demographic information and clinical and laboratory findings in acetaminophen poisoning patients referred to “17 Shahrivar” and “Razi” educational hospitals, Rasht.
Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 125 patients with acetaminophen poisoning were studied. Descriptive data were analyzed by SPSS software.
Results: 90 of the patients were women and the mean age of the patients was 21.5±9.06 years. Also, 72.8% of the patients were from urban areas and most of the patients (67.2%) lived in Rasht. Spring was the most common season for the incidence of poisoning. Suicide was the most common pattern of poisoning (91.2%). The mean time interval between poisoning and use of antidote N-acetylcysteine was 4.94±3.5 hours. The most common cause of delayed administration of antidote was failure in diagnosis of poisoning. Overall, 31.2% of the patients had no significant clinical manifestations. In other patients, nausea (50.4%) was the most common clinical symptom. The most common abnormal laboratory findings were prolonged prothrombin time and international normalized ratio (29%). Liver aminotransferases were elevated only in 18% of the patients.
Conclusion: Poisoning with acetaminophen was mainly found in women, 12-20 years of age, in urban areas and spring season. Suicide was the main reason of poisoning. Regarding the most common cause of delay in antidote therapy (failure in poisoning diagnosis), establishment of a toxicology laboratory in Guilan province can help the better management of poisoned patients.

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Background: This study aims to investigate the patterns of bioaccumulation and depuration of copper in the selected kidney and liver of Capoeta fusca.
Methods: The fish were collected between September and November 2010 from a qanat in Birjand. They were exposed to two types treatments with copper (0.25 and 0.75 mg/L) for a period of 41 days. The fish under study were exposed to the above-mentioned sub-lethal concentrations separately for 14 and 21 days (accumulation period). At the end of this period, the remaining fish were kept in tap water (elimination period) for 31 and 41 days.
Results: The findings showed that the accumulation of copper in lower and higher sub-lethal concentrations was higher in kidney as the mean accumulation of copper on day 21 was 1.9±0.1 μg/g and 2.93±0.47 μg/g respectively, in 0.25 μg/g and 0.75 μg/g concentrations. On the other hand, the results also showed that the depuration level of copper in the given concentrations was higher in liver than kidney. The bioaccumulation and depuration of copper significantly increased in the kidney and liver of C. fusca (P<0.01).
Conclusion: Based on the present work, it is concluded that C. fusca has a potential for the rapid accumulation and depuration of copper in freshwater. Also, the results indicate that the fish C. fusca, as representative fish species in the East of Iran, can be a useful bioindicator organism of water contamination with copper.

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Background: Aluminum phosphide (ALP) or rice tablet is a common agent used as pesticides. It is cheap, widely available and highly toxic and responsible for many cases of poisoning in the agricultural communities. There is limited evidence about change of liver enzymes in patients with ALP poisoning in this region. Therefore, we decided to evaluate alteration of liver enzymes in ALP poisoning in Rasht. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, all documents of patients with ALP poisoning admitted to Razi hospital of Rasht in 2008-2009 were assessed. Inclusion criteria were diagnostic clinical manifestation such as hypotension or metabolic acidosis, history of exposure to ALP during the past 24 hours and progressive signs and symptoms despite treatment (administration of sodium bicarbonate and vasopressor). Patients with past history of hepatic disease were excluded. Collected data were analyzed with SPSS software.
Results: Of 104 patients with ALP poisoning, 66 patients (63.5%) were men. The mean age was 33.8±14.69 years, and the mean time of hospitalization was 14.94±18.28 hours. Ninety-five patients (91.3%) needed ventilation and 93 patients (89.4%) died. Statistical analysis demonstrated that elevated liver enzymes were not significantly related with gender, age, time of admission, time of hospitalization, the need for ventilation and mortality.
Conclusion: It seems that liver enzymes changes is not seen widely in ALP poisoning and had lower importance than other complications. Because of limited studies in liver enzyme alterations in these patients, it is suggested that more studies with largee sample size is performed to investigate the ALP liver side effects.

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Background: DZN (diazinon) is an organophosphate insecticide that had been used in agriculture and for domestic and veterinary use for several years and caused many negative effects on plants and animal species, especially on human. The aim of present study was to evaluate the effects of DZN on MDA (malondialdehyde) and GSH (glutathione) levels in female rat reproductive tissue (ovary) and to assess the protective role of vitamin E.
Methods: A total of 30 adult female Wistar rats were divided into five groups: control group (without any intervention), sham group (received only pure corn oil, as solvent), experimental group 1 (DZN+corn oil, 60 mg/kg), experimental group 2 (vitamin E, 200 mg/kg), and experimental group 3 (DZN+vitamin E, the same dosage). All drugs were injected intraperitoneally, except vitamin E which was administrated by gavage. The animals were scarified after two weeks and MDA as a marker of lipid peroxidation and GSH content were measured in ovarian tissue.
Results: DZN reduced GSH content and increased MDA level in ovary compared with the control group (P<0.001). Vitamin E plus DZN increased GSH content but decreased DZN-induced MDA elevation in rat ovarian tissue.
Conclusion: Oxidative stress contributes to DZN-induced ovarian toxicity. The results of this study suggested that vitamin E may have a protective effect on DZN-induced ovarian toxicity.

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Background:Gossypol is a yellow toxic pigment from the cottonseed that can cause acute or chronic toxicity in humans and animals by affecting the testicular tissues. Nowadays cottonseed is used as food supplement for ruminants specially the sheep. In this study, two different stem cell lines of testicular tissue including GC1-spg (mouse testis) and SFTF-PI43 (sheep testis) cells were used to evaluation of gossypol cytotoxicity.
Methods: The GC-1spg and the SFTF_PI43 cells were cultured in RPMI-1640 supplemented with fetal bovine serum (10%) and antibiotic (penicillin 105/ml, streptomycin100μg/ml), and then 5×104 cells/well were seeded in 24 well plates. Cultured cells were exposed to four different concentrations of gossypol (1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10μM). After 24 h incubation, cells viability test was performed using Trypan Blue dye exclusion and MTT assay. The Thiobarbituric Acid Reacting Substances (TBARS) and Ferric Reducing Activity Potential (FRAP) assays was performed on media.
Result: In high concentrations (over than 2.5μM), Gossypol showed cytotoxic effects on cells. The IC50 for gossypol (using MTT assays) on SFTF-PI43 and GC-1spg cell lines was 2.2 μM and 3.2 μM, respectively. While the results for FRAP assay did not show any significant differences between the test and control groups, significantly higher lipid peroxidation was observed in SFTF-PI43 cells that were treated with higher doses of gossypol (10μM).
Conclusion:In this research, we found that gossypol has cytotoxic effects on both examined testicular cell lines and increased lipid peroxidation, which is a probable mechanism of its toxicity on cell lines.

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Background: Cigarette butts have been shown to release numerous kinds of chemicals such as heavy metals in water and may be a continual source of aquatic environments contamination after discarding. The objective of the present study was to determine the concentration of Cd and Pb in cigarette filters of different Iranian and non-Iranian brands in smoked and non-smoked samples.
Methods: Ten different brands of cigarettes were collected from Tehran, Iran local markets in 2014. Standardized international protocols were followed for preparation of the materials and analysis of heavy metals (Pb and Cd) contents. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 18 software by ANOVA and Student T tests.
Results: The average concentration of Cd in Iranian cigarette filters was 0.42±0.03mg/kg and in non-Iranian cigarette filters was 0.31±0.05mg/kg (p=0.4). The average concentration of Pb in Iranian cigarette filters was 22.32±1.15mg/kg and in non-Iranian cigarette filters was 23.62±3.17mg/kg (p=0.072). The Cadmium concentration in cigarette filters ranged from 0.18 to 0.48μg/g before and 0.25 to 0.88μg/g after smoking. The Lead concentration in cigarette filters ranged from 16.63 to 33.52μg/g before and 20.14 to 53.55μg/g after smoking.
Conclusion: Smoked cigarette filters have more concentrations of Cd and Pb than non-smoked cigarette filters and these concentrations are also different between Iranian and non-Iranian cigarette brands.

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Background: This cross sectional study was conducted to evaluate the effect of &gamma-rays and electron-beam irradiation with a commercial toxin binder-milbond-TX on the performance, feed components, and meat quality of Japanese quails challenged with aflatoxin B₁.

Methods: Overall, 168 One-d-old chicks (Japanese quails) were allocated to eight treatments with three replicates based on a completely randomized design in a 2×4 factorial arrangement. Two levels of aflatoxin (Zero and 2 ppm) were considered as the essential factor. The secondary factor was involved in four levels (Control, 27 k Gy doses of &gamma-rays, electron-beam irradiation, and 0.3% commercial toxin binder-milbond-TX).

Results: In vitro condition showed that experiment diets do not have any effect on meat quality and feed components such as malondialdehyde, protein, fat, ash, and the dry matter. However, the highest and the lowest levels of feed intake and body weight gain were observed in the 7th treatment (2-ppm aflatoxin B₁ + electron-beam irradiation) and the 2nd treatment (2-ppm aflatoxin B₁ alone), respectively in 1-15 and 29-42 days (P&le0.05). In addition, the highest liver weight (1.73), spleen (0.57) and bursa (0.18) were seen in the second treatment (2 ppm aflatoxin B₁) alone (P&le0.05) at the age of 42 days.

Conclusion: &gamma-rays and electron-beam irradiation plus commercial toxin binder-milbond-TX can be used for aflatoxin B₁ absorption in poultry diets.

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Background: Many health problems are related to lifestyle and dietary factors. Since ancient times, food additives such as sulfites have been used to preserve foods. Diverse effects of sulfites on multiple organs have been reported but its effect on female reproductive organ has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sodium metabisulfite (SMB) on ovarian tissue in adult rats.

Methods: Four groups of female rats (n=32) were used. The experimental rats received 10, 100 and 260 mg/kg SMB for 28 days (S10, S100 and S260 groups, respectively). The control rats received distilled water for the same period. The ovarian volume, weight and the number of different types of follicles were estimated by stereological methods. Lipid peroxidation is assessed indirectly by the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA), using the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method.

Results: The results showed a significant decrease in the ovarian volume, the number of primordial, primary, secondary, grafian follicles and corpus luteum in the SMB-treated animals compared with the control group (P < 0.05). In comparison to the control group, the number of atretic follicles increased in the SMB-treated rats. MDA was significantly increased in S260 group compared to the control group.

Conclusion: The present data confirm sulfite-induced structural changes in the ovary. Increased level of MDA because of SMB ingestion suggests that free radicals may have a critical role in these changes.

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Background: Diazinon (DZN) is an organophosphate insecticide widely utilized in agriculture all over the world and causes many negative effects on plants and animal species, especially on human. The aim of present study was to evaluate the effects of DZN on apoptosis of ovarian follicles in adult rats and to assess the protective role of vit E.

Methods: Thirty adult female Wistar rats were divided into five groups: control group (without any intervention), sham group (received only pure olive oil, as solvent), experimental group 1 (DZN+olive oil, 60 mg/kg), experimental group 2 (vit E, 200 mg/kg), and experimental group 3 (DZN+vit E, the same dosage). All drugs were injected intraperitoneally, except vit E administrated by gavage. The animals were scarified after two weeks and left ovary was used to measure apoptosis of ovarian follicles.

Results: The number apoptotic cells experimental group 1 increased significantly in contrast control group in secondary and graffian follicles (P< 0.001). Administration vit E plus DZN, significantly reduced apoptotic cells compared to DZN group (P< 0.001).

Conclusion: DZN-induced apoptosis in secondary and graffian follicles and vit E inhibited apoptosis induced by DZN. Vit E might have a protective effect on DZN-induced ovarian toxicity.

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Background: Foodborne botulism (FBB) is a rare paralyzing disease caused by ingestion of foods contaminated with botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT). It is still a health concern in many countries. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of FBB in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran.

Methods: Botulism surveillance data of the Health Deputy of Urmia Medical Sciences University, northwestern Iran was used in this retrospective survey from 2010 to 2014. Demographics, clinical features, bioassay results, implicated foods and outcome were analyzed. Clinically, patients were classified to three groups (mild, moderate, and severe).

Results: During the five years, 57 cases of FBB were identified involving 36 men (63.2%) and 21 women (37.8%). Mean age was 22.35±17.84 yr. Most events were sporadic (86%). Bioassay confirmed serotype A of BoNT in 19 patients (33.3%). The most implicated food was locally-made cheese (n=10). Average incubation period was 24.35±12.35 h. Clinically, mild, moderate and severe forms were observed in 68.4%, 19.3% and 12.3% of patients, respectively. All cases were hospitalized and treated with trivalent antitoxin. Mean hospital stay was 7.71±3.94 days Eight patients (14%) required mechanical ventilation and three of them deceased (5.3%). Median annual incidence rate of FBB was 0.37 cases per 100,000 population in this study.

Conclusion: Comparing other part of the world, FBB has a medium incidence rate in our province. Unpasteurized dairy products are the main causative foods and BoNT/A is the most commonly recognized toxin type. Promoting correct preservation and appropriate cooking are recommended for preventing FBB.

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Background: Activation of inflammatory cells can cause more chemicals induced-hepatotoxicity. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a fungal toxin that induces acute hepatotoxicity in humans and animals. This study was conducted to examine the effect of co-exposure LPS and various aflatoxin B1 doses on the damage hepatic parameters in isolated perfused rat liver.

Methods: Thirty-two male wistar rats (250-300g) were divided to eight groups including Control and LPS; three groups with various doses of AFB1 (0.01, 0.1 and 1 ppm) and three groups with various doses of AFB1 and Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (300 ppm). Activity of Aspartate transaminase (AST) and Alanine transaminase (ALT) were determined in perfusate. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and Glutathione (GSH) concentrations were measured in homogenate liver.

Results: At two groups of AFB 1 (with LPS and without LPS) at AFB1 concentrations of 0.1 and 1 ppm, elevation of AST and ALT enzymes activity were indicated. Values of GSH in both of groups (AFB 1 with LPS and without LPS) had reduced at concentration of 1 ppm. TBARS concentrations were enhanced in AFB1 concentration of 1 ppm in both of groups (with LPS and without LPS), however in comparison between groups (with LPS and without LPS) in similar concentrations significant different did not observe (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Non-injurious dose of LPS did not enhance liver susceptibility to various doses of AFB1 in perfused rat liver. This may be in part of due to extrahepatic factors, which contribute, in more liver damage.

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Background: The pattern of drug abuse in Iran has dramatically changed in recent years, turning from the traditional opioids [opium, opium dross, and refined opium dross (Shireh)] into drugs with newer forms. The present study is aimed at investigating the frequency of pathological changes in the lungs of bodies with positive postmortem toxicology results for narcotics and psychotropic substances autopsied in the forensic dissection hall of Tehran, Iran [the Iranian Legal Medicine Organization (LMO)].

Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional descriptive study. The sample consisted of 153 bodies, which had been referred to the LMO with positive results in postmortem toxicology for narcotics and psychotropic substances.

Results: We found that narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances were used more in men than women. Moreover, the average age of death due to drug use was 36 years old. In addition, methamphetamine was the mostly-used type of substances, and smoking was the most widely used method to use the drugs. Besides, the dominant consistency and color of the lungs of half of the bodies investigated were elastic brown-gray. Moreover, the most common pathologic changes observed in the lungs of the bodies investigated were congestion and edema.

Conclusion: Given the prevalence of pathological changes in the lungs of the examined bodies and congestion, edema, and pulmonary hemorrhage, the results of the present study can be particularly effective in determining the drug use and the resultant death in the absence of any previous records and/or a negative result of toxicology.

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Background: Mentha longifolia is one of the aromatic medicinal plant belongs to Lamiaceae family. There are some active ingredients in the essential oil of M. longifolia, which potentially could impair the hepatic function. The aim of this study was to find the maximum dose of essential oil of M. longifolia (EOML) that does not show any hepatic deterioration.

Methods: Adult Wistar rats fed different doses of EOML as 50, 100, 200, 300, 400or 600 mg/kg, for two wk. After the completion of administration, the serum activity of ALT, AST, and ALPas the well-known liver toxicity enzymes and the serum total billirubine were measured, by spectrophotometer. The study was done at 2016 in Isfahan Pharmacy School, Isfahan, Iran.

Results: Totally, 400 mg/kg of EOML significantly raised all of the evaluating factors compare to the control group. We found complete mortality in animals that received 600 mg/kg of EOML.

Conclusion: The essential oil of M. longifolia is not entirely safe especially for the liver. Administration at the dose of 400 mg/kg leads to the hepatotoxic effect. The death occurred in the higher doses. The possible mechanisms for the EOML liver toxicity are triggering of oxidative stress or apoptosis by its ingredient like pulegone compound.

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Background: Phthalates are widely used as plasticizers in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) products. Several pharmaceutical products have been stored in PET containers, and due to serious health effects of phthalates, migration levels of them into pharmaceutical products must be determined. In the present study, leaching levels of four common phthalate esters including di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) into various types of infusion fluids form four different commercial brand were investigated.

Methods: Trace levels of phthalate esters were successfully extracted by a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) method using acetonitrile as dispersive and CCL₄ as an extraction solvent and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Results: Different levels DEHP were detected in all samples (mean=10.55±6.88 and maximum=19.7 ppb). While no levels of other phthalates were detected in some samples, some other contained up to 25.1±17.7, 15.4±8.3, 8.1 ppb DEP, DBP, and BBP respectively. Mean total phthalate ester (TPE) levels in infusion fluids were 7.92±5.68 ppb. Phthalate leaching into normal saline was significantly lower than other types of serums and brand ID#3’ products contain minimum phthalate levels compared to other brands.

Conclusions: Hospitalized patient particularly those who regularly take serum-therapy and children are at significant risk of phthalate exposure via intravenous fluids receiving.

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Background: Stress may cause damages to DNA or/and change the ability of the cells to overcome these damages. It may also cause irregularities in the cell cycle and induce abnormal cell divisions through glucocorticoid-dependent functions. The abnormal cell divisions, in turn, lead to chromosomal mal-segregation and aneuploidy. In this study, the effects of the stress hormone, hydrocortisone (HYD), were investigated on the induced chromosomal abnormalities by vinblastine (VIN) during cell cycle in L929 cells.

Methods: This work was performed in winter 2013 at Department of Biology, University of Ferdowsi, Mashhad, Iran. Cultured cells were divided into different groups including control, VIN-treated, HYD treated and VIN+HYD co-treated cells. The induced chromosomal damages were investigated by micronucleus assay in cytokinesis-blocked binucleated cells.

Results: Although HYD by itself did not increase the micronuclei (Mn) frequency, co-treatment of cells with VIN and HYD led to significant increase (P<0.05) in the frequency of Mn in comparison to control and VIN treated groups.

Conclusion: Cells treated with stress hormone are more sensitive to damages induced by VIN. Therefore, stress may not directly result in genetic instability, it can increase the harmful effects associated with other genotoxic agents.

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Background: The global incidence of snakebite has become a major concern to the community. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of mango seed kernel methanol extract on metalloproteases in Carpet Viper (Echis ocellatus) venom.
Methods: Mango seed kernel methanolic extract was evaluated in vitro for its anti-venom activity and inhibition of metalloproteases of Carpet Viper's (Echis ocellatus) venom. Metalloprotease portion was partially purified from the venom of E. ocellatus with a yield of 71%, a purification fold of 2.63 and a specific activity of 19.00 µmol/min/mg protein.
Results: The enzyme appeared as a band on SDS-PAGE with a molecular weight of 23 kDa. The kinetic properties of the enzyme showed a K_m of 0.31 mg mL^-1 and a V_max of 9.09 µmol min^-1. When the enzyme was incubated with the extract, kinetic studies revealed a mixed non-competitive pattern of inhibition with K_m values of 0.56 and 1.11 mg mL^-1 and V_maxvalues of 6.67 and 4.17-µmol min^-1 for 5% and 20% inhibitor concentrations, respectively. An estimated K_i value of 0.168 mg mL^-1 was obtained from a secondary plot demonstrating that the extract had a high affinity for the partially purified enzyme; thus, could serve as an effective inhibitor.
Conclusion: Methanol extract of mango seed kernel has a high affinity for the partially purified enzyme, and it might provide an inexpensive and readily available alternative to sheep serum in the management of snakebite envenomation. Therefore, further in vivo studies are necessary to assess its effectiveness and safety.

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Background: Exposure to environmental toxins such as organophosphates poses a great threat to the health of the public. In this work, we investigated the effects of continuous exposure to dichlorvos (DDVP) on kidney function and hematological parameters, and the possible antidote activity of Nigella sativa oil (NSO).
Methods: This research was conducted in 2016, at The Animal Holding and Research Laboratory of Faculty Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups, six rats each. The four groups received: 1. phosphate buffer solution as controls, 2. DDVP, 3. DDVP+NSO and 4. NSO alone. After 2 wk of treatment, blood samples were collected and hematological profile (RBC, Hb), erythrocyte indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC, and Plt), renal function parameters (albumin, urea, total protein, chloride, sodium, and potassium ions) and nonspecific immune response (WBC) were measured.
Results: Rat exposed to DDVP showed red blood cell count, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, albumin, and total protein levels was reduced from control, while white blood cell count and urea significantly increased as compared to controls, the change in K⁺ level was not significant. NSO maintained optimal levels of red blood cell count, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, albumin, white blood cell count, and urea, indicative of its protective effect against hemo-, immuno- and nephrotoxicity of DDVP.
Conclusion: N. sativa (Black Caraway) oil might be a potential antidote in hematotoxicity, immunosuppression and renal dysfunction in organophosphate poisoning, especially dichlorvos. The protective effect of NSO against dichlorvos toxicity can be attributed to its antioxidant capacity.

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Background: Bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis has been accepted as an animal model for fibrosis in rats. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of saffron aqueous extract on this disorder paving the way for more investigation in treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in human. 
Methods: Male Wistar rats (250–300 gr) were instilled a single dose of bleomycin (5 mg/kg) via intratracheal tube (n=6) in 2015. Sham group received normal saline. Saffron aqueous extract (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) were given orally in two different treated groups with bleomycin for 28 days. Lung Indices was calculated at the end of this experiment. Lung segments fixed in 10% formaldehyde were used for pathological preparation with Hematoxylin & Eosin and trichrome staining.
Results: The body weight was decreased and lung Indices increased in bleomycin group (P<0.5). Bleomycin administration increased myeloperoxidase, malondialdehyde and finally TNF-α in lung tissue homogenates (P<0.05) compared with sham group. The fibrotic process and thickening of alveolar septa in treated rats with bleomycin were increased by H&E and Masson Trichrome staining. Saffron treatment (50 and 100 mg/kg) attenuated the increase in MDA (264.43±10.4 nmol/g by the higher dose versus 378.4±18.1nmol/g), MPO (0.19±0.03 and 0.13± 0.04 IU/ml versus 0.39.2±0.05 IU/ml) and TNF-α level (18.42±3.7 ng/ml and14.31±3.6 ng /ml versus 35.32±4.2) in lung homogenates compared to bleomycin group (P<0.05). It decreased collagen accumulation and alveolar destructive patterns in pulmonary fibrosis.
Conclusion: This study introduces saffron as novel anti-fibrotic agent against bleomycin-induced fibrosis due to histological examinations and preventive effects on destructive enzyme release in rats.