ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Estrogens has traditionally been known as the female hormone, but this idea has been challenged in early 1990’s and an essential physiological role for estrogen in male fertility was identified. Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring non-steroidal plant chemicals that can act like the female hormone estrogen. The herbs ( anise alfalfa and vervain ) chosen in this study contain phytoestrogens. OBJECTIVE: Previous studies demonstrated controversy of the effects of phytoestrogens on the rat testes .Hence, the present investigation was undertaken to investigate the influence of typical dose of herbs containing phytoestrogen on the rat testis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four apparently normal mature male rats were divided into four groups of 6 animals each. The first "control" group received only 4ml of distilled water as a placebo. The second group received 40mg/kg of anise seed; the third group received 53.3 mg/kg of dried herb of vervain and the fourth group received 400 mg /kg of alfalfa seeds. All experimental groups received the doses through orogastric tube daily for fourteen days. Testicular histology was evaluated by light and enzyme histochemistry. Plasma FSH and testosterone concentrations were taken to support our results. RESULTS: Histological examination of anise, alfalfa and vervain – treated groups showed an increase in the height of germinal epithelia. There was marked lipoprotein lipase activity in the whole of the interstitial tissue which is more in amount in experimental groups than that in control group. Acid phosphatase granules were infiltered the seminiferous epithelia mildly in control group , moderately in anise and vervain groups and markedly in alfalfa group. The number of interstitial cells showing marked acid phosphatase activity was higher in all experimental groups than that in control group. Alkaline phosphatase exhibited intense activity in the boundary tissue of the seminiferous tubules in testes of control and experimental groups but it appeared thicker in the latter. CONCLUSION: The low dose and short duration of treatment used in our study made these phytoestrogen – containing herbs to have a stimulatory effect on leydig cell steroidogenesis. This study also demonstrated that aniseed being the most potent of the three herbs followed by alfalfa in stimulating testosterone synthesis. This is possibly attributed to the coumarin constituent of aniseed and alfalfa. KEY WORDS: phytoestrogen-containing herbs, testis, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, lipoprotein lipase
Nanocomposite was prepared using unsaturated polyester (UP) resin as a matrix and graphene nanoparticles as a reinforcement material in six percentage weights (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 1 and 1.5%). Mechanical, calorimetric and thermal studies were performed on the (UP) resin/graphene nanocomposite. All tests showed a clear improvement of all mechanical properties examined (hardness, flexural strength (F.S), impact strength (I.S) and tensile strength (T.S)) with increasing graphene percentage. In addition, the temperature of glass transition and thermal conductivity of this composite increased with increasing graphene content.
This study involves the synthesis of a new class of silicon polymers, designated as P1-P7, derived from dichlorodimethylsilane (DCDMS) in combination with various organic compounds (Schiff bases prepared from different amines and appropriate aldehydes or ketones) [I-V] through condensation polymerization. The structures of all monomers and polymers were characterization by FTIR and 1HNMR spectroscopy (for some polymers). The results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry DSC test show stable thermal behaviour. Polymers with a higher concentration of aromatic rings in their repeating structural units exhibited a higher temperature for weight loss, indicating increased thermal stability. Thermal meas
... Show MoreThe main aim of the current research is to focus the light on some bacterial contamination on cracked eggshell and egg content plus studying the sensitivity of these bacterial isolates to antibiotics. For this purpose, a total of 50 eggs were collected from the markets in Baghdad city (Iraq) and examined for bacterial isolation from cracked eggshells and from the egg contents. The bacterial isolates were cultured and purified then transferred to a specific media to study its sensitivity against antibiotics. The results revealed that bacteria isolated from both cracked eggshells (46%) and egg contents (44%). The bacteria isolated include E. coli, Staphylococcus, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterobacter and Pseudomonas. The results of antibiotic s
... Show MoreEsterification reaction is most important reaction in biodiesel production. In this study, oleic acid was used as a suggested feedstock to study and simulate production of biodiesel. Batch esterification of oleic acid was carried out at operating conditions; temperature from 40 to 70 °C, ethanol to oleic acid molar ratio from 1/1 to 6/1, H2SO4 as the catalyst 1 and 5% wt of oleic acid, reaction time up to 180 min. The optimum conditions for the esterification reaction were molar ratio of ethanol/oleic acid 6/1, 5%wt H2SO4 relative to oleic acid, 70 °C, 90 min and conversion of oleic 0.92. The activation energy for the suggested model was 26625 J/mole for forward reaction and 42189 J/mole for equilibrium constant. The obtained results s
... Show MoreThe effect of micro-and nano silica particles (silica SiO2 (100 μm), Fused silica (12nm)) on some mechanical properties of epoxy resin was investigated (Young's modulus, Flexural strength). The micro-and nano composites were prepared by using three steps process with different volume fraction of micro-and nano particles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 15, and 20 vol. %). Flexural strength and Young's modulus of nano composites were increased at low volume fraction (max. enhancement at 4 vol.% ). However at higher volume fraction both Young's modulus and flexural strength decrease. Moreover, above, the mechanical properties are enhanced more than that of neat epoxy resin. The flexural strength decreases with increasing the volume fraction of micr
... Show MoreHeterocyclic compounds are employed in many applications, and numerous researchers have created liquid crystals by adding heterocyclic to the structures of these molecules. This work includes the synthesis and characterization of new compounds that contain 5H-thiazolo [4,3-b][1,3,4] thiadiazol united in multiple steps, starting with the synthesis of the aldehyde compound [I] by reaction chloro ethyl acetate with 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde in the presence of ethanol and potassium carbonate, followed by reactions with thiosemicarbazide, mercapto acetic acid in sulphuric acid to produce compound [II] then reflux compound [II] with hydrazine hydrate to product compound [III], after that reaction the later compound with nalkoxybenzaldehyde [IV]n and
... Show MoreThis study involves the synthesis of a new class of silicon polymers, designated as P1-P7, derived from dichlorodimethylsilane (DCDMS) in combination with various organic compounds (Schiff bases prepared from different amines and appropriate aldehydes or ketones) [I-V] through condensation polymerization. The structures of all monomers and polymers were characterization by FTIR and 1HNMR spectroscopy (for some polymers). The results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry DSC test show stable thermal behaviour. Polymers with a higher concentration of aromatic rings in their repeating structural units exhibited a higher temperature for weight loss, indicating increased thermal stability. Thermal meas
... Show MoreThe species Vitex agnus-castus is an important medicinal plants and it is one of the cultivated and dicotyledon plants in Iraq. The anatomical of stem, petiole, midrib area, epidermis, veins, type of leaf stomata and seeds were studied by light microscope. In this research, shows the knowledge of anatomical characteristics of the studied plant, showing its importance as taxonomic characteristics through the sections of the stem, petiole, the midrib and the petals.
Due to the Geographical links, language is one of the multiple affects among Arabs and Turks. As the different studies demonstrate, Turkish contains many words derived from other languages, yet Arabic remains the language that has great affects on Turkish. Unlike Turkish language, Arabic is a derivative language that requires no suffixes. Thus, Arabic verbs are tuned into Turkish verbs by adding auxiliary verbs. The present study traces some of the Turkish compound words of Arabic roots with an explanation that shows the Auxiliary added to form the Turkish verb as found in the stories of Otman Chevek Sawy’s Like A voice in the Dark. The conclusion sums up the findings of the study illustrated by numbers.
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