Antidepressant effects of aqueous extract of saffron and its effects on CREB, P-CREB, BDNF, and VGF proteins in rat cerebellum

Asrari, Najmeh,Yazdian-Robati, Rezvan,Abnous, Khalil,Razavi, BiBi Marjan,Rashednia, Mrazieh,Hasani, Faezeh Vahdati,Hosseinzadeh, Hossein KOREAN PHARMACOPUNCTURE INSTITUTE 2018 Journal of pharmacopuncture Vol.21 No.1

Objective: The role of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), CREB (cAMP response element binding) and VGF neuropeptide has been proved in antidepressant activity of long term saffron administration in the rat hippocampus. In this study we evaluated the role of these proteins in antidepressant activity of saffron in long term administration in the rat cerebellum. Methods: Saffron aqueous extract (40 and 80 mg/kg/day) and imipramine (10 mg/kg/day) were administered intraperitoneally for 21 days to rats. At the end of experiment, animals were sacrificed and cerebellums were separated. The protein levels of BDNF, VGF, CREB and P- CREB in the rat cerebellum were evaluated using western blot analysis. Results: Saffron aqueous extract (80mg/kg/day) caused significant increase in protein level of P-CREB in long term treatment in the rat cerebellum. The increases in the protein levels of VGF, CREB and BDNF were not significant. Conclusion: In summary, our results showed that antidepressant effect of saffron in rat cerebellum might be due to the enhanced phosphorylation of CREB.

On post-buckling characteristics of functionally graded smart magneto-electro-elastic nanoscale shells

Asrari, Reza,Ebrahimi, Farzad,Kheirikhah, Mohammad Mahdi Techno-Press 2020 Advances in nano research Vol.9 No.1

Geometrically nonlinear buckling of functionally graded magneto-electro-elastic (FG-MEE) nanoshells with the use of classical shell theory and nonlocal strain gradient theory (NSGT) has been analyzed in present research. Mathematical formulation based on NSGT gives two scale coefficients for simultaneous description of structural stiffness reduction and increment. Functional gradation of material properties is described based on power-law formulation. The nanoshell is under a multi-physical field related to applied voltage, magnetic potential, and mechanical load. Exerting a strong electric voltage, magnetic potential or mechanical load may lead to buckling of nanoshell. Taking into account geometric nonlinearity effects after buckling, the behavior of nanoshell in post-buckling regime can be analyzed. Nonlinear governing equations are reduced to ordinary equations utilizing Galerkin's approach and post-buckling curves are obtained based on an analytical procedure. It will be shown that post-buckling curves are dependent on nonlocal/strain gradient parameters, electric voltage magnitude and sign, magnetic potential magnitude and sign and material gradation exponent.

GIS overlay analysis for hazard assessment of drought in Iran using Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI)

Asrari, Elham,Masoudi, Masoud,Hakimi, Somaye Sadat The Ecological Society of Korea 2012 Journal of Ecology and Environment Vol.35 No.4

The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) is a widely used drought index to provide good estimations of the intensity, magnitude and spatial extent of droughts. The objective of this study was to analyze the spatial pattern of drought by SPI index. In this paper, the patterns of drought hazard in Iran are evaluated according to the data of 40 weather stations during 1967-2009. The influenced zone of each station was specified by the Thiessen method. It was attempted to make a new model of drought hazard using GIS. Three criteria for drought were studied and considered to define areas of vulnerability. Drought hazard criteria used in the present model included: maximum severity of drought in the period, trend of drought, and the maximum number of sequential arid years. Each of the vulnerability indicators were mapped and these as well as a final hazard map were classified into 5 hazard classes of drought: one, slight, moderate, severe and very severe. The final drought vulnerability map was prepared by overlaying three criteria maps in a GIS, and the final hazard classes were defined on the basis of hazard scores, which were determined according to the means of the main indicators. The final vulnerability map shows that severe hazard areas (43% of the country) which are observed in the west and eastern parts of country are much more widespread than areas under other hazard classes. Overall, approximately half of the country was determined to be under severe and very severe hazard classes for drought.

GIS overlay analysis for hazard assessment of drought in Iran using Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI)

Elham Asrari,Masoud Masoudi,Somaye Sadat Hakimi 한국생태학회 2012 Journal of Ecology and Environment Vol.35 No.4

The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) is a widely used drought index to provide good estimations of the intensity,magnitude and spatial extent of droughts. The objective of this study was to analyze the spatial pattern of drought by SPI index. In this paper, the patterns of drought hazard in Iran are evaluated according to the data of 40 weather stations during 1967-2009. The influenced zone of each station was specified by the Thiessen method. It was attempted to make a new model of drought hazard using GIS. Three criteria for drought were studied and considered to define areas of vulnerability. Drought hazard criteria used in the present model included: maximum severity of drought in the period, trend of drought, and the maximum number of sequential arid years. Each of the vulnerability indicators were mapped and these as well as a final hazard map were classified into 5 hazard classes of drought: one, slight, moderate, severe and very severe. The final drought vulnerability map was prepared by overlaying three criteria maps in a GIS, and the final hazard classes were defined on the basis of hazard scores, which were determined according to the means of the main indicators. The final vulnerability map shows that severe hazard areas (43% of the country) which are observed in the west and eastern parts of country are much more widespread than areas under other hazard classes. Overall, approximately half of the country was determined to be under severe and very severe hazard classes for drought.

Antidepressant effects of aqueous extract of saffron and its effects on CREB, P-CREB, BDNF, and VGF proteins in rat cerebellum

Najmeh Asrari,Rezvan Yazdian-Robati,Khalil Abnous,Bibi Marjan Razavi,Mrazieh Rashednia,Faezeh Vahdati Hasani,Hossein Hosseinzadeh 대한약침학회 2018 Journal of pharmacopuncture Vol.21 No.1

Objective: The role of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), CREB (cAMP response element binding) and VGF neuropeptide has been proved in antidepressant activity of long term saffron administration in the rat hippocampus. In this study we evaluated the role of these proteins in antidepressant activity of saffron in long term administration in the rat cerebellum. Methods: Saffron aqueous extract (40 and 80 mg/kg/ day) and imipramine (10 mg/kg/day) were administered intraperitoneally for 21 days to rats. At the end of experiment, animals were sacrificed and cerebellums were separated. The protein levels of BDNF, VGF, CREB and P- CREB in the rat cerebellum were evaluated using western blot analysis. Results: Saffron aqueous extract (80mg/kg/day) caused significant increase in protein level of P-CREB in long term treatment in the rat cerebellum. The increases in the protein levels of VGF, CREB and BDNF were not significant. Conclusion: In summary, our results showed that antidepressant effect of saffron in rat cerebellum might be due to the enhanced phosphorylation of CREB.

On scale–dependent stability analysis of functionally graded magneto-electro-thermo-elastic cylindrical nanoshells

Reza Asrari,Farzad Ebrahimi,Mohammad Mahdi Kheirikhah 국제구조공학회 2020 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.75 No.6

The present paper employs nonlocal strain gradient theory (NSGT) to study buckling behavior of functionally graded magneto-electro-thermo-elastic (FG-METE) nanoshells under various physical fields. NSGT modeling of the nanoshell contains two size parameters, one related to nonlocal stress field and another related to strain gradients. It is considered that mechanical, thermal, electrical and magnetic loads are exerted to the nanoshell. Temperature field has uniform and linear variation in nanoshell thickness. According to a power-law function, piezo-magnetic, thermal and mechanical properties of the nanoshell are considered to be graded in thickness direction. Five coupled governing equations have been obtained by using Hamilton’s principle and then solved implementing Galerkin’s method. Influences of temperature field, electric voltage, magnetic potential, nonlocality, strain gradient parameter and FG material exponent on buckling loads of the FG-METE nanoshell have been studied in detail.