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Background: Microbial infections are important challenges to health, and health care officials have major difficulties dealing with them especially regarding their antibiotic resistance. The main aim of this study was to evaluate drug synergistic and anti-bacterial effects of cuminum cyminum essential oil on some pathogen bacteria. Materials and Methods: Cuminum cyminum essential oil was extracted from its fruit. For evaluation of antibacterial effects of the essential oil, disc diffusion method through the measurement of the inhibitory zone diameter and micro-broth dilution for determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) on several standard bacteria were used. In evaluation of the synergistic and antagonistic effects, standard bacteria were cultured in the media containing essential oil, and antibiotic discs were, then, placed on it. Results: According to the results of disc diffusion test in Agar, cuminum cyminum essential oil, with a 44 mm inhibition zone, had the greatest antibacterial activity against bacillus cereus. It had the greatest positive co-action with gentamicin (10 µg) on escherichia coli. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that cuminum cyminum essential oil alone or in combination with antimicrobial agents may be useful in treatment of bacterial infections. Additionally, this component can enhance the effect of some antibiotics this implies its application, especially in drug resistance cases.

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Background: Correct use of cuminum cyminum and finding its different applications in medicine and industry necessitates a more clear understanding of this medicinal plant. This study deals with identifying the effects of the essential oil of this herbal plant on macrophages and tumor cell lines. Materials and Methods:Cuminum cyminum essential oil was extracted from its fruit, and its effects on peritoneal macrophages and LPS stimulated macrophages were examined. MTT assay was done for evaluation of macrophages viability and the amount of nitric oxide (NO) in culture supernant was measured by Griess Reagent. WEHI-164 mice fibrosarcoma cell line was cultured with different concentrations of cuminum cyminum and cytotoxicity level was evaluated by MTT assay. Results: The viability of macrophages and also, the amount of NO production in 50 and 500 μg/ml cuminum cyminum essential oil was lower than that of the control group (p<0.001). MTT assay showed that cuminum cyminum essential oil in 50 and 500 μg/ml concentrations significantly inhibits tumor cells growth (p<0.001). Conclusion: Cuminum cyminum essential oil by having immune-modulatory properties can be used in treatment of many inflammatory and immunologic disorders. Also, it can be used as a therapeutic or complementary agent in tumor therapy.

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Background: Programmed death 1 (PDCD1), a negative T-cell regulator which induces peripheral tolerance, belongs to Ig super and CD28/CTLA-4 families. PD-1 gene induces negative signals in T-cells during interaction with its ligands. Thus the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between PD-1 polymorphism and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Iranian patients and healthy controls. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, genomic DNA was extracted from the whole blood samples using DNA purification kit (DNG-plus, Cinnagen, Iran). PD1.1G/A as a SNP located on promoter with position -536 were genotyped for 120 RA patients and 188 healthy controls through PCR-RFLP method. Association of genotypes and alleles frequency in the patients was compared with controls and analyzed using Chi-square test and 2×2 contingency table in SPSS software version 15.0. The diagnosis of RA patients and provision of their clinical information was done in Rheumatology Research Center of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Results: The A allele of the PD1.1 polymorphism located on the promoter of PD-1 gene was significantly more frequent in Iranian RA patients than the controls (p=0.04). There were no significant differences in PD1.1G/G genotype (p=0.08), PD1.1A/A genotype (p=0.39), and PD1.1G/A genotype (p=0.16) between RA cases and controls. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed the presence of a significant relationship between the A allele of the PD1.1 (-536) of the promoter and susceptibility to RA in Iranian patients.

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Background: IFN-&lambda3 (IL-28B) is a new cytokine from the type III interferons. Its role in several biologic activities, such as regulation of immune responses, tumor and metastasis, or its functions in HBV and HCV diseases, has been shown. The present study evaluated the frequency of rs8099917 allele polymorphism in IFN-&lambda3 gene in Iranian population.

Materials and Methods: In this laboratory-experimental study, after collecting blood samples from 118 unrelated Iranian subjects, DNA extraction was performed according to the kit protocols. Evaluation of rs8099917 allele polymorphism was done by Nested-PCR and RFLP method using BsrDI and Tsp451 restriction enzymes.

Results: After running the tests and data analysis, the frequencies of GG genotype (2.5%), GT genotype (31.4%), and TT genotype (66.1%) were obtained. Allele frequencies were 71.22% for G allele and 81.78% for T allele.

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that TT genotype and T allele are the dominant frequencies of rs8099917 allele of IFN-&lambda3 gene in Iranian population. Regarding the different established functions of IFN-&lambda3, frequency determination of this variant can be helpful in different studies, designs, evaluations, and treatment procedures in some diseases, such as tumors and hepatitis, in Iranian patients.