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Background: Remaining of crude oil in storage tanks usually lead to accumulation of oily sludge at the bottom of the tank which should be treated and disposed of in a suitable manner. In this research the feasibility of chemical oxidation with H2O2 and Fenton's reagent for removal of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) from composted storage tank sludges was investigated.

Materials and Methods: The sludge was mixed with immature compost at various sludge to compost ratios including 1:2, 1:4, 1:6, 1:8 and 1:10 and composted for 82 days. Then, hydrogen peroxide and Fenton’s reagent were added to the composted mixture in six concentrations including 2%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 30% w w-1 for a period of 24 and 48 hr.

Results: TPH removal in composting reactors with the ratios of 1:2, 1:4, 1:6, 1:8 and 1:10 were 66.59, 73.19, 74.81, 80.20 and 79.91 percent, respectively. The mean TPH removal of 1:8 composted mixtures with 2%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 30% of oxidant concentrations were 1, 5.09, 19.37, 28.16, 34.37 and 38.05 percent, respectively. The highest removal efficiency was achieved in stepwise addition to the sludge. As well, increasing oxidation time from 24 to 48 hr had a little effect on TPH removal increase and the removal efficiencies of H2O2 and Fenton were nearly similar.

Conclusion: Chemical oxidation with hydrogen peroxide and Fenton as a post-treatment step is an acceptable process in TPH removal from bottom sludge of storage tanks.

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Background and Aim: Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative brain disease that gradually destroys memory and cognitive skills. The disease is caused by the formation of beta-amyloid plaques, oxidative stress, dysfunctions in the cholinergic system, neuronal killing inflammation, and ultimately brain atrophy. Donepezil and hyoscyamoside have inhibitory effects on these pathogens; therefore, their impact on the learning process of Alzheimer’s rats in the Morris Water Maze was investigated.
Methods & Materials:  In the present experimental study, 60 male rats of Wistar breed with approximately 7 weeks age within the control group (rats that received normal water and food), the PBS group (underwent surgery), PBS group (received solvent Aβ), the first Alzheimer›s group (animals that received beta-amyloid by Alzheimer’s surgery, second Alzheimer’s group (after Alzheimer’s surgery, they received 1 cc of normal saline daily, and treatment groups that treated the rats with beta-amyloid after Alzheimer. In the hyoscyamoside group, they received 10 mg/kg daily of hyoscyamoside for 28 days. The donepezil group received it 4 mg/kg daily for 28 days by gavage. The Morris Water Maze test was used to evaluate learning and memory. Data were analyzed by ANOVA statistical analysis and Post Hoc test.
Ethical Considerations: The Ethics Committee in Biomedical Research, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch approved the research (Code: IR.IAU.SRB.REC 1397.057)
Results: Beta-amyloid injection caused extensive damage to memory. The treatment groups with hyoscyamoside and donepezil spent less time and distance with a significant level (P<0.001) than the group of Alzheimer’s patients to find the hidden platform. In the reminder phase, where the previously hidden platform was located, they spent more time, with a significant level (P<0.001) in the local quarter.
Conclusion: Treatment of rats with hyoscyamoside and donepezil improved spatial memory in Alzheimer’s rats. They appear to play a significant role in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

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Background and Aim: Diabetes is a type of metabolic disease and one of the most common endocrine diseases. Oxidative stress and inflammation play an important role in the development and progression of diabetes. mTOR signaling pathway play an important role in glucose homeostasis and proliferation of pancreatic beta cells. In the present study, the therapeutic effects of p-cymene on oxidative stress markers and expression of the mTOR gene in diabetic male Wistar rats were investigated.
Materials and Methods: Diabetes was induced by injecting 55 mg/kg body weight of streptozotocin. Biochemical analyses of pancreatic tissue and real-time PCR were done to investigate the effects of metformin (55 mg/kg body weight) and p-cymene (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight) on the activities of catalase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes and mTOR gene expression.
Findings: Streptozotocin decreased catalase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes and decreased the expression of the mTOR gene in pancreatic tissue. Treatment with metformin or p-cymene improved the activities of catalase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes and the expression of the mTOR gene in a dose-independent manner.
Conclusion: Results indicate that p-cymene has antioxidant properties and can regulate the mTOR signaling pathway. Therefore, p-cymene may be effective for the treatment of diabetes alone or in combination with metformin.