---

Background and Aim: Acute promyelocytic leukemia is a malignancy of myeloid cells that are associated with resistance to apoptosis and differentiation arrest in promyelocytes in the bone marrow. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Origanum vulgare aqueous extract on apoptosis induction in an acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line (HL-60).
Materials and Methods: The viability of HL-60 cells under treatment with various doses of Origanum vulgare extract was assessed by using a cell cytotoxic assay. Then, IC50 values​​ were determined after 24, 48, and 72 hours. The expression of Caspase8, Caspase9, Bax, Bcl2, and Nrf2 genes were measured by real-time PCR assay and different stages of apoptosis and necrosis in HL-60 cells were investigated using acridine orange/ethidium bromide double staining. Finally, data were introduced into SPSS software and analyzed by one-way ANOVA.
Results: The results showed that Origanum vulgare extract decreased HL-60 cell survival and Caspase9, Caspase8, Bax, Bcl2, and Nrf2 gene expressions were changed after 72 hours of treatment with 1/5 of IC50 of Origanum vulgare extract. Also, morphological changes in the nucleus indicated apoptosis induction in HL-60 cells.
Conclusion: It seems that the aqueous extract of Origanum vulgare leaves can induce apoptosis in an acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line (HL-60) under experimental conditions.

---

Background and Aim: Pistachio nut and hull have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pistachio hull hydroalcoholic extract ointment on wound healing process.
Materials and methods: For wound planimetric assessment, 20 healthy rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 4, including control group (open wound without any intervention and treatment), positive control group (open wound with basic ointment without extract), and the 3 other groups receiving 1%, 2% and 4% ointments respectively. On the 7^th  and 14^th days, biopsies from wound tissues were taken and after Mason Trichrome staining we evaluated collagen. H&E staining was done for histopathological assessments.
Results: The results showed that wound treatment with pistachio hull ointment in the experimental groups showed a significant increase (P<0.05) in the percentage of wound healing rate. Also, there was a significant difference in the thickness of skin and collagen diameter, and reduction of edema between experimental and control groups (P<0.05). Also we found significant decrease in inflammatory cell count on the 14^th day in the groups treated with pistachio hull extract compared to those in the control group (P<0.05), which was indicative of accelerated wound healing in the experimental groups.
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, pistachio hull hydroalcoholic extract ointment potentially possesses healing effects on the wound created in the skin of the rat. 
 

---

Background and Aim: Today, plant extracts and their components are known for their biological activities, especially antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Due to the biological diversity of plant species in Kurdistan Province and the difference in the medicinal properties of plants depending in different geographical locations, the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of some native plants in this province were investigated. In this study, besides restoring antibiotic sensitivity in pathogenic bacteria, they can also be used as natural preservatives.
Materials and Methods: The present study was of experimental type and after purchasing some medicinal plants from herbal pharmacies in Kurdistan Province, their medicinal properties were first investigated using aqueous extraction method, then by diffusion method in the well, as well as the MIC and MBC methods, by using 96-well microplates. The antibacterial activities of the aqueous extracts against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria were determined, and the DPPH method was used to evaluated the antioxidant properties. ANOVA and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. p<0.05 was considered significant.
Results: In this study many plants had high antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Mentha longifolia L and Capillus Veneris Ladiantum plant extracts had the highest and lowest antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. Also plant extracts of Capillus veneris ladiantum and Stachys lavandulifolia vahl had the highest (81.75) and lowest(16.71) radical inhibition percentages respectively.
Conclusion: Most of the extracts of the native plants of Kurdistan Province showed significant antioxidant and antibacterial activities, which can be used in the production of medicinal plants and various types of green disinfectants that have the least environmental effects.