background : the aim of this study was to evaluate the antimalarial effects of iranian flora artemisia khorassanica against plasmodium berghei in vivo and pharmacochemistry of its natural components. methods : the aerial parts of iranian flora a. khorasanica were collected at flowering stage from khorassan province, northeastern iran in 2008. they were air-dried at room temperature; powder was ...

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) has been considered as a medicinal plant since ancient times and also widely used as food additive for its color, taste and odor. The pharmacological properties of saffron and its main constituents, crocin and safranal have been evaluated using different in vivo and in vitro models. Additionally, other lines of studies have found toxicological effects of saffron.  Ho...

The chemical shift sensitivity and significant signal enhancement afforded by laser-polarized 129Xe have motivated the application of 129Xe NMR to biological imaging and spectroscopy. Recent research done by our group has used laser-polarized 129Xe in biomolecular assays that detect ligand-binding events and distinguish protein conformations. The successful application of unfunctionalized and f...

RNA interference (RNAi), an effective technique for regulating or silencing specific genes, can be applied to treat various diseases. Multiple clinical trials using RNAi are ongoing, and molecular imaging can serve as a powerful tool in RNAi-based therapies. This brief review will highlight the current progress on in vivo imaging of RNAi delivery and silencing effects. Incorporation of suitable...

The molecular charge of fluorescent bioprobes has recently received much attention due to its influence on cellular uptake. Herein, we demonstrate the effect of the molecular charge of glucose bioprobes on their GLUT-specific cellular uptake. We also applied GB2-Cy3 to in vivo imaging in the zebrafish model.

Indocyanine green (ICG) is widely used in medical imaging and testing. Its complex spectral behavior and low quantum yield limits some applications. We show that proximity of ICG to a metallic silver particle increases its intensity approximately 20-fold and decreases the decay time. Since the rate of photobleaching is not increased, our results suggest that ICG-silver particle complexes can yi...

The combination of two-photon in vivo imaging and genetic labeling of specific cell types in the mouse brain is a powerful method to refine our understanding of brain circuitry and to dissect the contribution of specific neural classes to cortical function. The synthetic calcium indicators are the best fluorescent reporters for cellular activity that are presently available but their spectral p...

Cellular in vivo imaging can reveal the induction, progression and resolution of nervous system pathology in real-time. In this review, we summarize recent research in the field to illustrate how in vivo imaging has enhanced our understanding of a variety of neurological conditions caused by trauma, degeneration, ischemia or inflammation. Finally, we look ahead and discuss how novel biosensors ...