Background: In this report, we evaluated the cytotoxic activity of the hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous methanol extracts of the aerial parts of some species belongs to Lamiaceae, Boraginaceae, Asteraceae and Rosaceae families. Methods: In order to examine the cytotoxicity of the plant extracts, Brine Shrimp Cytotoxicity Assay was used against Artemia salina larva. Results: Results showed that Scutellaria tornefortii indicated cytotoxic activity against the larva of Artemia salina. The minimum lethal concentration of its aqueous methanol extract, as the most effective extract, was 6 µg/ml compared to berberine hydrochloride as the positive control (LC50 = 26 µg/ml). EtOAc extract of Rubus hyrcanus was also a potent cytotoxic extract (LC50 = 28 µg/ml). In addition to those mentioned plants, Echium amoenum, Onosma bulbotrichum, Stachys byzanthina and Rubus discolor could be the potential sources of cytotoxic components. Conclusion: Some of the medicinal plants, growing widely in north part of Iran, are effective against the larvae of A. salina, so they could be a promising source of anti-cancer and anti-tumor compounds.

Conclusion: The mean level of AFB₁ in samples was higher than the Iranian maximum tolerated level (MTL). But, AFT mean level (10.4 ng/g) was lower than the Iranian and US (20 ng/g) MTLs.

Background: The genus Lomatopodium Fisch. & C.A.Mey., belongs to Apiaceae family and contains one herbaceous species growing wildly in Iran. There are only a few papers about the chemical constituents of these plants. Here, we focused on the isolation and identification of the main flavonoid glycosides and sterols from the aerial parts of L. staurophyllum, which has not been previously reported. Methods: Flowered aerial parts of the plant were dried and cut into small pieces, then extracted with ethyl acetate and methanol by percolation at room temperature. The separation process was carried out using several chromatographic methods. Structural elucidation was based on NMR and MS data, in comparison with those reported in the literature. Results: The isolated compounds from ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of L. staurophyllum were identified as nonanal (1), stigmasterol acetate (2), beta-sitosterol (3), quercetin 3-O-glucoside (4) and quercetin 3 – O - rhamnoglucoside (5) by comparison of their NMR spectral data with those reported in the literature. Conclusion: Ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of L. staurophyllum contain various flavonol glycosides and sterols as the main components. Pelargonic aldehyde (nonanal), a growth promoting factor in plant cells, is found to be occurred in this species and might be a cause of anti -diarrhea activity.