In this study, the antibacterial and hemolytic effects of the gonadal tissue, test, spines and Aristotle's lantern of the sea urchin (Echinometra mathaei) were investigated. The aerobic Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus were selected because of their importance in oral diseases. The samples of sea urchin were collected from an intertidal zone in the Persian Gulf and then dissected. Finally, the crude extracts of the gonadal tissue, test, spines and Aristotle's lantern of the samples were separately prepared by the solvents, including phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), 96 % ethanol (Et) and 80 % acetonitrile (ACN). The antibacterial activities of the extracts were evaluated using the well diffusion method in two concentrations of 1500 and 600 lg well -1 . The antibacterial effects against streptococcal species were observed in the organic extracts (Et and ACN) of the gonads and test while the extracts of spines and Aristotle's lantern showed no antibacterial activity. The hemolytic activity of the PBS, 96 % Et, and 80 % ACN extracts from the sea urchin were evaluated using horse red blood cells. Hemolytic activity was observed only in the 80 % Et and ACN extracts of the gonad and test. In conclusion, the organic extracts of gonadal tissue showed the most inhibitory activity on the growth of S. mutans and S. sobrinus.

Holothurians (sea cucumbers) exist almost in all benthic marine environments and they are an important species for the commercial fisheries. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of different tissues of the sea cucumber, as a marine invertebrate, was investigated. The bacteria, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, the fungi, Candida parapsilosis, Candida albicans and Candida glabrata, were chosen for antimicrobial test, because they are opportunistic pathogens. The body wall, respiratory tree, and gastrointestinal tract of the sea cucumbers were utilized to make the extracts. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), ethanol (Et), and acetonitrile (ACN) were used as solvents for aqueous and organic extractions. The results showed that there were antimicrobial active compounds against infective streptococci and candid fungi. Streptococcus mutans was generally more tolerant than Streptococcus sobrinus to the sea cucumber extracts. The extracts of the respiratory tree with ACN and PBS, as solvents, showed the highest effect against Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis and Candida glabrata. The extracts of gastrointestinal tract and the body wall with Et and PBS, respectively, had not any antifungal activity. The antimicrobial activities had been found in different extracts of the sea cucumber tissues, which could be related to the protein and non-protein compounds.

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Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is an annual herb used as organic (green) manure and has medicinal applications. Organic fertilizers are used in sustainable agriculture of vegetables. Sources of organic manure and their effects on growth and yield characteristics of plants need to be determined. Effects of vermicompost and vermiwash were determined on qualitative and quantitative factors of chemical content, development and yield of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-gaecum L.) from May to July 2012 at Agriculture College of University Guilan. A completely randomized block design with 3 replications was used. Treatments included 7 t/ha of cow manure, vermicompost, vermiwash (obtained from 7 t/ha vermicompost); 7 t/ha of leachate vermicompost + vermiwash and a control (no fertilization). Use of organic fertilizers beneficially affected plant height, pod length, pod fresh and dry mass, 1000-seed mass, plant fresh and dry mass, internode length and percents of leaves protein and nitrogen. Use of organic fertilizers may increase yield and yield components of fenugreek and its yield efficiency. Učinki komposta deževnikov (vermikomposta) in njihovih izcedkov (vermiwash) na kakovostne in količinske parametre kemijske sestave, razvoja in pridelka sabljastega triplata so bili preučevani od maja do julija 2012 na Agriculture College of University Guilan. Uporabljen je bil popoln naključni bločni poskus s tremi ponovitvami. Obravnavanja so obsegala: 7 t/ha kravjega gnoja, vermikompost, vermiwash (pridobljen iz 7 t/ha vermikomposta); 7 t/ha izcedka vermikomposta + vermiwash in kontrola (brez gnojenja ). Uporaba organskih gnojil je ugodno vplivala na višino rastlin, dolžino strokov, suho maso, maso 1000 semen, svežo in suho maso rastlin, dolžino internodijev in na odstotek beljakovin in dušika v rastlinah. Uporaba organskih gnojil lahko poveča učinkovitost pridelka in njegovih komponent pri sabljastem triplatu.Ključne besede: Trigonella foenum-gaecum L.; pridelek in njegova kemijska sestava; organska gnojila; trajnostno kmetijstvo; vermikompost

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