IRANIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS
Year:2014 | Volume:29 | Issue:4 (62)|Papers Count:20

Fertility and ovulation are affected by hormones and drugs. Hypericin is one of the drugs affecting the ovulation by neurotransmitters such as dopamine. Hypericin is an important component of Hypericum perforatom (S Johns Wot) used in treatment of depression and its important side effect is photosensitivity. In present study, the effect of hypericin on rat ovulation was evaluated. This study was carried as following on 30 female immature 25-day rats. At first day, PMSG was administrated to all rats at nine o'clock in the morning except control group.The control group was kept without drugs and under similar conditions with other groups. No drug was administrated on the second day of study. Positive control group (1) received gonadotropine at dose of 800 ng subcutaneously on day 3. Positive control group (2) received phenobarbital at dose of 4mg/kg interaperitoneally at one o'clock in the afternoon and positive control (3) received phenobarbital at dose of 4mg/kg interaperitoneally at one o'clock in the afternoon and GnRH at dose of 800 ng subcutaneously 2 hours later. Test group (1) was similar to positive control (3), in addition, hypericin was administrated orally at dose of 25mg/kg 30 min before phenobarbital. Test group (2) was similar to test group (1), but hypericin was given at dose of 50mg/kg. The rats were euthanized on day 4 of study at nine o’clock in the morning.The number of mature follicles, hyperemic follicles and corpus hemoragicum was counted. The results showed that administration of hypericin increased growth of follicles and number of mature follicles, hyperemic follicles, and corpus hemoragicum and it enhanced ovulation in comparison to control. However, a final comment on the mechanisms of hypericin effect needs the measurement of related hormones and neurotransmitters.

To evaluate the effects of salinity in the presence and absence of iron on growth, photosynthesis pigments and electrophoresis bands in two chamomiles, an experiment was conducted as completely randomized factorial design with three replicates at university of Zabol in 2009. The treatments were two genuses of chamomile (German and Roman chamomile), four levels of salinity (0, 50, 100 and 150 mM NaCl) and two levels of iron (0 and 100 mmol).Results showed that, by increasing salinity from 0 to 150 mM NaCl, fresh and dry weight of shoot were reduced but root dry weight was added. At the absence of iron treatment, fresh and dry weight of both shoot and root were reduced in two genus of chamomile. Salinity decreased the amount of two pigments chlorophyll a and b and increased the amount of carotenoids. At the absence of iron, the amount of chlorophyll ‘a’ (32.9) and chlorophyll ‘b’ (35.5) percent decreased in comparison to control treatment (100 mmol). Unlike chlorophyll, at the absence of iron treatment, the amount of carotenoid was added. At the salinity stress from 0 to 150 mM, many protein bands in Roman chamomile were excluded. However, at the levels of 50 and 100 mM NaCl, a 42 KDa fraction band in this material was synthesized, but at the highest level of salinity (150 mM NaCl) many of their bands were removed. Presumably, the 150 mM NaCl is out of tolerance of Roman chamomile genotype. In this study, at the German chamomile genotype under salinity and iron deficiency no bonds were not removed and two bands 14 and 18 KDa were appeared.

In this project, the effect of chemical fertilizers, organic manure and their combination on the quality of essential oils of Damask Rosa was investigated in Karadj Alborz Research Station. The study was conducted using randomized complete blocks design with 20 independent treatments and three replications in a loam-clay soil with pH=7.9. In this experiment, nitrogen, phosphorus and potash and a combination of trace elements as fertilizer and cow manure were used. Amount of essential oil and quality of essential oil at different treatments were measured in 3 years. Essential oils of petals were extracted by hydrodistillation method in three consecutive years and oil composition was identified in the first and second years of flowering stage using GC and GC/MS. The results of analysis of variance and mean performance showed that the difference among treatments was significant at 1% level of probability. Treatment N80P80K40 and 30 tons of manure per hectare had the highest amount of essential oil. The average amount of essential oil in three consecutive years in this with 0.35 percent was the highest and in control with 0.23 percent was the lowest value. The highest average oil yield in the three years was recorded for treatment N40P40K40, (1395.58 g/ha), and minimum was obtained for the treatment consisting only 40 tons of manure, (636.23 g/ha). After that, the minimum oil yield was recorded for control treatment (868.98 g/ha) in these three years. The composition of essential oils in the first year of flowering showed that Linalool, Geraniol and Citronelllol increased 88, 39 and 36 percent, respectively in treatment N40P40K40, compared with the control. In the second year of flowering, the amount of Geraniol in this treatment increased by 45 percent and that of hexadekanol and heptadekan decreased 45 percent and 30 percent compared with the control.

The aerial parts of Haussknechtia elymaitica Boiss. (Umbelliferae) which is endemic to Iran were collected during the flowering stage from Ilam province. The chloroform extract of H. elymaitica was investigated and asaronic acid and two phenyl propanoids, trans - asarone and trans-methyl isoeugenol were isolated. The structure of these natural products was elucidated using 1H and 13C NMR data.

Drought stress has different effects on morphological, physiological and biochemical processes of plants. Moreover, the quantity and quality of essential oil are affected by drought stress. Eucalyptus species including Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. are considered as rich sources of essential oils especially 1, 8-cineol. In order to study the effect of drought stress on essential oil yield, the type of chemical compounds and also water use efficiency in E. camaldulensis, this research was conducted in a completely randomized design with three treatments including 100, 70, and 40% field capacity and three replications. The experiment was carried out in combat desertification research station of Shahid Sadoughi under lisymetry conditions. Results showed that increasing of soil moisture led to the increased production of essential oil. However, mild drought stress resulted in increased essential oil yield and improved water use efficiency. Mild drought stress compared to other treatments (p<0.001), improved the production of 1, 8-cineol, however it was observed that it decreased or stopped the production of many other compounds. The percentage of 1, 8 - cineol in the treatments of 100, 70 and 40% field capacity, were, 69.33, 78.13 and 51.87, respectively. The production of a-pinene, as another important compound was also affected by enough moisture (without stress) so that It's value showed significant difference with other treatments (p<0.001). The percentage of a-pinene in the treatments of 100, 70 and 40% field capacity, were, 14.0, 7.03 and 4.06, respectively. The moisture treatments including 100% FC (without stress), 70% FC (mild stress) and 40% FC (severe stress) were studied with three replicates and completely randomize design.

In this study, the effects of drought and nitrogen were analyzed on morphological traits and dry matter allocation of Isabgul (Plantago ovata) at Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan in 2010. The research was conducted using factorial experiment based on RCD design with 3 replications. The factors included nitrogen (0, 60, 120 and 180 mg N.Kg-1 soil) and soil moisture (100, 80, 60, 40 % FC). Results indicated that drought, nitrogen and their interaction significantly affected seed yield and total dry weight. The highest seed yield (1.72 g.plant-1) was obtained at 120 mg N.Kg-1 soil which was 77% higher than that in control. In 80% FC treatment, using 120 mg N.Kg-1 soil caused 93% increase in total dry weight, compared to control. In addition, with increasing drought stress, dry matter partitioning benefited the root and root mass ratio (RMR) increased significantly. However, no significant changes were recorded for shoot mass ratio (SMR) and grain mass ratio (GMR). Also, with increasing nitrogen fertilizer, more dry matter was transferred to the leaves and less dry matter was transferred to the seed.

Eucalyptuses trees as the fast-growing forest species are native to the Pacific. This species were introduced to Iran more than 100 years ago and cultivated in the south, having perfect environment for them. This research was aimed to investigate seasonal fluctuations of essential oil and1, 8-cineol content in Eucalyptus species of Fars province. The leaves of 14 Eucalyptus species were collected from Fars province in the middle of each season for two years (2007 & 2008). Afterward, essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation method and compounds were identified by GC and GC/MS. Results showed that in each region, some of the species had the highest essential oil yield and quality, therefore due to the high essential oil content and 1, 8-cineol, they could be recommended for large-scale cultivation in the region in order to extract essential oil. Studied Eucalyptus included: E. calcicultrix (Miq.) Blakely, E. camaldulensis var. camaldulensis Dehnh., E. cornuta, E. fruticetorum, E. intertexta R.T. Baker, E. largiflorens F. Muell., E. lesouefii, E. longicornis F. Muell., E. oleosa F. Muell., E. rudisEndl., E. salmonophloia F. Muell., E. salubaris, E. stricklandii Maiden, E. viridis. The essential oil yield of different species at different seasons differed from 1.0 to 6.8% in 2007 and 0.3 to 5.8% in 2008. According to the results, the highest oil yield in autumn (5.2%-6.4%), the highest percentage of 1, 8-cineole in winter (91.4%-94%), and the best time to harvest were recorded for E. oleosa F. Muell at Shousni, Mamasani, therefore, E. oleosa F. Muell could be recommended for cultivation as the best species.

Satureja hortensis L. (Savory), belonging to the family Lamiaceae (formerly Labiatae) is an annual herb. In order to determine the effects of salicylic acid (SA) (Control, 200, 400 and 600 mgL-1) in early flowering stage on growth and components of essential oils of Satureja hortensis, a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design was carried out with three replications. The oil was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The fresh weight was significantly increased in 200 mgL-1 SA, compared to the control. The yield of essential oil was 3.1% (Control) and 3.7% (200 mgL-1) with a significant difference. The main constituents of the essential oil were carvacrol, g-terpinene, a-terpinene and p-cymene. SA application increased a-terpinene from 4.35% (Control) to 7.7% (200 mgL-1), b-myrcene from 2.5 (Control) to 4.3 (200 mgL-1), p-cymene from 1.9% (Control) to 2.5% (600 mgL-1) and decreased carvacrol from 44.8% (Control) to 38.5% (200 mgL-1). Results showed that SA application caused changes in the quantity and quality of essential oils.

In order to gain knowledge on behavior of plant species in environments contaminated to mineral elements, the shoots of three wild species including Eremostachys macrophylla Monthbr & Auch, Salvia leriifolia Benth., and Teucrium polium L., from Labiateae family were collected from the city of Kashmar and their essential oil was extracted by hydro distillation method and analyzed by GC/MS. In the oil of Eremostachys macrophyla, 21 compounds were identified, forming 92% of total oil. The major compound was a-pinene (60.1%). In the essential oil of Salvia leriifolia, 12 compounds (97% of total oil) were identified. Artemisia ketone (62.9%) and cubenol (9.4%) were identified as the major compounds. Fourteen compounds (98.8% of total oil) were identified in the oil of Teucrium poliumincluding 1, 8-cineole (21.7%), cis-chrysanthenol (13.8%), chrysanthenone (13.6%) and 3-thujopsanone (11.7%), as the major compounds. The comparison of oil percentage and also compounds showed that Eremostachys behaved differently compared to other two genera. With regard to the same collection area, three different genera from one family with different absorption ability in terms of some of the elements in the soil and also changes in secondary metabolites (in the biosynthetic pathway), it was expected that quite different results would be obtained but in this study, the two mentioned genera showed relatively similar behavior to the environment.

In order to investigate the effects of planting date and plant density on phyllochron and active integradients of milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.), two field factorial experiments based on a randomized complete blocks design were carried out in two sites (Rudbar and Rasht) in Guilan province, Iran, with three planting dates (Sep., 23, Oct., 12 and Nov., 1) and three plant densities (4, 6 and 8 plant.m-2) during 2008-2009. In this experiment it was observed that phyllochron was affected by planting date and plant density and with delay in planting date (from Sep., 23 to Nov., 1), phyllochron decreased and the rate of leaf appearance increased. The highest rate of leaf appearance was obtained in Oct., 12 (8.6 and 7.7 days in Rasht and Rudbar, respectively). Phyllochron increased with increasing plant density andthe lowest phyllochron and, in other words, the maximum rate of leaf appearancewas obtained in Rudbar site at a plant density of 4 plant.m-2 (7.7 days). The effect of planting date on silibin content of seeds in Rudbar site was significant (maximum 1.872 mg.g.-1DW) but it wasn't significant on silibin content in Rasht. Effect of plant density was not significant on silibin yield.ha-1 and silibin content at both sites. Results of combined analysis showed that the effect of planting date on silibin and interaction effect of site and planting date on silibin yield.ha-1 was significant. The maximum silibin yield (1.31 kg.ha-1) was obtained from Sep., 23 in Rudbar site. According to the results of this experiment, although a delay in planting enhanced the rate of leaf appearance and increased plant's readiness to over-wintering, but it had no increasing effect on silibin content of seeds.

Root knot nematodes are one of the most important plant parasitic nematodes damaging many crops, particularly vegetables. According to the experiments conducted in greenhouse conditions, the damage of this nematode was estimated to be 56-49 percent, based on dry weight of stem and root. Increasing use of pesticides is of concern to specialists in environmental and nutritional sciences so the use of natural substances to control of pests and plant diseases is a priority. This research was aimed to reduce the pesticide use with application of the aqueous extract of two local medicinal plants, Ferulago angulata (Schlecht.) Boiss. and Zataria multiflora Boiss., on root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica, in tomato plants. A factorial experiment was performed with three factors including medicinal plants, plant parts and percentage of plant extract or powder, in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Results showed that the best treatments in terms of the factors associated with root knot nematode, were flower and stem powder of F. angulata at the rate of 0.2%. The treatments of leaf powder of F. angulata at the rate of 0.1% and stem powder of this plant at the rate of 0.2% were the best treatments with best effect on the plant growth factors. In addition to sufficient effect of leaf powder of this plant on the factors associated with nematodes at the rates of 0.1 and 0.2%, growth factors of tomato plants were not affected.

In order to evaluate several ecological factors, morphological traits, essential oil productivity and ploidy levels of Thymus eriocalyx (Ronniger) Jalas with uses of DSS method ten natural habitats were selected in Lorestan, Markazi, Hamadan, Kermanshah and Kurdestan provinces in Iran. To study and evaluate morphological characters, five complete plant samples and flowering branches were collected from each locality at flowering stage for essential oil extraction in spring season of 2008. Ecological data of ten localities were also recorded. Vegetative and reproductive traits and essential oil quantity of each population were studied. Seeds were also collected in the seed production season to study seed characters, chromosome counting and ploidy level. At least 10 mitotic cells of each population were studied to determine chromosome numbers and ploidy levels. All populations were classified in 4 groups. Results revealed that specimens from "Te9 population" had the highest average length and width of inflorescence leaf, inflorescence leaf length to width ratio, stem leaf length to width ratio, petiole length, calyx tube length, corolla length and the highest average length and width of bracteole. The results of chromosome counting showed that specimens of Te1, Te2, Te3, Te4, Te5, Te6 and Te8 populations were diploid (2n=2x=30) and specimens of Te7, Te9 and Te10 populations were tetraploid (2n=4x=60). The highest essential oil production belonged to Te5 population (3.04%).

Recently, there is an increasing trend to use natural antioxidants due to undesirable effects of synthetic antioxidants. In this study, phenolic compounds of shahmirzadi variety of walnut leaf were extracted with traditional and microwave assisted extraction (MAE) methods. In traditional method, extraction was performed with methanol 80%, ethanol 50%, boiling water and water at ambient temperature (6, 12, 18 and 24 hours) and in MAE it was done with methanol 80%, ethanol 50% (2, 4.6 and 8 minutes) and boiling water (3, 6 and 9 minutes). Total phenolic content was determined by Folin-Ciocaltue reagent. In MAE, methanol extract of walnut leaf had the highest total phenolics with 130.16±0.19 mg/g. The antioxidant capacity of extracts was assessed through reducing power assay, DPPH radical-scavenging activity and total antioxidant activity. Extracts showed antioxidant activity in a concentration-dependent way. The ethanol extract of leaves in the reducing power assay and DPPH radical-scavenging activity and the methanol extract of leaves in the antioxidant activity assay presented the highest antioxidant activity. Finally, the influence of methanol extract in retarding the soy bean oxidation was examined. Our results showed that extracts could prevent formation of initial and secondary products of oxidation and an extract with 1000 ppm phenolic content could control oxidation of oil. Hence we can present shahmirzadi walnut leaves as a potential source of natural antioxidants.

Since Ocimum basilicum L. is used as a traditional herbal medicine, this study was carried out to evaluate the effect of aqueous and metanolic extract of Ocimum basilicum leaf on blood glucose, lipid profiles and liver enzymes in fructose-fed male rats. The experiment was performed on 32 Wistar-Albino rats including one control group (A) and three tests groups (B, C and D). Test groups consumed fructose-enriched water and received zero and 20mg/kg aqueous and metabolic extract daily and respectively for 60 days but control group consumed tap water in treatment duration. At the end, serum glucose, insulin, liver enzymes and lipid profile were measured. The obtained data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey tests. Results were expressed as mean±SE and significant differences were found at 0.05% level of probability. Our findings showed that insulin resistance index, insulin and FBS in tests groups significantly increased compared with those of group A, however, serum insulin value in group D significantly increased compared with that of group B and C. On the other hand, AST (aspartate aminotransfrase) and ALT (alanine amino transferase) values in group D significantly decreased compared with those of the B and C groups. Also, the value of LDL in group C was significantly lower in comparison to other test groups. The results of this study showed that consumption of Ocimum basilicum leaf extract had an effect on LDL and liver enzymes in fructose-fed male rats.

Recent research has focused on insecticidal property of essential oil plants in biological control of insects. Controlled release by nanoencapsulated essential oil seems to be the best choice for increasing the efficiency and minimization of environmental damage. In this work, efficiency of nanoencapsulated essential oil of Artemisia sieberi Besser was tested on repellent activity of Plutella xylostella L.. Several concentrations were prepared and then third instars larvae were introduced into each treatment. Then, repellent activity was determined after 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h from commencement of exposure. Results showed that at 1.9 ppm the nanocapule of Artemisia oil was shown here to possess more repellent activity (80%) to P. xylustella compered to Artemisia oil (62%) before formulation after 24h. The repellent activity varied with application method and concentrations and exposure time. The results showed higher repellent rates in nanocapsule than in essential oil due to controlled-release formulations allowing smaller quantities of essential oil to be used more effectively over a given time interval. The reasons for nanocapsulating the essential oil have been to improve its stability to reduce side effects or to reduce dosing frequency and total dosing amount, to obtain better repellent activity, and for sustained (long-lasting) release. Therefore the nanocapsulation of A. sibeiri might provide a new method for the management of P. xylostella.

The essential oil yield and chemical composition of the aerial parts of Artemisia sieberi Besser were investigated in two sites of grazed and ungrazed rangelands. Plant sampling was performed from 2 sites in Ahmadabad, located in Semnan province at the beginning of flowering stage in October 2010. The samples of inflorescences of plants were collected from 5 random points of each site. Then, air-dried parts of the plants were subjected to hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. Analysis and identification of chemical composition of the essential oils were performed by GC and GC/MS. There was no significant difference between the oil yields of Artemisia sieberi in 2 investigated sites. In ungrazed and grazed sites, the main components of essential oils were respectively, Camphor (48.03%), 1, 8-Cineole (15.96%), Camphene (10.32%) and Camphor (51.82%), Camphene (10.86%), 1, 8-Cineole (9.52%). According to the results, significant differences were recorded for Thuja-2, 4 (10) -diene (p<0.05) and a–Terpineol (p<0.01) between two studied sites. No significant differences were observed for the percentage of other componenets between 2 investigated sites. Also, comparison of the economic value of oil in one hectare with total area of the grazed and ungrazed rangelands showed that garzing caused a reduction in economic efficiency of oil.

Doubling the number of chromosomes in a medicinal plant leads to variation in allelic composition and diversity of active enzymes in secondary metabolites biosynthesis route and can facilitate the process of secondary metabolism and increase secondary metabolite. This experiment was conducted in order to study the effect of colchicine and trifluralin on ploidy induction and cytogenetic characteristics of cells in the root meristem of fenugreek. Root tips were used for karyotypic studies. Seedlings were treated by colchicine solution at 0.25, 0.5 and 1 gl-1 concentrations and trifluralin solution 48% at 7.5, 15 and 22.5 mM concentrations for 12 and 24 h. The Video Analysis System was used for karyotype analysis. The basic chromosome number was X=8. Results showed that concentration of trifluralin and colchicine, treatments duration and interaction between them on the ploidy induction were statistically significant. The maximum ploidy induction was happened by seedling immersion in 22.5 mM trifluralin for 24 h and in 0.5 gl-1 colchicine for 12 h. Treatments affected the length of chromosomes and karyotypic formula. Result of analysis of variance based on completely randomized design (CRD) showed significant differences among the karyotype of control and treated samples for all karyotypic traits (p<0.01). Induced polyploidy affected by trifluralin was more than that of colchicines, although the concentrations of trifluralin were approximately 100 times lower than concentrations of colchicine. This indicates a greater ability of trifluralin in ploidy induction in this plant.