IRANIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS
Year:2015 | Volume:31 | Issue:4 (72)|Papers Count:17

Medicinal plants are rich sources of secondary metabolites. Among these metabolites, alkaloids are an important group. Papaver bracteatum Lindl., Papaver orientale L. and Papaver fugex Poir are medicinal plants from Papaveraceae family. Medicinal characteristic of these plants depend on their capability to produce and biosynthesis of benzophenanthridine alkaloids which are a sub-group of isoquinoline alkaloids. Morphinanes (morphine, codeine and thebaine) are a class of isoquinoline alkaloids with different functionality in medicine. Due to the importance of morphinanes in clinical and pharmacology fields, identification and extraction of these compounds from natural sources are a necessity. In this study, the plants were collected in the first stage of flowering. Sonicator and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used for extracting and determining of the morph inanes, respectively. UV-Spectrophotometer was also used to determine total alkaloids. The results showed that high amounts of thebaine alkaloid were found in three studied plants. Codeine content was lower than other alkaloids; however the distribution of these alkaloids was dissimilar in different parts of the plants. According to the results, the highest total alkaloid content was found in capsules and roots of Papaver bracteatum L. and Papaver orientale L., while shoot of Papaver fugax Poir. contained.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), belonging to Lamiaceae family, is a perennial, medicinal and aromatic plant. The plant and its secondary metabolites are widely used in landscape designing and pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. This research was conducted as two experiments in a RCBD (Randomized Complete Block Design) with six treatments (0, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 and 5000 mg l-1) and four replications in order to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of IBA and NAA on rooting of semi-hardwood cuttings of rosemary. Cuttings were treated in solutions of IBA and NAA for 1 min and held in plastic tunnel under mist system. After 70 days, the percentage of rotting, number of roots, average root length, the root fresh and dry weight, length of cutting, leaves and stem fresh and dry weight were measured. The analysis of variance showed that application of IBA and NAA had a significant effect on all the parameters studied. The highest rooting percentage was obtained at concentration of 1000 mg l-1 NAA (84%) and 5000 mg l-1 IBA (66%). The concentration of 4000 mgl-1 IBA was the best treatment on quality and rooting of the semi-hardwood cuttings of rosemary.

Nepeta, belonging to Lamiaceae family, includes 250 species in the world and 67 species in Iran, 39 of which are native to Iran. In order to investigate the effects of drought stress on yield quantity and quality of Nepeta racemosa Lam., this experiment was conducted in 2011, at the Alborz Research Station, Karaj, Iran. Drought levels were 100% (control), 80% (low stress), 60% (medium stress), and 40% (severe stress) field capacity (FC). Different traits including plant height, number of tillers, number of lateral branches, root weight, root length, main stem diameter, number of inflourcences, inflorescence length, leaf length, leaf width, yield of leaf, inflorescences, stem and shoot, and essential oil percentage and yield of leaf, inflorescence, stem and shoot were measured at flowering stage. Variance analysis revealed significant effect of drought stress on plant height, root weight, inflorescence length, leaf length, leaf width, yield of leaf, stem, inflorescence, and essential oil percentage of leaf, stem, inflorescence, and essential oil yield of the leaf, stem, inflorescence (P£0.01), root length, and main stem diameter (P£0.05). Mean comparison showed that the highest essential oil percentage was observed in leaves (1.72%), shoot (1.27%) and inflorescences (1.93%) at medium stress (60% field capacity). It could be concluded that Nepeta is a drought tolerant plant, and the maximum essential oil percentage could be achieved under medium stress with 60% field capacity.

Two hundred and twenty day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly used in five groups to investigate the effects of sodium nitrate consumption or different levels of 0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6% thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) extract along with sodium nitrate in drinking water on growth, carcass characteristics and some blood indices. No significant differences were observed between the treatments for body weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio during the whole experiment period (p>0.05). Thyme extracts or nitrate consumption had no effect on blood glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride and aspartate amino transferase (p>0.05). Nitrate consumption increased the blood HDL content as compared to control (p<0.05); however, thyme extract at concentrations of 0.2 and 0.4% along with nitrate decreased the blood HDL content (p<0.05). Moreover, proportional weights of the thigh, breast, liver, heart, lung, spleen and abdominal fat were not affected by dietary treatments (p>0.05). Totally, thyme extract consumption had no effect on the performance of chickens consuming nitrate but it decreased blood HDL level by reducing the oxidation of LDL.

To study the effect of biological and manure fertilizers on economic yield and quality characteristics of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.), an experiment was conducted as split plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Agricultural Research Center of Zabol University, Iran during growing season of 2012. Treatments included three manure levels; 0, 10 and 20t.h-1 and eight levels of biofertilizer including control, nitroxin, bio-sulfur, biological phosphorus, nitroxin+bio-sulfur, nitroxin+biological phosphorus, biosulfur+ biological phosphorus, nitroxin+bio-sulfur+biological phosphorus. Different levels of manure fertilizer and biofertilizers were considered as main plots and subplots, respectively. Traits included economic yield, leaf SPAD, chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids, carbohydrates, anthocyanin, protein, potassium and phosphorus. According to the obtained results different levels of manure and bio-fertilizer treatments and their interactions on biological traits were significant. The maximum economic yield (1290kg.h-1) and protein content (841.42mg.g-1) was obtained with a combined consumption of 10 tons of manure per hectare and nitroxin. The highest amount of anthocyanins (0.45mg.g-1) and carbohydrates (1035.7mg.g-1) in sepals was obtained at 20t.h-1 manure+bio-sulfur+biological phosphorus. The use of 20t.h-1 manure and nitroxin, bio-sulfur and biological phosphorus caused an increased leaf SPAD, chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids, phosphorus and potassium as compared to control. Our results clearly showed that combined use of manure and biological fertilizers could play an important role in increasing the economic yield and quality characteristics of roselle in comparison with the separate consumption.

The existence of demand for medicinal plants is affected by different social and cultural factors. This study aimed to investigate the demand for medicinal plants in three neighboring provinces including Hamedan, Markazi and Lorestan provinces. This research was done by survey method. The necessary data for this study were collected by completion of questionnaire through direct interview from 96 sellers of medicinal plants in the study provinces, selected by random sampling method in the year 2011. The samples were selected by simple random sampling method using Cochran formula for unknown population size. The validity of questionnaire was confirmed by panel of experts. On the other hand, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was found to be 0.787, confirming the reliability of questionnaire. In this study, fluctuations of market demand through coefficient of variation (CV) and relationship between studied variables by using Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT) were investigated. Meanwhile, the ranking of effective factors on demand of medicinal plants was done using Friedman's rank test. The results showed that the distillates had the highest demand with a share of 28.8 percent in selected provinces among all kinds of medicinal plants. Friedman's rank test indicated that price, ease of consumption and access to traditional medicine clinic were most important factors, affecting the demand of medicinal plants in the study provinces. The results also showed that despite the proximity of the provinces studied, no significant relationship was found for the market demand of medicinal plants in terms of quantity and value in the three provinces. The coefficient of variation revealed that the demand for medicinal plants in Lorestan province had more fluctuations as compared to Markazi and Hamedan provinces.

Agriculture and natural resources are strongly dependent on weather and climate; therefore, climate variation and its changes have a key role on production rate and sustainability. The goal of this study was to investigate and determine the most important climatic elements affecting the distribution of Teucrium orientale L. as well as bioclimatic zoning of this species in Isfahan province. Initially, a database of 16 climate variables, which were more important in connection with plant ecology, was established during a 40-year statistical period (1970-2009). To decrease the dimensions of data matrix, factor analysis method with Varimax Rotation was used, and for the bio-climate zoning of Teucrium orientale L., Ward’s Hierarchical Clustering method was applied. As a result, five bioclimatic zones, based on the heights of the province, were identified and labeled. To investigate the climatic variables spatially, the results of the factor analysis were entered into GIS environment and the zoning of these factors was done. The results of this study showed that the first four factors explained 93.6% of the primary variation. These factors included precipitation, frost day, radiation, and wind speed, showing 42.43%, 31.93%, 10.40%, and 8.83% of variations, respectively.

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of supplementation of butyric acid and Aloe vera L. on performance, intestinal morphology, blood factors and egg quality in laying Japanese quail. Total of 120 layer quails were randomly assigned to six experimental treatments and five replicates, each with four birds in a completely randomized design for seven weeks. Experimental groups were: 1- control basal diet (Without organic acid and Aloe vera supplements) 2- basal diet+Aloe vera (1%) 3- basal diet +sodium butyrate (500ppm) 4-basal diet+butyric acid glycerides-Baby C4 (500ppm) 5- basal diet +Aloe vera (1%)+sodium butyrate (500) 6- basal diet+Aloe vera (1%)+butyric acid glycerides (500ppm). In this experiment, egg production ratio, feed intake, feed conversion and egg weight were not affected by the treatments. All treatments lowered the cholesterol contents of serum and yolk compared to control group (p<0.01). Treatments significantly influenced jejunum villi (p<0.001). The use of Aloe vera alone and combination of Aloe vera and sodium butyrate or butyric acid glycerides produced eggs with reduced cholesterol content. Simultaneous use of Aleo vera and butyric acid glycerides significantly increased the villi height and surface area and the highest villi width and the deepest villi crypts were observed in this group. In conclusion, supplementation of layer quails’ diets with Aloe vera significantly reduced serum and yolk cholesterol contents, which may confer health benefits to consumers.

Achillea L. is one of the most important native medicinal genuses of Iran. Morphological and agronomic traits in 27 populations of A. millefolium and in 14 populations of A. bieberestini were studied using a random complete blocks design with three replications in Alborz Research Center, Karaj, Iran. ANOVA suggested significant differences among 27 populations of A. millefolium for all morphological and agronomic traits except full flowering time. Significant differences were found among 14 populations of A. bieberestini for all morphological and agronomic traits. In both species of A. millefolium and A. bieberestini significant correlation coefficient were found between the plant height and the flower diameter. Comparison of dry matter yield and other characteristics of different populations indicated that populations with dry and hot origin in both species of A. millefoliuum and A. bieberestini had better productivity. Population Semnan (21657) in A. millefoliuum and population Park golestan in A. bieberestini showed better characteristics in plant height, plant diameter, main inflorescence diameter, dry matter yield and inflorescence number as compared with other populations, which could be suggested for breeding programs.

Irrigation treatments were applied at two levels of 40% and 60% available soil water (ASW) depletion on Mashhad and Urmia ecotypes of two Lallemantia species including L. iberica Fisch. & C.A.Mey. and L. royleana. (Benth.) Benth. Increased available soil water depletion caused an increased seed mucilage percentage. The highest percentage of seed mucilage was obtained in 60% ASW depletion, L. royleana, and ecotype of Mashhad. The highest (11.22kg/ha) and lowest (6.25kg/ha) seed mucilage yield was obtained in 40% and 60% ASW depletion, respectively. In L. iberica, seed mucilage yield of Mashhad ecotype was 34.04 kg/ha higher as compared to Urmia ecotype. By increasing available soil water depletion, seed protein content decreased to 7.30% in L. iberica; however, it remained unchanged in L. royleana. Oil content was not affected by irrigation treatments. Oil yield of Mashhad ecotype of L. iberica was 41.5% higher as compared with Urmia ecotype. The highest grain yield (208.4kg/ha) was obtained at 40% available soil water depletion. The grain yield at 60% available soil water depletion (107.3kg/ha) decreased to 43.84% as compared to 40% available soil water depletion. Contrary to L. iberica, significant differences were observed among the ecotypes of L. royleana in terms of grain yield. In general, under deficit irrigation, seed mucilage percentage of balangu increased, however, the protein percentage decreased.

Oak acorn is an edible nut with a long history in human nutrition. In this study, the kernel fatty acid composition and tannin contents of chestnut leaved oak (Quercus castaneifolia C.A. Mey.) was investigated in Alangdarreh forest in Golestan province. Oil extraction from kernel was carried out by Soxhelt apparatus using n-hexane as solvent. Fatty acids were methyl esterified before quantitative and qualitative gas chromatography analysis. The results revealed the presence of saturated fatty acids including palmitic acid (C16:0), margaric acid (C17:0), stearic acid (C18:0) and unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic acid (C18:2), linolenic acid (C18:3) and gadoleic acid (C20:1). The net yield of extraction for oil was 7.49%, constituting 81.13% unsaturated and 18.87% saturated fatty acids. The three major identified fatty acids and their respective relative amounts were linoleic acid (49.57 mg.g-1 oil), oleic acid (34.74 mg.g-1 oil) and palmitic acid (20.58 mg.g-1 oil). Tannin extraction was carried out by water as solvent. The total tannin content of acorn was determined using gallic acid as standard spectrophotometric ally. Results showed that the total tannin content of acorn was equivalent to about 178.13 mg galic acid.g-1 dry weight and the total oil content of acorn was 1.49 mg. 20 g-1 dry weights.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of Silybum marianum L. aerial parts powder on performance, egg quality, blood biochemical parameters, and blood cells of laying hens. A number of 240 Hy-line (W36) laying hens from 65 to 76 weeks were used in five treatments and four replicates (12 birds per each replicate) in a completely randomized design. The powder of Silybum marianum L. was 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% of the diet. The results showed that the diet containing 2% of Silybum marianum L., in comparison with control group, increased the amounts of egg weight, egg production percentage, egg mass and feed intake (p<0.05).Whereas, the highest amount of egg weight and egg specific gravity and eggshell percentage were observed with 1% of Silybum marianum L. (p<0.01). The use of Silybum marianum L. in diets caused the values of blood triglyceride, cholesterol, albumin and total protein to be decreased (p<0.05). The diet containing 2% Silybum marianum L. had increasing effects on hematocrit, hemoglobin and white blood cells (p<0.05). The overall results indicated that in laying hens, the use of Silybum marianum L. up to 2% of diet significantly improved the performance, egg quality traits, biochemical parameters, and blood cells.

In order to investigate the effect of salicylic acid and putrescine as foliar spray on plant yield and growth, essential oil yield and composition of summer Savory (Satureja hortensis L.), a field experiment was carried out based on randomized complete blocks design (RCBD), with three replication. Different concentrations of salicylic acid (0, 1, 2 and 3mM) and putrescine (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2mM) were applied as foliar spray at early stages of shooting, blooming and floweing. Results showed that foliar application of salicylic acid and putrescine had significant effect (p<0.01) on some vegetative parameters such as dry weight and yield of total aerial shoots, leaves and inflorescences as well as total chlorophyll concentration. All treatments had a significant effect (p<0.01) on essential oil efficiency, percentage, yield and composition of Satureja hortensis. The highest value of total aerial shoots dry weight (45.63g/p), total aerial shoots yield (5070kg/ha), leaf dry weight (6.39g/p), leaf yield (710kg/ha), inflorescence dry weight (15.65g/p), inflorescence yield (1739kg/ha), and total chlorophyll concentration (1.46mg/l) were observed in 3mM salicylic acid. The essential oil efficiency (2.35kg/ha) and essential oil yield (76.76%) reached a maximum range in 1.5mM putrescine. The concentration of thymol (47.76%) as the main volatile component of summer savory, reached the highest value in 2mM salicylic acid while other components, such as α-pinene, limonene and E-B-ocimene, reached the highest value in 50mg/L putrescine.

In order to find new environment-friendly and easily formulated and accessible insecticides, the essential oils of Pestacia atlantica var. kurdica (Anacardiaceae) were used against the adults of Lasioderma serricorne F. (Col.: Anobiidae) in vitro. Analysis of Pestacia atlantica var. kurdica (Anacardiaceae) essential oil used for insect fumigation by GC Mass analysis revealed the presence of 13 compounds including a-pinene (77.75%), camphene (6.6%), and b-pinene (3.45%). The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with six treatments (five various concentrations and one control). The essential oil was prepared by water distillation method with Clevenger Apparatus. Experiment was carried out at 30±2oC and 60±5% R. H. under dark condition. Treatments consisted of five different concentrations of essential oils and a control group. Each concentration consisted of three replicates and each replicate consisted of 20 one to seven- day adult insects. The LC50 for the oil of P. atlantica, in this experiment was 216.67 ml/l airs for L. serricorne. Results showed that essential oils of Pestacia atlantica var. kurdica (Anacardiaceae) had significant fatality on adult pests studied.

Damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) is one of economically important species of the Rosaceae family for production of rose oil and rose water. High respiration rate of harvested flowers resulting from increasing temperature inside the stacks of flowers causes a reduction in the quantity and quality of essential oil. In order to study the effects of different storage conditions on essential oil yield and composition, we conducted a factorial analysis based on completely randomized design with three replications and factors of storage durations, temperatures, and incubation conditions. In addition, the effects of different duration of distillation process were investigated using a completely randomized design experiment in three replications by considering quality and quantity of extracted essential oils. Identification of chemical compositions of essential oils was performed by GC and GC/MS. The results indicated that the storage of Damask rose petals in water at 4oC, especially for 48 hours, resulted in a good amount of essential oil content as well as compositions compared to the other storage methods and even fresh petals, distillated just after harvesting. Moreover, the essential oil content increased by increasing the duration of distillation, so that a distillation time of 3 hours and 3.5 hours was identified as the best time for the oil extraction process in terms of yield and essential oil compounds.