IRANIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS
Year:2016 | Volume:32 | Issue:1 (75)|Papers Count:20

Satureja species are aromatic plants, belonging to Lamiaceae family. The green parts and essential oils of Satureja species are used in medicinal and food industries. Satureja rechingeri Jamzad is an endemic species growing wild in Ilam province. In this research, the seeds of six populations were collected from natural habitats for domestication of this species and study the essential oil content and composition in cultivated plants. The seeds were cultivated in the research farm of Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands in three replications in a complete randomized blocks design. For comparing the yields and constituents of essential oil, the aerial parts of each accession were collected in full flowering stage at three consecutive years. The plant materials were subjected to hydro-distillation after drying in room temperature. The oil yields were calculated and the oil compositions were identified by GC and GC/MS analysis and retention indices. Our results showed an increasing pattern for the oil yields of four populations during three years after cultivation and then it reached to 4.8%-6% in the third year. The major compound in all oils was carvacrol accounted for 80 to 88% in two- and three- year-old plants. According to the obtained results and improved yield of essential oil in cultivated samples compared to the wild ones as well as high levels of carvacrol, the cultivation of S. rechingeri in the same condition could be recommended.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the plants propagating by corm. After flowering period, saffron corms should be harvested and replanted in the new field. Determining the suitable conditions for corms packing and storage could prevent the reduction of seed viability and maintain the bulb quality. In this research, the effects of packing type, storage temperature and storage period were investigated on waste and physical and mechanical properties of saffron corms. The study was conducted in a randomized complete block design. The results showed that the packing type, storage temperature and storage period had significant effects on the waste and weight loss of saffron corms. The percentage of waste and weight loss due to the loss of moisture increased by increasing of storage period from 1 to 3 month. The lowest and highest waste corms were related to grid pack and nylon pack, respectively. The storage of saffron corms in grid pack and at 10˚C caused to decreased waste and maintained the moisture content of corms.

The common pistachio psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae Burckhardt and Lauterer (Hem: Aphalaridae), is one of the most important pests of pistachio orchards in Iran. In this study, the effect of ethanol extracts of Thymusv ulgaris L., Rosmarinus officinalis Save, Ricinus communis L. and Sophopra alopecuriodes L. were studied on the mortality of this pest in vitro. The bioassay experiments were done within 8-cm-diameter Petri dishes, containing pistachio leaf disks and fifth instar nymphs of common pistachio psylla. Different concentrations of extracts were sprayed on nymphs, by using the spray tower, and distilled water and ethanol were used as control. Nymphal mortality was calculated at 36 and 48h post-treatment. The experiment was conducted in a CRD design with three replications for each concentration of each treatment. According to the obtained results, the effect of different concentrations of all treatments was significant on the mortality of pest at 36 and 48h after treatment. The LC50 values for T. vulgaris, R. officinalis, R. communis and S. alopecuriodes (flowers) and S.alopecuriodes (leavs) at 36h after treatment were calculated to be 386.642, 322.207, 314.338, 94.367 and 25.127 g/l, respectively. Based on the toxicity of extract used in this study at 24 and 48 hours after treatment, T. vulgaris and S. alopecuriodes extracts had the lowest and highest insecticidal effect on common pistachio psylla, respectively. The extract of S. alopecuriodes flowers and leaves was more effective and it could be used as an effective and environmentally friendly compound candidate in controlling this pest.

Salinity stress is one of the major abiotic stresses that have destructive effects on plant productivity and quality. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of zinc as alleviating agent under salinity stress on ant ioxidative system, proteins, proline and growth of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. at Arak University in 2012 autumn. A number of 49-days-old plants were treated with different concentrations of NaCl (0, 35, 70 and 100mM) alone and in combination with various ZnSO4 concentrations (0, 5 and 10mm) for 21 days. Then, the inhibition percent of 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and guaiacol peroxidase, proline and protein content and growth parameters were measured. Results showed that zinc application improved shoot length, root depth, root and shoot fresh and dry weight under all salinity treatments. As a result of salinity stress, the inhibition percent of DPPH radical and superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase activity and also proline content increased 348.5%, 475.6%, 172.7%, 200% and 364%, respectively but protein content was reduced 33%. Zinc application improved protein content up to 16% in plants under salinity treatment and also reduced the proline content up to 36%. The activity of antioxidant enzymes increased significantly in treated plants with NaCl+Zn as compared with those treated with NaCl or Zn alone. These results support the positive effects of Zn application on antioxidant defense system in vinca under salinity. Zinc may act as a scavenger of reactive oxygen species for mitigating the injury on bio membranes under salt stress.

In order to investigate the effect of vermicompost, mycorrhiza and semimycorrhiza (Piriformospora indica) on some micro and macro elements of Balm (Melissa officinalis L.), this experiment was conducted in the Alborz research station, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Karaj, Iran, in 2012. The experiment was conducted as factorial in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications. Factors included vermicompost at three levels (0, 5 and 10 t/ha), and inoculation with biofertilizers at four levels (control, inoculation with Glomus mosseae+G. intraradices, Piriformospora indica, and Glomus mosseae+G. intraradices+Piriformospora indica). Results indicated that vermicompost and biofertilizer significantly affected the content of potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese and cooper (p<0.01). Moreover, vermicompost application significantly affected nitrogen content at p<0.01. Results indicated that interaction of vermicompost and biofertilizer significantly affected the content of phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese and cupper (p<0.01). According to mean comparisons of simple effects, the highest content of nitrogen (2.83%) and potassium (1.66%) was obtained from application of 10 t/ha vermicompost. The highest content of phosphorus (0.53%) belonged to the use of mycorrhiza (Glomus mosseae+G. intraradices). Mean comparisons of the interaction effects indicated that the highest content of phosphorus was obtained from application of 10 t/ha vermicompost×mycorrhiza (Glomus mosseae+G. intraradices). The highest content of calcium (0.77%) was obtained from 5ton/ha vermicompost ´ non-inoculation. The highest content of magnesium (0.6%) was obtained from the treatments of no vermicompost ´ mycorrhiza (Glomus mosseae+G. intraradices) and 10 t/ha vermicompost´mycorrhiza (Glomus mosseae+G. intraradices). The highest amount of iron (925.6ppm) was obtained from the treatment of 5 t/ha vermicompost ´ mycorrhiza (Glomus mosseae+G. intraradices). Results indicated that the use of mycorrhizae and vermicompost could increase the uptake of most elements in the study species.

Herbal medicines are natural and safe; however, side effects can occur following excessive use of them. This research was aimed to investigate the acute toxicity and antioxidant activity of the essential oil of Artemisia dracunculus L. The essential oil of A. dracunculus (EOAD) was extracted by Clevenger apparatus using hydrodistillation. Two types of essential oil were studied including fresh and old oil (kept in laboratory conditions for three months). All protocols were tested for both fresh and old oil. The LD50 was calculated based on Lorke’s method using Probit Analysis and maximum Likelihood method with MINITAB software. To induce acute toxicity, appropriate concentrations of essential oil (10, 100, 1000, 1600, 2900 and 5000mg/kg of EOAD) were given orally and intraperitoneally. The antioxidant activity of EOAD (1-32mg/ml) was measured by two methods: DPPH and ABTS assays. The oral LD50 values were greater than 5000 mg/kg and 3801.33mg/kg for fresh and old EO, respectively. When fresh and old EO administered intraperitoneally, the LD50 values were calculated to be 4810.06 mg/kg and 3013.33mg/kg, respectively. The fresh essential oil showed higher antioxidant activity as compared with the old essential oil in both DPPH and ABTS methods. Our results clearly indicate that the essential oil of this plant is non-toxic and contains antioxidant compounds that support the use of tarragon in traditional medicine.

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of manganese stress and salicylic acid treatments at three different times on activities of antioxidant enzymes, proline, soluble sugars, photosynthetic pigments and essential oils of Mentha piperita L. The research was conducted in a greenhouse at the University of Zabol in 2012-13. A factorial experiment was performed in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Plant samples were harvested at three times in 1, 3 and 5 days after spraying with Mn stress (500mM) and salicylic acid (1mM). The results indicated that manganese stress significantly affected APX and proline content of peppermint leaves during all three times. The content of proline and soluble sugars significantly increased in three times compared to the control treatment under salicylic acid and manganese stress. On the other hand, the Mn stress did not significantly decrease the photosynthetic pigments. In addition, essential oils increased with manganese stress and salicylic acid. This increase was much under salicylic acid treatment. According to the obtained results, increased APX enzyme and proline content were the physiological responses of peppermint against oxidative stress. It was also observed that salicylic acid acted as a powerful growth regulator and caused modification in manganese stress response in Mentha piperita.

Cannabis sativa L., belonging to cannabinaceae family, is a medicinal plant that produces a diverse array of secondary metabolites. The present study aimed to optimize in vitro direct and indirect regeneration in this valuable plant. For this reason, leaf and hypocotyl explants from in vitro grown plantlets were excised and cultured on MS media containing different concentrations of BA (0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2 and 3mg/l) and TDZ (0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2 and 3mg/l) alone or in combination with 0.5 mg/l IBA. The explants reaction in all media led to formation of calli. Direct shoot regeneration from explants was not observed but shoot induction from callus was seen on MS media containing different concentrations of BA in hypocotyl explants. The highest volume of callus was formed on MS medium containing 2 mg/l TDZ+ 0.5mg/l IBA using leaf as explant. The highest wet and dry weight of callus belonged to leaf explant cultured on MS medium containing 1 mg/l TDZ+ 0.5 mg/l IBA. MS medium containing 0.5 mg/l TDZ+ 0.5 mg/l IBA produced no callus in both explants. The addition of IBA in different concentration of BA had significant effects on volume, wet and dry weight of calli in both explants whereas it had no significant effects in different concentrations of TDZ.

Damask Rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) is an important medicinal and industrial species. To achieve more and better-quality essential oil identifying the superior accessions of Damask Rose and their genetic relationships is very important. For a detailed review of the relationship among the genotypes of this species and variations in the essential oil composition, the use of multivariate statistical analysis could be useful. In this study, 25 different accessions of Damask Rose were collected from Kermanshah province and other regions of Iran and were planted in a randomized complete blocks design. The essential oil was extracted from the petals with hydro distillation method. Essential oil composition was identified by using the gas chromatography and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and the amount (percentage) of each composition was measured. Essential oil compositions were evaluated using cluster analysis. According to the results of cluster analysis, the accessions were grouped in four groups. Discriminant analysis confirmed the results of cluster analysis. Component analysis showed that the accessions were in four groups and there were four different trends among the accessions studied for the chemical compositions of essential oils. According to the correlation analysis, the two important factors, geraniol and citronellol, which increased the quality of essential oil compounds in damask rose, showed a significant positive relationship with each other and with citronellyl acetate and geranial.

Thymus, belonging to Lamiaceae family, is one of the most important medicinal genera in Iran. It has many uses in food, health care, cosmetics and especially in pharmaceutical industries. This research was aimed to investigate the germination parameters and establishment of seedlings from different accessions of Thymus species (T. daenensis, T. fedchenkoi, T. kotschyanus, T. lancifolius, T. migricus, T. pubescens, T. transcaspicus and T. vulgaris). All the accessions are stored in Natural Resources Gene Bank of Iran. The seeds of accession were son in pots using a completely randomized design with three replications. Data were collected for thousand seed weight, seed germination percentage, seed storage time, germination rate, vegetative growth rate (2, 4, 6 and 8-leaf stage and the emergence of lateral branches), and the establishment percentage of each accession was measured in greenhouse. Unknown accessions were identified after preparing the herbarium specimens. Results indicated positive and significant correlations between 1000-seed weight and germination percentage as well as between seedling establishment and germination percentage (p<0.05); however, no significant correlation was found with emergence of leaves. The highest 1000-seed weight was observed in T. kotschyanus and T. lancifolius, respectively and the highest percentage of germination in T. pubescens. Positive and significant correlations were observed between primary and secondary seed germination percentage and germination rate; however, leaf emergence and lateral branch emergence were negatively correlated. Secondary seed germination showed significant positive correlation with germination rate (p<1% and 5%, respectively). Germination rate and leaf emergence showed positive significant correlation. There were no significant correlations between leaf emergence and lateral branch emergence of different species.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of downhill running and short term Melissa officinal is L. (MO) supplementation on CRP (circulating reactive protein) and the amount of perceived soreness (pain) in the male athletes. For this purpose, 20 male athletes were randomly divided into two groups of 10 (supplement and placebo). Serum CRP concentration and level of perceived thigh pain before and after the supplementation were measured. After collecting the data, ANOVA for repeated evaluation of time series and the Bonferroni post hoc test were significant (p<0.05), and t-test was used to evaluate difference between-groups. The findings of the study were that total serum CRP was increased less in the supplement group than that of placebo (p=0.03). The amount of perceived soreness was lower in the supplement group (p=0.03). It is concluded that the herbal supplement can decrease perceived thigh pain rate and elevated serum CRP levels after downhill running.

This research was conducted on Rosa damascena Mill. in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the Alborz research station during 2012-2013. Treatments included nano chelated iron fertilizer at six levels: (0 (control), two times foliar spray (8g/plant), three times foliar spray (12g/plant), one time soil application (8g/plant), one time soil application (12 g/plant). The first foliar spray was done at blossoming stage. The second and third applications were 10 and 20 days after blossoming. Soil application was at blossoming stage accompanied by irrigation. The essential oil of samples was extracted by Clevenger and water distillation method for three hours. GC and GC/MS were used to determine the percentage and essential oil compounds of fresh flowers. According to the results of variance analysis, significant differences were found for the essential oil percentage, citronellol, icosane, octadecanol, Henicosane, Tricosane, Tetrosane, geraniol, and Tridane (p<0.01). Mean comparison of treatments indicated that the essential oil percentage of fresh flowers by threetimes foliar spray (0.071%) was more than that of one time foliar spray (0.061%) and one time soil application (12 g/plant) (0.051%) and other treatments. The highest Citronellol was obtained in one-time foliar spray (1.17%) and the lowest in control treatment (0.36%). In addition, the highest tricosane (33.77%) was obtained from the use of 12g chelated iron in soil. The results of correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between essential oil percentage of fresh flower and essential oil stability at refrigerator as well as dried flower at shadow. A significant negative correlation was also found between citronellol and ecosane. Results indicated that fertilizers could affect the percentage and compounds of essential oil in Rosa damascene.

Carbon tetra chloride converts to CCL3O by cytochrom P 450 that conjugate with glutathione by GST, leading to GSH depletion and oxidative injuries. Therefore, the compounds with antioxidant activity can prevent oxidative damages induced by CCL4. In this study, the rats were divided into five groups treated with CCL4, (2ml/kg bw), essential oil (100 and 200 mg/kg bw) and BHT (10mg/kg bw) (ip). In following, the liver and blood were removed after administrations. The activity of GST, reduced glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxidation (LP) levels were measured in liver homogenate. In addition, total antioxidant activity and the level of hepatic marker (AST, ALT, ALP and bilirubin) were measured in plasma of rats. The results showed that CCL4 caused GSH depletion and reduction of GST activity in liver, leading to increased liver LP level and transaminase activities (AST and ALT) in plasma. Treatments of rats with essential oil as same as BHT prevent the changes of these parameters. We can conclude that CCL4 induces hepatic oxidative damages in rats. Treatment of rats with essential oils, probably due to its antioxidant activity, can partly prevent the induction of liver injuries.

To evaluate the effect of air velocity and infrared radiation intensity on drying time, essential oil content, and composition of Lemon Verbena (Lippia citriodora Kunth), a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design was carried out. The two main treatments were as follows: three air velocity levels (0.5, 1 & 1.5m/s) and three levels of infrared radiation intensities (0.2, 0.3 & 0.5W/cm2). After drying the samples, their essential oil was extracted by hydro-distillation method and compositions of essential oil were identified with capillary gas chromatography, using flame ionization and mass spectrometric detection. Results indicated that the various treatments had significant effects on drying time and essential oil content. With decreasing air velocity and increasing radiation intensity, drying time was reduced. Minimum drying time (35 minutes) was obtained at 0.5 m/s air velocity with the use of 0.5W/cm2 radiation intensity. In contrast, the maximum drying time (65 minutes) was revealed for the sample treated with 1.5 m/s air velocity, which received concomitantly 0.4W/cm2 radiation intensity. Increasing the intensity of infrared radiation in all air velocities had a significant effect on the essential oil content, so that the maximum essential oil content (1.1%) was obtained by application of 1 & 1.5 m/s air velocity and the use of 0.5W/cm2 radiation intensity. The survey of essential oil components showed that the highest amount of oxygenated monoterpenes (73.3%), especially citral (61.3%) was measured from samples dried by 0.5 m/s air velocity and 0.2W/cm2 radiation intensity. According to these results, due to the decreased duration of drying time and desired essential oil content and composition, it seems that the use of infrared radiation in conventional dryers could lead to appropriate quality of essential oil.