IRANIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS
Year:2005 | Volume:21 | Issue:2 (28)|Papers Count:15

Man used to take a lot of medicinal plants, but a little to take care of their duration. To find methods for increasing their products always paid attention to plant.Essential oil of the flowering shoot of Ammi visnpga was extracted by hydro-distillation method and the essential oil inhibitory effects have been studied by using well diffusion method on four bacteria consists of: Streptococcus viridans, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plant arum, Lactobacillus acidophilus (control: cetylpyridinium chloride 0.05%). Effective essential oil against above mentioned bacteria suspension was studied by micro organism 108 colony forming unit/ml (cfu/ml).Bactericide activity of essential oil of Ammi visnaga flowering shoot observed later of 24-48 hours. The zones of growth inhibition were as follow: Streptococcus viridans 35mm, Lactobacillus casei 50mm, Lactobacillus plantarum 35mm, Lactobacillus acidophilus 35mm and control 12mm.

The experiment was conducted in 1380-1381, on one year old olive plant cvs; "Zard", "Roghani" (native cvs.) and "Mission", "Koroneiki" (foreign cvs.) during two different growth status; cold and non-cold acclimated phase. Natural cold treatment was achieved by exposure plant to low temperature during fall and winter in 1381. The influence of cold stress on plant growth, wet and dry weight, shoot tip bum and water content were studied. In order to determine ionic leakage leaf tissues were exposure to artificial freezing temperature; 0, -4, -8 and -12°C ranged by 4°C per hour. There was significant difference between cultivars with regards to vegetative growth index. The cv. "Koronieki" with more shoot growth, showed the more shoot tip bum damage. Based on ionic leakage study at non-acclimated phase, Olive cvs. were classified in distinct classes, includes: cold tolerance, semi tolerance and cold sensitive. However use of lower artificial freezing temperature especially during cold acclimated status will 'provide more reliable and certain results.

Zataria multiflora is traditionally used for diarrhea, cold, blowing, headache, wound, fever, skin sensitiveness and fat and sugar blood from ancient times. This investigation was carried for knowing some ecological characteristics of Zataria multiflora and using them in abundant cultivation for using in medicinal industries and prevents the plants region from destroying from 1379 for two years. Climatic, Geologic and Geomorphologic characteristics, Land types, Companion plants, Habitat types and Distribution map were provided for all of habitats and in Ahmadi, Badafshan and Tangezagh regions phenologic study were done, and also vegetative parameters measurement and soil analysis. This species was distributed from Northern to the nearest point to Persian Gulf (Abgarme geno) and from the Western point in Chahshanbeh mount in Gavbandy to Bashagard region (Khomeini shahr shang mountain), in East from 25°m to 185°m altitude. Climate of the regions is semi-dry, hot and semi-dry desert. 57.6 percent of habitats of this species are mountainous region and 54.6 percent of it was located on Calcareous structure. This plant grows in sandyloam with pH=7.9-8.4 and EC=0.58-1.05 mm fern.There are more than 150 species were determined in all of habitats that Cymbopogon olivieri, Amygdalus scoparia, Pistacia khinjuk, Pistacia atlantica, Teucrium pollium, Amygdalus lycioides and Astragalus jasciculifolius were common in all of them.

Zhumeria majdae is one of the important medicinal species of Hormozgan province. It is used as a traditional medical plant. In this investigation, the effects of habitat and pre-treatments on seed germination of Zhumeria majdae were studied. Seeds of species were collected from two main habitats and tested for pre-treatments as scarification, sulfuric acid (for 15 and 30 minutes) and warm water. Seeds were sown in Petri dishes for 14 days. This experiment was carried out in factorial based on 4 replications. According to the results, applying sulfuric acid for 15 minutes as pretreatment on seeds that were collected from Sarchahan had higher values of seed germination percentage and germination rate. Vigor index of the seed samples that were collected from Sarchahan was higher than those were collected from Geno.

Medicinal plants are used as by-products of rangeland in Iran from many years ago. Identification of ecological properties of these plants is necessary for sustainable and economic utilization from potential in natural resources. Feruia gumosa is a medicinal plant in mountains of Iran that has very important economical of value.The purpose of this research was consideration of ecological properties and some chemical components of Feruia gumosa for identification and protection from the main provenances in Qom province. This research conducted in Qom rangeland ecosystems from 1996 for 3 years. First the distribution map of Feruia was prepared by extant references and field study then a key area about 1 ha was selected in each provenance. The vegetation parameters were considered by transect-quadrate method also the distribution of root system and phenological stages were studied with selection of 20 stand of plants. Soil sampling to take the measurement of organic material, pH and EC was done from 0-15 and 15-30 cm depths also plant sampling to determine nutrient value which was accomplished. The results indicated the provenance of Feruia can be found in semi-steppic regions with elevation of more than 2000 meters, in soils with light texture, in pH between 7.5-7.8 and EC 0.06 to 0.479 mmohs/cm and from geological standpoint in granite and granodiorite. This species can tolerate temperature between -23.5° to 35°C and annual precipitation about 270-320 mm is suitable for that. Root/herbage ratio was between 0.7-0.73 and total digestible nutrients of Feruia are higher than another rangeland plants. This plant has great value because of its high nutrient and economical value.

In order to investigation the effect of different levels of nitrogen fertilizer on yield of Melissa officinalis L., an experiment was conducted under greenhouse condition in Alborz Research Station in Karaj/Iran in 2003/2004. The research carried out with 6 levels of foliar application of nitrogen using of completely randomized design with three replications. The treatments included 0, 3%, 4.5%, 6%, 7.5 % and 9% nitrogen fertilizer and applied in 3 stages on plant.Results showed that effect of different levels of foliar application on yield was significant. The level of 4.5% had a higher performance (85.8 g/ shoot per plant) to others. Reduction of yield at levels of 7.5% and 9.0% was explained by Micherlich law.Foliar application caused to increase of yield and decreasing of agroecosystem pollution. Foliar application was a suitable approach in sustainable agriculture.

Phenolic compounds in olive fruits are important factors to consider. These compounds are partly responsible for auto-oxidation stability and organoleptic characteristics. Moreover, they have pharmacological properties and are natural antioxidants and inhibit gram- positive microorganisms involved in the fermentation of olive fruits. Oleuropein, the main component that produced bitterns in olive, is a heterosidic ester of elenolic acid and 3,4- dihydroxyphenylethanol.In this study we have collected two samples in summer 2004 from washing exude of fruits Olea europaea L., after procedure for the separation of phenolic compounds extracted. Identification and determination of oleuropein. compound was done by HPLC. The results showed the quantity of oleuropin in the salt water sample was 0.0010% mg/ml and in NaOH sample was 0.0016% mg/ml.

To evaluate 17 Damask rose genotypes regarding their variation for morphological traits, an experiment was conducted at the experimental field of Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands. Analysis of variance, mean comparison and phenotypic correlation analysis were performed. The variance analysis showed significant differences among genotypes for plant height and flower number per branch (P<0.01), number of leaves per branch, leaflet length and thorn density (P<0.05). Also, comparison of means classified the genotypes for the above characteristics. Significant correlations were observed between different traits. A significant (P<0.01) phenotypic correlation (r=0.96) indicated a strong positive relationship between flower yield and number of flower per plant. From the results, a wide range of variation was observed among the genotypes. Morphological characteristics could, therefore, be useful criteria for selection for yield. However, more genotypes, as well as further analyses, including flower quality especially essential oil components are necessary to be considered, in an efficient breeding of Rosa damascena.

In this research investigation on parthenolide production and antioxidant defence in callus culture and micropropagated plantlets of feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch. Bip. Family: Asteraceae) wounding, abscisic acid (ABA) and salicylic acid (SA) treatments were done.For this purpose, seeds were cultured on MS/4 medium with the whole vitamins, and shoot explants of seedlings, with shoot tip and without shoot tip and also, were cultured on MS medium supplemented with NAA (0.54 mM)and BAP (4.44 mM). The growth of plantlets was computed as dry weight.For biochemical investigations, shoot tip explants were cut from two months old plantlets and treated with ABA, SA and wounding (leaves discarded) for 10 hours in MS liquid medium. Parthenolide content was measured by HPLC. Antioxidant defense was evaluated as qualitative peroxidase activity.Callus tissues were obtained from leaf explants of seedlings, in MS medium supplemented with NAA (2mg.L-1) and BAP (0.5mg,L-1).One month old calli were transferred to liquid medium with ABA, SA and DMSO treatments. After one weak, parthenolide content and peroxidase activity were measured as above. Parthenolide content of control plantlets in this investigation was 0.00863±0.00283, but SA+ Wounding treatment in plantlets showed the less parthenolide content and the maximum dry weight. Parthenolide production in treatments was decreased as the growth increased. In callus tissues, parthenolide content was not different significantly between treatments, and approximately half of the plantlets. Qualitative variation in antioxidant defense was shown by electrophoretic patterns and we had an extra band in wounding treatment in micropropagated plantlets. Anionic bands were stronger than cationic bands. Electrophoretic bands had no difference in callus tissues.

In order to investigate the quantitative changes of essential oil during growth period (vegetative, flowering, after flowering) in Melissa officinalis, samples were collected from Arasbaran and Malekan for two years (2001 and 2002). All samples were dried in laboratory condition and then essential oils were extracted by steam distillation method. The oils were dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and weighted. Combined analysis of data was done with C.R.D design in 3 replications. Combined analysis of data for Melissa officinalis indicated that effects of year, location and phenology phases weren't significantly different, but the interaction of (year x location) and (location x year x phenology phases) were significantly different at 1% probability level.Means were grouped using L.S.D (5%). Based on the results of this study, essential oil yield in Malekan was higher at first year at flowering stage (0.197%). Mean of interaction (year x location) showed that oil yield of Melissa officinalis in Malekan at first and second year were respectively (0.108 and 0.080%), and in Arasbaran were (0.035 and 0.018%). The results of the two years showed that the average oil content at first year was more than that at second year.