IRANIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS
Year:2006 | Volume:22 | Issue:1 (31)|Papers Count:15

Oleuropein, a compound that cause the bitter taste of olive, has many pharmacological properties. It is a natural antioxidant. In this study, the leaves of nine cultivars of Olea europaea L. named: Olive Begonia, Olive Gorgan, Olive Dezful, Olive Khshavy, Olive Khoramabady, Olive Dagal, Olive Barbar, Olive Zahedy and Olive Red were collected from Fadak station in Dezful city (Khozestan province, western south of Iran) at September 2004. After extraction of leaves by methanol, the oleuropein contents of extracts were determined by HPLC. Maximum amount of oleuropein was found in Olive Khoramabady (0.08 mg/ml, 0.24% w/w) and minimum in Olive Dagal (0.04 mg/ml, 0.13% w/w).

Hyoscyamus pusillus from Solanaceae family is a medicinal plant producing tropane alkaloids. For investigation of tropane alkaloids levels in H. pusillus, plant materials were collected during three different growth stages, vegetative stage, flowering stage and fruiting stage, from two regions of Azarbayjan, Marand and Tabriz. After extraction and purification of alkaloids from different parts of plants (root, stem, leaves, flowering tops and seeds), were assayed by HPLC. Furthermore, in two regions effects of environmental factors upon tropane alkaloid levels were investigated. The results showed that hyoscyamine and scopolamine content varied in three stages and in different parts of plants. The highest level of hyoscyamine in two regions was observed in leaves at flowering stage, whereas there was lowest level in stems at vegetative stage. Hyoscyamine was dominant alkaloid, with except of seeds, in all organs. Furthermore, the results showed that hyoscyamine and scopolamine content of plants in Marand region at all growth stages was higher than that of plants in Tabriz region. The results of investigation of effects environmental factors on alkaloid levels showed that some of this factors influenced production of tropane alkaloids. For example, as altitude up, alkaloid levels are raised. Furthermore, increased nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in soil caused increasing alkaloid levels in plants. Whereas, in contrast, reduced potassium in soil caused increasing alkaloid levels. As plant grows alkaloid levels increase. This can be results from it when plant mature, high nitrogen enters hyoscyamine (and as a result scopolamine) structure.

Due to correction of dry farming system and possibilities for replacement of low efficient plants, Fennel as a domestic, tolerant and valuable medicinal plant was used. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a perennial medicinal plant, which grows in 7 month per year. Its values are for medical, spice, health and soil conservation effects.  One of the important components of Fennel is Trans-anethol, which is in the seeds. This experiment was carried out in Damavand dry land region with using a Complete Randomized Blocks Design (CRBD), in three replications. The treatments were three geographic orients with 50–55% slopes.  The result shows a significant different among the seed yield which planted in the different orients. The highest yield obtains at third year with 1527 Kgha-1 in north orient and the lowest yield with 196 Kgha-1, which was related to the south orient in the first year. The north orient produced most seed yield with 1170 Kgha-1 in mean three years which was significant different with south orient. The 3 years growth of Fennel in Damavand region shows its dry farming possibility. Thus, Foeniculum vulgare could be cultivated in dry farming system as a tolerant medicinal plant, which produces economic seed yield.

Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen that produces widespread infections. Increasing antibiotic usage for S. aureus infections, created antibiotic resistance and hence need for production of new antibiotics. Medicinal herb with antimicrobial effect have important role in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to survey antimicrobial effect of hydroalchoholic extract of Zataria multiflora on S. aureus. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentratioin (MBC) of extract of dried leaf of Z. multiflora were determined by macro-dilution method. The changes of the number of bacteria in the presence of different concentrations (25% and 30%) of extract and time were assessed. The results were compared with changes of the number of bacteria in presence of 4 µg/ml oxacillin. The results showed that MIC and MBC was equal 25% for extract of Z. multiflora and reduction of the number of bacteria on the present of 30% of extract after 8h is equal with reduction of the number of bacteria exposed to 4 µg/ml oxacillin after 4h. Z .multiflora is native for Iran. Further studies and research on the antimicrobial effects of this medicinal herb, probably, may lead to production of herbal drugs.

Vitex L. (250 species) is a large tropical genus with a few temperate species. Examining the morphological characters of leave, stem, corolla and calyx together, with the micro-morphological observations, revealed the occurrence of four species in the flora of Iran. These species are V. agnus-castus, V. negundo, V. trifolia and V. pseudo-negundo. In this research, four species of Vitex were collected in flowering stage from their natural habitats. Hydro-distillation method was used to obtaining the essential oils. Essential oils components were identified by capillary GC and GC/MS. In the oil of V. agnus-castus, the main components of essential oil were monoterpenoids (82.8%) with 1,8-cineole (18.5%), a-pinene (17.8%) and limonene (15.7%) as major components. In the oil of V. pseudo-negundo, the main components of the essential oil were sesquiterpenoids (50.7%) which have the highest amount in comparing with other species and include a-guaiene (14.2%), germacrene D (11/6%) and a-cadinol (10%). Also the monoterpenoids of the oil of this species were a-pinene (10.3-24.5%), limonene (4.4-12.8%) and 1,8-cineole (10.9%). In the oil of V. negundo the major components were monoterpenoids (66.6%), among them 1,8-cineole (20.8%) and a-pinene (18.8%) were the main components. In the oil of V. trifolia, the major components were monoterpenoids (67.1%) and the main constituents were identified as sabinene (24.6%) and a- pinene (23.9%). 1,8-cineole was not found in the oil of this species. b-caryophyllene was identified at higher percentage (10.5%) in the oil of V. trifolia.

Considering the suitable condition of Sistan region for cultivation of medicinal plants, an experiment was carried in autumn and spring seasons, during 2002-2003, in Agricultural Research Station of Zahak. In this experiment, medicinal plants Cuminum cyminum, Black cumin (Nigella sativa) and Foeniculum vulgar L., were planted in plots with space 30 m2 in 81/8/20 and 81/12/28 dates. During growth season, the phonological stages in both autumn and spring were recorded. The results showed that the species (Black cumin, Cuminum cyminum and Foeniculum vulgar) could be planted well in spring and autumn but have highest product on autumn season. Black cumin with 933 kg (grain)/ha, Cuminum cyminum with 2050 kg (grain)/ha and Foeniculum vulgar with 1888 kg (grain)/ha could have roles both in planting pattern and the farmers income increase. The results showed that climatic situation could affect the oil yield and composition of theses seeds.

Nowadays cardiovascular diseases are one of the most important problems for humankind. Statistically is the commonest cause of early onset death. On the other hand, the effectiveness of garlic has proved in different studies. In this study, we investigated the reducing effect of extract of garlic on positive chronotropism by adrenaline in isolated rat atrium. Rats were randomly divided to 7 groups which received adrenalin, extract of garlic (10, 20, 40mg/kg), propranolol, propranolol plus extract of garlic (40mg/kg) and control group. Atrial rate was obtained by physiographic set. The results showed that extract of garlic (40mg/kg) caused significantly reduction in rate of atrium but rate reduction with propranolol was more than one with propranolol plus extract of garlic.

This investigation was carried out for Introducing of aromatic plants of Hormozgan Province during 1995-1998. Aromatic plants were recognized based on different references and native people. These species were collected by traveling to the various parts of Hormozgan province and noted some information about species such as Persian, local, scientific and family names, geographical distribution, habitat, altitude, companion species, average annual rainfall and temperature. The 113 species were determined that belonged to 70 genus and 31 families. From these, 26 were trees, 9 shrub, 24 bushes and 54 herbaceous. Meanwhile 80 species were native, 31 species were often used by people in province’s rural areas. 15 species were not found in references as a medicinal herb and 12 species are exported to Arabic countries. These plants grow at coastal to mountainous areas of Hormozgan Province from 10-3000 m above sea level in a warm and dry climate. Meanwhile mean annual rainfall average and temperature are 150-300 mm and 17.5-27.5 degree centigrade respectively.

In folk medicine, Plumbago has been used because of antifungal property for precaution in treating mite infections. As the extract's effects of different species of Plumbago has been studied, in this research the antifungal effects of root of the European species of Plumbago was studied. For this reason methanol extract was prepared by soxhelet method and different concentrations of the extract were applied on standard and nosocomial Candida albicans and other fungus, by agar dilution and cylinder plate methods. Fungus were taken from blood, feces, spinal fluid, wound, vagina and so on. Clotrimasol was used as positive control drug. The results showed that, among the extracts, methanol extract 2% had significant antifungal activity, and in the other plates with extracts of 1.5%, 1%, 0.5% and 0.25% there was 95%, 73%, 70% and 61% inhibition of growth, respectively. Effects of methanol extract in comparison with clotrimasol were as follow; 1mg/100ml of extract was equal to 10mg/ml clotrimasol, 1/5mg/100ml of extract was equal to 20mg/ml clotrimasol, 2mg/100ml of extract was equal to 30mg/ml clotrimasol and 3mg/100ml of extract was equal to 40mg/ml clotrimasol.

In this research, the extraction and separation of sedative compounds of Rosa damascena Mill. (from Rosaceae family) was studied. The minimum dosage of sedative effect was the basis of physiological tests (on Balb-C mouse) which has done in Mashhad University of medical sciences. Several extractions were done by ethanol, chloroform and water, among which the extracted syrup from ethanol showed the best effect (500mg/kg). This syrup showed five main spots on TLC (thin layer chromatography), from which the desired compound was separated by column chromatography. The physiological tests of the pure compound from column chromatography showed that the minimum effective dosage was 15mg/kg. The chemical structure of separated compounds was also studied by Mass, IR and NMR spectroscopy.

The leaves of Eucalyptus caesia were collected from north khuzistan in March 2003. The essential oil of Eucalyptus caesia (Myrthaceae) was prepared by hydro-distillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The essential oil was produced at yield of 0.97% (based on dry weights). Twenty-one components were identified, among them α-pinene (9.3%), 1,8-cineole (69.4%), trans-pinocarveole (2.4%), caryophyllene (6.1%) and globulol (2.8%) were the major constituents.

Drug addiction is destructive misfortune and one of the most important problems in the world. Using the medical plants in medicinal history has valuable information and experiments in this field. According to the researches, Trachyspermum copticum L. (T.C) is effective in reducing of morphine’s withdrawal syndrome, so, in this study we investigate the effects of T.C microinjection on nucleus reticularis paragigantocellularis (PGi) on morphine’s withdrawal syndrome sings (MWSS). After preparing the T.C fruit from height of the mountain in Khuzestan, aqueous extract of different concentration (Diluted 10, 100, 1000 times) was prepared by soxhelet display. Thirty-two male rats (Sprague Dawley with average weigh 250-300gr) were divided to 4 groups, randomized which dependent by intraperitoneum (I.P) injection with morphine. After cumulating the PGI with using the set of steriotaxi, microinjection of different doses of T.C in PGI was done and naloxan (5mg/kg) was injected I.P to groups. Withdrawal syndrome signs (weight loss, jumping, climbing, and abdominal pain) were observed in 4 groups. Data evaluation and analysis was done by LSD and ANOVA. The results showed T.C was significantly effective in reduction of MNSS such as (jumping, climbing, abdominal pain) compared with control group. So, T.C is probably sensitive on specific receptors in PGI.