IRANIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS
Year:2014 | Volume:30 | Issue:3 (65)|Papers Count:18

In this research, the effect of ecdysteoidal extract fromSpinacia oleracea L. (Chenopodiceae), a plant producing phytoecdysteroids, was evaluated on the life table and population growth parameters of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Ecdysteroidal extract of the plant leaves, containing 20 hydroxyecdysone, was incorporated into the food given to the insect. Newly hatched larvae (100 replications) were reared individually in test glasses. Data analysis demonstrated that the intrinsic rate of increase (rm), mean generation time (T), finite rate of increase (l) and net reproduction rate (R0) decreased significantly as concentration of the extract increased. In addition, doubling time (DT) increased significantly as concentration of the extract increased. Life expectancy of the insect (ex) also increased. Total development duration in treated insects was always significantly longer than that in the control group. The control insects had four instar larvae, but it was six for the treated larvae. Data demonstrated that E. kuehniella was partially resistant to ingested exogenous ecdysteroids. Nevertheless, exogenous ecdysteroids were able to disrupt larval development and reduced the fertility. Therefore, this extract may be a potential protectant as botanical alternative agent, and can be used as a biopesticide to control E. kuehniella population.

The effect of methyl jasmonate (MeJa) upon Agastache foeniculum [Pursh] Kuntze was investigated in aspects of enzymatic activities of phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL) and 4-coumarate: CoA ligase (4CL), total phenolic content and total protein. The experiments were carried out based on a completely randomized design under a hydroponic system. The plants were subjected to different concentrations of MeJa (0, 0.1 and 1 mM). The PAL activity significantly increased in plants treated with 1 mM MeJa for 24 h compared with 0.1 mM MeJa and control. In addition, 4CL activity also significantly increased at 24 h after 1 mM MeJa treatment compared with 0.1 mM MeJa treatment and control. However, MeJa treatments did not have any significant effect on total phenolic compounds after 8, 12 or 24 h of treatment compared with controls of those times. Total protein content significantly increased with 1 or 0.1 mM MeJa treatments after 24 h of treatment compared with control plants.

Phenolic compounds are one of the most important factors in olive, which has been considered greatly. Phenols have pharmacological characteristics and contain natural antioxidants in olive. Oleuropein is one of the most abundant and important phenolic compounds in fruits and leaves of olive, which causes the bitter taste of olive. Oleuropein is a heterosidic ester of elenolic acid and 3, 4-dihydroxy phenyl ethanol. It is worth mentioning that the use of this compound has a significant role in health. In this study, the amount of existing compounds in different cultivars of olive (Olea europaea L.) was studied during harvesting season in two regions of Rudbar and Kazeroun, and oleuropein was extracted with methanol and its amount was determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). According to the conducted researches, it was found that the highest composition rate of fruit oleuropein was recorded for yellow olive in Fars (34.31 mg/g) and for Fyshmy olive in Rudbar (30.25 mg/g). However, the lowest composition rate of fruit oleuropein was recorded for Mishen olive in Fars (9.55 mg/g) and for Lechyo olive in Rudbar (10.23 mg/g). Based on the provided data, it can be concluded that more edibility of Rudbar olives may be due to the lower level of oleuropein compound, resulting in less bitterness. Notably, the medicinal usage of different types of Fars olives is due to the higher level of oleuropein compounds.

This research was aimed to study the effects of autumn and spring sowing on seed yield, oil content and fatty acid compositions of five safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) cultivars in Shirvan region. The experimental design was a split plot in randomized complete blocks design with three replications, conducted in research field of Shirvan College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mshhad during 2010-2011. Main plots were allocated to two sowing times (autumn and spring) and the sub-plots included five safflower cultivars. Cultivars were Cina, CW-4445, Sahuripa- 88, Ghocahan local and Isfahan local. The results of variance analysis showed that the seed yield, oil content and fatty acid compositions were affected by sowing date. Seed yield and oil content obtained in autumn sowing (2330 kg/ha, and 29.5%) were greater as compared to the spring sowing (1550 kg/h, and 27.5%). The highest seed yield was obtained from Cina in autumn sowing (2989 kg/ha) and CW-4445 in spring sowing (1789 kg/ha). Sahuripa-88 had the highest oil content in autumn and spring sowing. The fatty acid content of palmitic, stearic acid and oleic increased significantly in autumn sowing. The fatty acid content of linoleic and linolenic decreased significantly in autumn sowing with high oil stability. According to the obtained results, seed yield, oil content, fatty acid compositions and oil stability of cultivars showed significant diffrences. Our results demonstrated that the sowing time and variety may have an important effect on seed yield, oil content and quality of safflower seed. Cina, CW-4445, and Ghochan local cultivars showed desirable potential for cultivation of safflower as well as increasing the area under cultivation.

Simultaneous application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and organic matter affects the growth and yield of plants. A pot experiment was conducted to study the effects of Funneliformis mosseaefungus, Licorice pulp and their simultaneous application on the morphological and physiological characteristics of pot marigold (Calendula officinalis L.). A completely randomized design with a factorial arrangement in three replications was used. Factors were included 1) arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, (Funneliformis mosseae and control), 2) four levels of Licorice (0, 5, 10 and 20% (v/v)). Inoculation of pot marigold roots with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus significantly increased plant height, leaf area, shoot dry weight, chlorophyll and flavonoid content, root colonization, and N, P and K uptake of plant. Application of 5 and 10% v/v of Licorice pulp increased plant height, leaf area, shoot dry weight, flavonoid content, and N, P and K uptake of plant. Flavonoid content increased up to 10% v/v of Licorice pulp application. All measured traits except chlorophyll content, root colonization and flavonoid content significantly decreased at the maximum level of Licorice pulp application (20% v/v). Effect of fungus on all measured traits except flavonoid content was higher than Licorice pulp application. A synergistic effect was observed in co-application treatments of Licorice pulp and Funneliformis mosseae. The positive effects of fungus were higher in 10 and 20% v/v levels of Licorice pulp application for measured parameters.

One of the methods employed to enhance plant secondary metabolite production is the use of abiotic elicitors in plants. In this research, the effect of heavy metal nickel as abiotic elicitors was studied on some physiological parameters in Hyoscyamus niger L. to investigate the use of unstressful concentration of this metal in order to increase secondary metabolite synthesis in later researches. This research was carried out in the Department of Biology of Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman in a complete randomized design with three treatments and three replicates. The seeds of Hyoscyamus germinated in germinator under gibberellin treatment and then were transfered to the pots of sand and peat. After 40 days of growth, the plants were treated with 50 and 100 mM nickel in hydroponics condition (nickel amounts were added to nutrient solution). According to the obtained results, photosynthetic pigments reduced under Ni treatment while hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes activity increased. Investigation of Ni stress on main macromolecules such as protein, membrane lipids and chlorophyll showed that the effects of 50 and 100 mM Ni was same, while the PAL activity and polyphenols synthesis were the second responses of plants to stress obserevd in 100 mM concentrations. Therefore, it seems that the higher concentration of Ni (100 mM) was more effective for the increment of secondary metabolite in this plant.

In order to study the effect of fertilizing treatments and limited irrigation regimes on grain qualitative traits and mucilage production of Isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk.), a field experiment was conducted at Experimental Farm of College of Agronomy and Animal Sciences, University of Tehran. The experimental design was a split plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. In this research, four irrigation regimes including full irrigation, light limited irrigation, moderate limited irrigation and severe limited irrigation, were assigned to the main plots and five fertilizing treatments including control (without fertilizer), chemical fertilizer, combined use of chemical fertilizer and Barvar Phosphate Biofertilizer, cattle manure and combined use of chemical fertilizer and cattle manure, were assigned to the sub plots. Results showed that irrigation regimes had significant effect (p£0.05) on all measured traits. Mucilage and grain yields decreased with decrement in irrigation frequency from full to severe limited irrigation but mucilage percentage and grain swelling factor increased; therefore, the highest mucilage and grain yield were obtained in full irrigation regime. The highest mucilage percentage and grain swelling factor were obtained in severe limited irrigation. Results also showed that fertilizing treatments had significant effect (p£0.05) on all measured traits. The highest mucilage yield (252.58 kg/ha) was obtained in combined use of chemical fertilizer and cattle manure treatment under full irrigation regime. Mucilage percentage and grain swelling factor were significantly higher (p£0.05) in cattle manure treatment.

Moringa peregrine (Forssk.) Fiori is one of the species growing in tropical and desert areas and is distributed in the southeastern of the country in Hormozghan and Sistan and Balochestan provinces. Moringa peregrine is a desert shrub that can grow in areas with little rainfall, and it has a great nutritional, pharmaceutical, environmental, industrial and economic values. This research was aimed to determination of fatty acids in Moringa peregrina seed oil from different locations in Sistan and Balochestan province in 2009. Five samples were collected from five natural research stations. The oil content was determined by the Soxhlet method. The oil content obtained from Tong Fonoj, Keneshky, Bent, Begaband, and Dorahy Chanf sations were measured to be 54.6%, 50.4%, 52.4%, 53.2%, and 53.6% respectively. According to the obtained results, fatty acids content varied as follows: oleic acid (71.5-74%), palmitic acid (12.6-14.7%), Iso-oleic acid (3.6-4.5%), palmitoleic acid (3.3-4.7%), stearic acid (1.9-2.4%), Behenic acid (0.9-1.5%), gadoleic acid (0.4-10.9%) and Arachidonic acid (0.4-1.3%). Over90 percent of the oil consumed in the country is imported from abroad. Our results clearly indicate that due to the amount of fatty acids in Moringa peregrina seeds, this plant can be considered as a new source for the production of vegetable oil and widespread food consumption.

This investigation was conducted to determine the essential oil composition and allopathic properties of anghuzeh (Ferula assa-foetida L.) medicinal plant. The experiment was completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement with two factors and three replications. The factors were six concentrations of 0, 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 ppm of the essential oil and five plant species including three weed species, Sinapis arvensis, Acroptilo repens, and Cardaria draba as well as two crops i.e. Triticum aestivum and Hordeum vulgare. The essential oil used in this study was extracted by hydro-distillation from the latex of the plant. The obtained oil was analyzed by Gas chromatography (GC) and Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). To assess the allopathic effects of the oil on the studied species, a number of growth parameters such as seed germination, radical and plumule length as well as their dry and fresh weight, and abnormality percent of the seedlings were evaluated. The results of this investigation showed that the Anghuzeh essential oil had significant (p£0.05) allelopathic effect on the studied weeds and crops. The comparisons among the means indicated that the response of the species to the oil were quite different. For example, Triticum aestivum showed maximum germination percent in the presence of different oil concentrations. While, the germination of Hordeum vulgare, Acroptilon repens, and Cardaria draba showed more susceptibility to the oil. Moreover, the results of the essential oil analysis indicated that a total of 13 components were identified in the oil of which a-Pinene (21.3%), b- Pinene, (47.1%) and 1,2-Dithiolane (18.6%) were the major compounds. The observed allelopathic effects of the essential oil are regarded to oil components and their synergistic effects. The findings of this study are the first step to use of Anghuzeh essential oil as a natural herbicide. Further investigations are still required for practical and commercial application of this method.

This research was aimed to evaluate the effect of cultivation and domestication of two thyme (Thymus L.) species, Khorasani (Thymu stranscaspicus) and garden (Thymus vulgaris), on growth and yield components. The study was conducted in different agricultural ecosystems of North Khorasan province during 2005-2009. The main treatments consisted of harvesting time in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that the number, order and extent of the main chemical compounds in both species of thyme did not differ much. However, the quantitative properties measured in both species were affected by different stages of harvest in each year. The highest dry weight in both species was obtained at the end of flowering stage in all years. Harvesting time had different effects on species composition of essential oil in the studied years. The highest efficiency of essential oil was recorded in mid-flowering stage especially in third year. The quantity of essential oil is the economic indicator of thyme performance. Garden thyme (T. vulgaris) produced more essential oil as compared to Khorasani thyme (T. transcaspicus).

In order to study the effect of drought stress at different growth reproductive stages and N fertilizer rates on some morphological and quantitative traits and water use efficiency (WUE) of fennel (Foenicolum vulgare Mill.), an experiment was conducted as a split-plot based on a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications, at Research Field of Islamic Azad University of Birjand Branch in 2010. The main plot included irrigation at three levels (irrigation stop at start of flowering, and seed-filling stages, and optimum irrigation) and the sub-plot was N fertilizer at four rates (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg N/ha). Results showed that irrigation stop at start of flowering and seed-filling stages decreased plant height by 16.2 and 5.2%, fruit yield by 69.7 and 52.6%, essential oil yield by 72.9 and 31.4%, and WUE for essential oil production by 69.1 and 4.5%, respectively as compared to optimum irrigation treatment. Moreover, the increase in rate of nitrogen application from 0 to 120 kg N/ha significantly increased plant height, stem diameter, branch number of main stem and fruit yield, 5.8, 12, 15.5 and 24.3%, respectively. However, the highest yield and WUE for essential oil production was observed in 60 kg N/ha application treatment. In general, according to the results of current study, optimum irrigation with 60 kg N/ha application treatment can be recommended to achieve high essential oil yield of fennel in Birjand, Iran.

Genus Salvia, belonging to the Labiatae family, has valuable active ingredients including essential oils, flavonoids and rosmarinic acid. Pharmacological researches on Salvia genus have confirmed medicinal properties of the plant including antibacterial and antioxidant effects. Total flavonoids, rosmarinic acid and the content and chemical compounds of essential oil of three populations of Salvia reuterana Boiss., collected from three regions of Iran (Deli chai, Kaswa and Shahmirzad), as well as Salvia palaestina Benth., collected from Rodbarak, were evaluated in present study. Fifty-six compounds of S. reuterana and S. palaestina were identified by GCMS. The most important chemical compositions for S. reuterana were a-gurjunen, b-elemene, germacern-D, N-hexyl acetate and spatholenol and for S. palaestina were caryophyllen, dihydro carveol, germacern-D, linalool and spatholenol. Diethyl ether extract of leaves was used for quantification and identification of flavonoids and rosmarinic acid. The crushed leaves of the plant were dissolved in diethyl ether solvent and then were injected into the LC-DAD-ESI-MS system. Total flavonoids amount of S. reuterana, collected from Kaswa, Deli chai and Shahmirzad were calculated to be 3252.76, 3697.19 and 5132.92 mg/ g, respectively. Also the amount of rosmarinic acid in plants, collected from Kaswa, Deli chai and Shahmirzad was 122, 177.11 and 98.46 mg/ g, respectively. S. palaestina Rodbarak showed 3808 and 19.72 mg/g of total flavonoids and rosmarinic acid, respectively.

In order to evaluate the effects of enriched and non-enriched organic and chemical fertilizers on chemical properties of soil and some nutrient concentrations in pot marigold (Calendula officinalis L.), a pot experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with 11 treatments and 3 replications in 2010. Treatments were included control (without organic or chemical fertilizer), chemical fertilizer (CF) as the rate of 80 kg urea ha-1, 100 kg ha-1 super phosphate triple and 80 kg potassium sulfate ha-1, compost, pasteurized compost (bagas +perlit), sheep manure (10 ton ha-1 alone or plus 1/2 and 1/4 CF). Results showed that fertilizer treatments had significant effect on all treatments except leaf potassium. Accordingly, leaf and flower dry weight were maximum in 10 ton ha-1 pasteurized compost and farmyard manures plus 1/2 and 1/4 CF. The highest phosphorous concentration in flower and leaf (0.46 and 0.17 percent, respectively) was recorded when 10 ton ha-1 compost plus 1/4 CF was applied.

Mint (Mentha piperita L.), belonging to Labiatae family, is one of the most important plants, which is used widely in terms of pharmaceutical, food and health. Essential oils and compounds are important components of the plant and are severely affected by agricultural agents. In this study, the effects of nitrogen fertilizer and harvesting time on yield and yield components, essential oil and menthol were studied. A split-plot design with three replications was used. The measured traits included leaf length, leaf width, plant height, fresh weight per square meter in the first and second harvest, fresh weight of 100 leaves, essential and oil menthol of the first second harvest, shoot yield and essential oil yield per hectare. Variance analysis results showed that different levels of nitrogen and harvesting time had a significant effect on all traits except for leaf length. The interaction of nitrogen and harvesting time showed a significant difference for all traits except leaf length and width. Mean comparison of traits showed that the plant height, fresh weight per square meter, fresh weight of 100 leaves, essential oil of the first harvest, menthol of the first and second harvest, shoot yield per hectare and essential oil yield increased with increasing of nitrogen intake. Mean comparison of different harvesting times showed that the highest shoot yield and essential oil yield were obtained at budding stage. The interaction between different levels of nitrogen fertilizer and harvesting time also showed that the highest shoot yield per hectare was obtained by the application of 200 kilograms of nitrogen fertilizer per hectare at budding stage. The highest amount of menthol was obtained at consumption level of 300 kg nitrogen fertilizer per hectare and at 50% flowering. In addition, according to the obtained results, essential oil percentage of the second harvests showed a significant decreasing trend. Overall, results showed that the highest fresh yield per hectare and essential oil were obtained at budding stage and consumption level of 200 kg/ha nitrogen fertilizer.

In order to evaluate the performance of biological phosphorus fertilizer and plant density on the quantity and quality of essential oils in Ajowan (Trachyspermum copticum L.), this research was performed as a two factors factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the research field of the Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands in spring 2010. The treatments consisted of four levels of the phosphorus bio-fertilizer (Control (non-inoculated) seed soaked with liquid fertilizer, soluble fertilizer to the plants and seed soaked with liquid fertilizer & soluble fertilizer to the plants) and three levels of density (250000, 125000, 83000 plants per hectare). The studied characteristics included essential oil percentage, oil yield, percentage of thymol, terpinolene and p-cymene were in volatil oils. Results showed that the effect of bio-fertilizer phosphorus on the studied characteristics were significant at 1%, so that the highest amounts of oil percentage (4.34%) and oil yield (143.12 kg per hectare) were obtained in double inoculation treatment (seed soaked with liquid fertilizer& soluble fertilizer to the plants). In addition, the highest percentages of thymol (33.9%), terpinolene (41.5%), and p-cymene (23.3%) were obtained in the treatments of seed soaked with liquid fertilizer, double inoculation treatment, and soluble fertilizer, respectively. The effect of plant density on the studied characteristics was significant at 1% level of significance, so that the highest amounts of oil percentage (4.1%), oil yield (104.07 kg ha-1), thymol (37.4%), terpinolene (44.5%) and p-cymene (23.9%) were obtained in plant density treatments of 83000, 250000, 125000, and 83000 plants per hectare, respectively. However, significant interaction effects were also observed on oil percentage (5.37%), oil yield (149.5 kg per hectare), percentage of thymol (40%), percentage of terpinolene (49.1%) and percentage of para-cymene (25.6%).