IRANIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS
Year:2008 | Volume:24 | Issue:3 (41)|Papers Count:16

This study has been conducted in two experiments in order to evaluate salinity tolerance and absorption of salt by Borage (Borago officinalis L.).In first experiment, the effect of salinity on qualitative and quantitative yield of Borage was studied. The treatments were water salinity (Control, 4, 8 and 12 dS/m²).The measured parameters were: quantitative yields (percentage of germination, dry and fresh weight of root, stem and florescence, Root/shoot, height and number of flower and leaf per plant) and qualitative yields (content of mucilage, total ash, Na, Cl, Mg, Ca and K in plant tissues). The results indicated that salinity increased content of Na, Cl and total ash in plant tissues. The salinity reduced height, germination percentage, number of flower and content of mucilage, Ca and K. Because of high content of mucilage in plant tissue and stability of yield under salinity conditions, it can be deduced that borage is tolerant to salinity (to 12 dS/m²). High content of Na, Cl, total ash and mucilage is related to accumulation of solutes for osmoregulation that can be used as an index for salinity tolerance in Borage. Second experiment has been conducted to study the absorption of salt by Borage. Measured parameters were Na, Cl, Mg, K and Ca content in soil at pre and post planting of borage. The results indicated that content of Na, Cl, Mg and Ca reduced in soil after planting borage. Regarding the results of this study, it can be suggested that borage can uptake salt from soil and accumulate harmful ions in its plant tissues. Therefore it can be introduced for improvement of saline and sodic soils.

In order to compare biological yield, essential oil content, composition and phonological stages of moldavian balm in three planting date seasons, a completely randomized design with three replications was conducted in 2006-2007 in Isfahan province. Biological yield per date and area unit, allocation index, percentage and yield of essential oil, dry matter to fresh matter ratio and essence components and period of sowing to flowering were measured. According to results, the majority of seedlings were injured in autumn planting date (November). Fresh and dry biological yields, essential oil quality per m2 of moldavian balm had significant differences and in spring (March) were 12.7 kg, 10.3cc and 4.1 kg and in summer (June) were 4.1, 1 kg and 4.1cc, respectively. Essential oil quantity were significantly higher than summer sowing date (June). 46.7% and 62.2% fresh biological matter changed to dry matter in spring sowing date and summer sowing date, respectively. Sum of five major components (neral, geraniol, geranial, neryl acetate and geranyl acetate) in essence were 92% and 64.4% in spring and summer sowing date and maximum change was seen in geranyl acetate (from 35.3% in spring to 14% in summer). Growth periods from sowing to flowering stage were 122 and 61 days in spring and summer sowing date, respectively. Thus, summer sowing date is comparable with spring sowing date.

The volatile constituents of Anthemis coelopoda Boiss. were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. In this study samples were collected from Gilan province in Rodbar on late May 2003. According to literature, this species was not the subject of research up to now and therefore its chemical composition is not well known. The major constituents of A. coelopoda Boiss. flower oil were Cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (27.3%), hexyl butanoate (16%), and myrcene (7%), while the leaf oil contained isobornyl formate (30.6%), Trans-ethyl chrysanthemumate (15%) and p-mentha-1,5-diene-8-ol (13.7.4%).

To investigate the relationships between morphological, phytochemical and molecular markers in milk thistle, a set of 32 ecotypes collected from Iran along with two introduced varieties, Budakalaszi and CN seeds, were evaluated. Canonical correlation analysis between 8 morphological attributes and 7 flavonolignan compounds forming silymarin revealed that first two canonical variables showed high canonical correlations. The loadings of the canonical correlations indicated that ecotypes having higher values for 1000 seed weight and lower values for flowering time, plant height, capsule diameter and seed yield would have higher silychristin and silybin and lower silydianin contents. In other words, larger seeds would have higher silybin and lower silydianin. Out of 415 polymorphic markers, 37 and 29 markers showed significant association with flavonolignans markers and morphological attributes, respectively. The informative markers showed 54 and 45% of the variation for taxifolin and silychristin, respectively. In the case of morphological traits, more than 40% of 1000 seed weight, flowering date and plant height variation were determined by informative AFLP markers. Results of the study clarified that some of qualitative and quantitative properties of essential oil in milk thistle can be well predicted by morphological and also molecular markers.

This research was carried out under laboratory conditions in 2007 at Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands. Experiments were done by randomized completely block design with 4 replications. The results showed different levels of E. camaldulensis Dehnh. leaf extracts in winter and spring had significant effects on plant length, germination percentage, germination speed, seed vigor, shoot/root rate, seminal root (a =0/01) of Chenopodium album L. Comparison between treatments showed that using 9 gli-1 of both Eucalyptus extract had maximum inhibitor on characteristics of weeds. Comparison effect of winter and spring extracts leaves on morphological characteristics of weeds showed that spring extract had high effect compared with winter extract. The results of this research showed that using of Eucalyptus leaf extract can control the weed growth of Chenopodium album.

Cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity around the world. Inflammation and coagulation are two important risk factors of cardiovascular disease. In this study, the effect of the concurrent hydroalcoholic extracts of Hypericum perforatum L. and Amaranthus caudatus L. on inflammatory and coagulation factors in hypercholesterolemic rabbits was studied and its effect was compared with lovastatin. Twenty adult male Newzeland rabbits were randomly divided into four groups of five and were fed for 60 days as follows: basic diet, high cholesterol, high cholesterol along with combination of Hypericum and Amaranth (HA) extract (75mg/kg) and high cholesterol along with Lovastatin (10mg/kg). Blood samples were taken at the beginning, one month later and at the end of the study in order to measure their serum factors. The result showed that both the extract and lovastatin reduced significantly CRP, white blood cell, fibrinogen and platelet. Therefore Hypericum and Amaranthus by decreasing inflammation and coagulation risk factor prevent atherosclerosis also results showed that above extract is more effective to decrease Cardiovascular risk factor than lovastatin.

In this study (Linum usitatissimum L.) grain samples that were collected from Khalkhal, Meshkin Shahr, Baft, Mashiz, Kerman and Urmia, were selected from Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of West Azarbaijan. Grains were grown in research farm of this center. Important characteristics of this oil and medical seed including: lenght of main and secondary stems, numbers of capsules, 1000 seeds weight, grain yield, oil content and etc, were selected and measured in three replications. Oil content was measured using Leiboritz method. The amounts of main five fatty acids namely; Palmitic, Stearic, Oleic, Linoleic and Linolenic acid were detected and measured by GC. Data were analysed by Excel and SPSS software. There were significant difference among some characteristics such as numbers of capsules and oil content at 1% level of significance. Oil content had positive significant correlation with 1000 seeds weight at 1% level of significance. This study indicated that Meshkin Shahr cultivar had the highest amounts of grain yield and oil content and therefore had the much amounts of omega 3 fatty acid. This sample was suitable for cultivation in North-western parts of our country.

Natural preservatives usage in food has attracted more consumers nowadays. In this investigation, the effect of mint (Mentha spicata L.) essential oil (0.5%, 1%, 2% v/w) on Listeria monocytogenes in pasteurized soft cheese inoculated at 106 cfug –1, at 7oC and 15oC for a period of 15 days was studied. At 7oC listeria monocytogenes after 15 days in all concentrations declined 2 to 3 log, but at 15oC with 0.5% extract only 1 log decline was observed. Concentrations of 1% and 2% Mentha spicata had more bactericidal effect on Listeria monocytogenes at 15oC. The results obtained in this study showed that Mentha spicata has antilisterial activity.

This study investigated human type-1 diabetes mellitus in rats with use using alloxan monohydrate. Then, the effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of dill and artichoke on biochemical factors for example glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, VLDL-C, HDL-C and LDL-C were studied and compared. 25 adult male rats, weighing about 200-250 gr, were used in five groups of five each. Rats in the control group, received physiological serum equal to injecting material volume. Rats in the second group (diabetic), induced diabetes with 120 mg/kgbw dose of alloxan monohydrate. Third group (diabetic + glibenclamide) received 0/5 mg/kgbw glibenclamide in addition to the similar treatment with second group. Rats in fourth and fifth groups first, became diabetic by alloxan monohydrate injection, then they received 300 mg/kgbw dill and artichoke hydroalcoholic extracts orderly. Prescribing materials in all groups was done as interaperitoneal injection. After last injection heart blood sampling was done, then concentration of serum factors was measured by enzymatic method. According to obtained results Anethum graveolens L. and Cynara scolymus L. extracts reduce the rate of glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, VLDL-C and LDL-C than diabetic group significantly (P< 0/05). Also HDL-C level was increased significantly (P< 0/05). Results of study of serum factors expressed better function of dill extract compared to artichoke extract. The effect of extracts was similar to glybenclamide. Thus herbal drugs have lesser harmful side effects than chemical drugs, with further studies on clinical effect of extract, these plants can be used as an appropriate substitute for chemical drugs.

Water stress affects on essential oil yields and secondary metabolites in plants. In this study the influence of irrigation treatments on plant height, diameter, canopy, fresh and dry weight of different cultivars of Parthenium argentatum Gray. were investigated. This experiment was undertaken in analytical split plot design with three replications and four irrigation treatments, consisting of: FC (full field capacity); two moderate treatments (3/4 and 1/2 of FC) and sever stress (1/4 of FC). The results showed that the average of plant height, diameter, canopy, fresh and dry weight, reduced but rubber and resin percentages increased with declining of irrigation. The maximum stem height and diameter were observed for FC treatment in UC/103 (56.33 cm) and CAL6 (2.76 cm) but the minimum stem height and diameter were observed in HS treatment in CAL6 (35 cm) and UC/103 (1.6 cm) respectively. The maximum and minimum canopies were observed in FC treatment in CAL7 and HS treatment in UC/103 respectively. The maximum stem fresh and dry mass accumulation were observed in FC treatment in UC/103 with 810 and 384 g. In HS treatment the minimum stem fresh weight was found in UC/103 and CAL7 respectively with 172.5 and 131.7 g. While the minimum stem dry mass observed in UC/103 (61.03 g).

In this study, anti atherosclerosis effect of aerial parts extract of Amaranthus caudatus L. on rabbits was studied. Twenty male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into four groups of five and were fed for 60 days as follows: standard diet, standard diet and cholesterol, standard diet and Amaranthus caudatus extract (150 mg/kg daily), standard diet and Amaranthus caudatus extract (150 mg/kg daily) and cholesterol. Prior to the beginning of diets and at the 60th day of experiment, the biochemical factors were measured. The fatty streak formation was evaluated at the end of the study. Rabbits fed high cholesterol diet with Amaranthus Caudatus extract cholesterol, LDL-C, triglyceride, apo-lipoprotein B (apoB), CRP, atherogenic index (AI) significantly decreased and HDL-C and apo-lipoprotein A (apoA) increased compared to with high cholesterol group. Also lesion severity, in extract recipient group, significantly decreased. Amaranthus caudatus extract by decreasing serum lipoproteins and apo B, is one of the most important new risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and by decreasing inflammatory factors prevent atherosclerosis.

Drug-induced ototoxicity is one of the important factors for less auditory in dogs.Aminoglycosides including gentamicin can produce ototoxicity in dogs. The oxidative stress can be related to it. Silymarin, in the seed extract of Silybum marianum, is a potent antioxidant. In present study, the effect of silymarin and vitamin E was compared on gentamaicin-induced ototoxicity. The study was done on dogs in 5 groups: group1 was kept as control and received saline. Gentamicin was prescribed in other groups once for 9 days. Vitamin E and silymarin were given in group 3 and 4, respectively. In group 5, vitamin E and silymarin were coadministrated. After 9 days, the dogs were euthanized and ear samples were collected. One ear of dogs was colored by silver nitrate and another was decalcified by decalcificative solution. The decalcified samples were routinely sectioned and colored by Hematoxillin- Eosine (H&E) and studied by light microscope. Hair cells were not determined by silver nitrate. Organ of coarti body, tectorial membrane, limbus spiral, spiral ganglion, interdental cells, supporting cells and type I and II of hair cells were identified in samples and colored by H&E. These histological compartments were determined in control and silymarin groups. They were not observed in other groups, because gentamicin strongly destroyed cells. Thus, silymarin decreases gentamicin-induced changes in inner ear probably by its antioxidative property.

Pterocarya fraxinifolia (Lam.) Spach (Juglandaceae) is widely distributed in northern area of Iran. Little information is available about its chemical composition and biological activity. In this paper, the antioxidant activity of Pterocarya fraxinifolia was determined. Bark and fresh leaves of Pterocarya fraxinifolia were collected from Dasht-e-Naz, Sari, Iran. Methanolc extract was used in different experiments. There was higher total phenol and flavonoid contents in leaves. IC50 for DPPH radical-scavenging activity was 15.59±0.09 for leaves and 166.24±2.30 μg ml-1 for bark, respectively.The leaves extract exhibited a good reducing power at 2.5 and 80 μg ml-1 that was comparable with ascorbic acid (p>0.05). The extracts also showed weak nitric oxide-scavenging activity and Fe2+ chelating ability. All tested extracts exhibited high antioxidant activity in peroxidation inhibition test. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) among extracts in antioxidative activity. All of extracts manifested almost the same pattern of activity as ascorbic acid and BHA at different incubation times (p>0.05). The leaves and bark extracts of Pterocarya fraxinifolia exhibited good but different levels of antioxidant activity in all the models studied. The extracts had good reducing power, anti-lipid peroxidation activity and DPPH radical-scavenging activity.