Ecophytochemistry journal of Medicinal Plants
Year:2019 | Volume:7 | Issue:2 (26)|Papers Count:9

Tomato early blight disease, caused by the fungus Alternaria alternata, is one of the most devastating diseases for the crop in Iran and worldwide. Recent studies have shown that some secondary metabolites of medicinal plants are effective in preventing the growth of fungi and are a good alternative to the use of chemical pesticides. In the present study, ten medicinal plants including Eucalyptus sp., Thymus vulgaris, Mentha piperita, Mentha longifolia, Mentha aquatica, Satureja hortensis, Achillea millefolium, Foeniculum vulgare, Anethum graveolens, and Trachyspermum copticum were collected during 2016-2017. Their essential oils were extracted using Clevenger apparatus, and GC-MS device was used to identify the essential oil compounds. Antifungal activity of essential oils was assayed through the inhibition of fungal colony growth at five concentrations of 0, 200, 400, 800, and 1200 ppm in mixing with potato dextrose agar medium with three replicates. The findings revealed that fungus colony growth was inhibited with increases in essential oils concentrations, and there were significant differences among different essential oils. Essential oils of Satureja hortensis, Trachyspermum copticum and Thymus vulgaris in 800 and 1200 ppm and Anethum graveolens in 1200 ppm demonstrated the highest effect on fungus colony growth. This study found that Carvacrol, Thymol, Para-cymene, and Gamma-terpinene ingredients tend to have the highest antifungal effects.

In this study, aerial parts of Artemisia persica in blooming satage were collected from Noor Abad Research Farm (Lorestan province, Iran) in the summer of 2017. Essential oils of plants were extracted by water distillation and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) methods and were analyzed by using GC/MS device. Antifungal properties of essential oils were evaluated on Microsporum canis, Trichophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes strains by broth microdilution method. Antioxidant activity of the essential oils was also evaluated by two free radical scavenging tests, viz. 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2, 2-azino bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS). Essential oil yields were 1. 7% and 1. 7-5. 7% in water distillation and SFE methods, respectively. Major compounds identified in the SFE method were Davanone (29%), lacintafuran H (18. 1%), C-artedoglacia oxide (8. 5%), and neurodevnet (7. 6%). Davanone (22%), lacintaphoran G (7. 1%), and D-artedoglacia oxide (6%) were the predominant compounds detected in water distillation method. The essential oil extracted by water distillation had the highest antifungal effects on E. floccosum and T. montagrophytes strains with MFC and MIC of 32 µ g/mL. Water extracted essential oil presented the highest free radical scavenging capacity in DPPH and ABTS tests with IC50 values of 20. 32 and 14. 23 μ g/ml, respectively.

Quercetin is one of the most natural secondary metabolites, which found in fruits and leaves of Momordica charantia and characterized as an antioxidant, antiviral and anticancer compound. The present study aimed to optimize the callus induction and to determine the expression of flavonol synthase and chalcone isomerase genes in the pathway of quercetin production under UV-B rays in bitter cucumber callus cultivation. The experiment was conducted in 2018 at Agricultural Biotechnology Institute of Zabol University. In this research different concentrations of plant hormones ((2, 4-D (0, 0. 25, 0. 5, 1 and 5 mg/L) and BAP (0. 2, 0. 5, 1 and 5 mg/L)) and explant (Leaf and Stem) was used to callus induction in Momordica charantia using complete random design with three replications. Effect of UV-B radiation in five groups: control, natural light, 5 min exposure (gene expression at 24 and 48 after treatment) and 10 min exposure (gene expression at 24 and 48 after treatment)) on the expression of quercetin biosynthetic pathway genes including flavonol synthase (FLS) and chalcone isomerase (CHI) (by 2-Δ Δ CT method), phenyl ammonia-lyase (PAL) antioxidant activity (by cinnamic acid concentration), and flavonoid content (by HPLC method)) in the selected best calluses. Analysis of variance were showed that different types and concentrations of plant hormones had difference significant on callus induction. Mean square of data showed that the most callus dry weight was obtained from 0. 5 mg/L 2, 4-D and 1 mg/L BAP for stem explant. The highest expression of FLS and CHI were observed within 24 hours after 10-min UV-B treatment, but it decreased at 48 h after treatment. The highest expression of PAL, quercetin and flavonoid were obtained within 48 hours after 5-min UV-B treatment. Comparison of irradiated and untreated calluses revealed that the average changes of relative expression of FLS and CHI were 1. 4 and 2. 4 times higher than control, respectively. Overall, the results were showed that UV-B radiation at the callus level had a positive effect on the expression of flavonoids biosynthetic pathway genes.

Biotransformation is the process of converting an inert precursor into a medicinally valuable product. In this research, a pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of artificial citral and geranial spraying in concentrations of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 ppm, besides distilled water and without spraying (control) on essential oils quality and quantity of lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora Kunth. ) with in greenhouse conditions at Islamic Azad University – Miyaneh Branch, Iran in 2015. The first foliar application was done when the plantlets reached the height of 25. The second and the third spraying were done with 7 and 14 days span after the first spraying respectively. One week after the last spraying, lemon verbena leaves were harvested. The essential oils were extracted from the leaves by hydro distillation method using Clevenger apparatus. Citral and geranial especially in low concentrations (100 ppm) and distilled water spraying had positive effect in essential oils yield. The chemical composition of essential oils was analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Overal, 21 components were identified and the most important components were limonene, geranial and neral. Citral and geranial spraying especially in high concentrations increased limonene content and the highest limonene content was 28. 24 and 24. 54%, using geranial 500 ppm and citral 400 ppm spraying respectively. Also, the lowest limonene content was 17. 83% in control. However, citral and geranial spraying had not positive effect on neral and geranial content.

Glycyrrhiza glabra L. belongs to the Fabaceae family, is a herbaceous, perennial and Iran is one of the countries exporting its root. This plant grows in different regions of Iran, hence the study of phytochemical and antioxidant diversity in different regions is important. This study was carried out to evaluate the content of secondary pharmaceutical compounds and antioxidant activity of licorice roots. Thus 2 cm diameter roots of licorice populations were collected from 15 provinces and 30 regions of Iran in 2017 in October and were transferred to the Horticulture Department laboratories of Zanjan University. Total phenol (Folin– Ciocalteu method), total flavonoid (Aluminum Chloride method), anthocyanin (pH difference method) and antioxidant activity (DPPH method) were studied. The analysis of variance were showed that among 30 populations, for all traits, there was a significant difference in the level of one percent. Total phenol contact ranged from 456. 05 to 826 mg gallic acid per 100 g, total flavonoid ranged from 1909. 25 to 292. 62 mg of quercetin per 100 g, anthocyanin levels ranged from 6. 89 to 26. 24 mg cyanidine-3-glucoside in 1 Liter, the antioxidant activity varied between 62. 07% and 87. 14%. There was a significant and positive correlation between total phenol phenotype and antioxidant activity at 1% level, but there was no significant correlation with total flavonoid, anthocyanin and height. Based on the results of cluster analysis, 30 populution G. glabra were divided into two main groups. The evaluation of populations in terms of phytochemical traits showed a high variation that N, KA, BA, T, E, Y, M, MR, and SB populations could be selected as top populations for domestication and breeding purposes.

Due to unawareness of cultivation method of mortar, the (Salvia mirzayanii) Rech. is being harvested from the natural areas of the southern regions irregularly, so plant development plans seem essential. The experiment was carried out in the research field of Jahad Agricultural Center of Larestan, Fars province during winter 2017. The effects of different organic fertilizers including sheep manure (20 and 40 ton/ha), cow manure (20 and 40 ton/ha), compost (10 and 20 ton/ha), vermicompost (20 and 40 ton/ha) and control on physicochemical and quality traits Salvia mirzayanii were investigated in a complete random block design with four replications. Early in April, all vegetative organs of plants were harvested, dried and fresh weights of plant were measured. Also, the amount of total antioxidant, phenol and flavonoid content of leaves were determined by using spectrophotometry while essential oil yield was determined using distillation method with water and by Clevenger. The results showed that highest fresh and dry weight of the plant was obtained from the treatment of 10 ton/ha of compost. The highest amount of antioxidants, phenol and total flavonoid content were observed in 40 ton/ha of cow manure treatment. Among the applied treatments only 10 ton/ha vermicompost significantly increased the yield of essential oil compared to control. In general, fresh and dry weight of plant increased more by applying compost fertilizers. Effect of manure on phytochemicals was higher than compost, and yield of plant essential oil increased only by vermicompost application.

Cadmium is one of the most dangerous heavy metals that enter to soil naturally or by human activity and causes oxidative stress in plants. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of cadmium on some of the physiological responses of three aromatic plants including Mentha aquatica L., Eryngium caucasicum Trautv. and Froriepia subpinnata Ledeb. In three greenhouse experiments, five concentrations of cadmium containing 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/kg soil was investigate in a completely randomized design with four replications at Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, in 2017. All three plants seedlings were transplanted in cadmium contaminated pots. In before flowering stage chlorophyll a, b, carotenoid, phenol, flavonoid and antioxidant capacity of shoots were measured. Chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid content were measured by using leaf methanolic extract. Total phenol, total flavonoid and antioxidant activity of shoots hydroethanolic extract, were respectively performed using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, AlCl3 method and DPPH. The results were showed that leaf pigment in all three plants decreased linearly with increasing cadmium level, but the rate of carotenoid reduction was lower than chlorophyll a and b reduction. While flavonoid, phenol and antioxidant capacity of plants increased with increasing cadmium level. M. aquatica had the average highest phenol (65. 89 mg/g) and antioxidant activity (98. 49%) than other two plants. F. subpinnata had the average highest flavonoid (165. 06 mg/g). Finally, the results showed that plant pigments were affected by cadmium toxicity, and since these plants are rich in antioxidant compounds, the increase of these compounds with increment of cadmium stress is a kind of defence mechanism of three plants for conflict with stress.

Foliar application of nutrients is a technique for reducing the chemical fertilizer utilization in soil and reducing environmental issues, in particular in soil and water. This technique provides element for the plant quickly and it has favorable effects on the quantitative and qualitative parameters of plant. In order to investigate the effect of iron, zinc, manganese and copper on morphological and phytochemical traits of Matricaria recutita L., an experiment was conducted as randomized complete block design with three replications in 2017 at the Research Field of Payam-e-noor University of Marand. Experimental treatments consisted of control and foliar application of iron, zinc, manganese, and copper. At the shooting stage, plants were sprayed with aqueous solutions of zinc, iron, manganese and copper sulfates. Control treatment was sprayed with distilled water. In this study, essential oil was obtained by hydro-distillation method (Clevenger). The content of chlorophyll (a, b, and total) were measured via spectrophotometric technique using 80% acetone extract. Results were showed that foliar application had significant and positive effect on all studied traits. The highest values of plant height, number of flowering branch per plant, number of flower per plant, dry flower yield, total dry weight, harvest index, chlorophyll content, essential oil percent and essential oil yield were gained by foliar application of iron. The application of all micronutrient treatments significantly increased total chlorophyll content. Foliar application of iron increased essential oil yield more than twice as compared with control. The highest (1. 93 kg/ha) and the lowest (0. 9 kg/ha) essential oil yield was gained by application of iron and distilled water, respectively. Foliar application of iron increased dry flower yield (383 kg/ha) by 30% compared with control (258. 63 kg/ha). Lack of foliar application of micronutrients decreased all studied traits in plants. In general, results showed that foliar application of iron can improve the quantitative and qualitative yield of Matricaria recutita L. and it is recommended as the best treatment due to increasing essential oil yield and values of other traits.

The use of plants and their active compounds in the synthesis of metal nanoparticles has been the subject of recent research. In this project, the aerial part of Portulaca oleracea L. (Portulacaceae) before the flowering stage, was collected from Roodsar (Gillan province) on June 2017 and the aqueous extract was prepared by warm maceration method. Aqueous extract of the aerial parts (leaves and flowers) of the plant and ferric chloride solution was heated at 70° C for 3. 5 h, to synthesis iron oxide nanoparticles with average size of 90 nm by the co-precipitation method. Formation of the iron oxide nanoparticles was confirmed by UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-Ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD) techniques. The absorption peak at 288 nm in UV-vis spectroscopy confirmed the formation of nanoparticles and FT-IR spectra were showed that the presence of organic compounds around the nanoparticles. XRD results showed the hematite phase (α-Fe2O3) for the synthesized nanoparticles. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed the formation and purity of the nanoparticles. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) image showed that the synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles have a spheroid/cube geometry. Due to presence of organic compounds of the extract around the nanoparticles, they were stabilized and not agglomerated. These organic compounds can also improve the capacity of the nanoparticles in environmental remediation.