I have previously argued that human flourishing partly consists in the ability to exercise essential human capacities, many of which are non-distinctive and shared with other animals. The concept of flourishing is itself species-specific. Thus, the development of essential capacities (human and nonhuman) comprises a large part of the goods that we ought to promote. Problems about the definition of ‘essential’ are discussed, as are related issues about whether there are necessary and sufficient conditions for the correct use of sortal universal terms. The relation of the exercise of essential capacities to basic needs is investigated, and the essential nature of the human capacity for meaningful work, which has been disputed by John White, is defended. Finally, some suggestions are offered about what the proponents of the capabilities approach might derive from that of essential capacities.

To investigate the effect of vermicompost, N fertilizer and their integration on growth, biological and essential yields oil and its components in two populations (Varamin and Isfahan), an experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the field of Isfahan Medicinal Plants Research Center in 2016. Fertilizer treatments including 100% urea, vermicompost 33.3 and urea 66.6%, vermicompost 66.6 and urea 33.3%, 100% vermicompost and control treatment (without fertilizer) as the first factor and Varamin and Isfahan populations as the second factor were selected. The results showed that the interaction effects of nitrogen fertilizer and populations on all studied traits were significant. In both populations, nitrogen fertilizer improved height, biological and essential oil yields, content of essential oil compounds (d-Carvone and its yield, α-phellandrene and linalool; except p-Cymene and Limonene in Isfahan population). Since in medicinal plants, the quantity (biological yield) and quality (essential oil and d-Carvone; the most important ingredient and the highest amount of essential oil in this experiment), 66.6% vermicompost + 33.3% urea in Varamin population, was the best treatment in the experiment. In addition an in the direction of human health and sustainable agriculture, it is possible to reduce 33% of chemical fertilizers application and pollution; however, in terms of other essential oil contents (α-phellandrene, Linalool and p-Cymene), 100% vermicompost fertilizer treatment was superior in Isfahan population.

Juniper is the most important native conifer in Iran. Juniper as one of the most resistant tree species to extreme conditions, frost (up to -40°C) and drought, plays important role in mountainous regions of Iran. In this study, by investigation on qualitative and quantitative characteristics of essential oils ofleaves and berries (female cones), the effects of environmental factors were studied on metabolism of secondary products. The volatitale constituents of the Leaves and berries of male, female and male-female trees isolated by steam-distillation were analyzed by GC-MS.Results indicated that the amount of essential oil in berries is higher than that in leaves. Seasonal alteration of essential oil of berries differs from leaves. The essential oil of berries increase during growth period, however decreased in leaves. Besides drying has increasing effect on essential oil. In total 32 terpenoidic components were found that a-pinene, limonene, trans-verbenol, cisverbenol, verbenone, g- elemone and elemol were the important ones. a-pinene up to 70% of essential oil content was the highest component. Seasonal alteration of each component was very variable.Drying effect can be valuable for isolation of components and commercial applications.

This research was conducted on Rosa damascena Mill. in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the Alborz research station during 2012-2013. Treatments included nano chelated iron fertilizer at six levels: (0 (control), two times foliar spray (8g/plant), three times foliar spray (12g/plant), one time soil application (8g/plant), one time soil application (12 g/plant). The first foliar spray was done at blossoming stage. The second and third applications were 10 and 20 days after blossoming. Soil application was at blossoming stage accompanied by irrigation. The essential oil of samples was extracted by Clevenger and water distillation method for three hours. GC and GC/MS were used to determine the percentage and essential oil compounds of fresh flowers. According to the results of variance analysis, significant differences were found for the essential oil percentage, citronellol, icosane, octadecanol, Henicosane, Tricosane, Tetrosane, geraniol, and Tridane (p<0.01). Mean comparison of treatments indicated that the essential oil percentage of fresh flowers by threetimes foliar spray (0.071%) was more than that of one time foliar spray (0.061%) and one time soil application (12 g/plant) (0.051%) and other treatments. The highest Citronellol was obtained in one-time foliar spray (1.17%) and the lowest in control treatment (0.36%). In addition, the highest tricosane (33.77%) was obtained from the use of 12g chelated iron in soil. The results of correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between essential oil percentage of fresh flower and essential oil stability at refrigerator as well as dried flower at shadow. A significant negative correlation was also found between citronellol and ecosane. Results indicated that fertilizers could affect the percentage and compounds of essential oil in Rosa damascene.

The arial parts of Lavandula angustifolia were collected from Tazekand of Khosroshahr.Essential oils were prepared by hydro distillation of air-dried plants and analyzed by GC/MS methodFour different kind of essential oil were studied.The dominant constituents of first were: 1.8 cineole, Camphor, Borneol.The dominant constituents of second one were p-xylene, Docosane.The dominant constituents of third type were camphor, Iso-Borneol.The dominant constituents of fourth kind were 1.8 cineole, unde decanoic acid.

Background: One of the natural products in plants is essential oil. Their odor, components and properties are depended on factors such as genetics, climate, habitat and so on. In plant families, Apiaceae is rich in this biochemical group which has different effects in traditional and novel medicine. Objective: Comparison of essential oil of two endemic plant of Iran from genus Zeravschania. Method: Zeravschania membranacea (Boiss.) M. Pimenov was collected from Zanjan province in July 2003. The essential oil of powdered aerial parts of plant was prepared by hydro distillation which was about 0.1% (v/w) with yellow color and an intense odor. The essential oil was analyzed with GC/MS on DB-1 column. Results: Thirty five out of forty eamponents, comprising 83.25% of total oil were identified. 44.64% were mono terpenes (15.19% oxygenated, 29.25% hydrocarbons), 7% sesquiterpenes, 7.8% phenyl propanoids and 22.81% nonterpenic compounds. The major components of the above fragments were alpha-Terpenyl acetate (6.6%), Carvacrol (5.95%), Thymol (4.76%), alpha-Ocimene Y (4.08%), beta-Bisabolen (3.24%), Trans-methyl iso Eugenol (7.74%), Thymohydroquinone dimethyl ether (16.7%). Conclusion: Because of two different habitats and climates for growing Z. membranacea (sandy hill) and Z. pastinacifolia (rocky and scree steep slopes), there are some difference between content of essential oil in them.

The changes in the compositions of essential oils (EOs) from the aerial parts of Thymus vulgaris (garden thyme) were determined at different temperatures and storage times. In this study, the effect of time and temperature on the quality of essential oils was investigated. The essential oil of air-dried samples was obtained by hydro-distillation and was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Changes in essential oil compositions were detected during storage for three months in a refrigerator (4 ◦C), a freezer (−20 ◦C), and at room temperature. In thyme, the amount of the important thymol compound was stable until the first two months, but when entering the third month, a significant decrease was observed in all three temperature conditions. At the same time, a significant increase was observed in the amount of p-cymene in each of the temperature conditions. In the end, we can introduce the best temperature maintenance conditions for thyme at room temperature that can have a lower cost from an economic point of view than other conditions.