مجله تحقیقات گیاهان دارویی و معطر ایران
سال سی و سوم شماره 4 (پیاپی 84، مهر و آبان 1396)

Aloe barbadensis Miller. is one of the most economically important medicinal plants in many countries of the world. This investigation aimed at evaluating the effects of water stress and zeolite on growth, yield and chemical compositions of A. barbadensis. The study was conducted in the research greenhouse of Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University. The plants were harvested 90, 180 and 270 days after imposing the treatments. Water deficit stress decreased growth, leaf fresh and gel fresh weight and increased biochemical compounds. The results showed that the greatest number of new leaves and pup were produced by the plants irrigated 20% and 40% FC with 8 g zeolite, respectively. Generally, the highest leaf fresh and gel fresh weight were observed 270 days after imposing the treatments when plants were irrigated after depleting 40% of the FC and amendment with 8 g zeolite (624.13 and 397.17 g), respectively. The water use efficiency increased with less water and more zeolite availability. The highest water use efficiency of leaf and gel was obtained from the plants irrigated after depleting 60% of field capacity and treated with 8 g zeolite. In addition, the results indicated that the maximum aloin concentration (23.48%) and proline accumulation (0.85 (mg [g FW]-1) were obtained 90 days after imposing the treatments when the plants were irrigated after depleting 80% and 60% of FC where no zeolite was applied, respectively. Irrigation after 80% depletion of FC without zeolite application resulted in the highest fructose and glucose content, respectively (234.71 and 79.83 mg g DW−1). In general, application of zeolite could alleviate water stress adverse effects, and improved plant growth and yield. Severe water stress decreased leaf yield and plant growth, while caused an increase in biochemical compounds.

This research was aimed to study the effects of antifungal activity of cloves (Syzygium aromaticum L.) essential oil against three pathogens-Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria alternata and Fusarium solani-isolated from tomato, cherries and potatoes by adding the fungus to their medium and also identify antifungal activity of the essential oil as a food preservative against the pathogen. Essential oil was extracted by Clevenger-type apparatus and identification and amount of the essential oil was performed using chromatography–mass spectroscopy and gas chromatography.The most important components of the essential oil were isoeugenol (87.09%), eugenol acetate (9.71%), Aromadendrene (0.68%), Chavicol (0.3%), and Linalool (12.51%), respectively. Isoeugenol has the highest percentage of growth inhibitory on B. cinerea, so that, on average, 97% of the growth of this fungus was prevented at the concentration of 200 µl/l. However, the growth inhibitory percentage at this concentration was calculated to be 87% and 94%, for A. alternata and F. solani, respectively. More than 95% and 100% of the growth of all three fungi was prevented at concentrations of 500 and 1000 µl/l of essential oil.The best essential oil concentration to prevent the growth of fungi on fruit tissue was 200µl/l for B. cinerea, and 1000 µl/l for two other fungi. Antifungal properties of S. aromaticum essential oil are due to phenolic compounds in it like eugenol. Our results clearly showed that S. aromaticum essential oil was effective against post-harvest diseases, and its antiseptic properties could be used in plant pathology.

Salvia leriifolia Bent., belonging to Lamiaceae family, is a perennial herbaceous plant, which is endemic to Khorasan and Semnan provinces of Iran. Different pharmacological activities of this plant have been evaluated in recent years. Induction of polyploidy is an important technique for breeding of medicinal and aromatic plants. In the present study, we studied the effects of colchicine on morphological and physiological characteristics and chemical compositions of Salvia leriifolia. Polyploidy induction was carried out in the four-leaf stage. Apical meristem was treated by colchicine at concentrations of 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5%, and three different time levels of 24, 48 and 72 hours. Morphological, microscopic (light and electron), flow cytometric analysis and chromos counting were used for ploidy induction analysis and selection of induced tetraploids. Identification of essential oil compounds was carried out by gas chromatograph and gas chromatography mass spectrometry methods. According to the results, colchicines at a concentration of 0.05% for 48 hours at four-true-leave stage was the best treatment for induction of autotetraploidy (23.3%) in Salvia leriifolia. Tetraploid induction in Salvia leriifolia caused significant changes in morphological, cytological, physiological and physiochemical characteristics such as increased dry and fresh weight, chlorophyll content, photosynthesis, and decreased plant height. In addition, an increase in ploidy level caused significant changes in essential oil composition.

The biological control of plant pathogens is a priority for reducing of the dangerous effects of chemical pesticides that are include threats for human health, environmental pollution, and the emergence of pathogens resistant eliminates. Ceratocephalus falcatus L. such a buttercup, plant is very small annual plant, 3-5 cm tall, it has short stems. Plant samples were collected based on completely randomized design with three replications in May 2015 from the village of Buzhmehran (city of Neyshabur) to record of morphological, phytochemical characterization such as total phenol, total flavonoids and antioxidant water extract, methanol and acetone plant the fungus Fusarium graminearum. The number of flowers per plant on average 5 numbers, leaf number was 19 and the plant is 3 cm tall. The total phenol Gallic acid 0/098 mg per gram of dry weight, the flavonoids quercetin 0/302 mg per gram of dry weight and percent free radical scavenging antioxidant activity it was determined 70/618. The effect of the extracts on the fungus Fusarium graminearum were showed that the most-linear growth of mycelium to control the methanol extract had the lowest. As a result, methanol extracts percent more on linear growth inhibition was assessed fungus can be concluded that Ceratocephalus falcatus has antifungal properties and enjoys good standing in study programs.

Mullein (Verbascum phlomoides L.) is a valuable medicinal plant belonging to the Scrophulariacea. In this study, the yield and active substances of flowers in Shahrekord and Sepidan regions were investigated. The experiment was based on a completely randomized design with four replications. Seeds were sown in autumn. Flowers were collected at full flowering stage for evaluation of yield and active substances. Total phenols, total anthocyanin, mucilage, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity were measured using Folin-ciocalteau, different pH, hot extraction, colorimetric aluminum, and DPPH methods, respectively. Shahrekord region had the highest flower yield (652.5 kg/h), total flavonoid (3.53 mg rutin/g dw), total anthocyanin (1.35 mg/ml) and antioxidant activity (117.42), showing significant difference with Sepidan region (P

The amount of evapotranspiration or amount of water consumed by plant is the basis of irrigation planning. Irrigation without awareness of the actual plant requirement for water causes economic losses and reduced water use efficiency. One of the best approaches to assess plant water requirement is determination of crop coefficient using lysimeters. The aim of this study, which was conducted at Fasa University, located 140 kilometers south-east of Shiraz, was to evaluate the different growth stages of Nigella sativa L. and determine the crop coefficient of this annual species. In this study, the crop coefficient of the study species was determined by using a weighing microlysimeter (40×30 cm) and three replications in a good moisture condition. The results showed that the length of each growth stage (initial, developmental, middle and final growth stage) was calculated to be 10, 11, 41 and 23 days, respectively. The crop coefficient (Kc) of Nigella sativa in each stage was calculated to be 0.75, 1.02, 1.21 and 0.8, respectively.

Karela (Momordica charantia L.) is a plant with multiple medicinal properties, whose fruits are used to control diabetes. In order to study the effects of biological and chemical fertilizers on quantitative and qualitative properties and secondary metabolites of Karela, an experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three replications in the Research Field of Agricultural Research Institute of Zabol University. Experimental treatments included: control or 100 percent chemical fertilizer (F1), nitroxin fertile phosphate 2 (F2), nitroxin fertile phosphate 2 75 percent chemical fertilizer (F3), nitroxin fertile phosphate 2 50 percent chemical fertilizer (F4), nitroxin fertile phosphate 2 25 percent chemical fertilizer (F5), biological nano-fertilizer (F6), biological nano-fertilizer 75 percent chemical fertilizer (F7), biological nano-fertilizer 50 percent chemical fertilizer (F8) and biological nano-fertilizer 25 percent chemical fertilizer (F9). The results of analysis of variance indicated that the effects of application of different chemical fertilizer levels along with biological fertilizers were significant on photosynthetic pigments and fruit performance per area. Comparison of means showed significant superiority of combination of biological and chemical fertilizers compared to separate application of these fertilizers. The highest concentration of chlorophyll a (30.66 mg/gr.fw) and leaf carotenoids (8.91 mg/gr.fw) were obtained in F3 and F4 treatments, respectively. The highest fruit yield was obtained in F4 treatment, showing an increase of 25.33 percent compared to control treatment. The effects of fertilizer treatments were highly significant on production of carnitine, so that the lowest and highest content were obtained in F3 treatment (0.93 mg/gr.dw) and F7 treatment (3.42 mg/gr.dw), respectively. Results of this research showed that application of biological fertilizers including nitroxin and fertile phosphate 2 in combination with 75 and 50 percent of chemical fertilizer had a positive effect on improvement of physiological traits and fruit performance of Karela. Therefore, instead of continuous use of fertilizers, steps could be taken towards sustainable agriculture by optimizing the use of biological inputs.

Drought stress, temporally or permanently, is a more limiting factor in growth and distribution of vegetation cover than other environmental factors. In order to study the effects of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal and drought stress on growth and yield of Milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.), a pot experiment was performed as factorial based on completely randomized design in three replications in the research greenhouse of Chahnimeh at the University of Zabol. Drought stress consisted of two levels including %60 and %30 of field capacity and full irrigation as control treatment. Three mycorrhizal fungi including Glomus mosseae, Glomus versiformis, and Glomus intraradices were investigated. The results showed that after starting of drought stress, vegetative characteristics such as number of capituls, number of seeds in capitul, 1000 seeds weight, leaf number and area, root length, number of minor branches, plant height, and dry weight of leaf, stem and root, significantly decreased with increasing drought stress. RWC of leaf was intensely affected by drought and decreased from 77.3 in control treatment to 57.01 in 30% of field capacity irrigation treatment. In addition, with increasing drought stress, the amount of phosphorus in leaves decreased and the amount of potassium increased. Osmotic adjustment in Milk thistle was increased in response to drought stress and leaf proline content increased (the highest 0.13 mg/g tissue in 30% of field capacity treatment); however, silimarin content decreased from 16.35 in full irrigation to 10.24 in 30% of field capacity treatment. Inoculation with VAM significantly increased vegetative indices, silimarin content (the highest in G. mosseae application and the lowest in control), plant RWC, and leaf content of P and K under drought stress conditions compared to uninoculated plants; however, the leaf proline content was low. In general, application of mycorrhizae fungi increased drought stress resistance in Milk thistle.

To evaluate the effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on tolerance enhancement towards drought in Milk thistle (Silybium marianum (L.) Gaertn.), an experiment was conducted in a split split plot restriction in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The study was conducted in the research field of the University of Zanjan in 2014. Sodium nitroprusside at three levels of 0, 100 and 200 µmol l-1 was considered as the main factor, while drought stress at three levels of control and withholding irrigation at stem elongation and anthesis stages were regarded as sub factors. Finally, two genotypes of milk thistle (Hungarian and sari) comprised sub-sub factors. With increasing drought severity, leaf photosynthesis rate decreased significantly up to 45 percent compared with the control in both genotypes. Application of 100 µM SNP increased the leaf photosynthesis during stem elongation by roughly 80 and 100 percent in the Hungarian cultivar and Sari ecotype, respectively compared to non-application of SNP. Drought stress significantly decreased the pigment content in Sari ecotype, while this decrease was compensated by applying SNP during stem elongation. Drought stress in both stages of irrigation withholding reduced the grain yield in both genotypes. However, the exogenous application of 100 µM SNP compensated the reduction of grain yield, particularly in Sari ecotype. In addition, withholding of irrigation reduced the active ingredient yield; however, this reduction was compensated by increasing the content of silymarin and grain yield especially in the stage of anthesis stress with application of 100 µM SNP. Research findings showed that concentration of 100 µM SNP was more efficient to protect the milk thistle with increasing drought severity and cultivation of this plant in the water deficit systems.

This research was aimed to investigate the effects of plant density and organic and chemical fertilizers on some phytochemical characteristics of Iranian ox-tongue (Echium amoenum Fisch. & Mey.). The study was conducted as a split plot experiment based on RCBD design with three replications, conducted in 2011-2014, in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. The main and sub plots included three plant densities (10, 5 and 3 plants per m2) and three types of organic fertilizers and one type of chemical fertilizer (compost, vermicompost, cow manure, nitrogen chemical fertilizer and control), respectively. The results showed that the highest antioxidant activity was obtained in a density of 10 plants per m2 (79 mg/ml) and the highest total phenols was observed in a density of 5 plants per m2 (51 mg GAE/g flower DW). Compost, vermicompost, cow manure and chemical fertilizer increased total phenols to 51, 35, 40 and 63%, respectively compared to control. Application of vermicompost and cow manure in a density of 3 plants per m2 increased total flavonoid up to 39 and 38%, respectively compared to control. The highest total anthocyanin was obtained in a density of 5 plants per m2. Vermicompost and cow manure increased the seed oil (10 and 13%), and seed protein content (34 and 13%), respectively compared to control. In general, according to the findings of this research, it seems that the use of eco-friendly inputs and determining the optimal density of Iranian ox-tongue could result in improving the quality and health of product and minimizing the damage caused by chemical inputs.

Tanacetum polycephalum, belonging to the Asteraceae family, is a perennial and aromatic species with numerous medicinal properties. In this study, in order to evaluate and compare the quality and quantity of essential oil of flowering shoots and each of its parts (flowers, leaves and stems), the seeds of T. polycephalum Schultz. Bip. Subsp. polycephalum was collected from Kurdistan province (around the Qorveh city) and cultivated in the Alborz Agriculture Research Station, associated to the Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands. After collecting the aerial parts in full flowering stage, organs were separated and dried in the shade and essential oil extraction was carried out by hydro-distillation. The essential oils were analyzed by using a gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The highest yield of essential oil (W/W relative to dry weight) was obtained from flowering shoots (0.87%) and the lowest yield was obtained from stems (0.12%). The oil yield of leaves and flowers was calculated to be 0.61% and 0.46%, respectively. The main compounds in the oil of flowering shoots were camphor (35.5%), cis- chrysanthenol (10.1%) and α-terpinene (9.5%). Camphor (25.4%), α-terpinene (13.2%), and cis-chrysathenol (11.2%) were found in the essential oil of leaves. Trans-β-farnesene (39.7%) and camphor (8.5%) were the main components in the essential oil of stems. According to the results, if camphor and cis-chrysanthenol is the target of essential oil extraction, distillation from flowering shoots and leaves is recommended; however, to achieve the most amount of trans-chrysanthenyl acetate, distillation from flowers is recommended.

Teucrium polium L. is an herbaceous, perennial and hyperbranched plant. Teucrium polium grows in different parts of Europe and the Middle East, such as Iran. In order to determination of genetic diversity of Teucrium Polium gemlplasm in Kerman province, 15 genotypes were collected. The DNA was extracted using CTAB method. Fifteen RAPD primers were used for PCR. The electrophoresis results were analyzed using NTSYS software applying UPGMA method with Dice coefficient. To assess the phyto-chemical diversity of Teucrium polium germplasm, the essential oil of seven genotypes of Teucrium Polium was prepared by hydro distillation. The identification and analysis of essential oil composition was done by GC/MS with calculation and study of retention indices and mass spectrometry. Cluster analysis was done for the results of GC/MS by SPSS12 software. After electrophoresis of PCR products, 182 bands were found in the range of 230 to 2300 bp. A number of 169 bands (93%) were polymorphic. The genetic similarity of the genotypes was 0.37 to 0.72. Based on cluster analysis of molecular data, the collected samples were divided into four groups. The essential oil constituents in Kohbanan, Baghin, Shahrbabak, Anbarabad, Ravar and Kerman genotypes were identified. The samples were classified into three groups by cluster analysis of phytochemical data.

The genus Anthemis is the largest genera of the Asteraceae family. Anthemis gayana Boiss. alters the activity of liver enzymes and reduces liver enzymes and oxidative stress. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is widely used as an antipyretic and analgesic drug, which at high levels leads to an increase in liver transaminase activity in humans and animals. The present study was aimed to determine the protective effect of Anthemis gayana methanolic extract on liver function and oxidative stress in Wistar rats treated with paracetamol. In this experiment, 40 male wistar rats were divided into eight groups of five. Animals in the first group (control) received normal saline. The second group (placebo) received paracetamol (300mg/kg). The third, fourth, and fifth group received Anthemis gayana methanolic extract (100, 200, 300mg/kg) and the sixth, seventh and eighth group received Anthemis gayana methanolic extract (100, 200, 300mg/kg) and paracetamol (300mg/kg) intraperitoneally for 30 days. AST, ALT, ALP, MDA were measured 48 hours after the last injection. The results showed a significant increase AST, ALT, ALP activity in serum in the group treated with paracetamol as compared with control group (P

Chemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxicity of the essential oil obtained from the leaf of Pistacia vera L. var. Sarakhs was investigated in the present study. Chemical composition of the essential oil was analyzed using Gas chromatography- Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) method. Twenty eight compounds, representing 98.28% of the total oil, were characterized. The oil was predominated by monoterpene hydrocarbons (48.8%), sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (35.68%) and oxygenated monoterpenes (11.5%). The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil was investigated against four bacterial strains and one fungus. The essential oil showed a good activity against Gram-positive bacteria particularly Staphylococcus aureus (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] and minimum bactericidal concentration [MBC] = 16 µg/ml) and Bacillus cereus (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] and minimum bactericidal concentration [MBC] = 90 µg/ml). However, Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were resistant to the essential oil (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] and minimum bactericidal concentration [MBC] = 135 µg/ml). The antioxidant potential of essential oil was examined using DPPH, FRAP and β-carotene/linoleic acid (BCB) assay. The oil was considerably active in the DPPH assay (IC50 = 19.03 ± 0.005 µg/ml). Moreover, in vitro cytotoxic activity was assessed against three cancer cell lines (MCF-7, PC3 and DU-145) using Alamar blue assay, with IC50 value less than 32.20 µg/ml for MCF-7 cells.