فرحناز خلیقی سیگارودی

In recent decades, the use of environmentally friendly insecticides, especially plant essential oils (EO), has attracted the attention of many researchers. The aim of this study was to investigate the insecticidal effects of essential oils extracted from Juniperus excelsa needles collected from Aqdagh (Khalkhal) and Shahrestanak (Karaj) in Iran against adults of Plodia interpunctella and Tenebrio molitor. The essential oil was extracted from the needles of the plant using the clevenger apparatus, and the compounds were analyzed using a gas chromatograph coupled with a mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Fumigant toxicity of the EO was also evaluated against the above-mentioned insects by probit regression and the LC50 index. Based on the results, the chemical compounds identified in the EO from Shahrestanak and Aqdagh regions were 24 and 18 compounds, respectively. However, α-pinene was the main component of the EOs obtained from both habitats. Additionally, the results showed that the respiratory toxicity of EO in both studied areas had a positive and significant correlation with the concentration of essential oils (p < 0.01). Therefore, it seems that the EO extracted from J. excelsa needles has a high potential for use in pest control programs in warehouses. The calculated LC50 indices of Aqdagh and Shahrestank essential oils for Tenebrio molitor was 279.10 and 253.16 µl/L, respectively. Also, the indices of Aqdagh and Shahrestank essential oils for P. interpunctella were 182.26 and 115.16 µl/L, respectively. The LC50 values of Shahrestank EO were lower for both insects, probably due to the difference in the chemical compositions of Aqdagh and Shahrestanak essential oils. Considering the respiratory toxicity of the essential oil obtained from juniper leaves in two regions, and considering the difference in LC50 index, more biometric studies of J. excelsa in different habitats are recommended.

Lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora H.B.K) from Verbenaceae is a sensitive plant to low temperatures as abiotic stress.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of adjuvants and anti-chilling formulations on lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora H.B.K) leaves under low temperatures.

The combined analysis was done on the basis of a randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) with 28 treatments and 3 replications. The three factors included two anti-chilling formulations (glycerol, and glycerol + polyvinyl alcohol), seven adjuvants formulations (α-tocopherol, amino acids of proline + glycine-betaine, and ABA), and two levels of low temperature (5 and 10 °C).

The treatment of glycerol + proline + glycine-betaine + ABA reduced the damaging effects of low temperature in biomass, essential oil content, and osmoprotectants, while the highest protection by antioxidant pigments was obtained in glycerol + α-tocopherol + ABA. Enzymes activities and polyphenol content showed the best results by glycerol + ABA.

The best formulations were glycerol + proline + glycine-betaine + ABA and glycerol + ABA from the viewpoint of economic yield and also qualitative protection against low temperature, respectively. The efficiency of the mentioned formulations was due to their direct protective function and the indirect influence of adjuvants in a synergistic interaction with other components of the formulation.

Flavonoids, a group of natural substances, are found in flowers, fruits, roots and stems. These natural products are well known for their health-beneficial effects. Hence, isolation and purifying of flavonoids from the ingredients is worthwhile. Flavonoids are now considered indispensable in various nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, medicinal and cosmetic applications. Apigenin, quercetin, and apigenin-7-O-glycoside have therapeutic properties that these two are in the flavonoid group.

In this study, apigenin, quercetin, and apigenin 7-O-glycoside were purified by column chromatography and identified by NMR and HPLC UV-visible techniques.

Total extracts of three plants (Apium graveolens, Petroselinum crispum, Allium cepa) were divided into different solvent fractions. Column chromatography is used to purify these fractions. Finally, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and mass spectrometry techniques were used for identification. Also, the HPLC technique was used for identifying these compounds and standardized.

In the present work, apigenin was extracted from ethyl acetate fraction of Apium graveolens seeds. High purity of apigenin 7-O-glycoside isolated from the butanol fraction of Petroselinum crispum aerial parts. Also, ethyl acetate fraction isolated quercetin from the Allium cepa. Identification of the data obtained from 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR, which were proofed by comparison with the sources of purified compounds.

The methods used in this research were able to produce these three compounds with a high percentage of purity to be used in industry as standards.

Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. (Milk thistle) is a perennial herb with medicinal properties. The seeds of these plants contain silymarin compounds with flavonolignan structure and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects. The major bioactive constituent of S. marianum is silybin A and B. It is used in the treatment of various liver conditions and exhibits high anti-tumor promoting activity.

The purpose of this study was to purify, identify, and standardize of silybin A and B from the seeds extract of Silybum marianum.

At first, the milk thistle seeds were defatted with hexane and then extracted with methanol as solvent. Isolation and further purification of silybin A and B was carried out by column chromatography using Diaion HP-20 resin, silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 as stationary phase, respectively. 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR techniques were used to identify these compounds. Finally, the HPLC method has been used to standardize.

1H-NMR and 13C-NMR techniques characterized the structure of silybin A and B extracted from Silybum marianum L. and standardization and determination of their purity was performed using HPLC.

Our proposed system presented significant advantages in increasing efficiency and reducing cost, and the diastereoisomers of silybin A and silybin B in silymarin were successfully isolated with high purities.

Diabetic neuropathy is a consequence of chronic hyperglycemia that leads to neural damage over time. The fruits of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schard. (C. colocynthis) have long been used in Iranian traditional medicine for treatment of diabetes.

In this study, we investigated the protective effects of C. colocynthis against high glucose-induced neurotoxicity in PC-12 cells as a suitable in vitro model for neuronal functions.

The seedless dry fruit powder was extracted with methanol and then dried by rotary evapoartion. Later the obtain extract was fractionated as hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol fractions and aqueous residue. HPLC method was used for qualitative analysis of colocynthin in C. colocynthis pulp. The PC-12 cell viability of total extract and fractions of C. colocynthis were evaluated by means of dose and time in high glucose medium in PC-12 cells as a suitable culture model for studying neuronal functions through MTT assay.

The PC-12 cell viability significantly decreased in wells containing high glucose, compared with normal glucose treated cells. C. colocynthis extract treatment significantly enhanced the cells viability under toxic high glucose condition in a dose and time depending manner. Methanol extract of C. colocynthis exhibited a protective effect against high glucose-induced cytotoxicity in PC-12 cells.

C. colocynthis has neuroprotective properties against high glucose condition in vitro.

Honey is one of the most valuable foods that used in human societies to treat many diseases due to its healing properties for centuries. The lack of an objective way to distinguish natural honey from counterfeit honey has strengthened the field of profiteering in this area and has led to the supply of counterfeit honey instead of natural honey. So honey quality must be controlled analytically with the aim of guaranteeing the reality and preserving the consumer from commercial speculation.

The present study was conducted to evaluate 24 samples of 9 commercial brands of honey in Tehran’s markets with number 1 to 9 (1-AB, 2-TF, 3-DP, 4-JK, 5-SN, 6-SK, 7-IM, 8-MD, and 9-MH). A number of physical, chemical, and biological parameters of the samples were evaluated.

Carbohydrate composition was determined by GC/Mass to evaluate the contents of fructose, glucose, and sucrose. 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfuraldehyde (HMF) was quantified by HPLC-UV and other physicochemical quality parameters including moisture, pH, proline content; and diastase activity were also evaluated according to the Codex Alimentarius.

Only 2 brands met all major international specifications. Although all the parameters of the other brands were conformed, the diastase activity was not in a specific range.

The diastasis activity is considered as the most important factor to evaluate honey quality based on the results of this study.

A significant amount of crop production is destroyed annually by pests in the storage and significant damage is caused to crops. Recently, the use of essential oils as an alternative to pesticides in pest control has been considered. Due to the presence of α-pinene, Cupressus genus is a significant source of plant insecticides that can act as fumigant, repellency and inhibitory insecticides.

The aim of this study was to investigate the insecticidal properties, repellency and nutritional parameters of essential oils of Cupressus species on Sitophilus oryzae in 2018.

The experiment was conducted in a factorial arrangement based on completely randomized design with 4 replications. The essential oils of the different species and populations of Cupressus were prepared by the Clevenger apparatus using a water distillation method. The major constituents in the essential oils were analyzed by GC-MS and the biological effects of the essential oils against adult S. oryzae were investigated.

In the analysis of chemical compounds, α-pinene was identified as the main essential oils of the above species. The result showed that among the species, C. arizonica showed the highest Fumigant toxicity to S. oryzae with LC50 = 172.30 μl/L air. In investigating the effect of repellency on S. oryzae, essential oils of C. sempervirens L. var. horizontalis (France) with 80.61 % showed the highest distance.

Due to the toxicity and high repellency effect of Cupressus essential oils on S. oryzae, this genus has high potential for use in storage pest control.

Many herbal remedies have been used in medical systems for the cure of diseases. One of these important applications is usage of them as cytotoxic agents for the treatment of cancers and tumors. Various studies have been conducted on several species of Caesalpinia genus including evaluation of antimicrobial, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antipsoriatic, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antibacterial, immunomodulatory and hypoglycemic activities. Some reports have shown that these plants contain phytochemicals like polyphenols, glycosides, terpenoids, saponins and flavonoids.

The aim of this study was to find species of the Caesalpinia genus containing diterpene compounds with the structure cassane and norcassane with emphasis on cytotoxic properties.

In this study, keywords including Caesalpinia genus, cytotoxic and anticancer effects, and cassane and norcassane compounds were searched in Scopus and Science Direct databases.

Thirteen Caesalpinia species were investigated for phytochemical composition and biological effects. Different plant parts of the species including leaves, seeds, stems, roots and legumes contained diterpenes. Among these species, the cytotoxic effects on different cancer cell lines have been evaluated and some had significant cytotoxic effects.

Present study show that Caesalpinia genus has valuable cytotoxic activity but further studies are needed to investigate the active components and their possible development as new anticancer drugs.

Nitrogen is the most important nutrient requirement for plants. Nitrogen supplying affected the leaf area, carbon fixation, glandular trichomes formation, ATP and NADPH content which resulted to the terpenoids biosynthesis enhancement and essential oils accumulation.

This study was aimed to evaluate changes of essential oil content and components by use different levels of Urea fertilizer and its relation with the antioxidant status of peppermint.

The two field experiments were conducted on randomized complete block design at 2013 and 2014. The treatments consisted of three levels of nitrogen fertilizer (urea) (0, 75, and 150 kg ha-1). The evaluated traits were included antioxidant enzymes, essential oil percentage and essential oil components.

The urea fertilizer had a significant effect (P≤0.01) on the soluble protein amount and antioxidant enzymes activity. Urea consumption in the both years increased the peppermint essential oil content. The interaction of nitrogen fertilizer and year had a significant effect on most of the essential oil components excepted to β-pinene, myrcene, Limonene, 1,8- Cineole, Z-β- Ocimene, and α- Terpineol.

Using nitrogen fertilizer increased the peppermint essential oil content. Also, nitrogen deficiency reduced the soluble proteins and essential oil content and in contrast, it increased antioxidant enzymes activity and pulegone content. Therefore, consumption of 75 kg urea per hectare is recommended due to increasing essential oil content, decreasing pulegone rate, and no significant effect on menthol, menthone, and menthofuran contents.

Nowadays, the optimization of the culture conditions in bioreactors is considered as an approach to produce secondary metabolites such as thebaine.
Thebaine is the dominant alkaloid in Iranian poppy that is used as a precursor for the synthesis of analgesic compounds. Optimization of culture conditions of Papaver bracteatum adventitious roots in bioreactor for the scale-up thebaine production. In this study, adventitious roots was induced from the stem explants and then cultured in a bubble column bioreactor. The research was conducted as a factorial experiment based on randomized complete design. The bioreactor temperatures were 14, 20, 26 and 32 °C, as well as aeration volumes were 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 vvm. The results showed that the temperature and aeration volume had significant effect on root fresh weight and thebaine content. The highest root dry weight was related to aeration volume of 0.2 vvm and temperature of 26°C. The maximum content of thebaine was observed in aeration volume of 0.2 vvm and temperature of 26°C. According to the results, aeration volume and temperature were two important factors for large-scale production of Papaver bracteatum biomass and thebaine in bioreactor conditions.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) is native to Mediterranean region which cultivated for food, pharmaceutical, and perfumery uses in all over the world. The aerial part of peppermint contains essential oil, phenolic and flavonoid compounds, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and salicylic acid. Menthol is the most important constituents of peppermint oil which synthesized and accumulated in glandular trichomes on the leaf surface. Menthol creates a coolness sense in the mouth due to inhibition of the TRPM8 channel in the neurons. Clinical and experimental studies have demonstrated the peppermint effect on improving upper gastrointestinal disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, muscle spasm, and respiratory problems. It also has antioxidative, anticancer, anticoagulant, anti-allergic and anti-androgenic effects. Peppermint is a valuable herb in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries which needs further phytochemical and pharmacological studies. Therefore, this article reviews the anatomical, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of this plant.

The genus Thymus is a perennial and aromatic plant and belongs to Lamiaceae family. The essential oils of these plants are used for the treatment of mouth and throat mucosal inflammation, catarrh and respiratory disorders and as antioxidant and antiseptic. The purpose of this study was to compare chemical composition of the essential oils derived from aromatic waters of three thyme species cultivated in Semnan and to investigate the antioxidant properties of aromatic waters and the essential oils. These three species are used in manufacturing of thyme aromatic water in Iranian market. In this study, aerial parts of three cultivated species, Thymus vulgaris, Thymus daenensis and Thymus kotschyanus were collected from Semnan natural resources research field in Shahmirzad. At first, the aromatic waters of dried plants were extracted by water distillation method, and then the essential oils of the aromatic waters were isolated using pentane and analyzed by GC/MS. Then antioxidant activities of thyme waters and the derived essential oils were evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging method. Thymol was the major component of the derived essential oils of two species Thymus vulgaris (38.36 %) and Thymus daenensis (56.82 %), while α-terpinyl acetate (31.06 %) was the main ingredient of the essential oil of Thymus kotschyanus. The most antioxidant activity was observed in the essential oil and aromatic water of Thymus daenensis. Chemical composition of the essential oils derived from aromatic water of three thyme species used in manufacturing of thyme water in Iranian market were completely different and it can affect the effectiveness of aromatic thyme water.

Oliveria decumbens Vent. (Apiaceae) is a valuable medicinal plant in the western regions of Iran.It sun controlled harvesting in natural habitats has increased the risk of extinction of this species. In order to investigate the diversity of 25 populations, an experiment was conducted using 18 morphphysiological characteristics and percentage of essential oil in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Populations were planted in the research farm of Shahid Beheshti Dezfoul Company. Samples were collected at their full flowering phase and morphophysiological characteristics and were recorded in mid-June of 2016. The results of the analysis of variance were showed a variation among populations in terms of these characteristics, by calculating genetic and environmental variances, changes in most traits including, stem leaf length, stem leaf width and stem leaf width/length, umbellule diameter, the dry and wet weight of 100 umbellule and chlorophyll a/ b were determined by genetic factors. The general heritability were showed the percentage of essential oil, umbellule number in plant andthe dry weight of 100 umbellule were 0.91, 0.51 and 0.77, respectively. The correlation between characteristics and stepwise regression exhibited the greatest impact of the flower texture on essential oil production and the dry weight of 100 umbellule. Based on the factor analysis results, the three main factors justified 78.6% of the total variation among the characteristics. The biomass of the plant was the first factor followed by the percentage of essential oil and flower weight as the second and third factors, respectively. Based on the cluster analysis results, the populations can be divided into 5 groups. The third and fifth groups exhibited a great potential for cultivation, due to the highest average percentage of essential oil and maximum number and dry weight of 100 umbellule in a plant. Moreover, the populations in cluster 1 and 4 alternatively have the greatest genetic distance from each other which can be exploited in crossover and production of synthetic seeds.

Lippia citriodora H.B.K is an important medicinal and aromatic plant from the Verbenaceae family.
The aim of this study was to investigation of essential oil percentage, E-citral (geranial) content and morphophysiological changes of Lippia citriodora in response to induction of bioactive compounds and plant growth regulators.
This study has been conducted on the base of factorial experiment in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications. The first factor included the application of bioregulators at four levels that were distilled water, 50 ppm gibberellic acid (GA3) 50 ppm IBA, 50 ppm GA3 100 ppm IBA and 100 ppm GA3 50 ppm IBA. The second factor was chitosan inductions at two levels: distilled water and 400 ppm chitosan. The third factor was methanol induction at two levels: distilled water and 5% v/v methanol.
The measured traits were significantly affected (P≤0.01) by the interaction of bioregulators, methanol and chitosan except for plant height, number of branches, leave length that were significantly affected at 0.05 level. The highest content of essential oil achieved by 400 ppm chitosan and 5% V/V methanol. The highest amount of leaves number and E-citral content were observed at 400 ppm chitosan. The maximum value of root and stem fresh and dry weight and leaf dry weight were obtained at 50 ppm GA3 100 ppm IBA.
Generally, the interaction of foliar application of plant growth regulators, methanol and chitosan could be positively effect on essential oil, E-citral (geranial) content and morpho-physiological traits.

IntroductionThyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) is one of the most important essential oil plants that its essential oil constituent be used in different medicinal and food industries. Vermicompost is organic manure that significant amounts of macro and micronutrients make available to the plants. Although some of this material is minerals but most of them gradually and slowly released through the mineralization of organic matter. Mycorrhizal fungi are one of the biological factors in the rhizosphere, which include a relatively important part of soil organisms. Under water deficit conditions, mycorrhiza enhances photosynthesis and carbon fixation during the growing season by increasing the leaf area. This condition does not directly contribute to increased photosynthesis in the host plant, but keeps the photosynthesis level higher than control by improving water relations and changing the hormonal relations.
Materials and methodsThe treatments included vermicompost in four levels (0, 2, 4, and 6 ton.ha-1) and mycorrhiza in three levels (without inoculation, inoculation with Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradices) was arranged based on randomized complete block design with 12 treatments and 3 replications. Fresh leaf tissue was used to measure chlorophyll content. Dimethyl sulfoxide (7 ml) was added to 0.1 g leaf tissue and the samples were incubated at 70°Cfor 4h. The light absorptance was measured at 663, 645 and 470 nm with spectrophotometer (Jenway, 6305) to obtain chlorophyll content. To measure Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, plant roots were collected one week before harvesting, cleaned by 10% KOH at 80˚C for 2h, and acidified in 1% HCL for 60 min. Then the cleaned up roots were stained in a solution of trypan blue. The roots were destained in a mixture of 500 ml glycerol, 450 ml water and 5 ml HCL for 24 h, allowing the fungus to be revealed under microscopic examination (Taylor et al. 2008).
Statistical analysis: Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using SAS statistical software (SAS Institute, 1998) and Duncan's multiple range procedure was employed at probability level of 5%.
Results and discussionThe results indicated that the vermicompost application improved significantly plant height, dry weight, colonization, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, essential oil content, essential oil yield and thymol yield. Mycorrhizal inoculation affects significantly on chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and colonization. The highest amount of plant height was recorded by application of 6 ton.ha-1 vermicompost (31 cm) and the lowest amount were obtained in control plots (21.78 cm).
The highest biological yield was obtained from application of 6 ton.ha-1 (3443 kg.ha-1) and the lowest biological yield was recorded in control plots (1966 kg.ha-1). Our results showed that colonization percent significantly increased by application of 6 ton.ha-1 in control plots (49.44 and 22.33%, respectively). The greatest amount of chlorophyll obtained by application of 6 tonha-1 vermicompost and the lowest amount was in control plots.
The best results of essence yield obtained from 4 ton.ha-1 vermicompost, while the maximum essence yield recorded by application of 6 ton.ha-1 vermicompost. The best interaction effects of vermicompost and mycorrhizal was significant on essential oil yield, thymol yield, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll by the use of 6 ton.ha-1 vermicompost and without inoculation. The most content of chlorophyll a was obtained with the use of 4 ton.ha-1 vermicompost and inoculation with Glomus intraradices. The results showed the highest percent of colonization by the use of 6 ton.ha-1 vermicompost and inoculation with Glomus intraradices. The highest percent of essence was obtained from control (no application of vermicompost and no inoculation of mycorrhiza) treatment.
ConclusionVermicompost is one of the organic manure that significant amounts of macro and micronutrients make available to the plants. Mycorrhizal fungi are one of the biological factors in the rhizosphere that increased plant growth especially under stress conditions. In this study vermicompost application significantly increased essence yield. Also, vermicompost and mycorrhizal interaction increased chlorophyll content of plant leaf.

Tragopogon is a genus of Asteraceae family and Lactuceae tribe. Distribution of this genus in different areas resulted to its dietary and feed applications as well as medicinal uses. Different parts of these plants have been used in treatment of stomachache and digestive disorders. In Iranian traditional medicine they used as hemostatic and wound healing agent in nose, ears, lungs, throat, intestine, stomach, and skin bleeding. Reduction of lipid peroxidation and blood lipid level, antioxidant, antileukemic, and antibacterial effects, and healing effect on inflammatory bowel disease are some of evaluated pharmacologic effects of the plants in this genus. Flavonoids, terpenes, saponins, bibenzyl and hydroisocoumarins, phenolic compounds, and strolls are some of detected phytochemicals of these plants that majority of them have been identified through the chemotaxonomic studies. Some tragopogon plants with high antioxidant effect are able to protect the tissues from the inflammatory disorders and inhibit DNA damage in the determined concentrations.

Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice) is a perennial shrub belongs to the Fabaceae family. It is widely used in food; pharmaceutical products and tobacco industry because of its important secondary metabolites. Due to worldwide uses of licorice, it has significant role in export. One of the main bioactive compounds of the root is glycyrrhizic acid (GA) which is a saponine containing three carboxyl and five hydroxyl groups. Glycyrrhizic acid is used as an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic remedy for the treatment of bronchial asthma, eczemas and other diseases. There are different methods for separation, purification, and analysis of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) from licorice roots. Most accepted technologies of them include using of solvents, water separation, polymeric macro porous resin and non-ionic surfactants. Also, high-performance liquid chromatography technique is the most important in analysis of GA.

For centuries, plants have been a major source for drug discovery. Some examples of anticancer agents developed from plants are the vinblastine, vincristine, taxol and camptothecin. Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among women and prostate cancer remains a considerable health problem for men around the world. The purpose of this study was cytotoxicity evaluation of Taverniera spartea on human cancer cell lines. In the present study, we determined the cytotoxic effects of total methanol extracts and their fractions of Taverniera spartea on MCF-7 and BT-474 human breast cancer cells and also PC-3 and Du-145 prostate cancer cells. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis. The chloroform fraction of Taverniera spartea showed the highest toxicity MTT assay. The IC50 value of this fraction was 70.69 µg/ml for MCF-7 breast cancer cell line after 48 h of exposure. Chloroform fraction showed necrotic effects on MCF-7, BT-474 and PC-3 in contrast apopthotic induction on Du-145 in flow cytometry analysis Taverniera spartea has cytotoxic effects. Further investigation is needed to determine chemical characterization of the active principles and the molecular mechanisms mediated anticancer activities of Taverniera spartea.

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) infections are very common in Iran and worldwide and the risk for resistance to anti-herpetic drugs has increased recently. Alternative antiherpetic agents seem necessary to control and reduce the emergence of -resistant strains. Oriental medicine suggests some herbal options for the treatment of herpes lesions. This study reviews some of the common herbal treatments in oriental medicine for herpes and their availability in Iran. In this narrative review, information on in vitro and in vivo studies and clinical trials was searched via international databases including PubMed and SCOPUS, using herpes, herb, Oriental medicine, Chinese medicine and the names of herbs as keywords, which resulted in 45 related articles; of these, 38 entered this review. The inclusion criteria were the in vitro and in vivo studies, randomized controlled trials and reviews with acceptable levels of evidence. Information regarding those herbs in traditional Iranian medicine, their availability in Iran, and the available pharmaceutical products in this country were investigated through Persian references. Among herbs suggested by Oriental herbal medicine for the treatment of herpes lesions, Melia azedarach, Aloe barbadensis, Rheum palmatum, Salvia officinalis, Melissa officinalis, Melaleuca alternifolia, Hypericum perforatum, Crataegus pinnatifida, Punica granatum and Rheum palmatum, are backed by acceptable scientific evidence, and are available in Iran. Considering the evidence and availability of many of Oriental herbal medicines for herpes in Iran, they can be utilized for treatment and research purposes.

Knowledge on the effects of environmental factors affecting the distribution of plant communities provides information about ecological characteristics of species as well as the conditions of vegetation habitat. The current study was performed in Halejerd, west of Tehran to investigate the effects of environmental factors on the distribution of plant sites. This research was aimed to identify the most effective factors on the establishment of plant sites. After identifying the region, vegetation types were selected and sampling was done by random-systematic method. Minimal area method was used to determine the plot size. Five vegetation types were identified. Three soil profiles were dug in each vegetation type and two soil samples were taken from two soil depths. Soil characteristics including soil texture, pH, electrical conductivity, potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, organic matter, organic carbon and TNV were measured. Result showed that the studied plant sites differed in terms of soil characteristics and the factors of each component were characterized. According to the obtained graph and considering variable coefficients, the content of silt and potassium increased in the first component while in the second component the content of sand and nitrogen increased. Also, soil chemical and physical characteristics are involved in the separation of vegetation types. Important and effective physical and chemical characteristics were sand, silt, potassium and nitrogen, respectively. In order to analyze the environmental factors (soil characteristics) associated with the distribution of plant sites principal component analysis (PCA) was used. Results showed that there was a special relationship between the distribution of different vegetation types and soil characteristics. Also it was found that edaphic factors including soil texture, potassium and nitrogen were more effective in species distribution.

Aloe vera is used in the food and pharmaceutical as an aid to effective treatment. The purpose of this study is to improve growth, increase production of valuable metabolites and increase the sugars in Aloe vera gel with low cost and high efficiency under water stress conditions.

In this study, Aloe vera potted in greenhouse conditions with four levels of zeolite including 0, 11, 22, and 44 g in 5 kg pots of soil in three replications. The pots were treated under three irrigation levels for five months. Experimental treatments included irrigation in once a week, once every two weeks, and once every three weeks. Some characteristics, as well as amount of production barbaloin and sugars in the plant were measured by HPLC. The data were analyzed using the MSTATC statistical software.  

The study of simple effects and interactions of zeolite application and levels of irrigation, The best results traits were obtained from 22 g Zeolite treatment in 5 kg pots of soil and once every three weeks irrigation. The highest amount of barbaloin was observed in 44 g Zeolite treatment in 5 kg pots of soil with  once a week irrigation. The highest amount different sugars was obtained from 44 g Zeolite treatment in 5 kg pots of soil with once every two weeks irrigation.    

Zeolite is effective in improving the morphological traits, which in this study increased amount of barbaloin, and levels of polysaccharides in Aloe vera gel under water stress conditions.

Researchers'' attention has been focused on Aloe vera for a long time due to the numerous medicinal effects of this plant and its application in various fields of food، cosmetic and hygienic industries. This study was conducted to evaluate the different levels of Zeolite and irrigation conditions on vegetative growth and quantitative and qualitative changes in plant gel. It is based on a factorial randomized complete block design with 4 levels of Zeolite in soil and 3 levels of irrigation، in 3 replications. After 5 months، morphological traits were measured. Also the amount of aloin in leaf and vitamin C in the gel were measured. The best results of morphological traits were obtained with 22 g Zeolite treatment in 5 kg pots of soil and 21 days irrigation. The highest amount of aloin was observed in 44 g Zeolite treatment in 5 kg pots of soil with 7 days irrigation. The highest amount of vitamin C was obtained in 44 g Zeolite treatment in 5 kg pots of soil with 14 days irrigation. The overall results showed that zeolite plays an important role in promoting growth and increasing secondary metabolites in plant Aloe vera under different irrigation.

Persian poppy or great scarlet poppy (Papaver bracteatum Lindl.) is proposed as a new source of raw material for codeine production and addiction treatment. This species as a native plant is growing in North and West of Iran. As for possible of illegal cultivation of opium poppy, cultivation of Persian poppy in Iran was associated with restrictions and despite the being abundant biodiversity of this plant in Iran, this plant was not considered yet. However, Persian poppy is lacking in morphine and rich in the baine. It has appropriate potential for domestication, mass production, and industrial processing as a valuable medicinal plant. For this reason, in this study was investigated kind of traits in this plant.

Nepeta pogonosperma Jamzad & Assadi (Labiatae) is one of the endemic Nepeta species in Iran (Alamut region). Flavonoids، iridoids، phenols and dierpenes have previously been reported in some Nepeta species. Genus of Nepeta have essential oil and antioxidant، antimicrobial، insecticidal، anti-inflammatory، antinociceptive and anxiolytic activities and also used in folk medicine because of their expectorant، antiseptic، antitussive، antiasthmatic and febrifuge effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate chemical composition of the essential oil and antioxidant activities، total phenol and flavonoid content of the extract of N. pogonosperma in the flowering stage. Total phenol and flavonoid contents of the species were measured using colorimetric methods. The total antioxidant capacity was determined by the following ABTS and DPPH free-radicals scavenging and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP). Essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The extract possessed a higher concentration of total phenol than total flavonoid content. Methanol extract showed moderate DPPH scavenging activity (IC50 < 200 μg/ml). Fifty constituents were found representing 95. 95% of the essential oil. The main constituents of the essential oil were 1،8-cineole and 4aα،7α،7aα-nepetalactone. The present results demonstrate that N. pogonosperma extract exhibits antioxidant activity and may serve as potential source of natural antioxidants for treatment of some diseases. Further investigations are necessary for chemical characterization of the active compounds and more comprehensive biological assays.