Journal of Medicinal Plants and By-products
Volume:11 Issue: 1, Winter and Spring 2022

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) flowers have widespread uses in food and medicine industries due to high content of coloring pigments and antioxidant ingredients. Effects of mycorrhization with a mixture of Funneliformis mosseae, F. caledonius, Rhizophagus intraradices, and R. iregularis (seed inoculation, soil inoculation and control), four drying methods (room (25 °C), sun (40 °C), oven (70 °C), and split system air conditioning (19 °C)) and their interactions were investigated on safflower petaloids in 2019, in Rafsanjan, Iran. Soil inoculation and oven drying provided the highest content of phenolics and vitamin C, while sun drying showed the lowest content of phenolics. Oven was the best tool regarding antioxidant activity but was not statistically different from other methods. Soil inoculation showed higher antioxidant activity than seed inoculation. Total soluble solids, anthocyanin content, and pH were not altered by mycorrhization and drying. Mycorrhization did not have a significant effect on carotenoid content, but sun drying reduced the carotenoids significantly. Soil-inoculated and oven-dried samples had significantly higher chlorophyll content. Oven displayed the lowest L*, a*, and b* values meaning that oven-dried samples were darker and had more green pigments while the other methods produced redder and yellower color. Room drying led to the highest chroma fallowed by split system and sun, but oven drying resulted in the lowest chroma. Sun drying caused a reduction in hue angle showing a small change in basic color. The results suggest soil inoculation and oven drying for biochemical preservation, but oven had adverse effects on color.

Maintaining the nutritional value and increasing the shelf life of citrus, fruit coating is important. Currently, small gardeners in the north of Iran to rising storage time and maintain fruit quality, use unconventional methods or materials. The use of natural and organic material to produce a healthy product free of contaminants is rising. Tea seed powder is the by-product of tea seeds after oiling, which has no negative or harmful effects on the environment and use on farms as an organic insecticide. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the effect of different concentrations of aqueous extract of tea seed powder on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck. This research was done in the type of completely randomized design with five coating treatments as control (distilled water), commercial wax (XEDASOL- MX20), and three concentrations of aqueous extract of tea seed powder as 5, 10, and 15% w/v with three replications. After coating, the fruits were stored for 60 days in a cold house at 8 oC and 85% humidity. The weight of the shell, the juice content, the total soluble solids, the total acidity, and the anthocyanins concentration of the fruit were measured. The results showed that fruits coated with commercial wax had the lowest fruit weight loss. The treatments for tea seed powder extract are also significantly different from the control, and the treatment of 15% tea seed extract had the least weight loss. Fruits impregnated with commercial wax had the highest percentage of total soluble solids that did not significantly different from the tea seed powder extract but had 15% more total soluble solids than the control treatment. The fruits impregnated with commercial wax have the highest content of anthocyanins. The use of 5 and 10% tea seed extract has also had a positive and significant effect on the concentration of anthocyanins compared to control. As a result, it can state that the aqueous extracts of tea seed powder, compared to the control, improve and preserve the properties of the blood orange of the Moro cultivar during the post-harvest period. Therefore, tea seeds products can be promoted as an alternative to chemical pesticides currently used in ordinary warehouses.

Medicinal uses of plants to treat of diseases has increased in recent years. Clerodendrum is a genus of plants belonging to Verbenaceae family. Clerodendrum bungei Steud. is native to the Gilan province, but its antibacterial effects have not been studied. For this reason, the aim of the present study was to investigate the phytochemical analysis and antibacterial properties of the alcoholic extracts of C. bungei. was collected from Sowme’ eh Sara city located in the northwest of the Gilan province, from May to August 2018 with equal amount. Extracts were prepared from different parts of C. bungei using 70% ethanol by the maceration method and were analysed using GC/MS. Seven bacterial isolates from clinical samples were collected from patients referred to the social welfare polyclinic in Rasht. After confirmatory diagnostic tests for all specimens, an antibiogram test (disk diffusion method) was performed and the antimicrobial activities of the extracts were evaluated using disk diffusion and broth dilution methods on 7 isolates of Escherichia coli, Enterobacter, Shigella, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase negative Staphylococcus. The results were showed that the alcoholic extract of the leaves before flowering was more effective on Pseudomonas than other bacteria. Also, the alcoholic extract of the leaves during flowering was effective on S. aureus. The extract of the flower was effective on E. coli only at a concentration of 250 mg/ml. The MIC values of the different alcoholic extracts of C. bungei on all isolates were 8.06 to 500 mg/ml. The MBC values of the different extracts of C. bungei on isolates were 500 mg/ml. The phytochemical compound, phytol was identified as the main component in the leaf extracts of C. bungei before (9.52%) and during (3.6%) flowering and therefore it seems to be the compound responsible for the antimicrobial properties of C. bungei leaves. The main effective components in the flowers, stems and roots of C. bungei were identified to be linalool (7.8%), aziridine (3.53%), thymol (21.84%), respectively. Linalol prevents dental cavity and has antiallergic, antiviral and antibacterial effects. Thymol has a very strong antimicrobial properties and can destroy outer membrane (OM) of gram-negative bacteria and remove the lipopolysaccharides and increase the permeability of the plasma membrane. Among the chemical compounds identified in the extracts, compounds with functional groups and acircular structure seems to have antibacterial properties. It is concluded from this study that C. bungei possesses antibacterial properties.

The different nutrients in garlic provide numerous health benefits. As the most active and important bioactive compound found in garlic, allicin offers antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering and cardiovascular-preventive effects. In this study, fresh and aged (dried) garlic extracts were compared in terms of the active ingredient allicin, constituents, and antioxidative properties. Ultrasonic apparatus was used for extraction because of its higher speed and shorter extraction time, improved quality of the extract with respect to antioxidative properties, and the possibility of extracting heat-sensitive compounds. The results showed that the highest allicin content (0.27%) was observed in the fresh garlic extract. Also the largest amounts of phenolic compounds (0.311 mg gallic acid equivalent) were observed in the fresh garlic extract. The highest inhibition rate (50% at 1500 ppm) was that of the fresh garlic extract. The results showed that the allicin content and antioxidative properties of fresh and dried garlic extracts were significantly different.

Hemolytic anemia is a hematological disorder occurs owing to the excessive hemolysis of red blood cells. Atriplex hortensis L. leaves are traditionally used for prevention and treatment of anemia. The present study was performed to assess the effects of A. hortensis extract on phenyl-hydrazine induced hemolytic anemia in rat. Thirty-six, six months old, male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups of 6 rats each. One group received normal saline and other 5 groups received 40 mg/kg phenyl-hydrazine (PHZ) intraperitoneally at baseline and on day 33 for induction of hemolytic anemia. Four PHZ treated groups received daily oral doses of 50, 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg/day A. hortensis extract for 31 days and one PHZ treated group kept as control received saline accordingly. Blood superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and blood hematological parameters such as hematocrit (HCT), red blood cell (RBC), reticulocyte (Ret) and hemoglobin (HGB) were determined in all groups after 34 days of the study. The blood RBC, HGB and HCT parameters were significantly lowers and Ret increased significantly in PHZ control group compared with the normal saline treated group. In A. hortensis extract (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg/day) treated groups the blood HCT, RBC and HGB parameters were significantly increased and Ret decrease, compared with PHZ control group, the blood SOD enzyme activity was significantly improved in all A. hortensis treated groups compared with PHZ control group. A. hortensis extract improved blood SOD activity and blood HCT, RBC, Ret and HGB parameters indicating inhibition of hemolytic anemia induced by phenyl-hydrazine in rat.

Acyclovir is used locally or systemically to treat cold sore and totally have no side effect. However, this antiviral drug is not suitable for some people. The main aim of this study was to prepare and characterize shallomin liposomal hydrogel formulation and evaluation and comparison of dermal efficacy of this new formulation with acyclovir ointment on cold sores. Thin-Film Hydration was used to prepare liposome consisting of lecithin and cholesterol (molar ratio: 1:1). Morphology, size analysis and liposome encapsulation efficiency were determined. For preparation of hydrogel, Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) was used. In vitro Skin permeation assay through abdominal region skin of male wistar rat was also determined. After preparing liposomal shallomin 1% in hydrogel a randomized controlled trial was performed on three groups (15 students in each groups) who showed cold sore within 24 hours. Liposomal shallomin gel, acyclovir and placebo was used every 6 hours for the first, second and third groups, respectively. The size of liposomal shallomin particles were 139±31.8 nm whereas polydispersity index values were 0.219 ± 0.01. The TEM images showed that the shape of particles was spherical and any aggregation or fusion were not seen. Furthermore, the particle size diameter was < 150 nm. The encapsulation capacity with the liposomes was approximately calculated 82.7%. The cold sore and tingling was disappeared in liposomal shallomin gel treated group within 0-12 hours in 12 cases (80%) and within 12-24 hours in 2 cases. In the acyclovir treated group, skin was cleared from cold sore in 8 cases (53%) within 24-48 hours after using drug. Regarding the obtained results, the liposomal shallomin gel caused a significant improvement in the removing cold sores within 12 hours related to acyclovir (P=0.001). Because mucoidal properties of hydrogel can facilitate adhesion between the shallomin and skin membrane, which extend keeping of shallomin at the site of administration and enhancing drug permeation so, liposomal shallomin gel is more effective treatment than shallomin extract and acyclovir with fewer side effects for cold sores treatment.

The management of plant arrangement and organic fertilizer is an effective practice in agricultural systems particularly in dryland farming condition. The split plot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of cattle manure and plant density on essential oil (EO) content, EO yield, photosynthesis contents, leaf nutrients, enzyme activities of Satureja mutica Fisch. & C.A.Mey. based on completely randomized block design (CRBD) with three replications during 2018 and 2019. The plants were treated with cattle manure (30 tones ha-1) under high plant density (HPD, 80000 plant ha-1), medium plant density (MPD, 40000 plant ha-1), and low plant density (LPD, 26666 plant ha-1) in dryland farming system. The results showed that the highest EO content (2.2%) and EO yield (10.9 kg ha-1) were observed in the second-year plants with manure application at HPD. Under both HPD and MPD, chlorophyll (Chl) a+b was greater compared to LPD. The higher concentrations of magnesium (Mg) and phosphorous (P) were observed in second-year plants treated with manure application at MPD in comparison with LPD/HPD. Compared to LPD, increased potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) contents were observed at HPD and MPD. The activity of antioxidant enzymes at LPD was significantly higher than other treatments. The use of cattle manure and HPD could increase EO production, but MPD is suggested in improving leaf nutrients of S. mutica.

In this study, the effect of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seed powder and aqueous extract on growth performance, immunity, and liver activity in the ROSS 308 broiler were investigated. A total of 270 day-old broiler chicks were randomly divided into 9 groups (n=30), with three replicate, T1 (control group) fed with a basal diet, T2 fed with basal diet added to Immunofin®, and T3 fed with basal diet added to HEPARENOL® in drinking water based on a producer recommended methods. Other 6 groups, were fed with basal diet added to 3 different level of fenugreek seed powder: T4 (0.1%), T5 (0.2%), T6 (0.3%) and 3 different level of extract in drinking water: T7 (0.1%), T8 (0.2%) and T9 (0.3%) and All groups were used during 42 days of rearing. To evaluate antibody titers against Newcastle disease, Avian Influenza, and Gambro vaccines, Hemagglutination Inhibition and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay tests were performed. Administration of fenugreek seed extract and powder according to recommended doses had no significant effect on growth performance; however, it had a significant effect on the antibody levels and the levels of Alanine Aminotransferase and Aspartate Aminotransferase enzymes that highly increase in liver disorder, were significantly decreased by aqueous extract of fenugreek seed in 0.2% and 0.3% (P ≤0.05). Overall, the present study showed that aqueous extract and seed powder of fenugreek could be used as a new approach to increase the level of immunity and to improve liver activity in broilers.

This study aimed to evaluate antioxidant effects of biodegradable starch film containing nanoemulsions of Bunium persicum (Boiss.) B.Fedtsch. essential oil (BPEO) fortified with Cinnamaldehyde (CIN). DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)) radicals scavenging assay and Folin-Ciocalteu methods were used to determine antioxidant potential of corn starch films containing nanoemulsions of B. persicum essential oil fortified with cinammaldehyde (NanoBP en cin). Prepared treatments were films containing BPEO, CIN, the combination of BPEO and CIN (BPEO+CIN), BPEO nanoemulsion and of BPEO nanoemulsion combined with CIN (BPEOne+CIN) and BPEO nanoemulsion fortified with CIN (NanoBP en cin) at 0.25-2.5–5-10 and 20 (mg/ml) concentrations in corn starch solution. Chemical analysis showed that the main constituents of the BPEO were cuminaldehyde (22.34%), carvacrol (15.70%), anisole (15.19%) and ortho-Cymene (12.04%), respectively. Droplet size and their polydispersity index (PDI) of BPEO nanoemulsion and NanoBP en cin were 131.1±7.2 nm (PDI=0.283) and 201± 24.57 nm (PDI=0.212), respectively. Phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of the treatments increased significantly with enhancing of the concentration of EO and CIN. (P <0.05). The Films containing NanoBP at different concentrations had the more antioxidant effect than the other treatments. The lowest radical inhibition effect was for the films containing NanoBP en CIN. The results of this in vitro study showed that food packaging with corn starch films containing BPEO nanoemulsion is a good option for active packaging and have considerable antioxidant properties, but combining or fortification of nanoBPEO with other active ingredients like CIN are not recommended.

Sahandi savory (Satureja sahendica Bornm.) is a medicinally endemic plant, which may be affected by organic fertilizers and cultivated methods. To investigate the effect of cattle manure (30 ton/ha) as organic fertilizers and plant density (high plant density: 80000, medium plant density: 40000, and low plant density: 26666 plan ha-1), an experiment was carried out as split plot with three replications during 2017 and 2018 on plant yield, total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), essential oil (EO) yield and composition of Sahandi savory in the rainfed condition. Fresh weigh yield (FWY) and dry weight yield (DWY) increased under manure application at high/medium plant density in second year. The highest TPC and TFC were observed with manure application at high plant density in 2018. The highest DPPH scavenging activity was observed at high plant density under manure application in second year. In second year under manure application, medium and high plant densities increased EO yield by 44% and 35% compared to low plant density. The GC and GC/MS analysis showed that the main constitutes of Sahandi savory EO were p-cymene (36.03-56.37%), thymol (21.59-32.26%) and γ –terpinene (6.21-22.01%), representing different concentrations by using the organic fertilizers and plant densities. To sum up, the use of cattle manure and high plant density can result in higher plant production.

Antibacterial agents derived from plants are known as suitable alternatives for synthetic pesticides because of their health and the lack of any side effects on plants. This study aims to assess in vitro effect of water, ethanol and methanol extracts of tobacco (Nicotiana plumbaginifolia Viv.) leaves on plant pathogenic bacteria and their effect on the control of bacterial infection in tomato plant in the farm conditions. Also, effective compounds of the selected extract were characterized. Water, ethanol and methanol extracts were prepared from the leaves of N. plumbaginifolia by soaking method. Antibacterial effects of three extracts were determined by agar well diffusion method in 100, 400 and 800 mg/ml concentrations on plant pathogenic bacteria including Xantomonas campestris PTCC1473, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PTCC1181, Pseudomonas syringae PTCC1290, Enterobacter aerogenes PTCC1221, Clavibacter michiganensis PTCC1399, Ralstonia solanacearum PTCC1600 and Gluconacetobacter PTCC1734. Then the effect of the extract was analyzed on the protection of infection and some characteristics of the tomato fruit in farm conditions. For this purpose, the tomato bushes were inoculated with the bacterium that were highly sensitive to the extracts and in order to evaluate the effect of the extract on the tomato fruit characteristics, factors including pH, ascorbic acid content, lycopene content, texture stiffness and antioxidant activity of tomatoes were assessed post treatment. Effective compounds of the extract with the maximum antibacterial effect were measured using GC/MS method. Water, ethanol and methanol extracts of N. plumbaginifolia in the minimum concentration (MIC) of 400 mg/ml were effective on the most of studied bacteria and had the most effect on P. aeruginosa PTCC1181 with the growth inhibition zone of 22.51 mm (water extract), 19.39 mm (ethanol extract) and 20.94 mm (methanol extract). The concentration of 800 mg/ml of the extracts was detected as minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The results showed that the methanol extract of N. plumbaginifolia had the most effect on the studied bacteria without changes in plant growth indicators. GC/MS analysis of the extract approved the existence of several organic acids and antimicrobial compounds including benzoic acid, hydroxymethylfurfural, nicotine, nonanoic acid, neophytadiene and plant esters. The methanol extract of N. plumbaginifolia leaves had the greatest impact on P. aeruginosa PTCC1181 as one of the pathogens of tomato, and this extract also controlled the growth of bacteria on the tomato plant in farm condition and this plant extract is recommended as an antimicrobial agent to control the bacterial disease of tomato.

Ever since the concept of functional foods was introduced and consumer awareness of the relationship between health and food consumption increased, there has been a rise in demand for super healthy foods. There is a considerable amount of dietary fiber in date seeds, which plays a key role in disease prevention. Iran is one of the top date producers in the world, and considering the nutritional value of this product, the application of date seed, as a byproduct of the date industry, in human and animal nutrition has attracted great interest.

In this study, date seed germ was prepared and compared with date seed in terms of antioxidant properties (Scavenging activity to DPPH radical, Total phenol determination), fiber, proteins, fats, and mineral salts.

The results showed an increase in antioxidant properties (Scavenging activity to DPPH radical, Total phenol determination), amount of fiber, protein, fat and minerals in date seed germ compared to date seed powder.

Therefore, both date seed powder and date seed germ can be used in food formulation as functional foods.

Medicinal plants are valuable sources of natural antioxidants such as some terpenoids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds. Zataria multiflora Boiss. is one of the species in the Lamiaceae family that is used in the medicine, cosmetic and food industries. It has high potential as a suitable alternative to synthetic antioxidants in reducing oxidative stress. Therefore, fifteen populations of Z. multiflora in five provinces of Iran were selected in new habitats to evaluate amounts of flavonoids, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity for further examination in domestication, breeding and cultivation programs. The samples were air-dried at room temperature and then were powdered and macerated with aqueous pure methanol in a ratio 10:1 (v/w) by 48 h, resulting liquids were filtered and concentrated under vacuum evaporator to get the crude hydroalcoholic extracts. Subsequently, the total polyphenol, flavonoid and antioxidant content were determined. The total phenol content was measured according to Folin-Ciocalteu method. Total flavonoid content was quantified using the colorimetric method with aluminum chloride. Also antioxidant activity was evaluated using the method of DPPH free-radical scavenging activity. The maximum and minimum amounts of total phenol were observed in Tang-e-Zagh (378.9 mg GAE/g Extract) and Kerman (199.2 mg GAE/g Extract), respectively. The maximum difference flavonoid was 32.7 mg QE/g Extract which was observed between Jiroft and Pasargad populations. Results showed that the most antioxidant activity was obtained in Tashk and Faryab populations. This wide variation in biochemical parameters can be used in future researches in the medicine, cosmetic and food industries.

For obtaining bioactive compounds, decoction of Zataria multiflora Boiss. (ZM) plant materials was interactively evaluated and compared with the modern method of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The interactive effects of several parameters including; liquid to solid (L/S) ratio, extraction time, extraction method, and plant material size were studied and optimized using the response surface methodology (RSM). Interpretation of the model outputs revealed that total phenolic content (TPC) of the resulting extracts is mostly affected by the interactive effect of plant material size and the extraction time, while rosmarinic acid (RA) content is only affected by the extraction method. Decoctions was found to have higher RA content (21.19 (mg/g E)) in comparison to UAE extractions (11.64 (mg/g E)), statistically significant at (p ≤ 0.05). In addition, UAE as the modern method of extraction showed no privilege over the conventional method in the case of RA and TPC extraction. However, results suggest higher efficiency of UAE compared to decoction for extraction of antioxidant compounds by water. Eventually, ZM decoction obtained by the optimal extraction conditions was chemically characterized for the first time by the aid of LC-MS/MS chromatography. Naringenin, which is almost exclusively found in Citrus fruits, besides luteolin-7-O-rutinoside and a natural derivative of citric acid were shown to be the major constituents of ZM decoction.

Saffron petal was dried from 85% to 10% moisture content with fixed layer bed (FLB), semi fluidized bed (SFB) and fully fluidized bed (FFB) at temperatures (t) of 35, 45 and 55 °C. The airflow (v) of FLB, SFB and FFB were 0.2, 0.7 and 1.7 ms-1, respectively. When the t/v ratio increased in each method, the dehydration time decreased considerably. The dehydration times and drying rates of saffron petal for FLB (v = 0.2 ms-1& t = 35 °C) and FFB (v = 1.7 ms-1& t = 55 °C) were “570 & 30 min” and “0.13 & 2.50 gH2O/min”, respectively. When the airflow increased from 0.2 to 0.7 and then to 1.7 ms-1, the phenolic, anthocyanin & antioxidant contents of dried saffron petal improved to about 6, 15 & 15% and then to 15, 20 & 42%, respectively. However, by increasing air temperature from 35 to 45°, their phenolic and anthocyanin contents did not change significantly. However, sharp reductions of 20, 23 and 41% respectively were noticed in phenolic and anthocyanin contents and antioxidant activities of saffron petal when the drying temperature exceeded 45 and reached to 55 °C. Overall, the fresh saffron petal dehydrated at 45 °C with FFB had the highest phenolic and anthocyanin contents and antioxidant activities.