M.A. Shahraki; A. Emamjomeh; M. Valizadeh; L. Fahmideh
Abstract
Cynara scolymus L. is an economically valuable medicinal plant, but salinity can limit the regions under cultivation of this crop. Therefore, identifying the appropriate tissue culture method for this plant can be useful for selecting salinity tolerant cultivars. This research was carried out with the ...
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Cynara scolymus L. is an economically valuable medicinal plant, but salinity can limit the regions under cultivation of this crop. Therefore, identifying the appropriate tissue culture method for this plant can be useful for selecting salinity tolerant cultivars. This research was carried out with the aim of identifying the appropriate explant and method for tissue culture of this plant as the first step to produce tolerant cultivars in future projects. In this study, firstly, sterile seedlings of plant seeds were prepared. Then, the terminal meristem was selected as a suitable explant during a pre-test and evaluated in vitro to study salinity tolerance with five different concentrations of sodium chloride (0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 mM) in a completely randomized design with three replications. This research was performed in the medicinal plants research center of Sistan and Baluchistan University in 2017. Salinity reduced some morphological traits (stem length, root length, shoot and root fresh and dry weight) of seedlings grown from terminal meristem explant. As the concentration of sodium chloride increased to 60 and 80 mM, the amount of soluble sugars and proline increased. The lowest amount of soluble sugars (33 mg g-1 dry weight) and proline (50 µM) was related to zero and 20 mM sodium chloride concentrations, respectively. The results indicate that this plant is sensitive to different levels of salinity, although it is somewhat tolerant to low and moderate levels of salinity.
F. Nosrati; B. Fakheri; M. Solouki; N. Mahdi Nezhad; M. Valizadeh
Abstract
Sarcocolla(Astragalus fasciculifolius Boiss.), belonging to Fabaceae family, is a medicinal plant distributed in the south of Sistan and Baluchestan province. Due to presence of compounds like saponins, flavonoids, and polysaccharides, it has an effective role in treating heart disease and cancer and ...
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Sarcocolla(Astragalus fasciculifolius Boiss.), belonging to Fabaceae family, is a medicinal plant distributed in the south of Sistan and Baluchestan province. Due to presence of compounds like saponins, flavonoids, and polysaccharides, it has an effective role in treating heart disease and cancer and eliminating chemotherapy and improving immunity. In this study, plant samples including eight A. fasciculifolius were collected from different habits in the province, and some phytochemical properties of root, leaves (total phenol, total flavonoid, and polysaccharide) and of flowers (total phenol, total flavonoid, and anthocyanin) were analyzed in the plant flower. The results of variance analysis showed a significant difference among different habitats (α>0.01). Phytochemical studies revealed significant amounts of phenolic compounds in the leaf with the highest rate recorded in Poshtkooh (14.62-32.55 mg GAE/g). In the root, the highest value was in Anjirok (20.39-53.84 mg GAE/g) and in the flower, the highest value was in BAirk (5.11-15.82 mg GAE/g), representing flavonoid compounds in the leaf in which the highest value was in Nahook (8.76-12.72 mg QE/g). Also, in root, the highest value was in Panjangosht (10 fingers) (0.25-1.03 mg QE/g). In the flower, the highest value was in Nahook (6.35-9.28 mg QE/g). In the polysaccharide compounds of the leaf, the highest value was in Anjirok (60.89-93.29 mg/g). In root, the highest values were in Pangangosht (94.33-209.38 mg/g) and anthocyanin of flower had the highest values in Pangangosht (36.34-77.58 mg/g). The results of this study represent the ability of different habitats of the province in producing valuable herbal compounds. Besides, because of its high levels of phenolic and polysaccharide compounds, this plant has a remarkable capability to be used in food and pharmaceutical industries.
H. Jahantighi; M. Moghaddam; M. Valizadeh
Abstract
The prominent influence of medicinal plants in the prevention and treatment of different diseases has led to an increasing trend of human societies towards them. In addition to numerous ornamental, industrial and agroforestry applications, Rohida (Tecomella undulate (Roxb.) seem.) from Bignoniaceae family ...
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The prominent influence of medicinal plants in the prevention and treatment of different diseases has led to an increasing trend of human societies towards them. In addition to numerous ornamental, industrial and agroforestry applications, Rohida (Tecomella undulate (Roxb.) seem.) from Bignoniaceae family is considered as one of the most valuable medicinal species in arid region due to the presence of efficient active ingredients such as lapachol with proven effects in the treatment of major diseases including cancer, aids, malaria and so forth. In this research, firstly the habitats of Rohida were identified in the province and then their climate characteristics, soil physical and chemical properties, phenology, some of morphological traits and companion plants were investigated. The evaluations showed that this plant had six small habitats with a low population of two yellow and orange morphotypes in the Balouchestan region, growing at altitudes ranging from 480 to 830 m above sea level, often in the direction of the waterways and the margin of the seasonal rivers with different aspects and low slopes. The climate of the habitats studied was warm desert and the soil texture was light to medium with an alkaline reaction. In addition to the phenological differences, a significant difference between the habitats in terms of their morphological traits and growth indices was observed that could be due to genetic and environmental factors, or both. The results of this study, regarding the decreasing population of this plant affected by various factors, especially the continuous drought caused by climate change, indicate that the Rohida in this province is exposed to extinction and urgent measures have to be taken toward its conservation, rehabilitation, and domestication.
F. Nosrati; B. Fakheri; M. Solouki; N. Mahdi Nezhad; M. Valizadeh
Abstract
Development and implementation of effective and useful programs for the rehabilitation, conservation and sustainable utilization of medicinal species is possible only by identifying plant and ecological characteristics. Astragalus fasciculifolius Bioss. belonging to the Fabaceae family, is a valuable ...
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Development and implementation of effective and useful programs for the rehabilitation, conservation and sustainable utilization of medicinal species is possible only by identifying plant and ecological characteristics. Astragalus fasciculifolius Bioss. belonging to the Fabaceae family, is a valuable medicinal species. This species plays an effective role in treatment of heart disease, inhibition of cancer cell growth, and eliminating the chemotherapy effects due to the presence of compounds such as saponins, flavonoids, and polysaccharides. In this study, the distribution map of this species was prepared using available resources, and then climatic characteristics, physical and chemical analysis of soil, different phenological stages, and associated plants in the region were recorded. The results of this study showed that this plant is distributed in the cities of Khash, Saravan, Soran and Mehrestan. According to the Demartonne method, the climate of this region is arid. The average annual precipitation, relative humidity, and an average temperature of these habitats are 52 mm, 20%, and 25°C, respectively. This species is distributed between approximately 1300 and 1500 m above sea level, on the slopes and mainly in the waterways, in the bed of seasonal rivers, and in all directions, especially the northern direction and the slope between 0 to 75%. The soil texture of habits is mainly sandy loam with the pH range of 6.73 to 8.28, EC range of 0.56 to 1.06 ds/m, and 30.64-50.62% lime. A. fasciculifolius is a drought tolerant species which is capable of growing under dry climatic conditions with an average annual rainfall of less than 30mm.
A. Bagheri; M. Valizadeh; A. Sharifi; K. Senthil
Abstract
In recent years, W. coagulans (Stocks) Dunal (Fam. Solanaceae) has gained much attention, owing to the presence of a large number of steroidal lactones known as withanolides. Out of the several withanolides isolated from W. coagulans, the biological compound, withaferine A is pharmacologically important ...
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In recent years, W. coagulans (Stocks) Dunal (Fam. Solanaceae) has gained much attention, owing to the presence of a large number of steroidal lactones known as withanolides. Out of the several withanolides isolated from W. coagulans, the biological compound, withaferine A is pharmacologically important that due to the significant and specific therapeutic action in cancer, Parkinson and Alzheimer’s disease. The present study was, therefore, undertaken to make an assessment of withaferin A content in the roots of different accessions of W. coagulans and in in vitro cultures. The seeds of five wild accssesion (USB001-5) were sown in greenhous. The cell suspension cultures were initialized from leaf explants derived callus on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, supplemented with 30 gL-1 sucrose (w/v), 2.0mg/l 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/l kinetin (Kin). Adventitious roots were induced directly from leaf segments on half strength MS medium (0.8% agar) with 2 mgl-1 indole-3-butyricacid (IBA) and 30 gl-1 sucrose. The withaferin A content was evaluated by TLC and HPLC method using standard withaferin-A compound. The results showed the presence of withaferin A in all accessions (21.01-44.54 µg/g D.W). In addition, there was significant differences among accession (P<0.05). USB005 was found to have the highest withaferin A content (44.54µg/g D.W) and was selected for in vitro study. The results of in vitro study showed that withaferin A accumulation was higher in adventitious roots (21.40±1.67 in 4 weeks and 66.73±0.86 in 8 weeks old cultures) compared to cell suspension culture (6.62±2.01). Nearly, adventitious root having withaferin A content 10 and 1.5-fold higher when compared with the cell suspension and in vivo roots, respectively. Thus, our study demonstrates the in vitro root cultures potential for large-scale production of withaferin A.
M. Valizadeh; A. Bagheri; J. Valizadeh; M.H. Mirjalili; N. Moshtaghi
Abstract
Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal (fam. Solanaceae) is a multipurpose medicinal plant, mainly distributed in southeastern parts of Sistan and Baluchestan province. The important medicinal properties of W. coagulans are attributed to the presence of steroidal lactones called withanolides. Among withanoloids, ...
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Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal (fam. Solanaceae) is a multipurpose medicinal plant, mainly distributed in southeastern parts of Sistan and Baluchestan province. The important medicinal properties of W. coagulans are attributed to the presence of steroidal lactones called withanolides. Among withanoloids, withaferin A is an important phytoconstituent showing antitumor, antiangiogenesis and apoptosis induction properties. This study was aimed to investigate the variability of phytochemical composition of Withania coagulans roots. Twenty accessions of W. coagulans roots, collected from different natural habits of Sistan and Baluchestan province, were used in the present study. Thewithaferin A was assayed through thin layer chromatography (TLC) method andphytochemical estimation was carried out by standard methodologies to detect the presence of secondary metabolites, like total phenol, flavonoids and anthocyanin. Our findings revealed that withaferin A was found in all accessions collected from different natural habits. The photochemical investigation showed the presence of flavonoids (5.70-6.50%), anthocyanin (4.51-9.51µmol/g) and total phenol (14.91-23.7µgGAE/mgD.W), varying significantly among the habitats (p<0.05). In the present study, TLC analysis confirms the exsistance of withaferin A in all W. coagulans accessions as well as the potential of Sistan and Baluchestan natural habits to produce this valuable component. However, the root extracts of W. coagulans, growing in natural habitats of Iran, have higher phenolic content. Hence, it can be used as a source of natural components for the pharmaceutical and food industries.
M. Valizadeh; A. Bagheri; J. Valizadeh; M.H. Mirjalili; N. Moshtaghi
Abstract
Development and implementation of effective programs to conservation, reclamation and efficient utilization of valuable plant species seem to have a special importance. To achieve this goal, ecological characteristics of important plant species, forming natural vegetation, need to be detected and recognized. ...
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Development and implementation of effective programs to conservation, reclamation and efficient utilization of valuable plant species seem to have a special importance. To achieve this goal, ecological characteristics of important plant species, forming natural vegetation, need to be detected and recognized. Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal, belonging to the Solanaceae family, has received much attention in recent years due to the presence of a large number of steroidal lactones, known as withanolides. One of the most important withanolides is withaferin A, having anticancer properties. To study the autecology of W. coagulans, its habitats in Sistan and Baluchestan region were identified and habit characteristics including climate, soil physical and chemical properties, altitude, slope gradient, aspect and phenological stage were investigated in several locations. Results showed that this plant is exclusively distributed in limited areas of the province. The climate of the study area is arid based on Demarton aridity index. Average annual rainfall is 124.8 mm with a relative humidity of 32% and average temperature of 24.2 C°. This species is mainly (45%) distributed at an altitude of 1200 to 1400 meters above sea level, in slopes, valleys, road edges and mainly in waterways and the bed of seasonal rivers and in all aspects particularly the South and a slope from zero to 74%. The soil texture of the study habits is predominantly sandy loam with a pH of 7.5-7.8, an EC of 0.5-5.2 ds/m and 8.4-23.1% lime. W. coagulans is a drought resistant species growing in arid climate conditions with an average annual rainfall of 150 mm. In general, essential measures need to be taken towards the conservation and distribution of this rare and valuable species.