Identification, introduction, ecology and ethnobotany
A. Hajebi; Hamidreza Mirdavoodi; M.A. Soltanipoor
Abstract
The present study was aimed at investigating the ecological needs of endemic and medicinal species Pulicaria aucheri (Boiss.) Jaub. & Spach in Hormozgan province. Surveys were performed in three main habitats of the species including Bastak, Sirmand, and Geno. Analysis of habitat parameters in the ...
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The present study was aimed at investigating the ecological needs of endemic and medicinal species Pulicaria aucheri (Boiss.) Jaub. & Spach in Hormozgan province. Surveys were performed in three main habitats of the species including Bastak, Sirmand, and Geno. Analysis of habitat parameters in the mentioned areas showed that all measurement parameters except frequency were significantly different at 5% probability level. The mean canopy area, density, and frequency of this species were respectively 5.3%, 2611 plants per hectare, and 66%. The highest percentage of total canopy coverage, forage production per hectare, number of plants per hectare, litter percentage, percentage of canopy coverage, and plant height was observed in Sirmand region. The highest percentage of uncovered soil was measured in Bastak region and the highest percentage of stones and gravels was observed in Geno region. Analysis of regions soil parameters showed that all measurement parameters except soil acidity were significantly different at 5% probability level. The highest electrical conductivity, percentage of saturation, and soil silt was obtained in Bastak region. Sirmand region had the highest amount of lime and soil sand. Also, the highest percentage of organic carbon, nitrogen, and soil clay was observed in Geno region. The soil texture was loam and sandy-loam in Bastak region, sandy-loam in Sirmand region, and sandy-clay-loam in Geno region. The results of phenological studies showed that the peak flowering time (from early March to early April) is the best flowering shoots harvest time of this species for medicinal purposes. Due to the being endemic, having essential oil and antimicrobial effects, as well as severe grazing by livestock, it is necessary to pay more attention to this valuable species.
J. Khorshidi; M.R. Morshedloo; Sh. Moradi
Abstract
Hypericum sp. is one of the most widely used medicinal plants in the world. Both genetic and environmental factors influence the growth and phytochemical properties of the plant. Therefore, in this study, growth characteristics, essential oil content, total phenol and antioxidant potential were evaluated ...
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Hypericum sp. is one of the most widely used medicinal plants in the world. Both genetic and environmental factors influence the growth and phytochemical properties of the plant. Therefore, in this study, growth characteristics, essential oil content, total phenol and antioxidant potential were evaluated in different populations of three Hypericum species (H. scabrum (HS), H. asperulum (HA) and H. vermiculare (HV)). The results indicated that only flowering stem height was affected by species and other measured traits were not affected by species and population. But the interaction between species and population was significant on all measured traits. So that the highest flowering stem length (77.7 cm), flower and leaf weight (42.4 g), stem weight (30.9 g), plant weight (65.6 g), essential oil content (0.43%), total phenol (204.9 mg gallic acid.g-1 dry extract) and antioxidant potential (52.7 µg dry extract.ml-1) belonged to populations No.5 in HA, No.3 in HS, No.4 in HA, No.4 in HA, No.4 in HS, No.6 in HV, and No.5 in HA, respectively. A positive and significant correlation was observed between stem weight, flower and leaf weight and plant weight with mean annual rainfall of the habitat, between essential oil percentage with soil phosphorus and mean annual temperature of the habitat, and between the electrical conductivity of the habitat soil with the antioxidant potential of the extract. There was also a negative correlation between essential oil percentage and soil organic matter of the habitat. Stem weight, flower and leaf weight, and plant weight had the highest variance among populations belonging to the same species and, therefore, were identified as desirable traits for separation of populations. Generally, one population cannot be considered superior to the others because the superior population was different depending on the trait. Therefore, to achieve a superior population, all populations of the three species must be cultivated and compared under the same conditions.
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.
Z. Kaykha; M. Valizadeh; J. Valizadeh; Kh. Taheri
Abstract
This study was conducted for the first time in Iran to investigate the quantity and quality of fatty acids in the seeds of Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dun. and Withania somnifera (L.) Dun. and compare the effects of different habitats on the quantity and quality of fatty acids. Five seed samples of the ...
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This study was conducted for the first time in Iran to investigate the quantity and quality of fatty acids in the seeds of Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dun. and Withania somnifera (L.) Dun. and compare the effects of different habitats on the quantity and quality of fatty acids. Five seed samples of the study species were collected from different habitats of Sistan and Baluchestan Province in November 2016. After clearing the seeds from fruits, the seed oils were extracted by Soxhlet apparatus and pure solvent n-Hexane, and analysed qualitatively and quantitatively using GC with FID-Fame detectors. The results showed that different habitats had significant impact on the amount and type of fatty acids in the seed oil of two study species. The predominant fatty acid in W. somnifera, collected from Zahedan habitat, was linolenic acid (Omega-3) (39.84%), while in Saravan habitat, archidic acid was the predominant fatty acid (SFA) (34.95%). The predominant fatty acid in W. coagulans, collected from Gosht of Saravan and Pip habitats was linolenic acid (Omega-3) (62.73%; 67.03%), respectively, while in the Tange Sarheh habitat, oleic acid was the predominant fatty acid (Omega-9) (69.22%). In general, the results of this study proved the high effect of ecological status on the quantity and quality of fatty acids in the seeds of the study species. Our results clearly showed that the seeds of W. somnifera contained more oil as compared with W. coagulans.
T. Mozafari Dehshiri; F. Sefidkon; F. Asgari; Gh. Bakhshi Khaniki
Abstract
Pimpinella aurea DC. is one of the most abundant perennial species from Pimpinella genus in Iran, distributed in northwest, west, center, northeast, and southeast of Iran. This aromatic species contains essential oil with antimicrobial effect. In this research, to study the quality and quantity of seed ...
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Pimpinella aurea DC. is one of the most abundant perennial species from Pimpinella genus in Iran, distributed in northwest, west, center, northeast, and southeast of Iran. This aromatic species contains essential oil with antimicrobial effect. In this research, to study the quality and quantity of seed essential oil of Pimpinella aurea and also the effect of seed size on essential oil content and composition of Pimpinella aurea, seeds were collected from three localities in Tehran province (Tochal, Vardavard and Lavasanat) and were, after drying, separated by sieves having mesh sizes of 20, 25 and 30. All samples were subjected to hydro-distillation, individually, for obtaining their essential oils. The mean oil yields for Tochal seeds were calculated to be 4.01%, 3.20% and 1.12% for 20, 25 and 30 meshes, respectively. These values were 5.69%, 3.20% and 1.94% for the samples from Vardavard and 3.21%, 2.70% and 1.85% for Lavasanat samples. Results showed that the oil yield decreased remarkably with decreasing the size of the seeds. The essential oils were analyzed by GC and GC/MS for the identification of their chemical composition. β-bisabolene was identified as the main component in the oils collected from different habitats (57.2-83.6%). The other major component was epoxy allo-aromadendrene (3.9-30.6%). According to the obtained results, seed size had no considerable effect on essential oil composition. In addition, more oil yield and β-bisabolene content were recorded for the seeds collected from Vardavard (with a warmer and dryer habitat).
F. Askari; E. Sharifi Ashorabadi
Abstract
The current study was performed to evaluate the effect of planting date and locality of seed on seed yield of Pimpinella affinis Ledeb. The experiment design was factorial done using a randomized complete blocks design with three replications. Treatments included locations from where seeds were collected ...
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The current study was performed to evaluate the effect of planting date and locality of seed on seed yield of Pimpinella affinis Ledeb. The experiment design was factorial done using a randomized complete blocks design with three replications. Treatments included locations from where seeds were collected (Khojir, Noshahr and Chalous Road areas) and planting dates (November 6th, December 6th and April 9th in 2006 and 2007). The experiment was performed in Alborz farm research complex located in Karaj. The results of variance analysis of the experiment in 2006 showed that the effect of planting date on seed yield was not significant while the effect of locality and interaction effect between planting date and locality was statistically significant at 1% significance level. Means comparison of treatments showed no significant differences between the yield seed of planting dates of November 6th and December 6th, while December cultivation's yield seed was higher (64.467 Kg/ha). The effect of locality on yield seed was significant as yield seed of Khojir locality (175.1 Kg/ha) was more than that of Chalous and Noshahr localities. Interaction effects between locality and planting date on yield seed were statistically significant at 5% significance level. Yield seed of December cultivation from Khojir locality (191.4 Kg/ha) was the highest amount. The results of variation analysis in 2007 showed that the effects of planting date, locality and their interaction on seed yield were significant at 1% significance level. Means comparison of treatments showed no significant differences between the yield seed of planting dates of November 6th and December 6th, but they had significant difference with April cultivation, while November cultivation's yield seed was higher (218.9 Kg/ha). The effect of locality on yield seed was significant as yield seed of Khojir locality (281.9 Kg/ha) was more than that of Noshahr locality. Interaction effects between locality and planting date on yield seed were significant as yield seed of November and December cultivations from Khojir locality (404.6 and 397.9 Kg/ha) was the highest amount. According to the results of cultivation for two years it can be concluded that autumn cultivation had more yield seed and biological function than that of spring cultivation due to having long growth period. In addition, seeds collected from Khojir locality had the highest yield seed and biological function among three studied localities.
Z. Dehghan; F. Sefidkon; Gh. Bakhshi Khaniki; R. Kalvandi
Abstract
Different species from Labiatea family are used as spices and fragrance in food or as medicine for treatment of viral or microbial diseases in many countries. Labiatea family contains 46 genus and 410 species. One of the valuable and medicinal species of this family is Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. subsp. ...
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Different species from Labiatea family are used as spices and fragrance in food or as medicine for treatment of viral or microbial diseases in many countries. Labiatea family contains 46 genus and 410 species. One of the valuable and medicinal species of this family is Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. subsp. rigida (Boiss.). This species contains essential oil with pulegone as major compound. In this investigation, the effect of some ecological factors on essential oil content and composition of Z. clinopodioides was studied. The aerial parts of Z. clinopodioides have been collected at flowering stage from four habitats in Hamedan and Kurdestan provinces. The major parameters like altitude, side and slope percentage, soil characteristics and other species of plant were determined. The plant materials have been subjected to hydro-distillation in three replications to obtain their essential oils. The essential oils were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The results showed that ecological factors had significant effect (a=0.01) on oil yields. Identification of chemical constituents of the oils showed that main compounds (pulegone and 1,8-cineole) and minor compounds exist in different percentage in different habitats. Therfore, the ecological factors affected essential oil composition of Z. clinopodioides.
