Improvement and breeding
M. Shafaei; M. Ebrahimi; A. Mokhtari
Abstract
Background and objective: St. John's Wort, known as Hypericum perforatum L., is a valuable medicinal plant in the Hypericaceae family. Its most common use is for its antidepressant properties. The active compounds hypericin and hyperforin in St. John's Wort and their proven therapeutic effects have made ...
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Background and objective: St. John's Wort, known as Hypericum perforatum L., is a valuable medicinal plant in the Hypericaceae family. Its most common use is for its antidepressant properties. The active compounds hypericin and hyperforin in St. John's Wort and their proven therapeutic effects have made this plant one of the most valuable medicinal plants worldwide. Hypericin, a major plant metabolite, has antiviral and anticancer effects. Hypericin belongs to the naphthodianthrones family and is light-sensitive. It mainly accumulates in the dark-colored glands on the leaves and flowers of the plant, and its concentration ranges from 0.3% to 3.0% in the leaves and 1% to 14% in the flower buds, depending on the plant variety, height, light conditions, and season. Hyperforin is another important compound of the phloroglucinols group found abundantly in St. John's Wort flowers, especially in the stamens and the fruit. However, it is also present in large amounts in the leaves. Hyperforin content of 6.9% in flower buds, 8.5% in unripe fruit, and 5.1% in leaves has been reported. Unlike hypericin, hyperforin accumulates in transparent glands. Since hypericin and hyperforin depend on environmental conditions, asexual reproduction is preferred over sexual reproduction.Methodology: In this study, 20 populations from 20 different regions of Iran were collected and examined for micropropagation optimization. In addition to identifying the most suitable medium for micropropagation of these populations, the morphological, physiological, biochemical, and histological characteristics of them were also investigated. To prepare the modified culture medium, ½ MS salts, FeEDDHA, B5 vitamins, and two g.l-1 Glycine was used. The MS basal medium was used as a control after adjusting the pH to 8.5 and adding 8.6 g.l-1 Agar, the desired medium, was distributed into culture vessels and autoclaved at 121°C and 2 bar pressure for 20 minutes. Seven explants containing 1-2 buds were placed in each culture vessel. All cultures were incubated in a growth room with 8 hours of darkness and 16 hours of light at an intensity of 1500-2000 lux, a temperature of 25°C, and a relative humidity of 60-70% for four weeks. After the emergence of new shoots, data were collected on the number of branches, length of branches, fresh weight, and dry weight. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to measure the hypericin content in the leaves of the plantlets.Results: This study shows that changing the culture medium composition in most studied populations increases branch length and number. Reducing the amount of mineral salts in the culture medium has affected the plant's osmotic relationships to water and nutrient uptake. This and increased glycine concentration have created a better fine growth trend. This study showed that among twenty native es of Iran, the North Khorasan population had the highest morphological (shoot number, shoot length), physiological (fresh weight, dry weight), and biochemical (hypericin content) indices in the modified medium. Also, histological studies in this study showed a larger growth of dark glands in the modified medium than in the basal medium.Conclusion: Based on the findings for twenty native populations of Hypericum perforatum in Iran, the North Khorasan population had the highest morphological (shoot number, shoot length), physiological (fresh weight, dry weight), and biochemical (hypericin content) indices in the modified medium. Also, histological studies showed a larger growth of dark glands in the modified medium than in the basal medium.
M. Modhej; S. Tabatabaei Vakili; M. Sari; S. Sallary; E. Mansouri
Abstract
Because of the use of phenol in petrochemical industry and as a disinfectant effect in medicine, this material is widely used. However, the free phenol in the environment is detrimental to the health. The aim of present study was to evaluate the protective effect of Hypericum perforatum L. on some of ...
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Because of the use of phenol in petrochemical industry and as a disinfectant effect in medicine, this material is widely used. However, the free phenol in the environment is detrimental to the health. The aim of present study was to evaluate the protective effect of Hypericum perforatum L. on some of the blood biochemical parameters in rats with toxicity induced by phenol. For this purpose, a number of 54 male Wistar rats were divided into 9 treatment groups as 3×3 factorial design with two main factors of Hypericum perforatum (at concentrations of 0, 250 and 500 mg/kg.bw) and phenol (at concentrations of 0, 100 and 200mg/kg.bw). Rats received the extract and phenol every other day with gavage method. On days 15 and 30 of experiment, after blood sampling, the concentrations of some blood serum biochemical parameters were evaluated. In first half of experiment, 200 mg/kg.bw of phenol significantly increased the blood serum cholesterol and LDL values and a concentration of 100mg/kg.bw reduced the VLDL level (p<0.05). In second half of experiment, the highest level of HDL was observed in treatment 250 and 200 mg/kg.bw Hypericum perforatum and phenol, respectively and its lowest value was recorded at concentrations of 500 and 200 mg/kg.bw Hypericum perforatum and phenol, respectively (p<0.05). The other main and interaction effects of treatments were not significant (p>0.05). The findings of present research show that the extract at a concentration of 250 mg/kg could decrease the adverse effect of phenol on HDL biochemical parameter in the long term.
A. Riazi; N. Majnoun Hosseini; H.A. Naghdi Badi; M.R. Naghavi; Sh. Rezazadeh
Abstract
Hypericin and hyperforin compounds are considered as the main active constituents of Hypericum perforatum L. In this research, phytochemical variations of 25 St. John’s Wort populations in Iran’s natural habitats were investigated. Plants were sampled randomly at the full flowering stage ...
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Hypericin and hyperforin compounds are considered as the main active constituents of Hypericum perforatum L. In this research, phytochemical variations of 25 St. John’s Wort populations in Iran’s natural habitats were investigated. Plants were sampled randomly at the full flowering stage from Golestan, Mazandaran, Gilan, East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Ardabil, Kurdistan, Hamedan, Kohgiloyeh and Boyr-Ahmad, Qazvin, Zanjan, Khorasan and Tehran provinces during the spring and summer of 2010. Results indicated that the differences in the amounts of hypericin and hyperforin of leaf and flower tissues were found to be significant among populations (P<0.05). Flower tissues had more hypericin and hyperforin amounts as compared to leaf tissues. The amount of hyperforin in both tissues was higher than that of hypericin significantly. Simple correlation analysis showed positive significant correlations between leaf hypericin with dark and light glands density on the leaf and light glands density on the leaf surface area as well as positive significant correlation between leaf hyperforin and leaf hypericin. The principal components analysis indicated that the two components explained 66% of the total variance. The cluster analysis divided these populations into three groups with no consistency in their geographical distribution. In conclusion, the results indicated high variations of phytochemical characters among St. John’s Wort populations in Iran’s natural habitats, which can be utilized in the breeding programs.
M. Ghorbanli; A. Alibabaee; M. Payvandi
Abstract
Hypericum perforatum L. is a valuable medicinal species. The plant geneus includes 17 species in Iran, but H. perforatum is the only valuable species.The species plays an essential role in the treatment of depression. In this study, Hypericum perforatum was treated with different concentrations of molybdenum ...
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Hypericum perforatum L. is a valuable medicinal species. The plant geneus includes 17 species in Iran, but H. perforatum is the only valuable species.The species plays an essential role in the treatment of depression. In this study, Hypericum perforatum was treated with different concentrations of molybdenum including (control, 0.1, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6 µΜ) in Hoagland solution at 6.8 pH and then samples were used to measure biochemical parameters. Molybdenum significantly increased proline content. The shoot catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities increased in all treatments of molybdenum, but in root, it was reduced in higher concentrations. Shoot peroxidase activities increased by treatments of molybdenum, except at a concentration of 0.8µΜ. The increase in peroxidase activity was also observed in roots but it was reduced at higher concentrations. The malondealdehyde and molybdenum content increased in higher concentrations of molybdenum. Molybdenum content increased by increasing treated molybdenum. Therefore, molybdenum stress increased the proline content and peroxidase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities, and toxicity symptoms were observed in high concentrations of molybdenum as lipid peroxidation. Data were analyzed by SPSS and mean comparisons was performed by Duncan's multiple range test. In each experiment, 3 replications were used.
N. Kabiri; S. Asgary; P. Rahimi
Abstract
Regression and suppression of atherosclerotic lesion may be a realistic goal in some patients. Antioxidants and hypolipidemic agents suppress the development of hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis and induce regression of atherosclerosis. In this study, the serum lipid and atherosclerotic lesions following ...
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Regression and suppression of atherosclerotic lesion may be a realistic goal in some patients. Antioxidants and hypolipidemic agents suppress the development of hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis and induce regression of atherosclerosis. In this study, the serum lipid and atherosclerotic lesions following the intake of Hypericum perforatum L. on regression in hypercholesterolemic rabbits were investigated. Rabbits were assigned to four groups as follows: Group I control diet (75 days); Group II 1% cholesterol diet (75 days); Group III 1% cholesterol diet (45 days) followed by regular diet(30 days); Group IV 1% cholesterol diet (45 days) followed by regular diet and HPL (30 days). Blood samples were collected at baseline and after 45 days and 75 days for measurement of serum lipids. At the end of the protocol, the aorta was removed for assessment of atherosclerotic plaques. Our results showed that plasma total cholesterol, TG, LDL-C concentrations and AI, decreased, and the plasma HDL cholesterol concentration increased in Groups III– ΙV. The decrease of serum Lipids and atherosclerotic lesions in Group IV was more compared to that of Group III in regression period. The reduction in atherosclerotic lesions was associated with a reduction in oxidative stress. These results suggest that regular diet following a high cholesterol diet accelerates atherosclerosis in spite of a decrease in serum lipids; According to the results, HPL treatment prevents the progression of atherosclerosis following a high cholesterol diet probably associated with a reduction of risk factors and antioxidant mechanism.
A. Roohbakhsh; G. Karimi
Abstract
Over production of uric acid by xanthine oxidase (XO) causes gout. XO inhibitors for example allopurinol are the most important available anti gout drugs. Medicinal herbs are available natural sources that may be useful for the treatment of gout. In this study the inhibitory activity of aqueous extracts ...
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Over production of uric acid by xanthine oxidase (XO) causes gout. XO inhibitors for example allopurinol are the most important available anti gout drugs. Medicinal herbs are available natural sources that may be useful for the treatment of gout. In this study the inhibitory activity of aqueous extracts of Matricaria chamomilla L., Hypericum perforatum L., Fraxinus excelsior L., Zea mays L., Trachyspermum copticum (L.) Link, Cynara scolymus L. and Hedera helix L. were measured. In these experiments, under controlled conditions xanthine turns into uric acid by XO. Uric acid absorbance was measured at 295 nm using a UV spectrophotometer. Adding allopurinol (as positive control) or aqueous extracts to the solution containing XO, can decrease uric acid production by inhibition of this enzyme. At first, XO inhibitory activity of allopurinol and reproducibility of the method was evaluated by conducting three experiments. The results showed an EC50= 0.43 μg/ml for allopurinol. Then, XO inhibitory activity of aqueous extracts at 0.1, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 3 mg/ml were measured. Matricaria chamomilla could inhibit enzyme up to 68% (P< 0.001) while maximum XO inhibitory activities of Hypericum perforatum and Cynara scolymus were 36% (P< 0.001) and 21% (P< 0.001) respectively. Other extracts did not have any significant effect on XO. Our obtained results showed that part of anti gout effects of Matricaria chamomilla, Hypericum perforatum and Cynara scolymus is due to XO inhibition.
N. Kabiri; S. Asgary; H. Madani; P. Mahzoni; P. Rahimi
Volume 25, Issue 1 , May 2009, , Pages 29-38
Abstract
Hypercholesterolemia and oxidative stress increase serum total cholesterol and LDL-C cholesterol levels resulting in increased risk for development of atherosclerosis. Antioxidants play an important role in inhibiting and scavenging radicals thus could be other important measures to benefit individuals ...
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Hypercholesterolemia and oxidative stress increase serum total cholesterol and LDL-C cholesterol levels resulting in increased risk for development of atherosclerosis. Antioxidants play an important role in inhibiting and scavenging radicals thus could be other important measures to benefit individuals with the increased cardiovascular disease risk factors. This study was designed to investigate the effect of aerial parts of Hypericum perforatum L. andAmaranthus caudatus L. on the development of atherosclerosis in male hyperlipidemic rabbits. Twenty adult male rabbits were randomly divided into four groups of five and were fed for 60 days as follows: basic diet, high cholesterol, high cholesterol along withcombination Hypericum perforatumandAmaranthus caudatus(HA) extract (75mg/kg) and high cholesterol along with Lovastatin (10mg/kg). Blood samples were taken at the beginning, one month later and at the end of the study in order to measure their serum factors (cholesterol, LDL-C-C, HDL-C-C, TG). The fatty streak formation evaluated at the end of the study. The results showed that both the extract and lovastatin reduced significantly the levels of cholesterol, LDL-C-C, triglyceride and HDL-C-C) increased in comparison with high cholesterol group. Fatty streak formation in extract recipient group significantly decreasedin comparison with high cholesterol group with lovastatin. The result showed that HA significantly decreased TG, cholesterol and fatty streak formation in comparison with high cholesterol group and lovastatin. These findings suggest HA extract is more effective in decreasing the level of cardiovascular risk factors than Lovastatin in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.
N. Kabiri; S. Asgary; H. Madani; P. Rahimi
Volume 24, Issue 3 , November 2008, , Pages 304-312
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity around the world. Inflammation and coagulation are two important risk factors of cardiovascular disease. In this study, the effect of the concurrent hydroalcoholic extracts of Hypericum perforatumL. and Amaranthus ...
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Cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity around the world. Inflammation and coagulation are two important risk factors of cardiovascular disease. In this study, the effect of the concurrent hydroalcoholic extracts of Hypericum perforatumL. and Amaranthus caudatus L. on inflammatory and coagulation factors in hypercholesterolemic rabbits was studied and its effect was compared with lovastatin. Twenty adult male Newzeland rabbits were randomly divided into four groups of five and were fed for 60 days as follows: basic diet, high cholesterol, high cholesterol along withcombination of Hypericum and Amaranth (HA) extract (75mg/kg) and high cholesterol along with Lovastatin (10mg/kg). Blood samples were taken at the beginning, one month later and at the end of the study in order to measure their serum factors. The result showed that both the extract and lovastatin reduced significantly CRP, white blood cell, fibrinogen and platelet. Therefore Hypericum and Amaranthus by decreasing inflammation and coagulation risk factor prevent atherosclerosis also results showed that above extract is more effective to decrease Cardiovascular risk factor than lovastatin.
M.A. Dorri; S.A. Hoseini (H); M.H. Lebaschy
Volume 24, Issue 2 , August 2008, , Pages 117-125
Abstract
Hypericum perforatum L. distributes in altitude 0–2000 meter from sea level in Golestan Province. In order to know about Hypericin content variations of Hypericum perforatum in Golestan Province, two natural habitats were selected, that were placed in west and east and called Drazno and Tuskaestan, ...
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Hypericum perforatum L. distributes in altitude 0–2000 meter from sea level in Golestan Province. In order to know about Hypericin content variations of Hypericum perforatum in Golestan Province, two natural habitats were selected, that were placed in west and east and called Drazno and Tuskaestan, respectively. For sample collecting, these habitats were divided to seven classes consist of: 1) 150-450, 2) 450-750, 3) 750-1050, 4) 1050-1350, 5) 1350-1650, 6) 1650-1950, 7) 1950-2250 meter from sea level. Samples were harvested from top of plants (20-25 cm) in flowering stage. The hypericin content was determined by spectrophotometer at 590 nm. Although it was varied by altitude variations, however Drazno has a positive correlation with the altitude variation. The highest content of hypericin was obtained from Tusakaestan sample (0.26 mg/g) in class 450-750 meter and from Drazno sample (0.25 mg/g) obtained in class 1950-2250 meter. These results suggested that there is a class in each habitat which are suitable for Hypericum growth and more hypericin yield.
