Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
A.A. Minaeifar; K. Ireji; F. Rasekh; N. Tanideh; A. Ireji; M. Ramezanian
Abstract
Due to the similarity of many medicinal plants and the perfumers ignorance about the science of botany, many unintended frauds are occurring in the supply of medicinal plants, like the presentation of different types of medicinal plants called lemon balm. This study was aimed at identifying the species ...
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Due to the similarity of many medicinal plants and the perfumers ignorance about the science of botany, many unintended frauds are occurring in the supply of medicinal plants, like the presentation of different types of medicinal plants called lemon balm. This study was aimed at identifying the species offered under the name of lemon balm as well as comparing the antioxidant activity and phenolics content of these species. In this study, the species that are offered as lemon balm in the perfumeries of Yazd and Shiraz cities were collected and then scientifically identified using the valid botanical keys. In this study, the anti-radical activity was evaluated by the DPPH test. In addition, the total phenols content was measured by the Folin Ciocalteu method. Based on the results of species identification, it was proved that three species of Asperugo procumbens L., Hymenocrater elegans Bunge, and Melissa officinalis L. are sold in Yazd city under the name of lemon balm and H. elegans had the highest percentage of supply. Two species, M. officinalis and Stachys inflata Benth., also are sold under the name of lemon balm in Shiraz city, where the largest supply belonged to S. inflata. Also, M. officinalis and A. procumbens had respectively the highest and lowest amounts for the traits including total phenols and antioxidant activity.
S. Pirtarighat; M. Ghannadnia
Abstract
Melissa officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) has been used as an important medicinal herb since ancient times. The study of the biosynthetic pathways of the plant medicinal metabolites is of particular importance in identifying the materials affecting these pathways in order to change the quantity or quality of ...
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Melissa officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) has been used as an important medicinal herb since ancient times. The study of the biosynthetic pathways of the plant medicinal metabolites is of particular importance in identifying the materials affecting these pathways in order to change the quantity or quality of the medicinal metabolites. The metabolic pathway of phenylpropanoid includes sophisticated pathways of biochemical reactions that synthesize a set of secondary plant metabolites such as flavonoids, isoflavonoids, lignins, anthocyanins, etc. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL) are two main enzymes of the phenylpropanoid pathway, playing a fundamental role in the biosynthesis of plant phenolic compounds. Regarding the fact that stress and environmental changes lead to changes in the expression of certain genes in plants, in this study, the gene expression of two PAL and 4CL enzymes was investigated using Real-Time PCR technique in Melissa officinalis L. grown under in vitro conditions treated by calcium chloride. Moreover, the total protein was extracted and quantitatively measured. The results showed that increasing and decreasing calcium chloride by 880 and 220 (mg l-1) caused reduced PAL gene expression and increased 4CL gene expression, respectively. Also, the total plant protein content decreased by 585 and 595 (g l-1) in 880 and 220 (mg l-1) of calcium chloride treatment, respectively. According to Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, it was found that some phenolic compounds, carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins decreased in calcium chloride treatment than the control group. These results show the effect of calcium ion on the regulation of some genes expression and the production of their metabolites. Therefore, by changing the amount of calcium, the controlled amount of plant compounds could be achieved for specific purposes.
Gh. Yengi Maleki; A. Hemat-far; N. Heidari
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of downhill running and short term Melissa officinalis L. (MO) supplementation on CRP(circulating reactive protein) and the amount of perceived soreness (pain) in the male athletes. For this purpose, 20 male athletes were randomly divided into ...
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The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of downhill running and short term Melissa officinalis L. (MO) supplementation on CRP(circulating reactive protein) and the amount of perceived soreness (pain) in the male athletes. For this purpose, 20 male athletes were randomly divided into two groups of 10 (supplement and placebo). Serum CRP concentration and level of perceived thigh pain before and after the supplementation were measured. After collecting the data, ANOVA for repeated evaluation of time series and the Bonferroni post hoc test were significant (p<0.05), and t-test was used to evaluate difference between-groups. The findings of the study were that total serum CRP was increased less in the supplement group than that of placebo (p=0.03). The amount of perceived soreness was lower in the supplement group (p=0.03). It is concluded that the herbal supplement can decrease perceived thigh pain rate and elevated serum CRP levels after downhill running.
M. Makkizadeh Tafti; R. Farhoudi; M. Rastifar
Abstract
With regard to the importance of Melissa officinalis L. as a medicinal plant and abundance of saline soil and water in the country, the current research was conducted to study the effect of osmopriming on seed germination of Melissa officinalis under salinity stress in two separate experiments. The aim ...
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With regard to the importance of Melissa officinalis L. as a medicinal plant and abundance of saline soil and water in the country, the current research was conducted to study the effect of osmopriming on seed germination of Melissa officinalis under salinity stress in two separate experiments. The aim of the first experiment was to determine the best osmopriming conditions for seeds of Melissa officinalis carried out in a completely randomized design. The treatments were combination of osmotic potential of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with four levels (-4, -8, -12 and -16 bar), duration of priming with three levels (3, 5 and 7 day) and temperature of priming with two levels (25 and 30/20oC). The results showed significant differences among osmopriming treatments with regard to the germination percentage, germination velocity and radicle length. Mean comparisons showed that osmotic potential treatment of -16 bars in 5 days and 25oC significantly increased the germination percentage and germination velocity compared with other treatments. The aim of the second experiment was to study the effect of osmopriming on seed germination of Melissa officinalis under salinity stress based upon a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with three replications. The treatments were water salinity (control, 4, 8 and 12 dS/m) and type of seeds (control and primed seeds). The results indicated that primed seeds in all salinity levels had higher germination percentage, germination velocity and radicle length compared to non-primed seeds. According to the results, the interaction effect of salinity and seed treatments was significant with regard to the germination percentage, germination velocity and radicle length.
M. Barat shooshtari; R. Ghalandari
Abstract
Control of mosquitoes and protection of people from their bites are of the most important ways to prevent diseases transmitted by them. Insects biting cause local symptoms (Itching, redness and burning) and can transmit the dangerous disease, especially in tropical regions. Repellents and especially ...
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Control of mosquitoes and protection of people from their bites are of the most important ways to prevent diseases transmitted by them. Insects biting cause local symptoms (Itching, redness and burning) and can transmit the dangerous disease, especially in tropical regions. Repellents and especially herbal repellents are considered as appropriate methods to protect the people against mosquitoes biting. In the current study, repellent effect of extracts and essential oils of Melissa officinalis L., Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Lavandula angustifolia Mill. were evaluated against Anopheles stephensi in the laboratory and the effects were compared with those of synthetic repellent, N,N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide as a standard drug. Results of the statistical analysis revealed significant differences between oils and extracts (p < 0.01) against the tested species as oils were identified more effective than the extracts. Also the results showed that repellency effect of these materials in animals is higher compared to the human being.
M.R. Ardakani; B. Abbaszadeh; E. Sharifi Ashourabadi; M.H. Lebaschi; F. Packnejad
Volume 23, Issue 2 , August 2007, , Pages 251-261
Abstract
In order to study drought stress effect on quantitative and qualitative features of balm (Melissa officinalis L.) a research was conducted under field condition in Karaj, Iran in 2005. Experiment was conducted using Randomized Complete Block Design with 4 replications. Treatment included T1 (non stress), ...
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In order to study drought stress effect on quantitative and qualitative features of balm (Melissa officinalis L.) a research was conducted under field condition in Karaj, Iran in 2005. Experiment was conducted using Randomized Complete Block Design with 4 replications. Treatment included T1 (non stress), T2 (80%FC), T3 (60%FC), T4 (40%FC) and T5 (20%FC). Effect of drought stress on shoot yield, essential oil yield, percentage of essential oil, leaf and stem yield, height, tiller number, length and width of leaf, stem diameter and internodes was significant (α=0.001). Effect of drought stress on number of lateral stem was not significant. Comparison of treatment means showed that highest shoot yield was related to T1 (non Stress) (6469kg/ha), highest essential oil (12.970 kg/ha) and highest essential oil percentage (0.3012%) was related to T4 (40%FC) and T5 (20%FC), respectively. Highest height (65.32 cm), leaf length (6.27 cm) and width (4.58 cm) were related to T1 (non stress). Highest stem diameter was related to T5 (20%FC). It could be concluded that moderate drought stress is beneficial for balm essential oil.
B. Abbaszadeh; E. Sharifi Ashoorabadi; M.R. Ardakani; F. Paknejad
Abstract
In order to investigation the effect of different levels of nitrogen fertilizer on yield of Melissa officinalis L., an experiment was conducted under greenhouse condition in Alborz Research Station in Karaj/Iran in 2003/2004. The research carried out with 6 levels of foliar application of nitrogen using ...
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In order to investigation the effect of different levels of nitrogen fertilizer on yield of Melissa officinalis L., an experiment was conducted under greenhouse condition in Alborz Research Station in Karaj/Iran in 2003/2004. The research carried out with 6 levels of foliar application of nitrogen using of completely randomized design with three replications. The treatments included 0, 3%, 4.5%, 6%, 7.5 % and 9% nitrogen fertilizer and applied in 3 stages on plant. Results showed that effect of different levels of foliar application on yield was significant. The level of 4.5% had a higher performance (85.8 g/ shoot per plant) to others. Reduction of yield at levels of 7.5% and 9.0% was explained by Micherlich law. Foliar application caused to increase of yield and decreasing of agroecosystem pollution. Foliar application was a suitable approach in sustainable agriculture.
