Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
Amir Hossein Alizadeh Ghamsari; - -
Abstract
Background and objectives: Considering the limitations of using growth-promoting antibiotics due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance, in recent decades, the usage of plant growth promoters in the livestock and poultry industry has received special attention because of the beneficial effects on ...
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Background and objectives: Considering the limitations of using growth-promoting antibiotics due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance, in recent decades, the usage of plant growth promoters in the livestock and poultry industry has received special attention because of the beneficial effects on growth, immunity and physiological status of animal. It seems that with the aid of new technologies (such as nanoencapsulation) the consumption of plant essential oils in commercial products can be made economical and while improving performance, feed cost can also be reduced. So this experiment was conducted in order to investigate the effects of three commercial plant growth promoters on performance, feed cost per kilogram of live body weight, carcass characteristics and immune responses of broiler chickens.
Methodology: Six hundred day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens (a mixture of two sexes with equal proportion) were used in a completely randomized design with five treatments and four replicates of 30 birds. Experimental treatments included: 1) control diet (no additive), 2) diet containing Virginiamycin (100 g per ton of feed) as a positive control and 3 to 5) diets containing Novi-Herb®, Novi-Grow® and Novi-Herb+® (each was at the rate of 100 grams per ton of feed). Novi-Herb® contained essential oils of thyme (Thymus Vulgaris), ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi), oregano (Origanum vulgare) and nanocapsulated form of chitosan, and Novi-Grow® contained organic acids (lactic acid, formic acid), prebiotics (lactose + yeast cell wall) and some plant compounds included: garlic powder (Allium sativum), turmeric powder (Curcuma longa) and cinnamon powder (Cinnamomum verum). Novi- Herb+® contained essential oils of lemon (Citrus limon) and yeast cell wall as well as other ingredients found in Novi-Herb®. The vaccination program was carried out according to the recommendation of the local veterinarian. Feed intake, body weight, liveability, feed conversion ratio, production index and the cost of feed per kilogram of live body weight were calculated in the period of 1 to 42 days. At the age of 42 days, blood sampling was performed from three birds per replicate in order to differentially count white blood cells and also to evaluate the antibody titer against Newcastle and Influenza vaccine injection. At this age, four birds from each replicate (close to the average weight of the replicate) were killed and after weighing and stuffing, the carcass percentage and the relative weight of the body components (including: breast, thigh, neck and back) and organs (including: liver, heart, gizzard, spleen, bursa of Fabricius, gall bladder, proventriculus) and abdominal fat were calculated.
Results: Dietary addition of evaluated plant growth promoters resulted in a significant improvement in body weight and feed conversion ratio at the age of 42 days compared to the control group (P<0.05). Liveability percentage, European production index and feed cost per kilogram of live weight were not affected by the experimental treatments (P>0.05); however, dietary supplementation of Novi-Herb®, Novi-Grow® and Novi-Herb+®, reduced the cost of feed by 4.8, 4.1 and 2.7 percentage, respectively, in comparison with the control group and by 3.5, 2.8 and 1.4 percentage in comparison with the Virginiamycin group. Among traits such as the relative weight of the carcass, body components and organs, only the relative weight of abdominal fat showed a significant decrease following the dietary inclusion of the evaluated plant growth promoters (P<0.05). Meanwhile, dietary treatments had no significant effect on the percentage of heterophil, lymphocyte, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio and antibody titer in response to the injection of Newcastle and Influenza vaccines (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Based on these results, the evaluated plant growth promoters could be suitable alternatives to antibiotic growth promoter by improving the performance of broiler chickens while numerical reduction of feed cost per kilogram of live body weight.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
Iman Hajkhodadadi; Hossein Ali Ghasemi; Mandana Kolnegari
Abstract
Background and Objective: The poultry industry plays a significant role in the human food chain, with its products contributing substantially to meeting protein requirements. In modern poultry production systems, birds are often raised under high-density conditions for economic efficiency. However, increased ...
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Background and Objective: The poultry industry plays a significant role in the human food chain, with its products contributing substantially to meeting protein requirements. In modern poultry production systems, birds are often raised under high-density conditions for economic efficiency. However, increased density and other factors can lead to various stresses, particularly heat stress, negatively impacting growth, performance, and overall health. Heat stress compromises the birds' defense mechanisms, making them more susceptible to diseases. Special feed additives are often employed to enhance performance and feed conversion efficiency to mitigate the adverse effects. Heat stress is a major challenge in the poultry industry, causing significant economic losses, especially in tropical climates. In broilers, it leads to reduced growth rates, intestinal tissue damage, immune suppression, and fat oxidation, ultimately diminishing economic performance.Methodology: This study investigated the effects of dietary flixweed supplementation on performance, carcass traits, serum biochemistry, and Jejunum histology in broilers reared under high ambient temperatures. 500-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to five treatments with four replicates (25 chicks per replicate). The dietary treatments included: 1- Positive control (PC): Standard diet without additives under normal conditions, 2- Negative control (NC): Standard diet without additives under high ambient temperature conditions, 3- NC + 0.2% Vitamin C complex, 4- NC + 0.5% flixweed seed, and 5-NC + 1% flixweed seed. Body weight and feed consumption were measured at the end of the initial, growth, and final periods. On day 42, one bird from each replicate was randomly selected for blood collection via the wing vein. Blood samples were collected into Venoject tubes containing 0.5 cc of the anticoagulant ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) for hematological analysis.Results: Dietary treatments under heat stress significantly affected body weight at 24 and 42 days of age compared to the NC group, though no differences were observed compared to the PC group. Body weight at 1 and 10 days of age was unaffected by treatments (P < 0.05). The PC group exhibited higher body weights at 24 and 42 days than other treatments. Average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, and feed intake during 10-24 days, 24-42 days, and 1-42 days differed significantly among treatments. Serum total cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and jejunum histology traits were also significantly influenced by the treatments. Notably, supplementing the NC diet with 0.5% flixweed improved performance traits in the NC group.Conclusion: Under high ambient temperature conditions, dietary supplementation with 0.5% flixweed can enhance performance traits in broilers, making it a viable feed additive for improving productivity under heat stress.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
M. A. Zarei; P. Sadeghzad
Abstract
Background and objectives: Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that leads to cognitive decline and memory disorders. The primary symptoms include a gradual deterioration of cognitive functions and language abilities. One key factor contributing to Alzheimer's disease is the ...
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Background and objectives: Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that leads to cognitive decline and memory disorders. The primary symptoms include a gradual deterioration of cognitive functions and language abilities. One key factor contributing to Alzheimer's disease is the reduced level of acetylcholine, a crucial neurotransmitter in the brain. This decline is partly attributed to the increased activity of acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down acetylcholine. As a result, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors have become a promising treatment option for managing the disease. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in discovering more effective, plant-based drugs with fewer side effects. Frankincense gum (Boswellia thurifera Roxb.) is a significant medicinal plant in Iranian traditional medicine, known for its potential to enhance memory and cognitive function. The solvent used in the extraction process plays a crucial role in determining the quality and potency of the extracted compounds. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of different extraction solvents on the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of frankincense gum extract.Methodology: Ethanol, methanol, ether, ethyl acetate, acetone, and hexane were selected as solvents for extracting frankincense gum using the maceration method, followed by concentration with a rotary evaporator. The resulting extracts were then tested for their ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity, as well as for their phenolic and flavonoid content. To evaluate the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, Elman’s method was employed, using a microplate spectrophotometry technique. Various concentrations of the extracts were tested to determine the inhibition percentage and calculate the IC50 values. All measurements were performed in triplicate to ensure accuracy. Extracts exhibiting the most significant inhibitory effects were further analyzed to understand their enzyme inhibition kinetics. The total phenolic content of the extracts was measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The absorbance of the reaction products was compared to a standard curve of Gallic acid to quantify the phenolic compounds. The total flavonoid content of the extracts was determined using the aluminum chloride colorimetric method, and the flavonoid content was calculated by comparing the absorbance of the extracts to the standard curve of quercetin solution. This comprehensive analysis allowed for a detailed evaluation of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory potential and the chemical composition of the frankincense gum extracts, providing valuable insights into their potential as therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease.Results: The ethanol extract of frankincense exhibited the highest inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase activity, as indicated by its lowest IC50 value. In contrast, the methanol extract, which had the highest IC50 value, demonstrated the weakest inhibitory effect. The other solvents fell between these two, with increasing IC50 values: hexane < ethyl acetate < ether < acetone. Enzyme inhibition kinetics revealed distinct patterns of inhibition. The acetone extract showed a competitive inhibition pattern, while the hexane extract exhibited a non-competitive inhibition pattern. The ethanolic, ethyl acetate, methanolic, and ether extracts displayed a mixed inhibition pattern. In terms of chemical composition, the ethanol extract contained the highest amount of total phenolic compounds, suggesting a strong correlation between phenolic content and inhibitory activity. However, the total flavonoid content was similar across all extracts, with no significant differences observed between them. These findings highlight the potential of frankincense extracts, particularly the ethanol extract, as promising candidates for further research and development in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that the ethanolic extract of frankincense gum exhibits a significant inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity. Additionally, this extract contains the highest concentration of total phenols, suggesting that ethanol is an effective solvent for extracting acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, which may possess phenolic properties. Future research aimed at isolating these phenolic compounds could lead to the discovery of potent inhibitors with potential medicinal applications.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
N. Esmaili Irani; M. Olia
Abstract
Background and objectives: Nowadays, medicinal plants have been expanded in the biological control of many plant pathogens. It is also widely recognized that tomato is an essential product in the food industry worldwide. The root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.), a hazardous parasite in tomato plants, ...
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Background and objectives: Nowadays, medicinal plants have been expanded in the biological control of many plant pathogens. It is also widely recognized that tomato is an essential product in the food industry worldwide. The root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.), a hazardous parasite in tomato plants, produces gall by feeding and reproducing in the root and consequently causes biochemical and physiological changes. It also provides a suitable environment for the activity of saprophytic fungi and other soil parasites, which indirectly results in serious damage to the plant. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effect of fenugreek, lavender, borage and purslane plant extracts on controlling the root-knot nematode.Methodology: Separate experiments in laboratory and greenhouse conditions were conducted as a factorial experiment in the form of a completely randomized design to investigate the effect of natural compounds of fenugreek, lavender, borage and purslane on the control of root-knot nematode in tomato. Nematode-infected tomato roots were collected, and after that, a single suitable egg mass was taken and placed near the tomato Falat cultivar root system; using the single egg mass method for nematode purification, nematode was identified and then propagated at the same tomato seedlings. After 70 days, the infected roots were cut into two-centimetre pieces and exposed to 10% sodium hypochlorite solution. After that, it was passed through a 400-mesh sieve. Eventually, the obtained egg suspension was used in the laboratory and greenhouse trials. First, water, ethanol, and acetone extracts were prepared from the mentioned plants to experiment. The laboratory section assessed the effect of extracts on larval mortality and the number of egg hatching after 24, 48, and 72 hours of exposure to 0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 ppm extracts. Afterwards, these compounds' anti-nematode activity was investigated at the greenhouse condition by adding 0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 ppm of the water extract to the pots containing tomato seedlings and nematode-infected soil. Finally, the obtained average data were compared based on the LSD test.Results: The results revealed that water, ethanol, and acetone extracts of fenugreek, lavender, borage, and purslane had the highest inhibition properties in hatching nematode eggs, respectively. The highest inhibition rate was dedicated to 1000 ppm of the extract. Also, the greatest inhibition of egg hatching was observed in fenugreek water extract and 1000 ppm of the extracts, respectively. The highest number of unhatched eggs was perceived in 1000 ppm of fenugreek extract and 72 h after starting the experiment. According to the results, water extract was the most effective in destroying nematode larvae, followed by ethanol and acetone extracts. Fenugreek, lavender, borage, and purslane had the highest impacts on the mortality of second-instar larvae, respectively. Also, among different extracts, the concentration of 1000 ppm had the greatest effect compared to the control. The fenugreek extract application caused gall formation at the lowest level in the experiment. After fenugreek, the lavender, borage, and purslane extracts showed the highest inhibition of gall formation on tomato roots. Regarding reducing nematode numbers in the soil, the greatest effect was related to 1000 ppm water extract of fenugreek and purslane. However, they did not significantly differ significantly from other plants using the same concentration.Conclusion: The results of the laboratory studies showed the positive effects of water, ethanol, and acetone extracts of four medicinal plants, including fenugreek, lavender, borage, and purslane, on the prevention of egg hatching and the mortality of instar larvae of root-knot nematodes. The evaluation of the growth and development indicators showed that in fenugreek extract, a few galls were observed on roots, and the formation of galls was greatly reduced. After fenugreek, the lavender, borage, and purslane extracts showed the highest gall formation inhibition on tomato roots, respectively. The obtained data showed that fenugreek extract positively affected root-knot nematode decrease, and lavender, borage, and purslane extracts were in the next ranks, respectively.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
Elena Hosseini; Shahram Aramideh; Abbas Hosseinzadeh
Abstract
Background and objectives: Alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. from the leguminous family, is among the best fodder plants due to its richness in protein, calcium, vitamins, palatability, and low percentage of cellulose, which is called green gold. Alfalfa is the first crop that was domesticated ...
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Background and objectives: Alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. from the leguminous family, is among the best fodder plants due to its richness in protein, calcium, vitamins, palatability, and low percentage of cellulose, which is called green gold. Alfalfa is the first crop that was domesticated and cultivated as fodder. Alfalfa leaf weevil, Hypera postica Gyllenhal, is one of the important pests of alfalfa fields in Iran. Its main damage is related to the larval stage, caused by feeding on the plant leaves, especially in the first cut. The most common method of controlling this pest is using chemical pesticides, which cause pesticide residues, the death of natural enemies, resistance, environmental pollution, and the emergence of secondary pests. Therefore, research is necessary today to replace other compounds, such as botanical pesticides. In this research, the effects of Neemarin extracted from the neem plant (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) and Matrine extracted from Sophora flavescens (Ait.) on second instar larvae and adult insects of alfalfa weevils were investigated in laboratory and field conditions.Methodology: Laboratory studies were conducted in a completely randomized design, and field evaluation was conducted in the form of completely randomized blocks in the spring of 2023 in Naghadeh City. The botanical insecticide Matrine, with its commercial form on Rui Agro and Neemarin extracted from the neem plant, was used in the experiments. Bioassays were performed on the second instar larvae and adults by immersing the host leaf in the concentrations of both compounds, and the mortality was recorded 24 and 48 hours after the treatment. After determining the LC50 and LC25 of Matrine and Neemarin, their mixed effects on second-instar larvae and adult insects were evaluated. This study used treatments including LC50 Matrine, LC50Neemarin, LC25 Neemarin + LC25 Matrine, and the control treatment on second instar larvae and adults. Also, the effect of sublethal concentration (LC25) on metamorphosis (transformation of the larval stage to pupa and transformation of the pupal stage to the adult insect) was studied. The field experiments were analyzed in three alfalfa fields treated with Neemarin (2000, 3000, and 4000 ppm), Matrine (200, 400, and 600 ppm), and control (water). Each treatment was evaluated in three repetitions using the Henderson-Tilton method.Results: The results of probit analysis showed that calculated LC50 of the two botanical insecticides, Neemarin and Matrine on adult insects and second instar larvae of alfalfa after 48 hours were 544.65, 50.23, 45.86 and 3.76 ppm, respectively. Also, the effect of LC25 of both biopesticides showed that the greatest inhibition in the transformation of larva to pupa is related to Neemarin (30%) and in the transformation of pupa to adult is related to Matrine (51.50%). In the field experiments, the highest mortality in adults was observed in the concentration of 600 ppm Matrine with 53.33% and in the second instar larvae related Neemarin (2000 ppm) with 27.33% mortality.Conclusion: These investigations showed that Matrine pesticide has a higher lethality effect than Neemarin in laboratory and field conditions on adults and second-instar larvae of alfalfa leaf weevil. The effect of a sublethal dose of Neemarin on pest metamorphosis was more effective. Therefore, both pesticides can be used to manage this important pest.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
N. Khaliliaqdam; Sh. Saeidian; S. Bashirpor
Abstract
Background and objectives: Plants have many defense systems to overcome stresses, especially heavy metals. Some heavy metals are part of pigments and enzyme compounds and are also essential elements. In concentrations higher than plants' physiological needs, they are toxic ...
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Background and objectives: Plants have many defense systems to overcome stresses, especially heavy metals. Some heavy metals are part of pigments and enzyme compounds and are also essential elements. In concentrations higher than plants' physiological needs, they are toxic for plants, but some heavy metals such as cadmium and lead are even unnecessary. At low concentrations, they harm plants, and for this reason, heavy metals are considered stressors. Based on this, it is imperative to investigate these metals' effects on plant oxidizing enzymes' activities.Methodology: In this research, in order to investigate the reaction of oxidizing enzymes and non-oxidizing factors against the stress caused by cadmium (Cd), the required artichoke after being prepared from the mountains of Kurdistan in the presence of phosphate buffer, pH 7 and PMSF 0.02 solution as Protease inhibitor was homogenized and after centrifugation at 3000 g and 15000 g, the upper clear solution was used as a crude extract and for subsequent measurements. In the performed tests, the effect of different concentrations of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) were measured on the content of proline (Pro), phenolic compounds (Ph.C) and the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as phenyl-alanine-ammonialyse (PAL), catalase CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) of artichoke root. This project was carried out in the form of a completely randomized design in three replications in vials containing three milliliters of artichoke root extract with seven treatments, in which the first group was treated as a control in the presence of distilled water only. The second group was exposed to 0.25 mM CdCl2, the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh groups were exposed to 0.5, 1, 2, 5, and 10 mM CdCl2, respectively, for 10 minutes. The samples were treated at room temperature of 20 to 25 degrees and 10 minutes of natural light. Then, the activity level of each antioxidant enzyme and the level of Pro and Ph.C was measured separately. In this research, at first, the distribution diagram of the data (enzyme or protein activity against different levels of Cd) was drawn, and then various linear and non-linear regression equations were used to fit the data. In the next step, according to the best type of equation and analysis of the response type of GPX, SOD, APX, protein, Pro and Ph.C was used from nonlinear regression analysis (power, hyperbolic, asymptotic exponential and asymptotic growth models) and to express the response of enzyme activity of PPO, CAT and PAL to different levels of Cd were used from the beta model.Results: All models indicated Cd's stimulating effect on the studied enzymes. The research results showed that the activity of all SOD, APX, CAT, PPO, GPX, and PAL enzymes as well as the content of Pro and Ph. C increased significantly after Cd treatment. Using five non-linear regression models, the highest activity of APX enzyme at a concentration of 4.6 mM (asymptotic exponential model), GPX enzyme at a concentration of 12.3 mM (asymptotic exponential and asymptotic growth models), SOD enzyme at 14.3 mM (asymptotic growth model) was interpolated. In addition, the most production of Pro and Ph. C was obtained at concentrations of 13.6 and 14.3 mM Cd using the asymptotic and asymptotic growth models, respectively. The highest activity of the PPO enzyme was at 8 mM, CAT at 4.8 mM, and the maximum activity of PAL was at 1.4 mM. The results showed that Cd, due to the induction of oxidative stress and the increase in free radical production, leads to an increase in the content of proline, phenolic compounds, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in artichoke roots. Further changes in the activity of these enzymes during growth indicate the presence of enzymatic regulatory mechanisms in artichoke roots against heavy metals such as cadmium. Enzymatic antioxidant defense systems, Pro and Ph. C play a crucial role in the response of artichoke roots to heavy metal cadmium stress.Conclusion: In general, results showed that Cd, due to the induction of oxidative stress and the increase in free radical production, leads to an increase in the content of proline, phenolic compounds, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in artichoke roots. Further changes in the activity of these enzymes during growth indicate the presence of enzymatic regulatory mechanisms in artichoke roots against heavy metals such as cadmium. Enzymatic antioxidant defense systems and Pro and Ph. C are crucial in the response to heavy metal cadmium stress of artichoke roots.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
S. Mohammadi; B. Bahramnejad; M. Majdi; J. Soltani
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Papaver plants from the poppy family are among the famous medicinal plants that have always been the focus of the pharmaceutical and medical industries due to the production of morphine alkaloids and isoquinoline alkaloids with antimicrobial effects. A ...
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Background and Objectives: Papaver plants from the poppy family are among the famous medicinal plants that have always been the focus of the pharmaceutical and medical industries due to the production of morphine alkaloids and isoquinoline alkaloids with antimicrobial effects. A wide variety of Papaver species can be seen in the pastures and mountains of Kurdistan province. In this research, the methanolic extracts prepared from four Papaver species were investigated about the amount of morphinan alkaloids produced and the antimicrobial effects on the growth of microorganisms in laboratory conditions.Methodology: Four Papver species including P. glaucum, P. fugax, P. argemone, and P. bracteatum were collected twice from their natural habitats in Kurdistan province in spring and were identified based on morphological characteristics under the supervision of a botanist of the province's agricultural and natural resources research center. In order to extract alkaloids, aerial parts, and roots were dried and powdered in the shade. Extracts were prepared by adding methanol and chloroform solvents in a ratio of 1 to 4 to the resulting powders of plants. The amount of morphine, codeine, thebaine, and papaverine alkaloids present in each of the samples was measured separately using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Also, the antimicrobial effects of extracts against Gram-positive bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and gram-negative bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli were investigated. The pathogenicity was evaluated by measuring the growth halo, determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum lethal concentration (MBC), using the tube dilution method.Results: The production of morphine alkaloids in all of the studied species was confirmed by HPLC. The amount of morphine as the dominant alkaloid among the four studied species varied from 4.21 to 21.33 mg/g dry weight. The highest amount of morphine (21.33 mg/g) was observed in P. bracteatum extract and the highest amount of thebaine and codeine (8.67 and 1.8 mg/g) was observed in P. fugax extract. The observation of non-growth aura against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria confirmed the antimicrobial effects of the investigated plant extracts. The detected amounts of minimum inhibitory concentration against the gram-positive and gram negative bacteria varied from 25 to 100 mg/ml and minimum lethal concentration was just observed against Escherichia coli. P. bracteatum plant extract showed the highest inhibitory effect against E. coli bacteria with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 25 mg/ml and a minimum lethal concentration of 50 mg/ml.Conclusion: By examining the results, it was found that the studied Papaver species produce significant amounts and ranges of morphine alkaloids, which designates these natural species' genetic and medicinal value for further studies. In addition, the extract of these plants showed antimicrobial effects against the reference strains of gram-positive and gram-negative pathogenic bacteria used in this research. Therefore, it is suggested that more studies be conducted in the field of separation and separation of the metabolites of these plants and the investigation of their antimicrobial effects in subsequent studies to achieve effective and novel antimicrobial compounds and drugs.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
M. Gorji
Abstract
Background and objectives: Considering the high damage caused by storage pests and the adverse effects of chemical pesticides, using plant compounds is considered one of the best options for controlling storage pests. Essential oils are an effective plant compound with a high ...
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Background and objectives: Considering the high damage caused by storage pests and the adverse effects of chemical pesticides, using plant compounds is considered one of the best options for controlling storage pests. Essential oils are an effective plant compound with a high fumigant effect. In this study, Oviposition deterrence and ovicidal activities of three native species of savory were investigated to select the savory essential oil with the highest insecticidal properties.
Methodology: First, three native species of savory (Satureja sahendica, Satureja khuzistanica, and Satureja macrantha) were collected, and essential oils were extracted after drying. All three essential oils were injected into a gas chromatograph and gas chromatograph coupled with a mass spectrometer to determine chemical compounds. Experiments were performed in a completely randomized design and were evaluated under laboratory conditions (27±1°C, 65±10 R.H. and 16:8 L:D).To determine the oviposition deterrence of the oils, one pair of one-day-old adult moths was exposed to different concentrations of the oils for four days, and the number of deposited eggs was counted. Also, one-day-old eggs were exposed to three oil concentrations at 3, 12, and 25 μl essential oil/l air. The percentage of egg hatching was recorded after 96 hours. The experiment was performed in 5 replications.
Results: The results showed that carvacrol content, as the principal active ingredient of S. khuzistanica, was 91.5%. Thymol (48.59%), p-cymene (59.5%) and γ-terpinene (18.57%) had the highest amount in the essential oil of S. sahendica, respectively. The dominant components of S. macranthaessential oil were p-cymene (59.5%), γ-terpinene and thymol (13.5%). All three essential oils had the Oviposition deterrent activity, and the rate of Oviposition deterrence increases with increasing concentration of essential oils. Different concentrations of three savory essential oils showed that at a concentration of one microliter with S. khuzistanica essential oil, more than 50% oviposition deterrent activity was observed. In comparison, oviposition deterrent activity was observed for two other savory essential oils at a concentration of 3 microliters. Among the investigated essential oils, S. khuzistanica had the highest effect of oviposition deterrent activity on Mediterranean flour moths. Also, there is a significant difference in the ovicidal activity of S. khuzistanica compared to the others, which can be attributed to its high carvacrol content. In contrast to the low insecticidal effect of the essential oil of S. macrantha, it has had a very suitable effect of oviposition deterrent activity.
Conclusion: All three types of savory essential oils had sound oviposition deterrence effects and ovicidal activity, but S. khuzistanicaessential oil in the lowest concentration had better oviposition deterrence effects and ovicidal activity than S. sahendica and S. macrantha, that it is also more acceptable from an economic point of view. Based on the results of this research, the essential oils of native Iranian savory spices can control storage pests; only high volatility and insolubility in water are the main limitations in the widespread use of essential oils. However, the nanoencapsuled essential oil, through the controlled release of active ingredients, overcomes the restrictions of plant essential oil usage in storage. Therefore, more studies are needed to use essential oils in pest control using this method
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
saeid valipour chahardahcharic; mehran arabi; Hamed Hoseinzadeh
Abstract
Background and objectives: Stress affects the body's systems and can lead to many disorders, including depression. To deal with stress and depression, the use of medicinal plants that have fewer side effects than chemical drugs has attracted the attention of researchers. Melilotus ...
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Background and objectives: Stress affects the body's systems and can lead to many disorders, including depression. To deal with stress and depression, the use of medicinal plants that have fewer side effects than chemical drugs has attracted the attention of researchers. Melilotus officinalis L. contains compounds such as coumarin, flavonoids, triterpene, saponin, and volatile oils with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The present study investigated the effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of the M. officinalis plant on depression caused by chronic immobility stress in adult male rats.Methodology: In this experimental study, 48 male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 grams were used. The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups of 8 (n=8) including control (intact), sham (under chronic immobility stress and receiving normal saline), experimental groups (under chronic immobility stress and subjected to doses 25, 50, and 100 mg.kg-1 of M. officinalis extract), and the positive control group (under chronic immobility stress and receiving fluoxetine). To establish an animal model of chronic immobility stress, the rats were placed in the restraint device daily for 2 hours, for 3 weeks. Injections were made intraperitoneally (IP), 30 minutes before stress induction. The depression model was evaluated by the Forced Swimming Test (FST) and motor activity by the Open Field Test (OFT). Then with deep anesthesia in the animals, blood was taken from the heart. By separating the serum, the amount of corticosterone in the rats’ blood was evaluated and measured using special kits and the ELISA method.Results: The results of this research showed that in the sham group, the duration of immobility in the FST increased significantly in comparison to the control group (P<0.001). In the experimental groups, a high dose of M. officinalis extract led to a significant increase in the duration of immobility in the FST (P<0.01). However, the lower doses of the extract led to a significant decrease in immobility duration compared to the sham group (P<0.001) (P<0.01). The fluoxetine-receiving group also showed a significant reduction in immobility duration compared to the sham group (P<0.01). Lower doses of M. officinalis extract caused a significant increase in blood corticosterone relative to the sham group (P<0.001). Administration of fluoxetine also caused a significant increase in corticosterone levels in the blood in comparison to the sham group (P<0.001). In the OFT, the number of crossing lines in the sham group showed a significant increase relative to the control group (P<0.01) in the experimental groups, a high dose of M. officinalis extract resulted in a significant decrease in the number of times the rats crossed the lines in comparison to the sham group (P<0.01).Conclusion: Phytochemical studies have shown some active substances, such as quercetin and phenolic acids in M. officinalis, which have antioxidant and antidepressant activity by inhibiting monoamine oxidase and increasing dopamine and serotonin. Therefore, due to active biological molecules, M. officinalis can play a vital role in preventing depression. The results have also shown that M. officinalis extract, particularly in lower doses, has better antidepressant effects in rats under chronic stress.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
Hanieh Mohseni fazel; Karim Nozad namini; Hossein Hoseini; H. Zeinali
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) is one of the most widespread weeds in the world, and regarding the amount of damage caused to crops, it is the third dominant dicotyledonous weed in the world. It is recommended to reduce the use of chemical herbicides ...
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Background and Objectives: Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) is one of the most widespread weeds in the world, and regarding the amount of damage caused to crops, it is the third dominant dicotyledonous weed in the world. It is recommended to reduce the use of chemical herbicides through the replacement of non-chemical methods in sustainable agricultural management, and the use of plants' allelopathic effects is one of these methods. On the other hand, plants in different growth stages have different allelopathy sensitivity.Methodology: To evaluate the allelopathic effect of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh) on Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) growth stages, an experiment was carried out as a factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in the greenhouse of Kashan Barij Essential Company, Iran. Treatments included aqueous and alcoholic extracts of eucalyptus (50, 75, and 100 %), controlled (0.002 concentration of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, Ethanol 70%, distilled water), and three growth stages (five-leaf stage, seven-leaf stage, and stem elongation). The studied traits were measured in all three growth stages one week after treatments. To measure traits, ten plants were randomly selected from each pot. The studied traits included leaf length and width, total leaf wet weight, total leaf dry weight, stem wet weight, stem dry weight, stem length, root length, root wet weight, root dry weight, total plant weight, and shoot/root ratio. A ruler was used to determine the length and width of the leaf, the length of the root, and the length of the stem. Analysis of the variance of the data was done by MSTAC software. If the experimental factor was significant, the LSD test was used to compare the means.Results: Leaf width, total leaf fresh weight, total leaf dry weight, stem fresh and dry weight, stem length, root length, root fresh and dry weight, total plant weight, and shoot/root ratio were affected by the growth stage where the extracts were used. The effect of the concentration of aqueous and ethanol extracts of eucalyptus on leaf length and width, total leaf fresh weight, total leaf dry weight, stem fresh weight, stem dry weight, stem length, root length, root fresh weight, root dry weight, total dry plant weight, and shoot/root ratio was significant. Spraying at the stem and 5-leaf stages had the highest and lowest leaf width, stem length, and root dry weight, respectively. The extract application at the stem elongation and five-leaf stage had the highest and lowest leaf width, stem length, and root dry weight, respectively. The application of distilled water in the stem elongation phase produced the maximum leaf length (3.06 cm), total fresh and dry weight of plant leaf (1.00 and 0.2764 gr), stem fresh and dry weight (1.35 and 0.393 gr), and total fresh and dry plant weight (2.80 and 0.801 gr), respectively. The application of 75% concentration of eucalyptus ethanol extract at the 5-leaf stage produced the lowest total fresh and dry weight of plant leaf (0.188 and 0.0521 gr), stem fresh and dry weight (0.303 and 0.046 gr) and total fresh and dry plant weight (0.633 and 0.1157 gr), respectively.Conclusion: The aqueous and alcoholic extracts significantly decreased Pigweed growth indices, and its inhibitory effect was not significantly different in most traits with 2-4-D herbicide. The inhibitory effect of alcoholic extract on pigweed growth was greater than aqueous extract. Given that almost all eucalyptus extracts, either alcoholic or aqueous, significantly reduced Pigweed growth, it may be possible to reduce the pressure of this weed on crops by combining and using them as a bio-herbicide.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
Hassan Hassani Kumleh; Sanaz Etemadi Shalkouhi; Mohsen Farhadpour; Mohammad Hossein Rezadoost
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Cancer is one of the most serious causes of death, and breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women. Medicinal plants can play a vital role in cancer treatment. Many effective cancer drugs today are derived from natural plant products. This ...
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Background and Objectives: Cancer is one of the most serious causes of death, and breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women. Medicinal plants can play a vital role in cancer treatment. Many effective cancer drugs today are derived from natural plant products. This study evaluates the cytotoxic effect of Pterocarya fraxinifolia leaf methanolic extract. It also evaluates its effect on the expression of the P21, BID, BCL-2, RB1, and MDM2 genes in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line.Methodology: Extraction was done from 20 grams of dried and powdered leaves exposed to air by the soaking (maceration) method using pure methanol and after 24 hours in an incubator shaker at a speed of 120 rpm, temperature of 25°C and in the dark. After filtering and drying the extract, 5 mg of the resulting dry substance was dissolved in 1 ml of RPMI-1640 medium. After re-filtration, it was stored as a stock to prepare different concentrations. MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines and HGF-1 as a normal cell line were cultured in RPMI1640 medium containing FBS 10% (w/v), penicillin antibiotics, streptomycin 1% (w/v), and at 37°C temperature and 5% carbon dioxide pressure in an incubator. These cells were exposed to various concentrations of methanolic extract from Pterocarya fraxinifolia leaves for 24 hours. Cell survival rate was assessed with MTT colorimetric assay, and expression of genes involved in apoptosis (P21, BID, BCL-2, RB1, MDM2) in cancer cells treated with IC25 concentration of plant extract was evaluated by real-time PCR technique. RNA extraction from MCF-7 and HGF-1 cells was performed according to the RNX-plusTM kit instructions. cDNA synthesis was performed using Fermentase Company's kit (RevertAid First Strand cDNA Synthesis Kit) and according to its instructions. In this study, the GAPDH gene was used as an internal control.Results: The results of the MTT assay showed that the Pterocarya fraxinifolia (Poir) spach leaf methanolic extract had a concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 breast cancer cells, and during the experiment, with increasing drug concentration, the effect of cytotoxicity increased in both cancer and normal lines and high inhibition was observed at concentrations of 1000 and 1200 μg.ml-1. The IC50 of Pterocarya fraxinifolia methanol extract against MCF-7 and HGF-1 cell lines was 452.1 and 479.2 μg.ml-1, respectively. Real-time PCR results showed that treatment with the Pterocarya fraxinifolia plant extract enhanced the expression of the P21 gene, while expression was nearly constant in extract-treated normal cells. The BID gene expression was increased in cancer cells treated with the plant extract. In contrast, normal cells under the influence of the extract showed a slight decrease in gene expression. The plant extract decreased the expression of the BCL-2 gene in cancer cells, whereas the expression of this gene in normal cells did not change significantly under the extract. The RB1 gene expression was not significantly altered in healthy cells after plant extract treatment but increased in the cancer cell line MCF-7. MDM2 gene expression in cancer cells treated with plant extract remained unchanged, whereas it slightly increased in healthy cells treated with extract.Conclusion: This study provides an overview of how Pterocarya fraxinifolia extract can inhibit cancer cell growth. This study confirms the inhibitory activity of the plant's methanolic extract on breast cancer cells. With further investigation, the plant compounds may one day be used to treat cancer.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
Z. Hejri; Y. Sadeghzadeh Yazdi
Abstract
Background and objectives: In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the insulin it produces does not work properly. Type 2 diabetes, also known as insulin-independent diabetes, is the most common type of diabetes in the world, which usually occurs due to the resistance of ...
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Background and objectives: In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the insulin it produces does not work properly. Type 2 diabetes, also known as insulin-independent diabetes, is the most common type of diabetes in the world, which usually occurs due to the resistance of the body's cells to insulin. Many useful compounds in dandelion (Taraxacum officinale L.) increase insulin production and reduce blood sugar levels.Methodology: In the present research, the effect of an aqueous dandelion root extract on blood sugar level reduction in type 2 diabetic patients in Mashhad was studied. After cleaning and removing impurities, the dandelion roots were dried on a grinding machine. Extraction from dandelion roots was performed with the Soxhlet apparatus. After the extraction process, the resulting extract was passed through a filter to separate the solid compounds. The prepared extract was consumed as tea twice a day by the selected diabetic patient for four days. A glucometer measured the diabetic patient's blood sugar level. Each day, blood sugar level measurement was performed for one hour and two hours (to study stability) after taking the second dose of the extract. The patient did not use supplements or drugs to lower blood sugar levels during the research. Since blood sugar fluctuations in fasting conditions at the beginning of each day depend on various factors such as mental, physical, nutritional, and especially nervous conditions, to reduce the error rate, fasting blood sugar was measured as a control one month before and one month after extract consumption.Results: Present research showed that blood sugar decreases significantly with the increase in the number of days of dandelion root extract consumption and the increase in the frequency of consumption per day. Based on the data obtained from the measurement of blood sugar levels in different time intervals, the four-day average blood sugar level of a diabetic person one month before consuming the extract was 233, which decreased by 81 units one month after consuming the extract and reached 152; Therefore, based on the obtained results, the consumption of the root extract of this plant causes a 35% decrease in blood sugar. A study of the interaction effect of the number of days of using dandelion root extract and the time of its use also showed that the simultaneous reduction of blood sugar level with increasing the number of days of extract consumption and the number of times of consumption per day is significant. The results of the analysis of variance for the response of blood sugar levels also indicated that the effect of factors A (number of days of extract use) and B (hours of extract use) with a P-value much lower than 0.05, on the reduction of blood sugar level is significant. Based on the numerical optimization of the data, the blood sugar level can be reached at 150.167 by consuming the extract twice daily for four days.Conclusion: Overall, this research shows the positive effect of dandelion root extract on type 2 diabetes. The decreasing trend of blood sugar with increasing the number of days of use and the number of times of use per day indicates that the long-term use of this extract can have more stable effects on reducing blood sugar in people with diabetes.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
A. Zamini; R. Taati; M.R. Rezaeiardeh; A. Najafikhah
Abstract
Background and objectives: Medicinal plants have a much healthier effect than chemical drugs, and due to the presence of various effective substances, they can be used in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. This research aims to compare the performance of hydroalcoholic extracts of eucalyptus ...
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Background and objectives: Medicinal plants have a much healthier effect than chemical drugs, and due to the presence of various effective substances, they can be used in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. This research aims to compare the performance of hydroalcoholic extracts of eucalyptus and garlic in reducing the fungal and bacterial load of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) eggs during incubation.Methodology: At first, enough sperm and eggs were obtained from Persian sturgeon male and female breeders after artificial propagation stages. After fertilization, the eggs were weighed by a digital scale. The number of eggs per gram, the total weight of eggs per tray, and the final number of eggs stored in the incubator were calculated. Considering the allocation of three trays for each treatment, the number of stored eggs for each treatment was 15000. The total number of stored eggs for five treatments was 75000. Hydroalcoholic extracts (70% ethanol solvent) of eucalyptus (appearance: clear, color: brown, pH=5.02) and garlic (appearance: clear, color: light brown, pH=6.49) were prepared. Five experimental treatments containing control (no extract), Eucalyptus 50 mg.l-1, eucalyptus 100 mg.l-1, Garlic 50 mg.l-1, and 100 mg.l-1 were designed in three replicates by the short-term bath method in three stages (days). At the end of the three disinfection stages, eggs were randomly sampled from each replicate for the total bacterial and fungal count.Results: No significant difference was observed in the water's physical and chemical factors, such as pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature, during the disinfection stages of eggs (p<0.05). The results showed that treatments containing eucalyptus and garlic extracts at 50 and 100 mg/l showed lower total bacterial and fungal counts than the control treatment (P<0.05). Still, the eucalyptus extract at 100 mg/l performed much better than the rest of the experimental treatments (P<0.05). In incubation indices such as hatching rate and healthy larvae, statistically significant differences were observed in four treatments containing garlic and eucalyptus extracts (50 and 100 mg.l-1) with the control (P<0.05). Based on Duncan's test, the average rate of hatching and the number of healthy larvae were more in eucalyptus at 100 mg.l-1 than in other studied treatments (P<0.05). Egg hatching rates were equal in garlic and eucalyptus at 100 and 50 mg.l-1, respectively.Conclusion: During the research, there was no change in the appearance of the larvae, which can be considered the safety of plant extracts. Various factors such as the type and compounds in the plant, the amount of used concentration, the type of microorganism, the pH level, and the environment's temperature can influence the antimicrobial potential of herbal extracts and compounds. According to the obtained findings, it can be stated that hydroalcoholic extracts of Garlic and Eucalyptus played a very decisive role in reducing the fungal and bacterial contamination of Persian sturgeon eggs during the incubation period.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
Z. Norbakhsh; I. Hajkhodadadi; H.A. Ghasemi; M.H. Moradi
Abstract
Background and objective: Today, in the poultry industry, food additives are used to achieve the highest production at the lowest cost. Growth stimulants and food additives are chemical, biological, or natural compounds added to water and feed. They are used to improve growth and feed efficiency and ...
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Background and objective: Today, in the poultry industry, food additives are used to achieve the highest production at the lowest cost. Growth stimulants and food additives are chemical, biological, or natural compounds added to water and feed. They are used to improve growth and feed efficiency and obtain the highest and most economical production. The use of medicinal plants in poultry nutrition showed that, in addition to stimulating feed consumption, these plants also have antibiotic and anti-coccidiosis properties. This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of different levels of the herbal Bilhar (Dorema aucheri Boiss.) on the Production Parameters, hematology, and thigh and breast meat quality traits of broiler chickens in a completely randomized design.Methodology: In this study, 240 one-day-old Ross 308 were exposed to five treatments (four replicates), and 12 chickens in each replicate were raised for 42 days. The chickens had free access to water and feed during the rearing period. The necessary care was following scientific rearing principles and commercial catalog recommended methods. The experimental treatments included 1) control-common diet with no additive 2) control diet + 0.1% flavophospholipol antibiotic, 3) control diet + Bilhar (0.1 % in starter and grower, 0.05 % in finisher phase), 4) control diet + Bilhar (0.3 % in starter and grower, 0.15 % finisher phase), 3) control diet + Bilhar (0.5 % in starter and grower,0 .25 % in finisher phase). The experiment measured body weight and food consumption at the end of the initial, growth, and final periods. On the 42nd day, one chicken from each replicate was randomly selected and blood was collected through the wing vein. Two blood samples, one into the venoject tubes containing 0.5 cc of the anticoagulant ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), to collect and measure blood hematological parameters (the amount of red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit and the subtracted population of white blood cells) and the other part of the blood into tubes free of anticoagulants in order to separate the blood serum, to measure the metabolites Serum biochemical tests were transferred. Results: Chick's body weight at 24 and 42 d was higher in the first Bilhar group and antibiotic level than in the control group. Different experimental groups significantly affected feed intake at the starter and grower phases (P> 0.05). Adding bilhar to the diet did not change red blood cell numbers but impacted hemoglobin, hematocrit percentages, and white blood cell count. Different levels of Bilher powder and antibiotics significantly influenced villus height, villus thickness, and villus area in the duodenum (P<0.05). But the depth of the crypt and the ratio of the height of the villi to the depth of the crypt in the duodenum did not show a statistically significant effect between the treatments (P<0.05). Despite no significant improvement in breast water holding capacity, dripping loss, or cooking loss, dietary billiards significantly decreased breast PH. Experimental treatments significantly affected thigh water holding capacity, dripping loss, and pH but did not affect thigh cooking loss.Conclusion: It can be concluded that in the case of most traits, especially functional traits, the first level of bilhar (treatment 3) improved compared to the control treatment. Therefore, this plant can be used at the indicated level as a plant additive in a broiler chicken diet. This will improve functional and histological traits.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
s. Akbari; Sh. Aramideh
Abstract
Aphis gossypii Glover. is one of the most important pests of Cucurbitaceae family. Nowadays, control of the pest population using the environmentally compatible compounds has been increased. In this study, fumigant toxicity of different concentrations and time intervals of Achillea millefolium L. and ...
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Aphis gossypii Glover. is one of the most important pests of Cucurbitaceae family. Nowadays, control of the pest population using the environmentally compatible compounds has been increased. In this study, fumigant toxicity of different concentrations and time intervals of Achillea millefolium L. and Mentha pulegium L. essential oils (EO) was studied in a completely randomized design on adults of mentioned pest. Also, sublethal effects of EOs were evaluated on life table parameters of adult aphids. The results showed that these plants EOs caused significant mortality of adult insects. LC50 of A. millefolium and M. pulegium EOs on A. gossypii were 34.90 and 23.34 µl.l-1 of air, respectively. LT50 of EOs were obtained 12.30 h in 34.90 µl.l-1 of air concentration of A. millefolium EO and 12.02 h in 23.34 µl.l-1 of air concentration of M. pulegium EO. Intrinsic rate of population increase (rm) as the most important life table parameter of the pest was obtained 0.28 (female/female/day: the number of female individuals produced per female each day) in the M. pulegium EO treatment and 0.27 (female/female/day) in the A. millefolium EO one, which had a significant decrease compared to control (0.34). The study results of sublethal effects of these two essential oils on population growth parameters indicated that age-specific survival rate of the aphid was lower in the treatments compared to control. Life expectancy (ex) was the lowest in the M. pulegium treatment (10.97 days) and highest in control (20.73 days). Net reproductive rate was calculated 15.64, 9.38, and 35.76 (female/female/generation) for A. millefolium, M. pulegium, and control, respectively. Our results revealed that the plant EOs studied could be suggested to be used in the integrated A. gossypii management programs in greenhouses due to the high potential in fumigant toxicity and population decrease of this pest.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
P. Shiri; A. Arasteh; G. Tajadod
Abstract
Plantago major L. is a herbaceous perennial plant with many biological effects such as strong antioxidant properties. This study aimed at investigating the inhibitory effect of P. major seeds extract on amyloid nanofibrils production and also to antioxidant properties of this extract. First, the plant ...
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Plantago major L. is a herbaceous perennial plant with many biological effects such as strong antioxidant properties. This study aimed at investigating the inhibitory effect of P. major seeds extract on amyloid nanofibrils production and also to antioxidant properties of this extract. First, the plant powdered-seeds hydroalcoholic extract was prepared using 96% ethanol. The extract compounds were then analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method. The production of amyloid fibrils was confirmed using the concord spectrometry method and transmission electron microscope imaging and its antioxidant effects were evaluated by the DPPH method. The presence of pyrrolidinone (2.95%) and N-(4-aminobutyl) acetamide (17.98%) in the extract was confirmed by GC/MS. The highest antioxidant activity (99.18%) and lowest amyloid nanofibrils production (55.73%) were obtained in the concentrations of 2 and 0.4 mg.ml-1 of the extract, respectively. The presence of amyloid fibrils was confirmed by electron microscopic imaging. The results of this research showed that the P. major seeds extract can be introduced as a suitable candidate to reduce the complications caused by Alzheimer's disease.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
Z. Kalvandi; J. Nazemi rafie; A. Sadeghi; A. Salimi; R. Kalvandi; M. Negahban
Abstract
Nowadays, the invention and application of agricultural pest control non-chemical methods is one of the important and practical ones in pest management programs in most societies of the world. Meanwhile, a large number of studies have been focused on bio-based pesticides. In this regard, new formulations ...
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Nowadays, the invention and application of agricultural pest control non-chemical methods is one of the important and practical ones in pest management programs in most societies of the world. Meanwhile, a large number of studies have been focused on bio-based pesticides. In this regard, new formulations of plant insecticides have been developed as a suitable alternative to artificial pesticides. In this research, respiratory and contact toxicity of pure and formulated Eucalyptus globulus Labill. essential oil and respiratory toxicity durability of its essential oil nanocapsules on adult insects of Tribolium confusum Herbest. (Col., Tenebrionidae) were investigated under laboratory conditions. According to the results, for respiratory toxicity, the pure and formulated essential oil LC50 at 24 h was obtained 46.39 and 1472 μl.l-1 of air, respectively. The formulated essential oil LT50 in three concentrations of LC25, LC50, and LC90 was determined 12.3, 10.39, and 0.36 days, respectively. The results also showed that the contact toxicity of formulated essential oil (LC50= 19030 μl.l-1) on this insect was much higher than the contact toxicity of pure one (LC50= 3770 μl.l-1). Therefore, due to the good stability of the formulated essential oil in respiratory toxicity and the excellent effect in contact toxicity, after additional tests, eucalyptus essential oil nanocapsules could be used in the management of this important pest.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
F. Moraghebi; Sh. Aghazadeh Yamchelo; S.M. Maddah
Abstract
Gastric cancer is a malignant tumor that is one of the most common types of cancer in the world and Iran. Plants are rich sources of a variety of antioxidant compounds which can be used to produce anti-cancer drugs. In this study, the antioxidant properties and cytotoxicity of Ephedra major Host. extract, ...
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Gastric cancer is a malignant tumor that is one of the most common types of cancer in the world and Iran. Plants are rich sources of a variety of antioxidant compounds which can be used to produce anti-cancer drugs. In this study, the antioxidant properties and cytotoxicity of Ephedra major Host. extract, collected from "Parandak" in Robat Karim city, Tehran province, were investigated on AGS gastric cancer cells. Ethanol and methanol hydroalcoholic extracts (80%) of plant vegetative shoots were extracted by soaking method. Phenolic content of the extracts was measured by Folin-Ciocalteu agent and their antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH test. Also, the cytotoxicity degree of different concentrations of this plant extract on the AGS gastric cancer cells was evaluated at three times of 24, 48, and 72 hours using MTT method. BCL2 gene expression change was measured using Real time-PCR. The results showed that the antioxidant properties and phenolic content of ethanol extract were higher than methanol one. The results of MTT test showed that with increasing concentration of ethanol extract, cell viability decreased and after 48 hours, IC50 was obtained 250 µg.ml-1 of extract. The BCL2 gene expression decreased in the extract treatment, although this decrease was not significant. Overall, the ethanol extract of the aerial shoots of this plant could inhibit the growth of gastric cancer cells, but did not have a significant effect on reducing the expression of BCL2 anti-apoptotic gene.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
B.H. Bahador; J. Bahrampour; A. Moosaei; H. Doomari
Abstract
Henna (Lawsonia inermis L.) leaves have unique medicinal properties like antibiotic ones due to the large amounts of phenolics such as tannins. To investigate the effects of feeding with henna leaves on performance, some blood parameters, and liver enzymes of 20 Kermani male lambs, an experiment was ...
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Henna (Lawsonia inermis L.) leaves have unique medicinal properties like antibiotic ones due to the large amounts of phenolics such as tannins. To investigate the effects of feeding with henna leaves on performance, some blood parameters, and liver enzymes of 20 Kermani male lambs, an experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with five replications. Experimental treatments included (T1) basic diet (BD) (control), (T2) BD+30 g henna leaves (HL), (T3) BD+60 g HL, and (T4) BD+90 g HL. The results showed that although the treatments did not have significant effects on performance, but the highest and lowest amount of feed consumption and food conversion ratio were respectively observed in control and T4, as well as the highest and lowest amount of daily weight gain belonged to T4 and control, respectively. Glucose and blood urea nitrogen concentrations were not affected by the experimental treatments (P≥0.05). Cholesterol, triglyceride, and total protein concentrations were significantly increased with increasing henna leaf amount in the diet (P≤0.05). The lowest concentrations of liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were obtained in T3 (P≤ 0.05). Overall, it was revealed that using different levels of henna in the diet of Kermani lambs did not affect their growth performance and glucose, but significantly increased cholesterol, triglycerides, and total protein and decreased AST and ALT.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
T. Soleimani; A. Ebrahimi; F. Mahjoubi; M. Sadeghi
Abstract
Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe.) is a spicy medicinal plant with antioxidant, antitumor, and anticancer properties. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of ethanol extract of fresh ginger rhizome on inhibiting HCT-116 colon cancer cells and the expression of TGFBR2 and DDC genes ...
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Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe.) is a spicy medicinal plant with antioxidant, antitumor, and anticancer properties. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of ethanol extract of fresh ginger rhizome on inhibiting HCT-116 colon cancer cells and the expression of TGFBR2 and DDC genes as tumor suppressor genes and β-Actin gene as reference gene. HPLC analysis was used to identify and measure the amount of 6-gingerol in the extract. Toxicity of different concentrations of the complete extract (0, 10, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, and 500 μg.ml-1) on the HTC-116 cell line was investigated using the MTT test, 16 and 24 hours after the start of the test (at 16 and 24). The expression of TGFBT2, DCC, and β-Actin genes was assessed by RT-PCR after treatment with concentrations of 150 and 300 μg.ml-1 of the complete extract at 16 and 24 hours. The amount of 6-gingerol was obtained 86.2 ± 2.03 mg per 100 g dry weight of ginger ethanol extract powder based on the HPLC results. The MTT test results showed that IC50 was 80.44 at 16 h and 473.19 at 24 h. Cell mortality was significantly increased at concentrations of 150 and 300 μg.ml-1 of the extract. Also, expression of the TGFBT2 and DCC genes increased at 150 μg.ml-1 at both 24 and 16 hours significantly (P<0.01). The present research proved the ginger extract effect on tumor inhibitory genes induction in HCT-116 colon cancer cell line.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
M. Mohammadalizadeh; A. Asgharzadeh; M. Tatari
Abstract
Plants polyphenolics play an important role in reducing the effects of the diseases on the body. Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) is one of the natural sources of polyphenols. Chicory leaves contain minerals and glucosides called chicory (sicorin) and its roots contain sugars, inulin, pectin and essential ...
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Plants polyphenolics play an important role in reducing the effects of the diseases on the body. Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) is one of the natural sources of polyphenols. Chicory leaves contain minerals and glucosides called chicory (sicorin) and its roots contain sugars, inulin, pectin and essential oil. The liver is an essential organ of the body that performs over 500 vital functions. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of consumption on liver enzymes concentration, fertility, and masculinity in rats. Thirty-two rats were divided into four groups. Chicory extract was prepared using Soxhlet method and methanol solvent. The treatment groups received the chicory extract in different amounts and concentrations for 28 days. One group was also considered as the control group. On the 29th day, blood samples were taken from the ventricular area of the heart. To determine the effects of chicory consumption on fertility and masculinity, fertilization was performed naturally in each group and the number of offspring and their gender were determined and compared. The results showed that chicory methanol extract consumption made significant differences between the different treatments compared to the control on LH (in 100 (P<0.01) and 200 (P<0.001) mg.kg-1) and FSH (in 100 (P<0.001) and 200 (P<0.001) mg.kg-1) hormones, number of births (in 100 (P<0.01) and 200 (P<0.01) mg.kg-1) and male offspring (in 100 (P<0.05) and 200 (P<0.01) mg.kg-1), but there was no significant difference in the liver enzymes concentration in different treatments compared to the control.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
D. Yazdani; M. Ebrahimi; A. Moodi; F. Nabati; M. Pouyan; S. Alvani; F. Jokar Shourijeh
Abstract
South Khorasan province is considered as the largest producer of jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) in Iran and the lives of a significant part of the locals depend on this product. The spread of jujube pest Monosteira alticarinata Ghauri in recent years, in addition to reducing the crop production, has ...
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South Khorasan province is considered as the largest producer of jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) in Iran and the lives of a significant part of the locals depend on this product. The spread of jujube pest Monosteira alticarinata Ghauri in recent years, in addition to reducing the crop production, has threatened the health of jujube consumers due to the widespread use of chemical pesticides to control this insect at harvest time. Therefore, the possibility of controlling this pest with formulations of some medicinal plants extracts and essential oils was investigated for the first time in this study. In the laboratory phase, the formulations included Capsicum annuum L. extract (30%)+Allium sativum L. oil (10%), Mentha piperita L. essential oil (10%)+Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér. essential oil (10%), Syzygium aromaticum L. essential oil (30%), Azadirachta indica A. Juss. oil (5%)+Thymus vulgaris L. essential oil (5%), and A. indica oil (5%)+ Th. vulgaris essential oil (5%)+potassium soap (50%) with deltamethrin (0.1%) and water as positive and negative controls, respectively were assayed in bioassay test. The results showed the high efficiency of the 5thformulation, which after four hours with a concentration of 2% caused 100% death of the pest and placed in the same statistical group with deltamethrin (92.5% efficiency in killing the pest). The results of Polo Plus software showed LC50 at a concentration of 0.91% of 5thformulation. The results of field data analysis showed the relative controlling potential of the formulation used in the field surveys, so that after 24, 48, and 72 hours, the insect control percentage at a concentration of 2% of this formulation was 27.43, 43.99, and 56.24%, respectively. These results showed that the fifth herbal formulation (2%) had a good ability to control M. alticarinata and could be used as an alternative to common chemical pesticides after official registration.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
S. Malekpur; S. Nosrati; B. Behboodian; J. Gholamnezhad; M. Armin
Abstract
In the present study, first, an in vitro experiment was conducted to study the effects of Thymus vulgaris L., Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Rosmarinus officinalis L., and Mentha piperita L. water extracts on reducing the growth of Fusarium rot disease factor of cucumber (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-cucumerinum ...
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In the present study, first, an in vitro experiment was conducted to study the effects of Thymus vulgaris L., Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Rosmarinus officinalis L., and Mentha piperita L. water extracts on reducing the growth of Fusarium rot disease factor of cucumber (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-cucumerinum (forc)) by the saturated paper disk method. According to the results, the water extracts of Th. vulgaris, F. vulgare, R. officinalis, and M. piperita at a concentration of 250 ppm with the inhibitory zone diameter of 24.66, 17.33, 11.66, and 10.33 mm, respectively, showed the highest antifungal activity compared to the control (the inhibitory zone diameter of 3.66 mm). Then, it followed by a greenhouse experiment to investigate the effects of Th. vulgaris and F. vulgare water extracts on the cucumber cv. Nagene treated with F. oxysporum. The water extract of Th. vulgaris at a concentration of 200 ppm with the disease index of 31% showed the greatest reduction in the disease symptoms compared to the infected control and the F. vulgare treatment with the disease indices of 82.66 and 42%, respectively. Study on the activity of polyphenol oxidase, β-1, 3-glucanase, and peroxidase enzymes under the greenhouse conditions showed that the activity of all three enzymes had an increasing trend. So that the activity of enzymes in the combined treatment of Th. vulgaris water extract (200 ppm) and pathogen increased respectively from 1.12, 1.11, and 0.27 ΔOD/min/mg protein on the first day after the inoculation to 5.25, 4.81, and 2.88 ΔOD/min/mg protein on the 12th day, and it had a significant difference with the control. Considering the results of this research, it was found that the water extract of Th. vulgaris, in addition to the direct fungicidal effect, could increase the activity of defense enzymes in the cucumber plants resulted in the host plant resistance induction against the pathogen.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
F. Mashhadi; M. Ghorbani Nohooji; R. Yaraee
Abstract
Plants from the fam. lamiaceae are the rich sources of medicinal compounds with the anticancer properties. In many studies, only the anticancer properties of these compounds have been investigated and their toxicity on the healthy cells has not been addressed. The present study was designed to evaluate ...
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Plants from the fam. lamiaceae are the rich sources of medicinal compounds with the anticancer properties. In many studies, only the anticancer properties of these compounds have been investigated and their toxicity on the healthy cells has not been addressed. The present study was designed to evaluate and compare the toxic effects of Origanum vulgare L. and O. majorana L. essential oils on the cancer cells line BCL-1 and normal lymphocytes and macrophages under in vitro conditions. The plant samples essential oils were extracted using the hydro-distillation method and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The cancer cells line BCL-1 and normal lymphocytes and macrophages were cultured with the various concentrations of essential oils for 24h. The viability and cells toxicity under the influence of essential oils were determined by the MTT and LDH assays. The GC/MS results showed that the two essential oils had only 12 common components. Both essential oils inhibited the growth of cancer cells line BCL-1 (O. vulgare, 47-79% and O. majorana, 30-82%) at a concentration of 0.01-1% (O. vulgare essential oil IC50: 0.01% and O. majorana essential oil IC50: 0.03%). The essential oils at the highest concentration (1%) did not decrease the immune cells viability. Also, according to the LDH test results, none of the concentrations of both essential oils had a toxic effect on the normal lymphocytes and macrophages. Overall, based on the present study results, the O. vulgare and O. majorana essential oils could be recommended as good candidates for the cancer treatment because they had no cytotoxic effect on the normal immune system cells in addition to having the strong anticancer properties.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
E. Ostovar; S. Khodayari; Sh. Aramideh
Abstract
Annually a significant portion of agricultural products is destroyed by the stored products pests. The chemical pesticides are commonly used to control pests. The residual hazards of pesticides on the storage products as well as increase in the pest resistance necessitate the selection of safe and effective ...
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Annually a significant portion of agricultural products is destroyed by the stored products pests. The chemical pesticides are commonly used to control pests. The residual hazards of pesticides on the storage products as well as increase in the pest resistance necessitate the selection of safe and effective control methods. The plant compounds can be the subject of researches on the storage pests control with the low-risk methods. Therfore, this experiment was conducted to study the effects of peel essential oil from three Citrus spp. including Citrus limon L., C. sinensis L., and C. aurantium L. on the adults of Callosobruchus maculatus F., Sitophilus granarius L., and Tribolium confusum Duv. The probit analysis was performed after 24 and 48 hours to evaluate the effects of essential oils on the pests. After determining the LC50 and LC25, the combinations of C. limon LC25 + C. aurantium LC25, C. limon LC25 + C. sinensis LC25, and C. sinensis LC25 + C. aurantium LC25 were tested to evaluate the combined effects of essential oils. The treatments had three replications and each replicate was performed on ten two-days-old adult insects in a completely randomized design. Also, the essential oils were analyzed by GC/MS to evaluate their major constituents. The LC50 value (µl.l-1) of essential oils of C. limon, C. sinensis, and C. aurantium was 3.8, 2.65, and 3.11 after 24 hours and 2.48, 1.93, and 2.88 after 48 hours on the S. granaries adults, 0.23, 2.41, and 2.66 after 24 hours and 0.13, 1.38, and 2.35 after 48 hours on C. maculatus, and 5.33, 2.76, and 1.35 after 24 hours and 24.2, 2.49, and 0.89 after 48 hours on T. confusum, respectively. The study on the combined effects of essential oils showed that the C. limon LC25 + C. sinensis LC25 treatment was more effective than the effect of each essential oil alone on all three pests. According to the results of this study, the use of Citrus peel essential oil, especially C. limon, could be recommended in the production of bio-pesticides.
