Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
Leili Safaii; Ebrahim Sharifi Ashoorabadi; Davood Amin Azarm
Abstract
Background and objectives: Ziziphora is a medicinal genus belonging to the Lamiaceae family. This genus comprises 18 species worldwide, of which three annual species, including Z. capitata, Z. persica, and Z. tenuior, along with one perennial species (Z. clinopodioides), grow in Iran. Except for Z. persica, ...
Read More
Background and objectives: Ziziphora is a medicinal genus belonging to the Lamiaceae family. This genus comprises 18 species worldwide, of which three annual species, including Z. capitata, Z. persica, and Z. tenuior, along with one perennial species (Z. clinopodioides), grow in Iran. Except for Z. persica, the remaining species are distributed across the habitats of Isfahan province. The aerial parts of these plants emit a fragrant aroma during flowering, and today their bioactive compounds are widely used in pharmaceutical formulations to treat cough, heartache, intestinal inflammation, uterine infections, menstrual pain, nausea, and various cardiovascular disorders. Ziziphora essential oil contains valuable constituents, including pulegone and 1,8-cineole, with their proportions differing among species. The objective of this research was to evaluate the quantitative yield and essential oil composition of species within this genus in Isfahan province, and to assess their feasibility for introduction into the country’s agricultural production system.Methodology: This study was conducted at the Fozveh Research Station of Isfahan between 2019 and 2020. The species examined included Z. clinopodioides, Z. tenuior, and Z. capitata. Seeds of the annual species were cultivated in February of both 2019 and 2020. The perennial species was sown in February 2019 inside a greenhouse using seedling trays filled with peat moss, and the resulting seedlings were transplanted to the field in April. Plants were established using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Quantitative traits such as plant height and leaf biomass were measured at the flowering stage (defined as more than 70% flowering). Plants within one square meter of each plot were harvested to determine dry biomass, while the remaining plants were retained to measure thousand-seed weight and seed yield. Essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus. Essential oil composition was quantified by gas chromatography (GC), and qualitative identification of compounds was performed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS).Results: The three Ziziphora species exhibited significant differences in plant height, dry aerial biomass, dry-to-fresh weight ratio of aerial parts, seed weight per plant, thousand-seed weight, leaf and seed yield, and essential oil percentage and yield. The highest plant height (38 cm), leaf yield (3800 kg/ha), and seed yield (95 kg/ha) were recorded in Z. clinopodioides during the second year. Essential oil content among the species ranged from 0.5% to 1.53%, with the highest percentage and yield, 1.53% and 57 kg/ha, respectively, observed in Z. clinopodioides in the second year. Essential oil profiling demonstrated interspecific and interannual differences in both the type and number of identified compounds. Z. clinopodioides presented 17 and 20 compounds in the first and second year, constituting 74.7% and 91.9% of the total essential oil. The 1,8-cineole, reaching 44.5% and 31.6%, was the dominant compound in the first and second years. Camphene (3.4%), sabinene (4.8%), α-terpinene (3.1%), and linalool (3.2%) were also key constituents. In Z. tenuior, 14 and 10 compounds were identified in the first and second years, accounting for 85.6% and 97.5% of the essential oil. The primary compound in both years was pulegone, measured at 64.3% in the first year and 89.5% in the second year. p-Mentha-3-en-8-ol and 1,8-cineole, at 7.6% and 4.9% were the most abundant constituents after pulegone, respectively, in the first year. In Z. capitata, 9 and 7 compounds were detected across the two years, representing 99.4% and 90.5% of the total essential oil. The major constituents in the first year were piperitone (25.3%), thymol (26.3%), and carvacrol (30.1%); however, in the second year, piperitone dominated at 42.2%.Conclusion: Considering that Ziziphora currently lacks a defined position in the national agricultural system and given the superior quantitative and qualitative performance of Z. clinopodioides compared with the other species, as well as its considerable essential oil yield and valuable chemical constituents, it can be proposed as a promising new candidate for large-scale cultivation and integration into the country’s agricultural production framework.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
Behzad Omidpour; Ali Asghar Hatamnia; Nayer Mohammadkhani
Abstract
Background and Objective: Satureja bachtiarica belongs to the Lamiaceae family and contains valuable compounds such as thymol, p-cymene, and carvacrol. Sixteen aromatic plant species of the genus Satureja grow in Iran. In this study, different ecotypes of S. bachtiarica were collected from Ilam, Kermanshah, ...
Read More
Background and Objective: Satureja bachtiarica belongs to the Lamiaceae family and contains valuable compounds such as thymol, p-cymene, and carvacrol. Sixteen aromatic plant species of the genus Satureja grow in Iran. In this study, different ecotypes of S. bachtiarica were collected from Ilam, Kermanshah, Kurdistan, and West Azerbaijan provinces. Since ecological and environmental factors influence the quantity and quality of phytochemical compounds in aromatic plants, this research investigated and compared the phytochemical composition and antioxidant properties of S. bachtiarica essential oil across different habitats.
Methodology: Samples were collected during the flowering season from various habitats with distinct ecological conditions in the provinces of Ilam, Kermanshah, Kurdistan, and West Azerbaijan. Dried plant powder was used for extraction and essential oil isolation. Total phenol, flavonoid content, total antioxidant capacity, and DPPH radical scavenging capacity were measured using spectrophotometric methods. Essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation, and both quantitative and qualitative analyses of the essential oil were conducted using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS).
Results: The data showed that extracts of samples collected from Baneh and Gilan-e-Gharb had the highest and lowest phenolic content (4.648 and 2.034 mg gallic acid/g dry weight) and flavonoid content (0.164 and 0.090 mg quercetin/g dry weight), respectively. Likewise, the highest and lowest antioxidant activity were recorded in the Baneh (42.67%) and Gilan-e-Gharb (27.06%) samples, respectively. The strongest DPPH radical scavenging capacity (percentage inhibition) was observed in samples from Baneh (43.16%), while the weakest was found in samples from Gilan-e-Gharb (31.87%). A significant positive correlation (r > 0.9) at the 1% probability level was detected between total phenol content and both antioxidant capacity and DPPH radical scavenging capacity, as well as between antioxidant capacity and DPPH radical scavenging capacity. A significant positive correlation (r > 0.875) at the 1% probability level was also observed between total flavonoid content and both antioxidant capacity and DPPH radical scavenging capacity, in addition to a significant correlation between total phenol and total flavonoid content. The main constituents of S. bachtiarica essential oil included thymol, p-cymene, and gamma-terpinene, with their levels varying by region. Comparison of essential oil components in the studied habitats indicated that thymol (28.8-42.78%) was the dominant compound in four of the habitats, whereas p-cymene (35.2%) was the major constituent in the Miandoab habitat. Correlation analysis revealed a negative and significant relationship between thymol (the principal essential oil component) and total flavonoid content, antioxidant capacity, and DPPH radical scavenging capacity. Although thymol also showed a negative correlation with total phenol content, this correlation was not significant. The highest and lowest essential oil yields were observed in samples collected from Miandoab (2.75%) and Baneh (0.87%), respectively.
Conclusion: The findings demonstrated that the principal components of S. bachtiarica essential oil collected from regions with varying ecological conditions include thymol, p-cymene, and gamma-terpinene, with their levels differing across habitats. Overall, essential oil yield and the quantitative and qualitative composition of essential oil constituents depend on ecological and environmental factors, which play a crucial role in shaping the phytochemical characteristics of aromatic plants.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
Abdolbaset Mahmoudi; Mohammad-Taghi Ebadi; Mahdi Ayyari
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Eryngium billardieri, known as “Zul” or “Boghnagh,” and Eryngium caucasicum, known as “Chuchagh,” are two important species among the 11 known species of the Eryngium genus in Iran. Plants of this genus are used to produce hydrosol, which ...
Read More
Background and Objectives: Eryngium billardieri, known as “Zul” or “Boghnagh,” and Eryngium caucasicum, known as “Chuchagh,” are two important species among the 11 known species of the Eryngium genus in Iran. Plants of this genus are used to produce hydrosol, which is claimed to reduce blood glucose levels. Although the essential oil content of these species is relatively low, their diversity of volatile compounds is high. The aim of this study, consistent with previous research, is to investigate the water-soluble and water-insoluble volatile compounds of these two species. During hydrosol extraction from these plants, known as "Aragh-e Boghnagh," volatile compounds are transferred into the water; therefore, identifying water-soluble and water-insoluble volatile compounds is crucial for understanding the chemical composition of these species.
Material and Methods: In this study, E. billardieri (Zul or Boghnagh) was collected from three locations: Ganjname (GN, Hamedan province), Lardam (DL, Damavand, Tehran province), and Razghan (RZ), and E. caucasicum (Chuchagh) from Bojaq (BO) National Park (Gilan province) and Abr village (RA, Semnan province) at altitudes of 2800, 2450, 1750, -11, and 2056 m above sea level, respectively. Shade-dried plant materials were subjected to hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. Essential oil content was calculated on a weight/weight (%) basis. After essential oil extraction, 100 ml of hydrosol was collected for fractionation using 100 ml ethyl acetate, performed in three replicates. The percentage of the organic fraction was calculated as weight/volume (grams per 100 ml of hydrosol). Essential oil composition was analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and quantified by GC-FID.
Results: The essential oil yields for all samples were 0.15%, 0.11%, 0.37%, 0.10%, and 0.12% w/w for GN, DL, RZ, BO, and RA, respectively. The main components of E. billardieri essential oils were 2,3,6-trimethylbenzaldehyde (18.8%, 16.8%, 12.3%), sesquicineole (31.3%, 28.8%, 40.5%), and β-bisabolenal (9.2%, 13.8%, 7.3%) for GN, DL, and RZ, respectively. The main components of E. caucasicum essential oils were trans-caryophyllene (20.3% and 26.5%), β-bisabolene (7.4% and 9.8%), β-sesquiphellandrene (30.1% and 20.2%), and cis-falcarinol (16.6% and 23.2%) for RA and BO, respectively. The yields of ethyl acetate fractions were 0.031, 0.012, 0.023, 0.024, and 0.008 g per 100 ml of hydrosol for Of-GN, Of-DL, Of-RZ, Of-BO, and Of-RA, respectively. The main components of these fractions were 2,3,6-trimethylbenzaldehyde (45.5%, 30.2%, 22.9%), sesquicineole (12.0%, 8.1%, 14.6%), 3-methyl-2(5H)-furanone (9.1%, 12.4%, 17.8%), and p-vinyl-guaiacol (11.4%, 14.6%, 12.3%) for Of-GN, Of-DL, and Of-RZ, respectively. For Of-RA and Of-BO, the main components were 3-methyl-2(5H)-furanone (6.7% and 21.8%), trans-β-ocimene (7.8% and 16.8%), p-vinyl-guaiacol (15.2% and 11.6%), and caryophyllene oxide (23.7% and 14.8%), respectively.
Conclusion: By identifying water-soluble and water-insoluble volatile compounds, the relationships between these compounds were clarified. In the fractions of both species, p-vinyl-guaiacol and 3-methyl-2(5H)-furanone were the main compounds, which were not detected even in trace amounts in the essential oils. Additionally, 2,3,6-trimethylbenzaldehyde was observed in the essential oil and organic fractions of both species, with higher content in E. billardieri than in E. caucasicum. Moreover, 2,3,4-trimethylbenzaldehyde was in both the essential oil and organic fraction of E. caucasicum hydrosol but only in the essential oil of E. billardieri.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
Somayeh Badakhshan; Enayatollah Tohidi-Nejad; Jalal Ghanbari; Bahareh Parsa Motlagh
Abstract
Background and objective: One of the most critical factors influencing the production of agricultural products is the proper nutrition of plants. In addition to its positive role in increasing quantitative yield, it also affects the quality of various products. Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa ...
Read More
Background and objective: One of the most critical factors influencing the production of agricultural products is the proper nutrition of plants. In addition to its positive role in increasing quantitative yield, it also affects the quality of various products. Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) is a medicinal plant and an annual, short-day, self-fertilizing species sensitive to cold and frost. More than 300 Roselle species exist worldwide; like other plants, their growth and yield, both quantitative and qualitative, can be influenced by genetic factors and environmental conditions. Moreover, due to the importance of the quality of extracted compounds in all types of medicinal plants, greater care is required when using chemical fertilizers. This study was conducted to develop a suitable integrated nutritional program using organic and biological fertilizers to replace chemical fertilizers in Roselle cultivation.Methodology: The field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications in Jiroft during the years 2021-2022 and 2022–2023. The experimental treatments included 14 nutritional sources: control (T1), inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (T2), application of Azospirillum (T3), simultaneous application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi + Azospirillum (T4), 100% recommended poultry manure (T5), 100% recommended chemical fertilizer (T6), 50% poultry manure + 50% recommended chemical fertilizer (T7), 50% poultry manure + arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (T8), 50% poultry manure + Azospirillum (T9), 50% poultry manure + arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi + Azospirillum (T10), 50% chemical fertilizer + arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (T11), 50% chemical fertilizer + Azospirillum (T12), 50% chemical fertilizer + arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi + Azospirillum (T13), and 25% poultry manure + 25% chemical fertilizer + arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi + Azospirillum (T14). Planting was done on June 12, and harvesting took place on December 1 in both years. Traits measured included wet and dry yield of Roselle sepals, anthocyanin content of sepals, and Hunter’s color indices (L*, a*, and b*). Additionally, to evaluate color quality and purity, three indices-hue angle (degrees), chroma, and redness—were assessed. Data analyses were performed using SAS v. 9.1, and means were compared with Duncan’s test.Results: The findings showed significant differences among fertilizer treatments for all traits. The highest Roselle sepal yield was obtained from 50% poultry manure + Azospirillum (T9) and 50% poultry manure + 50% chemical fertilizer (T7), with a 55% increase compared to the control (T1). The highest dry sepal yield was also observed in 50% poultry manure + 50% chemical fertilizer (T7), with no significant difference from 50% poultry manure + Azospirillum (T9). The highest anthocyanin content, with increases of 36.26% and 34.97% over the control, was recorded in poultry manure + arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi + Azospirillum (T10) and 50% poultry manure + Azospirillum (T9), respectively. These two treatments also produced the maximum red-green color index values (25.292 and 24.960), color saturation (39.980 and 39.403), and redness (10.769 and 10.282), respectively.Conclusion: The results indicate that combined nutritional treatments containing poultry manure and biofertilizers can enhance both the quality and quantity of Roselle sepal yield. Sepals from these treatments exhibited the highest values for the measured quantitative traits. In color attributes, the highest values were also obtained from poultry manure and biofertilizer combinations. Therefore, integrated nutritional treatments involving these fertilizers appear to be a suitable alternative for reducing chemical fertilizer use while improving both the quantitative and qualitative yield of Roselle
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
elnaz farajzadeh memari tabrizi; afsaneh yousefpour
Abstract
Background and objectives: Auxin and nano-humic acid are among the vital compounds for improving the growth and performance of plants, especially medicinal plants. Auxins are plant hormones that play a role in plant growth and development processes, including rooting, stem elongation, ...
Read More
Background and objectives: Auxin and nano-humic acid are among the vital compounds for improving the growth and performance of plants, especially medicinal plants. Auxins are plant hormones that play a role in plant growth and development processes, including rooting, stem elongation, and regulating responses to environmental conditions. These hormones help regulate hormonal balance in plants and can help increase the quality and quantity of plant products. Nano-humic acid is also an organic compound that is obtained from the decomposition of organic matter in the soil and, due to its nano-sized dimensions, has better absorption capacity in plants. This compound helps improve soil properties, increase water retention capacity, facilitate nutrient absorption, and strengthen the plant's defense system. The use of nano-humic acid in combination with auxin can have positive effects on the growth and quality of medicinal plants, including increasing the content of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of auxin hormone and nano-humic acid on the physiological and morphological characteristics of the medicinal plant Valerian.Methodology: The treatments included different concentrations of auxin (0, 15, 30, and 45 ppm) and different concentrations of nano-humic acid (2, 4, and 6 g/l). Both treatments were applied as a foliar spray. This study was conducted in two years as a split-plot in a randomized block design. The dry weight of roots and shoots, and the content of auxin, cytokinin, and carbohydrates in roots and shoots were measured.Results: In this study, the effect of auxin hormone and nano-humic acid on the physiological and morphological characteristics of the medicinal plant Valerian was investigated. The results showed that the application of auxin at concentrations of 30 and 45 ppm significantly increased the dry weight of leaves, so that in the first year, foliar spraying of auxin at a concentration of 30 ppm increased the dry weight of leaves by 15.1%, and in the second year, this increase reached 40%. Furthermore, in nano-humic acid treatments, foliar spraying at a concentration of 6 g/L significantly increased the dry weight of leaves, and it increased by 12.8% compared to not using nano-humic acid. The effect of auxin hormone also increased the chlorophyll content index, so that in the treatment with a concentration of 30 ppm, this index increased by 13.9%. In addition, the use of nano-humic acid at a concentration of 6 g/L also increased the chlorophyll index of leaves by 8%. Regarding root growth, the application of auxin, especially at concentrations of 30 and 45 ppm, increased the dry weight of roots by 33 to 39%, and nano-humic acid at a concentration of 6 g/L increased the dry weight of roots by 19.1%. Moreover, both auxin and nano-humic acid treatments increased the content of soluble sugars in leaves and roots, by 21.7% in the case of nano-humic treatment and by 14.6% in the case of auxin treatment.Conclusion: In general, the results of this study showed that both auxin and nano-humic acid compounds, by affecting the hormonal and metabolic processes of the plant, can significantly enhance the growth and yield of medicinal plants such as valerian and increase the indices of chlorophyll, soluble sugars, and root growth. Both auxin and nano-humic acid treatments enhance leaf and root growth and increase the yield of the medicinal plant valerian by increasing photosynthetic capacity, cytokinin content, and plant source power.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
Mohammed Karim Shebli; Majid Bagnazari; Meisam Mohammadi; Afsaneh Azizi
Abstract
Background and objectives: Garden thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) is prominent among medicinal plants due to its applications across various industries. Salinity is the second most significant environmental factor limiting agricultural productivity in many regions worldwide, including Iran. Biofertilizers, ...
Read More
Background and objectives: Garden thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) is prominent among medicinal plants due to its applications across various industries. Salinity is the second most significant environmental factor limiting agricultural productivity in many regions worldwide, including Iran. Biofertilizers, which supply macro- and micronutrients, amino acids, and plant hormones, can enhance plant growth and improve stress resistance. This study examined the effects of thyme extract (Thymbra spicata), seaweed, and a comprehensive bacterial biofertilizer on garden thyme's morphophysiological traits, biochemical characteristics, essential oil yield, and secondary metabolite production under salt stress conditions.Methodology: This research was designed and implemented as a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications, conducted in the medicinal plant research greenhouse of Ilam University. The first factor included treatments of 10% T. spicata extract (TS), 1% seaweed (SB), 10% complete bacterial biofertilizer (BB), and their combination (TS+SB+BB). The second factor involved three salinity levels: 0, 100, and 200 mM sodium chloride (S0, S100, and S200). In this study, in addition to morphological traits, the following parameters were measured: relative water content, electrolyte leakage, total chlorophyll, carotenoid and anthocyanin contents of shoots, total phenol, flavonoid, total protein, soluble sugar, proline, malondialdehyde, the enzyme activities of catalase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, antioxidant activity, and essential oil content. Essential oil components were also identified using GC and GC/MS. After data collection, the results were analyzed statistically using SAS 9.3 software, and Duncan’s multiple range test was used to compare means at a 5% probability level. The findings were presented in tables and graphs using Excel.Results: Based on the results, increasing salinity stress led to a decline in the average values of morphological, physiological, and biochemical indices of T. vulgaris. However, the application of biofertilizer treatments mitigated the adverse effects of salinity. According to the mean comparisons, under both non-stress and salinity stress conditions, the highest morphological indices were observed in the combined treatment of TS+SB+BB. This combined treatment also enhanced relative water content, chlorophyll, carotenoid, anthocyanin, total phenol, flavonoid, total protein, soluble sugar, and proline at all stress levels. In terms of carotenoid, anthocyanin, total phenol, flavonoid, proline, soluble sugar, catalase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase enzyme activities, and antioxidant properties, values generally increased with higher stress levels. The highest phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity and antioxidant activity were recorded under both non-stress and moderate stress conditions with the TS treatment, while under high-stress conditions, the TS+SB+BB combination showed the greatest activity. Salinity stress also increased electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. However, at all three salinity levels, the application of the TS+SB+BB treatment significantly reduced electrolyte leakage and MDA content. In this study, the highest essential oil content was observed under moderate salinity stress (S100) in plants treated with the TS+SB+BB combination, which also increased thymol content by 45% compared to the control.Conclusion: The results of the morphophysiological and biochemical assessments, along with essential oil analysis of garden thyme, revealed a significant decline in photosynthetic activity under salt stress conditions. This reduction was accompanied by decreased leaf water status and a decline in various growth and biochemical parameters. The interaction between salinity stress and the TS+SB+BB biofertilizer treatment demonstrated that plants receiving the combined treatment experienced less reduction in growth, physiological, biochemical, and essential oil parameters under high salinity stress compared to untreated controls. Overall, it can be concluded that the combined biofertilizer treatment effectively mitigates the negative effects of salinity stress, supporting improved quantitative and qualitative performance of garden thyme under adverse conditions.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
Mohammad Ali Zarei; Narges Nourbakhsh
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Antioxidants are a group of chemical compounds naturally present in many foods. These compounds help protect the body’s cells and tissues from oxidative damage by neutralizing free radicals. The most important natural antioxidants are found in grains, vegetables, fruits, ...
Read More
Background and Objectives: Antioxidants are a group of chemical compounds naturally present in many foods. These compounds help protect the body’s cells and tissues from oxidative damage by neutralizing free radicals. The most important natural antioxidants are found in grains, vegetables, fruits, and spices. Frankincense (Boswellia thurifera) is a medicinal plant traditionally used in Arabic medicine to enhance memory. Mastic gum, derived from the shrub Pistacia lentiscus, possesses numerous medicinal properties and is considered a medicinal plant. The chemical compounds extracted from frankincense and mastic gums using various solvents may exhibit different antioxidant properties. Consequently, this research aimed to investigate the reducing power, as well as the phenolic and flavonoid contents, of frankincense and mastic extracts prepared using different solvents.Methodology: Acetone, ethyl acetate, hexane, ethanol, methanol, and ether were selected as solvents for extracting frankincense and mastic gums using a rotary evaporator. The resulting extracts were analyzed to evaluate their reducing power, antioxidant activity, and free radical scavenging ability using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Additionally, the total phenolic content was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method, and the total flavonoid content was measured using the aluminum chloride colorimetric method.Results: In the experiments performed with extracts obtained using various solvents (acetone, hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, ether, and ethanol), the lowest EC50 value was observed in the hexane extract of frankincense (2.24 mg/mL), and the acetone extract of mastic (3.10 mg/mL), indicating the highest reducing power. Conversely, the highest EC50 values—indicative of the lowest reducing power—were found in the hexane extracts of frankincense (64.75 mg/mL) and mastic (12.59 mg/mL). Regarding total phenolic content, the ethanolic extract of frankincense had the highest value (0.2675 mg/mL), while the hexane extract had the lowest (0.0825 mg/mL). For mastic extracts, the acetone extract exhibited the highest phenolic content (0.261 mg/mL), and the methanolic extract showed the lowest (0.086 mg/mL). As for total flavonoid content, the highest amounts were recorded in the ether extracts of mastic (0.133 mg/mL) and frankincense (0.161 mg/mL). The lowest flavonoid content was found in the methanolic extract of mastic (0.0185 mg/mL) and the ethanolic extract of frankincense (0.0435 mg/mL).Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that extracts of mastic and frankincense obtained using acetone, ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate, hexane, and ether exhibited significant antioxidant activity. Among the frankincense extracts, the methanolic extract, with the highest EC50 value, demonstrated the lowest antioxidant activity, while the hexane extract, with the lowest EC50, had the highest antioxidant activity. Similarly, for mastic, the hexane extract showed the lowest antioxidant activity (highest EC50), while the acetone extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (lowest EC50). Another objective of the study was to assess the phenolic and flavonoid content of mastic and frankincense extracts in different solvents. The highest phenolic content was found in the ethanolic extract of frankincense and the acetone extract of mastic, while the lowest was observed in the hexane extract of frankincense and the methanolic extract of mastic. For flavonoids, the ether extracts of both mastic and frankincense gums contained the highest levels, whereas the methanolic extract of mastic and the ethanolic extract of frankincense contained the lowest. Given the strong correlation between phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity in frankincense and mastic, these plants can serve as valuable natural sources of antioxidants for human health and have potential applications as effective medicinal agents.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
Marzieh Babashpour-Asl; Marzieh Piryaei
Abstract
Background and objectives: Malus domestica Borkh. ‘Red delicious’ is one of the most economically significant fruit crops cultivated worldwide, including in Iran, with its aroma arising from a complex mixture of volatile compounds that define its sensory profile and ...
Read More
Background and objectives: Malus domestica Borkh. ‘Red delicious’ is one of the most economically significant fruit crops cultivated worldwide, including in Iran, with its aroma arising from a complex mixture of volatile compounds that define its sensory profile and vary across species and cultivars. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) represent an innovative class of solvents distinguished by their non-flammability, negligible volatility, low vapor pressure, thermal stability, biodegradability, minimal toxicity, and reusability, excelling in extracting bioactive compounds while preserving their structural and functional integrity while also serving dual roles as reaction media and catalysts in organic synthesis to enhance bioavailability. Headspace single-drop microextraction (HS-SDME) is a highly efficient technique for analyzing volatile and semi-volatile compounds, eliminating matrix interference with minimal solvent use, making it ideal for essential oil extraction.Methodology: This study developed an HS-SDME method for extracting apple essential oils using newly designed DESs, followed by GC/MS analysis, with key parameters, including DES composition, drop volume, sample weight, extraction temperature, and time, systematically optimized, evaluating three DESs composed of choline chloride paired with ethylene glycol, phenol, or 4-chlorophenol as hydrogen bond donors, and comparing the results with conventional hydrodistillation (HD) using a Clevenger apparatus.Results: Among the tested solvents, the combination of choline chloride and 4-chlorophenol demonstrated the highest extraction efficiency for the target analytes. Several experimental parameters influencing the efficiency of essential oil extraction using the DESs-HS-SDME method were optimized as follows: a eutectic solvent volume of 3 mL, an extraction time of 50 minutes, an extraction temperature of 80 °C, and a sample weight of 3 g. Using the DESs-HS-SDME method, 22 compounds were isolated from apple essential oil, consistent with the results obtained from the HD method. Of these compounds, 76% were monoterpenes, including α-thujene, α-pinene, camphene, sabinene, β-pinene, myrcene, α-phellandrene, p-cymene, β-phellandrene, Z-β-ocimene, E-β-ocimene, γ-terpinene, terpinolene, α-pinene oxide, trans-sabinene hydrate, cis-verbenol, neo-3-thujanol, carvacrol ethyl ether, and terpinen-4-ol acetate. Additionally, 20% were sesquiterpenes, comprising bicyclogermacrene, (E,E)-α-farnesene, germacrene B, spathulenol, and epi-cedrol. Notably, α-phellandrene, α-pinene, β-pinene, sabinene, and p-cymene were the most predominant compounds in both analytical methods employed.Conclusion: In this study, an analytical procedure was proposed for the first time for extracting essential oil from apple fruit using headspace single-drop microextraction (HS-SDME) with deep eutectic solvents (DESs). Unlike previous studies, which employed conventional solvents for HS-SDME, this work introduces DESs as a greener and more effective alternative. The DESs-HS-SDME method provides an environmentally friendly, simple, and efficient approach for essential oil extraction from apple fruit. Given their low toxicity, biodegradability, and tunable properties, DESs show great promise as suitable extraction media for isolating volatile compounds from natural samples using HS-SDME.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
MOHAMMAD KARAMI; Bita Bakhshi; Mohammad-Taghi Ebadi; Mahdi Ayyari
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Nepeta crispa Willd., commonly known as Mofarrah, is an endemic plant of Iran belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Its distribution in Iran is limited to the western region, specifically Hamadan province. In this study, the plant was collected from three habitats in ...
Read More
Background and Objectives: Nepeta crispa Willd., commonly known as Mofarrah, is an endemic plant of Iran belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Its distribution in Iran is limited to the western region, specifically Hamadan province. In this study, the plant was collected from three habitats in Hamadan province, Arzanfood (Hamedan city), Gashani (Tuyserkan city), and Piste Eski (Hamedan city) at elevations of 3021, 2783, and 2686 meters above sea level, respectively, during the flowering stage. The research aimed to investigate the essential oil content and water-soluble volatile compounds (hydrosol) of N. crispa and to compare these compounds across different habitats. The study also sought to identify variations in essential oil main components and hydrosol to evaluate the influence of ecological characteristics on the plant's chemical composition.Methodology: The plant samples were shade-dried, and essential oil was extracted using a Clevenger apparatus for 3 hours. Water-soluble volatile compounds (hydrosol) were collected by leaving the exit part of the Clevenger open to condense vapor into liquid. The hydrosol was then separated using ethyl acetate solvent in a separatory funnel. The essential oil and hydrosol were analyzed using GC-FID and GC/MS.Results: The essential oil yields from the Arzanfood, Gashani, and Piste Eski samples were 2.01%, 1.97%, and 1.82% (w/w), respectively. The concentration of water-soluble volatile compounds in the hydrosol were 0.15, 0.11, and 0.12 grams per 100 ml, respectively. The primary compounds identified in the essential oil were 1,8-cineole (49.4%, 48.5%, and 60%), 4aα,7β,7aα-nepetalactone (27%, 3.7%, and 8.3%), 4aα,7α,7aα-nepetalactone (0.1%, 23.5%, and 7.2%), and β-pinene (4.3%, 5.4%, and 6.1%) for Arzanfood, Gashani, and Piste Eski, respectively. In the hydrosol, the main components were 4aα,7β,7aα-nepetalactone (74.1%, 40.3%, and 57.1%) and α-pinene oxide (4.6%, 7.1%, and 5.2%).Conclusion: The variation in essential oil yield across different habitats highlights the impact of ecological factors on the quantity of essential oil. The highest essential oil yield (2.01%) was observed in the Arzanfood sample, which also has the highest elevation among the studied regions. A total of 22 compounds were identified in the essential oil, with 18, 20, and 17 compounds detected in the Arzanfood, Gashani, and Piste Eski samples, respectively. The dominant compound in the essential oil was 1,8-cineole, while 4aα,7β,7aα-nepetalactone was the most abundant compound in the hydrosol. This study marks the first report on the hydrosol analysis of N. crispa from different habitats.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
Mehdi Heydari-Rahni; Yousef Filizadeh; Mohammad Nasri
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Valeriana, a genus in the Caprifoliaceae family, includes several species, notably Valeriana officinalis L. (valerian). Valerian root extract contains various bioactive compounds, including valerenic acid, valeranone, valepotriates, and gamma-aminobutyric ...
Read More
Background and Objectives: Valeriana, a genus in the Caprifoliaceae family, includes several species, notably Valeriana officinalis L. (valerian). Valerian root extract contains various bioactive compounds, including valerenic acid, valeranone, valepotriates, and gamma-aminobutyric acid, which have been widely used as sedatives to treat sleep disorders such as insomnia. This study aimed to evaluate the induction of valerian hairy roots using three different strains of Agrobacterium rhizogenes (A13, R1601, and LBA9402) under four different growth media compositions: (1) MS full strength, (2) MS supplemented with KH2PO4, NH4NO3, and KNO3, (3) MS supplemented with KH2PO4, NH4NO3, KNO3, and CaCl2, and (4) a medium containing MgSO4, microelements, Na2EDTA, FeSO4, and vitamins.Methodology: This study was a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with eight replications under laboratory conditions. Seeds of V. officinalis were obtained from a commercial supplier (Pakan Seed Company, Isfahan, Iran) and germinated under greenhouse conditions. Before sowing, seeds were washed with tap water and distilled water. Seeds that settled at the bottom of the washing vessel were selected as they were expected to be the most viable. They were soaked overnight in water before being washed with a 10% detergent solution for 10 minutes, followed by surface disinfection with 70% ethanol for 30 seconds and 6% NaOCl for 5 minutes. After rinsing four times with sterile water, the seeds were germinated on solid Schulz medium, without growth regulators, at 25°C under a 16-hour light/8-hour dark photoperiod (45 µE m⁻² S⁻¹). Hairy root induction was performed using spray and leaf disc methods, and transformation was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for the presence of rolB and virD genes. Hairy root induction rate, lateral branches per centimeter, number of hairy roots per explant, and dry weight of hairy roots were measured after 60 days. Essential oil was extracted by hydro-distillation and analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS).Results: The study confirmed that the tested A. rhizogenes strains could induce hairy roots in valerian. The fastest hairy root emergence was observed in explants inoculated with strain A13, occurring within 10 days. The highest induction rate (92%), hairy root dry weight (272 mg), and number of hairy roots per explant (19.2) were obtained in leaf explants inoculated with the A13 strain and cultured in MS medium supplemented with KH2PO4, NH4NO3, KNO3, and CaCl2. No significant differences were observed in the morphological traits of hairy roots induced by different A. rhizogenes strains.Conclusion: The findings indicate that growth media composition, appropriate A. rhizogenes strain, and optimized growth conditions enhanced hairy root biomass production. The A13 strain was the most effective in promoting mass hairy root production, particularly in MS medium supplemented with KH2PO4, NH4NO3, KNO3, and CaCl2. Given the complex physiological processes involved, valerian hairy root cultures can preserve valeric acid found in vegetative tissues. Future research should focus on identifying the optimal growth media conditions that maximize vegetative growth and secondary metabolite production in valerian.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
Abdolvahed Safarzaei
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Extracts from various medicinal plants contain valuable bioactive and phytochemical compounds, including polyphenols and flavonoids, known for their potent antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and antidiabetic properties. The caper plant (Capparis spinose L.), native to ...
Read More
Background and Objectives: Extracts from various medicinal plants contain valuable bioactive and phytochemical compounds, including polyphenols and flavonoids, known for their potent antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and antidiabetic properties. The caper plant (Capparis spinose L.), native to Hirmand City, is a rich source of bioactive compounds such as saccharides, glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, fatty acids, vitamins, and steroids. Novel extraction methods, such as ultrasound-assisted extraction, offer significant advantages over traditional techniques like Soxhlet and maceration. Ultrasound facilitates efficient extraction, reduces processing time, and preserves heat-sensitive bioactive compounds. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of ultrasound waves in extracting phenolic and antioxidant compounds from caper leaves.Methodology: Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Box–Behnken Design (BBD) were employed to optimize two extraction parameters for phenolic and antioxidant compounds from caper leaves using ethanolic and aqueous solvents: extraction time (15, 30, 45 min) and ultrasound power (100, 200, 300 watts). Design Expert software suggested 13 treatments for extraction. Dried plant leaves were ground and dissolved in 70% ethanol (for alcoholic extraction) or distilled water (for aqueous extraction) at 1:4 w/v. Ultrasonic bath treatment with a constant frequency of 40 kHz was applied. Alcoholic extracts were concentrated using a rotary evaporator under vacuum, while aqueous extracts were processed in a vacuum oven at 40°C. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was assessed using the Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method for total phenolic content (TPC) and the DPPH free radical inhibition method, determining the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) index. Mean comparisons between the antioxidant test results of aqueous and alcoholic extracts were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test in a completely randomized design at α = 5% with SAS software version 9.1.Results: Statistical analysis using the RSM model indicated that the quadratic model was the best fit for the measured parameters. The significant effects of time and ultrasound power on phenolic compound extraction and DPPH free radical inhibition ability in alcoholic extracts were determined with regression coefficients of 0.99 and 0.98, respectively. For aqueous extracts, the regression coefficients were 0.98 and 0.99, respectively. The TPC of caper leaf extracts obtained via ultrasound-assisted extraction with ethanol and distilled water solvents was 20.77±0.32 mg/g and 17.53±0.54 mg/g, respectively. The IC50 values of ethanol and distilled water extracts were 13.16±0.60 μg/ml and 20.42±0.81 μg/ml, respectively. The optimal extraction conditions were identified as an extraction time of 45 minutes and an ultrasound power of 300 watts. Under these conditions, the TPC values were 27.4 mg/g (ethanolic extract) and 23.8 mg/g (aqueous extract), while the IC50 values were 8.1 μg/ml and 10.8 μg/ml, respectively.Conclusion: Ultrasound-assisted extraction is highly efficient for both alcoholic and aqueous extraction of phenolic and antioxidant compounds from caper leaves. A direct correlation was observed between TPC levels and DPPH free radical inhibition ability. Alcoholic extracts contained higher phenolic compound concentrations and exhibited higher antioxidant activity than aqueous extracts.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
M. Sadeghimanesh; Z. Jafarian; J. Ghorbani; R. Azimi
Abstract
Background and objectives: Thymus lancifolius Celak. is one of the exclusive species of thyme genus in Iran, possessing high economic and medicinal value due to its high phenolic compounds. Considering the indiscriminate harvesting from thyme habitats, low production and non-standard quantity and quality ...
Read More
Background and objectives: Thymus lancifolius Celak. is one of the exclusive species of thyme genus in Iran, possessing high economic and medicinal value due to its high phenolic compounds. Considering the indiscriminate harvesting from thyme habitats, low production and non-standard quantity and quality of bioactive ingredients due to the high genetic diversity of thyme, the domestication of T. lancifolius Celak. species and its standardization is one of the goals of this study. In this regard, the quantity and quality of this species' essential oil (EO) were investigated and compared in habitat and field conditions.Methodology: In order to investigate the effects of environmental factors on the quantitative and qualitative production of T. lancifolius Celak. in the field and habitat conditions (five habitats of Rezen, Asadabad, Hamedan, Malayer, and Toyserkan), this species was planted in the Ekbatan station through seed propagation, in the form of a complete randomized block design with three replications. The EO of plants at the full flowering stage were extracted using the hydrodistillation method, and the chemical compounds of EO were measured and identified by GC and GC/MS devices.Results: The comparison of the EO percentage of T. lancifolius populations shows that there is a significant difference in the habitat, so the Asadabad habitat had the highest EO percentage (3.85%), and the Malayer habitat had the lowest EO (1.94%). The amount of EO of the populations in the field also has a significant difference, so the highest percentage of EO (4.18%) is related to the Asadabad population and the lowest is related to Malayer (1.78%). In the populations of Asadabad and Toyserkan, the percentage of EO from the field was more than that of the habitat, but in the populations of Razan, Hamedan, and Malayer, the higher EO belongs to the habitat. Compounds in all populations are almost similar in habitat and field conditions but differ in the type of dominant compounds and their amount. The result of the cluster analysis of the important bioactive constituents of the EO in the five studied populations indicates the existence of two types of chemical types (chemotypes), including thymol (chemotype 1) and geraniol/geranyl acetate (chemotype 2) in both field and habitat conditions. In the EO of four populations of T. lancifolius related to chemotype 1, the main compounds include thymol (habitat: 52.2-71.4%, field: 49.4-68.1%), carvacrol (habitat: 4.5-23.5%, field: 3.9-25.5%), p-cemen (habitat: 4.3-6.1%, field: 4.6-6.6%), and γ-terpinene (habitat: 3.9-9.3%, field: 5.7-8.9%). In this chemotype, the highest amount of thymol (71.4%) was observed in the Hamedan habitat, and the highest amount of phenolic compounds (80%) was found in the Malayer habitat. In the Razan population related to chemotype 2, bioactive constituents including geraniol (habitat: 52.1%, field35.8%), geranyl acetate (habitat: 22%, field: 16%), linalool (habitat: 6.3%, field: 14.7%), and thymol (habitat: 7%, farm: 12%) formed the main compounds of the EO.Conclusion: According to the results of examining the quantity and quality of EO of different populations of T. lancifolius Celak., two main chemotypes, including the thymol chemotype and the geraniol/geranyl acetate chemotype, can be introduced for the domestication and cultivation of this species in Hamadan province to prevent the destruction of thyme plants while using them in the pharmaceutical industry.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
Fatemeh Nejad-Alimoradi; Mansoureh Khodashenas; Farkhondeh Rezanejad
Abstract
Background and objectives: Nepeta, with 300 species, is one of the largest genera in the Lamiaceae family. Seventy-five species of this genus are distributed in Iran, many of which are endemic. Due to the medicinal importance and traditional uses of its various species, much research has been conducted ...
Read More
Background and objectives: Nepeta, with 300 species, is one of the largest genera in the Lamiaceae family. Seventy-five species of this genus are distributed in Iran, many of which are endemic. Due to the medicinal importance and traditional uses of its various species, much research has been conducted to identify their secondary metabolites. Nepetalactone, cineole, and phenolic compounds have been reported as their main compounds, and most have medicinal, antimicrobial, and industrial properties. The amount of these compounds varies in different parts of the plant and different species and populations. Nepeta bornmulleriHausskn. ex Bornm. is endemic to Iran and is a type specimen from Kerman province. Although secondary metabolites have been studied in many species of this genus, more research is needed on N. bornmulleri. Therefore, the morphology, quantity, and quality of antioxidant compounds and essential oils were investigated in the plant's two vegetative and generative parts.Methodology: Vegetative (stem and leaf) and generative (flower and fruit) parts of N. bornmulleri were collected in May 2023 from Rayen city (Kerman province) at an altitude of 2450 meters. The used generative parts were 80% flowers and 20% unripe fruits. The size of the plant, its vegetative form, and the structure of the inflorescence and flower were examined and photographed with the naked eye or stereomicroscope so that researchers could identify them quickly. Biochemical compounds, including phenolic compounds and essential oil, were studied in vegetative and generative parts. Total phenolic compounds, including total phenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins from fresh samples, were studied by spectrophotometric method. The phenolic compounds and anthocyanins profile were investigated using dried samples with HPLC. The analysis of essential oil was done using dry samples with gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC/MS). Essential oil extraction was done by distillation with water using Clevenger. The experiment was conducted in a completely random design, including two types of vegetative (stem and leaf) and generative (flower and fruit) organs with three replications.Results: Morphological studies of N. bornmulleri showed that in the studied area, the height of the species is about 10-25 cm with hairy basal (rosette) leaves, apical and dense head-like inflorescence, purple-blue synpetal corolla with bilobate apex, synsepal calyx. The Androecium comprises four purple stamens of equal length (didynamous stamens) and an upper pistil with tetra-achene schizocarp fruit surrounded by persistent sepals. The total content of phenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins in flowering branches (generative) was significantly higher than in leaves and stems (vegetative parts). The profile of phenolic and anthocyanin compounds by HPLC showed that ten phenolic compounds and three anthocyanin compounds were identified in the generative part, and six phenolic compounds and two anthocyanin compounds were identified in the vegetative part. The most phenolic compound observed in both vegetative and generative parts was luteolin, while malvidin-glucoside was recorded as the most anthocyanin compound. The amount of malvidin-glucoside in the generative part was twice that of the vegetative part. The percentage of essential oil in vegetative and generative parts was observed at 0.2 and 0.1, respectively. In the essential oils of vegetative and reproductive parts, respectively, 10 (69.41%) and 16 (89.29%) identified compounds and 9 (14.59%) and 4 (6.21%) unidentified compounds were reported, which in total 84% and 95.5% constituted the essential oil.The main components of the essential oil of the vegetative part include spatholenol (31.2%), 1,8-cineole (14.5%), hexadecanoic acid (10.6%), myrtenol (9.7%), caryophyllene oxide (6.4%). ) and trans-pinocarveol (4.4%). In the generative part, 1,8-cineole (31.7%), spatholenol (16.2%), myrtenol (14.14%), dihydro nepetalactone (6.92%), trans-pinocarveol (6.7%), pinocarovone (5.2%) and caryophyllene oxide (4.5%) were the main components of the essential oil.Conclusion: Based on the results, the quantity and quality of phenolic compounds, anthocyanin, and essential oil in the generative part were higher than in the vegetative part of the studied species. So, it is suggested that the generative parts of the plant be used to obtain antioxidant compounds. The amount of nepetalactone, which is significant in most species of Nepeta, was relatively low in this species, while spatholenol and 1, 8-cineole were the main compounds. Considering the numerous medicinal and industrial applications of the two dominant species combinations on the one hand and the exclusivity and limited distribution of the species on the other hand, it is essential to preserve its different populations.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
Fahimeh Gharaie; Monireh Cheniany; Ali Ganjeali
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Teucrium polium L. is a herbaceous plant from the mint family that has many uses in traditional medicine. In recent years, numerous medicinal effects such as anti-diabetes, anti-cancer, anti-spasm, and reducing fat and blood pressure have been reported. Therefore, cultivation ...
Read More
Background and Objectives: Teucrium polium L. is a herbaceous plant from the mint family that has many uses in traditional medicine. In recent years, numerous medicinal effects such as anti-diabetes, anti-cancer, anti-spasm, and reducing fat and blood pressure have been reported. Therefore, cultivation of this plant under laboratory conditions is necessary to preserve its survival, reproduction, and increased secondary metabolites. Among the solutions, elicitors in the plant tissue culture technique are one of the most widely used methods to increase secondary-medicinal metabolites. Chitosan, as a biopolymer, induces defense responses, increases antioxidant enzyme activity, and accumulates phenolic compounds. In the present study, the effect of chitosan bio-elicitor was studied on some phenolic compounds of T. polium under in vitro culture to optimize secondary metabolites and increase antioxidant capacity.Methodology: Leaf explants were prepared from preserved T. polium in hydroponic conditions and fed with Hoagland's solution. After sterilization with sodium hypochlorite 5% (v/v) and ethanol 70% (v/v), middle slices were prepared from the leaf explant and cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) culture medium containing separate and combined concentrations of benzyl amino purine (BAP)(1 and 1.5 mg.L-1) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA)(0.5 mg.L-1). The samples were kept for four weeks in the dark at 25 degrees Celsius. With callogenesis, the samples were transferred to light conditions of 16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness. At the end of the sixth week, the induced calli were subcultured. The calli were treated with chitosan at different concentrations (0, 50, 100, and 150 mg.L-1). After eight weeks, green calli were collected. Finally, to prepare the final extract for biochemical assays, extraction was done from green calli. The content of phenolic compounds (phenol, flavonoid, flavone, and phenolic acids), antioxidant activity, and phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL) activity was measured.Results: According to the results, the application of different concentrations of chitosan (0, 50, 100, and 150 mg.L-1) and all hormonal treatments (BAP1, BAP1.5, and BAP1.5+NAA 0.5 mg.L-1) caused a significant increase in the content of phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity, and PAL activity compared to the control samples. So the application of the simultaneous and combined treatment of BAP at a concentration of 1.5 mg.L-1 with NAA at a concentration of 0.5 mg.L-1, along with the treatment of 100 mg.L-1 of chitosan induced green calli of T. polium in in vitro culture, results in the maximum content of phenolic derivatives (1884.95 for phenol, 936.65 for o-diphenol, 1462.28 for flavonoid, 631.07 for flavone, and 662.41 for phenolic acids). As compared to the control, the antioxidant capacities (measured by DPPH and FRAP assays) increased by 68.34 percent and 71.92 percent, respectively. A significant increase in PAL activity (65.81%) was observed in induced calli.Conclusion: Considering the importance of T. polium as a medicinal plant, chitosan, a successful elicitor, promotes the synthesis of phenolic secondary metabolites. As a result, the increase of antioxidant power and PAL activity in the callus of T. polium.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
Fatemeh Mahdi-Navasi; Bohloul Abaszadeh; Vahid Abdossi; Marjan Diyanat; Razieh Azimi
Abstract
Bachground and objective: Satureja mutica Fisch & C.A. Mey is a perennial plant that can be cultivated under irrigation conditions and in rainfed drylands. It has anti-flatulent, appetizing, sexual enhancement, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial effects. Drying increases product ...
Read More
Bachground and objective: Satureja mutica Fisch & C.A. Mey is a perennial plant that can be cultivated under irrigation conditions and in rainfed drylands. It has anti-flatulent, appetizing, sexual enhancement, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial effects. Drying increases product shelf life by stopping enzymes, pathogens, and microorganisms. The factors that affect essential oils and their content are temperature, drying time, and the type of plant. Microwaves for drying are one of the newer methods. Their advantages include shortening drying time, maintaining quality, reducing energy consumption, preserving dried plants' color, and improving effective ingredients.Methodology: The flowering shoots were collected from the Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands research farm in 2019. Plants in the insectarium were exposed to UV-B light treatment through UV-B lamps. The plants were turned over every half hour. Irradiation agents were selected based on the preliminary test, including durations of 0, 2.5, 5, and 10 hours. After irradiation, the samples were stored in sealed bags under two conditions: refrigerator at 4°C and room temperature. The storage time was 0, 120, and 240 hours. Therefore, the sources of variation include irradiation duration in four levels (0, 2.5, 5, and 10 hours), storage conditions in two conditions (room temperature 25-27°C and fridge with a temperature of 4°C), and storage duration factor in three levels (0, 120 and 240 hours).202 grams of fresh samples (equivalent to 80 grams of dry matter) and 80 grams of dried samples in other treatments were extracted by water distillation in 3 repetitions for 2 hours. The obtained essential oils were stored in sealed bottles inside the refrigerator at 4 °C until injected into GC and GC/MS devices for quantitative and qualitative analysis. Carbohydrate, phenol, and free radical inhibition (by the DPPH method) were measured. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 18, and the means were compared with the LSD test at P ≥ 0.05.Results: Variance analysis of essential oil percentage showed that UV-B factor, storage condition (SC), storage time (ST) at the 1% level, and SC ST interaction at the 5% level had a significant effect. Due to the increase in irradiation duration, the percentage of essential oil extracted from the plant increased. This percentage increased to 0.42% in the control and 0.71% in the 10-hour treatment. Based on a mean comparison, the amount of essential oil in the shade increased from 0.48% to 0.54%. Mean comparison of the effect of storage conditions (SC) on storage time (ST) revealed that the highest percentage was related to the shade storage treatment for 240 hours with 0.61%. The mean comparison of the interaction effect of the three treatments showed that the percentage of thymol was the highest at 45% in the conditions without irradiation refrigerator×without storage. The results of the simple correlation of the traits demonstrated that thymol had a significant negative relationship with α-thujone, α-terpenine, and carvacrol. Carvacrol showed a significant negative correlation with major compounds, paracymene and thymol. It was observed that the highest antioxidant activity was obtained from 10 hours of UV-B radiation. A mean comparison of the effect of UV-B rays on the amount of phenol indicated that its amount increased in the 2.5-hour treatment compared to the other treatments. The highest antioxidant percentage could be achieved after 10 hours of irradiation in the refrigerator for 240 hours.Conclusion: The conversion of compounds occurs by irradiation of UV-B rays in the drying stages, and the amount of paracymene and thymol is reduced, and the amount of carvacrol is increased. Therefore, in S. mutica, which has thymol and carvacrol compounds, drying treatments aiming to increase the specific composition can be very effective. Also, the amount of thymol and carvacrol in dried plants may decrease compared to fresh plants. The increase in antioxidant activity in the treatment of 10 hours of UV-B radiation confirms the viability of plant cells and their efforts to prevent environmental stress through the increase of antioxidant enzymes.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
Pooran Golkar; Golnaz Arab; Mohammad Reza Vahabi; Hamidrez Eshghizadeh
Abstract
Background and objectives: Ammi visnaga L. is a medicinal and aromatic plant in the Apiaceae family. The essential oils of this plant have highly valuable aromatic compounds with valuable therapeutic and nutritional properties. Environmental stresses affect the quantity and quality ...
Read More
Background and objectives: Ammi visnaga L. is a medicinal and aromatic plant in the Apiaceae family. The essential oils of this plant have highly valuable aromatic compounds with valuable therapeutic and nutritional properties. Environmental stresses affect the quantity and quality of essential oils (EOs) in medicinal plants. This study was carried out to evaluate the independent and combined effects of salinity and drought stresses on EOs (%) and their chemical constituents in different organs of A. visnaga (seeds and head branches) under field conditions.Methodology: This study was carried out in the research farm of Isfahan University of Technology located in Lavark, Najafabad, using a split-plot design with three replications. Each replicate consisted of two rows (3 m long) of A. visnaga seeds. Different levels of salinity stress and drought stress were considered as main plots and subplots, respectively. Three levels of salinity stress [S1 (0 mM NaCl), S2 (80 mM NaCl), and S3 (80 mM NaCl)] and three drought stress levels based on soil depletion rate [D1: normal 50%, D2: moderate stress 60% and D3: severe stress 85%] were applied. Applying salt and drought stresses simultaneously started at the flowering stage (10%) and continued until the full maturity stage. After the full maturity stage of the plants, seed yield was measured. Then, the EOs extraction was done based on the Clevenger method in about 4 hours from head branches and seed samples for all studied treatments. The chemical constituents were identified using Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) techniques.Results: The independent and combined stresses of drought and salinity caused a significant increase in EOs (%) of A.visnaga. The highest EOs in the head branch (1.26%) were detected under non-drought and medium salinity stress conditions (D1S1). The lowest EOs (0.25%) were observed under non-drought and non-salinity conditions (D1S1). The highest EOs (0.25%) in seed samples were observed under D2S2 conditions (moderate drought and salinity stress), but the least amount (0.12%) was found under D1S2 conditions (moderate salinity stress) and D1S3 (severe salinity stress). The analysis of essential EOs identified 25 compounds in both seeds and head branch samples. These compounds belong to six main chemical groups. The most and lowest compounds belonged to the groups of hydrocarbon monoterpenes and oxygenated diterpenes in both branches and seeds, respectively. Cembrene was identified as the main chemical compound in seed and head branch EOs. The lowest values for cembrene were reported as 23.32 % and 26.16% in seed and head branch EOs, respectively. The highest values for cembrene were reported as 33.31% and 36.62% in seed and head branch EOs under treatment. The compound 2-methyl-2-methylbutyl ester was identified as the second most abundant compound in the head branches and seeds of A. visnaga. The highest amount of this compound was observed in seed EOs (9.38%) under mild drought and mild salinity stress (D2S2), and the highest amount of this compound was observed in head branch EOs (18.5%) under mild drought stress (D2S1) conditions.Conclusion: According to the study results, drought and salinity stress caused a quantitative and qualitative increase in A. visnaga EOs. Considering the climatic conditions of the arid and semi-arid regions of Iran and the consequent gradual salinization of soils, this plant can be considered a plant of choice in medicinal plant breeding programs, as well as goals related to the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
Saeedeh Rafiei
Abstract
Background and objectives: Henna (Lawsonia inermis L.) is one of the plant dyes used for dyeing textiles since ancient times. The active ingredient in this plant is Lawson, which causes its coloring and antibacterial properties. On the other hand, the surface of natural fiber textiles, including handwoven ...
Read More
Background and objectives: Henna (Lawsonia inermis L.) is one of the plant dyes used for dyeing textiles since ancient times. The active ingredient in this plant is Lawson, which causes its coloring and antibacterial properties. On the other hand, the surface of natural fiber textiles, including handwoven carpets, in the presence of moisture and heat, causes the growth and proliferation of bacteria. This leads to problems with the product's durability, appearance, and hygiene. In this research, in addition to evaluating the color characteristics of fibers dyed with dry henna and its aqueous and alcoholic extracts, the comparison of their antibacterial effect on two Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria has also been investigated.Methodology: The leaves of the native henna plant of Fars province were picked and dried in spring. Fibers of 4.5 metric meters and 63 deniers were used with Iranian wool and silk fibers. Considering that the extraction of the effective substance in plants depends on the type of solvent used, in addition to dry henna, three different solvents, water, ethanol, and methanol, were applied to prepare henna extracts. In this study, fibers were dyed with henna extracts, applying a simultaneous mordant method with Aluminum sulfate. Aqueous and alcoholic extracts were prepared by percolation and reflux methods in a Soxhlet extractor, respectively. For this purpose, a dyeing bath with L: R=1:50 containing natural fibers, 3% oxalic acid, 5% aluminum sulfate, and 30% dye was used. The dyeing process for both baths took 90 minutes in a bain marie. Color parameters (a*, b*, L*), color strength (K/S), reflective spectrum (R), light fastness, and antibacterial properties of each fiber dyed with dry henna and its extracts were evaluated. To measure the antibacterial properties, 0.03 grams of each dyed fiber was soaked in 1500 microliters of serum containing Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli for 24 hours. Then, by dilution method in plates, Nutrient agar was cultured, and colonies were counted. Quantification of Lawson in the extracts was done using HPLC analysis.Results: Reflective spectrophotometry showed that all wool and silk fibers dyed with henna and its extracts had positive a* and b* levels, which indicates the red and yellow undertones of the dyed samples. On the other hand, compared to silk fibers, wool fibers dyed with various types of henna dyes showed a higher degree of redness and yellowness and a lower percentage of brightness (L*). The numerical results were consistent with the qualitative and visual evaluations in the optical cabinet. In addition, natural fibers dyed with ethanol extract from henna had the lowest percentage of brightness and reflection and the highest color strength. The ethanol extract produced brilliant golden colors on silk fibers. Fibers dyed with all four types of henna dye had acceptable optical stability (7-8). Wool and silk samples dyed with alcoholic henna extracts, especially ethanol extract, showed a significant inhibition percentage for two types of bacteria, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. This is due to secondary metabolites such as Lawson, which was detected using high-performance liquid chromatography. On the other hand, the antibacterial activity against the second type of bacteria was higher than the first type (76-90%), which is due to the difference in the cell wall structure between the two. The amount of Lawson measured in the ethanol extract of henna was higher than the other two extracts (16%), which confirms the color strength, high stability, and antibacterial properties of this extract on fibers.Conclusion: The findings of this study proved that the use of henna and its extracts in dyeing natural fibers can be a promising factor in preventing infectious diseases caused by E. coli and S. rause bacteria. On the other hand, it seems that the ethanol extract of henna is more effective than the rest of the tested solvents for color strength, brightness, light fastness, and antibacterial effects. In addition, the ethanol extract of henna created a very beautiful golden color on silk in the presence of aluminum mordant. This is a very popular and rare color in handwoven carpet natural dyeing.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
M. Afshin; M. Sharifi-Rad; S. Saeidi
Abstract
Background and objectives: The amount of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants are changed during different stages of plant growth, so in order to determine the best time to harvest each medicinal herb, it is necessary to determine the amount of active substances and their biological activities in ...
Read More
Background and objectives: The amount of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants are changed during different stages of plant growth, so in order to determine the best time to harvest each medicinal herb, it is necessary to determine the amount of active substances and their biological activities in different phenological stages. Tanacetum parthenium L. is one of the important species of chicory genus that has many medicinal properties. This study investigated the content of total phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, and anthocyanins and the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Tanacetum parthenium L. aerial parts and root ethanolic extracts at different phenological stages (vegetative, flowering, and seeding).Methodology: For this purpose, total phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, and anthocyanins were measured spectrophotometrically in the aerial parts and root ethanolic extracts of T. parthenium. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and antibacterial activity was evaluated against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium) by disk diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) methods.Results: The maximum levels of total phenol (62.3 ± 1.2 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry weight), flavonoids (35.7 ± 0.9 mg quercetin equivalents (QE).g-1 dry weight), alkaloids (73.2 ± 0.6 mg atropine equivalent.g-1 dry weight) and total anthocyanin (4.2 ± 0.3 mg cyaniding-3glicoside equivalents.g-1 dry weight) were measured in the shoot extract of the studied species at the flowering stage. Results of the antioxidant activity evaluation showed that the shoot extract at the flowering stage had the highest antioxidant activity (75.3 ± 0.7 %). The lowest antioxidant activity (16.5 ± 0.9 %) was measured for the root extract at the vegetative stage. According to the antibacterial investigation, the maximum inhibition zone (21 ± 0.3 mm) was observed for the shoot extract at the flowering stage against Staphylococcus aureus. The minimum inhibitory concentration (12.5 mg.mL-1) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (25 mg.mL-1) were recorded for shoot extracts at vegetative and flowering stages against the abovementioned bacteria. Based on the results, the studied species' extracts were more effective against gram-positive than gram-negative bacteria.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that the flowering stage extract of T. parthenium had considerable phytochemical compounds with appropriate antioxidant and antibacterial properties. It can be used as a source of natural antioxidants and antibiotic agents.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
R. Mohtashami
Abstract
Water stress is one of the most important abiotic stresses limiting growth and plant yield under dryland conditions, which affects the morphological and physiological characteristics of plants. To evaluate morphological characteristics, yield, mucilage, and seed oil of Lallemantia iberica (M.B.) Fisch. ...
Read More
Water stress is one of the most important abiotic stresses limiting growth and plant yield under dryland conditions, which affects the morphological and physiological characteristics of plants. To evaluate morphological characteristics, yield, mucilage, and seed oil of Lallemantia iberica (M.B.) Fisch. & C.A. Mey. ecotypes [Kerman (Kerman province), Naein (Isfahan province), Sanandaj (Kurdistan province), Mashhad (Razavi-Khorasan province), and Malekan (East-Azerbaijan province)] under dryland conditions, an experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three replications in the medicinal plants research farm of Yasouj Agricultural Research Center and Natural Resources in the 2016-2017 crop year. The results showed that ecotype significantly affected morphological traits, seed yield, mucilage yield, and oil yield. The highest seed yield was obtained from Kurdistan (529 kg ha-1) and Mashhad (515 kg ha-1) ecotypes. The highest and lowest oil yield was related to Kurdistan (211 kg ha-1) and Kerman (189 kg ha-1) ecotypes, respectively. Mashhad (22.7 kg ha-1) and Malekan (18.2 kg ha-1) ecotypes had the highest and lowest seed mucilage yield, respectively. Although there was no significant difference between the oil and seed mucilage percentage of the ecotypes, the highest (41.3%) and lowest (39.9%) oil content was found in Kerman and Kurdistan ecotypes and the highest (4.4%) and lowest (3.7%) mucilage percentage belonged to Mashhad and Kurdistan ones, respectively. Overall, the results showed that Kurdistan and Mashhad ecotypes are suitable for cultivation under dryland conditions of Yasouj due to higher yield of seeds, mucilage, and seed oil.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
L. Moradipour; V. Payam Noor
Abstract
In biotechnology processes, increasing the production of biomass and secondary metabolites is one of the economic factors of such projects. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of magnetic field as an abiotic elicitor on increase of biomass and secondary metabolites of Ganoderma ...
Read More
In biotechnology processes, increasing the production of biomass and secondary metabolites is one of the economic factors of such projects. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of magnetic field as an abiotic elicitor on increase of biomass and secondary metabolites of Ganoderma lucidum. Mycelium with a diameter of 1 cm of pured fungi was exposed to magnetism at four levels including 0, 20, 40, and 60 mT for 0, 30, 60, and 90 min with three replications. The best treatment was selected based on growth rate and antioxidant activity. The amounts of secondary compounds in mycelium under selected magnetic field (60 mT for 90 min) including betulin, betulinic acid, ascorbic acid, astaxanthin, total polysaccharide, and antioxidants were measured and compared with control and natural fungi. The results showed that magnetization increased betulin (a potent anticancer triterpene) more than 2.5 times compared to natural fungi and 3.7 times compared to control mycelium. Polysaccharides concentration in the treated mycelium and control media was obtained 5.05 and 5.17 times more than natural fungi, respectively. Ganoderic acid content was measured in the treated mycelium (intracellular) and PDB medium (extracellular). The highest amount of ganoderic acid (1.9 mg.ml-1) was obtained in the treated mycelium. Natural fungi and PBD medium had almost the same amount of this compound (1.87 and 1.86 mg.ml-1). The amount of betulinic acid (an anticancer compound derived from betulin), ascorbic acid, and astaxanthin was obtained high in natural fungus followed by 90 min magnetization at 60mT level treatment and control, respectively. Antioxidants percentage was about 85% in control and about 75% in natural fungi and treated mycelium. According to the results, there seems to be a good prospect to use in vitro cultures of Ganoderma instead of using natural fungi and also constructing costly farms.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
P. Arvin; R. Firouzeh
Abstract
To evaluate the biological potential and medicinal properties, the biochemical compounds and quantity and essential oil quality of Chenopodium botrys L. grown in the natural habitat located in Raz and Jargalan city, North Khorasan province was investigated. Leaves or flowering branches sampling was done ...
Read More
To evaluate the biological potential and medicinal properties, the biochemical compounds and quantity and essential oil quality of Chenopodium botrys L. grown in the natural habitat located in Raz and Jargalan city, North Khorasan province was investigated. Leaves or flowering branches sampling was done at full flowering stage. The content of biochemical compounds, including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity, was measured. The essential oil of flowering branches and leaves together was extracted by water distillation method and Clevenger apparatus and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The results showed that the content of phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity of leaves or flowering branches methanol extracts was obtained 83.2 and 91.4 (mg GA.g-1 DW), 14 and 17 (mg QUE.g-1 DW), and 91 and 77 (μg.ml-1), respectively. Twenty-six compounds were identified in the essential oil. Elemol (17.2%), juniper camphor (7.9%), and bulnesol (6.9%) were the main compounds of essential oil. Also, the essential oil content was obtained 0.36% (w/w). Also, the leaves extract had significantly higher content of anthocyanin (3.1 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside.g-1 DW) compared to the flowering branches one. Overall, based on the results it can be concluded that Ch. botrys is a promising source of antioxidant compounds and is expected to be used in the food, medicine, and health products.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
M. Tavakoli; S. Soltani; M. Tarkesh Esfahani; R. Karamian
Abstract
The Salvia species are of great importance in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries for their secondary metabolites. Although the production of secondary metabolites is encoded by the plant genetic, however, environmental factors have a great influence on their production and composition in plants. ...
Read More
The Salvia species are of great importance in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries for their secondary metabolites. Although the production of secondary metabolites is encoded by the plant genetic, however, environmental factors have a great influence on their production and composition in plants. In this study, to investigate the effects of some climatic factors, topography, and soil parameters on Salvia multicaulis essential oil composition, the plant samples were collected from nine different habitats in Hamadan province during the flowering season. The soil samples were also taken for each plant in the sampling sites. The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation (Clevenger apparatus) and its composition was identified by GC and GC/MS. The soil factors were measured according to the relevant protocols and the climatic records were collected from the meteorological stations of Hamadan province. The RDA analysis was used to investigate the effects of different environmental factors on the essential oil composition. Clustering of the studied habitats was performed based on the major compounds of essential oils using the Wards method. The essential oil composition was different in different habitats. The compounds α-pinene (1.3-32.1%), α-phellandrene (1.1-7%), 1,8-cineole (1-17.2%), bornyl acetate (7-16.2%), and β-caryophyllene (9.1-40.6%) were the major ones of this plant essential oil. The RDA results showed that the essential oil content and oxygenated terpenoids percentage increased with increasing altitude, but the hydrocarbon terpenes percentage had an inverse correlation with altitude. The monoterpenes had a positive correlation with the relative humidity, rainfall, and soil organic carbon, but the sesquiterpenes had an inverse relationship with these factors and showed a positive correlation with phosphorus and to some extent with calcium of the soil. The studied habitats clustered into two distinct groups with predominance of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes in the essential oil. These findings could be important for commercial exploitation of sage with the aim of extracting specific secondary metabolites in its essential oil.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
Mahmood Barati; Majid Sharifi-Rad; Saeede saeedi
Abstract
Due to the importance of rangeland medicinal plants, the present study was conducted to assess the chemical profile and antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities of rangeland-medicinal plant Artemisia absinthium L. root and aerial parts extracts at different phenological stages (vegetative, ...
Read More
Due to the importance of rangeland medicinal plants, the present study was conducted to assess the chemical profile and antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities of rangeland-medicinal plant Artemisia absinthium L. root and aerial parts extracts at different phenological stages (vegetative, flowering, and seeding). Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride colorimetric methods were used for determination of total phenol and flavonoids contents, respectively. The ethanol extract biological activities were investigated at different phenological stages: the antioxidant activity by DPPH free radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods; the antibacterial activity by disk diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) methods; and the anti-inflammatory activity using human red blood cell stabilization. The results showed that the highest amount of total phenol (86.4 ± 2 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry weight) and total flavonoids (36.2 ± 1.3 mg quercetin equivalents (QE)/g dry weight) was recorded for the root at flowering stage. Also, the root extract at flowering stage had the highest antioxidant (IC50 = 15.4 μg.mL-1) and antibacterial activities. The largest inhibition zone (22 mm) was observed for this extract against Staphylococcus aureus. This extract MIC and MBC were recorded 18.7 mg.mL-1 and 37.5 mg.mL-1 against S. aureus and Bacillus cereus, respectively. The bacteria Vibrio cholerae and Escherichia coli showed less sensitivity to the mentioned extract. Also, the results showed that the flowering stage had the highest anti-inflammatory activity compared to the other phenological stages. The root extract at the all phenological stages showed higher anti-inflammatory activity than the aerial parts. Overall, it could be concluded that A. absinthium, particularly at flowering stage, can be considered as a suitable alternative source for synthetic antioxidants, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory agents.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
F. Babakhani; J. khorshidi; M.R. Morshedloo
Abstract
Postharvest conditions have a noticeable effect on the quantity and quality of secondary metabolites of medicinal plants. Accordingly, in the present study, the effects of different storage durations (0, 2, 4, and 6 months) and packaging types (kraft, polyethylene, polypropylene, and without packaging) ...
Read More
Postharvest conditions have a noticeable effect on the quantity and quality of secondary metabolites of medicinal plants. Accordingly, in the present study, the effects of different storage durations (0, 2, 4, and 6 months) and packaging types (kraft, polyethylene, polypropylene, and without packaging) on the quantity and quality of essential oil and phenol and antioxidant activity of methanol extract in fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) fruit were evaluated. Essential oils and methanol extracts were prepared using hydrodistillation (Clevenger, for 3 hours) and Soxhlet extraction methods, respectively. Essential oils were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. In general, increasing the storage duration reduced the essential oil content of fennel (with the exception of kraft packaging) and the rate of this reduction varied depending on the packaging type. The polyethylene-packed fruitsstored for 2 months and unpacked fruits stored for 6 months had the highest (3.25% v/w) and lowest (1.8% v/w) essential oil content, respectively. The number, type, and amount of essential oil compounds were affected by storage duration and packaging type. The highest (75.8%) and lowest (49.46%) amounts of E-anethole were obtained from the essential oil of unpacked fruits stored for 6 months and unstored fruits, respectively. The amount of phenol and antioxidant activity decreased with increasing storage duration, but the effect of packaging type varied at different storage durations. Overall, based on the essential oil content, phenol, and antioxidant activity, storage of fennel could not be recommended, but based on the type of target compound in the essential oil, different storage durations could be suggested. If the storage of fennel is necessary, the polyethylene and kraft packaging could be recommended based on the total characteristics measured in this research.
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
F. Askari; F. Sefidkon; M.A. Soltanipour; M. Mirza; S. Fekri Qomi
Abstract
The genus Pycnocyla belongs to the Apiaceae family and has eight perennial species in Iran. In this study, the essential oil content and chemical compounds of P. nodiflora Decne ex. Boiss. and P. flabellifolia Boiss. were investigated. The aerial parts of plants at seeding stage were collected from two ...
Read More
The genus Pycnocyla belongs to the Apiaceae family and has eight perennial species in Iran. In this study, the essential oil content and chemical compounds of P. nodiflora Decne ex. Boiss. and P. flabellifolia Boiss. were investigated. The aerial parts of plants at seeding stage were collected from two habitats in Hormozgan province through two consecutive years and Kermanshah province in one year, respectively. Stem+leaf [SL] and seed [S] were separated and shade-dried. The essential oil was extracted by Clevenger apparatus and hydrodistillation method for three hours. Percentage and chemical composition of the essential oils were determined by GC and GC/MS. The essential oil content of P. nodiflora was obtained [SL]: 0.23 and 1.21% (two years) and [S]: 0.23% in Tangzagh habitat of Hormozgan and [SL]: 0.02 and 0.06% (two years) and [S]: 0.01% in Abmah habitat. Caryophyllene oxid (7.8-28.1%) and b-eudesmol (15.5-57.2%) were recognized as the main compounds of [SL] and [S] essentials oils of both habitats in this species. In P. flabellifolia, the essential oil content of [SL] and [S] was 0.66 and 0.76%, respectively. The main compounds in [SL] essential oil of this species were cis-β-ocimene (33.8%), trans-β-ocimene (39.6%), and terpinolene (12.9%) and in [S] essential oil were trans-β-ocimene (28%), cis-β-ocimene (31%), and terpinolene (12.6%). According to previous reports on the antimicrobial properties of trans-β-ocimene and cis-β-ocimene compounds on bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis and the predominance of these compounds in the essential oil of P. flabellifolia, studies on antimicrobial properties of this species essential oil is recommended.
