In collaboration with Scientific Association of Iranian Medicinal Plants

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Tarbiat Modarres Univercity, Tehran, Iran

2 Research Institute of Forests and rangelands, Tehran, Iran

3 Biophysics Department, Faculty of Science, Tarbiat Modarres Univercity. Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The effects of electromagnetic field (1 kHz) on the growth and the amounts and composition of essential oils of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) were studied. Basil plants were exposed to the electromagnetic field for 6 days, each 5 hours, discontinuously. Compared to the control plants, the growth of treated plants and their essential oils were decreased. This may be resulted from decrease in the activity of certain enzymes involved in the essential oil biosynthesis pathway. Methyl chavicol, geraniol, and nerol were three major components of essential oil of basil. Treatment with electromagnetic field, however, increased the content of methyl chavicol, suggesting an increase in the activity of chavicol-o-methyl transferase. This in return, suggests that the electromagnetic field can effect on the metabolism of essential oils indirectly i.e., through enzymatic proteins such as chavicol-o-methyl transferase. The results of the present study indicate that the electromagnetic field can be considered as a tool to increase methyl chavicol and probably other medicinal compounds in the desired plants.

Keywords

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