Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, Iran
2 Azad Univesity Tehran
3 Azad University, Tehran
Abstract
Ozone layer depletion has increased ultraviolet-B radiation influence. As this radiation has harmful effects on plants, this research studies the essential oils quality and quantity changes of Fennel all affected by high ultraviolet radiation emanated form a 40-watt lamp in the field conditions in three phases: before flowering, flowering and after the formation of seed.
Fennel is one of the precious medicinal plants widely used in pharmacy, purfurm, cometic and hygienic industries as well as food industries. The seeds or fruits of this plant have so much essential oils that medicinal properties of the plant are attributed tothis essential oils.
The water and steam distilled (Long & Kaiser) essential oils of seeds, flowers, leaves and stems of Fennel in different vegetative phases was analyzed by GC and GC/MS.
The amount of essential oils in leaf, stem, flower and seeds has been decreased in the most of phases and essential oils’ components changed under ultraviolet radiations. The amount of Trans-anthole, which is the most important compound of this essential oil, has been decreased in the seed and flower of under treatment plants but this compound has been increased in the stem in spite of less amount of essential oils in this organg, this compound has been decreased in leaf before flowering phase but incraesed in flowering period. The other main compounds, Estragol, Fenchon and Limonene have been increased, in most cases. This results indicates this plants is very sensetive to ultraviolet radiations.
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