Volume 36, Issue 5 , November and December 2020
Phytochemistry (extraction, identification and measurement of active components)
A. Mahmoudi; M. Karami; M.T. Ebadi; M. Ayyari
Abstract
To evaluate the effect of infrared drying on color parameters, essential oil content and composition of German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.), three different infrared intensities (125, 132, and 220 W) with three airflow velocities (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m.s-1) on a total of nine treatments were ...
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To evaluate the effect of infrared drying on color parameters, essential oil content and composition of German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.), three different infrared intensities (125, 132, and 220 W) with three airflow velocities (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m.s-1) on a total of nine treatments were examined in a completely randomized design, and the shade-dried plants were considered as a control treatment. The results indicated that the treatments had significant effects on drying time, color parameters, and essential oil content. The control (shade drying) and the 220 W radiation intensity with 0.5 m.s-1 air velocity treatments had the highest (2367 min) and lowest (83 min) drying time, respectively. With increasing infrared intensity, the main color parameters such as L, a, b, ΔE (total color changes) and BI (browning index) changed significantly, compared to the control; however, increasing the airflow rate caused less variation of the mentioned parameters in all levels of infrared radiation intensity than the control. The highest essential oil content (0.23% w/w) was obtained at 125 W radiation intensity with 0.5 m.s-1 air velocity and the lowest (0.12% w/w) was observed at the 220 W radiation intensity with 0.5 and 1 m.s-1 air velocity treatments. Essential oil analysis showed that the highest amount of α-bisabolol-oxide A (60.6%), (Z)-spiroether (16.5%), and chamazulene (4.6%) belonged to 132 W radiation intensity with 0.5 m.s-1 air velocity, 220 W radiation intensity with 0.5 m.s-1 air velocity, and control treatments, respectively. In general, the results of this experiment showed that due to the decreased duration of drying time, color preservation and desired essential oil content and composition, the 125 W radiation intensity with 0.5 m.s-1 air velocity treatment could be a suitable method for chamomile flowers drying.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
Z. Ahmadi; D. Khademi Shurmasti
Abstract
Today, the tendency has increased to the use of bio-preservatives, including plant extracts, as an alternative to synthetic antioxidants and antimicrobials. On the other hand, the addition of lipids, such as oleic acid to biopolymers in active packaging reduces their permeability to water vapor. To investigate ...
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Today, the tendency has increased to the use of bio-preservatives, including plant extracts, as an alternative to synthetic antioxidants and antimicrobials. On the other hand, the addition of lipids, such as oleic acid to biopolymers in active packaging reduces their permeability to water vapor. To investigate the antioxidant and antimicrobial effect of Mentha spicataL. extract in bio-composite carboxymethyl cellulose-based coating on the shelf life of common carp fillets in cold conditions, an experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with six treatments including carboxymethyl cellulose coating (CMS, 2.5%), CMS combined with oleic acid (OA, 1.5%), CMS combined with OA and enriched with 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% Mentha spicataextract, and three replications for 9 days. The results showed that OA improved the protective effect of CMS. The use of Mentha spicata extract in the bio-composite coating, especially at the highest concentrations, significantly (p < /em> <0.05) reduced the number of psychrotrophic bacteria, the index of thiobarbituric acid, free fatty acids, total volatile nitrogen compounds, and pH of common carp fillets during cold storage. The antioxidant and antimicrobial effect of Mentha spicataextract was dose-dependent. Therefore, Mentha spicata extract, with its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties in combination with the composite coating of CMS-OA, can be used as a bio-preservative in active packaging, to maintain quality and increase the shelf life of fish fillets during short-term storage in refrigeration.
Improvement and breeding
Sh. Ahmadi; M.J. Nazarideljou; A. Hassani
Abstract
Many studies have been conducted on the role of essential elements in various aspects of medicinal plant production. However, the role of silicon (Si) as a quasi-essential or beneficial element in the growth and development, quantity and quality of essential oil of many medicinal plants is unknown. In ...
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Many studies have been conducted on the role of essential elements in various aspects of medicinal plant production. However, the role of silicon (Si) as a quasi-essential or beneficial element in the growth and development, quantity and quality of essential oil of many medicinal plants is unknown. In this regard, different concentrations of silicic acid including 0 (control), 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125 mg l-1 were added to the standard Hoagland and Arnone nutrient solution, and morphophysiological reactions and secondary metabolites production of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) were evaluated in soilless cultivation (hydroponic system). The fresh and dry weight of leaves and roots increased with the addition of Si to the nutrient solution compared to the control. The percentage of biomass changes varied depending on the concentration of Si, so that the plant fresh weight at 125 mg l-1 of Si increased by 41% compared to the control (without Si). However, the percentage of essential oil (fresh materials) in plants fed with Si increased significantly compared to control. Accordingly, the percentage of essential oil in different Si concentrations including 0, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 mg l-1 were 0.16, 0.21, 0.31, 0.33, 0.34 and 0.34(%), respectively. The reaction of lemon balm essential oil compounds to Si also indicated the important role of this element in the quality of the essential oil produced. The highest amounts of geraniol (21.27%) and citral (58.71%) were obtained in concentrations of 50 and 125 mg l-1 of Si, respectively. Also, the most important main compounds in various concentrations of Si (mg l-1) included citral+geraniol (Conc.0), citral+neryl (Conc.25), citral+linalool (Conc.50), citral+caryophyllene oxide (Conc.75), citral+geranyl acetate (Conc.100) and citral+geranyl (Conc.125). Based on the results of the experiment, Si as a beneficial element has a significant effect on the growth and development parameters, yield, and quality of essential oil of lemon balm.
Economic and social position of medicinal and aromatic plants
K. Moladoost; M. Shahmoradi
Abstract
There is a crucial need for a scientific view of the field of management and the problems in the medicinal plants’ sector and also a comprehensive study to explore challenges facing the development of this sector. The present study, with a quantitative orientation and using a descriptive–survey ...
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There is a crucial need for a scientific view of the field of management and the problems in the medicinal plants’ sector and also a comprehensive study to explore challenges facing the development of this sector. The present study, with a quantitative orientation and using a descriptive–survey method, aimed at identifying challenges facing the development of the medicinal plants’ sector in Iran. The statistical population of the study consisted of experts in the field of medicinal plants and people working in its different parts, 151 of which participated in the study through a purposive sampling method. A researcher -made questionnaire was used as the main research tool to evaluate the two levels of the current situation and the desired situation. The KMO index and Bartlett’s test were used to examine the validity of the questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was approved by calculating Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. The results showed that social, economic, human resources and technological, managerial, market and marketing, and environmental factors had the greatest impact on the lack of desirable development of the medicinal plants' sector in Iran, respectively. From the point of view of the respondents, inefficiency and inadequate insurance coverage is the most important challenge for the development of this sector, and the main gap with the desirable situation is arising from limited, inefficiency, and non-targeted subsidies to support production. So, it is recommended to adopt supportive policies such as granting targeted subsidies, tax exemptions for processing and science-based units, various policies to reduce the cost of products with the active participation of producers, and those involved in the planning process for medicinal plants.
Identification, introduction, ecology and ethnobotany
M. Arbabi; P. Baradaran; S.B. Javadi; D. Shirdel
Abstract
Wild and cultivated medicinal plants are facing the spread of some plant mites’ activity under greenhouse conditions in Iran. The study of mite fauna of medicinal plants in different regions of the country showed that out of 135 plant species collected, 78 species from 35 families were hosts of ...
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Wild and cultivated medicinal plants are facing the spread of some plant mites’ activity under greenhouse conditions in Iran. The study of mite fauna of medicinal plants in different regions of the country showed that out of 135 plant species collected, 78 species from 35 families were hosts of harmful and predatory mites. More than 41 harmful and beneficial plant mite species from 12 families were identified. The plant family Asteraceae with nine plant species had the highest range of plant mite activity. The highest plant host diversity was recorded for Tetranychus urticae and Tydeidae mites with 53 and 16 plant species, respectively. Most of the nutritional symptoms and damages of mites from reduction to the cessation of plant growth caused by T. urticae on Malva sylvestris, Alcea sp. Glycyrrhiza glabra and Solanum transcaucasicum outdoors and on Portulaca oleracea, Mentha sp. and Fragaria sp. under greenhouse conditions. Symptoms of damages of Brevipalpus obovatus (in tea gardens), B. lewisi (on shell of guava fruits), Aculus semenovi (on Sophora alopecuroides), Trisetacus juniperinus (on Cupressus sempervirens), and Aceria sp. (on Lactuca serriola) were considered important. None of the collected predatory mites were effective in controlling T. urticae mites.
Improvement and breeding
M. Beiranvandi; N. Akbari; A. Ahmadi; H. Mumivand; F. Nazarian
Abstract
To study the effect of biochar and superabsorbent on the chemical composition of Satureja rechingeri Jamzad essential oil, under drought stress conditions, a factorial split-plot experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2018-2019 at the Medicinal Plant ...
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To study the effect of biochar and superabsorbent on the chemical composition of Satureja rechingeri Jamzad essential oil, under drought stress conditions, a factorial split-plot experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2018-2019 at the Medicinal Plant Research Farm of Lorestan University. Treatments included drought stress as the main plot at three levels (100, 80, and 60% of water requirement) and cow manure biochar at two levels (0 and 10 ton ha-1), and stockosorb hydrogel at three levels (0, 60, and 120 mg plant-1) as subplots. Twenty-four compounds were identified in aerial parts essential oil of the plant using GC-MS. The main constituents included carvacrol (76.6%), γ-terpinene (5.8%), p < /em>-cymene (3%), terpinen-4-ol (2.5%), 1,8-cineole (2%), and linalool (0.9%). The results showed that the highest amount of carvacrol (90.8%) was observed in severe moisture stress+biochar+60 mg stockosorb and the lowest (73.8%) was observed in stress-free control treatment with biochar+120 mg stockosorb. The results showed that interactions between drought stress and biochar had a significant effect on essential oil yield. Also, no correlation was observed between the presence and absence of stockosorb superabsorbent with different compounds of Satureja rechingeri essential oil.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
J. Mazinani; J. Vatandoost; M.R. Vaezi Kakhki; Fereshteh Ghorat
Abstract
Amla (Phyllanthus emblica L.) is a member of the Phyllanthaceae family and grows widely in the tropics of China, India, Indonesia, and the Malay Peninsula and is used in many traditional medicinal systems such as Chinese medicine and Indian Ayurveda. Its fruit is one of the richest natural sources of ...
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Amla (Phyllanthus emblica L.) is a member of the Phyllanthaceae family and grows widely in the tropics of China, India, Indonesia, and the Malay Peninsula and is used in many traditional medicinal systems such as Chinese medicine and Indian Ayurveda. Its fruit is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C and is a bleeding stopper and also very useful in the treatment of hemorrhoids. Different parts of this plant show anti-diabetic, antibacterial, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties. Chemical researches on Amla fruit indicate its high nutritional value. This study aimed at in vitro evaluating the effect of ethanolic extract of this plant on human coagulation indices. Different concentrations of the whole Amla plant extract were prepared, and its effect on coagulation indices including prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and clotting time (CT) were evaluated, and the results were analyzed by t-test. The results showed that Amla ethanolic extract reduced aPTT and CT, but it had no significant effect on PT indices. The findings of this study indicate the coagulant effect of Amla ethanolic extract; however, further studies on animal and human models seem necessary.
Biotechnology
N. Nematshahi; P. Abrishamchi; T. Radjabian; S.A. Salami
Abstract
Salvia leriifolia Benth. is one of the native Iranian medicinal plants which has been received attention in recent years due to its numerous therapeutic properties. The pharmaceutical properties of this species have been attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds, especially phenolic acids. The ...
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Salvia leriifolia Benth. is one of the native Iranian medicinal plants which has been received attention in recent years due to its numerous therapeutic properties. The pharmaceutical properties of this species have been attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds, especially phenolic acids. The present study investigated the effect of plant age (phenology) on the gene expression and activity of phenolic acid-biosynthetic enzymes. Plant seeds were collected from Torbat-e-Heydariyeh (Khorasan Razavi province, Iran) and planted under greenhouse conditions. Leaves were sampled at 8-, 16- and 24-leaf stages of the growth period. Total contents of phenols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids were measured using spectrophotometry, and the phenolic acid profile was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) were measured by spectrophotometry, and the activity of rosmarinic acid synthase (RAS) was evaluated by HPLC. The relative expression of the corresponding genes was quantified by RT-PCR. The results showed that the content of all phenolic compounds and the activities of TAT and RAS enzymes/genes increased significantly (p < /em>≤0.05) with increasing plant age. At the 24-leaf stage, the total content of phenols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids were 3.47-, 2.80-, and 7.78-fold of those measured at the 8-leaf stage, respectively. The concentration of rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid (0.69 and 0.36 mg/g DW at the 8-leaf stage, respectively) increased by 3.41- and 4.05-fold during the vegetative growth, respectively. Lithospermic acid and salvianolic acids had a smaller share of total phenolic acids (0.01-0.06 mg/g DW at the 8-leaf stage), and their contents increased 2- to 10-fold with increasing plant age. Also, a strong positive correlation was observed between plant age and phenolic acid accumulation and between plant age and the activity and gene expression of TAT and RAS. TAT enzyme might play the main role in the biosynthesis of rosmarinic acid compared to PAL.
Biological effects of essential oils and extracts
M.A. Zarei; Z. Nezarat
Abstract
Controlling post-meal hyperglycemia with α-glucosidase inhibitors is an important strategy in the management of diabetes and the reduction of chronic complications associated with this disease. Based on the results of previous studies, the methanolic extracts of the shoots of Salvia suffruticosa ...
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Controlling post-meal hyperglycemia with α-glucosidase inhibitors is an important strategy in the management of diabetes and the reduction of chronic complications associated with this disease. Based on the results of previous studies, the methanolic extracts of the shoots of Salvia suffruticosa Montbr. & Auch. ex Benth. and Hypericum scabrum L. have significant inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase activity. In this study, to determine the plant parts of S. suffruticosa and H. scabrum with the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory effect, after preparing the methanolic extract from different organs of the plants, the inhibitory effect of all extracts in different concentrations was investigated at 405 nm wavelength using a microplate reader. The highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity in S. suffruticosa was related to the concentration 160 mg.mL-1 of the flower extract (100% inhibition and IC50 = 8.91 mg.mL-1), and the highest inhibitory activity of H. scabrum was related to the concentration 10 mg.mL-1 of the flower (96.49% inhibition and IC50 = 1.04 mg.mL-1) and leaf extracts (86% inhibition and IC50 = 3.98 mg.mL-1). According to the results of the kinetic study of enzymatic inhibition, S. suffruticosa flower and leaf extracts follow a noncompetitive-uncompetitive mixed pattern of inhibition and H. scabrum flower extract follows the competitive-noncompetitive one. Methanolic extract of flowers in S. suffruticosa and H. scabrum had a significant inhibitory effect on the activity of α-glucosidase. So, the flowers of these species are good natural sources for extracting compounds with potent medicinal properties to control postprandial blood sugar levels.
Improvement and breeding
A. Barghi; A. Gholipouri
Abstract
Salinity is one of the most common abiotic stresses, which causes a high decrease in crop production. Growth regulators play an important role in plant growth and development under normal and stress conditions. To study the effects of foliar application of jasmonic acid and 24-epibrassinolide on yield ...
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Salinity is one of the most common abiotic stresses, which causes a high decrease in crop production. Growth regulators play an important role in plant growth and development under normal and stress conditions. To study the effects of foliar application of jasmonic acid and 24-epibrassinolide on yield and yield components, oil and essential oil percentage and some physiological characteristics of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) under salinity stress conditions, a factorial experiment based on the randomized complete block design was conducted in the research greenhouse of Mohaghegh Ardabili University with three replications. The treatments included salinity at four levels (0, 5, 10 and, 15 ds.m-1 NaCl) and plant growth regulators at three levels (control, 0.1 mmol 24-epibrassinolide, and 0.5 mmol jasmonic acid). Results of mean comparisons indicated that salinity stress decreased plant yield, number of seeds per capsule, number of capsules per plant, and seed oil percentage, while significantly increased 1000-seed weight and proline content. Growth regulators also increased 1000-seed weight and seed oil percentage and decreased proline content. Chlorophylls a and b contents of the leaves decreased with increasing salinity levels, and the use of jasmonic acid and 24-epibrassinolide increased their amounts at all salinity levels. Malondialdehyde content increased with increasing salinity levels, and plant growth regulators foliar spray decreased its content at all stress levels. Besides, the percentage of seed essential oil increased with increasing salinity levels and also with plant growth regulators application at all salinity levels. It is recommended to foliar spray the plant with 24-epibrassinolide and jasmonic acid growth regulators under salinity conditions to avoid stress damages and increase black cumin essential oil, which is a very important compound in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as to enhance seed oil percentage, 1000-seed weight, and photosynthetic pigments of black cumin.
Biotechnology
H. Abbasi Holasou; F. Rahmani; M. Hosseinzadeh; A. Hassanzadeh Ghorttapeh
Abstract
Since the economic value of a cultivar depends on its different characteristics, thus procedure of selection for several traits to achieve maximum economic value has always been considered by plant breeders. Therefore, accurate knowledge of the behavior and genetic relationship of these traits will help ...
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Since the economic value of a cultivar depends on its different characteristics, thus procedure of selection for several traits to achieve maximum economic value has always been considered by plant breeders. Therefore, accurate knowledge of the behavior and genetic relationship of these traits will help breeders to improve plant genotypes. In this study, 31 retrotransposon-based primers (12 IRAP and 19 REMAP primers) were used to identify molecular markers associated with 21 agronomic, morphological, and physiological traits in 45 different flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) genotypes based on a mixed linear model (MLM). Analysis of population structure by Bayesian method revealed two possible subgroups (K=2) in the population studied. Using MLM, a total of 29 loci associated with the 21 traits studied were identified (p < /em><0.01). The maximum number of associated loci was identified for 100-seed weight and seed yield traits. The existence of common markers among some traits studied, such as the significant relationship between LTR1-UBC808-2 marker with plant height and 100-seed weight, and LTR1-UBC807-4 with main stem weight and the number of capsules per the main stem can be due to pleiotropic effects or linkage between genomic regions involved in these traits. However, findings of the present study can be further strengthened with the inclusion of more markers putatively associated with economically important traits.
Improvement and breeding
B. Esmaielpour; M. Shiekhalipour; M. Torabi-Giglo
Abstract
Soil salinity in arid and semi-arid regions is one of the most important abiotic stresses causing negative effects on the growth and yield of medicinal plants. To investigate the effect of Zn nanoparticles foliar spray at different levels on growth characteristic, antioxidant enzymes, and essential oil ...
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Soil salinity in arid and semi-arid regions is one of the most important abiotic stresses causing negative effects on the growth and yield of medicinal plants. To investigate the effect of Zn nanoparticles foliar spray at different levels on growth characteristic, antioxidant enzymes, and essential oil yield of dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) under salinity stress conditions, a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications in the greenhouse of Mohaghegh Ardabili University during 2018-2019. Experimental treatments included salinity stress at four levels (0, 50, 100, and 150 mM of NaCl) and foliar spray with Zn nanoparticles at three levels (0, 100, and 500 mg.l-1). Traits including plant height, aerial parts fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll, cell membrane electrolyte leakage, relative water content, proline, antioxidant enzymes, and percentage and yield of essential oil were measured. Results showed that salinity significantly decreased plant height, shoot fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll, the relative water content of leaves, and essential oil yield, and increased electrolyte leakage from cell membranes and proline content of the leaves. While nano-Zn foliar spray reduced the negative effects of salinity stress by increasing the growth and activity of antioxidant enzymes such as ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. Treatment of 500 mg.l-1 nano-Zn caused the best-improving effect on traits including plant height, stem dry weight, chlorophyll, electrolyte leakage, antioxidant enzymes, and essential oil yield under salinity stress conditions. Therefore, the use of 500 mg.l-1 nano-Zn is recommended as a reduction of the negative effects of salinity stress in dragonhead.
