مجله تحقیقات گیاهان دارویی و معطر ایران
سال بیست و پنجم شماره 3 (پیاپی 45، پاییز 1388)

In this paper, the enriching of the main component of spearmint oil is studied by simulation of a continuous multicomponent distillation. The simulation is based on a bubble point method and Wang-Henke algorithm. The MESH equations are solved using three diagonal matrixes (Thomas method) in each iteration. The results of the experiment are obtained along with the simulation. These experiments were carried out in a continuous distillation column with one to five sieve trays. The effect of tray numbers on the main component enriching is analyzed. The results of the simulation are compared to those of the experiments. The results show that the main component of spearmint essential oil enriched from 31% to 60% by a distillation column with five trays. The results showed the effect of adding one tray with low tray numbers column on the main component enriching was more than adding one tray with several tray numbers column. The results show that the main component separation increased by the increasing of the external reflux ratio from two to three. Increasing the external reflux ratio causes four percent improvement of the main component extraction in the column with five trays.

In this research, the effect of sowing date and seeding level on flower yield, essential oil and chamazulene content of chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) CV. Presov, purchased from Slovakia, was studied. The experimental was split-plot in the basic of randomized complete blocked design (RCBD) with three replications. Main plots consisted of three sowing dates (6 Nov., 5 Mar. and 4 Apr.) and sub-plots included three seeding levels (0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 g/m2). Evaluated traits were plant height, number of plants in plot, diameter of flower, fresh and dry flower yield, essential oil yield, essential oil and chamazulene percent. The results showed that sowing date had significant effect but seeding levels had only significant effect on number of plants in plot and essential oil yield. There are significant effects between sowing date and seeding level as measured traits are concerned. Based on the results, highest plant (47.4 cm), the most number of plants in plot (135.4 plants), the most fresh and dry flower yield (749.1 and 175.1 g/m2) were obtained from the plants which sown on 6 of Nov. but highest percentage of essential oil and chamazulene (0.59 and 5.62 percent respectively) and essential oil yield (0.79 g/m2) was obtained from the plants which sown on 5 of Mar. According to the results of their interaction, highest plant (49.7 cm), the most yield of wet and dry flower yield (810 and 198.2 g/m2) were obtained from the plots which sown on 6 of Nov. with 0.8 g/m2 but the most essential oil and chamazulene content (0.63 and 5.9 w/w percent respectively) and essential oil yield (0.97 g/m2) was obtained from the plots that were sown on 5 of Mar. with 0.4 g/m2. According to the results, the most suitable sowing date and seeding level in Mashhad condition is 5th Mar. with 0.4 g/m2 seeds.

The aerial parts of Thymus vulgaris were collected in three stages of plant growth (before flowering, at the beginning and full flowering stage) from Research Field of Shahid Beheshti University (Tehran) at spring. The plant materials were dried in shade and their essential oils were isolated by hydro-distillation in three replications. In addition, the essential oils of plant materials at full flowering stage were obtained by water-steam distillation and direct steam distillation. The oil yields were calculated based on dried weigh and compared by statistic analysis. The oils were analyzed by capillary GC and GC/MS. Statistic analysis showed different stages of plant growth and different distillation methods had significant effect on oil yield. The highest oil yield was obtained at the beginning of flowering (1.18% w/w). Among distillation methods, the highest oil yield was obtained by direct steam distillation (1.20%). Analysis and identification of components showed thymol, P-cymene and -terpinene as main compounds in all samples. The percentage of thymol at the beginning and full flowering stage was the same, but at the beginning of flowering was lower. There was no remarkable difference between different distillation methods for producing thymol, but by hydro-distillation the thymol amount was little higher. Based on the results of this investigation it can be concluded that the beginning of flowering and hydro-distillation are the best for obtaining the higher oil content and thymol percentage.

Bunium persicum (Boiss.) B. Fedtsch. is a perennial and aromatic plant from Apiaceae family that distributes in most Iranian habitats. It is used in medicinal, food, cosmetic-hygienic and drinks industries, moreover it is used in traditional medicine. The investigations show, there are suitable conditions to produce this precious plant in Iran and for a better production some studies needs to be done. In order to investigate the effect of planting depth and corm weight on agronomical characteristics Bunium persicum, an experiment was conducted based on factorial design in randomized complete block with three replications. Depths of planting were in 5 levels (5, 10, 15, 20, 25cm) and the corm weights were in 3 levels (≤2, 2-4, 4-6gr) in 2007 and the design was conducted in research farm of training organization of agriculture of Khorasan. The results showed, the effect of depth of planting on the emergence percent, height, the number of umbrella, the yield and the weight of thousand seeds in plant were very significant (≤α99%). The effect of corm weights was significant only on high plants. The interaction of two factors was significant in the high, the number of umbrella and yield characteristics. The most seed yield was related to 10 cm deep and the lowest to 25 cm depth. The highest weight of 1000 seeds and the lowest were related also to these levels (10 and 25 cm). As a result it is recommended in planting the corms of Bunium persicum the depth of planting must be about 10cm and the weight corm must be more than 2 gram.

In this research, the inhibitory effect of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. on germination and rhizome growth of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. weed in three separate experiments were studied. In first experiment, after growing the weed, effects of different concentration of essential oils (20ppm, 50ppm, 100ppm) as spray treatment on growth of the weed were investigated. In second experiment, effect of different level of Eucalyptus leaf litter (2, 5 and 10 w/w) as mulch treatments on germination of weed rhizome growth in a pot experiment were studied. In third experiment, effect of different concentrations of essential oils (20ppm, 50ppm, 100ppm) and leaf extract (25%, 50% and 75% water alcoholic extract) on in vitro rhizome germination were studied. Results indicated that leaf mulch had strong inhibitory effects on rhizome germination, that rhizome germination completely stopped in 50% w/w of mulch treatments. The highest number of germinated node (10.75 node/rhizome) was obtained in control treatment and the lowest one (1.5 node/rhizome) was detected in 10% mulch treatment. Essential oils spraying also showed inhibitory effect. After four months of spraying, all weeds became dried and died. Extract treatments also reduced growth of the weed as in lower concentration of extract (25%), germination of the rhizome was almost 66%, but in higher concentration (50% and 75%) complete inhibition of germination process take place. It was concluded that Eucalyptus globulus has a good potential to control Cynodon dactylon weed and it can be used as a herbicide in organic culture of the agricultural crops.

In order to study the effects of irrigation and dry farming condition on growth indices of yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) an experiment was carried out in Alborz Research Center during 2005-2006. In the first year after planting, the plants viability investigated in dry farming condition and growth physiological indices were determined. In the second year, the treatments were irrigated based on total accumulated evaporation from class A pan namely at the rate of 30 mm (mild stress), 60 mm (medium stress), 90 mm (severe stress), full irrigation (no stress) and no irrigation (control). For each treatment, the soil moisture content was measured by weighting method (daily) before and after applying irrigation treatments. The amount of water requires for each treatment was measured by water meter.In the second year, the growth physiological indices were also determined. The results showed that, at the first year, dry matter cumulated to 2250 GDD then reduced during growth. In second year, the plants with no irrigation were died. In other treatments, by increasing soil moisture from severe to medium, the dry mater cumulative and Leaf area index increased. In all of the stress treatments, decreasing in plant growth was observed in 3000 GDD. The results showed that, mild water stress had highest performance than other treatments.

Seeds were cultured on Whatman paper by sterile water in cube, solid MS and solid MS. Seeds were not germinated on medium but 80% of seeds were germinated on Whatman paper, so this method is used as a basic method. Seeds were germinated after four days and after two weeks of culture they had normal roots, shoots and leaves. Cultures were incubated at 25◦ ±2◦C and exposed to 16 hours light per day. Explants were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 3% sucrose and solidified with 0.8% (w/v) agar. The pH of the medium was adjusted to 5.8 before autoclaving. Different types of explants were used for this experiment; root, crown, apical meristem, hypocotyls and leaf. Between different kinds of explants leaf didn’t response to callogenesis. The effects of different combinations of 2,4-D (2,4-Diclorophenoxy acetic acid) and BAP (6-Benzylaminopurine) were studied. Subculture was done every 3 weeks. In order to determine regeneration ability, the initiated callus were transferred to a regeneration medium which was composed of macronutrient, micronutrient and organic components of MS, 2,4-D (0.2 mgL-1), BAP (0.5, 2, 4, 15, 20 and 25 mgL-1) and MS without hormones, 0/3% sucrose, pH 5.8 for 4 weeks. In the presence of 2,4-D (2 and 4 mgL-1) and BAP (0.25 and 0.5 mgL-1) in the callus induction medium, high callus production percentage was reported. The hypocotyls, in contrast to the primary leaf explants, and apical meristem segments were more responsive to the tested combinations of 2,4-D and BAP. The callus from all explants was soft, watery and loose friable. During subculture period, hypocotyls and apical meristem were proliferated more on medium with the addition of (0.25 and 0.5 mgL-1) BAP and (2 and 4 mgL-1) 2,4-D than the medium contain BAP (1 mgL-1) and 2,4-D (8 mgL-1). The present study, in F. vulgare MS media without any hormone was sufficient to regenerate the plantlet from the hypocotyls, roots and apical meristems explants. In MS medium supplemented with BAP (0.5, 2 and 4 mgL-1) and 2,4-D (0.2 mgL-1) shoots were formed earlier when the number of subculture was increased 4 times.

Satureja sahendica Bornm. is an endemic aromatic species in Iran. It is used very extensively in folk medicine of southern parts of Iran. In this study, chemical composition of cultivated S. sahendica was investigated for the first time. Three accessions of S. sahendica collected from natural sites in Qazvin province and cultivated in research farm of Qazvin Research Station in 2005. An experiment was undertaken to determine the oil production of S. sahendica in complete randomized block design with three replications. Accessions consisted of Arochan, Abgarm and Shenein. Aerial parts of wild and cultivated plants harvested at flowering stage in 2007. Essential oils of dried aerial parts were distilled with water for 3 hours. Statistical analysis showed significant difference between cultivated and wild plants of accessions. In natural site, Shenien had the highest essential oil content (3.3%) and then Abgarm (3.0%) and Arochan with 2.21% was the least. In cultivated plants accessions had not similar trend in different harvests. Abgarm samples at first and second cuttings and Arochan samples in third cutting showed the highest essential oil contents. There was high difference between cultivated and wild accessions of Shenien. Thymol was 35 to 36% at cultivated and wild samples, while among cultivated plants, Abgarm sample in third cutting showed the highest amount of thymol (49.6%). Second cutting of Arochan sample and first harvest of Shenien sample had 38.8 and 38.1 % thymol respectively. Carvacrol in wild plants was nearly 1% and was higher than cultivated plants.

Burn wound is suitable site for incidence of resistant infections. Thus, the research for finding effective drugs against this problem is necessary. Medicinal herbs with antimicrobial activity have important role in traditional medicine. The purpose of this study was to determine antibacterial activity of methanolic extract of Terminalia catappa L. fruit against bacteria isolated from burn wound infections and to compare with effects of some selected antibiotics. First, a sample of methanolic extract of the Terminalia catappa fruit was prepared and then its antibacterial activity against 8 bacteria from 100 samples of burn wound infection were evaluated by well diffusion method at concentration of 40 mg/ml and then Agar Serial Dilution method in the range of 0.039-20mg/ml. Also, the MIC (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration) of extract was determined. The antibacterial activity of selective antibiotics was tested by disk diffusion method. The onava test was used to compare the results. The results from the antibacterial tests demonstrated that the Terminalia catappa methanolic extract had been effected against all of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter spp. and more than 80% of Staphylococcus aureus/epidermidis/saprophyticus, and against 50% of Escherichia coli. The MIC of the extract against all the sensitive cases was 20 mg/ml. The bacteria were often resistant to selective drugs. There was significant difference between the effects of plant and antibiotics on Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P<0/001), Acinetobacter spp. (P<0/05) and Staphylococcus cases (P<0/05). This study demonstrated that methanolic extract of Terminalia catappa have excellent antibacterial activity against most of bacteria isolated from burn wound infections and its effect is better than selective antibiotics. However, we need more in vitro and in vivo investigation.

Scaligeria (Apiaceae) is represented in Iran by seven species, which is located in natural habitat. In this Research the fruits and leaves of Scaligeria assyriaca Freyn & Bornm. were collected from Khorasan province. The oil constituents from fruits and leaves of this plant have been studied by GC and GC/MS. The major constituents in leaf oil were found to be germacrene D (21.1%), β-caryophyllene (13.4%) and α-copaene (10.2%). In the fruit oil the main components were myristicin (24.3%), germacrene D (13.7%) and elemicin (11%). β-Sesquiphellandrene and kessan were identified ranging (10% and 8.7%) and (7.4% and 9.5%) in leaf and fruit oils, respectively

Stinging nettle has been used for treating several human chronic diseases. This research focused on the use of Urtica dioica L. (stinging nettle) aquatic and alcoholic extracts for the production of mosaic virus-free rose plants by explant culture from infected parent material. Toward this aim a survey was conducted to detect the viruses infecting Rosa species in main rose growing plantations of Tehran province and its suburbs. Using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent (DAS-ELISA) and Dot-Blot (DIBA) serological methods and polyclonal antibodies, 530 rose samples were tested for the presence of Prunus necrotic ringspot virus and Arabis mosaic virus. Transplant medium culture in MS medium was performed for a 20 infected rose transplants which were infected with ArMV and PNRSV viruses. Dried leaves and roots of nettle plants were extracted with water and 95% ethanol. Aquatic and alcoholic (ethanol) U. dioica extracts inoculated with three different concentrations (5, 2, 0.5 mg/ml) (extract/ml medium) into MS media. Rose transplants were serologically tested for the presence of viruses 30 days after treating. Results indicated that the aquatic extract of nettle plants at the concentration of 5 and 2 mg/ml and ethanol extract at the concentration of 0.5 and 2 (mg/ml) are effective in eliminating 90% of PNRSV and 42% of ArMV respectively. According to the results of this study U. dioica aquatic and alcoholic extracts are able to adversely affect the rose mosaic virus replication. They may be used as an herbal source as viricidal preparations against rose mosaic disease caused by ArMV and PNRSV.

Growth indices are useful for interpreting plant reaction to environmental factors. In order to study the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), P2O5 fertilizer and irrigation according to physiological growth indices of coriander, this experiment was conducted at Iran Research Institute of Forest and Rangelands in 2006. Field experiment was carried out in split factorial based randomized complete block design with 4 replications. The factors studied included application and non-application of mycorrhiza (Glomus hoi), 0, 16 and 32 kg/ha P2O5 fertilizer (triple super phosphate) and two levels of irrigation, irrigation after 30 mm water evaporation from evaporation pan (without drought stress conditions) and irrigation after 60 mm water evaporation (drought stress conditions). The results of 7 sample stages showed that applications of mycorrhiza and 70 kg/ha phosphorus without drought stress conditions increased dry matter, leaf area index, relative growth rate, net assimilation rate and crop growth rate and these characteristics decreased under drought stress conditions sorely. The results showed that mycorrhiza fungi could increase absorb of phosphorus by symbiosis between fungi and coriander root. This condition can reduce application of phosphorus fertilizers in fields, without reducing of yield and quality yield.

Artemisia aucheri Boiss. is a shrub from Asteraceae family that spread all over Iran. In traditional medicine, A. aucheri is a plant with astringent properties, disinfectant, antimicrobial, antiparasit and antitoxicant activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate, the antimicrobial activity of aerial part essential oil of A. aucheri against a large number of microorganisms including gram positive, gram negative bacteria, filamentous fungi, and yeast by disc diffusion and micro broth dilution assays. Fifty four components were identified by GC and GC/MS in the essential oil of A. aucheri, representing 98% of total oil. The major components were geranyl acetate (17.2%), α-citral (17.1%), linalool (12.7%), geraniol (10.7%) and Z-citral (10.5%). The antimicrobial activity of A. aucheri oil was dose dependent. Aerial part essential oil showed the best antifungal activity and this effect is more than the antibacterial activity. Gram negative bacteria were less sensitive than gram positive bacteria. Means average of inhibition diameters of oil against gram positive bacteria and fungi were more than vancomycin and amphotricin B, respectively and this effect was smaller than gentamycin in gram negative bacteria.