Journal of Medicinal Plants and By-products
Volume:2 Issue: 1, Summer and Autumn 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of commercial herbal and chemical medicines on growth performance, serum lipids, intestinal selected bacterial population and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens. In this study, 450 day-old female broiler chickens (Arian strain) were divided into 10 treatments with three replicates of 15 chicks per replicate. On day 14 of the experiment, birds in following treatments: 1) Anzofin®; 2) Antibiofin®; 3) Immunofin®; 4)Broncofin® ; 5) Zagrol®; 6) Mentofin®; 7) Enrofloxacin®;8) Bromhexin®; and 9) positive control received IB–4/91vaccine 5 times greater than the standard dose, but chickens in 10) negative control (NC) group was vaccinated with standard dose of IB vaccine. The birds in treatments 1 to 6 received herbal medicines in drinking water from days 15 to 48. Chickens in treatments 7 and 8 received Enrofloxacin® and Bromhexin®, from days 15 to 19 in drinking water. The highest feed intake, body weight, and body weight gain were observed in Bromhexin® treatment. The lowest body weight, body weight gain and highest FCR were observed in Zagrol® treatment. Immunofin® had the lowest FCR among all treatments. The highest and lowest European Production Efficiency Factor was observed in Immunofin® and Positive control group, respectively (P>0.05). Bacterial population in GI tract was reduced in Mentofin® treatment. Bromhexin® insignificantly improved villi height of duodenum, jejunum and ileum. The highest crypt depth in duodenum, jejunum and ileum was observed in Zagrol® treatment.

The influence of different initial inoculum densities of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica on the growth of sage (Salvia officinalis), root-knot development and nematode multiplication was investigated 90 days after inoculation under greenhouse conditions. With the increase in the nematode initial inoculum densities, shoot fresh/dry weight, shoot/root length and root fresh/dry weight were decreased. The greatest reduction in growth occurred in plants inoculated with the highest density of nematodes (10ˏ000 eggs and juvenile of stage 2.2 kg soil). The highest reproduction rate was observed in plants inoculated with the lowest level of nematode population tested (1ˏ000 eggs and juvenile of stage 2.2 kg soil). The results on S. officinalis gave conclusive evidence of pathogenic potential of M. javanica.

This research was carried out to assess the effect of drought stress on head branch dry weight, photosynthesis, essential oil yield and radical scavenging of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) in Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar branch, Iran during 2010-2011. The experiments were carried out using complete randomized block design with four replications and drought stress levels included control, medium stress (75% field capacity) and sever stress (55%field capacity). Medium and sever drought stress increased essential oil percentage. Medium drought stress increase rosemary essential oil yield (7.6 g/m2) compared with control. Sever drought stress decreased essential oil yield (4.1 g/m2), photosynthesis rate (11.7 μ mol Co2/cm2/min) and head branch dry weight (52.7 g/m2). GC/MS results indicated rosemary major oil components include β-Pinene, 1,8-cineole, ά-bisabololoxide A, α-pinene and ά-bisabolol and drought stress increased these chemical compound compared control. Antioxidant activity was analyzed using the DPPH method. Results indicated that essential oil obtained from medium stress and drought stress exhibited a dose-dependent increase with a radical scavenging effect of 90.0% and 88.0% at 350 μg/ml, compared with BHT (94.0%) at the same concentration. This study showed medium drought stress increased essential oil yield and free radical scavenging capacity in rosemary.

Iranian Echium species (Boraginaceae), popularly known as "Gol-e-Gavzaban" are native plants that some of them have been used widely as food and traditional medicine since long times. In this work organs from different populations of two Iranian Echium species were collected from their natural locations in order to analyze their phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Hydroalcoholic extracts of organs were assessed for total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). 1, 1- Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays were also used to evaluate the antioxidant properties of the extracts. Among the examined organs, leaves of E. amoenum (Hezar Jarib location) contained the highest (119.50 ± 2.00 mg GAE/g DW) TPC, followed by seeds of E. italicum L. (Alamute Qazvin location) (117.91 ± 7.29 mg GAE/g DW). Seeds of E. amoenum (Ramsar location) showed the highest (62.17 ± 3.59 mg QE/g DW) TFC value. All extracts also exerted antioxidant properties, the most active one was the seed extract of E. amoenum (Behshahr location) which contained the highest free radical scavenging effect (76.67 ± 0.33%) and the highest FRAP value (20.88 ± 0.72 mg GAE/g DW). The study revealed that phenolic compounds may be the main contributors to the antioxidant activity of some organs of Echium plants and they could be explored as potent natural antioxidants in the future. Correlative effects of altitude and precipitation, as two important environmental factors on the content of phenolics were also investigated. Results showed that the patterns of phenolic and flavonoids contents in the different organs of Echium plants were differently affected by two environmental factors.

In many field observation, ecological equipment, phenology and ethnopharmacological data of Achillea millefolium L. and A. micrantha Wild. were studied. The inflorescences of plants were collected in different locations of Golestan province: Chaharbagh (2000 m) and Dozan (2200 m) respectively. Essential oils were obtained by steam distillation (Clevenger) and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and (GC-MS). Total phenol (TP) and total flavonoid (TF) were determined with spectro photo meteri. Antioxidant properties were obtained by three radical scavenging activity reducing power (RP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Field observation showed that both species of Achillea are perennial aromatic plants which can grow 30 to 70 cm tall, flowers appeared in mid to late of May where the annual average rainfall were 399-345 mm, in sandy loam to silty clay loam soil. These plants has been used in traditional medicine as antibacterial, anti infection ,anti spasm, sedative, astringent, anti nociceptive and wound healing. Flowers essential oils of A. millefoilum and A. micrantha were characterized by higher amounts of similar constituents: binapacryle (63.82%ˏ 83.63%), 1-8 cineol (14.97%ˏ 3.76%) and α-selinene (4.81%ˏ 4.49%) respectively. TP content (12.34±0.264 to 18.44±0.085 mgGAEgr-1) and TF contents (61.003±2.38 to 80.30±5.793 mgQUE g-1) were measured in A. micrantha and A. millefolium, respectively. A. micrantha had more antioxidant activity with IC50 (0.184±0.0475 μg/ml in dry weight in DPPH method) than A. millefolium (IC50 0.178±0.178 μg/ml in dry weight in RP method). According to the results, there is a positive correlation between antioxidant activity and important secondary metabolites (TP, TF), this could help to study more about the application of these plants in traditional medicine as an antiseptic, anti spasm and antibacterial agent.

The genus Verbascum L. belongs to the family Scrophulariaceae and includes plants that have been used widely in traditional medicine for a long time. Methanolic extracts of three Verbascum species from flora of Iran were in vitro screened for their possible antioxidant activities by three complementary test systems, namely DPPH free radical-scavenging, metal chelating activity and β-carotene/linoleic acid. The total phenol and flavonoid contents of the methanolic extracts from the aerial parts were measured by Folin Ciocalteu and AlCl3 assays, respectively. In addition, antibacterial activities of the methanolic extracts were studied by disc diffusion method against 3 Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Results showed that the methanolic extract of V. sinuatum contains the highest amount of phenolic compounds and of V. speciosum represents the highest flavonoid content. Results from antioxidant activity assays showed that the studied extracts are more active than ascorbic acid as a synthetic antioxidant in DPPH radical scavenging assay, but represent lower activity in metal-chelating assay. In β-carotene/linoleic acid system, oxidation of linoleic acid was effectively inhibited by V. speciosum extract (58.4±18.1mg/g), followed by V. sinuatum (51.41±2.28 mg/g). In addition, methanolic extracts of three Verbascum species showed strong antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria.

Aucuparia is an important slow growth forest tree with medicinal, industrial and ornamental uses which is applied for reforestation in high altitude of mountain lands. This species has been endangered at northern forests of Iran; therefore micropropagation of adult trees by bud culture may help to reforestation. The best sterilizing treatment was the buds washing with HgCl2% 0.1 solution for 7 minutes in Autumn. The highest of shoot regeneration were taken in DKW medium with BA (0.5 mg/l), IBA (0.1 mg/l) and TDZ (0.05 mg/l). Rooting of shoots was done in modified MCM medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/l of IBA in dark condition. The plantlets were acclimated in green house.

For sexual reproduction of Allium hirtifolium, collected bulbs were planted in the field. In order to develop ovary embryo and seed setting, control self-pollination and natural open pollination took placed using honey bees under cages. Ovary development and seed setting of A. hirtifolium extraordinary were affected by pollination and there was a significant difference between mean effect of self-pollination and natural open pollination using chi-Square test at α=0.05%. Open pollination using honey bees with average 23 numbers of seeds per flower stalk showed higher seed formation than control self- pollination. Out of 240 mature ovaries (25 and 35 day-old ovary), which have been isolated, 194 ovary were germinated (80.8%) from 25 and 35 days after pollination (DAP). Due to long embryo development in this species, all isolated embryo (less than 25 day-old) failed to develop direct plantlets on either MS hormone free or half-MS medium, for in vitro germination. Analysis of data originated from affect of culture media on embryo germination, indicated that there is no significant differences between culture media on embryo germination using Chi-square test at α=0.05 level. In spite of no differences, MS media showed higher ovary germination (average 54.33%) than half-MS medium (average 41.50%). Successful acclimatized plantlets transferred to green-house and then to the field.

The genus Hypericum is one of the most important medicinal plants that contain 17 species in Iran, three of them are endemics. This paper reports the essential oil composition of eight Hypericum species from Iran. The essential oil analysis of a number of the studied plants has already been reported but their report from Iran may be valuable for scientists. Samples collected from different places between June and August 2010. The composition of the essential oils from Hypericum was investigated on the flower head. Essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation method and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The essential oil yield and composition in H. androsaemum L.: oil yields (0.17%) and major components were longifolene 19.2%, -gurjunene 16%, and -gurjunene 8.4%, in H. apricum kar. & kir. oil yields (0.50%), and major components were cis-piperitol acetate 24.3%, p-cymenene 21% -pinene 8.3%; in H. armenum Jaub. & Spach oil yields (0.20%) and major components were -cadinene 30.6%, longifolene 10.4%, and E-nerolidol 7.4%; in H. asperulum Jaub. & Spach oil yields (0.05%), and major components were -muurolol 17.6%, cis-sesquisabienen hydrate 12.5%, and germacrene B 9.8%; in H. hirsutum L. oil yields (0.05%), and major components were germacrene B 29.2%, citronellyl propanoate 7.9%, and -gurjunene 7.5%; in H.linarioides Bosse oil yields (0.15%), and major components were (E, E)-farnesyl acetate 16.5%, cis-cadinene ether 12.7%, and 1-tridecene 5.7%; and in H. tetrapterum Fries oil yields (0.08%), and major components were trans-linalool oxide 22.3%, p-cymenene 6.2% and (E, E)-farnesyl acetate 6%, and in H. vermiculare Boiss. & Hausskn. oil yields (1.74%), and major components were -pinene 61%, myrcyne 6% and E--farnesene 5.3%.

Ferulago angulata subsp. carduchorum (Boiss. & Hausskn.) D.F. Chamb is a perennial species of the family Apiaceae and is locally used as a flavouring agent and for some medicinal properties. The essential oil of this plant if found to possess antibacterial and antifungal activities. The present study is aimed to determine constituents of essential oils from inflorescence of four F. angulata subsp. carduchorum populations. Air-dried samples were subjected to hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus and extracted oils were chemically analyzed by means of GC and GC-MS. With the average of 1.99% (w/w), the oil content of studied populations varied from 0.86% (Dalahoo) to 2.39% (Azgale). All oils were characterized by the high amounts of monoterpene hydrocarbons (71.1-83.6%), and the low levels of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (2.0-7.8%) and especially oxygenated ones (absent to 3.5%). α-Pinene (7.1-29.8%), (Z)-β-ocimene (14.7-45.9%), allo-ocimene (5.9-16.7%), γ-terpinene (2.0-12.2%) and bornyl acetate (3.0-7.3%) were found to be the principal volatiles of populations in question. There were significant differences in the chemical composition of studied populations, which, considering constituents of an essential oil determine its flavor and biological activities, enabled selection of favored populations for use in different industries.

Peppermint has considerable commercial value and widely cultivated for essential oil production, especially menthol. The aim of this study was to determine the quantitative expression of pulegone reductase (pr), menthofuran synthase (mfs) and limonene synthase (ls) genes in menthol biosynthesis pathway in Mentha x piperita , using semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis and evaluating menthol production by GC/MS analysis in presence of different methyl jasmonate concentrations (MJ; 0, 0.1, 0.5 mM). RT-PCR analysis showed that pr, mfs and ls specifically induced by MJ treatment. The transcripts of these genes up-regulated within 4-12 h of MJ induction followed by down-regulation after 24-48 h of MJ exposure.

The natural lignan podophyllotoxin, a dimerized product of two phenylpropanoid moieties which occurs in a few plant species, is a pharmacologically important compound for its anticancer activities. Optimization of the in vitro cultures might lead to a renewable source of lignans for medicinal uses. In order to maximize efficiency of podophyllotoxin accumulation via in vitro cultures, the effect of different concentrations of α-Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) (0, 0.4 and 1 mg/l), Kinetin (Kin) (0, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/l) and combinations of NAA and Kin [(0.4 and 0.2), (0.4 and 0.4), (1 and 0.2) and (1 and 0.4) mg/l] on growth and accumulation of podophyllotoxin in callus, cell culture and in vitro propagated plantlets of Linum album was evaluated. The highest growth and accumulation of podophyllotoxin in callus culture was obtained when it grown under dark condition in comparison to photoperiod. The biomass of cell and callus do not changed under various hormone concentrations. Content of podophyllotoxin was enhanced in cell and callus cultures supplemented with NAA 1 mg/l Kin 0.4 mg/l. The experiments demonstrated Kin 0.2 or 0.4 mg/l stimulated multiplication and production of podophyllotoxin in shoot culture.

Net photosynthesis rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration rate (E) of anise hyssop were measured during the four cloudless days, in reference to diurnal fluctuations of leaf temperature (Tleaf), leaf vapor pressure deficit (VPD leaf) and photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) in well watered (WW), stressed (S) and recovered (R) plants. An analysis of measured data showed that there was an evident midday depression of photosynthesis at stress and recovered plants. The highest of net photosynthesis was observed at 11:00, 8:00 and 7:00 a.m for well watered, stressed and recovered plants, respectively. Net photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were higher in well watered than stressed plants while leaf vapor pressure deficit and leaf temperature was lower in well watered plants. Stomatal conductance and transpiration were also positively correlated with leaf vapor pressure deficit and net photosynthesis rate in well watered plants while correlation between these parameters was not significant in stressed plants. In total, the midday depression of net photosynthesis might be due to stomatal and non-stomatal limitations.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a bioactive molecule, which was found to have several physiological roles, including antioxidant. To have a better understanding of the effects of NO concentrations (0, 0.1 and 0.2 mM) on germination, growth, photosynthetic pigments, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activity of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) under different salinity concentrations (0, 100 and 200 mM of NaCl), a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design was carried out. Results revealed that salinity caused a significant decrease in germination characteristics and growth of basil. Increasing salinity concentration led to significant increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), Ascorbate peroxidase (APX), proline content, malondialdehyde (MDA) and electrolyte leakage while content of photosynthetic pigments and relative water content were reduced. Application of NO (0.1 and 0.2 mM) under salinity stress improved germination traits, increased dry weight, chlorophyll content, antioxidant activity and proline content, while MDA content and electrolyte leakage were decreased. These results suggest that NO might induce salt tolerance in basil by preventing oxidative damage.