Journal of Medicinal Plants and By-products
Volume:4 Issue: 2, Winter and Spring 2015

For centuries, herbal drugs have been the only accessible resource for treatment of pain and passions. Today, despite remarkable progress and development of synthetic drugs, medicinal plants and their derived drugs are used massively. So that, in some countries medicinal plants is inseparable from drugs and treatment systems. More ever, their marketing and economical aspects are more flourishing than other chemical drugs. Monitoring of medicinal plant products is necessary in drug industry. There is increasing demand for development of analytical equipments for the production process, from crude materials to final products. In this case, biosensors can be excellent analytical tools in order to analysis of medicinal plants and their products. This review is going to explain nano-biosensor technology briefly and so their potential application in medicinal plant industry. Some of these applications are monitoring of environment and fast identification of pathogens, determination of toxicities, measurement of different types of secondary metabolites, herbal pharmacology and others.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of foliar salicylic acid (SA) and citric acid (CA) applications on growth, biochemical characteristics and essential oil content of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) grown under field conditions. Salicylic acid (0.5 and 1 mM) and citric acid (5 and 10 mM) were applied three times during the vegetation at 15 day intervals. Results revealed that foliar application of SA and CA significantly enhanced the vegetative characters i.e. fresh and dry weight of thyme as well as pigments (chlorophyll a and carotenoids) content and essential oil production (1.3 fold as compared to control). There was a positive correlation between fresh and dry weights, chlorophyll a and essential oil. Citric acid treatment especially at 10 mM decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content. According to our results, applications SA at rate of 0.5- or CA at 5 mM should be recommended in order to improve yield and essential oil production in thyme.

Glasswort (Salicornia europaea L.) as an important halophyte plant is capable to accumulate NaCl in aboveground part (fully edible) in considerable quantity. To evaluate the effect of irrigation levels and nitrogen fertilizer on the yield of seed and oil, and also harvest index of Glasswort, a split plot experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications at the Lake Urmia marginal in 2012. Treatments were irrigation regimes (irrigation after 20, 40, 80 and 120 mm of evaporation from a Class A pan) as main plot and amount of nitrogen spraying (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 percent of Urea (V/V) as sub plot. Results indicated the significant interaction effect between irrigation and nitrogen on the yield of seed and oil, biological yield and harvest index of seed and oil. In well irrigated plants (irrigation after 20 mm evaporation), higher concentration of nitrogen spraying up to 10% caused to raise the yield of seed and oil, and biological yield. These yields were raised up by application of 15% nitrogen and then they were decreased. A significant increasing of yield (seed and oil) was observed at 15% of nitrogen spraying for the mild and mid (irrigation after 40 and 80 mm evaporation, respectively) water deficit stress. In conclusion, we found the foliar application of nitrogen (low environmental contamination) benefit for Glasswort production, but in different optimum amount for each irrigation interval.

A valuable composition of Mentha piperita L. essential oil is menthol that is widely used for different industries. The plants were treated with different concentrations of Methyl Jasmonate (MeJA) and after 24 h were evaluated for total soluble proteins, chlorophylls (a, b, and total), malondialdehyde, carbohydrates and antioxidant enzymes (Superoxide dismutase and Guaiacol peroxidase). Variance analysis indicated significant variation in all measured traits except for chlorophyll b that is caused by different concentration of MeJA. According to these results, MeJA could active antioxidant enzyme defense system. It can be concluded that stimulation of plant defense systems using elicitors could be a valuable and alternative strategy to protect Mentha piperita from stress.

Hyssopus officinalis L. is one of the most important medicinal plants. Medicinal herbs arecontaminated by microorganisms. Conventional methods for reducing of microbial loads such as ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and also use of steam are hazardous and instead, non-thermal process such as microwave and gamma radiation are being used widely in order to eliminate the microbial contaminations with no or a little side effect. In the present study the effect of gamma and microwave irradiation on antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Hyssopus officinalis L. was investigated. Hyssopus samples were exposed to gamma irradiation at doses 10, 15, 20 and 25 kGy and microwave irradiation at power of 300, 450 and 600 W for 5 min. In order to undergo the sequence experiments, the hydroalcoholic (EtOH 50%) extracts of plant were prepared. The antioxidant activities of irradiated and control samples were evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging (RS), ferric reducing power (FRP), β-carotene bleaching (BCB) and total phenolic content (TPC) of sampels. In order to study the antimicrobial activity, for determination of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) on E. coli and S. aureus, broth diluting method was used. Results showed that gamma irradiation had no significant effect on antioxidant parameters, phenolic content and antimicrobial activities of sampels. Microwave treatment of Hyssopus at 300, 450 and 600 W for 5 min increased its antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Results indicated that gamma and microwave irradiation do not have any negative effect on antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Hyssopus.

The essential oil from the aerial parts of Jurinea leptoloba DC., collected from Shiraz (South of Iran), was investigated for total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant and cytotoxic effects. TPC of J. leptoloba oil was determined to be 16.53 ± 5.69 μg gallic acid equivalent/mg sample (μg GAE/mg oil) using the Folin-Ciocalteau assay. The ferric reducing power of the oil was determined 0.117 ± 0.01 GAE (mg/g). J. leptoloba oil exhibited a dose-dependent scavenging of DPPH, with an IC50 value of 24.50 mg/ml. Antioxidant activity percentage of the essential oil of J. leptoloba determined by β-carotene bleaching test revealed less potential than both standards BHT and BHA (62.01 ± 2.45%, 2.5 mg/ml oil). Cytotoxicity was measured using a modified MTT assay. IC50 values for HeLa and lymphocyte cells were calculated to be 290.76 and 2900.97 μg/ml, respectively. The results suggest application of J. leptoloba essential oil as a moderate antioxidant and anticancer agent.

The composition of the essential oils of Teucrium chamaedrys L. belongs to the family Lamiaceae, It is growing wild in the margin of mountainous roads of arid and cold climate of north Iran. In this research, essential oils of Teucrium chamaedrys L., extracted and measured at the different location by different methods of distillation and then were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Investigation and comparision on essential oil constituents of herbs were collected from three localities (Chalus, Galoogah and Gadook). The essential oil yieldat the different location from Chalus by water distillation (Clavanger) were (0.06%), and by water & steam distillation (Kyzer & Long) were (0.28%), and by steam distillation were (0.04%), the essential oil yield at the different location from Galoogah by water distillation (Clavanger) were (0.06%), and by water & steam distillation (Kyzer & Long) were (0.05%), and by steam distillation were (0.09%), the essential oil yield at the different location from Gadook by water distillation (Clavanger) were (0.2%), and by water & steam distillation (Kyzer & Long) were (0.16%), and by steam distillation were (0.08%), respectively. Major component identificated in sample from Chalus by water distillation (Clavanger) were α- cadinene (15.4%), Z- β-farnesene 9.6%),1-eicosene (8.2%), and by water & steam distillation (Kyzer & Long) were 1-eicosene (12.8%), α- cadinene (6.3%), benzyl salicylate (5.9%), and by steam distillation were cis-3-hexenyl benzoate (10.9%), (E,Z)-farnesol (10.3%), benzyl salicylate (8.3%). Major component identificated in sample from Galoogah by water distillation (Clavanger) were E- α-farnesene (22.9%), α- calacorene (20.2%), α- murrolene (8.0%), and by water & steam distillation (Kyzer & Long) were α- cadinene (30%), E-β- caryophyllene (23.5%), E- α farnesene (7.2%), and by steam distillation were E- α-farnesene (18.4%), 1-eicosene (15.2%), benzyl salicylate 10%).Major component identificated in sample from Gadook by water distillation (Clavanger) were α- murrolene (12%), cis-3-hexenyl benzoate (11.3%), methyl decanoate (8.9%), and by water & steam distillation (Kyzer & Long) were α- murrolene (8.7%), n- heptadecane (7.9%), cis-3-hexenyl benzoate (7.2%), and by steam distillation were α- murrolene (14.4%), cis-3-hexenyl benzoate (11.3%), E- α-farnesene (9.6%), respectively.

The genus Tanacetum L. is one of the most important medicinal plant that contains 28 species in Iran, 12 of them are endemics. This paper reports the essential oil composition of Tanacetum hololeucum (Bornm.) Podlech; Tanacetum kotschyi (Boiss.) Grierson, growing wild in Iran. Plant flowers were collected from different zones of Dizin in north of Iran. All samples were hydro-distilled (Clevenger apparatus), to produce the oils in T. hololeucum from three zones with yields of (0.35%, 0.35% and 0.16%), and also T. kotschyi, from three zones with yields of (0.57%, 0.41% and 0.10%), respectively. All samples were injected to GC and GC/MS. Main components for T.hololeucum from Dizin of three places from zone 1 were borneol 39.4%, transsabinene hydrate 8.4%, 1,8-cineole 8.1%, and from zone 2 were n-hexadecane 14%, elemol acetate 13.6%, trans-thujone 13.4%, and from zone 3 were terpinolene 35.7%, α- phellandrene 23%, γ eudesmol 7.1% , and in T. kotschyi also from Dizin of three places from zone 1 were 1,8-cineole 27.8%, terpinolene 13%, transthujone 7.2%, and from zone 2 were n-undecane 27.9%, n-hexadecane 14.7%, n-nonadecane8.7% , and from zone 3 were n-tridecane 55.1%, terpinolene 13.4%, myrcene 7%, respectively.

In several field observation of this research ,the main ecological requirenments and ethnopharmacological data about the traditional uses of Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. were recorded. The aerial parts of plant were collected in blooming from Bovanloo mountain in September 2013 (1728 m ) in North Khorasan Razavi. Essential oil was obtained by hydro-distillation and analyzed by GC-MS. Methanolic extracts were obtained bymaceration. Phytochemical assay: TP (total phenol) and TF (total flavonoid ) were determined by spectrophotometrically, antioxidant capacity were obtained by TAC, RP and DPPH methods in compare of BHT and BHA antioxidant standard. According to results, Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. ( Kakuti ) is the most edible aromatic montainous herb, which wild growing in cold-dry climate (1500-1800 m) in North Khorasan Razavi province, with annual raining 288 mm, annual temperature 13.7 °C in sandy loam soil, with pH= 7.8 and Ec=0.8 dc. The pulegone (46.2%), menthol (10.7%), carvacrol (9.5%), 1,8-cineole (8.37%) , p-menthan-3- one (7.5) and piperitenone (5.8%) were the main constituents of plant essential oil. The amount of total phenolic (98.13±5.9 mg GAE 100 g-1 DW) and flavonoid contents (220.9±18.65 mg QE 100g-1 DW), respectively. The highest levels of IC50 (26.5 ± 1.4 μg/ml ) were detected in DPPH method against free radical scavenging in density of 5 μg/ml (P

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a phytopathogenic fungus that attacks more than 400 plant species of them medicinal plant. In this study the extract obtained from basal stalk rot of Helianthus annuus L., attacked by S. sclerotiorum, was subjected to the analysis of FTIR to identify the presence of beta glucan. FT-IR spectrum showed four ranges of bands in 890 cm-1, two overlap band in 1047 and 1078 cm-1 and the last one near 1160 cm-1 referring to different functional groups or characteristics; beta-glycosidic linkage and pyranosyl ring. The existence of beta-glucan in the filtrate liquid culture of S. sclerotiorum suggests the potential of the secreted liquid drops of fungal infection in plant as a new secretory source of beta-glucan useful in food and pharmaceutical sectors. In this regard, the extracted beta-glucan was added as an additive to bread dough to elucidate its effect on the baked-bread texture as monitored by SEM micrographs. Results from the electron microscopy images of experimental bread confirmed that beta-glucan enhances the porosity of bread in the presence of normal yeast and increases fermentation period (1% dry yeast, 4.5% scleroglucan, 4 h). The solubilization of polysaccharides, primarily beta-glucan, seems to be the main strategy to improve the bread texture.

Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) has two major products: alkaloids in the capsules and the seeds. It is known that opium poppy today contains alkaloid in great quantities. Opiate alkaloids and their synthetic derivatives are widely used in medicines which are produced in hundreds of tons for the medicine industry. The study aimed to screen the capsules of six Turkish opium poppy lines to evaluate their morphine percentage. The trial was carried out at the Experimental Fields of the Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture of Ankara University, Turkey during three years. All seeds were sown during first week of October and harvested during second week of July during three years of experimentation to investigate the variation of morphine content. During first year hairless stem and strong capsule types were selected and sown followed by. Alkaloid analysis was performed at the laboratory of the alkaloid factory at Bolvadin province of Turkey in three years. Morphine percentage of six different lines were determined. The results showed that the average of morphine contents of lines ranged 0.731-0.851%, 0,813-1,147% and 0.815-1.142% during 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively. In conclusion, these opium poppy especially L1 and L2 lines could serve as major source of morphine in future.

In Iran, more than 90% of raw materials including oils and oil seeds are provided through import. Camelina sativa L. as an oilseed crop, belongs to Brassicaceae family, has been shown in several experiments that need very little water and resistant to chilling injury than other plant oils, especially canola. This Experiment was conducted at research station of Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources in growingseason 2013-2014. Seeds of C. sativa, DH1025 line, were cultivated in two sowing dates (6 November and 16November), with a row spacing of 20 cm and 3 cm between plants in a 3-square-meter plots in three replicates at each date. The results of the analysis of variance showed that two different treatments were significant difference for all the traits measured apart from the number of seeds per pod, number of branches, number of pods per plant, number of pods per branch, number of seeds per pod and plant height. The highest yield and biomass was observed in first planting date (6 November) with 217.667 and 514.33 g/m2, respectively. Feasibility cultivation of C. sativa as a new medicinal-oil plant in rainfed conditions in Kermanshah was the major purpose of this investigation.

Yarrow (Achillea spp.) belonging to the family of Asteraceae with useful properties, such as anti-diaphoretic, anti-hemorrhagic, anti-inflammation, anti-biotic, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, Carminative and anti-oxidant effects. The present investigation assessed the morphological diversity of Achillea aucheri, which is indigenous plant from Damavand mountain of Iran. The samples were collected from five heights of Damavand and the morphological traits were studied. For estimating the percentage of essential oil, aerial parts were collected and oil was isolated by hydro distillation using Clevenger-type apparatus. The results of present study demonstrated that the highest plant height, internodes, biomass and number of leaves per node obtained at lowest altitude (3900 meters from sea level). In addition, fresh weight and dry weight of plant had the highest amount in altitude of 3900 meter from sea level. But essential oil content increased from low altitude to high altitude from 0.681% to 0.954%. Also high altitude had high significantly differences on the essential oil content. It revealed that plants in lower altitudes produce more biomass than higher altitudes, but essential oil content of plants was more in higher altitudes. It seems that a part of photosynthetic energy of plants in higher altitudes expend to produce secondary metabolites especially essential oils to overcome stress and survival in inappropriate conditions.

In order to optimize the micropropagation of Qare-Qat (Vaccinium arctostaphylus J.J.Sm), samples were collected from two regions of Iran (Asalem and Kelardasht). Anderson (AN) media containing different concentrations of zeatin (0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mg L-1) and different levels of pH (4.5, 5 and 5.5) were compared. The in vitro shoots were transferred on AN media supplemented with zeatin (1 and 2 mg L-1) alone or in combination with Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) (0.2 and 0.4 mg L-1). To optimize the rooting stage, elongatedshoots (1.5- 2cm) were cultured on half strength semi- solid media containing activated charcoal (0 and 7g L-1), or half strength liquid AN medium supplemented with different concentrations of IBA (0, 0.5, 2 and 3 mg L-1) and NAA (0 and 0.5 mg L-1). The results indicated that at the establishment stage, AN media supplemented with 4 mg L-1 zeatin (pH= 5.5) and 1 mg L-1 zeatin (pH= 5) were the best treatment for Asalem and Kelardasht explants, respectively. For the Asalem explants, the highest number of proliferated shoots (4) was observed on AN media consisting of 2 mg L-1 zeatin and 0.4 mg L-1 IBA. Whereas for the Kelardash explants the highest number of proliferated shoots (3) was observed on AN media consisting of 2 mg L-1 zeatin and 0.2 mg L-1 IBA. The highest percent of root formation (86 and 66%) were observed in half strength AN medium containing 7 g L- 1 activated charcoal and 3 mg L-1 IBA and 0.5 mg L-1 NAA in Asalem and Kelardasht explants, respectively. The plantlets were successfully transferred to soil and the survival rate was 85%.

Arnebia pulchra (Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.) Edm. is an endangered, perennial member of Boraginaceae family. Spectrophotometric and LC-Mass analysis confirmed the existence of shikalkin derivatives in its root skin and polyphenolic compounds in the inner part of its root. Studies on the regeneration of A. pulchra from its callus resulted in successful callus induction in the root explants excised from the young plantlets on MS medium amended with 2,4-D (1 mg.l-1) and kinetin (0.5 mg.l-1) at 25 °C in darkness. The highest frequency of shooting (15 shoots per callus) was achieved for the calli sub-cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D (0.1 mg.l-1) and kinetin (2 mg.l-1) in 2 weeks. The concentration and type of auxin were found critical forsuccessful rooting. The best rooting conditions with a frequency rate of 80% were obtained for the regenerates which were sub-cultured on half-strength MS medium supplemented with IBA (1 mg.l-1), NAA (1 mg.l-1) and kinetin (0.2 mg.l-1). The regeneration method developed in this work provides a basis for germplasm conservation of A. pulchra.

The seasonal variation of volatile oil compositions (VOCs) from fresh flowers of Persian Musk rose was investigated by Combi PAL Headspace Techniques. In this study, a total number of 21 VOCs were detected by headspace on the Combi PAL System and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS GC/MS) from Rosa moschata Herrm. at different seasons which was representing 92.53-99.37% of total VOCs. The analysis of VOCs at different seasons detected the major compounds: Phenyl ethyl alcohol (30.68 77.36%), 1-Nonadecene (1.01-30.42%), n-Nonadecane (4.61-14.04%), n-Heneicosane (4.47-12.07%) and 1 Tricosene (0-5.91%). Phenylpropanoids content varied significantly over time, with a low level during September and maximum content in May. In contrast to phenylpropanoids contents, the high level of fatty acid derivatives was realized during September. In all of seasons a low level of terpenoids derivatives was emitted from Persian Musk rose flowers. The results of this research suggest that the fragrance characteristics of R. moschata resulted from its specific composition and can be manipulated by seasonal changes and environmental conditions.

Allelopathy refers to the chemical inhibition or stimulation of one species by another which could influence on the growth or germination of other plant and used in control of weed in agricultural practices. In this sense in order to study the possibly allelopathic effects of lemon balm, bitter apple and lemon verbena medicinal plants on control of wild mustard weed, a laboratory experiment was arranged based on Completely Randomized Design (CRD) in three replications at laboratory of Mehrgan institute during 2014. In this study, effects of different aqueous extracts and essential oils of mentioned medicinal plants compared with control treatments. Evaluated values were germination rate, germination percentage, radicle length, shoot length, fresh and dry weight of radicle and shoot. Results showed that essential oil of Lemon verbena at 600 mg/L concentration had more meaningful effect on germination percentage and germination rate of wild mustard. Our results also indicated that aqueous extract of these plants had stimulating effect on weed seed development, while some essential oils treatments had an inhibitory effect on this weed seeds development.