عذرا صبورا

Stroke, as the most important cause of physical disability in the world, imposes many financial and psychological costs on the patient, family, and society. Recently, the attention of many researchers has been attracted to the use of more effective components with less side effects such as medicinal plants. Dracocephalum Kotschyi Boiss can be a suitable candidate for the present study due to its neuroprotective properties. 35 male rats were divided into five main groups: control, the methanolic extract of Dracocephalum Kotschyi Boiss-received group, ischemia, and ischemia+extract-received group. Biochemical parameters of blood serum and animal weight were measured in the control and extract-received group. In the ischemia group, the rats underwent into cerebral ischemia induction surgery without receiving any treatment. The extract, as a pretreatment, was administrated in the ischemia + extract-received group with a dose of 50 mg/kg orally for five days. Then, brain ischemia surgery was performed. Eventually, the groups undergoing ischemia surgery were evaluated using behavioral tests, infarct volume, and cerebral edema. The results showed that the extract had no harmful effect on the biochemical factors of blood serum. In addition, the extract reduced neurological defects, infarct volume and cerebral edema in the cortex area. Based on the results of the present study, it can be stated that the administration of the extract of Dracocephalum Kotschyi Boiss attenuated some of the damages caused by cerebral ischemia. Therefore, we can hope for this natural plant compound as a suitable candidate in the pharmaceutical industry.

The medicinal properties of the Narcissus genus are due to the presence of alkaloids known as Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids (AA). The presence of nanoparticles causes oxidative stress and stimulates production of secondary metabolites. Useing specific precursors in AA biosynthetic pathways can be effective on cumulative production of these compounds. In this study, the effect of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4-NPs), trans-cinnamic acid (tCA), and L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) as precursors has been investigated on changes in some biochemical parameters of Narcissus tazetta L. callus, especially alkaloid content. Treatment of calli generated from bulb explants in Morashig-Skoog (MS) media containing 2,4-D and BAP and Fe3O4-NPs, increased alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds. Also, the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT and POD), and activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and tyrosine ammonia-lyase (TAL) increased under Fe3O4-NPs treatments alone and in combination with tCA or L-Phe precursors. The evaluation of the studied parameter changes showed that both tCA and L-Phe treatment can change the plant's metabolism to improve the production of secondary metabolites. This was especially evident with the simultaneous application of Fe3O4-NPs and these precursors. Application of precursors in the culture medium increased H2O2 content under tCA treatment and decreased it under L-Phe treatment. Increased activity of the antioxidant enzymes caused by nanoparticle treatments along with the nutritional effect of tCA and L-Phe precursors, progressed signaling pathway of antioxidant responses by affecting the activity of biosynthetic enzymes and increases production of some secondary metabolites including alkaloids and phenolic compounds. Considering various properties of Amaryllidaceaea alkaloids, optimizing, and increasing the production of these alkaloids is important from a commercial and medical point of view.

Khabr National Park is one of the valuable natural resources in Iran, and its cyanobacterial population has not been studied yet. Cyanobacteria are the most important nitrogen-fixing bacteria in all aquatic and terrestrial environments, playing a vital role in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. The present study aimed to determine the role of different cyanobacterial species isolated from the grazed and not grazed areas in two cold and warm steppes of Khabr National Park on some soil properties and the effect of the selected cyanobacteria on Secale montanum growth.

In the present study, cyanobacteria were isolated from a harsh terrestrial ecosystem and cultured on a BG11 medium. Next, the expression of the nifH gene was assayed in all nitrogen fixing isolates using the Real Time-PCR. Then, the best nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria (Nodularia. sp.) was selected and its activity was investigated in pot experiments alone and in combination with chemical fertilizer. Three different soils in terms of physical and chemical properties were analyzed.

The results indicated that the treated soils with Nodularia sp. as a biofertilizer can significantly increase nitrogen content of both agricultural soil and mixed soil. Consequently, Nodularia sp. has the ability to promote some characteristics of the studied soil through improving TN, SOC, SOM, and enzyme activities.

It can be concluded that the selected cyanobacterium increase soil stability in terms of mechanical fracture and resistance to desiccation and improve soil structure, which is very important, especially in arid and desert soil.

Biological soil crusts including cyanobacteria, fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes, algae, viruses, mosses, lichens, and plants are formed on the soil surface. Cyanobacteria are key microorganisms in the formation of the biological soil crust, especially in arid and desert areas. Cyanobacteria increase carbon and nitrogen content in soil via increasing colony formation and Exopolysaccharide (EPS) production and play an important role to strengthen soil structure especially in poor soil and prevent it from eroding.

In the present study, three cyanobacteria with the highest secreted carbohydrate production were selected among 19 isolates of different provinces’ soil. The amount of carbohydrate production of the selected strains was determined by using the phenolic sulfuric acid method. Then, three selected strains, with the highest amount of secreted carbohydrate were inoculated to the pot filling with poor soils. After 7 weeks of cyanobacterial inoculation, some physical and chemical alterations of the soil were measured. Furthermore, the rate of formation of the biological soil crust and the adhesiveness of the soil particles were microscopically investigated.

The carbohydrate content was 86.66 µg/ml for Anabaena sphaerica, 55. 91 µg/ml for Geitlerinema.sp, and 64.19 µg/ml, for Nostoc pruniforme. The results of the study also show that these three strains are capable of forming biological soil crust on the soil surface.

Anabaena sphaerica, due to its high growth rate, more biomass production, and more secreted carbohydrates increased soil nitrogen and carbon content, as well as better formation of biological soil crust was selected for further investigation. This strain improved some soil texture characteristics and probably it can have a positive effect on soil fertility.

Lichens produce high diversity of metabolites and they have different biological activities including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and the cytotoxic effects. In this study, the impact of antimicrobial substances of lichens were studied. For this purpose, the lichens of northern forests around Babol city was collected and via the morphological and microscopic characteristics, biochemical and molecular methods were identified. Then, ethanol extracts of lichens were prepared. Antimicrobial effects of extracts was assayed using the diffusion agar method and the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration against five bacteria, Bacillus cereus, Xanthomonas campestris, Escherichia coli, Staphylococus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The studies showed that the extract of Leptogium saturninum, Ramalina peruviana, Punctelia borreri were effective against X. campestris، S. aureus. However, in the case of Bacillus cereus and E.coli only the extract of R. peruviana was effective. Furthermore, measuring the diameter of zone inhibition and MIC against three clinical Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida glabrat showed that the extracts of Leptogium saturninum, Ramalina peruviana were effective on all the strains. However the extract of Punktelia subrodecta was effective only on C.albicans. The substance of lichens, which assayed by biochemical tests showed that due to the presence of phenolic compounds, lichens show high antimicrobial properties. It should be carried out the antimicrobial experiments on a wide range of environmental and pathogenic microorganisms.

DNA extraction from plant tissues often causes most problems. For example, unsuccessful removal secondary metabolites during extraction, such as phenolic compounds in aromatic and medicinal plants, cause to some mistakes in result of molecular experiments by using of the extracted DNA. Achillea wilhelmsii is a medicinal plant belong to Asteraceae family and native to Iran, there is little information about genomic data in this plant. Therefore, optimizing of the DNA extraction methods for obtaining suitable quality and quantity yield is necessary. In this study, two traditional DNA extraction methods (using fresh and herbarium leaf samples) and commercial DNA kit MAGNANTM in Yarrow have been compared. Results showed that DNA extracted from fresh leaves of yarrow according to Khanuja et al. (1999) was better than the other methods which mentioned in this research, because of the increased amount of extracted DNA and reduced harmful compounds such as RNA, polysaccharides, protein and secondary metabolites. To evaluate the quality of extracted DNA from herbarium specimens showed that, in spite of the high yielding DNA (10-50 fold ratio to the other methods), quality of this extract was low on agarose gel because of smear and broken down the molecules. It can be considered as a limitation of the extract in molecular experiments. Procedure of MAGNANTM DNA kit was appropriate for reducing time and cost of the extraction as well as low contamination to protein and RNA, but the process needs some modifications for yarrow to increase the amount of extracted DNA.

This study was designed in order to investigate the allelopathic effect of olive fruit pomace on some physiological parameters and yield of three wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum). A pot experiment was used based on a factorial study with completely randomized design and three replications at five levels (0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 % W/W) of olive fruit pomace and three wheat cultivars (Triticale, Karkhe and Chamran). The amount of soluble proteins of leaf, activities of peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase enzymes of leaf, and amount of malondialdehyde of leaf at ear emergence stage and spike weight, spike length, grain number per spike, grain weight per spike, 1000 grain weight, total harvest index, grain proline content, and grain soluble carbohydrate content at complete ripeness stage of wheat were measured. According to the results, amount of soluble proteins of leaf, activity of peroxidase of leaf, spike weight, spike length, grain number per spike, grain weight per spike, 1000 grain weight and total harvest index decreased in the three wheat cultivars with an increase in the content of olive pomace in the soil compared to the control. But the amount of activity of ascorbate peroxidase and catalase enzyme of leaf, amount of malondialdehyde of leaf, grain proline, and grain soluble carbohydrate content showed increase in the three wheat cultivars by increasing the content of olive pomace in the soil compared to the control. Since olive fruit pomace contains phenolic compounds, the inhibitory effects of olive pomace on wheat growth are attributed to these compounds.

Plants contain phenolic compounds ranging from simple molecules such as phenolic acids to highly polymerized molecules such as tannins. Phenols and polyphenols in plant tissues have gained increasing scientific interest because of their potential beneficial effects on human health. Among which, the nut and skin of pistachio are known as a rich source of phenolic compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. The aim of this study was to investigated feasibility for industrial production of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity because of mass pistachio skin production in Iran .
The extraction experiments on two species of pistachio, namely Kalleghuchi (P. vera cv. Kallehghuchi) and Ohadi (P.vera cv . Ohadi) were carried out by using two methods, i.e. maceration and ultrasonic extraction and four solvents (acetone 70% ,ethanol 50% , methanol 50% and water). The antioxidant property of the extracts were then evaluated through DPPH and FRAP methods. experiment results showed that the highest and lowest amounts of the antioxidant property in DPPH assay method have the values respectively , IC50 0.057µg/ml and 0.099µg/ml related to extract taken from Ohadi and Kallehghuchi in water solvent with maceration method. Whereas, in FRAP assay method resulted in 5.59 mM and 2.57 mM as the highest and lowest antioxidant activity respectively related to the extract taken from Ohadi in ethanol solvent with maceration and ultrasonic methods.

In higher plant, boron and iron are two necessary micronutrients and reduce access to those can seriously influence on the vital processes. To study the effect of boron and iron deficiency in sorghum, sterile seeds of two cultivars (Kimia and Sugar-graze) were cultured on modified medium of Murashige and Skoog including lacking H3BO3 or half concentration of iron. Seedlings were harvested after 21 days. Then contents of the photosynthetic pigments, carbohydrates, phenolic compounds and activity of the phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) were measured. The results showed that compared to the controls, contents of the chlorophyll a and b were remarkably increased in Kimia, 58% and 38% by B deficiency and 85% and 75% in Fe deficiency. In treatment of Fe deficiency, carotenoid content significantly increased 8% in Sugar-graze and 80% in Kimia. During boron deficiency, the carotenoid content showed 24% reduction in Sugar-graze and increase of 26% in Kimia cultivar. In the root of Sugar-graze, polysaccharide and reducing sugar contents were increased more than two fold under B deficiency, whereas under Fe deficiency, enhancing of the reducing sugar content was about 58% in the root of Sugar-graze. In the seedling Kimia, under B deficiency, there no significant increase in reducing sugar content was observed and under Fe deficiency only about 25% increase was occurred in the root. Decrease of access to those elements caused to reduce content of the phenolic compounds in root tissue of both cultivars about 20 to 35%, while no significant difference among the aerial parts recorded. In the root of sorghum under deficiency stresses, there was a positive correlation between PAL activity and phenolic content of the plants. Since in sorghum root, decrease in the storage of the phenolic compounds was accompanied by a reduction in PAL activity. It seems that in early growth stages of the sorghum seedling, the increase in the carotenoid and reducing sugar contents and exudation of phenolic compounds from root can be a part of a deal factors against to oxidative stress arising from nutrient deficiency.

Tannins are plant natural products with a high molecular weight and can form a complex with the protein and carbohydrates.This plant important material have properties such as anti-microbial and proteins precipitation. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of industrial mass production of tannins from pistachio hull. Two extraction methods, i.e. shaker and ultrasonic Extraction and four solvents (acetone 70% ,ethanol 50% , methanol 50% and water) were performed in two species kalleghuchi (P. vera cv. Kallehghuchi) and Ohadi (P.vera cv . Ohadi). The results showed that the highest and the lowest insoluble tannin was measured 13.18 and 11.99 mg/g DW respectively related to maceration method in the ohadi, Acetone and methanol. But the highest and the lowest soluble tannin was measured 55.32 and 34.46 mg/g DW respectively related to maceration method in the ohadi, ethanol and kalleghuchi, water. Anthocyanin in Pistachio hull kalleghuchi and ohadi was measured 9.09 and 10.71 μmol/g DW and Pistachio nute kalleghuchi and ohadi 4.12 and 4.19 μmol/g DW . The results suggest the application of pistachio green hull as a cheap and easily accessible source for production of natural bioactive compounds.

This study aimed to investigate the alteration of compatible osmolite contents (including the content of reducing sugars and proline), as well as polysaccharides 4 wheat cultivars under water deficit conditions, this study was conducted in the field condition. Treatments were water stress and wheat genotypes that studied in a split plot experiment in RCBD design with three replications. Water stress treatments were done as cutting irrigation from anthesis period and optimum irrigation. Studied cultivars were Marvdasht (sensitive), Pishtaz and Bahar (semi-resistant), WS-82-9 (resistant). The results showed that the lowest decrease in grain yield was observed in WS-82-9 due to water stress in the grain filling period, the data did not reveal a significant difference among other cultivars (30% vs. 35-43% in the other cultivars). Biochemical studies showed that water stress caused accumulation of proline content in flag leaf, (21-20 μg/g FW in the control plants versus 57μg/g FW in WS-82-9 or 83 μg/g FW in Bahar cultivar, on the 6th days after drought stress). Over time, the difference between leaf proline content of the varieties were decreased in terms of water availability and water stress. Changes in the percentage of soluble sugars and proline contents showed the same trend. According to our results water stress caused to increased levels of soluble sugars in the stems especially in Marvdasht and Bahar cultivars and WS-82-9 line. Increased levels of soluble sugars occurred at the middle stage of grain filling in the flag leaf of Bahar and Pishtaz cultivars and WS-82-9 line, also this was occurred in Marvdasht at the late stage of grain filling. Polysaccharide content of the leaves and stems decreased in all cultivars by Water deficit, especially in susceptible varieties (highest decrease was observed about 0.52% and 0.67% respectively in leaves and stems of Marvdasht and Pishtaz and the lowest was found about 0.31% and 0.37% respectively in leaves and stems of Bahar and WS-82-9. It seems that compatible osmolites and proline accumulation (osmoregulation) is a common response of all wheat genotypes to drought stress but the rate of increase in these compounds was higher in resistant cultivars during stress

Salvia is an important genus of Lamiaceae which phenolic compounds are the main secondary metabolites of its members. The objective of this study was to investigate the diversity of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in the leaves and flowers from 41 wild populations of 27 Salvia species from Iran by TLC method and evaluation of their significance as chemical markers for taxonomic purposes. Rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acids A and B, apigenin, rutine, scutellarin and baicalin were characterized as the main compounds of the studied Salvia species. Based on the dendrogram obtained from the didtribution patterns of phenolic compounds using cluster analysis by UPGMA method, the Salvia species were studied chemotaxonomically. Results showed that the patterns of phenolic compounds in the leaf and flower organs were similar in populations of a species, while they were different among the species. It seems that substantial differences in the patterns of these compounds at inter-species level were mainly due to genetic differences. The results from classification of the species by cluster analysis of the phenolic data supported their grouping according to their classical taxonomy in the Flora Iranica. This suggests the importance of these compounds as chemical markers for the classification of Salvia species at inter-species and subgenus levels.

This study was designed aimed to investigated the allelopathic effect of olive pomace, laying on growth and biochemical characteristics of three cultivars wheat seedlings. Various concentrations of olive pomace (1, 3, 5 and 7 percentage) was mixed with soil and three different varieties of wheat were planted in the soil. After growth, the plant length, leaf and root dry weight, content of photosynthetic pigments, soluble carbohydrates and proline were measured in the seedling stage. The results shows that the plant lenght, leaf and root dry weight, photosynthetic pigment content, decreased in three varietis with the increasing amount of olive pomace in the soil compared to the control. But the amount of sugar and proline content shows Increase in wheats with increasing amount of olive pomace in the soil compared to control. According to the results obtained the inhibitory effects of olive pomace increased with increasing levels of olive pomace in the soil. Olive pomace has phenolic substances that its inhibitory effect can be attributed to these compounds.

Salvia L. is a large genus of Lamiaceae with 58 species in Iran. Essential oils, terpenoids, derivatives of phenolic acids and flavonoids are the main secondary metabolites constituents of Salvia species. Pharmaceutical properties of the Salvia plants are mainly due to antioxidant activities of these metabolites. In this project, for the first time some phenolic compounds (rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acids A and B) of the leaves and roots from four Iranian wild species of salvia were isolated and measured by HPLC method. Based on our results, leaves and roots of S. verticillata were the richest sources of rosmarinic acid (41.53±0.88 and 5.99±0.19 mg/g DW, respectively). Salvianolic acid B varied from 26.89±4.95 mg/g DW in the leaves of S. officinalis to 75.71±2.74 mg/g DW in the leaves of S.nemorosa. Also, the highest content (10.68±3.12 mg/g DW) of this phenolic compound was determined in the roots of S. nemorosa. The leaves of S. officinalis and the roots of S. nemorosa with values of 4.55±0.77 and 6.68±1.85 mg/g DW had the highest contents of salvianolic acid A. The results showed that the leaves were rich in phenolic acids and among them, salvianolic acid B was the most abundant constituent and rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid A were in the next place. In conclusion, our results suggested that some Iranian wild species such as S. verticillata and S. nemorosa with high capacity of production and storage of phenolic acids can be introduced as potent natural sources for medicinal purposes.

Infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm are the major causes of death in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Some studies revealed that biofilms are resistant to several antibiotics because of their impermeable structures. In order to re-sensitize bacteria to different antibiotics, biofilm formation should be inhibited. In this research, evaluation of antibiofilm activity of n-butanolic Cyclamen coum extract as a medici­nal plant from Myrsinaceae family, in combination with ciprofloxacin was carried out. The biofilm formation ability by P. aeruginosa PAO1 and one clinically isolated P. aeruginosa (PA214) was confirmed by microtiter plate method. Extraction of the tubers of Cyclamen coum was done by fractionation method. The antibiofilm and antibacterial properties of n-butanolic C. coum extract (which includes saponin compounds) alone and in combination with ciprofloxacin by using microdilution and crystal violet methods were examined. The cytotoxicity effect of the n-butanolic extract on HT-29 cells was assayed by MTT (3- (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) test. The biofilm formation ability by P. aeruginosa strains was quantitatively confirmed. Saponin content of the n-butanolic C.coum extract was 156 µg/mL. The extract revealed antibacterial activity against the growth of planktonic P. aeruginosa strains. The combination of n-butanolic C.coum extract and ciprofloxacin significantly inhibited P.aeruginosa biofilm formation (ΣFBIC = 0.5). The n-butanolic C.coum extract showed insignificant cytotoxic effect against HT-29 human cancer cell line after 48 hours and 72 hours incubation. Discussion and It can be concluded that n-butanolic C.coum extract in combination with ciprofloxacin significantly revealed antibiofilm activity against P. aeruginosa biofilm however, further clinical investigations are required.

Salicylic acid (SA) is a naturally produced compound and has been implicated to play important roles in tolerance of plants against diverse biotic and abiotic stresses. Experiments were conducted to study the regulatory role of SA on antioxidant enzyme induction in two salt sensitive (Y3000) and relative salt tolerant (H420) cultivar of canola. The experiment was conducted in Hajiabad country, Qom. The seeds were cultivated as a completely randomized block. SA treatment carried out with 0, 0.5 and 1μM of SA solution in the early morning when the plants fourth leaf completely expanded. The samples were taken at up to120 (vegetative phase) days after germination for analysis. The results revealed that salicylic acid increased peroxidase, polyphnol oxidase and superoxide dismutase activities in Y300 cv. By contrast antioxidant enzymes activities decreased in H420 cv. PAGE gel electrophoresis analysis of antioxidant enzymes revealed that salicylic acid increased peroxidase activity and intensity in Y 300 cv. Poly phenol oxidase activity was unchanged and Cu,/ Zn-SOD was the most abundance isozyme. The activity of this izozyme increased in treated plants. Fe- SOD was observed in Y 300 cv. and Mn-SOD was observed in H420 cv. Therefore ROS involve in different signaling pathway in different compartments of the cell in salt sensitive and relative salt tolerant cultivars. As a result SA increased salt tolerance in salt sensitive cultivar by increasing antioxidant enzyme activity.

Phenolic acids, polyphenols and flavonoids are antioxidant compounds, which act as cell protective factors against oxidative stress by trapping and inhibition of free radicals, play an important role in plants and animals health. In this research, in order to optimize extraction of antioxidant compounds, phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity of Scutellaria pinnatifida aerial part were determined. Dried powder of aerial part from two populations, Dizin and Kojur, was extracted with ethanol 80%, methanol 80%, water and ethyl acetate, by two soaking and sonication methods. Then, the contents of total phenolic and flavonoid compounds were assayed by spectrophotometric methods. Antioxidant activity of the extracts were analyzed by two tests: free radical scavenging activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and bleaching β-carotene in linoleic acid system. Statistical analysis of the data was performed by One-way and two-way ANOVA to compare the means. The highest content of total phenol and flavonoid (8 and 24 mg/g Shoot dry weight, respectively) was obtained by soaking method and ethanolic extraction in Kojur population. While in Dizin population with the same extraction techniques, the contents of the mentioned compounds were at very low levels (5.6 and 1.6 mg/g DW, respectively). IC50 value of the ethanolic, methanolic and aqueous extracts were estimated about 0.1- 1.2 mg/ml in the Kojur population. The phenolic and flavonoid contents of these extracts were significantly higher than ethyl acetate extracts. With the exception of aqueous extract prepared by soaking, scavenging capacity of DPPH free radicals by different extracts of Dizin population was considerably lower than the Kojour population. The antioxidant assay results obtained from beta-carotene-linoleic acid test showed that the highest inhibition percentage of lipid peroxidation resulted from aqueous extracts prepared by ultrasonic waves (respectively 93% and 50% inhibition by extracts of the Kojour and Dizin populations). The means of total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extracts were significantly different under the influence of three factors: population, extraction method and solvent. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in Kojur population: by soaking methanolic extraction method in DPPH test or by sonicate aqueous extraction method in the inhibition of lipid peroxidation test.

The aim of this study was to obtain a suitable combination of hormones including naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) with benzyl aminopurin (BAP) or kinetin (KIN) to lower seed dormancy of Peroveskia abrotanoides، studying in vitro organogenesis and evaluation of antioxidant activity of shoots and roots. The seeds were sterilized and cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) containing BAP or KIN (at 0، 1، 2. 5 and 5 mg/L concentrations) and NAA (at 0، 0. 1، 0. 25 and 0. 5 mg/L concentrations). All experiments were done based on factorial design in a randomized block design with at least five replicas. Germination percent was estimated after 30 days and number of shoots and leave، leaf area، root and shoot length were determined after 80 days. The highest germination percent (93%) was obtained by 5 mg/L KIN and 2. 5 mg/L KIN + 0. 1 mg/L NAA treatments which was indicative of the role of the cytokinin on the seed dormancy breaking. Effect of BAP on rising shoot number was greater than KIN (30 shoots after 2. 5 mg/L BAP treatment). In contrast to NAA that was inhibitor of shoot induction in P. abrotanoides، number of the shoots was reduced to half by addition of it to the media. The highest value of leaf area (15 mm2) was obtained by treated seeds in the media supported with NAA alone. The highest percentage of callus induction (80%) was obverved on media containing 0. 25 or 0. 5 mg/L NAA in combination with 2. 5 mg/L BAP or KIN. Intermediate concentration of the studied cytokinins alone or with intermediate concentration of NAA، such as 2. 5 mg/L KIN + 0. 25 mg/L NAA، had the highest effect on rosmarinic acid storage in de novo organs (75. 21 mg/g DW). While، the induced organs was grown on the media that supplemented just with NAA had less antioxidant activity and rosmarinic acid content.

Marjoram (Origanom majorana L)، a plant which belongs to lamiaceae family، is used in medicine and food industry for its high antioxidant compounds. Since antioxidant activity of plants is affected by extraction method، this study aimed to optimize the extraction method of these compounds from different tissues of majoram (leaf and flower) in vegetative and flowering stages. Methanolic extract was prepared from leaf dried powder before and after flowering. In fact، mixture of the flower and leaf was prepared by three methods including soaking، microwave and ultrasonic extraction. Then، antioxidant activities of the extracts were measured by two DPPH scavenging capacity of free radicals and linoleic acid peroxidation in β- carotene system. The microvawe extraction significantly extracted highest antioxidant compounds from different tissues of the majoram (p<0. 01)، whereas soaking and ultrasonic methods had lesser amount of these compounds. DPPH test obviously revealed the significant difference among antioxidant activity of the various extracts. Among the studied samples، leaf sample (before flowering stage) that was extracted by microvawe method had the highest antioxidant activity. The IC50 value of this sample was 0. 02 mg DW ml-1 in DPPH method and also inhibition percent of linoleic acid peroxidation was 110% compared to BHT. In contrast، extraction by ultrasonic method showed the lowest antioxidant activity (IC50 0. 28 mg DW ml-1 and 102% inhibition of lipid peroxidation). The study results indicated that microvawe extraction method can be introduced as the best technique for fast extraction of the antioxidant compounds from Origanum majorana L.

Methanolic extracts (80%) were prepared from dried powder of leaves and stems of 9 different populations of six Dianthus L. species in Iran. Then, phenolic and flavonoid contents were measured by Foline-ciocalteu and Aluminum chloride methods, respectively. Antioxidant activity was investigated using two complimentary in vitro assays: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay and β-carotene bleaching assay and then data were compared with BHT as the standard. Results showed that there were significant differences between means of phenol and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity of the species by the both methods (p<0.01). Also, the results revealed that changes in climate, altitude and genetic pools had a significant effect on the phenol and flavonoid contents and antioxidant properties of the extracts at genus level, but the content of the flavonoids was not changed noticeably within species level.

Phenolic acids as secondary metabolites that are involved in allelopathy stress and they can be used to manage weeds. In the present study investigated the effects of some these compounds in concentrations of 0.5 and 2 mM on protein content and anti-oxidative enzymes pigweed plant. The seeds were cultured in ½ MS media containing one of the phenolic acids including: Syringic, p- Coumaric, m-Coumaric, p-hydroxy Benzoic, Vanillic and Ferulic acid for 25 days and then biochemical analysis were performed. The results were showed that high potential allelopathic compounds were caused reduce in water content and protein percent. Also scavenging free radicals process were disturbed because of damage on function of anti-oxidant enzymes spatially catalase and peroxidas. In the almost treatments, activity of superoxide dismutase was increased relative to the control.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is an important economic crop in Khorasan province which is propagated by corms. The traditional culture has various problems such as pathogen attack and a long period of time for proliferation. Application of plant growth regulators and induction of somatic embryogenesis is an efficient method to propagate a large number of intact corms in in vitro condition. In this research, effects of four exogenous hormones during 90 days on maturation of globular embryo, its germination and microcorm induction of saffron by using half strength Murashige and Skoog media were studied. Investigated phytohormones were NAA (0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 mg l-1), IBA (0.5, 1 and 2 mg l-1), BAP (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg l-1) and ABA (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mg l-1). All treatments carried out based on completely randomized design in 4 replicates. Results showed that the most number of globular somatic embryos were obtained in ½ MS medium containing 0.1 mg l-1 NAA, but this media in relation to which were contained BAP or IBA was not suitable for maturation. After 60 days, the media supplied with 1 and 2 mg l-1 IBA were the best for induction of embryo maturation and cormlet formation. Although at the end of 90 days, highest number of mature embryos was obtained in the presence of 0.5 mg l-1 BAP, microcorm induction did not occurred by BAP treatments in long term. Different concentration of ABA quickly improved maturation of globular embryos but they had no positive effect on cormlet regeneration.

Saffron (crocus sativus L.) is an important cash crop in Iran that propagates by its corms. Usually, rate yield reduced 5-6 years after primary plantation. For this reason, farmers begin to recultivate new corms or intercropped cultivation. Sorghum (sorghum bicolor L.) could be introduce as a suitable candidate for intercropped cultivation. Therefore, in our research we attempt to investigate allelopatic effects of leaf, corm and petal extracts of saffron on seed germination and early growth stage of four sorghum cultivars. Aqueous and alcoholic extract were prepared from dry powdered of saffron organs at 0-4% and 0-1% (w/v) concentrations, respectively. Then sterile seeds were exposed to these extracts. Experiments were designed in a randomized complete block as a factorial experiment with 4 replicates. The results showed that rate and percent of germination, length of root, shoot and leaf, fresh and dry weights of seedling reduced in 4 sorghum cultivars by both extracts. Root growth was significantly decreased in comparison to shoot and leaf. Also, measurement of dry weight revealed that the accumulation of biomass was less affected in shoot. In spite of less growth of root, water content of seedling did not show obvious reduction. It is suggested that root cells were surmounted to stress by osmotic regulation and dilution of toxic compounds. Also, result showed that leaf and petal extracts were more effective than corm tissue; and among 4 studied cultivars Kimia and Payam were resistant to petal and corm extracts but Spidfid and Sugargraz were more resistant to leaf extract.

Germplasm banks are basic sources for selecting and breeding programs. Iran is known as one of the origins of olive in the world with many different olive cultivars and considerable number of old olive orchards. Evaluation and classification of existing olive genotypes in Iran seems to be very important. Thirty-five years ago, 25 olive genotypes (originated from different parts of the world) had been transferred to an olive orchard near Gorgan city. In 1377 their duplicated plants obtained from these genotypes were transferred to collection of Olive Research Station in Tarom-Zanjan. Each selected genotypes propagated with nine replications and nominated as “Tn”. In this study we used morphological characteristics to identify these unknown genotypes. Samples were collected from 15 genotypes with three replications. Morphological data used for cluster analysis. By using of variance analysis, all the studied quantitative characters (except one) revealed significant differences between genotypes and clearly separated from each other. Comprising results with typical known Iranian olive cultivars, showed a remarkable distance between them.