The effect of different levels of titanium dioxide nanoparticle on production of two major phenolic compounds in dragonhead herb (Dracocephalum moldavica L.)

In order to evaluate the effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on the production of rosmarinic acid and chlorogenic acid، this nanoparticle with eight different concentrations (0، 5، 10، 20، 30، 50، 100 and 15 ppm) in a completely randomized design with three replications at flowering stage was sprayed on Urmia genotype of Dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) planted in the greenhouse، college of agriculture، Tehran university. At full flowering stage، plant shoots were harvested and dried in the shade for a week and then the amount of two major phenolic compounds of extraction were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Excel and SAS software were used for statistical analysis. Results showed statistically significant differences among different treatments. The production of these two compounds raised in low concentration of nanoparticle treatment up to 30 ppm extract، whereas rosmarinic acid content was decreased in high concentration of nanoparticle treatment. Average content of rosmarinic acid and chlorogenic acid in Urmia genotypes was 123. 2 and 54µg/g extract، respectively. Therefore، nanopartcle induced the production rate of phenolic compounds in low concentration.