A Comparative Study of anti-mutation and anti-carcinogenic properties of Rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) during their different developmental stages

As can VI ads through the world as well as the country of Iran, the need for medicines with fewer side effects and more efficacy has increasingly become the center of attention of researchers. Aditionally, more than 60 percent of of anti-cancer compounds for treating cancer patients is derived from herbs and micro organisms. Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis L.) and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) of the mint family (Lamiaceae) posess numerous medical properties such as anti-cancer, anti-tumor and wound and infection healing qualities. Due to the importance of the above mentioned herbs and their increased cultivation in different climatic conditions all around the country of Iran, this study has focused on the anti- mutation and anti-cancer effects of them.

To investigate the anti-mutation and anti-cancer properties of these two herbs, their flowers were collected in summer and fall from southeast of Tehran. The specimens were dried in the room tempature, in the shade. Methanol and ethanol extracts were produced. Following AIMS protocol and through utilizing Salmonella TA100, the anti-mutation effects of the extracts were determined. To investigate the anti-cancer effect, mouse liver microsome (S9) was added to the specimen. Each test was repeated three times simaltanously. Sodium Azide was used for the positive control group and water and organic solvents were used for the negative control group. The anti-mutation and anti-carcinogenic effect was calculated using the ong equation.

Methanol extract of rosemary flowers was most effective in fall in terms of anti-cancer (65.95%) and anti-mutation (63.12%) properties. Ethanol extracts of lavender had minimum anti-cancer (32.80%) and anti-mutation (30.88%) effects in summer.

Extract of rosemary flowers was more effective in comparison to that of lavender. Extract of the specimens collected in the fall was more effective, as well. Methanol extract is more effective in terms of anti-mutation and anti-cancer compared to ethanol extract.