مجله تحقیقات گیاهان دارویی و معطر ایران
سال سی و پنجم شماره 2 (پیاپی 94، خرداد و تیر 1398)

Iranian poppy (Papaver bracteatum Lindl.) is one of the medicinal plants belonging to the Papaveraceae family, which is widely used in pharmaceutical industries due to the presence of benzyl isoquinoline alkaloids. The polyploidy induction is one of the most interesting issues in the breeding and biotechnology of medicinal plants. In this study, colchicine treatment was carried out in five concentrations (0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.5) and three duration times (24, 48, 72 hours) with three replications as a factorial in a completely randomized design under greenhouse conditions, which aimed at studying morphological and phytochemical changes in polyploid plants and comparing them with diploid ones. The Microscopic, morphological and chromosomal counts were used to determine ploidy level of plants. The results showed that the concentration of 0.2% of colchicine for 48 hours was the most suitable treatment for polyploidy induction. Polyploidy caused significant changes in the increasing phytochemicals amount such as phenol, flavonoids and total antioxidants (DPPH) and decreasing the stomatal density index in comparison with the diploid plants. The chromosomes number of the diploid and tetraploid plants was obtained 14 (2n=2x=14) and 28 (2n=4x=28), respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that the increase in ploidy level increases the phytochemical and antioxidant compounds in Iranian poppy herb.

Jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Mill.) is a horticultural-medicinal plant belonging to the family Rhamnaceae. This research was conducted to evaluate the morphological traits and phytochemical compounds of jujube ecotypesin Iran to achieve superior medicinal ecotype. The plan with fourteen jujube ecotypes of jujube collection of Jahad University of Southern Khorasan (Birjand) was carried out in spring-2018 in a completely randomized design with three replications. Leaf and riped fruit samples were evaluated morphologically and phytochemically. The results showed that the yield of 100-seed weight was positively and significantly correlated with fruit length, fruit width and length to fruit width ratio.  Also, length to fruit width ratio and length to leaf width ratio had a positive and significant correlation with leaf width. The correlation of total flavonoid and total phenol traits with other phytochemical traits was not significant. Antioxidant capacity was significantly correlated only with total phenol. Analysis of variance of morphological traits showed that the studied ecotypes had a significant difference with each other, which indicates the existence of a variety of jujube germplasm in Iran. Based on the cluster analysis results, fourteen ecotypes were placed in two separate clusters. The results of this study showed that there is a considerable diversity in the studied ecotypes that can be used in breeding programs of the species.

Thymus daenensis Celak is one of the Iranian endemic plants. Since this species is one of the most valuable medicinal plants in the central Zagros region, extra-human exploitation has put it at risk of extinction. Ordination technique is one of the methods showing the relationship between plant and environmental variables. In order to study the effects of ecological variables on essential oil components, eight growing regions of Thymus daenensis in Isfahan province were identified and after collecting the aerial parts of plant materials, the essential oil was extracted and their components were detected. Twenty four bio-climatical, edaphical and topographical factors in each habitate were collected for ordination analysis. Results showed that elevation, mean temperature of the wettest season, isothermality, precipitation of the wettest season, annual precipitation, precipitation of the driest season and annual temperature range, clay, gravel, organic matter, available nitrogen and potassium were the most effective variables on the essential oil components. Thymol content as the main component in the essential oil was affected by annual temperature range, elevation, and slope. Soil sand percentage and the mean temperature of wettest quarter were the most effective variables on carvacrol. The result of this study could have valuable role in Thymus daenensis cultivation management in nature or farm regarding to its chemical components needed in the medicinal and hygienic industries.

In order to improve complex traits such as yield, one of the most effective approaches to select the desired genotypes is the use of selection indices. In this research, in order to evaluate the efficiency of different selection methods under stress conditions, 49 top cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) genotypes, selected in the second year of a two-year plan were evaluated. This research was conducted as a field experiment in a randomized complete block design with two replications under drought stress conditions in 2012 at the research farm of Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman. The selection indices Smith-Hazel 1 and 2 and Pesek-Baker were computed based on seven traits including plant height, number of lateral branches, umbels, umbellules, seeds, seeds weight and aerial parts weight (traits/plant). Also, the direct and correlated responses of these traits with seed yield were obtained. All three indices were evaluated in two forms, along with yield and without yield. The results of direct and correlated response of traits showed that genotypes with higher number of seeds and umbelluleshad higher yield potential. In the Smith-Hazel 1 and 2 indices, two traits including the number of seeds and umbelluleshad the highest response to the selection, while in the Pesek-Baker index, the number of branches was the highest response to the selection. The results indicated that the Smith-Hazel index had the highest selection efficiency and could be used to select appropriate genotypes in the cumin breeding programs under drought stress conditions.

Ajowan (Trachyspermum copticum L.), belonging to the Apiaceae family, is remarked as an important pharmaceutical and economical product. In order to determine the most important traits affecting grain yield, a split plot experiment was conducted in two conditions of irrigation (normal and drought stress) as the main factor and 36 ecotypes of ajowan, belonging to nine different provinces of Iran, as a sub plot based on a randomized complete block design with two replications in 2015 and 2016 crop year in Kerman. The results of linear multiple regression analysis with stepwise method showed that in drought stress condition, number of umbrellas per plant, number of seeds per umbrella and essential oil yield, and in normal irrigation conditions, biological yield, 1000-seed weight and seed number per umbrella had the highest effect on grain yield, explaining 87% and 99% of the changes, respectively. Based on the results of path analysis, traits including number of umbels per plant under stress conditions and biological yield under normal conditions had the most direct effect on the grain yield and were recognized as the most important components of the grain yield. Therefore, these traits can be considered as main appropriate criteria for facilitating the indirect selection process and evaluating the seed yield potential in ajowan breeding programs.

Study on the habitat characteristics of medicinal plants and estimating their production is one of the basic requirements for designing a future perspective document for utilization of by-products. Salep (Orchis palustris Jacq.) is one of the most important and highly valuable medicinal plants having a significant distribution in the meadows of Targavar region of Urmia. Hence, among the meadows, six locations that were easier to reach and the distribution of Salep was more uniform were selected. In each location, using 60 plots of 60×25 cm2 that were randomly located within 10 plots with 10×1 m2, the number of Salep bases were counted and traits including crown cover percentage, plant height and tuber production were measured. Three composite soil samples from each location were randomly taken from the depth of root development of dominant species, and soil characteristics including sand, silt, clay, acidity, electrical conductivity, organic matter and total nitrogen were measured. The depth of groundwater (in each location) was considered as a criterion for moisture level and altitude, to analyze the relationship between habitat characteristics and plant traits. For this purpose, based on the calculated gradient length, the redundancy analysis (RDA) method was used as a linear method. The results of RDA showed that plant traits, especially tuber weight, were directly affected by the amount of organic matter, organic carbon, total nitrogen and clay percentage of the habitats. The mentioned traits are reversely related with altitude, groundwater depth and soil acidity of locations. In general, the Salep species more prefer low-altitude habitats such as alluvial plains with fertile, neutral acidity and heavy texture soils and high groundwater surface.

To study the effect of different levels of drought stress on growth, yield and some physiological and phytochemical characteristics of oregano (Origanum vulgare L. ssp. gracile), a pot experiment, in a randomized complete design with four treatments and five replications, was conducted. Drought stress treatments were 100% (non-stress), 80%, 60% and 40% of field capacity. The results showed that drought stress had significant effect on growth parameters, dry herb yield, leaf relative water content (RWC), total phenol and flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, a, b and total chlorophyll content, essential oil content and yield. There was no significant difference between drought stress treatments for carotenoids. As the soil water content decreased, plant height, stem diameter, number and length of axillary shoots, dry herb yield, RWC, a, b and total chlorophyll content and essential oil yield decreased, but total phenol and flavonoid content, antioxidant activity and essential oil content increased. Despite the decrease in dry herb yield, the difference between 80%, 60% and 40% treatments was not significant. The highest essential oil content (1.54 ml/100 g DW) was observed in 60% of field capacity and the highest amounts of total phenol (5.21 mg gallic acid/g FW), total flavonoid (0.5 mg quercetin/g FW) and antioxidant activity (77.36%) were obtained in 40% of field capacity. The highest percentage of essential oil (54.1 mg / g dry matter) was observed in 60% of treatment capacity and the highest amount of total phenol (0.51 mg gallic acid per gram of fresh material), total flavonoid (0.5 mg Gram quercetin in grams of fresh milk) and antioxidant activity (37.36%) in 40% of treatment capacity.

In cytology studies, colors are used to differentiate the components of cells that are transparent. Most of the dyes are synthetic and can harm human and environment. Herbal dyes are safe. Since ancient times in Iran, the natural dye of madder (Rubia tinctorum L.) has been used in the textile industry. In this research, the madder root dye was extracted with water, ethanol and acid at the end of spring, summer and autumn and its colors were separated by paper chromatography. Acetoronacin was prepared from the dye extracted from madder. Acetoronacin  was used to stain epidermal cells, stomata guard cells, pollen, and the plant mitosis. The results showed that the best solvent to isolate the dye of madder was water. Chromatography results showed that the type and number of colors (5 colors) in the aqueous extract of madder root in the three seasons were similar, but some of them were higher at the end of the summer. Soluble colors in alcohol (3 colors) were observed in the ethanolic extract at the end of spring. Only one yellow color, probably alizarin, was isolated from the acid extract. Staining the cells with acetoronacin in all cases showed that the color was comparable and even better than acetocarmine. Nuclei and chromosomes of cells were stained brown by staining with acetoronacin in a transparent background. In general, the results showed that this dye can replace the synthetic dyes in the plant cell research laboratories.

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common zoonotic infections worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-Toxoplasma gondii activities of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Myrtus communis L. in vitro. In this study, effects of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of M. communis on T. gondii-infected mouse macrophages were evaluated by MTT and direct method. The results showed that the aqueous extract of M. communis with concentrations of 12.5 and 25 µg/ml had the highest anti-T. gondii activity (87 and 81%), while their lethal effect on non-infected macrophage was less than other concentrations. The present study showed that the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of M. communis have a considerable inhibitory effect on Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites and parasite intracellular proliferation in vitro.

Rose is one of the most important cut flowers in the world, which its post-harvest preservation is considered as an important challenge. In this research, the effect of 200, 400 and 600 ppm concentrations of chitosan, cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum L.) essential oils on post-harvest quality and inhibition of fungi Botrytis cinerea, the cause of gray mold disease, was evaluated in rose cv. Dolce Vita cut flower under laboratory conditions. For this purpose, the flowers were put in solutions with different concentrations for one hour and then were transferred into distilled water until the end of vase life.  Characteristics such as vase life, petal membrane stability index, leaf chlorophyll content, leaf, petal and stem water content, and petal soluble carbohydrate content were analyzed and recorded for 9 days after treatment with 3 days intervals. Application of herbal essential oils and chitosan at different post-harvest times resulted in improvement of most of the studied traits. Concentration of 200 ppm of chitosan and essential oils of cinnamon and cumin treatments was better than other concentrations in improving the majority of survival traits.  Treatments at 400 and 600 ppm concentrations prevented the growth of B. cinerea completely, too.  The results of this study indicated that the use of chitosan and plant essential oils of cumin and cinnamon improved post-harvest qualitative characteristics and inhibited B. cinerea fungi and thus increased the vase life of rose cv. Dolce Vita. Therefore, the use of these bio-compounds in the form of a stable formulation is recommended to increase the shelf-life and improve the quality and quantity of rose cut flower.

Due to the irrigation water crisis and the necessity of water resources management as well as the positive role of elements such as zinc in reducing the negative effects of drought stress, a field experiment was carried out as split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications in Cooperative research field of Yashil Bakhar, Ardebil in 2017. In this research, yield and its components and essential oil of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) were investigated in reaction to zinc sulfate foliar spray under drought stress conditions. The experimental factors consisted of four levels of irrigation: irrigation after 70, 100, 130 and 160 millimeter evaporation from class A pan, and three levels of zinc sulfate foliar spray: control (water foliar spray) and foliar spray with three (Zn1:3 g ZnSO4/L) and six (Zn2: 6 g ZnSO4/L) per thousand concentrations. Irrigation and zinc sulfate foliar spray treatments were allocated to the main and sub plots, respectively. The results showed that drought stress reduced the number of umbels per plant, seeds per umbel, seeds per plant, and biological and seed yield. Zinc sulfate foliar spray at Zn2 level resulted in a significant increase in the number of umbels per plant (10.7), biological (21.1%) and grain (21.2%) yield. Under drought stress conditions, the percentage of coriander seeds essential oil increased by 49.2%, but the essential oil yield (1.02 kg ha-1) decreased. The essential oil yield was significantly increased by 27.4% with zinc sulfate foliar spray at Zn2 level. There was no statistically significant difference between Zn1 and Zn2 levels of zinc sulfate foliar spray. Therefore, 3 g ZnSo4/L foliar spray in areas with climatic conditions and soil similar to the research site is recommended to improve the yield and essential oil of coriander.

Wheat bacterial blight disease caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas syringe pv. syringae (Pss) is one of the important diseases of wheat in the world. The expanding the diseases resistance to chemical compounds has led to the researches into the new antimicrobial agents finding.  Studies have shown that plant essential oils induce biological activity against plant pathogenic bacteria and can be used as an environment friendly and safe way to control the disease. These compounds have the least harm to the ecosystem and can be used as an alternative to toxic compounds for controlling plant diseases. This study was designed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the essential oils obtained from the aerial parts of Rosmarinus officinalis, Mentha spicata and Thymus daenensis, against Pss on wheat cultivars Pishtaz, Sirvan and Chamran under greenhouse conditions. In this study, all essential oil treatments significantly reduced the severity of wheat bacterial blight, especially on Pishtaz cultivar, and the percentage of necrotic area on the leaf 30 days after bacterial inoculation. The highest reduction in the severity of the disease was obtained by Mentha spicata and Thymus daenensi essential oils. The findings of the present study suggest that essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis, Mentha spicata and Thymus daenensis are capable to be used as antimicrobial agents.

In order to evaluate the effect of zeolite and vermicompost on Marigold (Calendulaofficinalis L.), a field experiment was conducted in 2017 in the research field of Ramin University, Khuzestan, in split plot as a randomized complete block design with three replications. Vermicompost (0, 3, 6, 9 t ha-1) and zeolite (0, 4, 8 and 12 t ha-1) were investigated as the main factor and sub plot, respectively. Results of variance analysis showed that vermicompost and zeolite had a significant effect on flower yield, biological yield, harvest Index, chlorophylls and carotenoids of leaves, petal carotenoids, nitrogen removal, phosphorus removal, and index of the intensity of the color of the petals. Also, interaction effects of vermicompost and zeolite was significant on all top-mentioned characteristics. The highest flower yield (69.53 g m-2) was obtained at 3 t vermicompost per ha and 12 t zeolite per ha. Maximum biological yield (474.84 g m-2) was achieved at 9 t vermicompost per ha. The highest leaf and petal carotenoids were recorded at 9 t vermicompost per ha and maximum chlorophyll a and b belonged to 9 t vermicompost per ha and 4 t zeolite per ha. The highest soil nitrogen harvest was obtained at 8 t zeolite per ha. Maximum soil phosphorus harvest belonged to 9 t vermicompost per ha and 12 t zeolite per ha. In total, knowing that zeolite is more cost-effective rather than vermicompost, increasing the amount of zeolite consumption can enhance flower yield. In the current research, the best flower performance could be obtained at an optimum amount of 3 t vermicmpost per ha and 12 t zeolite per ha.