مجله تحقیقات گیاهان دارویی و معطر ایران
سال سی و پنجم شماره 6 (پیاپی 98، بهمن و اسفند 1398)

In order to study the effects of drought stress on polyphenolic compounds of pomegranate juice (Punica granatum L.) (total phenol, total flavonoid and cyanidin 3-glocoside content) as well as  fruit yield, an experiment was carried out as split plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replications (irrigation levels in main plots and pomegranate genotypes in subplots). Results showed that drought stress increased the content of juice polyphenolic compounds (P <0.05) and decreased fruit yield (P <0.05) in comparison with non-stress conditions (75±5% FC). However, mild stress (55±5% FC) caused a lower yield loss (P <0.05) compared to severe stress (35±5% FC). The results also showed that the genotypes studied could be considered as a rich source of phenolic compounds; however, the highest difference among the genotypes was found for cyanidin 3-glocoside content at different irrigation levels. On the other hand, based on the principal component analysis, under non-stress and mild stress conditions, genotypes Agha Mohamad Ali (AMA), Pust Sefid Torsh (PST), Malas Torshe Saveh (MTS), and Malas Shirine Saveh (MSS) could be recommended in food and pharmaceutical industries as superior and natural antioxidant-rich genotypes due to the high fruit yield and polyphenolic compounds. Generally, because of the importance of yield potential under drought stress, the mild drought stress treatment (55±5% FC) could be introduced as the optimum condition to obtain acceptable level of secondary metabolites, particularly cyanidin 3-glocoside, and fruit yield in Saveh region.

Artemisia aucheri Boiss. is a medicinal herb belonging to the Asteraceae family which its antimicrobial effects have been extensively investigated. There is limited information on the effect of hexane extract of this plant on fermentation conditions caused by ruminal microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and protozoa); therefore, this research aimed to investigate the effect of hexane extract of Artemisia aucheri Boiss. prepared by soxhlet [0 (control), 150, 300 and 450 mgl-1 on fermentation characteristics, gas production parameters and degradability of a diet supplied for fattening lambs under in vitro conditions. By increasing the amount of extract to the culture media, pH and total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) decreased and increased respectively when compared to the control treatment (linearly). The highest amount of gas production parameters (potential gas production, cumulative gas production after 48 and 72 h), and the lowest constant rate of gas production (cgas), partitioning factor (PF) and efficiency of microbial mass synthesis were observed at 450 mgl-1 of the extract. According to the results, it seems that hexane extract of Artemisia aucheri Boiss. has somewhat improved the fermentation conditions in the culture media, especially by the increase of TVFA as the most important source of energy production in ruminants.

Salvia mirzayanii Rech. F. & Esfand. is one of the medicinal species of the Lamiaceae family, growing wild only in Iran. In this study, different plant organs (leaf, flower, stem and whole plant (=aerial parts)) were collected from the Khonj region of Fars province in March 2018 and studied for their essential oil content and chemical composition. The essential oil of samples was extracted by hydro-distillation and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The essential oil yield of leaf, flower, stem and aerial parts was obtained to be 3.2, 2.6, 0.4 and 2.3% (w/w), respectively. The highest number of identified chemical components was observed in aerial parts and flowers (26 compounds) and the least in stem (23 compounds). The results of essential oil compound analysis revealed that α-terpinyl acetate, linalool, 1,8-cineol, β-eudesmol, δ-cadinene, and α-terpineol were the main compounds in the leaf essential oil. The main compounds of flower essential oil were included δ-cadinene, α-terpinyl acetate, linalool, β-eudesmol, and γ-cadinene. Compounds α-terpinyl acetate, linalool, linalool acetate, 1,8-cineol, and α-terpineol were abundantly found in the stem essential oil. The main compounds in the essential oil of aerial parts were δ-cadinene, α-terpinyl acetate, linalool, 1,8-cineol, γ-cadinene, and α-terpineol. The presence of chemical diversity in the essential oil of the whole plant and its various organs could be considered for pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries as well as for the plant breeders in selecting the appropriate organs for consumption and breeding purposes.

The Prangos genus is a medicinal plant belonging to the Apiaceae family, of which 15 species are found in Iran. The morphological traits at the flowering stage were studied to study the genetic diversity among 80 populations belonging to seven species P. hausslmechtii, P. lophoptera, P. corymbosa, P. uloptera, P. acaulis, P. platychloena and P. ferulacea from six provinces Lorestan, Esfahan, Fars, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh & Buyer-Ahmad, and Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari. For this purpose, 10 plant samples were selected from each habitat and 22 quantitative traits were evaluated. Statistical parameters were calculated for the studied traits and coefficients of phenotypic variation were also determined as a measure of genetic diversity. The results of this study showed significant genetic variation within and between species. The results of ANOVA showed that the populations had significant differences in some of the studied traits (P<0.01), indicating high genetic variation among the populations. The highest coefficient of variance was observed for the number of lateral branches, number of umbels per plant, number of umbels per the main stem, the diameter of umbels per the main stem, leaves needle size, leaf width, main stem diameter, and lateral branches diameter, indicating high variability in the traits studied. Correlation coefficients between traits were different in the studied species and related to their genomic structure. In the principal component analysis, the first nine components explained 79.98% of the total variation in the evaluated traits. Based on cluster analysis, 80 populations were divided into four groups. The dendrogram obtained from cluster analysis revealed that morphological traits studied could differentiate some species from each other. Overall, the results of this research showed that there was a high level of genetic diversity in different species of Prangos spp.

To study the effects of different levels of vermicompost and humic acid on the seed macro-elements uptake, seed yield, and essential oil of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), an experiment was conducted in a field located in Mobarakeh city as factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications during the growing season 2016-2017. Experimental treatments included vermicompost at three levels (0, 5 and 10 ton ha-1) and foliar application of humic acid at four levels (0, 2, 4 and 6 lit ha-1). The results showed that the application of 10 ton ha-1vermicompost increased the essential oil yield and seed phosphorus content by 86.7 and 33% as compared to control, respectively. The foliar application of 4 lit ha-1 humic acid along with 0, 5, and 10 ton ha-1vermicompost application increased the seed potassium content by 27.8, 9.6, and 9.2% as compared to control, respectively. The highest percentage of seed nitrogen was observed in the combined application of humic acid at 4 lit ha-1 and vermicompost at 10 ton ha-1, which was 11.7% more than control. The foliar spray of 4 and 6 lit ha-1 humic acid at 10 ton ha-1 vermicompost increased seed yield by 11.1 and 9.9% as compared to control, respectively. The combined use of humic acid and vermicompost could meet the nutritional needs of cumin and could be considered as an effective step towards achieving sustainable agriculture goals while increasing quantitative and qualitative performance.

In order to evaluate the effects of medicinal plants (Thymus vulgaris L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Mentha piperita L.) with melon intercropping on pests control and fruit yield in melon, and to reduce the use of chemical pesticides, a factorial experiment was performed based on a completely block randomized design with three replications in 2017. Experimental factors included two melon cultivars ("Khatoni" and "Khaghani"), chemical control and four medicinal plant species (thyme, rosemary, lavender, and peppermint) that were cultivated as additive intercropping among melon bushes. The ANOVA results showed that the effects of cultivar on weevil (Acythopeus curviostris) population, number of healthy and damaged fruit and fruit weight, the effects of intercropping on weevil, whitefly and aphid population, number of healthy and damaged fruit and fruit weight, and the interaction effects of two factors on weevil and aphid population and number of healthy and damaged fruit were significant at 5% probability level. Based on the results of the experiment, chemical control had the greatest effect on pest population control in both melon cultivars. Among the intercropping treatments, peppermint had the greatest effect in reducing the weevil population in both melon cultivars. Moreover, intercropping of "Khatoni" with peppermint and "Khaghani" with peppermint, lavender, and rosemary had positive effects on reducing the aphid population. However, intercropping of both melon cultivars with all four medicinal plant species had no effect on whitefly population control. Based on the results of this study, and in order to keep the sustainability of crop ecosystems, intercropping of melon with some medicinal plants such as peppermint can be considered to reduce the population of some pests on melon.

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is considered as one of the most important polyphenols. It is an ester of 3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl actic and caffeic acids and as an antioxidant significantly reduces the DNA damage induced by the anticancer compound doxorubicin. Hairy roots of Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss contain rosmarinic acid with biological and anticancer activities. However, due to the high production of phenolic compounds in liquid medium, the hairy roots encounter with tissue browning and death problem. In this study, the effect of antioxidant compounds on growth of D. kotschyi hairy roots and inhibition of tissue browning has been surveyed. In vitro Hairy roots were induced by inoculation of two-weeks-old cotyledons of D. kotschyi via Agrobacterium rhizogenes (15834 strain). Gene transformation confirmed by PCR using rol B gene specific primers. In order to optimize the growth and prevent the tissue browning, hairy roots were cultured in ½MS liquid medium containing different buffers and antioxidants including ascorbic acid (0.05 and 0.1 g/L), MES buffer (2.66 and 5.33 g/L), activated charcoal (1.5 and 3 g/L) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (0.5 and 1.5 g/L) in two concentrations. In order to record the quality of hairy roots under the influence of different chemicals, the phytochemical properties of samples (total phenol and flavonoid, antioxidant activity and antioxidant enzymes activity) were analyzed by spectrophotometer. Results after 21 days showed that the maximum biomass (1.64 g) and the lowest tissue browning was obtained in ½MS media containing activated charcoal (1.5 g/L). And after AC the highest biomass was observed on both PVP concentrations (1.36 g) and the highest browning and growth loss was observed in the control samples. The maximum and minimum amount of total phenol and flavonoid were observed in control samples and 1.5 g/L of activated charcoal treatment, respectively. The highest and the lowest levels of total antioxidant activity and antioxidant enzymes were related to 1.5 g/L of activated charcoal and control samples, respectively. It is considerable that the inhibition of PAL enzyme by using antioxidants such as activated charcoal and PVP has a potential to reduce biosynthesis of phenolic compounds and prevent the browning.

Medicinal plant licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) has been used by the pharmaceutical industries for its important secondary metabolites. This study was carried out to determine the best harvest time for obtaining the highest content of extract, glycyrrhizin, total phenols, total flavonoids, and phenolic compounds of licorice rhizome of the Behbahan area in Khuzestan province in two seasons of autumn and spring. The results of this study showed that the extract content of rhizomes and also glycyrrhizin, total phenols, and flavonoids content in autumn were higher than those in spring. The results of the independent T-test for glycyrrhizin, as an important and valuable secondary metabolite of licorice, showed a significant difference between autumn and spring seasons. Among the phenolic compounds studied, the highest amount was given to ferulic and coumaric acids in autumn, and the lowest one to caffeic acid in spring. Considering the importance of these secondary metabolites in the pharmaceutical, health and food industries, as well as the widespread use of phenolics, glycyrrhizin, and flavonoids of licorice in herbal drugs, it is necessary to determine the best time for the highest production and accumulation of these metabolites in the licorice rhizomes to take an effective step to enrich the industries mentioned.

The consequence of climate change in the natural habitats of arid and semi-arid regions is the reduction of species diversity which highlights the necessity of domestication and cultivation of wild species in agricultural systems. The medicinal plant caper (Capparis spinosa L.) is one of the valuable native plants in the natural arena that can be cultivated by recognizing patterns and stages of its growth in natural habitats and copying it .For this purpose, in order to study the ecological needs, phenological stages and growth habits of the valuable medicinal plant caper, the natural habitat of this plant in Mazdavand section of Sarakhs was selected and studies were conducted during 2016. The time interval for each phenological stage was calculated based on the number of days and growth degree day. Growth characteristics (canopy area, large and small canopy diameter and number of branches) were measured and the trend of changes was compared with sigmoid, quadratic, power and linear models. The results of ecological study showed that the habitat studied was affected by drought most of the year. Also, soil analysis showed that soil texture was silty loam, and soil acidity was in the alkaline range, and high amounts of EC at different soil depths also indicated high levels of salts in the soil. The habitat soil was poor in terms of macroelements (N, P and K) and organic carbon, and the amount of these elements were much lower than the optimum level in agricultural soils. Results showed that caper needs 211 days and 2745.3 degree days to complete its growth stages. Investigating the trend of growth changes in the habitat showed that the plant had a relatively high growth rate for canopy expansion in the first three months and after that growth rate decreased over time. Its growth pattern was best predicted by the sigmoid model. According to the results of the study on the growth habits of caper in the natural habitat and considering how it is spread on the land surface and its perennial life, it is recommended that the planting arrangement for caper in agricultural systems be designed so that the plants have enough space for canopy expansion.

In order to study the effects of nano iron oxide and different biofertilizers on the quantitative and qualitative yield of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.), a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted in the research field of Shahrood Industrial University in 2017 growing season. Experimental treatments included the foliar spray of nano iron oxide at three levels of 0, 1.5 and 3 g L-1 as the first factor and five levels of biofertilizer including no biofertilizer (control), Glomus intraradices, G. mosseae, Azospirillum, and Azotobacter as the second factor. The results of this experiment showed that the application of fungal and bacterial treatments significantly increased the grain yield and yield components as well as the concentration of nitrogen and iron in seed, and also had a significant effect on increasing essential oil content, thymoquinone content of the essential oil, and seed oil. The most effective treatment was G. intraradices, which was able to significantly improve all traits measured. The foliar application of nano iron oxide had a significant and positive effect only on the essential oil content, biological yield, and iron and nitrogen content of the seed. The highest amount of iron and nitrogen content of the seed was obtained in nano iron oxide treatment at 3 g L-1 level. However, the essential oil content, essential oil thymoquinone percentage, seed oil content, and also biological yield did not differ significantly between the two concentrations of nano iron oxide. Therefore, it seems that the application of a lower concentration of nano iron oxide (1.5 g L-1) together with G. intraradices can improve the quantitative and qualitative yield in the medicinal plant black cumin by saving fertilizer consumption without a significant decrease in the qualitative traits measured.

Calcium is one of the most important minerals involved in determining the quality of the fruit. Excessive waste and quality loss of seedless barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.) during harvesting, post-harvest, and storage are some of the important problems in production areas. Foliar application with minerals can increase the quality, yield, marketability, and reduce post-harvest losses through the provision of plant nutritional needs. Therefore, in this study, the effect of foliar application of calcium chloride and calcium nitrate on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of barberry fruit was carried out in a randomized complete block design. Treatments included control (distilled water), calcium chloride (0.5%), and calcium nitrate (0.5%). The foliar spray was performed in four stages of the growing season. The results showed that the highest mean number of panicles per branch, the number of berries per panicle, the number of berries per branch, and the fruit yield on the branches belonged to the calcium chloride treatment and the lowest amount in the control. The calcium chloride treatment increased the fresh weight diameter and length of branch compared to the control treatment. The highest amount of chlorophylls a and b and total chlorophyll was observed in the leaves of control trees. The effect of calcium chloride and calcium nitrate treatments on the appearance quality and texture of barberry fruit was significant, although it did not affect the chemical properties of the fruit. In general, the results showed that foliar application with calcium chloride and calcium nitrate salts improved the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the fruit compared to control.

In order to investigate the effects of different levels of supplementary irrigation and bio-fertilizers on some physiological traits, yield, and essential oil percentage of medicinal plant cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), an experiment was conducted as split-plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the research field of Kohgiluyeh and Buyer-Ahmad Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Training Center in 2017. The main plot included supplementary irrigation (complete rainfed conditions, supplementary irrigation at 50% flowering and at the start of seed formation) and the subplot included bio-fertilizer (no phosphorus bio-fertilizer, mycorrhiza Glomus mosseae, phosphorus bio-fertilizer, and combination of mycorrhiza and phosphorus bio-fertilizer). The application of supplementary irrigation with bio-fertilizer increased the total chlorophyll and carotenoid and decreased the proline content. Phosphorus bio-fertilizer also increased catalase enzyme activity in the plant. The effects of supplementary irrigation and phosphorus bio-fertilizer on the number of umbrella per plant, plant height, 1000-seed weight and the number of seeds per umbrella were significant. The highest amount of 1000-seed weight (2.55 g), seed yield (622.4 kg ha-1), biological yield (1252 kg ha-1), and essential oil percentage (54.86%) was obtained in the mycorrhiza treatment together with the phosphorus bio-fertilizer. In general, the results showed that using phosphorus bio-fertilizer, mycorrhiza, and supplementary irrigation can improve physiological traits, yield, and essential oil of cumin under rainfed conditions.

In order to investigate the effect of sowing date and nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer on the seed flavonoid content, qualitative and germination characteristics of lady’s mantle (Lallemantia royleana Benth.), a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted in 2013-2014 crop year. Experimental factors included sowing date at two levels (autumn and spring) and chemical fertilizer at three levels (without fertilizer, half application of required fertilizer (23 kg ha-1 pure N+ 50.6 kg ha-1 P2O5) and full application of required fertilizer (46 kg ha-1 pure N+ 101.2 kg ha-1 P2O5). Flavonoid measurement of the seeds was performed weekly from flowering to seed ripening. The results of the mean comparison showed that the highest seed germination percentage was obtained at autumn sowing (74.8%) with an increase of 11.6% compared to spring sowing and at the full application of required fertilizer (88.6%) with an increase of 73.4% compared to without fertilizer. The application of chemical fertilizer and autumn cultivation of lallemantia significantly increased the percentage of seed mucilage compared to control. Seven days after flowering, the highest flavonoid content was obtained at spring sowing (0.264 mg quercetin per g sample) with an increase of 63.97% compared to autumn sowing, and at no fertilizer treatment (0.282 mg quercetin per g sample) with an increase of 90.54% compared to the full application of required fertilizer (0.148 mg quercetin per g sample). Twenty-eight days after flowering, the highest flavonoid content was obtained at spring sowing (0.554 mg quercetin per g sample) and no fertilizer treatment (0.629 mg quercetin per g sample). In general, the results showed that the autumn sowing date and full application of required chemical fertilizer increased the seed quality in terms of mucilage percentage and germination, but the spring sowing date and no fertilizer treatment increased the flavonoid content of lallemantia seeds.