Journal of Medicinal Plants and By-products
Volume:12 Issue: 1, Winter 2023

Rosa damascena Mill. is an aromatic plant, having different components that usually use in natural products. The main industrial products from oil-bearing rose are rose oil, rose water, rose concrete, and rose absolute which are produced by hydro-distillation and solvent extraction processes. However, essential oil productionis the best part that the industry is eager to it. Hydro-distillation with cohobation is a widely used method for producing volatile oils from oil-bearing rose. Newly, different methods of extraction of volatile compounds of rose oil, rose water and residue water from the flower of R. damascena, such as headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) is developed. However, every method of extraction affects the quality of Rosa product. In this way the hydro-distilled rose oil analyzed by gas chromatography (GC-FID/GC-MS) revealed that the percentages of alkanes or steaoreptens like hexadecane (1.3%), nonadecane (7.2%) and heneicosane (1.8%) were higher than those of HS-SPME. However, there is a preference of rose oil extraction by hydro- distilation that the rose water (hydrosol) and residue water have phenylethyl alcohol (PEA), which is easily soluble in water, rose water and residue water. Actually rose water is a by-products of the hydro-distillation method, and it contained very high amounts of phenylethyl alcohol and  can be employed as the best natural fragrance of the oil-bearing rose due to its very high phenylethyl alcohol content. Phenyl ethyl alcohol is a naturally occurring aromatic compound found in various flowers including roses, lavender, ylang-ylang, geranium and champagne. For determining the content of phenyl ethyl alcohol in the flower R. damascene, according to the geographical similarity, the flowers were collected from different provinces of Iran by scientists of RIFR. In a research in 2021, after the extraction of essential oil and rose water, it was conducted on the remaining water in the still. The leftover water inside the distillation pot was extracted with eight different solvents (chloroform, cyclohexane, dichloromethane, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, hexane, petroleum ether and toluene) by a separatory funnel and extracted crude were analyzed by (GC) and  (GC/MS). The amount of phenylethyl alcohol obtained by different solvents containing chloroform, cyclohexane, dichloromethane, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, hexane, petroleum ether and toluene was 96.1%, 46.3%, 96.1%, 46.3%, 89.6%, 100%, 0.42% and 74%, respectively. Therefore, the research revealed the phenylethyl alcohol compound can be separated from the wastewater in the still and used.

The present study aimed to study the effects of drought stress and manure on some physiological characteristics and quantitative yield of two species of the Thymus, Thymus daenensis Celak and Thymus vulgaris L. For this purpose, a factorial layout based on a randomized complete block design with three replications was done at the Agricultural Research Field of University of Birjand, Iran, during two cropping years 2015 and 2016. Experimental factors included water levels (100, 67, and 33% of field capacity), two species of thyme (T. daenensis Celak and T. vulgaris L.) and manure (Cow manure) (non-application and application of 30 ton/ha). Drought stress reduced plant height, number of lateral branches, number of flowers, relative water content, membrane stability index, and quantitative yield while induced an increase in the amount of ion leakage, proline, phenol, and malondialdehyde compounds. Manure significantly increased the quantitative yield. Further, the amount of ion leakage was lower in the cells of T. daenensis indicating the maintenance of the integrity of cell membranes in the face of water stress, which can result in an enhancement in the efficiency of plant production and, ultimately, an increase in yield crop. In addition, T. daenensis had higher water use efficiency indicating lower vulnerability of this species. Results differentiated two species and T. daenensis can be introduced as superior species in confronting with drought stress.

Perovskia spp. from the Lamiaceae family mostly grows as a wild plant the mountain areas with dry and cold climates. Perovskia is a beautiful plant, which can be used for urban landscaping, due to water shortage crises in the world. However, its propagation has several problems as seed dormancy in sexual propagation and low rooting percentage of cuttings in vegetative propagation. Therefore, this project was carried out to collect endemic species of Perovski, investigate their propagation, and use them in urban landscaping. Perovskia seeds in different species (P. atriplicifolia, P. abrotanoides, P. artemisioides) were exposed to cold treatment (5 oC) for different durations (3, 4 and 5 months) and seeds quality parameters (germination percentage, germination rate, seedling vigour index and seedling length) were measured. On the basis of the results, highest amount of germination percentage (98.66%), germination rate (10.23 g/d), seedling vigour index (6.93) and seedling length (7.35 cm) was recorded for P. atriplicifolia with 5 months’ cold treatment. Also, vegetative propagation of all studied species was investigated. Cuttings were treated with IBA at different levels (0, 300 and 500 ppm) and cultivated in autumn and spring. Different parameters (rooting percentage, speed of rooting and roots length) were recorded. Results indicated that highest rooting percentage (88%), speed of rooting (3.70r/d) and roots length (5.73 cm) were observed in P. atriplicifolia, which their cuttings were treated with 500 ppm IBA and cultivated at spring. Finally, by solving propagation problems of Perovskia, we can suggest it as a suitable plant for urban landscaping.

A study was conducted on the effect of nano-complex salicylic acid-zinc on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of Thymus Daenensis Celak. The treatments were applied in two stages, 15 days apart, after the establishment, in May as spraying at zero, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5% (v/v). Based on the results, different levels of nano-complex salicylic acid-zinc led to a change in the vegetative growth indices studied, percentage of essential oil compounds, polyphenolic content, and antioxidant activity. The most important compounds in the essential oil were reported in the control treatment: Carvacrol, Thymol, p-cymene, Borneol, and 1.8-cineole. A 0.5% solution of nano-complex salicylic acid-zinc increased the amount of Carvacrol in essential oil by 80.7% compared to the control. The amount and type of polyphenolic compounds were measured with HPLC. The most important compounds included rosmarinic acid, Thymol, Carvacrol, and Hesperetin. The best treatment for increasing polyphenols was concentration of 0.5% of nano-complex salicylic acid-zinc.

The tissue culture of Nigella arvensis L. was carried out on an MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of auxins and cytokinins. Media fortified with different concentrations (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mg/L) of 2, 4-D, NAA or IBA in combination with kinetin or BAP (1.5 mg/L and 2 mg/L) were used to induce and grow callus in present and absent of light. The experimental design was performed as a randomized block factorial design with three replications. Following callus culture, antioxidant enzymes activity and total phenolic contents were evaluated. The maximum callus induction (80.9%) was obtained with 1.0 mg/L 2, 4-D and 1.5 mg/L/ kinetin in the presence of light. Plant growth regulators combination and concentration, as well as photoperiod, affected the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The highest activities of catalase and peroxidase and total phenolic contents were measured in media with BAP combinations. On the contrary, the activity of superoxide dismutase was at the least in all BAP combinations. Overall, light intensified the activities of enzymes, but it had a negative effect on total phenolic contents.

Intercropping of medicinal plant can increase the diversity of farming systems. It also protects the environment, water, soil and plays an important role in healthy agricultural production and human consumption. In order to investigate the effect of intercropping and fertilizer types on dry matter (DM) yield and medicinal metabolites of chicory and fenugreek, a factorial experimentwas carried out based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in an experimental farm located at Behbahan, Khuzestan province, Iran, during 2019-2020. The first factor was different fertilizer sources (Chemical, Organic and Integrated (in three levels; chemical fertilizer )urea + triple super phosphate),Vermicompost, and integrated fertilizer (50% chemical fertilizer+nitroxinbiofertilizer + fertile phosphate 2); while, the second factor was five levels of intercropping patterns, including: sole chicory (SC), sole fenugreek (ST), one row of chicory plus one row of fenugreek (C1T1), one row of chicory plus two rows of fenugreek (C1T2) and two rows of chicory plus one row of fenugreek (C2T1). The highest root dry weight (487 Kg/h), inulin content (1%) and inulin yield (4.87 Kg/h) of chicory root was obtained in the sole cultivation of chicory coupled with integrated fertilizer. The highest trigonelline content (0.48%) of fenugreek was obtained in C2T1 pattern coupled with chemical fertilizer application; while, the highest trigonelline yield (13.14 Kg/h) were obtained in sole cultivation of this plant. Considering the total DM yield of the two plants, the extent of medicinal actives in both plants and land equality ratio (LER) higher than one, intercropping patterns of C1T2, C1T1 treated with combined fertilizer andvermicompost were more beneficial than the sole cropping.

Essential oils of the air-dried aerial parts of Teucrium orientale L. collected from 11 different localities which obtained by hydro-distillation were investigated. The essential oils were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The oil yields were 0.03–0.20% (w/w), based on dry weight. Forty-four components, representing 91.0–99.5% of the oils, were identified. The results showed that there is a significant difference in yields, chemical compositions and concentrations of essential oils obtained from different geographical regions. However, there are main and common compounds such as caryophyllene oxide (3.72 to 23.60%), E-caryophyllene (1.03 to 39.36%), germacrene D (0.95 to 29.7%), spathulenol (1.98 to 11.11%), β-cubebene (1.31 to 24.64%), δ-cadinene (1.14 to 4.90%), hexadecanoic acid (0.47 to 32.60%), α-cubebene (0.53 to 11.37%) and hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (0.34 to 10.56%) that are found in all essential oils. According to the cluster analysis, the populations were placed in three clusters. Percentages of hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (10.6%) and humulene epoxide II (6.8%) were considerably higher in cluster 1 compared to other clusters. Percentages α-cubebene, β-cubebene and hexadecanoic acid were considerably highest in cluster 2 with means of 7.2%, 11.9% and 20.4% respectively. Populations of cluster 3 were rich sources of E-caryophyllene (29.4%), germacrene D (16.1%) and bicyclogermacrene (3.4%) compared to other clusters.

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is an herbaceous annual aromatic herb belongs to the Lamiaceae family. The compositions of essential oil are the main parameters for assessing quality of basil for different food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. On the other hand, secondary metabolites in basil are affected by the interaction of location and genetics. In this study essential oil composition of two basil cultivars (green and purple) in different cultivation site were determined. The experiment took place in Isfahan and Marand cities with different climate, edaphic and elevation factors. Plants were harvested at flowering stage and transported to the laboratory and samples dried at shade condition. Essential oils were obtained by hydro-distillation and analysis of essential oils was carried out by GC and GC-MS technics. There were differences among constituents in the essential oil content from the basil cultivars at two locations. For green basil, the major constituent of the essential oil from aerial parts were Geraniol (36.21%, in Marand region), nerol (27.02%) and methyl-chavicol (18.79%) in Isfahan region. Green basil, grown in the Isfahan region had higher concentrations of essential oils component than in the Marand region. For purple basil, methyl-chavicol (54.54%) and linalool (26.10%) in Marand region and (E)-β- ocimene (3.86%) in Isfahan regain were the highest essential oil components. According to our results, location could affect the efficacy of production for use of basil in drug industries.

Medicinal and aromatic plants are rich in active substances that represent many medicines. Climatic factors and ontogenetic growth stages affect the quantity and quality of these costly materials. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the geographic origins and the different plant organs (leaves, flowers and stalks) of Salvia sharifii Rech. f. & Esfand., an endemic aromatic herb in the south of Iran, essential oil in three different natural habitats. The essential oil was extracted by hydro-distillation using Clevenger type apparatus and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The highest essential oil content was obtained in flower (1.2%) and stalk (0.7%) of S. sharifii in Sirmand population. Also, in the latter plant organ, the highest essential oil content was observed in Abmah population (1.1%). Essential oils were characterized by the domination of sesquiterpenes (37.92 ‒84.40%), followed by monoterpenes (13.42‒58.86%). Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the essential oil identified 58 constituents that varied with plant origin and organ. Results revealed that the main essential oil constituents in S. sharifii were linalool, hexyl-2-methyl butyrate, caryophyllene, sclareol oxide, agarospirol and hexyl caprylate in different plant organs and natural habitats. The variations among natural populations of S. sharifii showed that add to the impact of plant inheritance, it conjointly encompasses a high adaptation potential so that a variety of climatic conditions like temperature, altitude and rainfall are among different populations.

Lowering blood glucose levels by enhancing glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation is an important strategy in glucose homeostasis in insulin-sensitive tissues. Similarly, traditional medicinal plants are used by several traditional healers, and plants are a possible avenue for the discovery and development of antidiabetic drugs. The study aimed to investigate the effects of Cordia grandicalyx Oberm.  bark, fruit, and leaf extracts through glucose uptake activity by preadipocytes, liver and skeletal muscle cells, relative to their capability on increasing GLUT4 translocation. In addition, the protein expression and phosphorylation of diabetes-related proteins were performed. The C. grandicalyx extracts increased glucose uptake activity by enhancing GLUT4 translocation. Moreover, it was established that the co-usage of insulin with plant extracts increased the glucose uptake activity in comparison to insulin. The extracts upregulated total insulin receptor substrate expression and increased the phosphorylation of Akt levels. This data, therefore, suggests that C. grandicalyx enhances glucose uptake by modulating insulin signalling, potentially through GLUT4 translocation and upregulation of diabetes-related proteins, possibly mimicking the PI3-K/Akt pathway. This, therefore, suggests that C. grandicalyx is a possible candidate for the management of diabetes.

Regarding the emergence of microbial resistant strains to chemical drugs, it was important to make efforts for finding new antimicrobial factors with fewer side effects for substituting chemical drugs. This study investigated the antibacterial effects of alcoholic extracts (ethanol and ethyl acetate). Althaea officinalis L. parts (flower, leaf, stem and root) were considered against two positive and negative bacteria types of pneumonia (Bacillus cereus and Klebsiella pneumonia) under laboratory conditions. In order to investigate anti-microbial activities of alcoholic extracts and A. officinalis essence in different concentrations, they were affected over mentioned bacteria by using the Diffusion Disk method. Penicillin, Ampicillin, Gentamicin, and Vancomycin were used as a positive control and Ethanol, Ethyl acetate and DMSO solvents as negative control and Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimal Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) have been determined. Taking essence has been conducted by the Clevenger system. Its chemical combinations were identified by GC-MS. Results showed that stem (total) ethanol extracts and A. officinalis essences (in the concentration 100 mg/ml) have the highest microbial properties on K. pneumonia. The ethanol extract was affected on all components of A. officinalis and Ethyl acetate extracts of leaf and stem over K. pneumonia and A. officinalis essence (in the concentration 12.5 µl/ml) over both bacteria. Gentamicin as an anti-biotic had good inhibitory power against bacteria as a positive control in comparing other antibiotics. 56 combinations of Althaea officinalis essence were extracted by more than 93% of main combinations consisted of Thymol, p-Cymene, γ-Terpinene, β-pinene, Terpineol, Carvacrol. The more extract and essence concentration increased antibacterial properties and inhibitory halo diameter.  A. officinalis extracted combinations with anti-bacterial properties were considered as the main factor for consuming A. officinalis in different industries as an herbal drug by natural origin and anti-bacterial effects.

Medicinal plants have been known to act as a harbor for endophytic fungi, owing to their being able to produce bioactive compounds similar to those of their host. Thymus is a member of the Lamiaceae family. It enjoys a long history of traditional and modern medicine as a disinfectant that possesses antimicrobial properties. The pharmaceutical properties of this plant can be attributed to its endophytes. In this research, 89 endophytic fungi of Thymus spp. were tested and examined to investigate their biocontrol effects against the plant pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea, the plant pathogenic bacteria Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis and Streptomyces scabies and human pathogens Escherichia coli ATTCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 33591. Thereafter, to control fungal and bacterial pathogens, the extracellular metabolites of the endophytic fungi were extracted and used in seven different concentrations. The effect of endophytic fungi on the growth of B. cinerea suggested that the M24 isolate (Fusarium subglutinans) was the one with the greatest percentage of inhibition. Out of the 89 isolates tested against bacteria, only one isolate affected X. arboricola, three of them affected E. coli, and eight isolates showed biocontrol effect on bacterium S. aureus. In the case of S. scabies, all Fusarium isolates prevented its growth. Among other isolates, only M32 and M33, which belong to mycelia sterilia, affected the growth of this bacterium. Endophytic extracellular metabolites had great potential to control plant pathogens as well.