Journal of Medicinal Plants and By-products
Volume:12 Issue: 2, Spring 2023

Amygdalus scoparia Spach is a potentially multi-purpose wild almond species and a perennial medicinal plant which belonging to Rosaceae family where grows naturally in arid and semi-arid areas of Iran. In the current investigation, genetic variation of five ecotypes of A. scoparia from Hormozgan and Fars provinces, including Bekhun, Homag, Sekhuran, Sarvestan and Fasa, was evaluated using morphological markers. 10 important characteristics such as sub-branch length, number of secondary branches on the sub-branch, number of flowers on the sub-branch, dry weight of sub-branch and percentage of dry weight of sub-branch were investigated. The results of variance analysis showed that significant differences (p≤0.01, 0.05) were found among the studied A. scoparia natural ecotypes for studied traits. The ecotypes of Homag, Sekhuran and Bekhun had the highest values of the important breeding traits including the sub-branch length, the number of secondary branches on the sub-branch, the number of flowers on the sub-branch, the dry weight of sub-branch and the percentage of dry weight of sub-branch. The results showed that ecotypes had a wide variation in terms of all studied morphological attributes. The correlation coefficients between evaluated traits showed significant positive and negative correlations between some important traits. PCA analysis results illustrated that studied characteristics divided in three groups which justified 64.01% of the total variance. Hierarchical cluster analysis identified three major clusters with several sub-clusters. The results of this investigation highlighted the efficiency of translation initiation codon polymorphism for genetic characterization and accurate authentication of A. scoparia ecotypes as well as detecting and tagging morphologically important traits in this species that would be helpful for implementation of effective conservation strategies and even broaden current genetic diversity.

In this project, domestication of one of the wild flowering plants, Achillea millefolium L. (yarrow plant) was done to find out its resistance to drought stress condition. Plant samples were collected from the Isfahan region of Iran and were further multiplied by divisions of plants. The study was conducted on the improvement of seeds germination using GA3, morphological and phenological study and to estimate drought tolerance of yarrow plants. The seeds of selected plants were treated with GA3 hormone (0, 250 and 500 ppm) to break the dormancy and improve the germination percentage. GA3 treatment improved the seed quality parameters and the best results were obtained with GA3 @ 500 ppm. The plants propagated through division were cultivated in the field for the domestication of plants and to estimate their potential for landscape purposes. Also, the Phenological cycle of plants was monitored. Attractive flowers, Long duration of flowering and applying green cover during the year was positive points of yarrow for using in the landscape. Irrigation was applied at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% levels of available water from April to September. Morphological and physiological parameters showed that A. millefolium could significantly tolerate drought treatments until 50% of available water and even at 75%, plants could survive and produce new stems.

A split-plot factorial experiment was conducted with 3 replications to evaluate the impacts of different type and time applications of stress modulators on the yield and yield components of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) under rainfed and irrigated conditions during 2016-2018. The studied factors were the cultivation method at 2 levels (rainfed and irrigated conditions) as the main plot and times of foliar applications with 2 levels (vegetative and vegetative + flowering growth stage) and sources of stress modulators with the 4 levels (control, 1.5 M Glycine Betaine (GB), 10-7 mM Brassinosteroids (BRs), and 1.5 mM Sodium Nitroprusside (SNP)). The results showed that irrigated cultivation led to the productions of higher plant heights, more lateral branches, larger numbers of umbrellas and seeds per plant, greater 1000-seed weights, more grain and essential oil yields, and less essential oil contents as compared to the treatments undergoing the rainfed condition. The lateral branches, umbrellas per plant, seeds per plant, and 1000-seed weights were affected by the application times. The foliar applications of Brassinosteroids (BRs) increased plant heights, lateral branches, umbrellas per plant, seeds per plant, 1000-seed weights, and grain and essential oil yields with less essential oil contents compared to those of the control. Under the irrigated condition, spraying of BRs enhanced plant height (7.64%), lateral branches (3.57%), umbrellas per plant (14.3%), seeds per plant (47.4%), 1000-seed weight (3.69%), and grain yield (74.5%), and lowered essential oil content (11.22%) when compared to those undergoing the rain-fed condition. Overall, the modulators for reducing drought stress impacts by elevating the yields and yield components could be classified as BRs>GB>SNP.

Atropa belladonna L. is a perennial plant belonging to the Solanaceae family. The plants of Solanaceae family are the best-known source of tropane alkaloids primary hyoscyamine and scopolamine that act on the Parasympatic nervous system. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of storage on the alkaloid content of A. belladonna L. leaves dried by different traditional drying methods such as shade drying, sun drying, and also hot air drying at temperature of 80 °C and oven drying at temperature of 80 °C. Alkaloid compounds were measured after 1, 15, 30, and 60 days of storage. The alkaloids were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method immediately after drying and during storage. Analysis of the experimental data revealed that the amount of total alkaloid, atropine, and scopolamine was significantly different (p< 0.01) for different drying methods and storage time. The total alkaloid was significantly at the lowest level in sun-dried samples while it was at the highest level in shade-dried samples. The atropine and scopolamine contents increased significantly just after one-day storage in the samples dried by hot air drying at 80 °C. Storage caused fluctuation in the amount of alkaloids compounds. The atropine content decreased in the oven drying method at 80 °C on the first day of storage and increased after 60 days of storage. The scopolamine content increased in the oven drying method at 80 °C after 15 days of storage.

The aim of this study was to determine total acid and individual sugars in fruit of some black mulberry. The content of individual sugars in fruits was determined by HPLC. Total acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS) and pH value of juice were also evaluated. HPLC analysis of juice allowed the detection of 2 sugars. Glucose was the dominant sugar for all mulberries. The amount of total sugars ranged from 8.98 to 13.26 g/100g. The amount of total acids changed from 0.94 to 1.82%. The pH value ranged from 3.80 to 4.60. TSS content changed from 12.40 to 16.00 %. Juice content ranged from 50 to 70 %. Total flavonoid ranged from 0.94 to 1.26 mg/g DW. Among the three mulberries evaluated, genotype 3 demonstrated the maximum rate of sugars. As an outcome of our investigation, we can express that the genotypes can affect the amount of sugars and acids of fruit.

Phenols and flavonoids are the most common phytoconstituents of medicinal and aromatic plants, and responsible for antioxidant activities. This study aimed to determine the content of phenolics and flavonoids in water and methanolic extracts of six selected medicinal plants (Betula pendula Roth, Betula pubescens Ehrh., Trifolium pratense L., Verbascum thapsus L., Equisetum arvense L., and Sambucus nigra L.) collected from various locations in Kosovo. The total phenolic content (TPC) was estimated spectrophotometrically using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and expressed as mg of gallic acid equivalents per gram of dry weight sample (mgGAE/gDW). The total flavonoid content (TFC) was measured by the aluminum chloride colorimetric assay and expressed as mg of catechin equivalents per gram of dry weight sample (mgCE/gDW). The TPC of the water extracts ranged from 5.26±0.05 mgGAE/gDW (Equisetum arvense L.) to 33.14 ± 0.13 mgGAE/gDW (Sambucus nigra L.), while that of the methanolic extracts ranged from 16.85 ± 0.27 mgGAE/gDW (Equisetum arvense) to 38.95 ± 0.15 mgGAE/gDW (Betula pendula). The TFC of the water extracts ranged from 0.09 ± 0.01 mgCE/gDW (Verbascum thapsus) to 1.57 ± 0.01 mg CE/gDW (Trifolium pratense), while that of the methanolic extracts ranged from 0.25 ± 0.02 mgCE/gDW (Verbascum thapsus) to 1.36±0.02 mgCE/gDW (Trifolium pratense). Equisetum arvense herba showed the largest difference in TPC and TFC between the water and methanolic extracts, with 8.26 ± 0.05 mgGAE/gDW and 0.25 ± 0.01 mgCE/gDW in water extract and 16.85 ± 0.27 mgGAE/gDW and 1.15 ± 0.08 mgCE/gDW in methanolic extract, respectively. Results shows varying levels of phenolics and flavonoids, with some plants exhibiting higher levels in methanolic extracts than in water extracts. These findings may have important implications for the potential use of these plants in traditional medicine and as sources of natural antioxidants.

The genus Berberis belongs to the Berberidaceae family, with 15 genera and 650 species around the world. It has valuable potential in the medicinal and food industries. In this study, the phytochemical diversity of 55 fruits of the Iranian Berberis genotype were investigated. The results of this study could be used in the breeding and determination of superior genotypes in the future. Plant materials were collected from the barberry Collection Garden of Mashhad and also different natural habitats of barberry in various provinces of Iran. The samples were air-dried, finely grounded, and extracted by methanol at room temperature. Then, total phenol and total flavonoid were measured by Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl3 assays, respectively. Radicals neutralizing effects of extracts were examined through the 2,2-Diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The results showed a significant difference between phenolic content, flavonoid content, and antioxidant properties of various extracts, at a probability level of 1%. A methanol extract of B. integerrima × crataegina (genotype code 4-1) resulted in the highest phenolic content with an average of 4.2 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) ml-1 extract, while the lowest content was recorded for B. integerrima )genotype code 23-4) with an average of 1.7 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/ ml extract. The highest flavonoid content was observed with extracts of B. integerrima (genotype code 4-4) and B. orthobotrys × crataegina (genotype code 15-4) with an average of 6.3 mg quercetin equivalents (Q)/ ml extract. The least was recorded for B. integerrima (genotype code 23-4) with an average of 0.4 mg quercetin equivalents (Q)/ ml extract. The highest and lowest rates of free radical scavenging DPPH were 59.06% and 12.3%, respectively. The results showed that barberry has a great diversity in terms of phytochemical characteristics in different genotypes and is a valuable genetic source for breeding research.

Although, oral health is important for its role in the overall health but oral health care does not have an integrated model. So, today meeting the needs of oral health requires strong interactions between health research policy and oral health researchThe aim of this study investigates the effects of ethanolic crud extract of Cuminum cyminum L. on S. mutans in terms of antibacterial, antibiofilm and, its cytotoxicity properties. The present experimental study which has conducted in 2019-2020. The crude alcoholic extract of C. cyminum seeds was prepared by the maceration method. Then, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of crude ethanolic extract of C. cyminum was determined by micro-dilution method according to CLSI protocol on Streptococcus mutans (PTCC1683). In addition, its antibiofilm effect was investigated by the previous method using crystal violet. As well, an MTT test was performed to evaluate its cytotoxicity on SW480 cells. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS V.22 software. MIC and MBC concentrations of C. cyminum extract on S. mutans were found to be 0.62 mg/mL and 1.25 mg/mL. The effect of inhibiting biofilm production was also observed at a concentration of 40 mg/mL.  In MTT assay showed a greater cytotoxic effect on SW480 cancer cells at higher concentrations for longer periods of time. The present study showed that the cumin ethanolic crude extract has antimicrobial properties, inhibits the growth of S. mutans biofilms and has no toxic properties.
MIC: minimum inhibitory concentration. MBC: minimum bactericidal concentration. MTT: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2,5-diphenyl-2H- tetrazolium bromide. DMSO: dimethyl sulfoxide