نشریه اکوفیتو شیمی گیاهان دارویی
سال یازدهم شماره 3 (پیاپی 43، پاییز 1402)

Mentha piperita, is a member of the Lamiaceae family commonly known as Peppermint an important medicinal plant. This plant is used as a flavoring in chewing gum, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. In this research, different accessions of this plant were collected from different regions of Iran. An experiment was conducted in 2021 year based on randomized complete block design to evaluate the phytochemical traits of these accessions in the half-flowering stage in Meshginshahr climatic condition. Their essential oils were extracted in the half-flowering and full-flowering stages by using clevenger apparatus. The results showed that there were significant differences among studied traits among. There are significant differences among accessions in traits of chlorophyll a, essential oil 50 and 100 percent flowering and oven (40 0C) drying method were significant at 1% probability level. There were no significant differences among anthocyanins, flavonoids, carotenoids, essential oil 50 and 100 flowering and drying method shade. Comparison of mean traits showed that the important traits such as anthocyanins (0.93-2.37 mg/g), flavonoids (0.94-2.95 mg/g), essential oil 50 flowering and drying method shade (0.44-2.06) and essential oil 100 percent flowering and oven, (0.72-3.09) were varied among accessions. Maximum correlation was shown between Chlorophyll b and carotenoids (0.98). The Ardabil, Zanjan and Hamedan were the best superior to other accessions. Therefore, superior accessions can be used in breeding programs in order to produce better cultivars in terms of essential oil content.

Scrophularia striata Boiss is a member of the Lamiaceae family, a valuable plant and native to Iran, which despite its rich medicinal potential, there is limited information about the type and amount of secondary compounds. Therefore, the use of modern gas chromatography methods (such as GC-Mass technology) can provide comprehensive and sufficient information about the amount and type of secondary compounds. In the present study, the effect of jasmonic acid at three levels (0 (control), 100 and 300) ppm on changes in secondary metabolites in different tissues (roots and aerial tissue) of this plant was investigated. Aerial parts and roots of the plant were extracted after drying by Soxhlet method. Chemical analysis of the obtained extracts was performed using gas chromatography apparatus connected to a mass spectrometer. The results of chemical analysis showed that different concentrations of methyl jasmonate induce the biosynthesis of a number of secondary compounds, especially phenylpropanoid compounds. Such as tetradecamethyl (%8/69), dodecamethyl- (%7/31), 2,3-Dihydro-benzofuran (%5/35), 2-Methoxy-4-vinylphenol (%9/32), 2- Furancarboxaldehyde (%4/03), Ethyl .alpha.-d-glucopyranoside (%19/87), 4-vinylphenol (%12/64), Methyl beta-D-glucopyranoside (%26/28), 2-Propenoic acid , 3- (4-methoxyphenyl) - (Cinnamic acid) (%21/02) and 2-Propenoic acid, 3-phenyl-, (E) - (Cinnamic acid) (%14/57) highest in the aerial and roots of the plants were treated and controlled. The general results show that the presence of some useful and effective compounds, especially antibacterial substances, requires further studies to identify useful pharmacological and medicinal compounds in this plant.

Ziziphus nummularia is a thorny shrub belonging to the Rhamnaceae family which has a variety of phytochemical compounds. This study was conducted with the aim of phytochemical and morphological evaluation of Z. nummularia populations in different heights of habitats in Khuzestan province.The leaves and fruits of Z. nummularia were collected from different heights of natural habitats of Khuzestan province, including altitude groups of 0-200, 200-400, 400-800 and 800-1000 meters above sea level in summer and autumn. The morphological characteristics were measured using accurate measuring tools and also phytochemical characteristics were measured using a Spectrophotometer.The results showed that different morphological and phytochemical traits including leaf length, thorn length, ripe fruit weight, ripe fruit diameter, number of thorns, and also content of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins and saponins were significantly different in various habitats of Khuzestan province. Based on the cluster analysis of morphological traits, the trees in habitats with a height of 200-400 m were different from other groups. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that leaf length and width, saponin and phenol content of leaf and fruit, and leaf tannin content were identified as the most important traits with the highest correlation factor for population identification. Altitude above sea level is an important factor that had a significant impact on various morphological and phytochemical traits of Z. nummularia, including the quality and quantity of leaves and fruits.

In this research, in order to investigate the ethnopharmacological diversity, yield components and phytochemical characteristics of Viola species (Viola spp.) from 16 habitats in the north and northwest of Iran (Golestan, Mazandaran, Ardabil, East Azarbaijan and Kermanshah provinces), a research based on a completely Randomization was done with three replications. Ethnopharmacology information was obtained from local people and plant samples were collected from the mentioned habitats in the spring of 2018 at the time of flowering. At the same time, the samples of each barium were collected and prepared for identification at the species level and receiving the code. Soil samples were also taken from a depth of 0-30 for physical and chemical analysis, and the geographic coordinates and height were also recorded. The yield components and phytochemical characteristics (including chlorophyll a, b and total, carotenoid by spectrophotometer, total phenol by Folin-Siocatio colorimetric method, total flavonoid by aluminum-chloride colorimetric method, antioxidant compounds by ABTS and DPPH methods) of the collected samples were measured. As a result of the botanical investigation, it was found that 16 collected masses were related to five different species including V.odorata L., V.alba, V.suavis, V.sieheana and V.ignobilis. Ethnopharmacological results showed that in most regions this plant is called by the name of violet or something similar and it is used in the treatment of viral diseases such as colds. The analysis of the results showed that the characteristics of the habitat had a significant effect on all the components of the measured performance and phytochemical traits, so that the amount of chlorophyll and the dry weight of the aerial parts of the samples increased with the increase in the organic matter and nutrients of the soil. Also, with the increase in altitude, the amount of antioxidant compounds by ABTS and DPPH methods, phenolic and flavonoidic compounds increased in aerial parts, and the results of principal component analysis (PCA) also confirmed the obtained results. In the clustering that was done based on the two factors of yield and phytochemical components, it was found that the cluster decomposition for phytochemical characteristics was divided into 14 categories and for yield components into 9 categories at 0.2 Euclidean distance. The results of cluster analysis also showed that the climatic and edaphic characteristics of the habitat have a great effect on the yield components and phytochemical characteristics of the violet plant, which can determine the appropriate cultivation pattern.

Nowadays, due to the complications caused by the use of chemical drugs and the increase of antibiotic-resistant microbial strains, studies have been conducted to find antibacterial drugs from plant compounds. In this research, the aerial parts of Thymus eriocalyx were collected from the heights of Kermanshah in June 1400 (810 meters) in the flowering stage. The essential oil was extracted by distillation with water using a Cloninger machine. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of this plant in successive concentrations of 250, 125, 62.5, 31.25, 15.62, 7.81, 3.9, 1.95, 0.97 and 0.48 mg/ml against two bacterial species Enterococcus faecalis and Salmonella typhimurium by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in broth medium, minimum lethal concentration (MBC) in agar medium and disk diffusion were investigated. Ampicillin with a concentration of 10 mg/ml, ciprofloxacin 5 mg/ml, erythromycin 15 mg/ml and cefixime 5 mg/ml were used as positive controls. Mass gas chromatography method showed that this type of thyme has 42 effective substances. The most phenolic composition of the pasture ovia is carvacrol (66.96%). MBC for Enterococcus faecalis and Salmonella typhimurium bacteria was 15.67 and 62.5 mg/ml, respectively. 250 and 125 mg/mol discs were better than selected antibiotics in inhibiting both bacteria. The essential oil of pasture thyme plant contains antiseptic substances with antibacterial effects. The effect of essential oil in stopping the growth of Gram-positive bacteria was greater than that of Gram-negative bacteria. Considering that the essential oil of the plant had significant antibacterial effects compared to antibiotics in laboratory conditions, it is suggested to carry out more experiments to evaluate its effect in animal models.

Ethnobotany studies the knowledge of native people in different regions and their information about the use of plants. The purpose of this research is the ethnobotanical study of villages in the south and east of Semnan city including 7 villages: Abkhuri, Ahmadabad (North), Ahmedabad (South), Kheyrabad, Delazian, Roknabad and Alaa. After examining and getting to know the study area, in order to obtain the required information, the areas were visited and interviews were conducted randomly in March 2021. Information was collected in the form of a questionnaire and mostly from elderly people familiar with the use of medicinal plants. In this research, 47 species belonging to 48 genera and 24 plant families were introduced by local people. The richest plant families were Lamiaceae with 10 species, Apiaceae with 6 species, Asteraceae with 4 species, and Fabaceae with 3 species. The highest value of the Relative Frequency Citation index (RFC) is related to Mentha spicata with 0.73, Thymus kotschyanus with 0.65, Carum carvi with 0.63, Cuminu cyminum with 0.57, M. longifolia with 0.53, Anethum graveolens with 0.48, Achillea whilhemsii with 0.38, Cichorium intybus with 0.32, Matricaria chamomilla with 0.19 and Alhagi persarum with 0.09. According to this study, the most use of plants in the villages of Semnan city was related to digestive disorders and general health of the body, and the least use was for the treatment of diabetes and kidney problems. Also, the most widespread method of using medicinal plants in the study area was reported as a decoction and the most used plant organ was leaves. The study of ethnobotany and using it in different fields is very important before forgetting this knowledge and destroying the natural habitats of Semnan county. Thus this research can provide a basis for future studies.

Eryngium campestre is a biennial herbaceous plant native to northern Iran.  Nowadays, the use of chemical fertilizers has increased significantly, which has irreparable effects on the environment and human health.  The use of organic compounds and biofertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers has recently received much attention. Also, it is more important to study about natural substances that contain more antimicrobial properties and less side effects, such as plant extracts. For this purpose, an experiment was conducted. This experiment was conducted in Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources in 2019-2020 in a factorial format based on a completely randomized design with 3 replications. The treatments included: nitroxin (0, 1 and 2 ml/l), humic acid (0, 1 and 2 ml/l), glycine (0, 75 and 150 mg/l). The measured traits included total phenol, total flavonoid, antioxidant activity, total sugar, chlorophyll, carotenoid and activity of catalase and peroxidase enzymes. The effect of glycine on the measured traits was significant except flavonoids and catalase enzyme activity at 5 and 1% levels. Also, the effect of nitroxin on the measured traits was significant at the level of 1%. The effect of humic acid on the measured traits was significant except for the amount of antioxidant activity, chlorophyll and catalase enzyme activity at the level of 5 and 1%. Also, the interaction effect of all three treatments on the measured traits except catalase enzyme was significant at 1% level. In general, the results showed that the treatments used in this research, individually and in combination (interaction effect), increased most of the measured traits. Also, an experiment was conducted regarding the effect of Eryngium campestre extract on the population of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The results showed that Eryngium campestre extract did not inhibit the bacteria. In general, the results showed that the used compounds can be used to improve the biochemical characteristics of the Eryngium campestre.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of L-phenylalanine foliar application on morpho-physiological and phytochemical properties of red pepper under different irrigation treatments (type and amount) in the filed experimental at Goldaru Herbal Pharmaceutical Company, Isfahan as a split-split plot experimental in the randomized complete block design (RCBD) in 2018. Experimental factors included: moisture conditions (optimum and reduced irrigation), irrigation methods (drip and flood irrigation) and different levels of the foliar application (negative control; positive control or water as solvent; L-phenylalanine at 2000 and 4000 ppm). The results indicated that the highest the plant height was related to the application of 2000 ppm phenylalanine optimum irrigation (69.3 cm), the highest values of the fresh and dry fruit weights were related to 2000 ppm L-phenylalanine × reduced irrigation × drip irrigation (6.60 g/m2) and L-phenylalanine (at 2000 ppm) × optimum and reduced irrigation × drip irrigation (2.18 g/m2), respectively. Results of the biochemical traits showed that the highest degree of intensity was under L-phenylalanine (at 2000 ppm) × reduced irrigation × flood irrigation (449 g/m2). In addition, the maximum values of vitamin C and total phenol were related to the water foliar application × optimum and reduced irrigation conditions (0.82 and 0.72 mg/g dry weight) and the water foliar application × reduced irrigation × drip irrigation (2.15 mg GAE/ g dry weight), respectively. In general, the results of this study showed the negative effect of drought stress or reduced irrigation on the growth traits of red pepper, however, reduced irrigation enhanced the degree of intensity, vitamin C and total phenol. In conclusion, the foliar application of L-phenylalanine (at 2000 ppm) could improve the quality and reduced the negative effects reduced irrigation on the growth and yield of red pepper under arid and semiarid climate.