Journal of Medicinal Plants and By-products
Volume:12 Issue: 4, Autumn 2023

Due to the nutritional and pharmaceutical importance of hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.), the morphophysiological and phytochemical diversity of 15 Iranian hazelnut populations with two commercial cultivars were studied. The genotypes had significant differences in morphophysiological and phytochemical characteristics. The significant variance among genotypes (p<0.01) and high genetic variance (σ2g) indicated the divearsity in most traits. The highest coefficient of genetic changes was related to the percentage of fruit kernel, kernel width, calcium, phosphorus, total phenol and taxol. The main components did not correspond to different traits.  Mantel test showed that the correlation between the groupings based on morphological traits and climatic variability was 0.67%, while it was 0.51% for the phytochemical traits and 0.41% for taxol. The significant diversity among hazelnut genotypes and also the mismatch with climatic diversity indicated the role of genetic factors on traits, which can be used in future breeding programs to produce superior hazelnut cultivars.

Ginger or Zingiber officinale Roscoe is a well-known herbal medicine and is widely used in Asian cuisine. Its major bioactive compounds, 6-gingerol and its dehydrated form, 6-shogaol, were reported to have potential medicinal properties. However, previous phytochemical studies on the compounds are limited to conventionally grown or soil-based ginger, neglecting soilless ginger grown through hydroponic techniques. This technique has been widely adopted as an alternative to circumvent soil-related complications. Therefore, this study aimed to compare both marker compounds in soil-based (SB) and soilless-grown hydroponic (HP) ginger extracted in different ethanol concentrations (95% and 100%) using high-performance liquid chromatography. The study initially found that 6-gingerol concentration in 95% SB ginger ethanolic extract (1.012%) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than in 95% HP dried ginger (HP1) ethanolic extract (0.314%). The 6-gingerol content for both gingers were also significantly higher (p<0.05) in 95% ethanolic extracts compared to 100% ethanolic extracts. The analysis was also performed with fresh-dried HP ginger (HP2), and it was found that the HP2 ginger (0.75%) has a significantly higher 6-gingerol concentration (p<0.05) compared to HP1 ginger (0.314%), confirming that the previous results were implicated by storage conditions. The concentration of 6-gingerol in 95% SB ginger extract (1.012%) differ significantly compared to those in HP2 extract (0.75%) while both gingers have equivalent amount of low 6-shogaol concentrations (0.0004% and 0.0005% respectively). It is worth to note that HP ginger grown in soilless condition could still produce high amount of 6-gingerol. This finding encourages the usage of HP ginger in pharmacological studies considering the other economic and environmental benefits it offers.

Ferula foetida (Apiaceae) is a medicinal plant whose oleo-gum-resin is useful in medicine. In order to investigate the effect of habitat altitude on quantity and constituents of root essential oil of F. foetida, we selected six samples of 7-year-old roots of F. foetida, which were collected from 6 ecotypes located in Razavi Khorasan province (Dergaz, Kalat, Bajestan, Sabzevar, Neishabur, and Kashmar), Iran in April 2013. we extracted E.oils of 6 root samples using the hydro-distillation method and analyzed by capillary gas chromatography and mass spectrometric detections. Result showed that average weight of E.oil of F. foetida root for Bajestan, Kashmar, Sabzevar, Nishabour, Dargaz, and Kalat samples obtained 0.27%, 0.13%, 0.30%, 0.08%, 0.20%, and 0.15%, respectively. Also, there was a negative correlation between altitude of the ecotypes and the weight of the E.oils of root sap. GC–MS for F. foetida root E.oils showed that there are 24 compounds in the Bajestan sample and 27 compounds in Kashmar and Nishabour samples. Z-propenyl-sec-butyl disulfide, e-Propenyl-sec-butyl disulfide, and α-humulene were common in all samples. Also, 3 to 5 compounds found in the root E.oils of some F. foetida ecotypes, which were not in all samples. Sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes had the most abundant and esters and thioethers had the least numerous in F. foetida sap E.oils. Other results showed that the amount of E.oils in F. foetida root decreases with the increase of the altitude of its habitat, but this factor did not show a clear trend on the number of chemical compounds of F. foetida root E.oil.

In order to investigate the effect of irrigation method and fertilizer type on saffron corm production, a split-plot experiment was carried out in the research field of Islamic Azad University, Birjand Branch, Birjand, Iran during 2016-2018 years based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Three irrigation methods (flooding, surface drip, subsurface drip) were as the main plots. Also, six fertilizer levels (1-cattle manure at 25 t/ha, 2-chemical fertilizer including 150, 100, and 150 kg/ha urea, triple superphosphate and potassium sulfate, respectively, 3-biological fertilizer at 200, 300 and 300 g/ha including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, respectively, 4-the combination of 50% cattle manure and 50% chemical fertilizer, 5-the combination of 50% biological fertilizer and 50% chemical fertilizer and 6-non-fertilizer application) were the subplots. The results showed that the simple and interaction effects of irrigation method and fertilizer type on the corms number and yield was significant. In general, the results indicated superiority of treatment subsurface drip irrigation and combination of 50% cattle manure with 50% chemical fertilizer. It seems that reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and replacing them with livestock manure can lead to sustainable agriculture and reduce environmental pollution. On the other hand, using of subsurface drip irrigation under the conditions of increasing drought stress in the region will be an effective step in increasing saffron yield.

Garden or summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) is one of the most important medicinal and aromatic plants that is cultivated in many parts of the world. Thus, in order to investigate the effect of zeolite and biofertilizer on essential oil yield, morphological and physiological characteristics of summer savory under water deficit stress, a split-factorial experiment was performed based on randomized complete block design with four replications at 2011 in Tehran, Iran. Irrigation regime with four levels (I1: 30, I2: 60, I3: 90 and I4: 120 irrigation after mm evaporation) and biofertilizer inoculation with three levels (B1: no inoculation, B2: inoculation with azospirillium + Mycorrhiza and B3: inoculation with Pseudomonas+Mycorrhiza) and zeolite with two levels (0 and 20 t.ha-1) were considered. The results showed that the highest essential oil yield was obtained under normal irrigation. The results showed that the biofertilizers were more effective on the content and yield of essential oil under normal irrigation conditions. Results also showed that the application of zeolite had a greater effect on increasing the essential oil yield in the absence of biofertilizer inoculation.

Barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.) is exclusively and widely cultivated in the South Khorasan province of Iran. This experiment aimed to evaluate the foliar application of urea, boric acid, iron sulfate, zinc sulfate, and copper sulfate effects on the nutrient content of leaf, yield, and physicochemical properties of barberry fruit. The experimental design was a randomized complete block as factorial with three replications. In the current research, urea with three levels (0, 1 and 2%), boric acid, iron sulfate, zinc sulfate and copper sulfate, each with three levels (0, 1500 and 2500 mg L-1), and all of the fertilizers have been sprayed on barberry before full bloom at the rate of 3 L tree-1. Concentrations of nitrogen, boron, iron and zinc in treated leaves of the trees were significantly higher than the untreated trees. Asignificant increase in yield was found by the application of 1% and 2% urea and foliar spraying all of the fertilizers together with all concentrations compared to the control. Also, the fruit weight was significantly enhanced using 1% and 2% urea, foliar spraying of all the fertilizers together (urea 2% + other fertilizers each 2500 mg L-1) and iron sulfate 2500 mg L-1 compared to control. Foliar spraying of fertilizers (urea 2% + other fertilizers each 2500 mg L-1) brought about the highest fruit weight (0.38 g). Urea, boric acid and foliar spraying of all the fertilizers with different concentrations significantly increased pH, total anthocyanin and total soluble solids and significantly decreased total acids in comparison with the control. It can be concluded that foliar application of urea with concentrations of 1% and 2% increased the content of leaf nitrogen, yield, TSS, total anthocyanin, and pH of barberry fruit.

Today, the use of biological fertilizers in sustainable agriculture is an appropriate alternative to chemical fertilizers because the former can improve the quantitative and qualitative performance of plants, especially under stressful conditions. Therefore, this study aims in greenhouse conditions to investigate the effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on antioxidant enzyme activities and some physiological traits of sweet basil under water limitation. For this purpose, a factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized block design with three replications. Three levels of water deficit stress factor involved W0= 100% of field capacity, W1= 60% of the field capacity, and W2= 40% of the field capacity. Also, biofertilizers factor included nine levels of F1: Pota Barvar-2, F2: Phosphate Barvar-2, F3: Azeto Barvar 1, F4 (the combination of F1 and F2), F5 (the combination of F1 and F3), F6 (the combination of F2 and F3), F7 (the combination of F1, F2, and F3); F8 (100% chemical fertilizer as a positive control) and F9 (without any fertilizer as a negative control). Results showed that water limitation increased the activity of ascorbate peroxidase (193.55%), peroxidase (416.258%), polyphenol oxidase (48.21%) enzymes, and essential oil yield (135.48%). Meanwhile, the chlorophyll index, carotenoid, and yield decreased under water deficit stress. The use of biofertilizers improved these traits under water limitation conditions and normal irrigation. Also, applying a combination of 3 biofertilizers (F7) led to an increase 29.88% in the yield compared with negative control under severe water limitation. Therefore, the use of biofertilizer can be recommended for profitable basil production under water limitation conditions.Abbreviations: Catalase: (CAT), Peroxidase: (PROX), Ascorbate peroxidase: (ASP)

Nigella sativa L., belonging to the family of Ranunculaceae, is grown for its seeds, which are used in food and medicinal industries. In this study, the volatile oil compositions of 16 cultivars of N. Sativa collected from different parts of Iran were evaluated, and then the chemotaxonomic study was done. The analysis of volatile oils was done using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which identified 22 components. Major constituents of the collected cultivars were p-cymene (27.7-38.1%), thymoquinone (19.5-40.9%), thymohydroquinone (5.8-9.6%), α-thujene (5.1-7.2%), and trans-4-methoxythujane (3.4-4.8%). Then, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) were used to assess differences in volatile oil composition. PCA displayed that different groups of cultivars were characterized by high contents of specific compounds. The results of chemometric analysis displayed that PCA was approximately in agreement with HCA, and allowed classification of the studied cultivars into four groups including Group-A (Ns-4, Ns-5, and Ns-16); Group-B (Ns-1), Group-C (Ns-2, Ns-3, Ns-7, Ns-8, and Ns-12), and Group-D (Ns-6, Ns-9, Ns-10, Ns-11, Ns-13, Ns-14, and Ns-15). This is the first study on N. sativa in a vast geographical context in Iran to this extent, using different chemometric techniques. The results of this study can offer scientific data for germplasm of N. sativa in Iran and for breeding programs to improve developed cultivars.

Caper (Capparis spinosa L.) is a Mediterranean multifunctional crop recognized for its drought resistance as well as its capacity to preserve soil moisture. Caper is important in the world due to the important medicinal and nutritional compounds in its roots and leaves and has been considered by the pharmaceutical and food industries. Seed germination is poor owing to physical and physiological dormancy, which makes large-scale cultivation difficult. This research was done on February 2020 in the department of Agriculture, IROST. The effects of gibberellic acid (GA3) at three concentrations of 200, 400, and 600 mg/L, as well as pretreatment with concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4 98%) at four-time levels of 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes, on dormancy breaking in capers, were investigated. Also, total flavonoids, total polyphenols, DPPH assay, and rutin content were analyzed. The findings revealed that 45 minutes of H2SO4 followed by 400 mg/L GA3 was the most efficient method for breaking the dormancy of dried caper seeds, with 81.5% germination, a 3.22 germination rate, and a 10.48 germination index. The highest concentration of metabolic properties in caper leaves was related to total polyphenols (2012.7 mg/g DW). On the other hand, the lowest value was related to rutin content (0.41 mg/g DW). The total flavonoid content was 64.28 mg/g DW, and the DPPH content was 69.06%. So, the results of this study can help improve and grow the output of capers because of the importance of growing them in dry conditions because of their deep root system.

Nitraria schoberi L. is a medicinal plant with antioxidant, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and, anti-viral properties. This plant is also tolerant to salinity and drought. The main aim of this study was to perform elicitation in cell suspension culture of N. schoberi to detect the production of total phenolic and flavonoid contents. In order to accomplish this study, hypocotyls and cotyledonary leaves of N. schoberi were cultured in different callus induction treatments. At the next step, the calli from the best callus induction treatment were transferred to cell suspension cultures containing sodium chloride (NaCl) and salicylic acid (SA) alone or in combination. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents in treatments were measured using a spectrophotometer (absorbance at 765 nm and 430 nm, respectively). According to the results, although callus induction was observed in all treatments, the maximum fresh weight (FW) (7.6 g) and dry weight (DW) (3.7 g) were obtained by culturing hypocotyl explants in MS medium supplemented with 2, 4-dichrolophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) at 0.5 mg/L. The highest total phenolic content (62.2 mg/g) and total flavonoid content (48.24 mg/g) were detected in suspension culture containing 100 millimolar (mM) NaCl and 50 micromolar (µM) SA. Elicitation in suspension culture of N. schoberi can be an effective method for increasing the production of secondary metabolites (phenolic and flavonoid compounds).

Salvia mirzayanii Rech. & Esfand is an Iranian endemic plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family which has many pharmacological effects including antioxidant, anti-cholinesterase, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and enhancing cognition and memory. It is considered as an endemic species of Iran, that is in danger of extinction. The bulks aromatic plants come from wild populations whose essential oils compositions as well as their biological properties are severely affected by the geographical location Therefore, the aim of the present study is to provide more information on the variation of essential oil composition of S. mirzayanii collected from four different geographical regions. The aerial parts of four populations of S. mirzayanii were collected from different natural habitats of Fars province in southwest of Iran. Chemical composition of S. mirzayanii were isolated by hydrodistillation using clevenger type apparatus and analyzed by GC-FID and GC/MS. The major compounds in four populations were α-terpinyl acetate, Eudesm-7(11)-en-4-ol, bicyclogermacrene, δ-cadinene and 1,8-Cineole in four populations. Polyphenolics content were identified by HPLC analysis. Predominant phenolic constituents in all extracts were chlorogenic acid, vaniline and rosmarinic acid, p-cumaric acid, trans-ferulic acid and quercetin. The DPPH radical inhibition was measured by using a micro-plate reader. The best antioxidant activity was related to ecotype3 with 1281.48 μg/mL and the highest amount of total phenol is related to ecotype1 and ecotype4.

Inulin has been shown to possess probiotic properties and industrial applications. Chicory is the main commercial source of inulin throughout the whole world. However, the composition of the culture medium to grow chicory has a significant effect on both quality and the quantity of this active ingredient in the plant. Here, several sets of experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design under hydroponic culture. in vitro condition, to investigate the effects of phosphorus and iron fertilizer starvation on plant growth traits and also, the amount of active ingredient in chicory. Phosphorus was used at three different levels: 0.5, 1.25 and 2.5 mM while, the effect of iron treatment was investigated by removing iron from the MS culture medium and then compared to the control. The results showed that with increasing phosphorous consumption, elevated fresh and dry root weight was observed, however, iron starvation reduced root growth. In this study, the amount of inulin was significantly affected by these treatments while, the stress of phosphorus deficiency and also the elimination of iron increased the amount of inulin.

This study aimed to formulate the Sunflower Oil (SFO) by Eugenol (EUG) as a substitute for clove essential oil (CEO) to extend the stability of SFO during accelerated storage. The oxidation rate in supplemented samples of SFO with 50, 150 and 300 µg/ml concentrations of the CEO and EUG was evaluated by measuring Peroxide, Anisidine and Totox values during the 12 days with three-day intervals under accelerated storage. Induction time for primary oxidation of the samples was measured by rancimat apparatus. Eugenol (75.29 %), Caryophyllene (11.81 %), Eugenol acetate (6.98 %) and α-Humulenen (2.94 %) were the major constituents of CEO, respectively.  Peroxide, Anisidine and Totox values increased in all treatments and had an upward trend during storage from zero to 12th days. In comparison, EUG containing treatments at 150 µg/ml had the lowest amount of Peroxide, Anisidine and Totox values with significant difference than CEO containing treatments at the last day of storage period (P<0.05). The treatments containing 150 µg/ml concentrations of CEO and EUG showed the highest stability.

Marrubium vulgare (horehound) has been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation. This plant has beneficial therapeutic properties and purifies the blood. In this research the changes in the composition of essential oils, aerial herb yield, and antioxidant activity of the aerial parts of Marrubium vulgare were determined at different treatments of zinc. An experiment was performed using completely randomized design (CRD) with five different treatments (T1= Control, T2= Zn sulfate, T3=Nano Zn, T4= EDTA- chelated Zn and T5= Citrate chelated- Zn) in three replications in Eram Garden greenhouse, Shiraz, Iran. The essential oil of air-dried samples was obtained by hydro distillation and analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The result showed a significant difference between all zinc treatments for Estragol (methyl chavicol), biological activities and introducing new monoterpene oxygenated. The highest value of methyl chavicol was observed in zinc citrate (68.2%), followed by EDTA chelated Zn (51.2%), Zn sulfate (40.6%) and Nano Zn (18.5%), respectively. The highest essential oil (EO) content (w/w%) was obtained in the plants treated with Nano Zn (0.25%). The high antioxidant activity (735.3 mg/L) was found when Nano-Zn was applied. Results revealed that application of Zn to horehound may be very useful for the production of active natural compounds such as methyl chavicol for drug industries and medical materials.Abbreviations: DPPH: (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate), EO: Essential oil, GC/MS: Gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry, HEO: Horehound essential oil.

Hyssop is one of the medicinal plants that have many properties and benefits for the health of the body. Hyssop is an annual plant and often grows along roadsides. Hyssop leaves and green stems contain many bioactive compounds such as rosemary and Caffeic acid along with pinion, beta-pinna, limonene, pinoamophone and isopinocampone, tannins, glycosides, flavonoids, and essential oils. It is found that it can be produced purely by steam distillation from crushed leaves and stems. In this study, different bio fertilizers, chemical fertilizers, and manure were applied to find out their effects on the growth and active substances of Hyssop. Essential oils of Hyssop aerial parts were obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS).  Essential oil percent was maximum (1.66 %) by application of N50P40K50 fertilizer and there was not any significant difference compared to control treatments. The highest value of oil yield (5.389 kg.ha-1) was achieved on cow manure treatment which increased oil yield compared to control (3.718 kg.ha-1). The highest value of Iso pinocamphone (43.32%) was obtained from plants that received N50P40K50 fertilizer compare to the control treatment (39.32%).  Control treatment had the highest value of Pinocamphone (14.11%) compared with cattle manure treatment (11.59%).

The bacterial diseases are very emerging one and now a day’s most of the drugs have a resistant mechanism. In order to find suitable drugs from the plant based nanomaterials is excellent and effective tool for treat many drug resistant bacteria. In this study, various solvents such as chloroform, petroleum ether, ethanol, ethyl acetate, methanol and n-butanol used to prepare the crude extracts with rhizomes of Curcuma longa (L.) and leaves of Azadirachta indica (L.) separately. Then these extracts with nanoparticles prepared by using copper acetate monohydrate and copper sulphate pentahydrate solutions. Finally, the sequence of antibacterial activities was done by using of the selected medicinal plant such as rhizome of turmeric and leaves of Neem extracts against gram negative and gram positive bacterial pathogens like Vibrio cholera O1 and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6051 respectively. The green synthesis of copper nanoparticles along with plant extracts was collected and the shape and size of copper nanoparticls of the plant extracts were determined in Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). The nutrient agar well diffusion method is used to find the antibacterial activities against various plant extracts along with different antibiotic sensitivity tests. The antibacterial activities of the medicinal plant rhizome and leaves of crude extracts were applied in different concentrations in nutrient agar well plates to indicate the presence zone of clearance. The crude extracts were prepared from different solvents such as the ethanol and methanol extracts with copper nanoparticles separately, it was the most effective extracts. At this stage the gram negative bacteria V. cholerae and the gram positive bacteria B. subtilis appear to be most sensitive strains. The inhibition of microbial growth at concentration as low as ~50 to 150 mg/mL indicated the potent antibacterial activity of above mentioned selected medicinal plant extract copper nanoparticles. In this research works better results were find critically with industrially important compounds from selected plant nanoparticles with their plant compounds is responsible for very excellent antibacterial activity.

This study was performed to evaluate different secondary metabolites (SMs) and antioxidant activity in 14 different genotypes from methanolic extracts of plant samples (leaves and stem) from Dorema ammoniacum D. Don (D.am) and D. aucheri Boiss. (D.au). The contents of SMs and antioxidant activity were measured using UV-visible spectrophotometer. The highest total phenolics content (34.3 mg/GAE DW) and antioxidant activity (92%) through DPPH method were detected in leaves samples of D.au9 genotype. Highest levels of total flavonoids (5.5 mg QE/g DW) and total flavonols (3.6 mg QE/g DW) were observed in leaves of D.au12 and D.au2, respectively. The highest content of anthocyanin (250 nano mol/g FW) and carotenoids (18 mg/g DW) were found in leaves samples of D.au7 and D.au3 genotypes. The results showed the superiority of D. aucheri for different SMs rather than D. ammoniacum Finally, leaves samples of D. aucheri and D. ammoniacum species showed higher contents for secondary metabolites which may be suggested for further appliances with medicinal and industrial aims.

Lovastatin is a statin used to treat hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). It is produced by several medicinal non-pathogenic fungi, including Monascus purpureus (MP). While CVDs account for a high percentage of deaths in Iran, few studies have investigated lovastatin production in the country. This study aimed to examine the semi-industrial production of lovastatin from MP by controlling the amount of mycotoxin citrinin. Eleven treatments containing varying levels of several sources of carbon, nitrogen, and several physical factors of the fungus culture medium were tested simultaneously using a Plackett–Burman screening design. Building on Pareto chart, the Plackett–Burman test determined the contribution of each factor to the production of lovastatin and mycotoxin citrinin. As a carbon source, higher barley concentration increased lovastatin production. Lovastatin production required an increased aeration rate with a further rise in barley content. The maximum production of lovastatin (318 mg/L) and lower content of mycotoxin citrinin (48 ppb) occurred under optimized conditions (20 g/L of barley and 8 L/min of aeration). Barley and aeration rates contributed significantly to higher lovastatin and lower mycotoxin citrinin production. These findings can be used in the semi-industrial production of lovastatin with low levels of mycotoxin citrinin (less than the allowable limit).

Although the people’s knowledge about cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has increased, these diseases are still among the main causes of mortality in industrialized and developing countries and communities. For controlling and treating CVDs, both pharmaceutical and non- pharmaceutical methods can be helpful. The high global prevalence of CVDs and associated serious effects on the body organs made them a major health problem in all societies. Concerns about the side effects of synthetic drugs lead to their improper usage and rejection by patients and subsequently a disrupted disease management process. For this reason, today, a new approach is emerging toward medicinal plants, and in fact, they are subjected to extensive research these days. The aim of this review was to introduce medicinal plants and present their action mechanisms, which have been effective in the treatment of CVDs. A literature search was conducted to recruit the articles published in various databases. We also reviewed reference textbooks to elaborate on the mechanisms of action of various plants in the treatment of cardiac diseases and investigate the involved molecular mediators and pathways. Studies have shown that herbal medicines through various mechanisms such as lowering blood pressure, resolving diabetes, improving atherosclerosis, reducing blood fats, inducing nitric oxide, blocking calcium channels, and suppressing the renin-angiotensin pathway can help improve CVDs.

The study is aimed to evaluate the effects of Echium amoenum and Cichorium intybus extracts on the liver of Wistar rats. Ninty rats were divided into 15 groups. Group 1 received physiological serum, groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 40 mg/Kg, 6, 7, 8 and 9, 400 mg/Kg, 10, 11, 12 and 13, 1000 mg/Kg aqueous and ethanolic extract of C.intybus and E. amoenum, group 14 and 15, 400 mg/Kg combined aqueous and ethanolic extracts. Blood samples were collected to assay AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, MDA, total protein and bilirubin levels. The effect of different concentrations of aqueous extracts of chicory and echium on AST, ALT, ALP, GGT and bilirubin levels is the same. Concentrations of 40 to 1000 mg/kg of chicory ethanol extract had different effects on AST, ALP and bilirubin, but in the case of ALT, the differences were between 40 and 400 mg/kg. The flavonoid and anthocyanin contents were the highest in ethanolic extract of echium. Antioxidant activity and total phenols content in ethanolic extract were higher than aqueous extract. The use of aqueous extract of chicory in high concentrations did not harm the liver. Ethanolic extracts of both plants at 1000 mg/Kg will damage the liver. The ethanolic extracts of both plants contain many phenolic compounds that increase the inhibition of free radicals in this extract.

Harmaline and harmine, are the major ß-carbolines present in the seeds of the Peganum harmala L. These compounds are known as herbal active principals with potential use in pharmaceutical and medicine. To assess the growth inhibitory effect of phyto-alkaloids, harmaline and harmine, on cancer cell lines. The P. harmala L.’s alkaloids were extracted by acidic/basic extraction method and identified by two methods, Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). breast cancer cell lines, MDA_MB_231, were subjected to different concentration (1–100 μg. mL -1) of the P. harmala extract at different time courses (24h, 48h). Methylthiazol Tetrazolium (MTT) test, the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) and the morphological changes through optical microscopy were evaluated cell lines, the P. harmala extract decreased cell viability in longer time exposure in a dose dependent manner. The more concentrated extract led to higher motility of MDA-MB-231 at 24h.It was observed that 30 μg. mL -1 is the minimum lethal dose that kills approximately 50% of cells at 24 hours in MDA-MB-231 cell line (IC50). The morphological observation ensured the apoptosis nature of P. harmala on cells as their membrane kept intact and no membrane permeabilization was observed. The results revealed that the P. harmala extracts decreased significantly growth rate and cell survival of cancer cell lines. higher growth inhibition of MDA-MB-231 cell line by the P. harmala extract was confirmed.

Cisplatin as a chemotherapeutic agent causes liver injury by increasing inflammatory production. Capparis spinosa L. as a source of natural antioxidants can clear this production. The present study was designed to assess the effects of pretreatment as well as treatment with a single dose of hydroalcoholic extract of Capparis seed on cisplatin-induced liver damage in rats. Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups (control group, Cis (cisplatin) group, 200 C/S (C. spinosa), Cis + 50 C/S 1-day, Cis + 100 C/S 1-day, and 100 C/S + Cis groups). Biochemical and histopathological assessment were done. Statistical analyses were performed with Graph Pad Prism Statistics software 9.1.2. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Liver function tests, antioxidant and inflammatory parameters and quantitative parameters of histopathological changes were measured. Significant changes in the pathology results were obvious. The diameter of central vein, portal vein, and bile duct, the thickness of the hepatic artery wall, and hepatic sinusoids were significantly increased in the Cis and 200 C/S-fed groups, compared to the controls, and also changes in favor of improvement were evident in the treatment groups compared to the Cis and 200 C/S groups. By increasing the time interval between cisplatin injection and testing, as well as using the western blotting method to measure the level of antioxidant and inflammatory markers, we may have significant biochemical and antioxidant results. Based on pathology results, single-dose treatment with C. spinosa seed extract may be beneficial in the cisplatin-induced liver damage.