مجله تحقیقات گیاهان دارویی و معطر ایران
سال بیست و سوم شماره 2 (پیاپی 36، تابستان 1386)

In regard to the invasion of various food commodities by insects and harmful effects of chemical pesticides, essential oils are among the best known substances tested against stored product pests. Effects of essential oils from Artemisia sieberi Besser and Artemisia scoparia Waldst et Kit were tested against oviposition deterrence, egg hatching and first instar larvae of Callosobruchus maculatus F. at 27 ± 1˚C and 65 ± 5% R.H. under dark condition. For each essential oil, five replications were conducted. Increasing the essential oil concentrations resulted in increase if insecticidal activity of essential oils on eggs, first instar larvae and oviposition deterrence. At 0.14 mL/g food, the essential oils of A. sieberi and A. scoparia resulted in inhibition of oviposition of the insect. The maximum concentration of essential oils (2.86 mL/L air) caused 100% mortality of first instar larvae. Although, oviposition deterrence of A. scoparia was stronger than A. sieberi, however, ovicidal and larval mortality caused by both essential oils were not significantly different. LC50 values indicated that essential oil of A. scoparia with 1.11 and 1.06 mL/L air against eggs and first instar larvae do not have significant difference with A. sieberi. It was found that plant essential oils can be used as a safe pesticide or model for new synthetic pesticides to control stored pests.

Herpes simlex virus causes various infections such as cold sore, encephalitis, keratoconjunctivitis and many other infections. In some cases, these diseases may lead to the patient's death. Myrtus communis L. essential oil is used in traditional medicine since antiquity. In this study, we have evaluated the effect of the Myrtus communis essential oil at various concentrations on the infection caused by the Herpes simplex 1 virus in mice. The HSV-1 virus was reproduced in cell culture and then its titer was determined in terms of PFU/ml. PFU of 10-6 of the virus dilution was used to infect mice. After shaving hair on body sides of the animals, a scratch was created by the needle and five micro liters of the 10-6 PFU was inoculated onto the scratch. The mice were divided into five member groups. Tree groups were treated with 5, 10 and 15 mg/ml concentration of the Myrtus communis essential oil, the fourth was the control group that was treated with the vaselin (free from the medicine). The fifth and sixth groups were treated with commercial Myrtoplex and Asiclovir ointments. The mice were treated for 10 days and probable deaths and wounds were examined. The time of initiation and development of wounds or deaths in the experimental and those of the control groups were recorded. Results obviously showed the creation of vesicles in the group treated with Myrtus communis essential oil (5, 10 and 15 mg/ml) was delayed as compared to the control group (vaselin). The results also clearly show a delay in the creation of pustules in the group treated with Myrtus communis essential oil at 15 mg/ml concentration as compared to the group treated at 5mg/ml and 10 mg/ml concentrations (P=0.001). This study show that Myrtus communis essential oil at 15mg/ml concentration delays the creation of pustules that could be used in control or treatment of herpes simplex.

The substances can produce analgesia by different receptors and the most important receptor is opiate receptor. Opiates agonists produced analgesia by binding specific G protein-coupled receptors located primarily in brain and spinal cord regions involved in the transmission and modulation of pain. Hops with its scientific name Humulus Lupulus have hormonic and analgesic properties which is produced by Lopolon in plant. In this study formalin test was used as a standard pain inducing test and the analgesic effect of naloxan (5mg/kg) as an inhibitor of opiate receptor were compared to 10mg/kg of hops extract. The results show that, hops extract has no analgesic property by pretreatment of naloxan and the pain response is not significant as compared to normal saline. The pretreatment of naloxan by applying hops extract pain response is significantly increased in inflammatory phase of formalin test. This may be due to the hops arising from opiate receptors.

The genus Satureja represents 15 species in Iran, 9 of them are endemic. In this study, the aerial parts of Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad and Satureja bachtiarica Bunge were collected at two stage of plant growth (before flowering and full flowering) from their natural habitats. After drying the plant materials in shade, essential oils were obtained by hydro-distillation and analyzed by capillary gas chromatography, using flame ionization and mass spectrometric detection. The results showed the oil of S. bachtiarica contained 20% carvacrol and 19% thymol before flowering and 26% carvacrol and 5% thymol at full flowering stage, as main components. The oil of S. khuzistanica, in both harvesting time contained about 90% carvacrol. Due to the antimicrobial effect of phenolic compounds, thymol and carvacrol, the antimicrobial effects of these oils were determined against five gram positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus loteus, Staphylococcussp. and Staphylococcus areous) and three gram negative bacteria (Kellebsiella pneumonia, Kellebsiella oxytoca and Pseudomonas aeroginosa). The result showed the oil of S. khuzistanica had strong anti-bacterial effect in both harvesting stage. The anti-bacterial effect of S. bachtiarica oil was stronger before flowering stage, because of more percentage of phenolic compounds. So these oils can be used instead of synthetic antibiotics that their resistance against bacteria increased daily.

In order to evaluate the relationship of flower yield per plant and yield components in Rosa damascene Mill., an experiment was conducted in a Complete Randomized Block Design with three replications and with 35 genotypes of Rosa damascena, in Kashan dry land and desert research station. Fourteen characters of morphological and yielding were measured. Flower yield per plant exhibited a significant positive correlation with fresh weight of flower, flower yield per branch, number of flower per branch and plant height, but with bud length had a significant negative correlation. Result of stepwise regression analysis for flower yield per plant showed that fresh weight per flower and number of flower per plant entered the model, respectively, and justified 90 percent of total variation of flower yield per plant. Factor analysis revealed 5 factors which justified 83.2 percent of the total variation among characters. In the first factor, traits of number of flowers per branch, flower yield per branch, canopy diameter, number of flower per plant, length of receptacle and flowering time had greater loadings and was named flower yielding factor. Path analysis showed that number of flower per plant, fresh weight of flower and flower yield per stem had the highest direct effects on flower yield per plant, therefore, this research suggest the number of flowers per plant, fresh weight per flower and number of flowers per branch can be good selection criteria for improving flower yield per plant in Rosa damascene.

This Study had been performed from 1993-2005 in Yazd medicinal plants research institute to introduce the methods of cultivating, protecting, gathering, compatibllity and producing of medicinal plants. The seeds and seedlings were taken from natural resources and other provinces cultivated species. They were planted in different seasons directly and indirectly. Phenology and compatibility of species with climatic conditions of Yazd medicinal plants research station were investigated. The results showed that 138 species out of 206 species were compatible with that climatic conditions in the station 46 species were relatively compatible. 4 species were in compatible and 18 species did not germinate. In addition plant pests, diseases and weeds have been identified as far as possible.

This research was carried out for investigation on relationship between ecological factors and natural distribution and density of Salvia mirzayanii since 2001 for two years. Salvia mirzayanii is one of the important species of Hormozgan Province that is used for diarrhea, stomachache, headache, wound, sugar and high blood cholesterol from ancient times by natives of Hormozgan. In this investigation, distribution map, climate, soil and geologic characters, natural flora of habitats and land uses were provided and also vegetative parameters as height, aerial cover density and aerial cover percentage per hectare were measured. This species located in mountainous region on Miocene limestones and marnes and asmari-jahrom limestones formations from 600–2100 m above sea level. Habitat soil was sandy loam with EC= 0.31-0.71 mm/cm and pH= 8.21–8.46. The minimum and maximum of absolute temperature of habitat were zero and 50 centigrade.

As a result of the public view on the advantage of herbal medicines, there has been an increasing demand for these products. Since they are wildly available and are used as self-remedies and also due to the reports regarding their toxic effects, the present study was conducted to investigate the effects of some Iranian herbaceous products such as prostatan, sankol, shirafza, and hypiran drops on liver function in rats. Three doses of each drug (highest beeng 2.5 times the maximum recommended dose) were administrated orally to the animals for seven weeks. The rats were then sacrificed, the blood sample was collected and the serum was separated at the end of treatment’s period. The parameters related to liver function were determined using spectrophotometric methods. The liver itself was also examined for pathological damage. The obtained results showed that prostatan did not alter the measured parameters significantly while shirafza resulted in a 34% increase in LDH levels when highest dose was used. Sankol and hypiean also increased serum ALT, AST and LDH in high doses when compared to the control group. Histopathological studies demonstrated a possible effect of sankol and hypyiran on rat liver tissue.

Ghasemloo valley is one of the most interesting fields in west. of Iran. Ghasemloo Reserve covers an area of about 577 hectares situated in the south of Uromieh. This site is visited by many people as a natural park. Enduring two years the medicinal plants collected and after provided as a herbarium specimen. Specimens were recognized in 51 family, 141 genus and 180 species. The largest families are Asteraceae with, Fabaceae 19, Lamiaceae 16, Rosaceae 15, Brassicaceae 11 and Apiaceae 7 species. Hemicryptophytes (47.22%), Therophytes (23.33%), phanerophytes (15.55%), Cryptophytes (7.2%) and Chamaephytes (6.66%) are the most important life forms of reserve. This site due to especial scenery and medicinal plants can be used as an educational, recreational and ecotourism place.

In order to study drought stress effect on quantitative and qualitative features of balm (Melissa officinalis L.) a research was conducted under field condition in Karaj, Iran in 2005. Experiment was conducted using Randomized Complete Block Design with 4 replications. Treatment included T1 (non stress), T2 (80%FC), T3 (60%FC), T4 (40%FC) and T5 (20%FC). Effect of drought stress on shoot yield, essential oil yield, percentage of essential oil, leaf and stem yield, height, tiller number, length and width of leaf, stem diameter and internodes was significant (α=0.001). Effect of drought stress on number of lateral stem was not significant. Comparison of treatment means showed that highest shoot yield was related to T1 (non Stress) (6469kg/ha), highest essential oil (12.970 kg/ha) and highest essential oil percentage (0.3012%) was related to T4 (40%FC) and T5 (20%FC), respectively. Highest height (65.32 cm), leaf length (6.27 cm) and width (4.58 cm) were related to T1 (non stress). Highest stem diameter was related to T5 (20%FC). It could be concluded that moderate drought stress is beneficial for balm essential oil.

Crocus sativus L. is one of the most important plants in Khorasan provience and exported to the whole world. It is used in food for color and flavour and also in medicine. In this study effects of storage condition of Crocus sativus L. for determining crocin were under investigation in Khorasan Provience. Samples were collected on November 2003. We kept samples for 20 months in three different conditions as light, darkness and refrigerator on zero degree. On November 2005 samples were analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) which crocin percentage content in light were 0.032%, dark 0.038% and refrigerator 0.028%. According to the results the best condition to kept stigmata is darkness.

The antifungal properties of Zataria multiflora Boiss. and Thymus eriocalyx (Ronniger) Jalas essential oils were studied on growth inhibition of Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999. Minimal inhibitory (MIC) and fungicidal (MFC) and kinetics of fungal spore death as a result of exposure to the oils were studied. The oils were analyzed by GC and GC/MS and their chemical components were identified. 22 and 19 compounds were identified in Zataria multiflora Boiss. and Thymus eriocalyx (Ronniger) Jalas essential oils respectively. Eight compounds viz; α-thujene, α-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, p-cymene, 1,8-cineole, cis sabinene hydrate and thymol were common in both oils but in different concentrations. The results indicated powerful antifungal properties of both oils inhibiting growth and aflatoxin production that could be applied to food as preservatives.

Use of the essential oils of Salvia genus in medical, culinary, food and cosmopolitic products and their biological activities depends on the chemical constitutes, therefore based on the importance of these essential oils, for determination the quantity and quality of the essential oil of Salvia lachnocalyx Hedge, we collected the aerial parts of plant in May from Fars province. Then the essential oil was isolated by water distillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The thirty-four compounds were identified in the essential oil concluded 99.7% of the total oil. The major components were bicyclogermacrene (31.3%), α-pinene (13.2%), sabinene (11.7%) and β-pinene (10.3%). Other constitutes were α-terpinyl acetate (7.0%), β-caryophyllene (7.4%), limonene (2.8%) and 1,8-cineole (2.3%).