[Effect of bio-stimulators compounds on quantitative and qualitative yield of German chamomile [Matricaria recutita L.]]

In order to ecological agriculture, application of bio-stimulators compounds can be increase the quantitative and qualitative yield of crops in company with reducing environmental stresses. To determine the effects of bio-stimulators compounds on quantitative and qualitative yield of German chamomile [Matricaria recutita L.], this experiment was conducted. This study was done in research farm of ACECR, Institute of Medicinal Plants in a randomized complete block design with three replications and ten treatments in 2010. The treatments were C [Control/no fertilizer], CF [Chemical fertilizer], A[1] [Aminolforte 0.75 L.ha[-1]], A[2] [Aminolforte 1.5 L.ha[-1]], K[1] [Kadostim 0.75 L.ha[-1]], K[2] [Kadostim 1.5 L.ha[-1]], H[1] [Humiforte 0.75 L.ha[-1]], H[2] [Humiforte 1.5 L.ha[-1]], F[1] [Fosnutren 0.75 L.ha[-1]], and F[2] [Fosnutren 1.5 L.ha[-1]]. The results showed that the different treatments had significant effects on plant height, capitule diameter, capitule number per plant, fresh and dry matter yield of capitule per hectare, essential oil yield per hectare, chamazulene content, total flavonoid content [p<0.01] and plant harvest index [p<0.05]. Also, the treatments didn't have significant effects on plant water content. Application of bio-stimulators could be increased the quantitative and qualitative yield of German chamomile. However, treatments of A[2] and F[2] [Aminolforte and Fosnutren 1.5 L.ha[-1]] were the best treatments in respect of yield of capitule and essential oil per hectare. Also, the application of the bio-stimulators can lead to increasing crop production in company with minimizing of environmental pollution and sustainable agriculture

review on biology, cultivation and biotechnology of fenugreek [trigonella foenum-graecum L.] as a valuable medicinal plant and multipurpose

Fenugreek [Trigonella foenum-graecum L.], wild or cultivated, is widely distributed throughout the world and belongs to the Fabacecae family. It is an old medicinal plant and has been commonly used as a traditional food and medicine. Fenugreek is known to have hypoglycemic, and hypocholesterolaemic, effects. Recent research has identified fenugreek as a valuable medicinal plant with potential for multipurpose uses and also as a source for preparing raw materials of pharmaceutical industry, especially steroidal hormones. A significant increase in quantity and quality yields through the suitable management of cultivation, breeding and biotechnology practices could make an immediate and important contribution to farm and pharmaceutical industry income. To achieve these goals with regard to sustainable production, we reviewed a summary of biology, cultivation and biotechnology of fenugreek in this paper

investigation on the antioxidant activities of hyssopus officinalis L. and Echinacea purpurea L. plant extracts in oil model system

Nowadays, there a growing demand for the natural antioxidants due to the harmful effects of synthetic antioxidants. Therefore, introduction of new natural antioxidants [especially those with plant origin] is very important. The present study explores the chemical constitution and antioxidant activity of leaf extract of Hyssopus officinalis L. and extract of aerial parts of Echinacea purpurea L., as two valuable natural antioxidants in soybean oil. Total phenolic content of the water extract of Hyssopus officinalis L. and Echinacea purpurea L. were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method. The antioxidant activity [AOA] of these two extracts were evaluated with DPPH[*], ABTS[*+] and beta carotene bleaching [BCB] methods. Furthur, the oven tests including peroxide and thiobarbituric acid values were done at 70°C in soybean oil system. Total phenolic content of Hyssopus officinalis L. and Echinacea purpurea L. were 200 and 60 mg/g phenolic components [galic acid equivalent], respectively. In DPPH* test, EC[50] value of Hyssopus officinalis L. and Echinacea purpurea L. were 35.6 +/- 4.7 and 123.0 +/- 10.9 ppm, respectively. In the oven test [in soybean oil], AOA of all concentrations of HOE was comparable to BHT and BHA at the concentration of 100 ppm. AOA of EPE was comparable to BHT at concentrations of 100 and 200 ppm, but lower than that of BHA. In all three DPPH[*], ABTS[*+] and beta carotene bleaching tests, the antioxidant activity of Hyssopus officinalis extract [HOE] was greater than that of Echinacea purpurea extract [EPE]. The antioxidant activity of both extracts improved with increase of the concentration. Further, HOE and EPE were able to reduce the oxidation rate of soybean oil under conditions of the oven test at 70°C. Thus, these two extracts could be appropriate natural alternatives to synthetic antioxidants

Evaluation of phytochemical and production potential of borage [Borago officinalis L.] during the growth cycle

Borage [Borago officinalis L.] is a valuable medicinal plant with a high content of gamma linolenic acid. It has an important place in Iranian traditional medicine. Although the aerial parts of this plant are extensively used in treatment of diseases, detailed knowledge of the active constituent changes in these parts is not readily available. In addition the most data that has been reported are about oil seed of borage and its properties. Thus, the study about changes in chemical composition/secondary metabolites at different growth stages is necessary. For this reason, in the present research the chemical composition including total phenol, total alkaloids, mucilage, total ash, acid-insoluble ash and tannins of the aerial parts were evaluated during different growth stages of borage. Results indicated that at each corresponding stage of development, starting from seedling stage until flowering stage the chemical compositions of borage aerial parts hadn't significantly differences. Only, there were significant differences [p < 0.01] in the total ash and acid-insoluble ash and these two parameters were significantly increased with the development of plants, from seedling until flowering stage. In general, at all stage, the aerial parts showed similar quality in respect of chemical compositions. Therefore the best harvesting time of the aerial parts is the flowering stage, because we achieved the highest fresh and dry weight at this stage

Influence of heating on antiradical activity of essential oils of thyme, summer savory and clove by 2, 2- diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] method

Great interest has recently been focused on the addition of herbs and their derivatives to foods and biological systems, due to their well-known abilities to scavenge free radicals. For this reason, the antiradical activities of essential oils of thyme [Thymus vulgaris L.], summer savory [Satureja hortensis L.] and clove [Syzygium aromaticum L.] were studied. The essential oils of these medicinal plants were analyzed by GC/MS and the major chemical components were identified. Also, antiradical activities of these essential oils were evaluated by using DPPH radical. Samples were kept at 120 and 180°C for 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 hours to evaluate the influence of heating on the essential oils, then compared with controls [essential oils before heat treatment]. Results showed that clove oil had the highest antiradical activity and followed by summer savory and thyme oil, respectively. The essential oils showed various behaviors under different treatments of heating. All tested essential oils had radical scavenging activities at room temperature. These essential oils showed various behaviors under different heat treatments which it may be due to their different compositions

Review on Cynara scolymus L

Articholce [Cynara Scolymus L.] is one of non- native plants being cultivated in Iran. This plant is mostly used in foods, so that it is probably harmless. In this Article we are going to coucentrate on different stages of its cultivation and the clinical uses of it in relation with some clinical studies

[Evaluation of using herbal medicine in Isfahan women population]

Iranian herbal medicine has high capacity for disease prevention and remedy and can help to resolve health and medical problems. Identifying consumers' needs and paying attention to their recommendations is an important factor for the proper use and marketing of these products. This Survey Research was performed on the use of herbal medicines women in Isfahan on the base of cluster sampling. The population was categorized to three groups, including poor, middle income and wealthy. The data was collected through interviewing and filling a questionnaire. The data was analyzed statistically by chi-square test and also evaluated on the base of descriptive statistics. Results indicated that high percentage of the three groups used medicinal plants. Only about 11% of population in these levels had no tendency to use these materials. Also, despite of expressing satisfaction with herbal medicine, some problems such as high cost and contaminations of these materials lead to restriction in their use. 45.4% of people questioned these products two or three time each year. Also, there were significant differences among the three groups of population with respect to using herbal medicine. In general, 65.8% of population used these products and the highest [44.9%] and the lowest [18.4%] amount were related to middle income and poor groups, respectively

efficancy of herbal medicine khar maryam [silybum marianum[L.] Gaertn] on liver cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients

Cirrhosis is the irreversible sequel of various disorders that damage liver cells permanently over time. Presently, the use of herbal medicines for prevention and control of chronic liver diseases is in the focus of attention for both the physicians and the patients; the reasons for such shift toward the use of herbals include the expensive cost of conventional drugs adverse drug reactions, and their inefficacy The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of herbal medicine Khar maryam or silymarin on liver cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis patients compare to placebo therapy 60 chronic hepatitis B cirrhotic patients were selected out of 500 patients to Tehran Hepatic center The patients were randomly divided in two groups of 30 patients One group received silymarin l50mg/kg three times a day and the other group placebo received for twelve months. The outcome measures included child-pugh score,ascitis, serum aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT] total billirubin, albumin, prothrombin time, platelet and white blood cells counts. The indices were recorded in all patients before and after 12 months of drug or placebo treatment The results demonstrated that the patients treatment with silymarin for 12 months had significantly better child-pugh score, decreased ascitis, decreased serum AST and ALT. In placebo administered patients all the clinical parameters recorded before and after 12 months were not significantly different. We conclude that silymarin treatment for 12 months in cirrhotic patients has hepatoprotective effect. To investigate the effects of this herbal remedy on the mortality rate of cirrhotic ratients, asimilar study, over an extended period has to be carried out