ABSTRACT
Background: tissue culture is a new approach for production of secondary metabolites with many advantages over conventional methods. Elicitors such as nano particles are molecules that can stimulate the production of secondary metabolites
Objective: this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of some nano particles on mucilage production in Linum usitatissimum under tissue culture conditions
Methods: concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 mg/L of nano-ZnO, nano-SiO2 and nano-Al2O3 were selected as elicitor treatments. The cultures incubated in growth room at 25 +/- 1 oC with 16/8 h illumination periods. After 2 weeks of incubation callus fresh weight, percentage of mucilage and mucilage yield were recorded
Results: the results indicated the positive effect of low dosage of nano elicitors on callus induction and mucilage production. Furthermore, the callus induction is tightly dependent to the presence of auxin and cytokinin, which stimulate both cell division and cell elongation
Conclusion: generally, the type and concentration of nano elicitors had significant effects on the mucilage content
ABSTRACT
Background: The post-harvesting process of medicinal plants such as drying operation and storage conditions has great influence on their quality and quantity of the active ingredients
Objective: The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of pre-drying operation and also storage conditions and duration on the essential oil content and composition of Thymus daenensis
Methods: A factorial experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications. The first factor include drying operations [including pre-drying and without pre-drying], the second factor include storage method [shade storage and storage in a refrigerator at 4 degree C], and the third factor was storage duration [storing the plants organs for 60, 120 and 180 days]. The essential oil was extracted by clevenger apparatus and its components were identified using GC and GC/Mass
Results: The highest amounts of essential oil, linalool, borneol, terpinene-4-ol, thymol methyl ether, e-anethol, thymol and carvacrol were observed in plants stored for 60 days. Also, the highest amounts of a-pinene, camphen, Beta pinene, myrcene, a-phellandrene, a-terpinene, limonene, cis-sabinene hydrate and trans-sabinene hydrate were observed in the plants dried in the shade after pre-drying operation and stored in the refrigerator for 120 days
Conclusion: Drying of T. daenensis plants under shade without pre-drying operation and storing in 4 degree C was the best way to obtain the highest amounts of essential oil and its main components [thymol and carvacrol]
ABSTRACT
Background: The use of organic and biological stimulants at different stages of plant growth may increase growth and yield of plants in addition to reducing environmental stresses
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the induction effect of various formulations of chitosan, humic acid, and nicgtric acid on nepetalactone content and biochemical traits in catnip
Methods: This study, which was based on a completely randomized design [CRBD], was conducted in the research greenhouse of Medicinal Plants Research Institute, ACECR. Treatments consisted of: control, citric acid, different concentrations of humic acid, dual combinatorial formulations of chitosan and citric acid, and triple combinatorial formulations of chitosan, citric acid, and humic acid. First, the roots of the transplants were treated before being transferred to the pot. Then, about 20 days after planting, treatments were sprayed on the plants three times - once everylS days
Results: Results showed that the induction of different formulations of humic acid, citric acid, and chitosan had significant effects on plant height [P<0.05], the number of lateral branches, the number of leaves, dry weight of leaves, stems, and shoot, content of soluble sugar, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, and nepetalactone [P<0.01]. The highest amounts - in most morpho-physiological traits - were observed 400 ppm chitosan + 800 ppm humic acid + 400 ppm citric acid treatment. The maximum content of nepetalactone was obtained at 200 ppm chitosan + 800 ppm humic acid + 400 ppm citric acid
Conclusion: The use of biostimulants formulation including humic acid, citric acid, and chitosan had a significant positive effect on improving vegetative characteristics and especially on phytochemical traits of catnip [Nepeta cataria L.]
Subject(s)
Chitosan , Humic Substances , Plants, Medicinal , Phytotherapy , Plant Extracts , Cyclopentanes , PyronesABSTRACT
Background: The application of methanol biostimulant and potassium sulfate with reducing of photorespiration and transpiration in C3 plants, increasing the absorption of water and food, and biosynthesis of amino acids can have a direct or indirect effect on the growth and metabolic index of plants
Objective: This study was directed to investigate the effect of methanol and potassium sulfate foliar application on morpho-physiological and phytochemical changes in dill
Methods: This study was conducted as a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design at institute of medicinal plants. Experimental treatments included foliar application of methanol at 3 levels [0, 20, 40 v/v%] and potassium sulfate at 4 levels [0, 1, 1.5, 2 g.L]
Results: Methanol application increased the leaf and stem dry weight, and inflorescence fresh weight. Foliar application of different levels of potassium sulfate also increased the plant height, leaf dry weight, and inflorescence and shoot fresh weight. The use of methanol was not effective on the amount of essential oil in the dill. But, increased the amount of "-pienene. Low concentration of methanol increased the content of thymol, myrcene, "-phellandrene, and P-cymenen. So, increasing the concentration of methanol reduced their amount
Conclusion: Phytochemical and morphophysiological traits of dill were increased with application of methanol and potassium sulfate. As, the highest amount of leaf and stem dry weight, inflorescence fresh weight, and a-pienene was obtained with 40% methanol application. Also, the use of 2 g.L[-1] of potassium sulfate produced the highest amount of plant height, leaf dry weight, inflorescence and shoot fresh weight
Subject(s)
Phytochemicals , Potassium , Methanol , Plants, Medicinal , Plant Extracts , PhytotherapyABSTRACT
Hypertension and obesity in children are increasing concerns worldwide. A cross-sectional study of hypertension in relation to overweight/obesity was conducted in 2009 among schoolchildren aged 6-16 years in Aden, Yemen. Using multistage stratified random sampling 1885 children were classified into wasted, normal weight, overweight and obese according to body mass index. The prevalence of wasting was 10.1%, normal weight 69.2%, overweight 12.7% and obesity 8.0%. The rate of high blood pressure [World Health Organization criteria] was 8.2% for prehypertension and 2.4% for hypertension and was significantly related to the presence of overweight or obesity. Child's body mass index combined with age was a predictor for systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The study provides further evidence that overweight/obesity is associated with hypertension in these schoolchildren
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Overweight , Obesity , Schools , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Body Mass Index , PrehypertensionABSTRACT
Genus Plantago belongs to Plantaginaceae family. It has two important medicinal species, P. ovata Forsk. and P. psyllium L., named in common psyllium. In traditional medicine, the husk of this plant used as laxative. Recent studies have shown that the hydrocholoidal fiber of the husk has antidiabetic and antihypercholestrolemia effects. Also it has been shown that it could reduce the prevalence of colon cancer. This plant is safe and has not any serious side effects. In this article we review the uses and benefits of this plant, which grows in many parts of Iran
ABSTRACT
St John's wort, Hypericum Perforatum L. [Culsiaceae] is an important medicinal plant, which has different bioactive constituents and hypericin [a naphtodianthrone] is one of this compounds. Hypericin has many pharmacological effects such as antidepressant, antiviral and antibacterial, which cause to high production and consumption. It has known that region and genetic [accession] have significant effects on yield and content of active constituents of this plant. Because of existing 5 accessions in gene bank of medicinal plants Institute -ACECR, this study has been conducted in order to determination the best accession and evaluation role of genetic and environment on quantitative yield and hypericin content. This study has been done in research farms of medicinal plants Institute - ACECR along 1999- 2002. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with a split-plot arrangement. The parameters are measured in this study included: dry and wet herbage, content of hypericin, plant height and diameter in flowering stage. Combined analysis of variance indicated that genetic [accession] had significant effect on wet herbage [p<0.05], dry herbage, plant height and diameter [p<0.01] but had not significant effect on hypericin content. Environmental conditions [years] affected on hypericin content [p<0.01]. Therefore accession and environment have main roles in production of medicinal parts and hypericin content in this plants, respectively. They could be considered as two key factors for an economically successful cultivation
ABSTRACT
Psyllium is a bulk-forming laxative and is high in both fiber and mucilage. The beneficial effect of dietary fiber in the management of type II diabetes has not been totally demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to determine the plasma- lowering effects of 5 g b.i.d. of psyllium husk fiber, as an adjunct to dietary therapy, on lipid and glucose levels, in Iranian patients with type II diabetes. Patients were randomly selected from an outpatient clinic of primary care to participate in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in which Plantago Psyllium or placebo was given in combination with a low fat diet. Forty-nine subjects were included in the study that were given diet counseling before and then followed an 8-week treatment period. Fasting plasma glucose was measured every 2 weeks, and total plasma cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, and insulin levels were measured every 4 weeks. Glycosylatd hemoglobin was also measured at the beginning and end of the treatment period. The test products [psyllium or placebo] were supplied to subjects in identically labeled foil packets containing a 5-g dose of product, to consume two doses per day [of 5 g each one], half an hour before breakfast and dinner. Both products were well tolerated, with no serious adverse events related to treatment reported in either. Some of the psyllium patients reported that their gastric tolerance to metformin became better. Fasting plasma glucose, and Glycosylated hemoglobin, showed a significant reduction [p < 0.05], whereas HDL cholesterol increased significantly [p < 0.05] following Psyllium treatment. Our results show that 5 g b.i.d. of Psyllium for persons with diabetes is safe, is well tolerated, and improves glycemic and lipid control in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypercholesterolemia