[Determination of quantitative changes, phytochemical and tolerance threshold in german chamomile medicinal plant [matricaria chamomilla L.] under salinity and ph condition]

Background: Matricaria chamomilla L. is a valuable medicine plant that determining of threshold tolerance and assessing of quantitative yield and phytochemical is necessary in different condition, especially of salinity and pH

Objective: Determination of essential oil, percent of essential oil efficiency, tolerance threshold to salinity and pH in medicinal plant of chamomile

Methods: This research was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Salinity levels was performed with EC; 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 dSm-1 using NaCl and pH levels of 4, 5, 6.4, 8 and 9

Results: The results showed that the maximum of wet and dry weight of flower and number of flower were achieved in EC 2 and with increasing of salinity to more than 2 dSm-1, were decreased [P and le;0.01]. Percentage of oil yield efficiency was lowest in EC 2 and increased by rising of salinity. Assessing essential oil showed that, with rising of salinity stress and alpha;-Bisabolol oxide A [5.2%] and Camazulene [47.9%]were increased and reduced, respectively. The results of pH treatments showed that the maximum of number of flower and dry and wet weight of flower were achieved in pH 8, and reduced significantly [P<0.01] by down and up of optimum pH [8]. The and alpha;-Bisabolol oxide A[73.1%] increased with rising of pH and was maximum in pH 8

Conclusion: Salt tolerance threshold based on flower yield and total biomass were 2 and 4 dSm-1, respectively. The highest yield was obtained in pH 8, based on total dry weight of flower

[Investigation of religious/Islamic orientation and traits of students' personality on the basis of big five-factors of personality [NEO]]

Considering the importance of religion orientation in mental health and its stability up to adulthood, we performed this study to investigate religion/Islamic orientation and traits of students' personality on the basis of big five- factors of personality [NEO]. This was a descriptive - analytical study. 272 subjects [men=128, women=144] between 18 and 28 years of age were selected by cluster sampling method and were assessed by means of two questionnaires: 1] Short - form of NEO- Personality Inventory and 2] Islamic-Religious Orientation questionnaire. SPSS software was used for data analysis. The results of this study showed that all the traits of five factors of personality except for neuroticism had correlation with religious orientation [P<0.01]. Factor of openness to experience predicted 0.11 of religion orientation in the students. According to the results of this study, there was a significant difference in religion orientation between males and females [t= -2/21]. In general in our study, the personality traits had correlation with religion orientation and among them openness to experience had a more important role

[Morphological, agronomical changes and oil content in purslane [Portulaca oleracea L.] under drought stress and biological / chemical fertilizer of nitrogen]

Purslane is a valuable medicinal plant and study of quantity yield and phytochemical changes of them in drought is necessary. Determining the effects of nitrogen chemical and biofertilizers on quantity yield and oil content of purslane herb under drought stress and feasibility of replacing chemical fertilizers with biological fertilizers. This experiment was done in the Research farm of Shahed University in 2012 on the base of split-plot experiment in a randomized complete block design [RCBD] with three replications. The irrigation as main factor in levels of 50 +/- 3 mm, 100 +/- 3 mm and 150 +/- 3 mm of evaporation pan and also application of nitrogen fertilizers as subsidiary factor in levels including control [without fertilizer use], about 250 kg/ha fertilizer of urea, incorporation of about 2.5 L/ha of biological fertilizer with 120 kg/ha of chemical fertilizers nitrogen about 2.5 L/ha and biological fertilizer of nitrogen about 5 L/ha were considered. The treatments of drought and fertilizers had significant effects on plant height, fresh weight of leaf, stem, total fresh weight, dry weight of leaf, stem, total dry weight, grain yield, relative water content [RWC], oil content of grain and oil yield [p

[Evaluation of calcium effect on antioxidant activity and phenolic compound content in borage [borago officinalis L.]]

Borage of Boraginaceae family is a valuable medicinal plant. This plant because their seeds contain unsaturated fatty acids is introduced as an important food. Many research has indicated that the borage extract is able to scavenge active oxygen species and DPPH free radical To study the effect of different levels of calcium nitrate on phenolic contents and antioxidant activities in aerial parts of borage. The split-plot experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications in the research farm of Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR, located in Karaj was done from 2008 to 2009. Results showed that Phenolic content and antioxidant activity [IC50] in the various stages of growth significantly was different [p < 0.05]. Also, spraying of calcium nitrate had significant effect [p < 0.01] on antioxidant activity and phenolic content, but interaction effect of calcium nitrate and vegetative stages on amount of phenol and IC50 wasn't significant. Generally, results showed that spraying calcium nitrate throughout seed ripening increased antioxidant activity of borage plants. Considering to the borage plant is important in the formulation of health and food products, the increasing antioxidants compounds can be valuable

[Morphological, agronomical and phytochemical changes in borage [borago officinalis L.] under biological and chemical fertilizers application]

Borage is a valuable medicinal plant and its production to meet the needs of the pharmaceutical industry has a high value. Thus, the study of bio-fertilizers effect on its qualitative and quantitative yield seems to be necessary. To determine the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus biofertilizers on morphological, agronomical and phytochemical characters of borage and feasibility of replacing chemical fertilizers with biological fertilizers. This experiment was done in the Research farm of ACECR, Institute of Medicinal Plants along 2009 -2010 on the base of factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design [RCBD] with three replications. The treatments combination was three levels of biofertilizers [Control or no applying fertilizer, Nitroxin and Bio- Phosphor and three levels of chemical fertilizers [0, 50 and 100 percent of the nutritional needs of the farm]. The biological and chemical fertilizers as well as their interactions had significant effects on flower number, grain yield and content of total phenol, oil and gamma- linolenic acid. The chemical and biological fertilizers significantly increased the morphological and agronomical characters. Although the oil and gamma-linolenic acid content significantly decreased with application of chemical fertilizer, the application of bio-fertilizers significantly increased the gamma-linolenic acid content. Although the qualitative yield decreased with consumption of chemical fertilizers, the borage performance in respect of all studied traits increased with application of bio-fertilizers. Therefore, the biofertilizers can be an alternative to replacing chemical fertilizers for increasing borage production which is in order to minimize of environmental pollution and sustainable agriculture

[Change in crocin, safranal and picrocrocin content and agronomical characters of saffron [crocus sativus L.] under biological and chemical of phosphorous fertilizers]

Biofertilizers are an alternative to chemical fertilizers for increasing soil productivity and plant growth in sustainable agriculture. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the effects of biofertilizers on valuable medicinal plants such as saffron. To determine the effects of chemical and bio-fertilizer phosphorous on quantitative yield and major active components content of saffron [Crocus sativus L.]. This study has been conducted in Absard region, north of Tehran, Iran along 2006-2008 in a randomized complete block design with three replications and four fertilizer treatments. The treatments were p1 [Control or no applying phosphorous fertilizer], p[2] [150 kg/ha phosphorous as ammonium phosphate], p[3] [100 gr/ha bio-fertilizer as biophosphore] and p[4] [a mixture of 50 g/ha bio-fertilizer as biophosphore + 75 kg/ha phosphorous as ammonium phosphate]. The treatments had significant effects [p<0.01] on fresh stigma and style length, number and leaf length, saffron yield [dry weight of stigma and style], and content of safranal, crocine and picrocrocine. Although the yield of stigma and style were not different in p[2] [150 kg/ha phosphorous] and p[4] [a mixture of 50 g/ha bio-fertilizer as biophosphore + 75 kg/ha phosphorous as ammonium phosphate] treatment, but the application of bio-fertilizer [p3] produced the most saffron yield, addition cause efficiency about 13.77% more than chemical treatment. However, p[3] [100 g/ha bio-fertilizer as biophosphore] was the best treatment in respect of picrocrocine content. Also, the maximum content of safranal and crocin was obtained in p[4] [a mixture of 50 g/ha bio-fertilizer as biophosphore + 75 kg/ha chemical phosphorous as ammonium phosphate]. Application of the chemical/bio- fertilizer increased qualitative and quantitative Yield of saffron. Also, the application of biophosphore can be in order to reduction in application of chemical phosphorous fertilizer in agro-ecosystem which is attitude toward minimizing of environmental pollution and sustainable agriculture

[Allelopathic effects of harmal [peganum harmala L.] aqueous extract on seed germination and seedling growth of purslan [portulaca oleracea L.] and black weed [chenopodium album L.]]

The study of allelopathic properties of plants is one of up-to-date biological and ecological methods, which can lead to discover the bio-herbicides and growth inhibitors. In order to study the allelopathic effects of harmal [Peganum harmala L] on seed germination and seedling growth on purslan [Portulaca oleracea L.] and black weed [Chenopodium album L.], these experiments were conducted. The aqueous extracts of harmal different organs including capsule, leaf, stem and root were applied at five concentration levels [0 as control, 1, 5, 10 and 15%] through a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications. The results showed that different organ extracts had different negative effects on seed germination and seedling growth of the two species in such a way that capsules extracts had the highest inhibitory effect. With increasing extract concentrations of harmal, the seed germination and seedling growth of the two species was reduced significantly. The minimum amount of seed germination and growth of the seedlings were observed at 15% extracts concentration of capsules. Also, purslan seedlings appeared to be more sensitive to harmal extracts than black weed seedlings. The aqueous extracts of harmal different organs had inhibitory effects on seed germination and seedlings growth of purslan and black weed. Also, the highest inhibitory effects were related to capsule extracts

[ effect of chemical and bio-fertilizer source of nitrogen on qualitative and quantitative yield of saffron [crocus sativus L.]]

Biofertilizers are an alternative to mineral fertilizers for increasing soil productivity and plant growth in sustainable agriculture. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the effects of biofertilizers on valuable medicinal plants such as saffron. To determine the effects of chemical and bio-fertilizer nitrogen on quantitative yield and some quality components of saffron [Crocus sativus L.]. This study has been conducted in Absard region, north of Tehran, Iran along 2006-2008 in a randomized complete block design with three replications and four fertilizer treatments. The treatments were n1 [Control or no applying nitrogen fertilizer], n2 [150 kg/ha nitrogen as urea], n3 [5 kg/ha bio-fertilizer as Nitroxine] and n4 [a mixture of 2.5 kg/ha bio-fertilizer as Nitroxine + 75 kg/ha nitrogen as urea]. The results showed that fertilizer treatments had significant effects [p<0.01] on fresh stigma and style length, leaf length, leaf number, saffron yield [dry weight of stigma and style], and content of Safranal, Crocine and Picrocrocine. Although the maximum yield of stigma and style were obtained in n2 treatment [150 kg/ha nitrogen] and n4 [a mixture of 2.5 kg/ha bio-fertilizer as Nitroxine + 75 kg/ha nitrogen as urea], the application of bio-fertilizer [n3] increased the saffron yield about 0.83% more than control treatment. However, n3 [5 kg/ha bio-fertilizer as Nitroxine] was the best treatment in respect of safranal and picrocrocine content. Also, the maximum content of crocine was obtained in n4 [a mixture of 2.5 kg/ha bio-fertilizer as Nitroxine + 75 kg/ha nitrogen as urea]. Application of the chemical/bio- fertilizer increased qualitative and quantitative Yield yield of saffron. Also, the application of nitroxine can be in order to reduction in application of nitrogen fertilizer in agro-ecosystem which is attitude toward the minimize of environmental pollution and sustainable agriculture

[Qualitative and quantitative changes in the aerial parts of borage under foliar application of calcium nitrate]

Borage [Borago officinalis L.] is a valuable medicinal plant of Boraginaceae family, which is used in treatment of different human diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to determine optimum levels of agronomical factors affecting plant growth and production. To determine the effects of foliar application of calcium nitrate on quantitative yield and some quality components of borage. This study was done in Research farm of ACECR, Institute of Medicinal Plants Research in a randomized complete block design with three replications and four treatments along 2008-2009. The treatments were four concentrations of Ca[NO[3]][2] foliar application [0,5,10,and 15mM calcium Nitrate]. The results showed that foliar application of calcium nitrate had significant effects [p<0.01] on plant height, dry matter yield of aerial parts and flowers, chlorophyll content and content of total phenol and tannins. With increasing concentrations of calcium nitrate, these parameters increased and the highest amount of them were observed at 15mM Ca[NO[3]][2]. The application of calcium nitrate had positive effects on growth and yield of borage. Also, the qualitative and quantitative yield of borage aerial parts increased with increasing concentration of calcium nitrate

[Changes in essential oil content and yield of basil in response to different levels of nitrogen and plant density]

Basil [Ocimum basilicum L.] is a valuable medicinal and aromatic plant which is cultivated throughout the world. Therefore, it is necessary to determine effect of important agronomical factors on quality and quantity of its volatile oil. To determine plant density and nitrogen fertilization effects on quality and quantity yield of basil. This study was done in Research farm of ACECR, Institute of Medicinal Plants and Natural Products Research in 2006 on the base of factorial experiment in randomized complete block design with four replications. All possible combinations of three plant densities [266666, 20000] and 160000 plants ha[-1]] and three nitrogen rates [0,50 or 100 kg ha[-1]] were established. The results indicated that plant density had significant effect [p < 0.01] on yield of dry herbage and oil. Plant density had no significant effect on oil content but due to the increment in dry herbage yield per unit area, oil yield had been significantly increased in higher plant density. Nitrogen fertilization had significant effect [p < 0.01] on all studied parameters. Although, nitrogen application had adverse effect on oil content, nitrogen fertilization up to 100 kg ha[-1] increased yield of dry herbage and essential oil. Such increase in essential oil yield was caused by N fertilization due to an increase in dry herbage yield. The maximum yield of dry herbage and oil were obtained in plant density of 266666 plants ha[-1] with nitrogen application of 100kgha[-1] and was the best treatment in respect of dry matter and oil yield

[Review on borage [valuable medicinal plant and the richest plant source of gamma linolenic acid]]

Borage [Borago officinalis L.] is a valuable medicinal and culinary herb belonging to family Boraginaceae. The seed oil of borage is the richest plant source of gamma linolenic acid [GLA]. GLA is commonly used as nutritional supplement and pharmaceutical prescription to control heart disease, diabetes, atopic eczema, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. Therefore borage is one of the important medicinal plants, which can play important roles in treatment of human diseases. For these reasons, recently, borage has been the subject of increasing agricultural interest. In this article we review the various aspects of borage including botanical characterizations, cultivation and production, medicinal uses in traditional medicine and clinical uses of it in relation with some clinical studies, etc