[Investigation of in vitro germination of zygotic embryo of ferula gummosa]

Galbanum is one of the endemic medicinal-industrial plants of Iran that is extincting because of irregular and unsuitable harvesting from natural habitats and its propagation problems. In this study, in vitro germination of zygotic embryo of galbanum [originated from Esfahan] was investigated. The effects of medium [B5 and ¼ MS], hormonal treatment [0 and 0.5 mgl[-1] GA3], duration of cold treatment of cultured embryos [0 and 6 days] and light condition of cultures [for first week in darkness and then under 16-h photoperiod or only under 16-h photoperiod] factors on embryo germination and characteristics of obtained plantlets were investigated. Maximum embryo germination [100%] was obtained. GA3 caused more height of shoot and less diameter of basal ring in obtained plantlets. Production of primary leaves in plantlets was mainly observed in ¼ MS medium and the highest production of secondary roots in plantlets was obtained in the both media. Cold treatment of cultured embryos had negative effect on production of primary leaves and secondary roots in plantlets. Production of primary leaves in obtained plantlets from cold treated embryos [for 6 days] was observed in hormone-free media, that were incubated for first week in darkness and then under 16-h photoperiod, and in media containing GA3, that were incubated only under 16-h photoperiod. Also, production of secondary roots in those plantlets was observed in the media incubated only under 16-h photoperiod. Embryo culture of galbanum is a useful method for overcoming seed dormancy and it also improves germination

[Effect of environmental factors on physicochemical properties of castor oil [ricinus communis L.]]

Castor bean [Ricinus communis L.] is one of the most important medicinal plants that used in pharmaceutical, cosmetics and hygienic industries in most of developed countries. The versatile application of castor oil in different industry and recently in food science because of its unique physicochemical properties has led castor oil to be the focus of abundant research projects. The purpose of this study was to determine, the impact of 7 different climatic conditions in Iran on the castor oil production by castor bean from the standpoints of the quality, oil content and physicochemical properties of castor oil. Methods: Seeds were harvested after ripening and were transferred to laboratory for measurement of physicochemical properties. Tests were included, measurement of either chlorophyll content by spectrophotometer, or refractive index by refractometer, or moisture oil, saponification value, acid value, peroxide value and iodine value by AOCS standards. The results showed that climatic factors had significant effects on oil content, moisture content, acid value, peroxide value, iodine value, chlorophyll content and saponification value. With the analyzed oil samples, oil content, humidity, refractive index, chlorophyll content, saponification value, iodine value, acid value, and peroxide value were respectively determined as 35% - 51%, 0.3% - 1.14%, 1.404 - 1.426, 0.16 - 0.4 mg Phenophytin/ kg Oil, 164 - 1/79 mg KOH/g Oil, 75 - 86 g I[2]/100 g Oil, 0.29 - 0.6 mg NaOH/g Oil, 0 - 0.5 meq O2/kg oil. Results showed that Urmia, Nazarlu and Marand can be considered for medicinal castor bean plant cultivation for high quality of oil

[ comparison between the effect of thyme, coneflower, garlic extracts and virginiamycin antibiotic on lipids serum, hematocrit percentage and hemoglobin concentration in broilers]

Poultry Meat is one of the major sources of human food. The cholesterol level in poultry productions could be monitored by feeding different medicinal plants. The medicinal plants have hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was comparison hypolipidemic effect, hematocrit percentage and hemoglobin concentration in broilers given three commercial herbal extracts and virginiamycin. A total four hundred and eighty 1-d-old male broiler chicks were assigned to the basal diet [control] and 0.15% [V/V] virginiamycin, 0.1 [V/V] extracts of thyme [Thymus vulgaris], coneflower [Echinacea purpurea], garlic [Allium sativum] and blend of extracts with the same dose were added to water. Total cholesterol [TC], LDL cholesterol, triglycerides [TG], HDL cholesterol, hematocrit percentage and hemoglobin concentration were measured after 42 days. Garlic [Allium sativum]significantly reduced the levels of TC, LDL and TG and significantly increased the level of HDL. Thyme [Thymus vulgaris] improved hematocrit percentage and hemoglobin concentration, but not significantly. Herbal extracts could improve blood factors in comparison with the control and antibiotic fed birds

Evaluation of effect of environment contitions on yield and chemical compostion of tagetes minuta L. essential oil

Tagetes minuta L. is an annual plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. This species is not native to Iran. Tagetes minuta is an important medicinal plant with applications in perfume, flavour and food industry. Essential oil of this plant has more extensive use in these industries. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the effect of environmental conditions on yield and chemical composition of the plant essential oil. The seeds were sown in two location at same time. Aerial parts of plant were harvested at full flowering stage and after air drying, their essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation method. Samples of oils were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Results showed that yield and chemical composition of Tagetes minuta were different between two regions. The essential oil content of plants cultivated at East and North of Tehran were 1.44% and 0.8%, respectively. Twenty and nineteen compounds identified from oil of plants cultivated in East and North of Tehran, respectively. The main compounds of oil from East of Tehran were dihydrotageton [21.4%], alpha-terpineol [15.6%], [Z]-tagetone [13.1%], [E]-ocimenone [11.8%], [Z]-beta-ocimene [8.3%], spathulenol [4.8%], [Z]-ocimenone [4.5%], limonene [4%] and from North of Tehran were alpha-terpineol [20.8%], [Z]-beta-ocimene [17.7%], dihydrotageton [13.7%], [E]-ocimenone [13.3%], [Z]-tagetone [8.4%], [Z]-ocimenone [6.1%] and cis-dihydrocarvone [5%]. Environment condition had significant effect on yield and chemical composition of Tagetes minuta essential oil