Nitrogen fertilizer influences yield and essential oil of ocimum americanum cultivated in Egypt

The present study was carried out during two successive seasons at the Experimental Farm of Cultivation and Production of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Department, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt.The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of differc-t nitrogen levels on the yield and essential oil production of Ocimum cimericanum.Herbage yield was significantly increased with nitrogen fertilization especially at high levels [40, 60 and 80 kg N/fed]. Both fresh and dry yield of herb [ton/fed] in both seasons were significantly influenced. Similarly, the same effect was obtained on leaves fresh and dry yield per feddan [4200 m[2]]. The highest herb and leaves yields were obtained as a result of 60 kg N/fed. The highest oil percentage was associated with the highest nitrogen dose [80 kg N/fed] in most cuts of both seasons. All nitrogen doses significantly increased oil content [mi/plant] comparing to unfertilized plants. In all cuts of both seasons, 60 kg N/fed produced the highest oil content. The maximum total oil yield [ml/plants or 1/fed] were obtained with 80 and 60 kg N/fed in the lst and 2nd seasons, respectively. All identified compounds were observed in the essential oil of all treatments. The major compound was found to be eugenol followed by methyl chavicol. Generally, the higher the nitrdgen was applied, the higher the methyl chavicol was produced; the opposite was true with eugenol.As a conclusion we may recommend the fertilization of Ocirnum arnericanurn L. plants with 60 kg N/fed as ammonium sulfate to maximize herb, leaves and oil production either per plant or per feddan

Changes in the fibrinolytic activity of the leg veins in response to venous occlusion in patients with varicose veins complicated and uncomplicated with venous ulcers

Forty two male subjects participated in this study. They were divided into 12 controls, 16 patients with uncomplicated primary varicosis of great saphenous vein, and 14 patients with primary varicosis and venous ulcers. Fasting blood samples were taken before and after 10 min venous occlusion from a dorsal vein of the foot of the diseased side and analyzed for euglobulin clot lysis time [ECLT], levels of tissue plasminogen activator [t-PA] and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1[PAI-1]. ECLT and level of PAI-1 are significantly higher, whereas level of t-PA is significantly lower in patients with venous ulcers than those with uncomplicated varicosis and in both groups than controls. Venous occlusion has produced significant shortening of ECLT and lowering of PAI-1 level in all groups, whereas the rise of t- PA level after occlusion was not significant. The effect of venous occlusion on ECLT, t-PA and PAI-1 levels was less marked in patients with venous ulcers than those with uncomplicated varicosis and in the last group than healthy subjects