[Essential oil content and composition of different parts [stem, leaf, flower and aerial part] of Achillea filipendula Lam]

Background: Achillea filipendula Lam. is an aromatic and medicinal plant, green with hard and thick stem and 80-100 cm height in proper condition

Objective: In this research, for determining the proper plant part of Achillea filipendula for essential oil extraction, the seeds of this plant were collected from East Azerbayjan province and cultivated in Research Station of Alborz [Karaj]. The oil percentage and chemical composition was studied in full flowering stage

Methods: The aerial parts of the plant were harvested in spring [2013]. The essential oils of stem, leaves and flowers were extracted by hydro-distillation separately. The essential oil of total aerial parts was also obtained. The oils were analyzed by GC and GC/MS

Results: The results showed that the essential oil yields were 0.67% for flowers, 0.77% for leaves, 0.11% for stem and 0.6% for total aerial parts. Seventeen compounds were identified in the flower essential oil with santolina alcohol [18.5%], 1,8-cineole [26.2%], borneol [19.3%] and bornyl acetate [4.9%] as main components. Fifteen compounds were identified in the leaf essential oil with santolina alcohol [23.5%], 1,8-cineole [26.5%], borneol [19.1%] and bornyl acetate [6.3%] as major constituents. In the essential oil of stem, 13 components were characterized that neryl acetate [58.3%], spathulenol [7.4%] and globulol [3.4%] were the main components. Fifteen compounds were identified in aerial parts essential oil with santolina alcohol [20.6%], 1,8-cineole [33.7%], borneol [20.4%] and germacrene D [4.2%] as major constituents

Conclusion: All these parts of the plants contain essential oil, but with different yield and some difference and similarity in composition. It can be concluded that total aerial parts of Achillea filipendula are appropriate for distillation in spite of previous works that only flowers were used for obtaining essential oil

effect of distillation methods and plant growth stages on the essential oil content and composition of thymus daenensis

Thymus daenensis is on e of the endemic aromatic species in Iran that its essential oil is used in food and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, the effects of plant growth stages and distillation methods on essential oil content and thymol percentage of this species were evaluated. The aerial parts of Th. daenensis were collected in three stages of plant growth from Tehran province of Iran. The plant materials were dried in shade and their essential oils were isolated by hydro-distillation in three replications. In addition, the essential oils of plant materials at full flowering stage were obtained by hydro-distillation, water and steam distillation and steam distillation. The essential oils were analyzed by capillary GC and GC/MS. The result showed that the different plant growth stages and distillation methods had significant effect on essential oil content. The highest essential oil content was obtained at full flowering stage [2.28% w/w]. Among distillation methods, the highest essential oil content was obtained by hydro-distillation [2.27%] that was significant difference with other distillation method. There was no significant difference between essential oil composition at different plant growth stages. Also, thymol, p-cymene and y-terpinene were the main components. The highest percentage of thymol was obtained by hydro-distillation. Generally, it can be concluded that harvesting of Th. daenensis at full flowering stage and extraction of its essential oil by hydro-distillation were more suitable for obtaining the higher oil content and thymol percentage

Comparison of ferrous ion chelating, free radical scavenging and anti tyrosinase properties of Thymus daenensis essential oil with commercial thyme oil and thymol

Utilization of plants as antioxidants in food processing has a potential for substitution of synthetic antioxidants. In the present work, some unexplored biological activities of Thymus daenensis, commercial thyme essential oils and thymol were comparatively studied. Ferrous ion chelating was assessed by spectrophotometry by mixing the essential oils with diluted FeSO[4] followed by addition of ferrozine. Antioxidative properties were assessed by beta carotene bleaching and 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] free radical scavenging tests. Gallic acid equivalent of ferric reduction was carried out using FeCl[3]. Super oxide anion radical scavenging was determined using xanthine oxidase and anti tyrosinase inhibitory activity was determined by a spectrophotometry method using a modified dopachrome method with L-DOPA as the substrate. Chelating reaction of T. daenensis oil was dose dependent, and its super oxide anion radical scavenging property was higher than the commercial oil. Lipid peroxidation inhibition by T. daenensis oil was stronger and those of the commercial oil and thymol were approximately equal. DPPH free radical scavenging property of T. daenensis oil was higher than trolox, butylated hydroxytoluene and anisol [BHT and BHA]. Ferric-reducing antioxidant power [FRAP] of T. daenensis oil was greater. The total phenolics anti tyrosinase IC[50] were also determined. The results point to the nutritional value of these plants in preventing formation of toxic reactive oxygen species, and show that Thymus daenensis, as a good antioxidant, can directly scavenge free radicals. The results from biological properties of Thymus daenensis are indicative of its potentials for use in food and drug industries

Lipid peroxidation inhibition, superoxide anion and nitric oxide radical scavenging properties of thymus daenensis and anethum graveolens essential oils

Safety and efficacy of the synthetic antioxidants used in the food industry are frequently questioned because such antioxidants are unstable and highly volatile, therefore, interest in finding naturally occurring antioxidants that have the potential to protect human beings from damage induced by oxidative stress has intensified. Bioactivities of Thymus daenensis and Anethum graveolens essential oils with special reference to their antioxidative properties are studied. Total phenolic content [TPC], lipid peroxidation inhibition [LPI], ferrous-ion chelating [FIC], superoxide anion and nitric oxide radical scavenging, and tyrosinase inhibition activities of the essential oils were determined. TPC of T. daenensis and A. graveolens oils were 644.07 +/- 6.79 and 174.91 +/- 2.05 mg GAE/100 g. T. daenensis and A. graveolens oils showed the highest LPI activity with FICs of 63.28 +/- 0.21 and 70.22 +/- 1.9 percent respectively. Superoxide anion and nitric oxide radical scavenging activities of the above oils had IC[50] of 0.013, 0.001 and 0.005, 0.0014 mg, respectively. A. graveolens oil showed 6 fold higher anti - tyrosinase activity than T. daenensis oil. There was not correlation between lipid peroxidation or ferrous ion chelating activities with total phenolics implying that the oils contain chelating ligands. The effects of antioxidant phytochemicals in the biological systems are ascribed on their ability to scavenge radicals, chelating metals, activate the antioxidant enzymes, and to inhibit the oxidases. T. daenensis and A. graveolens oils have good commercial potential in both food processing and cosmetic industries

[ effect of different distillation methods on quality and quantity of essential oil of Laurus nobilis L.]

Laurus nobilis is a small tree, especial to Mediterranean regions that its leaves are used as flavoring agents in food. Now, this plant is cultivated in Iran and many parts of the world. In this research, the effects of different distillation methods on essential oil yield and composition of Laurus nobilis leaves was studied. The fresh leaves of Laurus nobilis L., cultivated in National Botanical of Iran were collected at July 2009. The essential oils were isolated by hydrodistillation, hydrosteam distillation and direct steam distillation from the leaves of Laurus nobilits. The oils were analyzed by capillary GC [UFM] and GC-MS. The oils were obtained at yields of 2.53%, 2.45% and 1.63% by hydro, hydrosteam and direct steam distillation, respectively. Twenty-five components were identified in the oil of Laurus nobilis obtained by different extraction methods, including 1,8-cineol [47.3, 37.8, 47.7%], sabinene [11.1, 12.3, 12.2%] and alpha-terpinyl acetate [12.9, 19.3, 12.9%] by hydro, hydrosteam and direct steam distillation, respectively. Statistical analysis showed significant difference between oil yield [w/w] of hydro-distillation method [2.53%] compared to steam distillation [1.63%]. Significant difference was observed between 1,8-cinnneol and alpha-terpinyl acetate percentage in the oils obtained by different distillation methods

[Identification of essential oil components of Satureja sahendica Bornm in cultivated condition in Qazvin]

Satureja sahandica is a perennial plant of the family Lamiaceae and an aromatic plant of Iran flora with its essential oil components used in culinary, medicinal, and perfume industries. To identify components of S. sahandica planted in Qazvin condition. Aerial parts of S. sahandica were collected from a research farm [Qazvin Agriculture and Natural Resources Research Center] at flowering stage in 2007. The plant materials were subjected to hydro-distillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus for 3 h to produce essential oil and followed by GC and GC/MS for determination of chemical compositions. S. sahandica in cultivated condition gave oils with a yield of 2.12% on dry weight basis. Thirteen components were identified. The main constituents of the essential oil were thymol [38.3%], gamma gamma-terpinene [30.9%], and p-cymene [21.3%]. Essential oil of this plant in cultivated condition produced trace amounts of carvacrol. The results of this study indicated that the essential oil is rich in monoterpene phenols. Thymol, gamma- Terpinene, and p-Cymene were found to be the main components of the essential oil

[ study on chemical composition of Ajowan [Trachyspermum ammi] essential oil produced in Qazvin]

Ajowan is one of the medicinal plant cultivated in Iran. The Ajowan essential oil is mostly used in food, health and pharmaceutical industries. To determinate the chemical composition of Ajowan essential oil cultivated in Qazvin. Twelve samples of Ajowan seeds were collected from a research farm [Qazvin Agriculture and natural resources research center] in 1381. The essential oil was obtained byhydro-distillation technique and further analyzed by GC and GC/MS for determination of chemical compositions. The content of essential oil in different samples were ranging between 3.1% to3.5%. Nine chemical constituents were indentified. Themol, e-terpinene and p-cemene were the major constituents of oil. Ajowan essential oil produced in Qazvin was mainly composed of thymol [40-45%]

[Quantitative and qualitative variation of the essential oil of Diplotaenia cachrydifolia in different stage of plant growth]

The genus of Diplotaenia presents two species in Iran, D. damavandica and D. cachrydifolia. The first one is endemic of Iran and the second grow wild in lran and Anatoly. In this research, the aerial parts of D. cachrydifolia were collectcd in three stages of plant growth before flowering full flowering and beginning of fruit formation. The plant materials, after drying in room temperature were hydro-distilled for obtaining the essential oils were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The oils were obtained at yields of 0.93% [before flowering], 4.49% in full flowering and 2.66% [after flowering] based on dry weights of plant materials. Eighteen compounds were identified in the oil of D. cachrydifolia before flowering. The main components were limonene [28.04%], elemieine [15.35%], cis-isoelemieine [15.12%], and apiol [11.78%] and cis-beta- oeimene [10.87%]. In the full flowering stage, eighteen compounds were identified in the oil, with limonene [41.81%], elemieine [21.96%] and cis-beta oeimene [18. 70%] as major constitutents. Twcnty-one components were characterized in the oil of D. cachrydifolia at the beginning of fruit. formation, The main components were limonen [47.63%], clemicine [20.51%], cis-beta-oeimene [8.55%] and I, 8-cineole [5.71%]. The main difference of the essential oils of D. cachrydifolia in these three stages, was that cis isoelemieine disappeared in the oil of full flowering and 1,8-cineole was detected only in the oil of after flowering