[ effect of three medicinal plants essential oils on the activity of peroxidise and polyphenoloxidase enzymes in broccoli [Brassica oleracea L.var. italic]]

Background: The enzyme activity of peroxidise and polyphenoloxidase establish enzymatic browning and leading to undesirable changes in fruits and vegetables

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of plant essential oils on reducing the activity of enzymes involved in enzymatic browning of broccoli

Methods: Broccoli inflorescences were treated with distilled water [control], ascorbic acid [17 ppm] and concentration of 500, 750, 1000, and 2000 ppm of Pennyroyal, black Cumin and Cumin essential oils in both in vitro and in vivo, then peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity were evaluated

Results: Cumin essential oil at 1000 ppm and all treated black Cumin essential oil under in vitro test as well as 500 ppm Pennyroyal essential oil, 500 and 750 ppm black Cumin essential oil, all treated cumin essential oil and ascorbic acid under in vivo test, significantly reduced peroxidase activity in Broccoli compared to control. Also, In vitro applied of essential oils including 500 ppm Pennyroyal, 500 ppm black Cumin, 2000 ppm Cumin and ascorbic acid treatment were dramatically decreased polyphenol oxidase activity in compare to control. The highest inhibition of polyphenoloxidase and peroxidase activities respectively were achieved using concentrations of 500 ppm and 750 ppm black Cumin essential oil in vivo condition

Conclusion: The essential oils used in these experiments depending on the concentration used reduced polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activities in broccoli

effect of gamma irradiation on In vitro total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of Ferula gummosa Bioss.

Background: Ferula gummosa Boiss. is a medicinal and economical plant belonging to Apiaceae family. It is a native herb of Iran and is in serious danger of extinction

Objective: Gamma irradiation is an environmental stress and can consider as a new tool to change the content of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants. The effect of gamma irradiation on phenolic content and radical scavenging activity of F. gummosa callus was investigated in this research

Methods: Embryogenic axes were removed from seed coats and were cultivated on ½ Murashige and Skoog medium. After 2 weeks, roots were used as source of plant material for callus induction. Root explants were transferred into MS medium containing NAA [1.5, 3 and 4.5 mg/L] and BA [0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/L], and the best medium of callus establishment was selected for gamma irradiation. Sub-cultured calli were irradiated at different doses of gamma irradiation from 0 to 25 Gray [Gy]

Results: The obtained data showed that MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/L NAA and 2 mg/L BA was the best medium for callus induction. Under gamma irradiation, a significant decline was observed in the fresh and dry weight of irradiated-calli as compared to control one. Phenolic content increased under gamma irradiation especially at 20 and 25 Gy, and the best dose was 20 Gy according to growth response. Aqueous extract showed higher phenolic content than methanol extract. The 50% inhibitory concentration [IC[50]] obtained in the DPPH radical test decreased significantly under gamma irradiation espacially at 20 and 25 Gy.

Conclusion: According to the obtained results, gamma radiation could increase radical scavenging activity by induction of phenolic compounds, and the aqueous extract identified as a proper extraction solvent for free radical scavenging activity in F. gummosa

Physico-chemical properties of seeds in valuable medicinal species of the genus salvia l.

The seeds of some medicinal plants and their compounds have long been valued for their numerous health benefits. To investigate some physical and chemical properties of Salvia spp. Some physico-chemical properties in five species of Salvia seeds [consisted of S. officinalis L., S. macrosiphon L., S. hypoleuca L., S. sclarea L. and S. nemorosa L.] were measured at 8.73 +/- 0.09% moisture content [d.b.] in four categories of large, medium, small size and ungraded lots with replication. The largest major diameter [L[1]] value was recorded in S. hypoleuca L. The highest intermediate [L[2]] and minor diameters [L[3]], seed weight, volume, surface area, sphericity, arithmetic, geometric and square mean diameters, equivalent diameter and mucilage content were obtained in S. officinalis L. seeds. Also, the most percentage of oils content was observed in S. sclarea seeds. Maximum kurtosis index was obtained in S. officinalis L. for major and minor diameter, surface area, sphericity, arithmetic, geometric and square mean diameters and equinalant diameter, in S. hypoleuca L. for intermediate diameter and seed volume, and in S. nemorosa L. for seed weight. The highest skewness index was observed in S. hypoleuca L. for minor diameter, seed volume, surface area, arithmetic and square mean diameter and equivalent diameter, in S. nemorosa L. for major diameter and seed weight, in S. officinalis L. for intermediate diameter and sphericity, and in S. sclarea L. for geometric mean diameter. Conclusion: The maximum content of mucilage and oils were found in S. officinalis and S. sclarea, respectively. The mucilage content was significantly correlated to minor diameter and sphericity, while there was not significant correlation between content of seed oils and measured parameters

[ review on ocimum basilicum L. medicinal plant with a focus on the most important secondary compounds and its medicinal and agronomic properties]

Basil [Ocimum basilicum], a member of Lamiaceae family, is used in traditional Iranian medicine. Essential oils of basil leaves are composed of phenylpropanoids which are important in treatment of headaches, diarrhea, coughs, warts, worms and kidney malfunctions. The most important phenylpropanoid compounds contain eugenol, chavicol, methyl eugenol, methyl chavicol, myristicin, methyl cinnamat and elemicin. Biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids that passes from shikimate pathway, are regulated by an enzyme group. Phenylalanine amonia-lyase [PAL], cinnamate 4 - hydroxylase [C4H], 4 - coumarate CoA ligase [4CL], P- coumarate 3-hydroxilase [C3H] and O - methyltransferases [EOMT, CVOMT, COMT] are known as key enzymes regulating at production of phenylpropanoids. The phenylpropanoids are also produced in the area of stress conditions and maintained the plant against biotic and abiotic stresses. The purpose of this study is introducing Basil and its medicinal usages in Iran and an overview of the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis as an important part of the essence in basil and its evaluation of agronomic characteristics

[ ethnobotanical study on the medicinal plants of zarm-rood rural district of neka [mazandaran province]]

Medicinal usage of plants is a main part of indigenous people culture which has been formed during centuries in rural area. This knowledge is regarded as a suitable guideline to discovering of novel drugs in modern medicine. This study has tried to determine and introduce the medicinal plant species, the parts and the way of usage of plants of Zaram-rood in Neka area [North of Iran] using indigenous people questioning. The flora of the region was studied during the years of 1391 and 1392. At first, the villages and paths were carefully identified by using the appropriate geographical maps and the information was gathered by interviewing with knowledgeable indigenous people. The plant samples were collected from their natural habitats and identified by floristic references. They were deposited in Sari Payame Noor University Herbarium. A total of 64 medicinal plant species belonging to 51 genera and 34 families were collected and identified. The largest families from the viewpoint of species number are Rosaceae and Lamiaceae with 9 and 7 species, respectively. The most medicinal effects were observed in remedy of digestive, blood circulation, and urine excretion system disorders. Amongst identified medicinal plants, 16 species were introduced with new usages. Ethnobotanical knowledge of the area has more remained in old people memory and it is possible to be vanished in later decades. As a result, documenting of this knowledge is necessary. Moreover, there is a good chance to find species with more and useful pharmacological features through ethnobotanical studies

[ most used medicinal plant species of Dashtestan [Bushehr province], with emphasize on their traditional uses]

Dashtestan, with 6371 km[2] area, is situated at 85 km in the east of Bushehr city. Influence of some important ecological factores, such as neighboring to the Persian Gulf, passing two rivers of dalaki and shapoor and also presence of southern continuation of Zagros Mountains are leading to high importance of region in plant biodiversity view point. Study on the medicinal plant flora of the region and introducing some information of folk medicine and the most useful medicinal species were objected here. All ancient regions of the Dashtestan were discovered using appropriate geographical maps and then the plant species were gathered from various localities respectively. Vernacular information of collected plants and their usages in the folk medicine were questioned from well experienced people. In final stage the collected plants were identified scientifically after deposition in the herbarium. A total of 85 plant species representing 70 genera and 39 families are identified in the area. The most abundant families of the region are Asteraceae [10 species] and Lamiaceae [8 species] respectively, and the largest genera is Ziziphus [Rhamnaceae] with 6 species. The most folk medicine usage of them is in the remediation of digestive diseases. Traditional usage of medicinal plant is more accepted among the people of area. The most of medicinal herbs are used mainly in remediation of digestive diseases. Considering the culture of society and attention of people to medicinal plants, it may be an attractive object from the farmacological view point

[Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Kazeroon, Iran: identification, distribution and traditional usage]

Kazeroon, with about 4060 km[2], is situated in the west of Shiraz [Fars province]. This region is an important area which shows a great plant biodiversity. Also this ancient region is one of the most important human migration roads in Iran and so traditional usage of medicinal plant is a familiar therapeutic way for native people. The traditional usages of the medicinal plants of region were focused and therefore some beneficial information was gathered using native people questioning. Medicinal plant flora of region was studied during 2007-2009. All ancient villages were discovered using various geographical maps and then the vernacular information of plants and their usages were collected from well experienced people and finally the collected plants were identified scientifically. 91 species [87 genera and 39 families] were reported from the rangelands around the Kazeroon. Lamiaceae, with 11 species, and Asteraceae with 9 species were the largest families respectively, and Plantago [Plantaginaceae] with 3 species was the largest genus in the medicinal flora of area. Medicinal plant species are used mainly in remediation of Digestive, Blood Transfer and Urinary system diseases respectively. Studied region shows high degree of species richness and its people are familiar with medicinal plants use. Therefore these traditional and local medicinal usage information of plants are more important and useful for future farmacological investigations