[ effects of mycorhiza [glomus mosseae and glomus intraradiceae] and phosphorus on growth and phytochemical traits of Dracocephalum moldavica L. under drought stress]

Background: Drought stress reduces growth and changes metabolites of medicinal plants. Mycorrhizal fungus in interaction with phosphorus can modify drought stress

Objective: Study the effects of drought stress, mycorhiza and phosphorus fertilizer on growth indexes, quantity and quality of essential oil of medicinal plant Dracocephalum moldavica L.

Methods: This study was done on the base of factorial experiment in randomized complete block design with five replications. The factors were consist of three level of drought stress 95% Fc, 65% Fc and 35% Fc, three level of mycorrhizal inoculation [non-inoculated, Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradiceae] and two level of phosphorus fertilizer [0, 100 kg/ha]

Results: Interaction effects were significant between drought stress, mycorhiza and phosphorus factors in all measured attributes at the 1% level. The highest fresh weight of plant and leaf were related to no drought stress condition [95% of field capacity], application of mycorhiza and phosphorus fertilizer treatments. The highest number of flowers, fresh weight of root, and essential oil percent were recorded in mild drought stress [65% of field capacity], mycorrhiza inoculation and application of phosphorus fertilizer. The lowest amount of all of above mentioned traits obtained in severe water stress, without Mycorhiza and phosphorus fertilizer treatments. The highest content of 6-methyl- 2-phenylindole and Z-citral in essential oil were obtained with no drought stress treatment. The mild water stress with application of G. intraradices increased the geranyl formate, geranyl acetate and caryophyllene oxide in essential oil

Conclusion: Application of two mychorhiza strains in severe water stress can increase physiological yield and essential oil percent of Deracocephalum moldavica in about 45- 100%. The essential oil was increased even in no water stress with application of mychorhiza strains

[ analytical review on methods for the isolation and determination of glycyrrhizic acid from glycyrrhiza glabra]

Glycyrrhiza glabra [Licorice] is a perennial shrub belongs to the Fabaceae family. It is widely used in food; pharmaceutical products and tobacco industry because of its important secondary metabolites. Due to worldwide uses of licorice, it has significant role in export. One of the main bioactive compounds of the root is glycyrrhizic acid [GA] which is a saponine containing three carboxyl and five hydroxyl groups. Glycyrrhizic acid is used as an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic remedy for the treatment of bronchial asthma, eczemas and other diseases. There are different methods for separation, purification, and analysis of glycyrrhizic acid [GA] from licorice roots. Most accepted technologies of them include using of solvents, water separation, polymeric macro porous resin and non-ionic surfactants. Also, high-performance liquid chromatography technique is the most important in analysis of GA

[Medicinal properties of dye - yelding plants: a review]

Dyes are one of the most widely used components in different industries. Recently much attention has been focused on the replacement of natural pigments instead of synthetic colors. One of the most important sources for the production of natural pigments are medicinal plants that small number of them used as industrial and some of them are traditionally used. The worldwide demand for natural dyes increases nowadays due to environmental and echo friendly of them. Many of the plants used for dye extraction are classified as medicinal and some of these have recently been shown to possess remarkable antimicrobial and antiinflamtory activities. The present review describes important information about dye-yelding herbs and their medicinal properties

[ review on medicinal plant of Glycyrrhiza glabra L.]

Glycyrrhiza glabra L [Licorice] as native and pasture medicinal plant has most important export rule. Glycyrrhizic acid [GA] or Glycyrrhizin as a main active component of licorice root and rhizomes, is a triterpenoid saponin claimed to be up to 30-50 times sweeter than sucrose and to be used in pharmaceuticals, food and tobacco industry. Licorice root is a traditional medicine used mainly for the treatment of peptic ulcer, hepatitis C, and pulmonary and skin diseases, although clinical and experimental studies suggest that it has several other useful pharmacological properties such as antiinflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidative, anticancer activities, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective and cardioprotective effects. A large number of components have been isolated from licorice, including triterpene saponins, flavonoids, isoflavonoids and chalcones, with glycyrrhizic acid normally being considered to be the main biologically active component. Understanding of the limitations and challenges in the medicinal plant are need for planning principles for development activities and conservation in this field.In this review summarizes the phytochemical, pharmacological and pharmacokinetics data, together with the clinical as one of the most important herbs in exports and adverse effects of licorice

Review on Iranian medicinal plants with antioxidant properties

Antioxidants have important preventive roles, not only on undesirable changes in the flavor and nutritional quality of food, but also on tissue damage in various human diseases. Some of Iranian plants, despite wide spread use of them as medicines in Iran; have been investigated for their beneficial use as an antioxidants or source of antioxidants. The present review deals with a list of such plants based on information collected from various literatures dealing with herbs found in Iran having antioxidant properties. Also a brief review on common methods for evaluating antioxidant capacity is presented

Antimicrobial activity of the leaves of Pistacia khinjuk

Pistacia khinjuk is one of the three species Pistacia growing in Iran. The essential oils of some Pistacia plants contain variety of components with different therapeutical effects. The purpose of this study was to provide the examination of antibacterial and antifungal effects of chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethyl alcohol and diethyl ether extracts obtained from the leaves of P. khinjuk. for obtaining different extracts of P. khinjuk, 30 gr of leaves powder was macerated with 120 ml of each solvent [chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethyl alcohol, diethyl ether]. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of different extracts was individually tested against a panel of microorganisms, including Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Some major constituents of essential oil from the aerial parts of P. khinjuk are beta-pinene, beta-pinene, Myrcene, beta-caryophyllene, Germacrene B and Spathulenol. The extracts showed antimicrobial activity against bacteria [MIC=0.02 - 0.5 mg/ml] and fungi [MIC=0.06 - 0.4 mg/ml]. In conclusion the different leaves extracts of P.khinjuk [chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethyl alcohol, diethyl ether] like other species of Pistacia show antibacterial and antifungal activities

Study on chemical composition of essential oil and anti-oxidant and anti microbial properties of Artemisia haussknechtii

Artemisia species with common Persian name of Dermaneh are found all over Iran and are used for treatment in infectious diseases such as malaria, hepatitis and other diseases. Some Artemisia species are used in traditionally as tonic and anti-helmintic in north of Iran. The aim of this study was to investigate chemical composition of the essential oil of Artemisia haussknechtii. Also potential antioxidant and anti microbial activities of the essential oil and ethanolic extract were studied. The essential oil was prepared by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS instruments. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by methods; namely DPPH, free radical scavenging, FTC system and total phenolic compounds analyzing. The antimicrobial activities of the extract were individually tested against a panel of microorganisms using disc diffusion method and MIC [minimum inhibitory concentration] measurement. Forty-eight components were identified constituting 98.35 of total oil. Camphor [12.4%], alpha-Terpineol [9.93%], Davana ether [6/24%], and Bornyl acetate [3.77%] were the major components. Good antioxidant activity of extract; increasing with the increment of concentration of plant extract was revealed. Ethanolic extract of Artemisia haussknechtii inhibited both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. MIC of the extract against yeast was the lowest [2.5 micro sign g/ml]. A known anti-bacterial compound [camphor] was one of major components in the essential oil, ethanolic extract showed good anti-oxidant activity and also extract inhibited growth of both gram positive and gram negative bacteria and fungi. These findings supported some traditional use of this plant