[Evaluation of botanical traits and oil content/chemical composition in Iranian Thymus carmanicus jalas ecotypes]

Thymus caramanicus is an aromatic and perennial plant of Lamiaceae family, which distributes in different areas of Iran. In this study, botanical traits and oil content/chemical composition of Thymus carmanicus Jalas ecotypes are evaluated in natural habitats of Iran. Ecotypes of Th. carmanicus were collected from Kerman [Sirch and Rayen], Yazd, Esfahan and Shahrud. In addition, the geographical origins and the botanical traits of ecotypes were recorded. Oils were extracted by hydrodistillation method for 3h and its constituents determined by GC and GC-MS. The essential oils content [w/w%] of the Kerman-Rayen, Kerman-Sirch, Yazd, Shahrud and Esfahan ecotypes were 2.5%, 1.9%, 2.0%, 1.8% and 1.5%, respectively. 34, 36, 37, 38 and 33 components were identified and quantified in oil samples of Kerman-Rayen, Kerman-Sirch, Yazd, Shahrud and Esfahan ecotypes, representing 98.7, 98.9, 96.9, 92.3 and 98.2% of these oils, respectively. The ranges of major constituents were as follow: carvacrol [42.0 - 80.7%], thymol [4.1 - 11.8%], p-cymene [2.5 - 12.8%], gamma- terpinene [3.7-7.3%]. and borneol [3.1-8.3%]. The carvacrol was the main compound in all ecotypes. Th. carmanicus contains the high content of essential oil and phenolic components including carvacrol and thymol, which can be used in pharmaceutical industries

[Changes in essential oil content and yield of basil in response to different levels of nitrogen and plant density]

Basil [Ocimum basilicum L.] is a valuable medicinal and aromatic plant which is cultivated throughout the world. Therefore, it is necessary to determine effect of important agronomical factors on quality and quantity of its volatile oil. To determine plant density and nitrogen fertilization effects on quality and quantity yield of basil. This study was done in Research farm of ACECR, Institute of Medicinal Plants and Natural Products Research in 2006 on the base of factorial experiment in randomized complete block design with four replications. All possible combinations of three plant densities [266666, 20000] and 160000 plants ha[-1]] and three nitrogen rates [0,50 or 100 kg ha[-1]] were established. The results indicated that plant density had significant effect [p < 0.01] on yield of dry herbage and oil. Plant density had no significant effect on oil content but due to the increment in dry herbage yield per unit area, oil yield had been significantly increased in higher plant density. Nitrogen fertilization had significant effect [p < 0.01] on all studied parameters. Although, nitrogen application had adverse effect on oil content, nitrogen fertilization up to 100 kg ha[-1] increased yield of dry herbage and essential oil. Such increase in essential oil yield was caused by N fertilization due to an increase in dry herbage yield. The maximum yield of dry herbage and oil were obtained in plant density of 266666 plants ha[-1] with nitrogen application of 100kgha[-1] and was the best treatment in respect of dry matter and oil yield

St. John's wort [Hypericum perforatum L.]: a Review

Hypericum perforatum L., also known St. John's wort, is a herbaceous perennial belonging to Hypericaceae family that is a native of Western Europe, North Africa, and Asia. The importance of this plant as a phytopharmaceutical, especially for treatment of mild to-moderately severe depression, has significantly increased in the last few years. The major active constituents are considered to be Hypericin [a naphtodianthrone] and Hyperforin [a prenylated phloroglucinol], although other biologically active constituents eg. Flavoneids and tannins are also present. However, Hypericin is utilized as the key compound in measuring the quality of Stjohns wort and is typically used as the measure of extract potency, although recent studies indicated that hyperforin may be the antidepressive agent in St. John's wort. However, St. John's wort is one of the top- selling herbal products, which has an important place in world market

[Evaluation of using herbal medicine in Isfahan women population]

Iranian herbal medicine has high capacity for disease prevention and remedy and can help to resolve health and medical problems. Identifying consumers' needs and paying attention to their recommendations is an important factor for the proper use and marketing of these products. This Survey Research was performed on the use of herbal medicines women in Isfahan on the base of cluster sampling. The population was categorized to three groups, including poor, middle income and wealthy. The data was collected through interviewing and filling a questionnaire. The data was analyzed statistically by chi-square test and also evaluated on the base of descriptive statistics. Results indicated that high percentage of the three groups used medicinal plants. Only about 11% of population in these levels had no tendency to use these materials. Also, despite of expressing satisfaction with herbal medicine, some problems such as high cost and contaminations of these materials lead to restriction in their use. 45.4% of people questioned these products two or three time each year. Also, there were significant differences among the three groups of population with respect to using herbal medicine. In general, 65.8% of population used these products and the highest [44.9%] and the lowest [18.4%] amount were related to middle income and poor groups, respectively

Milk thistle and cancer

Milk thistle [Silybum marianum [L] Gaertn] is endemic of several European, African and Asian country like Iran. Althuogh literature on its uses in Iranian traditional medicine is not published, but is used extensively in some European country. Several clinical and experimental study undertaken to investigate efficacy of milk thistle seed extract [Silymarin] in several chronic disease. Silymarin contain several compound like flavonoid with antioxidative property and scavengering free radical. Free radicals are by-product of abnormal body metabolism in several chronic diseases and are important factor for late complication and secondary disease. Here in this article the published data on silymarin its effect on oxidative stress and cancer are reviewed