[Genomic and phytochemical assessment of chavir [Ferulago angulate] under different in vitro conditions]

Background: Ferulago angulata [Known in Iran as Chavir] is an endangered species with Anti fugal and anti-bacterial activity that can act as a natural preservator

Objective: Evaluation the effect of in vitro culture conditions and plant growth regulators on somaclonal variation and the phytochemical content of in vitro regenerated plants

Methods: Induced calli were transferred to Murashige and Skoog [MS] medium supplemented with 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid [NAA] and 6-Benzylaminopurine [BAP] for regeneration stage. The essential oils were extracted by Clevenger apparatus and the yield and composition of essential oils were assayed by GC/Mass. Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat [ISSR], Start codon Targeted [SCoT] and CAAT Box Derived Polymorphism [CBDP] markers were used to assess somaclonal variation

Results: The highest callus formation was obtained via radicle explant in MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/L 2,4-D and 1mg/L BAP. Maximum percentage of regeneration was occurred via derived calli from hypocotyl in MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/L BAP and 0.5 NAA. The phytochemical assay revealed a considerable differences between natural habitats and in vitro regenerated plants. The percentage of ?-Pinene in plants derived from natural habitats and in vitro conditions were 27 and 1.53 respectively. The yield of essential oils were 2.26 and 0.64 [ml/100g D.M.] in natural habitats and in vitro regenerated plants respectively. The result of PCR assay indicated genetic variation between tissue cultured samples

Conclusion: The results indicated that in vitro culture conditions had a considerable effect on genome and metabolome of Ferulago angulate

Over - expression effect of gene encoding 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase on production of taxol in Iranian hazel [Corylus avellana L.]

Sustainable and commercial production of taxol as an anti cancer drug is a critical point to its clinical application. Nowadays, hazel because of rapid growth and wide range distribution is considered as an alternative source of Taxol. To increase taxol production the cDNA encoding 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase [HMGR] from Iranian hazel [GeneBank accession number KF306244, showed by CIHMGR] was isolated and over-expressed in pCAMBIA1304 binary vector. The effect of transient over-expression of HMGR in callus and leaf were evaluated on Taxol production. The calli was established through the culture of immature cotyledon on Murashige and Skoog basal medium supplemented with 2, 4-D and BA. The first strand cDNA of CiHMGR was synthesized by specific primers. Enzymatic assay of recombinant CiHMGR in E. coli were done by western blott and His-tag affinity techniques. Also production of taxol in transformed callus and leaf were evaluated by HPLC analysis. An Open Reading Frame [ORF] with 1698 bp length and a deduced polypeptide with 566 amino acid residues were amplified. The highest and lowest amount of taxol was 0.016 mg/g. DW and 0.004 mg/gDW in transformed calli and untransformed leaves respectively. Generally the over-expression of HMGR increase the total isoprenoids yield, therefore to have high production of target secondary metabolites [taxol] we need both of network of transformed genes and elicited cell culture

[Comparison of morphinan alkaloids during different stages of growth in the medicinal plant opium poppy [papaver somniferum L.]]

Opium poppy contains important pharmaceutical alkaloids such as Morphine, Codeine, Thebaine, Noscapine, Papaverine and Sanguinarine which are of a high economic value in pharmaceutical industries. Since production volume of secondary metabolites is very low, many strategies have been so far adopted for commercialization of its production. This research has been carried out to investigate accumulation process of morphinan alkaloids in opium poppy plant during different stages of growth. Opium poppy plant was cultured in greenhouse condition and during three stages of seed, development and flowering, samples have been taken from root and aerial organs' tissues and after extraction of alkaloid from each specimen separately, amount of Morphine, Codeine and Thebaine using High Performance Liquid Chromatography [HPLC] was measured. Results indicated that amount of these alkaloids differs in various parts of plant during different stages of growth. Highest content of Morphine, Codeine and Thebaine was observed in aerial organs and at flowering stage of this plant. Morphine was the dominant alkaloid in all parts of plant. After study of the results, it was found that the plant's growth stage has a crucial role in the under study alkaloids concentration amount, so as the amount of all the three alkaloids, Morphine, Codeine, and Thebaine after flowering stage, both in the roots and aerial organs, is by far more than their amount at growth and seeds stages. Since the largest amount of morphine was observed in flowering stage, it seems that application of new techniques such as metabolic engineering will yield better results at this stage

Hazel [corylus avellana L.] as a new source of taxol and taxanes

Taxol is used to treatment of variety cancers including ovarian, breast, lung, head and neck carcinomas and the AIDS-related Karposi's carcinoma, and was originally obtained from bark of taxus brevifolia. However the amount of extracted taxol from taxus is extremely low and cannot be considered as a suitable commercial source and it has led to studies for finding new sources of Taxol. In 1998, Angela Hoffman and her team reported that hazel could be as a taxol-producing species and it has been confirmed by recent studies. On the other hand, the genes and enzymes involved in taxol biosynthesis pathway in taxus sp. have been identified and characterized but because of very slow growth and difficult somatic embryogenesis, manipulation of taxus is restricted. Instead, hazel with widely contribution in the world, easy invitro culture and characterization of some genes involved in the pathways of MVA and DXP [such as HMGR, IPI and GGPP], makes possibility of manipulation of taxol biosynthesis pathway. In this paper we reviewed a summary of genetic and biotechnology studies on hazel

[ review on pharmacological effects of Ferula assa - foetida L.: a systematic review]

Ferula assa - foetida L., commonly known as Asafetida is an herbaceous, moncarpic, perennial medicinal plant of the Apiaceae family. The main origin of Ferula assa - foetida is the steppes of Iran and Afghanistan. Asafetida gum-resin has a long history for food additive and medicinal uses. In Asian traditional medical systems Asafetida gum-resin has been expected to be used as digestive system, cleansing and strengthening the gastro-intestinal tract, anthelmintic, antispasmodic, carminative, expectorant, laxative, sedative and stomachic. Due to its current uses as well as its pharmacological effects further information needs for future clinical studies. The aim of this review was to provide an update overview of research studies focused on the pharmacological effects of Asafetida gum-resin. A computerized search of published articles was performed using the electronic database such as MEDLINE to 2010. The results indicate that, the large numbers of articles published on pharmacological effects of Asafetida over recent three decade. Asafetida gum-resin exert several pharmacological effects including, anti-histamine effect in gastero intestinal system, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anticholinerginc, and hypoglycemic as observed in experimental and clinical studies. In conclusion the present scientific-based evidence provides good information about pharmacological effects of asafetida gum-resin. This information may be useful to researcher for induction of clinical trial for this herbal medicine in treatment of traditionally recognized application such as gastrointestinal disease, cancer, hypertension and diabetes

[Variations of root and shoot tropane alkaloids production of hyoscyamus niger under two rhizobacteria strains inoculation and water deficit stress]

Plants infection with microorganisms as well as physical factors such as osmotic stresses induced particular secondary metabolite pathways. To investigate the growth promoting effects of two Rhizobacteria strains including Pseudomonas fluoresces [PF] and Putida [PP] in combination with application of water deficit stress on plant biomass of Hyoscyamus niger young roots and variation of tropane alkaloids content and yield in root and shoot parts. Two grams of dried each shoot and root samples was added to appropriate volume of CHCl3: MeOH: NH4OH 25%, [15:5: 1], and sonicated for 20 min. Alkaloids extracted were analyzed by gas chromatographic [GC] method using a Younglin Acme 6000 GC system equipped with a flame ionization detector [FID] and HP-5MS capillary column [30 m x 0.25 mm, film thickness 0.25 micro m]. The identification of alkaloids was based on the comparison of their GC retention time and mass spectra data with their standards substances. Results indicated that the highest alkaloid content values in root [hyoscyamine: 0.26% DW; scopolamine: 0.12% DW] and shoot [hyoscyamine: 0.85% DW; scopolamine: 0.48% DW] were achieved in PF-187 treated plants grown under severe water stress conditions [W3]. By contrast, the maximum alkaloid yield in root [hyoscyamine: 1.92 mg.plant[-1]; scopolamine: 0.83 mg.plant[-1]] and shoot [hyoscyamine: 5.88 mg.plant[-1]; SCO: 3.06 mg.plant[-1]] were obtained in PP-168 treated plants under low water stress conditions [W1]. Rhizobacteria strains can function as environmentally sound tools to increase alkaloids production and counteract growing problems under stress conditions, especially by auxin production

[Assessment of genetic diversity in the landraces of ferula gummosa from Iran usign AFLP marker]

Ferula gummosa is one of the most important pharmaceutical, industrial and aromatic plants in Iran. The extract and essential oils of this species are used in different industrial, such as, pharmacy, nutritious, manufacture of perfumes, gluing and military industries. In this research, genetic diversity in the landraces of Galbanum taken from different zones in Iran was studied. In this rummage, the genomic DNA was extracted from young leaves and genetic diversity of these landraces was perused. Totally 296 bands were numbered that 89% of them were polymorphic. The number of alleles per each primer combination varied from 20 to 43. The highest and the lowest levels of genetic similarity were 0.87 and 0.56 respectively. The maximum of similarity was observed among landraces of Aridineh-garnadeh velar [Damavand-Tehran] and Polour [Mazandaran], while the minimum of similarity was observed between Ardineh - ashkrizeh valley 3200 [Damavand - Tehran] and Namad Kousar lar [Shemiranat_Tehran]. Cluster analysis using UPGMA method and DICE similarity coefficient indicated a high genetic diversity among F. gummosa landraces. There was not any relationship between genetic diversity and geographic distribution. The results of this research shows, the existence of high genetic diversity among existing Galbanum landraces. With considering, that Galbanum landraces are from different geographic zones and their essence components are different, the existence of genetic diversity in such plants denotes that phytochemical differences in samples are not just controlled by environmental effect, but it also controls by genetic factors. The result of this study is useful for genetic resource management in f. gummosa landraces

Propagation of Ginkgo biloba L. through tissue culture of various plant parts

Ginkgo biloba, often referred to as a living fossil, is the oldest living tree specie on earth and is well known for its resistance to adverse growing conditions as well as its ornamental beauty. Ginkgo has been used as a nutritional support for mental alertness, enhanced circulatory and blood vessel health. The beneficial effects are due to the presence of ginkgolides and bilobalide that represent together with the flavonoids the active constituents. Propagation of Ginkgo biloba to determine the best explants, medium, kind of hormone on regeneration through tissue culture of various plant parts. In this study factorial experiments were conducted to determine the best explants, medium, kind of hormone on regeneration, the percentage of callus and the weight of wet callus. The response of leaf, petioles and meristem explants on MS, B5, WPM mediums to six hormones were investigated. Every experiment has 3 replications. Every replication for each treatment had 6 samples containing 7 explants. After sterilizing explants, they exposed to the treatments in mediums of%7 Agar [5.7 pH] for 6 weeks. In these experiments only callus was produced therefore it seems that Ginkgo plant is recalcitrant. These results showed that shoot tip was the best explant and interaction of epical meristem and MS medium had the best effect on the production of callus. 1 mg/l NAA plus 0.5 mg BAP was the best hormonal combination. Petiole explant gave the least response

[Evaluation of in vitro embryo culture and the effect of medium culture, hormone levels and explant types on callus induction and shoot organogenesis of ferula gummosa B.]

Gummosa [Ferula gummosa B.] is a highly valuable medicinal plant belonging to the Apiaceae family. it is a herbaceous, perennial and monocarpic plant. Flowers appear only once during the life cycle of the plant. Our aim through present research was to reduce the long time we need for breaking seed dormancy and germination period, second was to induce healthy plantlets for preparing suitable explants for callus induction, and introducing reliable shoot organogenesis protocol by changing different media components and hormones. After seed sterilization, embryonic axes were excised from the pericarp and were transferred in greenhouse with different concentrations of MS Culture Medium [MS, 1/4MS, 1/8MS], In callus induction phase, root, cotyledons, main leaf, hypocotyle, embryo and cutting embryo as a explant, were placed on MS medium with 1/4 concentration containing various combinations of plant growth regulators [PGRs], 2, 4-D, NAA, BAP and kinetin. In Shoot organogenesis phase, were used B5 and 1/4MS culture medium with various combinations of growth regulators [BAP, ADS, and ABA] and viable calli from [hypocotyle, root and cutting embryo]. MS medium with 1/4 had the best result for seed germination and growth of seedling, The best response obtained on concentration levels of 1, 2 mg/I[-1] BAP and 10 mg/I[-1] NAA and Root and cutting embryo were detected best explants for callus induction. The only response for shoot organogenesis was observed on 1.5 mg/I[-1] BAP and 0.5 mg/l[-1] ADS. This study showed the in vitro embryo culture could reduce the time of dormancy breaking and germination, also the effect of culture medium, explant types and hormone levels on callus induction and shoot organogenesis

[Plant molecular responses to drought, high-salinity and low temperature]

Molecular studies have shown that several genes with various functions are induced by environmental stresses such as drought, high-salinity and low temperature in plants. Most of the dehydration responsive genes are induced by the plant hormone abscisic acid [ABA], but others are not. Expression analyses of dehydration-responsive genes have provided at least four independent regulatory systems [regulons] for gene expression in a model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The cis- acting elements in the promoters of some genes that have a typical stress-inducible expression profile and the transcription factors that affect the expression of these genes have been analyzed. Transcription factors that bind to a DRE/CRT [Dehydration-responsive Element / C-Repeat] cis-acting element were isolated and termed DREB1/CBF [DRE-binding protein 1/ C-repeat Binding Factor] and DREB2 [DRE-binding protein 2]. Overexpression of DREB1/CBF in transgenic Arabidopsis plants increased tolerance to freezing, drought and high salt concentrations. The DREB1/CBF genes have been successfully used to improve abiotic stress tolerance in a number of different crop plants. Studies on the other transcription factors associated with stress response are in progress. It is expected that the results of these studies will contribute to the sustainable food production in developing countries and help to prevent the global-scale environmental damage