[Evaluation of essential oil composition in three species of hypericum from Iran]

Essential oils contain a large variety of volatile secondary metabolites such as terpenes, terpenoides, phenolic and aliphatic derivative. Nowadays, These compounds extensively used inPharmaceutical, sanitary and cosmetic industries. Antimicrobial activity of these oils and their components such as alpha-pinene and beta-pinene, the main essential oil constituent of some Hypericum spp., have been reported. This study was conducted to identify the constituents of essential oil in three Hypericum species in Iran to compare differences among their major volatile constituents. Essential oils were extracted by hydro-distillation of fresh plant materials using Clevenger apparatus. The essential oils were analyzed by both gas chromatography [GC] and gas chromatography ?mass spectrometry [GC-MS]. Monoterpens were found as the major constituent of essential oil in H. perforatum L. and H. patulum Thunb. However, n-alkans were the major constituent of the oil in H. tetrapterum Frise. In this study, alpha-Pinene [21.88%] was found to be the most abundant compound in the H. perforatum whilst beta- Pinene [30.20%] and n-undecane [30.84%] were the main constituents of H. patulum and H. tetrapterum essential oils respectively. In this study, we found that the different plant species made a remarkable difference in the essential oil constituents. In this study the most component of essential oils of H. perforatum and H. patulum were alpha-Pinene and beta-Pinene respectively and this component can be make them promising for treatment of infectious diseases such as infectious endocarditis

[Essential oil composition, total phenol compounds and antioxidant activity of Hypericum perforatum L. extract collected from North of Iran]

St. John's Wort [Hypericum perforatum L.], as the most important species of the genus, has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. Recently, the plant compounds are used to treat mild and moderate depression around the world. This study identified the constituents of essential oil and total phenolic compounds and also antioxidant activity of methanol extract of H. perforatum collected from wildly growing area in the north of Iran [Tonecabon, Mazandaran province]. Essential oil was extracted by hydro-distillation of air dried flowering shoots using Clevenger apparatus. The essential oils were analyzed by both gas chromatography [GC] and gas chromatography - mass spectrometry [GC-MS]. Total phenolic compounds in the methanol [80%] extract were determined according to the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent using tannic acid as standard. Antioxidant activity of extract was also evaluated by DPPH free radical method. Monoterpens [25.63%] were found to be the major fraction of the oil and alpha- Pinene [21.88%] was found to be the most abundant compound, followed by nonane [9.77%], n- octane [9.13%] and dodecanol [6.80%]. In addition, the results indicated total phenol content [50 microg gallic acid equivalent/g] and antioxidant activity [34. 37 microg/ml] of methanolic extract. alpha- Pinene was the major constituent of essential oil of H. perforatum tested sample and its methanol extract contained the high amount of total phenolic compounds and consequently exhibited a considerable antioxidant activity

review on medicinal characteristics of pomegranate [Punica granatum L.]

Pomegranate [Punica granatum L.] is a deciduous shrub and native to Iran having ancient culture in this country and Iran is one of the biggest producers of pomegranate in the world. This fruit is used in traditional medicine because of its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and alleviative characteristics. Extracts of different parts of pomegranate fruit is rich in phenolic compounds and its rind extract and seed oil have vigorous antioxidant activity. Elagic acid is one of the most important phenolic compound with antioxidant activity, present in the pomegranate rind extract. Inhibitory effect of pomegranate seed oil on breast and skin cancer has been reported. Use of seed oil and extracts of different parts of pomegranate fruit has been considered in production of phytostrogenic compounds. At the present time, the fruit of pomegranate besides its use as a fruit and having nutritional value is also considered for its pharmaceutical characteristics. This paper is a review on articles and different sources in order to get more familiarity with medicinal characteristics of this fruit