Impact of planting density and soaking seeds in melatonin solution on yield, secondary products content and antimicrobial activity of lovage plant.

Many studies worldwide have been done on the effect of medicinal uses of lovage plant but, very little works have been done on its production. In this study the effect of different planting density and soaking seeds in different concentration of melatonin solution as well as their combination treatments on yield, secondary products content and antimicrobial activity of lovage plant were studied. It was observed that using planting space of 15 cm gave the maximum mean values of total phenolic and antioxidant content and essential oil percentage. Using 30 cm planting space gave the maximum mean values of plant height, yield of herb fresh and dry weight per hectare, yield of roots dry weight and essential oil per hectare. While the plant space of 45 cm recorded the maximum mean values of fresh and dry weight of herb and roots fresh weight per plant and chlorophyll content. For melatonin levels, using 100 µM melatonin solution had the minimum mean values of number of days to emergence. While, soaking seeds in 75 µM melatonin solution recorded the best results of all studied parameters. Regarding the combination treatments, measurements comprising of herb fresh and dry weight as well as essential oil yield per hectare showed that the combination treatment of 30 cm between plants in row plus soaking seeds in 75 µM melatonin solution was able to achieve the maximum values of these parameters. While the combination treatment of 15 cm between plants in row plus soaking solution of 75 µM melatonin is recommended for getting the maximum yield of root fresh and dry weight per hectare and the maximum total phenolic and antioxidant contents per herb in both cuts of both studied season. The first major compound of lovage essential oil of herb is α-terpinyle acetate followed by ß-Phellandrene. The percentages of these compounds were affected by the applied treatments. The volatile oil of lovage plant exhibits high antibacterial and antifungal properties in the concentrations range of 75-100 µg mL-1.

LC-MS/MS and GC-MS profiling as well as the antimicrobial effect of leaves of selected Yucca species introduced to Egypt.

Few studies thoroughly investigated different Yucca species introduced to Egypt. As a part of our ongoing investigation of the Yucca species; Yucca aloifolia and its variety Yucca aloifolia variegata, Yucca filamentosa, and Yucca elephantipes (Asparagaceae) were extensively subjected to phytochemical and antimicrobial investigation. Yucca species cultivated in Egypt showed no antimicrobial effect. GC/MS of the lipoid contents of Y. aloifolia variegata was carried out. Twenty-six fatty acids were identified. Saturated fatty acids established almost twice the unsaturated ones and constituted 64.64% of which palmitic acid and palmitoleic acid signifying 58.28% and 30.98%, respectively. Hydrocarbons were 21 constituting 39.64% of the unsaponifiable fraction. Only three sterols 42.36% were detected, major was γ-sitosterol. LC-MS/MS comparison of the 4 plant extracts imply that Y.aloifolia variegata L extract was the richest, which was apparent through its superior biological activity. LC-MS/MS analysis of the total alcoholic extract (Alc) of the leaves of Y.aloifolia variegata L. was performed using MS-techniques at different voltages; equal to 35 and 135 eV. Negative and positive-ion modes analyses at low fragmentation energy allowed the tentative identification of 41 and 34 compounds, respectively. The LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis in the positive mode proved to be better in the identification of saponins.