Medicinal Plants
Nahle Taghvaeefard; Askar Ghani; Seyyed Mehdi Hosseinifarahi
Abstract
Introduction: The harvest time and type of plant part have important roles in obtaining maximum amounts of active substances from medicinal plants. Medicinal plants vary in terms of phenological stages and maturity and each medicinal plant can be evaluated separately in research. Determining the exact ...
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Introduction: The harvest time and type of plant part have important roles in obtaining maximum amounts of active substances from medicinal plants. Medicinal plants vary in terms of phenological stages and maturity and each medicinal plant can be evaluated separately in research. Determining the exact time of harvest and selecting a plant organ for maximum yield of secondary metabolites can be very important and economically effective. Othroj-Saghir (Citrus medica var. medica Proper) or Othroje-Kabir (Citrus medica var. macrocarpa) is one of the most important citrus species. The southern provinces of Iran, especially the southern cities of Fars province, are the largest areas in which this species is cultivated. In addition to fruit juice, other parts of the fruit especially the flavedo, can be used for medicinal purposes and in food industries. In this study, for the first time, some physical and biochemical changes of different parts of Citrus medica var medica fruits were evaluated during fruit ripening. Also, some active substances (i.e. essential oil content, flavonoid components, etc.) of the flavedo were measured as the most important medicinal parts of the fruit through different stages of ripening.
Materials and Methods: In this study, the effects of fruit ripening on the biochemical properties of different parts of Citron fruit were evaluated. A factorial experiment was set up according to a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two factors and four replications. The first factor included four levels: different stages of fruit maturity (green mature, intermediate, yellow ripe and over ripe stage). The second factor had four levels: the different parts of the Citron fruit (i.e. outer skin or flavedo, inner skin or albedo, pulp and juice). The most important measured traits were flavon and flavonols, total flavonoids, total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. Physical changes in different parts of the fruit (fresh and dry weight of flavedo and albedo, fresh weight of fruit, fruit diameter and height of fruit, etc.) were measured.
Assessments also carried out to identify several features of fruit juice such as acidity, total soluble solids (TSS), titrable acidity (TA) and vitamin C during fruit ripening. Chemical measurements were aimed at determining the most important phytochemical compounds of the flavedo section during fruit ripening. These features included the essential oil percentage and yield, chlorophyll content and polyphenols constituents (rutin, trans-ferulic acid, hesperidin, hesperetin and quercetin by HPLC).
Results and Discussion: The results showed that the fruit maturity stage significantly affected most of the studied traits. The highest amounts of flavon and flavonols (0.377 mg quercetin/g dry weight) and total flavonoids (16.38 mg quercetin/g dry weight) were measured in the flavedo at the over ripe stage. The antioxidant activity initially increased during fruit ripening, but it decreased slightly (75.0%) from the yellow stage to the over ripe stage. The lowest rate of antioxidant activity (53.6%) was observed in the green stage and the highest rate (78.4%) was measured in the yellow ripe stage. The highest amounts of antioxidant activity (83.3% and 73.8%) were measured in the albedo and flavedo samples, respectively, and the lowest amount (54.1%) was recorded in the pulp section. The highest amount of flavedo essential oil (2.37%v/w) was measured in intermediate stage. The chlorophyll content with maturity progress was decreased. Progress in fruit maturity was reduced the most components of polyphenols. The maximum amount of hesperidin, as an important phenolic component, was identified in the peel of Citron fruit (1.86 mg/g dry weight) at the green mature stage. Its amount decreased through the stages of maturity, so that the lowest amount (0.68 mg/g dry weight) was measured at the over ripe stage.
Conclusion: In general, the stage of maturity and plant part had important effects on the amount of biochemical traits. The flavedo part of Citron fruit showed superior medicinal properties. Different active substances react variedly during maturity and so the preferable composition should be harvested according to the desired conditions. The best stages to reach maximum essential oil percentage and polyphenol components are the early stages of maturity (i.e. green mature and intermediate stages).
Seyyed Ali Akbar Bagherian; Askar Ghani; Ali Reza Sanie Khatam
Abstract
Introduction: Citrus trees are among the most important tropical and subtropical fruit trees in the world. In recent years, newfound disorders have become a serious danger to citrus growing. In the last two years in Jahrom city and surrounding towns, there have been numerous reports about the rapid drying ...
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Introduction: Citrus trees are among the most important tropical and subtropical fruit trees in the world. In recent years, newfound disorders have become a serious danger to citrus growing. In the last two years in Jahrom city and surrounding towns, there have been numerous reports about the rapid drying of whole of citrus trees or parts of them. Following studies by expert groups, the problem was referred to as "Citrus decline". Most researchers have divided the main causes of decline into biotic and abiotic groups. In fact, the disorder of citrus decline refers to any type of disorder, disease or problem that can ultimately lead to tree weakness and loss. In fact, decline can be considered a synonym for death. Materials and Methods: In this study, 64 orchards located in the cities of Jahrom, Juyom, Khafr and their suburbs were studied. Each orchard consisted of at least 100 trees of ‘Lisbon’ cultivars (one to ten years old). Evaluations were carried out periodically and with a two-month intervals from March 1976 to November 1977. On the one hand decline rate and on the other hand desiccating rate (tree with complete drying) were measured. Average monthly air temperature, sodium absorption ratio (SAR), irrigation water, soil texture, manure consumption, irrigation amount and methods, and spatial and temporal distribution of irrigation water were measured. Longitude, latitude and altitude were recorded using GPS. The meteorological data were obtained from weather station of Jahrom city. Soil sampling was performed using standard methods from all orchards. After determining the soil texture type, in order to data convert from qualitative to quantitative according to the amount of clay available, the numbers 1 to 10 were assigned to each sample. Number 5 was considered as medium and standard soil texture. If manure was applied, one unit was added to the soil texture score of less than 5 and one unit was subtracted from the numbers above 5. The presence or absence of shading on the studied trees (Green lace or palm tree) was assigned to zero and one numbers, respectively. Numbers zero and one were assigned to applied or non-applied soil sodium solute reducing fertilizers, respectively. The amount of clay, SAR (sodium absorption ratio) in irrigation water were obtained using the usual measurement methods in soil and water experiments. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 25) and Path analysis diagram was plotted using AMOS software (version 24). Multivariate statistical analyzes including factor analysis, correlation, cluster analysis and path analysis were performed to determine the relationships between variables and the percentage of decline. Results and Discussion: According to the results of factor analysis, the first four factors accounted for 80.53% of the total variation. The first component (soil physical properties) including clay and soil texture accounted for 26.37% of the total variance. The second component (salt evaporation and accumulation) included temperature, mean age of the trees, and the rate of sodium absorption ratio (SAR) with accounting of 23.95% of the total variance. Significant correlations were observed between decline and mean tree age, decline and clay percentage, decline and presence of shading. Almost all of the declined trees reached the full drying stage, which is justified by the high correlation of the decline with desiccating (r=0.90 **). Percentage of decline had the highest correlation with tree age (r=0.67 **). Percentage of complete desiccating of the tree was also highly correlated with tree age (r=0.51 **). T-test to determine the correlation between two-level nominal variables such as application of shading (presence or absence of shading) and anti-salinity compounds (application or not application of salinity fertilizers) with decline occurrence was used. The mean percentage of decline was 29.66% in trees under shade and 57.40% in trees without shade. In general, the rate of decline in trees without shading is twice more than trees with shading. Path analysis identified the direct and indirect effects of variables on the rate of decline. Conclusion: It was generally found that the decline is a multivariate physiological disorder that largely, can be controlled by some orchard management operations. In the meantime, temperature control and soil texture correction are important, especially in older trees. Increased temperature is one of the major causes of citrus decline that is also indirectly associated with other deteriorating factors. Soil quality changes gradually due to various factors so its correction is very important in reducing the incidence of this disorder.
Fatemeh Roozdar; Majid Azizi; Askar Ghani; Gholamhossein Davarynejad
Abstract
In this research an experiment based on completely randomized design with three replications and 11 treatments was conducted of Mentha piperita. Treatments consisted of dryer drying, artificial shade drying, oven drying (50 and 70 °C), and microwave drying with different powers (100, 180, 300, 450, ...
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In this research an experiment based on completely randomized design with three replications and 11 treatments was conducted of Mentha piperita. Treatments consisted of dryer drying, artificial shade drying, oven drying (50 and 70 °C), and microwave drying with different powers (100, 180, 300, 450, 600 and 900 w) and fresh sample as control. The end time of each treatment determined on the basis of moisture content equal to 0.10 on the basis of dried weight. After drying the samples, traits such as drying time, essential oil content, color parameters (L*, a*, b*, Hue and Chroma) and some biochemical parameters (total polyphenolic content, total flavonoids, flavone and flavonols, total carbohydrate and antioxidant activity) were studied. The results showed a significant effect of different drying methods on the studied traits. The minimum and maximum drying times (5.03 and 570 minutes) associated with microwave dried (900w) and drying method of dryer, respectively. The maximum essential oil content (2.6%) obtained from dryer dried samples. The highest amount of chroma and b* index related to fresh, artificial shade and dryer dried samples while the minimum content related to microwave dried samples (180 and 900 w). Also, the maximum amount of polyphenol compound obtained in fresh sample and microwave (900 w) and artificial shade dried samples, respectively. While the minimum content obtained to oven dried samples (70 °C). The most antioxidant activity (percentage of radical scavenging activity) obtained to fresh, artificial shade dried and microwave dried (600 and 900 and 450w) samples and the minimum amount were observed on oven dried samples (70 and 50 °C).
Askar Ghani; Ali Tehranifar; Valiollah Ghasemi; Samira Hatefi
Abstract
Pseudohandelia Tzvel. belongs to the Asteraceae family with only one species. It is endemic to Khorasan Province in Iran. Having partially big and beautiful inflorescences make it a proper choice in urban green space especially in case of mass culture. In this research, to investigate possibility of ...
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Pseudohandelia Tzvel. belongs to the Asteraceae family with only one species. It is endemic to Khorasan Province in Iran. Having partially big and beautiful inflorescences make it a proper choice in urban green space especially in case of mass culture. In this research, to investigate possibility of micro propagation of this plant two separate experiments were designed. To obtain non contaminated explants, seeds were cultured in MS media in February 2009. After about two months a few healthy plants as stock plants for use in later stages produced through subculture. In the first stage, to evaluate amount of callus production, a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete design with two factors conducted. The first factor was 12 different hormone levels (including BAP, IAA, KN and 2,4-D with different concentrations) and second factor was explants type (including leaf, apical and lateral buds as a explants) making 36 treatments in total. In the second stage to induce stem on produced callus a randomized complete design with 34 treatments (including mentioned hormonal treatments, base MS media and different explants) was used. At the end the callus with stems were transplanted to a MS media containing IBA for root production. The results of the first experiment showed callusogenensis response to above hormonal treatments was seen in this plant with the exception of 2,4-D. Significant difference among the means of hormonal treatments for fresh weight of induced callus was observed. The result of the second experiment showed limited treatment could produce stem and most of treatments just produce callus. Also those samples that produced stem, a few could produce root in MS media.
Askar Ghani; Seyyed Hossein Nemati; Majid Azizi; Mohammad Jamal Sahar khiz; Mohammad Farsi
Abstract
A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the extract biochemical variations among 25 spearmint population. The experiment was a randomized complete design (RCD) with 25 treatments (population) and three replications. For this purpose, three rhizomes with 5 cm length were selected and planted in each ...
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A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the extract biochemical variations among 25 spearmint population. The experiment was a randomized complete design (RCD) with 25 treatments (population) and three replications. For this purpose, three rhizomes with 5 cm length were selected and planted in each pot. All pots were kept out side. The plant samples of all treatments were harvested at full flowering stage and the most important extract biochemical factors such as chlorophyll a, b and total, carotenoide, flavone and flavonol, total flavonoide, total phenolic compound, antioxidant activity, and carbohydrate content were measured. Moreover, all characteristics of studied population were subjected to cluster analysis and correlation between factors was determined. There were significant differences among population in all studied factors. The highest and lowest chlorophyll contents (35.77 and 10.5 mg/g FW) were obtained in Fars- Khafr 2 and Mazandaran-Nour population, respectively. Among studied population, Isfahan 2, Mazandaran-Qaemshahr, Mazandaran-Nour and Yasouj were superior in extract biochemical valuable properties like antioxidant activity, total phenolic compounds, total flavonoides, and total carbohydrates. Also, some population of Fars province constituted more carotenoide and chlorophyll contents and were superior to others. Furthermore, a positive correlation was detected between antioxidant activity, phenolic compound, and total flavonoides.
Saeid Malekzadeh Shafaroudi; Askar Ghani; Maziyar Habibi; Akram Amiri
Abstract
Abstract
In order to induce autopolyploidy in basil (Ocimum basilicum) two separate experiments (seed treatment and cotton plug method on apical meristem) was conducted in a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design including colchicines concentrations (0, 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2%) and ...
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Abstract
In order to induce autopolyploidy in basil (Ocimum basilicum) two separate experiments (seed treatment and cotton plug method on apical meristem) was conducted in a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design including colchicines concentrations (0, 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2%) and the treatment time (6, 12 and 24 h) with four replications. On seed treatment all plants except control were perished. Morphological characteristics and flowcytometry data were used to detect and confirm polyploidization. The morphological and microscopic results showed that colchicines concentrations significantly affect autoploidy induction and the most cases (3.63%) observed on 0.05% concentration. Treatment time and interaction between concentration and time did not show a significant effect on this character. However the simple effects of concentration and treatment time were significantly different on survival percentage. Also concentration X time interaction showed a significant effect on this trait. Among the colchicines concentration levels, the second level (0.05%) showed the maximum survival percentage (47.7%) after the control. Higher concentrations caused more death in plants. Also the highest survival percentage (60.5%) appears in 12h duration of treatment. Generally, the best results to induce polyploidy obtained in 0.05% colchicines concentration for six hours when the treatment was treated using cotton plug.
Keywords: Ocimum basilicum, Ploidy level, Flowcytometry, Colchicines
Askar Ghani; Majid Azizi; Ali Tehranifar
Abstract
Abstract
The purpose of this study is acclimization evaluate of five wild Achillea in cultivation condition and ornamental potential. The seeds of wild species (From Khorasan Razavi, Shiraz and Karaj area, Iran) were sownt in pots in September 2006. After initial growth, the seedlings were transplanted ...
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Abstract
The purpose of this study is acclimization evaluate of five wild Achillea in cultivation condition and ornamental potential. The seeds of wild species (From Khorasan Razavi, Shiraz and Karaj area, Iran) were sownt in pots in September 2006. After initial growth, the seedlings were transplanted in main plots (30×40 cm interval) in November 2006. Phonological and morphological characteristic at different growth stage were recorded. An experiment conducted in factorial randomized based on complete block design (RCBD) with 5 treatments and 3 replications that Achillea species were treatments. The results showed that different species have special traits that could be used depend on our goal. A. millefolium has the highest flowering period (100 day) and plant height (nearly 1 meter). A. biebersteinii was better than other species in respect of inflorescence number, flower diameter and flower height. A .wilhelmsii and A. eriophora had the highest lateral inflorescence number and early flowering. This species because of good acclimization, tolerant to unfavorable conditions, long flowering period, perennial habit and bearing beautiful and big flowers, seems to be suitable plants for use in green space.
Key words: Achillea, Domestication, Morphological characteristic, Native plants, Ornamental plants
