Medicinal Plants
S. Makhtoumi; Sh. Khoshbakht; A. A. Nourinia
Abstract
Introduction
Inefficient and excessive use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture has caused soil erosion and pollution of water resources and has also been effective in reducing the quality of crops. On the other hand, the use of beneficial soil microorganisms as bio-organic enhances soil fertility, ...
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Introduction
Inefficient and excessive use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture has caused soil erosion and pollution of water resources and has also been effective in reducing the quality of crops. On the other hand, the use of beneficial soil microorganisms as bio-organic enhances soil fertility, and results in healthier and richer nutritional needs is a further harvest away from ecosystem contamination. Increase crop in terms of quantity and quality without damaging the farm ecosystem, especially medicinal plants. Bio-fertilizers are the latest development in organic farming. They are also a gift from modern agricultural science that should replace chemical fertilizers on farms which play a vital role in maintaining long-term soil fertility and stability. Ocimum basilicuum is a grown aromatic and medicinal plant that is a leafy vegetable of the Labiatae family. This plant has different healing properties and is also used to flavor various food products due to its special taste. Therefore, in this study with the aim of providing a practical solution to reduce the use of artificial fertilizers and environmental pollution, the effect of vermicompost and biological fertilizers on the composition of secondary metabolites and growth of basil (Ocimum basilicuum) was studied.
Materials and Methods
This study was conducted in 2017-2018 to investigate the effects of vermicompost and biological fertilizers on some traits of basil (Ocimum basilicuum) in of Azadshahr in Golestan province. In this experiment, application of vermicompost at three levels (a1: no application, a2: application at a rate of 10% and a3: application at a rate of 20% by weight of soil) and application of biological fertilizers at three levels (b1: no application, b2: use of Bacillus subtillis, b3: use of natural element compounds) were examined. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the exterior space as a pot culture. The alcoholic extract used in this study was performed by soaking. The amount of total phenol compounds was measured by the Folin Siocalto method and the total flavonoid content was measured by aluminum chloride colorimetric method. Data obtained from experiments using the software SAS Ver. 9.1 and comparison of means was performed using the least significant difference test (LSD). Excel software was also used to draw the graphs.
Results and Discussion
The results of analysis of variance showed that the application of vermicompost was significant on root fresh and dry weight, fresh and dry weight of stem, stem length, fresh and dry weight of leaves and leaf area. Also, the effect of biological fertilizers on root fresh weight and stem dry weight was significant. Comparison of means also showed that vermicompost 20% compared to control and vermicompost 10% in traits such as fresh weight of root (5.14), dry weight of root (7.25), fresh weight of stem (25.23), dry weight of stem (2.25), length stem (33.77), fresh weight of leaf (51.85), dry weight of leaf (8/08) and leaf area (75.13) had the highest values. No significant effect was observed between vermicompost and biological fertilizers. The maximum amount of total phenol in vermicompost treatments belonged to 20% vermicompost at 1.98 mg/g, and in biological fertilizers treatments to Probio96 at 1.96 mg/g. Also, the maximum levels of total flavonoids in plants treated with vermicompost were 20% and Probio 96 were 92.13 mg/g and 91.22 mg/g, respectively. The results show that vermicompost had the greatest effect on target organs such as leaf area, fresh and dry weight of basil leaves.
Conclusion
The trade and cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants is an important part of agriculture. Medicinal and aromatic plants are the main source of known medicines. Therefore, obtaining methods to increase the yield and therapeutic indicators of medicinal plants is of particular importance. In the growth of medicinal plants and biomass production, the quality of raw materials used is important. Chemical fertilizers have several adverse effects on the environment and human health. These effects can include leaching and displacement of various soil layers, groundwater and surface water pollution, accumulation of heavy metals and nitrates, air pollution, acid rain, and chemical accumulation in plants, animals, and human tissues. According to the findings, it is generally recommended to use bio-fertilizers such as vermicompost and Probiot 96 as a suitable alternative to chemical fertilizers in plant nutrition to protect the environment, human health and the positive economic effects of medicinal plants
Farnoosh Malekshahi; Ali Ashraf Mehrabi; Elahe Tavakol; Khosro Mehdikhanlo; Vahid Shariati
Abstract
Introduction: Basil genus (Ocimum) contains 30 to 150 species which grown in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, Central and South America and found as a wild plant in these areas. In India, around 25,000 ha is under cultivation of Ocimum spp., with an annual production of about 250–300 ...
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Introduction: Basil genus (Ocimum) contains 30 to 150 species which grown in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, Central and South America and found as a wild plant in these areas. In India, around 25,000 ha is under cultivation of Ocimum spp., with an annual production of about 250–300 tonnes of essential oil. Ocimum gratissimum L., a dicotyledonous shrub plant, which belongs to the Lamiaceae family, stands out for the quality, quantity and chemical diversity of the essential oils. These oils have been used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. Some of the essential oil compounds have antibacterial, insecticidal and antioxidant properties with high demand on the international market of the fine perfumery industry. It is also popularly used in herbal medicine for treating several diseases, such as upper respiratory tract infection, fever, cough, diarrhea and pneumonia. Being a short-duration economically viable medicinal and aromatic crop, clove basil has huge potential for large scale cultivation. Plant genetic has an important role in determining the type and amount of secondary metabolites of medicinal plants. Moreover, the recognition of species and genotypes with high genetic capability in the production of desired metabolites has been at the top of the plant breeding plans of medicinal plants. In addition, essential oil composition of plants may be affected by harvest time which is due to the impact of weather conditions on plant growth and development. The present study was aimed to evaluate the oil composition of two genotypes in two harvests. Materials and Methods: The research was conducted in the research farm of the college of agriculture, shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran during 2019. Two valuable genotypes of Ocimum gratissimum L. (278 and 296), with two different essential oil profiles, were investigated in two harvests; spring and autumn seasons. The aboveground parts of the plants were collected on June and November and dried on shade at room temperature. The essential oils of the plants were extracted by water distillation through Clevenger apparatus and the quantity and quality of the essential oils were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Results and Discussion: The results of present study showed that the essential oil content of two genotypes was not affected by the harvest season while its amount was different in two genotypes. The essential oil content of genotype 296 was 2-fold of 278. According to the qualitative analysis of the essential oils, fifty compounds were identified in the essential oils of 278 and 296 genotypes. More than 98% of the identified compounds (in the essential oils of these two genotypes) were classified into five chemical classes; including hydrocarbon and oxygenated monoterpens, and hydrocarbon and oxygenated sesquiterpene and phenylpropanoids. The major constituent of the essential oil of genotype 278 was oxygenated monoterpene, thymol, on June (35.48 %) and November (45.85 %), which was not found in genotype 296. Gamma-terpinene was also significantly increased from June (13.15 %) to November (25.80 %). P-cymene (11.31-3.56 %), alpha- thujone (4.76-2.94 %), Germacrene D (3.73-2.76 %), caryophyllene E (3.66-1.51 %), myrcene (2.93-3.01 %), alpha-terpinene (2.63-3.38 %) and bourneol (2.28-0.71 %) were the remains of oil composition. Dihydro eugenol, which belongs to the chemical class of phenylpropanoids, was identified as the main essential oil components of genotype 296 which its amount was not affected by the harvest time. The other oil constituents were Beta (Z)-Ocimene (11.89-3.40 %), Germacrene D (3.58-2.80 %), and caryophyllene E (0.52-2.68 %). Conclusion: Terpenoids such as thymol are synthesized via the mevalonic acid pathway, and phenylpropanoid compounds such as dihydroeugenol and eugenol are synthesized via the shikimic acid pathway. The metabolite diversity across different species could be explained by the differential gene expression pattern. According to the results of the present study, thymol was identified as the main oil components of genotype 278. This may be due to the increased expression of mevalonate enzymes. The monoterpene was replaced by phenylpropanoid; dihydrogenugenol, in the oil of genotype 296 which might be due to more expression of the enzymes of the phenylpropanoid pathway. In the other hand, Thymol, P-cymene and gamma-terpinene in genotype 278 varied significantly in different harvesting times, indicating the effect of temperature on the activity of enzymes involved in the synthesis of essential oil components. On the contrary, the amount of dihydrogenugenol in genotype 278 on June and November is not affected by the environmental conditions in two seasons. With regard to the conclusions to the proper growth of genotype 278 and 296, as well several harvests annually, essential oil content and thymol and dihydrogenugenol, therefore, it is suggested that further research should be carried out for developing plant cultivation in Khuzestan and southern provinces which is not suitable for basil growth.
Rohollah Ameri; Majid Azizi; Ali Tehranifar; Vahid Rowshan
Abstract
In order to study the effect of natural antitranspirant compound and water stress on growth, development and essential oil content of Ocimumbasilicum a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with three replicates was conducted. 3 levels of water stress (500 as control, 375 and 250 ...
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In order to study the effect of natural antitranspirant compound and water stress on growth, development and essential oil content of Ocimumbasilicum a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with three replicates was conducted. 3 levels of water stress (500 as control, 375 and 250 ml/day) and 3 antitranspirant compound (chitosan, plantago mucilage and psyllium mucilage) in 3 levels of 0.5, 1 and 1.5% (m/v) and applied during the plant growth. Photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance, stomatal chamber CO2, leaf temperature, fresh and dry weight of herb, essential oil percentage and content were measured. The results showed that water stress and antitranspirant application had a significant effect on all measured traits (P≤0.05 and P≤0.01). The highest values of these traits were observed in control for water stress treatment and different levels of antitranspirant compounds. Transpiration levels from leaf were significantly decreased by antitranspirant compounds application. Chitosan (1 and 1.5%) decreased transpiration by 200% over control. Photosynthesis was also increased up to 30% by chitosan treatment (0.5 and 1) in comparison to control.Also, antitranspirant compounds increasing dry matter yield in water stress condition but reducing essential oil % and yield in comparison with control. In general, according to the result of this experiment, antitranspirant compounds with natural origin are safe, biodegradable, easy available, low cost and alternatives which can be used in substitution with common chemical types.
Hamid Reza Roosta; Somayeh Arabpour
Abstract
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is an herb belongs to Lamiaceae family. The essential oil of basil is widely utilized as an aromatic agent in the food, pharmaceutical and perfumery industries. Basil essential oil possesses antimicrobial property. Due to high economical value and high demand, basil production ...
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Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is an herb belongs to Lamiaceae family. The essential oil of basil is widely utilized as an aromatic agent in the food, pharmaceutical and perfumery industries. Basil essential oil possesses antimicrobial property. Due to high economical value and high demand, basil production in greenhouse for permanent market selling is expanding. In order to the investigation of the effect of soilless culture systems on yield and essential oil content of basil an experiment was arranged as a factorial in the framework of a completely randomized design with two factors, growing system (aquaponics and hydroponics) and varieties (green and violet basil) with 3 replications. The results showed that the most of the growth factors in two cultivars were higher in the hydroponics compared with aquaponics. So that, shoot and root fresh and dry mass, hight, leaf area and node number per plant were higher in hydroponics than aquaponics. SPAD value was affected by growing system treatments and it was 12.86% higher in hydroponic system. Essential oil content in shoots was not affected by the systems or cultivars. Lower amount of N, P and Mn in shoots were probable reasons of lower SPAD value and growth reduction of plants in aquaponics compared with hydroponics. Notwithstanding, plants growth were normal and there were no deficiency symptoms in aquaponic-grown plants. Thus, nutrient deficiency in aquaponic system might be alleviated by increasing of the fish number per water volume unit and elevation of fish feeding. Therfore, aquaponic system has potential of medicinal plant production.
