Journal of Medicinal Plants Biotechnology

Abstract Due to the side effects of resulting from the consumption of chemical preservatives and also over increasing of bacterial resistance to the antibiotic, identification of natural origin antimicrobial compounds are very important. Therefore, the present study was performed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Dorema aucheri, Zataria multiflora Boiss and Ferulago angulate.  The antimicrobial activity of extracts evaluated by Disc diffusion. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were determined by using the dilution method. The Z. multiflora Boiss extract had a strong antibacterial activity and stopped the growth of both Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus  aureus in MIC  of  10 & 20 μg/ml in respectively. Also Dorema aucheri ethanolic extract had antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes at less concentration andalso it was effective on Escherichia coli in concentration of 40μg/ml. Moreover, Ferulago angulata ethanolic extract was effective on bacteria tested in concentration used. The highest diameter of inhibition zone was related to Dorema aucheri ethanolic extract on Listeria monocytogenes. According to the results, these extracts can be used as a potential sources of antibacterial compounds for food and pharmaceutical industries.

Abstract Rosmarinic acid, as one of the most valuable phenolic compounds in different plant species, has several
biological properties, including antivirus, antibacterial, antitumor and anti-inflammatory. Elicitors, by
producing messages, can stimulate the production of secondary metabolites in plants. Nitric oxide (abiotic
elicitor) is a stable gaseous radical, which acts as a signaling molecule in plants and in many physiological
processes, development and environmental stresses. Due to the lack of information on the amount of rosmaric
acid and the use of SNP as abiotic elicitor in Nepeta nuda L., the effect of SNP on production of rosmarinic
acid was investigated in four concentrations (0, 25, 50 and 100 μM) in vitro shoot culture of catmint hairless.
The amount of rosmarinic acid was measured by HPLC after drying samples at room temperature. The results
of the samples analysis showed that the content of rosmarinic acid increased 37.7% in treatment of nitric oxide
(25 μM) compared to the control sample (without application of nitric oxide). Also, amount of rosmarinic acid
reduced with increasing nitric oxide concentration in the culture medium. So that the amount of this compound
reached from 54.73 mg.g-1 DW in the control sample to 14.61 mg.g-1 DW in treatment of nitric oxide (100
μM). The results of this study indicated catmint hairless plant has the high level of rosmarinic acid and the
amount of this valuable drug combination improved with the use of abiotic elicitor nitric oxide at low
concentration.

Abstract Datura metel L. is an important medicinal plant that is a part of the Solanaceae family and contains important pharmaceutical compounds, including atropine and hyoscine (scopolamine), which is part of the tropane alkaloids and has known anticholinergic properties. In recent years, callus tissue induction has been introduced as a new method for obtaining secondary metabolites. The aim of this study was to inoculate callus from the isolated leaves of Datura seedlings to obtain the best hormonal concentration for maximum callus production. Datura seeds were cultured in MS medium under sterile conditions and Datura seedlings were obtained. The leaves of the seedlings were isolated and transferred to the MS medium without hormone, but the callus did not occur. In the next step, the leaves of the seedlings were transferred to the MS medium in 9 hormonal treatments containing different concentrations of auxin 2,4-D and cytokinin kinetin (Kin). the samples with light period was 16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness and temperatures of 25 ° C for four week. The results showed that maximum callus formation in MS medium containing two hormones with concentrations of 1 mg/L 2,4-D and 1 mg/L Kin was obtained.

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract Irinotecan is considered to be one of the most effective anticancer drugs for colorectal cancer therapy. In this study, the role of human serum albumin (HSA), as a protein biopolymer and safe drug delivery system, in the binding of irinotecan was surveyed. The interaction between irinotecan and HSA has been studied by fluorimetry, circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy as well as molecular docking study. By the analysis of the fluorescence spectra, it was observed that irinotecan can quench the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA through a static quenching procedure. The binding parameters were determined according to the modified Stern-Volmer equation and the enthalpy change (ΔH^° and entropy change (ΔS^°) of binding were calculated to be -19.11 kJ mol⁻¹ and 13.80 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, respectively. The Analysis of the thermodynamic parameters indicated that the hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions played the dominant role in the stabilization of the irinotecan-HSA complex. The competitive site markers experiments indicated that the drug binds to the site I of HSA, confirmed by molecular docking. The distance, r, between the donor (HSA) and the acceptor (irinotecan) was obtained according to Förster’s theory of non-radiation energy transfer. The quantitative analysis of the far-UV CD and FT-IR spectra represented that irinotecan has induced some alterations in the secondary and tertiary structures of the protein.

Abstract The classical methods of plant genetic transformation have bottlenecks to achieve plants with interesting genotypes, while achieving remarkable success. In the process of gene transfer to plants, biomolecules must be transferred to the plant cell nucleus by passing through the tough and multi-layered plant cell wall. Nanotechnology has been widely used in medicine and life sciences, and various nanomaterials such as single walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been used as non-viral carriers for the transfer of biomolecules for targeted delivery. In this study, nanocarriers were prepared after functionalization of SWCNTs and changing the surface of SWCNTs. Then pDNA containing mgfp5-ER reporter gene was loaded on the functionalized SWCNTs. In the next step, gene transfer to plant cells was carried out by the prepared SWCNTs@pDNA nanocarrier. The success of gene transfer was evaluated by the fluorescent signal of mgfp5-ER reporter gene. The results shown the preparation of a nanocarrier with a high capacity to loading pDNA on its surface and the ability of the prepared nanocarrier to pass through the cell wall and successfully transfer pDNA into the plant cell. So, this method can be considered as a relatively simple method, independent of the plant species and without the need for special laboratory equipment for gene transfer to walled plant cells. Therefore, nanobiotechnology and nanomaterials can be a window of hope for improving and increasing the efficiency of conventional methods of gene transfer to plant cells.

Abstract This study investigated the influence of inoculation with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), Glomus mosseae (Nicol & Gerd.) on essential oil yield and composition of Different Parts of Dill (Anethum graveolens L.) affected by three different levels of salt stress. The experiment was arranged as a factorial in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Experimental treatments including: three levels of salinity stress (0 (control), 60 and 120 µm), two levels of inoculation (inoculation and non inoculation) and Three organs of the plant (leaves, flowering shoots  and mature seeds). The essential oil contents were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Salinity had significant effects on the essential oil percentage and yield of leaves, flowering shoots  and mature seeds. The percentage and yield of essential oil contents of seeds  and flowering shoots were much higher than those of leaves under all salinity treatments. Essential oil percentages of seeds and flowering shoots were considerably higher, when plants were subjected to moderate stress. The results pointed out that there was not a significant interaction between non mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal inoculation on essential oil percentage. However,The plants inoculated with AMF had significantly greater essential oil yield than the control plants at all salinity levels. The main oil constituents in organs were α –phellandrene, carvone, Linonene,  α – thujene, dillether  and dihydrocarvone. Salinity had significant effects on these components.Although, α – thujene percentage decreased in salt stress conditions. The Flowering shoots had greater α –phellandrene and carvone than the seeds, while Linonene of seeds was more than flowering shoots and leaves.The AMF induced a higher increase in these components  in response to salinity. AMF colonization notably increased α –phellandrene and carvone in  flowering shoots. The linonene percentge was higher in seeds of  mycorrhizal   than  nonmycorrhizal plants under salt stress conditions.

Abstract

Abstract Achillea tenuifolia  is one of the benefit medicinal plants that belong to  Astraceae family have been used in traditional medicine because of their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties in the treatment of diseases, inflammation, tenderness, gastrointestinal problems, hypotension and gallbladder failure, and in new medicine in the manufacture of ointments and creams. The aim of this reserch was determining of the Achillea tenuifolia  essential oils composiation that was growned in zanjan mountains counditions.Then air dried parts of flowers and leaves (50 gr) at room conditions subjected to hydrodistillation for 3h using a Clevenger apparatus and produced essential oil analyzed by GC/MS. Results showed, Twenty compounds representing 54.37% of Achillea tenuifolia essential oil were identified. Their major components that obtained from essential oil constituents were identified as:  (+)-2-Bornanone (12.36%), Camphor (6.78%), Eucalyptol(1,8-Cineole) (5.24%), 3-Carene(5.35%), Borneol (3.12%), Camphene (2.45%), Gamma.-Terpinene(1.7%), and Geranyl acetate (2.18%) and 4-Carene(0.53%). Based on our knowledge this is the first report of Zanjan Achillea tenuifolia.

Abstract Arvaneh plant (Hymenocrater yazdianus) is one of the exclusive plants of Yazd province in Iran. This plant is
belonging to Lamiaceae family and is an important medicinal plant in arid and semi-arid climate. In this
research, different hormonal concentrations were studied under in vitro culture conditions. This study was
conducted in a completely randomize design on Murashige and Skoog basal medium 1962(MS) containing
Benzyl adenine (BA) and Indole 3 Butyric Acid (IBA) growth regulators in 12 treatments and 8 replicates.
Results showed, the highest proliferation was obtained by using BA 1 mg/l and IBA 0.01 mg/l.

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) is one the oldest known medicinal plants, which is naturally and
commercially grown in Iran and many parts of the world. In this study, the genetic variation of 17 Iranian
fennel ecotypes were investigated by ISSR molecular marker. The ISSR markers produced a total of 51
genomic DNA segments, of which 45 bands were polymorphic. The mean polymorphism per primer, mean
Polymorphic Index Content (PIC), and Marker Index (MI) were 9, 0.478 and 5.92, respectively. The
dendrogram was constructed using UPGMA method and Jaccard’s similarity matrix. The ecotypes were
grouped under three main groups. The 2D and 3D PCoA analysis confirmed the results of the cluster analysis.
The results indicated that the studied ecotypes had meaningful genetic diversity, and the genetic grouping
using ISSR markers was correlated with the geographical distribution of the genotypes. This study could
improve the knowledge about the Iranian fennel genetic pool, and contribute to breeding and germplasm
protection programs of medicinal plants.

Abstract

Abstract Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.), is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, which has both medicinal and nutritional properties. It seems that harvesting time has an important effect on the quantity and quality of plant products especially on secondary metabolites. In order to analysis of plant or field age on some physiological, biochemical and secondary metabolites characteristics of artichoke, a research project was carried out in a completely randomized design at the research field of medicinal plants at the University of Zanjan. One-year old and two-year old artichoke farms were selected as experimental treatments, and then three plots were randomly selected from each farm in which the plant specimens were taken and the desired traits were measured. According to the results: some traits such as: leaf dry weight, leaf length and width, amount of chlorophylls and carotenoids, root soluble proteins and carbohydrates increased at second year old plants. However; shoot soluble proteins and carbohydrate and also the total number of extracted secondary metabolites were decreased by increasing of plant age. D-methyl Buta Dienil (26.18 %), Pentacosadiynoic acid (21.24%), Inositol (10.97%) and Tetramethyl-octahydronaphthalen (9.61%) were the major compounds of one-year old artichoke plants and scyllo inositol (59.01%), methyl-hexadecatetra enoate (20.46%), isopropenyl-methanol (5.2%) and glucopyranose (4.71%) were the major components two-year old artichoke plant leaf extract.  It can be concluded that plant age has noticeable effects on growth and biochemical and specially on secondary metabolites properties of artichoke.

Abstract Plants synthesize a huge variety of secondary metabolites with complex chemical composition that not only have medicinal value but are also important to deal with biotic and abiotic stress conditions. The aim of current study was to investigate the impact of heat shock treatment on the production of secondary metabolites in callus obtained from of Echinacea purpurea plant. For this purpose, seeds were grown on MS medium. Then root explants were prepared from 45 days seedlings and transferred to MS medium containing 0/5 and 1 mg/L 2,4-D and Kin. Heat shock treatment at 35 °C for different time durations (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min) was daily applied on 2 months old callus. After a week, the samples were collected and different biochemical analysis was performed. The results showed that the highest amount of total phenol, total flavonoid, soluble suger, MDA, chicoric acid, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid was observed in samples that were treated for 60 min at 35 °C. On the other hand, the present data revealed that heat shock treatment caused a significant increase in catalase and peroxidase activity, but there was not any significant difference between different treatments. As a conclusion, heat shock treatment can be used as a new method to enhance secondary metabolites production in Echinacea in tissue culture contion.

Abstract

Abstract Crataegus pseudohetrophylla Pojark. of the genus Crataegus is a member of the Rosaceae family that is
important in terms of ornamental, food, medicinal, exported, shelter for wildlife and birds, soil conservation
and erosion control applications. For callus induction, Leaf pieces (0.5–1.0 cm2) produced by plantlets after
surface sterilization in MS medium containing 2, 4-D at concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 mg l-1 and BAP
at concentrations of 0, 0.5, and 1 mg l-1, placed in a growth chamber under dark conditions. In the next step,
the calli were transferred to culture medium supplemented with growth regulators of BAP, TDZ, NAA, and
IBA in different concentrations for regeneration and then characteristics of callus induction (%), callus
diameter (mm), callus type, and callus color were recorded. 100% callusing at concentration of 2 mg l-1 2, 4-
D in combination with 0.5 and 1 mg l-1 BAP with the greatest diameter at concentration of 2 mg l-1 2, 4-D in
combination with 1 mg l-1 BAP and hard, globular and embryonic in texture with light green to dark green in
color were observed on MS medium. 100% explants forming shoots (regeneration) was obtained using of 12
and 14 mg l-1 BAP in combination with 2 mg l-1 NAA and the highest means number of shoots per explants
was observed at concentration of 10 mg l-1 BAP in combination with 2 mg l-1 NAA.

Abstract

Abstract Marine macroalgae are a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids and compounds with inhibitory properties of
free radicals that contain numerous physiological effects that can be play an important role in human health.
In this study, the fatty acid composition, physicochemical properties, ability of free radicals scavenging and
sensitivity evaluation of Nizimuddinia zanardini (collected from the coast of Qeshm ) were conducted.
Assessment of physicochemical properties of N. zanardini was performed with measuring the water holding
capacity, swelling capacity, and oil holding capacity and identify the fatty acid composition was conducted by
using a gas chromatography. The inhibitory activity of extract algae, investigated by measuring the inhibitory
effect of DPPH and superoxide radicals. As well as to assess the odor and flavor indicators of aqueous extract
of seaweed, the 17 non-trained panels were used. Water holding capacity and swelling capacity of N. zanardini,
not showed statistically significant differences with increasing temperature (p>0.05). N. zanardini had the
content of 41.61% SFAs, 30.82% MUFAs and 7.52% PUFAs, respectively. Superoxide radical scavenging
(21/05%) was high but DPPH free radical scavenging activity (2/73%) in the studied macroalgae, was low.
The results of the sensitiviti evaluation showed that the studied macroalgae have an acceptable odor and flavor.
Based on our results, N. zanardini can be considered as a potential source of unsaturated fatty acids and
compounds with inhibitory properties of free radicals for using in food and medicine industries.

Abstract Lavander from Lamiaceae family is one of the most important medical and aromatic plants. The present study describes calli induction and indirect and direct regeneration optimization experiments. The experimental designs were factorial (2,4-D × KIN and BAP × NAA) for calli induction and indirect regeneration trails based on completely randomized design with four replication and factorial experiment (BAP × KIN) for direct regeneration trail based on completely randomized design with three replication. The results of the experiment showed that the most callus percentage was gained in MS medium supplemented with 0.4 mg.l^-1 2,4-D  and 0.4 mg.l^-1 kinetin. Indirect regeneration and emergence of seedlings were only from stem explants and in MS medium containing 1.6 mg.l^-1 BAP plus 1 mg.l^-1 kin, in which the callus were deposited after a period of time green and after about 45 days of subculture, It was formed on shoots. In the direct regeneration study, the combination of 2 mg.l^-1 BAP with 2 mg.l^-1 kinetin produced the highest percentage of regeneration.