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Mountain fennel (Zaravschanicamembranacea) and Ferulagoangulata belonging to the Apiaceae family are important aromatic and spice plants in Iran, which the aerial parts of these herbs are used as flavoring agents in dairy foods. This investigation was devoted to the determination of total phenols and flavonoids contents of Z.membranacea and F.angulata after their extraction using three solvents (ethanol, n-hexane, and methanol), as well as the determination of the antioxidant and the antibacterial activities of all obtained extracts. The results indicated that methanol appeared the most effective solvent for polyphenols and flavonoids' extraction for both herbs. In fact, the highest total phenols and flavonoids contents among the six prepared extracts from two herbs were found in the methanol extract of Z.membranacea. The results indicated that the extracts of have diverse antioxidant capacities, however, the methanol extract of Z.membranacea exhibited the highest antioxidant activities by DPPH, FRAP and ABTS assays. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of different extracts was evaluated using the disk diffusion agar method against Salmonellaenterica and Pseudomonasaeruginosa, and Bacillussubtilis and Staphylococcusepidermidis. The highest inhibition zone was obtained from the methanol extract of Z.membranacea for four bacteria. Similarly, the maximum antibacterial activity (MIC) also was obtained from the methanol extract of Z.membranacea for four bacteria. Positive and significant correlations were noted between the phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities by DPPH, FRAP, and TEAC assays. In conclusion, methanol was found to be the best solvent of choice for the extraction of phenolic and flavonoid compounds rich extracts with free radical scavenging and antibacterial activities. Further studies should focus on the isolation and identification of active secondary metabolites from the extracts from Iranian herbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition and the in vitro antimicrobial effects of seed essential oil of Ferulago angulata. The oil analyses by GC and GC/MS resulted in the identification of 39 compounds representing 91.07% of the oil. The major constituents were (Z)-β-ocimene (19.93%), α-pinene (15.50%), p-cymene (7.67%), sabinene (7.49%), β-phellandrene (5.5%), and α-phellandrene (4.95%). The oil was also screened for its antimicrobial properties against six bacteria (Erwinia amylovora, Xanthomonas oryzae, Pseudomonas syringae, Pectobacterium carotovorum, Ralstonia solanacearum, Bacillus thuringiensis) and six fungi (Alternaria alternata, Culvularia fallax, Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium oxysporum, Cytospora sacchari, Colletotrichum tricbellum). According to the results of antibacterial activity, B. thuringiensis (with 8 µL mL−1 minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and 15 µL mL−1 minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)) was the most sensitive bacterium; P. carotovorum and R. solanacearum (with 20 µL mL−1 MIC and 30< MBC) were the most resistant bacteria. Additionally, a broad differentiation against all of the tested fungi showed that the most susceptible and resistant fungi after 6 days at the highest concentration (800 µL L−1) were F. oxysporum (100.0 ± 0.00%) and C. tricbellum (52.50 ± 1.67%) of growth inhibition, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satureja bachtiaricabelonging to the family Lamiaceae is an endemic plant that widely distributed in southwestern of Iran. In this study, antibacterial activity and chemical composition of the essential oils from wild populations ofS. bachtiaricacollected from the alpine regions of southwestern of Iran were evaluated. The essential oils obtained from the aerial parts of ten populations ofS. bachtiaricawere analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Essential oil yields were from 1.5 to 1.9 mL/100 g dried material. The major constituents of the essential oils were carvacrol (1.26–62.3 %), thymol (3.2–40.6 %), γ-terpinene (1.94–28.3 %), and p-cymene (6.6–18.4 %). The essential oils fromS. bachtiaricawere rich in monoterpenoids, especially oxygenated monoterpenes. Among ten populations, the essential oils from the Mehriz and Yazd populations had the highest carvacrol amount (62 %). Results indicated that the essential oils had moderate-to-good inhibitory activities against six bacteria. In total, two chemotypes, including carvacrol and thymol were determined forS. bachtiarica. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Context:Ferulago angulataBoiss. (Apiaceae), a perennial aromatic herb, grows wild in Iran. The aerial parts ofF. angulataare used as a flavouring in foods, especially dairy foods by indigenous people in western and southwestern Iran. Objective: This study investigates variation in chemical compositions, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the essential oils fromF. angulatacollected from natural habitats in the alpine regions of southwestern Iran. Materials and Methods: The antimicrobial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal (MBC) of the essential oils were evaluated against four bacteria (Bacillus cereus,Listeria monocytogenes,Staphylococcus aureusandSalmonella typhimurium). Antioxidant activity of the oils was determined by DPPH assay. Results: The essential oils were analyzed by GC-FID and GC/MS, which 49 volatile components were identified. There were significant differences between the various populations for oil yield and some main compounds. The major constituents of the essential oils fromF. angulatawereα-pinene, andcis-β-ocimene. The MICs of the essential oils were within concentration ranges from 62 to 250 μg/mL and the respective MBCs were 125 to > 500 μg/mL. Generally, the oils fromF. angulataindicated weak to moderate inhibitory activities against bacteria, especially againstListeria monocytogenes. The highest antioxidant activity was obtained from the oil of the Kallar population (IC50value = 488 μg/mL) and BHT as positive control (IC50 value = 321 μg/mL). Discussion and conclusion: The essential oil ofF. angulatacould be serving as a potential source ofα-pinene andcis-β-ocimene for use in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myrtle ( Myrtus communis L.) belonging to the family Myrtaceae, is an evergreen shrub that grows mainly in Mediterranean climates. In Iran, the plant grows in the Zagros Mountainous Range of the country. The essential oils from the leaves and fruits of the plant are widely used to enhance the flavor of foods, and cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, essential oil was extracted from the leaves of M. communis collected from six natural habitats in three provinces (Ilam, Lorestan, and Kermanshah), Western Iran. The hydrodistillated essential oil was analyzed by GC/MS. Results indicated that there were significant differences ( p ≤ 0.05) among the various populations for the main constituents in the essential oils. The major components of the essential oils from different populations of M. communis were α-pinene (24.42–31.57%), limonene (trace to 23.55%), 1,8-cineole (5.92–21.21%), and linalool (8.72–11.56%). Results of the antibacterial activity in vitro indicated that the essential oils from M. communis have good inhibitory activities against bacteria, especially Staphylococcus aureus (PTCC 1112). Results obtained in this study revealed that there is a high potential of the essential oil composition variability among the populations of myrtle. The results can be used in selection programs for production of aromatic myrtle with suppressing effects on pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Essential oil of the aerial parts of mountain fennel (Zaravschanica membranacea Syn. Peucedanum membranacea) was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. [•] Cis and trans-β-ocimene, sabinene, α-pinene, γ-terpinene, and α-terpinolene were the main constituents in the essential oils of Z. membranacea. [•] Different populations of Z. membranacea indicated variations in the main constituents of the essential oil. [•] The essential oil of Z. membranacea could be used as a natural antimicrobial agent. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]