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The composition of hydro-distilled essential oils from fresh leaves of wild growing Juniperus polycarpos var. turcomanica, collected from northeaste of Iran, were investigated by GC and GC-MS analysis during growing season 2012-2013. The oil yields depend on the month of collecting and ranged between 1.5 and 2.1% (v/w). Analysis of the essential oil identified 49 components that representing 89.7-94.6% of the total oil. Results indicated that the predominant presence of monoterpene constituents, representing 56.9-85.6% of the essential oil. The main constituent was α-pinene (41.8-75.4%), followed by germacrene B (1-5.8%), camphor (0.7-4.5%) and α-cadinol (0.4-4.8%). Regarding essential oil composition, quantitative and qualitative variations were recorded for 12 different collection periods. The best time for harvesting juniper leaves seems to be from mid-autumn to mid-winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess environmental factors effects on quality and quantity of Iranian rosemary oil. Chemical components were identified by GC-FID and GC/MS. Results indicated that essential oil yields exhibited significant variation among accessions. The highest contents were recorded for the Bo2 and Bo3 accessions (2.6 and 2.3 ml/100 g, respectively). The major constituents were 1,8-cineole (5.32–28.29%), camphor (1.58–25.32%) and α-pinene (14.19–21.43%). The Iranian accessions also exhibited chemical variability for other major compounds such as borneol, piperitone, camphene, bornyl acetate, verbenone, and trans-pinocamphone. According to multivariate analysis, including CA, HCA, DCA, and PCA the rosemary accessions belonged to two main chemotypes (I camphor type and II α-pinene/1,8-cineole/camphor type). Results of CA and DCA analyzes were similar and both of them were in agreement with the results of PCA analyzes. Furthermore, there were positive and negative correlations between the major constituents and environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Essential oils from the aerial parts of three populations ofNepeta crassifolia(Lamiaceae), which are Iranian endemic species and four populations ofN. nudagrown in northwestern Iran were obtained by hydro-distillation and examined by gas chromatography (GC) and GC–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Overall, 37 compounds were identified in the essential oils from different populations ofN. crassifoliaandN. nuda. The essential oils consisted mainly of oxygenated monoterpenes and sesquiterpene aldehydes. The major components in the oils of three populations ofN. crassifoliawere 4aβ, 7α, 7aβ-nepetalactone (16.46–27.45%), 4aα, 7α, 7aβ-nepetalactone (13.45–17.54%), 1,8-cineole (8.15–9.70%) and elemol (14.38–22.14%), while 7aβ-nepetalactone (61–72.21%), 4aα, 7α, 7aβ-nepetalactone (8.72–12.63%), pulegone (7.36%) and piperitenone oxide (4.12%) were identified as the main constituents in the oils of four populations ofN. nuda. The essential oils from the aerial parts of two species ofNepetasourced in northwestern Iran were rich in oxygenated monoterpenes. In conclusion, the present study indicated the essential oil components of wild populations of bothNepetaspecies varied with chemotypes, environmental conditions, and geographic origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Echinophora cinerea(Apiaceae) grows wild in the Zagros Mountains range, located in Iran. The herb has been used as a food additive in traditional preparations such as pickles. This study determined the chemical composition and biological activity of essential oils in the aerial parts ofE. cinereacollected from three natural habitats at two phenological stages. The essential oils constituents were determined by GC-FID and GC/MS. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils was evaluated againstBacillus cereus,Listeria monocytogenes,Proteus vulgaris, andSalmonella typhimuriumandCandida albicans. The highest oil yield obtained fromE. cinereawas 2.05%w/w dry matter harvested from plants at the full flowering stage. Major essential oil constituents were α-phellandrene (42.40 to 54.87%), α-pinene (12.28 to 25.54%), and β-phellandrene (10.29 to 11.08%).The essential oils ofE. cinereaharvested at the full flowering stage of growth had the highest antimicrobial activity. The antioxidant activity ofE. cinereaindicated the oil acted as an effective DPPH scavenger. The IC50values ranged from 1.97 mg/mL to 2.25 mg/mL for the essential oils as compared with the 0.412 mg/mL for BHT. The antimicrobial properties of the essential oils obtained from E. cinereamay be significant from a pharmaceutical standpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Ocimum basilicum L. belongs to the family Lamiaceae is an herb that is extensively cultivated in some countries. Areal parts, especially leaves of sweet basil are widely used to enhance the flavour of foods such as salads, pasta, tomato products, vegetables, pizza, meat, soups, marine foods, confectioneries and other products. Essential oil yield and chemical components of two Iranian landraces of sweet basil including "Purple" and "Green" grown south-central of Iran (Isfahan province) were investigated. The hydro-distillated oils were analyzed by GC--MS. The oil yields were obtained from the aerial of Purple with 0.56 ml / 100 g dry matter and the aerial of Green with 0.48 ml / 100 g dry matter. Results indicated significant differences (p < 0.01) among the aerial for the main constituents in the essential oil from two Iranian landraces of sweet basil. The major constituents of the essential oil from the aerial of Purple landrace were methyl chavicol or estragol (63.32%) and linalool (7.96%). The main compositions of the essential oil from the aerial of Green landrace were methyl chavicol (31.82%), geranial (24.60%) and neral (22.65%). Genarlly, a comparison of our results with the previous reports suggests differences in the essential oil compositions and oil yield of the plant material could be attributed to genetic diversity in two Iranian landraces of sweet basil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satureja kallaricaJamzad belongs to the family Lamiaceae and is an endemic medicinal and aromatic plant in Iran. This is a herb growing wild in the alpine region (Kallar mountain) in southwest Iran. A GC and GC/MS analysis of essential oil isolated from the aerial parts ofS. kallaricaidentified 12 constituents accounting for 91.9% of the total oil. The essential oil yield was 0.15 ml/100 g based on the dry weight of plant material. The major oil constituents were piperitenone oxide (71.2%), piperitenone (6.7%), and pulegone (5.4%). The essential oil was rich in monoterpenoids, especially oxygenated monoterpenes (80.1%). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Context: A number Hypericum species are well known for their therapeutic efficacy and use in traditional medicine. The various species of Hypericum have been traditionally used for the treatment of wounds, eczema, burns, trauma, rheumatism, neuralgia, gastroenteritis, ulcers, hysteria, bedwetting and depression. Objective: This study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant, antibacterial and phytochemical properties of essential oils of Hypericum helianthemoides (Spach) Boiss., Hypericum perforatum L. and Hypericum scabrum L. (Hypericaceae) collected from alpine region of Southwest Iran. Materials and methods: The essential oils obtained from dried flowering aerial parts of three Hypericum species were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to determine chemical compositions. The antibacterial activity of essential oils within concentration ranges from 16 to 500 µg/mL was individually evaluated against Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes. Proteus vulgaris and Salmonella typhimurium. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrilhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of essential oils was determined using DPPH assay. Results: Essential oil yield of H. helianthemoides. H. scabrum and H. perforatum were 0.12, 0.20 and 0.21 mL/100 g dried material, respectively. The major constituents of the essential oils were α-pinene (12.52-49.96%), β-pinene (6.34-9.70%), ( E)-β-ocimene (4.44-12.54%), β-caryophyllene (1.19-5.67%), and germacrene-D (2.34-6.92%). The essential oils of three Hypericum species indicated moderate-to-good inhibitory activities against four bacteria, especially against L. monocytogenes. Discussion and conclusion: The essential oils of the three studied Hypericum species sourced in alpine region of West Iran were rich in monoterpene and sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons. Among the three tested species, the essential oil of H. scabrum showed the highest antibacterial and antioxidant activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thymus (thyme) is one of the most important genera with regard to the number of species within the family Lamiaceae. Kerman thyme (Thymus carmanicus Jalas) is an endemic Iranian species, intensively utilized because of its wide ranging medicinal and culinary properties. Aerial parts of T. carmanicus collected from various altitudes including 2000-2500, 2500-3000, and 3000-3500 m above sea level in Zagros Mountains, Kerman province, South Iran. The yellow oil yields ranged between 0.80 to 1.10% (v/w) for populations collected from various elevations and for the populations collected from various regions ranged between 0.55-1.61% (v/w). GC-MS analyses revealed compounds, constituting 92.2-99.9% of total essential oils. The major constituents of essential oils were carvacrol (47.6-57.9%), thymol (8.3-19.0%), γ-terpinene (7.3-7.9%) and p-cymene (4.4-7.6%), that monoterpenes, especially oxygenated monoterpenes was the main constituent group in essential oil from the aerial parts of T. carmanicus. The results of current study indicated that increasing elevation decreased thymol content in essential oils of the wild populations of T. carmanicus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major cause of nosocomial and community acquired infections. Nanoparticles are considered as proper tools to overcome the therapeutic problem of antimicrobial-resistant infections because of the drug concentration increment at the desired location and protection from enzymatic degradation. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of zingerone and niosome containing zingerone against pre-formed biofilm of MRSA isolates., Materials and Methods: 62 MRSA isolates cultured from patients with diabetic ulcers were investigated. Niosomes were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, zeta potential and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The size of niosomal particles measured by SEM and zetasizer., Results: The surface charge of prepared niosomes was about -37 mV. The effect of the zingerone and noisome containing zingerone was evaluated against biofilms of MRSA isolates. Also, the antibiofilm activity of prepared niosomes on gene expression of MRSA biofilms was evaluated using Real Time PCR. Our results demonstrated that the niosome containing zingerone had a diameter of 196.1 nm and a -37.3-mV zeta potential. Zingerone removed one and three-day old biofilms of MRSA at the concentration of 1000 μg/ml, while the zingerone-laoded niosomes removed 1, 3- and 5-days old biofilms at the concentration of 250 μg/ml, 250 μg/ml, and 500 μg/ml., Conclusion: The results indicated that niosome containing zingerone eliminated MRSA and its biofilms faster compared with free zingerone and it suggested that zingerone-encapsulated niosomes could be considered as a promising treatment against MRSA and its biofilms., (Copyright© 2024 The Authors. Published by Tehran University of Medical Sciences.)

Persian oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) belongs the family Fagaceae, is a medicinal plant which seed flour is used to treat inflammatory and gastric ulcers by the tribes in south western Iran. The current study was done to evaluate the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Q. brantii seed flour for treatment of gastric ulcers induced by ethanol in Wistar rats. The hydro-alcoholic extract of Q. brantii was tested orally at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/Kg, control group and standard drug (omperazole) on experimentally gastric ulceration. At the 3, 6, 9, and 14(th) days, ulcer index in mm(2) and histopathological findings were evaluated. Results indicated the size of ulcers significantly reduced at 9, and 14 days after of Q. brantii extract treatment. Curative effect in the hydro-alcoholic induced gastric damage was 100% at 1000 mg/Kg and omeprazole, 99.8 % at 500 mg/Kg, and 95.4% at 250 mg/Kg after 14 days. Results of histopathological investigation showed the thickness of ulcerated mucosa was similar to the normal mucosa with 1000 mg/Kg of Q. brantii hydro-alcoholic extract after 14 days but in the groups treated by 250, and 500 mg/Kg, superficial erosions were visible in the central portion of the healed ulcers. In conclusion, the hydro-alcoholic extract of Q. brantii had active components (tannin = 8.2%) that accelerates ulcer healing and thus supported its traditional use.