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Sweet basil is very important in the culinary and pharmaceutical sectors because it contains volatile oils that have a variety of biological functions. Considering the economical costs and adverse effects of chemical fertilizers, attention has been turned to the use of ecofriendly and cost effective alternatives. In this regard, eggshells could be used as a natural calcium source for nutring the medicinal and aromatic plants. Therefore, the aim of this trial was to assess the productivity of sweet basil in response to different application methods of eggshells on sandy soil. In this study, eggshells were added to the soil at rates of 1, 2, and 3 g/pot, to foliage at rates of 0.5, 1, and 1.5 g/L, and to irrigation water at rates of 1, 2, and 3 g/L; a rate of 0.5 g/pot of calcium carbonate also used as a reference. Plants exposed to eggshells at 1.5 g/L foliar spray gave the maximum values of fresh and dry weights herb (172.11 and 23.48 g/plant), carbohydrates (36.74%), crude protein (16.56%), inhibition of free radical scavenging (47.61%), total phenols (15.03 mg/g), total flavonoids (2.87 mg/g), and essential oil contents (1.18% or 27.71 g/100 plants). On the other hand, plants subjected to eggshells at 0.5 g/L foliar spray produce the highest amounts of linalool (76.34%) and oxygenated monoterpenes (83.37%). It may be concluded that the morphological and physiological characteristics of sweet basil plant may be enhanced by eggshells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of low-quality irrigation water on plant development has garnered significant attention from researchers. In light of this, two field experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance, yield, oil production and composition, as well as active constituents of Rocket (Eruca sativa Mill) cultivated in calcareous soil under saline water irrigation. Foliar sprays containing condensed molasses soluble (CMS), zinc (Zn), and boron (B) alone or in combination were used for irrigation. The data obtained from measuring various parameters of Rocket following foliar spraying with CMS, Zn, B or their combinations demonstrated that most treatments resulted in a significant increase in these parameters. The highest values for most measurements were observed when foliar application included all three components (CMS + Zn + B), resulting in a seed yield of 184.6 g/m² and an oil content of 675.3 kg/ha. Compared to the control group, the macronutrient content of N, P, K, Mg, and Ca increased by 34.4%, 56%, 42%, 45%, and 39% respectively in the seeds treated with these components. Furthermore, carbohydrates, proteins, phenolics flavonoids, and antioxidants showed increases of 24%, 34%, 21%, 43%, and 28% respectively compared to the control group. Gas-liquid chromatography analysis identified ten components present in the seed oil characterized by higher unsaturated fatty acids ranging from 81.28% to 92.28% and lower saturated fatty acids ranging from 6.72% to 8.21%. Therefore, foliar spray application including CMS, zinc, and boron can help alleviate salinity effects on Rocket plants grown under saline water irrigation conditions while improving growth, yield, oil production, and nutritional content such as total carbohydrates, proteins, and macronutrients levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold crest (Cupressus macrocarpa Hartw) and Sodom apple (Calotropis procera Aiton W.T. Aiton) essential oils have distinctive biological properties, so, they can be used in drug and food industries. Harvest seasons play basic functions in the metabolism of essential oils. Due to the evidence of previous studies reported that growing seasons lead to various diversity in the essential oils and their components which reflects on its biological effects; so, the aim of current investigation was to evaluate the essential oils isolated from gold crest and Sodom apple young shoots during winter, spring, summer and autumn seasons. Essential oils were isolated by hydro distillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Obtained results were statistically analyzed using one way analysis of variance. Results showed that Gold crest and Sodom apple essential oils production are related to harvest seasons. The maximum values of both essential oil contents were resulted from samples harvested during spring season. Neral and E-phytol were the major components of gold crest and Sodom apple essential oils, respectively. Oxygenated monoterpenes was the major fraction of gold crest essential oil, while the main fraction of Sodom apple essential oil was oxygenated diterpenes. The highest amount of neral was produced from spring samples, while summer samples resulted in the maximum value of oxygenated monoterpenes. The greatest amounts of E-phytol and oxygenated diterpenes were recorded with the samples harvested in winter season. This trial avails as indication for selecting suitable season to produce essential oil according to constituents of benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are numerous uses for rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus officinalis), including aromatherapy, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial and antitumour properties. High salinity of irrigation water is one of the main barriers inhibiting the growth of rosemary cultivation in Egypt's new reclamation zones. Chitosan is a natural biopolymer which is obtained from the deacetylation of chitin and has a high potential to improve plant productivity under stressful conditions. So, this study aimed to minimize the negative effects of salty irrigation water on rosemary plants by assisting them in adjusting to salt stress through foliar application of chitosan to determine the potential for increasing their cultivation in the new reclamation zones as a natural supply of essential oil. Rosemary plants were subjected to different doses of salty irrigation water (0, 25.7, 51.3, 77.0, 102.6 mM) without or with chitosan (6 mg L-1). Plants irrigated by salty water with spraying chitosan resulted in higher values of plant aerial parts, photosynthetic pigments, carbohydrates, protein, phenols, flavonoids, antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase and superoxide dismutase), essential oil, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium than those irrigated by salty water without chitosan. In contrast, lower amounts were found in free radical scavenging, sodium and chloride of plant treated with salty water x chitosan than those treated with saline water only. Saline water, chitosan, and their interactions caused a number of changes in detected amino acids and essential oil components. It may be summarized that productivity of rosemary plants can be improved with adapting them under saline irrigation conditions by adding chitosan. This trial benefits the producers of rosemary to alleviate the hurtful effects of saline water in reclaimed regions with adding chitosan. • Medicinal and aromatic herbs are sources of safe active materials for human health. • Rosemary essential oil has antimicrobial, antioxidant and antitumour properties. • Salinity stress can change the composition of essential oils in aromatic plants. • One method to improve herbs' outputs when they are stressed is to use chitosan. • Reclamation regions in Egypt are characterized by their exposure to stress factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study focused on the comparison of the essential oil percentage and constituents obtained from the dry seeds and the waste of coriander plant in order to reach the best ways to store the essential oil. Results: The chemical composition of coriander oil was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The analysis of coriander essential oil showed that linalool was the main constituent of dry seed oil under all conditions. It recorded 59.6, 59.28 and 47.69% of the treatments of the oil at zero time, stored in cool conditions and stored at room temperature, respectively. Concerning oil constituents of coriander waste (the remained herb after collecting seeds), the results showed that trans-anethole was the major oil constituent, followed by linalool compound. The quality of the stored oil in the refrigerator after harvest was better than the stored oil from seeds or waste under room temperature. Conclusion: The changes have been observed in the chemical composition of coriander oil extracted from seed and waste subjected to different storage conditions. The waste of coriander can be considered a new source of essential oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]