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The effect of intercropping of hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.) from Lamiaceae with a medicinal legume, that is, fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) on the hyssop essential oil was investigated. The highest herbage and essential oil yields of hyssop were produced from sole cropping and also intercropped hyssop with fenugreek (3:1 ratio); however, the highest antioxidant activity was obtained from the intercropped hyssop with fenugreek (1:3 ratio). The highest contents of the major constituents in the hyssop essential oil such as cis- and trans-pinocamphone and β-pinene were obtained from sole cropped of hyssop and the intercropping of hyssop with fenugreek (3:1 ratio). In conclusion, the intercropping of hyssop with fenugreek can increase biodiversity and efficiency of using resources. Therefore, this strategy could be considered in order to recommend in simultaneous production of secondary metabolites in the herbs like hyssop in an agricultural land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of the extracts of eight plant species which are endemic in Iran. The antimicrobial activities of the extracts of eight Iranian traditional plants, including Hypericum scabrum, Myrtus communis, Pistachia atlantica, Arnebia euchroma, Salvia hydrangea, Satureja bachtiarica, Thymus daenensis and Kelussia odoratissima, were investigated against Escherichia coli O157:H7, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes and Candida albicans by agar disc diffusion and serial dilution assays. Most of the extracts showed a relatively high antimicrobial activity against all the tested bacteria and fungi. Of the plants studied, the most active extracts were those obtained from the essential oils of M. communis and T. daenensis. The MIC values for active extract and essential oil ranged between 0.039 and 10 mg/ml. It can be said that the extract and essential oil of some medicinal plants could be used as natural antimicrobial agents in food preservation. .

In this study, variation in the essential oil (EO) compositions of the aerial parts of Prangos platychlaena collected from 13 different natural habitats of five provinces in southwestern Iran, was investigated for the first time. Significant variability in the EO yield was observed among the investigated populations (ranging from 0.04 to 2.85% v/w). GC-FID and GC/MS analysis of the EOs identified 35 chemical components. The EOs were rich in monoterpene hydrocarbons (69.06–90.14%). The main constituents of the EOs were delta (Δ)-3-carene (or 3-carene, (+)-3-carene, δ-3-carene) (9.25–43.17%), α-pinene (4.58–27.41%), β-pinene (3.72–25.55%) and β-phellandrene (4.02–17.88%). Briefly, the highest amounts of the mentioned components were observed in the EOs of R5, R4, R9, R10, R5, R4, R9 and R7 populations. According to the cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) of all the major components, the populations could be grouped into four main chemotypes: chemotype I (β-pinene/β-phellandrene/α-pinene/Δ-3-carene/α-phellandrene/α-thujone/α-terpinolene), chemotype II (Δ-3-carene/β-phellandrene/β-pinene/α-pinene), chemotype III (Δ-3-carene/β-phellandrene/α-pinene/β-pinene/β-caryophyllene/myrcene) and chemotype IV (α-pinene/Δ-3-carene/β-phellandrene/β-pinene/α-phellandrene). These chemotypes are discussed as being possibly the result of environmental and ecological factors, differences in plant genetics and their interactive effects. Finally, the difference between the EOs of P. platychlaena, collected from different habitats, is consistent with the fact that variation in chemical compositions could be related to the specific populations of P. platychlaena, which were collected from various environmental and ecological conditions and different geographical areas and origins. Moreover, the results of the present investigation can help to improve the conservation and breeding programs of this new crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycyrrhiza echinata L. is a perennial plant of considerable commercial importance in medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and tobacco industries and the production of food additives as flavoring and sweetening agent. This study, variation on composition and yield of essential oil from the underground parts of five accessions of G. echinata growing wild in northern Iran was investigated. Results showed high variability for the main constituents of essential oil among accessions of G. echinata. The presence of α-pinene and myrcene in two accessions suggests that these volatiles could serve as chemotaxonomic markers and also might be considered as potentially relevant for taste. The presence of β-caryophyllene and α- caryophyllene in three accessions could be strong potential for being used in medical applications (anticancer and analgesic properties). Generally, the essential oils from G. echinata and other species could be very competitive targets for phytochemical and food studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]