Background: Stress is an integral part of human life and leads to maladaptation of the organism and needs rational pharmacological correction. Objective: The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the adaptogenic potential of European mistletoe extracts. Methods: The work was performed on Balb/c mice. The test-objects were ethanol and aqueous extracts of European mistletoe (Viscum album L., Santalaceae) collected from pear and black poplar in dose 100 mg/kg (P.O.). Physical overloads were modeled in the forced swimming test. The analyzed parameters were: the duration of animals swimming, changes in the parameters of mitochondrial respiration, the concentration of ATP, activity of caspase-3, and apoptosis-inducing factor in the muscles and lactic acid in the blood serum of animals. The state of the pro / antioxidant system and acute toxicity of the test-extracts was also evaluated. Results: The study found that the LD₅₀ of the test-extracts was more than 5000 mg/kg (P.O.). Ethanol extracts (40 and 70 %) with a single administration had the greatest impact on the physical strain of mice. In the course administration of 40 % ethanol mistletoe extracts the swimming time of mice was increased by 3.4 and 5.05 times

(P < 0.05) from black poplar and pear, respectively. Also, the use of 40 % extracts contributed to the normalization of the pro/antioxidant balance, the restoration of the cell energy metabolism, and the decrease of the intensity of the apoptotic reactions. Conclusion: The study showed that the 40 % ethanol extracts from European mistletoe (host plants: pear and black poplar) potentially can be used as adaptogenic agents.

Background: Arum rupicola Boiss. (Araceae Family) is used by the native people of southern areas of Iran as a soup called "kardeh soup". Several flavonoids and phenol compounds have been identified from Arum species. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate antioxidant effect and total phenol contents as well as cytotoxic activity of the leaves of A. rupicola. Methods: Antioxidant activity of total methanol extract and fractions including n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and water residue were evaluated using FRAP and DPPH methods. Total phenol content was measured using Folin-Ciocalteu method. Cytotoxic activity of the extract and fractions were investigated against human breast cancer MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and T47D cell lines by MTT assay. Further phytochemical isolation was done on the water residue using column chromatography. Results: According to the results, water residue showed the lowest IC₅₀ value (186.7 µg/ml) and the total methanol extract showed the most antioxidant power (163.62 mmol FeSO4/100 g extract) and phenol content (135 µmol Gallic acid/g extract). The hexane fraction also showed the highest cytotoxic effect against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line with IC₅₀ equal to 118.9 μg/ml. Phytochemical analysis of the water residue resulted in isolation and identification of three isoflavonoids named orobol, genistein and genistein 8-c-glucoside. Conclusion: Based on the identification of isoflavonoid compounds in this plant, its ability to be used as a phytoestrogenic supplement can be considered in future studies.

Background: Medicinal plants play a significant role in preventing and treating diseases due to their traditional uses. Objective: The aim of the study was to isolate, purify and identify phytochemicals from the n-hexane extract of Teucrium hircanicum L. roots and evaluate the antioxidant activity of the extract and its purified compounds. Methods: The n-hexane extract (2.27 g) was extracted from the roots of this plant. The extract was fractionated by column chromatography with normal phase by eluting with n-hexane-EtOAc and following with EtOAc-Methanol. Fractions with similar phytochemical fingerprints combined to produce 23 main fractions. Final purification was carried out by preparative reversed-phase HPLC-UV. The structures of isolated were secured by different spectroscopic methods such as 1D, 2D NMR, and mass spectroscopy methods and comparing of these data with literature reported values. The antioxidant activity of the n-hexane extract of T. hircanicum roots and its purified diterpenoids was evaluated in DPPH assay and radical scavenging activity was calculated. Results: Extraction and isolation methods were used to purify three rearranged abietane-type diterpenoids villosin A (1), teuvincenone B (2) and 5, 8, 11, 13, 15-abietapentaen-7-one (3), a phenethyl ester namely 4-hydroxyphenethyl pentacosanoate (4) and one sterol namely 22-dehydroclerosterol (5). Conclusion: The n-hexane extract from roots of T. hircanicum and three rearranged abietane type diterpenoids were showed good antioxidant activities ranged from 3.5-4.3 μg/ml compared with the reference value (BHT = 16.5 μg/ml).

Background: Zygophyllum eichwaldii C. A. Mey. is a medicinal plant from Zygophyllaceae family. This family consists of 27 genera and 285 species. Objective: The present study was performed to evaluate the chemical composition of the essential oil of Z. eichwaldii and evaluation of biological activities of its extracts .Methods: Essential oils extraction of Z. eichwaldii aerial parts was performed by three different procedures and its chemical composition were evaluated by GC and GC-MS analyses. Evaluation of the biological activities was carried out by spectrophotometric methods. Results: GC-MS analysis showed menthol, thymol and palmitic acid as major components of the plant essential oils. In biological activity evaluation, while methanol extract showed moderate to week potency in antioxidant assessments, the ethyl acetate fraction was strong in these tests (IC₅₀ = 178.63 µg/ml in DPPH assay and 70.52 % inhibition in β-carotene/linoleic acid tests). This fraction also showed significant phenol, flavonoid and tannin contents (99.83, 118.29 and 188.05 μg/mg, respectively). Also, plant extracts exhibited considerable antimicrobial activities against most selected bacteria. Conclusion: Significant amount of phenol, flavonoid and tannin compounds in the ethyl acetate fraction and high antimicrobial activity against most bacterial strains, candidates this plant as a good case for further studies in this respect.

Background: Extreme production of free radicals in the human body causes direct damage to biological molecules that leads to the different types of diseases. The natural or synthetic antioxidants inhibit directly the production or restrict propagation or nullify the free radicals produced in the human body to protect the immune system. Objective: This study aims to quantify the total phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant and antidiabetic activities and toxicity test for the methanol extracts of aerial parts of traditionally used medicinal plants like Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.) R.M.King & H.Rob., Cupressus sempervirens L. and Lantana camara L. Methods: The total phenolic content (TPC) was estimated by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent method and the total flavonoid content (TFC) by aluminum chloride assay. The α-amylase inhibition activity was performed to evaluate the antidiabetic activities of plant extracts. Results: Lantana camara showed the highest phenol content (10.20 ± 0.343 mg gallic acid equivalent /g extract) and flavonoid content (1.87 ± 0.160 mg quercetin equivalent /g extract) among the three plant samples, respectively. The methanol extracts of Lantana camara showed the strongest DPPH radical scavenging activity with IC₅₀ of 106.18 ± 11.390 µg/ml. In addition, Ageratina adenophora methanol extract was found to inhibit α-amylase activity with IC₅₀ value of 1.84 ± 0.007 mg/ml. The methanol extract of Ageratina adenophora was found to be toxic against brine shrimp with median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) value of 833.68 µg/ml. Conclusion: This research shows that the traditionally used medicinal plants are the rich and potent sources of natural antioxidant and antidiabetic compounds which may be the potent natural drug candidates in the future drug discovery process.

Background: Nepeta crispa, is an annual plant native to certain regions of Hamadan province in Iran. Objective: This study aims to investigate the antioxidant potential of N. crispa. Methods: Hydro-distillated essential oil and methanol extract from aerial parts of N. crispa were obtained. They were subjected to several assays (DPPH, FRAP, TBARS, peroxide value and β-carotene-linoleic acid assay) in order to evaluate their antioxidant properties and their effect on prevention of oxidation in sunflower oil. Results: The extract consistently exhibited more activity than the essential oil in each and every one of the assays. The activity of the essential oil was not significant compared to positive controls or even the extract. The results from DPPH and FRAP assays correlated well with one another but those obtained from β-carotene-linoleic acid assay were to some extents inconsistent with the others. The results from TBARS and peroxide value assays revealed that certain concentrations of the extract effectively prevent the oxidation process in sunflower oil. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the methanol extract of N. crispa may be considered as novel bio-resource of natural antioxidants for using in pharmaceutical and food industries. Hopefully as the future research progress, new lights will be shed on characterization of components in the extract and the mechanisms through which they provide antioxidant activity.

Background: Falcaria vulgaris and Echinophora platyloba, two members of Apiaceae family, are native flora of Iran and have numerous ethnobotanical applications. Objectives: The present study focuses on the chemical composition of the essential oils and the evaluation of the antioxidant capacity of F. vulgaris and E. platyloba growing in Hamadan province. Methods: Hydrodistillated essential oil from aerial parts of F. vulgaris and E. platyloba were obtained using clevenger apparatus. The chemical composition of the essential oils was determined using GC-MS analysis. Methanol extracts from aerial parts and seeds of F. vulgaris and E. platyloba were obtained by Soxhlet extractor. The antioxidant properties of the extracts were determined through use of several antioxidant assays (DPPH, FRAP, β-carotene-linoleic acid and iron-chelating test). Results: GC-MS analysis revealed that the major components of F. vulgaris essential oil were spathulenol, and palmitic acid. The main components of E. platyloba were γ-decalactone and (E)-sesquilavandulol. The extract from aerial parts of F. vulgaris consistently exhibited more antioxidative power than the rest of the extracts, followed by the extracts from aerial parts of E. platyloba. The results of DPPH, FRAP and β-carotene-linoleic tests were well correlated with each other, but they were somewhat different from the results of the iron-chelating test. Conclusion: The results of this research showed that F. vulgaris and E. platyloba contain significant antioxidant properties; therefore, their use in food and pharmaceutical industries as preservatives will be fruitful.

Background: Satureja khuzestanica is an endemic medicinal plant that widely distributed in the northern Khuzestan and southern Lorestan provinces of Iran. Objective: In this study, simultaneous effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and salinity on morpho-physiological parameters and minerals contents in S. khuzistanica were studied. Methods: Different salt levels (0, 3, 6 and 9 dS/m) were applied during growth period for one month. MeJA spraying at 0, 60 and 120 µM concentrations performed three times for one week. Samples were taken during flowering stage. Results: The results showed that MeJA × salt interaction had significant effects on all morpho-physiological and biochemical parameters of S. khuzestanica (P < 0.01). The highest stem length, root length, fresh and dry weights were observed at 60 and 120 µM MeJA without salt. The amounts of chlorophyll, N, P, K⁺, K⁺/Na⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ had significant reductions with increasing salt levels. The highest amounts of these parameters were observed at 60 µM MeJA without salt. There were significant enhancements in total phenol, antioxidant activity, proline, sugar and Na amounts with increasing salt levels. The highest content of total phenol and antioxidant activity was induced at 60 µM MeJA × 6 dS/m salt (2.22 and 50.23 %, respectively). The 9 dS/m salt treatment at 60 µM MeJA had the highest sugar (1.69 mg/g) and proline (0.29 mg/g) contents. Conclusion: Totally, 60µM MeJA concentration caused the best performance of savory under salt stress. Therefore, MeJA application can be helpful to alleviate negative effects of salt in S. khuzistanica.

Background: Salvia tebesana Bunge, as an important herb in folk medicine, is distributed in limited geographical locations in the Middle East. Objective: In this study, three protic solvents, 80 % methanol, 80 % ethanol, and double-distilled water, were investigated to recover the phenolic constituents from S. tebesana extracts. Methods: The antioxidant activity (estimated by total antioxidant capacity, DPPH, and FRAP radical scavenging assays) and the content of phenols, ortho-diphenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, flavonols, and proanthocyanidins of extracts from leaves and stems of S. tebesana were investigated. After selecting the best solvent, the samples were assayed for individual flavonoid compounds (apigenin, quercetin, myricetin, and rutin) by HPLC-PDA. Results: Different plant extracts demonstrated strong radical scavenging activities, and the leaf extract obtained by 80% methanol showed the highest antioxidant capacity. The same extract also exhibited the most ortho-diphenol, phenolic acid, flavonoid, and proanthocyanidin contents (1598.5 ± 46.2, 742.2 ± 41.3, 487.6 ± 21.9, and 350.1 ± 31.4 mg 100 g^-1 DW sample, respectively), while 80 % ethanol extract of leaves gave the most phenolic and flavonol contents (2299.2 ± 47.3 and 359.1 ± 42.3 mg 100 g^-1 DW sample, respectively). The high level of flavone apigenin (466.1 ± 11.1 µg g^-1 DW) and flavonol rutin (348.6 ± 10.02 µg g^-1 DW) were also found in methanol extracts of leaves and are reporting for the first time in S. tebesana. Conclusion: These findings warrant that S. tebesana, in particular the leaves, can be suggested as a natural preservative in dietary and medical applications with the potential to reduce oxidative stress.