Background: Cymbopgon olivieri (Boiss.) Bor. with the common Persian names of kah-makki and Putar, an aromatic perennial grass of Iran, is distributed in tropical regions of south provinces of Iran. Objective: The aim of this study was evaluation of quantitative and qualitative differences in the essential oil composition of wild and cultivated samples of Cymbopgon olivieri. Method: Aerial parts and rhizomes of plant were collected in June 2003 from Siahoo (Hormozgan province). Rhizomes were cultivated in the field of Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University. Air-dried aerial parts of wild and cultivated samples were subjected to hydrodistillation. The obtained oils were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Results: In total 40 and 33 compounds were identified, representing 95% and 96.3% of the oils of natural and cultivated samples, respectively. The quantitative and qualitative oil components were compared. The main constituent of both samples was piperitone (48.9% and 56.7%) followed by α-terpinene (13.8% and 14.2%), limonene (6.3 % and 7.5 %) and elemol (3.7% and 4%).

Background: The genus Salvia L. (Lamiaceae) consists of 58 annual and perennial species in Iran, of which 17 are endemic. S. hydrangea DC. ex Benth. with common Persian name of "Gol-e Arooneh" has been used in folk medicine of Iran as antiinflammatory, antispasmodic, carminative and sedative. Infusion of flowers was used for treating cold in traditional medicine of Fars province. Objective: Study of chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oils of S. hydrangea from two different localities of Iran. Methods: Aerial parts of S. hydrangea were collected in full flowering stage from two different localities Abadeh (Fars province) and Takab (Azarbaijan province). The oils were obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger type apparatus and analyzed by GC and GC-MS instruments. Antibacterial activities of the oils were evaluated by disc diffusion method. MIC values were measured by microdilution broth susceptibility assay. Results: The essential oils yield of Abadeh and Takab were 0.1 and 0.13% (w/w) based on dry weight of plants, respectively. Thirty-seven and 35 compounds were identified in the oil samples which constituted 97.4 and 98.3 % of the total oils, respectively. In the oil obtained from Abadeh, β-caryophyllene (25.2%), 1,8-cineole (15.2%) and caryophyllene oxide (11.1%) were found as the major components. From Takab sample β-caryophyllene (26.2%), 1, 8-cineole (14.2%) and α-pinene (11.2%) were characterized as the main compounds. The oils showed moderate antibacterial activity. Conclusion: The differences observed in essential oil composition of two studied samples could be attributed to their different ecological, geographical and edaphical origin factors. The moderate antibacterial activity of the oils could be associated with the presence of 1, 8-cineole.

Background: Epilepsy has prevalence about 0.5 - 1% of world population. From many years ago, plants used to treat of various neurological diseases such as seizures. Objective: The anticonvulsant effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Tanacetum sonbolii was examined in male mice. Methods: 60 mice were randomly divided into six groups (n=10), included: A control group (normal saline) and 5 groups receiving Sonbolii extract (150, 300, 600, 900, 1200 mg/kg). 30 min after peritoneal injection of different doses extract or saline, PTZ (85 mg/kg) were injected and the animal immediately transferred to a special cage, and the seizure behavior was evaluated within 30 minutes. Results: The tonic and colonic seizures were significantly reduced in the groups that received extract compared to control group. The onsets of seizures were difference between treated and control animals statistically. Extract were reduced the rate of death during seizures and was prevented the outbreak of tonic - colonic seizures in some case. Conclusion: Our results showed that the extracts of Tanacetum sonbolii have strong anticonvulsant effect, and more complementary studies will be done for identifying the mechanism of action and effective material of Sonbolii exact.

Background: Tanacetum sonbolii Mozaff. is an endemic species of Tanacetum growing in Iran, west Azerbaijan. The composition of its essential oil can be varied due to conditions of selected extraction method. Thus, the selection of suitable extraction method is very effective to obtaine essential oil in native state. Objective: The purpose of this study is to apply head space sorptive extraction method at ambient and high temperature condition for essential oil extraction of Tanacetum sonbolii Mozaff. Methods: The compositions of extracted essential oils were investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Also, solvent, temperature and time of desorption step and time of sorption step that influence on extraction efficiency were optimized. Results: Results indicated that temperature of extraction method had significant effects on essential oil content. Using hydrodistillation method, 26 components, representing 96.5% of the oil were indentified but only 6 compounds (95.6% of the oil) were found in essential oil using HS-SE at real condition (23 ^oC). Comparison of the major components percent levels of essential oils were shown that 81% of HS-SE essential oil is β- and α-pinene. While using hydrodistillation method, about 50% of essential oil is sesquirerpenes such as α-cadinol and globulol. Conclusion: The sampling of essential oils at 23^oC by HS-SE compared to conventional extraction methods at high temperature (such as hydrodistillation) caused to have different extractions results.

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: Common horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.), is widely used in the bone and nail strengthen herbal products due to the presence of minerals, especially silica. Objective: Agro-morphological and phytochemical diversity, and the silica content of the E. arvense populations (EAPs) collected from Iran along with two commercial samples from Russia and Switzerland were investigated. Methods: Morphological traits were measured using ruler, digital caliper, naked eye, and digital balance. Phytochemical characteristics were assessed by spectrophotometer and HPLC-PDA analyses. Silica content was measured by Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) analysis. Results: The maximum height was observed in Sarab (EAP4), while the highest width and stem dry weight was found in Marzanabad (EAP11). The highest TPC and TFC were measured in the Russian and EAP11 samples, respectively. Isoquercitrin content was varied from 0.03 (Russian) to 3.05 mg/g DW (EAP11) based on HPLC analysis while silica content was different among samples from 30 to 87.5 mg/g DW in EAP9 and EAP1, respectively. Conclusion: In this study, EAP11 and EAP4 were superior in terms of important morphological traits. Marzanabad (EAP11) was a superior population in phytochemical characteristics which can be strongly recommended for further exploitation in conservation, domestication, and mass production programs. In the case of silica content, the EAP1 was characterized as the superior population which can be interesting for further exploitation in the production of bone, hair, and nail strengthening herbal products.