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Abstract: Cancer has become a significant universal health problem. Anticancer drugs control the chemicals that sacrifice cancer cells by inhibiting their growth in their cell cycle. Interestingly, as much as boron nitride nanosheets and boron nitride nanotubes are degradable and non-toxic, they can act as suitable drug carriers for antitumor drugs and deliver them into target cells. In the present study, the encapsulation of diethylstilbestrol as an anticancer drug into the boron nitride (8,8) nanotube was investigated for the first time using the density functional theory: M06-2X and the natural bond orbital methods in the gas phase. Using natural bond orbital analysis, the charge transfer between diethylstilbestrol drug and boron nitride nanotubes (8,8)/ diethylstilbestrol complex was explored. Based on the results obtained from the calculation of encapsulation energy, it was found that the adsorption process was favorable. The interaction effects of diethylstilbestrol drug and boron nitride (8,8) nanotube on the natural bond orbital charge, the chemical shift parameters, and electronic properties were also evaluated. This study revealed that boron nitride (8,8) nanotubes can be a suitable carrier for diethylstilbestrol drug delivery. The ultra violet-visible spectra of diethylstilbestrol drug and the boron nitride (8,8) nanotubes/diethylstilbestrol complex were computed using time-dependent density functional theory (: M06-2X calculations.

Eryngium pyramidale Boiss. & Hausskn. is one of the species of the Apiaceae family, which is used as a spice in Iranian food. In this work, we aim to assess the phytochemical profile and antibacterial activity of the aerial parts of Eryngium pyramidale. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus. Then, it was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by GC-MS and GC-FID respectively. The antibacterial activity of the essential oil was evaluated against six gram-positive and three gram-negative bacteria by the disc diffusion method and the broth microdilution assay. The phenolic and flavonoid contents of the methanolic extract were assessed using the UV spectrophotometry and HPLC-DAD. A total of 56 compounds representing 94.08% of the total oil were identified, among which sesquicineole (28.49 ± 1.2%) and (Z)-falcarinol (18.04 ± 0.7%) were the major ones. Based on the results, the oil was active against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in comparison with standards. The phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids, steroids, glycosides, and phenols in the methanolic, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane extracts. The total phenolic content of the methanolic extract was 0.36 ± 0.01 mg of gallic acid equivalents per g of dry plant materials, and the total flavonoid content of the methanolic extract was 0.90 ± 0.05 mg of quercetin equivalent (QE) per gram of dry plant materials. Five phenolic and flavonoid compounds in the methanolic extract including naringenin, rutin, apigenin, caffeic acid, and gallic acid were identified and quantified.

Nanoparticles due to their unique physicochemical properties have been used in the biotechnology and agriculture especially on the plant growth and its biological activities. The TiO2 and ZnO nanop...

Conformational behaviors of 2,5-dimethyl-1,4-dithiane-2,5-diol (compound 1), 2,5- dimethyl-1,4-dithiane-2,5-dithiol (compound 2) and 2,5-dimethyl-1,4-dithiane-2,5-diselenol (compound 3) were investigated by the B3LYP/6-311+G **, the M06-2X/aug-ccpvdz levels of theory and natural bond orbital NBO analysis. The structures and the structural parameters of the mentioned molecules were optimized by the B3LYP and the M06-2X methods. We assessed the roles and contributions of the effective factors in the conformational properties of the mentioned compounds by means of the B3LYP and M06-2X levels of theory and the NBO interpretations. The stereoelectronic effects of the mentioned molecules were studied using the NBO analysis. The results showed that the stereoelectronic effects were in favor of the (ax,ax) conformers (the most stable conformations), from compound 1 to compound 3; therefore, these effects have impacts on the conformational properties of compounds 1-3, and stabilization energies associated with LP2X→ σ*S1-C2 electron delocalization, where [X= O, S, and Se], for 1-ax, ax conformer has the greatest value between all of the other conformers. Therefore, according to the calculated thermodynamic parameters, the stability of the 1-ax, ax compound was justified by the presence of LP2X→σ*S1-C2 electron delocalization. A molecular orbital explanation was conducted to investigate the correlations between the linear combinations of natural bond orbitals in the HOMOs, LUMOs and the molecular reactivity parameters. There is a direct relationship between the stereoelectronic effects, molecular reactivity and thermodynamic parameters of compounds 1 to 3 as the harder ax, ax conformations with the greater stereoelectronic effects and ΔG(eq-ax) values are more stable than their corresponding eq, eq conformers. Besides frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), mapped molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surfaces of conformations of compounds 1 to 3 were investigated.

Background: Microbial resistance has recently become one of the major healthcare problems worldwide. Finding new sources of chemical active antimicrobial compounds, along with what has been produced by fungi is now a common approach to solve this problem. On the other hand, inflammation has recently been considered as an underlying factor of many diseases, and working on anti-inflammatory drugs is interesting as well. Information provided by Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) can be used as a source of inspiration in order to find the herbs with antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. Objective: The present study aimed to examine antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of 6 medicinal smokes prescribed in ITM for catarrh. Materials and Methods: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6051, Candida albicans ATCC 10231, and Aspergillus niger ATCC 16404 were used in this study. In addition, the preliminary antimicrobial activity of Commiphora myrrha, Cinnamomum cassia, Costus arabicus, Nigella sativa, Pimpinella anisum, and Tetraclinis articulate was performed by the disc diffusion method. Further, the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum lethal concentration were determined using the microdilution method. Finally, antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring the reduction of the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl solution. Results: The results showed that C. arabicus, C. cassia, and P. anisum had considerable antimicrobial activities. Furthermore, antioxidant evaluation of the herbal smokes demonstrated the lowest IC50 for C. cassia (10.44 µg/mL), C. myrrha (13 µg/mL), and C. arabicus (15.16 µg/mL). Conclusion: In general, herbal medicinal smokes were found to have interesting antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Therefore, more investigation on these smokes would be fruitful.

In the present study, we employed an ethanolic extract of the Scorzonera calyculata for biosynthesis of AgNPs for the first time. The AgNPs were synthesized using reduction of AgNO3 solution by S. calyculata extract and synthesized AgNPs were characterized using ultraviolet visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In addition, the anti-oxidant activity of synthesized AgNPs were studied by 2,2-diphenyl, 1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The microscopic analysis showed that the synthesized AgNPs were spherical in shape with an average size of 25.28 nm. The DPPH results showed that the significant antioxidant activity of AgNPs. The antibacterial activity of the AgNPs was carried out by minimum inhibitory concentration that showed high toxicity against Gram negative bacteria. The cytotoxicity of the synthesized AgNPs against human lung cancer cell (A549) were investigated using MTT method and the inhibitory concentration (IC50) was found to be 12.5 µg/mL. Finally, the Annexin V/PI staining indicated that the synthesized AgNPs could induce apoptosis in A549 cells as compared to untreated cells. In conclusion, biosynthesis of AgNPs using S. calyculata extract is a very rapid and cost-effective method and the synthesized AgNPs had good biological activities.

The composition of the essential oils from four Umbelliferae species of Iran: Ferulago subvelutina Rech. f. (syn. Ferulago turcomanica Schischk.), Ferulago stellata Boiss. (syn. Ferulago koeiziana Rech. f.), Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindle. (syn. Prangos macrocarpa Boiss., Cachrys goniocarpa Boiss., Cachrys prangoides Boiss.), and Ferula ovina (Boiss.) Boiss. obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The major constituents of the oil of F. subvelutina appeared to be limonene (27.0%), α-phellandrene (23.1%) and α-pinene (13.3%) and the main composition of F. stellata was 2,4,5-trimethyl benzaldehyde (61.1%). β-Pinene (29.6% and 20.6%), α-pinene (19.8% and 8.8%), δ-3-carene (11.4% and 10.4%) and β- phellandrene (11.1% and 8.1%) were the main constituents in the leaf and flower oils of P. ferulacea, respectively. The leaf oil of F. ovina was characterized by higher amount of α-pinene (22.5%), bornyl acetate (14.1%) and camphene (11.0%).

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the stem, leaf and flower of Phlomis aucheri Boiss., which is endemic to Iran, stem, leaf and root of Teucrium polium L. and solvent free microwave extraction oil from leaf of Ajuga chamaecistus Ging. Subsp chamaecistus were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Germacrene D (11.10%, 28.31% and 21. 06%) was the main constituent in the stem, leaf, and flower oils of P. aucheri, respectively. The other main component in the stem oil of the plant was (E) - anethole (24.58%) and in the flower oil was β- caryophyllene (15.93%). All three oils were rich in regard to sesquiterpenes. The main components in the stem, leaf and root of T. polium were α- muurolol (25.02%, 20.03% and 19.53%), α- cadinol (15.72%, 8.11% and 13.01%) and β-cayophyllene (10.86%, 10.11% and 10.64%) respectively. All three oils were rich in regard to sesquiterpenes. The major components in the leaf oil of A.chamaecistus were (z)-β-ocimene (12.11%) and germacrene D (10.11%). The oil of the plant was rich in regard to both monoterpens and sesquiter penes.

The Composition of the essential oils from three Umbelliferae species of Iran, Tetrataenium lasiopetalum (Boiss.) Mandem ., Dorema ammoniacum D.Don., which is endemic to Iran, and Leutea petiolare (DC.) M.Pimen. obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Germacrene D (17.72%) and (E,Z) farnesol (12.58%) were the main components in the oil of aerial parts of T. lasiopetalum. The major compound in the stem oil of D. ammoniacum was α-muurolol (13.68%), whereas the leaf oil contained (E)-ß-ocimene (30.94%), γ-terpinene (11.09%), p-cymene (10.03%) and (Z)-ß-ocimene (7.11%). Terpinolene (13.93%, 8.28% and 10.27%), (E)-ß-ocimene (10.24%, 24.63% and 10.46%) and endo-fenchyl acetate (15.1%, 7.42% and 7.57%) were the main constituents in the leaf, fruit and stem oils of L. petiolare respectively.

Background & Purpose: This research focused on the composition for the essential oils, which was obtained by solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME) from the aerial parts of Scorzonera calyculata, and hydrodistilled oils from the aerial parts and roots of Centaurea irritans, from Astraceae family, were investigated by gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry (MS). In addition, the biological activities of the methanolic extracts from the aerial parts of S. calyculata and C. irritans were determined. Methods: Total phenolic content was determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu procedure. Antibacterial activity of the methanolic extracts was carried out by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Cytotoxicity of the methanolic extract of S. calyculata against human lung cancer cells (A549) and the methanolic extract of C. irritans against breast lung cancer cells (MCF-7) were measured using 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. Results: The obtained results of GC/MS technique showed that the SFME oil of S. calyculata, was rich in regard to nonterpenoid and sesquiterpene components. Both oils from the aerial parts and roots of C. irritans were rich in regard to oxygenated monoterpenes. The S. calyculata and C. irritans extracts showed moderate antioxidant activities with an inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 1.48 and 1.99 mg/mL, using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and 73.51 and 44.48 μmol Fe (II)/g dry mass using ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, respectively. The extracts showed high toxicity against gram-positive bacteria and the IC50 value of extracts cytotoxicity was found to be 9.8 and 10.3 mg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: It appeared that the investigated samples could be as a promising drug for pharmaceutical industry.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial part of Nepeta prostrata, flowers of N. straussii, which are endemic to Iran, aerial parts of N. saccharata and leaves of N. pungens have been analyzed by a combination of GC and GC-MS. The oils of N. prostrata and N. straussii were rich in 1,8-cineole (26.1 % and 22.1 %) and β-pinene (13.6 % and 12.1 %), respectively. The other main component of the first oil was myrtenol (11.8 %) and in the latter one was germacrene-D (18.5 %). The major components of the oil of N. saccharata were neo-isomenthol (18.6 %), hexadecanoic acid (12.1 %), 1,8-cinole (11.7 %) and germacrene- D (11.6 %). (E)-Sesquilavandulol (39.5 %), β-caryophyllene (14.7 %) and caryophyllene oxide (11.6 %) were the predominant compounds in the oil of N. pungens. All oils consisted mainly of oxygenated monoterpenes except that of the N. pungens, which was rich in oxygenated sesquiterpenes.

The composition of the essential oils from four Umbelliferae species of Iran: Astrodaucus orientalis (L.) Drude. (Syn. Caucalis orientalis L.), Thecocarpus meifolious Boiss., Torilis leptophylla (L.) Reichenb (syn. Caucalis leptophylla L., Caucalis Xanthotricha Stev., Pau.) and Xanthogalum purpurascens Ave. Lall. (Syn. Tommasinia kotschyi Boiss., Tommasinia purpurascens (Ave. Lall) Boiss.) obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Spathulenol (15.7 %) and trans-α bergamotene (10.4 %) were the main components among the sixty constituents characterized in the oil of aerial parts of Torilis leptophylla representing 91.3 % of the total components detected. Forty compounds were identified in the aerial part oil of Thecocarpus meifolious representing 90.2 % of the total oil with spathulenol (30.8 %) and caryophyllene oxide (11.1 %) as the major constituents. The leaf oil of Xanthogalum purpurascens was characterized by higher amount of 1,8-cineole (17.6 %) among the fifty-nine compon...

Acyclic monoterpenes, monoterpene hydroperoxide, bicyclic monoterpene glycosides and unusual monoterpenes have been found in some Iranian Artemisia species. The volatile oils of Artemisia are chemically complex mixtures, often containing in excess of 100 individual components for instance in the oil of Artemisia siberi more than 160 constituents were identified. Cyclic sesquiterpenes, namely bisabolene derivatives and a salsolene keton have also been in the A. siberi described. Reports dealing with isolation and structure elucidation of sesquiterpene lactones in Artemisia species have increased dramatically. The extract of the aerial parts of Artemisia diffusa collected in the province of Khorassan (Iran) afforded, in addition to several eudesmanolides, a new type of sesquiterpene lactone with the endoperoxide group that probably has the same effect of Artemisinin as the antimalarial agent. Penta methoxylated flavone from Artemisia kulbadica has been also reported. Iranian Artemisia species are reviewed in this paper.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of the flower, leaf and stem of Eremostachys macrophylla Montbr. & Auch., and aerial part and stem of Eremostachys labiosa Bunge. were analyzed by GC and GC -MS. The major compounds in the flower oil of E. macrophylla were 1,8-cineol (19.0 %) and germacrene D-4-ol (10.6 %), where as the leaf oil contained α-pinene (30.0 %), 1,10-di-epi cubenol (22.7 %), elemol (13.3 %) and bornyl acetate (11.0 %).The stem oil of the plant was dominated also by 1,10-di-epi cubenol (34.4 %) and elemol (24.0 %).The chief constituents found in the aerial part of E. labioa were 6,10,14-trimethyl 2-pentadecanone (22.3 %), 1,8-cineole (21.7 %) and α-pinene (16.5 %), while the main components identified in the stem oil were α-phellandrene (28.6 %), β-phellandrene (11.4 %), α-pinene (10.1%) and tetradecane (10.0%). The composition of both oils differs quantitatively and qualitatively.

The present study describes the volatile composition of headspace from aerial parts of Zosimia radians Boiss. & Hohen. which is endemic to Iran and flowers, leaves and stems of Zosimia absinthifolia (Vent.) Link., were investigated through solid-phase microextraction method by GCMS. The volatile of Z.radians was characterized by higher amount of octyl acetate (58.8 %). In the flower volatile of Z. absinthifolia also octyl acetate (58.4 %) and octanol (25.0 %) were the predominant compounds. The volatile composition from leaf and stem of the plant were rich in germacrene D (22.5 % and 18.5 %), β-caryophyllene (18.1 % and 10.5 %) and bicyclogermacrene (11.2 %, 7.6 %) respectively. The other main component of the stem was cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (15.5 %). The flower volatile of Z. absinthifolia consisted mainly of aliphatic compounds, while in leaf and stem volatile of the plant sesquiterpenes predominated over monoterpenes.

Water-distilled essential oils from the aerial parts of Anthemis hyalina DC. (syn. A. crassipes Boiss.), Achillea nobilis L. and Cichorium intybus L. were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Twenty-four components of the oil of Anthemis hyalina were characterized, representing 98.1 % of the total components detected. The major constituents were identified as carvacrol (38.4 %) and α-pinene (30.9 %). The oil of Achillea nobilis was characterized by higher amounts of artemisia ketone (46.7 %), among the thirty components comprising 95.4 % of the total oil detected. Hexadecanoic acid (32.9 %), nonadecane (26.1 %) and trans-α-bergamotene (14.0 %) were the main components among the fourteen constituents characterized in the oil of Cichorium intybus representing 100 % of the total components detected.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of three different stages of growth, per-flowering, flowering and post-flowering of Stachys inflata Benth. were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Twenty-eight components were identified in the pre-flowering oil and flowering oil, and twenty-four components in the post-flowering oil, representing 98.3 %, 91.9 % and 90.1 % of their total oils, respectively. All three samples were characterized by higher amount of germacrene-D (30.3 %, 32.9 % and 15.4 %) and limonene (16.4 %, 15.6 % and 13.1 %), respectively. The other main component in the pre-flowering oil was α-pinene (18.5 %) and in the post-flowering oil, bicyclogermacrene (14.3 %), spathulenol (13.6 %) and α-pinene (12.1 %) were predominated.

The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Zosimia absinthifolia (Vent.) link. and Smyrniopsis aucheri Boiss. were investigated by GC and GC-MS. The major constituents of the oil of Z. absinthifolia appeared to be germacrene D (20.7 %), β-caryophyllene (14.6 %) and octyl acetate (12.2 %) and the main compositions of S. aucheri were pcymene (26.1 %), caryophyllene oxide (12.0 %) and spathulenol (11.1 %).

Water-distilled essential oils from the aerial parts of Bupleurum falcatum L. and Bupleurum gerardi All. were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Eighteen compounds representing 90.0 % of the oil of B. falcatum were identified, among them α-pinene (29.4 %) and spathulenol (27.7 %) being the major ones. The oil of B. gerardi was characterized of higher amounts of undecane (62.9 %) and germacrene D (11.1 %) among the sixteen components comprising 96.2 of the total oil detected.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts, stems, flowers and leaves of Ferulago contracta Boiss. et Hausskn, which is endemic to Iran, were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. β-phellandrene (15.1 %, 15.3 % and 25.0 %) and α- phellandrene (14.4 %, 11.5 % and 25.0 %) were the main constituents in the aerial part, stem and flower oils of F. contracta respectively. The other main components in the aerial part oil of the plant were β-eudesmol (10.9 %) and (E)-β-ocimene (10.0 %) and in the stem oil was also (E)-β-ocimene (11.3 %). The leaf oil of the plant was characterized by higher amount of β-eudesmol (24.5 %), spathulenol (16.2 %) and citronellol (11.9 %). The antibacterial activity of stem, leaf and flower oils of Ferulago contracta against seven gram positive and gram negative bacteria were determined using MIC method. The growth inhibitory zone (mm) were also measured.

Water-distilled essential oils from the aerial parts of Micromeria persica Boiss., leaves and stems of Hymenocrater platystegius Rech. f., which are endemic to Iran, and the aerial parts of Scutellaria pinnatifida A. Hamilt. subsp. pinnatifida were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Twenty-four components representing 96.1% of the oil of M. persica were identified of which linalool (15.2%), α-pinene (15.0%) and (E)-nerolidol (13.8%) were found to be the major constituents. Seventeen compounds representing 91.7% of the leaf oil and 10 compounds representing 90.7% of the stem oil of H. platystegius were identified. Both oils were rich in α-pinene (16.7% and 18.6%, respectively) and spathulenol (17.1% and 17.9%, respectively). The other main component of the leaf oil was 1,8-cineole (12.9%), and of the stem oil, cis-calamenene (11.2%). Methyl chavicol (81.9%) was the main component among the 11 constituents characterized in the oil of S. pinnatifida representing 100% of the total components detected.

The water distilled essential oils from aerial parts of three Artemisia species: A. kermanensis Podl., A. kopetdaghensis Krasch., M.Pop. et Lincz. ex Poljak., and A. haussknechtii Boiss. have been analyzed by a combination of GC and GC/MS. The oil of A. kermanensis and A. kopetdaghensis were rich in davanone (21.4% and 47.9%, respectively). The other main components of the oil of A. kermanensis were 1,8-cineole (16.0%) and chrysanthenone (14.8%), whereas geranial (6.5%) and ethyl nerolate (6.3%) were the other considerable compositions of A. kopetdaghensis. In the oil of A. haussknechtii, 1,8-cineole (16.5%), camphor (14.5%) and artemisia ketone (10.5%) were found to be the major constituents.

Water-distilled essential oils from the aerial parts of three Stachys species: S. asterocalyx Rech. f., S. obtusicrena Boiss., which are endemic to Iran, and S. multicaulis Benth. were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The major components of the oil of S. asterocalyx were α-bisabolol (25.1%) and linalool (18.0%). In the oil of S. obtusicrena, α-pinene (34.6%), germacrene D (8.0%) and bicyclogermacrene (7.8%) were found to be the major constituents. Bicyclogermacrene (23.0%), spathulenol (20.7%), germacrene D (12.4%) and caryophyllene oxide (11.1%) were the predominant compounds in the oil of S. multicaulis.

The composition of the essential oils from four Lamiaceae species of Iran: Salvia limbata C.A. Mey. (syn. S.chrysadenia), Stachys turcomanica Trautv., Scutellaria litwinowii Bornm. & sint.ex Bornm.(syn. S. chorassanica) and hymenocrater elegans Bunge. (syn. H. paniculata) obtained by hydrodistillation were analysed by GC and GC/MS. Germacrene D (24.5 %), (Z)-(3ocimene (14.2 %) and bicyclogermacrene (11.7 %) were the main components among the thirty-eight constituents characterized in the oil of Salvia limbata representing 98.8 % of the total components detected. Twenty-eight compounds were identified in the oil of Stachys turcomanica representing 93.0 % of the total oil with germacrene D (17.4 %), 7-epi-α-selinene (10.5 %), βelemene (9.2 %) and β-pinene (8.6 %) as the major constituents. The oil of Scutellaria litwinowii was characterized by higher amount of (E)-β-farnesene (20.3 %) and germacrene D (16.9 %) among the thirty-two components comprising 91.9 % of the total oil detected.Ninteen compo...

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the stem, leaf, flower and root of Perovskia abrotanoides Karel. and flower, leaf and stem of Mentha longifolia L. were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Camphor (41.6 %, 32.4 %, 26.2 % and 32.2 %) and 1,8-cineole (10.2 %, 32.1 %, 18.0 % and 24.5 %) were the main constituents in the stem, leaf, flower and root oils of P. abrotanoides, respectively. The other main component in the flower oil of the plant was α-pinene (16.0 %). Piperitenone oxide (73.1 % and 52.5 %) and piperitenone (11.2 % and 27.2 %) were the main constituents in the flower and leaf oils of M. longifolia, respectively. The stem oil of the plant was characterized by higher amounts of cis-piperitone oxide (25.8 %) and borneol (13.5 %). All oils consisted mainly of oxygenated monoterpenes and small percentage of sesquiterpenes.

The composition of the essential oils from three Umbelliferae species of Iran -Alococarpum erianthum (DC) H.Riedl et Kuber., Ferula ovina (Boiss.) Boiss. and Pimpinella affinis Ledeb.-were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. During the flowering period, two oils (A. erianthum and F.ovina) consisted mainly of monoterpenes, while in P. affinis oil sesquiterpenes predominated over monoterpenes. The oils of A. erianthum and F.ovina were rich in α-pinene (46.5% and 50.0%) and limonene (10.1% and 11.5%), respectively. In the oil of P. affinis, trans-α-bergamotene (56.2 %) and (E)-γ-bisabolene (11.3 %) were found to be the major constituents

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the flowers, leaves, stems and roots of Hypericum perforatum L. growing wild in the Northeast of Iran were investigated by GC and GC-MS. The major constituents of the flower and leaf oils appeared to be α-pinene (36.0 % and 14.5 %), β-selinene (10.1 % and 25.4 %) and α-selinene (10.0 % and 13.5 %), respectively. The other main component in the flower oil of the plant was β-pinene (15.5 %). Germacrene D (37.8 % and 22.2 %) was the predominant compound in the stem and root oils, respectively.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the leaves, stems and aerial parts of Artemisia ciniformis Krasch. et M. Pop. ex Poljak, and the flower, leaves and stems of Artemisia incana (L.) Druce. were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Davanone (40.1%, 32.3% and 12.6%) was the main constituent in the stem, leaf and aerial parts oils of A. ciniformis. The other main components in the aerial parts oil of the plant were myrcene (19.3%), linalool (13.5%) and camphor (13.1%). The flower, leaf and stem oils of A. incana were found to be rich in α- thujone (28.7%, 28.1% and 22.2%), 1,8-cineole (20.5%, 22.1% and 25.5%) and camphor (10.5%, 10.1% and 12.6%), respectively.

Water-distilled essential oils from the aerial parts of Artemisia turanica Krasch., Helichrysum oocephalum Boiss. and from the flower of Centaurea ispahanica Boiss. of which the latter two are endemic to Iran, were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Nineteen components of the oil of A. turanica were characterized, representing 90.6% of the total components detected. The major constituents were identified as 1.8-cineole (23.3%), chrysanthenone (21.3%) and davanone (19.3%). The oil of H. oocephalum was characterized by higher amount of β-caryophyllene (13.5%), menthone (10.8%), dodecane (9.1%) and menthol (8.9%) among the eighteen components comprising 95.6% of the total oil detected. Benzyl benzoate (26.5%), hexadecanoic acid (17.1%), benzyl salicylate (16.6%) and caryophyllene oxide (12.8%) were the main components among the thirteen constituents characterized in the flower oil of C. ispahanica representing 91.8% of the total components detected.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of the stem, leaf and flower Salvia leriifolia Benth. were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Thirty-four compounds representing 92.4 % of the stem oil of Salvia leriifolia were identified among them s-pinene (19.0 %), germacrene D (11.0 %) and o-cadinene (10.5 %) were the major ones. The leaf oil of the plant was characterized by higher amount of s-pinene (31.5 %), 1,8-cineole (24.7 %) and ot-pinene (17.5 %) among the thirty components comprising 98.9 % of the total oil detected. Twenty-seven compounds representing 95.9 % of the flower oil of the plant were identified among them y-terpinene (62.2 %) and p-cymene (11.1 %) were the major ones. The stem oil of the plant consisted mainly both monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, while in leaf and flower oils monoterpenes predominated over sesquiterpenes.

The hydrodistilled oils from the aerial parts of Ferula latisecta and Mozaffariania insignis, which is endemic to Iran, were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. (Z)-Ocimenone (32.4%), (E)-ocimenone (20.3%), and cis-pinocarvone (11.4%) were the main components among the 22 constituents characterized in the oil of F. latisecta, representing 87.7% of the total components detected. Twenty-five compounds were identified in the oil of M. insignis, representing 99.0% of the total oil, with octyl acetate (41.1%), β-pinene (30.3%), and α-pinene (23.9%) as the main constituents. The essential oils were examined for their potential antimicrobial activities.

Sixty constituents were identified in essential oil from aerial parts, leaves, flowers and roots of Artemisia persica Boiss. from Iran. The oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and the composition of the oils were analyzed by a combination of GC and GC/MS. The oils obtained from aerial parts were rich in (Z)-ocimenone (39.6%), ascaridole (16.0%) and α-terpinene (10.0%). The major components of the leaves oil were cis-sabinene hydrate (38.8%) and terpinolene (13.3%). The flowers oil was characterized by higher amounts of cis-sabinene hydrate (41.2%) and ethyl 2-nonynoate (24.4%). β-Cedren-9-one (76.7%) was the predominant compound in the roots oil.

The composition of the essential oils from three Labiatae species of Iran—Ballota aucheri Boiss., Stachys benthamiana Boiss., and Perovskia abrotanoides Karel.—obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. α-Cadinol (21.0%) and dehydroaromadendrane (11.8%) were the main components among the 37 constituents characterized in the oil of B. aucheri, representing 82.5% of the total components detected. Twenty compounds were identified in the oil of S. benthamiana, representing 91.2% of the total oil, with germacrene D (16.8%), linalool (16.6%) and β-caryophyllene (11.0%) as the major constituents. The oil of P. abrotanoides was characterized by a higher amount of 1,8-cineole (28.0%) and camphor (24.0%), among the 23 components comprising 84.3% of the total oil detected. The endemic oils (B. aucheri and S. benthamiana) consisted mainly of sesquiterpenes, while in P. abrotanoides oil monoterpenes predominated.

The water-distilled essential oils from aerial parts of Achillea pachycephala Rech.f. and Achillea oxyodonta Boiss., which are endemic to Iran, and stems, leaves and flowers of Achillea biebersteinii Afan., were analysed by GC and GC–MS. The oil of A. pachycephala was found to contain 1,8-cineole (27.7%) and camphor (27.4%) as the major constituents. The oil of A. oxyodonta was characterized by higher amounts of 1,8-cineole (38.5%) and artemisia ketone (23.0%). The oils obtained from stems and leaves of A. biebersteinii were rich in camphor (38.1% and 33.7%, respectively) and borneol (22.6% and 20.8%, respectively). The other main component of the stem oil was 1,8-cineole (13.5%). In the flower oil of the plant, camphor (36.3%) and 1,8-cineole (22.3%) were the predominant compounds. All oils were richer in oxygenated monoterpenes. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The volatiles obtained by hydrodistillation and methanol extraction of the aerial parts of Ferulago carduchorum Boiss. et Hausskn. and Levisticum officinale Koch., two Umbelliferae species of Iran, were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The oil and extract obtained by hydrodistillation and extraction of F. carduchorum were characterized by a high amount of monoterpene hydrocarbons (93.8% and 70%, respectively). The main components of the oil and extract were (Z)-β-ocimene (21.2% and 20.0%), terpinolene (13.1% and 6.0%), α-phellandrene (12.7% and 8.3%) and β-phellandrene (10.9% and 8.8%), respectively. The water distilled oil and methanol extract of the air-dried Levisticum officinale were also both rich in monoterpenes (85.8% and 52.9%, respectively). In the oil α-terpinyl acetate (40.5%) and β-phellandrene (16.7%) were the main constituents, whereas in the extract β-phellandrene (23.0%), naphtalene (20.6%) and γ-terpinene (12.1%) were the major components.

A comparison of the chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oils obtained from the aerial parts of Semenovia dichotoma (Boiss.) Manden. (which is endemic to Iran), Johreniopsis seseloides (C.A.Mey.) M.Pimen., and Bunium cylindricum (Boiss. et Hohen.) Drude were carried out. The oils were obtained by water-distillation and were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Caryophyllene oxide (25.5%) and β-pinene (10.9%) were the main components in the oil of S. dichotoma. The oil of J. seseloides was found to contain β-pinene (14.9%) and germacrene D (11.1%) as the major constituents. The major components found in the oil of B. cylindricum were myristicin (43.1%), β-phel-landrene (20.0%), β-pinene (15.6%) and α-pinene (10.7%). Antibacterial activity was determined by measurement of growth inhibitory zone.

The composition of the essential oils obtained from the flowers, leaves and stems of Artemisia campestris L. were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Nineteen compounds representing 95.4% of the oil were identified in the flower oil, 22 compounds making up 90.3% of the oil were characterized in the oil obtained from leaves, and 14 compounds representing 96.7% of the stem oil of A. campestris were identified. α-Pinene (23.9%, 23.0% and 29.2%) and spathulenol (23.9%, 15.8% and 29.2%) were the main constituents in the flower, leaf and stem oils, respectively. The other main component of the flower oil was bicyclogermacrene (12.0%) and of the leaf oil β-pinene (12.6%). No significant difference was observed between compositions of flower, leaf and stem oils.

The water distilled oils from the aerial parts of Salvia compressa Vent. collected from two different localities and Cyclotrichium leucotrichum (Stapf. ex Rech.f.) were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The main components found in the oil of S. compressa collected at Tange Malavi, 751 m (sample A) were β-caryophyllene (21.4%), α-pinene (18.4%) and caryophyllene oxide (13.2%), while in the oil of the plant collected at Mamolan to Pole Dokhtar, 927 m (sample B), β-caryophyllene (21.1%), 3-thujopsanone (15.3%), germacrene D (12.6%), bicyclogermacrene (11.6%) and nerol (10.7%) were the most abundant constituents. Both oils were richer in sesquiterpenes than monoterpenes. Linalool (38.7%), limonene (15.4%) and spathulenol (12.6%) were the predominant compounds in the oil of Cyclotrichium leucotrichum. The oil of the plant consisted mainly of monoterpenes.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts of Pimpinella anisactis Rech.f., and Pimpinella saxifraga L., were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The oil of P. anisactis was characterized by higher amounts of decanal (34.5%) and decanal (14.1%), which were among the 30 components comprising 96.3% of the total oil detected. Twenty-four compounds representing 90.0% of the oil of P. saxifraga were identified, trans-α-bergamotene (20.1%), β-sesquiphellandrene (10.8%) and β-bisabolene (10.1%) being the major ones. The composition of both oils differs quantitatively and qualitatively.

The composition of the essential oils from three Salvia species of Iran: Salvia sclareopsis Bornm. ex Hedge., Salvia brachysiphon Stapf, which are endemic to Iran, and Salvia verbascifolia M.Bieb., obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The oils of S. sclareopsis and S. verbascifolia were rich in β-caryophyllene (22.5% and 18.5%) and germacrene D (16.5% and 34.1%), respectively. The other main component of the first oil was benzyl benzoate (13.7%) and in the latter one was caryophyllene oxide (10.3%). In the oil of S. brachysiphon, also β-caryophyllene (28.1%), α-pinene (20.6%), limonene (11.5%) and β-pinene (10.6%) were found to be the major constituents.

The composition of the essential oils from the aerial parts of three Labiatae species of Iran: Teucrium persicum Boiss., Thymus caucasicus Willd. ex Ronniger subsp. grossheimii (Ronniger) Jalas. and Marrubium crassidens Boiss. obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. epi-α-Cadinol (23.2%) and α-pinene (17.3%) were the main components among the thirty-one constituents characterized in the oil of Teucrium persicum representing 95.9% of the total components detected. Seventeen compounds were identified in the oil of Thymus caucasicus representing 99.6% of the total oil with thymol (34.2%), methyl chavicol (25.1%) and γ-terpinene (12.7%) as the major constituents. The oil of Marrubium crassidens was characterized by higher amount of β-caryophyllene (20.3%), germacrene D (12.9%), caryophyllene oxide (11.1%) and cubenol (11.0%) among the fourteen compounds comprising 91.7% of the total oil detected. The oils (Teucrium persicum and Marrubium crassidens) consisted mainly of sesquiterp...

Water distilled essential oils from aerial parts of Nepeta sessilifolia Bunge, and Nepeta haussknechtii Bornm. were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Thirty-three compounds representing 97.4% of the oil of N. sessilifolia, and 27 compounds representing 94.2% of the oil of N. haussknechtii were characterized. The major components of the essential oil of N. sessilifolia were linalool acetate (14.7%) and linalool (14.2%), whereas the major components of the oil of N. haussknechtii were 1,8-cineole (36.7%) and elemol (11.4%). Both oils were richer in oxygenated monoterpenes than sesquiterpenes.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts of Salvia persepolitana Benth., which is endemic to Iran, and Salvia rhytidea Benth. were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Manool (37.3%) was the main component among the twenty-three constituents characterized in the oil of S. persepolitana representing 90.0% of the total components detected. The oil of S. rhytidea was characterized by higher amounts of terpinolene (27.0%), sabinene (17.5%) and limonene (14.9%) which were among the twenty-two components comprising 98.3% of the total oil detected.

Water-distilled essential oils from the aerial parts of Tanacetum elburensis Mozaff. and Tanacetum persicum (Boiss.) Mozaff. were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Thirty-one compounds representing 90.7% of the oil of T.elburensis were identified, among which menthyl isovalerate (20.0%) and 1,8-cineole (16.6%) were the major. The oil of T.persicum was characterized by higher amounts of borneol (24.3%), menthyl acetate (17.3%), isobornyl2-methyl butyrate (16.0%) and artedouglasia oxide D (14.3%) among the twenty-two components comprising 91.8% of the total oil detected. Both oils were richer in oxygenated monoterpenes than sesquiterpenes.

The oil obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts of Tanacetum Paradoxum Bornm. and Tanacetum tabrisianum (Boiss.) Sosn. et Takht., which are endemic to Iran, was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The oil of T paradoxum was characterized by high amounts of camphor (23.8%), lavandulyl acetate (19.1%), lavandulol (15.9%) and 1,8-cineole (13.2%), which were among the 18 components comprising 94.3% of the total oil detected. Twenty-four compounds representing 83.5% of the oil of T. tabrisianum were identified, among them caryophyllene oxide (12.0%) and spathulenol (10.3%) being the major ones.