Evaluation of Persian Shallot (Allium hirtifolium) Ecotypes for Phytochemical Components and Antioxidant Activity

Phytochemical constituents, such as total phenol, allicin and pyrovic acid as well as antioxidant activity of thirteen ecotypes of Allium hirtifolium Boiss. from different regions of Iran were evaluated. Average contents of total phenol, allicin and pyrovic acid of bulbs extracts per g fresh weight were 0.647 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE), 2.127 mg and 84.412 µmol, respectively and antioxidant activity was 63.717%. The ecotypes that exhibited greater contents of studied phytochemicals consequently possessed higher antioxidant activities. Among the analyzed antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase activity was present in the greatest quantity (61.501 U mg-1 protein), followed by ascorbate peroxidase (54.182 U mg-1 protein), polyphenol oxidase (46.219 U mg-1 protein), peroxidase (1.972 U mg-1 protein) and catalase (0.49 U mg-1 protein). Correlation analysis showed the accumulation of A. hirtifolium phytochemicals was associated with mean annual temperatures and precipitation. Cluster analysis on phytomedical characters arranged the ecotypes in five groups. The ecotypes of group D presented by Isfahan ecotypes showed the highest pharmaceutical potential which could be considered in future breeding programs. The ecotype groups were not strictly concordant with their bioclimatic or geographic location, so it can be concluded that the genetic factors as well as environmental factors affected the antioxidant capacity of A. hirtifolium ecotypes

The Effect of Aminolevulinic Acid on Physiological and Biochemical Characters of Red-fleshed Apple (Malus sp. Genotype R1R1) under Salinity Stress

The present study was conducted to evaluate the ameliorating effect of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) on physiological and biochemical changes of induced NaCl-salinity stress on in vitro shoot and callus cultured of red-fleshed apple. Shoot and callus segments of the red-flesh apple of Local Iranian genotype were cultured on MS medium containing different levels of NaCl (0, 30, 60 and 90 mM) and ALA (0, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 µM). Physiological and biochemical variations of treated explants with or without NaCl and ALA treatments were recorded. In both explants, salinity reduced chlorophyll and carotenoids contents, but the activities of antioxidant enzymes and accumulation of total phenol and anthocyanin increased with increasing salinity level (90mM). Exogenous ALA in 5 and particularly in 10 µM was effective in enhancing chlorophyll and carotenoids contents, increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and accumulating of total phenol and anthocyanin. These results indicate that ALA has a powerful salinity-ameliorating potential on in vitro cultured shoot and callus of Iranian red-fleshed apple

Optimization of micropropagation by different concentration of vitamins and sucrose in St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

In order to approach optimal micropropagation of Hypericum perforatum, it will be necessary to optimize shoot proliferation stage in in vitro culture. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different concentrations of B group vitamins; Thiamine HCl, Pyridoxine HCl, Nicotinic acid (control and 100 fold of MS) and Sucrose (30 and 40 g.l−1) on shoot proliferation. For this purpose, Stems with one node were taken from in vitro shoots and cultured on MS medium. All cultures kept at 16h light/8h photoperiod and 25 ±2 °C in growth chamber. Results showed that the highest number of shoots and leaves were achieved when explants cultured in media containing 40 g.l−1 sucrose with 100 fold of MS vitamins. The highest shoots and leaf length were obtained with medium supplemented with 30 g.l−1 sucrose. Nicotinic acid concentrations had an important role in length of the leaves. The highest number of nodes achieved in the media containing 40 g.l−1 sucrose with both concentrations of Nicotinic acid. After two month growing plantlets, light (LGN) and dark glands number (DGN) were counted. Maximum number of LGN was observed in the media containing 30 g.l−1 sucrose with 100 fold of Thiamine and Pyridoxine. However, The Highest number of DGN achieved in the media containing 40 g.l−1 sucrose with 100 fold of Thiamine or Pyridoxine. Increasing of sucrose and vitamins concentrations were efficiently improved in vitro proliferation and some morphological attributes without negative side effects. Therefore, use of high levels of sucrose and vitamins were useful on micro-propagation of Hypericum perforatum

In Vitro Micropropagation and Alkaloid Production of Galanthus transcaucasicus Fomin

Background: In this study we report the production and identification of alkaloid compounds from tissue culture derived from bulb scales of Galanthus transcaucasicus Fomin (Amaryllidaceae), a medicinally important plant. Methods: Explants were prepared from bulb scales of G. transcaucasicus in vitro. The alkaloid compounds were extracted and analyzed by GC/MS. Results: Isolation of the alkaloid fraction of the produced bulblets and its GC/MS analysis led to the identification of an Amaryllidaceae alkaloid homolycorin. Moreover, galantamine was not detected in the alkaloid fraction. Conclusion: At the present study we report the first micropropagation work on G. transcaucasicus together with the isolation of alkaloid homolycorine from in vitro produced bulblets. The results indicated that G. transcaucasicus bulblets produce Amaryllidaceae alkaloids and could be a new source of bioactive compounds for possible pharmaceutical applications. Also, described method could be used for micropropagation of plantlets from G. transcaucasicus