Evaluation of Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Content, Antioxidant Capacity and Resveratrol of Selected Medicinal Plants of Northern Iran

Medicinal plants are source of bioactive molecules with antioxidant activity, which are well-known due to their health effects. Identification and quantitation of these compounds helps to evaluate the therapeutic properties of medicinal herbs. In this study total phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant capacity and resveratrol in fourteen species were estimated using Folin-Ciocalteu method, aluminium chloride colorimetric assay, DPPH radical scavenging capacity and liquid chromatography, respectively. Among plant materials the highest total phenolic was observed in Iranian barberry (Berberis integerrima Bunge.) and the highest total flavonoid was recorded in persicaria bistorta (Polygonum bistorta L.), while remarkable high antioxidant capacity was noticed in small-flowered black hawthorn (Crataeagus pyntagyna Waldst. & Kit. ex Willd). Wild grape (Vitis vinifera L. ssp. silvestris) was the richest source of trans-resveratrol (14.0±0.90 mg/100g DW). Further studies of these herbs would help knowing pharmaceutical potential of the northern Iran plants

Selection of Promising Early Ripening Progenies and Assessment of Earliness Heritability in the Breeding Program of Apple

The experiment was conducted on 560 apple progenies, 6 and 7-year-old, in a pre- ultimate selection of breeding program for early and mid-early cultivars in 2014-2015. The progenies were assessed for crop bearing precocity, pomologic, organoleptic characteristics and ripening time as well as bloom beginning, flowering period, yield per tree and tree vigor. The initial screening was performed based on ripening time, yield per tree and tree vigor. The selected 63 progenies with the highest performance were then classified in 9 distinct ripening groups by use of a modified ripening phenology scale of apple descriptor (D.U.S). Overall, 53 hybrids were individuated as very early, early, mid-early and mid-ripening fruits with high fruit acceptability. The selected hybrids benefitted both lofty bloom densities and low to moderate tree vigor. The progeny classification was achieved also by cluster analysis for which were formed 3 distinct groups and more sub-clusters. Nine early-ripening, high-yielding with moderate to weak vigor were native half-sib progeny of newly released ‘Sharbati’, ‘Sheikh Ahmed’ and red big fruit sized ‘Heidarzadeh’, together with introduced ‘Jonathan’, ‘Yellow Spur’ and ‘Glockenapfel’ parents. ‘Sheikh Ahmed’ progenies had the highest frequency. Some superior types as the full-sib ‘Heidarzadeh’בEarly Red One’ were also individuated

Evaluation of fatty acid content and nutritional properties of selected native and imported hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) varieties grown in Iran

Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) is one of the most important nuts rich in valuable nutrients. In this study chemical composition of Two Iranian native varieties namely ‘Pashmineh’ and ‘Garche’ and four imported varieties, ‘Ghafghaze’, ‘Zakatala’, ‘Ronde dupimont’ and ‘Fertile decotard’ were taken under investigation. The main fatty acid in hazelnut varieties were oleic (71.02%) and linoleic acid (14.45%). The hazelnut varieties showed oil content in a range from 53.36% to 63.5%; protein, 16.03-23.26%; energy, 653.4-707.65%; ash, 2.46-3.5%; carbohydrate, 13.16-20.14%; total phenolic content, 6.4-16.42 mg GAE /g; antioxidant capacity, 57.17-72.38%; oleic acid, 64.17 - 81.34%; Linoleic acid, 10 –21.07%; Linolenic acid, 0 – 2%; myristic acid, 0 – 0.5 %; stearic acid, 0 – 7.8%; eicosenoic acid, 0 – 1.69%; palmitic acid, 0.49 – 9.61%; palmitoleic acid, 0 – 1.6 % and behenic acid, 0 – 0.25%

Shelf Life Quality Changes of ´Camarosa´ Strawberry Fruit in Response to Persian and Wild Sage Gums Application

Given the high perishability of strawberry fruit, the edible coating will maintain its postharvest quality. Edible coatings have gained considerable attention due to their ability to extend fruits shelf life. Therefore, in this study two edible coatings were prepared using 0.5 and 1.0% (w/v) of Persian gum and 0.2 and 0.5% (w/v) of wild sage to maintain the shelf-life quality of \u27Camarosa\u27 strawberry fruit during 9 days of storage at 20 °C. It was found that fruit firmness, titrable acidity (TA), total anthocyanin, total carotenoid, protein, vitamin C and total antioxidant activity showed a decreasing trend during 9 days of shelf life, while weight loss, total soluble solids (TSS), TSS/TA, total phenolic content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), pectin methylesterase (PME) and polygalacturonase activity (PG) activity significantly increased. Fruits coated with Persian and wild sage gums had higher firmness, TA, total anthocyanin, total carotenoid, protein, vitamin C, total phenolic content, total antioxidant activity, SOD and CAT activity along with lower weight loss and PME and PG activity. The results suggested that Persian and wild sage gums especially at 1.0 and 0.5% (respectively) could be successfully employed to maintaining \u27Camarosa\u27 strawberry quality up to 9 days of shelf life

Shelf Life Quality Changes of ´Camarosa´ Strawberry Fruit in Response to Persian and Wild Sage Gums Application

Given the high perishability of strawberry fruit, the edible coating will maintain its postharvest quality. Edible coatings have gained considerable attention due to their ability to extend fruits shelf life. Therefore, in this study two edible coatings were prepared using 0.5 and 1.0% (w/v) of Persian gum and 0.2 and 0.5% (w/v) of wild sage to maintain the shelf-life quality of \u27Camarosa\u27 strawberry fruit during 9 days of storage at 20 °C. It was found that fruit firmness, titrable acidity (TA), total anthocyanin, total carotenoid, protein, vitamin C and total antioxidant activity showed a decreasing trend during 9 days of shelf life, while weight loss, total soluble solids (TSS), TSS/TA, total phenolic content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), pectin methylesterase (PME) and polygalacturonase activity (PG) activity significantly increased. Fruits coated with Persian and wild sage gums had higher firmness, TA, total anthocyanin, total carotenoid, protein, vitamin C, total phenolic content, total antioxidant activity, SOD and CAT activity along with lower weight loss and PME and PG activity. The results suggested that Persian and wild sage gums especially at 1.0 and 0.5% (respectively) could be successfully employed to maintaining \u27Camarosa\u27 strawberry quality up to 9 days of shelf life

Phytochemical Attributes of Some Dried Fig (Ficus carica L.) Fruit Cultivars Grown in Iran

In the present study, total phenolic, total flavonoids, total anthocyanins, total antioxidant capacity, total soluble solids, colour parameters (such as L*, a*, b*, C*, and H°) and phenolic compounds, including catechin, total catechin, quercetin-3- glucoside, total quercetin, and chlorogenic acid of nine dried fig fruit cultivars in Fars province, Iran, were studied since only limited information on that topic is available in the literature. Results showed that the total phenolic content in ‘Khafrak’ cultivar was significantly higher than other examined cultivars. Regarding to the values of total antioxidant capacity, there were no statistically significant differences among the majority of cultivars except between ‘Khafrak’ and ‘Rowno’. Except for ‘Khafrak’ and ‘Rowno’, TF content in ‘Sigoto’ was significantly higher than the other examined cultivars. Anthocyanin content in all cultivars was negligible and it was not detected in some cultivars. Based on colorimetric results, the lightest skin color was observed in ‘Shahanjir’, while the darker color was in ‘Seyah’. Significant differences were determined among the cultivars with respect to the distribution of phenolic compounds. Catechin and total quercetin contents in ‘Matti’ were significantly higher than the other examined cultivars. Results suggest that chlorogenic acid played a trifling role in determination of antioxidant capacity of the fruits. In addition, the cluster analysis based on Euclidean distance with Unweighted pair-group method using arithmetic average (UPGMA) method separated the cultivars into three main groups

Selection of Promising Early Ripening Progenies and Assessment of Earliness Heritability in the Breeding Program of Apple

The experiment was conducted on 560 apple progenies, 6 and 7-year-old, in a pre- ultimate selection of breeding program for early and mid-early cultivars in 2014-2015. The progenies were assessed for crop bearing precocity, pomologic, organoleptic characteristics and ripening time as well as bloom beginning, flowering period, yield per tree and tree vigor. The initial screening was performed based on ripening time, yield per tree and tree vigor. The selected 63 progenies with the highest performance were then classified in 9 distinct ripening groups by use of a modified ripening phenology scale of apple descriptor (D.U.S). Overall, 53 hybrids were individuated as very early, early, mid-early and mid-ripening fruits with high fruit acceptability. The selected hybrids benefitted both lofty bloom densities and low to moderate tree vigor. The progeny classification was achieved also by cluster analysis for which were formed 3 distinct groups and more sub-clusters. Nine early-ripening, high-yielding with moderate to weak vigor were native half-sib progeny of newly released ‘Sharbati’, ‘Sheikh Ahmed’ and red big fruit sized ‘Heidarzadeh’, together with introduced ‘Jonathan’, ‘Yellow Spur’ and ‘Glockenapfel’ parents. ‘Sheikh Ahmed’ progenies had the highest frequency. Some superior types as the full-sib ‘Heidarzadeh’בEarly Red One’ were also individuated

An investigation on some medicinal compounds and PAL activity in two olive cultivars under cold stress

Olive (Olea europaea L.) is an evergreen tree, traditionally cultivated in the Mediterranean area. Olive tree cultivation is curtailed in cold areas because they can rarely tolerate temperatures at and below -12°C. In recent years, because of high demands for olive oil and its fruit, the cultivation of olive trees has been increased in Iran. To investigate the impact of cold stress on the content of total phenol, antioxidant activity and three major phenolic compounds including oleuropein, hydroxyl tyrosol and tyrosol and also phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL) activity, one-year old olive cultivars of Sevillana and Frantoio were exposed to low temperatures of 10, 5, 0, -5, -10, -15, -20 and control 20°C for 12 h, gradually. The results indicated that total phenol content, antioxidant activity and PAL activity were increased under cold stress in both investigated cultivars. However, PAL activity in Sevillana showed significant decrease at and below -5°C while in Frantoio cultivar there was significant dwindling blew -10°C. Oleuropein content significantly increased during cold stress but, tyrosol and hydroxy tyrosol content decreased in both cultivars compared with the controls. According to the current results, Frantoio and Sevillana showed different resistance under cold stress, so that Frantoio was more resistant than Sevillana

Evaluation of pre-harvest foliar calcium applications on 'Fuji' apple fruit quality during cold storage

Abstract In this study, calcium chloride (CaCl 2 ) and two organic calcium compounds including Calcicat® and Folical® and water (as control) were applied at four different spray programs (All-season, Early, Mid and Late season spray) at the Abhar region in Iran during 2012 and compared. 6-year-old 'Standard Fuji' trees grafted on 'MM106' rootstock were used in this study. All spray programs involved 6 biweekly sprays. Fruits harvested at commercial maturity stage and stored at commercial cold storage at 0 º C and RH 95%. Overall, all treated fruits received Late season CaCl 2 had higher Ca content, lower K/Ca and (K+Mg)/Ca ratios, and fruits treated with Folical Mid season had lower Ca, higher K/Ca and (K+Mg)/Ca ratios. Yield efficiency (No. of fruits per cm 2 trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA)) and fresh fruit weight was affected by preharvest treatments. Ca application resulted in reduced yield efficiency. SSC, TA and flesh firmness were affected by Ca application and spray programs at harvest and during 3 and 6 months storage. Control fruits in All-season spray program had highest content of SSC and fruits received CaCl 2 Early had lowest SSC at harvest. Folical Allseason resulted in fruits with higher acidity than its control. Fruits treated with Calcicat Early had lower acidity. During 3 and 6 months cold storage, SSC increased and TA decreased. During 6 months storage, Calcicat All-season had higher SSC. Fruits received early season CaCl 2 had more acidity than other treatments. All-season spray of Calcicat resulted in fruits with higher firmness than other treatments. The flesh firmness during 3 and 6 months storage decreased. According to the obtained data this reduction had not specific trend among treatments

Identification of E. coli O157:H7 by Using Specific Primers for rfbE and stx2b Genes

Background: E. coli O157:H7 is one of the intestinal pathogens which causes serious lesion in gastrointestinal system. Detection of this bacteria that able to produce toxin and is the major responsible for hospital infection, usually done by culture on sorbitol-MacConkey agar which is time-consuming test. The aim of this study was the preparation a fast and precise method in order to identification of this bacterium by molecular method based on PCR technique. Material and Methods: rfbE and stx2b genes were selected for proprietary identification of E. coli O157:H7 and the amplification of them were performed by PCR following designing specific primers. Sorbitol-MacConkey agar was used to verification of growth ability of selected colonies during PCR. Results: By appearance of the bonds belong to rfbE and stx2B genes on agarose gel, the ability of designed primers in gene detection in samples of E .coli O157:H7 was verified. Colonies which selected during PCR have growth potency on sorbitol-MacConkey agar medium. Conclusion: It was revealed that we can prepare a fast, precise and relative comfortable method for detection of E. coli O157:H7 strain by using PCR technique and specific primers than other available methods