Yield and quality of sweet basil, savory, marjoram and thyme raw materials from organic cultivation on the composted manure

W latach 2006-2007, w doświadczeniach polowych oceniono plonowanie i jakość surowców polskich odmian bazylii, cząbru, majeranku oraz tymianku uprawianych na stanowiskach w pierwszym i drugim roku po oborniku. W doświadczeniach badano następujące cechy: plon surowca świeżego oraz otartego, zawartość łodyg w surowcu, zawartość olejku eterycznego i składników mineralnych w surowcu oraz czystość mikrobiologiczną surowca. Uzyskane wyniki wskazują, że cząber, majeranek i tymianek lepiej plonowały w uprawie po oborniku. Uprawa na stanowiskach po oborniku nie wpływała na zawartość łodyg w surowców wszystkich badanych gatunków. Surowce badanych gatunków uprawiane po oborniku zawierały więcej olejków eterycznych niż pochodzące z uprawy konwencjonalnej. Surowce bazylii, majeranku i tymianku uprawiane w pierwszym roku po oborniku gromadziły najwięcej azotanów. Surowiec bazylii uprawianej po oborniku, w porównaniu z innymi gatunkami, zawierał najwięcej fosforu, potasu, wapnia, magnezu, manganu i cynku. Surowce uprawiane w pierwszym roku po oborniku charakteryzowały się zwiększoną liczbą bakterii tlenowych oraz grzybów drożdżoidalnych i pleśniowych, ale ich czystość mikrobiologiczna nie przekraczała dopuszczalnych norm.In 2006-2007, yield and quality of sweet basil, savory, marjoram and thyme raw materials cultivated in I and II years on the composted manure were evaluated in the field experiments. The following traits were estimated: yield of fresh herb, yield of dried herb without stems, stem content in herb, essential oil content, mineral elements content and microbiological contamination. Savory, marjoram and thyme cultivated on the composted manure gave better yields of herb. Cultivation on the composted manure did not affect on the content of stems in the dried herb. The raw materials of the tested herbs obtained from the field composted manure contained more essential oils in compared with these from conventional cultivation. The raw materials of sweet basil, marjoram and thyme from the first year cultivation after manure application contained more nitrate. Herb of sweet basil cultivated on the composted manure contained more phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese and zinc compared to other tested herbs. The raw materials of all herbs obtained from the first year cultivation after manure application were characterized by the highest microbiological contamination, although it was still below the accepted level of standard one

Pharmacological properties of fireweed ( Epilobium angustifolium

Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L.) is a well-known medicinal plant traditionally used in the treatment of urogenital diseases, stomach and liver disorders, skin problems, etc. E. angustifolium extracts show antiandrogenic, antiproliferative, cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial activities. The unique combination of biological properties demonstrated by the results of some studies indicates that fireweed has a positive effect in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and potentially in the prostate cancer chemoprevention. However, the efficacy of E. angustifolium phytotherapy is still poorly tested in clinical trials, while numerous beneficial effects of extracts have been documented in the in vitro and in vivo tests. Fireweed is rich in polyphenolic compounds, particularly ellagitannins. Currently, polyphenols are considered to be modulators of beneficial gut microbiota. The literature data support the use of ellagitannins in the prostate cancer chemoprevention, but caution is advised due to the highly variable production of urolithins by the individual microbiota. A better understanding of the microbiota’s role and the mechanisms of its action are crucial for an optimal therapeutic effect. This paper aims to summarize and discuss experimental data concerning pharmacological properties of E. angustifolium and bioavailability of ellagitannins – important bioactive compounds of this plant

Does time of protective procedure and genotype of chamomile affect yield?

Objective: Chamomile plants (Chamomilla recutita L. Rausch) are often attacked by pests, which usually cause the decrease of raw material yield and its quality. The objects of field trial were two chamomile cultivars: Złoty Łan (4n) and Promyk (2n) cultivated under organic regime. The aim of this study was to evaluate of impact of the spinosad treatment and its time of application on two chamomile cultivars: cv. Promyk – 2n and cv. Złoty Łan – 4n exposed to insect pests. Methods: The first treatment with spinosad as a preventative control (P) was performed in the early phase of plant development (seven leaves). Intervention (I) treatment was made in green bud phase. In both terms of observation insect pests were observed and collected. In each spraying application of 0.06 g of spinosad per 1 liter of water was used. Results: Spinosad was able to limit the number of pest population and finally increased yielding of the treated cultivars as compared to the untreated plants. Time of spinosad application for cv. Złoty Łan plants was not statistically siginificant, although was more effective for the preventative treatment of cv. Promyk in the increasing of the plant biomass (283.8 g · m-2) and seed (32 g · m-2) yields than intervention. Conclusion: Protection treatment with spinosad might be recommended in chamomile cultivation and it is more effective than intervention in diploid cultivar which begin blooming earlier than tetraploid. Essential oil content was not related with protection treatment for diploid cultivar, although intervention in tetraploid cultivar caused higher content of oil

Does time of protective procedure and genotype of chamomile affect yield?

Objective: Chamomile plants (Chamomilla recutita L. Rausch) are often attacked by pests, which usually cause the decrease of raw material yield and its quality. The objects of field trial were two chamomile cultivars: Złoty Łan (4n) and Promyk (2n) cultivated under organic regime. The aim of this study was to evaluate of impact of the spinosad treatment and its time of application on two chamomile cultivars: cv. Promyk – 2n and cv. Złoty Łan – 4n exposed to insect pests. Methods: The first treatment with spinosad as a preventative control (P) was performed in the early phase of plant development (seven leaves). Intervention (I) treatment was made in green bud phase. In both terms of observation insect pests were observed and collected. In each spraying application of 0.06 g of spinosad per 1 liter of water was used. Results: Spinosad was able to limit the number of pest population and finally increased yielding of the treated cultivars as compared to the untreated plants. Time of spinosad application for cv. Złoty Łan plants was not statistically siginificant, although was more effective for the preventative treatment of cv. Promyk in the increasing of the plant biomass (283.8 g · m-2) and seed (32 g · m-2) yields than intervention. Conclusion: Protection treatment with spinosad might be recommended in chamomile cultivation and it is more effective than intervention in diploid cultivar which begin blooming earlier than tetraploid. Essential oil content was not related with protection treatment for diploid cultivar, although intervention in tetraploid cultivar caused higher content of oil

Macroelements and essential oil content in the raw material of the selected medicinal plant species from organic cultivation

W wybranych surowcach zielarskich z rodziny jasnowatych (Lamiaceae) uzyskanych z upraw ekologicznych rozmieszczonych na terenie Polski oraz z uprawy konwencjonalnej porównywano zawartość makroskładników i olejku eterycznego. Największe ilości wszystkich badanych makroskładników stwierdzono w surowcu bazylii, najmniej natomiast N, K i Mg zawierało ziele majeranku, a N, P, Ca - ziele tymianku. Średnie zawartości makroskładników u roślin z upraw ekologicznych przekraczały zawartości składników z uprawy konwencjonalnej. Wyjątek stanowiły majeranek i tymianek w przypadku fosforu oraz bazylia, cząber i tymianek w przypadku wapnia. Zawartość olejku eterycznego w surowcach badanych gatunków pochodzących z upraw ekologicznych była większa od średnich podawanych w literaturze i za wyjątkiem bazylii przewyższała zawartości oznaczone w próbach z uprawy konwencjonalnej.The content of macroelements in the raw material of the selected medicinal plants obtained from organic and conventional cultivations was investigated. The highest content of all macroelements was found in basil, while the lowest of N, K and Mg were detected in marjoram and N, P, Ca in thyme. Average content of macroelements in raw materials from organic cultivation was higher than that from conventional cultivation

Bogactwo i zróżnicowanie gatunkowe oraz dostępność propagul grzybów arbuskularnych w monokulturach pięciu roślin leczniczych

The presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycota, AMF) in soils may be crucial for sustainable agriculture. Although AMF impact on the performance and accumulation of therapeutic compounds of several medicinal plant species has been well documented, the investigations on the influence of medicinal plants being cultivated on AMF have been insufficiently studied. The effect of three-year monocultures of mycorrhizal (Hypericum perforatum, Levisticum officinale, Mentha × citrata subsp. citrata and Thymus vulgaris) and non-mycorrhizal (Chelidonium majus) medicinal plant species on AMF propagule abundance, species richness and composition was therefore examined. The AMF non-host plant species C. majus decreased the abundance of AMF propagules in the soil, whereas the mycorrhizal plants maintained the AMF propagule potential at the same level, however, they changed the composition of AMF species. The results showed that the choice of medicinal plant species, grown even for a relatively short period of time in a monoculture, can substantially alter the AMF potential of soils which in turn can influence the performance of other medicinal plants cultivated subsequently.Obecność symbiotycznych grzybów arbuskularnych (Glomeromycota) w glebach może być istotna dla zrównoważonego rolnictwa. Chociaż wpływ tych mikroorganizmów na witalność i produkcję metabolitów wtórnych przez rośliny lecznicze był badany w ostatnich latach, niewiele wiadomo na temat oddziaływania uprawianych roślin leczniczych na te grzyby. Celem pracy było więc określenie wpływu trzyletniej uprawy mikoryzowych (Hypericum perforatum, Levisticum officinale, Mentha × citrata subsp. citrata i Thymus vulgaris) i niemikoryzowych (Chelidonium majus) gatunków roślin leczniczych na liczbę propagul, bogactwo oraz zróżnicowanie gatunkowe grzybów arbuskularnych. Uprawa C. majus spowodowała spadek liczby propagul tych mikroorganizmów w glebie. W przypadku roślin mikoryzowych dostępność propagul utrzymywała się na podobnym poziomie. Uprawiane rośliny miały jednak wpływ na skład gatunkowy grzybów arbuskularnych. Uprawa badanych roślin leczniczych na danym terenie, nawet przez stosunkowo krótki czas, wpływa na zmianę składu gatunkowego i dostępność propagul grzybów arbuskularnych w glebie, co w konsekwencji może mieć wpływ na witalność roślin leczniczych, zależnych od symbiozy mikoryzowej, uprawianych w przyszłości na tym terenie