Lyle E. Craker

Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

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Fate of Air Pollutants: Removal of Ethylene, Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide by Soil

The ultimate sink for many air pollutants is unknown. Data are presented here in support of the idea that reaction with soil, through microbial or chemical means, can remove ethylene, other hydrocarbons, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide from the air.

Ethylene production from ozone injured plants

Abstract Tomato, tobacco, and bean plants treated with ozone had increased rates of ethylene production. Ethylene accumulation from ozone injured plants kept in a closed atmosphere reached physiologically active concentrations after 2 to 4 hours. These results indicate that some responses of plant tissue to ozone fumigation may be due to active production of ethylene by the injured tissue.

Effects of drying methods on qualitative and quantitative properties of essential oil of two basil landraces

Sweet basil, a plant that is extensively cultivated in some countries, is used to enhance the flavour of salads, sauces, pasta and confectioneries as both a fresh and dried herb. To determine the effect of drying methods on qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the plant and essential oil of basil, two landraces, Purple and Green, were dried in sunlight, shade, mechanical ovens at 40 °C and 60 °C, a microwave oven at 500 W and by freeze-drying. For comparison, the essential oils of all samples were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed using GC and GC-MS. The highest essential oil yields (v/w on dry weight basis) were obtained from shade-dried tissue in both landraces followed by the freeze-dried sample of the purple landrace and the fresh sample of green landrace. Increasing the drying temperature significantly decreased the essential oil content of all samples. Significant changes in the chemical profile of the essential oils from each of the landrace were associated with the drying method, including the loss of most monoterpene hydrocarbons, as compared with fresh samples. No significant differences occurred among several constituents in the extracted essential oils, including methyl chavicol (estragole), the major compound in the oil of both landraces, whether the plants were dried in the shade or sun, oven at 40 °C or freeze-dried, as compared with a fresh sample. The percentage methyl chavicol in the oil, however, decreased significantly when the plant material was dried in the oven at 60 °C or microwaved. In addition, linalool, the second major compound in the purple landrace, and geranial and neral, major compounds in the green landrace, decreased significantly when the plant tissue was dried in the oven at 60 °C or microwaved.

MEDICINAL PLANTS USED IN RUSSIA AND CENTRAL ASIA FOR THE TREATMENT OF SELECTED SKIN CONDITIONS

ABSTRACT Russia and Central Asia are geographically located in the heart of the Eurasian continent. The Russian landscape is generally composed of hardwood and softwood forests, while in the Central Asian countries of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Tadjikstan, and parts of Mongolia and China, mountains, steppes, and deserts are the primary landforms. The flora of Russia and Central Asia contains approximately 300 species of plants that have been used in prescription and non-prescription pharmaceutical preparations, while nearly 2500 plants are known to have been used in traditional medicine. This paper reviews the plants used in both traditional and non-prescription pharmaceutical remedies for the treatment of allergic rashes, skin irritations, boils, wounds, dermatitis, and pyoderma.

Aromatic plant production on metal contaminated soils.

Field and container experiments were conducted to assess the feasibility of growing aromatic crops in metal contaminated areas and the effect of metals on herbage and oil productivity. The field experiments were conducted in the vicinities of the Non-Ferrous Metals Combine (Zn-Cu smelter) near Plovdiv, Bulgaria using coriander, sage, dill, basil, hyssop, lemon balm, and chamomile grown at various distances from the smelter. Herbage essential oil yields of basil, chamomile, dill, and sage were reduced when they were grown closer to the smelter. Metal removal from the site with the harvestable plant parts was as high as 180 g ha(-1) for Cd, 660 g ha(-1) for Pb, 180 g ha(-1) for Cu, 350 g ha(-1) for Mn, and 205 g ha(-1) for Zn. Sequential extraction of soil demonstrated that metal fractionation was affected by the distance to the smelter. With decreasing distance to the smelter, the transfer factor (TF) for Cu and Zn decreased but increased for Cd, while the bioavailability factor (BF) for Cd, Pb, Cu, Mn, and Zn decreased. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalyses of contaminated soil verified that most of the Pb, Cd, Mn, Cu, and Zn were in the form of small (<1 microm) particles, although there were larger particles (1-5 microm) with high concentrations of individual metals. This study demonstrated that high concentrations of heavy metals in soil or growth medium did not result in metal transfer into the essential oil. Of the tested metals, only Cu at high concentrations may reduce oil content. Our results demonstrated that aromatic crops may not have significant phytoremediation potential, but growth of these crops in metal contaminated agricultural soils is a feasible alternative. Aromatic crops can provide economic return and metal-free final product, the essential oil.

Influence of Salt Stress on Growth and Essential Oil Production in Peppermint, Pennyroyal, and Apple Mint

ABSTRACT The effect of salt stress on the growth and chemical composition of the essential oils of peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.), pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium L.) and apple mint (Mentha suaveolens Ehrh.) was investigated. Plantings in a greenhouse were irrigated with full-strength Hoaglunds solution containing 0, 1.5, 3.0, or 4.5 g/L− 1 of NaCl for 74 days. Under salt stress, reduced growth was observed in all three species, although differences in sensitivity to the stress were noted. The fresh weight of apple mint was reduced more, as compared with respective untreated controls, than the other tested species at all the tested salinity levels. Essential oil yields per plant under salt stress were reduced in all three species, as compared with untreated controls not under salt stress. The lower oil yields were a function of smaller plant size and, for peppermint and apple mint, the lower concentration of oil within the tissue as compared with untreated controls. In pennyroyal, the oil concentration in the plant tissue under salt stress increased as compared with untreated controls, suggesting that oil synthesis and/or oil degradation processes were less sensitive to salt stress than similar processes in peppermint and apple mint. Within the essential oil, the relative level for various constituents increased, decreased, or did not change in all three tested plant species under salt stress as compared with nonstressed control plants.

Chemical composition and bioactivity of essential oils of Hypericum helianthemoides. Hypericum perforatum and Hypericum scabrum

Abstract Context: A number Hypericum species are well known for their therapeutic efficacy and use in traditional medicine. The various species of Hypericum have been traditionally used for the treatment of wounds, eczema, burns, trauma, rheumatism, neuralgia, gastroenteritis, ulcers, hysteria, bedwetting and depression. Objective: This study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant, antibacterial and phytochemical properties of essential oils of Hypericum helianthemoides (Spach) Boiss., Hypericum perforatum L. and Hypericum scabrum L. (Hypericaceae) collected from alpine region of Southwest Iran. Materials and methods: The essential oils obtained from dried flowering aerial parts of three Hypericum species were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to determine chemical compositions. The antibacterial activity of essential oils within concentration ranges from 16 to 500 µg/mL was individually evaluated against Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes. Proteus vulgaris and Salmonella typhimurium. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrilhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of essential oils was determined using DPPH assay. Results: Essential oil yield of H. helianthemoides. H. scabrum and H. perforatum were 0.12, 0.20 and 0.21 mL/100 g dried material, respectively. The major constituents of the essential oils were α-pinene (12.52–49.96%), β-pinene (6.34–9.70%), (E)-β-ocimene (4.44–12.54%), β-caryophyllene (1.19–5.67%), and germacrene-D (2.34–6.92%). The essential oils of three Hypericum species indicated moderate-to-good inhibitory activities against four bacteria, especially against L. monocytogenes. Discussion and conclusion: The essential oils of the three studied Hypericum species sourced in alpine region of West Iran were rich in monoterpene and sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons. Among the three tested species, the essential oil of H. scabrum showed the highest antibacterial and antioxidant activities.

Buffering of acid rain by leaf tissue of selected crop plants

Abstract The buffering ability of leaf tissue of several crop plants was evaluated by placing sections of leaves in a simulated, sulphuric acid rain solution. Changes in the pH of the solution were followed for up to 4 h with large differences in acid buffering among the plants being measured. It is hypothesized that the buffering could protect crop plants from extensive acid rain injury.

Bean growth and light interception in a bean-maize intercrop☆

Abstract Bean-maize intercrop plantings increase light interception and decrease light reflection as compared with bean monocrop plantings. However, the quantity of light available to the bean canopy is decreased as the maize population is increased. Growth and yield of bean plants are reduced in the intercrop as compared with bean monocrop. Reductions in leaf area index, growth rate, and net assimilation rate of beans were found under high maize populations as compared with bean monocrop.