Background and Objective: Dermatophytosis is a significant skin disease in humans and animals, with increasing resistance to conventional treatments. This study aimed to determine the antifungal activity of petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and hydroethanol extracts from the aerial parts of ARTEMISIA KHORASSANICA, ARTEMISIA scoparia, and ARTEMISIA vulgaris against common dermatophytic fungi, including Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton verrucosum, Epidermophyton floccosum, and Microsporum canis. Methods: This descriptive study examined the antifungal activity of various extracts from the aerial parts of ARTEMISIA KHORASSANICA, ARTEMISIA scoparia, and ARTEMISIA vulgaris against fungal isolates of Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton verrucosum, Microsporum canis, and Epidermophyton floccosum. The aerial parts of the three ARTEMISIA species were extracted using five solvents: petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and 50% hydroethanol. The extracts were screened for antidermatophytic effects against the fungi mentioned above, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using the agar dilution method. The most active extracts underwent preliminary phytochemical testing. Results: In the initial screening, Microsporum canis and Trichophyton verrucosum showed the highest sensitivity (86. 66%) and resistance (100%) to the tested extracts, respectively. Extracts from ARTEMISIA scoparia exhibited the broadest range of activity. The most effective extracts, with an MIC of 78. 12 µg/ml, were also from this plant. Hydroethanol extracts from all plant species demonstrated the least antidermatophytic activity. Preliminary phytochemical studies revealed the presence of terpenoids in all petroleum ether and dichloromethane extracts of the plant species. Conclusion: Some lipophilic compounds, particularly in the petroleum ether and dichloromethane extracts of ARTEMISIA scoparia, exhibit significant in vitro antidermatophytic activity.

Studying the interaction between range plants increase our knowledge on the ecosystem functions. The balance between competition and facilitation was studied between a semi-shrub (ARTEMISIA KHORASSANICA Podl.) and a perennial grass (Bromus kopetdaghensis Drobov.) in Baharkish rangelands, Quchan, Iran. Sampling was carried out where both species were growing alone, or the perennial grass was growing under canopy of the perennial shrub. Measurements were conducted at the early growth, full vegetative or flowering stages of A. KHORASSANICA. In the early growth season, higher soil moisture, and lower MDA and H2O2 were found for the understory than open space, indicating facilitative effects of shrub on the grass. The reverse results were found during summer times, which were interpreted as competitive interaction. The grass individuals also could affect soil moisture and physiological performances of the nurse shrub, with their effect being negative during both early and late growth season. In conclusion, results of this experiment suggest a tradeoff in the positive (facilitation) and negative (competition) interactions between A. KHORASSANICA and B. kopetdaghensis. The type of relationship between the nurse shrub and its understory grass depends on the soil moisture availability during different times of a growth season.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimalarial effects of Iranian flora ARTEMISIA KHORASSANICA against Plasmodium berghei in vivo and pharmacochemistry of its natural components.Methods: The aerial parts of Iranian flora A. khorasanica were collected at flowering stage from Khorassan Province, northeastern Iran in 2008. They were air-dried at room temperature; powder was macerated in methanol and the extract defatted in refrigerator, filtered, diluted with water, then eluted with n-hexane and finally non-polar components were identified through Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS). Toxicity of herbal extracts was assessed on naïve NMRI mice, and its anti-malarial efficacy was investigated on infected Plasmodium berghei animals. This is the first application on A. khorssanica extract for treatment of murine malaria. The significance of differences was determined by Analysis of Variances (ANOVA) and Student’s t-test using Graph Pad Prism Software.Results: The herbal extract was successfully tested in vivo for its anti-plasmodial activity through artemisin composition, which is widely used as a standard malaria treatment.Conclusion: Although, this study confirmed less anti-malarial effects of A. khorssanica against murine malaria in vivo, however there are some evidences on reducing pathophysiology by this medication. In complementary assay, major components were detected by GC-MS analysis in herbal extract including chrysanthenone (7.8%), palmitic acid (7.4%) and cis-thujone (5.8%). The most retention indices of the component are given as n-eicosane, palmitic acid and n-octadecane.

Introdution: Recently, the biosynthesis of nanoparticles and the use of medicinal plants for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has attracted researchers due to its low cost and eco-friendly characteristics. The aim of this study was to synthesis of AgNPs using ARTEMISIA KHORASSANICA and analysis of its antibacterial and anti-cancer activities. Methods: In this experimental study, ethanolic extract of A. KHORASSANICA was prepared and AgNPs was synthesized. Subsequently, Antibacterial and anti-cancer activities of AgNPs on lung cancer cell line were assessed using microdilution and MTT methods, respectively. Finally, the Bax and Bcl2 apoptotic gene expression was analyzed via Real Time PCR. Results: The result of antibacterial activity showed that the AgNPs had a significant effect on gram negative bacteria. In addition to, AgNPs in 100 μ g/mL had significant cytotoxic effect to lung cancer cell line. The statistical analysis of Real Time PCR results by one-way ANOVA test indicated that the Bax and Bcl2 gene expression were 3. 03± 0. 67 (P<0. 001) up-regulated and 0. 38± 0. 15 (P<0. 001) down-regulated, respectively. Conclusion: The results show that the biosynthesis of AgNPs using A. KHORASSANICA extract is low-cost and simple and due to its antibacterial and anticancer activities can be used as drug candidate.

ARTEMISIA is a widely distributed genus from Asteraceae. Some species of the genus despite having allelopathic effects, provide favorable microclimatic conditions for the establishment of range plants under its canopy. Therefor, study of nurse plant, s allelopathic effect such as ARTEMISIA korassanica Krasch. on understory like Bromus kopetdaghensis Drobov. is necessary. In this research, sampling was carried out in a range site in Baharkish, Ghochan by systemic randomized method at four different stages of the growth and development of shoot and root of A. KHORASSANICA. we studied effect of water extraction on level (3% W/ V) of shoot and root of A. KHORASSANICA on dry weight, chlorophyll content and soluble carbohydrate content of the shoot and root in B. kopetdaghensis seedling, and also we studied the amount of phenolic compounds and their changes during the different stages of growth and development in A. KHORASSANICA. Results indicated that shoot extract of ARTEMISIA had stronger inhibitory effect than the root extract and caused significant decrease on thedry weight and growth of leaf and root in B. kopetdaghensis. Total phenolics content in shoot extract as well as its inhibitor effect decreased gradually from the beginning towards the end of growth season. According to the results of the present research, it seems that the most suitable time for planting of Bromus seeds under the ARTEMISIA canopies is in October, when ARTEMISIA plants are in the seed rippening stage.

n the present study, lethal and sublethal effects of essential oils of ARTEMISIA KHORASSANICA Podi, Carum carvi L. and Piper nigrum L. was assessed on number of parameters of Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller). The lethal concentrations (LC50) of essential oils were determined on the adults. Sublethal concentration (LC20) of essentials decreased the amount of life expectancy (ex), and showed different changes on the survival rate (lx) and reproductive value (vx) in comparison with the control. A. KHORASSANICA essential oil in comparison with two the other essential oils decreased the population growth parameters such as gross reproduction rate (GRR), net reproduction rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and finite rate of increase (λ ) and increased the mean generation time (T) significantly. The essential oil of A. KHORASSANICA had the most effective on biological parameters such as larval duration, immature stages, female longevity, the fecundity and fertility. The essential oil of A. KHORASSANICA decreased the amounts of pupal protein (489. 2 ± 20. 86 µ g/pupa), lipid (812. 40 ± 48. 70 μ g/pupa) and glycogen (96. 4 ± 5. 51 µ g/pupa) of pupae compared with the control (606. 8 ± 28. 38, 941. 80 ± 54. 97 and 150. 40 ± 15. 09 µ g/pupa, respectively). Chemical composition analysis of the essential oils showed that camphor and 1, 8-cineol in A. KHORASSANICA and 2-methyl-3-phenyle propane in C. carvi and P. nigrum had the most amount. Considering the lethal and sublethal effects of essential oils, performing additional research achieving their application in the management of pest is recommended.

Onosma KHORASSANICA is described from Khorasan Province and compared with its related taxon. Its illustration is also presented herewith.