In order to inhibit the oxidation of lipids, improve the oxidative stability of foods and to minimize the hazard risk to human health, antioxidants are added to food materials in industrial processing. In this work, the antioxidant potential of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), ajowan (Carum copticum) and zataria (Zataria multiflora Boiss. ) essential oils (EOs) at different concentrations (0, 1 and 1. 5%) on free fatty acid content (FFA), peroxide value (PV) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) of grape seed oil stored at 60º C was evaluated. Ajowan treated samples (1. 5%) showed the lowest (1. 02%) and zataria treated samples (1%) expressed the highest (1. 19%) FFA value among EO-treated samples. Samples treated with 1. 5% cinnamon showed the lowest PV (69. 5 meq O2/ kg) at the end of the storage period. Following control, the highest PV was seen in samples treated with zataria (1%). Grape seed oil samples treated with 1 and 1. 5% cinnamon showed the lowest TBARS values during the whole storage period (one month). TBARS of zataria treated samples increased slightly toward the end of storage and a similar trend in TBARS was observed for samples treated with ajowan. The antioxidant activity of EOs in grape seed oil followed in descending order was cinnamon, ajowan, and zataria.

Gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were employed to determine the chemical composition of essential oil obtained from dry fruits of Carum copticum. Thymol (36.7%), Y-terpinene (36.5%) and ρ-cymene (21.1%) were found to be the major constituents of the oil. The anti-bacterial activities of the oil were mainly investigated against food poisoning bacteria (Salmonella thyphimorium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Entero-pathogenic Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus) by broth microdilution and agar diffusion methods. The oil exhibited significant antibacterial activities against all the examined bacteria. In conclusion, the results of this study showed that the oil of Ajowan is rich in monoterpenes and it may be used as a natural anti-bacterial agent in drug and food industries.

To investigate the effect of vermicompost, N fertilizer and their integration on growth, biological and essential yields oil and its components in two populations (Varamin and Isfahan), an experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the field of Isfahan Medicinal Plants Research Center in 2016. Fertilizer treatments including 100% urea, vermicompost 33.3 and urea 66.6%, vermicompost 66.6 and urea 33.3%, 100% vermicompost and control treatment (without fertilizer) as the first factor and Varamin and Isfahan populations as the second factor were selected. The results showed that the interaction effects of nitrogen fertilizer and populations on all studied traits were significant. In both populations, nitrogen fertilizer improved height, biological and essential oil yields, content of essential oil compounds (d-Carvone and its yield, α-phellandrene and linalool; except p-Cymene and Limonene in Isfahan population). Since in medicinal plants, the quantity (biological yield) and quality (essential oil and d-Carvone; the most important ingredient and the highest amount of essential oil in this experiment), 66.6% vermicompost + 33.3% urea in Varamin population, was the best treatment in the experiment. In addition an in the direction of human health and sustainable agriculture, it is possible to reduce 33% of chemical fertilizers application and pollution; however, in terms of other essential oil contents (α-phellandrene, Linalool and p-Cymene), 100% vermicompost fertilizer treatment was superior in Isfahan population.

Background: Ajowan is one of the medicinal plant cultivated in Iran. The Ajowan essential oil is mostly used in food, health and pharmaceutical industries. Objective: To deteminate the chemical composition of Ajowan essential oil cultivated in Qazvin. Methods: Twelve samples of Ajowan seeds were collected from a research farm (Qazvin Agriculture and natural resources research center) in 1381. The essential oil was obtained by hydro-distillation technique and further analyzed by GC and GC/MS for determination of chemical compositions. Fingdings: The content of essential oil in different samples were ranging between 3.1% to 3.5%. Nine chemical constituents were indentified. Themol, d-terpinene and p-cemene were the major constituents of oil. Conclusion: Ajowan essential oil produced in Qazvin was mainly composed of thymol (40-45%).  

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of different inclusion levels of free and microencapsulated essential oil of Ajowan (EOA) herb in broilers diet on growth performance and some ileal bacteria population. A total of 320 one-day-old chicks were distributed in a completely randomized design with 2×4 factorial arrangement. The dietary factors were 2 different forms of EOA (free and encapsulated) and 4 dietary inclusion levels of EOA (0, 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg). Growth performance parameters were recorded throughout the experiment, and intestinal organs weight and ileal microbial population were measured on 42 day of age. Broilers fed encapsulated EOA in diet had higher body weight gain and lower feed conversion ratio during 1 to 21 day of age than those fed free EOA (P<0. 05). Higher relative weight of liver (% of live weight) was achieved in broilers fed diets supplemented with encapsulated EOA (P<0. 05). There was a significant interaction between the form and dietary levels of EOA on E. coli count (P<0. 05). As a general conclusion, use of encapsulated EOA led to an improvement in body weight gain, FCR, and European Production Index, in the first three weeks of growth and in the whole period of growth phase, respectively.

Introduction: Ajowan (Carum copticum Benth. & Hook.) is an annual herbaceous essential oil bearing plant belonging to the Apiaceae family, which grows in India, Iran, and Egypt. Ajowan seeds have essential oil as an active substance, which is used in pharmaceutical industry as a diuretic, antivomiting, analgesic, antiasthma, antispasmodic and a carminative. Nitrogen is a part of all living cells and is a necessary part of all proteins, enzymes and metabolic processes involved in the synthesis and transfer of energy. Also, nitrogen is a part of chlorophyll, the green pigment of the plant that is responsible for photosynthesis. Generally, proper agronomic management including suitable plant density has a high influence on growth and yield of medicinal plants. In this regard, Kloss et al., (2012) highlighted the need for strategies to improve crop growth, make irrigation more efficient and sustainable and conserve farmlands. In addition, yield is influenced by inter-row spacing and sowing density. Ghilavizadeh et al., (2013) have reported that application of suitable amount of nitrogen fertilizer and plant density of 25 plan/m2 increased seed yield, essential oil yield and essential oil content of ajowan. In another research, Borumand Rezazadeh et al., (2009) reported that the plant density of 50 plant/m2 have produced the highest seed yield, essential oil yield and essential oil content. Generally, with regard to importance of medicinal plants and the necessity of understanding their crop and the impact of plant density and nitrogen fertilizer on the performance of these plants, this study was conducted to investigate the impact of these factors on some traits of ajowan…

Background and Objectives: The Ajowan (Carumcopticum) is a medicinal plants from Apiaceae family that seeds contains 2-4% of volatile oil. 9-17 of chemical composition of ajowan essential oil have been reported (2), it has antibacterial and antioxidant activity and it could be used to preserve the food materials. The application of chemical fertilizer leads to environmental pollution and ecological disaster (13). The proper approach to solve these problems is the use of sustainable agriculture fundamentals in agro ecosystems, that biological fertilizer such as vermicompost and Alkazotplus and Humic acid could be effective for these issues. In order to mentioned issues, the goal of this research was the examination of the effects of different fertilizer resources on essential oil of Ajowan and soil properties in Ahvaz condition.Material and Methods: A field experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) as a factorial arrangement with three replications at the Agricultural Research Station of Shahid Chamran University in 2014-2015. Nitrogen sources at the four levels (control (no nitrogen source), 150 Kg ha-1 urea (U), 75 Kg ha-1 sulfur-coated urea (SCU), half of Sulfur-coated urea (1.2 SCU)+ Alkazot Plus biological fertilizer) were first factor, and the second factor were organic fertilizers at 4 levels (control (no organic sources), humic acid, 5 t ha-1 vermicompost, half of vermicompost + humic acid). The measurement traits were essential oil percent and yield, soil organic matter percent, total nitrogen percent and soil phosphorus and potassium. After ripening the plants harvested at May 2015. The seeds were planted with 4 Kg ha-1 seed density, the 30 cm distance between rows and 5cm far from distance in rows). The Ajowan seeds collected and its essential oil extracted with Clevenger apparatus and water distillation with water vapour methods.Results: The results showed that the interaction between different sources of nitrogen and organic fertilizers on Ajowan essential oil percent and yield was significant at 1%. The highest essential oil percent (5.5%) and performance (85.4 kg/ha) were obtained at control (without nitrogen source), vermicompost and urea (U) with vermicompost, respectively. The highest organic matter percentage (1.45%), soil nitrogen percent (0.06%), the percent of soil potash (226.3 mg/kg) and soil phosphorus (22.38 mg/kg) were obtained at urea (U) with control (without organic fertilizer) treatments, urea (U) with vermicompost, half of urea-coated Sulfur+Alkazot Plus with vermicompost and urea (U) with vermicompost, respectively.Conclusion: Integrate use of chemical and biological fertilizers, in addition to the positive environmental effects, had positive effects in increasing the characterization essential oil that can be economically effective and also by improving the characteristics of the soil, it could be attain sustainable agriculture (Permaculture).