In order to evaluate agroecological criteria for possible domestication under cropping conditions, a primary survey was made in natural habitat of Tandureh national park in North Khorasan. In this case, biological criteria of plants including plant density, height, biomass and crown diameter was measured. Also in 2 separate field trials, agronomic criteria of this species were studied for two years (2006 and 2007) in experimental field of Institute of Plant Sciences of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. In the first experiment, treatments were including  dates of seed direct planting and 3 density (13, 17 and 25 plant per m2) and the second experiment plant density (13, 17 and 25 plant per m2) and date of transplanting (17 October and 5 May) in  randomized complete block design with three replication was evaluated. Transplants were transferred in rows with 20 cm apart and the proper densities were arranged on the rows with 20, 30 and 40 cm between each plant. In another trial in 2007, the effect of different levels of manure (10, 20 and 30 ton per hectare) and irrigation intervals (14, 21 and 28 days) on agronomic criteria of this species was investigated. In the natural habitat, this plant grows in altitude 1000-1100 m, on poor loamy soil with average density of 4 plants per m2, height of 17 cm, crown diameter 15 cm and dry matter yield of 11 g.m2. Field experiment indicated that direct seeding is not successful and autumn transplanting was superior to spring transplanting and plant performed much better in the second year compared with the first year. Also performance of species in terms of yield, height and crown diameter was better under field condition compared to natural habitat. However essential oil content in the first year was 50 percent lower under field condition compared with nature. Different levels of manure and irrigation intervals did not affect agronomic criteria of Teucrium polium L.

Teucrium polium, a medicinal plant that belongs to the family Labiatae is widely used in folk medicine as antidiabetic, antibactrial and anti-inflammatory agent. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Teucrium polium on the mouse polymorphonuclear neutrophils. The animals were divided into five groups including four test and one control group, which orally received 50 and 100 mg/kg of aqueous and alcoholic extract of the plant and saline (in controls) respectively. Respiratory burst of the peritoneal neutrophils were evaluated after 10 days by chemiluminescenece assay using PMA as stimulator of oxidative burst. The results showed that alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the plant are effective in augmentation of neutrophil activity but this effect was statistically significant only for aqueous extract in 100 mg/kg. Results of this study showed that the anti-inflammatory effect of the plant may result partly from improvement in neutrophils function.

Teucrium polium L. is a native plant of Iran that is used in traditional medicine. This study was designed to investigate the chemical composition of the essential oil in seven T. polium ecotypes with a range of 800 to 2500 altitudes in Fars province. To perform this study, the aerial parts of T. polium were collected in flowering stages and dried under laboratory conditions. Then, the essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation method and analyzed by GC/MS. The results showed that the most important constituents of essential oils varied in different habitats and the main components were germacrene-D (22. 6– 6. 7%), bicyclogermacrene (15. 1– 4. 4%), α-pinene (16. 6– 0. 8%), β-Pinene (9. 2– 0. 8%), myrcene (9. 5– 1. 7%) and (E)-Caryophylle (13. 9– 4. 2%). Comparison of the major constituents of the essential oils showed that the ecotypes collected from higher altitude areas had higher sesquiterpene than monoterpenes. Data analysis of the main constituents of the essential oils using Minitab software led to the identification of three distinct groups, indicating the existence of intra-species phytochemical diversity in this plant.

Background: Teucrium polium (lamiaceae) is a natural source containing numerous antioxidant compounds and T. polium had advised for treatment of wide range of diseases including gout, inflammation and diabetes. In this Study, inhibitory effect of extracts, the most important antioxidant contents of T. polium and correlation between them had determined.Materials and Methods: Flowering branches of T. polium were collected from nine regions in north-eastern provinces of Iran and dried and powdered afterwards. The inhibitory effects of the plant extract on xanthine oxidase were assayed in vitro. Total Phenol and anthocyanin and soluble sugar content of each extract were matured. Then, their correlations with the inhibitory effects on xanthine oxidase were also determined. All these measurements were repeated three times and variance analysis was used for comparing means.Results: All extract in different habitat exhibited a good inhibition effects on xanthine oxidase activity, the concentration of 0.3 mg/ml of samples were inhibited the enzyme from 11.44 to 91.45%. The highest inhibitory effect on xanthine oxidase was found in Ramian by 91.45%. Anthocyanin content in Golestan’s samples (Tilabad) was remarkably more than other samples, 4.26 mg/g DW. Razari khorasan’s samples (Garmab) had the highest of total phenol and soluble sugar contents, 28.11 and 6.84 mg/g DW respectively.Conclusion: These results suggest that T. polium extract in different regions is a rich source of antioxidant and has inhibitors effect on xanthine oxidase. Golestan samples had the highest inhibitory effect on the xanthine oxidase activity and are recommended for pharmacological studies.