The aim of this study was to identify, quantify, and compare the phytochemical contents, antioxidant capacities, and antibacterial activities of Aloe vera lyophilized leaf gel (LGE) and 95% ethanol leaf gel extracts (ELGE) using GC-MS and spectrophotometric methods.

This study to evaluate the effects of silver nanoparticles on the salinity tolerance of (Satureja hortensis L.). The study done based on factorial experiment using a completely randomized design, in a laboratory and greenhouse in Islamic Azad University of Khoy, Iran in 2015. Silver nanoparticles concentrations were 0, 40, 60, and 80 ppm and salt concentrations 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 mM l−1. Germination seeds of Satureja hortensis were counted twice a day for 14 days at laboratory. Then seedling transferred to the greenhouse and their growth continued. Traits measured were seedling weight, seedling lengths, germination rates, germination averages, germination potentials, and percentages of germination. Results showed that the silver nanoparticles improved significantly germination average; plants shoot length and increased plants resistance to salinity. Results showed that a significant reduction in germination percent and seedling growth due to the salinity stress while significantly increased with nano-particles application. In control treatment (without silver nanoparticle) and low level of salinity (0 mM l−1) increased seed germination percentage, while the high levels of salinity inhibited the seed germination significantly. The results showed that the effect of silver nanoparticles was significant on germination percentage in P ≤ 0.05. Overall, application of silver nanoparticles was beneficial in improving salinity tolerance in the S. hortensis seedling and its application may stimulate the differences defense mechanisms of plants against salt toxicity.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different amounts of fertilizers on the polysaccharides of Aloe vera plant. There were four different treatments, viz. T1 = 150% N, T2 = 150% P, T3 = 150% K, and T4 = 150% NPK (50% N + 50% P + 50% K) soil. Crude water-soluble polysaccharides were isolated from the gel juice, skin juice, and flowers of A. vera planted in these soils.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nano silver and silver nitrate on yield of seed in basil plant. The study was carried out in a randomized block design with three replications.

Toxicity of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent (MWWTPE) was evaluated using bioassay with Daphnia Magna (D. Magna). Acute toxicity tests were performed on effluent samples of Urmia municipal wastewater treatment plant (Biolac system) according to the USEPA methods and 24, 48, 72, and 96 hr lethal concentration 50% (LC50) were calculated by application of Probit analysis. Also interrelationship between main effluent physicochemical parameters of wastewater (BOD5, COD, and TSS) and 24hr-LC50, were studied. Results showed that the effluent was safe to be discharged to the surface water in regard to physicochemical parameters and acute toxicity unit (TUa), according to the standards of Iranian Department of Environment (DOE). Relationship between effluent COD and 24hr-LC50 show that, increase in effluent COD resulted in increase in wastewater toxicity and there was not relationship between BOD5, TSS and toxicity of effluent.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of nitroxin biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer on the growth, yield, and essential oil composition of dill. The experiment was conducted under field condition in randomized complete block design with three replications and two factors. Results: The first factor was the concentrations of nitroxin biofertilizer (0%, 50%, and 100%) of the recommended amount (1 l of biological fertilizer for 30 kg of seed). The second factor was the following chemical fertilizer treatments: no fertilizer (control) and 50 and 100 kg ha⁻¹ urea along with 300 kg ha⁻¹ ammonium phosphate. Different characteristics such as plant height, number of umbel per plant, number of umbellet per umbel, number of grain per umbellet, 1,000 seed weight, grain yield, biological yield, and oil percentage were recorded. According to the results, the highest height, biological yield, and grain yield components (except harvest index) were obtained on biological fertilizer. The results showed the highest essential oil content detected in biological fertilizer and chemical fertilizer. Identification of essential oil composition showed that the content of carvone increased with the application of biofertilizers and chemical fertilizers. The results indicated that the application of biofertilizers enhanced yield and other plant criteria in this plant. Conclusions: Generally, it seems that the use of biofertilizers or combinations of biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer could improve dill performance in addition to reduction of environmental pollution.