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Stachys pilifera Benth is an endemic species of Stachys family found in Iran with a wide application as an herbal tea. The objective of this research was to evaluate the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activity of the essential oil from the aerial parts of S. pilifera. Essential oil (EO) composition analysis showed that cis-Chrysanthenyl acetate (24.9%), viridiflorol (18.3%), trans-Caryophyllene (9.8%), caryophyllene oxide (4.6%), α-terpineol (3.3%), and linalool (3.1%) were the most abundant components. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the EO showed a higher antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) than gram-negative organisms (Escherichia coli, Shigella sonnei, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella enterica subsp. Enterica). The antioxidant activity of EO was studied using DPPH, FRAP, and β-carotene/linoleic acid assays. IC50 for the DPPH, FRAP, and β-carotene/linoleic acid tests were 23.2, 28.7, and 16.1 µg/mL, respectively, that it was higher than the results for BHT (p ≤ 0.05). The cytotoxic activity of the EO was evaluated using HT29 and HUVEC cells and it was observed that by increasing in EO concentration from 0.026 to 19.4 ug/mL, the viability of the cells for HT29 and HUVEC reduced to 6.8 and 7.1%, respectively. The results from this study suggest the possibility to use the essential oils from Stachys pilifera Benth as a natural preservative in processed or packaged food due to its high antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities.

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Stachys pilifera is an endemic plant to Iran. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the impacts of some habitat characteristics on the distribution of S. pilifera using the BMLR model in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, Iran. Tow transects were randomly established in each region. 10 quadrats sized 1 x 1 m 2 were established along the transect. In each plot, canopy cover (%) of S. pilifera was recorded. 25 soil samples were gathered in the region to evaluate soil characteristics. The associated pixel of each plot was extracted and added to a prepared spreadsheet of a field database. The data gathered from experiments were fed into the computer item by item according to their own values. To determine the effect of environmental factors on the distribution of S. pilifera species, the researchers run a set of backward multiple linear regressions. The results of MLR to investigate the significance of was not significant (P-Value >0.05). Then the most insignificant term in the first run (silt) is removed and the operation run again. After removing silt, the results of the BMLR model are seen by considering the effect of other factors, and some of terms are insignificant again. The process is continued step by step to the point that there are only significant terms. Results showed that the effects of rain, sand, P, Fe, Zn, Mn, and evaporation on the distribution of S. pilifera species were significant. Rain, P, and Fe have positive effects (positive coefficient), while sand, Zn, Mn, and evaporation have negative effects (negative coefficient). *