Achillea millefolium L. comprise several relevant species for the food, cosmetic, perfumery and pharmaceutical industries. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis revealed borneol to be a major component of A.millefolium, with its contribution to the essential oil (EO) being 36.35%. Borneol exhibited significant lipid peroxidation inhibition and antimicrobial activity against all tested bacterial strains. In addition, borneol had the highest antioxidant activity in all conducted assays. The borneol had significantly greater radical scavenging activity than other component EO and the reference antioxidant Trolox. In addition, a correlation between antioxidant activity and the total phenolic content was found. The borneol significantly inhibited nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages (an in vitro model of inflammation). These results clearly show the antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the plant EOs.

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Many of the active constituents of drug or medicines were originally derived from medicinal plants. Iranian Borage are still being used in regular basis. Selenium (Se) is an essential mineral nutrient for animal and human growth. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of (2, 4, 8 and 16 mg L−1) of as sodium selenate (Na2SeO4) and as sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) on some important properties of Iranian Borage in factorial based on Randomized Complete Block Design via four steps: 2 true leaves stage, ten leaves, 2 weeks and 1 week before flowering. The traits were evaluated during flowering period. Results showed that the highest shoot fresh and dry weight and shoot length, total alkaloid, essential oil percentage were obtained by 4 mg L−1 sodium selenate at the end of flowering. In addition, 4 mg L−1 sodium selenate concentration significantly improved flower yield (diameter, number, weight). The plants were treated with 8 mg L−1 sodium selenate, the higher total phenols and flavonoids, antioxidant activity, soluble sugars, root and fresh weight was seen at end of flowering. When the plants were sprayed with 4 mg L−1 sodium selenite higher total chlorophyll was observed at full of flowering. 16 mg L−1 sodium selenite released the maximum Se acclimation in the petals. 20 composites were discovered containing ɑ-Pinene (23.61%) with sodium selenate in 4 mg L−1. Generally, selenium sources significantly improved morpho-physiological and phytochemical.

Water stress is one of the important abiotic environmental stresses that threaten the agricultural -products in the world. This experiment was carried out to determine the effect of water stress on physiological and biochemical characteristics of three commercial olive cultivars. A factorial pot experiment was conducted in the field conditions using completely randomized design in Gilan-Gharb city, Kermanshah province during 2015. One-year-old rooted cuttings of Zard, Amigdalolia and Konservolia olive cultivars were planted in 12-liter pots and subjected to three irrigation treatments. Irrigation treatments included control (100% of field capacity), 75% and 50% field capacity. Physiological and biochemical characteristics such as relative water content (RWC), electrolyte leakage (EL), calcium, potassium and sodium content, total phenol, malondialdehyde, peroxidases, catalase, a, b and total chlorophyll, proline and total carbohydrate were measured. Results showed that relative water content, K & Ca was reduced while sodium content increased by increasing water stress. Chlorophyll content was higher in Konservolia cultivar under water stress in comparison to the others. Water stress induced increasing in proline, total phenol and soluble carbohydrate in all cultivars. The highest total phenol and proline was recorded in Zard cultivar under water stress. Total carbohydrate increased significantly (P<0.05) in Konservolia in comparison to the others. Malondialdehyde content was increased as an index of oxidative stress by drought. The highest peroxidases and catalase activity were recorded under drought stress of 50% irrigation in Konservolia olive cultivar. Generally based on results Konservolia, Zard and Amigdalolia were more tolerant respectively.