Iranian Medicinal Plants Research Articles

Economic importance and GIS mapping of medicinal plants in Iran: A Case study of Darkesh

Iran with a wide diversity of wild medicinal plants (8,000 Medicinal plants) is increasingly becoming a valuable source of household income for many rural people. We showed that economic potential of the wild medicinal plant and their contribution to the local people’s livelihoods. This study identified the economic importance of medicinal plants and evaluated with Geographical Information System (GIS) tool to develop spatial maps covering medicinal plants prevalent in Darkesh area, Northern Khorasan, Iran. Then provide the coordinates of the identified area as your results. 10 medicinal plants belonging to 4 families were collected and its geographical distribution is illustrated in the GIS map. More than 50 species were collected and 10 species being the most frequently collected in this area. Most plants were collected in the form of whole plant. It was estimated that at least 18.000 USD are being annually traded in study area, the 10 species most frequently collected contributing most of the retail value. Results from this study indicate that the collection of certain medicinal plants could be increased livelihood for edge community of natural resources. Also, the geographical location of medicinal plants facilitates easy access of medicinal plant's natural habitat and would help to find out potential of medicinal plants in the study area. Keywords: Medicinal plants, Geographical distribution, GIS Mapping, Darkesh, Iran

Plants used in folkloric medicine of Iran are exquisite bio-resources in production of silver nanoparticles.

This study reports screening of 102 Iranian medicinal plant species belonging to 49 families for the biosynthesis of colloidal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Among tested plants, 37 species in 19 plant families are new bio-resources in this regard. Water extracts of macerated plant parts are used in this survey. Six of the bioactive plants are selected for further analysis. They produced amorphous spherical 40-70 nm AgNPs. Biosynthesised colloidal AgNPs are characterised by UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Families of Lamiaceae (8 out of 12), Leguminosae (7 out of 9), Liliaceae (4 out of 7) contained most bio active species. No correlation noticed between bioactivity and pH of plant water-extracts. The simple procedure used in this study may form a platform for mass production of environmentally safe and eco-friendly green production of these multipurpose AgNPs in future; however, optimisation protocols need to be well documented.

Recent achivements of the introduction and improvment of native medicinal plants in Iran

Iran is the country of different climates and rich genepool of different medicinal herbs. Both climate variation and available genetic resources, make possible the introduction and improvement of new plant varieties into agriculture. Artemisia dracunculus has been cultivated in different parts of Iran since unknown time. Satureja rechingeri is a wild endemic species growing in desert area of south west of Iran with annual rainfall of less than 250mm while, Solidago virgaurea and Equisetum arvence are native to north and northwest of Iran with more than 700 mm annual rainfall. Several experimets were conducted to introduce new varieties of these plants for economic and high quality plant material production in agricultural systems. Here some of the results are presented.

Listeriosis Phytotherapy: A Review Study on the Effectiveness of Iranian Medicinal Plants in Treatment of Listeriosis.

Listeria monocytogenes can be found in many processed foods, raw milk, dairy products, meat and meat products such as sausages, beef and fish products, seafoods, eggs, fruits, and vegetables such as radish and cabbage. This article is a review study on the Iranian medicinal plants applied for treatment of listeriosis. Information of this review article was obtained by searching various key words such as Listeria monocytogenes, medicinal plants, plant extracts and essential oils among scientific articles published in databases of Google scholar, ISI Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Scopus, SID and Magiran. Thyme, German chamomile, great chamomile, yarrow, onion, oregano, nutmeg, sage, sagebrush, hyssop, rosemary, St John's wort, safflower, ajowan, cumin, peppermint, shallot, anise, and parsnip are known antilisteriosis medicinal plants. Bioactive phytochemicals, antioxidants and monoterpenes, sesquiterpene, coumarin, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, and terpenoids are the main ingredients of antilisteriosis medicinal plants.

Salinity Effects on Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Salvia macrosiphon

The use of plants and their products as sources of antioxidants to enhance health and food preservation is currently of great interest. Many plant species, especially those belonging to the Lamiaceae family have exhibited strong antioxidant activity. Salvia macrosiphon is an endemic medicinal plant in Iran, belonging to Lamiaceae family and has many pharmaceutical properties. This study was carried to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of sodium chloride [0.4 (control), 2.3, 4.5 and 6.8 dSm−1] on growth, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of S. macrosiphon plants. Results showed that salinity stress affects plant growth by changing plants’ both fresh and dry weights. In addition, although total phenolic content in S. macrosiphon plants decreased with salinity, there was an increase in leaf antioxidant content. The absence of correlation between phenolic contents present in S. macrosiphon plants and antioxidant activity could be explained by the fact that other antioxidant molecules are also synthesized under stress conditions.

Physicochemical Properties and Nutritional Value of Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) Fruit at Different Maturity and Ripening Stages

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) fruit is an important medicinal plant in Iran. The harvesting time is a crucial for jujube fruit quality. Several characteristics of jujube fruit when harvested at four development stages; white mature (light green), crisp mature (white-red), fully mature (red) and fully ripe (dehydrated brown) were evaluated. Fruit weight, diameter, volume, pulp to stone ratio, firmness, titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), ascorbic acid, total phenolics content, protein, ash and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were determined. The results showed that fruit dry weight, TSS, TSS/TA were increased significantly, while firmness, protein content and ash weight were decreased as jujube fruit harvested at progressed development stages. Ascorbic acid in fruit was decreased from white to crisp mature stage and thereafter increased significantly to fully mature stage. However, the content of total phenol increased significantly from white to crisp mature stage and thereafter decreased at more maturity and ripening stages. Moreover, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were influenced by harvesting time. The F0 and Fm showed a positive significant correlation with total phenolic, ascorbic acid and protein content and a negative significant correlation with DW. Therefore, chlorophyll fluorescence maybe a helpful, nondestructive technique to evaluate the nutritional quality changes in jujube fruit. Overall, jujube fruit harvested at crisp (white-red) and fully mature (red) stages, seem best in respect of postharvest handling and nutritional criteria.

مقایسه برخی ازخصوصیات فیزیکی و شیمیایی سه ژنوتیپ زرشک دانه‌دار بومی استان سمنان

کسب اطلاعات در مورد گیاهان بومی بعنوان منابع غذایی عملگر (فراسودمند) رو به افزایش است. یکی از این گیاهان، گونه‌های وحشی زرشک(Berberis. spp.) می‌باشد که بررسی خصوصیات فیزیکی و شیمیایی آنها می‌تواند زمینه کاربردشان را در صنایع غذایی و دارویی فراهم کند. لذا در این پژوهش بمنظور معرفی بیشتر این گیاه ارزشمند بومی، سه ژنوتیپ موجود در باغ کلکسیون زرشک پژوهشکده علوم و صنایع غذایی درسال 1390جمع‌آوری و برخی از خواص فیزیکی و شیمیایی آنها مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. نتایج حاکی از آن بود که بین خصوصیات فیزیکی بررسی شده فقط در طول میوه سه ژنوتیپ اختلاف‌ آماری معنی‌داری در سطح 5 درصدوجود داشت. هر سه ژنوتیپ حاوی میزان بالای چربی، پروتئین، کربوهیدرات و خاکستر بودند. ژنوتیپ نوشین دارای بالاترین قند احیاکننده (222/0±03/8) و در نتیجه دارای مزه شیرین‌تری نسبت به دو ژنوتیپ دیگر بود. هر سه ژنوتیپ در مقایسه با سایر میوه‌ها رنگی نظیر شاتوتو زغال اخته حاوی مقادیر قابل توجهی آنتوسیانین (60/3927-17/950 میلی‌گرم/ لیتر) و ترکیبات فنلی (35/12-75/9 گرم/ لیتر) بودند که بیانگر خواص سلامت‌بخش این میوه‌های خودرو و بومی می‌باشد. بلحاظ مواد معدنی هر سه ژنوتیپ غنی از ریزمغذی‌های مورد نیاز بدن انسان نظیر پتاسیم، کلسیم، منیزیم و روی بودند.

The history of Mandragora turkomanica (Solanaceae)

In 1938 a new species, Mandragora turcomanica O. Mizgir., was discovered in the Sumbar river valley near the Soviet–Iranian border in the nowadays Republic of Turkmenistan. The prevailing hypothesis of its origin was that M. turcomanica is a species that survived in a refuge between the Mediterranean and Himalayan parts of the now disjunct genus range. Meteorological observation conducted by the author in the area occupied by the species revealed that the presumed high frost tolerance of the species was exaggerated. The plants of the Sumbar Valley could survive only in a narrow altitude belt due a very specific combination of favorable microclimate and soil. However, the present distribution of mandrake plants in Turkmenistan cannot explain why the plants were never observed in the southern valleys of the Turkmen–Khorasan range of northern Iran, which has a similar landscape to the Sumbar Valley and a considerably warmer climate. Cultivation and usage of the Turkmenian mandrake as a medicinal plant in Iran, its name “halom” and the fact that all known locations of Turkmenian mandrake match the traces of ancient irrigation in the Sumbar Valley support the hypothesis that Turkmenian mandrake could be the holy plant the ancient Iranians called “Haoma”, repeatedly mentioned in the “Avesta” (the collection of sacred texts of the ancient Aryan religion known as Zoroastrianism). The introduction of mandrake currently growing in Sumbar Valley from the other region is supported by the species biology, i.e. the lack of dispersal of its fruits by birds which strongly limits its potential distribution, and by a recently reported high genetic similarity of Turkmenian mandrake with plants from Israel.

Essential Oil Content and Composition of Achillea kellalensis Boiss, An Endemic Plant in Iran

Achillea kellalensis is an endemic medicinal plant in Iran. In this investigation essential oil content and composition of this plant was determined. Essential oil was obtained by water distillation method. Chemical compositions were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Essential oil yield was about 0.7% (w/w). Twenty-six compounds were identified representing 98.2% of the total oil. The major compounds were found to be α-thujone (70.78%), 1,8-cineol (10.87%) and camphor (6.74%).

Optimization of supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of essential oil from Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss: An endangered medicinal plant in Iran

Extraction of the essential oil from a medicinal plant called Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss was performed by green technology of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extraction. A Taguchi orthogonal array design with an OA16 (45) matrix was used to evaluate the effects of five extraction variables: pressure of 150–310bar, temperature of 40–60°C, average particle size of 250–1000μm, CO2 flow rate of 2–10ml/s and dynamic extraction time of 30–100min. The optimal conditions to obtain the maximum extraction yield were at 240bar, 60°C, 500μm, 10ml/s and 100min. The extraction yield under the above conditions was 2.72% (w/w) which is more than two times the maximum extraction yield that has been reported for this plant in the literature using traditional extraction techniques. Results from analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that the CO2 flow rate and the extraction time were the most significant factors on the extraction yield by percentage contribution of 44.27 and 28.86, respectively. Finally, the chemical composition of the essential oil was evaluated by using gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC–MS). Citral, p-mentha-1,3,8-triene, D-3-carene and methyl geranate were the major components identified.

Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties of the Essential Oils of Two Iranian Medicinal Plants: Zhumeria majdae and Salvia mirzayanii

Background: The Lamiaceae family has been tried to ameliorate symptoms of stomachache and dysmenorrheal in traditional medicine. The extracts and essential oils obtained from these plants have recently attracted much scientific attention. The essential oils of some plants belonging to this family have also been used in food preservation. Methods: This study employed pharmaco-diagnostic methods to examine and compare the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the essential oils obtained from two Iranian plants Zhumeria majdae and Salvia mirzayanii in E.coli infection. Results: Our findings suggested that the essential oil extracted from S. mirzayanii had more antioxidant potential than Z. majdae. By increasing the concentration of both agents, the growth and specific growth activity of E. coli was reduced. At 1:200 dilutions, the growth of E. coli was inhibited while LC50 occurred at 1:1000 dilutions. Finally, our results showed that both agents had strong antioxidant and antibacterial activities with more significant properties favoring S. mirzayanii. Conclusion: Plants such as Z. majdae and S. mirzayanii retain notable medicinal properties and may serve as useful tools when developing natural antibiotics and antioxidant agents against common pathogens including E. coli.

Species delimitation and population structure in three Onosma (Boraginaceae) species

AbstractThe present study aimed to reveal genetic diversity and population structure in three Onosma species i.e., Onosma bulbotrichum DC., O. elwendicum Wettst. and O. sericeum Willd. (Boraginaceae) growing in Iran. This study was performed to check if the ISSR molecular markers could be used in the Onosma species delimitation. We also investigated the infra-specific morphological variability and if we can identify infra-species taxonomic forms. The present study revealed within species genetic and morphological diversity. ISSR data could delimit the studied species as they were separated from each other in NJ tree, maximum parsimony and STRUCTURE analysis. AMOVA and Hickory tests produced significant genetic difference among the studied species. The Mantel test showed no correlation between genetic distance and geographical distance of the populations for all three species. Reticulation analysis and Nm estimation showed gene flow among these populations. We could identify a few ISSR loci that are adaptive. Data obtained can be used in conservation of these medicinal plants in Iran.

Apoptosis Cell Death Effect of Scrophularia Variegata on Breast Cancer Cells via Mitochondrial Intrinsic Pathway.

Scrophularia variegata M. Beib. (Scrophulariaceae) is an Iranian medicinal plant which is used for various inflammatory disorders in traditional medicine. In this study we evaluated the anti-cancer and cytotoxic effects of the Scrophularia variegata (S. variegata) ethanolic extract on the human breast cancer cell line. The cytotoxicity effect of the extract on MCF-7 cells was evaluated by MTT assay. In addition, Caspase activity, DNA ladder and Cell death were evaluated by ELISA, gel electrophoresis and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, respectively. The S. variegata extract showed significant effect cytotoxicity on MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. Treatment with the extract induced apoptosis on the breast cancer cells by cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase. The results indicated that cytotoxicity activity was associated with an increase of apoptosis as demonstrated by DNA fragmentation as well as an increase of the amount of caspase 3 and caspase 9. In addition, the phytochemical assay showed that the extract had antioxidant capacity and also flavonoids, phenolic compounds and phenyl propanoids were presented in the extract. Our findings indicated that S. variegata extract induced apoptosis via mitochondrial intrinsic pathway on breast cancer by cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase and an increase of caspase 3 and caspase 9. However future studies are needed.

A Systematic Review of Iran's Medicinal Plants With Anticancer Effects.

Increase in cases of various cancers has encouraged the researchers to discover novel, more effective drugs from plant sources. This study is a review of medicinal plants in Iran with already investigated anticancer effects on various cell lines. Thirty-six medicinal plants alongside their products with anticancer effects as well as the most important plant compounds responsible for the plants' anticancer effect were introduced. Phenolic and alkaloid compounds were demonstrated to have anticancer effects on various cancers in most studies. The plants and their active compounds exerted anticancer effects by removing free radicals and antioxidant effects, cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis, and inhibition of angiogenesis. The investigated plants in Iran contain the compounds that are able to contribute effectively to fighting cancer cells. Therefore, the extract and active compounds of the medicinal plants introduced in this review article could open a way to conduct clinical trials on cancer and greatly help researchers and pharmacists develop new anticancer drugs.

Antimicrobial Effect of Aqueous, Ethanol, Methanol and Glycerin Extracts of Satureja bachtiarica on Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus epidermidis

Background:: The Iranian medicinal plants, such as Satureja bachtiarica have been utilized as traditional medicines by the indigenous people of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari in Iran. Objectives:: According to biologically active compounds and traditional use of the Satureja bachtiarica, seem that this plant has significant antimicrobial effects. Materials and Methods:: In this experimental study, Satureja bachtiarica after extraction with watery, ethanol 96%, methanol 96% and 20% glycerin antimicrobial effect of extract were determined by “screening antimicrobial activity” and “disk agar diffusion test” in 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg/mL concentration of the extract against Streptococcus pyogenes PTCC 1447, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PTCC 1310 and Staphylococcus epidermidis PTCC 1435. Statistical analysis was carried out by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results:: The results showed that all extracts were quite effective in 2 mg/mL concentration on S. pyogenes and S. epidermidis and were prevented from growth them on medium, while extracts have no certain antimicrobial effect on P. aeruginosa. In “disk agar diffusion method”, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg/mL aqueous, ethanol 96%, methanol 96% and 20% glycerin extract concentrations, was inhibited effect on S. pyogenes and S. epidermidis, but 40 mg/mL aqueous and 30 and 40 mg/mL ethanol, methanol and glycerin extract concentrations, has inhibited effect on P. aeruginosa prevent them growing. The results indicate that alcoholic and aqueous extracts of S. bachtiarica have the greatest effect on gram positive bacterium S. pyogenes. Conclusions:: As a result aqueous and alcoholic extracts of S. bachtiarica, have been strong antimicrobial activity against many food pathogen bacteria.

Correlation of Anticancer Effects of 12 Iranian Herbs on Human breast Adenocarcinoma cells with antioxidant Properties

Introduction: Many of Medicinal plants have been investigated for possible anticancer properties. The correlation cytotoxic effect of herbs with antioxidant activity is unclear, yet. The aim of the present study was to examine the antioxidant contents and anticancer effects of 12 Iranian medicinal plants on proliferation of breast cancer, MCF-7, and epithelial normal, MCf-10A, cells. Methods: Free radical scavenging and total antioxidant capacities of herbal waters assessed by DPPH and FRAP methods, respectively. Their total phenolic contents and cell viability determined by Folin–Ciocalteu and MTT assays, respectively. Results: Among the herbs, group A which contained relatively highest total phenolics content, antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities inhibited significantly greater growth of breast cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner as compared to other groups. These medicinal plants were not cytotoxic components against normal cells. Conclusion: Therefore our results indicated that anti proliferative effects of 12 selected Iranian herbs showed a direct correlation with antioxidant properties. The herbs as natural antioxidants with fewer side effects could potentially improve the outcome of human breast cancer therapy. These findings endorse further investigations on these plants to determine their active metabolites and mode of action.

In vitro and in vivo antidermatophytic activities of some Iranian medicinal plants.

In the last decades, the number of people suffering from dermatophytoses has seriously increased, which may be due to the development of resistant strains to a range of antifungal drugs. The present study was aimed to evaluate the antidermatophytic properties of eight extracts from the selected spices and herbs, which were ethno-medicinally used in Iran against Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton interdigitale, Microsporum canis, and Microsporum gypseum (10 strain of each). The in vitro antifungal activities of the extracts from four spices and four plants were evaluated by the broth macro dilution method against four dermatophyte strains. In addition, the in vivo therapeutic effects of Myrtus communis L. and Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume extracts (the most active extracts) on dermatophytosis induced by M. canis and T. mentagrophytes in guinea pigs were evaluated. Results of in vitro antifungal assay revealed that all the tested extracts demonstrated both fungistatic and fungicidal activities with the geometric mean (GM) MIC ranging from 0.058 to 3.73 mg/ml and GM (MFC) ranging from 0.058 to 7.46 mg/ml, respectively. Two extracts (M. communis and C. zeylanicum) significantly inhibited the growth of all the tested dermatophytes, while other extracts demonstrated weak (MICs of >0.625 mg/ml) to moderate (MICs ranging from 100 to 0.625 mg/ml) activities. In vivo antidermatophytic assay demonstrated that clotrimazole cured T. mentagrophytes and M. canis infection on days 21 and 17, respectively, whereas M. communis and C. zeylanicum extracts significantly (p < 0.05) cured T. mentagrophytes and M. canis infection on days 9 and 13 as well as 9, 11, respectively. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, phenols, and alkaloids in M. communis and alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins in C. zeylanicum. Findings of the present study also provided the scientific evidence that natural plants could be used in traditional medicine for the prevention and treatment of dermatophytic infections.

Variability in the essential oil content and composition in different plant organs of Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. (Apiaceae) growing wild in Iran

The hydro-distilled essential oils obtained from the different organs (roots, leaves, stalks, inflorescences and fruits) of Kelussia odoratissima, an endemic medicinal plant of Iran, were analyzed by gas chromatography–flame ionization detector (GC–FID) and GC–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to determine their chemical composition. The essential oil content (w/w%) was in the order of: fruit (1.4%) > root (1.05%) > stalk (0.37%) > leaf (0.27%) > inflorescence (0.2%). The total number of compounds identified and quantified were thirty-two in roots, thirty-one in stalks, twenty-one in leaves, twenty-one in inflorescences and six in fruits, representing 99.5%, 99.2%, 98.2%, 98.1% and 99.7% of the total oil, respectively. The phthalide (Z)-ligustilide (54.0–86.0%) and (2E)-decen-1-ol (2.0–12.3%) were the major compounds in all plant organs. These results suggest that the five studied organs of K. odoratissima are potentially good sources of phthalides, which are known for their anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and insecticidal properties. This is the first report on the essential oil composition profile in the full range of organs of this species.

Effects of different hormonal concentrations on damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) micro-propagation in liquid tissue culture medium

Damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) from Rosaceae family is one of the most important medicinal plants in Iran which its secondary metabolites are extensively used in pharmaceutical, flavors and fragrance industries. It is usually propagated by cutting and transplanting. Since this method is time-consuming and has usually some problems therefore, in the current study the effects of different hormonal concentrations were studied on micropropagation of superior genotype Khuzestan in liquid tissue culture medium. The lateral buds were cultured on modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) culture environments treated with different concentrations of hormones Benzyl Adenine (BA) and Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Results of Means comparison showed that the BA concentration of 0.75 mg.l -1 and IBA concentration of 0.1 mg.l -1 had the highest effect on both shoot number with mean number of 4 and height with mean 2 cm. Also, the effects of NAA and IBA hormones on root number were significant. The best culture medium for increasing root number and percentage was found to be ½ MS with a BA concentration of 0.01 mg.l-1 and IBA concentration of 1 mg/l in combination with AgNO3 concentration of 58.85 µmol.l -1 . The top proliferation treatment was determined at a combination of 0.75 mg.l-¹ BA and 0.1 mg.l-¹ IBA. The best treatment of rooting percent (55%) was determined to be a combination of 0.01 mg.l-¹ BA and 1 mg.l-¹ IBA in presence of 58.85 µmol.lˉ¹ AgNO3.

Antimicrobial activity of seven essential oils from Iranian aromatic plants against common causes of oral infections.

Background:Over the past two decades, there has been a growing trend in using oral hygienic products originating from natural resources such as essential oils (EOs) and plant extracts. Seven aromatic plants used in this study are among popular traditional Iranian medicinal plants with potential application in modern medicine as anti-oral infectious diseases.Objectives:This study was conducted to determine the chemical composition and antimicrobial activities of essential oils from seven medicinal plants against pathogens causing oral infections.Materials and Methods:The chemical compositions of EOs distilled from seven plants were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). These plants included Satureja khuzestanica, S. bachtiarica, Ocimum sanctum, Artemisia sieberi, Zataria multiflora, Carum copticum and Oliveria decumbens. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils was evaluated by broth micro-dilution in 96 well plates as recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) methods.Results:The tested EOs inhibited the growth of examined oral pathogens at concentrations of 0.015-16 µL/mL. Among the examined oral pathogens, Enterococcus faecalis had the highest Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) and Minimum Microbicidal Concentrations (MMCs). Of the examined EOs, S. khuzestanica, Z. multiflora and S. bachtiarica, showed the highest antimicrobial activities, respectively, while Artemisia sieberi exhibited the lowest antimicrobial activity.Conclusions:The excellent antimicrobial activities of the tested EOs might be due to their major phenolic or alcoholic monoterpenes with known antimicrobial activities. Hence, these EOs can be possibly used as an antimicrobial agent in treatment and control of oral pathogens.