Journal of Plant Process and Function

Melissa officinalisL. is a herbaceous and perennial plantof family Lamiaceae. It is an antioxidant plant that is found in northern Iran. Aluminum is a heavy metal that generates oxidative stresses in plants, among which antioxidant enzymes are among the most important herbal defensive measures in inhibition of reactive oxygen species.Iron is an essential, while low-consuming, element for plants that influences on activities of many herbs enzymes. In this study, role of general iron compounds in agglomeration of antioxidants enzymesand proteins as well as the level of phenol,flavonoid, and flavonol compounds in Melissa officinalisunder aluminum-ensuing conditions is investigated. In doing so, a wholly random, three-time repetition experiment was conducted on Melissa officinalisin four groups with different iron types (iron chloride, iron chelate, and nano iron) and aluminum chloride (0 and 50 µM) under hydroponic conditions. Results demonstrate that protein contents are increased via pre-treatment of iron, and this increase is higher with an augmentation in application of nano iron compared to other treatments. The increase can, therefore, be known to be concerned with diagonal of nanoparticles. Under aluminum-iron stress conditions, activities ofcatalase enzymes, ascorbate peroxidase, phenolic compounds, and their derivatives were reduced compared to various forms of iron, particularly in combined treatments of aluminum with iron chelate and nano iron. There was, however, an increase in activity of theenzyme superoxide dismutase under these conditions. Therefore, an increase of iron in activity of theenzyme superoxide dismutase can produce resistance against aluminum and an increase in performance ofMelissa officinalis.