• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.153-161
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• 2007

Field experiments were conducted to determine the physiological and biochemical basis of the interactive effect of sulphur (S) and nitrogen (N) application on seed and xanthotoxin yield of Ammi majus L. Six treatments were tested ($T_1$ = control-without manure and fertilizers, $T_2$ = manure @ 9 kg $plot^{-1}-10\;t\;ha^{-1},\;T_3=A_0N_{50}K_{25}P_{25},\;T_4=S_{40}N_{50}K_{25}P_{25},\;T_5=S_{40}N_{100}K_{25}P_{25}\;T_6=S_{20+20}N_{50+50}K_{25}P_{25})$). Nitrate reductase (NR) activity and ATP-sulphurylase activity in the leaves were measured at various phonological stages, as the two enzymes catalyze rate-limiting steps of the assimilatory pathways of nitrate and sulphate, respectively. The activities of these two enzymes were strongly correlated with seed and xanthotoxin yield. The highest nitrate reductase activity, ATP-sulphurylase activity and xanthotoxin yield were achieved with the treatment $T_4$. Any variation from this treatment decreased the activity of these enzymes, resulting in a reduction of the seed and xanthotoxin yield in Ammi majus L. The higher seed and xanthotoxin yield achieved in Ammi majus L. at treatment $T_4$ could be due to optimization of leaf soluble protein and photosynthetic rate, as these parameters are Influenced by S and N assimilation.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 1995

INTRODUCTION : Psoralens are planar tricyclic furocoumarins present in numerous plants and fungi found throughout the world.' Naturally occurring and synthesized psoralen derivatives(see Figure 1) are photosensitizers of UVA especially from 320 nm to 400 nm, a range at which cellular nucleic acids and proteins are weakly absorbing if any at all. Because of their skinphotosensitizing properties, these compounds have been used in the photochemotherapy of psoriasis and vitiligo. However, undesirable side effects such as carcinoma development in hairless mice as well as possible liver damage from the use of 8-methoxypsoralen(8-MOP) have been reported. The other photobiological effects include inactivation of DNA viruses, killing and mutagenesis of bacteria, inhibition of tumor transmitting capacity of various cells, and hyperpigmentation on human and guinea pig skin. PUVA(psoralen+UVA) photochemotherapy is in fact thousands of years old, having been used in Egypt and India since B.C. 1200-2000. Photochemotherapy for a common disfiguring disease, vitiligo, was practiced in the ancient world by physicians and herbalists who used boiled extracts of the fruits of certain umbelliferous plants, e.g. Ammi majus Linnaeus in Egypt or the leguminous plants, Psoralea corylifolia L. in India. It was first described by Kuske in 19388 that photosensitization of skin by plants was related to the presence of psoralen. He identified natural psoralens in plants as photosensitizers and isolated bergapten(5methoxypsoralen) from the oil of bergamot. The scientific interest in photosensitizing psoralens, however, has grown considerably after the introduction into clinics of the psoralen photochemotherapy for the treatment of psoriasis and of other skin (abbreviation)