Natural Products Chemistry

Most synthetic stains are expensive as they are synthesized from mixtures of various chemicals, there is need to explore other cheaper and natural sources of obtaining dyes used as biological stains. For this purpose, Punica granatum peels and Beta vulgaris root extracts were used as a source of natural dyes. Plant parts were extracted using three solvents (acetic acid, ethyl acetate and ethanol) indicate that most dyes with different solvent can capable for plant chromosome staining and also define mitotic cell division. Dyes used with staining agent tannic acid or ferrous sulfate were more sufficient to stain the chromosomes. Punica granatum ethanol solvent show not clearly plant chromosome staining and unable to define the cell division. Punica granatum and Beta vulgaris extracts may be used as chromosome dyes.

The extraction time and temperature of Pleurotus porrigens were optimized for the maximization of 2,2-diphenyl-1picryhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and 2,2 -azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) radical cation inhibition activities, ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) and total phenolic content (TPC) using response surface methodology (RSM). A rotatable central composite design consisting of 14 experimental runs with three replicates at the central points was applied and second-order polynomial models were used to describe the experimental data regarding the responses. The experimental results adequately fitted into the second-order polynomial models with significant linear, quadratic and interaction effects of the independent variables. The optimized conditions were 372.8 min/32.0 • C (DPPH); 340.9 min/36.8 • C (ABTS); 240.0 min/38.1 • C (FRAP); and 310.1 min/43.6 • C (TPC) with corresponding yields of 32.66%; 91.21%; 7.91 mM Fe 2+ equivalent/100 g; and 494 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g, respectively.

Though there are reports on the nutritional and phytochemical compositions of edible mushrooms in Nigeria, there is as yet no report on Termitomyces robustus sourced from the rainforest zone of SouthEastern Nigeria. To fill this knowledge-gap, fresh samples of Termitomyces robustus were purchased from locals in Uzuakoli, Abia State, Nigeria. They were sorted, cleaned up and pulverised into a fine powder. Proximate, anti-nutrient and amino acid composition of the powder were determined using standard methods. The macro-nutrients profile in general showed that Termitomyces robustus is a rich source of protein (33.8 ± 0.3%) with an excellent amino acid composition. It also had high carbohydrate content (54.3 ± 0.2%) but minimal fat content (3.4 ± 0.0%). The energy content of Termitomyces robustus was calculated to be 382.6 ± 1.4 kcal/g. The mushrooms are also good sources of minerals such as potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and calcium. Anti-nutritional factors such as oxalates, tannins and trypsin inhibitors were found to be present in the mushroom in small quantities. These findings indicate that Termitomyces robustus is a low energy, health-food that may provide the relevant nutrients without the burden of excess calories.

The antioxidant properties and phenolic composition of 27 Sideritis species were studied. Plant samples were extracted with petroleum ether using a Soxhlet apparatus. The defatted plant materials were extracted with 70% methanol. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were measured using Fe+2 induced linoleic acid peroxidation, as indicated by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) production. Free radical scavenging activities were determined based on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH). Results were compared with standard BHT. Total phenol concentration of the extracts was estimated with Folin-Ciocalteu reagent using gallic acid as standard, and phenolic components were quantified by HPLC-DAD.

Spumre(emm&&bor a b Medizinisckn Einriihtungm, Hcinrich-Heinc-Uniwsitiit, 4000 DIisscldwf 1 , G-ny Assmcx.-The structures of novel oligoglycosidic cardenolides, alepposide A (CssHs6023) 111 and alepposide B (C4&74020) [21, have been deduced mainly by nmr methods. Based on homonuclear ('H and I3C nmr, 'H COSY) and protondetected heteronuclear shift correlation experiments IJ-MQC both for '](c, H) and fot long-range cwplings], dep poside A 111 was shown to have the structure strophanthidin-3-0-~-glucopyranosyl-( 1-4)-0pdiginopyranosyl-( l~4)-O-~-oleandropyranosyl-( 1~4)-0-~digitoxopyranosyl-( 1*4)-O-Bdigitoxopyranoside. The structure of alepposide B 127 was established as strophanthidin-3-0-pglucopyranosyl-( 1~4)-0-~-oleandropyrosyl-( 1-4)-O-~digitoxopyranql-( 1*4>0-p-digi toxopyranoside .

Jasminum multiflorum Burm. f. (J. multiflorum) is an ornamental plant with traditional medicinal importance. This study aims to evaluate the activity of J. multiflorum isolated compounds against hepatocellular carcinoma cells infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in vitro. The in vitro anti-viral and anti-oncogenic-related activity were validated by anchorage-independent assay plus transwell migration/invasion and spreading assay. In addition to chromatographic isolation of the active metabolites. The flower extract demonstrated a significant antiviral potential through reducing active viral replication by more than 90%. Study results credit this to specific reduction of viral NS5A and cellular EphA2 protein levels. Molecular docking analysis proved the role of the isolated compounds especially multifloroside, jasfloroside A and jasfloroside B as possible anti HCV molecules.

The genus Nepeta (Lamiaceae) comprises 250 species of perennial herbs that are distributed in Europe, Asia, North Africa, and the mountains of tropical Africa. These plants are commonly known as catmint [1]. The common Persian name of this genus is pune-sa, and about 67 species are recorded in Iran . Many Nepeta species have some biological activity and are used in folk medicine because of their antispasmodic, diuretic, antiseptic, antitussive, antiasthmatic, and febrifuge activities . Nepeta cataria L. (Lamiaceae) is one of the endemic species of this genus in Iran. N. cataria, commonly known as catnip, is native to Asia Minor and Southeast Europe and grows to a height of 90 cm. It is used as a fortifier, a disinfectant, and a cure against cold [1,. Literature surveys reveal that most oils of Nepeta species such as N. cataria contain nepetalactones as the main component. Antibacterial, fungicidal, and antiviral activities have been attributed to nepetalactones [3, 6, 10]. According to our finding, there is no report on the chemical composition of the essential oil of N. cataria growing in central Iran, so the aim of the present research was to determine the chemical composition of N. cataria essential oil. The constituents of the volatile oil were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). The components of the oil of air-dried herbal parts of N. cataria are listed , including percentages and retention indices of the components. Constituents are listed in order of their elution from an HP-5MS column. As is shown, nine compounds were identified in the oil of N. cataria, making up 98.0% of the total oil. Among the constituents of the volatile oil, 4aα,7α,7aα-nepetalactone (87.1%), 4aα,7α,7aβ-nepetalactone (3.1%), β-caryophyllene (2.5%), and β-pinene (1.7%) were the major ones; the other constituents were present in relatively small amounts, representing only (3.6%) of the total oil. Nepetalactone isomers, which are the major constituens in our oil, were present in the essential oil of several Nepeta spp . It was found that nepetalactones were responsible for the feline attractant properties of Nepeta species. 4aα,7α,7aα-Nepetalactone, which was the main component of our oil, has been detected as the major one in four Nepeta species growing in Turkey and also in N. cataria growing in Germany , while caryophyllene oxide, which was abundant in N. cataria from Lebanon [23] and Lithuania [24] (6.4%, 7.3% respectively), was not found in our work. β-Caryophyllene, which was the third major component of our oil, has been reported in the oil of some Nepeta species such as N. cataria , N. daenensis , and N. fissa from Iran , and in N. curviflora growing in Lebanon [23]. On the other hand, 1,8-cineole, which was the most abundant component in many Nepeta species , was not present in our work. Also, linalool and germacrene D have been identified in sizable amounts in other Nepeta species , but traces of these compounds were found as oil constituents in this study. This is not unexpected since plants often manufacture different amounts of phytochemicals when grown in different geographical locations.

are rich with bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic acids and resorcinols, and they are often being used in herbal base medicine. Flavonoids is one of the important components that having the remarkable health promoting effects, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antioxidant activity, prevention of osteoporosis and anti-cancer. Unfortunately, due to the indiscriminate collection for the medicinal preparations, this plant species is gradually disappearing from its natural habitat. Thus, instead of getting the plant roots by removing them from nature or through normal cultivation, which take time for sufficient amount of production, the present research, using the in vitro technique, was performed. In this technique the roots formation was induced from leaf and stem explants without forming the other plant parts. Once the young roots culture was obtained, more cultures can be produced, which then take only about eight weeks to mature. Based on this age of culture, the component of flavonoids (R) compounds in the roots, which were determined using HPLC, was up to 95% similarity as in the original roots (OR) of Kacip Fatimah collected in a forest. The main flavonoids components obtained in the plant roots were rutin, naringin, myricetin, quercetin, apigenin and kaempferol.

Fungi (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota) are prolific producers of structurally diverse terpenoid compounds.
Classes of terpenoids identified in fungi include the sesqui-, di- and triterpenoids. Biosynthetic pathways and
enzymes to terpenoids from each of these classes have been described. These typically involve the scaffold
generating terpene synthases and cyclases, and scaffold tailoring enzymes such as e.g. cytochrome P450
monoxygenases, NAD(P)+ and flavin dependent oxidoreductases, and various group transferases that generate
the final bioactive structures. The biosynthesis of several sesquiterpenoid mycotoxins and bioactive diterpenoids
has been well-studied in Ascomycota (e.g. filamentous fungi). Little is known about the terpenoid biosynthetic
pathways in Basidiomycota (e.g. mushroom forming fungi), although they produce a huge diversity of
terpenoid natural products. Specifically, many trans-humulyl cation derived sesquiterpenoid natural products
with potent bioactivities have been isolated. Biosynthetic gene clusters responsible for the production of transhumulyl
cation derived protoilludanes, and other sesquiterpenoids, can be rapidly identified by genome
sequencing and bioinformatic methods. Genome mining combined with heterologous biosynthetic pathway
refactoring has the potential to facilitate discovery and production of pharmaceutically relevant fungal terpenoids.

Caralluma retrospiciens (Ehrenb) is a desert plant widely distributed in the hilly semi-desert regions of southern part of Saudi Arabia. The exudate gel (EG) from the stem of plant is occasionally used for wound healing by the people of the southern part of Saudi Arabia. This study investigated the phytochemical composition, FT-IR, GC-MS spectral analysis and in vitro antibac-terial activity of the EG from the stem of C. retrospiciens (Ehrenb). The plant C. retrospiciens (Ehrenb.) was collected from the hills of Rijal Almaa, a heritage village of Saudi Arabia. The EG was isolated from the stem of C. retrospiciens (Ehrenb.). Physical parameters such as viscosity and zeta potential (ZP) were determined. Phytochemical analysis, FT-IR and GC-MS spectroscopy analysis were performed to determine the bio active constituents. The antibacterial activity of the isolated gel was performed by in vitro agar well diffusion technique. The study demonstrated that the viscosity and ZP of EG influenced the efficacy of antibacterial spectral properties. The FT-IR spectroscopy of the EG showed various functional groups at 3278.

Several species of the genus Xenophyllum of the family Asteraceae are reported to be used in folk medicine in Tarapaca, Chile as treatment for hepatic diseases, rheumatism, hypertension, and mountain sickness [1–6]. From the genus Xenophyllum many species and taxa exist in Chile (South America), but Xenophyllum poposum (Phil.) V. A. Funk, known as “poposa” or “puposa”, is a species that had been incorrectly designated Werneria poposa Phil. However, the correct name is unequivocally Xenophyllum poposum, already assigned in the year 1997 [7].Some species of Xenophyllum have been investigated for incisol, β-pinene [8]. The essential oil derived from the aerial plant of Werneria poposa from Argentina shows a variation in its chemical composition; this species describes a high content of β-pinene (21.8%); other important components were found to be α-pinene (5.5%), terpinen-4-ol (5.3%), α-terpinene (5.2%), β-phellandrene + 1,8-cineole (4.8%), isopulegol (4.8%), and j-citronellal (4.6%) [9].

The essential oil of Piper majusculum from Piperaceae family was obtained by hydrodistillation technique in a Dean-Stark apparatus. The GC and GC-MS analysis of the essential oil had identified twelve components accounting for 93.79% of the total oil. The major components were β-caryophyllene (17.27%), caryophyllene oxide (14.26%), α-selinene (14.21%) and cis-calamenene (9.62%). This is the first report on the volatile components of P. majusculum.

This study aimed to quantify and evaluate the level of Azadirachtin in neem seed kernel from ten ecotypes in Sudan over two seasons and establish relationship to the agro-ecological attributes. Extraction was done in two replicates using 12 g. After extraction, separation and concentration to 10 ml the samples quantified using HPLC. Neem trees growing in different habitats in Sudan showed variations in Azadirachtin (Az)-content depending on the climate, rainfall, soil type, latitude and altitude. The Az-content ranged from 1.08 -2.3 mg/g of the seed kernel in the first season and from 0.48 -3.09 mg/g in the second season. The average content of neem oil was 44.6% in the neem seed kernel (NSK); no variation was found between these regions in oil-content. Trees growing in regions with moderate climate, average rainfall of 400 mm, and altitude of > 470 m above sea level, proved to be rich in Az-content. However, trees growing in lower altitudes, alluvial or sandy soil, with hot climate reflected very low Az-content. Rainfall was found to be the major factor affecting the level of Az in NSK, and the optimal rainfall was 717 mm. Temperature and relative humidity had no direct effect on the Az-content. However, the combination of temperature and the rainfall showed a positive correlation with the Az level in NSKs. Latitude and altitude have direct effect on Az level. Seasonal variations were clear over the two seasons, and no relationship was found between the two seasons.

Amoxicillin trihydrate has a short biological half life. Floating drug delivery systems of this drug were prepared with the objective of increasing overall gastric retention time in order to prolong the release. The floating tablets were prepared by using Hydroxy Propyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC) polymers at different drug to polymer ratio with gas generating agents like sodium bicarbonate and citric acid. The granules were prepared by wet granulation technique using polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) K30dissolved in isopropyl alcohol and were compressed into tablets. Initially the granules were evaluated for characteristics like bulk density, true density, angle of repose, true density and Carr's index. The prepared tablets were evaluated for hardness, friability, uniformity of weight, in vitro buoyancy and in vitro drug release. The studies revealed that the optimized formulation F11 containing the drug and HPMC K4M polymer in the ratio 1:1, lactose, sodium bicarbonate and citric acid s...

The increasing global emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens is categorized as one of the most important health problems. Therefore, the discovery of novel antimicrobials is of the utmost importance. Lichens provide a rich source of natural products including unique polyketides and polyphenols. Many of them display pharmaceutical benefits. The aim of this study was directed towards the characterization of sunflower oil extracts from the fruticose lichen, Usnea barbata. The concentration of the major polyketide, usnic acid, was 1.6 mg/mL extract as determined by NMR analysis of the crude mixture corresponding to 80 mg per g of the dried lichen. The total phenolics and flavonoids were determined by photometric assays as 4.4 mg/mL (gallic acid equivalent) and 0.27 mg/mL (rutin equivalent) corresponding to 220 mg/g and 13.7 mg/g lichen, respectively. Gram-positive (e.g., Enterococcus faecalis) and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as clinical isolates of infected chickens were sensitive against these extracts as determined by agar diffusion tests. Most of these activities increased in the presence of zinc salts. The data suggest the potential usage of U. barbata extracts as natural additives and mild antibiotics in animal husbandry, especially against enterococcosis in poultry.

There is an urgent need for the development of effective anti-malarial drugs due to emergence of resistant strains of P. falciparum. Medicinal plants represent a plethora of compounds to achieve this feat. The stem and leaf extracts of Alstonia boonei and Carapa procera are used in various traditional medicines for the treatment of malaria. In the present study, the petroleum ether and hydro-alcoholic extracts of these two plants were tested in vitro on choloroquine sensitive (3D7) strains of Plasmodium falciparum for their anti-malarial activity. Growth inhibition was determined in vitro by counting GIEMSA-stained parasites by light microscopy. The petroleum ether extract of the leaves and stem bark of A. boonei were both inactive (IC 50 ˃100 µg/ml). Their soxhlet ethanol extracts were also inactive with IC 50 ˃100 µg/ml. However, the leaf extract, obtained by cold maceration, showed weak activity (IC 50 = 71.24 µg/ml) whereas that of the stem was 88.15 µg/ml. The petroleum ether extract of the stem bark of C. procera inhibited the growth of the chloroquine sensitive (3D7) Plasmodium falciparum parasite with IC 50 value of 19.52 µg/ml and the soxhlet extracted ethanol extract giving IC 50 = 11.41 µg/ml. Column chromatography of the bioactive soxhlet ethanol extract afforded fractions with significant antimalarial activities (IC 50 ˂10µg/ml).The present study has revealed that the leaves and stem bark of A. boonei show weak antiplasmodial activity. Extracting the constituents of A. boonei by cold maceration retains considerable antiplasmodial activity. The stem bark of C. procera however, showed significant antiplasmodial activity. Chromatographic fractionation afforded more potent antiplasmodial fractions.

Natural or synthetic cyclic peptides often possess pronounced bioactivity. Their mass spectrometric characterization is difficult due to the predominant occurrence of non-proteinogenic monomers and the complex fragmentation patterns observed. Even though several software tools for cyclic peptide tandem mass spectra annotation have been published, these tools are still unable to annotate a majority of the signals observed in experimentally obtained mass spectra. They are thus not suitable for extensive mass spectrometric characterization of these compounds. This lack of advanced and userfriendly software tools has motivated us to extend the fragmentation module of a freely available open-source software, mMass (http://www.mmass.org), to allow for cyclic peptide tandem mass spectra annotation and interpretation. The resulting software has been tested on several cyanobacterial and other naturally occurring peptides. It has been found to be superior to other currently available tools concerning both usability and annotation extensiveness. Thus it is highly useful for accelerating the structure confirmation and elucidation of cyclic as well as linear peptides and depsipeptides.

AIM OF STUDY:

Within the scope of the European project RUBIA (ICA3-2002-10023), research has been performed on the traditional use and handling of plant species in several Mediterranean countries, Albania, Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Italy, Morocco, and Spain. This paper synthesises the chief results related to the medicinal utilization of those plants.
MATERIAL AND METHODS:

The information has been gathered by means of semi-structured interviews (1256) and techniques of participant observation with 803 informants. In each of the participating countries the study areas were selected by means of uniform criteria defined at the beginning of the study.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS:

A total of 985 species have been catalogued, of which 406 have medicinal use. This work constitutes the first comparative study performed with ethnobotanical data gathered by a coordinated methodology in the Mediterranean area. An exhaustive list is provided for the species catalogued, indicating the regions where each plant was mentioned.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:

This information underlines the ethnobotanical richness of the region and the need to broaden this study to other areas of the Mediterranean. Furthermore, this constitutes a base for future phytochemical and pharmacological studies which could lead to new therapeutic products.

This study was carried out for the first time to evaluate the antioxidant properties and total phenolic and flavonoid content of the methanolic extract along with its organic and aqueous soluble fractions of the whole stem of Coffea benghalensis growing in Bangladesh. For evaluation of antioxidant properties DPPH scavenging assay, ferric reducing capacity, hydroxyl radical scavenging assay and phospho molybdenum assay was used. In the DPPH free radical scavenging assay, the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the crude methanol extract revealed the highest free radical and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity with IC50 value of 3.22 ± 0.17 μg/ml and 12.88 ± 0.305 μg/ml, respectively while the standard BHT was 4.39 ± 0.02 μg/ml and 9.38 ± 0.075 μg/ml, respectively. All the test samples and the standard BHT exhibited good linear relationship in the ferric reducing capacity and phospho molybdenum assay. Also, the test samples showed significant activities in the ferric reducing capacity ...

Metabolomic profiling of different parts (shoot, fruits and seeds) of Opophytum forsskalii was evaluated by spectrophotometric data analysis combined with multivariate data analysis including principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchal clustering analysis (HCA). Score scatter plot of principal component analysis discriminated different parts into three separate groups. Furthermore, score loading plot of PCA showed that shoots and fruits of O. forsskalii are discriminated from seeds by higher content of important secondary metabolites i.e. saponins, flavonoids, flavonols, phenolics, tannins and anthocyanins, however seeds had a higher content of proteins. A comparison among shoots and fruits proved higher contents of saponins, anthocyanins, flavonoids and flavonols in shoots, while fruits had higher content of phenolics, tannins and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Furthermore , the DPPH radical scavenging activity of different fractions (methanol, hexane and butanol) of each part was assessed. Overall, butanol fraction of each part was more potent than methanol fraction, among these seeds had the highest radical scavenging activity (23.7 %) than shoot and fruits (15.8 and 14.5 %), respectively. Moreover, the methanol fraction of shoot had the highest radical scavenging activity at 400 µg/mL followed by seeds and fruits (14.3 %, 9.6 % and 1.9 %), respectively.

seed oil from C. spinosa are available [2–6]. This study was made to analyze the chemical properties of seeds and oil extracted from Capparis spinosa collected from different regions of Dashte-Moghan in order to determine the possibility of commercial utilization and to assess the potential use of the extracted oil in the edible oil industry. Table 1 gives the fatty

The biological activity of essential oils and their major components is well documented. Essential oils such as oregano and cinnamon are known for their effect against bacteria, fungi, and even viruses. The mechanism of action is proposed to be related to membrane and external cell structures, including cell walls. This study aimed to evaluate the biological activity of seven essential oils and eight of their major components against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, filamentous fungi, and protozoans. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by determination of the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration for Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, Shigella sonnei, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus ochraceus, Alternaria alternata, and Fusarium oxysporium, the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania mexicana, and the median lethal dose (LD50) for Giardia lamblia. Results showed that oregano essential oil showed the best antibacterial activity (66-100 µg/mL), while cinnamon essential oil had the best fungicidal activity (66-116 µg/mL), and both showed excellent antiprotozoal activity (22-108 µg/mL). Regarding the major components, thymol and carvacrol were also good antimicrobials (23-200 µg/mL), and cinnamaldehyde was an antifungal compound (41-75 µg/mL). The major components were grouped according to their chemical structure as phenylpropanoids, terpenoids, and terpinenes. The statistical analysis of the grouped data demonstrated that protozoans were more susceptible to the essential oils, followed by fungi, Grampositive bacteria, and Gram-negative bacteria. The analysis for the major components showed that the most resistant microbial group was fungi, which was followed by bacteria, and protozoans were also more susceptible. Principal Component Analysis for the essential oils demonstrated the relationship between the biological activity and the microbial group tested, with the first three components explaining 94.3% of the data variability. The chemical structure of the major components was also related to the biological activity presented against the microbial groups tested, where the three first principal components accounted for 91.9% of the variability. The external structures and the characteristics of the cell membranes in the different microbial groups are determinant for their susceptibility to essential oils and their major components.

Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are bacteria that cause biofilm-associated infections. The aim of this study was to determine the activity of combined betacyanin fractions from Amaranthus dubius (red spinach) and Hylocereus polyrhizus (red pitahaya) against biofilms formed by co-culture of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa on different polymer surfaces. Various formulations containing different concentrations of the betacyanin fractions were investigated for biofilm-inhibiting activity on polystyrene surfaces using crystal violet assay and scanning electron microscopy. A
combination of each betacyanin fraction (0.625 mg mL−1) reduced biofilm formation of five S. aureus strains and four P. aeruginosa strains from optical density values of 1.24–3.84 and 1.25–3.52 to 0.81–2.63 and 0.80–1.71, respectively. These combined fractions also significantly inhibited dual-species biofilms by 2.30 and reduced 1.0–1.3 log CFU cm−2 bacterial attachment on polymer surfaces such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene and silicone rubber. This study
demonstrated an increase in biofilm-inhibiting activity against biofilms formed by two species using combined fractions than that by using single fractions. Betacyanins found in different plants could collectively be used to potentially decrease the risk of biofilm-associated infections caused by these bacteria on hydrophobic polymers.

Propolis is a natural product with a plethora of biological effects, utilized by traditional medicine since antiquity. However, its application as a pharmaceutical is hindered by its variable composition and difficult standardization. CAPE has been shown to be a major component of propolis, with a large contribution to its pharmacological effects, among which the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antineoplastic have been attracting most attention. The current review article aims to present the cornerstone pharmacological studies of CAPE throughout the years, following its discovery, which confirmed its primary importance among propolis constituents and opened the path to its intensive research as a potential pharmaceutical. We present the diversity of drug delivery systems of CAPE, which have been developed to improve its efficacy in in vitro and in vivo disease models and discuss their primary promises and weaknesses. The increased interest in recent years over more practical approaches of CAPE research such as its pharmaceutical formulation comes to show that it has a potential to become commercialized as a pharmaceutical.

Pelargonium graveolens L'Her is an aromatic, rose-scented herb which is indigenous to various parts of southern Africa, and nowadays cultivated worldwide. This work presents the first phytochemical investigation of P. graveolens cultivated in Bosnia. The volatile profile of odorous parts of the plant was analysed by GC/MS. More than eighty compounds were identified in essential oils obtained from the leaves and stems, representing 92.3% and 96.3% in total, respectively. The major compounds in essential oils were oxygenated monoterpenes (64.3e74.2%), with geraniol (27.5e50.2%) and citronellol (14.2 e19.0%) as the main representatives. The content of phenolic compounds in corresponding hydrosols as 34.88 AE 2.00 mg GAE/g in leaves and 102.44 AE 1.63 mg GAE/g in stems including flavonoid compounds of 32.35 AE 0.81 mg GAE/g to 101.87 AE 1.03 mg GAE/g. The radical-scavenging activity was measured by the DPPH method and IC 50 values ranged from 0.19 AE 0.05 mg/mL (stems) to 0.39 AE 0.04 mg/mL (leaves) for hydrosols, and from 63.70 AE 1.56 mg/mL (leaves) to 64.88 AE 1.12 mg/mL (stems) for essential oils.

Chemical investigations of the dichloromethane extracts of Pipturus arborescens afforded ursolic acid (1), oleanolic acid (2), friedelin (3), β-sitosterol (4), and stigmasterol (5) from the twigs; while the leaves yielded 4, 5, squalene (6), chlorophyll a (7), and polyprenol (8). The structures of 1-8 were identified by comparison of their 1H and/or 13C NMR data with those reported in the literature.

Aims: Mentha spicata medicinal properties are well known. In this study, Total phenolic and flavonoid contents and the antioxidant activity of the methanol extract of Mentha spicata were determined as well as evaluation of the cytotoxic activity of it. Also, the identification of some bioactive compounds in the plant was analysed. Place and Duration of Study: Extraction and antioxidant at Medicinal Chemistry Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, cytotoxic evaluation and GC-Ms analysis at Al-Azhar University, Egypt. Methodology: The antioxidant activity was determined by two methods, DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2-2՝azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) while, the cytotoxic assay was determined by MTT assay on HepG-2 (Human hepatocellular carcinoma) and MTC-116 (Human colon carcinoma). Regarding to the chemical identification of methanol extract was carried out by GC-MS analysis. Results: The study proved that Mentha spicata has high Total phenolic and flavonoid contents (388.20±2.38mg GAE/gm of extract &204.01±17.93mg RE/gm of extract) respectively. Also, exhibited promising antioxidant activity by DPPH & ABTS (IC 50 =65.13±1.29 µg/ml & 52.31±0.81 Original Research Article Abdel-Hady et al.; EJMP, 26(1): 1-12, 2018; Article no.EJMP.45751 2 µg/ml) respectively. The methanol extract of the plant showed a good cytotoxic effect on HepG2 and HTC-116 (IC 50 =25.2±3.6µg/ml & 62.1±4.9µg/ml) respectively. GC-MS analysis of the methanol extract of Mentha spicata showed 43 oxygenated hydrocarbon compounds. The major ones are Hexadecanoic acid, methylEster (palmitic acid ester) (31.51%) followed by 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid,methyl ester (CAS)(methyl linolenate) (22.10%), 2-Pentadecanone,6,10,14-trimethyl-(CAS)(6.82%), Phytol (6.20%), 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid(Z,Z)-, methyl ester (6.18%), Hexadecanoic acid (palmitic acid) (5.95%) and Methyl stearate (4.49%). Conclusion: Mentha spicata is a potential antioxidant and anticancer agents.

The rhizobacteria Burkholderia cepacia biosynthesized the new tetrapeptide Cyclo[N-(Lys-Phe)-Orn-Val] (1), a 2,5-diketopiperazine, and the known siderophore azurechelin (salicylic acid). The structure of 1 was established by means of IR, UV, 1H and 13C NMR, double dimension experiments and MS. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Within the scope of the European project RUBIA (ICA3-2002-10023), research has been performed on the traditional use and handling of plant species in several Mediterranean countries, Albania, Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Italy, Morocco, and Spain. This paper synthesises the chief results related to the medicinal utilization of those plants.

Basella alba is used in traditional medicine as an analgesic, androgenic, anti-convulsant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and in the treatment of anaemia, infertility in men, constipation, gonorrhea and hypertension. This study aimed at evaluation of the analgesic potential of B. alba leaves towards its further utilization in drug development. The powdered leave of B. alba was successively extracted using n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol. Acute toxicity studies of the extracts were also conducted using the Lorke’s method. The B. alba leave extracts were evaluated using the acetic acid-induced writhing test and thermally-induced pain in Albino mice. The results from the study showed that methanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed no sign of toxicity but the highest dose of n-hexane extract (1000 mg/kg) showed a sign of toxicity. The leave extracts of B. alba produced a significant (p < 0.05) and dose-dependent anti-nociceptive effect against acetic acid-induced peritoneal pain when compared with the standard drug (piroxicam). The latency of the extract increased significantly (p< 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner and the findings showed that the n-hexane extract of B. alba has higher analgesic activity when compared to the methanol and ethyl acetate extracts. This provides a rationale for its traditional use in the management of pain.

Corn silk (Stigma maydis) is an important herb used traditionally to treat various ailments in different parts of the world. The present study aimed at screening the extract of corn silk for phytochemicals and cytotoxicity effect on brine shrimps (Artemia salina L). Ethanol extract of corn silk was fractionated with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol to afford the respective fractions. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, reducing sugar, saponins, and steroids while tannins was absent in all the fractions. Ethanol and chloroform fractions showed strong toxicity against brine shrimp with LC50 values of 40.548μg/ml and 88.665μg/ml respectively, methanol fraction showed moderate toxicity with LC50 value of 653.843μg/ml while pet-ether and ethyl acetate are found to be non-toxic with LC 50 values of 3429.056μg/ml and 1190.441μg/ml respectively. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) was carried out to determine the number of phytoconstituents present and the result showed a spot in methanol fraction (R f : 0.66), 2 spots in ethyl acetate (R f : 0.65; 0.9), 3 spots in petroleum ether fraction (R f : 0.089; 0.70; 0.90) and 3 spots for chloroform fraction (Rf :0.38; 0.68; 0.88). The ethanol, methanol and chloroform fractions were found to be toxic while the pet-ether and ethylacetate declared practically non toxic, the presence of these phyto-constituent shows that the plant extract can be used for the curative effect of various disease. The finding suggest further study aiming at isolation and characterization of active compounds.

Centella asiatica or "gotu kola" has been used since long time ago as an ethno-pharmacological plant and supposed to be a potent medicinal plant for its various pharmacological effects favorable for human health. Many studies described the noteworthy protective effect of C. asiatica against numerous diseases. Biological activities of C. asiatica have been linked to the most major compounds in it. This state paper is a part of our ongoing research on C. asiatica, its activity, isolation of novel metabolites, and applying the biotechnological methods to improve this plant and its phytochemical activities.

The anti-corrosive effect of ethanolic extract of Garcinia Kola seed for stainless steel corrosion in seawater has been studied at room temperature using the classical weight loss method. Result obtained showed that the extract act as inhibitor to the corrosion of stainless steel in alkaline medium. Maximum inhibition efficiency of 91 % was obtained with a concentration of 10g/l of the inhibitor. Further increase in concentration led to a decrease in efficiency of the inhibitor in the alkaline medium. Inhibition efficiency of Garcinia Kola seed extract is attributed to the presence of amide, amines, glycoside, flavanone and other phytochemicals in the extracts. Infra-Red spectroscopy study confirms that the inhibitors possess adsorption property which gave rise to spontaneous adsorption of the inhibitors on stainless steel plates.

Naturally occurring both water- and lipid-soluble arseno compounds, as well as simple methylated arsenicals, which are less toxic than
the inorganic species, and arsenoribosides are considered to be non-toxic, consisting of an interesting group of organometallic compounds.
These compounds are of great interest, and the structure, function, and also metabolism, partly, has been elucidated. This review focuses
primarily on the presence and distribution of organoarsenic compounds in vascular plants, marine and freshwater algal species, lichens, fungi,
and microorganisms. Some aspects of the metabolism and transformation of arsenic species in mentioned organisms will also be discussed

Allium humile belongs to family Alliaceae, is rich in sulfur containing compounds with distinct biological activities. The present study was designed to evaluate the phytochemicals profile, urease inhibitory and antibacterial effects of extract/fractions of Allium humile. The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids and terpenoids. When studied for urease inhibition, the ethyl acetate fraction evoked marked inhibition with IC50 value of 45.5 mg/mL. The extract and all fractions also caused significant antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Klebsiella pneumonia with zone of inhibition in range from 12 to 18 mm. It is concluded that the extract/fractions of A. humile could be useful natural source of urease inhibitors and antibacterial agents.

Gallic acid and its derivatives are widely present in the plant kingdom and are known to display antioxidant activity by the ability to counteract the damaging effects of free radicals in tissues and thus are believed to protect against cancer, arteriosclerosis, heart disease, and several other diseases. Hence, the present work describes the isolation of gallic acid derivatives from the ethyl acetate fraction of leaves of T. bangwensis. The structures of three phenolic acids of gallic acid derivatives namely; Methyl syringate (1), 3,4,5-triomethyl gallic acid (2) and 3, 4-dimethoxy-5-hydroxyl benzoic acid (3) were determined using data obtained from FAB-MS, 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra as well as by various correlation experiments (COSY, NOESY, HMQC and HMBC). The result corroborates the therapeutic potential of T. bangwensis. The possible mechanisms of action may be attributed to the presence of these polyphenolic compounds isolated from the leaves of T. bangwensis.