Fathy M. Soliman

An Acylated Kaempferol Glycoside from Flowers of Foeniculum vulgare and F. Dulce

An acylated kaempferol glycoside, namely kaempferol-3-O-α-L-(2”,3”-di-E-p-coumaroyl)-rhamnoside (1) was isolated from the flowers of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. and F. dulce DC. It is thus isolated for the first time from family Apiaceae. In addition, the different organs of both plants afforded six flavonoid glycosides - namely afzelin (kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnoside) (2), quercitrin (3), isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D-glucoside (4), isoquercitrin (5), rutin (6), and miquelianin (quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucuronide) (7). Structure elucidation of the above mentioned flavonoids was achieved by UV, 1H- and 13C-NMR, 1H-1H COSY, HMQC and EI-MS.

Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Activities of Major Flavonoids of Cynanchum acutum L. (Asclepiadaceae) Growing in Egypt

Seven flavonoids were isolated from the butanol fraction of the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Cynanchum acutum L. (Asclepiadaceae). All of which have been isolated for the first time from the genus Cynanchum. Their structures were established as quercetin 3-O-β-galacturonopyranoside (1), quercetin 7-O-β-glucopyranoside (2), tamarixtin 3-O-β-galacturonopyranoside (3), kaempferol 3-O-β-galacturonopyranoside (4), 8-hydroxyquercetin 3-O-β-galactopyranoside (5), tamarixtin 3-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (6), and tamarixtin 7-O-α-arabinopyranoside (7) on the basis of their chromatographic properties, chemical and spectroscopic data. The major isolated flavonoids 1, 2 and 3 were found to exhibit significant antioxidant and antidiabetic activities (by measuring blood glucose and insulin levels). This is the first report about the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of compounds 1 - 3.

Cytotoxic activity of acyl phloroglucinols isolated from the leaves of Eucalyptus cinerea F. Muell. ex Benth. cultivated in Egypt.

Two acyl phloroglucinol compounds namely; Sideroxylonal B (1) and Macrocarpal A (2) were isolated from the Sideroxylonal-Rich Extract (SRE) of the juvenile leaves of Eucalyptus cinerea; F. Muell. ex Benth cultivated in Egypt. Identification of the isolated compounds was established on the basis of physico-chemical properties and spectral analysis (1D & 2D NMR). The two compounds were isolated for the first time from this species. The SRE alongside with the isolated compounds were tested against three human cancer cell lines; MCF7 (breast carcinoma cell line), HEP2 (laryngeal carcinoma), CaCo (colonic adenocarcinoma) and one type of normal human cell line;10 FS (fibroblast cells). The SRE, (1), and (2) showed cytotoxic activity with IC50 13.6 ± 0.62, 7.2 ± 0.5, 14.8 ± 0.55 μg mL−1 against HEP2 respectively, 11.6 ± 0.47, 4 ± 0.36, 11.4 ± 0.45 μg mL−1 against CaCo, respectively, and 8.6 ± 0.29, 4.4 ± 0.25, and 7.8 ± 0.3 μg mL−1 against MCF7, respectively. Meanwhile, the (SRE) together with (1) and (2) exhibited low cytotoxicity against normal cell line 10 FS, with IC50 55.4 ± 1.4, 43 ± 0.8 and 50.1 ± 1.12 μg mL−1, respectively. The antiprofilerative activity of the tested compounds was evaluated. The cell cycle profile of cells treated with Sideroxylonal-B and Macrocarpal-A indicates possible S-phase specific effects.

Seasonal Variation in the Essential Oil Composition of Origanum majorana L. Cultivated in Egypt

Z. Naturforsch. 64 c, 611 - 614 (2009); received March 1/30, 2009 The hydrodistilled essential oil content of Origanum majorana L. (Lamiaceae) ranged from 2.5 - 3% with the maximal value (3%) in spring. Analysis of the oil by GC/MS resulted in the identifi cation of 15, 15, 11, and 14 components in the oils prepared in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. The composition of the essential oils differed quantitatively and qualitatively according to the time of collection. Thymol (38.4%) and cis-sabinene hydrate (25.3%) were the major components in spring plants. Terpinen-4-ol (37.4%, 20.5%, 16.3%) was a major component in the summer, autumn and winter oils, respectively. cis- Sabinene hydrate (54.4%) was major in winter plants while terpinolene (43.1%) was the main component in autumn plants. Other components detected in lower amounts in all oil samples were sabinene and p-cymene (up to 7.4% and 13.9% in autumn), and α-terpinene (up to 13.3% in summer)

Chemical composition and bioactivity of the volatile oil from leaves and stems of Eucalyptus cinerea.

Abstract Context: Eucalyptus cinerea F. Muell. ex Benth. (Myrtaceae) is a medium-sized tree cultivated in Egypt. Objective: First, to determine the chemical composition of the volatile oil of the juvenile leaves and stems of E. cinerea to identify its chemotype. Second, to study the in vivo antioxidant activity and in vitro antimicrobial activity of the studied volatile oils against selected Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria, yeast, and mycelia fungi. Materials and methods: The volatile oil was prepared by hydrodistillation and then identified by GC/MS analysis. Broth microdilution and agar dilution methods were applied for determining the MIC. The antioxidant activity was studied by determination of glutathione level in blood of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Results: The yield of the volatile oil hydrodistilled from the juvenile leaves and stems of E. cinerea was 4.5 and 0.5%, respectively. 1,8-Cineole was the major identified oxygenated monoterpenoid (84.55% and 60.15% in the juvenile leaves and stems, respectively). The antibacterial activity of the oil of the juvenile leaves was more potent against all the tested organisms than that of the stems. The (MIC) of volatile oil of the juvenile leaves against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus faecalis, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus flavus were 5.2, 5.6, 4, 4.8, and 12.8 μg/ml, respectively. Also, the juvenile leaves’ oil was more active as an antioxidant than that of the stems. They restored glutathione level by 33.7 ± 1.1 and 29.6 ± 0.7 mg/dl, respectively, compared with vitamin E (35.9 ± 1.2 mg/dl) which was used as a reference. Discussion and conclusion: Results suggest that the volatile oil is 1,8-cineole chemotype. Moreover, the oil of the juvenile leaves of E. cinerea might find usefulness as a therapeutic agent following further development.

UPLC/QTOF/MS profiling of two Psidium species and the in-vivo hepatoprotective activity of their nano-formulated liposomes

Liver diseases are major health problem in Egypt influencing lifestyle and economy. The demand for nutraceutical hepatoprotective agents is crucial to ameliorate the side effects of synthetic drugs. The present study aims to evaluate antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of extracts of Psidium guajava L. and Psidium cattleianum Sabine leaves and their nano-formulated liposomes against paracetamol-induced liver damage in rats. Secondary metabolites profile of P. guajava and P. cattleianum leaves was investigated using UPLC-PDA-ESI-qTOF-MSn. The nano-liposomes containing Psidium extracts were prepared using thin film hydration method. Biochemical analysis was based on monitoring serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP and total bilirubin. The liver homogenate was used for determination of GSH and MDA. Histopathological alterations were also studied. Metabolic profiling revealed qualitative differences between the two investigated species providing a comprehensive map for the metabolites present in P. guajava and P. cattleianum leaves cultivated in Egypt. The identified metabolites belong to different phytochemical classes; polyphenolics, flavonoids, triterpenes and meroterpenoids. Significant hepatoprotective effects were observed as evident from the decreased levels of AST, ALT, ALP, MDA and total bilirubin as well as restoration of decreased GSH level in the two studied Psidium extracts (250, 500mg/kg b. wt) and their respective nano-liposomes (500mg/kg b. wt), when compared to the diseased group. Nano-liposomes of Psidium guajava leaves (500mg/kg b. wt) greatly restored the normal architecture of the liver in the histopathological study, as regards to standard silymarin. The present study verified the effectiveness of Psidium guajava and Psidium cattleianum leaves extracts and their nano-liposomes in ameliorating the paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Vicia ervilia L. seeds newly explored biological activities

Abstract Within the global context of increasing poverty in the developing countries, natural products are important in devising new drugs. Vicia ervilia L. Willd., unlike several fabaceae seeds, is not used for human consumption till now. We aim to discover any possible medicinal use of the seed. Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcerogenic and antihyperglycemic activities were evaluated using hot plate, carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, ethanol-induced ulcer model and alloxan-induced diabetes methods, respectively. Antiviral activity was evaluated using Methylthiazol Tetrazolium assay. V. ervilia seeds ethanol (70%) extract had significant anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiulcerogenic, antihyperglycemic and antiviral activities. It is of excellent choice for treatment of several illnesses in developing countries due to its diverse resource, easy accessibility, affordability and its newly proved significant wide range of biological activities.