Ismail F. Abaza

Essential oil composition of the aerial parts of fresh and air-dried Salvia palaestina Benth. (Lamiaceae) growing wild in Jordan

The composition of the essential oil of fresh and air-dried Salvia palaestina Benth. (Lamiaceae) growing wild in Jordan has been studied using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. The essential oils of fresh and air-dried S. palaestina were mainly composed of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (52.66% and 65.98%, respectively). The major component detected in the oils of fresh and dry S. palaestina was germacrene D (21.18% and 26.02%, respectively). Air drying resulted in a general increase of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and a great decrease in the percentage of monoterpene hydrocarbons.

Screening the Antiangiogenic Activity of Medicinal Plants Grown and Sold in Jordan

Angiogenesis is essential for the growth, invasion, and metastasis of most solid tumors and has become a valuable pharmacological target for cancer prevention and treatment. This study was performed to assess the antiangiogenic activity of 31 medicinal plants grown and sold in Jordan. The antiangiogenic activity was assessed using the rat aortic ring assay. Out of 31 extracts, 15 extracts showed more than 50 % inhibition of the blood vessels outgrowth from the primary tissue explants (p = 0.000). Three of these 15 extracts showed a potential cytotoxic effect on normal fibroblast cells. Four extracts shared antiangiogenic and antiproliferative activity towards MCF7 breast cancer cell lines. Eight extracts demonstrated selective antiangiogenic activity. This is the first report demonstrating the potential antiangiogenic activity of Artemisia judaica, Aloysia citriodora, Salvia egyptiaca, and Calendula arvensis. Some extracts with antiangiogenic activity exhibited selectivity against the endothelial cells proliferation, demonstrating a direct inhibitory activity against the key step in tumor angiogenesis.

Antiobesity and antihyperglycaemic effects of Adiantum capillus-veneris extracts: in vitro and in vivo evaluations

Abstract Context: Adiantum capillus-veneris L. (Adiantaceae) hypocholesterolemic activity is therapeutically praised. Objectives: Pharmacological modulation of pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase (PL) and α-amylase/α-glucosidase by A. capillus-veneris are evaluated. Materials and methods: Using positive controls (acarbose, orlistat, guar gum, atorvastatin, glipizide and metformin) as appropriate, crude aqueous extracts (AEs) of A. capillus-veneris aerial parts were tested via a combination of in vitro enzymatic (0.24–100 mg/mL), acute in vivo carbohydrate tolerance tests (125, 250 or 500 mg/kg body weight [b.wt]) and chronic in vivo studies (500 mg/kg b.wt) in high cholesterol diet (HCD) fed Wistar rats. Results: Like acarbose, A. capillus-veneris as well as chlorogenic acid, with respective IC50 values (mg/mL) of 0.8 ± 0.0 and 0.2 ± 0.0, were identified as in vitro potent dual inhibitors of α-amylase/α-glucosidase. Unlike guar gum, A. capillus-veneris had no glucose diffusion hindrance capacity. Equivalent to orlistat, A. capillus-veneris and its phytoconstituents inhibited PL in vitro with an ascending order of PL- IC50 values (μg/mL): ferulic acid; 0.48 ± 0.06 < ellagic acid; 13.53 ± 1.83 < chlorogenic acid; 38.4 ± 2.8 < A. capillus-veneris; 1600 ± 100. Incomparable to acarbose or metformin and glipizide, A. capillus-veneris (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg b.wt) lacked antihyperglycaemic efficacies in acute starch- or glucose-evoked postprandial hyperglycaemia increments in normoglycaemic overnight fasting rats. Superior to atorvastatin; A. capillus-veneris exerted significant antiobesity (p < 0.001) with marked triacylglycerol-reducing capacities (p < 0.001) in comparison to rats fed with HCD for 10 weeks. Discussion and conclusion: A. capillus-veneris, modulating pancreatic digestive enzymes, may be advocated as a combinatorial diabesity prevention/phytotherapy agent.

Volatile Oil Composition and Antiplatelet Activity of Jordanian Achillea biebersteinii Collected at Different Growth Stages

Abstract Achillea biebersteinii Afan. (Asteraceae) is used as a traditional medicine for healing wounds and in the treatment of abdominal pain and stomach ache. Fresh and air dried flowering parts of A. biebersteinii at different growth stages were subjected to hydro-distillation and the different essential oils obtained were analyzed by GC-MS technique. Monoterpenoids dominated the different flowering stages of both, fresh and air dried flowering parts. The fresh pre-flowering stage was dominated by monoterpene hydrocarbons (56.62 %) with α-terpinene as the major component (51.67 %). Oxygenated monoterpenes were detected as the principal constituents during both, the fresh flowering and fresh post-flowering stages (55.61 %, 56.45 %, respectively). The major representatives of this class included ascaridol (38.84 %) and iso-ascaridol (25.39 %). Oxygenated monoterpenes dominated all flowering stages of the air-dried blooms and ascaridol was the main volatile compound in these oils (28.20 %, 27.03 % and 44.39 %, respectively). The oil of the dried mature flowering blooms of A. biebersteinii exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of the platelet aggregation caused by ADP and collagen.

Variation in the essential oil composition of Eremostachys laciniata from Jordan at different flowering stages

Fresh aerial parts of Eremostachys laciniata Bunge growing wild in Jordan (Lamiaceae) were collected at different flowering stages. The essential oil contents of the fresh and the air-dried plants at the flowering stage were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Results obtained indicated variability in the terpenoid content at the different flowering stages. Monoterpene hydrocarbons were the main group of all terpenoids during the pre-flowering, fresh flowering and air-dried-flowering stages (12.1%, 24.3% and 16.0%, respectively) and reached a minimum value at the post-flowering stage (2.5%) with limonene being the major compound in this fraction at all stages. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons reached a maximum level at the fresh flowering stage (10.0%) with α-copaene (3.0%) as the the major component during this stage. Oxygenated monoterpenes were detected in highest concentration after air-drying (14.4%), whereas the oxygenated sesquiterpene content reached 5.5% at the post-flowering stage. Linear hydrocarbons and their derivatives were the main contributors to the essential oil of E. laciniata during the different stages reaching a maximum level of 80.5% at the post-flowering stage.

Chemical Composition Analysis and Antimicrobial Screening of the Essential Oil of a Rare Plant from Jordan: Ducrosia flabellifolia

The composition of the essential oil isolated from the fresh and dry leaves of Ducrosia flabellifolia Boiss. (Apiaceae) was determined by gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry using hydrodistillation and solid phase microextraction (SPME). The hydrodistilled oil of the fresh leaves yielded 38 components, accounting for 98.67% of the total oil content, while thirty components were detected from the fresh leaves by solid phase microextraction (94.85%). Fifty-one and 36 components were identified in the hydrodistilled and SPME oils of the dried leaves amounting to 98.78% and 94.52%, respectively. A total of 25 components accounting for 97.24% of the total composition were characterized in the SPME oil of the fresh flowers. Aliphatic compounds predominated in the volatile fractions of the leaves and flowers of both methods with n-decanol, n-decanal, and dodecanal as the main constituents. The α- and ß-pinene were the major monoterpenoids in the oils. The hydrodistilled oil was screened for its antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. The minimal inhibitory concentration of the volatile oil was determined using a microdilution method in 96 well plates against a panel of gram (+), gram (−) bacteria, and fungi. Overnight cultures of reference strains of Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus were used as test microorganisms. The oil exhibited the best activity against C. albicans (MIC 234 µg/mL) and S. aureus (MIC 234 µg/mL) whereas weak activity was detected against E. coli and P. aeruginosa. No antioxidant activity could be detected.

Chemical Composition, Antimicrobial and Antitumor Activities of Essential Oil of Ammodaucus leucotrichus Growing in Algeria

Ammodaucus leucotrichus L. (Apiaceae) is a rarely investigated important medicinal plant endemic to North African countries. The essential oil of A. leucotrichus L. seeds obtained by hydro-distillation and SPME extraction methods were analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. Twenty two components were identified in the hydro-distilled oil amounting to 97.04 % of the total oil content. The oil was dominated by oxygenated monoteprenes (87.32 %) represented by perilla aldehyde (84.43 %). A total of thirty four components accounting for 99.88 % of the total composition were characterized in the SPME oil. Monoterpene hydrocarbons had the highest contribution to the SPME oil (87.40 %) with terpinolene being the main component of the fraction (69.21%). The hydro-distilled oil was screened for its antimicrobial activity and was found to be inactive against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi. The pure oil was most active against Micrococcus luteus while moderately active against Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. Moreover, the essential oil showed no activity against MCF7 and T47D cancer cell lines. The investigation revealed qualitative and quantitative differences between the hydro-distilled and SPME oils of the Algerian A. leucotrichus L. seeds.

Patterns in Volatile Emission of Different Organs of Inula viscosa growing wild in Jordan

Abstract In the current investigation, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) spontaneously emitted from the different organs of Inula viscosa growing wild in Jordan were extracted by Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME) method and then analyzed using GC-MS technique. Oxygenated monoterpenes dominated roots emission (52.39%) while sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were the main class of compounds detected in the emission of the stems (60.05%). Leaves emission was characterized with high monoterpenoids content (oxygenated 24.34%, hydrocarbons 30.06%). The emission of the fully expanded flowers and flowering organs (receptacles, petals and pistils) was rich in oxygenated monoterpenes (51.96%, 46.94%, 45.45% and 53.13%, respectively). Flowering buds at the pre-flowering stage were rich in oxygenated sesquiterpenoids (40.02%). Principle Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA) analysis revealed that the emission profiles of different I. viscosa organs were classified into three clusters based on their chemical composition. In addition, the hydrodistilled essential oils obtained from the fresh leaves, pre-flowering buds and fully expanded flowers were dominated by oxygenated sesquiterpenoids (69.63, 92.75 and 76.70%, respectively).

Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Anti-angiogenic and Antiproliferative Activities of the Leaves of Elaeagnus angustifolia L. Grown in Jordan

Elaeagnus angustifolia L. has a long history of use in ethnopharmacology. Only few studies examined the potential activities of the leaves. Furthermore, the leaves’ chemical composition was not fully investigated. In this study, the chemical composition of E. angustifolia leaves extract was analysed and major compounds were isolated and identified. Extract obtained by maceration was further extracted with solvents differing in their polarity then submitted to open column chromatography, followed by isolation of major compounds. They were analysed using UV-Vis and/or NMR. One terpene (β-sitosterol) and four flavonoids (chrysin-7-glucoside, rutin, luteolin and kaempferol) were isolated and identified. For the biological activities, leaves were extracted using ethanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform and water. Anti-angiogenic activity was studied by rat aortic ring assay. Anti-proliferative activity was studied against MCF-7 and T-47D breast cancer cell lines. Ethyl acetate extract was found cytotoxic against T-47D breast cancer cell line (IC50=23.05 μg/mL). Potent anti-angiogenic activity of ethanol-(IC50=3.039 μg/mL), ethyl acetate- (IC50=6.289 μg/mL) and water-extract (IC50=7.153 μg/mL) was reported for the first time.

Essential Oil Composition and Anticholinesterase Activity Evaluation of Achillea fragrantissima Growing Wild in Jordan

ABSTRACT The composition of hydro-distilled oils of Achillea fragrantissima inflorescence (fresh and dry) at the pre- and flowering stages was evaluated by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). Additionally, the essential oil and solvent extracts of the dried inflorescence were assayed for their inhibitory effect against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). All essential oils were rich oxygenated monoterpenes especially in the flowering stage (69.27% fresh, 81.72% dry). The hydro-distilled oil of the dried inflorescence showed low activity as AChE inhibitor (IC50 0.05 ± 0.01 μg μL−1). The ethyl acetate fraction (IC50 0.063 ± 0.02 μg μL−1) showed the highest AChE inhibitor activity, whereas the hydro-alcoholic fraction had the highest BChE inhibitory effect (IC50 0.037 ± 0.010 μg μL−1). Results proposed the possible applications of A. fragrantissima flower extracts as coadjuvants in the treatment of cognitive diseases including Alzheimer’s disease.