Suleiman Al-Khalil

A Survey of Plants Used in Jordanian Traditional Medicine

A list of 118 plants belonging to 49 families, used in Jordanian traditional medicine to treat a variety of disorders, has been compiled based on a field survey. Methods of preparation are recorded.

Relaxant effects of Ferula sinaica root extract on rabbit and guinea pig smooth muscle

The effects of an ethanol extract of Ferula sinaica roots on the smooth muscles of rabbit and guinea pig were tested in vitro using isolated segments of intestine, trachea and aorta. The extract inhibited the spontaneous movements of rabbit jejunum and guinea pig ileum and acetylcholine-induced contractions. The extract also inhibited the contractions of rabbit tracheal smooth muscle induced by acetylcholine stimulation and the contractions of guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle induced by histamine stimulation. Furthermore, the extract inhibited the contractions of rabbit aorta induced by norepinephrine stimulation. These inhibitions were concentration-dependent and reversible.

Veterinary Crude Drugs in Rayalaseema, Andhra Pradesh, India

AbstractAn ethnobotanical exploration in Rayalaseema, Andhra Pradesh, carried out during 1985-88, revealed 106 plant species exclusively used by herbalists for different diseases of their domestic animals.

Vitamin D3 and its metabolites in tomato, potato, egg plant and zucchini leaves

Abstract The presence of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and its hydroxylated metabolite 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OH D3) was established in leaf extracts of Lycopersicon esculentum, Solanum tuberosum, S. melongena and Cucurbita pepo. Free vitamin D3 was detected in all the leaves of these plants with the exception of S. melongena. 25-OH D3 was detected only in the extract of L. esculentum. However, neither 1α-OH vitamin D3 (1α-OH D3) nor 1α,25(OH)2 D3 (calcitrol) was detected in any of the leaf extracts of these plants; no glycosides of either vitamin D3 or its hydroxylated metabolites were found.

A xanthone C-glycoside from Iris nigricans

Abstract The isolation and identification of seven xanthones from an extract of the rhizomes of Iris nigricans is described. The isolated compounds are the xanthones, 1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxy-1,6,8-trihydroxy-2-methoxy-1,6-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxy- and 1,3,5,8-tetrahydroxy-, and the xanthone C -glycosides mangiferin, 7- O -methylmangiferin and a new compound 2-β- d -glucopyranosyl-1,3,5,8-tetrahydroxyxanthone (nigricanside). The new structure was established by detailed spectral and chemical analysis.

Effects of a Ferula sinaica root extract on the uterine smooth muscle of rat and guinea pig

The effects of an ethanolic extract of Ferula sinaica roots on the uterine smooth muscles of rats and guinea pigs were tested in vitro using isolated uterine horns. The extract inhibited the spontaneous movements of rat and guinea pig uterine smooth muscle and also the contractions induced by oxytocin stimulation. These effects were concentration-dependent and reversible by tissue washing. These data suggest that this plant extract may have some antioxytocic potential.

Mutagenic and Toxic Activity of Some Jordanian Medicinal Plants

AbstractA total of 39 ethanol extracts of Jordanian plants were examined for cytotoxicity and mutagenicity. Among the tested plants, 8 extracts were active in the brine shrimp cytotoxicity bioassay with LC50 values in the range of 2.5-870 μg/ml. These positive extracts were further tested for their antitumor activity on human tumor cell lines in culture. Eminium spiculatum showed activity against a lung carcinoma line (A-549) with an ED50 of 0.0793 μg/ ml. Regarding mutagenic effect, 16 of the extracts were active on Salmonella typhim-urium strains TA98 or TA 102, and the extract of Podonosma oriantalis showed mutagenic activity in both strains.

The Relaxing Effect of an Aqueous Extract of Glaucium arabicum on Uterine Smooth Muscle of Rat and Guinea Pig

The effects of an aqueous extract of Glauciumn arabicum on uterine smooth muscle of rat and guinea pig were tested in vitro using isolated uterine horns. The aqueous extract of G. arabicum inhibited the spontaneous movement of the rat and guinea pig uterine smooth muscle. Also, the aqueous extract inhibited the contractions of rat and guinea pig uterine smooth muscle induced by oxytocin stimulation. This inhibition was dose-dependent and reversible. These data suggested that this plant extract has an antioxytocic effect.

The Relaxing Effect of Ferula ovina Extract on Uterine Smooth Muscle of Rat and Guinea Pig

AbstractThe effects of an aqueous extract of Ferula ovina on uterine smooth muscle of rat and guinea pig were tested in vitro using isolated uterine horns. The aqueous extract of F. ovina inhibited the spontaneous movement of the rat and guinea pig uterine smooth muscle. Also, the aqueous extract inhibited the contractions of rat and guinea pig uterine smooth muscle induced by oxytocin stimulation. This inhibition was dose-dependent and reversible. These data suggest that this plant extract has an antioxytocic effect.

In vitro screening of Fe2+‐chelating effect by a Fenton's reaction–luminol chemiluminescence system

In vitro screening of a Fe(2+) -chelating effect using a Fentons reaction-luminol chemiluminescence (CL) system is described. The luminescence between the reactive oxygen species generated by the Fentons reaction and luminol was decreased on capturing Fe(2+) using a chelator. The proposed method can prevent the consumption of expensive seed compounds (drug discovery candidates) owing to the high sensitivity of CL detection. Therefore, the assay could be performed using small volumes of sample solution (150 μL) at micromolar concentrations. After optimization of the screening conditions, the efficacies of conventional chelators such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylentriaminepentaacetic acid (DETAPAC), deferoxamine, deferiprone and 1,10-phenanthroline were examined. EC50 values for these compounds (except 1,10-phenanthroline) were in the range 3.20 ± 0.87 to 9.57 ± 0.64 μM (n = 3). Rapid measurement of the Fe(2+)-chelating effect with an assay run time of a few minutes could be achieved using the proposed method. In addition, the specificity of the method was discussed.