Taha S. El-Alfy

Isolation of biologically active constituents from Moringa peregrina (Forssk.) Fiori. (family: Moringaceae) growing in Egypt

Background: Moringa peregrina is a wild plant that grown in the eastern desert mountains in Egypt. Although, this plant is native to Egypt, no details studies were traced on its chemical composition and biological activity. Materials and Methods: The different fractions of the ethanolic extract of the dried aerial parts of the plants were subjected to fractionation and purification on various silica and sephadex columns for the isolation of the major compounds which were tested for there anticancer activity. The aqueous and ethanolic extract as well as its different fractions were tested for antihyperglycemic effect on Streptozitocin-induced diabetes in rats. Results: Investigation of the different fractions of the ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of M. peregrina yielded lupeol acetate (1), β-amyrin (2), α-amyrin (3), β-sitosterol (4), β-sitosterol-3-O-glucoside (5), apigenin (6), rhamnetin (7), neochlorogenic acid (10), rhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside (12), and 6-methoxy-acacetin-8-C-β-glucoside (13) which were isolated for the first time from the plant. Compound (13) was isolated for the first time from genus Moringa. In addition, quercetin (8), chryseriol-7-O-rhamnoside (9) and quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (11) were also isolated. Identification has been established by spectral data (UV, MS, IR, 1H, 1H -1H COSY, and 13C-NMR). The major isolated compounds were found to have valuable cytotoxic activities against breast (MCF 7) and colon (HCT 116) cancer cell lines and their activities were comparable to the reference drug doxorubicin. On the other hand, the aqueous and ethanolic extracts as well as the n-hexane fraction were found to have potent antihyperglycemic effect on Streptozitocin-induced diabetes in rats. Conclusion: The Egyptian plant M. peregrina is rich in biologically active ingredients which showed potent cytotoxic activity and also its ethanolic extraxt exert a significant antihyperglycemic effect.

Antimicrobial Activity of the Volatile Oil of Nigella sativa Linneaus Seeds

The antimicrobial activity of the volatile oil of Nigella sativa Linneaus seeds was studied. The antimicrobial principle has been isolated, identified as thymohydroquinone, and found to be active against gram-positive bacteria and yeasts.

Chemical and biological study of the seeds of Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter

A chemical study of the red type of the seeds of Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter (Poaceae) led to the isolation of seven compounds from its ethanol extract, namely β-sitosterol (1), β-amyrin-3-O-(2′-acetyl(glucoside (2), β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucoside (3), naringenin (4), naringenin-4′-methoxy-7-O-α-L-rhamnoside (5), eriodictyol-3′,7-dimethoxy-4′-O-β-D-glucoside (6) and isorhamnetin-3-O-rhamnoglucoside (7), which are reported for the first time in the genus Eragrostis. This is the first report for the isolation of compounds (2) and (6) in nature. The isolated compounds were identified using different spectroscopic methods (EIMS, UV, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HMQC and HMBC). A proximate analysis revealed the high nutritive value of the seeds: carbohydrates (57.27%), protein (20.9%), essential amino acids (8.15%) with major leucine and lysine (1.71 and 1.35%, respectively), vitamin B1 (1.56 mg/100 g) and potassium and calcium (32.4 and 9.63%, respectively). The seeds yielded 22% w/w of fixed oil rich in unsaturated fatty acids (72.46%), among which oleic acid, was predominant (32.41%), followed by linolenic acid (23.83%). The ethanolic extract and fixed oil of the seeds exhibited anti-hyperlipedaemic and anti-hyperglycaemic activities. Oral administration of the fixed oil for 10 days resulted in a rise in serum calcium levels in rats.

Quaternary ammonium compounds in intact plants and cell suspension cultures of Atriplex semibaccata and A. Halimus during osmotic stress

Abstract Atriplex halimus and A. semibaccata plants and seeds were collected from their natural habitat in Egypt. Seeds of the plants were germinated in a low salt garden soil in Germany. A clear quantitative correlation between salt content of the soil of both biotopes and the amount of quaternary ammonium compounds in plants from both sites was not observed, indicating that the environmental sodium chloride concentration is not the only factor that influences the synthesis of quaternary ammonium compounds. Cell suspension cultures were raised from both plant species and the osmotic pressure of the culture medium increased by either sodium chloride or multiple amounts of macroelemerits. It was found that the cell suspension cultures are similar to the intact plants in that both exhibit enhanced growth under moderate sodium chloride concentration, do not accumulate proline in response to osmotic stress but do produce quaternary ammonium compounds. A positive correlation between salt concentration and accumulation of quaternary ammonium compounds was observed in the cultured cells.

A New Flavonoid C-Glycoside from Celtis australis L. and Celtis occidentalis L. Leaves and Potential Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities

A major development over the past two decades has been the realization that free radical induced lipid peroxidation and DNA damage are associated with major health problems, e.g. cancer and ageing. Plant-derived antioxidants are increasingly found beneficial in protecting against these diseases. Celtis australis L. and Celtis occidentalis L. are two plants that have a variety of uses in folk medicine but have not been evaluated before for their antioxidant and cytotoxic properties. Therefore, the extracts of both plants’ leaves were investigated for these activities, as well as isolation of the bioactive compounds responsible for the activities. Molecular structures of the compounds were elucidated by UV, HRESIMS, 1D (1H and 13C) and 2D (1H-13C HSQC and 1H-13C HMBC) NMR analyses. The ethanolic and aqueous extracts, n-butanol fractions and the isolated major compound were tested for their antioxidant activity using DPPH radical scavenging assay, xanthine oxidase-induced generation of superoxide radical and lipid peroxidation assay by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) method using rat tissue homogenates. Cytotoxic activities were studied using standard MTT assay. A novel flavonoid C-triglycoside, 4‴-α-rhamnopyranosyl-2″-O-β-d-galactopyranosylvitexin, was isolated from both plants’ leaves, together with seven known flavonoids. The n-butanol fractions and the major compound 2″-O-β-galactopyranosylvitexin showed significant antioxidant activities, more pronounced than the tested standards BHT and dl-α-tocopherol in most tests. All extracts showed variable cytotoxic activities. This study provides strong evidence for the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of the extracts of Celtis australis L. and Celtis occidentalis L. leaves, which were attributed to the polar n-butanol fractions and the major isolated flavonoid 2″-galactosylvitexin.

Phytochemical and biological investigation of the extracts of Nigella sativa L. seed waste.

Different extracts of Nigella sativa L. seed waste; aqueous (AE) 200 mg/kg, ethanol 70% (EE) 250 mg/kg and hexane (HE) 10 mg/kg, were evaluated for their hepatoprotective activities. They were administered orally, once daily, for 5 consecutive days. On day 5, liver injury was induced in animals by a single i.p. injection of carbon tetrachloride (10 mg/kg b. w. of 0.25% (v/v). Hepatoxicity produced, was evaluated by both biochemical and histopathological investigations. The aqueous extract attenuated the CCl(4) -induced liver damage likely due to the decrease of proinflammatory cytokines and T-cell proliferation. This was noticed by a significant decrease in both serum and tissue cytokines; tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (INF-γ) and interlukin-beta (IL-1β), in the markers of liver functions; bilirubin and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and in the oxidative stress markers; malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione content (GSH). Fractionation of this extract was performed and its component, protein, saponin, and polyphenol fractions were evaluated by appropriate analytical procedures. The crude protein of the seed waste reached 36.85% while protein fingerprint showed four bands ranging from 91.97 KD and 29.00 KD. The saponin content was evaluated through the determination of the haemolytic index and reached 15.56 mg/g dry powder. Finally, Folin Ciocalteu method was used for the determination of the total polyphenols. The same biochemical and histopathological studies were again performed on the different fractions of the aqueous extract; protein fraction (PF) 10 mg/kg, saponin fraction (SF) 5 mg/kg and polyphenol fraction (FF) 10 mg/kg. The biochemical changes were improved only by the protein fraction (PF) of the seed waste of Nigella sativa. This was manifested by a significant reduction in both serum and tissue cytokines in the liver markers and in the oxidative stress markers. Moreover, liver histopathology showed that (PF) reduced the incidence of liver lesions including hepatic cells cloudy swelling, lymphocytes infiltration, hepatic necrosis and fibrous connective tissue proliferation induced by CCl(4) in mice. From this study, it is concluded that the protein fraction of the aqueous extract of Nigella sativa seed waste exhibited a promising hepatoprotective effect in the management of different liver disorders.

Estrogenic activity of Citrus medica L. leaves growing in Egypt

The estrogenic activity of petroleum ether extract of Citrus medica L. leaves as well as the chemical constituents responsible for the biological activity was studied. The petroleum ether extract proved to retain high estrogenic activity in immature female rats. The extract was saponified and its components (saponifiable part 23% and the unsaponifiable matter 77%) were identified using GC/MS technique. The extract proved to be safe (LD50< 2g/kg.bw). Oral administration of petroleum ether extract of C. medica in ovariectomized immature female Wistar rats for 7 days in a dose of 400 mg/kg resulted in significant increase in the uterine weight (g) (1.7±0.11) when compared with ovariectomized control rats (1.3±0.07). GC/MS analysis of both saponifiable and unsaponifiable matters revealed the presence of thirty three components (28 hydrocarbons and 5 sterols) in the unsaponifiable fraction, the major hydrocarbon was nHeneicosane (16.7%) while the major sterol was β-sitosterol (4.03%) and 15 components in the saponifiable matter its major component was hexadecanoic acid (19.93%). As a conclusion petroleum ether extract of Citrus medica L. leaves possess a significant estrogenic activity.

Hepatoprotective activity of Erythrina × neillii leaf extract and characterization of its phytoconstituents

BACKGROUND Natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents have the ability to restore normal balance to destructed liver cells. The genus Erythrina has attracted attention for its broad spectrum of physiological activities and its rich polyphenolic and alkaloid contents. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE The major phytoconstituents of Erythrina × neillii, an ornamental coral tree and a hybrid between E. herbacea and E. humeana that was not previously studied, were investigated. The hepatoprotective effect and underlying mechanisms were also assessed. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS The main phytoconstituents in the different fractions of the alcoholic leaf extract (dichloromethane and ethyl acetate) were identified using high resolution high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HR-HPLC-MS-MS) based on the fragmentation pattern and molecular formula of the identified compounds and on previous literature. In addition, the hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of three doses of E. × neillii alcoholic leaf extract (100, 250, 500 mg/kg) were investigated in methotrexate (MTX)-intoxicated rats and were compared with those of silymarin-treated rats. Liver function parameters were obtained, and a histopathological study was performed. In addition, the anti-inflammatory mediators and the antioxidant system in the liver tissues were assessed. RESULTS The dichloromethane extract revealed an abundance of alkaloids (25), in addition to tentatively identifying flavone (1), flavanone (1) and three fatty acids. Additionally, thirty-six compounds belonging to different classes of phytoconstituents with a predominance of flavonoids (21), O/C-flavone and flavonol glycosides, followed by alkaloids (9), fatty acids (4) and (2), and phenolic glycoside were identified in the ethyl acetate extract. Compared with MTX, alcoholic leaf extract (500 mg/kg) ameliorated the MTX-induced alterations by improving several biochemical marker levels, fighting oxidative stress in serum and liver tissues, and decreasing inflammatory mediators; this finding was further confirmed by the histopathological study. CONCLUSION This study reveals E. × neillii, a rich source of flavonoids and alkaloids, which could be further exploited to provide a promising and safe antihepatotoxic agent source.

Morphological and anatomical features of Bauhinia vahlii Wight and Arnott. grown in Egypt

Leaves and stems of plants of genus Bauhinia, family Fabaceae subfamily Caesalpinoideae, have been used as folk remedies for treatment of numerous health problems mainly diabetes. The genus is famous for the characteristic camels foot shape of its leaves and bearing flowers ranging from white, yellow to purple. The shape and size of both flower and leaf are essential for species characterization. This study targets the morphological and histological profiling of Bauhinia vahlii Wight & Arnott. due to its recently evidenced biological importance. Morphologically, B. vahlii can be distinguished by being a huge evergreen climber with numerous pairs of coiled revolute tendrils. Its branches bear numerous large bilobed hairy leaves and white flowers that turns buff by time. The flowers show three long fertile stamens and two short staminodes. The commonly used parts, leaves and stems, were subjected to a deeper investigation. Microscopically, they are characterized by long non-glandular hairs with three small basal cells and an elongated distal one and that are rare in Caesalpinoideae. B. vahlli was recently segregated into a separate genus; Phanera based on the presence of tendrils, nature of its flowers androceum and phylogenetic data.