[In vitro study of the antibacterial activity of volatile oil extracted from Thymus syriacus]

This study aimed to determine the chemical composition and antibacterial activity screening of the volatile oil of Thymus Syriacus. The aerial parts of Thymus Syriacus were collected from the summit of Prophet Abel [a place in the countryside of Damascus], which were done in different stages of the plant growth, before and during blossom stage. Every single sample was divided into two sections: In the first section the plant materials was dried and later extracted using water distillation method, whereas in the second section the volatile oil extracted from water distillation method, whereas in the second section the volatile oil extracted from fresh-green plant material with the former extraction method. The output of the extracted oil was determined in the four collected samples of plant material [fresh-green sample before blossoming, fresh-green sample during blossoming, dry sample before blossoming, and dry sample during blossoming] and the extracted volatile oils were analyzed using gas chromatography GC. The antibacterial activities of the extracted volatile oils in Thymus Syriacus samples were screened against two gram negative bacteria: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, and against three gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Micrococcus luteus. Disk diffusion method was used to determine the antibacterial activity and the minimum inhibitory concentrations [MICs] of the active volatile oils were tested using agar dilution method, and broth dilution method; and the minimum bactericidal concentrations [MBCs] were tested using broth dilution method. Results showed that, the percentage of the volatile oil in the aerial plant parts almost doubled at the beginning of the blossoming stage when compared with the results during the pre-blossoming stage and drying of the plant materials made rather insignificant rise in the percentage. The main compound of the volatile oil in Thymus Syriacus was no more than the compound of Carvacrol [74%] and the composition of volatile oils was the same in all tested samples, and their antibacterial activities were similar likewise. Staphylococcus aureus was the most sensitive among the bacterial strains, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most resistant bacteria. In addition, the minimum inhibitory concentrations [MICs] using broth dilution method were: Escherichia coli: 1.25 microlitre/ mililitre and Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus: 0.3 microlitre/ mililitre, Micrococcus luteus: 0.6 microlitre/ mililitre. In conclusion, this study insure the antibacterial activity of the volatile oil of Thymus Syriacus, which can be acted and used for medical purposes, and as additive preservatives in food

[Anti-inflammatory effect of capparis spinosa in experimental animals]

The effects of both the aqueous and methanol extracts of Capparis spinosa on inflammation were investigated. Anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated by carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema method. The change in oedema volume of the rat hind paw was measured using caliper. Tow extracts have shown dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect and dexamethasone [0.5 mg/Kg] was used as a standard drug. The aqueous extract was more potent than methanolic with tow doses 250 and 500 mg/Kg. These data indicate that anti-inflammatory efficacy depends on concentrations of effective compounds in plant extracts which affect mediators of inflammation

[Chemical screening and antioxidant activities of many medicinal plants used in the common medicine in Syria]

The plant materials [24 plants] were collected, dried and grounded. The grounded materials were extracted by ethanol 80% and evaporated. The alkaloid content was investigated in the plants, extracts. The following extracts showed the presence of alkaloids: the aerial parts of Acanthus syriacus L. [Acanthaceae], the aerial parts of Anagalis arvensis L. [Primulaceae], the seeds of Lathyrus sativus L. [Lathyraceae], aerial and underground parts of Anabasis aphilla L, [Chenopodiaceae], and the aerial part of Spincia oleracea L., [Chenopodiaceae]. To investigate the presence of phenolic compounds the extracts were treated with alkali [alkali medium]. The phenolic compounds were to be noticed in the aerial parts of the following plants: Achillea millefolium L. [Compositae], Lavandula stoecha L. [Lamiaceae], Centauria centaurium L. [Compositae], and Ruta graveolens L. [Rutaceae]. The phenolic content and the antioxidant activities of the dried alcoholic extracts [80% ethanol] and the aqueous extracts were determined. The following alcoholic extracts showed a good antioxidant activity: The aerial parts of Sanguisorba officinalis L. [Rosaceae], the aerial parts of Alhagi maurorum Med. [Leguminosae], the aerial parts of Acanthus syriacus L., [Acanthaceae], the aerial parts of Posopis stephanina [Leguminosae], the roots of Ferula harmonii Boiss.[Umbelliferae], the aerial and underground parts of Spincia oleraceae [Chenopodiaceae]