Phytochemical and biological study of sumac

The essential oil obtained from the fruits of Rhus coriaria L.[Sumac] [Anacardiaceae] by hydrodistillation [0.02%] was analyzed by GC-MS. Twenty seven constituents. amounting to 94.27%, were identified in the essential oil. The predominant compounds were among the oxygenated terpenoids [61 19%], represented by thymol [52.25%]. Caryophyllene [10.90%] and cembrene [9.81%] were the major sesquiterpene and diterpene hydrocarbons. respectively. The physic-chemical characters of the extracted fixed oil [6.5%] of the fruits were determined. GLC analysis of the saponifiable fraction of the fixed oil revealed that linoleic [56.47%] and oleic [29.97%] acids were the major unsaturated fatty acids: while palmitic and stearie acids were the major saturated ones. Ethanol extracts of the fruits and seeds, as well as, the volatile oil have demonstrated variable antimicrobial activities against certain micro-organisms. The essential oil revealed marked in vitro cytotoxicity against certain human cell lines, liver [HEPG2], colon [HCT116] and larynx [HEP2] carcinoma cell lines. The ethanol extracts were found variably effective as analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective DNA fingerprinting of the fruits of Sumac was carried out as a mean of identification of the genetic profile of the fruits sold in the Egyptian herbal market

Chemical constituents and biological activity of some Egyptian members of the leguminosae

Preliminary phytochemical screening was carried Out for the three plants under investigation: Colutea istria, Alhagi graecorum and Astragalus vogelii Sixteen flavonoidal compounds were isolated and identified as:quercetin-3-glucoside; quercetin-3-gentiobioside; quercetin-3,7-diglucoside; isorhamnetm-3-gentiobioside; isorhamnetin-3-rutinoside;kaempferide-3,7-diglucoside; 2',4,4'trihydroxychalcone; 2',4,4',6' tetrahydroxychalcone; formononetin; daidzein; calycosin; cladrin; rhamnocitrin-3-neohesperidoside; rhamnocitrin-3-glucoside; thamnocitrin-3-galactoside and rhamnocitrin aglycone. The volatile constituents were analysed by GC/MS spectrometry, the effect of the alcoholic extracts on the brine shrimp and the antimicrobial activity were carried out

Pharmacognostical study of dillenia indica linn. growing in Egypt

The macro- and micromorphology of the flower, fruit and seed of Dillenia indica Linn. [Dilleniaceae] growing in Egypt were described and illustrated for their identification in both entire and powdered forms. Various medicinal properties were attributed to this plant [1-4]. The fruit of Dillenia indica Linn. was reported as antipyretic to relieve fatigue and stop abdominal pains. The fruit juice was used as a cooling beverage in fever and expectorant in cough [2-3], probably due to its high content of mucilage [5]. It is slightly laxative and induces diarrhea in large doses. The acid fruit is edible when fresh and is used in certain curries and jellies [4, 6]. More recent studies have revealed that the alcoholic extract of the seed exhibited antimicrobial activity against vibro cholera, Salmonella typhi and Bacillus anthracis [7, 8] which is attributed to the Oleanene triterpenoids [8]. The plant is also highly prized as an ornamental tree due to its large fragrant flower [1]. Family Dilleniaceae is chemically characterized by the presence of triterpenes [9, 10] and flavonoids [11]. Therefore, the macro- and micromorphological studies of the leaf, stem, bark were carried out [12] and this report concerns the flower, fruit and seed

Pharmacognostical study of dillenia indica Linn. growing in Egypt. Part I: macro and micromorphology of the stem and leaf

The macro- and micromorphology of the stem of a branch and leaf of Dillenia indica Linn. growing in Egypt are presented to find out the diagnostic characters by which these organs could be identified in both the entire and powdered forms. Dillenia indica Linn. is an evergreen tree [6-15 m] in height belongs to the family Dilleniaceae which comprises 10 genera and 400 species distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions. Various medicinal properties are attributed to this plant. The fruits are used as cooling beverage in fevers, while in India, leaves and barks are used medicinally for their tannin content in ulcerated sores and for tanning. The alcoholic extract of the leaves causes depression of the central nervous system. The fruit juice mixed with sugar and water is used as a cough mixture, [assists expectoration] and said to cure angina so it is used as tonic laxative and in abdominal pains. However, nothing could be traced in the available current literature concerning the botanical study of the aerial parts of the plant. Therefore, the present study aimed to describe the macro- and micromorphological characters of the stem and leaf for the purpose of their identification in their entire and powdered forms

Smooth pursuit eye movement dysfunction in chronic schizophrenics and their first degree relatives

This study was done on 15 medicated chronic schizophrenics, 12 of their first degree relatives and 12 normal subjects. Smooth pursuit eye movements [SPEM] study was the target of this work. The results showed that schizophrenics definitely do poorly on this task. Incidence was around 90% on most of SPEM measurement parameters. First degree relatives of schizophrenics showed nearly similar performance to the sample of normal people. SPEM dysfunction in schizophrenics was not correlated to the age of patient, age of onset of illness, duration of illness, nor to the degree of neuropsychological impairment. Various possibilities of the interpretation of SPEM dysfunction in schizophrenia was discussed and a conclusion of the selective attention impairment, most probably behind this dysfunction, was reached

pharmacognostical study of the seeds of cassia torrl grown in Egypt

Cassia tora L. [Leguminosae] was cultivated for the first time in Egypt. Macro- and micromorphological investigation of the seeds of this plant revealed the diagnostic features by which the seeds can be identified in the entire and powdered forms. Phytochemical screening of the seed and TLC investigation of its successive extractives revealed the presence of anthraquinones, flavonoids, unsaturated sterols and /or triterpenes and catechol tannins. Alkaloids, saponins, cardenolides, oxidase enzyme and steam-volatiles were found to be absent. Pharmacopoeial constants and extractives yielded to selective organic solvents in succession were determined. They can serve as means for confirming the identification or establishing the purity of seeds

new heart model for better biological system simulation

An electronic nonlinear time varying capacitance is designed to simulate the human myocardial performance which cannot be easily programmed on an analog computer. This design makes feasible the use of RLC circuit model for the Pressure-Flow dynamics of the Cardiovascular System with a large number of segments without being limited by the size of the analog computer. The model can be interconnected to the analog computer for studying related problems. Nonlinearity in the suggested model allows for mechanical heart failure to be detected. Systolic time is made variable with heart rate to mirnic reality. Time scale is introduced to allow for the study of slow phenomena like myocardial hypertrophy