Antihyperglycemic effect and nutritive value of opuntia dillenii [Ker-Gawl] haw. fruits cultivated in Egypt

The antihyperglycemic effect of the fruit juice of opuntia dillenii [Ker-Gawl] How [cactaceae] as well as that of the mucilage and pectin, was studied in alloxan-induced diabetic rats through actute and long-term [8 weeks] experiments The chemistry of the isolated mucilage and pectin Was also demonstrated by GC-MS. Chemical characterization, as well as investigation of the nutritive profile of the edible portion of the fruits were also carried out

Cardenolides from corchorus olitorius l. seed-leaves

Three known cardenolides [Strophanthidin [1], Corchoroside A [2] and Olitoriside [3]] were isolated from the seed-leaves of Corchorus olitorius L. [Tiliaceae]. The cytotoxic activity was evaluated against six cancer cell lines. Compounds 2 and 3 were very potent and their EC50 values against A549 [human lung carcinoma] were 0.06 mug/ml and 0.025 mug/ml, respectively. These compounds were isolated for the first time from the seed-leaves of the plant and this was the first report of the cytotoxicity of compounds 2 and 3

Cytotoxic cardenolides from cheiranthus cheiri L. flowers

The ethanolic extract of the flowers of the Egyptian species of Cheiranthus cheiri L. [Cruciferae] showed significant cytotoxicity against 2 different cancer cell lines. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of 2 cardenolides, strophanthidin 1, and helveticoside 2, where the latter demonstrated potent activity against 6 cell lines tested, especially A-549 [human lung carcinoma]. This study was the first report for the isolation of cardenolides from the flower of Cheiranthus cheiri L. and the first report for cytotoxicity of helveticoside

Naphthoquinones of arnebia tinctoria [Forssk]

Phytochemical investigation of the light petroleum extract of Arnebia tinctoria Forssk. [=tetrastigma] root showed the isolation of two naphthoquinones: Alkannin and isovalerylalkannin. The structures of the two quinones have been established by UV, IR, HNMR and MS analysis. In addition, the aforementioned extract exhibited antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as fungal species