pharmacognostical study of Myrtus communis L. cultivated in Egypt

The macro- and micromorphology of the root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit and seed of Myrtus communis L. are presented with view of finding out the diagnostic characters for the identification of these organs in both the entire and powdered forms. The major constituents among components of the volatile oil of the leaf were phellandrene [20%], alpha-thujene [12.8%], cismyrtanol [10%], trans-farnesene [5.9%] and bornyl acetate [5.9%], while beta-caryophyllene [17.8%], methyl eugenol [12.5%], camphor [12.2%], trans-anethole [11.8%] and 1,8-cineole [4.3%] were the major compounds identified in the volatile oil of the flower. Seasonal variation of the volatile oil of the leaf and antimicrobial activity were also investigated

Phytochemical and biological investigation of Jania rubens [L] lamx amino acids, proteins, nitrogenous bases and biological screening

The thalli of the red alga: Jania rubens [L.] Lamx. yield 13.25% of total protein. The free amino acid contents, acid yield and alkaline protein hydrolysates were examined by paper chromatography [PC] and two dimensional thin layer chromatography [TLC] techniques. Qualitative and quantitative study of the amino acids in the thalli under investigation by ion exchange chromatography revealed the presence of 16 amino acids. These amino acids were isolated from the defatted ethanolic extract of Jania rubens [L.] Lamx. The profile of some pharmacological actions of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Jania rubens [L.] Lamx. was experimentally investigated. The fractionated ethanolic extract of Jania rubens [L.] Lamx. showed a marked antiwormal activity against the earth worm Allolobophora caliginosa and anthelmintic activity against the helminth parasites Ascaris sum and Fasciola hepatica. The aqueous extract showed high antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis and slight activity against Streptococcus aureus. The ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Jania rubens [L.] Lamx. had no molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria alexandrina Ehrenberg snails and no antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma

Phytochemical and pharmacological investigation of the red alga: Jania rubens [L] lamx carbohydrates, mannitol and pharmacological screening

The thalli of the red alga, Jania rubens [L.] Lamx. were phytochemically and biologically investigated. The alga yielded 22.56% of neutral mucilage when successively extracted with cold and hot water. Chromatographic study of the ethanolic [80%] extract and mucilage hydrolysates of the thalli using paper chromatography [PC], thin layer chromatography [TLC] and gas liquid chromatography [GLC] revealed that galactose, mannose, xylose, rhammose and glucose were detected in both the ethanolic extract and the mucilage hydrolysates. Galacturonic acid was only detected in the mucilage hydrolysates. In addition, arabinose was detected only in the extract prepared on cold water. Mannitol was separated from the concentrated ethanolic extract of Jania rubens [L.] Lamx. [yield 0.8%]. The thalli of the red alga Jania rubens [L.] Lamx. were biologically investigated for their toxic and therapeutic effects. The alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Jania rubens [L.] Lamx. showed significant analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects. Both the alcoholic and aqueous extracts had an inhibitory effects on the intestinal motility of rabbits, uterine motility of rats and guinea pigs' ileum. It exhibited no histaminic nor antihistaminic effects on isolated guinea pigs' tracheal strips. Both the alcoholic and aqueous extracts caused a significant increase of urine volume in the rats. The ethanolic extract had a more significant diuretic effect than the aqueous extract. Both extracts had a transient hypotensive effect