Investigations of Acacia modesta Wall. leaves for in vitro anti-diabetic, proliferative and cytotoxic effects

ABSTRACT The leaves of Acacia modesta Wall. have been shown to possess diverse pharmacological properties. Therefore, we aimed at evaluating anti-diabetic, cytotoxic and proliferative effects of extracts of Acacia modesta Wall. leaves. After evaluating the primary and secondary metabolites, anti-diabetic activity of various extracts was assessed by α-amylase inhibition, glucose uptake by yeast cells and non-enzymatic glycosylation of hemoglobin assay. Cytotoxicity and proliferative potential was assessed by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and short term proliferation assays, respectively, using human liver carcinoma cell line, HepG2. Among other extracts, chloroform extract exhibited 34.16% inhibition of α-amylase, 90.65% inhibition of hemoglobin glycosylation and 94.75% glucose uptake employing α-amylase inhibition, non-enzymatic glycosylation of hemoglobin and glucose uptake by yeast cells assays, respectively. Moreover, extracts exhibited no significant effects on HepG2 cell viability and proliferation. So, this data suggested that chloroform extract of leaves of Acacia modesta Wall., exhibited higher anti-hyperglycemic activity in comparison to extracts in other solvents, while no extract demonstrated cytotoxic and proliferation effects when tested using HepG2 cell line

Studies on the flora of yemen: 2-flora of toor al-baha district, Lahej governorate, Yemen

Toor Al-Baha of Lahej governorate [Yemen] lies between latitudes 12° 58 -13° 20 N, and longitudes 44° 11 - 44° 39 E, has been studied floristically. This region covers about 1883 sq ion. Analysis of the floristic composion of the studied area have been carried out and proved that, about 560 taxa belong to 288 genera and 89 families of the vascular plants have been recorded. Of these, the largest families are: Poaceae, Asteraceae, Asclepiadaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Acanthaceae, Capparaceae, Lamiaceae, Boraginaceae, Malvaceae, Solanaceae, Mimosaceae, Tiliaceae, Amaranthaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Gonvolvulaceae and Scrophulariaceae, while the largest genera are: Euphorbia, Acacia, Grewia, Heliotropium, Indigofera, Barleria, Eragrostis, Aloe, Hibiscus, Solanum, Tepbrosia, Cadaba, Crenulluma, Ficus, Justicla, and Senna. It was also noted that the generic index - 1.94. Sixty eight succulents taxa belong to eighteen families were recorded in the flora of the studied area, among these families six are the richest ones: Asclepiadaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Aloaceae, Aizoaceae, Crassuiaceae and Vitaceae. Twenty eight taxa are endemic to flora of Yemen, among them Rhytidocaulon splendidum T. A. McCoy is endemic to Toor Al-Baha only. Another thirty four taxa are found to be near endemic to the flora of Yemen

Factors affecting variations in exposure to infections by Leishmania donovani in eastern Sudan

A cross-sectional survey was carried out in Gedaref state, eastern Sudan to investigate the prevalence of positive leishmanin skin tests and environmental factors related to Leishmania donovani infection. A total of 3835 people living in 11 villages in 3 regions were screened. Soil types and tree densities were determined in 33 villages inhabited by 44 different tribes. The highest rates of positive skin tests were in Rahad region [33.9%], Atbara [21.6%] and Gedaref [10.6%], with an average of 21.1% for the state. Risk of infection by L. donovani varied significantly between different tribes. Higher densities of Acacia and Balanites spp. trees were in Masaleet villages, suggesting that the relatively high risk of L. donovani exposure in this tribe is due to environmental factors