[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]