Insecticidal and mutagenic activities of some Jordanian medicinal plants

Ethanol extracts of 118 medicinal plants were tested for insecticidal and mutagenic activity. Among the tested extracts, 20 extracts were active against fruit fly of Drosophila, either in the pupa stage or in adult stage with a concentration of 4 mg/ml. Piper nigrum, Peganum harmala, Lepidium sativum, Pistacia lentiscus, Salvia trioba, Glaucium aleppicum and Senecio vulgaris were the most active extracts against the pupa stage and the adult, with a mortality rate ranging from 80 to 100%. Intermediate activity was shown by Ammi visnaga, Valeriana officinalis, Elettaria cardamomum, Matricaria chamomilla and Salvadora persica with mortality rate varying from 60 to 90%. Juglans regia showed the lowest activity against the pupa stage, Elaeagnus angustifolia and Pimpinella anisum against adult stage. Regarding the mutagenic effect, three extracts were active by inducing genetic damage in somatic cells of Drosophila dyes after the treatment of larvae. However, the most active extract was that of Achillea fragrantissima

chemical constituents of mandragora autumnalis

Seven alkaloids and five coumarins have been identified from the roots, leaves, unripe fruits and seeds of M and ragora autumnalis, which grows widely in Jordan. The isolated alkaloids were atropine, apoatropine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine, belladonine, cuscohygrine and scopine. The isolated coumarins are herniarin, umbelliferone, angelicin, scopoletin and scopolin. Sucrose and chlorogenic acid were also isolated and identified