Antioxidant, hepatoprotective and antimicrobial activities of the aerial parts of polygonum bellardii all

The methanolic extract of Polygonum bellardii All [flowering aerial parts] and its fractions in addition to the isolated compounds [1-6] showed significant antioxidant potential by DPPH scavenging activity technique. It also showed hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride [CC[4] induced hepatic injury in albino rats. The fractions exhibited antibacterial activity against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria in addition to antifungal activity. The total methanolic extract of Polygonum bellardii All did not show signs oftoxicity and mortality up to 4 g/kg dose. Determination of total flavonoid content with respect to quercetin spectrophotometrically indicated the presence of 185. 2 +/- 1.03 mg/g dried extract

In Vitro Effects of Some Herbs Used in Egyptian Traditional Medicine on Viability of Protoscolices of Hydatid Cysts

The present work evaluated the effects of alcoholic extracts of salvia (Salvia officinalis), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), and 2 pure compounds (thymol and menthol) on the viability of Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices in vitro. Four different concentrations of each extract (2,500, 1,500, 1,000, and 500 microg/ml) and 3 different concentrations each of thymol and menthol (50, 10, and 1 microg/ml) were used. Concentration of 2,500 microg/ml of both extracts showed a significant protoscolicidal activity on the 6th day. Complete loss of viability of protoscolices occurred with 500 microg/ml concentration of both extracts at day 6 and day 7 post-treatment (PT), respectively. Pure compounds, i.e., menthol and thymol, showed potent effects with 50 microg/ml concentration at day 2 and day 5 PT, respectively. These effects were compared with those of albendazole sulfoxide (800 microg/ml), a commonly used treatment drug for hydatidosis. Krebs-Ringer solution and the hydatid cystic fluid at a ratio of 4:1 was a good preservative solution which kept the protoscolices viable for 15 days.

Minor constituents from rubia cordifolia L. root

Reinvestigation of the chloroform soluble fraction of the chloroform-methanol [1:1] extract of the dried roots of Rubia cordifolia L. using different chromatographic techniques led to isolation of one new naphthohydroquinone dimer [1] and four known compounds identified as 3-friedelinol [2], atraric acid [3], vanillic acid [4] and D-beta-O-methoxy-chiro-inositol [5]. The identification of the isolated compounds was carried out using different physical, chemical and spectral methods of analysis

Lipids and triterpenes from Maerua crassifolia growing in Egypt

The hexane fraction obtained from the total alcohol extract of the aerial parts of Maerua crassifolia Forssk grown in Egypt upon repeated column chromatography afforded one new compound identified as 1, 23 dimethoxy tricosa-6-one [1], along with six known compounds identified as long chain hydrocarbon [triacontane] [2], ceryl alcohol [3], lupeol palmitate [4], beta-sitosterol palmitate [5], lupeol acetate [6], and alpha-amyrin [7]. The identification of the isolated compounds was carried out using different physical, chemical and spectral methods and co-chromatography with authentic samples

Segma-pyrone derivatives from Crotalaria thebaica

From the aerial parts of Crotalaria thebaica [Del] DC [Fabaceae] three segma pyrones [1-3] together with an isoflavone [tecreroginin] [4] were isolated. The structures of the isolated compounds were characterized by using different methods of spectral analysis including, IR, UV, NMR and MS.

Biotransformation of Flavonols to Flavonols-3-O-glucoside in cell cultures of astragalus sieberi DC

One distinct glucosyltransferase [GT] has been partially purified and characterized from cell cultures of Astragalus sieberi DC.; Family Leguminosae. Callus cultures were established from shoots of sterile germinated seeds maintained on solid MS medium supplemented with 4.5 microM 1-naphthylacetic acid [NAA] and 2.3 microM kinetin [KIN]. The cell suspension cultures were obtained by transport of callus cultures to liquid MS medium with the same hormone supplementation. The GT was found to exhibit maximum activity at pH 7.5 and an incubation temperature of 35°. The preferred substrate of GT was found to be kaempferol, the second best substrate was quercetin. The isolated enzymatic products were detected by TLC and HPLC and identified by spectral analysis and comparison with authentic compounds.This experiment from economic point of view provides the best conditions for large scale production of glucosides of kaempferol, quercetin and isorahmnetin