Macro- and micromorphology of the root, stem leaf, infloresence and fruit of Euphorbia peplus L. growing in Egypt

Euphorbia peplus L. belongs to Family Euphorbiaceae which includes about 283 genera with almost 7500 species. They are distributed all over the world mainly tropical countries. Some species of the genus Euphorbia showed antiviral and anticancer activities. It was reported to be used in folkloric medicine as purgative and in treatment of skin diseases, gonorrhea, liver disorders, chest diseases, and gout. Some phytochemical studies have been carried out abroad on different species. The authors carried out phytochemical and biological studies on the studied plant and here in we undertake macro- and micromorphological studies with the aim of finding out the diagnostic features by which the plant could be identified in both entire and powdered forms

Phenolic constituents of cucurbita pepo L. CV 'eskandrani' [summer squash] flowers

One new flavonoid named 5, 7-dihydroxy-3,6,3'-trimethoxyflavone [1], together with eight known phenolic compounds; 3,4-dihydroxy methyl benzoate [2], 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid [3], isorhamnetin [4], quercetin [5], myricetin [6,], isorhamnetin-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside [7], quercettn-4'-O-beta-D-g/ucopyranoside [8] and quercetin-3,4'-O-beta-D-diglucopyranoside [9] were isolated from the flowers of Cucurbita pepo L. for the first time except 3 which was previously isolated from the plant. Their structures have been established on the basis of physical, chemical and spectroscopic methods in addition to comparison with literature data and/or authentic samples. The met hanolic and ethyl acetate extracts were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity

Neurobehavioral effects of biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate in rats

The present study aimed at evaluating the possible potential of DDB to affect behavior and exploring the corresponding changes in brain monoamines levels. The work was conducted using adult male Sprague-Dawely rats. Animals were classified into three groups. Group I given a relatively low dose [50 mg/Kg] of DDB, group II given a higher dose [100 mg/Kg] of DDB, while group III given vehicle and served as control. Doses were given daily along 14 consecutive days using an oral gavage. The estimated behavioral parameters were locomotion and neuromuscular co-ordination [open field test and swimming test], exploration and curiosity [evasion test], learning and memory [conditioned avoidance response], depression and despair [forced swimming test], aggressive behavior and sociability [isolation technique, home cage observation and resident intruder paradigm]. In addition, brain monamines levels, namely Dopamine [DA], Norepinephrine [NE] and Serotonin [5-HT] were evaluated in various brain regions spectrophotoflourimetrically. DDB clearly affected animals' behavior, manifested by significant increase of locomotor and exploratory activities with a parallel enhancement of cognition, learning and memory. In addition, DDB possessed a positive effect on the animals' aggressiveness and hostility, which was correlated with significant modifications of monoamines levels in various brain regions, especially DA and NE levels. The obtained results show that DDB possesses a significant potential as a behaviorally active drug. They point to the possibility of using DDB as a tonic and/or stimulant medication to enhance motor co-ordination, cognition and memory. Furthermore, DDB might be clinically valuable as an anxiolytic or antidepressant treatment according to the dose administrated

Phenolics of cyperus alopecuroides rottb. Inflorescences and their biological activities

Sixteen phenolic compounds, scopoletin [I], isoliquiritigenin 4 -methyl ether [2], luteolin 5,3 -dimethyl ether [3], luteolin 7,3-dimethyl ether [4], aureusidin 4-methyl ether [5], apigenin [6], luteolin [7], trans-ferulic acid [8], luteolin 4-O-beta-D-gluco-pyranoside [9], luteolin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside [10], quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside [11], apigenin 7-O-neohesperidoside [12], kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside [13], quercetin 3-O-rutinoside [14], kaempferol 3-O-[2-O-D-xylopyranosyl-6-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl]-beta-D-glucopyranoside [15] and kaempferol 3-O-[2-O-D-glucopyranosyl-6-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl]-beta-D-glucopyranoside [16] were isolated from the methanolic extract of the inflorescences of Cyperus alopecuroides Rottb. for the first time. Their structures have been established on the basis of physical, chemical and spectroscopic methods in addition to comparison with literature data and/or authentic samples. The antioxidant and cytotoxic activities in addition to alpha-amylase inhibitory activity of the isolated compounds have been studied