[Study of the chemical compositions of the Ocimum Basilicum family Lamiaceae]

The aim of this study is to determine the essential oil of Ocimum and to find out the chemical constituents of essential oils of Yemeni Ocimum basilicum Lamiaceae. Two samples of Ocimum basilicum which were collected from Sana'a region, Yemen. The color of leaves was green and purple. Oils were isolated from fresh leaves. The constituents are quantified using Gas Chromatograph equipped with Mass Spectrometry. The analysis of the oils resulted in the identification of twenty six constituents. Fifteen constituents were identified from green phenotype oil. Linalool [46.6%], verbenone, [10.0%], methyl chavicol [8.1%], geraniol [7.3%], 1, 8-cineole [7.1%] and borneol [4.3%] were found to be the major constituents in the oil distilled from green phenotype. Eleven constituents were identified from purple phenotype oil with linalool [41.8%], methyl chavicol [30.9%], 1, 8-cineole [9.7%] and TAU-cadinol [4.2%] as the major constituents. The study revealed that two chemo-types were identified. The isolated oils could be classified as the linalool - methyl chavicol [European chemotype] and linalool-verbenone -methyl chavicol chemotype, which to the best of our knowledge has not been reported so far

[Chemical compositions of the essential oil of commiphora habessinica growing in Yemen: gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis]

The aim of this study is to analyze the chemical constituents of essential oil of resin of Yemeni Commiphora habessinica. Commiphora. habessinica resin was collected from Hujarriyah district, Taiz Governorate, Yemen. Oleogum resin [20 g] of C. habessinica was subjected to hydrodistillation for 3 h in a Clevenger-type apparatus. The constituents are quantified using Gas Chromatograph equipped with Mass Spectrometry. Thirteen constituents of Yemeni Commiphora habessinica were identified whereas two unidentified compounds with RI 1715 [5.2%], and RI 1819 [4.1%] respectively by Gas Chromatograph equipped with Mass Spectrometry. The major constituents were beta-elemene [32.1%], alpha-selinene [18.9%], cadina-1, 4-diene [7.5%], germacrene B [3.6%], alpha-copaene [3.5%], t-muurolol [3.0%], caryophyllene oxide [2.9%] and alpha-cadinol [2.6%]. The data reported in our study showed that the oil composition of C. habessinica was characterized mainly by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons [69.7%] and showed among the Commiphora oils, the highest percentage in beta-elemene [32.1%] which possessed antitumor activity. Cadina-1, 4-diene, t-muurolol, and alpha-cadinol were identified for the first time in the oil of Cominiphora genus

Chemical composition and antifungal activity of essential oil of Soqotran Pulicaria stephanocarpa Balf. f

Chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from the leaves of the endemic Soqotraen Pulicaria stephanocarpa Balf. Fil. was analyzed by GC-MS. Sesquiterpenes are the predominant portion of both essential oils. Major compounds of Pulicaria stephanocarpa oil were a-cadinol [42.5%], spathulenol [22.%], caryophyllene [10.8%], 8-cadinene [5.4%], cis-[-]-2,4a,5,6,9,9a-hexahydro-3,5,5,9-tetramethyi-1H-Benzocyclohepterie [4.6%], and oc-muurolene [4.1%]. The essential oils were screened for their antifungal activity against the phytopathogenic fungus [Cladosporium cucumerinum] by using a microbioassay on TLC plates at concentrations of 400, 200 and 100 microg. At the concentration of 400 micro g, the oil showed marked antifungal activity with an inhibition zone of 18.6.mm

Screening of antioxidant and antifungal properties of extracts from endemic Soqotran medicinal plants

A total of 50 different extracts from 18 endemic Soqotran medicinal plants belonging to 12 plant families were screened for their antioxidant activity, using the DPPH free radical scavenger assay and their antifungal activity against the phytopathogenic fungus Cladosporiumn cucumerinum, using a microbioassay on TLC plates. Of the extracts tested, 8 out of 25 methanol extracts showed more than 50% antioxidative activity at a concentration of 200 microg/ml. Extracts of Kalanchoe farinaceae, Caralluma socotrana, and Boswellia socofrana were the most active ones. Nine out of 50 extracts exhibited a fungitoxic activity. Chloroform extracts of Pulicaria stephanocarpa leaves and roots showed at an application amount of 400 micrg inhibition zones of 20 +/- 1.0 and 18 +/- 0.7 mm, respectively. The chloroform extract of Kalanchoe farinaceae leaves exhibited stronger antifungal activity [18 +/- 0.8 mm inhibition zone] than the methanolic extract [15 +/- 0.3 mm inhibition zone]. The most active methanolic extract was obtained from Acridocarpus socotranus leaves, with a 18 +/- 0.4 mm inhibition zone for 400 microgm applied

Antimalarial plants in Yemeni herbal medicine

This is an ethnobotanical survey of the antimalarial medicinal plants used by the local population living along the coastal plains of four Yemeni provinces. 19 species from 14 botanical families were recorded as well as their uses, local names, and modes of administration. Ethnopharmacological data were discussed