Botanical study of Meryta denhamii seem and its anthelmintic activity against Fasciola gigantica

The anthelmintic activity of the ethanolic extracts of stems and leaves of Meryta denhamii Seem, against adult liver flukes [Fasciola gigantica] was studied in vitro. Although leaves extract was inactive, stems extract exhibited anthelmintic activity and recorded LC[50] and LC[90] values, 16 and 26 gm/1 respectively. The mode of action of the ethanolic extract of the stems on the adult flukes was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy [SEM]. Tegumental sloughing, loss of spines and deformity of suckers were observed. These damages are responsible for the vermicidal effect of the ethanolic extract of the stems. The saponin contents of the stems [4.25%] and leaves [2.45%] were determined using haemolytic index. The plant was identified based on the macro and micromorphological features of the stem and leaf

Constituents and analgesic activity of the alcoholic extract of Fagonia indica burm

Fagonia indica Burmf, Family Zygophyllaceae, is a plant distributed in the deserts of Asia and Africa. It is used in folk medicine for cancer as well as most of the disorders considered to be due to poisons. Many constituents have been isolated from the plant. However, no reports about isolation of the flavonoidal constituents are available. Moreover, only few studies investigated the pharmacological effects of the plant cxtract. Our aim was to determine the exact constituents of the alcoholic extract of Fagonia indica Burmf, to evaluate the acute toxicity of the plant extract as a measure of its safety and to investigate the possible antinociceptive as well as the anti-tumor activities of the total alcohol and the fractions prepared. The alcoholic extract of the air-dried powdered plants was successively fractionated using hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. The analgesic activity of the alcoholic extract was tested by the writhing and the hot-plate tests using acetyl salicylic acid [200 mg/kg, i.p.] and morphine [10 mg/kg, i.p.] as reference drugs for both tests respectively. The cytotoxic activity of the alcoholic extract as well as its fractions against 2 cell lines, Mammary Carcinoma F7 [MCF7] and Human Colon tumor cells [HCT], were also determined. Four flavonoidal compounds identified as quercetin, isorhamnetin-a-3-O rhamnoside, quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-[1"-6"]-beta-D-glucopyranoside and quercetin 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-[6"-1"]-alpha-L-2" acetyl rhamnose-[3"-1"] beta-D-glucopyranoside were for the first time isolated from the ethyl acetate and n-butanol soluble fractions of the alcoholic extract of Fagonia indica Burm f in addition to Oleanolic acid, beta-sitosterol-3-O-beta-D-glucoside and Stigmasterol 3-O-beta-D-glucoside. Identification of the isolated compounds was based on chemical and spectroscopic analysis including UV, [1]H-NMR and [13]C-NMR. Flavonoids amounted to 3% as estimated colorimetrically by using aluminum chloride. The alcoholic extract elicited a activity on both acetic acid-induced writhing response as well as hot plate test in mice showing its central and peripheral mediated antinociceptive action. The alcoholic extract as well as its fractions exhibited marked antitumor activity against the two cell line tested with the ethyl acetate fraction showing the least IC[50] against both carcinoma cells MCF7 and HCT cells [30.5 and 31.9 micro g/ml respectively]. Fagonia indica Burm f collected from UAE desert possesses valuable flavonoidal constituents which could, at least partly, contribute to its analgesic as well as anti-tumor activities shown in folk medicine