phytochemical and biological investigations of halocnemunt strobilaceum [Pall.]

ABSTRACT

The lipid content of Halocnemurn strobilaceum grown in Egypt was studied. The unsaponifiable fraction was identified by GLC. A series of hydrocarbons ranging from C[17]-C[31] in addition to campasterol, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol and the triterpenoid cc-amyrin were identified. The GLC analysis of the fatty alcohol fraction revealed the presence of 7 fatty alcohols, also the analysis of the fatty acid fraction revealed the presence of 10 fatty acids in which palmitic acid was the main acid [39.26%]. The flavonoidal constituents isolated from the chloroform and the ethyl acetate fractions of the aqueous alcoholic extract of Halocnemurn strobilaceum were identified as Chrysoeriol, Luteolin 7-O-galactoside, Quercetin 7-O-rhamnoside, Luteolin, and a coumarinic compound, Scopoletin was also identified. Their identity was proved by m.p., TLC, PC, UV, 'H-NMR and MS analysis. GLC analysis of the volatile oil of the plant revealed the identification of 23 compounds which accounted for 63% of the oil. The oil is characterized by a high content of hydrocarbons [55.9%], while the oxygenated hydrocarbons were represented by [33.8%] of the identified components. Also, the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated sesquiterpene compounds were found to be 2.6% and 8.2% respectively. The radical scavenging effects of the extracts and isolated compounds on DPPH free radical were studied. The ethyl acetate extract had a strong antioxidant activity, also the isolated flavonoidal compounds showed high antioxidant activity as compared to Trolox [standard antioxidant compound]. The different extracts and isolated compounds of the plant exhibited no cytotoxic activity against Ehrlich-ascitis carcinoma cell line at the tested concentrations, except the volatile oil which showed moderate activity