Isolation and identification of some steroidal glycosides of Furcraea selloa.

The antischistosomal impact of different extracts of the leaves of Furcraea selloa C. Koch (Family Agavaceae) were screened against adult Schistosoma mansoni worms in vitro using well established culture media. The methanol extract of the plant showed the highest activity as S. mansoni worms recorded 100% mortality at 50 microg/ml after 24 h (EC50 = 29.78 and 29.41 microg/ml for female and male worm respectively). Owing to the high potency of the crude butanolic extract (100% mortality at 20 microg/ ml; EC50 = 10.42 and 8.94 microg/ml for female and male worm respectively) obtained from the methanolic extract, it was submitted to chromatographic separation and isolation using silica gel and Sephadex columns as well as preparative thin layer chromatography. Three steroidal glycosides (saponins) (I-III) were isolated and their structures were elucidated using some spectroscopic and chemical methods. The structure of the three compounds was formulated as 6-O-beta-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranoside chlorogenin (I), 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranoside crestagenin (II) and 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranoside gloriogenin (III). Only compound III at 5 micro/ml led to 100% mortality of the S. mansoni (EC50 = 2.25 and 1.91 microg/ml for female and male worm respectively) whereas compounds I and II did not show any activity up to 50 microg/ml.

On the main reservoir host of Fasciola in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt.

In the present work, a total of 4180 sheep were obtained from different localities at Dakahlia Governorate. One hundred and eighty male sheep were investigated for Fasciola worms (the adult and juvenile forms) at Mansoura governmental abattoir. Four hundred grazing sheep were screened by the coprological examination from ten centers. The mean number of eggs per gm in a group of ten sheep ranged from 2.9-10.8 egg/gm. The number of worms ranged from 5-84. In the Mansoura abattoir, it was found that 37 sheep were infected (20.56%). Fasciola worms were recovered from the livers in 100%, common bile ducts in 60%, gall bladder in 80%, two sites in 50% and three sites in 40% of infected biliary tracts. According to the coprological examination, the infection rate was the highest in El-Manzalla Center (15.75) and the lowest was in Mansoura Center (3.25%). According to the prevalence and egg output results, it is concluded that sheep are the main reservoir host for fascioliasis among the edible animals in Dakahlia Governorate. However, examination of the non-edible animals and the domestic and wild rodents are ongoing and will be published soon elsewhere.

Molluscicidal activity and clinico-pathological effect of Agave lophantha.

Dry powder and different extracts of Agave lophantha were tested against Biomphalaria alexandrina. The results showed that the butanol extract has high molluscicidal activity. The activity of the dry powder has been found to be stable under the effect of some simulated field conditions. Also the toxicological effect of the plant on mice was tested through determination of certain parameters such as total protein, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase enzymes as well as histopathological study on liver and kidney.