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The effects of the aqueous extract of Glaucium arabicum on smooth muscles of rabbit and guinea pig were tested in vitro using isolated segments of intestine, trachea, and aorta. The aqueous extract of G. arabicum inhibits the spontaneous movement of the rabbit jejunum and the contractions of rabbit jejunum and guinea pig ileum induced by acetylcholine stimulation. Also, the aqueous extract inhibits the contractions of rabbit trachealis muscle induced by acetylcholine stimulation and the contractions of guinea pig trachealis muscle induced by histamine stimulation. This inhibition is dose-dependent and is reversible. However, the aqueous extract does not inhibit the contractions of rabbit and guinea pig aortic rings induced by norepinephrine stimulation. These data suggest that this plant has antispasmodic, anticholinergic and antihistaminic effects.

Eine spätkretazische bis tertiäre nichtmarine Folge des Melut Rift-Beckens im südöstlichen Sudan wurde palynologisch untersucht. Die gewonnenen Palynomorphen sind überwiegend terrestrischen Ursprungs; einige Arten von Brackwasser-Dinoflagellaten und Scolecodeonten wurden in den Untermiozän- und Oligozän/Miozän-Vergesellschaftungen angetroffen. Die gewonnenen Palynomorphen sind allgemein gut erhalten und mäßig divers. Basierend auf der stratigraphischen Verbreitung von fünfundneunzig ausgewählten Sporen- und Pollen-Arten aus drei Bohrungen im nördlichen Melut-Becken wurden acht Palyno-Zonen vorgeschlagen, die vom Campan bis Neogen reichen. Die identifizierten Zonen wurden mit den Ziffern I bis VIII in stratigraphisch aufsteigender Folge bezeichnet: Vergesellschaftungszone I (Campan), Vergesellschaftungszone II (Campan/Maastricht), Vergesellschaftungszone III (Maastricht), Vergesellschaftungszone IV (Mittleres/Spätes Paläozän), Vergesellschaftungszone V (Frühes-Mittleres Eozän), VergesellschaftungszoneVI (Oligozän/Miozän), Vergesellschaftungszone VII (Frühes Miozän) und Vergesellschaftungszone VIII (Spätes Miozän/Pliozän). Aus mehr als 150 Palynomorphen, die in der vorgelegten Untersuchung identifiziert wurden, sind nur 25% spätkretazische Elemente. Das übrige Material ist tertiären Alters und durch Farnsporen und Süßwasseralgen dominiert. Außerdem gibt es Arten, die den Angiosperm-Pollen zugeordnet werden, z.B. Striatopollis, Bombacacidites, Retitricolpites, Retitrescolpites, Psilatriporites, Peregrinipollis, Pachydermites und Graminidites. Die Farnsporen sind vertreten durch Gattungen wie z.B. Deltoidospora, Cyathidites, Polypodiaceoisporites, Pteridacidites und Verrucatosporites, die die häufigsten Palynomorphen-Komponenten der Paläogen/Neogen-Vergesellschaftungen repräsentieren. Die spätkretazischen Angiosperm-Pollen sind durch Foveotricolpites cf. giganteus, Cristaecolpites echinaceus, Monocolpopollenites spheroidites, Auriculiidites reticulatus, Syncolporites schrankii und auch durch einige zu den Palmae und Proteacea gehörigen Pollen vertreten. Wasserfarnsporen wie Gabonisporis vigourouxii und Ariadnaesporites spinosus sowie die Lebermoos-Spore Zlivisporis blanensis wurden in den Campan-Maastricht-Vergesellschaftungen gefunden, aber treten nicht mehr im Paläogen/Neogen auf. Die Assoziation von reichlich vorhandenem, strukturiertem Palyno-Debris mit Sporen von aquatischen Pflanzen der Familien Salviniaceae und Marsiliaceae, die in der Oberkreide beobachtet wurde, lässt sumpfige Bedingungen in einem vorwiegend fluviatilen Ablagerungsraum vermuten. Das häufige Auftreten von Pollen-Körnern, die zur Palmae-Gruppe zugeordnet werden, weist auf das Überwiegen von warm-humiden Bedingungen während der späten Kreidezeit hin, obwohl saisonale Aridität aufgrund der Anwesenheit von Ephedripites spp. im Campan und an der Wende Campan/Mastricht in der Bohrung AY-3 angenommen werden kann. Spätpaläozäne und neogene Vergesellschaftungen sind durch reichlich vorhandenes amorphes organisches Material, Süßwasseralgen, beträchtliche Mengen von Farnsporen und Gramineae-Pollen charakterisiert. Es wird auf eine Ablagerung in aquatischem Milieu wie Fluss-Ebenen und Küstensümpfen unter warm-humiden Bedingungen geschlossen. Das Auftreten von Gramineae-Pollen weist auf die Entwicklung von Grasebenen hin unter allgemein trockenem Klima mit ausgeprägten Regenzeiten. Eine vermutlich kurze Zeit mariner Transgression kann während des Oligozän/Miozän stattgefunden haben; Hinweise liefern die selten auftretenden Brackwasser-Dinoflagellaten und Scolecodonten in der Vergesellschaftung. A Late Cretaceous to Tertiary non-marine sequence of the Melut Rift Basin in the southeastern Sudan was palynologically investigated. The recovered palynomorphs are overwhelmingly of terrestrial origin; few specimens of brackish water dinoflagellates and scolecodonts were encountered within the Lower Miocene and Oligocene/Miocene assemblages. The recovered palynomorphs are generally well preserved and fairly diversified. Based on the stratigraphic distribution of ninety-five selected spores and pollen species, compiled from three wells in the northern Melut Basin, eight palynozones covering the Campanian through the Neogene have been proposed. The identified zones are designated as Assemblage Zone I through VIII in stratigraphically ascending order as follows: Assemblage Zone I (Campanian), Assemblage Zone II (Campanian/Maastrichtian), Assemblage Zone III (Maastrichtian), Assemblage Zone IV (Mid-Late Paleocene), Assemblage Zone V (Early-Mid Eocene), Assemblage Zone VI (Oligocene/Miocene), Assemblage Zone VII (Early Miocene) and Assemblage Zone VIII (Late Miocene/ Pliocene). Out of more than 150 palynomorphs identified in the present investigation, only 25% of the species are Late Cretaceous elements, the remaining are Cenozoic material. In the Cenozoic assemblage, angiosperm pollen are most diverse, but pteridophytic spores and freshwater algae are most abundant. The angiosperm pollen are represented, among others, by Striatopollis, Bombacacidites, Retitricolpites, Retitrescolpites, Psilatriporites, Peregrinipollis, Pachydermites and Graminidites. The fern spores are represented by genera such as Deltoidospora, Cyathidites, Polypodiaceoisporites, Pteridacidites, and Verrucatosporites, which represent the most abundant component of the Paleogene/Neogene palynomorph assemblages. Late Cretaceous angiosperm pollen are represented by Foveotricolpites cf. giganteus, Cristaecolpites echinaceus, Monocolpopollenites spheroidites, Auriculiidites reticulatus, Syncolporites schrankii, as well as several pollen attributed to the Palmae and Proteaceae. Aquatic fern spores such as Gabonisporis vigourouxii and Ariadnaesporites spinosus and the hepatic spore Zlivisporis blanensis are present in the Campanian-Maastrichtian assemblages but disappear from the record in the Cenozoic assemblages. The coexistence of abundant structured organic palynodebris with the spores of aquatic ferns of the families Salviniaceae and Marsiliaceae observed within the Late Cretaceous sediments suggests swampy conditions within a predominantly fluvial setting. Frequent occurrence of pollen grains assigned to the Palmae group indicates the prevalence of warm, humid conditions during the Late Cretaceous, although seasonal aridity might be suggested due to the presence of Ephedripites spp. recorded from the Campanian and Campanian/Maastrichtian of well AY-3. Late Paleogene and Neogene assemblages are characterized by abundant amorphous organic matter, freshwater algae, appreciable amounts of fern spores and Gramineae pollen. Deposition in aquatic habitats such as fluvial plain and coastal swamps under warm-humid conditions is inferred. The occurrence of Gramineae pollen points towards the development of grassy areas under generally dry climate with marked rainy seasons. A presumably short marine invasion might have taken place during the Oligocene-Miocene, inferred from the rare occurrence of brackish water dinoflagellates and scolecodonts within the assemblage.

Cystic lymphangiomas are rare tumours that can mimic various causes of acute abdomen including appendicitis. They exhibit variations in two characteristics on presentation: they can arise from a wide range of organs including various intra-abdominal structures and they can have a wide variation in size on presentation. We report a case of a gigantic cystic lymphangioma presenting as an acute abdomen closely mimicking acute appendicitis and we conduct a review of the relevant literature.

Four flavonoids 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3,3′-dimethoxyflavone (3′,3′-di-O-methylquercetin) (1), 5,4′-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyflavone (kumatakenin) (2), 5,4′-dihydroxy-6,7,8,-trimethoxyflavone (xanthomicrol) (3) and 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3,6,3′-trimethoxyflavone (jaceidine) (4) were isolated and identified from the Jordanian Varthemia iphionoides. They have not previously been reported in this genus. The aqueous alkaline solution of these compounds showed little or no activity against the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Salmonella typhimurium. Compound 2 was active against the fungi Fusarium solani and Candida tropicalis while compounds 1 and 3 were much more active against F. solani, Aspergillus parasiticus and C. tropicalis.

The minimum forces needed to manually push or pull a 4-wheel cart of differing weights with similar wheel sizes from a stationary state were measured on four floor materials under different conditions of wheel width, diameter, and orientation. Cart load was increased from 0 to 181.4 kg in increments of 36.3 kg. The floor materials were smooth concrete, tile, asphalt, and industrial carpet. Two wheel widths were tested: 25 and 38 mm. Wheel diameters were 51, 102, and 153 mm. Wheel orientation was tested at four levels: F0R0 (all four wheels aligned in the forward direction), F0R90 (the two front wheels, the wheels furthest from the cart handle, aligned in the forward direction and the two rear wheels, the wheels closest to the cart handle, aligned at 90 degrees to the forward direction), F90R0 (the two front wheels aligned at 90 degrees to the forward direction and the two rear wheels aligned in the forward direction), and F90R90 (all four wheels aligned at 90 degrees to the forward direction). Wheel width did not have a significant effect on the minimum push/pull forces. The minimum push/pull forces were linearly proportional to cart weight, and inversely proportional to wheel diameter. The coefficients of rolling friction were estimated as 2.2, 2.4, 3.3, and 4.5 mm for hard rubber wheels rolling on smooth concrete, tile, asphalt, and industrial carpet floors, respectively. The effect of wheel orientation was not consistent over the tested conditions, but, in general, the smallest minimum push/pull forces were measured with all four wheels aligned in the forward direction, whereas the largest minimum push/pull forces were measured when all four wheels were aligned at 90 degrees to the forward direction. There was no significant difference between the push and pull forces when all four wheels were aligned in the forward direction.

Purpose: The treatment of triple-negative breast cancer remains a daunting challenge with the standard-of-care treatments eventually failing due to acquired drug resistance, toxic side effects and the presence of a deregulated immune response. New treatments for overcoming these drawbacks include the use of plant extracts. Study design: In this study, the efficacy of betulinic acid, a naturally abundant phytochemical exhibiting anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activity, has been evaluated for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cell lines. Furthermore, the ability of betulinic acid to inhibit angiogenesis was also determined. Results: Here, we report that betulinic acid was able to inhibit the inflammatory response, inhibit angiogenesis and cause cell cycle arrest ultimately causing apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer cells. Our findings support that the identification of naturally occurring anti-tumour compounds may provide a chemotherapeutic approach for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. Conclusion: Overall, our results provide a molecular basis for the ability of betulinic acid to mediate apoptosis, suppress inflammation and inhibit angiogenesis in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines.

The effects of an ethanol extract of Ferula sinaica roots on the smooth muscles of rabbit and guinea pig were tested in vitro using isolated segments of intestine, trachea and aorta. The extract inhibited the spontaneous movements of rabbit jejunum and guinea pig ileum and acetylcholine-induced contractions. The extract also inhibited the contractions of rabbit tracheal smooth muscle induced by acetylcholine stimulation and the contractions of guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle induced by histamine stimulation. Furthermore, the extract inhibited the contractions of rabbit aorta induced by norepinephrine stimulation. These inhibitions were concentration-dependent and reversible.

The effects of an aqueous extract of Ferula ovina were tested in vitro using isolated segments of rabbit and guinea pig intestine, trachea and aorta. The extract inhibited the spontaneous movements of rabbit jejunum and guinea pig ileum and the contractions induced by acetylcholine. The aqueous extract also inhibited the contractions of rabbit trachealis muscle induced by acetylcholine and the contractions of guinea pig trachealis muscle induced by histamine. These inhibitions were dose-dependent and reversible. However, the aqueous extract did not inhibit the contractions of rabbit and guinea pig aortic rings induced by norepinephrine. These data suggest that this plant has non-specific anticholinergic and antihistaminic antispasmodic effects.

Transtorine (1), a new quinoline alkaloid, isolated from the aerial part of Ephedra transitoria by column chromatography, was identified as 4-quinolone-2-carboxylic acid. The structure was determined by spectroscopic methods. Transtorine exhibited growth inhibitory activity against the common bacteria, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus.

Three experiments were performed to establish rooting procedure of Amygdalus arabica Oliv. Two-centimeter shoots grown in vitro on MS medium supplemented with IBA at 0.01 mg/L, BA 0.2 mg /L, sucrose 30.0 g/L, and agar 6.0 g/L were used in rooting microcuttings using three experiments: 1) IAA, IBA, and NAA at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/L during the whole experiment with 4 days of dark period; 2) effect of dark and light conditions and IBA and NAA treatments during root induction period (4 days), then shoots were transferred onto free plant bioregulators (PBR), MS medium until end of the experiment; 3) Rooting microcuttings after quick dipping in different NAA concentrations (0.0, 250, 500 ppm) or induced for 6 days in root induction medium (MS) with 3.0 mg/L NAA, then shoots were transferred onto containers containing 200 ml of peatmoss, perlite, or peatmoss: perlite mixture (1:1, v/v). Results of the first experiment showed that best rooting was obtained with NAA, followed by IBA. In the second experiment, dark treatments improved rooting percentage and root length. NAA was superior to IBA in root number. Higher IBA and NAA (3.0 mg/L) concentrations gave the best rooting. In the third experiment, induced shoots transferred to perlite gave better root number and rooting percentage followed by peatmoss: perlite mixture. Regardless of rooting medium, insignificant differences between 250 and 500 ppm NAA in root number and rooting percentage were obtained. In the quick dip method, NAA was superior to the in vitro root induction method. The highest rooting percentage (86.7%) was obtained with perlite at either 250 or 500 ppm, replacing by that the traditional in vitro rooting and obtaining plantlets that are more ready to grow under in vivo conditions.