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bjective: The objective of the study is to analyze the microscopic, macroscopic, and physicochemical standards of the leaves of the Acacia etbaica subspecies uncinata. Methods: Pharamacognostic studies (macroscopic, microscopic, and powder microscopy) were carried out. Physicochemical standards (ash values, extractives values, and moisture content by loss on drying) were determined. Fluorescence analysis of powdered drug was also performed. Results: The macroscopic study showed that the leaves were bipinnate with 3–11 pairs of pinnae, each containing 7–25 pairs of leaflets. The leaflet was linear with parallel margins and a rounded at the apex, color was dark green, odor was characteristic and the taste was astringent. The characteristic microscopy of leaves showed the presence of polygonal and rectangular epidermal cells in the center of the lamina and rectangular at the edges, paracytic stomata, non-glandular trichomes, and reticulate venations. The microscopic study of petiole, rachis, and rachilla revealed the presence of elongate, swollen conical-shaped, flagelliform, and wavy trichomes. The powder microscopy also revealed paracytic stomata, trichomes with pedestals, and annular vessels. Physiochemical analysis of dried leaf powder showed total ash, acid insoluble ash, water-soluble ash, water extractive value, ethanol extractive value, and moisture content as 6.11%, 2.50%, 4.57%, 32.50%, 14.10%, and 7.26% w/w respectively. The fluorescence analysis of leaf powder was established. Conclusion: Various pharmacognostic, physicochemical, and fluorescence parameters observed in this study will help in the identification and standardization of the leaves of A. etbaica subspecies uncinata.

Socio-economic progress of a specific nation determined by the amended energy facilities. Electricity produced from Eritrea majorly relies on imported fossil fuels. In the global scenario, recently bioethanol derived from lignocellulosic biomass sources has become a significant renewable energy form as a blended fuel for the transportation sector.Woodland forest covers totally 60% of the total land in Eritrea. Acacia etbaica, a bushy wood plant native to Eritrea was selected as a feedstock for bioethanol production. Two stage fermentation of aerobic followed by anaerobic in the presence of yeast made potential to generate 3.9% (v/v) bioethanol from Acacia etbaica (Seraw) via multistage dilute H2SO4 pretreatment. Bioethanol was purified by a simple batch distillation and the first stage distillate was identified with 13 % of ethanol by UV spectrophotometer. With a dedication of50,000 ha of land, Eritrea can harvest 45000 ton/year of Acacia etbaica biomass and subsequently produce 15620 lit/year of bioethanol for a 5 year crop rotation.

Acacia etbaica Schweinf belongs to the family Fabaceae widely distributed in Africa and various parts of this plant such as bark, leaves, flowers and roots are widely used as a folk medicine for curing of various ailments.This study was aimed to screen the phytoconstituents and evaluate the antibacterial activity of leaf extract of A. etbaica against selected multidrug resistant Enterobacteriaceae family. Leaves of A. etbaica were extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone, and ethanol by sequential soxhlet extraction. Phytochemical screening of organic leaf extract of A.etbaica was carried out for the detection of phytoconstituents accountable for antibacterial activity. In vitro antibacterial activities of A.etbaica leaf extracts against selected Enterobacteriaceae family gram‑positive bacteria such as (B.subtilis, E.faecalis,S.aureus)and gram-negative (E. coli, K. pneumonia, V. cholera) were evaluated by agar well diffusion. The antibacterial potential of acetone and ethanol leaf extracts of A.etbaica were determined by 96 well plate broth dilution assay. Among the tested organic leaf extracts, both acetone and ethanolic leaf extract of A.etbaica showed a potentially broad spectrum of in vitro antibacterial activity against tested multiple drug resistant Enterobacteriaceae family gram-positive pathogens such as B.subtilis, E. faecalis , and S.aureus and gram-negative bacterial strains E. coli, K. Pneumonia and V. Cholera with significant MIC values. The significant antibacterial activity of both acetone and ethanolic leaf extracts of A.etbaica was due to the subsistence of secondary metabolites phytoconstituents such as flavonoids and phenolic compounds.

The aim of this study was to determine the energy properties of fuelwood samples which are preferred and used by local communities. The study used both cross-sectional survey of households and field survey. Systematic household sampling was used for household and random sampling for tree species. The chosen sample sizes for households in the study were 134. The cross-sectional survey of the local community on orderly preference of fuelwood consumption listed Acacia nilotica, Acacia etbaica, Olea africana, Acacia seyal, and Acokanthera schimperi. However, for the laboratory result and detail principal component analysis (PCA) of tree species in their density and moisture, ash, volatile, and fixed carbon contents, Olea africana was strongly recommended for fuelwood preference followed by Acacia nilotica, Acacia etbaica, Acacia seyal, and Acokanthera schimperi. The identification of community preference and scientific assessment on fuelwood consumption on different tree species will enhance the expansion of their plantation program in the region.

Here, we employed green and very fast (clock) synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by means of silver nitrate and Acacia etbaica valve extract at room temperature. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results confirm the spherical shape and diameter (size) ranging from 6.38 ± 3.21, 10.09 ± 3.21 and 20 ± 3.21 for AeAg-1, AeAg-2 and AeAg-3, respectively. TEM results showed that size of AgNPs increase as the concentration of AgNO3 decreases due to the low concentration of bio reducing agent present in the extract. The enhanced antimicrobial activity against human pathogenic microbes was investigated by diffusion method based on zone of inhibition. The prepared AgNPs showed high specificity against the tested pathogens, namely K. pneumonia, S. typhi, S. dysenteriae, P. mirabilis, S. saprophyticus, S. aureus and C. albican with inhibition zone between 22.3 ± 2.08 mm and 11.67 ± 1.15 mm. On the other hand, the prepared AgNPs did not exhibit high specifity against E. Faecalis and P. aeruginosa. Therefore, it can be concluded that the prepared AgNPs have potential as natural antimicrobial agents against microbes with multidrug resistance.

Fermentative capacity among ruminants can differ depending on the type of ruminant species and the substrate fermented. The aim was to compare in vitro cow and goat rumen inocula in terms of methane (CH4 ) and gas production (GP), fermentation kinetics and 72 h volatile fatty acids (VFA) production using the browse species Acacia etbaica, Capparis tomentosa, Dichrostachys cinerea, Rhus natalensis, freeze-dried maize silage and grass silage, and a concentrate as substrates.; Results: Total GP, CH4 and VFA were higher (P ≤ 0.008) in goat inoculum than cows across substrates. The half-time for asymptotic GP was lower (P

By using a simple and rapid technique, the degree of vessel deviations in the stem xylem could be evaluated and compared between different plant species. The degree of vessel deviations was suggested to be one of the main factors determining the hydraulic integration in woody stems. The main objective of this study was to investigate the role of vessel tangential deviations in determining both intervessel connectivity and patterns of hydraulic integration in woody stems of six Fabaceae trees. It was hypothesized that increasing the degree of vessel deviations would increase lateral contacts between vessels thereby increasing hydraulic integration within stems. Species-specific differences in vessel deviations and intervessel connectivity were quantified by following the movement of an apoplastic dye that was injected to a limited number of vessels. Intervessel connectivity was measured as the number of laterally connected vessels, whereas the degree of vessel deviations was measured as the magnitude of divergence of a group of neighboring vessels. Hydraulic integration index was determined as the ratio of tangential to axial conductance. Results showed that the degree of vessel deviations differed significantly between species. Acacia cyanophylla showed the lowest degree of vessel deviations (1.75 ± 0.33), while the highest degree was observed in Acacia etbaica (2.48 ± 0.26). Hydraulic integration was positively correlated more with vessel deviations than with intervessel connectivity. Only a very weak positive correlation was observed between vessel deviations and intervessel connectivity. Tangential deviations in the course of vessels might be one of the main factors determining the patterns of integrated–sectored transport in woody stems and, consequently, might have ecological implications in terms of plant adaptation to various ecological conditions. This study confirmed the complexity of interactions in the xylem hydraulic system.

In the north Ethiopian highlands, gully erosion is a significant land degradation process.Although the protective role of vegetation has been demonstrated in many studies, efforts previously made in using woody species for erosion control in the research area are limited, and when applied, survival of the planted seedlings was very low. Lack of experience and fundamental knowledge on species autecology and traits are two important bottlenecks. This study therefore aims at better understanding seedling stablishment and growth in a context of tree plantings, with the view to further control gully erosion in a semi-arid environment. To this end survival, growth and evelopment of seedlings of Acacia etbaica Schweinf., Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. and Dodonaea angustifolia L.f. were monitored during 26 months in a field trial under different site conditions and treatments. The experiment was established at two sites characterized by topographic and edaphic conditions (Vertisol and sandy colluvium) epresentative for the study area. At each site, seedlings were subjected to different treatments of watering, sheltering and planting position (gully floor, sidewall and shoulder), and a large set of plant growth variables was regularly monitored. Height and biomass growth was fastest for Sesbania, even if affected by different pests. Regardless of the species, plants growing in the (nutrient-rich) Vertisol site had a higher survival rate and an overall better development. Shelter protection ignificantly increased survival and resulted in taller seedlings. Notwithstanding these general trends, treatment effects were often varying over time and strongly influenced by specific edaphic conditions. Generally, Acacia performed best on gully shoulder and wall, Sesbania on the gully floor and Dodonaea on shoulder positions. Recommendations for planting practice and follow-up research are discussed. ispartof: Plant and Soil vol:324 issue:1 pages:131-156 status: published

Acacia etbaica Schweinf. and Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight et Arn. are among the common woody browse plants that naturally grow in many arid and semi-arid rangelands in sub Saharan Africa. An experiment was conducted to compare the voluntary dry matter intake, body weight gain, nitrogen balance, carcass composition and sensory attributes of goats supplemented with different levels of A . etbaica and D . cinerea fruits. Average initial body weight of the goats was 20.4 kg (± 0.8SE) and received one of the following fruit supplementation regimes for 120 days (on body weight basis, n = 4 goats per group): (1) Control, no supplement; (2) 0.5% of A. etbaica ; (3) 0.5% of D. cinerea ; (4) 1.0% of A. etbaica ; (5) 1.0% of D. cinerea ; (6) 1.5% of A. etbaica ; (7) 1.5% of D. cinerea . All groups were allowed to graze/browse during the day. Compared to A . etbaica , D . cinerea fruits contained higher amounts of crude protein (182 vs 135 g/kg DM), metabolizable energy (11 vs 8.4 MJ/kg DM), and in vitro dry matter digestibility coefficient (0.7 vs 0.6). The concentrations of acid detergent fiber (ADF), sulphuric acid solubulized lignin, and tannin (soluble and condensed) were lower ( P D . cinerea than in A . etbaica fruits. A . etbaica fruits, however, contained higher amounts of Na, K, Fe, and Zn concentrations than D . cinerea fruits. Dry matter intake was markedly higher in supplemented groups than in the control group without supplement. Similarly, body weight gain in the control group was negative and lower ( P D . cinerea fruit diet gained 2.6 kg whereas the control group lost 2.0 kg. Thus, the difference between these two groups was 4.6 kg, which suggests about 22.5% increment of the goats' initial body weight. N retention was negative for the control group and varied little among the remaining treatment groups. Dressing percent increased with increased level of either type of fruit supplement, the highest (51.8%) being achieved at the 1.5% D . cinerea level. There was no difference in bone tissue across treatment groups. D . cinerea fruit intake also resulted in juicy/watery flavor and tender carcass. D . cinerea fruits appeared to have no adverse effects when included at the highest level (1.5%) and could be collected and stored as dry season supplement to smallholder goats. This study shows that poor farmers can increase goat performance substantially through supplement feeding with wild fruits. Areas in Ethiopia originally set aside for provision of ecological services and biodiversity protection can also be used for wild fruit production and feeding of small stock. The effect of increasing D . cinerea fruits above the 1.5% body weight level should be a focus of future investigation. Further work on deactivation mechanism of tannins is required for A . etbaica fruits included at levels higher than 1.0%.

The role of enclosures in the recovery of woody vegetation was investigated by studying species composition, density, diversity and regeneration status of woody species and soil seed banks in enclosures and adjacent open areas at two widely separated sites known as Biyo–Kelala and Tiya in central and northern Ethiopia, respectively. Fifty-eight woody species, representing 30 plant families, were recorded at Biyo–Kelala, of which only 25 were recorded both in the enclosure and open area while two were recorded outside of the sample plots. At Tiya, 31 woody species, representing 19 families, were recorded in the enclosure but only 15 of these species were encountered in the open area. Woody plant densities were 1746 and 2215 individuals/ha in the enclosure and open area at Biyo–Kelala, respectively, and 3705 and 3048 individuals/ha in the enclosure and open area at Tiya, respectively. Dodonaea angustifolia and Acacia etbaica were the most dominant species at Biyo–Kelala and Tiya, respectively. The enclosure at Biyo–Kelala had about twice the diversity value of the open area, while the corresponding values were 2.5 and 2 for the enclosure and open area at Tiya, respectively. The total numbers of species recovered from the soil samples collected in Biyo–Kelala site were 48 for the enclosure and 30 for the open area with mean seed densities of 2765 (±124) and 1663 (±117) seeds m2, respectively. At Tiya, 30 and 16 species were recovered in the enclosure and open area, respectively, with mean seed densities of 2811 (±276) and 996 (±243) seeds m2, respectively. The diversity of all plant species in the soil seed bank was greater in the enclosure than the open area at both sites. Herbs and grasses dominated the soil seed banks at both sites while several of the woody species recorded in the above-ground vegetation were not represented at all. Overall results from this study indicate strongly that establishment of enclosures is very advantageous over other methods since it is a fast, cheap and lenient method for the rehabilitation of degraded lands.

Ten unifloral Saudi honeys were studied and botainically typified: Sidir Aseer (Ziziphus Spina-christi (L)), Sidir Albaha (Ziziphus Spina-christi L), Talh Tehamh (Acacia spp.), Samra Taif (Acacia Etbaica), Magra Aseer (Hypericum perforatum), Doarm Taif (Levandula Dentata), Shorm Taif (Ocimum repandra), Talh Medina (Acacia spp.), Farm Riyadh (Heliantemum chamaecistus), and Farm Qaseem (Cheno Podium spp.). Honeys were considered to be unifloral when the dominant pollen was over 40% of total pollen. All samples were examined for moisture, refractive index, specific gravity, viscosity, total solids, water-insoluble solids, ash content, pH, total acidity, hydroxy methyl furfural, diastase, invertase activity, optical rotation, minerals and sugars. These samples were found to meet all major national and international honey specifications.