Search

Apiaceae plants are multipurpose folk remedies and bioactive foods that show a remarkable ability to biosynthesize a large number of secondary metabolites with antitumor and chemopreventive potential. Among the various members of the Apiaceae, celery (Apium graveolens L.) has long been used as a popular edible and medicinal plant owing to its plentiful health benefits and nutraceutical properties; however, the anticancer potential of this important species has been seldom studied, mostly focusing on its seeds. Therefore, this work was designed to delve into the chemical composition and anti-proliferative potential of the total ethanolic extracts of the aerial parts (TEEAGA) and roots (TEEAGR) of A. graveolens var. dulce (Mill.) Pers. as well as their green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). In general, both TEEAGA and TEEAGR exhibited moderate to potent inhibitory activities against human liver (HepG-2), colon (Caco-2), and breast (MCF-7) cancer cell lines, with interesting IC50 profiles [(41.37 ± 0.12, 27.65 ± 0.27, and 9.48 ± 0.04 μg/mL) and (11.58 ± 0.02, 7.13 ± 0.03, and 6.58 ± 0.02 μg/mL), respectively] as compared with doxorubicin, while more pronounced anti-proliferative effects were observed for their biogenic AgNPs, which showed IC50 values ranging between 25.41 ± 0.16 and 1.37 ± 0.03 μg/mL. Moreover, HPLC‒HESI‒HRMS-based metabolomics analysis of both extracts showed the presence of a varied group of secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, phthalides, coumarins, and sesquiterpenes that further displayed moderate to promising binding affinities to the active site of cyclin G-associated kinase (GAK), particularly graveobioside A, graveobioside B, and celeroside C, suggesting their possible contribution as GAK modulators to the anti-proliferative potential of celery. These findings can help broaden future research on the utilization of different parts of celery and their NPs as functional foods and medicines in cancer chemoprevention and therapy.

Background:There is still a need for more studies to evaluate the role of vitamin D3 in pediatric migraine prophylaxis. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the effects and safety of vitamin D3 supplementation to topiramate on pediatric migraine. Methods: A double-blinded prospective clinical trial was conducted on 5- to 14-year-old children with migraine. They were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio into 2 groups, one with vitamin D3 supplementation (the supplementation group) and the other without vitamin D supplementation (the placebo group). The supplementation group received topiramate plus one 5000-IU dose of vitamin D3 daily for 4 months. The placebo group received topiramate with a placebo capsule without any effective substances. The primary outcomes were a monthly frequency of headache attacks, a good response to intervention, and reduction in migraine severity, duration, and disability before and after treatment. Fifty-six children completed the trial. Vitamin D3 supplementation to topiramate was more effective than the placebo group in the reduction of monthly frequency (6231.31 vs 9792.24 times, P = .01) and disability score for migraines (17 566.43 vs 25 187.65, P = .04). A good response was observed in 76.13% of patients in the vitamin D3 supplementation group and 53.5% of patients in the placebo group, and vitamin D3 supplementation was significantly more effective than placebo ( P = .01). Side effects were observed in 13.3% and 20% of the intervention group and placebo groups, respectively, P = .5. Conclusion: Vitamin D3 supplementation in pediatric migraine prophylaxis could be a well-tolerated, safe, and effective strategy.

The phytochemical investigation of the hydromethanolic extract of Carica papaya Linn. leaves (Caricaceae) resulted in the isolation and characterization of ten compounds.

Omega-3 may have a role in the treatment of drug- resistant epilepsy.To evaluate omega-3 supplementation in seizure control in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and intractable epilepsy.Sixty children with ADHD and intractable epilepsy were enrolled. They were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion in a 1:1 ratio into the omega-3 supplementation group or the placebo group in addition to risperidone and antiepileptic drugs. All patients were assessed for the frequency and severity of the epileptic attacks at baseline, monthly, and at 6 months from the beginning of the study; 30 children received omega-3 and the other 30 children received placebo.At baseline, the median number of seizures per month was 5 in both groups. After one month, this median decreased to 3 and became 2 after two months of supplementation with omega-3 in the supplementation group while it remained 5 in the control group. After 3 months and till the end of the study, this median decreased to 0 while it remained 5 in the control group throughout the study period. Children who were supplemented with omega-3 showed a significant decrease in the monthly frequency of seizure attacks after six months of supplementation compared to the baseline before supplementation (P 0.05) There was no significant decrease in the severity of the seizures attacks among our patients with omega-3 supplementation (P 0.05).Omega 3 may help in achieving good seizure control in children with ADHD and intractable epilepsy.

Allium sativum L. (garlic) has received a growing interest as both a food plant and folk remedy with promising antitumor and chemopreventive potential. So far, a large body of research has been conducted on garlic, mostly focusing on the bulbs, yet its roots remain unstudied and are discarded in considerable amounts as vegetable wastes. Accordingly, for the first time, this study examined the potential of A. sativum roots and their green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG-2), breast cancer (Mcf-7), and colon cancer (Caco-2) cells lines. The formation of AgNPs was confirmed using a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), UV‒Visible spectroscopy, and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). Overall, the total ethanolic extract of A. sativum roots (TEEASR) significantly inhibited the growth of Caco-2, Mcf-7, and HepG-2 cells with IC50 values of 2.11 ± 0.03, 21.47 ± 0.15, and 45.12 ± 0.76 µg/mL, respectively, whereas AgNPs exhibited more prominent cytotoxic activity, which in the case of Caco-2 cells, was noticeably greater than doxorubicin (IC50= 0.47 ± 0.04 vs. 2.12 ± 0.04 µg/mL). Additionally, HPLC‒HESI‒HRMS analysis of TEEASR revealed the presence of a variety of metabolites with reported anticancer effects, largely dominated by organosulfur species. Interestingly, the characterized compounds showed moderate to promising binding interactions with the active site of human inositol phosphate multikinase (HIPMK), especially γ-glutamylphenylalanine (6) and allixin (7); highlighting their potential contribution to the notable cytotoxic properties of TEEASR as HIPMK inhibitors. These results might pave the way for the possible therapeutic and pharmaceutical applications of garlic by-products, including the roots, and their biogenic nanoparticles.

The chemical profiling of the main phytoconstituents of total ethanolic extract (TEE) and its different fractions of Bignonia binata leaves was dereplicated using liquid chromatography-high resolution-electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry (LC-HR-ESI-MS), revealed the presence of various classes of secondary metabolites; eight phenylethanoids, two flavonoidal glycosides and two iridoids. Moreover, the hepatoprotective and nephroprotective activities of the TEE and its different fractions were investigated in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-intoxicated rats and were compared with those of silymarin-treated group, revealing the highest potency of the EtOAc group, followed by the aqueous one in improving the CCl4-induced alterations in several biochemical parameters. Besides, EtOAc and aqueous fractions exhibited the most inhibition of CCl4-induced inflammatory mediators and improving the changes in the histopathological structures of the liver and kidney. In addition, the EtOAc fraction demonstrated the highest total phenolic content, whereas TEE showed the highest amount of total flavonoid content.

Objective: Evaluation of the analgesic efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) block in patients undergoing maxillofacial cancer surgeries under general anesthesia.Meth...

Background: Acute Appendicitis (AA) is one of the most common surgical emergencies in children. Its spectrum ranges from simple inflammation to gross perforation. Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, efficacy and merits of using "Needlescopic" approach by using instruments have diameter ≤ 2 mm. as suture grasper devices Patients and Methods: Needlescopic appendectomy (NA) accomplished for 40 patients with uncomplicated appendicitis, and attended to the Pediatric Surgery Department of Al-Azhar University Hospitals, in Cairo, Egypt, and Mataria Teaching Hospital during the period from May 2019 to February 2020. We used 18-G epidural needle (EN), Veress needle and a thin homemade insulated long diathermy probe (LDP) without any conventional laparoscopic instruments. Results: NA was attempted in 40 patients equally divided between males and females. Under general anesthesia, the operations were completed without conversion to open appendectomy. Twenty-eight cases were compeleted intra corporeally and 12 cases were completed extra corporeally. Mean operative time was 30.2+4 minutes for intracorporeal and 22.5+ 6 minutes for extra corporeal. Conclusion: NA was safe, easy and minimally invasive with cosmetic advantages over conventional appendectomy.

The current study was aimed to evaluate some parts of Moluccella laevis viz., phytochemical and antibacterial. Regarding to GC/MS of the saponifiable matters of petroleum ether fraction of total ethanolic extract of the aerial parts (TEE), the main recognized unsaturated fatty acids were methyl linolenate (25.58%) and methyl linoleate (15.87%). Whereas, the major saturated fatty acids were, palmitic (25.4%) followed by stearic acid (10.48). A comparative analysis of the volatile constituents of M. laevis flowers and leaves was performed by Head Space GC/MS. The volatile mixtures of both plant parts displayed comparable amounts of hydrocarbons and oxygenated compounds, with a noticeable greater contribution of the latter in the leaves.Besides, a-pinene (40.84%), chrysanthenyl acetate (17.89%) and isobornyl acetate (10.64%), were identified as the major volatile components in the flowers. While, isobornyl acetate (35.09%) was characterized as the major constituent followed by, 2-methyl-4-butanolide (22.12%), 1-heptene oxide (7.47%) and benzoic acid, methyl ester (4.05%) of the volatile oil composition of the leaves. Moreover, this study included the antibacterial activity of TEE and its different fractions against Gram positive and negative bacteria. TEE exhibited MIC values of 326 476, and 541 µg/mL against E. coli, K. pneumonia and P. aeruginosa, respectively, while the aqueous fraction showed MICs of 410, 633, 748 and 10713 µg/mL against P. aeruginosa, K. pneumonia, E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. Finally, the EtOAc fraction displayed MICs 449, 541 and 1085 µg/mL against K. pneumonia, E. coli and P. aeruginosa, respectively.

One new neolignan glucoside; bignanoside A (1) and one new iridoid glucoside; bignanoside B (2), and one new lignan rhamnoside; (-)-1yoniresinol 3α-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (3) reported for the first time, alongside with seven known compounds were isolated from Bignonia binata leaves. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by various spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR experiments, as well as HR-ESI-MS. Compound 2 had a potent DPPH radical scavenging activity with IC50 value of 18.34 ± 0.81 μM. Likewise, compounds 4 and 9 exhibited antitrypanosomal activity with IC50 value of 29.12 ± 1.21 and 17.80 ± 0.32 μM, respectively, against Trypanosoma brucei brucei S427.

Dysphagia is a distressing symptom during and after radiotherapy treatment in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. The objective of this prospective study was to investigate whether swallowing sparing intensity modulated radiotherapy (SW-IMRT) reduces the occurrence of swallowing dysfunction compared to the standard IMRT (ST-IMRT). We randomized, planned, and treated patients with HNC who needed whole neck irradiation using the simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) IMRT technique. Doses of 70, 60, and 54 Gy (over 33 daily fractions) were prescribed to the primary tumor, high-risk and low-risk regions, respectively. The postoperative cases received 60 and 54 Gy (over 30 daily fractions) to the high-risk planning target volume (PTV) and low-risk PTV. We contoured organs at risk related to swallowing dysfunction (SWOARs) in all cases. In the ST-IMRT group, parotids only were spared. In the SW-IMRT group, parotids and SWOARs outside the high-risk PTV were spared. Assessment of dysphagia included clinical and instrumental evaluation. One hundred forty-six patients ended their radiotherapy treatment. Dose distribution showed comparable PTV coverage and no difference in parotid glands sparing between the two groups. SWOARs dose reduction with SW-IMRT differs according to tumor location and its overlap with SWOARs. Using different assessment methods, SW-IMRT was associated with a lower occurrence of dysphagia up to one year after treatment. There was no difference between the two groups regarding acute dysphagia (p = 0.262), overall survival (p = 0.811), and disease-free survival (p = 0.876). SW-IMRT is significantly better than ST-IMRT regarding a physician-rated and objective assessment of swallowing dysfunction at short- and long-term post-treatment follow-up.

Both ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions of Tabebuia aurea leaves exhibited noteworthy antioxidant and nephroprotective activities against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced nephrotoxicity in rats...

Objective: Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B) are markers of different neurological disorders. The aim was to investigate the relationship between NSE and S100B serum concentrations and the severity of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in diabetic children. Methods: Eighty children with DKA, 40 with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) without DKA and 40 healthy controls were enrolled. Severity of DKA was assessed according to blood pH and bicarbonate concentration. Serum NSE and S100B were measured in all participants. In the DKA group serum NSE and S100B were measured at three time points, at admission and at 12 hours and 24 hours after starting treatment. Results: Children with DKA showed significantly higher serum levels of NSE at all time points compared to children with T1DM without DKA and controls (p0.05). Younger age, lower GCSS, higher glucose and HbA1c, lower pH and lower serum bicarbonate were the risk factors associated with elevated NSE. Conclusion: Serum NSE is elevated in all patients with type 1 DM and, in patients with DKA, correlates with severity of DKA. However, serum S100B concentration did not differ between T1DM with or without DKA and healthy controls.

Background: Perinatal asphyxia (PA) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in which dramatic transient impairment in liver functions occurs in some patients. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the state of the liver in cases of Perinatal asphyxia and to assess the severity of hepatic impairment in relation to different grades of HIE. Patients and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 100 full-term newborns with perinatal asphyxia (Group I) and 50 healthy neonates served as controls (Group II). All biochemical parameters of liver function were measured on the 1st, 3rd, and 10th day after birth. These parameters include serum alanine transferase (ALT), aspartate transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total protein, serum albumin, serum bilirubin (total and direct), and international normalized ratio (INR), in both cases and controls. Results: Among babies with PA, 25 (25%) had an Apgar score of 0 to 3 (severe PA), 43 (43%) had an Apgar score of 4 to 5 (moderate PA) and 32 (32%) had an Apgar score of 6 to 7 (mild PA) at 5 minutes of life. HIE was found in 39% among cases of PA and the remaining 61% were normal. Among babies with PA and HIE; 25.7% had stage I, 41% had stage II and 33.3% had stage III. Impaired liver function was reported in 48% of asphyxiated babies. On the first day of life, ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, PT, and INR were significantly higher in Group I compared to Group II. However, total protein and serum albumin were significantly lower in Group I compared to Group II. ALT and AST showed a positive correlation with the severity of HIE. On the third day of life, LDH rises as the stage of HIE progressed from stage 0 to stage 3. The difference in LDH among most stages of HIE was statistically significant. Conclusion: Liver enzymes can be used as an easy early diagnostic marker to differentiate between babies with asphyxia and those without asphyxia. Also, liver enzymes can be used for the detection of the severity of PA.

Aims: The current study evaluates different biological activities viz., anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic and gastroprotective of methanolic extracts (MEs) of different parts viz., [mixture of leaves & stems (1:3) (MLS13), flowers and stem barks] and different fractions of ME of MLS13 of Parmentiera cereifera Seem. Moreover, this study estimates LD50 of ME of MLS13. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out for nine months in 2012 in the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, Minia, Egypt. Methodology: The different MEs of various parts such as MLS13, flowers and stem barks and the Original Research Article Abdel-Wahab et al.; EJMP, 8(1): 29-38, 2015; Article no.EJMP.2015.087 30 different fractions of ME of MLS13 of P. cereifera were used in the present study. The different pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycemic, gastroprotective and LD50 were determined using animal models as described in standard methods. Results: In yeast-induced paw edema method, ME of MLS13 had the highest anti-inflammatory activity (***P

Pachypodium lamerei Drake (family Apocynaceae) is native to Madagascar and is known as Madagascar palm. The present study shows that, the unsaponifiable matter of P. lamerei contains various compounds identified as hydrocarbons (5.43%), pregnane (0.92%), steroids (11.54%), triterpenes (8.78%) as well as other oxygenated compounds (61.3%). While, the saponifiable matter contains twenty compounds from which ten were identified as methyl esters of saturated fatty acids (32.31%) in addition to hydroxylated fatty acids (9.96%) whereas ten fatty acids (57.73%) couldn’t be identified. This is the first record of the GC/MS analysis for genus Pachypodium.

Family Apocynaceae is rich in many secondary metabolites with important biological and economic values. One of these plants belongs to Apocynaceae is Pachypodium lamerei Drake. The available literature showed a study that described the micromorphological characters of the spines and stem of P. namaquanum. The present study examines various standardized parameters as morphological and histological characters which could be helpful in authentication of the stem of P. lamerei Drake.

The current study aimed to compare three different types of Egyptian flavored tobacco (Moâssel) used in Hookah smoking. The samples (Apple, Creamy Strawberry and Mix Grapes) were obtained from Al Dandash company (a famous Tobacco company in Egypt). They were analyzed by Head Space GC/MS. There were great differences among the investigated samples. The identified compounds of the Apple sample showed 34 constituents, which represented (93.13%) of the total compounds. The major one was anethole (30.43%). While, the Creamy Strawberry specimen exhibited 27 recognized compounds, which represented (59.61%) of the sample. The chief constituent was acetic acid (15.83%). Finally, the last sample showed 25 identified constituents, which represented (93.16%) of the total compounds and the main compound was 1,2-propanediol (32.74%) of the constituents.

Lamiaceae (Labiatae) or the mint family is one of the most important families containing volatile oil. It is one of the largest plant families including 236 genera and more than 7,000 species. By reviewing the current available literature (2002-2018), many classes of secondary metabolites of this family were determined, viz., flavonoids (113 compounds), fatty derivatives (26 compounds) and sterols (15 compounds). Moreover, plants belonging to this family have been shown many biological activities such as antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, analgesic, cardiovascular, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antispasmodic, antiepileptic, anti-anxiety and anti-angiogenic. The most chemically investigated genus is Leonurus, while, Lavandula latifolia, Lamium garganicum, Lamium purpureum, Melissa officinalis and Moluccella laevis need more phytochemical attention. Regarding the biological investigation, Melissa officinalis was the most investigated species. Due to limited phytochemical and biological studies on many genera of the above family, we were encouraged to perform this review to help the researchers and orient them to carry out extensive studies on these plants to discover new or novel natural products.

The current biologically guided study aimed the in vitro investigation of cytotoxic activity, identification of the phytochemical content of Moluccella laevis L. aerial parts and supporting this activity by a molecular docking study. Aqueous fraction demonstrated the most potent cytotoxic effect against CACO-2 with IC50 = 0.067 ± 0.01 μg/mL. Furthermore, EtOAc fraction showed a remarkable cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 cell line with IC50 = 0.35 ± 0.02 μg/mL. Consequently, total ethanolic extract (TEE) and its fractions were subjected to LC-HR-ESI-MS metabolic profiling to discover the constituents that possibly underlie their cytotoxicity. Twenty compounds were tentatively identified from metabolic analysis. Furthermore, eight compounds were isolated. In silico docking study revealed that stachydrine is more likely to account for the antiproliferative activity of both EtOAc and aqueous fractions, probably via its moderate inhibition of receptor tyrosine kinases.

Five compounds were reported for the first time in the tribe Malouetieae from the leaves and stems of Pachypodium lamerei viz., fatty acid methyl ester (stearic acid methyl ester 1), a mixture of two steroidal aglycones (β-sitosterol 2 and stigmasterol 3), a pentacyclic triterpene (ursolic acid 4) and a steroidal glucoside (β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside 5). The structure elucidation was based on comparison of their physical, chemical, chromatographic properties, spectral data with literature as well as direct comparison with authentic compounds. The petroleum ether fraction and the total ethanolic extract of (leaves and stems) exhibited minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.06 and 2.52 μg/ml), respectively. These results are comparable to that obtained by amikacin (MIC, 2.38 μg/ml). Moreover, the petroleum ether fraction displayed the lowest MIC (16.45 μg/ml) against Candida albicans. This result is greatly promising since the standard drug (ketoconazole) exhibited MIC (185.87 μg/ml). This is the first time to estimate both antibacterial and antifungal activities of any of Pachypodium species. Key words: Pachypodium lamerei, Apocynaceae, phytochemical, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal.

Purpose: To isolate new antimicrobial agents from the leaves of Markhamia platycalyx (Baker) Sprague and assess their phytochemical characteristics and antimicrobial activity. Methods: Different chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques (NMR and ESI-MS) were applied for the identification of antimicrobial compounds. Agar-well diffusion technique was used for determination of antimicrobial activity. Anti-HCV effects were investigated using VITROS Anti-HCV assay. Results: Eighteen compounds were isolated for the first time from this genus. These were phytol, noctacosanoic acid (OCTA), tormentic acid and β-sitosterol-3-O-(6'-O-heptadecanoyl)-β-Dglucopyranoside. The other compounds were β-sitosterol, ursolic acid (URSA), oleanolic acids, pomolic acid (POMA), 2-epi-tormentic and β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside. However, stigmasterol and acteoside, which were seen in previous studies, were also present. Total ethanol extract (TEE) was the most effective against Escherichia coli, with the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1.0 μg/mL. Acteoside, URSA and 2-epi-tormentic acid showed the highest antibacterial effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa while 2-epi-tormentic acid and acteoside produced the least MIC on Candida glabrata. These effects were superior to those produced by standard antibiotics. However, 2-epitormentic acid and β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside had no anti-HCV effects. Conclusion: Due to the good antimicrobial properties of Markhamia platycalyx, it is a potential source of new antimicrobial drugs.

Bignoniaceae Juss. (Bignonia family) includes many genera of high economic and medicinal values. It comprises 104 genera and 860 species. Markhamia genus is traditionally used in the treatment of several diseases. Literature survey showed few chemical works on the Markhamia platycalyx and nothing could be found about the antimicrobial study. This provoked us to carry out an extensive study of this plant including GC/MS for saponifiable matter and volatile oil. The main recognized fatty acids were linolenic (44.66%), followed by palmitic (30.63%) of the saponifiable matter composition. While, E-phytol was the major identified compound of the volatile oil composition (12.95%). Moreover, this study included the antimicrobial activity of the volatile oil. It exhibited a potent antibacterial effect against E. coli with MIC 7.48 μg/ml compared to the standard antibiotics MICs, amikacin (28.96 μg/ml) and gentamycin (26.44 μg/ml).

Bignonia L. is the fifth largest genus in the tribe Bignonieae, with 31 lianas species. Bignonia plants are widely used in traditional medicine as skin ailments like fungal infections, postpartum haemorrhage, malaria, diabetes and pneumonia. Many literature reported that Bignonia species contained different classes of active constituents as phenylethanoids, phenolics, lignans, flavonoids, coumarins and xanthones. Additionally, they demonstrated a wide range of biological activities as cytotoxic, wound healing, antidiabetic, sleep induction, gastroprotection, anti-obesity and insecticidal activities. This review revealed that only 15 species have been reported in the literature. Moreover, Bignonia plants need further studies as they are considered a good source for bioactive natural products.

Aims: The current study estimated the anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, gastroprotective and antihyperglycemic activities in various rat models of total methanol extracts (TMEs) of different plant parts; mixture of leaves & stems (MLS) and subterranean organs (SO) and different fractions of TME of MLS of Pachypodium lamerei Drake. Additionally, we evaluated the median lethal dose (LD50) of TME of MLS. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out for nine months in 2012 in the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, Minia, Egypt. Methodology: The preliminary phytochemical screening of TMEs of both MLS and SO of P. lamerei was carried out to determine secondary metabolites in the extracts. The TMEs of both MLS and SO and different fractions of TME of MLS of P. lamerei were used in the current biological study. The pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, gastroprotective, anti-hyperglycemic effects and LD50 were determined in male albino rats using various models. Results: The phytochemical screening of TMEs of both MLS and SO of P. lamerei contained carbohydrates and/or glycosides, unsaturated sterols and/or triterpenes, flavonoids, saponins and tannins. While, the biological activities are summarized as follows; in the carrageenan-induced paw edema method, TME of MLS had the highest anti-inflammatory activity (***P

A field experiment was carried out at the Experimental Farm. of Fac. Agric. Minia Univ. during two seasons (2011/2012 and 2012/2013) to study the effect of compost (0, 5, 7.5 and 10 ton/fed.) and eight biostimulant treatments (E.M., S.A., vit. E, E.M. + vit. E, E.M. + S.A., S.A.+ vit. E, E.M. + S.A. + vit. E and control) on Ammi visnaga, L. plants. The data showed that using 10 ton/fed. compost significantly increased fruit yield /plant, khellin and visnagin contents and chemical composition (N, P and K %) comparing with other treatments. Treating plants with E.M., S.A., vit. E and all possible mixtures significantly increased fruit yield, active ingredients and percentages of N, P and K comparing with control treatment. The best treatments were E.M. + S.A. + vit. E following by E.M. + vit. E in this concern. It may be recommended to use compost at the level of 10 ton/fed. and treating the plants with the triple a mixture (E.M. + S.A. + vit. E) or the dual mixture (E.M. + vit. E) to give the highest values of fruit yield and active ingredients (khellin and visnagin) of Ammi visnaga plants.

Many families are rich in secondary metabolites and have high economic and therapeutic values such as Family Bignoniaceae. One of the important plants of this family is Parmentiera cereifera Seem. A thorough survey search indicated that P. cereifera was not studied the stem pharmacognostically. The current study investigates both macroscopical and microscopical features, which could be helpful in authentication of the plant stem. It is also supportive in the identification of powdered drug prior using in any herbal preparations.

Family Verbenaceae is also known as Verbain or Verbena. It includes about 100 genera and more than 3000 species. One of these genera is Citharexylum which contains 115 species. Citharexylum quadrangulare Jacq. is a large tree, native of the West Indies. The study investigates macroscopic and microscopic characters which could be helpful in authentication of the stem of C. quadrangulare Jacq. Moreover, it could be used also for further scientific investigation of the plant.