Search

Proximate composition of the aerial parts of three Fagonia species (Fagonia arabica L., F. mollis Delile and F. cretica L.) collected from different habitats were analyzed. Macro- and micro-elements as well as some secondary metabolites were estimated. The obtained results revealed that F. creticus contains appreciable levels of nutritive components considering that its nutritional value (351.06 kcal/100g dry wt.) was remarkably higher than that of F. arabica and F. mollis (327.99 and 293.07 kcal/100g dry wt., respectively). The concentration of Na was relatively the highest among the other estimated macroelements in the studied species followed by K, Ca and Mg, respectively while Fe was the highest microelement followed by Cu, Mn and Zn, respectively. The phytochemical composition revealed that methanolic extract of F. creticus was the richest in total alkaloids and flavonoids, while F. arabica found to be the richest in total phenolics and tannins.

Carduus pycnocephalus L, which is related to the Astraceae family, was well-known as a privileged medicinal plant that has innumerable respected biological potency. The current research aims to identify the chemical constitutes of the essential oils of the extracted C. pycnocephalus by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopic analysis (GC-MS) and to assess the biological profiles of the plant and its botanical ingredients as a precise antioxidant, and anticancer, as well as, antimicrobial agents. The extraction process of the medicinal plant by methanol provided a possibility to extract and identify the polar chemical constitutes that have the most effective categories of components. The DPPH antioxidant potency of the botanical ingredients of the plant indicated that the flower extract is the most potent with IC50 = 30.69 mg/L followed by leaves (IC50= 32.78 mg/L), stem (IC50= 41.31 mg/L), and root (IC50= 46.84 mg/L). The antibacterial activities of the root, stem, leaf, and flower extracts of C. pycnocephalus exhibited remarkable potency to kill or inhibit the growth of the bacterial species. Leaf, and flower extracts revealed the most potent activities than the antibiotic standards against E. coli, S. typhimurium, and B. cereus species with inhibition zones ranged from 20-26 mm. Also, the extracted C. pycnocephalus revealed a moderate cytotoxic effect against hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) tumor cell line using MTT assay with IC50= 46.2 µg/mL. The experimental interpretations inveterate the potential of C. pycnocephalus extract indicated its biological impacts as antioxidant, antibacterial, and moderate cytotoxic agents that provided the ease of using it in cancer therapy.

Spatiotemporal environmental changes lead to disturbances in wild plant habitats, particularly in regions characterized by changeable land use and cover. The present study aims to characterize wild plant habitats in the River Nile region of Dakahlia Governorate using a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating remote sensing, GIS and sampling analyses. Twenty-four stands representing the wild plant habitats in the River Nile region were geographically identified, sampled and analyzed. Water and soil samples were investigated for physical and chemical characteristics. Two calibrated multispectral Landsat images dated 1999 and 2019 were processed to produce LULC, NDSI, NDMI and NDSI to characterize wild plan habitats. The floristic composition showed the presence of 64 species belonging to 53 genera and 28 families. Ecologically, the recorded plant species in the present work can be classified into four main categories, which are separated into three communities according to the TWINSPAN classification. Results showed that the annual loss of agricultural lands (3.98 km2) is closely relevant to the annual expansion of urban areas (4.24 km2). Although the uncontrolled urban sprawl caused loss of agricultural lands, it leads to the expansion of wild plant habitats, represented mainly by the sparse class and partially by the moderately dense class as obtained from NDVI. The increase in mean values of the moisture (NDMI) from 0.034 in 1999 to 0.64 in 2019 may have arisen from the increase in total areas of wild plant habitats during the investigated period (1999–2019). This might increase the suitability of conditions for wild habitats which induces the proliferation of natural plants.

The present study provides an investigation of the floristic features, including list of plant species, life-span, life-form spectra and floristic analysis of the plant life associated with Suaeda maritima, Suaeda monoica, Suaeda pruinosa and Suaeda vera in family Chenopodiaceae in the Deltaic Mediterranean coast and Wadi Hagul of Egypt. This study also aims at recording the floristic structure to be used in measurement of plant diversity and ecological conservation plan of the study area in future. The total number of the recorded plant species surveyed in the study area was 103 species belonging to 80 genera and related to 23 families. These species are classified into three major groups according to their duration (life-span) as follows: 47 annuals (45.63%), 2 biennial (1.94%) and 54 perennials (52.42%). The main families are: Asteraceae (23 species), Poaceae (19 species) followed by Chenopodiaceae (17 species) and Fabaceae (7 species). The recorded species are also grouped under six types of life forms as follows: therophytes, chamaephytes, cryptophytes (comprising geophytes and helophytes), hemicryptophytes, phanerophytes and parasites. Out of the recorded species 56 species (about 54.36 % of the total species) are Mediterranean taxa, 18 species (17.48%) was belonging to Monoregional Saharo-Sindian element, 19 species are either Cosmopolitan (10 species = 9.71%), Palaeopical (5 species = 4.85%), Neotropical and Pantropical (2 species = 1.94 each).

The present study provides a vegetation analysis and species distribution at 50 sites, emphasizing the environmental factors that affect species distribution. A total of 74 plant species belonging to 67 genera and related to 23 families of vascular plants are recorded. Asteraceae, Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Brassicaceae, Fabaceae and Zygophyllaceae are the largest families, and therophytes (41.89) and chamaephytes (24.32%) are the most frequent, indicating a typical desert life-form spectrum. Chorological analysis revealed that 25 of the studied species were Mediterranean taxa, Saharo-Sindian chorotypes, either pure or penetrated into other regions, comprised 47 species. After application of the TWINSPAN and DCA programs, 4 vegetation groups (A-D) were identified, groups A and B were dominated by Achillea santolina, group C was codominated by Zygophyllm coccinum and Launaea spinosa and group D was dominated by Leptadenia pyrotechnica. Groups A and B may represent the vegetation types of the Western Mediterranean coast of Egypt, while groups C and D may represent the Wadi Hagul. The linear correlation of soil variables with the importance values of some dominant species and the application of Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA-biplot) indicates significant associations between the floristic composition of the studied area and the edaphic factors such as electrical conductivity, pH, calcium carbonate, sulphates, bicarbonate, cations (Na+, K+, Ca++ and Mg++) and PAR.

The present study provides quantitative analysis of the vegetation and spatial variations of environmental factors controlling the abundance and distribution of vegetation in canal and drain banks in the Nile Delta region of Egypt. Five vegetation groups have been recognized: group A codominated by Arundo donax and Polygonum equisetiforme, group B codominated by Rumex dentatus and Polypogon monspeliensis, group C dominated by Eichhornia crassipes, group D codominated by Phragmites australis and Echinochloa stagnina and group E dominated by Typha domingensis. The total number of weeds recorded in the study area is 113 species belonging to 36 families. Therophytes (48.67%) and geophytes (14.16%) are the most frequent life-forms. The major chorotypes in the study area are Mediterranean (42.48%), Cosmpolitan (19.47%), Pantropical (13.27%) and Palaeotropical (12.39%). The relationships between the vegetation gradients and edaphic factors showed that, potassium and sodium cations, potassium adsorption ratio, chlorides, sodium cation adsorption ratio, pH value and water-holding capacity are the main controlling edaphic factors.

The present study aims at investigating the vegetation-soil relationships in the Deltaic Mediterranean coastal land of Egypt. The Deltaic coast of the Mediterranean Sea of Egypt can be distinguished into five habitat types, namely: sand dunes, salt marshes, sand sheets, sandy fertile lands and lake shorelines (Manzala, Burullus and Idku). These habitats are categorized into four vegetation groups namely, group A dominated by Rumex pictus, group B codominated by Pancratium maritimum-Cyperus capitatus-Lolium perenne, group C codominated by Arthrocnemum macrostachyum-Atriplex portulacoides-Typha domingensis and group D codominated by Echinochloa stagnina-Typha domingensis-Phragmites australis. One hundred and thirty plant species are recorded in this coast and belonging to 38 families. Out of the recorded species, about 41.54% are annuals, 2.31% biennials and 56.15% perennials. The percentages of the life-form indicated that, therophytes attained the highest representation (43.85%). The floristic analysis revealed that, 55.38% of the recorded species are Mediterranean elements. The ecological amplitudes of the leading species along the gradient of edaphic factors are discussed.

This study assesses the plant communities and environmental factors that govern species richness and distribution in the coastal lowlands of eastern Saudi Arabia using TWINSPAN, DCA and regression analyses. Thirty-four vegetation groups were identified, some of these occur in only one habitat: Juncus rigidus and Aeluropus lagopoides-Phragmites australis in the high saline flats, Plantago boissieri-Savignya parviflora, Panicum turgidum-Plantago boissieri-Moltkiopsis ciliata and Panicum turgidum-Haloxylon salicornicum in the non-saline flats, and Bassia eriophora-Launaea mucronata in the depressions between dunes. Some other groups are represented in at least four out of six studied habitats: Zygophyllum qatarense-Launaea capitata-Plantago boissieri, Zygophyllum qatarense-Plantago boissieri and Haloxylon salicornicum-Zygophyllum qatarense. Among 20 examined soil and community variables, regression analysis indicates that only six are influential in the stand ordination process (K, lime, sulphates, pH, plant cover and species richness). Some human impacts (e.g. grazing and cutting intensities) also play an important role. The nature of soil surface and salinity are the main factors that affect the species richness.

Fourteen years of protection against grazing and human impacts of the coastal lowland vegetation in Eastern Saudi Arabia (an experimental site in the vicinity of Al-Hassa region) has led to an increase of 68% in the total cover, 33% in species richness and 32% in species relative evenness. Many of the species with significantly higher abundance in the protected area are important forage and/or fuel plants. Soil salinity and important soil nutrients (N, K, Mg and Na) are significantly higher in the free grazing area which may be attributable to the fact that the passage of herbage through the grazing animals often enhances nutrient availability.