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Schistosomiasis is one of the most wide spread tropical diseases. Millions of people suffer severe illness related to schistosomiasis. This study evaluated the anti-parasitic effects of crude Artemisia santonica and their aqueous and hexane fractions against Schistosoma mansoni infected mice by some parasitologiocal and histopathological studies as worm load, liver egg load, intestine egg load, oogram pattern and also by surface ultrastructure of recovered worms using SEM. The result reflected that mice treated with crude extracts of A. santonica and their aqueous fractions gave a promise anti-inflammatory and anti-schistosomal agent.

Taxol is a blockbuster anticancer drug that commercially synthesized from 10-decaetylbaccatin III intermediate of Taxus baccata, however, this technology has been challenged by reproducibility and association of unwanted compounds. Recently, endophytic fungi with fast growing and feasibility of molecular engineering raise the hope for sustainable production of Taxol, unfortunately the loss of their productivity with multiple subculturing is the main challenge to authenticate this approach industrially. Thus, searching for novel fungal isolates with molecular and metabolic functional stability for Taxol production was the objective of this work. Among the experimented fungal isolates, Aspergillus flavipes, a soil-dwelling saprophyte, gave the highest Taxol yield (185 μg/l). Metabolically, A. flavipes had a strong stability for Taxol production till the 10th subcultures (185-160 μg/l) on the same cultural conditions. The yield of Taxol by A. flavipes was increased by 5 folds (850 μg/ L) with fluconazole (1.0 μg/ml) addition to 5 days old culture. The expression of Taxol biosynthetic genes ts, dbat, bapt and transcriptional factor pbcR was significantly increased by 8–10 folds upon fluconazole addition that correlates with Taxol yield. HSP70 was induced by 13 folds with addition of fluconazole to cultures of A. flavipes. Thus, Taxol biosynthesis could be transcriptionally regulated by pbcR and post-translationally modified by HSP70 chaperones. To the best of knowledge, this is the first report exploring the potency of saprophytic A. flavipes for Taxol production with metabolic stability with multiple subculturing.

l-Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is the rate-limiting enzyme of de novo polyamine synthesis in humans and fungi. Elevated levels of polyamine by over-induction of ODC activity in response to tumor-promoting factors has been frequently reported. Since ODC from fungi and human have the same molecular properties and regulatory mechanisms, thus, fungal ODC has been used as model enzyme in the preliminary studies. Thus, the aim of this work was to purify ODC from fungi, and assess its kinetics of inhibition towards various compounds. Forty fungal isolates were screened for ODC production, twenty fungal isolates have the higher potency to grow on L-ornithine as sole nitrogen source. Aspergillus terreus was the most potent ODC producer (2.1 µmol/mg/min), followed by Penicillium crustosum and Fusarium fujikuori. These isolates were molecularly identified based on their ITS sequences, which have been deposited in the NCBI database under accession numbers MH156195, MH155304 and MH152411, respectively. ODC was purified and characterized from A. terreus using SDS-PAGE, showing a whole molecule mass of ~110 kDa and a 50 kDa subunit structure revealing its homodimeric identity. The enzyme had a maximum activity at 37 °C, pH 7.4–7.8 and thermal stability for 20 h at 37 °C, and 90 days storage stability at 4 °C. A. terreus ODC had a maximum affinity (Km) for l-ornithine, l-lysine and l-arginine (0.95, 1.34 and 1.4 mM) and catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) (4.6, 2.83, 2.46 × 10−5 mM−1·s−1). The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by DFMO (0.02 µg/mL), curcumin (IC50 0.04 µg/mL), propargylglycine (20.9 µg/mL) and hydroxylamine (32.9 µg/mL). These results emphasize the strong inhibitory effect of curcumin on ODC activity and subsequent polyamine synthesis. Further molecular dynamic studies to elucidate the mechanistics of ODC inhibition by curcumin are ongoing.

The aim of the present study was to determine if Cuscuta pedicellata extract has an effect on body weight and serum lipid profile in the HFD-fed rats’ animal model. The ethanol extract of C. pedicellata exhibited a significant reduction in body weight and serum lipid profile in this model. The n-hexane/EtOAc (1:1), EtOAc and MeOH/EtOAc (1:1) fractions were also active, while the MeOH fraction showed no beneficial effect. Bioactivity-guided fractionation leads to the isolation of ten pure compounds: naringenin (1), kaempferol (2), aromadenderin (3), quercitin (4), 3,5,7,3′,5′-pentahydroxy flavanone (5), naringenin -7-O-β-d-glucoside (6), aromadenderin -7-O-β-d-glucoside (7), Taxifolin -7-O-β-d-glucoside (8), kaempferol -3-O-β-d-glucoside (astragalin), (9) and quercitin -3-O-β-d-glucoside (isoquercitrin) (10). This is the first report of compounds 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 in Cuscuta pedicellata. Compound 1 > compound 8 > compound 3 > compound 7 > compound 4 > compound 2 are responsible for the potency of the ethanol extract, while compound 6 was only effective in reducing the total cholesterol serum levels but not effective in reducing the level of triglycerides or the body weight. Our data confirmed the anti-obesity effect of C. pedicellata reported by the Egyptian population and identified the compounds responsible for this activity.

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of a 90 % methanolic extract of Solanum elaeagnifolium led to the isolation of a new compound named, 2R,3R-5,7,4′-trihydroxy-dihydroflavon-3-O-α-d-glucopyranosyl-6′′-O-β-d-glucopyranoside-6′′′-p-hydroxy benzoate (1), along with kaempferol-3-(6′-coumaroyl glucoside) (2) for the first time from this plant. Potential anticancer activities of the isolated compounds were measured by the sulphorhodamine B assay. Compounds 1 and 2 displayed cytotoxic activity against breast cancer cell lines (MCF7) with IC50 values of 5.2 and 6.9 µM, respectively, and against liver cancer cell lines (HPG2) with IC50 values of 34.9 and 32.6 µM, respectively.

Different concentrations of methyl jasmonate, spermine, casein hydrolysate, or progesterone combined with 16 mg/l 2 iP + 4 mg/l naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) were investigated in order to obtain higher multiplication rate and growth of Hippeastrum vittatum bulbs in vitro on MS basal medium. The highest multiplication rate (8.2 bulbs/explant) was attained with 80 mg/l spermine, while the highest bulb fresh weight (1.23 g/bulblet) was obtained with 4 mg/l methyl jasmonate. Progesterone at 20 mg/l or casein hydrolysate at 2.0 g/l gave the highest leaf length (14.1 and 13.2 cm, respectively). So, it can be advised to use 80 mg/l spermine combined with 16 mg/l 2 iP + 4 mg/l NAA to obtain the highest number of bulbs per explant with moderate leaf length and bulb fresh weight. Chemical analysis showed alternations in the alkaloid type ratio and number of compounds in the bulbs treated with methyl jasmonate (4 mg/l).

The kinetics of tropane alkaloids accumulation in different organs such as roots, leaves, stems, flowers and seeds of Datura innoxia was investigated by GC-MS. Twenty-six tropane alkaloids were detected. The ester derivatives of tropine (3α-tigloyloxytropine and 3-tigloyloxy- 6-hydroxytropine) are the major compounds. Undifferentiated callus were established from the stem explants of Datura innoxia using Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplied with 6-benzylaminopurine (BA, 1 mg l-1) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA, 0.5 mg l-1) in combination for 6 weeks. Callus differentiation was initiated by subculture onto solid MS medium, free from hormones, for more than 10 months. Initially, shoots were formed after four weeks from subculture. Further subculturing in basal MS medium without growth regulators initiated the rooting of a shooty callus after 6 weeks. Investigation of the alkaloid content of the unorganized and organized callus revealed that callus (either green or brown) yielded only trace amounts of alkaloids. On the other hand, re-differentiated shoots contained mainly scopolamine while re-differentiated roots biosynthesized hyoscyamine as the main alkaloid.

A comparative GC-MS investigation of the alkaloid patterns of three varieties of Datura stramonium vars. stramonium, tatula and godronii, was carried out. Twenty-five tropane alkaloids were identified in the plant organs. Alkaloid patterns of the roots, leaves and seeds of the varieties grown at equal conditions in Bulgaria were very similar. In contrast, alkaloid pattern of D. stramonium var. stramonium, grown in Egypt, showed significant differences indicating that it is influenced more strongly by the environmental factors than genetic ones.

The genus Phyllanthus (family Euphorbiaceae) is considered one of the important medicinal and ornamental plants. A phytochemical analysis of the extracts was performed to search for the active ingredient. Results of the investigation of the hepatoprotective activity of Phyllanthus atropurpureus Boj. Hort. Maurit. revealed that the activities of alcoholic extracts of its aerial parts and roots were quite similar to those of silymarin. Both of them improve the parameters of CCl4-induced liver injury including serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase. Among the extracts tested, the root extract showed maximum activity compared to the aerial parts extract and to silymarin.

The study of the macro - and micromorphology of the flower and fruit of Amaranthus chlorostachys Willd is presented with the aim of finding out the most diagnostic characters by which the plant could be easily identified in the entire and powdered forms.

Chromatographic study of the petroleum ether extract afforded : lupeol, lupeol acetate, α - spinasterol, long chain ester and long chain ketonic ester. The chloroformic extract gave α- spinasterol glucoside and B-sitosterol glucoside. From the ethyl acetate extract quercetin and rutin were isolated. In addition, two triterpenoidal saponin glycosides, choline and basic nitrogenous substance were isolated from the aqueous mother liquor. GC of the methylated fatty acids revealed the presence of 22 fatty acids.

A study of the macro - and micromorphology of the leaf , stem and root of Amaranthus chlorostachys willd is presented with the aim of finding the diagnostic characters of these organs by which the plant could be easily identified both in the entire and powdered forms.

Background. Snails' species are associated with transmission parasitic disease as intermediate host. Biological control stands to be a better alternative to the chemical controls aimed against snails. The search of herbal preparations that do not produce any adverse effects in the non-target organisms and are easily biodegradable remains a top research issue for scientists associated with alternative molluscicides control.Method. Solvent extracts of fresh mature leaves ofS. nigrum, S. villosum, and S. sinaicumwere tested againstBiomphalaria alexandrina, a common intermediate host ofschistosoma mansoni. A phytochemical analysis of chloroform: ethanol extract was performed to search for active toxic ingredient. The lethal concentration was determined.Results. Extracts isolated from mature leaves ofSolanumspecies were found to be having molluscicidal properties.S. nigrumextract was recorded as the highest mortality rate. When the mortality of different solvent extracts was compared, the maximum () mortality was recorded at a concentration of 90 ppm of ethanol extract ofS. nigrum.Conclusion. Extract of mature leaves ofS. nigrumexhibited molluscicidal activity followed byS. sinaicumand the less one wasS. villosum. The study provides considerable scope in exploiting local indigenous resources for snails' molluscicidal agents.

From the aerial parts of Astragalus suberi L., Fabaceae, seven saponins were isolated. Based on spectral data (IR, 1H and 13C NMR and HR-FABMS), the structures were established as 3-O-(β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl)-soyasapogenol B (1); 3-O-(β-ᴅ-glucuronopyranosyl)- soyasapogenol B (2); 3-O-[β-ᴅ-galactopyranosyl (1→2)-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl]-soyasapogenol B (3); 3-O-[α-ʟ-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-β-ᴅ-galactopyranosyl (1→2)-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl]- soyasapogenol B (4); 3-O-[α-ʟ-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-β-ᴅ-galactopyranosyl (1→2)-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl]-11-hydroxy-soyasapogenol B (5); 3-O-[α-ʟ-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-β-ᴅ-galactopyranosyl (152)-β-ᴅ-glucuronopyranosyl]-soyasapogenol B (6) and 3-O-[α-ʟ-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-β-ᴅ-galactopyranosyl (1→2)-β-ᴅ-glucuronopyranosyl]-complogenin (7). The isolated saponins exhibited antibacterial activities against Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentration values > 100 μg/ml, antifungal activity against all the strains tested with minimum fungicidal concentration values between 25 and 50 μg/ml and inhibited the growth of Hep-2 (human carcinoma of larynx), with IC50 values between 50 μg/ml (compounds 5-7) and 100 μg/ml (compounds 1-4), and Hela (human carcinoma of cervix) cell lines in culture with different IC50 values [74 compound 7), 98 (compound 5) and 180 μg/ml (compounds 1-4 and 6)]

Hairy root cultures of Brugmansia suaveolens were set up by infection of root tips with Agrobacterium rhizogenes. The successful transformation was confirmed by analysing rolC and virC genes using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Hairy root cultures were employed to study the formation of tropane alkaloids, such as hyoscyamine. The transformed cultures were incubated with potential elicitors, such as methyljasmonate, quercetin and salicylic acid in order to stimulate the biosynthesis of tropane alkaloids. Profile and amounts of tropane alkaloids were analysed using capillary GLC-MS. At least 18 different tropane alkaloids could be identified. Treatment of the cultures with 200 μᴍ methyljasmonate increased the alkaloid accumulation 25-fold up to a level of 1 mg/g fresh weight as compared to untreated controls. Quercetin enhanced the alkaloid production 10 fold (0.4 mg/g fresh weight) within 24 h. In contrast 100 μᴍ salicylic acid decreased alkaloids to a level of 1 μg/g fresh weight.

Hairy root cultures of Nicotiana tabacum were set up by excised root tips with Agrobacterium rhizogenes. The successful transformation was confirmed by analyzing rolC and virC genes using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Hairy root cultures were employed to study the formation of pyridine alkaloids, mainly nicotine. The transformed cultures were incubated with potential elicitors, such as methyljasmonate, quercetin and salicylic acid, in order to stimulate the biosynthesis of pyridine alkaloids. Profile and amounts of pyridine alkaloids were analyzed using capillary GLC-MS. Treatment of the cultures with methyljasmonate (50 μM) increased the alkaloid accumulation ca. 7-fold up to a level of 0.58 mg/g fresh weight as compared to untreated controls. Quercetin (200 μM) enhanced the alkaloid production ca. 4-fold (0.34 mg/g fresh weight) within 24 h. In contrast salicylic acid in all tested concentrations decreased the alkaloid level to 1 μg/g fresh weight. Also the inhibitory effect of salicylic acid on the elicitation effect of methyljasmonate and quercetin was investigated.

The alkaloid spectra of Datura innoxia plants grown in Egypt and Bulgaria were investigated by GC-MS. Thirty-eight alkaloids were detected in the roots, leaves and fruits of the plants. Five new alkaloids for D. innoxia are reported. Alkaloid spectra of Egyptian and Bulgarian plants differ significantly in respect to their alkaloid composition and main alkaloids accumulated in the plant organs.

Alkaloid profiles of root and shoot cultures, seedlings and mature plants were analysed by capillary GLC and GLC-MS. β-Carboline alkaloids, such as harmine, harmaline dominate in normal and root cultures transformed by Agrobacterium rhizogenes, as well as in roots and fruits of the plant. In shoots, flowers and shoot cultures quinoline alkaloids such as peganine, deoxypeganine, vasicinone and deoxyvasicinone widely replace the β-carboline alkaloids. In root cultures, the formation of β-carboline alkaloids can be induced by methyljasmonate and several other elicitors indicating that these alkaloids are part of the reactive chemical defence system of Peganum harmala.