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Introduction Fenugreek has been used in traditional remedies since ancient times. It has a long history of use against medical ailments as an antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, hypocholesterolemic, antioxidant, antibacterial, hypoglycemic, gastric stimulant, and anti-anorexia agent. The major active constituents include alkaloids, fibres, saponins, proteins, and amino acids. Objectives To provide a comprehensive overview of the application of chromatographic and spectroscopic methods, in addition to DNA-profiling methods to assess the quality of fenugreek. Also, to highlight the recent application of chemometrics combined with quality control methods during the last two decades. Methodology A literature search conducted from January 2000 up to December 2020 using various scientific databases (e.g., Scopus, Medline, PubMed, EBSCO, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Egyptian Knowledge Bank, Academic Journals, and Springer Link); general web searches were also undertaken using Google applying some related search terms. Studies involving the application of quality control analyses were classified into three categories according to the conducted analysis method including chromatographic [high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC), and gas chromatography (GC)], spectroscopic [ultraviolet (UV), infrared (IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)], and DNA-based markers. Results This review shed the light on relevant studies covering the past two decades, presenting the application of spectroscopic and chromatographic methods and DNA profiling in the quality control of fenugreek. Conclusion The reviewed chromatographic and spectroscopic methods combined with chemometrics provide a powerful tool that could be applied widely for the quality control of fenugreek.

Powdery mildew, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, is an important disease of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in many countries worldwide, including Egypt. Powdery mildew infects all parts of wheat plants that negatively affect grain yield and therefore caused economic loss. Some microorganisms i.e. Bacillus subtilis, B. chitinospora, B. pumilus and yeast (Rhodotarula sp.) were used in the current study as biocontrol agents (BCAs) for controlling powdery mildew in wheat variety (Sakha93), under field conditions, compared to the recommended synthetic fungicide; Tilt. The superior and best treatments decreasing infection type (IT), disease severity (%), and increasing 1000 kernel weight and grain yield per plot. Application of B. subtilis and B. chitinospora, were compared to the other treatments and the tested fungicide. Scanning electron microscopy studies confirmed the superiority of the aforementioned two biocontrol agents (BCAs), as application of each, minimized suppressed mycelial growth and collapsed the spores of the causal pathogen. Application of B. chitinosporain, particular, suppressed the conidial germination, caused a rupture, and deformation of germ tube. Also, both mycelia and conidiospores became shrinking on the surface of the treated wheat leaves. Extracts of the four microorganisms used in this study interacted directly with Blumeria graminis, and this antifungal effect was responsible for the observed disease protection. The obtained results in this investigation gave an evidence to the possible use of such microorganisms as safe and effective alternatives for controlling powdery mildew disease of wheat under field conditions.

One hundred and five wheat genotypes; 38 wheat leaf rust monogenic lines, 46 stem rust monogenic lines and 17 yellow rust monogenic lines, thee commercial wheat cultivars; Sakha 95, Misr 3 and Gemmeiza 11 and the highly susceptible variety Morocco were evaluated for their adult plant resistance and stability of resistance to rust diseases under different field conditions at Sadat City and Elbostan for three successive growing seasons i.e. 2016/2017, 2017/2018 and 2018/2019. Depending on the obtained results, differences between environments, genotypes and the interaction between environments and genotypes were highly significant for all studied characters. These results confirmed that, there are wide variations between genotypes. The wheat genotypes under study were classed into three classes based on the infection type. The first class included the most effective genotypes which included Lr 17, Lr 18, Lr 21, Lr 28 and Misr 3 for leaf rust, Sr 2, Sr 24, Sr 32, Sr 33, Sr 36, Sr 38, Sr 39 and Misr 3 for stem rust and Yr 1, Yr 5, Yr 10, Yr 15, Yr SP, Misr 3 and Sakha 95 for yellow rust. The second class was genotypes of differential resistance and the third class included ineffective genotypes. Stability factors during the three growing seasons at the two locations confirmed that, nine wheat monogenic lines; Lr 28, Lr 22a, Lr 14b, Sr 20, Sr 25, Sr 31, Sr 9e, Sr 12and Yr 17 were widely adapted and stable in their resistance.

Pithecellobium dulce has been used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments owing to its restorative properties. The biological activities and chemical profiles of the lipophilic fraction of P. dulce bark and leaves were assessed herein. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and unsaponifiable matter (USM) were prepared and analyzed by GC/MS. A total of 40 compounds were identified in the bark saponifiable fraction, whereas 9 compounds were annotated in the leaves. Palmitic acid methyl ester was the major compound identified accounting for 41.48 % of the bark and 19.03 % of the leaves composition. Besides, linolenic acid methyl ester (22.40 %) and linoleic acid (12.69 %) were annotated in the leaves saponifiable fraction. A total of 63 compounds were detected in the bark USM and 4 compounds were identified in the leaves. Phytol represented the major component in the leaves (52.57 %) followed by lupeol (20.68 %) and lupenone (8.60 %). Meanwhile, n-dodecane dominated in the bark USM accounting for 24.69 % of the total composition. The leaves and bark lipophilic fractions revealed moderate antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Both extracts showed no antifungal activity. No cytotoxicity was observed for both lipophilic fractions. P. dulce offers a good source of antioxidant compounds that can be introduced to food and pharmaceutical industry.

Bio-guided fractionation of the total MeOH extract (TME) of the aerial parts of Blepharis ciliaris (L.) B.L. Burtt. (Acanthaceae) growing in Saudi Arabia was carried out to evaluate its hepatoprotective activity against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Successive chromatographic separations of the potent hepatoprotective n-BuOH fraction afforded two new flavonol glycosides, blepharisides A (1) and B (2), along with quercetin 3-O-rutinoside (3). Their structures were established by UV, IR, 1D, 2D NMR, and HRESIMS spectral data, in addition to comparison with literature data. Co-treatment of CCl4 hepatic injured rats with the total MeOH extract (TME) and its fractions significantly restored the hepatic marker enzymes and total bilirubin to near-normal values compared to silymarin (reference drug). The isolated compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. They displayed significant antioxidant activity (DPPH assay) in relation to propyl gallate (positive control) (% inhibition of 88.2, 87.9, and 74.2, respectively). Compounds 1 and 2 demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in the carrageenin induced paw edema method at a dose of 10 mg/kg.

The genus Ruellia L. is sometimes called Dipteracanthus, it comprises about 150 species native to tropical and temperate North and South America. Ruellia brittoniana Leonard is known as Britton's wild petunia, wild petunia, Mexican bluebell and Ruellia tweediana Grisebach. Some species of genus Ruellia are used medicinally to cure gonorrhoea, syphilis, eye sores and in renal infections.

Hyperforin is an important antidepressant constituent of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort). Cell cultures of the related species H. calycinum were found to contain the homologue adhyperforin and to a low extent hyperforin, when grown in BDS medium in the dark. Adhyperforin formation paralleled cell culture growth. Cell-free extracts from the cell cultures contained isobutyrophenone synthase activity catalyzing the condensation of isobutyryl-CoA with three molecules of malonyl-CoA to give phlorisobutyrophenone, i.e. the hyperforin skeleton. The formation of the hyperforins during cell culture growth was preceded by an increase in isobutyrophenone synthase activity. The cell cultures also contained benzophenone synthase and chalcone synthase activities which are involved in xanthone and flavonoid biosyntheses, respectively. The three type III polyketide synthases were separated by anion exchange chromatography.

Further investigation of the leaves and stems of Zygophyllum album afforded four triterpene glycosides which were characterized as 14-decarboxyquinovic acid-3 beta-O-beta-D-quinovopyranosyl (1--4)-quinovopyranoside, quinovic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (2--1)beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester, quinovic acid 27-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(2--1)beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester and quinovic acid-3-beta-O-glucopyranosyl(2--1)rhamnopyranoside. In addition, two flavonoid glycosides were isolated. The structures of the isolated compounds were established by GC, GC-MS, mass spectra, 1H and 13C NMR.

Five new polyol monoterpenes (1−5) and seven new sesquiterpene lactones (6−12), along with five previously identified compounds, were isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia suksdorfii. The structures of the new compounds were established by high-field NMR techniques (1H, 13C, 1H−1H DEPT, COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) and in case of 6 confirmed by X-ray analysis.

The essential oil obtained from the leaves of the typical form of Lycopersicon hirstum Humb. et Bonpl. (Solanaceae) was analyzed by GC/MS. It was found to contain 48 components of which 17 have been identified. The oil was rich in oxygenated compounds with piperitone as the major component (11.66%). Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were present in a moderate concentration while monoterpene hydrocarbons were detected only in small concentrations.

Reinvestigation of Onopordon ambiguum extract afforded a new eudesmane derivative 1, in addition to the known elemanoid derivative 2. The structures of both compounds were determined by spectroscopic techniques, including 1H-, 13C-NMR, DEPT, 1H-1H and 1H- 13C COSY analysis.