Medicinal plants contain bioactive substances that are highly bioavailable in extracts or pure molecules, making them promising for therapeutic applications and precursors for chemo-pharmaceutical semi-synthesis. Harpagophytum procumbens (Devil’s Claw) is widely recognized as one of the most potent therapeutic herbs. This study aimed to extract seeds from H. procumbens using two types of solvents and to assess both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the extracts. The two extracts were evaluated for antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities using agar well diffusion assays against four bacterial isolates and two yeast isolates. Qualitative analysis identified the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and terpenoids. The active components detected were: alkaloids (12.69%), flavonoids (3.25%), total phenolic compounds (24.58%), total terpenoids (8.55%), and total steroids (1.25% for methanolic and 4.55% for petroleum ether). Both methanolic and petroleum ether extracts exhibited antioxidant activities of approximately 85.33% and 74.19%, respectively, compared to ascorbic acid, which had an antioxidant effect of 67.99% at a concentration of 200 µg/ml. The extracts demonstrated a broad spectrum of activity against all tested bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes) and fungi (Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis). At a concentration of 1000 µg/ml, the seed extracts showed the highest bactericidal activity, with inhibition zones ranging from 10 to 22 mm. Moreover, both extracts exhibited greater anti-biofilm activity at 1000 µg/ml compared to lower concentrations. Our study found that seed extracts of H. procumbens possess significant antibacterial and antioxidant activities, particularly at a concentration of 1000 µg/ml.
The shape dimensions and characteristics of pollen grains and seeds have importance in distinguish among species. Therefore, the present study included morphological characteristics of pollen grains and seeds for eight species belonging to eight genera of the family Brassicaceae and these species are: Alliaria petiolata (M.Bieb) Cavara et Grand, Aubrieta parviflora Boiss, Cardamine hirsuta L., Crambe orientalis L., Eromobium aegyptiacum (Spreng.) Schweinf.et Asch.ex Boiss., Parlatoria cakiloidea Boiss., Sterigmostemum sulphureum (Banksetsol.) Bornm. Neotorularia torulosa (Desf.) Hedge & J. Leonard. The pollen grains were studied in morphological and full measurements were taken, the study showed that the majority of the pollen grai
... Show MoreA new series of schiff base and aminothiadiazole derivatives of N- substituted phthalimide (I-VI) were synthesized. In this work, the intermediate 4-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)benzaldehyde compound (I), was formed by reaction of 4-amino benzaldehyde with phthalic anhydride in glacial acetic acid(GAA). A series of Schiff bases (IV-VI) was prepared by the reaction of benzidine with compound (I) in ethanol and presence of GAA as a catalyst to form compound (IV) which react with compound (I) and p-nitro benzyldehyde to give compound (V) and (VI) respectively. A new phthalimide thiosemi-carbazone derivative (ll) was prepared by reaction of compound (l) with thiosemi-carbazide HCl in the presence of equimolar amount of sodium acetate. Fina
... Show MoreLipase enzyme has attracted a lot of attention in recent years because of its diverse biotechnological applications. The present study was conducted to screen germinated seeds of four crops, namely sunflower (Helianthus annuus), flaxor linseed (Linum usitatissimum ), peanut (Arachis hypogaea ) and castor bean (Ricinus communis), for the activity of their lipases. to the study also included the extraction and purification of lipase from the seeds of the most promising crop using different solvents.
The results indicated that the maximum enzymatic activity (0.669 U/ml) was obtained when 0.1 M Tris-HCl buffer extract was used after 3 days of seed germination of all the tested spe
... Show MoreThe present study envisaged utilizing 4-aminoantipyrine as key intermediate for the synthesis of some new derivatives bearing anti-bacterial and anti-cancer activities moieties viz., antipyrine diazenyl benzaldehydes 2(ad) which were obtained by coupling of diazotized 4-aminoantipyrine (1) with substituted benzaldehydes at 0◦C (iced) temperature. The other antipyrine derivatives where containing bis heterocycles like bis thiazolidinone-antipyrine (4), bis imidazolidinone -antipyrine (5) and bis azetidinone -antipyrine (6).These compounds were prepared through the reaction between 4- aminoantipyrine and terephthaldicarboxaldehyde to get (3) which were reacted with mercaptoacetic acid , glycine or chloroacetyl chloride separately to get com
... Show MoreApical meristems, lateral buds, anthers of immature flowers and immature embryos of chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) were cultured on MS media with different growth regulators and incubated for 6 weeks at 25-27?C with 16 hrs photoperiod for callus initiation. Results indicated that 1 and 0.1 mg/l of 2,4-D and BA were suitable for callus initiation when apical meristems and lateral buds were used. While 2 and 0.5 mg/l of both growth regulators were essential for immature embryos. It was noticed that using chickpea anthers of the MS medium must contain 1mg/l 2ip and 0.5 mg/l IAA. However, MS medium supplemented with 1-3 mg/l of BA and 2,4-D respectively was good for callus initiation from lateral buds, anther and immature embryos.
... Show MorePathogenic microorganisms are becoming more and more resistant to antimicrobial agents. So the synthesis of new antimicrobial agents is very important. In this work, new 5-fluoroisatin-chalcone conjugates 5(a–g) were synthesized based on previous research that showed the modifications of the isatin moiety led to the synthesis of many derivatives that have antimicrobial activity. 4-aminoacetophenone reacts with 5-fluoroisatin to form Schiff base (3), which in turn reacts with two different groups of aromatic (carbocyclic and heterocyclic) aldehydes 4(a–g) separately to form the final compounds 5(a–g). Proton-nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy were used to confirm the chemic
... Show MoreA new furfural Schiff base derivative ligand (L-FSB) named N-(4- Bromo-2-methylphenyl)-1-(furan-2-yl)methanimine, was synthesized from the condensation reaction of furfural (fur) with 4-Bromo-2- methylaniline (bma) in 1:1molar ratio. A new series of VO(II), Cr(III), Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) metal complexes are synthesized according to the metal content analysis in an 2:1 ligand:metal ratio. The stereochemistry of the ligand complexes have been deduced by Fourier Transform-Infra Red (FT-IR), Atomic Adsorption (A.A), Ultra violate-Visible Spectra (UV-Vis Spectra), (Mass Spectra, Proton,13Carbon-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) (1H-NMR,13CNMR) for ligand), magnetic susceptibility at 25oC and conductivity measurements. Fr
... Show MoreCyanobacteria are prokaryotic photosynthetic communities which are used in biofertilization of many plants especially rice plant. Cyanobacteria play a vital role to increase the plant's ability for salinity tolerance. Salinity is a worldwide problem which affects the growth and productivity of crops. In this work three cyanobacteria strains (Nostoc calcicola, Anabaena variabilis, and Nostoc linkia) were isolated from saline soil at Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate; North Egypt. The propagated cyanobacteria strains were used to withstand salinity of the soil and increase rice plant growth (Giza 178). The length of roots and shoot seedlings was measured for seven and forty days of cultivation, respectively. The results of this investigation showed
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