Natural dietary antioxidants are extensively studied for their ability to protect cells from miscellaneous damages. Marjoram volatile oil ( Origanum majorana L., Lamiaceae) and grape seed extract ( Vitis vinifera L., Vitaceae) are potent antioxidants. Effects of administration of marjoram volatile oil or grape seed extract on oral administration of ethanol, simultaneously, daily for 10 weeks were studied through determining epididymal spermatozoal analysis, serum testosterone level, weight and histopathological examination of testis, liver and brain. Glutathione level and lipid peroxidation content as malondialdehyde in the testis, liver and brain were measured. The repeated intake of a great amount of ethanol (10 ml/kg body weight, 25% v/v) was followed by fertility disturbances with low sperm count, impaired sperm motility and decrease in serum testosterone level. Moreover, ethanol toxicity induced significant alterations in the histological structures of the testis, liver and brain. The results revealed a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and decrease in the level of glutathione in the testis, liver and brain in the ethanol-treated group. However, co-administration of the extracts of protective plants resulted in minimizing the hazard effects of ethanol toxicity on male fertility, liver and brain tissues. It may be concluded that marjoram volatile oil and grape seed extract are useful herbal remedies, especially for controlling oxidative damages.

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The Tanzanian plant Acanthospermum glabratum (DC.) Wild (Asteraceae) has yielded nine cytotoxic compounds, seven of which are new sesquiterpene lactones in the melampolide series. Structures of the new compounds were assigned based on spectra comparison with acantholide (3), a compound whose structure was determined by X-ray analysis. New compounds isolated in addition to acantholide (3), were acanthamolide (I 2), acanthospermolide (1 ), glabratolide (5), 9-hydroxyglabratolide (6), acanthoglabrolide (7), and dihydroacanthospermal A (1 0), and the known compounds acanthospermal A ( 8 ) and 3,6-dimethoxy-4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone (1 5).

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The present study was conducted to determine the allelopathic effect of the aqueous extracts of Cynanchum acutum, Anagallis arvensis, Chenopodium murale, Malva parviflora, Sonchus oleraceus and Portulaca oleracea on the germination and growth of Bidens pilosa plant. Also, the presence of total phenols, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and alkaloids, were screened in the studied plants. The results indicated that the aqueous extract of C. acutum, A. arvensis, C. murale, M. parviflora, S. oleraceus and P. oleracea showed a remarkable allelopathic effect on germination and growth of B. pilosa. The effectiveness of the extract was much higher on C. acutum, as it is the most effective in reducing the shoot and root growth of B. pilosa followed by S. oleraceus, M. parviflora, P. oleracea, C. murale and A. arvensis. The allelochemicals such as total phenols, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and alkaloids present in C. acutum, A. arvensis, C. murale, M. parviflora, S. oleraceus and P. oleracea. From the present study, it is concluded that the aqueous extract of the tested plants can be used as natural source in controlling B. pilosa.

One significant biotic barrier to crop production is weeds. The present study aims to analyze the weed vegetation associated with cultivated crops in the newly reclaimed lands in the three Suez Canal governorates (Ismailia, Suez and Port-Said). A total of 148 weed species (96 annuals and 52 perennials) belonging to 110 genera and 26 families were recorded. The most species-rich families were Poaceae, Asteraceae, Amaranthaceae and Fabaceae. Therophytes and Chamaephytes were the most prevailing lifeforms. The chorological analysis of the vegetation revealed that Cosmopolitan, Saharo-Sindian and Mediterranean chorotypes either pure or extended into other regions form the major component of the floristic structure. The application of TWINSPAN classification technique yielded four vegetation groups. These groups were dominated by Schismus barbatus, Senecio glaucus, Cynodon dactylon and Melilotus indicus. Biodiversity indices (species richness, Shannon's index, Simpson's index and Evenness index) indicated that vegetation group B was the most diversified among other groups. The ordination of stands in the study area by using DECORANA program showed that the vegetation groups obtained by TWINSAPAN are distinguishable and have a clear-cut pattern of segregation on the ordination diagrams.Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) indicated that soil texture, total nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulphates, electrical conductivity and organic matter were the main soil parameters which determined the distribution of weed vegetation in the study area.