A polyphasic taxonomic study of a halotolerant micro-organism, isolated from Kuwait salt marsh soil, revealed that this strain represents a novel Nocardiopsis species. The strain produced substrate and aerial mycelium, grew at 28-35 degrees C in salt concentrations of 0-15% and was slightly keratinolytic. Results of the 165 rDNA sequence comparison revealed that strain F100T clustered with strains of the genus Nocardiopsis. This is consistent with other data such as: (i) growth characteristics, i.e. the formation of a white to yellow aerial mycelium and the typical zig-zag form of hyphae, which fragment when ageing; (ii) the presence of DL-diaminopimelic acid and glucose plus ribose in whole-cell hydrolysates; (iii) the presence of phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl inositol, phosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidyl methylethanolamine and diphosphatidyl glycerol in polar lipid extracts; (iv) the presence of menaquinones MK-10(H(0-6)) and MK-11(H(0-6)) in the non-polar fraction; (v) the presence of iso/anteiso-branched plus 10-methyl-branched fatty acids, showing the diagnostic combination for Nocardiopsis spp. of 14-methyl-hexadecanoic acid (18%), oleic acid (9%) and tuberculostearic acid (2%); and (v) the absence of mycolic acids. Analysis of 16S rDNA revealed that strain F100T represents a distinct taxon within Nocardiopsis. Based upon phenotypic differences to other members of the genus, a novel species, Nocardiopsis halotolerans sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain of the species is F100T (= DSM 44410T = NRRL B-24124T).

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Background: Plantago lanceolata L. is used in Iraqi folklore medicine to treat injuries, and its extract is prescribed by some herbalists for cancer patients. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of P. lanceolata leaf extract on breast cancer cell lines in vitro and to identify its active compounds. Crystal violet viability assay was used to determine the cytotoxicity of methanolic P. lanceolata leaf extract against various breast cancer cell lines. MCF7, AMJ13, MDAMB, and CAL51 human breast cancer cells were treated with different concentrations of the extract for 72 h. The morphology of the treated cells was examined under a phase-contrast inverted microscope. The clonogenic ability was assessed through a clonogenic assay. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was performed to measure the concentrations of phenols and flavonoids in the extract. Results: The methanolic P. lanceolata leaf extract significantly inhibited the proliferation of triple-negative CAL51 cells but showed minor effect on the other breast cancer cells. In addition, at high doses, it induced cytopathic morphological changes. The clonogenic assay showed low colony formation in the exposed cells, especially CAL51 cells. Furthermore, HPLC study revealed that the methanolic extract contained important flavonoid glycosides, especially rutin, myricetin quercetin, and kaempferol. Conclusions: P. lanceolata leaf extract selectively inhibited the proliferation of CAL51 triple-negative breast cancer cells and showed minor effect on the other breast cancer cells types studied. Thus, this study showed P. lanceolata as a possible natural source of selective anti-triple-negative breast cancer drugs.

Objective: The aim of our study was to compare between flavonoids and phenolic acids contents of leaves and fruits of Melia azedarach since no phytochemical investigation had done previously in Iraq. Methods:The leaves and fruits of Melia azedarach were extracted by soxhlet using 80% ethanol then the dried extract was suspended in water and fractionated using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. The n-butanol fraction was hydrolyzed by acid and partitioned with ethyl acetate. The different fractions containing flavonoids and phenolic acids were analyzed by HPLC and HPTLC. Results:The HPLC results revealed the presence catechin-7-O-glycoside in fruit only, while kaempferol-7-O-glycoside is found in the leaves only. Catechin and its glycosides are more abundant in the fruits than in the leaves. The HPTLC results revealed that kaempferol and quercetin are present in all fractions of leaves and fruits as aglycones and as glycosides. Free chlorogenic was found in both leaves and fruits. Conclusion:No major differences were found between the flavonoids and phenolic acids contents of the leaves and fruits of Melia azedarach.

Objective: This research is to study the assessment of the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of the essential oil extracted from the aerial parts of Artemisia abrotanum L. that recently grown in Iraq. Methods:The essential oil of A. abrotanum was extracted by hydrodistillation using Clevenger apparatus. This essential oil was tested for antimicrobial activity of five different pathogenic microorganisms (Gram-positive [Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis] and Gram-negative [Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli] bacterial strains) and fungi: Candida albicans using diffusion well agar method. Furthermore, this essential oil was tested for cytotoxic activity using rhabdomyosarcoma cell line, and the growth or inhibition of cancer cells was measured by MTT method. Results:The obtained results show that the antibacterial activity for A. abrotanum against S. aureus was at concentrations 40, 25, and15 µl with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 20 mm, while it showed antibacterial activity against E. coli for four different concentrations of 40, 25, 15, and10 μl with inhibition zone of 16, 12, 14, and 10 mm, respectively, and it showed antifungal activity against C. albicans at four concentrations 40, 25, 15, and10 μl with inhibition zone of 18, 24, 26, and 30 mm, respectively. The cytotoxic activity of the extracted essential oil was showed that the three concentrations of the extract (25, 50, and 100 μg/ml) were all lower significantly as compared to dimethyl sulfoxide group. A significant difference was seen for group 25 with both groups 50 and 100, but no significant difference was seen between the two later. Finally, the antimicrobial and anticancer activity of this plant could be due to its essential oil constituents: Borneol, cymene, camphor, terpineol, eucalyptol, and aromadendrene. Conclusion:The essential oil of A. abrotanum L. has a potent antimicrobial and anticancer effect against the tested microbial organisms and the cancer cells.