The chemical study of Cannabis sativa roots led to the isolation and identification of 10 compounds. Their chemical structures were unambiguously established on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry as friedelan-3-one (1), epifriedelanol (2), β-sitosterol (3), ergost-5-en-3-ol (4), methyl hexadecanoate (5), pentadecanoic acid (6), 10E-hexadecenoic acid (7), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (8), β-sitosterol-β-D-glucoside (9) and p-coumaroyltyramine (10). Compounds 5–9 were reported for the first time from C. sativa roots. All the isolated compounds were tested for their antimicrobial activity. Compound 4 showed modest activity against Cryptococcus neoformans with an IC₅₀ value of 13.7 μg/mL, while compound 10 displayed potent activity against Escherichia coli with an IC₅₀ value of 0.8 μg/mL. A high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed and validated for the detection and quantification of p-coumaroyltyramine (10) in the extracts of different varieties of C. sativa roots.

Cupressus sempervirens is an important medicinal plant in Egypt and the Eastern Mediterranean region. The aim of this work is to evaluate the chemical composition of cupressus leaves as medical plant. We used routine chemical analysis, chemical extractions (methanol and dichloromethane, steam distillation), and GC-mass methods to detect bioactive compounds. of cypress leaves. The results indicated that the percentage of fat was 9.55 %; moisture, 7.54%; protein, 9.24%; ash, 11.1%; fiber, 7.4%; and the percentage of carbohydrates was 55.17%. Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponin, terbines, tannins groups were detected, while ricin group was absent. Moreover, eighteen components were identified and measured. Sabinene was the main ingredient (67.46%), followed by 3-thujin (8.50%), cetronella (5.04%), 4terpinol (5.01%). Five essential oils were detected including citronella (5.04%), followed by D-limonene (2.94%), αcitronellol (1.88%), and terpinolene (1.12%). In conclusion, pilot extracted oil of cypress leaves could be used to control microbial activity against some fungi species such as Verticillium and Aspergillus.

KEYWORDSRecently, there has been more interest with antidiabetic agents commencing natural products from plants as a better treatment than currently used synthetic drugs. The high performance liquid chromatography analysis of methanolic Acalypha wilkesiana leaves extract revealed occurrence of twenty one polyphenolic compounds. Catechin is the main constituent (29.91%), followed by apigenin (20.96%), then, ellagic acid, quercetin, kampferol, ferulic acid, luteolin, pyrogallol, rutin, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, protocatechouic acid, p-coumaric acid, caffiene, syrigic acid, catechol and p-OH-benzoic acid in percentages of 17.54, 10.45, 7.63, 4.67, 4.61, 4.30, 3.21, 3.15, 2.10, 1.48, 1.43, 1.13, 1.09, 1.08 and 1.05%, respectively. The antidiabetic and heamatological effects of methanolic Acalypha wilkesiana leaves extract (10, 20 and 40 mg/100 g body weight) in streptozotocin diabetic rats were investigated comparing with metformin HCl (50 mg/100 g body weight) for 30 days. Our results indicated that the most effective dose of methanolic Acalypha wilkesiana leaves extract was 40 mg/100 g body weight, which decreased blood glucose level to about 77.37% in diabetic rats, compared with a percentage of 76.50% achieved by administration with metformin HCl. Furthermore, liver functions activity, kidney functions, lipid profile, atherogenic indices and haematological parameters were scrutinized in diabetic rats treated with methanolic Acalypha wilkesiana leaves extract. These results indicate that the methanolic leaves extract of Acalypha wilkesiana, have favorable effects in bringing down the severity of diabetes and justify its use in traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes and its complications.Lipid profile Antidiabetic Haematology Liver functions Kidney functions Acalypha wilkesiana

Syzygium cumini belongs to the family L. to Myrtaceae which are consumed as cherry-shaped fruits and are called pamposa in Egypt. The extracts of this fruit possess effective substances that have antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-cancer effects. The methanolic extracts of S. cumini fruit and seeds were tested on three types of human cancer cells, and also as anti-microbial substances on six microorganisms, three bacteria and three fungal strains. The methanolic extract of unripe fruit pulp has the strongest inhibition (82.2%) against DPPH radical using 25 μg/mL while methanolic extract of ripe fruits pulp gave lowest inhibition value of 28.02% at the same concentration. The results showed that the methanolic extract (0.1%) of the pulp of the ripe fruits was more effective on microbial strains and fungal strains. The methanolic extract of unripe fruit seeds of S. cumini was showed that the best anticancer activity was obtained using the high concentration of the tested samples (1000 μg/ml) against colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco2) with an IC50 value was 30.93.

Recently, there is an increasing attention in finding antioxidant phytochemicals natural to avoid the effects of synthetic antioxidants and antimicrobial compounds. In this study, two herbs namely clove buds (Syzygium aromaticum) and thyme leaves (Tymus vulgaris), were used to extract the bioactive compounds. The chemical composition of clove buds and thyme leaves was determined. Ethanolic and aqueous extractions were carried out to obtain biological active compounds. Ethanolic clove-powdered buds extracts had the highest total phenolic compounds (TPC) (372.21 mg GAE/g extract) while, essential oil extract of thyme-powdered leaves was (158.83 mg GAE/g extract). Total flavonoids compounds (TFC) of ethanolic clove-powdered buds extract was (177.15 mg QE/g extract) but aqueous extract of thyme-whole leaves was (126.50 mg QE/g extract). The reducing power of thyme-powdered leaves was (1.022) comparable with vitamin C (8.911) meanwhile, clovepowdered buds extract was (1.031). Free radical scavenging capacity of clove-whole buds was (IC50; 2.75 µg/mL) and thyme-whole leaves extracts had (IC50; 2.86 µg/mL) comparable with ascorbic acid (IC50; 6.75 µg/mL). The antibacterial of all used herbs extracts against Escherichia coli, bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. Were studied. On Escherichia coli, thyme-powdered leaves essential oil had (19.75mm inhibition zone) while, clovewhole buds ethanolic extract was (14.5 mm inhibition zone). Thyme-whole leaves essential oil was (24.5 mm inhibition zone) against Staphylococcus aureus, but clove-whole buds essential oil extract was (12.25 mm inhibition zone). Aqueous extract obtained from thyme-powdered leaves was (14.5mm inhibition zone) While, clove-powdered buds ethanolic extract was (13.5 mm inhibition zone) against bacillus cereus.

Two field experiments was carried out under Sohag Governorate conditions during 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 seasons, to study the effect of intercropping three chickpea varieties with onion at four chickpea intercropping systems (onion+2 rows of chickpea, onion+3 rows of chickpea, onion+4 rows of chickpea, onion+5 rows of chickpea and chickpea alone), on yield and yield components of both crops. The obtained results could be summarized as follows: 1-Tallest plants and highest No. of leaves/plant of onion were attained under intercropping with chickpea variety of Giza-4 while the lowest values were obtained under intercropping with chickpea variety Giza-3, in both seasons. 2-Intercropping onion with five rows of chickpea gave the tallest plants and highest No. of leaves/plant of onion, while intercropping with two rows of chickpea gave the lowest values in both seasons. 3-Giza-3 variety achieved highest total yield/fed and marketable yield/fed of onion, while Giza-2 achieved the lowest values, in both seasons. 4-Intercropping onion with two rows of chickpea produced highest marketable yield/fed and total yield/fed. as compared to other intercropping system, while intercropping with five rows of chickpea produced the lowest values, in both seasons. 5-Giza-4 variety attained highest No. of branches/plant, No. of pods/plant, and seed yield/fed, while Giza-2 attained the lowest values, in both seasons. 6-Maximum seed yields/fed were observed by cultivating chickpea variety Giza-4 or Giza-3 in pure stand, in the first and second seasons, respectively. 7-The highest combination between the two factors in respect to LER was obtained under chickpea variety Giza-3 when intercropped with onion at system of three rows, in both seasons. It could be stated that intercropping chickpes of Giza-3 variety with onion at three rows maximized seed yield per unit area under Sohag Governorate condition.

Two field experiments were conducted at Bardies, Sohag Governorate, Egypt, during the summer seasons of 2011 and 2012. The objective of this investigation aimed to study the response of some maize hybrids to different nitrogen fertilization levels and filter mud cake. A split-split plot design with three replications was used. Two Maize Hybrids (H1-Single cross Watania-4 and H2-Three way cross-310) were allocated in the main plots. Nitrogen fertilization levels (N1-80, N2-100 and N3 120 kg N/fed) were distributed in the sub plots. While, organic fertilizer (filter mud cake B1-Control (without addition, B2-one ton/fed, B3-1.5 ton/fed and B4-2 ton/fed) were randomly distributed in the sub-sub plots.The results indicated that single cross Watania-4 surpassed significantly three way cross 310 in ear length cm, ear diameter cm, number of rows/ear, number of kernel/ear, ear weight gm, grains weight/ear gm, 100-grain weight gm and grain yield (ardab/feddan). There were gradual and significant increases in ear length cm, ear diameter cm, number of rows/ear, number of kernel/ear, ear weight gm, grains weight/ear gm, 100-grain weight gm and grain yield (ardab/feddan) resulted from raising mineral N-level from 80 to 100 and 120 kg N/fed.There were significant differences in the studied traits as affected by the organic fertilizer (filter mud cake) in both seasons. Under Sohag Governorate conditions of the present work, growing single cross Watania-4 fertilized with 120 N/fed and applied 2.0 ton filter mud cake that were recommended to get the maximum grain yield (ardab/feddan).

Article informationBackground: Water pollution by heavy metals is a dangerous health problem causing multiple system diseases. Natural materials, such as nigella sativa and propolis, appear to offer a good preventive of pollution in comparison to more costly technologies currently in use. The Aim of The Work:This study aimed to evaluate and compare the potential protective effects of propolis and nigella sativa against the Cadmium and Lead toxicity harmful effects on the kidney structure and functions of adult male rats. Materials and Methods:Seventy adult male albino rats were chosen as an animal model for this study, divided into seven equal groups [each 10 rats]: Group I, the control group received the standard diet and normal saline [1 ml/kg body weight [BW]/day]; Group II for cadmium [Cd]; Group III for cadmium plus nigella sativa; Group IV for cadmium plus propolis; Group V for lead [Pb]; Group VI for lead plus nigella sativa and Group VII for lead plus Propolis. Each rat received [0.5 ml/rat] of its prepared solution orally every day for 15 days. At the end of the experiment, rats were sacrificed and blood samples were collected for the assessment of kidney functions. Then, the kidney was removed and prepared for histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. Finally, the kidney tissue homogenate was prepared for assessments of renal malondialdehyde [MDA].Results: Exposure of rats to Cd. chloride and Pb. acetate resulted in a significant increase in serum creatinine, urea, uric acid, and renal MDA levels and induced histopathological alterations in kidney tissue. But concomitant administration of lead or cadmium with nigella sativa or propolis were associated with amelioration of the kidney impairment induced by lead or cadmium. Conclusion:The natural antioxidants, nigella sativa and propolis, are capable of minimizing the hazardous effects of cadmium chloride or lead acetate on the kidney.