Thymelaea hirsuta and Echinops spinosus: Xerophytic Plants with High Potential for First-Generation Biodiesel Production

Abstract

The negative impacts of fossil fuel on the environment should be replaced by clean and sustainable energy sources worldwide. Therefore, the use of biodiesel as a clean energy source is crucial. Biodiesel is produced from various natural resources through a transesterification process. Considering the importance of this topic, this study focuses on the assessment of oil properties of Thymelaea hirsuta and Echinops spinosus as primary sources for biodiesel production. The two investigated plants were collected from the Western Desert of Egypt. The results showed that the lignocellulosic content was about 57.3 and 79.8 g/100 g in E. spinosus and 59.1 and 82.8 g/100 g in T. hirsuta, respectively. The two investigated samples showed variable lipid contents (30.2–76.1%). The GC-MS fatty acid profile characterized seven FAs in E. spinosus and twelf FAs in T. hirsuta. The greatest CN was calculated in T. hirsuta (379.2) compared to the lowest in E. spinosus (229.9). Furthermore, the values of saponification number (SN) were 27.9 in E. spinosus and 16.07 in T. hirsuta. The value of higher heating value (HHV) was about 47.5 MJ/kg in E. spinosus and 48.3 MJ/kg in T. hirsuta. Meanwhile, T. hirsuta exhibited a higher induction period (IP) value (19.3 h) comparable to that of E. spinosus (4.3 h). The results revealed that both plants are potential sources for biodiesel production according to various international standards for biodiesel production, and this work appears to be one of the first reports regarding such wild xerophytic plants as promising new primary sources for biodiesel production in Egypt.

Oxidative Stress Responses of Some Endemic Plants to High Altitudes by Intensifying Antioxidants and Secondary Metabolites Content

“…In spite of the ecological significance of these endemic species and many of their promising characteristics, their ecophysiology has not been closely studied, particularly at the SKP high altitudes [40,41]. Consequently, knowing how such adaptations influence plant growth is relevant for researchers who wish to predict the response of endemic species in a future scenario of climate change.…”

Ecophysiological Studies on the Oxidative Stress Responses of Phlomis aurea, Ballota undulata and Nepeta septemcrenata Endemic Plants in Saint Katherine Mountain, Egypt

“…Despite their ecological importance and numerous intriguing qualities, these unique species' ecophysiology has received little attention, particularly at the SKP high elevations (Hegazy 2016., Helal et al 2020). As a result, understanding how such adaptations affect plant development is important for researchers who want to forecast how endemic species may respond to climate change in the future.…”

Acute toxicity, phenol content, antioxidant and postprandial anti-diabetic activity of Echinops spinosus extracts

“…The species spinosus thrives in desert conditions with rainfall between 20 and 100 mm, and a wide range of soil, widespread on coastal dunes, sandy and gravelly to rocky surfaces (Bouzabata et al, 2018). It is a perennial herbaceous plant, reaching nearly 1 m, characterized by upright brownish to reddish stems with few leaves, 10 to 15 cm long, is hairy, arachnoid, and bears very long spines (Helal et al, 2020). In folk medicine, it is used as an abortifacient, diuretic and for blood circulation, diabetes, gastric disorders, indigestion and sposmolytic problems (Khedher et al, 2014).…”