Anticancer effect of Cenchrus ciliaris L.

Cenchrus ciliaris L total alcohol and successive extracts of both aerial and root parts were tested for their anticancer activities against lung (A-549), intestinal (CACO), colon (HCT-116), cervical (Hela), hepatocellular (HepG-2), and breast (MCF-7) (PC3) cell lines and compared with the standard drug vinblastine sulphate. The obtained results exhibited direct cytotoxic effect with variable inhibiting effect on the growth of the listed cell lines comparing to vinblastine sulphate as reference standard drug, these effects showed different IC50 ranged from 11.1 ±â€¯0.3 to 267 ±â€¯µg/ml. All root extracts showed the best activities against most of the tested cell lines specially HepG-2 (Hepatocellular carcinoma) (9 ±â€¯2.1 µg/ml) which was somewhat closely related to the effect of vinblastine sulphate (2.93 ±â€¯0.3 µg/ml). The highest anticancer effect of Cenchrus ciliaris L aerial parts and root extracts were recorded on HepG-2 (Hepatocellular carcinoma) their IC50 were 12 ±â€¯0.8 & 9 ±â€¯2.1 respectively, CACO (colorectal carcinoma) their IC50 were 27.2 ±â€¯1.6 & 20.5 ±â€¯0.6 respectively, A-549 (Lung carcinoma) their IC50 were 14.5 ±â€¯0.7& 11.1 ±â€¯0.3 respectively which were better than the standard drug especially in case the anticancer effect on CACO (colorectal carcinoma) and A-549 (Lung carcinoma). Chloroform extracts of both aerial and roots achieved the best anticancer activities on all of the cell lines especially with colorectal (CACO) and Lung carcinoma (A-549). Cenchrus ciliaris could be a promising source of new chemical moieties used to target cancer cells.

Evaluation of anti-ulcer and ulcerative colitis of Sonchus oleraceus L.

Sonchus oleraceus L. was evaluated for its gastro antiulcerogenic and anti-ulcerative colitis activities Different extracts and fractions from Sonchus oleraceus aerial parts and roots were evaluated at different dose; total alcohol extracts of aerial parts SA and roots SR were evaluated doses 250 & 500 mg/kg, While Successive extracts (SAL, SRL, CSA, CSR, BSA & BSR) were evaluated at dose of 150 mg/kg. Absolute ethanol-induced ulcer model was used for evaluation of the anti-ulcerogenic activity. The root extract showed promising antiulcerogenic activity as the total alcohol extract of the root SR (500 mg/kg) produced 88.5% protection from control ulcer which is significantly more effective than the standard drug omeprazole (20 mg/kg), in addition, the butanol fraction of the root extract BSR also produced 76.66% protection from control ulcer. On the other hand, the aerial parts total extract SA showed low antiulcerogenic activity in both tested doses (250 & 500 mg/kg) as it produced 25% & 28.33% protection from control ulcer respectively. Only the butanol fraction of the aerial parts extract BSA showed promising activity 54.16%. In the acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis model, among the investigated extracts of Sonchus oleraceus; only the total extract of the aerial parts (SA) at dose 500 mg/kg showed strong anti-ulcerative colitis activity and this activity is followed by the activity of the butanol and chloroform fractions of the aerial parts, they produced 77.28%, 57.4% & 47.68% protection from control colitis respectively. The standard drug dexamethasone produced 63.36% protection from control colitis. The total alcohol extracts SR & SA showed no alteration on liver and kidney functions and these extracts are safe up to 5000 mg/kg. Phytochemical screening of the investigated extracts revealed the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, tannins, unsaturated sterols, proteins and lactones which could be responsible for the activities.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis for standardization of Euphorbia cuneata Vahl.

Euphorbia cuneata Vahl very promising plant belongs to Family Euphorbiaceae The present study was carried out on the Euphorbia cuneata Vahl to standardize its components. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis showed variable phytochemical groups. Examination of Successive Extraction showed that there are different color, constancy, phytochemical groups and yield in each extract, the highest percentage was found in ethanol (10.7 ± 1.01) and the lowest one in ether (1.66 ± 0.31). Analysis of primary and secondary metabolites of Euphorbia cuneata Vahl revealed that the primary metabolites percent (carbohydrate, lipid and protein 6.25 ± 1.11, 5.12 ± 1.40, 7.15 ± 1.31 W/w respectively) were lower than secondary metabolites (flavonoids, phenolic and tannins 11.26 ± 1.02, 9.15 ± 1.21and 5.23 ± 1.29 W/w respectively). The Pharmacopoeia Constants were determined. Amino acids analysis of the arial parts reported the presence of 15 amino acids with different percentage in different types. (Total, free and protein hydrolysate.) Arginine represented the highest concentration (20.86).