An-Najah Staff

The potential of antifungal effects of Walnut (Juglans regia L., Juglandaceae) ethanolic and chloroform extracts was reported against four pathogenic fungi: three dermatophytes, Microsporum canis (MC), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (TM) and T. Rubrum (TR), and the causative agent of chalk brood disease of bees, Ascophaera apis (AsA). Both extracts had considerable activity against the studied fungi. The main antifungal component of walnut was isolated and tested for its antimycotic activity individually. Based on its IR, 13C and 1H NMR analysis the main significant activity against was indentifying to be 5-hydroxy- 1, 4-naphthoquinone (Juglone).

Varthemia iphionoides is indigenous to Palestine, where it is traditionally being used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this paper was to provide pharmacological validation to this medicinal use. Water and ethanol extracts of Varthemia iphionoides were studied on isolated rabbit ileum for spasmolytic action. These extracts showed a reduction of the amplitude and the tone of spontaneous contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. Apart from that, water extract of Varthemia iphionoides drastically diminished the increase of the contraction of the ileum caused by acetylcholine (ACh) concentration of 5.5X10-6M. This indicates that Varthemia iphionoides extract probably acts at least through muscarinic receptors blockade.

To assess the clinical utility of the crude ethanolic extract of the leaves of Varthemia iphionoides (Compositae), minimal inhibitory concentrations eJ'v1Ies) were determined using agar dilution technique. Accordingly, The MICs of of this plant extract ranged from 0.0313-1 mg/ml for three clinical Staphylacaccus aureus strains and ATCC strains of Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis, whereas Escherichia coli studied in this report was fOlUld to exhibit higher 1v1Ie value (4 mg/ml). The effect of combinations of ethanolic extract of Varthemia iphionoides and cefotaxime was investigated by means of fractional inhibitory concentration (FIe) indices. Using the FIe indices, synergistic interactions were observed against B. subtilis (ATCC 6633) and S. aureus strains (FIC indices of 0.75-0.875); while combinations against E. cali and S. epidermidis (ATCC 25923) exhibited antagonistic interactions (FIC indices of 2.5 to 16.4). Synergy was confirmed at cefotaxime concentrations corresponding to 1/2 MIC and an ethanol extract concentrations corresponding to 1/41v1IC and lower. Key words: Varthemia iphionoides . Medicinal plants . Antibacterial activity . Herb-drug interactions . Plant extracts

Varthemia iphionoides is indigenous to Palestine, where it is traditionally being used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this paper was to provide pharmacological validation to this medicinal use. Water and ethanol extracts of Varthemia iphionoides were studied on isolated rabbit ileum for spasmolytic action. These extracts showed a reduction of the amplitude and the tone of spontaneous contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. Apart from that, water extract of Varthemia iphionoides drastically diminished the increase of the contraction of the ileum caused by acetylcholine (ACh) concentration of 5.5X10-6M. This indicates that Varthemia iphionoides extract probably acts at least through muscarinic receptors blockade.

The antibacterial effects of single and combined plant extracts of water, ethanol and methanol for two nutraceuticals utilized in Palestine were studied against multiple drug resistances Pseudomonas aeruginosa using well diffusion method. These plants are Rhus coriaria and Thymus vulgaris. Combinations of these extracts showed an additive action against this pathogen.

This study has been carried out to evaluate the possible In vitro interaction between ethanolic extracts of Rus coriaria (seed), Sacropoterium spinosum (seed) and Rosa damascena (flower) and certain known antimicrobial drugs including oxytetracycline HCl, penicillin G, cephalexin, sulfadimethoxine as sodium and enrofloxacin. Synergy testing of these extracts and antibiotics was carried out against 3 multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains using microdilution method. Results of this study showed that there is a decrease in the MIC in case of combination between ethanolic plant extracts and test antimicrobial agents. The most interesting result that the combination between R. coriaria and these antibiotics, which showed a high decrease in MIC and a strong bactericidal activity against these strains. These results may indicate that combinations between R. coriaria extract and these antibiotics could be useful in fighting emerging drug-resistance P. aeruginosa, this may due to that R. coriaria extract contain natural inhibitors working by different mechanisms or inhibiting efflux pumps. Now we have experiments underway leading to the identification of the active molecules present in R. coriaria. Further, in vivo experiments are needed to confirm Pseudomonal protection.

Objective To evaluate the possible in vitro interaction between ethanolic extracts of Rhus coriaria (R. coriaria) (seed), Sacropoterium spinosum (S. spinosum) (seed), Rosa damascena (R. damascene) (flower) and certain known antimicrobial drugs including oxytetracycline HCl, penicillin G, cephalexin, sulfadimethoxine as sodium, and enrofloxacin. This synergy study was carried out against 3 clinical strains of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). Methods Evaluation of synergy interaction between plant extracts and antimicrobial agents was carried out using microdilution method. Results The results of this study showed that there is a decrease in the MIC in case of combination of ethanolic plant extracts and test antimicrobial agents. The most interesting result was that the combination between R. coriaria and these antibiotics, showed a high decrease in minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and a strong bactericidal activity against these strains. Conclusions these results may indicate that combinations between R. coriaria extract and these antibiotics could be useful in fighting emerging drug-resistance P. aeruginosa, which may due to that R. coriaria extract contain natural inhibitors working by different mechanisms or inhibiting efflux pumps. Now we have experiments underway leading to the identification of the active molecules present in R. coriaria. Further, in vivo experiments are needed to confirm pseudomonal protection.

The potential of antifungal effects of Walnut (Juglans regia L., Juglandaceae) ethanolic and chloroform extracts was reported against four pathogenic fungi: three dermatophytes, Microsporum canis (MC), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (TM) and T. Rubrum (TR), and the causative agent of chalk brood disease of bees, Ascophaera apis (AsA). Both extracts had considerable activity against the studied fungi. The main antifungal component of walnut was isolated and tested for its antimycotic activity individually. Based on its IR, 13C and 1H NMR analysis the main significant activity against was indentifying to be 5-hydroxy- 1, 4-naphthoquinone (Juglone).

Many plants of Palestinian flora are facing the risk of endanger, due to agricultural practices, environmental threats and consumption changes. In the absence of National program to conserve the Palestinian heritage of plant diversity, a tentative research work aimed in trial usage of available biotechnology’s methods for conserving several popular plants of medical, cultural and economical importance's. Tissue culturing of anise (Pimipnella anisum), sage (Salvia palestina), fenugreek (Trigonella sps), wild peppermint (Mentha spicita L.) and akoub (Gandelia tournefortii); using MS-media with specific plant growth regulators were successfully applied. Protocols for enhancing callus culturing, organogenesis and micro- propagation of these tentatively threatened wild plants were developed and optimized in this research work. Based on the successfulness of propagation in vitro of these plants, a call for establishment of a Palestinian germplasm collection to conserve the Flora Palestina had been reported.

Varthemia iphionoides is indigenous to Palestine, where it is traditionally being used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this paper was to provide pharmacological validation to this medicinal use. Water and ethanol extracts of Varthemia iphionoides were studied on isolated rabbit ileum for spasmolytic action. These extracts showed a reduction of the amplitude and the tone of spontaneous contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. Apart from that, water extract of Varthemia iphionoides drastically diminished the increase of the contraction of the ileum caused by acetylcholine (ACh) concentration of 5.5X10m-6 M. This indicates that Varthemia iphionoides extract probably acts at least through muscarinic receptors blockade.