الفهرس 
TaxonomyOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Medicinal plants currently used in traditional medicine in the developing countries are now receiving much scientific attention. The employment of bioassay–guided isolation techniques has added another dimension to the search of new drugs. The structural diversity of the natural constituents in these medicinal herbs make them valuable source of novel compounds against chronic diseases.
In Egypt although there is an extensive body of literature addressing the distribution of hepatic viral infection in the country ,there is few published work on morbidity related statistics to such chronic problem. The Hepatitis C virus is the main cause of liver epidemic in Egypt and the highest country wide prevalence of viral C infection in the whole world.
Spices and herbs are used in food primarily because they impart desirable flavor and aroma. The presence of several natural constituents in these herbs with known biological effects such as vitamins, phenols, carotenoids, phytoestrogens and terpenoids is our concern in this study to develop phytopharmaceuticals suitable and /or with superior activities.
The family Anacardiaceae enjoys considerable economic importance because it encompasses important edible fruits such as fruits of Mango (Mangifera indica Linn.), Cashew nuts (Anacardium occidentale Linn.) and Pistachio nuts (Pistacia vera Linn.). The resin known as Mastic is obtained from Pistacia lentiscus L .
Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) and wild plum ( Harpephyllum caffrum Bernh ex CF Krauss) are African medicinal plants belonging to (Family Anacardiaceae) and traditionally used to control several human diseases. Sumac is sold in the Egyptian herbal market and used to flavor the cooking of meat. It is also reputable for treatment of several diseases including diabetes and ulcers.
Harpephyllum caffrum Bernh ex CF Krauss is an ornamental plant cultivated in several locations in Egypt such as El Orman and Zoo garden. It has been reported to treat an array of human diseases including hypertension and diabetes. In South Africa, it is usually applied in a form suitable for facial saunas, skin diseases and others.
Both plants are suggested for this study in order to shed- light on their phytoconstituents and establish their beneficial effects with regard to some health problems in Egypt.
Part I: Genetic profiling
Rhus coriaria L. and Harpephyllum caffrum Bernh ex C.F. Krauss were subjected to RAPD assay of their genomic DNA and this was performed using five different primers. The number of RAPD-PCR fragments indicates that the five primers were reproduced.
The analysis of RAPD data can select the use of primers OPC-20, OPA-13 and OPB-01 for the selective discrimination of Syrian Sumac from other commercial varieties. Meanwhile, it offers selective discrimination of closely related genera such as Harpephyllum caffrum Bernh ex C.F. Krauss and Rhus coriaria L. These primers may be used as an indicator for obtaining genetic markers.
The high percentage of similarity coefficients indicates that the two genera are closely related.
The pattern obtained using OPA-14, OPA-13 and OPC-20 was almost identical in the two genera. Moreover, this observation was supported by their similarity coefficients which recorded 100%and 72%.
The OPB-01, OPA-15 primers were found to be the most effective in generating polymorphic bands when applied to the two genera. Such primers could be used to discriminate between the two genera depending on their low values of similarity coefficients and high level of polymorphism. However, the other estimated RAPD-primers as OPA-13, OPC-20, which produces high values of similarity coefficient and low levels of polymorphism, could be used in the identification of both plants.
Part II: Phytochemical Screening of Harpephyllum caffrum Bernh ex CF Krauss and Rhus coriaria L.
Chapter I: Phytochemical screening, and examination of the extractives
This chapter includes a comparative preliminary phytochemical screening of the organs (viz; leaf, bark) of Harpephyllum caffrum Bernh ex CF Krauss and (fruits, pericarp, seeds) of Rhus coriaria L. for the presence of different types of secondary metabolites. Successive extraction was performed and the extractives were subjected to physicochemical examination and TLC screening. The percentage yields were also determined.
A. Preliminary Phytochemical Screening:
A similarity in response to the applied tests was noticed between the organs investigated from the same plant and also the other organs of the second plant suggesting that they are similar in composition .Also it could be concluded that:
4. Carbohydrates and/or glycosides, free and /or combind flavonoids, sterols and/or triterpenes, as well as tannins of both condensed and hydrolysable type are identified in all tested samples.
5. The steam distilled volatile oil detected in the fruits and pericarp of R. coriaria L., while could not be traced either in the seed of the same plant nor in the tested organs of H. caffrum Bernh.
6. Samples gave negative response when tested for crystalline sublimates, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids and /or nitrogenous base and saponins, these constituents are considered to be absent .
B. Extraction with successive selective organic solvents and examination of the extracts:
a- Determination of the percentage yield of extractives:
This chapter included a comparative preliminary phytochemical screening of the leaves and stem bark of H. caffrum and fruits, pericarp and seeds of R. coriaria for the presence of different metabolites. Successive extraction was performed and the extractive percentage yields were determined
b- Examination of the successive extracts:
Each of the crude extractives (viz, light petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and butanol of the different organs under investigation (leaf, bark) of H.caffrum and (fruits, pericarp, and seed) of R. coriaria were inspected for carbohydrates and/or glycosides, sterols and/or triterpenes, tannins, and flavonoids. It could be concluded that:
4. The petroleum ether and the cholorform extracts of the different organs under investigation gave positive liebermann-burchard’s test indicating the presence of sterols and/or triterpenes.
5. Polyphenols (flavonoids and tannins) apparently predominate in the ethyl acetate and butanol extracts of all organs under investigation.
6. Carbohydrates and/or glycosides were detected in the ethyl acetate and the alcoholic extracts of all organs under investigation.
c- TLC screening of successive extracts of different organs of the plant under investigation.
About 1% chloroformic solution of the dissolved residues of the petroleum ether, and chloroform extracts as well as 1% methanolic solution of the dissolved residues of the ethyl acetate and butanol extracts of each organ viz, stem barks, leaves of Harpephyllum caffrum Bernh. (fruits, pericarp and seeds) of Rhus coriaria L. were spotted and chromatographed on silica gel G plates using different solvent systems .
The spots were visualized in visible and ultraviolet light then sprayed with ammonia vapour, p-anisaldehyde and AlCl3. We may conclude that:
The lipoidal matters are concentrated preferentially in the petroleum ether and/or choloformic extracts. Polar constituents such as flavonoids are mainly extracted by the ethyl acetate, while tannins and/or anthocyanins are detected in higher amounts in the polar alcoholic solvents viz. ethyl alcohol and butanol.