Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Pharmacy - Department of Pharmacognosy

Preliminary phytochemical screening and successive extraction of different organs of Althaea rosea Cav. were carried out. Certain pharmacopoeial constants of the aerial parts were determined. The lipoidal content of the aerial parts was extracted and subjected to saponification. Both unsaponifiable matter and fatty acids were analysed by GC/MS. The composition of the carbohydrate content was investigated. The free sugars of the aerial parts, flowers, leaves and roots were analysed by paper chromatographic technique. The mucilages isolated from different plant organs by cold and hot extraction methods were hydrolyzed and analysed by paper chromatography and GLC techniques after silylation. Determination of the total phenolic content of the aerial parts and flowers revealed that the flowers had higher content of polyphenols than the aerial parts. Isolation of the flavonoid compounds of the aerial parts was conducted by column chromatography. The compounds were identified on the basis of their UV, 1H- and 13C-NMR spectral analysis as: Quercetin-3-O-Ý-D-glucuronopyranosyl-8-C-Ý-glucopyranoside, Kaempherol-3-O-rutinoside [kaempherol-3-O-Ü-rhamnopyranosyl (1```{u2192}6``)-Ý-gluco-pyranoside, Kaempherol-4`-O-Ý-glucopyranoside, Kaempherol-3-O-Ý-D-glucoside and kaempherol. Determination of the acute toxicity of the aerial parts revealed that their methanolic extract is safe up to 12g/kg mice body weight. Acute anti-inflammatory activity of the successive extracts of the aerial parts and mucilages of the aerial parts and roots were studied and compared to indomethacin. Significant anti-inflammatory activity was exhibited by the petroleum ether and chloroform extract of the aerial parts as well as mucilage of the roots.

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