A pharmacognostical study of Artemisia Monosperma Del. Growing in Libya / Areej Almaktouf Daboub ; Supervised Soheir M. Elzalabani , Soad Hanna Tadros , Abeer M. Elsayed

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

Plants play a vital role in health care by affording an incomparable source of molecular diversity and bioactivity. A continuous chemical and biological screening of unexplored flora is essential especially in developing countries, in order to provide raw materials for improvement of national income. Artemisia species are reputed by their vast array of traditional medicinal uses and economical applications. Artemisia monosperma, wild growing in Libya, was selected for this study due to lack of information concerning either its composition or bioactivity. Criteria for identification and quality control of the plant were established. The LD50 of the aerial parts ascertained its safety, in addition the proximate and micronutrient composition revealed its good nutritive value indicated by a high protein, low fat and appreciable vitamin A and E contents. The influence of time of collection on both composition and bioactivity of the volatiles of the aerial parts was investigated; the highest yield was obtained from samples collected in November (end of flowering). Non-oxygenated monoterpenes prevailed in all samples (March, September and November), Sabinene and Ý-Pinene were major; whereas, oxygenated constituents were detected in lower amounts and were predominated by Bornyl acetate with highest percentage recorded in the March sample (before flowering). The volatiles exerted significant although dissimilar anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities reflecting the variability in composition. Squalane and Linoleic acid were detected by GC analysis as major lipoids in the USM and FAME of the aerial parts. The triterpenoid esters, Lupeol and Ý- Amyrin acetate were isolated and identified from its petroleum ether extract. Moreover, this extract exhibited a better larvicidal effect against Culex pipiens mosquitos and Toxocara vitulorum round worms than the ethanol extract of the defatted marc (DEAP). Liquid-liquid fractionation of the ethanol extract of DEAP followed by repeated CC led to isolation and identification of six phenolics, three from each of its ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions. The isolated compounds included a phenolic acid viz., Gallic acid and its methyl ester, three flavonol aglycones namely Quercetin, Kaempferol and Kampferide and a flavonol glucoside, Isoquercitrin. DEAP exhibited significant antioxidant, and moderate antimicrobial and larvicidal activities

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