Crinum is a genus of about 130 species belonging to family Amaryllidaceae with wide geographical distribution throughout the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate regions of the world. These plants are not only showy ornamentals but they possess significant folkloric and commercial reputation as well. Long ago, Crinums have been subjected to extensive chemical, cytological and pharmacological investigations. Phytochemical investigations have resulted in isolation of several diverse classes of phytocompounds and have been focused predominantly on alkaloids. The present part of our review work about the phytochemical, biological and toxicological studies on Crinums summarizes crinine-type alkaloids isolated up to now as well as their structural and stereochemical differences, in addition to their distribution in different Crinum species.

Crinum is an important Amaryllidaceous plant thanks to the valuable biological and therapeutic activities of its chemical constituents, especially alkaloids. Many Crinum species have been commonly used in traditional medicines worldwide. Long ago, they have been subjected to extensive chemical, cytological and pharmacological investigations. Accordingly, this work comprehensively comprises both the alkaloidal and non-alkaloidal principles of Crinums isolated from 1950 and up to now, together with various biological and toxicological studies conducted on both the total extracts and individual compounds. As being a major common class of Crinum alkaloids, the current part of this review work highlights the lycorine-type alkaloids isolated so far from this plant in addition to their distribution in different Crinum species.

Crinum is an important Amaryllidaceous plant thanks to the valuable biological and therapeutic activities of its chemical constituents, especially alkaloids. Many Crinum species have been commonly used in traditional medicines worldwide. Long ago, they have been subjected to extensive chemical, cytological and pharmacological investigations. Accordingly, this work comprehensively comprises both the alkaloidal and non-alkaloidal principles of Crinums isolated from 1950 and up to now, together with various biological and toxicological studies conducted on both the total extracts and individual compounds. As being a major common class of Crinum alkaloids, the current part of this review work highlights the lycorine-type alkaloids isolated so far from this plant in addition to their distribution in different Crinum species.

Cultured plant cells can be offered alternative sources over whole plant cultivation for the production of secondary metabolites. The explants, such as plant leaves, stems, roots, meristems etc. were used for cultivation and establishment of plant cell and tissue cultures. Unfortunately, most often plant cell cultures technologies not lead to an enhancement in secondary metabolites production. Therefore, Strain improvement, methods for the selection of high-producing cell lines, and medium optimizations must be considered to improve the production of secondary metabolites. Several types of cell culture methods are being used to produce bioactive compounds. Cell suspension cultures are preferred for production large amounts of cells for quantitative or qualitative analytical studies. The present review points to certain biologically active metabolites produced in the author’s laboratory by different tissue cultures techniques.

AIM: Breast cancer remains the most common malignancy in women world wide. Estrogen levels appear to be associated with an increased risk for the development of breast cancer. Tamoxifen (TAM), a non steroidal antiestrogen, is used as a chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive agent for breast cancer. Propolis has been reported to be important antioxidant. This study aims to elucidate the protective effects of propolis on rat liver after treatment with TAM. METHODS: Three groups of adult female albino rats were used; each containing 10 rats. Group 1 (control): rats were administrated with 0.9% NaCl. Group 2 (experimental): rats were received a diet with 20 mg/kg bw TAM. Group 3 (experimental): rats received a diet containing propolis (50 mg/kg bw) prior to daily TAM 20 mg/kg bw. Paraffin sections were used for histopathological studies. RESULTS: Histopathological degenerative effects in the form of vacuolar degeneration, fatty changes and hydropic degeneration were noticed in TAM treated rat liver. Karyolysis and karyorrhexis were also seen. Dysplasia and chromatin clumping were observed in scattered hepatocytes. Histopathological and ultrastructural changes were diminished in rats treated with propolis prior to TAM. CONCLUSION: The present study noticed the protective effect of propolis in improving the histological and ultrastructural changes of liver after treatment with TAM.

AIM: As a part of our continuing interest concerning the anthraquinones production by tissue culture techniques, this study aims to describe for the first time the influence of certain abiotic elicitors on the accumulation of anthraquinones in cell suspension cultures of Rubia tinctorum L. METHODS: Cell suspension cultures of Rubia tinctorum L., established on MS medium, containing 0.5 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine and 2.0 mg/l naphthalene acetic acid were used to study the influence of certain abiotic elicitors (methyl jasmonate, copper sulfate and salicylic acid) on the total anthraquinones content. The cultured cells were exposed to different abiotic elicitors in order to increase their productivity. Anthraquinones were quantitatively determined by HPLC analysis. The quantity of total anthraquinones was estimated on the bases of their area with respective to the area of alizarin (0.3µg) as external standard. RESULTS: The total anthraquinones content in aerial parts, roots, calli and untreated cultured cells (control) were 1.28, 24.90, 23.97, 26.65 mg/g fresh weight respectively. Single treatment of 100 µM methyl jasmonate, 40 µM copper sulfate and 20 µM salicylic acid to cell cultures of Rubia tinctorum (5 days old) for 48 hours enhanced the total anthraquinones accumulation to 89.45, 73.55, 57.86 mg/g fresh weight respectively compared to control. CONCLUSION: This experiment provided with others previously performed on cell cultures of Rubia tinctorum an alternative source for large scale production of anthraquinones.

Two new ceramides, irisamides A (1) and B (2), together with a new isoflavone, iridin S (3) have been isolated from the MeOH extract of the rhizomes of Iris germanica L. (Iridaceae). Their structures were established by UV, IR, HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR experiments, in addition to comparison with literature data. The isolated compounds were tested for their cytotoxic activity against different cancer cell lines.

Introduction: Earthworms are the major biomass in soil. They have been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for a long time. However, in the past few decades with the development of biochemical technologies the research on the pharmaceutical effects of earthworms has been commencement. Aims: Experiments were conducted to recognize the therapeutic properties such as anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and antioxidant activities of biologically active extract isolated from two species of earthworm (Pheretima hawayana Rosa and Allolobophora caliginosa Savigny). Materials and methods: Inflammation in the hind paw of albino rat (Rattus rattus) was induced by histamine, pyrexia was induced by Escherichia coli in rats and liver damage was induced by injection of rats with CCl4. Anti-inflammatory drug - indomethacin, anti-pyretic drug - paracetamol and antioxidant drug - silymarin plus were used as standard drugs for comparison. Results: Administration of earthworms extract (100 mg/kg) and indomethacin (10 mg/kg), paracetamol (150 mg/kg), silymarin plus (150 mg/kg) as standard drugs reduced and restored to normal the changes that induced by histamine, Escherichia coli and CCl4 in rats. Conclusions: The present study conclude that both extracts of earthworms gave result as anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic similar to the standard drugs. The extract of the two species showed various responds as antioxidants against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity.

Introduction: Earthworms are the major biomass in soil. They have been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for a long time. However, in the past few decades with the development of biochemical technologies the research on the pharmaceutical effects of earthworms has been commencement. Aims: Experiments were conducted to recognize the therapeutic properties such as anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and antioxidant activities of biologically active extract isolated from two species of earthworm (Pheretima hawayana Rosa and Allolobophora caliginosa Savigny). Materials and methods: Inflammation in the hind paw of albino rat (Rattus rattus) was induced by histamine, pyrexia was induced by Escherichia coli in rats and liver damage was induced by injection of rats with CCl4. Anti-inflammatory drug - indomethacin, anti-pyretic drug - paracetamol and antioxidant drug - silymarin plus were used as standard drugs for comparison. Results: Administration of earthworms extract (100 mg/kg) and indomethacin (10 mg/kg), paracetamol (150 mg/kg), silymarin plus (150 mg/kg) as standard drugs reduced and restored to normal the changes that induced by histamine, Escherichia coli and CCl4 in rats. Conclusions: The present study conclude that both extracts of earthworms gave result as anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic similar to the standard drugs. The extract of the two species showed various responds as antioxidants against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity.

Many Crinum species are traditionally used in different parts of the world for various local pains, inflammatory processes and microbial infections. In the present study, the total ethanolic extracts of C. augustum Rox. bulbs and C. asiaticum L. leaves were fractionated separately into five fractions each. The resulting fractions (400 mg/Kg, orally) of the total extract of C. augustum Rox. bulbs were evaluated for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in mice using the hot plate and carrageenan-induced paw oedema tests versus acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) (100 mg/Kg, orally) and indomethacin (15 mg/Kg, orally), respectively. Fractions II, III and ASA showed the highest analgesic effects, whereas; II, III, IV and indomethacin were the highest anti-inflammatory ones at that tested doses. On the other hand, a comparative study of the antimicrobial activities of the total extracts of both plants together with their fractions (at 5, 10 and 50 mg/ml) showed inhibitory effects on S. aureus and E. coli, especially at 50 mg/ml. In addition, the per oral LD50 of the total extract of C. augustum Rox. bulbs were determined to be 1.6 g/Kg in mice.