xmlfujitsuToxicity assessment of Egyptian Pterocephalus sanctus Decne2016-06-04T18:03:43+05:30Microsoft® Word 20102016-06-04T18:03:43+05:30Microsoft® Word 2010
International Journal of PharmTech Research
CODEN (USA): IJPRIF, ISSN: 0974-4304
Vol.9, No.4, pp 108-112, 2016
Toxicity assessment of Egyptian Pterocephalus sanctus Decne. on Artemia salina (Leach.)
Maha M. Soltan*
Department of Phytochemistry, National Research Centre, 33 El Bohouth St., Dokki, Giza, Egypt, P. O. 12622 Egypt
Abstract: Pterocephalus sanctus Decne. is endangered and near endemic species belonged to Dipsacaceae family. An overview on the cytotoxicity properties of the selected species was conducted. The brine shrimp lethality bioassay was used to evaluate four of the P. sanctus extracts against the larvae of the Artemia salina Leach. The results revealed the potency of the hexane extract and could predict its cytotoxic EC50 to be ~20.5 µg/ml. The results were supported by the folk use and encourage further fractionation towards the toxicity properties.
Endemic and near endemic plants are most likely of limited investigations and consequently the availability of published reports are also restricted. The presented work could be in part a review on Pterocephalus sanctus Decne. as a module of such near endemic species to encourage the researchers for continuing their phytochemical and medicinal profile. An overview on the cytotoxicity properties of the selected species was also conducted.
While collecting the available data about P. sanctus Decne., I found an expected limited number of previously published reports. Seven are books or reports describing the plant origin and habitat1,2,3,4,5,6,7. The concerned species belongs to Dipsacaceae family. It is a very rare wild plant growing in Saint Catharine Mountains, Sinai, Egypt2,5. It is a sinaitic plant but it was also discovered in the neighboring geographical area; mount Hor and its adjacent peaks and valleys in Jordan3 as well as Palestine and northwest Saudi Arabia8. However, it was found nowhere else in Egypt6.
The plant taxonomy are listed in several data bases where four are displaying over the taxonomy, the origin and habitat9,10,11,12. Moreover, the mention of the selected species in the old books from year 1834-1918 is introduced in a very useful one13.
The published research articles are eleven where most of them are describing its serious status to seek for a solution to conserve the plant from extinction due the overgrazing and climatic changes14,15,16,17,18. 19reported 0.32 spatial similarity ratio with Hypericum sinaicum where 20recorded 8% Blue butterflies of 897 roosting on the selected species and 21presented a palynological study. I didn’t find any biological reports rather the anti-bacterial by22 and the anti-hepatotoxic that led to the isolation of sweroside as active agent23. Concerning the phytochemical contents of P. sanctus, the literature is also displayed few reports. Three iridoids namely; secologanin, loganin and sweroside24, two flavonoids namely; C-glycoside; luteolin-6-C-β-D-glucoside-7-O-methyl ether and apigenin-6-C-β-D-glucoside-7-O-methyl ether25 were isolated from the plant areal parts. The phytochemical contributions to the Dipsacaceae systematic were discussed by a review article26 and mentioned the presence of the flavonoids and iridoids in the selected species.