Background Balanite aegyptiaca (L.) Delile, is a plant with extensive medicinal properties. Its stem bark is traditionally known for its spasmolytic and antiepileptic properties and used to treat yellow fever, jaundice and syphilis. Angiogenesis (sprouting of new blood vessels) is crucial for tumor growth and metastasis. The goal of this study is investigate the antiangiogenic, cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity as well as antitumor in vivo properties of B. aegyptiaca stem bark extracts.MethodThe dried powder of stem bark was extracted sequentially with n-hexane, chloroform, methanol and water. Rat aorta ring assay (RARA) was used as a platform to screen for antiangiogenic affect. The most active extract was subjected to further confirmatory antiangiogenic tests i.e. cell migration, tube formation and VEGF inhibition and finally evaluated for its in vivo antitumor efficacy in nude mice. The cytotoxicity of extracts on four cancer cell lines (HCT-116, K562, U937 and MCF-7) and one normal cells line (HUVEC) was evaluated. To assess the antioxidant activity screening, four methods were used, (DPPH•) and ABTS radical scavenging activity, as well as total flavonoids and phenolic contents.ResultsMethanol extract of B. aegyptiaca stem bark (MBA) showed the highest antiangiogenic, antioxidant and anticancer properties. It was found selectively cytotoxic to leukemia cell lines as well as breast cancer cell line MCF-7. (MBA) thus exhibited antiangiogenic in ex-vivo rat aorta ring model; it was found to excel its antiangiogenic effect via inhibition of the key growth factor (VEGF) as well as to halt HUVEC cell migration and tube formation, furthermore animals bearing colon cancer treated with (MBA) showed significant reduction in tumor growth.ConclusionDifferent extracts of B. aegyptiaca stem bark showed various anticancer and antiangiogenic properties. MBA demonstrated potent antiangiogenic, antioxidant and antitumor in vivo. The outcome of this study suggests the potential of stem bark of the B. aegyptiaca for developing chemotherapeutic agent against solid tumor as well as leukemia.

Vibrational studies of amino acids experimentally and theoretically have been performed. The Semi-empirical methods optimization by PM6 and RM1 on the l-and d-amino acids (alanine, phenylalanine, aspartic and glutamic acid), showed no difference in energy between l-and d-isomers. The vibrational frequencies were calculated by semi-emprical methods (PM6 and RM1) and ab initio methods (B3LYP/6-31+G(d) and were scaled down by factors of 0.925 (RM1), 1.09 (PM6) and 0.89 (B3LYP/6-31+G(d)). The calculated and experimental vibrational frequencies have shown good general agreement.

The chemical constituents and insecticidal activity of the pods of Senna italica (Caesalpiniaceae, Fabaceae) were investigated. From the chloroform extract of pods, physcion, chrysophanol, chrysophanol-10,10′-bianthrone, chrysophanol-physcion bianthrone and chrysophanolisophyscion bianthrone, were isolated and characterized using different spectral methods. The GC-MS of the n-hexane extract revealed that the major chemical constituents of the oil were 2,6,-di-secbutylphenol (36.69 %), di-n-octylphthalate (12.06 %), eicosane (5.46 %), tetratriacontane (4.87 %) and 2,2'-methylenebis[6-(1,1-dimethyl)-4-methylphenol (4.18 %). The n-hexane extract showed potent insecticidal activity (100 %) against Callosbruchus analis F. This study suggests that S. italica pods cannot be a source of sennosides but for other bioactive compounds.

Minerals content of Citrus jambhiri (rough lemon) fruit was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and flame atomic emission spectrometry (FAES). The peel, moisture and ash contents of rough lemon were found to be 18.35 %, 23.75 % and 2.04 % respectively. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) of rough lemon juice was found to be 70.0 mg/100 g. The chemical composition of essential oil of rough lemon peel was determined. The major compound was found to be limonene (84.5 %) followed by sabinene, β-myrcene, α-terpineol, 1,3-tetradecadiene and linalool.

Background. In recent years, mitigation of groundwater contamination resulting from the limited availability of freshwater for domestic use has become an important issue. The presence of heavy metals in water could have adverse effects on both plant and animal life. Objectives. The main objective of the present study was to determine possible heavy metal contamination in groundwater around Al-Buraihi sewage station in Taiz, Yemen and to understand possible sources of contamination and their relationships with groundwater. Methods. Wastewater samples were collected from a wastewater stabilization pond from Al-Buraihi sewage station and borewell water samples were collected from the vicinity. The presence of heavy metals was quantified using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Pearson correlation test was performed to understand the relationship between wastewater and groundwater samples. Results. Physical variables including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO) and temperature and elements such as silver (Ag), arsenic (As), aluminum (Al), barium (Ba), boron (B), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), molybdenum, nickel (Ni), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) exceeded the permissible limits recommended by international standards in wastewater samples. Conclusions. Treated sewage wastewater in the study area is not suitable for irrigation as the elements/heavy metals are accumulated in soil and plants and may be accumulated in humans and animals through bio-accumulation. In addition, these heavy metals reach the water table and aquifers through percolation, thereby polluting groundwater. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.