In this study the anatomical characters of the stems and leaflets of T. longipetalous Viv., T. pentandrus Benth. and T. terrestris L. were compared to assist as a relevant source of information and contribute towards the standards to dispose the quality and identity of these plants to avoid adulterations. Transverse sections of the stems and leaf lets of the three species were done using wax method technique. The anatomical structures of the three studied species are very similar. The stems are formed of one layer epidermis, parenchymatous cortex, pericyclic fibers above the collateral vascular bundles, primary and secondary xylems and phloems, narrow medullary rays and wide parenchymatous pih. The densities of the epidermal hairs in the stems are found to be larger in T. pentandrus followed by T. longipetalous and lastly T. terrestris. There are sclrenchymatous fibres in the pith of T. longipetalous and T. pentandrus but not in T. terrestris. The leaflets are dorsiventral, showing kranz structure and different types of hairs. The densities of the epidermal hairs in the leaflets are found to be larger in T. longipetalous followed by T. pentandrus and lastly T. terrestris.

In this study, morphanatomical study and antibacterial activity of the rhizome of Zingiber officinale (Zingiberaceae) were investigated to assist as a relevant source of information and contribute towards the standards to dispose the quality and identity of this plant to avoid adulterations. The transverse section of the rhizome includes different types of tissues which are epidermis, cork, cortex and vascular bundles. The cortex is formed of parenchyma cells, which often contain starch and oils in large amounts. In vitro antibacterial activity was investigated by cork porous method. The most sensitive bacteria for all concentrations of the methanolic and only 50 mg/ml for the water extract was Staphylococcus aureus. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to be sensitive for both extracts used. Bacillus subtilis was sensitive for the methanolic extract only. Escherichia coli was found to be not sensitive except for 100 mg/ml concentration of the methanolic extract.

Background: In fact, diabetes is now a serious health concern, and the import of medications from other countries consumes a significant amount of foreign cash each year. The effects of Raphanus satives (Radish) in the treatment of diabetes mellitus were evaluated scientifically in this study. Thyroid hormone increases metabolic actions in almost every tissue, and the current study was an attempt to evaluate scientifically the effects of Raphanus satives (Radish) in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.Objectives: The main objective of this study is to evaluate the hypoglycemic effect of Raphanus sativus (Radish) on induced hyperglycemic rats.Methods: An oral administration of ethanolic extract of Radish in glucose loaded rats at dose of 250mg/k body weight,  standard group was administered with 10mg/kg of hypoglycemic drug glibenclamide for 2 consecutive weeks. The control group was given distilled water only. After the two weeks' time, the groups were subjected to a glucose tolerance test and measurement of plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Results: significant reduction of blood glucose was observed (P <0.001), when compared with the control group at 2 hours after glucose loud. Radish ethanolic extract did not present any significant difference in cholesterol level after 2 weeks compared with start point. No significant difference was seen in triglyceride level after 2 weeks of administration of Radish extract compared with start point. Radish extract(250 mg/kg) did not affect kidney function  creatinin and urea, also liver  function were not affected Glutamic-Oxaloacetic Transaminase (GOT), Glutamic-Pyruvate Transaminase (GPT), albumin, total protein and bilirubin, this means administration of increased doses to hyperglycemic subjects can be considered safe. CONCLUSION: In this investigation, doses of radish extract (250 mg/kg) had no effect on renal function, creatinin, and urea, as well as liver function. Glutamic-Oxaloacetic Transaminase (GOT), Glutamic-Pyruvate Transaminase (GPT), albumin, total protein, and bilirubin .Keywords: Raphanus sativus, extract, hypoglycemic, glucose, rats

This study deals with Punica granatum fruit peels. This plant was selected because of its popularity and being highly used; it was purchased from herbarium markets of Khartoum Sudan. The study is divided into two parts, the main part is a morph-anatomical study of the fruit peels of the plant because it is important in the identification of the medicinal plant when it is in the powder or broken forms. The preparation of permanent slides was done using wax methods. The results of the morph anatomical studies were described and shown in photomicrographs. Transverse section of the peels of the fruits of P. granatum is formed of one cell thick epidermis covered by a thin cuticle, followed by many layers of small compact parenchyma cells forming pigment layer and several cell thick isodiametric spongy parenchyma cells filling the section. Vascular bundles are small distributed within the ground parenchyma cells; sclerenchyma cells in the form of stone cells were densely distributed on the section of the peel of fruit. Part two includes physiochemical studies of the powder of the fruit peel to determine the percentage values of moisture, ash, acid insoluble ash, alcohol soluble extractives, and water soluble ash.

Plants have long been used as herbal medicines in many countries. However, microbial contamination of these medicines may affect human health. In the present study fifteen medicinal plants namely, Acacia nilotica ssp. nilotica, Trigonella foenum-greacum, Nigella sativa, Hyphaene thebaica, Nauclea latifola, Cyperus rotundus, Cymbopogon schoenanthus spp, proximus, Artemisia herba-alb, Cassia acutifolia, Solenostemma argel, Tamarindus indica, Ziziphus spina-christi, Lepidium sativum, Foeniculum vulgare and Coriandrum sativum were evaluated for their fungal contamination. The pour plate method was used to cultivate serially diluted portions of the medicinal plant material investigated. The colonies of fungi were identified morphologically according to form and pigment. They were observed microscopically through Lactophenol cotton bluestaining. The identified fungal isolates were consist of three fungal species, the most dominant fungi were Aspergillus nigar and Aspergillus flavus. Penicillium ssp is least one. The total fungal  counts ranged from 00x101  cfu/g (Cymbopogon schoenanthus spp.proximus, Trigonella foenum-greacum, Artemisia herba alb, Lepidium satinum , Nigella sativa Cassia acutifolia  and Naucle latifola) to 11x105cfu/g (Cyperus rotundus)..  The highest total fungal load was found in Cyperus rotundus The levels of contamination varied greatly between the commercially available plant samples investigated.