No abstract

T HE ANTIFUNGAL activities of six selected desert plants belonging to families Chenopodiaceae, Solanaceae, Brassicaceae, Fabiaceae, Zygophyllaceae and Aizoaceae from the North Western Mediterranean coastal region, Egypt, were investigated against six human pathogenic fungal species (Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Trichosporon sp., Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus versicolor). Aqueous as well as organic crude extracts of the selected desert plants were screened against the different human pathogenic fungal species. Results demonstrate that the non-polar fraction of Atriplex halimus L. and Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. exhibited the most antagonistic activity. The MIC values of fractions against yeasts and moulds ranged from 0.195 to 6.25mg/ml, whereas the fungicidal activity ranged from 0.781-12.5mg/ml. The most efficient antifungal activity was displayed by the petroleum ether fraction of M. crystallinum L. which inhibited the growth of yeast at MIC value of 0.195mg/ml and moulds at MIC values that ranged from 1.56-3.12mg/ ml. Notably, the majority of combinations between plant extracts and antifungal drugs and/or plant extracts showed synergistic antifungal activities against the tested fungal species. As for the probable mechanism for the observed antifungal activity of the petroleum ether fraction of M. crystallinum, a considerable reduction in the ergosterol content and leakage of plasma and cellular membranes of the tested fungal species.

Desert Research Center (DRC) is one of the oldest scientific institutions dedicated to the study of the desert environment. DRC has got many specializations distributed in four research divisions, comprising 23 scientific departments that are further divided into 45 research units for the fine scientific specialties. In addition to the presence of 10 regional research stations distributed in the desert governorates of Egypt, including a station on the northwest coast, a station in Siwa Oasis, Shalatin, Toshki, New Valley, five stations in the Sinai Peninsula and to the Center for Sustainable Development of Matrouh Resources. Desert Research Centre aims to explore the natural resources in the Egyptian desert, and to develop plans to invest these resources to achieve sustainable development in order to preserve the rights of future generations This bibliography was compiled in order to shed the light on the role of DRC in the science of microbiology in Egypt since 1950.