The phytochemical investigation of Casimiroa edulis Llave et Lex (Rotaceae) afforded four coumarins: umbelliferone (1), esculetin (2), imperatorin (3) and xanthotoxol (4). The identification of these compounds was achieved by using a combination of m.p., UV, EI-mass, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Essential oil extracts were analysed by GC/MS leading to the identification of 60 components. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons accounted for the major make up of the oil. Microbiological screenings of the oil and successive plant fractions were performed, showing promising activity against a number of microorganisms with Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) comparable to the standard antibiotics such as chloramphenicol and kanamycin. The plant ethanol extract (400 mg/kg) and the isolated coumarins (60 mg/kg) showed anticoagulant activity. Analyses to determine the activity of the extracts on liver and kidney function were performed, revealing no negative or detrimental effects.

Coffee is a commonly consumed beverage. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the four coffee types on blood pressure (BP). The caffeine percentage was tested on one cup (250 mL) of each type of coffee (Arabian, Turkish, American and an instant coffee preparation) using two methods. 65 adult male rats and 400 healthy human volunteers were used in this study. Normotensive rats were treated orally with a single dose of normal saline with varying types of coffee. Normotensive and mildly hypertensive human volunteers were administered a cup (250 mL) of any type of coffee separately. Tail cuff and a strain-gauge plethysmograph were used to measure the systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) of the rats, and volunteers, respectively before and 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2 h post administration. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) was calculated mathematically using SBP and DBP. The alkaloidal percentage of different types of coffee showed the presence variable contents and amount of active materials. The study showed that Arabian, Turkish, American and instant coffee all have the potential to cause a BP lowering effect. Variable antimicrobial activities were recorded for the different types of coffee when tested bacteria.

Certain new 3H-quinazolin-4-one Schiff's bases were synthesized and screened for their activities against ulcerative colitis "UC". Their activity against phospholipase A2 and protease enzymes was also investigated. Some compounds possessed remarkable effect with different potentials against acetic acid-induced colitis model in rats. Compound 14 (50 mg/kg) was more effective than dexamesathone (0.01 mg/kg). It produced 79.78% protection of control colitis; however, compound 13 produced 75.80% protection and was considered as effective as dexamesathone with 75.30% protection. The observed results could be explained partially by their anti-inflammatory activities which appear as phospholipase A2 (hGIIA) and/or through protease inhibitor potentials. However, all the compounds under test showed preferential inhibition towards hG-IIA type of PLA2 rather than DrG-IB with varying degrees. Interestingly, compounds 14, 13, 12 and 11 displayed excellent inhibitory activity against phospholipase A2 accompanied by protease inhibitory profile.