The study aimed to test the effect of sweet basil extract on hypercholesterolemia. Sweet basil leaves were extracted with distilled water, ethanol and a mixture of distilled water: ethanol (1:3, v/v). Phenolic and flavonoids concentrates were fractionated and identified with High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC). Two levels of each concentrated extract were used to find its effect on the hypercholesterolemic rats. Six groups of hypercholesterolemic rats received 0.35 or 0.70 g/Kg bw from aqueous, ethanolic and aqueous + ethanolic extracts of sweet basil leaves and were compared with normal control group and hyperlipidemic control group for 30 days. Growth of rats, biochemical biomarks and histopathological examination were evaluated. Results showed that the main phenolic compound was p-Hydroxybenzoic acid. Meanwhile, the main flavonoids compound was rutin. The biological experiment showed that second concentration of sweet basil leaves extracts (ASBL2, ESBL2 and AESBL2) had a positive effect to lower the weight of hypercholesterolemic rats. No significant difference was found in relative organs weight among all tested rat groups. Sweet basil leave extracts had a positive effect to decrease serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDLcholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol of HC rats. The Atherogenic index (Al) was decreased due to sweet basil leaves extracts treated rat groups compared to the hyperlipidemic rats group. Sweet basil leaves extracts may play a role in improving the activity of antioxidant enzymes and decrease the lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA) and level of H202 in serum. The serum ALT, AST, ALP and y-GT activities of the second concentration (0.70 g/Kg bw) of sweet basil leaves extracts had no significant difference compared to NC rats group. There was no significant difference in serum uric acid, urea and creatinine among all tested rat groups received sweet basil leaves extracts and NC rats group except for HC rats group. No histopathological changes were observed in liver of rat groups received second concentration (0.70 g/Kg bw) of sweet basil leaves extracts. In conclusion, the obtained results suggest that sweet basil leaves extracts had an important role in lowering the hyperlipidemia in experimental animals especially the second concentration of sweet basil leaves extracts. Delia M. El-Nahal et al search for new lipid-lowering agents. Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum), a member of Labiatae (Ocimoideae) is widely used in cooking for its culinary qualities. The chemical constituents of sweet basil are flavonoids, alkaloids, ascorbic acid, terpenoids, tannins, saponin glycosides, and phenolic compounds. Leaves samples showed the presence of two major flavone aglycones, which were identified as salvigenin and nevadensin (Grayer et al., 1996). This plant is a versatile herb that may be used in an abundant variety of foods. It is excellent in tomato-based dishes, spinach, and large number of squash. It is also widely used in soup and in cream cheese for sandwiches, dips and pasta dishes (Mi...

Citrus leafminer is a serious pest of citrus, it cause an economic loses in nurseries and new plantings by decreasing growth rates. Therefore, a greenhouse experiment was carried out during 2014 and 2015 seasons in a private nursery at Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt, to study the effect of silicon, potassium and calcium applications on growth and improvement the efficiency of Valencia orange seedlings to resist citrus leafminer. Nine treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design as soil and foliar applications of potassium silicate, silicon oxide, calcium and potassium nitrate beside control. The highest values of most growth measurements were recorded by potassium nitrate followed by potassium silicate as soil and foliar applications compared with the other treatments. All treatments enhanced leaf N, P, K and Si contents as compared to the control. Citrus leafminer infestation % and its severity were reduced with potassium silicate treatment which recorded the lowest values. The best anatomical structures of leaves were recorded with potassium silicate treatments compared to the control. In addition to, the positive effect on increasing the seedlings growth and reducing the percentage of leaves infestation, which help nursery men to get high net income due to sale more seedlings with higher price and preserve environment by reducing amount of insecticide used in controlling citrus leafminer.