In previous reports the presence of cannabinoids in the distilled essential oil o f Cannabis sativa L. was proved, besides the presence of mono-and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons.In this paper the localization of the cannabinoids in the hairs of the leaves and with that the possible biogenetic relation with the components o f the essential oil are demonstrated by microscopic examination after colouring tests and gaschromatographic analysis of the isolated contents of individual glandular hairs. Quantitative data about the relation between essential oil and cannabinoids are obtained by comparing the extracts without and after preceding steam distillation.O n acount of the origin of the seed (birdseed), special attention was paid to the botanical description of the plant material and to the counting of chromosomes.

Within the scope of a study of antitumour compounds in higher plants a survey is given concerning the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, flavonoids and volatile compounds in Eupatorium species. Preliminary results of a phytochemical study of these compounds in E. cannabinum are also presented. From the results of a GC-MS analysis of an alkaloid extract from aerial parts of E. cannabinum the conclusion can be drawn, that the composition of pyrrolizidine alkaloids is more complicated than reported in literature. This is caused by the fact that different stereoisomers exist. The presence of at least two alkaloids with a molecular weight of 283 (supinine or isomers) and four alkaloids with a molecular weight of 299 (echinatine or isomers) could be shown. In subterranean plant material also other pyrrolizidine alkaloids are present. A great number of flavonoids, also as glycosides, have been shown in Eupatorium species, often in low quantities. Rutin, present in many Eupatorium species, could not be detected in subterranean parts of E. cannabinum. Relatively little attention has been paid to the analysis of volatile compounds (essential oils) of Eupatorium species. Thymol derivatives are often reported to be present in Eupatorium species. Thirty-five compounds could be detected by means of a GC-MS analysis in the essential oil of E. cannabinum about which no literature data were available.

In this work eupatoriopicrin, the principal sesquiterpene lactone in Eupatorium cannabinum L., was tested for possible cytostatic activity in an experimental solid tumour system of the mouse: the Lewis lung tumour. The tumour cells were transplanted subcutaneously in the left back flank of female C57BL mice. Eupatoriopicrin was administered intraperitoneally as a fine suspension in saline. The animals were treated with the drug at a tumour volume of 500 tl or at an earlier stage, at which no tumour was visible yet. After treatment, progress of tumour growth was measured and compared with a control group. Different doses and dosage schedules were used. Treated animals showed a delay in tumour growth. Repeated administration resulted in a prolonged growth delay.

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The composition of the essential oil of the fresh aerial parts of Apium graveolens var. secalinum at its flowering stage, obtained from three different locations in Egypt, was investigated. The identification of the components of this oil was carried out by means of analytical GC and GC-MS. The main components in the oil are: alpha- and beta-pinene, myrcene, limonene, cis-beta-ocimene, gamma-terpinene, cis-allo-ocimene, trans-farnesene, humulene, apiol, beta-selinene, senkyunolide and neocnidilide. Data concerning the relative concentrations of the main components of the different celery oil samples are given. The cercaricidal effect of the essential oil has been examined on cercariae, being one of the stages in the life cycles of Schistosoma mansoni, which causes schistosomiasis. The essential oil showed in addition to a cercaricidal effect also a chemotactic effect.