ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON WILD MEDICINAL PLANTS IN EGYPT. III- Cynanchum acutum L.

Abstract

The present work contributes information about morphology and anatomy of Cynanchum acutum. Also, it comprises a detailed ecological study on C. acutum community type. Phytochemically, the mean values of flavonoids and polyphenols were detected. The GLC analysis of fatty acids was carried out and the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of methanolic extract were examined. In all the stands, Cynanchum was the dominant and produced the greatest part of the dense plant cover. Chenopodium murale, Cynodon dactylon, Torilis arvensis and Sisymbrium irio were common associates. C. acutum community comprised 45 species belonging to 17 families. These species have been distinguished into 30 annuals, 13 perennials and two biennials. Also, grouped into five life-forms; therophytes (76%), geophytes (9%), hemicryptophytes ( 7) and each of helophytes and nanophanerophytes (4%). The Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian and Euro-Siberian were the major chorotypes. Flavonoids and polyphenols contents of Cynanchum shoot were 0.313 and 0.375 g/100g, respectively. Ten fatty acids were detected in the lipoidal matter of C. acutum. The methanolic extract of the plant showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.

Morphological and anatomical studies on some dicot plant species collected from East Egypt desert

“…Vascular system represented by large vascular bundle crescent shape in the mid rib region and small vascular bundles in the leaf lamina. The results of present stuy are in agreement with the findings of AbuZiada, et al (2016). Cross section of leaf blade of Erodium ciconium showed that epidermis is composed of uniseriate small tangentially compactly arranged cells covered with thick and smooth cuticle on both surface.…”