Uses and Conservation Status of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. (Hegleig Tree) in Sudan: Local People Perspective

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the current and potential values and identify main threatening factors of Balanites aegyptiaca in Sudan. Three areas were selected for data collection (Umm Abdalla, Boat and Id Elfrissan). Group discussion was carried out to tap local community knowledge about the species uses, potentials and threatening factors. Then structured interview was used to verify and check the information generated in group discussion. A total of 120 respondents from the three areas were interviewed. Results showed that Hegleig tree is very important multi-purpose tree for livelihood of local communities in many areas of the Sudan. The gene pool of the species was severely affected by many deteriorating factors like lopping of branches, grazing, mechanized farming and gap in transfer of indigenous knowledge. These factors were combined with removal of associated trees and retaining Balanites which made it vulnerable. Protection, in situ conservation stands and conservation in use is the most suitable measures for this species in Sudan

STUDIES ON ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS OF SOME ACACIA SPECIES

In vitro anti-inflammatory activities of dichloromethane (DCM) and 90% methanol (MeOH) extracts of bark and leaves of three Acacia species were investigated using both cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase –2 (COX-2) enzymes. The plants investigated were:, A. nilotica, A. nubica and A. senegal. The results showed that DCM bark extracts of all species had high COX-2 selective inhibition (IC50 values of 0.45, 37 and 17.3 ï­g/mL) compared to COX-1 inhibition (IC50 values of 206.3, >250, >250 ï­g/mL) respectively. The DCM bark extracts of the three species were evaluated further in vivo in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis. DCM bark extracts of A. senegal significantly reduced the edema when administered at a dose of 300 mg/kg (p < 0.05). The extract did not cause lesions in the gastrointestinal mucosa compared to indomethacin which caused severe lesions in the small intestine (ulcer index = 194.3±2.7 mm2). On the other hand, DCM bark extracts of A. nubica and A. nilotica were not active in in vivo assay. The results suggest that DCM bark extracts of A. senegal subsp. senegal may be useful in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Acknowledgements: Japanese Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) for financial support

Effect and analysis of phenolic compounds during somatic embryogenesis induction in Feijoa sellowiana Berg

Summary. The effect of phenolic compounds on somatic embryogenesis in Feijoa sellowiana was analysed. The results showed that caffeic acid (140–560 µM) significantly increased somatic embryogenesis induction compared with the control. The presence of phloridzin, even at lower concentrations (11.5 µM), or caffeic acid or phloroglucinol at concentrations greater than 140.0 and 197.5 µM, respectively, inhibited somatic embryo development beyond the globular stage. When somatic embryos were transferred to the germination medium, the highest rates of germination (81.9%) were obtained with embryos induced in the presence of phloroglucinol (79.0 µM). At all concentrations tested, somatic embryos induced in medium containing phloroglucinol germinated at higher rates than those induced in the presence of caffeic acid. Histological and ultrastructural studies showed that somatic embryos were formed in close association with phenolic-rich cells which, in more advanced stages of development, formed a zone isolating the embryo from the maternal tissue. A comparative analysis of total phenolic content indicated that phenolics reached a peak by the third week of culture, independently of the medium used. However, after that period, the amount of phenolic compounds was significantly higher in explants cultured in the presence of phloroglucinol than in those cultured in the control or in caffeic acid-containing medium. Attempts to identify the type of phenolic compounds showed that flavan-3-ols and gallic acid derivatives were mainly produced in phloroglucinol-containing medium, whereas flavanones and dihydroflavonols were also present in medium containing caffeic acid. Flavones were the main phenols detected in the control. The ways in which phenolic compounds may affect somatic embryogenesis are discussed

Liquid–Liquid Equilibrium Measurements for the Extraction of Pyridine and Benzothiazole from <i>n</i>‑Alkanes Using Deep Eutectic Solvents

The liquid–liquid extraction of a nitrogen-containing aromatic “pyridine” and nitrogen/sulfur-containing aromatic “benzothiazole” from n-hexane and n-heptane using deep eutectic solvents (DESs) was studied in this work. A DES composed of methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide as hydrogen bond acceptor and ethylene glycol as hydrogen bond donor was selected for this separation. The main objective of this work was to assess whether the same DES can be applied for the denitrogenation “extraction of pyridine” and desulfurization “extraction of benzothiazole” of fuels. Moreover, the influence of n-alkane chain length on the extraction performance was studied. First, the solubilities of the pyridine, benzothiazole, n-hexane, and n-heptane in the DES were determined at 298.2 K and 1.01 bar. Thereafter, the pseudoternary liquid–liquid equilibrium (LLE) data for the four systems {n-hexane + pyridine + DES}, {n-heptane + pyridine + DES}, {n-hexane + benzothiazole + DES}, and {n-heptane + benzothiazole + DES} were determined at a temperature of 298.2 K and a pressure of 1.01 bar. The assumption of a pseudoternary system was validated showing that none of the DES’ constituents appears in the raffinate phase. From the LLE data the distribution ratios and selectivites of pyridine and benzothiazole were calculated. Both pyridine and benzothiazole were successfully extracted from their mixtures with n-hexane and n-heptane, with pyridine showing higher selectivity than benzothiazole and almost similar distribution ratios. Finally, The LLE data were correlated with the nonrandom two-liquid model using ASPEN PLUS. The modeled results showed a strong correlation with the experimental results (relative mean standard deviation (%)) = 0.04–0.36)