COMPARATIVE BOTANICAL AND GENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF CERTAIN SOLANUM SPECIES GROWN IN EGYPT

Objective: Urgent need for proper identification and characterization has emerged for some Solanum species as their toxicity to humans and animals ranges from mildly irritating to fatal. The objective of this work was targeted towards discrimination between Solanum seaforthianum Andrews and Solanum macrocarpon L.Methods: For establishment of different botanical and genetic criteria, this study presents a comparative investigation of the botanical features of the roots, stems and leaves of both plants through microscopical investigation of the prepared entire, transverse sections and powdered forms of different organs of both plants under study. Furthermore, the DNA of both plants was extracted from leaf samples and Random Amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using ten primers of arbitrary sequences.Results: Comparative botanical characters of different organs were identified. On the other hand a total 101 fragments were generated in S. macrocarpon while 105 fragments were generated in S. seaforthianum. Where the highest degree of similarities (70%) was recorded using primer B16 therefore could be used as an indicator for obtaining genetic markers, followed by 65.38% for Z13 and the lowest degree of similarity (38.1%) was recorded using primer O14 which could be used to discriminate between the two Solanum species depending on their low values of similarity coefficients and high level of polymorphism.Conclusion: For the present study, macro and micro-morphological characters, as well as, DNA fingerprinting can be considered as the identifying parameters to authenticate and differentiate between the two plants under study.Â

BOTANICAL AND GENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF CITRUS MAXIMA (BURM.) MERRILL. F. RUTACEAE

Objective: Total investigation of the macro-and micromorphological features of Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merrill. In addition, DNA fingerprinting in this study was to estimate genetic polymorphism and relationships with another citrus viz: Citrus paradise and Citrus sinensis based on RAPD and ISSR markers.Methods: For the establishment of macro-and micromorphological investigation and genetic estimation, this study presents a total investigation of the macro-and micromorphological features of the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds of the plants through microscopical investigation of the prepared entire, transverse sections and powdered forms of different organs under study. Furthermore, the DNA of the three plants was extracted from leaf samples and two types of DNA markers RAPD and ISSR were assayed.Results: Macro-and micromorphological features of different organs were investigated. On the other hand Genetic polymorphism and relationships among Citrus maxima, Citrus paradisi and Citrus sinensis was revealed. The highest genetic similarity was between Citrus maxima and Citrus paradisi while the lowest similarity was between Citrus paradisi and Citrus sinensis as revealed by RAPD, ISSR and combined data.Conclusion: For the present study, macro and micro-morphological characters, as well as, DNA fingerprinting can be considered as the identifying parameters for authentication of Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merrill

Novel anticancer drug delivery system based on zeolite encapsulating Hamelia patens leaf and flower extracts

181-194Nanotechnology had placed an impact in improving the antiproliferative activity of crude leaf (CL) and flower (CF) extracts of Hamelia patens on the liver (HEPG2) and breast (MCF7) carcinoma cell lines, after their encapsulation onto zeolite (ZSM-5) nanopores, which acts as a drug delivery system (DDS). The cytotoxicity of the new formulas showed remarkable improvement in the activities on HEPG2. CL had low activity on HEPG2, at the tested concentrations, but the ZSM-5 loaded one (CLZ) showed enhanced action with IC50=42 μg/mL. Also, the cytotoxicity of CF improved after Zeolite incorporation, where the IC50 has been changed from 48 μg/mL for CF to 25 μg/mL for CFZ. Moreover, the polar fraction of leaves extracted by methanol (Me.L) showed improvement on the cytotoxicity on MCF7 for zeolite loaded formula (Me.Z) (IC50 had changed from 65 to 44.4 μg/mL). Quantitative estimations for polyphenolic contents as well as the phenolic profiles for CF and CL extracts were inspected using HPLC-DAD to explore the bioactive phytochemical compounds. Acute toxicity test showed that LD50 was 1500 and 2333 mg/kg b.wt. for CL and CF, respectively. The cytogenetic study was also done to detect the chromosome aberrations in somatic and germ cells after CL and CF administration to mice. DPPH antioxidant capacity assay revealed that CL has high redox-active effect than CF. This study is a contribution to the development of a creative new DDS that help in cancer treatment

Novel anticancer drug delivery system based on zeolite encapsulating Hamelia patens leaf and flower extracts

Nanotechnology had placed an impact in improving the antiproliferative activity of crude leaf (CL) and flower (CF) extracts of Hamelia patens on the liver (HEPG2) and breast (MCF7) carcinoma cell lines, after their encapsulation onto zeolite (ZSM-5) nanopores, which acts as a drug delivery system (DDS). The cytotoxicity of the new formulas showed remarkable improvement in the activities on HEPG2. CL had low activity on HEPG2, at the tested concentrations, but the ZSM-5 loaded one (CLZ) showed enhanced action with IC50=42 μg/mL. Also, the cytotoxicity of CF improved after Zeolite incorporation, where the IC50 has been changed from 48 μg/mL for CF to 25 μg/mL for CFZ. Moreover, the polar fraction of leaves extracted by methanol (Me.L) showed improvement on the cytotoxicity on MCF7 for zeolite loaded formula (Me.Z) (IC50 had changed from 65 to 44.4 μg/mL). Quantitative estimations for polyphenolic contents as well as the phenolic profiles for CF and CL extracts were inspected using HPLC-DAD to explore the bioactive phytochemical compounds. Acute toxicity test showed that LD50 was 1500 and 2333 mg/kg b.wt. for CL and CF, respectively. The cytogenetic study was also done to detect the chromosome aberrations in somatic and germ cells after CL and CF administration to mice. DPPH antioxidant capacity assay revealed that CL has high redox-active effect than CF. This study is a contribution to the development of a creative new DDS that help in cancer treatment