A Pharmacognostical Study of Some Plants Bearing Alkaloids and Their Biological Activities

This study comprises pharmacognostical studies of two plants, first one: Echiiiosperinuni spiliocarpos (forssk), family Boraginaceae growing in Libya. And second one is: Solanuin ab,itiloides (Bitt. ci Lillo), family Solanacene grown in Egypi.Families Boraginaceae and Solanuceae are of particular medicinal interest regarding their reputation in the production of physiologically active compounds including pyiTol izidinc alkaloids and naphllioqui nones from Boraginaceae and steroidal alkaloids, saponins and flavonoids from Sola,uicea. This study consits of two part.PMT 1Phia rmacognostica l Study of Echinosperinurnspinocalpos (Lappula spuiocarpos) (Forssk), FamilyBoragiiiaceue growing in LibyaAll genera of the family Boragiiiaceae produced pyrrolizidine alkaloids. These alkaloids are not only toxic but also carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic. These harmful effects have caused huge problems both in humans and livestock. Although the Boraginaceae contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, there are pigments which are found in the roots of various Boraginaceotis species. These pigments are used not only for the treatment of burns and as natural wound healing agents in skin diseases, but also as red-dye in drug cosmetics and textile industry. Recently root pigments showed anticancer activities, anti-human immunod efficiency virus activity (HIV) and anti-inflammatory.The corn mon occurrence of pyrio I zi line a 1 ka Jo i(IS and root pigments (naphthoquinones) have caused concern regarding the herbal use of a mimber of Boraginaceous species.A literature survey revealed that no pharniacognostical work has so for been carried out on Ecitinosperinuin spiiiocarpos (Lappuls spinocarpos) growing in Libya. This prompted us to carry out a pharmacognost ical investigation on this plant aiming to:1— Establishing its macro—and rnicsoscopical identity of the plant in both entire and powdered form.- Introduction for the atomic absorption spectrophoto-inetric meuothcPart II- Determination of sulphathiazole by compilation with cobalt ion. ’’Then determination of the equivalent or residual cobalt ion by A.A.3.- Application of certain dosage forms.Part III- Determination of sulphaoiazine oy cornpiexaiion with cafcmium ion, then determination of the equivalent or residual cadmium ion by A.A.S.- Application on pharmaceutical preparations.Part IV- Determination of sulphamerazine oy compiexati^r. with copper then determination of the equivalent or residual copper ion by A.A.S.- Application on pharmaceutical preparations.The unesis comprised of 161 paces, 20 ta’rles, 17 figures ana 3 pages arabic summary.