A Pharmacognostical Study of Centaurea Eryngioides Lam. family Compositae

Genus centaurea , family compositae are rich with biologically active chemical constituents as sequiterpene lactones , flavonoids , alkaloids , acetylenic compounds and steroids . Most of the species of this genus are used in folk medicine as diuretic , astringent , stomachic , bitter and digestive effect . Also it can be used as a remedy for swellings , leucorrhea , gout and diarrhea . Some of these species showing an antihypertensive , hypoglycaemic , cytotoxic and/or antitumour activities .Accordingly , it was deemed of interest to investigate the plant phytochemically with a view to isolate , characterize and identify its chemical constituents whenever possible . Moreover , the macro-and micro-morphology of the plant was studied in order to identify it in the entire and powdered forms .This thesis include three parts :Part I : Botanical study :A - Morphological characters .B - Microscopical characters .Part II : Phytochemical study .Part III : Antimicrobial and antitumour studies .