A Pharmacognostical Study of Limonium Angustifolium Turr Family Plumbaginaceae, Growing in Egypt

The family Plumbaginaceae is known to include numerous species which yield certain compounds possessing antitumour , antimicrobial and antiviral 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 two parts :Part I : Botanical study :A - Morphological characters .B - Microscopical characters .Part II : Phytochemical study :The study revealed the presence of : Carbohydrates and/or glycosides . sterols and/or triterpenes , flavonoids , and/or basic nitrogenous substances , saponins and catechol tanninis .Phytochemical study of all the organs and the latex of Plumbaginaceae had been carried out including :I - Phytochemical screening .II - Fractionation of the latex .III - Investigation of the lipoid matter of the seedsA. Study of the fixed oil contentB. Investigation of sterols and/or triterpenes .IV - Isolation and identification of the cardenolides :A. Cardenolides content of the latexB. Cardenolides content of the seedsV - Quantitative estimation of CardenolidesPharmacological study of the Cardenolides