August 2015

Analysis of bioactive chemical compounds of Aspergillus niger by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy

Bioactives are chemical compounds often referred to as secondary metabolites. Thirty five bioactive compounds were identified in the methanolic extract of Aspergillus niger. The identification of bioactive chemical compounds is based on the peak area, retention time molecular weight and molecular formula. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of Aspergillus niger revealed the existence of the...

Author(s): Imad Hadi Hameed, Lena Fadhil Hamza and Sabreen A. Kamal

August 2015

Ethnobotanical survey of healing medicinal plants traditionally used in the main Moroccan cities

The present study is a survey conducted to indicate the healing medicinal plants, traditionally used by the Moroccan population, and especially to select the healing plants mainly used in the form of essential oils. This survey allowed an inventory of 59 species of healing plants belonging to 37 families. The results showed that the whole plant is the most commonly used part (31%), followed by the leaves (29%). Most...

Author(s): Messaoudi Moussi I., Filali, H., Tazi, A. and Hakkou, F.  

August 2015

Preliminary screening of anti-inflammatory effect of phytochemicals on chemotaxis of human neutrophils

Neutrophils are leukocytes that are actively recruited to sites of tissue infection and/or injury by directed movement (chemotaxis). In vitro assessment of inhibition of neutrophil chemotaxis is a physiologic indicator of anti-inflammatory potential. To identify nontoxic, anti-inflammatory agents, plant-derived compounds (curcumin, resveratrol, rosmarinic acid and piperine) were assessed for effects on in vitro...

Author(s): Uthayashanker R. Ezekiel and Rita M. Heuertz