Allolobophora Caliginosa Research Articles

Evaluation anthelmintic activities of an ethnopharmacological leaves nerium oleander against the earthworms (Allolobophora caliginosa)

The emergence of drug-resistant strains reason for the search for natural alternatives. The study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of Nerium oleanderleaf extract against Allolobophora caliginosain vitro. The concentrations (25 mg/mL, 50 mg/mL, and 100 mg/mL), were tested, andthe results were expressed in paralysis time and the death of worms. Albendazole (40 mg/mL), and distilled water were used as standard drug and control. The FT-IR and GC-MS analysis of the extract showed the presence of 12 and 13 compounds responsible foranthelmintic activity. There was a dose-dependent increase in effectiveness over time during 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 minutes. The death reached 97% and 100%, respectively when (100 mg/mL) after 10 minutes. Histological examination and scanning electron microscopy showed noticeable abnormalities and a cuticular layer of the body surface had shrunk in all treated worms. The current experiment results show that oleander has powerful anti-Acaliginosa action.

Anthelmintic Activity of Carica papaya Leaf Extracts: Insights from In Vitro and In Silico Investigations.

Helminthiasis remains a major global health concern. Exploring natural alternatives due to drug resistance and synthetic drug side effects has become increasingly urgent. This study investigates the anthelmintic potential of Carica papaya leaf extracts (CPLE) against Allolobophora caliginosa, along with elucidating the underlying structural alterations and molecular interactions. Carica papaya underwent methanolic extraction. Gas chromatography- mass spectrometry analysis revealed 11 active phytochemical compounds within CPLE. The anthelmintic activity was evaluated against A. caliginosa, with CPLE demonstrating efficacy comparable to albendazole. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy depicted structural modifications in worms exposed to CPLE, characterized by reduced size, uniform shrinkage, and increased cuticle thickness. Molecular docking studies with proteins Ascaris lumbricoides β-tubulin and Trichuris trichiura β-tubulin revealed potential binding interactions of CPLE compounds, notably Hexadecanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl) ethyl ester, and Albendazole oxide. Conclusión: These findings suggest the anthelmintic efficacy of CPLE and provide insights into its mode of action at the molecular level.

Antianemic Activity of Allolobophora caliginosa Extract against Phenylhydrazine-induced Anemia in Rats

Background:: Anemia is a global hematological disorder. Earthworms have antimicrobial, antispasmodic, antihypertensive, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, and anticoagulant properties. Objective:: Our study aimed to investigate the anti-anemic activity of the earthworm Allolobophora caliginosa extract (AcE) on phenylhydrazine-induced hemolytic anemia in rats. Methods:: Eighteen adult male albino rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 6 per group) as follows: Control, PHZ, and AcE-treated groups. Induction of anemia was done by intraperitoneal administration of phenylhydrazine (40 mg/kg) for 2 consecutive days. Treatment of AcE by intraperitoneal injection (45 mg/kg) for six successive days. Results:: Treatment of anemic rats with AcE extract caused significant increases in red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin (HB), hematocrit (HCT), total protein (TP), albumin, glutathione reduced (GSH), catalase (CAT), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), as compared to the PHZ group. While, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO) levels significantly decreased after intraperitoneal administration of AcE, when compared to the PHZ group. Liver sections from the AcEtreated group restored the normal micromorphological features of the liver. The expression of caspase- 3 was weak and/or there was no expression in the liver sections from AcE groups. AcE caused a significant reduction in the incidence of DNA damage, which appeared as less DNA in the tails. Conclusion:: The present research sheds light on the antianemic efficacy of AcE in rats. This study reveals that AcE has antianemic activity, which can be linked to its iron and branched-chain amino acid content, as well as antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties.

HISTOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS IN THE BODY WALL OF EARTHWORM ALLOLOBOPHORA CALIGINOSA EXPOSED TO DIMETHOATE INSECTICIDES

Dimethoate is an organophosphorus insecticide with contact and systemic action used against a broad range of insects in agriculture. Dimethoate is highly mobile in soil. Its residues have been detected in soils, sediments, and water due to their non-regulated usage practice. Therefore, it affects the beneficial organisms that live in the soil, such as the earthworm. Earthworms are considered as soil engineers because of their ability to modify soils and plant communities, as earthworms ingest large amounts of soil and organic matter, they are continuously exposed to contaminants through their alimentary surfaces. The earthworm Allolobophora caliginosa was exposed to Dimethoate and the concentrations were range from 0.05 to 2.5 ppm. The changes in the body wall were represented by the appearance of vacuolated in the epidermis layer and muscle layers, the epidermis separating from the muscle layer then the cells were destroyed, and the effect increased by increasing the concentration of the pesticides.

Histopathological examination of Allolobophora calignosa efficacy against glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in mice

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass, deterioration of bone tissue, and disruption of bone microarchitecture: it can lead to compromised bone strength and increased risk of fractures. Secondary osteoporosis is mostly glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP). According to traditional Chinese medicine, the kidney influences bone, and bone loss are associated with kidney and liver inadequacies. We tested Allolobophora caliginosa extract (EE) and Allolobophora caliginosa coelomic fluid (CF) for anti-osteoporotic activity against GIOP. 28 male mice were separated randomly into two groups; the control received distilled water, and the second group received 1 mg/kg dexamethasone daily for 28 days. The second group was divided randomly into three groups. The first OP subgroup received distilled water orally every other day for 28 days. The other two OP subgroups received EE (45 mg/kg body weight) and CF (20 mg/kg) orally for 28 days. EE and CF preserved cortical and trabecular bone loss, decreased bone marrow space, and enhanced chondrocyte production. EE and CF maintained hepatic necrosis in the liver and decreased renal degeneration in the kidney caused by GIOP. In this study, Histological images showed that EE at 45 mg/kg was highly effective as an anti-osteoporotic against GIOP, while CF at 20 mg/kg was moderately effective.

Toxicity of silver, copper oxide, and polyethylene nanoparticles on the earthworm Allolobophora caliginosa using multiple biomarkers

Earthworms are used as biomarkers for soil contamination. In the present study, earthworms (Allolobophora caliginosa) were exposed to 100 mg of silver (Ag), copper oxide (CuO), and polyethylene (PE) nanoparticles (NPs) per kilogram of soil for 30 days. We evaluated antioxidant activity using assays for catalase, total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde, immune activity (lysozyme and metallothionein), lipid peroxidation, DNA fragmentation, and examining histopathology during exposure and recovery periods. CAT and total antioxidant capacity levels significantly decreased in response to Ag and CuO NPs; however, a response to PE NPs was observed only in catalase levels. MDA level, lysozyme activity, metallothionein, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and DNA fragmentation increased significantly in response to NP exposure. After recovery, only MDA content and metallothionein concentration returned to normal levels and only for worms exposed to PE NPs. NPs caused deleterious effects or damage to the wall of the intestine.

A Coelomic Fluid of Allolobophora caliginosa as Novel Prospects for Medicinal Antioxidants, Anti-inflammatory, Antiproliferative, Analgesics, and Antipyretics

Allolobophora caliginosa, an indigenous earthworm of Egypt, has been widely utilized in the pharmaceutical industry because it has many therapeutic properties. These therapeutic properties may be attributed to the earthworm's coelomic fluid being a promising reservoir of bioactive secondary metabolites. Hence, the current study was intended to identify the bioactive constituents and the biological activities of Allolobophora caliginosa coelomic fluid (ACCF). The active constituents, total protein content, and amino acid profile of ACCF were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography, the Biuret method, and an amino acid analyzer. The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxicity activities of ACCF were evaluated using in vitro assays. The analgesic effect was evaluated using the writhing and hot plate assays. The antipyretic potency was determined using Brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia assay. Various active phenolic and flavonoid constituents and a considerable amount of essential and non-essential amino acids, were found in ACCF. The current study clarified that ACCF exhibited dose-dependent radical scavenging and potent anti-inflammatory activities. Furthermore, the proliferation of HepG2 could be inhibited by ACCF with the IC50 value of 145.99 µg/ml. The present findings revealed that ACCF showed amazing peripherally and centrally analgesic and antipyretic potencies. ACCF has various secondary metabolites that were likely to act synergistically to produce the observed biological activities. Thus, it can be served as a promising alternative natural compound for the prophylaxis or treatment of infectious disorders.

Antibacterial and wound-healing potential ofPLGA/spidroin nanoparticles: a study on earthworms as a human skin model.

Aim: The essential protein element of spider silk 'spidroin' was usedto assess its impact on the wound-healing process. Methods: Spidroin nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) polymer (PLGA/spidroin NPs) at different weight ratios (5:1, 10:1, 15:1) and were in vitro characterized. The optimized NPs were tested in vitro for release and antibacterial activity. To assess wound-healing effects, NPs were topically applied on surgically induced injuries in Allolobophora caliginosa earthwormsas a robust human skin model. Results: Optimized NPs (173±3nm) revealed considerable antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichiacoli. After 4days of NPs application on wounds, macroscopical and histological examinations revealed a significant reduction in wound and re-epithelialization times. Conclusion: PLGA/spidroin NPs may representa promising optionfor wound repair.

Impact of Altitudinal Variation on the Phytochemical Profile, Anthelmintic and Antimicrobial Activity of Two Pinus Species.

Active components from natural sources are the current focus in most pharmacological research to provide new therapeutic agents for clinical use. Essential oils from the Pinus species have been traditionally used in medicine. This study aimed to investigate the chemical profile of two Pinus species, Pinus halepensis L. and Pinus pinea Mill, from different altitudes in Libya and study the effect of environmental conditions on the biological activities of essential oils. A clevenger apparatus was used to prepare the essential oils by hydrodistillation. Analyses were done using GC/MS. Anthelmintic and antimicrobial activities were tested against the earthworm Allolobophora caliginosa, gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, and fungi. Different chemical profiles were observed among all tested essential oils, and terpenes were the most dominant class. All studied essential oils from the Pinus species exhibited a remarkable anthelmintic activity compared to the standard piperazine citrate drug. Pinus halepensis from both altitudes showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms, while Pinus pinea was effective against only Escherichia coli. From these findings, one can conclude that there are variations between studied species. The essential oil compositions are affected by environmental factors, which consequently affect the anthelmintic and antimicrobial activity.

Bioremediation assessment, hematological, and biochemical responses of the earthworm (Allolobophora caliginosa) in soil contaminated with crude oil.

Soil contamination with crude oil is a major environmental problem. The aim of this study was to assess whether the earthworm Allolobophora caliginosa could improve the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons while enriching soils that were contaminated with crude oil. In addition, the toxic effects of crude oil on earthworms during bioremediation will be assessed. The soil samples were experimentally contaminated with two different quantities of light crude oil 5 or 7.5 ml for 60 days. Activities of A. caliginosa resulted in 33.56% and 54.98% total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) losses from the soil contaminated with 5 ml of crude oil after 22 and 60 days; respectively. While in 7.5 ml crude oil-contaminated soil, there was a loss of 32.24% and 71.05% of TPH over the same period of time. During the experiment, however, there were no signs of improvement in soil physicochemical properties. Earthworm tissue analyses at the end of the experiment showed significant bioaccumulation of petroleum hydrocarbons in their tissues and changes in their metabolic and hematological parameters. Earthworms exposed to crude oil showed a significant increase in protein, malondialdehyde, and glutathione but decreased in catalase levels and total antioxidant capacity compared to control earthworm after 60 days of exposure. There was a significant decrease in the Hgb, RBCS, Hct, MCV, MCH, platelet count, and WBCs. As a result, the earthworm Allolobophora caliginosa has been shown to be good bioremediator for oil-contaminated soils and also has potential as a bioindicator for contamination.

Allolobophora caliginosa coelomic fluid ameliorates gentamicin-induced hepatorenal toxicity in rats

Objective: To explore the efficacy of earthworm’s coelomic fluid against gentamicin-induced hepatic and renal toxicity in rats. Methods: The animals were divided randomly into three groups (n = 6 per group): control, gentamicin, and Allolobophora caliginosa coelomic fluid-treated groups. Toxicity was established after injection of gentamicin daily for 8 days at a dose of 100 mg/kg. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total proteins, albumin, creatinine, urea, uric acid, malondialdehyde, glutathione, catalase and histopathology of tissues were investigated in the study. Results: Allolobophora caliginosa coelomic fluid significantly decreased urea, creatinine, uric acid, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and malondialdehyde levels while significantly increasing levels of total proteins, albumin, glutathione and catalase. The histopathological investigation showed partial restoration of renal and hepatic architecture. Conclusions: This study shows the potency of Allolobophora caliginosa coelomic fluid in improving the biochemical and histopathological changes induced by gentamicin in the liver and kidney of the rats.

Anthelmintic and antimicrobial activity of Indigofera oblongifolia leaf extracts.

Due to the endless emergence of drug resistant pathogens, there is a constant need for new therapeutic agents for clinical use. The identification of active components in natural products and determining the efficacy of these active components has become the current focus of pharmacological research. The present study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic and antimicrobial activities of Indigofera oblongifolia leaf extract (ILE) against the earthworm Allolobophora caliginosa, the gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus), the gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) and the yeast Candida albicans. Methanolic extract of I. oblongifolia leaf was obtained and the total phenolics and flavonoids in ILE were determined. The anthelmintic study was carried out to determine the time to paralysis and time to death of worms using three doses (100, 200, and 300 mg/mL) of ILE. Also, Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion susceptibility method was used to determine the antimicrobial activity of ILE. The results showed that ILE induces paralysis and death of A. caliginosa at all concentration tested faster than the reference drug, Albendazole. Additionally, ILE exhibited prominent antimicrobial activity against all gram-positive bacteria tested but almost no significant activity against the gram-negative bacteria, except K. pneumoniae. ILE showed close similarity to the spectrum of chloramphenicol and cefoxitin activities. Furthermore, C. albicans was highly susceptible to the leaf extracts. Our results showed that ILE is an effective anthelmintic and antimicrobial agent.

METARADIOPHRYA EGYPTIACA N.SP. AN ASTOMATOUS CILIATE FROM THE ALIMENTARY CANAL OF ALLOLOBOPHORA CALIGINOSA (ANNELIDA: OLIGOCHAETA).

In this study, 639 of Allolobophora caliginosa were collected from different regions of Nile Delta of Egypt. Metaradiophrya egyptiaca n. sp. was recorded in intestinal worms from Bajour (Monoufia Governorate) only. Ciliate species ranged in size from 100-137μm (125.7±9.9μm) in length & 57-88μm (72.5±10.7) in width. Macronucleus is long, band-shape, varied between 71- 106μm (92.8±10.2μm) in length x 5.6-10.3μm (7.3±1.5μm) in width. Ciliate has 2 rows of contractile vacuoles on both side of macronucleus, each row of 4-6 vacuoles. There were 75-84 kineties on body dorsal side and 56-60 kineties on ventral one. The 58 ectoplasmic fibers restricted in anterior ventral depressed region, from which 12-13 ones end on ectoplasm left clear area and 9 fibers from distal end of the right shaft.

Spidroin in carbopol-based gel promotes wound healing in earthworm's skin model.

Spider silk's regenerative, biocompatible, and antimicrobial properties render it a promising biomaterial for wound healing promotion. Spidroin as the main protein component of spider silks was used in this study to evaluate the potential effects on wound healing via topical application of novel spidroin-containing carbopol 934 (CP934) gel. Spidroin was extracted, formulated into CP934 gel, and characterized both in vitro and in vivo. Spidroin gel was translucent and brownish-yellow in color. An optimum viscosity was obtained at 0.6% CP934 at neutral pH. Optimized spidroin gel (0.6% CP934) effectively inhibited the growth of clinical bacterial isolates of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli at 440 μg/mL with MIC values of 0.98, 4.6, and 8.2 μg/mL, respectively. Optimized spidroin gel was evaluated for wound healing via topical application on wounds surgically induced in Allolobophora caliginosa earthworms used as a robust human skin model. After application for three consecutive days, dramatic reductions in wound closure and reepithelialization duration were observed macroscopically and via histological studies (light and electron microscopy) when compared with control. In conclusion, these results show that spidroin gel is a promising promoter for wound healing, and further studies would be directed toward investigating mechanisms underlying this effect.

Dose-dependent effects of Pseudomonas trivialis rhizobacteria and synergistic growth stimulation effect with earthworms on the common radish

The complex interactions between soil microorganisms with earthworms and plants have the capability to change the plant growth and development. Pseudomonas trivialis is a broad-spectrum plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) due to its indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, siderophore production, 1-aminocyclopropane-1- carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity, and phosphate solubilization attributes. A study has been conducted to investigate the effect of P. trivialis concentration in the presence or absence of earthworms (Allolobophora caliginosa) on radish (Raphanus sativus) plants growth and development. The experiment tests the impact of three inoculation concentrations in the presence or absence of earthworms on radish growth and development. We show earthworms enhance the positive effects of P. trivialis (KF695047.1) on plant growth. P. trivialis displayed a stimulatory effect on plant growth with increasing the P. trivialis inoculum size. In the presence of P. trivialis (KF695047.1), earthworms induced a significant increase in the aboveground biomass and total biomass, but there was no effect belowground. The positive effect of earthworms increased with increasing the inoculum concentration of P. trivialis. Inoculating radish plants with a low concentration of P. trivialis led to a decrease in the root length in comparison with inoculated plants and treated with earthworms but no effect on the above-ground height. Therefore, this P. trivialis strain is a PGPR for radish at higher abundances but has a negative impact on IAA levels at lower abundances. There are synergistic effects of earthworms and P. trivialis at higher bacteria abundance when in combination, to enhance the stimulatory effect on the growth and development of R. sativus. In the presence of the earthworms, 108 CFU/mL is the threshold dose of P. trivialis at and above which a positive effect on R. sativus growth occurs.

Anthelmintic, anticoccidial and antioxidant activity of Salvadora persica root extracts.

Human infection with parasites is still one of the big problems worldwide. Medicinal plants succeeded to overcome a variety of protozoan and helminthic parasites. In this study, Salvadora persica root extracts (SE) were used to treat helminthosis and coccideosis. Three doses were used (200, 100 and 50 mg/ml) to study the anthelmintic activity of S. persica. Allolobophora caliginosa was used as a model worm. Also, Albendazole was used as a reference drug. In order to study the anticoccideal activity of SE, a group of mice were infected with Eimeria papillata sporulated oocysts. Experimental mice were treated with SE (300 mg/Kg) for 5 days. The extract was able to decrease the number of meronts and gamonts of the parasite in jejunum. Also, it regulates the level of glutathione and malondialdehyde and the activity of catalase as well. We conclude that S. persica possesses a powerful Anthelmintic, anticoccidial and antioxidant activity.

Ameliorative effect of Allolobophora caliginosa extract on hepatotoxicity induced by silicon dioxide nanoparticles.

This study aims to evaluate the possible ameliorative effect of earthworm (Allolobophora caliginosa) extract (EE) against silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiNPs)-induced liver injury in male albino rats. The effectiveness of EE was compared with silymarin as a standard hepatoprotective drug. The present work demonstrates the antioxidant activity of EE by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay. Administration of SiNPs, for 15 consecutive days, caused changes in most of the biochemical parameters, namely, serum aminotransferase enzymes activities (alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase), alkaline phosphatase activity, total protein, total and direct bilirubin level, malondialdehyde, glutathione reduced, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase. In addition, administration of SiNPs induced changes in liver tissue architecture. Administration of EE, for subsequent 30 days, to SiNPs exposure demonstrated significant ameliorative effects on nearly all the studied parameters, and such effects were compatible with those of silymarin. In addition, the administration of EE repairs, to some extent, the abnormal architecture of the liver tissue induced by SiNPs.

Anti-coccidial, anthelmintic and antioxidant activities of pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel extract

Coccidiosis and helminthosis in poultry are responsible for worldwide economic losses. The methanolic extract of Punica granatum (pomegranate) peel was used in vivo for its pharmacological, antioxidant and anti-coccidial properties and in vitro for its anthelmintic activity. For the in vivo study, four groups of mice were investigated. The first group was inoculated only with sterile saline and served as the control group. The second group was treated by oral gavage with pomegranate extract (300 mg/kg) daily for 5 days. The third and fourth groups were infected with 10(3) sporulated oocysts of Eimeria papillata. The fourth group was also treated once daily with pomegranate peel extract for 5 days. For the in vitro study, the anthelmintic effect of pomegranate peel extract was observed on live adult Allolobophora caliginosa. Paraffin sections from jejunum as well as jejunal homogenate were prepared for the histopathological and biochemical investigations, respectively. The data showed that mice infected with E. papillata revealed an output of approximately 2.9 × 10(5) oocysts per gram faeces on day 5 p.i. This output is significantly decreased to 50 % in pomegranate-treated mice. Infection with E. papillata induced marked histopathological alterations in jejunum in the form of inflammation, vacuolation of the epithelium and destruction of some villi. In addition, pomegranate extract caused a great diminish in body weight loss of infected mice. Moreover, the number of goblet cells stained with Alcian blue within the infected villi was significantly increased by about 26 % after pomegranate treatment. In addition, Pomegranate significantly lowered the increased number of apoptotic cells due to E. papillata infection by about 36 %. The results showed that E. papillata enhanced hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide production with concomitant reduction in glutathione. Pomegranate induced marked improvements in all of the studied parameters as well as the histopathological features of jejunum. In addition, pomegranate was able to exert a significant anthelmintic effect on live adult A. caliginosa worms in terms of the paralysis and death of the worms at different concentrations (100, 200 and 300 mg/ml). The study revealed that pomegranate as a natural product has protective effects against E. papillata-induced coccidiosis as well as it possesses an anthelmintic activity.

PREDICTION OF BIOAVAILABILITY OF CHLORPYRIFOS RESIDUES IN SOIL TO EARTHWORMS

An incubation test was conducted to investigate the effect of aging on bioavailability of chlorpyrifos in soil and to assess the feasibility of chemical extraction techniques for predicting bioavailability of chlorpyrifos in soil. Chlorpyrifos was spiked into sterilized soil and aged in microcosms for up to 120 days. The earthworms were incubated in the spiked soils, at 0, 7, 14, 30, 60, and 120 days after spiking, for a period of 7 days. After exposure, chlorpyrifos concentrations in the earthworm tissues were determined. Change in chemical extractability of soil-chlorpyrifos was measured using a several solvent systems including methanol, methanol-water (9:1), acetone-water (5:3), and water. The results show that chemical extractability and earthworm bioavailability of chlorpyrifos in soil decreased with aging. The amount of aged and unaged chlorpyrifos recovered from soil varied with the individual chemical extractant and extraction method. Concentrations of chlorpyrifos in Eisenia foetida were significantly higher than in Allolobophora caliginosa, suggesting that the bioavailability of chlorpyrifos was a species-dependent process. The extractability of chlorpyrifos by chemical solvents was significantly correlated with bioavailability fraction of E. foetida and A. caliginosa, showing that these extraction techniques may be efficient for predicting bioavailability of chlorpyrifos in soil.

Composition and Bioactivity of Essential Oils from Leaves and Fruits of Myrtus communis and Eugenia supraxillaris (Myrtaceae) Grown in Egypt

Comparative investigation of hydro-distilled essential oils from leaves (L) and fruits (F) of Myrtus communis (M) and Eugenia supraxillaris (E) (Fam. Myrtaceae) grown in Egypt was carried out; including: yield, physical characteristics, chemical composition and certain bioactivities. GC-FID and GC-MS analyses revealed that the oil samples differ in composition and percentages of certain components. The total number of identified constituents was 23, 21, 21 and 17 in EL, EF, ML and MF oil samples; representing: 98.6 %, 98.5 %, 90.3 % and 91.8 % of the total oil composition, respectively. Oxygenated compounds were found dominant in EF, ML and MF oil samples, being 81.4 %, 61.5 % and 71.5 %; respectively, and 13.5 % in EL sample. All the oil samples appeared dominated by monoterpenoids, among which limonene (21.8 %), eugenol (35.5 %), 1,8-cineole (27.2 % and 29.6 %) are major in EL, EF, ML and MF; respectively. Sesquiterpenes are minors in all samples, comprising mainly: α-humulene in the 2 leaf samples EL and ML; while β-selinene and trans-caryophyllene recorded the highest sesquiterpenoid percentile for EF and MF samples; respectively. Certain bioactivities including: cytotoxicity against different tumor cell lines, antimicrobial, and antiwormal activity against Allolobophora caliginosa were evaluated and found variable in the leaves and fruits of the two plants.