The phytochemical and biological investigations of Halocnemum strobilaceum (Pall.)

The lipid content of Halocnemum strobilaceum grown in Egypt was studied. The unsaponifiable fraction was identified by GLC. A series of hydrocarbons ranging from C17-C31 in addition to camp sterol, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol and the triterpenoid alpha-amyrin were identified. The GLC analysis of the fatty alcohol fraction revealed the presence of 7 fatty alcohols, also the analysis of the fatty acid fraction revealed the presence of 10 fatty acids in which palmitic acid was the main acid (39.26%). The flavonoidal constituents isolated from the chloroform and the ethyl acetate fractions of the aqueous alcoholic extract of Halocnemum strobilaceum were identified as Chrysoeriol, Luteolin 7-O-galactoside, Quercetin 7-O-rhamnoside, Luteolin, and a coumarinic compound, Scopoletin was also identified. Their identity was proved by m.p., TLC, PC, UV, 1H-NMR and MS analysis. GLC analysis of the volatile oil of the plant revealed the identification of 23 compounds which accounted for 63% of the oil. The oil is characterized by a high content of hydrocarbons (55.9%), while the oxygenated hydrocarbons were represented by (33.8%) of the identified components. Also, the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated sesquiterpene compounds were found to be 2.6% and 8.2% respectively. The radical scavenging effects of the extracts and isolated compounds on DPPH free radical were studied. The ethyl acetate extract had a strong antioxidant activity, also the isolated flavonoidal compounds showed high antioxidant activity as compared to Trolox (standard antioxidant compound). The different extracts and isolated compounds of the plant exhibited no cytotoxic activity against Ehrlichascitis carcinoma cell line at the tested concentrations, except the volatile oil which showed moderate activity.