International Journal of Pharmacognosy

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Phytochemical and Biological Studies of

Medicinal Plants in Bahrain: The Family
Chenopodiaceae—Part 2

G F S Al-Saleh, A Y Gamal El-Din, J A Abbas & N A Saeed

To cite this article: G F S Al-Saleh, A Y Gamal El-Din, J A Abbas & N A Saeed (1997)
Phytochemical and Biological Studies of Medicinal Plants in Bahrain: The Family
Chenopodiaceae—Part 2, International Journal of Pharmacognosy, 35:1, 38-42, DOI: 10.1076/
phbi.35.1.38.13266

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1076/phbi.35.1.38.13266

Published online: 29 Sep 2008.

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International Journal of Pharmacognosy 0925-1618/97/3501-0038$12.00
1997, Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 38–42 © Swets & Zeitlinger

PHYTOCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

IN BAHRAIN: THE FAMILY CHENOPODIACEAE—PART 2

F.S. Al-Saleh 1, A.Y. Gamal El-Din 2 *, J.A. Abbas 2 * and N.A. Saeed 1

1 Department of Chemistry, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Bahrain

2 Department of Biology, University of Bahrain, Bahrain

ABSTRACT medicine or plants representing major components of

the natural flora in Bahrain.
Fifteen species from the family Chenopodiaceae have
been analysed for their chemical constituents: alkaloids,
anthraquinones, coumarins, flavonoids, saponins,
sterols and/or terepenes and tannins. The antimicrobial EXPERIMENTAL
activity of these plants was tested in two concentrations
against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudo- Fifteen plants of the family Chenopodiaceae were col-
monas aeruginosa, and Gram-positive Staphylococcus lected from different locations of Bahrain Island from
aureus and Bacillus subtilis. April to September, 1993. The plants were identified by
J.A. Abbas and voucher specimens were deposited in
the Herbarium of the Biology Department, University
INTRODUCTION of Bahrain, Bahrain. The whole plants were air-dried in
the shade in an open area for 1–2 weeks. The dried
Members of the Chenopodiaceae are typically xero- samples were powdered and analysed for the presence
phytic in the Arabian desert and are frequently reported or absence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, coumarines,
in floristic works of the region. The highest number of flavonoids, saponins, by sterols and/or triterpenes and
genera and species of the Chenopodiaceae is from east- tannins according to the method described by
ern Saudi Arabia with 20 genera and 42 species (Man- Farnsworth (1966).
daville, 1990). The flora of Bahrain includes 16 genera The dried powder was extracted with 95% ethanol for
and 27 species (Abbas and El-Oqlah, 1992). They are 4 h in a thimble extractor. The alcohol extract was fil-
important elements in the vegetation of Bahrain Island. tered, the solvent was removed under reduced pressure at
Traditionally, some species are used in the folk medicine 50°C and then used for the phytochemical analysis. The
in Bahrain and in other parts of the Arabian Peninsula dried extracts were stored in the refrigerator for biologi-
(Boulous, 1985; Abbas et al., 1992; Alsaleh et al., 1993). cal studies. Four plants (Arthrocnemum salicornicum
The screening of plant extracts for natural products (Moric.) Moris & Delponte, Halopeplis perfoliata
and antimicrobial activity has revealed the potential of (Forssk.) Bge., Salsola imbricata Forssk. and Seidlitzia
higher plants as a source of new anti-infective agents rosmarinus (Ehrenb.) Bge. were extracted with water
(Mitscher et al., 1972, 1987). This study is part of a once by refluxing and once by percolation for compari-
program intiated by the University of Bahrain to iden- son with ethanol extracts. Extracts used in antimicrobial
tify the chemical constituents of plants used in folkloric assays were dissolved in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO).
Nutrient agar medium was prepared from the fol-
lowing constituents per liter: peptone, 5 g; yeast extract,
Keywords: Chenopodiaceae, phytochemical, antimicrobial,
medicinal plants, flora of Bahrain. 3 g; glucose, 10 g; agar, 20 g. Glucose solution was
autoclaved separately and then combined with the
remaining sterilized constituents to give a final concen-
* Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed. tration of 0.3% w/v under aseptic conditions. Agar
 MEDICINAL PLANTS IN BAHRAIN 39

plates seeded with bacteria were prepared by adding 1 Del. ex Roem., and Suaeda agyptiaca (Hsselq.) Zoh.
ml (106 bacteria/ml) of an overnight broth culture to 20 were active against S. aureus, and 6 species of the
ml of molten nutrient agar medium (45°C). The con- extracts were active against B. subtilis. At high concen-
tents were then thoroughly mixed and poured onto one tration, the activity of the above species were increased
plate. Membrane filter discs of 5 mm in diameter were slightly.
placed on the surface of the agar plates and saturated In general, those extracts with antimicrobial activity
with 100 µl of the test solution. In each plate one filter have a more complex chemistry. It was found that the
disc was saturated only with the solvent and placed at extracts of Seidlitzia rosmarinus and Chenopodium
the middle and used as a negative control. In addition, murale were poor in natural products, while only alka-
we routinely included positive antibacterial controls loids were found in Chenopodium murale. These two
using standard Difco antibiotics discs (Streptomycin 10 were the only species which exhibited no activity
µg/disc and Chloramphenicol 30 µg/disc). This was against all the tested organisms. It was found that the
done to monitor the experimental conditions and to con- plants with high concentrations of alkaloids and
firm the specificity of each bacterial strain. The plates flavonoides (Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, Bassia
were then incubated at 37°C for 24 h. Each experiment eriophora, Bienertia cycloptera, Halopeplis perfoliata,
was carried out in triplicate and the measured diameters Salsola villosa, and Suaeda aegyptiaca) show a wide
of the inhibition zones were averaged and expressed in spectrum of antimicrobial activity. Only Salsola imbri-
mm. Two different concentrations (250 and 500 µg/disc) cata shows a high concentration of alkaloids but the
were tested for each plant extract. The tested extracts extract was inactive against all the tested organisms.
were evaluated quantitatively for antimicrobial activity Finally, the aqueous extracts of four plants (Arthrocne-
using the agar diffusion assay as described by Hufford mum macrostachyum, Haloxylon persicum, Salsola
et al. (1975) and Rios et al. (1988). The following bac- imbricata, and Seidlitzia rosmarinus) did not give any
terial strains were used as test organisms: Staphylo- significant antimicrobial activity. However, the phyto-
coccus aureus (ATCC6538), Bacillus subtilis chemical screening for the aqueous extract showed only
(ATCC6633), Escherichia coli (ATCC8739) and the presence of saponins and very weak alkaloids (data
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC9027). not shown).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION CONCLUSION

Table 1 shows the phytochemical and the antimicrobial The relatively high proportion of the active compounds
activity of the ethanol extracts prepared from 15 species present in the extracts indicates the importance of these
of Chenopodiaceae against selected Gram-negative (E. plants as medicinal plants. Our results are in good
coli and P. aeruginosa) and Gram-positive (S. aureus agreement with those of other reports. However, further
and B. subtilis) bacteria. The extent of activity was mea- work on this family, such as isolation and identification
sured in terms of diameters of inhibition zones (mm) but of the active compounds, is recommended.
then expressed in signs (2 to 1111) as shown in
Table 1 to facilitate the comparisons with the amount of
the corresponding chemical constituents. As indicated ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
in Table 1, the phytochemical screening of these plants
The authors acknowledge the financial support from the Sci-
showed that the common constituents are: alkaloids entific Research Council, University of Bahrain to carry out
(100%), sterols and/or terepenes (73%), flavonoids this work.
(66%), saponins (66%), coumarins (53%). No
anthraquinones were detected in this family. The plant
extracts exhibit differential antimicrobial activity at dif- REFERENCES
ferent concentrations as presented in Table 1. At low
concentration, 9 extracts were active against P. aerugi- Abbas, J.A. and El-Oqlah, A.A. (1992) Distribution and com-
munities of halophytic plants in Bahrain J. Arid Environ.
nosa while only 2 extracts were active against E. coli.
22: 205–218.
The extracts of 5 species (Arthrocnemum macrostachym Abbas, J.A., El-Oqlah, A.A. and Mahasneh, A.M. (1992)
(Moric.) Moris & Delponte, Atriplex leucoclada Boiss., Herbal plants in the traditional medicine of Bahrain. Econ.
Bienertia cycloptera Bge. ex. Boiss., Salsola villosa Bot. 46: 158–163.
Table 1. Phytochemical and antimicrobial activity of the selected members of Chenopodiacae. 40
Plant Names Vern. Names Chemical constituents Antimicrobial activity*

250µg/disc 500µg/disc

Alk Anth C F Sp S/T T E.c P.a S.a B.s E.c P.a S.a B.s

Anabasis setifera Moq. SHA’RAN 11 2 1 11 11 1 2 2 1 2 11 2 1 2 111

Collector: M. Naguib
Accession number: HB 39
Arthrocnemum macrostachyum SHU’ 1111 2 2 11 2 1 11 2 11 1 111 1 111 11 111
(Moric.) Moris & Delponte
Collector: A. Shubber
Accession number: HB 568
A. salicornicum 11 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 11 2 2
(Moric.) Moris & Delponte
Collector: J. Abbas
Accession number: HB 1519
Atriplex leucoclada Boiss. RUGHL 11 2 2 11 2 11 1 2 2 1 11 2 2 11 111
Collector: J. Abbas
Accession number HB 728
Bassia eriophora (Schrad.)Asch. GUTAYNAH 1111 2 2 1 2 1 1 2 11 2 2 2 111 2 2
Collector: S. Al-Zaimoor
Accession number: HB 79
Bienertia cycloptera Bge. HARTALLAS 1111 2 1 11 2 2 1 11 111 11 2 11 111 11 11
F.S. AL-SALEH ET AL.

ex Boiss
Collector: A. El-Oqlah
Accession number: HB 1472
Chenopodium murale L. KHOBAITHA 11 2 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Collector: M. Naguib
Accession number: HB 33
Halocnemum strobilaceum TALEETH 11 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 1
(Pall.) M. Bieb.
Collector: M. Naguib
Accession number: HB 779
Halopeplis perfoliata (Forssk.) KHORRAIZ 1111 2 1 11 1 1 2 2 11 2 1 2 111 1 111
Ascers. et Schweinf.
Collectors: A. El-Oqlah and J. Abbas
Accession number: HB 1057
Table 1 continues.
Table 1 (cont.). Phytochemical and antimicrobial activity of the selected members of Chenopodiacae.

Plant Names Vern. Names Chemical constituents Antimicrobial activity*

250µg/disc 500µg/disc

Alk Anth C F Sp S/T T E.c P.a S.a B.s E.c P.a S.a B.s

Haloxylon persicum Bge. RIMTH 11 2 2 1 1 2 1 2 111 2 11 2 111 2 11

Collector: J. Abbas
Accession number HB: 1520
Salsola imbricata Forssk. HADH 1111 2 1 2 111 111 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Collectors: A. El-Oqlah and J. Abbas
Accession number: HB 1471
Salsola villosa Del. ex Roem. GHADRAF 1111 2 1 11 111 11 111 2 11 11 2 2 1111 11 2
Collectors: A. El-Oqlah and J. Abbas
Accession number: HB 1054
Seidlitzia rosmarinus Ehrenb. SHINAN 11 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
ex Bge.
Collector: J. Abbas
Accession number: HB 1521
Suaeda aegyptiaca GULLOMAN 1111 2 2 1 1 1 111 11 1 2 2 11 11 2 2
(Hasselq.) Zoh.
Collector: M. Naguib
Accession number: HB 35
Suaeda vermiculata Forssk. SUWWAD 1111 2 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2
ex J.F. Gmelin
MEDICINAL PLANTS IN BAHRAIN

Collectors: A. El-Oqlah and J. Abbas

Accession number: HB 1507

Alk 5 Alkaloids; Anth 5 Anthraquinons; C 5 Coumarins; F 5 Flavonoids; Sp 5 Saponins; S/T 5 Sterols/Terpenes; T 5 Tannins; E.c 5 E. coli;
P.a 5 P. aeruginosa; S.a 5 S. aureus; B.s 5 B. subtilis.
* Antimicrobial activity was measured as diameter of the inhibition zones (mm) but expressed as (2 to 1111) in the table where: (2) 5 no activity; (1) 5 1–3 mm; (11) 5 3–6 mm; (111) 5 6–9 mm
(1111) ø 9 mm.
41
42 F.S. AL-SALEH ET AL.

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