الفهرس 
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Abstract
family Agavaceae includes different genera such as Agave,
Beschomeria, Furcraea, Hesperaloe, Manfreda, Polianthes,
Prochnyanthes, and Yucca.
Over 300 species of Agave have been described but only about 200 are currently recognized. Most Agave species are bat pollinated and produce musky perfumes as attractants others produce sweeter odours to attract insects.
Agave species contain longitudinal fibers with best quality representing the vascular system and used to make clothing and rugs.
Carbohydrates stored in the core of several species of Agave were fermented by native Americans to make a beverage called pulque which is the basis for modem production of mescal.
Genus Agave well known for its content of saponins which are the plant glycosides (natural product) and are characterized by foaming in aquous solution. They also have a hemolytic action. They are highly toxic to cold blooded animals and toxicity appears to be related to their marked activity in lowering surface tension.
Saponins are divided into three groups which are based on the chemical nature of sapogenins and named triterpenoidal saponins, steroidal saponins and alkaloidal saponins.
The sugar portion of saponins often consist of one or mono-saccharide constituent. The ether linkage binding the monosaccharide constituents with each other and with aglycon are known as glycosidic linkage. Saponins have a wide range of biological activities some like hemolytic activity which decrease with the length and branching of glycoside chain, anti-inflammatory activity (Peana, et al.; 1997)antimicrobial, antimitotic, molluscicidal activity (Rana D.; 1993), (Kishor; 1990b) (El Sayed Mortada; 1997), (Ferrer Lopez J. R. et aI., 1993).
The most important economic use of genus Agave is production of alcoholic drink mescal and tequila; these products are worth millions of dollars to the Mexican economy (Bahre C.J. et aI.; 1980). Also Agave species were reported as important plants being a source of food, drink, soap, clothing, ropes, fibers, paper and glue weapons as well as military instruments, medicine, red coloring matter and ornamental plant, (Watt J. M. et al.; 1980), (Shahina A; 1994), (Maurice M; 1993).
Aim of work :-
1- Review of literature on genus Agave
2- Collection of Agave seemanniana(Jacobi) leaves
3- Preliminary phytochemical screening of Agave seemanniana(Jacobi) . 4- Investigation of the lipoidal content of the leaves of Agave
seemanniana(Jacobi) .
5- Phytochemical investigation which includes extraction, isolalation, purification and structure elucidation of the isolated pure compounds from Agave seemanniana(Jacobi)
6- Screening of some pharmacological activity of methanol extract & its saponin containing fraction of Agave seemanniana(Jacobi) .