الفهرس 
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Abstract
Family Anacardiaceae is a family of 60 genera and 600 species. The members of the family are mainly tropical trees and shrubs. Genera include Mangifera (40 species), Semcarpus (40 species), Rhus (250 species), Anacardium (15 species), Pistacia (10 species), Lannea (70 species), Schinus (30 species), Toxicodendron (15 species). The family is famous for its economic products including mango, Mangifera indica L.; cashew nut, Anacardium occidentale L.; sumac leaves used in tanning, Rhus coriaria L.; mastic resin, Pistacia lentiscus L.; pistachio nuts, Pistacia vera L., for oils and resins and resins as well as several ornamentals. (Evans, 2002)
Family Anacardiaceae is rich in polyphenolic compounds; viz flavonoids, tannins (gallotannins and ellagitannins) with reported antiviral, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic activities especially in Rhus, Pistacia, Spondias and Mangifera species. It also contains saponins and pentadecylcatechols with molluscicidal activity, triterpenoids with anti-inflammatory activities are present in Pistacia, Spondias and Mangifera species. (Atawodi, 2005)
The scope of the work presented in this thesis aims at investigating promising biological activity of Pistacia khinjuk Stocks. that was chosen based on preliminary phytochemical screening of the plant which revealed its richness with a variety of phenolic compounds.
The study is divided into two chapters:
The first one is the biological screening of the anti-inflammatory effect of the aerial part aqueous methanolic extract of Pistacia khinjuk Stocks.
Chapter two includes: Phytochemical screening & investigation of the aqueous methanolic extract of Pistacia khinjuk Stocks.
Phytochemical screening of the aerial parts of Pistacia khinjuk stocks (Anacardiaceae); results revealed the phytochemical constituents of this species to include essential oils, flavonoids, sterols and /or triterpenes, carbohydrates and / or glycosides, alkaloids and tannins. Traces of coumarins and saponin but no anthraquinone.
Chapter One
Antiinflammatory Activity of the Aerial Part Extract of Pistacia Khinjuk Stocks.
1.1. Effect of Pistacia khinjuk Stocks. Extract on Paw Volume and PGE2 in Carrageenin-induced Rat Edema
Intraplantar injection of carrageenin to rats resulted in severe discernible inflammation and significant increase in the mean volume of the challenged paw compared to that of the untreated paws (137.3% of the untreated paws) (Table 7). Pretreatment of rats with Pistacia khinjuk Stocks extract at dose 100 mg/kg significantly inhibited the carrageenin-induced increase in the edema volume of the paws by 46.8%. Similarly, indomethacin-treated group showed significant anti-edema effect (80.8% of the induced paws).
Carrageenin challenge resulted in more than ten-fold increase in PGE2 concentration in inflammatory exudates in group II compared to unchallenged animals in group I (Fig. 2). Animals receiving Pistacia khinjuk stocks extract showed significant reduction of the PGE2 concentration in exudates by 87.45% of the carrageenin-treated animals. The standard indomethacin could lower PGE2 level in carrageenin-challenged animals, approaching normal levels.
1.2. Effect of Pistacia khinjuk Stocks. Extract on Croton Oil-induced Ear Edema, MPO Tissue Activity and Histopathological Changes
Application of croton oil to rat ears caused massive increase in the weight of the ear punch from control by 83.4%. Oral pretreatment of rat ears with 100 mg/kg of Pistacia khinjuk Stocks extract significantly reduced the increase of punch weight from unchallenged ears to about 52.4%. In addition, oral indomethacin (12.5% w/v) produced significant reduction of punch weight from control to 37.4%, as shown in table (8).
Assay of MPO activity in rat ears indicated that application of croton oil increased the enzyme activity by more than 25-fold. Pretreatment with Pistacia khinjuk Stocks extract at dose 100 mg/kg, however, reduced MPO activity by 57.53% of the induced ear. Indomethacin (12.5%) resulted in significant protection against croton oil-induced enhancement of MPO activity (Fig. 3).
Histopathological examination of the ear tissue confirmed those results obtained by assessing MPO activity. Fig. 4, Plate A shows normal histological structure of the epidermal, dermal as well as underlying cartilage with no obvious neutrophil infiltration. The croton oil-treated rats showed massive neutrophil infiltration in the dermal layer (Fig. 4, Plate B). Fig. 4, Plate C, which represents the ear tissue treated with 100 mg/kg of Pistacia khinjuk Stocks extract, shows less cellular infiltration in the dermal layer when compared to croton oil-treated group. Fig. 4, Plate D, corresponding to indomethacin, shows almost intact dermal and cartilaginous structures with few neutrophil infiltration.
1.3. Effect of Pistacia khinjuk Stocks extract on NO and TNF-α in air pouch model
Injection of LPS into the air pouch caused about 10-fold increase of NO production compared to that untreated animals (group I). Injection of Pistacia khinjuk Stocks extract at 100 mg/kg showed significant reduction of NO level by 81.14 %, compared to group II (Fig. 5). Similarly, indomethacin treatment significantly lowered NO level by 85.3%. In addition, LPS injection caused about 4-fold increase in TNF-α level in the pouch exudates compared to untreated group. Treatment with Pistacia khinjuk Stocks extract at dose of 100 mg/kg lowered TNF-α release by 32.62%, as compared to untreated group (Fig. 6). Indomethacin, serving as positive control could lower TNF-α level in LPS-challenged animals, approaching normal levels.
Chapter Two:
1.1. Phytochemical Screening of the Aqueous Methanolic Extract of Aerial Parts of Pistacia Khinjuk stocks
Phytochemical screening of the aerial parts of Pisacia khinjuk
Stocks grown in Egypt indicated that the leaves contain essential oils, flavonoids, sterols and /or triterpenes, carbohydrates and / or glycosides and tannins which is typical to this genus; traces of coumarins and saponins but no anthraquinones.
1.2. Phytochemical Investigation of the Aqueous Methanolic Extract of Pistacia khinjuk Stocks
The aqueous methanolic extract of Pistacia khinjuk Stocks was prepared and subjected to chromatographic fractionation in to yield the sum of 10 fractions. The phytochemical investigation of the tested extract resulted in the isolation and structural elucidation of twenty five compounds belonging to polyphenolics namely flavonoids including aglycones, glycosides. In addition to tannins and their building units.
from the 10 fractions, only seven fractions were fully investigated. These fractions were manipulated through column chromatography for several times leading to the isolation of the individual chemical constituents which were further purified using preparative paper chromatography on Whatmann No. 3MM. compounds were identified by UV, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopic data after comparison with reported data. The main fractions and their corresponding phytochemical components were displayed in the scheme described on p ( ).