author(s) : Abdel-Fattah M. Rizk, Ibrahim A. El-Garf and Husseiny A. H. Elgendy
description
The Amaranthaceae (a dicotyledon) comprises 71 genera and 800 species occurring in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions (Boulos, 1999).
Some plants of the family are used because of their nutritive and medical value (Gu et al., 2008).
Members of the family Amaranthaceae are mostly hardy, weedy, herbaceous and fast-growing cereal like plants that produce high protein grains in large terminal or axial sorghum-like inflorescences (Opute, 1979).
They are noted for their tolerance to arid conditions and poor soils where cereals can not grow with ease (Pal and Khoshoo, 1974).
Some occur naturally as weeds, but others are grown largely as ornamentals or as food.
The protein-rich leaves and succulent stems are widely consumed in many parts of the tropics not only as delicates but also as condiments. Members of the Amaranthaceae are among the world’s under-exploited plants which show promise for improving the quality of life in tropical regions (Opute, 1979; Rizk, 1986).
The grain composition (starch, amino acids, proteins, lipids, vitamins and minerals) and nutritive value of grain proteins of several species of the Amaranthaceae have been reported (e.g. Carlsson, 1997; Zhu et al., 1998).
Chemical studies of the family revealed the presence of triterpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, chromones, alkaloids, pigments. and peptides (Gu et al., 2008).
Genera Count
represented in egypt with Genera
Species
represented in egypt with Species
- Carbohydrates and Proteins
- Lipids
- Terpenoids and Steroids
- Saponins
- Betaines
- Flavonoids and Other Constituents
Achyropsis leptostachya Hook. f. is used as an emetic.
In Tanganyika the young shoot of Celosia trigyna L. has been used as a remedy for tapeworm and roundworm.
Cyathula cappulacea has been associated with acokanthera poisoning. Cyathula spathulifolia Lopr. is used as a leprosy cure in Portuguese East Africa. In Madagascar, Cyathula uniculata is regarded as antisyphilitic.
In Guinea, the latter species is regarded as diuretic and both an infusion and a decoction are used in uterine conditions and in dysenteries; its decoction is also regarded as diuretic.
Gomphrena globosa L. has been used in West Indies and Brazil for cough. Sericocoma avolans Fenzl. is used in the treatment of rheumatism (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962).Pfaffosides, isolated from a Brazilian carrot (Pfaffia paniculata) possess antitumour activity (Takemoto and Odajima,1984).
Also, the fructan isolated from Cyathula officinalis possesses antitumour activity and it could inhibit growth of Lewis pulmonary carcinoma implemented in mice (Chen and Tian, 2003b).
The bicyclic peptides, celogentins A-H and J (isolated from seeds of Celosia argentea) have antimiotic activity (Kobayashi et al., 2001; Suzuki et al, 2003, 2004).Of the Gomphrena species (Gomphrena boliviana, Gomphrena haenkeana, Gomphrena maritiana, Gomphrena meyeniana and Gomphrena perennis) screened by Pomilio et al. (1991), only the petroleum ether extract of Gomphrena boliviana and Gomphrena maritiana showed activity against sarcoma 180.
The aglycones of an oleanane and a taraxane glycoside, isolated from the roots of Gomphrena macrocephala showed cytotoxic activity against HSC-2 human oral squamous carcinoma cells (Kuroda et al., 2006a).
Also, the aglycones of some of the oleanane glycosides isolated from Gomphrena macrocephala roots exhibited tumour-specific cytotoxicity against HSC-2 cells and the IC50 value of an aglycone was almost equal to that of etoposide, used as a positive control (Kurado et al., 2006b).
The antimicrobial activities of several Gomphrena species viz. Gomphrena boliviana, Gomphrena haenkeana, Gomphrena pulchella and Gomphrena maritiana have been reported (Tomes et al., 1986; Pomilio et al., 1992). Extracts of all plant parts of Gomphrena celosioides were active on the autonomic nervous system of rats. Sympathetic and parasympathetic symptoms were observed (Botha and Gerritsma-Van der Vijver, 1986).
location
egypt