title: Phytochemical and biological studies of Butia capitata Becc. leaves cultivated in Egypt.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of Butia capitata (B. capitata) leaf extracts along with phytochemical analysis of the proposed bioactive constituents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Different successive extracts of B. capitata Becc. leaves were prepared with selective organic solvents and screened for their anti-inflammatory activities in tested animals and in-vitro antioxidant effect. An extensive phytochemical investigation of the bioactive extracts through paper chromatography, thin layer chromatography, column chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography (GLC), high pressure liquid chromatography and spectral analysis. GC-Mass, ultraviolet, hydrogen and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance, electron ionization-mass spectrometry, heteronuclear multiple bond correlation and heteronuclear multiple quantum correlation were carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that different extracts possess promising antioxidant effect and significant anti-inflammatory activity with variable degrees. The results of the phytochemical investigation of the bioactive extracts revealed the presence of volatile substances, lipoidal matter, α-tocopherol, free sugars, polysaccharides and flavonoidal compounds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  B. capitata leaf extracts were shown to possess variable antioxidant effect, the most promising was methanol extract. Both polar and non polar extracts were proved to have anti-inflammatory activity, the non polar extract was superior in this respect. The bioactivity of the extracts was ascribed to the presence of flavonoids, sterols and α-tocopherol.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacognosy Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, El-Buhouth Street, 12622, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nagwa Mohamed
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Ammar
authors.affiliation: Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohammed Said
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hefnawy
authors.affiliation: Food Sciences and Nutrition Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sahar Youssef
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Al-Okbi
authors.affiliation: Food Sciences and Nutrition Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Doha Abdou
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.affiliation: Tanning Materials and Protein Chemistry, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nabil Khamis
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: El-Sayed
authors.affiliation: Pharmacognosy Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, El-Buhouth Street, 12622, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amira Ahmed
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: El-Anssary
authors.affiliation: Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, The School of Biological Science, Botany Department, Taxas State University, Austin Texas 78713, USA.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mabry
keywords: Butia capitata leaves; anti-inflammatory activity; antioxidant effect; bioactive constituents; rats