PHYTOTHERAPEUTIC STUDIES ON BIOPHENOLICS OF GENUS PISTACIA FAMILY ANACARDIACEAE CULTIVATED IN EGYPT

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.