BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Inflammations and immune-related diseases including rheumatoid arthritis are widespread in the entire globe. The treatment of these illnesses is mainly based on the use of synthetic and biotechnological drugs, in recent years. Tunisian traditional medicine is a potential source of new remedies namely Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. (Cucurbitaceae): endemic in southern Tu...

Citrullus colocynthis (Linn.) Schrad. is an important medicinal plant belonging to family Cucurbitaceae. Flavonoid "quercetin" was isolated from in vivo (leaf, stem, fruit and root) and in vitro callus of the species. The dried samples were separately soxhlet extracted in 80% methanol and then reextracted with petroleum ether, diethyl ether and ethyl acetate. The fraction was concentrated and s...

Two new tetracyclic cucurbitane-type triterpene glycosides were isolated from an ethyl acetate extract of Citrullus colocynthis leaves together with four known cucurbitacins. Their structures were established on the basis of their spectroscopic data (mainly NMR and mass spectrometry). Evaluation of the in vitro cytotoxic activity of the isolated compounds against two human colon cancer cell lin...

A qualitative and qwantitative study of the glycosidnl content of the different organs and parts of Citrullus colocynthis SCHRAD. were undertaken. Qualitative study revealed the presence af a-elateri~r 2-D-glucopyranoside and its aglycone in all organs; cucurbitacin B, I , and'L (both free and glycosidal forms) in stents, leaves, and fruits. A suggested procedure for the estimation of a-elateri...

Background: Cucurbitaceae family is one of the best genetically assorted accumulations of restorative plants in the plant kingdom. Previous studies have suggested that Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. plant parts (root, stem, leaf, fruits, and seeds) have been utilized in the traditional system of medicine. Pharmacological activities reported for this plant include antioxidant activity, antim...

Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. (Cucurbitaceae) is a medicinal plant traditionally used as an abortifacient and to treat constipation, oedema, bacterial infections, cancer and diabetes. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the plant showed the presence of large amounts of phenolics and flavonoids. Subsequent quantification showed the presence of 0.74% (m/m) phenolics (calculated as gallic ...

Introduction. Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. is a commonly used medicinal plant especially as a hypoglycemic agent. Case Presentation. Four patients with colocynth intoxication are presented. The main clinical feature was acute rectorrhagia preceeded by mucosal diarrhea with tenesmus, which gradually progressed to bloody diarrhea and overt rectorrhagia within 3 to 4 hours. The only colonoscopic ...