The lipid content of
Atriplex semibacata
growing in Egypt was studied. The unsaponifiable fraction was identified
by GLC. A series of hydrocarbons ranging from C14- C28 in addition to cholesterol, stigmasterol and the triterpenoids α and
β - amyrin were identified. GLC analysis of fatty alcohols fraction revealed the presence of six fatty alcohols in which
dotriacontanol (C
32H
66O) was the major (14.68%). Six compounds (five coumarins and one phenolic acid) were isolated for
the first time from
A. semibacata. The coumarin constituents isolated from the chloroform and the ethyl acetate fractions of
the aqueous alcoholic extract of
A. semibacata were identified as scopoletin, umbelliferorne, coumarin, scopolin, 7-methoxy
coumarin in addition to a phenolic acid P-coumaric acid. Also, the flavonoidal compounds isolated from the
n-butanol
fraction of the plant revealed the presence of kaempferol 3-O glucoside and acacetin. Their identity was proved by m.p.,
TLC, PC, UV and MS analysis. The alcohol extract showed significant antimicrobial activity against G-ve bacteria, moderate
activity against G+ve bacteria. On the other hand, the pet. Ether extract showed marked activity against G+ve bacteria and
fungi, also the G-ve bacteria was greatly inhibited by the chloroform extract. The different extracts of the plant exhibited no
cytotoxic activity against Erlich-ascites carcinoma cells line at the tested concentrations, also showed a strong antioxidant
activity using DPPH.