Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

Chitosan, Phenyl Alanine (Phe) and Methyl Jasmonate (MeJA) significantly increased the production of polyphenolics in suspension cultures of E. purpurea initiated on MS supplemented with 1.5 mg/L BA and 0.5 mg/L NAA. However, cultures elicited with 4 mM copper sulphate (CuSO4) possessed the highest EC100 in cytotoxicity experiments. Furthermore, Phe, MeJA, CuSO4 and chitosan significantly increased ABTS scavenging properties. Additionally, MeJA and Phe extracts stimulate the phagocytic and yeast intracellular killing activities of PMN. Finally, the anti-inflammatory properties elicited from the cultures of MeJA were the highest and were displayed by their strongest nitric oxide scavenging activity with an EC50 of 6.3 �¼g/ml and the most powerful inhibition of lymph proliferative activity induced by lipopolysaccharides with an EC50 4.5 �¼g/ml.

Biography

Hattem M Mekky is a Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alexandria and the Organiser of the Biotechnology Unit in the School of Pharmacy, University of Alexandria. He is a Visitor Lecturer for 3 months on yearly basis in Oman Assistant Pharmacists Institute. He was awarded the Bachelor’s degree in 1999 and the Master’s degree in 2003 in Pharmaceutical Sciences from The Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt. He was awarded the degree of PhD in 2009 in Tissue Culture and Genetic Engineering from The University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK. His research interests are in phytochemistry, biosynthesis, pharmacology and biotransformation of chemicals using medicinal plants and the comparison between secondary metabolite profiles of wild plants and those produced by plant tissue culture.

Email: mekky990@hotmail.com