مركبات الأيض الثانوية في أربع عشائر مختلفة من نبات التنضب

Abstract EN

As natural metabolites in range plants of Saudi Arabia did not receive great attention by researchers, this study is aimed to (1) evaluate the presence of secondary metabolites in four populations of Capparis decidua, an important browse species that occurs in isolated populations in Saudi Arabia and (2) relate the presence and concentration of these compounds to climatic and edaphic factors prevailing in each site. Four sites, where C.

decidua grows naturally, were selected (Riyadh, Medina, Taif and Farasan).

Current year vegetative growth samples were collected from each site.

At the laboratory, a general plant assay was performed to evaluate the overall chemical compounds present in the plant.

Detailed study was limited to groups of chemicals present in fair quantities.

These are the steroids and flavonoids.

Detailed methods of chemical extraction and apparatus used were described.

Preliminary chemical assays indicated that C.

decidua contains Steroids, flavonoids and trace amounts of coumarins.

As the steroids and flavonoids were the major group of chemical components present in the plant, they received further evaluations.

It appeared that there were several steroids of which -Sitosterol Stigmasterol and Campesterol were the most important.

On the other hand, Kaempferol, Rutin and Quercetin were the major flavonoids.

Populations of C.

decidua differed in their concentrations of these metabolites apparently because of their differences in climatic factors.