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Spices are any pungent, aromatic plant substances used to flavor food or beverages. Plant foods and agricultural commodities including spices are increasingly subjected to adulteration by design or default. This study aimed to compare home grinded spices against ready locally prepared ones in Libyan market. Chosen spices were compared according to their percentage of yield, organoleptic features, and pharmacognostic parameters as macroscopic and microscopic characteristics, pH measurement, microbial contamination (total viable count and microbial identification), and thin layer chromatography (TLC) chromatogram and diphenyl picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity. From the results, the ready prepared samples showed to have higher percentage of yield compared to home prepared ones. There were no difference in organoleptic test results, macroscopic and microscopic characteristics and pH test results. Bacteria in spices samples were too many to count (TMTC) in most samples, however thyme, rosemary and cinnamon showed better results. The isolated bacteria were identified as Salmonella, Shigella and E. coli species. TLC chromatogram and DPPH scavenging activity test also showed no difference in both sample groups. All these tests indicates that the samples obtained from market as grinded powder and the same samples of spices that was brought as a raw materials and grinded at home had the same characteristics, which indicated that they are of the same quality which not necessary to be a good one. arabic 12 English 75
Sakina Salem Mohammed Saadawi, , , AMAL .A ABOALLA AMMAR, (1-2015)

Oil and its derivatives spills have been a major issue across decades and it is hard to biodegrade even though there are many techniques are being developed to clean up petroleum contaminated soil. Phytoremediation has long been applied as a treatment technology that is cost-effective, ecologically friendly and efficient for the decontamination of hydrocarbon pollution. In this study, four crude oil contaminated soil samples were collected from oil extraction fields in Libya. Three plants were chosen (Malva punilora, Ricinus communis and Triticum repens) on 0.5% and 1% crude oil contaminated soil .The chosen plant species were implanted individually in the contaminated soil pots. Soil sample (triplicate) was taken from each pot at zero time, after 15 days. After 30 days and after 45 days of experiment. Hexane was added to the soil samples, mixed, filtered and the absorbance was measured using spectrophotometer at 360 nm. The results were compared to the standard curve to calculate the crude oil concentration and percentage of removal. As a result the highest percentage of removal of 0.5 % crude oil contaminated soil was by Triticum repens (94%) after 30 days of experiment followed by Malva parviflora(88.5) and Ricinus communis(77 %). While in 1% crude oil contaminated soil pots experiment, the highest percentage of removal was by Malva parviflora (89%) after 30 days of experiment followed by Triticum repens (80%) and Ricinus communis (76 %). Triticum repens showed good results suggesting more field application. arabic 15 English 97
Sakina Salem Mohammed Saadawi, , AMAL .A ABOALLA AMMAR, , (1-2015)

The inhibitory effects of Mitrella kentii leaf and stem extracts on the production prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and antagonist effect on platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor binding were evaluated. The inhibition of PGE2 and TXB2 productions were determined using the radioimmunoassay technique, and the inhibitory effect of PAF receptor binding to rabbit platelet was determined using the 3H-PAF as a ligand. Among the extracts tested, ethyl acetate, methanol and hexane leaf extracts, and methanol stems extract showed inhibitory effects on PGE2 and TXB2 productions and antagonistic effect on PAF receptor binding. M. kentii extracts may have the potential of being developed as supplements for inflammatory conditions. arabic 14 English 86
Sakina Salem Mohammed Saadawi, Malina Jasamai, Juriyati Jalil, Ibrahim Jantan(9-2019)

Mosquitoes can transmit more diseases than any other group of arthropods and affect millions of people throughout the world. They act as a vector for most of the life-threatening diseases like malaria, yellow fever and dengue fever. The major tool in mosquito control operation is the application of synthetic insecticides such as organochlorine and organophosphate compounds. Use of many of the former synthetic insecticides in mosquito control program has been limited due to high cost, environmental sustainability, harmful effect on human health, and other non-target populations, their non-biodegradable nature, higher rate of biological magnification through ecosystem, and increasing insecticide resistance on a global scale. One of the most effective alternative approaches under the biological control program is to explore the floral biodiversity and enter the field of using safer insecticides of botanical origin as a simple and sustainable method of mosquito control. This study aimed to evaluate larvicidal and pupicidal effect of five plant extracts (thyme, peppermint and citronella leaf extracts, clove buds extracts and lemon peels extract). Methanol extracts of thyme, peppermint and citronella leaf, clove buds and lemon peels were tested for their larvicidal and pupicidal activity. The standard WHO guideline for larvicides and pupicides evaluation was used. Three plant extract concentrations were prepared (25, 50 and 100 mg/ml) and tested on 20 larvae and 20 pupas (3rd and 4th instars) for each concentration on white enamel trays. Mortality percentage were calculated after 24 hrs. where larvae who doesn’t show swimming movement considered dead. Adult mosquitoes were identified to genus level. Thyme showed the highest % of yield (56%) followed by clove, peppermint, lemon and citronella with 13, 13, 8 and 5 % of yield respectively. The highest mortality % of larvae were by clove with 100% for the three tested concentrations, followed by thyme, lemon and peppermint. Citronella gave no effect as larvicidal agent. In pupicida activity test, thyme showed the highest activity followed by clove. Lemon didn’t show any pupicidal activity. Mosquito was identified as Culex. This result clearly reveals that buds extract of E. caryophyllus and leaf extracts of T. vulgaris and peels extract of C. limonoids could serve as a potential larvicidal agents against the Culex mosquito. The mode of action and larvicidal efficiency of these plant spp. extract should be scrutinized and determined. Besides, further investigation regarding the effect on non-target organism is extremely important and imperative in the near future. arabic 11 English 79
Sakina Salem Mohammed Saadawi, , , (4-2019)

Caffeine has dose-dependent effects on mood, attention, and physiology. Behavioral effects of caffeine in humans have also been well documented. This article aimed to study the effect of different caffeine concentrations on behavior and motor activity of mice. The experiments was carried out using 24 male mice (25-30gm). Plus maze was used for screening of antianxiety effect of caffeine. While swimming maze was used to test antidepressant effect. Statistical analysis were performed using computer program SPSS (version 22). At dose of 100 mg/kg, caffeine acted as anxiolytic compound. Caffeine increased motor activity at dose of 25mg/kg and decreased motor activity at dose of 200mg/kg. At dose of 100mg/kg, caffeine acted as antidepressant. In conclusion, caffeine can act as stimulant, while in over dose it acts as depressant. Caffeine showed to have anxiolytic effect in certain doses. arabic 14 English 91
Sakina Salem Mohammed Saadawi, ٍSuhera Mehemed Abdulsalam Aburawi, SUMAYA ESEDEEG ABDALLAH BAAIO(4-2018)

Caffeine is the most commonly used psychoactive substance throughout the world. It is found in coffee, black tea, and chocolate, as it is produced naturally in the beans and leaves of the plants used to manufacture these products. This study aimed to make a survey study among children 2-11 years in some Tripoli, Libya schools to determine caffeine concentration in number of beverages and foods consumed by studied children. About 313 copies of the questionnaire were distributed to students to be filled by their parents. Caffeine was extracted from samples using dichloromethane. Purity of isolated caffeine was estimated by using TLC method.Quantitative analysis of caffeine was performed by using a UV-Visible spectrophotometer. Chocolate biscuits, chocolate cake, cocoa milk and chocolate ice cream were the highest consumed products among the studied children (81%, 79%, 67% and 63% respectively). The highest side effects of caffeine consumption was hyperactivity was the highest side effect in children (76%). Some children also suffered from severe side effects such as panic attack (14%). Naseem ice cream sample showed the highest caffeine content (28 mg/serving) among solid samples.Whereas in the beverages, energy drink samples Red pull, XIR and Shark were 268, 262 and 250 mg/serving respectively. In conclusion, there was excessive consumption of caffeine among the studied group of children and some of them showed side effects and even severe side effects. Variety of tested foods and beverages under the study contained uncontrolled concentrations of caffeine. In addition, chocolate milk (Al Rayhan), contained no caffeine. arabic 15 English 97
Sakina S. Saadawi, Khairi A. Alennabi, AMAL .A ABOALLA AMMAR, , , ٍSuhera Mehemed Abdulsalam Aburawi(9-2019)

Aims: The study is intended to compare the freshly collected henna (Lawsonia inermis L.) and the market henna in term of microscopical key elements and heavy metals contamination. Moreover, this study is aimed to investigate the effect of henna and its oily additives on kidney histology in female mice. Study Design: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tripoli and Animals House, Biotechnology Research Center in 2010. Methodology: The powders of collected and market henna have been subjected to a microscopical study with magnification of 5x then 40 x to investigate the henna key elements, which are calcium oxalate clusters, anomocytic stomata, starch grains and fibers. Three elements: arsenic (As), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pd) were analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAs) for the collected and market henna. For histopathological study, an aqueous extracts of L. inermis leaves and L. inermis leaves-oils were prepared by maceration. Eighteen female Albino Wister mice (3-4-months, 20-25 gm) were injected with the prepared extracts subcutaneously by dose 50 ml/kg/day for 5 days. Kidneys were collected and subjected to histopathological study. Results: From this study, the microscopical investigation exhibited the presence of some elements which are never mentioned as the henna key elements. Both market and collected henna were contaminated with a high level of heavy metals specially lead (Pd). The histopathological findings implied that there are many histological changes on the kidney tissues such as aggregation of round cells and congestion of blood vessels. Conclusion: The market henna might be adulterated with other types of plant. The presence of a high concentration of lead (Pd) in the collected henna as well as the market henna might be considered as the cause of some L. inermis adverse effects. L. inermis leaves and L. inermis leaves-oils aqueous extracts implied many abnormalities in the kidney tissues. arabic 17 English 102
Sakina S. Saadawi, Hanin N. Mughrbi, Mukhtar R. Haman, Surur A. Ahmed, Laila A. Ghashout, Elsayed R. Elattar(5-2020)

Aims: This article aimed to study the effect of different caffeine concentrations on behaviour and motor activity of mice. Place and Duration of Study: This study took place in Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tripoli, and was conducted between 2017 to 2018. Methodology: The experiment was carried out using 24 male mice (25-30 gm). Plus maze was used for screening antianxiety effect of caffeine. While swimming maze was used to test the antidepressant effect. Descriptive statistics was performed using SPSS (version 22), followed by one sample Kolmogorov-Simirnov test. One-Way ANOVA was applied to compare between groups and Post Hoc test (LSD). Results: At a dose of 100 mg/kg, caffeine produce significant decrease in the duration of immobility using forced swimming maze; while the lower (25 mg/kg) and the higher (200 mg/kg) doses did not produce any changes compared to the control. In plus maze, Caffeine decreases the anxiety measure at the dose used of 100 mg/kg; but did not change the anxiety measure when lower (25 mg/kg) or higher (200 mg/kg) doses used compared to the control. The spontaneous motor activity was decreased significantly after administration of the higher dose of 200 mg/kg; the lower dose (25 mg/kg) showed insignificant increase, while the dose of 100 mg/kg produce insignificant decrease in the spontaneous motor activity. Conclusion: Caffeine has dose dependent effect, in a dose 100 mg/kg it produce anxiolytic and antidepressant like action, while lower (25 mg/kg) and higher (200 mg/kg) doses did not show any changes. Caffeine also produce dose dependent decrease in the spontaneous motor activity, this indicate that caffeine produce CNS depression with higher doses. arabic 12 English 73
Sakina S. Saadawi, Khairi A. Alennabi, Sumaya Baayo, Amera Fares, Najwa Alosta, Suher M. Aburawi(3-2020)