Fagonia cretica

About: Fagonia cretica is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 59 publications have been published within this topic receiving 519 citations.

Habitat, occurrence and conservation status of the Saharo-Macaronesian and Southern-Mediterranean element Fagonia cretica L. (Zygophyllaceae) in Italy

Abstract: Fagonia cretica L. is an important component of Mediterranean dry grasslands and a rare and isolated species of Italian flora. In this study, an assessment is presented on the distribution, habitat, and conservation status of F. cretica in Italy. The results of field investigation and herbarium analysis show that this species grows in a small area within the southern Calabria region characterized by a warmest and driest Mediterranean climate on the Italian peninsula. F. cretica is a semi-desert plant species growing in Italy in only one peripheral and isolated population at the northern limit of its distribution. Plant community analysis, using the phytosociological method, shows that F. cretica grows in wintergreen perennial dry grasslands dominated by Lygeum spartum and Hyparrhenia hirta. F. cretica plant communities are located in thermo-xeric habits such as south-, southeast- and east-facing slopes on clays and sandy clays in southern Calabria. The population of F. cretica is fragmented in six neighbouring localities, with two of which belonging to a Site of Community Importance (SCI). The conservation status of F. cretica population is not very good, and is defined as “Critically Endangered” in accordance with IUCN criteria. There are many threats affecting the F. cretica population in Italy, primarily the changes in land uses due to urban expansion and reforestation with exotic plants. The southern end of the Italian peninsula hosts other plants from thermo-xeric habits that do not adapt to the current local climate. This territory can be considered as a microrefugia for plants currently distributed in the arid territory of the southern Mediterranean. These results contribute to the discussion of some conservation measures, and the possibility of establishing a micro-reserve. For all these reasons, we propose to include F. cretica in the lists of protected plant species at regional (Calabria) and country (Italy) scales in Italy.

Effects of Fagonia cretica L. Constituents on Various Endocrinological Parameters in Rabbits

Abstract: The effects of powdered Fagonia cretica plant and its two major triterpenoid saponins (saponin-I and saponin-II) on various blood endocrinological parameters. Prolactin namely, serum pro-lactin, serum thyrotropin, serum thyroxine and serum cortisol of normal male rabbits were investi-gated. Two major triterpenoid compounds, saponin-I and saponin-II, were isolated from its ethanolic extract by repeated chromatography on silica gel, sephadex LH-20 and on biogel P-2. These com-pounds were identified after comparing their values of 1 H NMR and 13 C NMR chemical shifts with pre-viously reported values of similar compounds. Radio-immunological assay was used for the estimation of blood hormones of crude drug and saponin-treated animals using radioactive I 125 . The radioactiv-ity of the standard and the unknown specimen in each case was then measured on NE-1612 gamma scintillation counter for 90 seconds. Both the saponins in 30 mg doses had significant decrease in pro-lactin and in the serum TSH levels as compared with crude drug treatment and control groups. The thyroxine level was also significantly reduced by saponin-II in a 30 mg dose while the crude drug and saponin-I had non-significant effects on thyroxine after 16 days. A significant increase in serum corti-sol occurred with the crude drug in a 1g dose and with both saponins in 30 mg roses. Maximum increase in the serum cortisol occurred with saponin-II after 16 days.