Autecology and bioactive metabolites of stellaria pallida growing in north east nile delta, Egypt

Abstract

This study focused on ecological characteristics and bioactive metabolic products of Stellaria pallida (Dumort.) Piré. Twenty eight vascular plants related to 16 families were recorded in S. pallida community type. Poaceae, Barassicaceae and Asteraceae were the most important families. Chenopodium murale, Rumex dentatus and Euphorbia helioscopia were the common associates. Therophytes were the most frequent life-form (85.7%). The floristic composition of this community was strongly influenced by the Mediterranean elements (15 species). S. pallida preferred wet, loamy sand textured, non-saline, fertile and neutral-slightly alkaline soils. The aerial fraction of this Caryophyllaceous weed showed high nutritive value of 276.17 cal. /100 g. The polyphenols and flavonoids contents have been detected with mean values of 1.95 and 5.85%, respectively. The yield of volatile oils of the flowers was 143 mg/100 g. Twenty compounds were identified in the volatile oils of Stellaria pallida flowers.