Biotechnological potential of israeli desert plants of the negev

Desert plants of the Negev and Beer Sheva bedouin market may provide a rich source of biologically active natural compounds. Screening of 66 desert plants for a variety of biological activities has led to the identification of a few desert plants which contain active compounds for anti-tumor, anti-malaria and mosquito larvicidal activity. Several species were identified as heavy metal accumulators, such plants could be further tested for phytoremediation of polluted soils. Especially high concentration of protein was found in seeds of Peganum harmala, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Corchorus olitorius, Nicotiana glauca, and Sinapis arvensis. Eight species showed above 80% inhibition of wheat-rootlets, 17 species showed above 90% viability inhibition of human melanoma cells in vitro. Extracts of 13 species inhibited above 96% survival of malarial protozoa and 7 species showed high toxicity against mosquito larvae. Further research on the isolation and characterization of the specific active compounds from these species is underway. These plants will be explored further for their biopharmaceutical and industrial uses.