Usefulness of Cyperus In Saudi Arabia - Essay Example

Introduction Cyperus is a big genus that has approximately 600 sedges species. It can be found in both the temperate and tropical zones. The various species are either perennial or annual plants. They grow in waters and in water levels with a depth of 5 centimeters. Other species grow up to 0.5 meters deep. The various species differ in sizes whereby the smaller species grow to a height of 5cm with others go as far as 5m tall. The common names of the plant include umbrella sedges, papyrus sedges, nut sedges, galingales and flat sedges. The plant belongs to order poales and family cyperaceae. The stems of some of the plants have a circular cross section; others are triangular with no leaves on a big part of the length of the stem. The plant is useful for various purposes including production of oil and therapeutic purposes. It has been used for years in many areas to treat various diseases. Saudi Arabia has a number of plants that that can be classified as hydrophytes which grow in water areas. The cyperus is one of them and has a number of species that are exploited for various purposes. For the sake of this study Cyperus rotundus species has been chosen for examination. This species also occurs in Saudi Arabia and is useful for a number of purposes. Cyperus rotundus is also called purple nut sedge, coco grass or red nut sedge. It is a species of sedge or Cyperaceae found natively in Southern Asia, Africa, Central and Southern Europe especially the north of Austria and France. The name cyperus come from Greek kuperos while ‘rotundas’ comes from Latin which means ‘round’ Barth (2006). Botanical study Cyperus rotundus normally grows wild on land that has been cultivated, hill grass lands, water sides and even on road sides. It is also called cyperus purpuro-variegatus Boeckeler, Cyperus stoloniferum pallidus Boeckeler, Cyperus tetrastachyos Desf, Cyperus tuberosus Roxb and Chlorocyperus rotundus (L) palla. It is common as a weed in Suriname and is herbaceous with brown flowers. The leaves have a conspicuous vein on their under side. The spike lets on the plant are red brown with not more than 40 flowers. The triangular stems have strong stem clumps which form in good conditions Kulshrestha, Gupta, and Bhargava,(1970). Leaves range from green to yellow in color and have a distinct ridge. It rarely produces seedlings. Most young plants are formed from the tubers or rhizomes. Leaves have no ligules but have a distinct ridge at the mid-vein. However they are mistaken for grass. Both tubers and rhizomes can be found on one plant. Tubers are ridged, oblong, initially with a white color which later turns black or brown with a bitter taste. Purple nutsedge has tuber chains which can be found on whole rhizome.  For it to grow the plant needs moist and sunny conditions. It attains a height of 0.6m to 1m. Its scented flowers carry both female and male organs. It is hard for the plant to grow under a shade Umerie, Ezeuzo, (2000). The plants have thin leaves that look like grass at the plant’s base and also at the apex where they appear in a whorl especially if the stem is a flowering one. Their flowers have a green color and are pollinated by wind and appear in clusters in the leaves at the apex. They have small nutlet leaves. Cyperus plants are grown in some countries like Egypt for their seeds which are edible and the potential they carry as bio-fuels. They have a smell and tastes which is close to that of olive oil and can therefore be substituted with olive oil Singh, Kulshrestha, Gupta, & Bhargava, (1970). Cyperus survives when planted in places with desert conditions since it does not require fertilizers or clay soil. It can also tolerate land salinity as well as water scarcity. It is believed that Cyperus rotundas has its origin in India but later spread from there to other places in the last 2000 years. The rhizome is utilized in Ayurvedic medicine and is called mustaka. In today’s ayurvedic medicine application it primarily treats problems in the digestive system as well as fevers. It is known as a diuretic although it works in combination with other diuretics for it to produce good results in the treatment of urinary problems. It is astringent and bitter, pungent, dry, cold, light and pacifying Oseny & Osalam (2001). Cyperus rotundus can grow to 40cm in height and is normally perennial. The names ‘nut sedge’ and ‘nut grass’ which are shared with Cyperus esculentes which is related to it come from the tubers of the plant that look like nuts although they are not related to nuts botanically. Just like the rest of the cyperaceae leaves comes out in ranks each having 3 leaves beginning at the base of the stem. The cross section of the flower stems is triangular. The flowers of the plant are bi-sexual and have a 3 stigma carpel Harborne, Williams, & Wilson (1982). ‘The fruit is a 3 angled achene.’ When the plant is young, its root system has fleshy white rhizomes. Some of its rhizomes grow towards the top of the soil before they form a structure that looks like a bulb on which roots and new shoots grow. New rhizomes grow from the roots. Some rhizomes grow in the horizontal direction or down wards forming tuber chains or dark reddish brown tubers Singh et al (1970). Cyperus rotundus is among the most invasive types and has managed to spread through out the temperate and tropical regions. It is described as the worst weed in the world because it is a weed affecting ecosystems in more than 90 countries and is known to infest more than 50 crops all over the world. Whenever the species is in a field it reduces the yield of crops because it causes tough competition on the resources in the ground. It is also allelopathic in that its roots release substances which harm other plants growing near it. It has negative effects on ornamental gardening as well. It is hard to control because it has an intensive network of tubers growing underground and can resist many herbicides Oseny & Osalam (2001). Plastic mulch has been found unable to control it. Pulling of weeds causes the roots to break which makes tubers remain in the ground. New plants grow from these tubers almost immediately. Ploughing is ineffective in controlling them since it distributes tubers within the farm. This makes the infestation worse and even if the tubers are cut into pieces young new plants are capable of growing from the pieces. The tubers are hardy and can endure harsh environmental conditions which compound the problems of eradicating the weed. Many herbicides destroy the leaves on the plant but many of them don’t affect the roots and tubers. Glyphosphate kills many of the plants and their tubers and continued application bears fruits Barth (2006). Role of Cyperus rotundus in ethnobotany and ethnomedical practices The roots of the plant especially the bulb have a lot of value as medicines and are exploited as medicines locally. It is applied externally and internally as well. If the oil extracted from the roots is put in the eyes conjunctivitis heals the pain ocular discharges and redness. When its paste is applied on the outside it alleviates itching and bad odor resulting from too much sweating and is important in the treatment of skin problems such as eczema, scabies. When the paste is applied on to breasts it helps in milk purification. In people who are obese the dry powder is massaged on to the body it helps in the reduction of subcutaneous fat deposits Singh (1970). Inside the body the plant can heal several diseases. It is a very good herb and can really be beneficial in digestive problems. It stimulates appetite very well and also stimulates ama digestion. Therefore it can be used effectively for treating vomiting, distaste, colitis, diarrhea, worms and dyspepsia. The herb is very effective in the treatment of dental diarrhea in small children. It can work perfectly when combined with Rhus succedanea and Aconitum heterophyllum in those conditions. When it comes to dental ciarrhoea the plant’s decotion is effective when in combination with its powder. In cases of mental epilepsy and debility the medicine is applied together with the milk of a cow. It is important in diarrhea which comes with fever and too much thirst Singh (1970). It treats fever effectively and deals with cases of asthma and cough. It is also used in the regulation and promotion of menstruation. It therefore acts as an emmenagogue. It can therefore be used in combination with Asparagus racemosus in urinary calculi, burning micturition heamatura among other cases. If the tuber is dried and the made to produce hot water extracts it can heal problems with the liver, malaria and jaundice. If the whole plant is dried the decotion obtained can be used to treat problems where worms come out via the anus and mouth. In such a decotion there is Berberis aristata, Embelia ribes, cyperus rotundas, baliospermum and piper longum. When mixed with ‘patola’ and honey the decotion is helpful in the restoration of consciousness in unconscious people Harborne, Williams, & Wilson (1982). For cases of skin complications Cyperus rotundus is mixed with others like Zingeber officinale and Tinospora cordifolia with an equal portion of decoction of Aconitum heterophyllum after which they are taken through the mouth. For bloody diarrhea which is chronic and comes with pains in the abdomen the decoction of Aconitum heterophyllum, Coleus vetiveroides, Holarrhea antidysenterica and Cyperus rotundas is given orally Barth (2006). The tuber when dried and then mixed with the roots of Rehmannia glutinosa, the bark of Phellodondron amurense, root of Scutelleria baicalensis, and the bark of Ailanthus blandulosa and administered as vaginal suppository is applied for constipation, ‘leucorrhea with thirst’ back ache, abdominal pains among patients suffering from vaginal cancer Oseny & Osalam (2001). Hot water extracted from the plant’s tuber is useful in the treatment of dysmenorrheal and alleviation of pains. The bulb can treat sore throats especially if it is still fresh Marambe (1995). Cyperus also produces oil which is called oleic acid which comprises a third of the oil produced by the plant. The oil has an advantage because it cannot break down and therefore is more durable. Cyperus has about 23% oil. The method used in the extraction of oil is similar to the one used for olive oil extraction Kapadia, Naik, Wadia, Dev (1967). Photochemistry of Cyperus rotundus Ferredoxin was isolated from 5 plants characterized with a high capacity of photosynthesis and which cause the reduction of carbon dioxide during photosynthesis via the ‘C4-dicarboxylic acid cycle (C4 cycle).’ “The ferredoxins in the C4 cycle have been characterized as to their biological activity and physical and chemical properties” Kulshrestha, Gupta, and Bhargava, (1970).They were compared to ferredoxin obtained from plants like spinach with a reduced capacity of photosynthesis which reduce carbon dioxide by photosynthesis. Ferredoxins of the ‘C4 cycle plants’ can fully be interchanged on ‘a molar basis’ with ferredoxin from spinach ‘ferredoxin in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate’, photophosphorylation and in cytochrome cphotoreduction with or without an exogenous electron acceptor making use of either Bermuda grass and spinach chloroplasts Kulshrestha, Gupta, and Bhargava, (1970). Intensive studies have been done on Nutsedge Cyperus rotundas L. ferredoxin and a resemblance with spinach ferredoxin has been discovered in electron spin resonance signal, absorption spectrum and labile sulphur per mole of protein, isoelectric point pI = 3.6, electrophoretic mobility, 2:2:1; molecular weight, 11,700; amino acid composition and total residues, 97–98’. It is a protein with one electron acceptor characteristics. Nutsedge ferredoxin has its carboxyterminal as glycine and its amino-terminal amino acid is serine. Serine is different from spinach ferredoxin which has its two terminal amino acids as alanine Kulshrestha, Gupta, and Bhargava, (1970). The pattern of the fingerprint from ‘nutsedge ferredoxin hydrolysate’ were found to have only a single main peptide of all the 7 peptides which have properties of mobility like those of a peptide taken from a spinach ferredoxin hydrolysate that is similar. When a comparison was done on the basis of chlorophyll it was shown that the plants of the C4 cycle had higher ferredoxin amounts compared to plants of the pentose cycle Harborne, Williams, & Wilson (1982).The discussion of the results in part gave an explanation as to the high capacity of photosynthesis in the plants of the C4 cycle. It also proposed that the plants of the C4 cycle have a link in terms of evolution to plants of the pentose cycle. Cyperus rotundus essential oil has more than 27 components among them unidentified constituents, monoterpenes, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, aliphatic alcohols, ketones, and epoxides. (+) epoxyquaine and (+) copadiene have also been found Kulshrestha, Gupta, and Bhargava, (1970). Phytochemistry Just like any other plant, Cyperus has many chemical constituents and most of them display pharmacological activity. However the most active components are the sesquiterpenes. They are spicy tasting aromatic molecules. The major sesquiterpenes that have been identified in cyperus are plants are: Alpha-cyperone, Beta-pinene, Linoleic-acid,  1,8-cineole, D-epoxyguaiene, Cyperenone, Kobusone, Beta-cyperone, Linolenic-acid, Oleanolic-acid-3-o-neohesperidoside, Copaene, Camphene, Calcium, Mustakone, Myristic-acid, Oleic-acid, Patchoulenone, Oleanolic-acid, and Manganese Kapadia, Naik, Wadia, Dev (1967). Others include Sugeonol, Rotundone, Polyphenols, patchoulenone, P-cymol, Rotundene, D-copadiene, Flavonoids, 4alpha,5alpha-oxidoeudesm-11-en-3-alpha-ol, Cyperene, isokobusone, Sugetriol,alfa-cyperone, Rotundenol, Isocyperol, Alkaloids, Beta-selinene, kobusone, Gamma-cymene, Cyperolone Cyperotundone D-fructose, Alpha-rotunol, D-glucose, Beta-rotunol, Limonene, sugeonol, cyperotundone, Beta-selinene, Magnesium, Sitosterol, Cyperol, Selinatriene, cyperene, Stearic-acid, Pectin and Eo Kapadia, Naik, Wadia, Dev (1967). Cyperus has other terpenes as well which include the common component of plants called pinene and many other derivatives obtainedfrom sesquiterpenes like cyperol, cyperone and isocyperol. Cyperus has other phytochemicals apart from the ones listed above which include; Beta-selinene, camphene; P-cymene; copadiene; alfa-rotunol; patchoulenone; sugeonol acetate; segeonol; Beta-cyperone; epoxyguaine; calamene; cyperenone; alfa-copaene, patchoulenylacetate; rhamnetin-3-O-rhamnosyl-(1-4)-rhamnopyran-oside; caryophyllene; selinatriene; Beta-elemene, 1,8-cineole, isocyperol; isocyperone; cyperolone, Gama-cadinene; alfa-humulene; cyperol; ; 4alfa-5alfa-oxidoeudesm-11-en-3Beta-ol, cyperene; Beta-pinene; Glucose(8.3~9.1%), starch (40%~41.1%); protein (4.9%); Mg,1285.7ug; Fructose(1.0%~1.7%); Harborne, Williams, & Wilson (1982).    The active constituents occur in volatile oils obtained from Cyperus rhizomes which constitutes approximately 0.5 to 1% of the rhizome when dried. If the rhizome is cooked for long these constituents may lose some of their portion. Major pharmacological effects are analgesic and antispasmodic Sonwa, Koenig, (2001). Cyperus rotundus L. essential oil is composed of is obtained through extraction by supersonic using mixed solvent. Chemical components are extracted, identified and then their contents are measured using GC/MS. Major components include cyperene (15.73), alpha-copaene (1.97%), alpha-cyperone(26.15 %), oxo-alpha-ylangene (3.00%); 4,4alpha,5,6,7,8,-hexahydro-4alpha, alpha-gurjunene (1. 29%), 2-methoxy-8-methyl-1, beta-selinene (17.99%),5-dimethyl-3-(1-methyl ethylidene)-2 (3H)-naphthalenone (8.11%), longipinocarvone (1.11%),4-naphthalenedione (4.01%), and alpha-hisaholene (2. 14%) amongothers. These compounds with high content are the ones that characterize Cyperus rotundus L. They are used as the identification index or quality estimation of medicines Kapadia, Naik, Wadia, Dev (1967). Pharmacology Cyperus rotundus has been found to possess various pharmacological effects such as relieving the intestines and the stomach for gases. It has been used for centuries in various parts of the world including the Middle East for treating various problems and for oil production as well. It treats infections in Amazonia and epilepsy in Africa. The properties found in Cyperus are anthelmintic, analgesic, antifungal, antibacterial, antispasmodic, carminative, sedative, astringent, and hypotensive. Kulshrestha, Gupta, and Bhargava,(1970). It treats menstrual disorders, liver menstrual pains, infertility, stimulates memory and digestion, treats diarrhea and is also applied in places where there are cases of cancer of the cervix. Research has shown that anticariogenic properties from Cyperus rotundus extracts can prevent the cariogenic properties displayed by Streptococcus mutans. More research is required in order to specify the real active constituents which cause these biomolecular activities Sonwa, Koenig, (2001). A study was carried out in order to examine the capacity of Cyperus rotundus tuber extracts to heal wounds. An alcoholic part of the tuber was evaluated for the activity of wound healing. The wound healing ability comes from the active principles that enhance the process of healing and provides breaking strength for the wound that has healed. The ointment obtained from Cyperus extracts has the ability to heal wounds. This was shown by all doses tested. It can be compared to those in Nitrofurazone ointment in the way it contracts wounds, tensile strength the time used to close up wounds. Nitrofurazone treats infected burns and infections in the skin from skin grafts. It operates by preventing bacterial growth or killing them Singh, Kulshrestha, Gupta, and Bhargava,(1970). Cyperus rotundus crude extract was applied for its anti-inflammatory activity. From the test there was observed a hind paw volume decrease at doses of 300mg/kg and 500mg/kg which were given orally. A significant effect dependent on the dose was seen at a higher dose although it was not more than aspirin as a comparison standard drug. The highest level of anti-inflammatory activity was seen to begin after one hour and after four hours of application it started falling. The relaxation of muscles decreased behavior that was being explored through sedation production. Since all hypotensives act as sedatives it follows that C. rotundus is also hypotensive. The drug displayed a small impact on muscle relaxation activity Sonwa, Koenig, (2001). Clinical studies Clinical trials done on Cyperus rotundus indicated a 2'1 efficacy aqueous extract solution of Cyperus rotundus in twenty six conjunctivitis patients. For a long time the herb was used in diarrhea treatment. It is more useful when there is diarrhea that has mucus in it. Its application is common in fever cases. It can also be used as a deodorant and anti-perspirant. Treatment of Streptococcus mutans In dental caries and dental plaque formation streptococcus mutans is known to play a major role. The experiment was meant to study how a tuber extract of Cyperus rotundus affects the production of acid, growth, adhesion and the synthesis of glucan -which is insoluble in water-by S. mutans. Production of acids and the growth were lowered by Cyperus rotundas extract in a way that depended on the dose. The C. rotundus extract significantly interfered with the sticking of the bacteria to hydroxyapatite beads (HAs) coated with saliva Kapadia, Naik, Wadia, Dev (1967). Sticking was inhibited by over 50% at a concentration of the extract of about 0.5mg/ml. Total inhibition was seen at 4mg/ml concentration of the extract. On the action of glucosyltransferase (GTFase) which is responsible for the synthesis of glucan -which is insoluble in water- from sucrose, Cyperus rotundus extract exhibited an inhibition of over 10% at a 2mg/ml concentration. This shows that Cyperus rotundas has the capacity to inhibit cariogenic properties within Streptococcus mutans. More trials are required in order to specify the C. rotundas constituents which perform these biomolecular activities. Research should therefore be focused on discovering the constituents that are most useful Zhu, Luk, Fung, Luk (1997). Anti-Bacterial Activity Cyperus rotundus can be used for several different purposes which are based on various plant parts. Medicinal applications of Cyperus have been there for many centuries. The parts use are the seeds, oil and leaves. Extraction was done through steam distillation. The optimum organic extractant was then determined. Identification of the oil produced was done through thin layer chromatography by use of a ethylacetate and toluene at a ratio of 1:9 as the eluent in the chromatography Kapadia, Naik, Wadia, Dev (1967). The purpose of the experiment was for extraction and identification of essential oil from Cyperus rotundus. The Cyperus oil antibacterial activity was investigated for different microorganisms thus: Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes, Proteus vulgaris and Eschirichia coli by use of aromatogram or the inhibition zone method Gupta, Palit, Singh & Bhargava (1971). Estimation was done for the MBC and MIC of every microbe. C. rotundus oil displayed a much activity on Gram positive bacteria. Little antibacterial action was seen against Gram negative bacteria. The oil however had no impact on proteus vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Novel method was used in the extraction and then the identification of the chemical make up of Cyperus oil from Iraq. The investigation into the oil’s biological activities is crucial since there is a need for determination of whether there exists a correlation between the chemical compounds obtained from Cyperus rotundus oil and the biological activities Kapadia, Naik, Wadia, Dev (1967). Antibacterial Activity Since there are many traditional claims over the ability of Cyperus rotundus in diabetes treatment, there were studies done to find out its effect on hyperglycemia induced by alloxan in rats. 500mg/kg of the cyperus extract were administered orally on daily basis for 7 days. The results obtained showed that blood sugar levels were lowered. The antihyperglycemic activity was due to the antioxidant activity since it displayed ‘a firm DPPH radical scavenging activity in vitro’ Gupta, Palit, Singh & Bhargava (1971). Antioxidant activity The antioxidant activities of the rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus extract were examined in a number of successive vitro assays which involved reactive oxygen species and free radicals whereby the IC50 values had to be determined. The cyperus rhizomes extract displayed its scavenging effects in a manner depended on concentration on superoxide negative radicals, nitric oxide radical, hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide, and ‘property of metal chelating and reducing power’ Sonwa, Koenig, (2001). Studies were also carried out on the extract for lipid peroxidation assay using thiobarbituric acid reactive substances by use of old and young mitochondria from the brain of a rat. The extract displayed success in the inhibition of mitochondrial lipid peroxidation triggered by Iron sulphate ascorbate in a manner dependent on concentration. The results realized in this investigation show that the rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus extract may be useful in natural antioxidant production Gupta, Palit, Singh & Bhargava (1971). Radical scavengers and antimutagens This study examine antimutagenic as well as mutagenic activities of aqueous ‘total oligomers flavonoids’, methanol extracts and ethyl acetate obtained from the upper parts of the plant Cyperus rotundas using the systems of Salmonella typhimurium assay. When subjected to tests with strains of Salmonella typhimurium; TA100, TA98, TA1538 and TA1535, with or minus S9 mix the various extracts did not display any mutagenicity. Contrarily, results indicated that all the extracts used have antimutagenic action against Aflatoxin B1 in the TA98 and the TA100 assay system and also against sodium azide in TA1535 and TA100 assay system Zhu, Luk, Fung, Luk (1997). Ethyl acetate, methanol extracts and total oligomers flavonoids showed the highest level of inhibition of the Ames response triggered by the mutagen AFB1. Methanol extracts and ethyl acetate showed the highest protection level on the induced response of direct mutagen sodium azide. To add to antimutagenic action the extracts displayed a significant scavenging activity on free radicals towards the free radical 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The IC50 values displayed were 15mg/ml for total oligomers flavonoids, 14mg/ml for ethyl acetate and 20mg/ml for methanol extracts Harborne, Williams, & Wilson (1982). Relevance of Cyperus rotundus in health promotion policies The world health organization policy on traditional medicine states that; "WHO collaborated with its Member States in the review of national policies, legislation and decisions on the nature and extent of the use of traditional medicine in their health systems." The traditional medicine program is aimed at facilitating the incorporation of traditional medicine within the health care systems of various nations. In the WHA 42.43 resolution of 1989 the member states were encouraged by the health council to evaluate their traditional medicines comprehensively, to assess and make an inventory into the medicinal plants that the traditional healers use as well as the population Kapadia, Naik, Wadia, Dev (1967). Australia’s national guidelines on traditional medicine classified as complementary medicine go hand in hand with the WHO policies which promote traditional medicinal use. The guidelines have five parts which provide information medicine registration, listed complementary medicines, and evaluation of the substances used in medicines, general; information on traditional medicine and other things Pal, Dutta, (2006). Cyperus rotundus has various medicinal used which are outstanding such as treatment of skin problems, cervical cancer, diarrhea and fever. These uses and many other give it its therapeutic relevance. As a result it should be elevated in the legislation as a product that has unique importance. Policies must be created in Australia which will make it more important at a national level. More research should then be facilitated through these policies so that the medicinal importance of the plant can be exploited more. It has the potential to promote the health of the people of Australia especially if it is used in combination with other medicines. It can also be used in aromatherapy and therefore can serve many purposes Morimoto, Komai, (2005). The health promotion legislations of Australia recognize many plants as medicines but some of them have not been elevated to a level where the majority of the population can make use of them. Chinese traditional medicine is widely recognized in Australia as being among the complementary medicines. Cyperus rotundus can be studies for all of its therapeutic properties which can then give guidance for special legislation on the plant. This is important since it will give it a special place in the traditional medicines being used in Australia. Legislations enacted in favor of the plant can then open a way for its increased exploitation, use and exportation Harborne, Williams, & Wilson (1982). Conclusion In conclusion this paper has carried out an exploration into the plant Cyperus rotundus, its botanical study, usefulness and clinical studies on the plant among other things. Cyperus rotundus is one of the many species (about 600) that exist in the cyperus Genus. Cyperus rotundis can grow in any place except shady places. It is exploited by people from various parts of the world including Saudi Arabia for its medicinal and antibacterial properties. Traditionally it was exploited for skin diseases, diarrhea, cancer, chest problems, wounds and many others. Its oil is also useful in aromatherapy and cooking since it is almost the same as olive oil. The plant is classified as a complementary medicine in Australia although more legislation is needed to incorporate it fully into the health promotion and therapeutic substance used in Australia. Cyperus rotundus is therefore a very useful plant and as a result a lot of it should be planted and cultivated for use locally and for commercial purposes as well. It should also be incorporated in the manufacture of conventional medicines so that many of its therapeutic benefits can benefit people all over the world. Bibliography Barth, H.J. (2006). Sabkha edge vegetation of coastal and inland sabkhat in Saudi Arabia. Pp. 215-224 In. M.A. Khan and D. J. Weber (eds.). Ecophysiology of High Salinity Tolerant Plants. Springer Netherlands Marambe, B., Sangakkara U.R. and Ratnayake S.K. (1995): Control of tuber growth of purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus ): Effects of drying and depth of burying. Proc. 15th Asian-Pacific Weed Sci. Soc. Vol I(B), 562-566. Oseny, H. and A.M.M. Osalam. 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