Phytochemistry of Nicotiana glauca & Some Biotransformation Reactions

Nicotiana glauca R. Grah. is a shrub or a small tree belonging to family Solanaceae. It is considered as one of Nicotiana species growing in Egypt. The aim of this work was to study the Phytochemical composition and the biological activities of the crude extracts of N. glauca leaves. Our next goal was to develop a safe microbial system that be able to degrade nicotine to remove it from tobacco solid waste that is considered toxic and hazardous contents of the ground water being next to the tobacco factories. The phytochemical investigation of the leaves of N. glauca revealed the presence of volatile substances,flavonoids, alkaloids, unsaturated sterols and lactones. The different fractions of the crude leaves extract have shown antibacterial, antioxidant and promising anticancer activities. Using microbial biotransformation reactions, it was found that both Streptomyces griseus ATCC 13273 and Absidia pseudocylinderospora ATCC 24169 could only be used as safe microbial systems for removing nicotine from tobacco solid waste without imposing any hazards of toxicity to the environment. Finally, I dedicated this work to the ladies in my life; my mother and my wife.