Saponin isolated from medicinal plants is a naturally occurring bioorganic molecule with high molecular weight and its aglycone (water non-soluble part) nucleus having 27 to 30 carbon atoms besides one or two sugar moieties (water soluble part) containing at least 6 or 12 carbon atoms respectively. The complexity of saponin chemistry maybe considered as a gap for many scientists and researchers to understand the relationship between the chemical structure and its medical or pharmaceutical behavior. Recently, the increase in demand of saponin applications was observed due to various biological, medicinal, and pharmaceutical actions. Therefore, this present review article provides detailed information about the chemistry of saponin, especially triterpenoid saponin. Classifications, chemical structure, the possible traditional isolation ways, qualitative, and quantitative determination of saponins were included exclusively. Examples of mono and bidesmosidic structure of oleanolic acid and hederagenin also outlined. Structural differences between triterpenoid, steroid, and alkaloid glycosides were summarized according to their atoms, rings, and functional groups.
Maher Mohamed Abed El Aziz, Aziza Said Ashour, Al Sadek Gomha Melad(2-2019)

Diplodus annularis are common public seafood in Libya. Parasites like crustaceans are dangerous threats to fish species because they can lead to less quality seafood production besides the shortcuts of the fish life cycle that significantly affects marine life's biodiversity. So, it was recommended to follow up the health status of fish by identifying and counting different parasites spread in Libyan seawater, especially around Tripoli. This research aims to evaluate the common parasites of D. annularis. About ~ 3300 g of fish samples (60 individual units) were examined for the presence of helminthes endoparasites, copepods, branchiura, and isopoda. Results evaluated in terms of prevalence percentage with different ranges of length and weight of fish samples in addition to maturity. Results prove that branchiura (Argulus purpureus) and isopoda (Ceratothoa oestroides) are the common parasites that lived on D. annularis with the highest percentage of infestation ~ 10.34 and 4.35 % for (12-14) and (14-16) cm length respectively. The sex of a D. annularis species was confirmed by examining the genital papilla located behind the anus and finding a balance between the numbers of males and females, but male are more infested than female samples. A correlation between length, maturity and infection was theoretically confirmed by applying a mathematical exponential model to male and female and hence probability function of maturity and parasitological infection of D. annularis can be expected within a particular length range.
(11-2022)

Physicochemical Characteristics of three soil samples collected from Qaser Bin Ghashir region, south of Tripoli, Libya have been investigated in terms of soil permeability, density (ρ), water content (WC), organic content (OC), dissolved salts content (DS), and inorganic ash content (IAC) as-well-as the reaction towards mineral acids and bases. Silicic acid Si(OH)4 was successfully prepared from a sandy soil sample in a considerable amount and the mechanistic equations were proposed for three possible preparation routes of the acid. Results show that the sandy sample is the most permeable and reliable soil for the water penetration and silicic acid preparation respectively. Values of pH and the reaction between soil samples and mineral acids prove the alkalinity nature of the samples. Chemical composition of the investigated samples were determined and were found to vary from the sample to another and from content to other according to the origin and nature of the soil.
(8-2022)