The book aimed to reveal degradation of Cucurbitacin E glucoside obtained from Citrullus colocynthis (L.) (Hanzal) into Cucurbitacin E and glucose by mean of microbial biotransformation using Curvularia lunata NRRL 2178 as a source of -glucosidase. All the instrumental data obtained by highly advanced techniques, confirmed the microbial conversion of cucurbitacin E glucoside into cucurbitacin E and glucose indicating effect of enzyme in the hydrolysis process by splitting of glucose from the anomeric carbon atom. The effect of the cucurbitacin E glucoside and cucurbitacin E on the proliferation of Hep-G2 cells was studied. The treatment of Hep-G2 cells with cucurbitacin E led to a high inhibition of the cell proliferation, which revealed a moderate anti-tumor activity of the cucurbitacin E against hepatic carcinoma, while cucurbitacin E glucoside had no cytotoxic effect on Hep-G2 cells. The study showed the effect of the compounds on the proliferation of HCT-116 cells; the two compounds were not cytotoxic as indicated by their IC50 values. On the other hand, the treatment of T-lymphocyte cells with cucurbitacin E resulted in increase in the cell proliferation."

The book is intended as that introduction to the ICP-OES technique. It was written not only for those persons who have some familiarity with other analytical techniques such as atomic absorption spectrometry but also for novices in the field of analytical chemistry. The book begins with some simple, yet fundamental, concepts regarding atomic spectroscopy and the analytical techniques based on this field of study. As one progresses through the book, more detail regarding the ICP-OES technique is presented including information about ICP-OES performance, instrumentation and methodology. We have also included some information about instrument maintenance and performance verification. While this kind of practical information can be vital to obtaining good analytical results, it is sometimes difficult to find. We hope that this book will provide useful information to those persons who are about to get involved with ICP-OES as well as present ICP users and those with simply a curiosity about the technique.

The book shows principles and applications of the most distributed technique used for water analysis. The central laboratory of Greater Cairo Drinking Water Company (GCWC) uses this important technique and applies the analytical methods recorded in the standard methods for water and wastewater examination. This laboratory represents nucleus and origin of many reference laboratories of water analysis in Egypt. Wael Mahmoud and his team of the researchers modified the scientific cooperation between the central laboratory of GCWC and the national research centre. Wael and his team used the chromatographic techniques in the central laboratory to make their ideas and researches in field of the water examination. They added new concepts in the technical uses of the chromatographic techniques and without scientific experience of this team, the central laboratory still do the routine and traditional analytical work without any improvement. The book confirms the concept which explains that it is impossible for the traditional technical work to progress without science.

The current study added complete idea about different reasons related to increasing the disinfection by-products (DBPs). It also evaluated ratio of the individual by-products to the total organic halogen. The study suggested new methods to minimize some of these by-products. It also added new idea about effect of the different chlorine doses on the electrophoretic protein pattern. The most important goal of the study is suggestion of new disinfecting agent without DBPs to replace chlorine in the difficult conditions. The study covered effect of the new disinfecting agent on the electrophoretic DNA pattern and the different body functions at level of the experimental animals and compared it with effect of chlorine. Finally, the authors' group added new experimental idea to change the traditional concepts of water treatment and water analysis to be applicable in all water treatment plants.