Kaff Maryam (Anastatica hierochuntica L.) is believed to be very useful in Arab countries for treating various health disorders. The present research highlights the chemical composition and properties of A. hierochuntica L. that may be related to its beneficial effect. Eight minerals (Mg, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, and Zn), the total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and free radical-scavenging activity were examined in the leaf buds, stem biomass, and root biomass of Kaff Maryam. The plant was found to be a rich source of Mg, Ca, Mn, and phenolic compounds, and had potential antioxidant and free radical-scavenging activities. The findings of the study indicated that the chemical properties of the plant may rationalize its use for the treatment of menstrual cramps, asthma, depression, headache, fatigue, depression, high blood pressure, and infertility problems, and to ease childbirth, as it is used in traditional medicine. Our findings will encourage herbalists to incorporate A. hierochuntica L. in the treatment of various disorders, and this herb could be proved useful in the food industry.

Arabic: Keff Maryam (كف مريم), shajarat Maryam (شجرة مريم), shajarat el-talk, keff lala Maryam, keff lala Fatma, yid Fatma, keff el-adhra, bint Ennabi, el-kemcha, kerchoud

Berber: Tamkelt

English: Flower of Maryam, St. Mary’s flower, resurrection plant, true rose of Jericho (not to be confused with false rose of Jericho, Selaginella lepidophylla), tumbling mustard, resurrection mustard

French: Main de Fatma, rose de Jericho

Malay: Sanggul Fatimah, buah zuriat (“offspring fruit”)

Persian: Gole Maryum, پنجه مریم , Panjeh Maryam

Turkish: Fatima’nin eli, Meryem bitkisi

Urdu: Maryam booti, Maryam ka phool, Nabi bootiContext: Anastatica hierochuntica L., (Brassicaceae) is distributed throughout Arabian Peninsula, and elsewhere. It is locally called "Kaff-e-Maryam". All parts of the plant are used in folk medicine. Objective: "Kaff-e-Maryam" is used to treat stomach cancer and stomach problems, infections, and to ease childbirth. There are no reports on its role in protection of gastric mucosa against toxic damage and nothing is known about its toxic potential. Ethanol treated rats were investigated in detail. The gastroprotective activity of "Kaff-e- Maryam" extract was evaluated in rats while toxicity studies were done in Brine shrimp and mice. Materials and methods: Ethanol extract of the whole plant was prepared and animals were treated with the standard necrotizing agents. Different doses of the extract were used for pharmacological and toxicity evaluation. Results: The group of rats treated (gavage) with necrotizing agents including 80% ethanol, caused damage to the stomach wall. The depletion of stomach-wall mucus, concentration of proteins, nucleic acids, and NP-SH groups occurred. The extract treatment caused protection against the changes induced by ethanol. Histopathological studies supported the findings. In brine shrimp toxicity test as well during acute and chronic toxicity studies in mice, A. hierochuntica treatment showed low toxicity. Discussion and conclusion: Pretreatment with A. hierochuntica extract offered protection against toxic damage to stomach wall; thus supporting the folklore claim. The extract was found to exert its defensive role through its free radical scavenging and prostaglandin inducing activities. Based on the results of current study, the use of A. hierochuntica was found to be safe in the given doses. The toxicity studies revealed A. hierochuntica extract in the given dose range, was not toxic. Keywords: Anastatica hierochuntica L; Brassicaceae; Gastroprotective activity in rats; Biochemical effects; Histopathological changes; Toxicity; Brine shrimp; Mice