Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities of Dracaena cinnabari Resin

Dracaena cinnabari (D. cinnabari) is an endemic plant located in Socotra Island, Yemen. Deep red resin attained from different plant species including D. cinnabari is commonly known as dragon’s blood. In folk medicine, it is prescribed for the treatment of traumatic dermal, dental, and eye injuries as well as blood stasis, pain, and gastrointestinal diseases in humans. Numerous studies have investigated that this resinous medicine has antidiarrheal, antiulcer, antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, wound healing, and antioxidant activity. Several phytochemicals have been isolated from D. cinnabari, including the biflavonoid cinnabarone, triflavonoids, metacyclophanes, chalcones, chalcanes, dihydrochalcones, sterols, and terpenoids. The present review highlights the structures and bioactivities of main phytochemicals isolated from D. cinnabari regarding the botany and pharmacological effects of the resin derived from this plant.

A new species of Hetereleotris (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the Socotra Archipelago (north-western Indian Ocean), a rare case of a hole-associated adaptation in gobiid fishes

A new cryptobenthic gobiid species Hetereleotris nasoramosa sp. nov. is described based on the holotype and five paratypes collected from the north-eastern part of Socotra Island, Arabian Sea, from moderately large pieces of coral rocks with holes at depths of 8–11 m. Molecular phylogenetic analysis placed the new species within the genus Hetereleotris. Hetereleotris nasoramosa sp. nov., differs from all species of Hetereleotris in having developed tentacles extending from each anterior and posterior nostril and five transverse suborbital papillae rows (instead four or six in other species). The new species superficially resembles the recently described Red Sea endemic species Cerogobius petrophilus by having forward-set, elevated eyes, a short snout, a moderately large mouth, a relatively deep and short caudal peduncle, and developed tentacles on the head, but differs from it by the same characters of developed tentacles extending from each anterior and posterior nostril and five transverse suborbital papillae rows as from other Hetereleotris species. Both species also share a specific habitat preference for tight holes in rock covered by micro-algae. A full description of the species is provided as well as a revised key to the species of Hetereleotris.

Environmental Physics Study of Natural Renewable Energy Resources in Socotra, Yemen

The best sources for energy production are renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, tidal energy, and other energy sources, which ensure the sustainability of power generation for life and even avoid the problems producing from fossil fuels combustion, which leads to air pollution, climate change, and many problems, but the main problem that facing Especially in developing countries, such as Yemen is the lack of a database and sufficient information to know the available capabilities for electricity production by natural resources that region possesses, especially the remote islands from the main power plant, which are powered by diesel and gas generators. In this paper, we will provide and list all-natural resources that possessed Socotra island, and its analysis to provide a clear vision that enables exploitation of these resources in the future on a clear scientific basis, as the study shows that mean wind speed is approximately 9.8 m/s, solar radiation reaches 180 kWh/m2, all these values ​​confirm island has the total ability to generate electricity from these sources with high efficiency.

A new thermosbaenacean of the genus Tethysbaena (Peracarida, Thermosbaenacea, Monodellidae) from Socotra Island, Yemen

A new species of the thermosbaenacean genus Tethysbaena Wagner, 1994 (Crustacea: Peracarida: Thermosbaenacea) is described based on females from a freshwater cave lake and a brackish coastal well on Socotra Island (Yemen) as Tethysbaena dioscorida n. sp. It is the first representative of the Thermosbaenacea that is described from the Socotra Archipelago and the first member of the order known from an Indian Ocean island. The new species is the eighth known member of what is considered the “Tethysbaena relicta” species-group, which is known from Oman (four species), Somalia (one species), Israel (two species) and now Socotra Island (one species). The new species shows closest morphological affinities with T. barbatula Wagner, 2020 from Oman. We suggest that the speciation in this well-defined species-group is due to regressions of the Tethys Sea and the appearance of dry land since the Oligocene-Miocene boundary to the present time, forming major barriers and creating isolated populations of the ancestral species. Also the potential biocrisis in Socotra as a result of developmental activities during the last decades is mentioned, which may affect the subterranean faunas in particular in coastal areas, exemplified by the destruction of one of only two localities where the new species was found.

Exploring the historical distribution of Dracaena cinnabari using ethnobotanical knowledge on Socotra Island, Yemen

Background In this study, we present and analyze toponyms referring to Socotra Island’s endemic dragon’s blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari) in four areas on the Socotra Archipelago UNESCO World Heritage site (Republic of Yemen). The motivation is the understanding of the past distribution of D. cinnabari trees which is an important part of conservation efforts by using ethnobotanical data. We assumed that dragon’s blood trees had a wider distribution on Socotra Island in the past. Methods This research was based on field surveys and interviews with the indigenous people. The place names (toponyms) were recorded in both Arabic and the indigenous Socotri language. We grouped all toponyms into five different categories according to the main descriptor: terrain, human, plant, water, and NA (unknown). Also, this study identified current and historical Arabic names of dragon’s blood trees of the genus Dracaena through literature review. Results A total of 301 toponyms were recorded from the four study areas in Socotra Island. Among names related to plants, we could attribute toponyms to nine different plants species, of which six toponyms referred to the D. cinnabari tree, representing 14.63% of the total phytotoponyms in the category. Three historical naming periods prior to 2000 could be identified. The most commonly used name for dragon’s blood trees (D. cinnabari, D. serrulata, D. ombet) appears to be “ahrieb” “إعريهب” and its resin “dum al-akhawin” “دم الأخوين,” while derived (mixed-cooked) products are called “eda’a” “إيدع,” while regionally different names can be found. Conclusion The place names that refer to D. cinnabari are herein suggested to represent remnant areas of once large populations. Therefore, the toponyms may support known hypotheses based on climate models that D. cinnabari had a wider distribution on Socotra Island in the past. This study also confirmed the historical importance of dragon’s blood.

Exploring the historical distribution of Dracaena cinnabari using ethnobotanical knowledge on Socotra Island, Yemen

BackgroundIn this study, we present and analyze toponyms referring to Socotra Island’s endemic dragon’s blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari) in four areas of the Socotra Archipelago UNESCO World Heritage site (Republic of Yemen). The motivation is understanding of the past distribution of D. cinnabari trees which is an important part of conservation efforts by using ethnobotanical data. We assumed that dragon’s blood trees had a wider distribution on Socotra Island in the past. MethodsThis research was based on field surveys and interviews with the indigenous people. The place names (toponyms) were recorded in both, Arabic and indigenous Socotri language. We grouped all toponyms into five different categories according to the main descriptor: Terrain, Human, Plant, Water and NA (unknown). In addition, this study identified current and historical Arabic names of dragon’s blood trees of the genus Dracaena, through literature review. ResultsA total of 301 toponyms were recorded from the four study areas in Socotra Island. Among names related to plants, we could attribute toponyms to nine different plant species, of which six names referred to the D. cinnabari tree, representing 14.63% of total phytotoponyms in the category. Three historical naming periods prior to 2000 could be identified. The most commonly used Arabic name for dragon’s blood trees (D. cinnabari, D. serrulata. D. ombet) appears to be “ahrieb” "إعريهب", its resin “dum al-akhawin” “دم الأخوين”, while derived (mixed-cooked) products are called “edah” “إيدع”; while regionally different names can be found.ConclusionThe place names that refer to D. cinnabari are herein suggested to represent remnant areas of once large populations. The toponyms may therefore support known hypotheses based on climate models that D. cinnabari had a wider distribution on Socotra Island in the past. This study also confirmed the historical importance of dragon’s blood

Technical Economic study for Electricity Production by Using (Tidal-Hydrogen) in Socotra Island, Yemen

The great need to use electricity at present and to ensure its continuity in future requires finding renewable and sustainable sources; the best of those sources are renewable energy sources such as wind energy, solar energy, and tides. All research focuses on studying those sources for each region to give the complete database that can rely upon in future to build projects generating electric power according to accurate scientific studies, specifically in areas far from the main electricity grid, such as remote islands, including Socotra Island, which, like other Yemeni cities, suffers from a severe crisis to access electricity. Energy storage is a natural thing when using renewable energy due to seasonal change, daily and hourly in these sources; one of the best ways of storing is the production and storage of hydrogen for use at peak periods or any other benefits. Economic information is still incomplete about the production of electricity by hydrogen, especially in the Middle East region, which considers that the primary source of electricity is only fossil fuels. This paper gives a study of the level of tides on Socotra island, and a technical study of the possibility of producing electricity using this renewable source according to its efficiency, and an economic assessment of electricity generation by (Tidal-Hydrogen) for this island.

Statistical study of wind speed variations by Weibull parameters for Socotra Island, Yemen

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA-2013), Electricity alone does not create all the conditions for socioeconomic growth, but it is obviously essential to meet basic human needs and facilitate the development of economic activities. For the isolated areas with high wind potential and the island suffering from the electrification problems, the prospective solution is the use of renewable energies, especially wind energy. The present paper deals with a detailed statistical study on wind energy, its parameters, and variables on Socotra Island in Yemen, where that island is isolated from the main electricity grid in addition to the difficulty of providing electrical energy to this region in light of conditions in which Yemen has been living in recent times. The simulation results prove that the mean wind speed can reach a value ranging from 8.36 to 10.36 m/s, which is a large and enough speed to generate electricity using turbine farms. Based on the k and c Weibull parameters, the maximum probability at speeds 3 and 4 m/s is 0,052, while a value of 0,085 at speed 7 m/s is given by Rayleight distribution. Every result proved that Yemen has a good wind energy potential can utilize it for electrical energy production, and that strengthens the planning of economical wind turbines capacity for electricity production in the region.