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Introduction Phytochemicals are one wide class of nutraceuticals found in plants which act as antioxidants. In this research, the essential oil (EO) of Teucrium polium L., Lamiaceae, collected from Mascara province, situated in the Algerian northwestern, where their chemical composition varies according to geographical origin, season variation, and climatic conditions were studied. Materials and Methods The extraction of EO was performed by hydrodistillation. Then, the chemical compounds were identified by gaz chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC–MS). In parallel, the antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH test. Results The yield of the EO of T. polium L. varied during different seasons with the highest in winter season, at vegetative stage (S1), while the same EO (S1) was significantly more efficient as an antioxidant than the EO harvasted at the flowering stage (S2) with IC50 values 3.90±0.05, 16.14±0.15 mg/mL, respectively (P < 0.001). These extracts are predominantly constituted by limonene (29.87%-26.39%), spathulenol (17.24%-13.29%), camphor (0.0%-8.20%), pinocarvone (7.76%-5.60%), tau-cadinol (5.41%-3.67%), pinene oxide (0.0%-4.78%), α-terpineol (0.0%-4.6%), 1-adamantanemethylamine (0.0%-9.80%) and β- myrcene (0.0%-4.02%). Conclusions The results show that both EOs can be considered as potential sources of natural antioxidants. However, the vegetative stage was the best stage for harvesting the EO of T. polium L. which can be used as an alternative source of synthetic compounds.

According to WHO, osteoporosis is the second most important public health problem after cardiovascular disease. About 200 million women in the world have osteoporosis; it is the second leading cause of death in women after breast cancer. In Algeria, 4 million people suffer from osteoarthritic diseases and 40% of those are women. The ultimate objective of our study was to evaluate the impact of dietary fiber from carrots and wheat bran on biochemical markers of bone remodeling in postmenopausal hemodialysis women. The study population consisted of 30 postmenopausal women (61.39 ± 8.44 years) receiving hemodialysis treatment as well as diets high in dietary fiber to assess the state of their bones. Biochemical markers of osteoresorption: pyridinoline LP and hydroxypyridinoline HP in urine were measured by the HPLC method, as well as the biochemical markers of osteoformation: total alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and calcium balance. This population was divided into four groups, T-controls who followed a regular diet, GC group: a high-carrot diet, GS group: hard wheat bran (100 g/day), and the GCS group: a mixture of these two foods (50/50 g/day). And the three groups GC, GS, and GCS receive a calcium intake (800 g/day) of calcium carbonate orally for 1 month. Urine and blood samples were taken weekly: T0, T7, T15, T21, T30, and T45. Our results show that women under carrot diet excreted significantly (p < 0.05) the highest values of hydroxypyridinolines (HP) and pyridinolines (LP), in their different forms, as well as calciuria and PAL. While the wheat diet shows lower levels of HP and no effect on other markers of osteoresorption and osteoformation.

An in vitro evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of essential oil (EO) and methanol extract (ME) from Algerian Nigella sativa L. seeds against microbial strains isolated from the oral cavities of periodontal patients was performed. Twelve Gram-positive bacteria, eleven Gram-negative bacteria and three microscopic fungi strains were isolated and identified. The antimicrobial activities of EO and ME were tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus sp., Acinetobacter baumannii/calcoaceticus, Porphyromonas sp., Veillonella sp., Candida sp. and Saccharomyces sp.. The total polyphenol and flavonoids contents of ME were higher than those of EO. Thin layer chromatography showed that catechin, gallic acid and quercetin were most likely present in the extracts. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry analysis (FT-IR) indicated the presence of bands from the CO groups of acids, alcohols, phenols, and ethers and the CO band of aldehydes. Analysis of the antimicrobial activity of N. sativa extracts obtained by the microdilution method showed excellent bactericidal activity of the essential oil and moderate efficiency of the ME against all the microbes tested. Staphylococcus epidermidis and Porphyromonas sp. were the most sensitive to EO (minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC): 16,500 μg/ml) at 48 h of incubation and, 125,000 μg/ml of ME was the most active against all the microbes tested. However, after18 or 24 h, this efficiency was decreased in some strains. In addition, Saccharomyces sp. and Candida albicans were more sensitive to EO than ME during the incubation, while this efficiency was clearly not visible with the agar well method, and most microbes tested presented remarkable resistance to these extracts. Keywords: Periodontal disease, Nigella sativa L. essential oil, Methanol extract, Bactericidal/fungicidal kinetics, Polyphenols, Flavonoids

Thymus serpyllum is an aromatic and medicinal plant widely used in Algerian folk medicine. It was collected from Mascara region North West of Algeria and studied in the aim to provide more knowledge about chemical composition, antioxidant and photo-protective activities of essential oil, ethanolic and infusion extracts. The chemical analysis of investigated T. serpyllum EO was performed for the first time in this research work. It was carried out by GC/MS for identifying 25 components where the dominated compounds were Carvacrol (66%) and γ–Terpinene (11.5%). The phenolic profile of ethanolic and aqueous infusion extracts was performed using HPLC chromatography and the data showed the Benzoic acid and Rosmarinc acid were found as major compounds. Extracts showed an excellent source of total phenols and flavonoids. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH, Galvinoxyl radical (GOR), CUPRAC, reducing power and O-phenanthroline approaches. All extracts showed a significant antioxidant capacity with different mechanisms. However, ethanol and infusion extracts showed stronger capacity than EO. Moreover, the photoprotective activity of T. serpyllum extracts was explored for the first time in our study. Extracts exhibited high values of sun protective factors (SFP) with 38.34±2.29 and 38.82±2.23 for ethanol and infusion extract respectively. Results of our study may encourage the pharmacologic, food and cosmetic sectors to use the wild thyme as natural and healthy source of active compounds.

This study aimed to investigate the possible hepatoprotective effect of the Ficus carica dried fruits, extra virgin olive oil and their phenolic fractions on CCl4-induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in rats. Administration of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) (3.0 g/kg/day) per oral (p.o.) and their methanol extract (MEEVOO) (2.1 mg/kg/day) intravenously (i.v.) for 7 days significantly prevented CCl4-induced elevation of levels of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The methanol dried fig extract (MEDF) (38.07 mg/kg/day, i.v.) was found to be more hepatoprotective than the dried figs (DF) (4 g/kg/day, p.o.). Administration of MEEVOO with the MEDF significantly prevented CCl4-induced elevation of levels of serum GPT, GOT and ALP. Treatment of rats with CCl4 led to a marked increase in lipid peroxidation as measured by malondialdehyde (MDA). Hepatic antioxidant enzyme, Catalase (CAT) was significantly decreased in all treated animals. Practical Applications Dried fig (Ficus carica L.) fruit is an important part of traditional Mediterranean Algerian diet since antiquity and widely consumed with extra virgin olive oil because of their nutritional importance along with their medicinal value. Obtained results suggest a synergistic functionality of dried figs and extra virgin olive oil extracts. The observed hepatoprotective effect is believed to occur due to antioxidant properties of the contents of extra virgin olive oil and dried figs extract, which may provide a new drug to be used for prophylaxis against liver diseases and it validates its folkloric use by Algerian people.

An ethno botanical survey of 40 individuals in the Wilaya of Mascara identified 40 medicinal plants used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Among these plants, Malva sylvestris, Olea europea sylvestris, Citrus aurantium have been selected. The objective of our work is the phytochemical study and the antioxidant activity of the 3 plants selected. The raw methanolic extracts of Malva sylvestris and their stems, Olea europea sylvestris and Citrus aurantium were obtained by the extraction method maceration. The quantitative determination of total polyphenols by the Folin Ciocaltieu method and the flavonoids in the presence of AlCl3, the total polyphenol content in Malva sylvestris and their stems, Olea europea sylvestris and Citrus aurantium represents 556.33 μg EAG/g MS and 443.33ug EAG/G Ms; 557.66 g EAG/g Ms 447.77 μg EAG/gMS. The content of flavonoids is 1032.33 μg EQer/g Ms 898.66ug EQer/g Ms 894.33, μg EQer/g Ms 1428.33 μgEQer/g MS. Antioxidant activity of the extracts prepared was measured by two methods. The first is the use of free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the second reducing power of FRAP iron. These methods show that these plants have good antioxidant activity.

Objective: The aim of our study is to evaluate the effect of essential oils of two medicinal plants: Atriplex halimus and Haloxylon scoparium on the production of EPS by four probiotic strains. Methodology and results: Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) of lactic acid bacteria have potential for development and exploitation as food additives and functional food ingredients with both health and economic benefits. In this study, EPS production was carried at sucrose broth with different parameters (inoculum size, temperature, pH, incubation period, sucrose concentration, oxygen tension). In addition, under an optimized condition the effect of essential oils of two medicinal plants: Atriplex halimus (A.H.) and Haloxylon scoparium (H.S.) was evaluated on EPS production by four strains ( Leuconostoc sp., Lactobacillus sp. and two strains Pediococcus sp.). The production kinetics and exopolysaccharide yields were strongly dependent on the fermentation conditions. Physical factors such as temperature, pH and oxygen tension had a primordial importance. Conditions leading to higher levels of EPS production depends on strains and adequate concentrations of sucrose (50 g/l), pH (6,5 for Leuconostoc sp. and Pediococcus sp., 2; 4,5 for Lactobacillus sp. and 5 for Pediococcus sp. 1, incubation period (18 hours), temperature (37°C from Leuconostoc sp. and Pediococcus sp. 1, 30°C from Lactobacillus sp., 50°C from Pediococcus sp. 2) and medium of production (broth sucrose). The introduction of essential oils (150 μ l) of tested plants improved the production of EPS from 7.9 – 9.73 mg/ml of all strains to 15.2 – 16.28 with essential oils of Atriplex halimus and 11.6-13.2 mg/ml with essential oil of Haloxylon scoparium . Results showed an important stimulation of the exopolysaccharides production by essential oils of two plants (A.H. and H.S.) Conclusion and Application of results: Our strains have shown their ability to produce maximum levels of EPS in the case of the addition of essential oils extracted from medicinal plants. These substances can be used as additives in the food industry to increase the productivity of the lactic strains of EPS as well as in the pharmaceutical field to prepare some medications. Keywords: exopolysaccharides, optimization, essential oils, medicinal plants, Lactic Acid Bacteria

To relieve respiratory problems such as apnea in newborns, caffeine citrate is the drug of choice because of its good tolerance and therapeutic index. However, its impact on the intestinal microbial ecosystem and on bacterial translocation in the neonatal period remains insufficiently investigated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of caffeine citrate on the establishment of the intestinal microflora and bacterial translocation in rats from birth to the 30th day of life. Newborn Wistar rats were divided into four groups of 14 animals, each subdivided into a control group receiving a placebo (12mL tap water/kg/day) and another treated with caffeine citrate (12mg/kg/day). The animals were nursed by their mothers and weighed daily. A group of 14 rats was killed at birth and after 10, 20, or 30 days of life. Organs in which translocation was assessed (liver, lungs, spleen, and kidneys) and various fragments of intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon) were surgically removed. The bacteriological analysis performed involved enumeration of the total microflora, staphylococci, enterobacteria, and lactobacilli. From the 10th day, caffeine was shown to significantly decrease the weight of treated animals as compared with controls (P

A soil treatment process using froth flotation technique involving anionic biosurfactant (rhamnolipids) using Sodium sulfide was studied. The supernatant produced by the strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa S7PS5 was tested for biosurfactants production, HPLC analysis showed the presence of L-rhamnosyl- β- hydroxydecanoyl- β-hydroxydecanoate (RL1) and L-rhamnosyl L-rhamnosyl- β-hydroxydecanoyl-β- hydroxydecanoate (RL2). The influence of the collector (rhamnolipid), pulp pH, a chemical activation step (sulfidization) and process time on metal removal efficiency has been investigated to recover Zn and Cd ions from a contaminated soil. An effective CMC of 35 mg/L was obtained. A perfect Zn and Cd removal efficiency was made at pH = 12 and 4 mg/g of Na 2 S during the first 5 min of soil washing process, then a longer flotation time ( > 5 min) caused mechanical entrainment of Zn and Cd. Keywords: Biosurfactants, flotation, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , rhamnolipids, soil washing

Aristolochia longais widely used in traditional medicine in Algeria to treat breast cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the response of bone resorption markers toA. longaintake by Algerian breast cancer postmenopausal women. According to theA. longaintake, breast cancer patients were grouped intoA. longagroup (Al)(n=54)and non-A. longagroup (non-Al)(n=24). 32 women constituted the control group. Bone resorption markers (from urine) pyridinoline (PYD) and deoxypyridinoline (DPD) were determined by HPLC. Serum and urinary creatinine, uric acid, and urea were measured. 1 g ofA. longaintake resulted in significant rise of renal serum markers and a pronounced increase of bone resorption markers. The intake ofA. longaroots is detrimental for kidney function and resulted in high bone resorption, maybe due to the reduction in renal function caused by the aristolochic acids contained in the roots.

The present study deals with the evaluation of the in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activity of phenolic extracts and essential oils of two medicinal and aromatic plants Zygophyllum album and Myrtus communis by using the 2,2- diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical ,total antioxidant power and agar diffusion methods and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination.Moreover,the extracts were investigated for their polyphenolic,flavonoids,tannins and anthocyans content by using the Folin-Ciocalteu assay,the aluminium trichlorid method,reaction with vanillin and colometer method based on differentiation of absorbance,respectively.The results showed that the highest antioxidant capacity was exhibited by the aqueous extract of Myrtus communis with IC 50 = 29,080mg/ml.All extracts possessed more or less antibacterial activity against the tested Gram- positive and Gram –negative bacteria Bacillus subtilis and E.coli were the more susceptible microorganisms to all extracts and essential oils. Pronounced antibacterial activity was observed by the methanolic extract of Zygophylum album (MIC value=25 µg/ml).Morever,the results showed that the phenolic compounds and flavonoids were abundant in Myrtle aqueous extracts.

A rat animal model of left colostomy was found to significantly impair the growth curve of rats. Assessment of the intestinal flora showed that colostomy mostly affects the cecal but not colonic microflora. Generally, the number of enterococci was increased in both ileum and cecum; cecal lactobacilli also rose, accounting for a promotion of lactic acid bacteria in colostomised rats. No significant differences between colostomised, laparotomised and control rats could be observed for the translocation of intestinal bacteria to internal organs of rats (i.e. spleen, kidneys, lungs or liver), whatever their diet. Heat-killed Lactobacillus acidophilus strain LB administration (dead probiotic bacteria) tended to exhibit a stimulatory effect on bifidobacteria, probably affecting the culture-medium fermentation substances included in the pharmaceutical product. This effect was abolished by laparotomy and colostomy. A trend towards a probiotic-like effect, not susceptible to colostomy, was also witnessed as counts of lactobacilli tended to increase in both cecum and colon of all animals fed with L. acidophilus LB.