Search

Introduction: Albuca amoena Batt. is an endemic plant from Morocco used for treating melanoma or leishmaniasis. The aim of this study is to test the antioxidant, photoprotective, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial properties of this plant. Methods: The extracts of the aerial and bulbous parts were obtained by hydroalcoholic maceration of the plant. Their antioxidant potentials were evaluated in vitro using four methods of 2,2-diphenyl-1picrylhydrazil (DPPH), 2,2’-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, and total antioxidant capacity assay (TAC). The photoprotective properties were evaluated through the study of UVA and UVB absorbance and antityrosinase activity. The cytotoxic activity was determined against two breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and one human colorectal cancer cell line (HT-29) using the 3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. In addition, the antimicrobial activity was tested on six pathogens: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans by using the disc diffusion method. Results: The results showed that the UVA and UVB absorptive proprieties of the extracts were similar to those used as positive controls: Methyl salicylate and zinc oxide. Moreover, the antioxidant and antityrosinase properties of the studied extracts were found to be weakly active. The extracts had strong cytotoxicity activities, especially against HT-29 cell line. However, the extracts did not show any antibacterial activity. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the extracts can be used as a sunscreen to avoid dermal anomalies and as a new source of cytotoxic bioactive compound.

المخلص: أهداف البحث: الغرض الرئيسي للدراسة الحالية هو تحديد التركيب الكيميائي وتقييم السلامة والنشاط المضاد للأكسدة والنشاط المضاد للدهون الزائدة للمستخلص المائي من الأعشاب الطبية التوكريوم تاكوميتينس. طرق البحث: تم تقييم تحليل الفيتوكيميائي (المحتوى الكلي للفينول والفلافونويد وأحماض الهيدروكسي الحمضية)، والنشاط المضاد للأكسدة (قوة التخفيض الفريك للأكسدة، حمض الأزينوبيس الاثيل البنزوثيازولين السلفونيك، الديفينيل البيكريل الهيدرازيل، واختبارات القدرة الكلية المضادة للأكسدة)، السمية الحادة، والنشاط المضاد للدهون الزائدة وفقا لنماذج المقالات والدراسات. في حين تم تحديد التوصيف الفيتوكيميائي بواسطة كروماتوغرافيا الغاز المرتبطة بطيف الكتلة بعد التميثل. النتائج: كشف المستخلص المائي من التوكريوم تاكوميتينس عن محتوى عالي من البوليفينولات الكلية وأحماض الهيدروكسي الحمضية وكمية قليلة من الفلافونويدات الكلية. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، أظهر المستخلص نشاط مضاد للأكسدة ملحوظ. كان البنزين، (هيكسيل أوكسي)-(19,32%) و 2,6 أ-ميثانو-6أ-اتش-اندينو[4,5-ب]أوكسيرين، أوكتاهيدرو – (1أ.ألفا.، 2.بيتا.، 3أ.ألفا.، 6أ.بيتا.، 6ب.ألفا.)-(32,42%)، دي-فوكوز (5,47%)، 5-هيدروكسيميثيلفورفورال (5,47%) والجواياكول (3,19%) هي المركبات الرئيسية في المستخلص. تم تقدير الجرعة الوسطى المميتة بين 500 و 2000 ملغم / كغ. علاوة على ذلك، أظهر المستخلص المائي من التوكريوم تاكوميتينس في 500 و 250 ملغم / كغ نشاطا مضادا للدهون الزائدة في الجسم مثيرا للاهتمام. الاستنتاجات: الجدير بالذكر أن المستخلص من التوكريوم تاكوميتينس له قدرة دوائية هامة وتركيب كيميائي متنوع. Abstract: Objective: The main purpose of the present work was to determine the chemical composition, safety, and antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic activities of an aqueous extract of Teucrium takoumitense. Methods: Phytochemical analysis (total phenolic, total flavonoid, and total hydroxycinnamic acid contents), antioxidant activity (ferric-reducing antioxidant power, 2,2ʹ-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil, and total antioxidant capacity tests), acute toxicity, and antihyperlipidemic activity were evaluated according to established models. In addition, the phytochemical profile was determined by methylation followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results: The aqueous extract of T. takoumitense had a high content of total polyphenols (87.01 ± 0.31 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g extract) and hydroxycinnamic acid (2.28 ± 0.1 g/100 g Powdered Material) and a low content of total flavonoids (2.99 ± 0.16 mg GAE/g extract). In addition, the extract demonstrated remarkable antioxidant activity (DPPH IC50 = 76.67 ± 0.56 μg/mL, ABTS IC50 = 89.65 ± 0.27 μg/mL, FRAP EC50 = 296.32 ± 0.86 μg/mL, TAC value = 43 ± 0.27 mg EAA/g extract). The main compounds were identified as benzene, (hexyloxy)- (19.32%), 2,6a-methano-6aH-indeno[4,5-b]oxirene, octahedro-(1a.alpha., 2.beta., 3a.alpha., 6a.beta., 6b.alpha.)- (32.42%), d-fucose (5.47%), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5.47%) and guaiacol (3.19%). The LD50 was estimated to be between 500 and 2000 mg/kg. Furthermore, at 500 and 250 mg/kg, the aqueous extract of T. takoumitense exhibited good antihyperlipidemic activity in vivo. Conclusion: T. takoumitense extract has significant pharmacological potential and a varied chemical composition.

Introduction: Albuca amoena is a Moroccan-Algerian endemic medicinal plant with various implications. The aim of this study is to identify phytochemical compounds of the plant, check its acute toxicity, and test its anti-depressive, anxiolytic, and analgesic effects on the central nervous system (CNS). Methods: The estimation of chemical compounds was carried out according to coloring and precipitation reactions. The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines 423 and 402 made it possible to verify the acute toxicity of the plant orally and dermally. The sedative activity was performed according to 4 tests: rotarod, hole-board, traction, and chimney tests. The anti-depressive, anxiolytic, and analgesic effects were evaluated by forced swimming, light/dark, and writhing tests, respectively. Results: The phytochemical analysis showed that A. amoena contained a mixture of phytochemical compounds like terpenes, alkaloids, and polyphenols. According to the acute toxicity tests, the lethal dose of 50% (LD50) of A. amoena hydroalcoholic extract was between 300 and 2000 mg/kg orally and higher than 2000 mg/kg dermally. Moreover, the result of the behaviour tests of sedative and analgesic activities revealed that A. amoena hydroalcoholic extract exerted positive effects on the CNS. Conclusion: These results show the anti-depressive, anxiolytic, and analgesic effects of the bioactive substances present in A. amoena on the CNS and provide access to further investigations to highlight the main compounds of this plant and their mechanisms of actions.

Introduction: Pinus halepensis is a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine for treatment of various pathologies including diabetes. The objective of this study is to perform a phytochemical study and to evaluate the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of extracts of the bark of P. halepensis. Methods: Total polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins were determined by the Folin Ciocalteu method, aluminum trichloride reagent (AlCl3) and vanillin assay. Evaluation of the antioxidant activity was carried out using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azinobis- (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and ferric reducing agent (ferric reducing). The antidiabetic activity was first revealed by enzymatic inhibition tests through measuring the residual activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, and then, by oral tolerance tests of glucose and starch in male Wistar rats. To verify the safety of plant extracts, acute oral toxicity was determined. Results: The phytochemical analysis showed that the extracts of P. halepensis were rich in phenolic compounds. The anti-oxidation activity tests revealed a significant reducing power towards the radicals tested. In addition, P. halepensis inhibited the enzymes involved in diabetes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) at very low concentrations. These effects were verified in the in vivo approach, in particular by using the starch tolerance test. Conclusion: P. halepensis extracts showed remarkable antioxidant and antidiabetic effects. However, further investigations are necessary to identify the main compounds of P. halepensis and to evaluate their antioxidant and antidiabetic effects.