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Copyright of Phytothérapie is the property of John Libbey Eurotext Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Wheat and its derivatives are a main staple food for the Algerian populations. The objective of this study aims to analyze local and imported wheat grains for fungi particularly Fusarium graminearum chemotype DON and evaluate deoxynivalenol (DON) contaminated wheat collected from Bechar region, in south-western Algeria. A total of 64 of wheat samples were examined for fungal contamination and fungal load was determined by means of standard microbiological method. DON was detected using the ELISA technique. The results revealed that 98.44% of analyzed samples showed positive results regarding fungal contamination. More precisely, local wheat was dominated by Aspergillus and Penicillium and imported wheat was dominated by Fusarium, Penicillium and Aspergillus species. Results showed that 62.5% of F. graminearum strains produced DON. Contamination levels of wheat with DON ranging from <0.04 ppm to >5ppm for soft wheat and from <0.12ppm to >15ppm for durum wheat. So, 62.96% of soft wheat grains and 55.56% of durum wheat imported from France, and also 18.18% of local durum wheat exceed the permissible limit by far. This study provides basic grounds in assessing the degree of fungal and potential DON contamination in Algerian wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study deals with the evaluation of the in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of four different extracts of two varieties ( Azendjar and Taamriout) of dried figs ( Ficus carica L.) by using the 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical and agar diffusion methods and minimum inhibitory concentration ( MIC)-determination. Moreover, the extracts were investigated for their polyphenolic, flavonoidal and tannin content by using the Folin- Ciocalteu assay, the aluminium trichloride method and precipitation with casein, respectively. The results showed that the highest antioxidant capacity was exhibited by the methanol extract of Azendjar variety with IC50 of 0.080 mg/mL. All extracts possessed more or less antimicrobial activity against the tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Candida albicans was the most susceptible microorganism to all extracts. Pronounced antimicrobial activity was observed by the methanolic extract of Taamriout variety ( MIC values 32-128 μg/mL). Moreover, the results showed that the phenolic compounds and flavonoids were abundant in acetone and aqueous extracts. Practical Applications Dried Fig ( Ficus carica L.) fruit is an important part of traditional Mediterranean Algerian diet since antiquity. Obtained results revealed great antioxidant and antimicrobial activities as well as high content of phenolic compounds of two varieties growing in Algeria namely Azendjar and Taamriout varieties. This study highlights the importance of Algerian dried figs as a source of antioxidants and antimicrobial agents to be used in traditional medicine to treat or protect humans against infections as well as other chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and different inflammations. Therefore, the F. carica extracts have the potential to be developed into dietary supplements and nutraceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth and reproductive performance traits are important economic indicators for analyzing the overall performance of breeding systems. This study aims to evaluate the comparative performance of two Algerian sheep (Rumbi and Hamra) in terms of growth and reproductive performance, and the effect of factors such as breed, season of birth, mode of birth and age of the mother on this performance in a semi-intensive breeding system. The reproductive performance of 577 Rumbi ewes and 1328 Hamra ewes bred at the Tiaret and Saïda experimental stations respectively, was analyzed using performance monitoring data. Fertility rates for the Rumbi and Hamra breeds of 87.14% and 78.8% respectively were practically similar (p > 0,05). Litter size at birth and weaning was significantly higher in the Hamra breed than in the Rumbi breed (p < 0,05). Weaning mortality was significantly higher in the Hamra breed than in the Rumbi breed, with an average of 22.60% versus 14.94% (p < 0,05). The effect of factors showed that there was a highly significant effect of the mother's age and season of birth on the reproductive performance of the Hamra and Rumbi breeds with a p < 0.0001 on fertility, litter size at birth, litter size at weaning and fertility. There was a significant effect of the year factor on reproductive performance with p = 0,013 for the Hamra breed and p = 0,031 for the Rumbi breed. The results of this study showed that Rumbi lambs were heavier at birth than Hamra lambs. The values observed were 4,86 kg versus 3,10 kg for the Hamra breed, with a highly significant difference (p < 0,0001), so that the average daily pre-weaning weight gains of Rumbi lambs were higher than those of Hamra lambs, at 0,195 kg/day versus 0,113 kg/day for Hamra lambs, with a high significance (p < 0,0001). The effect of factors showed that there was a significant effect of the mother's age on the ADGs (0-30), (30-70) and (70-90) of the Hamra and Rumbi breeds with a p = 0,034 and p = 0,02 respectively. There was also a highly significant effect of the birth mode effect on ADGs (0-30), (30-70) and (70-90) only for the Hamra breed with a p = 0,004. The effect of the birth weight on ADGs was not significant for both Hamra and Rumbi breeds with a p > 0,05. According to the findings of this study, the Hamra breed had superior reproductive potential and the Rumbi breed had superior growth. The Hamra breed showed better maternal skills in terms of fertility and prolificacy, while the Rumbi breed showed better lamb growth performance. Consequently, these results could be used for selective sheep breeding, taking into account the random effects of the environment and the potential of each breed., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Salvadora persica L. (miswak) is traditionally used to ensure oral hygiene Muslim people in developing countries where it is growing. The antibacterial properties of Salvadora persica L. originating from various geographic areas have already been reported. However, they have never been tested for samples originating from Hoggar, where extreme weather conditions could lead to different properties for this Salvadora persica L. ecotype., Aim of the Study: To assess the in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activities of methanolic extract of Algerian Hoggar Salvadora persica L. (miswak) on some isolated and identified strains from the oral cavity of school children aged from 6 to 12 with (n=20) and without (n=20) caries., Materials and Methods: After a qualitative and quantitative analysis of dental plaque samples from the selected children, the effect of methanolic extract of Hoggar miswak against oral bacterial and fungal strains isolated from the oral cavity of children with caries was tested by both agar disc diffusion and microdilution methods. The stability and physicochemical parameters of Hoggar Salvadora persica L. mouthwash were also assessed compared. The in vivo antimicrobial effect of Hoggar miswak rinse on dental plaque samples was also tested over a week., Results: Four bacterial genera (Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Escherichia and Lactobacillus) were commonly identified in all subjects at different colonization levels. A statistically significant difference in colonization levels between the two groups of children was recorded. Hoggar miswak extract more significantly inhibited the growth of Gram negative bacteria from the dental plaque than Gram positive ones. Hoggar Salvadora persica L. mouthwash was stable at 4 °C and 25 °C over the period of conservation (one week) while a temperature of 40 °C induced variations in the physicochemical parameters and considered not suitable for preservation. The in vivo study revealed a significant reduction in bacteria of the oral cavity using miswak mouthwash as compared to placebo., Conclusion: Hoggar miswak extract displayed a strong antimicrobial effect both in vitro and in vivo. Its use as a mouthrinse could therefore be recommended as a preventive measure to preserve from tooth decay., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The adsorption of Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+) and Pb(2+) ions from aqueous solution by Algerian raw diatomite was studied. The influences of different sorption parameters such as contact pH solution, contact time and initial metal ions concentration were studied to optimize the reaction conditions. The metals ions adsorption was strictly pH dependent. The maximum adsorption capacities towards Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+) and Pb(2+) were 0.319, 0.311, 0.18 and 0.096 mmol g(-1), respectively. The kinetic data were modelled using the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic equations. Among the kinetic models studied, the pseudo-second-order equation was the best applicable model to describe the sorption process. Equilibrium isotherm data were analysed using the Langmuir and the Freundlich isotherms; the results showed that the adsorption equilibrium was well described by both model isotherms. The negative value of free energy change ΔG indicates feasible and spontaneous adsorption of four metal ions on raw diatomite. According to these results, the high exchange capacities of different metal ions at high and low concentration levels, and given the low cost of the investigated adsorbent in this work, Algerian diatomite was considered to be an excellent adsorbent.