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Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) holds a prominent place in Moroccan folk medicine due to its therapeutic attributes. Despite its widespread use, instances of inadvertent intoxication linked to its consumption have been reported. This study aims to evaluate the potential cytogenotoxic effects of D. ambrosioides leaf aqueous extract (DAAE) and explore the prospective protective role of vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid) through the micronucleus test conducted on (1) Vicia faba root-tip meristem and (2) mouse bone marrow cells. In addition, antioxidant enzyme activities, specifically superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), were evaluated in V. faba treated with DAAE. After a 7-day daily administration of DAAE to mice, serum biochemical parameters (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, and uric acid) were measured, and histological examination of liver and kidney tissues was performed. The results indicated that DAAE had dose-dependent cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on both biological models. Furthermore, V. faba treated with DAAE showed significant increases in the activities of SOD and CAT enzymes. Mice treated with DAAE exhibited significant elevations in serum biochemical parameters compared to the control group. Histological examination of liver and kidney tissues revealed hepatic degeneration, glomerular shrinkage, and distinct vacuolated tubular epithelial cells. The cotreatment with vitamin C demonstrated a significant protective effect against DAAE-induced cytogenotoxicity. These findings underscore the importance of vitamin C as a protective agent against oxidative stress and cytogenotoxicity induced by DAAE and recommend its use in any DAAE-based preparation.

The antivenom property of the methanolic extract of aerial parts of Adenocarpus anagyrifolius against Hottentotta gentili was evaluated by gavage (100, 150, and 200 mg/kg) after subcutaneous injection of LD99 of H. gentili venom. The results showed a very efficient response with a survival of the mice even after 24 h, while the injection with LD50 and a dose of 200 mg/kg showed a restoration of the lesions in different tissues and a significant decrease of the biochemical markers. The high antioxidant efficiency with the presence of active metabolites may explain the potential of A. anagyrifolius as natural product drug candidate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Withania species are a rich source of interesting phytochemical substances (withanolides) which have shown several biological properties. Objective: To investigate the cytotoxic potential of Withania frutescens (L.) Pauquy (Solanaceae) leaf extracts and isolated active compounds against cultured tumor cell lines. Materials and methods: The crude methanol extract of W. frutescens leaves was partitioned with dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. MeOH extract and its fractions were tested for their cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines (HepG2 and HT29) using the MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay. Bioassay-guided fractionation was performed for the active CH2Cl2 fraction employing column chromatography and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. Structural elucidation of the isolated active compounds was carried out mainly by 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectrometry. The compounds were then tested for their cytotoxic activity. Results: The CH2Cl2 fraction was the most active against HT29 cell line. The fractionation procedure resulted in the isolation of 4β,17α,27-trihydroxy-1-oxo-22- R-witha-2,5,24-trienolide ( 1), 5β,6β-epoxy-4β,17α,27-trihydroxy-1-oxowitha-2,24-dienolide ( 2) and 2,3-dihydroxywithaferin A-3β- O-sulfate ( 3). The latter exhibited the strongest cytotoxic activity against HT29 cancer cell lines (IC50 of 1.78 ± 0.09 µM) which was comparable to that of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) used as the positive antimitotic control. Discussion and conclusion: Compounds 2 and 3 were isolated from W. frutescens for the first time. Data obtained suggest that the sulfated steroidal lactone ( 3) can be considered as a compound with potential application in the new anticancer drugs development field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition of essential oils isolated from leaves of 11 natural populations ofCupressus atlantica, an endemic and endangered coniferous species from Morocco, was investigated by GC-MS. In total, 42 essential oil components were identified, accounting for 73.1–97.7% of the total oil. Monoterpene (25.2–84.9%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (12.2–46.8%) were the principal subclasses of compounds, withα-pinene (15–65.4%), germacrene D (5.9–30.5%),δ-3-carene (2–16.6%) andγ-cadinene (1.3–9.8%) as the main constituents. The results of the oil composition were analysed by hierarchical cluster and principal component analysis that established three main groups of essential oils. These oils were differentiated by the content of the major constituents (α-pinene, germacrene D,δ-3-carene andγ-cadinene), geographical location and climatic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The chemical composition and anticandidal properties of the essential oil of Moroccan Cotula cinerea aerial parts have been examined. GC-MS data were used to identify 24 constituents. Oxygenated monoterpenes constituted the main fraction with trans-thujone (41.4%), cis-verbenyl acetate (24.7%), 1,8-cineole (8.2%) and camphor (5.5%) as the major components. The anticandidal activity of the essential oil was evaluated using a panel of human pathogenic fungi (Candida albicans CCMM L4 and CCMM L5, C. krusei CCMM L10, C. glabrata CCMM L7 and C. parapsilosis CCMM L18). The oil showed high anticandidal activity against all investigated strains with minimal inhibitory concentrations of 3.2 to 4.7 mg/mL depending on the tested yeast and 5.9 mg/mL as a minimal candidicidal concentration value. These findings add significant information to the pharmacological activity of Cotula cinerea essential oil, which may present a good alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of resistant strains of Candida.

In the present study, we report for the first time the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Withania frutescens (L.) Pauquy roots and leaves. Total phenolic content was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and antioxidant activity was evaluated by the DPPH free radical scavenging and reducing power methods. Antimicrobial activity tests were carried out against ten bacterial species involved in nosocomial infections and two opportunistic clinical yeast isolates. The ethyl acetate and n-butanol leaf fractions exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity with IC50 = 4.53 +/- 0.12 and 8.49 +/- 0.46 microg/mL, respectively. The n-butanol root fraction showed the greatest reducing power comparable with that of quercetin at 0.4 mg/mL. The dichloromethane leaf fraction exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with MIC values ranging between 50 and 400 microg/mL, depending on the tested bacteria. However, none of the examined extracts exhibited anticandidal activity. The polyphenol and glycowithanolide constituents appeared to be responsible for the antioxidant capacity of W. frutescens, whereas the observed antimicrobial activity may be due to the presence of withanolides.