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Retama dasycarpa is an endemic shrubby leguminous plant of Morocco used in traditional folk medicine. The plant has never been studied for either its phytochemical or pharmacological properties. This study represents the first investigation of the phytochemical profile as well as the antioxidant, the antibacterial, the analgesic effects and the oral acute toxicity of Retama dasycarpa. Watery and hydromethanolic stems plant macerates have been investigated. Secondary metabolites quantitative analysis was achieved through spectrophotometric techniques. Antioxidant effect was explored through DPPH, ABTS and FRAP trials. Antibacterial activity was investigated using a micro-plates dilution assay. Analgesic activity was explored through acetic acid-induced writhing and tail-flick methods. Acute oral toxicity was investigated on mice. Phytochemical analysis was achieved through UHPLC connected to diode array and mass spectrometry detectors.The obtained results showed significant contents in total phenolics, flavonoids and tannins in both extracts especially the hydromethanolic extract whose contents were slighlty higher than the aqueous one resulting in a remarkable antioxidant activity. Compared to the aqueous extract, the H2O:MeOH (1:1) one showed notable antibacterial activity against the tested strains. The acute toxicity in mice revealed the non-toxicity of the extracts along with a promised starting material of central and peripheral analgesics. The UHPLC analysis revealed the presence of several bioactive phytochemicals pertaining to phenolic acids, flavonols, flavones and isoflavones.The obtained results demonstrate the richness of this endemic and unexplored plant in terms of bioactive compounds and their associated activities, making it a promising source of pharmacological ingredients.

Medicinal plants have been utilized for centuries in traditional medicine systems worldwide, providing a rich source of bioactive compounds with diverse biological activities. Lavandula officinalis, a member of the Lamiaceae family, has been recognized for its multifaceted pharmacological activities. In this current investigation, our primary objective was to scrutinize the in vitro inhibitory potential of L. officinalis essential oil (LOEO) against alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase, with the aim of understanding its antidiabetic effects. Additionally, the assay encompassed tyrosinase and lipoxygenase (LOX) to assess its anti-inflammatory attributes. Unraveling the underlying molecular mechanisms of these activities prompted an in-silico study. The purpose was to establish correlations between in-vitro observations and computational insights derived from molecular docking, which forecasts the interaction of LOEO molecules with their respective targets, alongside ADMET prediction. The Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis allow to identify eighteen compounds, with the dominance of L−camphor (43.12 %), 1,8−cineole (34.27 %) and borneol (8.60 %) in LOEO. The antidiabetic evaluation revealed that LOEO exhibited noteworthy inhibitory activity against both α-amylase and α-glucosidase, displaying IC50 values of 3.14 ± 0.05 mg/mL and 2.07 ± 0.03 mg/mL, respectively. The subsequent in-silico study highlighted the particularly strong binding affinity of (E)-Farnesene, with a binding score of −7.4 kcal/mol for alpha-glucosidase, while Germacrene D displayed the highest affinity among the ligands (−7.9 kcal/mol) for the alpha-amylase target. Furthermore, the investigation into in vitro anti-inflammatory activity unveiled LOEO efficacy against tyrosinase (IC50 = 42.74 μg/mL) and LOX (IC50 = 11.58 ± 0.07 μg/mL). The in-silico analysis echoed these findings, indicating α-Cadinene's notable binding affinity of 6 kcal/mol with tyrosinase and α-Cedrene's binding score of −6.5 kcal/mol for LOX. Impressively, for both COX-1 and COX-2, α-Cedrene exhibited significant binding affinities of −7.6 and −7.3 kcal/mol, respectively. The convergence between the in vitro and in silico outcomes underscores the potential of LOEO and its constituent compounds as potent inhibitors targeting both diabetes and the inflammatory processes.

In light of the increasing antibiotic resistance, it is crucial to discover new antimicrobial medications. Pyridazines are frequently investigated in research for the development of new chemical entities with enhanced therapeutic properties. Their structure allows for significant flexibility in the attachment of various functional groups, which is essential for drug discovery.Our work focuses on synthesizing new pyridazine derivatives (7a, 7b, 7c and 7d) through coupling reactions with various amino esters. The structures of these compounds have been analyzed using spectroscopic measurements including 1H, 13C NMR, IR, and mass spectroscopy. The compounds showed positive effects against two bacterial strains: Escherichia coli: ATCC25922 and Staphylococcus aureus: CIP543154. Molecular docking results of the protein 7AZ5 indicated significant affinities with these molecules through hydrogen bonds. Compounds 7a and 7d demonstrated the highest binding energies and the best antimicrobial activity, suggesting their potential as a model for creating novel and potent antimicrobial compounds.

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infections are a global public health issue with farreaching individual and economic repercussions. The microorganism’s multi-resistance frequently increases the risk that can be lowered by using biomolecules of medicinal plant essential oils (EOs). This study investigated the phytochemical components and antimicrobial potential of the EOs of Moroccan Origanum compactum and Ruta montana gathered from Taza Region. Methods: The EOs’ chemical analysis was performed by GC/MS and their antimicrobial effects were assessed by the microplate dilution method against eight nosocomial resistantbacterial strains. Results: The main constituents of O. compactum EO were Thymol (29.56%), carvacrol (26.44%), γ-terpinene (18.86%) and p-cymene (12.01%), while those of R. montana EO were 2-undecanone (85.76%), 2-nonanone (3.95%), 2-decanone (3.67%) and 2-dodecanone (1.94%). The O. compactum EO had important antimicrobial effects on all bacteria experienced. The lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were obtained for the tested Staphylococcus species (0.062%, 0.125% (v/v)) while the highest one (2% (v/v)) was obtained for Klebsiella pneumonia and Pantoea spp. The R. montana EO showed MIC values of 4% (v/v) for Pantoea spp. and 8% (v/v) for the other tested strains except K. pneumonia for which no effect was shown. Conclusion: Therefore, these EOs, especially the O. compactum one, have an interesting antibacterial potential against nosocomial infections and might be used to develop new antimicrobial agents.

Background/Objectives: Essential oils (EOs) from Citrus species have attracted attention for their diverse properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and cytotoxic effects, which address critical health challenges such as chronic diseases and skin disorders. Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, which is a widely cultivated citrus fruit, is attracting increasing attention in the field of medicinal research due to its richness of limonene (comprising approximately 85–90% of the oil). This study investigates the chemical profile of CS-EO and biological activities of CS-EO and limonene. Methods and Results: This study used gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), confirming limonene as the predominant compound (70.15%) along with other minor constituents, including thujene (10.52%), myrcene (5.54%) and α-pinene (2.81%). The biological activities of CS-EO and limonene were examined, specifically focusing on their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxicity and dermatoprotective effects. Antioxidant potential was evaluated using DPPH, FRAP and beta-carotene assays, with CS-EO and limonene exhibiting comparable efficacy. Anti-inflammatory properties were assessed via inhibition assays of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO) production, showing significant reductions in LPS-stimulated macrophages treated by CS-EO or limonene. Cytotoxicity testing on various cell lines indicated selective activity of the tested compounds, with low toxicity observed on human skin fibroblasts. Limonene and CS-EO were highly effective on HepG2 cellules, with IC50 values of 0.55 ± 0.01 µg/mL and 15.97 ± 1.20 µg/mL, respectively. Dermatoprotective effects were further confirmed using enzymes, where CS-EO and limonene showed remarkable inhibitory potential against elastase (IC50 of 65.72 ± 1.92 and 86.07 ± 1.53 µg/mL, respectively) and tyrosinase (IC50 of 102 ± 2.16 and 78.34 ± 1.15 µg/mL, respectively) enzymes compared to quercetin used as a standard (IC50 of 111.03 ± 0.1 and 124.22 ± 0.07 µg/mL, respectively). Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest the potential for the development of new therapeutic approaches based on CS-EO, which could be applicable in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and nutraceutical fields and have protective benefits for skin health.

Background/Objectives: Eucalyptus globulus is a medicinal plant extensively used by the Moroccan population for treating a range of illnesses, especially respiratory conditions. Methods: This study aimed to assess the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of E. globulus essential oil and its individual fractions (F1, F2, and F3). Antioxidant activity was evaluated through iron-reducing power, 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. Antibacterial activity was tested using disk diffusion and dilution methods, supported by molecular docking studies. Furthermore, GC–MS analysis was conducted on the essential oil and its individual fractions. Results: GC–MS analysis identified the major compounds in the essential oil and its fractions as eucalyptol (62.32–42.60%), globulol (5.9–26.24%), o-cymene (6.89–24.35%), cryptone (7.10–15.95%), terpinen-4-ol (2.43–15.24%), and α-pinene (2.46–7.89%). Fraction F3 displayed the highest antioxidant activity in DPPH (IC50 = 3.329 ± 0.054 mg/mL) and ABTS assays (IC50 = 3.721 ± 0.027 mg/mL), while fraction F2 was most effective in the FRAP assay (IC50 = 1.054 ± 0.008 mg/mL). The essential oil and its fractions also showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, and Acinetobacter baumannii. Molecular docking further corroborated these findings, supporting both antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Conclusions: The present findings demonstrate the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Eucalyptus globulus essential oil and its fractions, underscoring the need for further research to confirm their medicinal potential and explore pharmaceutical applications.

Introduction: Medicinal plants, including spontaneous or cultured herbaceous and forest products, represent an inexhaustible source of traditional and effective remedies thanks to their active major compounds. The present work consists of an ethnobotanical study of three species namely, Daucus carota, Dittrichia viscosa, and Salvia officinalis, commonly used in Taounate region (Northern Morocco) to treat various diseases. Methods: An ethnopharmacological survey was conducted in Taounate region during a period of three months from January to March 2022, using semi-structured individual interviews. Then, the collected data were analyzed statistically using Microsoft Office software "Excel 2013" and System Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: Leaves, flowers, and stems were the most common parts used to prepare traditional remedies. Decoction, infusion, and cataplasm were the most used preparation methods, and the oral route was the most common method of administration for the studied plants. Moreover, the plants intervened in the treatment of digestive, genito-urinary, dermatological, neurological, and metabolic diseases. Conclusion: Information collected during this study shed light on the interesting know-how in traditional herbal medicine in the study area, and on the frequent use of medicinal plants as an alternative to synthetic drugs by the population of Taounate, to treat different diseases. Thereafter, the study’s results can constitute an important database for pharmacologists, phytochemists, toxicologists, and clinical researchers for the development of new drugs based on natural substances.

J. Pharm. Pharmacogn. Res., vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 455-472, May-June 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres22.1552_11.3.455 Original Article Ethnobotanical survey on plants used during the COVID-19 pandemic in Taza (Morocco) and population satisfaction according to the “Rules of Association” approach [Encuesta etnobotánica sobre las plantas utilizadas durante la pandemia de COVID-19 en Taza (Marruecos) y satisfacción de la población según el enfoque de las “Reglas de Asociación”] Rachid Flouchi1,2, Mohamed El Far3, Nour Elhouda El Atrache2, Sabah El Kassmi2, Youssra Ezzarouali2, Nesrine Benkhaira1, Naoufal El Hachlafi1, Kawtar Fikri-Benbrahim1* 1Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology and Bioactive Molecules, Sciences and Technologies Faculty, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, B.P. 2202 Imouzzer Road, Fez, Morocco. 2High Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques Annex Taza, Fez, Morocco. 3Laboratory of Applied Physics, Computer Science and Statistics, Sciences Faculty Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco. *E-mail: kawtar.fikribenbrahim@usmba.ac.ma Abstract Context: In an emergency situation such as the current COVID-19 pandemic and the absence of effective treatment, medicinal plants constitute an alternative solution to strengthen immunity, combat and prevent this disease and reduce related sickness. Aims: To determine the ethnobotanical knowledge of medicinal plants used in confirmed cases of COVID-19 and the satisfaction of the latter, thanks to the use of the associative database. Methods: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in the Taza region among confirmed cases of COVID-19 and their contacts. For this purpose, a questionnaire was distributed to participants. Quantitative analysis was used to assess ethnobotanical knowledge with the use, for the first time, of a method of artificial intelligence: the association rule, to determine participant satisfaction according to the different variables studied. Results: A total of 222 patients, distributed equally in rural and urban areas, participated in the study and indicated the use of 17 species belonging to nine botanical families. Lamiaceae was the most used family, and leaves were the most used part and were prepared in the form of infusion. The rule of association demonstrated strong satisfaction with using these plants among the participants, especially the positive cases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ethnobotanical survey in the Taza province (Morocco). Conclusions: This work provides ethnobotanical information on plants used to treat and prevent COVID-19 for positive cases and their contacts. It would be interesting to confirm their usefulness and efficacy through experimental studies.

Cistus ladanifer L. is an aromatic and resinous perennial shrub commonly used in Moroccan folk medicine against a range of illnesses including skin problems, diabetes, diarrhea, and inflammation. The current investigation aims to determine the bioactive compounds of C. ladanifer essential oil (CL-Eo) extracted by microwave-assisted hydrodistillation and their biological properties using in vitro and molecular docking approaches. The GC-MS analysis identified linderol (17.76%), gamma-terpinene (17.55%), and borneol (13.78%) as main bioactive compounds. CL-Eo significantly inhibited α-amylase (IC50 = 0.41 ± 0.009 mg/mL), α-glucosidase (IC50 = 0.49 ± 0.002 mg/mL) and lipase (IC50 = 0.45 ± 0.004 mg/mL) enzymes. Moreover, CL-Eo showed significant hemoglobin glycation as well as antioxidant capacity as indicated by DPPH, ABTS, Frap and beta-carotene tests. The antimicrobial evaluation used disc-diffusion and microdilution tests in vitro. The results showed that CL-Eo had significant antibacterial activity, particularly against P. mirabilis (17.16 ± 1.04 mm), and moderate effects against L. innocua (13.48 ± 1.65 mm) and E. coli (12.47 ± 0.61 mm). In addition, it demonstrated potent antifungal activity against C. albicans (18.01 ± 0.91 mm) and C. tropicalis (16.45 ± 0.32 mm). The MIC and MBC tests provided confirmation that CL-Eo exhibited potent growth inhibition. The MIC ranged from 0.25 to 8.0% v/v and the MBC or MFC ranged from 0.25 to 16.0% v/v Eo. The tolerance level ratio showed bactericidal and fungicidal effects against tested microbial strains in varying degrees. According to these data, CL-Eo might be suggested as a promising candidate for drug development, specifically for combating candidiasis and diabetes.

Tetraclinis articulata is a known traditional medicinal plant used to manage various ailments, such as diabetes, rheumatism and infectious diseases. This study aims to determine the chemical constituents of T. articulata essential oil (EO) and to evaluate its in vitro antibacterial, anti-candidal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and dermatoprotective properties. In addition, a computational docking approach was used to predict the potential antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic properties of the identified compounds. The volatile oil obtained by hydrodistillation was characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant activity of T. articulata EO was investigated using three complementary assays: DPPH, ABTS and FRAP. Lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and tyrosinase enzymes were used to assess the anti-inflammatory and dermatoprotective effects of this oil. Moreover, disc-diffusion technique, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays were employed for the antimicrobial screening. The GC-MS analysis revealed that bornyl acetate (41.80 %), α-pinene (17.97 %) and camphor (15.97 %) are the major components of the studied EO. Moreover, T. articulata EO has exhibited promising antioxidant effect on FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS experiments. It also significantly inhibited 5-LOX (IC50 = 67.82 ± 0.03 μg/mL) and tyrosinase (IC50 = 211.93 ± 0.02 μg/mL). The results of MIC and MBC assays indicated that T. articulata EO is able to inhibit the growth of all tested bacteria (Gram + and Gram -) and Candida species. The ratio of tolerance level indicated that the tested oil was bactericidal against the Gram + bacteria and Candida species, whereas it has a bacteriostatic behavior against the Gram− bacteria. In light of these findings, T. articulata EO may be suggested as a potential pharmaceutical agent to prevent inflammation and skin problems and may serve as a natural antimicrobial and antioxidant alternative for sustainable application in food products.

Ten new isatin derivatives (2–11) were synthesized by alkylation reactions under phase transfer catalysis (PTC) conditions. Structural characterization of all compounds was performed using 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The molecular and crystal structures of three compounds (4, 7, and 8) were confirmed through single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Spectral data were also calculated using density function theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6–311++G(d, p) level and compared to the experimental results, to understand the non-binding intermolecular interactions in the solid phase crystal packing. The closest contacts between atoms of the three molecules studied were identified by 2D and 3D Hirshfeld surface analyses. The structures of 4, 7 and 8 are optimized and their HOMO and LUMO energies, as well as their orbital pictures were evaluated. The experimental results correlated well with the calculated results. Finally, molecular docking studies of 4, 7 and 8 were performed to investigate their binding patterns with inhibitory targets from the Protein Data Bank (PDB: 3G7B and PDB: 3T0T using the AutoDock Vina program. The antibacterial activities of 2–11 against Gram-positive and Gram-negative microbial strains, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were evaluated, and the findings indicated that 4 and 8 exhibited the highest efficacy, as reflected in their minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values.

The development of novel antimicrobial drugs is crucial due to the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance. A new series of 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazole derivatives containing a cytosine moiety (3a, 3b, 3c and 3d) were synthesized using 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition in a mixture of ethanol and water under Cu(I)-catalyzed with N-alkyl: 1-(prop-2-ynyl)-4-amino-2-oxopyrimidine 2 as dipolarophiles and azide derivatives (sucre-azoture) as dipoles. The desired products were obtained in good yields by reacting with a catalytic amount of copper (II) sulfate and sodium ascorbate. The structure of these compounds was analyzed and characterized using spectroscopic measurements such as 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectroscopy. Encouragingly, all cycloaddition molecules exhibited promising activity against various bacterial strains including Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The crystal structure modeling of protein 7AZ5 demonstrated strong binding affinities through hydrogen bonds with these molecules. The cycloaddition compounds displayed the highest binding energies in terms of antimicrobial efficacy. This suggests that these substances could serve as an effective model for the development and production of new and potent antimicrobial agents.

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) kernels have been widely employed in phytomedicine for treating different ailments. This study aims to unveil the phytochemical composition by HPLC-ESI-MS, in vitro antioxidant activity, and examine certain pharmacological effects of the hydro-ethanolic extract from bitter apricot kernels (BAK). Obtained results indicated that the BAK extract presents a content of 4.58 ± 0.15 mg GAE/g extract of TPA and 1.68 ± 0.09 mg QUE/g extract of TFA, respectively. HPLC-ESI-MS analysis discovered the presence of 17 phenolic compounds including phenolic acids and flavonoids like 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid, caffeic acid, (+)-catechin, epicatechin, and others, with associated antioxidant power. Regarding the studied potential pharmacological effects, notable analgesic activity at a dosage of 100 mg/kg BW was recorded with 63.46% protection. In the anti-inflammatory test, significant inhibition was observed after 6 hours of treatment (77.4%) compared to untreated animals. Moreover, the daily application of ointment formulated with 10% BAK extract resulted in a remarkable healing of wounds and burns in rats. These findings underscore the increasing evidence supporting the potential use of apricot kernel extracts in treating various diseases.

Trace metals found in industrial effluents are highly toxic pollutants, and these include cadmium and chromium (VI). The objective of this work is to remove cadmium and chromium (VI) on activated carbons, prepared from biomaterials such as nuclei of Ziziphus lotus and coffee grounds. The characterization of adsorbents was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results of the characterization showed an important porosity on the activated carbon’s surface, with sizes between 6 and 50 μm. Similarly, the adsorption results showed that the adsorption process is very rapid and that the increase in contact time and temperature improves the efficiency of the Cd and Cr(VI) removal process. Indeed, abatement rates (R%) of 80% for Cr(VI) and 60% for Cd were obtained after 80 minutes of adsorption on activated carbon prepared from Ziziphus lotus, whereas activated carbon obtained from coffee grounds allows a reduction rate of about 50% for Cr(VI) and Cd. Hence, it seems clearly that the activated carbon of Ziziphus lotus is more effective than that of coffee grounds, especially for the Cr(VI) adsorption. The kinetic modeling of the adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order model, and the Freundlich model has better explained the adsorption isotherm for Cd and Cr(VI). The thermodynamic study showed that adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic.

In this study, experimental design approach coupled with MIC assay were used to determine the combined treatment effect of three Moroccan essential oils (EOs) derived from Ammi visnaga (AVEO), Mentha suaveolens (MSEO) and Lavandula stoechas (LSEO), against S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa, as well as to predict the optimal formulations of these EOs to inhibit bacterial adhesion on the stainless steel (304L SS) surface. EOs were obtained via hydrodistillation and then, their volatile content was analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). The antibacterial activity was evaluated using disc-diffusion, microdilution assays. Moreover, the anti-adhesive effect was assessed using two complementary methods, including contact angle measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of various bioactive compounds in AVEO, MSEO and LSEO. The main identified components were piperitenone oxide (52.04%) and pulegone (19.78%) for MSEO; and camphor (23.97 %) and menthol (21.5%) for LSEO. Whereas, AVEO was mainly characterized by the presence of linalool (30.24 %). The antibacterial assays showed that all EOs are able to inhibit the bacterial growth at low concentration (MIC ranged from 0.015 to 4 v/v (%)). The optimization of mixtures antibacterial effect has demonstrated the synergistic effect between the three EOs. The optimal mixture predicted against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus corresponded to 30%/42%/28%, 50%/50%/0%, 43%/30%/27%, and AVEO, LSEO and MSEO, respectively. The contact angle assessment indicated that LSEO, MSEO, AVEO and their optimal mixtures remarkably inhibit bacterial adhesion by the alteration of the physico-chemical properties of 304L SS surface. These results are confirmed by SEM analysis, and proved that EOs formulation was able to inhibit more than 80% of bacterial adhesion to 304L SS surface. In light of these findings, EOs mixtures recommended here, can be applied as a promoting and eco-friendly agent for combating the formation of biofilms on stainless steel surface.

Celtis australis is a deciduous plant used worldwide in folk medicine to treat various ailments, such as stomach disorders, cough, pimples, joint pain, amenorrhoea, rheumatism, menstrual disorders, and herpes. The present review aims to document and summarize different works regarding the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, and biological activities of different parts (fruits, barks, leaves, and seeds) of this medicinal plant. For data collection, Google scholar, Science direct, Scopus, PubChem, and PubMed databases were used. This study shows that C. australis contains several bioactive compounds, exhibiting various pharmacological activities mainly hepatoprotective, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Thus, C. australis is a promising plant that can be exploited in the treatment of various diseases.

Ruta montana (RM) is a medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) used in folk medicine, especially in North Africa, to treat digestive, infectious, respiratory, neurological, gynecological, and diabetic diseases. The current work aims to review the scientifically validated ethno-medicinal usage, bioactivities and phytochemistry of RM, in order to provide data support for further investigations. Data were procured from PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and PubChem. The present study revealed that RM could be used to manage many diseases involved in public health problems, such as diabetes, hypertension, neurological disorders, infections, reproductive system disorders, and cancer. It might also replace chemical insecticides and fungicides since it exhibits antifungal, insecticidal, and larvicidal properties. RM extracts also contain mainly coumarins and alkaloids. The volatile oil of RM is characterized by an abundance of ketone compounds and 2-undecanone as major constituents. In the case of a high-dose administration, RM infusion can cause poisoning through the oral path. Thus, in-depth in vivo pharmacological studies and clinical trials are needed to transmute the traditional applications of RM into scientific-based information.

This study aims to identify the volatile profile of three essential oils obtained from Eucalyptus polybractea cryptonifera (EPEO), Ormenis mixta (OMEO), and Lavandula burnatii briquet (LBEO) and to examine their combined antibacterial activity that affords the optimal inhibitory ability against S. aureus and E. coli using simplex-centroid mixture design and checkerboard assay. Essential oils (EOs) were isolated by hydrodistillation and characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography coupled with flame-ionization detector (GC-FID). The antibacterial activity was performed using disc diffusion and microdilution assays. The chemical analysis revealed that 1,8-cineole (23.75%), p-cymene (22.47%), and α-pinene (11.20%) and p-menthane-1,8-diol (18.19%), α-pinene (10.81%), and D-germacrene (9.17%) were the main components detected in E. polybractea and O. mixta EOs, respectively. However, L. burnatii EO was mainly represented by linalool (24.40%) and linalyl acetate (18.68%). The EPEO, LBEO, and OMEO had a strong antibacterial effect on S. aureus with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) values ranging from 0.25 to 0.5% (v/v). Furthermore, the combination of 1/2048 MICEPEO + 1/4 MICLBEO showed a synergistic antibacterial effect on S. aureus with a FIC index of 0.25, while the formulation of 1/4 MICEPEO + 1/4 MICOMEO demonstrated an antibacterial synergistic activity on E. coli with a FIC index of 0.5. Moreover, the simplex-centroid mixture design reported that the most effective combinations on E. coli and S. aureus correspond to 32%/28%/40% and 35%/30%/35% of E. polybractea, O. mixta, and L. burnatii, respectively. Presented information highlights the action of antibacterial formulations of these EOs and suggests their potential applications as alternatives to commercialized drugs to contract the development of bacteria causing serious infections and food deterioration.

Cedrus atlantica (Endl.) Manetti ex Carriere is an endemic tree possessing valuable health benefits which has been widely used since time immemorial in international traditional pharmacopoeia. The aim of this exploratory investigation is to determine the volatile compounds of C. atlantica essential oils (CAEOs) and to examine their in vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and dermatoprotective properties. In silico simulations, including molecular docking and pharmacokinetics absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET), and drug-likeness prediction were used to reveal the processes underlying in vitro biological properties. Gas chromatography–mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) was used for the chemical screening of CAEO. The antioxidant activity of CAEO was investigated using four in vitro complementary techniques, including ABTS and DPPH radicals scavenging activity, ferric reductive power, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation (β-carotene test). Lipoxygenase (5-LOX) inhibition and tyrosinase inhibitory assays were used for testing the anti-inflammatory and dermatoprotective properties. GC-MS analysis indicated that the main components of CAEO are β-himachalene (28.99%), α-himachalene (14.43%), and longifolene (12.2%). An in vitro antimicrobial activity of CAEO was examined against eleven strains of Gram-positive bacteria (three strains), Gram-negative bacteria (four strains), and fungi (four strains). The results demonstrated high antibacterial and antifungal activity against ten of them (>15 mm zone of inhibition) using the disc-diffusion assay. The microdilution test showed that the lowest values of MIC and MBC were recorded with the Gram-positive bacteria in particular, which ranged from 0.0625 to 0.25 % v/v for MIC and from 0.5 to 0.125 % v/v for MBC. The MIC and MFC of the fungal strains ranged from 0.5 to 4.0% (MIC) and 0.5 to 8.0% v/v (MFC). According to the MBC/MIC and MFC/MIC ratios, CAEO has bactericidal and fungicidal activity. The results of the in vitro antioxidant assays revealed that CAEO possesses remarkable antioxidant activity. The inhibitory effects on 5-LOX and tyrosinase enzymes was also significant (p < 0.05). ADMET investigation suggests that the main compounds of CAEO possess favorable pharmacokinetic properties. These findings provide scientific validation of the traditional uses of this plant and suggest its potential application as natural drugs.

Abstract Background Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are known to improve plant growth and are used as biofertilizers, thanks to their numerous benefits to agriculture such as phosphorus solubilization and phytohormone production. In this paper, four rhizospheric bacteria (Phyllobacterium sp., Bacillus sp., Agrobacterium sp., and Rhizobium sp.) isolated from surface-sterilized root nodules of Acacia cyanophylla were tested for their ability to solubilize inorganic phosphate and to produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) under laboratory conditions. Then, the best IAA producer (Rhizobium sp.) was selected to test optimized conditions for IAA production. Finally, the effect of the four strains on plant growth for A. cyanophylla was evaluated in vivo. Results The results showed that the totality of the tested isolates had solubilized inorganic phosphate (P) in both NBRIP (National Botanical Research Institute Phosphate) and PVK (Pikovskaya) media. Bacillus sp. was a high P-solubilizer and showed maximum solubilization in PVK (519 μg ml-1) and NBRIP (782 μg ml-1). The optimization of maximum phosphate solubilization was done using different sources of carbon (1%) and nitrogen (0.1%). Glucose and ammonium sulfate were selected to be the best carbon and nitrogen source for phosphate solubilization by all tested strains, except for Phyllobacterium sp., which recorded the highest phosphate solubilization with ammonium nitrate. The IAA production by the tested strains indicated that Rhizobium sp. produced the highest amount of IAA (90.21 μg ml-1) in culture media supplemented with L-tryptophan. The best production was observed with L-Trp concentration of 0.2% (116.42 μg ml-1) and at an initial pH of 9 (116.07 μg ml-1). The effect of NaCl on IAA production was tested at concentrations of 0 to 5% and the maximum production of 89.43 μg ml-1 was found at 2% NaCl. The extraction of crude IAA from this strain was done and purity was confirmed with Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) analysis. A specific spot from the extracted IAA production was found to correspond with a standard spot of IAA with the same Rf value. Finally, the tested PGPR demonstrated growth stimulatory effects on Acacia cyanophylla seedlings in vivo, with a great increase of shoots’ and roots’ dry weights, and shoot length compared to control. The rhizobacterial isolates were identified by 16S rDNA sequence analysis as Agrobacterium sp. NA11001, Phyllobacterium sp. C65, Bacillus sp. CS14, and Rhizobium sp. V3E1. Conclusion This study highlights the importance of the use of phosphate solubilizing and IAA producer microorganisms as biofertilizers to increase crop yields. The studied strains showed a significant phosphate solubilization potential and IAA production. The use of selected strains as inoculants would be interesting, in particular with a view of promoting sustainable agriculture. However, further studies to verify the efficacy of the best isolates in situ is certainly required.

Abstract Background The production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is an essential tool for rhizobacteria to stimulate and facilitate plant growth. For this, eighty rhizobial bacteria isolated from root nodules of Acacia cyanophylla grown in different regions of Morocco were firstly screened for their ability to produce IAA. Then, IAA production by a combination of isolates and the inoculation effect on the germination of Acacia cyanophylla seeds was studied using the best performing isolates in terms of IAA production. The best IAA producer bacterial isolate (I69) was selected to optimize IAA production using response surface methodology based on the central composite design. Results Results showed that the majority of tested isolates were able to produce IAA with a relatively higher concentration of 135 μg/ml for the isolate I69, followed by isolates I22 and I75 with respective concentrations of 116 μg/ml and 105 μg/ml IAA. The IAA production and the seed germination rate were relatively increased by the synergistic effect of I69 and I22. Later, response surface methodology was used to determine optimal operating conditions leading to IAA production optimization. Thus, an incubation temperature of 36 °C, a pH of 6.5, an incubation time of 1 day, and respective tryptophan and NaCl concentrations of 1 g/l and 0.1 g/l were optimal parameters leading to 166 μg/ml IAA which was the maximal produced concentration. Conclusion The present study highlighted that IAA-producing rhizobacteria could be harnessed to improve plant growth. Furthermore, their production can be easily controlled using response surface methodology, which represents a very useful tool for optimization.

Thanks to their promising properties, essential oils (EOs) have strong potential to remedy several problems such as microorganisms acquired resistance to antimicrobial agents and chemical antioxidants toxicity. Firstly, this work was conducted to determine chemical composition, antioxydant activity, then antibacterial, antifungal, antimycobacterial properties of Rosmarinus officinalis EO. Secondly, EOs combined antimicrobial effect with carvacrol was assessed. Chemical EO analysis was performed using Gas chromatography/mass spectrometer. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl test was used to evaluate in vitro antioxidant rosemary oil effect. The antimicrobial activity against seven bacteria, two fungi, and two mycobacterial strains was screened using the broth microdilution method. Thereafter, the checkerboard essay was used to evaluate the antibacterial effect of this EO and Carvacrol. Chemical EO analysis revealed 1,8-cineole (33.88%), camphor (14.66%), and α-pinene (12.76%) as main constituents. The obtained IC50 value (2.77 mg/mL) showed rosemary EO's radical scavenging power. Moreover, all tested microorganisms showed an important sensitivity to this EO (MIC values: 0.007%–1% (v/v)). Furthermore, results highlighted synergistic and partial synergistic interaction for tested products. The studied EO has both antimicrobial and antioxidant potentials. Combined application showed a remarkable synergistic antibacterial potentiation that can be used as an alternative in pharmaceutical and food processing sectors.

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the symbiotic effectiveness of Rhizobium strains isolated from food legumes (Bean) collected from different sites in Fez city and regions (Morocco). For this purpose, 15 isolates were obtained. Seeds were inoculated with these isolates and grown in bags containing sterile soil in greenhouse under controlled plant growth conditions. 30 days after planting several measurements were carried out to assess nodulation, plant growth and N2 fixation. Nodule number and dry weight were determined as an indication of inoculation response; shoot and Root dry weights as an indication of growth response, and N-uptake as an indication of nitrogen fixation effectiveness. The results of the experiment were statistically analyzed showed a statistically significant difference between the tested strains (P < 0.05).

Background. Surgical site infection is a major public health problem in the world. Nasal carriage is a major risk factor for the development of nosocomial Staphylococcus aureus infection, especially methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Our work aims to determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and the associated risk factors and to evaluate their sensitivity to 27 antibiotics. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 100 patients, hospitalized in preoperative care of surgery units at the Taza Provincial Hospital Center in the Fez-Meknes region, from January to June 2019. Samples were taken from the patient’s anterior nostril using single-use sterile dry or wet cotton swabs and then analyzed in the Provincial Public Health Laboratory in Taza. The carriage of Staphylococcus aureus was studied by conventional bacteriological methods by spreading nasal swabs on Chapman culture medium, while antibiotic resistance was determined by the Mueller–Hinton agar disc diffusion method according to the recommendations described by the Antibiogram Committee of the French Society of Microbiology 2019 (CA SFM 2019). Results. Of the 84 patients found to be positive, 45.24% had coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus and 54.76% had coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. After surgery in the postoperative phase, 16 patients developed surgical site infections, of which two had a negative nasal culture and 14 had positive nasal culture. Among the Staphylococcus aureus-positive patients, 36.84% were colonized by a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 63.16% by a methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). Of these, 57.14% of MRSA colonized patients developed an infection of the surgical site and 42.85% showed no sign of SSI, while for patients colonized by MSSA, 16.67% developed SSI and 83.33% showed no sign of SSI. Moreover, children were the most affected by MRSA. Concerning antibiotic sensitivity, multiresistance of MRSA to more than 3 antibiotics has been found. Conclusion. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study carried out in this hospital center with the aim of knowing the prevalence of nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA and to identify the risk factors in order to prevent infections related to nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA.

Thirty eight isolates nodulating acacia were isolated from different Moroccan areas to determine their ability to survive under various stress conditions, in order to select resistant ones. The response of these isolates to different environmental stress was evaluated to show their preliminary variability based on phenotypical characteristics. Tolerance to increasing levels of NaCl (0.5-10% w/v), pH (4.8-11), temperature (4-55°C) and resistance response to seven heavy metals and five antibiotics were studied as phenotypic markers. The majority of isolates from different Acacia trees were fast growing. Numerical analysis of these phenotypic characteristics showed that the isolates were divided into three distinct clusters presenting intra and inter-cluster diversity. The symbiotic effectiveness of different isolates was studied and showed significant differences with respect to nodule number, nitrogen fixation and improving plants growth (shoot and root dry weight) compared to the uninoculated and non-fertilized control under greenhouse conditions. On the basis of phenotypic and symbiotic studies, six isolates (I1, I3, I5, I6, I16 and I28) were selected for genotypic characterization. The selection of such rhizobial isolates able to adapt to various environmental stress conditions and to improve plant’s growth is important for their future valorization to develop inoculants for Acacia especially in arid areas.

Taza City is among the Moroccan cities which is in full urban expansion, with a daily wastewater discharge volume estimated at 16534 m3/d in 2020, and expected to reach 20056 m3/d by 2030. These waters, collected in a combined sewerage network, are directly released into the natural environment without any treatment. Indeed, a large part of this water is discharged into Oued Defali, the main tributary of Oued Larbâa. In order to manage and better understand these discharges impact on the streams crossing this city, wastewater sampling campaigns were carried out for one year from May 2018 to April 2019 at domestic (S1) and industrial (S2) sites. The wastewater physicochemical characterization revealed that these discharges are highly loaded with organic matter in terms of chemical oxygen demand (S1 avg = 1231.44 mg/l and S2 avg = 933.03 mg/l), biochemical oxygen demand (S1 avg = 511.87 mg/l and S2 avg = 464.35 mg/l), and suspended matter (S1 avg = 744.11 mg/l and S2 avg = 578.13 mg/l). The use of principal component analysis (PCA) has allowed us to collect as much information as possible from the database of the physicochemical analyses performed for the studied parameters.

To replace and avoid synthetic chemicals toxicity, there is a growing interest in the investigation of natural products from plant origin for the discovery of active compounds with antimicrobial properties. This work was devoted to determine chemical composition and antimicrobial properties of the EO of M. piperita harvested in the garden of the National Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Morocco. Experiments have been conducted at the Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory at the Sciences and Technology Faculty, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco. M. piperita oil was screened for its antimicrobial activity against seven bacteria and two fungi using broth microdilution method. Chemical EO analysis was performed using CPG/MS. The EO revealed menthol (46.32%), menthofuran (13.18%), menthyl acetate (12.10%), menthone (7.42%), and 1,8-cineole (6.06%) as the main constituents. The tested EO exhibited strong inhibitory effect against all tested microorganisms with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.062% to 0.5% (v/v), except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa that was the least sensitive and was only inhibited by concentrations as high as 0.5% (v/v). The studied EO showed an antimicrobial potential. This reinforces its use as an alternative to chemical additives that can be applied to the food and drug industry.

Objective: To evaluate the susceptibility of Mycobacterium aurum and Mycobacterium smegmatis in vitro to the essential oils obtained from two medicinal plants: Thymus satureioides (T. satureioides) and Mentha pulegium (M. pulegium), and to study their chemical composition. Methods: The aerial parts of T. satureioides and M. pulegium (leaves and stems) were hydro-distillated using a Clevenger-type apparatus and essential oils were analyzed and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Antimycobacterial screening of essential oils was performed on the basis of the inhibition zone diameter by disc diffusion method against two mycobacterial strains whereas the minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration were determined by using the micro-dilution method. Results: Chemical analysis of their aerial part's essential oils gave as major compounds, borneol (34.26%), carvacrol (31.21%) and thymol (3.71%) for T. satureioides and R(+)-pulegone (75.48%), carvone (6.66%) and dihydrocarvone (4.64%) for M. pulegium. Thereafter their antimycobacterial effect evaluation, using the micro-dilution method, indicated that minimal inhibitory concentration values of T. satureioides essential oil ranged from 0.062% to 0.015% (v/v) and from 0.125% to 0.031% (v/v) for M. pulegium respectively against Mycobacterium aurum and Mycobacterium smegmatis. Conclusions: It is clearly evident from the results obtained that the Moroccan medicinal plants have great potential to be used as anti-tuberculosis agents. These findings may help scientists to undertake several research projects to discover useful natural product as new anti-tuberculosis drug.