Search

Thymelaea (F. Thymelaeaceae) is a large genus comprising around 30 species of evergreen and flowering plants. Most of them are native to the Mediterranean area. Despite its interesting chemical diversity and potent activities, there is still a lack of information about the characterization of its chemistry and mechanisms of action. This review aims to highlight the chemical and biological profiles of different Thymelaea species along with their Ethnopharmacology. In general, Thymelaea species possess potent anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and antioxidant activities. The pharmacology of the different plants is due to their remarkable active ingredients that vary from daphnane diterpenes, lignans, flavonoids, and phenolic acids to volatile oils. From ethnopharmacology to preclinical evidence, Thymelaea species demonstrated a unique chemical profile with potent bioactivities. However, until now, there is a lack of information about their toxicological and clinical controlled trials, and so this review may give attention to more clinical trials to be proceeded on Thymelaea species.

The hydantoin scaffold is of substantial importance and it is commonly used in drug discovery. Herein, we report the synthesis of a novel phenytoine (a hydantoin derivative) with high yield by the reaction of phenytoin with 1-bromodecyl agent. Namely, 3-decyl-5,5- diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione (3DDID). The optimized geometry of the compound was calculated using density functional theory (DFT) method by B3LYP with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. For this calculation, the X-ray data were used as initial values. Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surface and Frontier molecular orbitals (FOMs) were prepared for the compound. The crystal structure of the title compound contains intermolecular N-H···O, C-H···O hydrogen bonds and weak C-H···π interactions. Hirshfeld surface analysis and 2D fingerprint plots of the molecule aid comparison of intermolecular interactions and these analysis reveals that two close contacts are associated with intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The psychotropic activity evaluation of the synthesized compound was further explored using hole bored test for exploratory behaviors, dark//light box test for anxiolytic activity and Rota-road, traction, chimney testes were used to assess the myrelaxant effect. In addition, molecular modeling study was also conducted to rationalize the potential as neurotherapeutic drugs of our synthesized compound by predicting their binding modes, binding affinities and optimal orientation at the active site of the GABA-A receptor and Na+ channel. Finally, in silico ADMET predictions was also examined. HighlightsSynthesis, structural, and molecular characterization of a novel phenytoin derivative.DFT, XRD, and the Hirshfeld surface analysis of crystal structure was studied.Acute toxicity and psychotropic activity evaluation of 3-decyl-5,5 diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione (3DDID).Molecular modeling studies have been conducted to rationalize the obtained data and to determine the probable binding mode.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Plants of the genus Brassica occupy the top place among vegetables in the world. This genus, which contains a group of six related species of a global economic significance, three of which are diploid: Brassica nigra (L.) K. Koch, Brassica oleracea L., and Brassica rapa L. and three are amphidiploid species: Brassica carinata A. Braun, Brassica juncea (L.) Czern., and Brassica napus L. These varieties are divided into oily, fodder, spice, and vegetable based on their morphological structure, chemical composition, and usefulness of plant organs. The present review provides information about habitat, phytochemical composition, and the bioactive potential of Brassica plants, mainly antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer activities, and clinical studies in human. Brassica vegetables are of great economic importance around the world. At present, Brassica plants are grown together with cereals and form the basis of global food supplies. They are distinguished by high nutritional properties from other vegetable plants, such as low fat and protein content and high value of vitamins, fibers along with minerals. In addition, they possess several phenolic compounds and have a unique type of compounds namely glucosinolates that differentiate these crops from other vegetables. These compounds are also responsible for numerous biological activities to the genus Brassica as described in this review.

This work is aimed the study of volatile compounds of Centauruim erythraea Raphin at three developmental stages (vegetative, flowering and post-flowering) and the investigation of their in vitro antioxidant, antidiabetic, dermatoprotective and antibacterial properties. The chemical composition of Centauruim erythraea essential oils (CEEO) was determined using GC/MS analysis. 39 volatile compounds were identified, belonging mainly to oxygenated monoterpenes, 51.63%, 44.10% and 53.69% at the vegetative, flowering and post-flowering stage, respectively. Menthol, carvacrol and tricosane were the main compounds of CEEO at the three developmental stages. The antioxidant effects of CEEO were determined by DPPH, FRAP and ABTS assays. CEEO at the flowering stage showed the best antioxidant effects by an IC50 = 47.18 ± 3.62 μg/mL, IC50 = 53.25 ± 2.19 μg/mL, IC50 = 65.34 ± 3.71 μg/mL determined by DPPH, FRAP and ABTS assays, respectively. The in vitro antidiabetic effect was evaluated by α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes inhibitory. CEEO at vegetative stage demonstrated a remarkable α-amylase (IC50 = 31.91 ± 0.336 μg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC50 = 56.77 ± 1.02 μg/mL) inhibitory activities. Moreover, CEEO at the flowering and post-flowering stage strongly inhibited the tyrosinase enzyme with IC50 of 41.863 ± 0.031 μg/mL IC50 = 49.183 ± 0.298 μg/mL, respectively. The antibacterial effects were evaluated by determining the diameters of inhibition, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). CEEO showed important antibacterial inhibition at three seasonal stages and particularly against Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. Moreover, CEEO at post-flowering stage presented bactericidal effects especially against S. aureus (MIC = MBC = 0.125% (v/v)), L. monocytogenes (MIC = MBC = 0.125% (v/v)), and Proteus mirabilis (MIC = MBC = 0.125% (v/v)). The results obtained in this study show that the biological properties of CEEO are mainly depending to phenological stages, during which volatile bioactive synthesis occurs.

Two new (4–5) and a known (3) derivatives of 1,2,4-triazolo [1,5-a]pyrimidine are synthesized and characterized through spectroscopic NMR, FT-IR and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Along with experimental data, the predicted spectral data are obtained using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31 + G (d,p) level of theory. The closest contacts between active atoms of the compounds are identified through Hirshfeld surface analysis and electrostatic potential map (EPM) studies. Relatively, good correlations were found between the experimental and predicted spectroscopic data with correlation coefficients higher than 90%. Hirshfeld surface analysis and EPM reveal that the closest interaction between the units of the compounds are between hydrogen atoms (39.6–46.3%). The antioxidant activity of 3–5 is evaluated using DPPH free radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays.

Despite the richness and biodiversity of invertebrates and algae in the Mediterranean Sea, these organisms are still poorly studied. The objective of our research is the discovery of bioactive lead compounds from the Mediterranean Sea sponge Hemimycale Collumella (HC). HC sponge (189.0 g) was collected from Mdiq costs on the Mediterranean Sea and extracted with methanol to yield (10 g) which was then subjected to fractionation. A bio-guided protocol was applied through evaluation of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging and Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC), α-amylase, β-glucosidase, pancreatic lipase inhibition as well as anti-collagenase, anti-elastase, antityrosinase and cytotoxic activity. 2,3-O-Hexahydroxydiphenoyl-(α/β)-glucose (1) and gentisic acid 2-O-β-glucoside (2) were isolated from the water fraction, quercetin-3-O-β-glucopyranoside (3), kaempferol 3-O-β-glucopyranoside (4) and isorhamnetin 3-O-β-glucopyranoside (5) from n-butanol fraction, gallic acid (6) from ethyl acetate fraction and gallic acid-3-methyl ether (7) from methylene chloride fraction. Compound 5 had the highest DPPH and ORAC activity. Compounds 1–5 had promising lipase inhibition activities which exceeded that of the standard Orlistat, while compounds 1–7 showed anti-tyrosinase activity higher than that of the standard Hydroquinone monomethyl ether. This is the first report for evaluation of the biological activities of 2, 3-O-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-(α/β)-glucose (1), gentisic acid 2-O-β-glucoside (2) and gallic acid-3-methyl ether (7).

Vitex agnus-castus is a medicinal plant of the Verbenaceae family, widely used in traditional medicine. This study is aimed at investigating the functional variability of phenolic compounds in different parts (leaves, stems, flowers, roots, and seeds) of Vitex agnus-castus methanolic extracts and at assessing their in vitro antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities. The results of HPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS indicated the presence of 25 phenolic compounds with a remarkable variability between plant parts; high levels were registered in chlorogenic, vanillic, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic, and 3-hydroxybenzoic acids; hesperidin; and luteolin. V. agnus castus fruits and stems presented higher antioxidant activities. The extracts inhibited the growth of five pathogenic bacteria with MIC values documented between 7.81 and 31.25 mg/mL. In vitro antihyperglycemic effect revealed higher effect in flowers (2921.84 μg/mL) and seeds (2992.75 μg/mL) against α-glucosidase and of leaves (2156.80 μg/mL) and roots (2357.30 μg/mL) against α-amylase. The findings of this showed that V. agnus castus is a promising source for antidiabetic bioactive compounds. However, further investigations regarding the evaluation of in vivo antidiabetic effects of these compounds are needed.

Vitex agnus-castus is a medicinal plant of the Verbenaceae family, widely used in traditional medicine. This study is aimed at investigating the functional variability of phenolic compounds in different parts (leaves, stems, flowers, roots, and seeds) of Vitex agnus-castus methanolic extracts and at assessing their in vitro antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities. The results of HPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS indicated the presence of 25 phenolic compounds with a remarkable variability between plant parts; high levels were registered in chlorogenic, vanillic, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic, and 3-hydroxybenzoic acids; hesperidin; and luteolin. V. agnus castus fruits and stems presented higher antioxidant activities. The extracts inhibited the growth of five pathogenic bacteria with MIC values documented between 7.81 and 31.25 mg/mL. In vitro antihyperglycemic effect revealed higher effect in flowers (2921.84 μg/mL) and seeds (2992.75 μg/mL) against α-glucosidase and of leaves (2156.80 μg/mL) and roots (2357.30 μg/mL) against α-amylase. The findings of this showed that V. agnus castus is a promising source for antidiabetic bioactive compounds. However, further investigations regarding the evaluation of in vivo antidiabetic effects of these compounds are needed.

Herbal extracts and essential oils have been used over the centuries for their dietary, cosmetic and therapeutic properties. Quality control is needed to guarantee the safety and quality of these consumables. In this regard, fingerprinting techniques are important for inspection of the authenticity and for quality control. Analytical fingerprinting techniques provide signals related to the composition of a matrix (oil, plant extract, food…). The resulting fingerprint (spectrum or chromatogram) obtained for an untargeted or targeted approach is coupled to chemometric data processing, which may allow, for instance, the desired identification or discrimination of the sample considered. In this context, recent advances in untargeted/targeted fingerprinting approaches (especially chromatographic and spectroscopic) were described and their application in the taxonomic identification, classification and authentication of plants (medicinal) and essential oils discussed. An overview of the applications of untargeted/targeted fingerprinting techniques on herbal-extracts and essential-oils analysis, using different chemometric tools, has been included.

Background: Calendula arvensis is an annual Mediterranean plant growing in Morocco between Rabat and Khemissat. C. arvensisis is known in folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory and antipyretic remedy. However, few reports have investigated its pharmacological properties. Methods: The objective of the present study was to determine chemical composition of C. arvensis flowers, and to investigate their antidiabetic activities by mean of digestive enzyme inhibition. The profile of phenolic compounds was established by HPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS analysis. While the antidiabetic activity was evaluated by the in vitro enzyme inhibition assays. Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of anthocyanins, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins as major elements. Whereas, alkaloids and terpenes were not detected in the plant samples. The chromatographic quantification identified 18 metabolites, with the caffeic acid as a major element. C. arvensis aqueous and methanolic extracts exhibited higher inhibitory potential against α-amylase, α- glucosidase and ß-galactosidase compared to the hexanic extract. Conclusion: The present study brings evidence to the hypoglycemic effect of C. arvensis flowers through enzyme inhibitory activities, and identifies the possible phenolic compounds associated with this activity.

This study evaluated firstly the performance of the Continuous Stirred Tank bioReactor system (CSTR) for the treatment of highly toxic petroleum refinery wastewaters at the pilot-scale. The reduction of the COD, BOD5, phenols, and the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) reached 82.10%, 85.87%, 91.63%, and 81.11%, respectively at high hydraulic residence time (HRT = 10 days). Decreasing HRT to 5 and 2.5 days led to a decrease in the efficiency of the process and a decrease in biomass concentration was also observed (

Echinoderms have attracted the attention of scientists over the past few years after identifying a variety of unique structures endowed by interesting biological properties. However, the Moroccan coast biodiversity is still uninvestigated. In our ongoing attempts to valorize the rich Moroccan marine environment, this study aimed at assessing the antimicrobial activity of extracts obtained from three echinoderms Astropecten irregularis, Luidia sarsi and Ophiura albida against the human pathogens: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica and Bacillus subtilis. Moreover, their antioxidant activities were tested using standard methods in addition to the antidiabetic activity which has been evaluated in vitro against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. HPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS analysis revealed a significant content of some phenolic compounds such as pyrogallol, gallic, sinapic, ferulic, p-hydroxybenzoic and salicylic acids whose existence can be related to the endophytic fungi and/or dietary intake whereas GC-MS analysis exhibited diverse chemical structures such as cholesterol, oleic acid and glycerol 1-palmitate. Keywords: Echinoderms, Phenolic, α-Amylase, α-Glucosidase, Antimicrobial

Le processus de photosensibilisation (phototraitement) de l'eau suscite beaucoup d'intérêt, car il implique trois composants qui sont individuellement inoffensifs pour le milieu biologique, à savoir le photosensibilisant, la lumière et l'oxygène moléculaire. La photostabilité de la porphyrine tétra-méso-cationique (T4MPyP) dans l'eau usée et l’efficacité du phototraitement dépend de la concentration du photosensibilisant, de la qualité de l'eau (contaminants organiques, turbidité, pH, taux d'oxygène dissous et épaisseur de la lame d'eau) ainsi que de l'intensité et de la nature du rayonnement lumineux. L’étude expérimentale consistait à apporter à un sol sableux i) de l’eau usée secondaire traitée par boues activées, ii) la même eau usée, mais phototraitée avec 5 μM∙L-1 de T4MPyP pendant 6 h d’ensoleillement, et iii) une eau de puits. L’eau usée phototraitée était conforme aux normes tunisiennes (NT 106.03) pour l’irrigation sans restriction au niveau du taux de bactéries indicatrices de pollution fécale (l’abattement des coliformes fécaux avoisinait 99,99 %), mais renfermait encore une concentration résiduelle de porphyrine (environ 35 % de la concentration initiale). À la fin de l’expérimentation, la configuration saline du sol dépendait de la qualité des eaux d’irrigation. Dans le cas des eaux usées secondaires, la couche de surface (0-5 cm) se caractérisait par une concentration élevée de sels solubles et par une prolifération d’algues contribuant ainsi au colmatage superficiel et à un manque de continuité des macropores. En revanche, le colmatage chimique et biologique était réduit suite à l’utilisation des eaux usées phototraitées. La salinité était plus importante au niveau de la couche profonde (5-15 cm) due à une importante mobilité des ions chlorures et sodium suivie des sulfates et du calcium de la couche 0-5 cm vers la couche 5-15 cm, ce qui peut être attribué à une oxydation plus élevée de la matière organique induite par la présence de porphyrine. Il ressort de cette étude que la valorisation des eaux usées avec des concentrations micromolaires de T4MPyP dans le domaine agricole inhiberait le développement d'algues à la surface du sol et conduirait à une meilleure infiltration des sels vers les profondeurs évitant ainsi l’installation du colmatage à la surface. En outre, une meilleure rétention des ions ammonium et orthophosphates a été observée dans le sol sableux lors de la percolation des eaux usées phototraiteées., The process of photosensitization (phototreatment) of water is gaining much interest as it involves three components that are individually harmless to the biological environment, namely, the photosensitizer, light, and molecular oxygen. Laboratory experiments on study factors affecting photostability of T4MPyP (meso-tetra [4-N-methylpyridyl] porphyrin) in water show that wavelength and intensity of incident light, concentration of photosensitizer and water quality (presence of organics contaminants, turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and thickness of the water sheet) all affects the rate of photostability and phototreatment. The experimental study consisted in bringing i) secondary treated (by activated sludge) wastewater, ii) the same type of wastewater but photosensitized with 5 μM∙L-1 of T4MPyP during 6h of sunshine, and iii) well water to a sandy soil. Phototreated wastewater met Tunisian standards (NT 106.03) indicating that the porphyrin was efficient in removing indicator bacteria (fecal coliforms removal averaged 99.99%) but still contained a residual concentration of porphyrin (about 35% of the initial concentration). At the end of the experiment, the saline configuration of the soil depended on the irrigation water quality. In the case of the secondary wastewater, the surface layer (0-5 cm) was characterized by high concentration of soluble salts and by proliferation of some algae which resulted in surface clogging and lack of macropore continuity. In contrast, biological, chemical and physical clogging processes were reduced by using phototreated wastewater with a residual photosensitizer. The absence of algae in the surface layer of soil and the decrease of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and bacteria could reduce clogging of irrigated water. The higher salinity was observed in the deep layer (5-15 cm) due to a high mobility of the sodium and chloride ions followed by sulfates and calcium from the layer 0-5 cm to the layer 5-15 cm which can be attributed to the higher oxidation of organic matter induced by the presence of porphyrin. The results revealed that using wastewater with micromolar concentrations of T4MPyP in agriculture would inhibit the development of algae at the soil surface and lead to a better infiltration of salts in depths, which would prevent surface clogging. In addition, better retention of ammonium and orthophosphate ions was observed in the sandy soil during percolation of phototreated wastewater.

Les goudrons végétaux sont des produits résineux néoformés extraits par pyrolyse du bois ou de l’écorce (cf. bouleau), contrairement aux goudrons d’origine géologique (bitume, goudron de houille ou de schiste). Le principe d’extraction est de faire exsuder la matière première en la soumettant à un traitement thermique direct ou indirect ; l’exsudat se transforme alors en goudron. En Europe et en Méditerranée, les exsudats étaient extraits de diverses familles végétales en fonction des époques...

A full-scale study has been conducted to assess the bioaugmentation efficiency of trickling filter process to treat petrochemical wastewater from a lubricant industry recycling waste oils. During 45 weeks, the organic loading rate (OLR) in the trickling filter was increased stepwise from 0.9 to 4 kg of chemical oxygen demand (COD)/(m3·day) at the end of the upgrading period as the flow rate (FR) reached the value of 30 m3/day. The removal, obtained in terms of percentage, for COD ranged from 60 to 84.5 and greater than 98 for total n-alkane (TNA), while those of total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and total phosphor (TP) were about 32 and 55, respectively. The analytical profile index (API) of trickling biofilm has confirmed that 5 strains are closely related to Acinobacter junii, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio metschnikovi, Pseudomona slulzeri and Trichosporon spp2.

Therapy combination is known for less side effects and higher efficacy. Essential oils (EOs) and mixture from two well-known plants (Syzygium aromaticum and Pelargonium graveolens) were tested for in vivo antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The chemical analysis of the investigated Oils has lead to the identification of Eugenol (74.06%), Caryophyllene (11.52%) and Carvacrol acetate (7.82%) as the major element in S. aromaticum; while P. graveolens was much higher in Citronellol (30.77%), 10-epi-γ-Eudesmol (22.59%), and Geraniol (13.95%). In our pharmacological screening, both EOs demonstrated good antioxidant effects; especially S. aromaticum activity was much higher. In contrast, the in vivo investigation of the antioxidant activity using antioxidant enzymes (MDA, SOD and CAT) in the protozoa model (Tetrahemena pyriformis) demonstrated a higher protective effect of P. graveolens and EOs mixture. On the other hand, EOs demonstrated anti-inflammatory effect on the two phases of inflammation in the carrageenan induced edema model. Results from this study indicate that EOs from S. aromaticum and P. Graveolens can be used as a multitarget therapy.

A ring transformation of 6-methyl-7H[1,2,4]triazolo [4,3-b][1,2,4] triazepine-8(9H)-ones (thiones) in the presence of acetic anhydride give rise to a new series of 17 condensed 1,2,4-triazole derivatives (1–17). Plausible mechanisms are proposed and show the formation of a beta fused β-lactam moiety. The compounds were tested for their (i) inhibitory potential on digestive enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase), and (ii) antioxidant activity using radical scavenging (DPPH and ABTS radicals) and ferric reducing power assays. The compounds showed interesting and promising antidiabetic activities compared to the reference drug Acarbose. Molecular docking study has been carried out to determine the binding mode interactions between these derivatives and the targeted enzymes. The results showed the strength of intermolecular hydrogen bonding in ligand-receptor complexes as an important descriptor in rationalizing the observed inhibition results. Moreover, molecular dynamics simulations are also performed for the best protein-ligand complex to understand the stability of small molecule in a protein environment. To shed light on the antioxidant activity of the synthesized compounds and the mechanism involved in DPPH free radical, DFT calculations were performed at the B3P86/6-311++G(d,p) level using the polarizable continuum model. The effect of aprotic solvent on bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) is investigated by calculating and comparing BDEs of 1 in methanol and dimethylsulfoxide as solvents using PCM. The obtained results show that the mechanism of action depends on the basic skeleton and the presence of substituted functional groups in these derivatives. BDEs are found to be slightly influenced by the aprotic solvent of less than 0.01 kcal/mol compared with those obtained in methanol.

The aim of this work is to deepen the pharmacological effect of 4-phenyl-1,5-benzodiazepin-2-one derivatives which have a similar structure to nonionic surfactants: 4-phenyl-1,5-benzodiazepin-2-one is the hydrophilic head, and the carbon chain is hydrophobic tail. The antinociceptive activity of 4-phenyl-1,5-benzodiazepin-2-one derivatives was determined using acetic acid-induced writhing and tail immersion tests. In addition, the in vitro antioxidant activities of the tested derivatives were determined by using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method and ferric reducing power assay. A single oral administration of these compounds at the doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg significantly reduced the number of abdominal writhes induced by acetic acid injection. Acute pretreatment with 4-phenyl-1,5-benzodiazepin-2-one derivatives at the dose of 100 mg/kg caused a significant increase in the tail withdrawal latency in the tail immersion test. Additionally, a significant scavenging activity in DPPH and reducing power was observed in testing antioxidant assays. Finally, we carried out a study of the antioxidant activity of these derivatives. The results of this study reveal that these compounds have a low antioxidant activity compared to the BHT. It decreases with the polarity of the molecule. The present study suggests that 4-phenyl-1,5-benzodiazepin-2-one derivatives possess potent antinociceptive and antioxidant effects, which suggest that the tested compounds may be useful in the treatment of pain and oxidation disorders.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. or Milk thistle is a medicinal plant native to Northern Africa, Southern Europe, Southern Russia and Anatolia. It also grows in South Australia, North and South America. In traditional knowledge, people have used S. marianum for liver disorders such as hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and gallbladder diseases. The main active compound of the plant seeds is silymarin, which is the most commonly used herbal supplement in the United States for liver problems. Nowadays, S. marianum products are available as capsules, powders, and extracts. Aim of study The aim of our study is to draw a more comprehensive overview of the traditional heritage, pharmacological benefits and chemical fingerprint of S. marianum extracts and metabolites; as well as their metabolism and bioavailability. Materials and methods An extensive literature search has been conducted using relavant keywords and papers with rationale methodology and robust data were selected and discussed. Studies involving S. marianum or its main active ingredients with regards to hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, cardiovascular protection, anticancer and antimicrobial activities as well as the clinical trials performed on the plant, were discussed here. Results S. marianum was subjected to thousands of ethnopharmacological, experimental and clinical investigations. Although, the plant is available for use as a dietary supplement, the FDA did not yet approve its use for cancer therapy. Nowadays, clinical investigations are in progress where a global evidence of its real efficiency is needed. Conclusion S. marianum is a worldwide used herb with unlimited number of investigations focusing on its benefits and properties, however, little is known about its clinical efficiency. Moreover, few studies have discussed its metabolism, pharmacokinetics and bioavailability, so that all future studies on S. marianum should focus on such areas.

The aim of this study was the investigation of the in vitro antioxidant, antidiabetic, dermatoprotective, antidermatophyte, and antibacterial properties of Mentha viridis essential oil (MVEO). Chemical composition of MVEO was determined using GC-MS analysis. Antioxidant activity was estimated by three complementary methods: DPPH, FRAP and ABTS. The in vitro antidiabetic effect was evaluated by the inhibition of α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase. Inhibitory effects of tyrosinase and elastase were used to reveal the dermatoprotective property of MVEO. Antibacterial activity was tested against five strains using agar well diffusion assay and microtitration method. The chemical composition determination of MVEO revealed the presence of carvone (37.26), 1.8-Cineole (11.82), and Terpinen-4-ol (08.72%) as the main compounds. MVEO presented remarkable antioxidant effects by IC50 values of 80.45 ± 1.86 μg/mL, 101.78 ± 3.14 μg/mL, and 139.59 ± 3.12 μg/mL obtained by DPPH, FRAP and ABTS tests respectively. In vitro inhibition of enzymes implicated in hydrocarbures degradation showed that MVEO exhibited important inhibitory effects against α-Amylase (IC50 = 101.72 ± 1.86 μg/mL) and α-Glucosidase (IC50 = 86.93 ± 2.43 μg/mL). Moreover, MVEO demonstrated remarkable inhibition of tyrosinase (IC50 = 55.13 ± 1.01 μg/mL) and elastase (IC50 = 114.24 ± 1.22 μg/mL). The antifungal activity showed important inhibitions of three dermatophyte species (T. mentagrophytes, T. tonsurans and T. violaceum). The antibacterial activity showed an important bactericidal action against tested strains, especially, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes (MIC = MBC = 0.25%). The findings of this work showed that volatile components of MVEO could constitute a new source for antioxidant, antidiabetic, dermatoprotective, antidermatophyte and antibacterial properties. However, further investigations regarding the isolation of MVEO main compounds and investigations of their biological properties are required.

Les goudrons vegetaux sont des produits resineux neoformes extraits par pyrolyse du bois ou de l’ecorce (cf. bouleau), contrairement aux goudrons d’origine geologique (bitume, goudron de houille ou de schiste). Le principe d’extraction est de faire exsuder la matiere premiere en la soumettant a un traitement thermique direct ou indirect ; l’exsudat se transforme alors en goudron. En Europe et en Mediterranee, les exsudats etaient extraits de diverses familles vegetales en fonction des epoques...

Background Based on our previous ethnobotanical survey, the non-investigated Saharan plant Anabasis aretioides Coss. & Moq., growing in the region of Errachidia, was selected for pharmacological investigation. In Moroccan traditional medicine, A. aretioides is being used for diabetes treatment. Thus, the current work aims at evaluating the antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of the plant in relation to the digestive tract. Methods The different parts of the plant (aerial parts, roots, seeds) were extracted with methanol (MeOH) and screened in enzymatic assays for their inhibitory potential against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, as well as antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Furthermore, the phenolic compounds were analyzed using HPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS. Results The MeOH extracts of A. aretioides aerial parts, roots, and seeds, respectively, inhibited α-amylase (IC50 of 3148.07 μg/mL, 2440.20 μg/mL, 3395.71 μg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC50 of 2940.59 μg/mL, 3521.81 μg/mL, 3393.83 μg/mL). Moreover, compared to aerial parts and seeds, the plant roots exhibited higher antioxidant capacity and a potent reducing power. In resazurin microplate assay, the plant parts displayed a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 7.81 mg/mL to 31.25 mg/mL. Chemical analysis revealed 25 phenolic compounds, with chlorogenic acid as the main phenolic compound in the aerial parts, hesperidin in roots, and quercitrin in seeds. Conclusion Anabasis aretioides cited for treatment of diabetes shows promising antioxidant and antibacterial properties, as well as an ability to inhibit digestive enzyme, including α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Thus, our results explain in part the traditional use of this Saharan medicine and open doors for further in vivo mechanistic and functional studies.

ResumeUne etude a ete effectuee dans la zone Nord-Ouest du bassin versant de la Medjerda avec pour objectif de fournir de nouvelles connaissances sur la qualite des eaux ainsi que sur le type de relation qui peut exister entre les variables physico-chimiques, bacteriologiques et les indices de diversite/densite de la meiofaune. Les resultats montrent une degradation de la qualite du cours principal de la Medjerda et de trois de ses affluents Nord (augmentation de la salinite, teneur en nitrate, matiere organique, coliformes…). Les indices de diversite et d’equitabilite suivent cette evolution regressive des variables physico-chimiques et apportent de nouvelles connaissances sur le type et la qualite du sediment. Editeur Z.W. Kundzewicz ; Editeur associe B. Touaibia

The objective of our work is to make a pharmacological study of molecules derived from 4-phenyl-1,5-benzodiazepin-2-one carrying long chains so that they have a structure similar to surfactants, with the benzodiazepine as a hydrophilic head and a carbon chain as a hydrophobic tail. First, we studied the acute toxicity of the above mentioned 4-phenyl-1,5-benzodiazepin-2-one derivatives. This study was conducted according to OECD 423 guidelines in female mice and revealed that these compounds are nontoxic. We then assessed the psychotropic effects of our products on the central nervous system (CNS). The results obtained show that 4-phenyl-1,5-benzodiazepin-2-one has no sedative effect at therapeutic doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg. On the other hand, its long-chain derivatives possess them. Moreover, all these products have no cataleptic and hypnotic effects at the doses studied. But at 100 mg/kg, these compounds all have the ability to significantly prolong the hypnotic effect of thiopental sodium.

Scolymus hispanicus or the Golden Thistle, locally known as ‘Guernina’ or ‘Taghediwt’, is one of the most appreciated wild vegetables in Morocco. This study aims to characterise the functional chemical and pharmacological variability of Scolymus hispanicus parts (roots, stems, leaves and flowers). The chemical analysis revealed higher content of α-tocopherol in the flowers (2.79 ± 0.07 mg/100 g) and lead to the identification of 3 flavonoids and 13 phenolic acids, with high content of gallic acid in leaves (187.01 ± 10.19 mg/kg); chlorogenic (936.18 ± 92.66 mg/kg) and caffeic (4400.14 ± 191.43 mg/kg) acids in flowers, roots were much more higher in sinapic acid (0.25 ± 0.03 mg/kg) compared to the other parts. Moreover, Scolymus hispanicus ethanolic extracts exhibited interesting antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, promising anti-amylase and anti-glucosidase activities and relevant diuretic effect that confirms its traditional uses.

Hydro-distilled essential oil (EO) from the leaves of the western Mediterranean and Moroccan endemic plant Tetraclinis articulata was analyzed by GC/MS and examined for its acute toxicity on mice, in order to establish the safe doses. Furthermore, the anti-Inflammatory activity was evaluated based on carrageenan and trauma induced rats paw edema and the antioxidant potential has been investigated using different methods including DPPH radical-scavenging assay, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and Ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP). The major identified compounds in GC/MS analysis were bornyl acetate (26.81%), camphor (22.40%) and α-pinene (7.16%), with 25 other minor constituents. No mortalities in acute toxicity were observed, indicating that the LD50 of T. articulata essential oil is highest than 5 g/kg. In the anti-inflammatory test based on chemical and mechanical induced trauma, the EO demonstrated an effective reduce swelling by 64.71 ± 9.38% and 69.09 ± 6.02% respectively obtained 6 h after administration at the dose of 200 mg/kg when compared to the control groups. Moreover in the antioxidant testing battery, T. articulata essential oil showed a promising scavenging effect measured by DPPH, TEAC and ferric-reducing power assays with IC50 values of 12.05 ± 0.24 mg/mL, 8.90 ± 0.17 mg/mL and 0.15 ± 0.01 mg/mL respectively. These results suggest that, the EO from the leaves of T. articulata constitutes a valuable source of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant metabolites. These findings argue for the possible integration of this oil in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries., Graphical abstract

Background: Anxiety is a serious disorder affecting the world population. The most widely prescribed medications for anxiety disorders are the Benzodiazepines; however, they have prominent side effects. Thus, interest in alternative medicine that affects the ‘mind’ is growing. Among medicinal plants, Urtica urens has been recommended for relief of anxiety in Morocco folk medicine. Methods: The anxiolytic activity was evaluated with the adult mice by the elevated plus maze (EPM) and Open Field (OF) models of anxiety. The efficacy of the plant extract (100-600 mg/kg) was compared with the standard anxiolytic drug diazepam (1 mg/kg i.p.) Results: In the EPM, aqueous extract at 400mg/kg showed an anxiolytic effect by increasing the time spent on open arms and the percentage of open arm entries compared to control group. In an open field test aqueous extract of U. urens (400 mg/kg) increased the central area crossing, the time spent and number of rearing in the center of arena. Conclusions: These results provides support for anxiolytic activity of Urtica urens, in line with its medicinal traditional use, and may also suggest a better side-effect profile of Urtica urens relative to diazepam.

Objective. The aim of this work is to study and compare the antioxidant properties and phenolic contents of aqueous leaf extracts ofJuniperus thurifera,Juniperus oxycedrus,Juniperus Phoenicea,andTetraclinis articulatafrom Morocco.Methods. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical-scavenging ability, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Also the total phenolic and flavonoids contents of the extracts were determined spectrophotometrically.Results. All the extracts showed interesting antioxidant activities compared to the standard antioxidants (butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), quercetin, and Trolox). The aqueous extract ofJuniperus oxycedrusshowed the highest antioxidant activity as measured by DPPH, TEAC, and FRAP assays with IC50values of17.91±0.37 μg/mL,19.80±0.55 μg/mL, and24.23±0.07 μg/mL, respectively. The strong correlation observed between antioxidant capacities and their total phenolic contents indicated that phenolic compounds were a major contributor to antioxidant properties of these plants extracts.Conclusion. These results suggest that the aqueous extracts ofJuniperus thurifera,Juniperus oxycedrus,Juniperus phoenicea,andTetraclinis articulatacan constitute a promising new source of natural compounds with antioxidants ability.

The hydro-distilled essential oil from the leaves of Juniperus thurifera L. (JTEO) was analyzed by GC-MS and examined for its insecticidal, antifungal and antioxidant activities. A total of 51 compounds were identified. The major components were sabinene (22.4%), followed by terpinen-4-ol (11.0%) and α-pinene (5.9%). JTEO exhibited interesting insecticidal activity against adults of Acanthoscelides obtectus, Tribolium castaneum and Sitophilus oryzae, with LC50 values of 0.1, 0.6 and 2.0×10−2 μL/mL, respectively. Moreover, JTEO showed inhibitory activity against Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Rhizoctonia solani and Verticillium dahlia with mycelial growth inhibition ranging from 24.0% to 92.1%. Finally, JTEO demonstrated a moderate antioxidant effect.

Helminth eggs and protozoan cysts were enumerated in raw and treated wastewater in Tunisia in order to determine their removal by wastewater treatment and to provide quantitative data for developing regulations for wastewater quality that are currently lacking. Raw and treated wastewater samples were collected from 17 plants in Tunisia during 2006-2007 and analyzed for parasites using the modified Bailenger method. Two groups of parasites, namely, Ascaris sp., Entamoeba coli, Enterobius vermicularis, and Taenia sp. (group 1) and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Giardia sp., and Taenia sp. (group 2) could statistically be distinguished according to their removal by wastewater treatment. Group 1 parasites were removed by 1.1 log(10) (92.4%) and group 2 parasites by 0.61 log(10) (76%). The ubiquitous presence of parasitic protozoa in Tunisian wastewater and ineffective wastewater treatment lead to their proliferation in surface waters with a high probability of exposure of human and animals to these parasites and consequent adverse health effects, as is apparent from epidemiologic data as well. This study provides a quantitative basis for risk assessment studies and development of mitigation strategies, such as improving wastewater treatment efficiency.

In water-scarce regions, such as Tunisia which is known by the vulnerability of its water resources, national policy encourages and imposes laws opting for environmental sustainability and the preservation of water resources. The current study aims to determine the occurrence and removal of protozoan cysts, helminthes eggs, fecal bacteria, organic load and chemical pollution in the urban wastewater of activated sludge plants in Tunisia. The results show that the absence of primary sedimentation and operation of organic and fluid overload appears to be the main causes of the poor quality of the treated wastewater. The presence of protozoan cysts, helminthes eggs and bacteria as well as the high content of organic matter and nutrient elements greatly limits the reuse of wastewater in agriculture, in particular.

Tunisian untreated wastewater exhibits an average of 30 human helminth eggs per litre. After treatment, the concentration decreases to one egg per litre, or more in some cases. The percentage removal cited for wastewater processes provides no real indication of the destruction of the organisms, but merely of their transfer to another medium. In this study, we report the use of an environmentally friendly photoactive compound for wastewater disinfection. Photosensitization involves the generation of very toxic short-lived species on absorption of light by porphyrin. Microorganism photosensitization is potentially useful for sterilization and for the treatment of certain bacterial diseases. Gram-positive bacteria can be photoinactivated by a range of photosensitizers, but Gram-negative bacteria are not usually susceptible to photosensitized destruction. Our findings clearly demonstrate that the cationic meso-substituted porphyrin, tetra-(4-N-methyl-pyridyl) porphin tetra-tosylate (T4MPYP), is an efficient photosensitizer of helminth eggs on visible light illumination. The microscopic observation of helminth eggs shows that many types of ultrastructural alterations are potentially associated with exposure to T4MPYP and an adequate intensity of light: morphological changes without breakage; small alterations of eggshells; complete destruction. The degree of egg alteration increases with both increasing T4MPYP concentration and irradiation time. Moreover, the dissolved oxygen concentration, water quality and the type of eggs can influence the sensitivity of helminth eggs to photosensitization. Indeed, suspended solids (turbidity) were the most influential solution parameter on the efficiency of the photochemical process.