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This study was designed to evaluate antioxidant and antibacterial activities of essential oils from Rosmarinus officinalis obtained by three different extraction methods: DA: Artisanal distillation; the essential oils were obtained directly from small cooperatives using a very traditional (nonindustrial) method and based on the technique of Steam distillation; DI: Industrial distillation which is also based on steam distillation; and DC: hydrodistillation through Clevenger apparatus laboratory. The chemical analyses were carried out with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS); they identified 16 components representing more than 99.89% of the essential oil and indicate that the chemotype is 1,8-Cineole and varies according to the method used (DI: 49.09%, DA: 42.12%, and DC: 53.21%). The antioxidant activity was evaluated by the β-carotene bleaching test measuring percent inhibition of peroxidation in linoleic acid system. The disc diffusion and modified resazurin microtiter-plate assays were used, respectively, to evaluate the inhibition zones (IZ) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil. In general, Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oil showed a lower antioxidant and antimicrobial activity than 1,8-Cineole the major component of the essential oil.

Background Citrus reticulata is one of the most cultivated fruit with great benefits for humans in the world. Citrus reticulata peel has several biological activities within them hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial and antioxidant. The present study emphasizes on the in vivo wound healing and in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Citrus reticulata peel extract. Methods Forty albino mice (23–29 g) of either sex were divided into four groups. The test groups were treated with experimental ointment (0.5% and 10% of methanolic extract), negative control were treated with Vaseline and the positive control were treated with silver sulfadiazine. Burn wounds were induced on dorsal area of mice bodies. Wound area measurement was carried out every day during 22 days. Biochemical screening was performed to identify possible compounds. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were also determined. Results Significant wound healing activity was observed with topical application of Citrus reticulata peel extract. Wound area reduction at day 16 of treatment was 100% for both treated groups (0.5% and 10%) when compared to positive and negative control it was 100% and 98.32% respectively at day 22. Furthermore higher rate of wound contraction (100% on 16th day) was observed for both treated groups. The result of biochemical screening showed that C. reticulata peel is characterized by highest amount of total polyphenols (13.19 mg/g), flavonoids (4.07 mg/g), vitamin C (13.20 mg/g), carotenoids (0.032 mg/g) and lowest content of macronutrients (Proteins: 0.40%, reducing sugars: 7.21%; lipids: 1.5%). Additionally C. reticulata peel exhibited remarkable antioxidant activity using DPPH and phosphomolybdate methods as well as the extract possess antimicrobial effect against pathogen bactria. Conclusion The findings from this research indicated that Citrus reticulata peel extract is effective in inhibiting the growth of pathogen bacteria and could be of therapeutic potentials for wound healing.

Capparis spinosa is a perennial plant growing wild in various regions of the world, particularly in Mediterranean basin, it is best known for its edible buds (capers) and fruits (caper berries) with very important nutritional, medicinal and aromatic properties. The culture of the caper berries plays a very important socioeconomic role in several regions of Morocco. The purpose of this study was to determine nutritional, biochemical and dimensional properties of Moroccan raw and processed caper berries in different stage of maturation, collected from Fez region. Results showed the richness of caper berries with proteins (29.31% DW) and lipids (5.12%). Our findings indicate that caper berries contains high amount of total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids and high levels of carotenoids (ca. 3mg/100g). The evaluation of the antioxidant activity by the DPPH test revealed a high antioxidant capacity. Moreover, small caper berries had higher, crude protein, phenolic compounds and flavonoids than the big one there by showing their aptness for processing. The significant amounts of these compounds confirm the nutritional and medicinal value of Moroccan caper berries.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate planted Henna in three sites in Morocco, namely, Alnif, Tafraoute Sidi Ali, and Tazzarine. Morphometric study shows that Tafraoute Sidi Ali Henna variety has highest geometric and weight parameters (length of 27.48 mm, width of 10.92 mm, specific mass of 25.1 mg/leaf, leaf area of 51, 53 mm2, and rib’s number of 9.41) when compared to Alnif and Tazzarine varieties. On the other hand, biochemical analysis shows that Tazzarine Henna variety, in the first rank, is characterized by high levels of total sugars (11.27 g/100 g), reducing sugars (5.59 g/100 g), proteins (4.4 g/100g), lipids (3.05 g/100g), phenolic compounds (31.9 g/100 g), flavonoids (5.68 g/100 g), and tannins (5.5 g/100 g). Chromatographic study shows that Tazzarine Henna variety is rich in monocyclic and polycyclic phenolic compounds. Climatic conditions analysis shows that the morphometric and biochemical diversity is related to hydrous and thermal profiles of studied sites. As a conclusion of this work, we can recommend the use of morphometric analysis and phytochemical and chromatographic analysis to determine the quality of Henna in Morocco and elsewhere.

The present study investigates the correlation between phenolic, Flavonoid compound content and antioxidant activity of date fruits. Phenolic content values range from 1.5 to 4.5 mg /100 g fresh weight exprimed as Galic acid equivalent (GAE). Total flavonoids content (TFC) of studied date varies significantly (p < 0.05) from 0.010mg to 0.38 mg/100g fresh weight exprimed as quercetin equivalents (QE). The antioxidant activity of methanol extract evaluated using the DPPH method, and examined by comparison to controls (BHT and Vitamin C). The highest inhibition of oxidation was attained in Bouskri variety, which was 88.88% at 40μg/mL concentration of phenolic compounds. Correlation (R2) between Phenolic compound content and antioxidant activity range from 0,8 to 0,9. However lower correlation was obtained in Deglet Baida variety with (R2 = 0.6). The high correlation coefficient indicates that phenolics are one of the main compounds responsible for the scavenging effect of date varieties. The date fruit could be a good source of antioxidants, which may have healthy benefits for humans.

Moroccan Orange peels are a promising commercial source of pectin. Their massive industrialization generates a huge amount of solid waste. This work aims to develop a new valorizing reuse way of this solid waste by developing the extraction process of value-added products such as pectin from orange peels, which is the waste of orange juice processing industry. In this context, we evaluated the yield of pectin according to the state of the substrate and the acids used. Results obtained show that the peels which have undergone a Steam Distillation (SD) gives the highest yield of pectin (40% using sulfuric acid) compared to Fresh Peels (FP) (25.71% using citric acid).One part of the (SD) peels was dried outdoors and Non-Conditioned (SDNC), while the other was Conditioned (SDC) at 4°C. The highest yield of pectin for each one was respectively 40% using sulfuric acid and 34.81% using hydrochloric acid. The citric acid gives a satisfying yield in each peels stats, 38.52% using on (SDC), 31.88% (SDNC) and the lowest yield was 25.71% (FPC). The result of this work has emphasized that sweet orange peels are a good source of orange essential oil and pectin and has the potential to become an important raw material for food processing industries.

Essential oil from the leaves of Eucalyptus globulus collected in north centre region ofMorocco obtained by hydro-distillation were analyzed by gas chromatography equipped with flame ionisation detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). To evaluate the antifungal activities of these aromatic extracts, their in vitroantifungal activities were determined by disk diffusion testing to find out minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Penicillium citrinum was used as test fungal strains. The results of the study revealed that essential oil yields and the total oil of E. globulus were 1.21 and 63.96%,respectively. 54 compounds were identified in the essential oils and the main constituents of the essential oils were: 1.8-cineole (22.35%), limonene, (7.01%), solanol (6.05%), β-pinene (5.20%), trans-verbenol (4.02%), terpinen-4-ol (3.10%), aristolene (2.35%), terpinyl acetate (2.10%), isosativene (1.85%), sabinene (1.49%), α-myrcene (1.15%) and α-terpineol (1.10%).The essential oil of E. globulus exhibited the activity against, P. citrinum exerting the minimum inhibitory concentration values (MIC) ranging from 3.07 to 96.14 μl/ml, respectively. These results showed that extracts could be considered as a natural antifungal source that can be used for production of natural antifungal agents. Key words: Eucalyptus globulus, essential oil, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), antifungal activity, 1.8-cineole.

Orange (Citrus sinensis) and grapefruit (Citrus paradise) peels were used as a source of pectin, which was extracted under different conditions. The peels are used under two states: fresh and residual (after essential oil extraction). Organic acid (citric acid) and mineral acid (sulfuric acid) were used in the pectin extraction. The aim of this study is the evaluation the effect of extraction conditions on pectin yield, degree of esterification “DE” and on molecular weight “Mw”. Results showed that the pectin yield was higher using the residual peels. Moreover, both peels allow the obtainment of a high methoxyl pectin with DE >50%. The molecular weight was calculated using Mark-Houwink-Sakurada equation which describes its relationship with intrinsic viscosity. This later was determined using four equations; Huggins equation, kramer, Schulz-Blaschke and Martin equation. The molecular weight varied from 1.538 x1005 to 2.47x1005 g/mol for grapefruit pectin and from 1.639 x1005 to 2.471 x1005 g/mol for orange pectin.

Rosmarinus officinalis is among the most abundant medicinal and aromatic plants in Morocco. There are several factors that influence the yield of quality and quantity of essential oils of this plant. This work focuses on the study, characterization and comparison of the chemical composition of essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis. The raw material studied is originally from the central part of northern Morocco (Skoura M'Daz region, Eastern Middle Atlas). The essential oils of rosemary were obtained by three different extraction methods : DA: Artisanal distillation, the essential oils were obtained directly from small cooperatives using a very traditional (nonindustrial) method and based on the technique of Steam distillation ; DI: Industrial distillation which is also based on Steam distillation; DC: hydrodistillation by clevenger apparatus Laboratory. The physicochemical characterization of essential oils focuses on the search for the yield of % essential oil with regard to the dry rosemary biomass, density, refractive index and rotatory power. The chemical analyzes were carried out by gas chromatography (GC), they identified 11 components representing more than 99.64% of the essential oil and indicate that the chemotype is 1.8 cineole and is varied according to the method (DI: 48.83%, DA: 41.28% and DC: 51.77%). In conclusion we have shown a quantitative and qualitative loss of essential oils due to the extraction method of essential oils, which has direct repercussions on the economy of rural Morocco and consequently on their sustainable development.

The etiology of obesity in North Africa is not well understood and few studies shed any light on its development among women. This study compiles what is known about the prevalence of obesity and its determinants in Morocco and Tunisia. Results from the authors' two surveys on nutrition-related disease among reproductive-age women (sample size: 2800) and their children (1200 children under 5 y and 500 adolescents) were combined with data from four national income and expenditure surveys (dating from 1980) to assess obesity trends and development in Morocco and Tunisia. Overall levels of obesity, identified by body mass index (BMI) > or = 30 kg/m(2), were 12.2% in Morocco and 14.4% in Tunisia. Obesity is significantly higher among women than among men in both countries (22.7% vs. 6.7% in Tunisia and 18% vs. 5.7% in Morocco) and prevalence among women has tripled over the past 20 y. Half of all women are overweight or obese (BMI > 25) with 50.9% in Tunisia and 51.3% in Morocco. Overweight increases with age and seems to take hold in adolescence, particularly among girls. In Tunisia, 9.1% of adolescent girls are at risk for being overweight (BMI/age > or = 85th percentile). Prevalence of overweight and obesity are greater for women in urban areas and with lower education levels. Obese women in both countries take in significantly more calories and macronutrients than normal-weight women. The percentage contribution to calories from fat, protein and carbohydrates seems to be within normal limits, whereas fat intake is high (31%) in Tunisia and carbohydrate intake (65-67%) is high in Morocco. These are alarming trends for public health professionals and policy makers in countries still grappling with the public health effects of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. Health institutions in these countries have an enormous challenge to change cultural norms that do not recognize obesity, to prevent significant damage to the public's health from obesity.