Phytochemical profile, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of crude latex (Pergularia tomentosa L.) in Algerian Saharan

This study aimed to evaluate the dry crude latex extract from P. tomentosa, endemic to the Sahara, by determining the total content of polyphenols and flavonoids, and detecting the plant compounds by HPLC chromatography. Also, Antioxidant activity was measured through three tests: (BCB) beta-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching assay, (DPPH) radical scavenging and (FRAP) ferric reducing ability assay. In addition, anti-inflammatory activity. The results showed that the dry crude latex extract of P. tomentosa showed moderate content of polyphenols and flavonoids in the dry crude latex extract of P. tomentosa. Besides, qualitative HPLC analysis led to the detection of a group of phenolic compounds of this extract that have therapeutic properties. Also, the studied extract had strong activity in the beta-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching test and the values obtained were very close to the reference gallic acid. The results also indicated significant antioxidant activities in the DPPH and FRAP assay compared to ascorbic acid. In addition, the strong effect of dry crude latex extract from P. tomentosa in inhibiting protein denaturation induced by albumin hyperthermia, compared to ASPEGIC®, which is used as a reference drug in infections. In conclusion, the results indicate that the dry crude latex extract of P. tomentosa has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, which confirms the use of this extract in folk medicine, which could be a first step in introducing it into therapeutic applications

PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF HONEY BEE PRODUCTS IN SOUTH ALGERIA

The aim of the present study was to characterize the physical, biochemical and antioxidant properties of south Algeria honey samples (n = 5). Physical parameters, such as pH, moisture content, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, color intensity, total sugar content were measured. Several biochemical and antioxidant tests were performed to determine the antioxidant properties of the honey samples. The mean pH was 4.54, and moisture content was 14.88 %. The mean electrical conductivity was 0.597 mS∙cm-1, and the mean total dissolved solid was 0.14 % and the mean color was 163.6 mm Pfund. The mean total sugar contents was 82.76 %. High mean values of phenolic and flavonoid contents were respectively 697.22 mg GAE∙kg-1 and 290.70 mgREE∙kg-1. Antioxidant activity was also measured using DPPH assays, value of 26.19 mg∙mL-1 was detected for south Algeria (El-Oued) honey

Biodiversidad de geófitos bulbosos y tuberosos del parque nacional El Kala (noreste de Argelia): lista de especies, vulnerabilidad y conservación

Treinta estaciones en el Parque Nacional El Kala (Noreste de Argelia) fueron objeto de un inventario florístico que se centró en el estudio de la ecología de geófitos bulbosos y tuberosos. La flora se caracteriza por una alta proporción de taxones raros y/o endémicos, entre ellos, 6 especies son endemismos algero-tunecinos pertenecientes a la familia Orchidaceae. En este trabajo, se da a conocer la presencia de una nueva especie para la flora argelina, Ophrys fusca subsp. lupercalis. Los análisis multivariantes revelaron, ciertas variables ambientales que determinan la distribución de los geófitos. Los lugares de interés son particularmente sensibles a las amenazas, particularmente las de origen antrópico.Abstract: Thirty stations at the El Kala National Park (North Eastern Algeria) were the subject of a floristic focused on the study of the ecology of bulbous and tuberous geophytes. The floristic analysis was used to draw up a checklist of 67 species belonging to 36 genera and 14 families, among of which 19 species a high proportion of rare and /or endemic taxa; among them six signed taxa are endemic to algerian-tunisian mainly represented by family of Orchidaceae. In this work, we recorded the presence of a new species for the Algerian flora which is Ophrys fusca subsp. lupercalis. Multivariate analyses revealed certain environmental variables determining the distribution of geophytes. The visited sites show an alarming vulnerability and subject to threats, particularly anthropogenic ones

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially