Total phenol and flavonoid content, antioxidant and cytotoxicity assessment of Algerian Launaea glomerata (Cass.) Hook.f. extracts

El-Oued province (southeast Algeria), is located in a medicinal plant-rich area; Launaea glomerata (Cass.) Hook. f. is one among them which is a perennial herb spread widely in the arid regions of the Mediterranean Sea. The selection of the studied plant corresponds perfectly to the scientific needs due two reasons, firstly because these samples are used by the Algerian population as herbal remedies for primary health care, secondly, for the lack of published data on it. The aim of this investigation is to provide new data on quantities of phenols, which were estimated at 25.81 mg GAE/g extract and flavonoids (49.13 mg RE/g extract), and the determination of antioxidant activities by three ways (DPPH, CAT, ABTS), the results of IC50 equals to 98.07 mg TE/g extract for DPPH• and 286.5 mg eq. AG/g for ABTS assays, noted that the best inhibition was by the ABTS root. We also conducted a test for the inhibitory ability of extract against cancer cells tested on both human hepatocellular carcinoma (HePG2) and colon cells (HCT116), the results were negative. The data obtained in this work can be useful for the pharmaceutical industry, also used in the Algerian medicinal herbs database.  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.442970

Chemical composition, in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. oxycedrus extracts from Algeria

This study was conducted to examine chemical compositions, the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of methanolic and aqueous extracts from aerial parts of Juniperus oxycedrus subsp oxycedrus growing in Mascara, Algeria. The quantitative assessment indicated that methanol extract was the most concentrated in phenolic, flavonoid and tannin contents (167.77±5.12 mg GAE/g DW, 90.56±2.23 mg QE/g DE and 110.21±2.38 mg CE/g DE respectively). The chromatographic analysis by HPLC showed quantitative differences in phenolic constutents, noting that Chlorogenic acid was the major compound of both extracts. Moreover, methanolic extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity than the aqueous extract when tested by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (IC50 4.45±0.001 μg/mL) and phosphomolybdenum (328.52±0.071 mg of GAE/g DW) assays. Furthermore, the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity showed a strong inhibition of albumin denaturation by the methanolic extract at different concentrations when compared to standard drug diclofenac sodium. These findings confirm the richness of Algerian Juniperus oxycedrus extracts in bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities. These results are compatible with the use of the plant in traditional medicine. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.713528

A review on biogenic green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles by plant biomass and their applications

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUGNanobiotechnology has recently gained prominence as a fundamental branch of modern science and a novel epoch in the field of material researches. Due to a wide range of applications it attracts attention of many scientists from all over the world. Bionanomaterials are prepared using a variety of physical, chemical, and biological techniques and methods. Many different metal and metal oxide nanoparticles are reported to be produced by biological systems, including bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, yeasts, viruses, and plants. Among all of them, biocompatible zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), obtained through biosynthesis with the aid of plant-derived materials, appears to be a highly successful way to create a fast, clean, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly platform for the production and application of these bionanomaterials. This review focuses on the plant extractderived ZnO NPs synthesis, with a special emphasis on the recent advances and applications of these nanomaterials

Biological properties and polyphenols content of Algerian Cistus salviifolius L. aerial parts

This study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant properties, antibacterial and antifungal activities and in vivo anti-inflammatory properties, and identifying the phenolic compounds in Cistus salviifolius. The methanolic leaf extract showed the highest antioxidant activity with 6.1±1.60 µg/ml IC50 value using DPPH· and 55.5±0.20 µg/ml using Reducing Power Activity. The study revealed that the butanolic leaf extract and the aqueous leaf infusion exhibited the strongest growth-inhibiting effect against all Gram positive and Gram negative strains tested, respectively, whereas the methanolic leaf extract showed the strongest antifungal activity against the yeast tested. The MIC value for the butanolic leaf extract was 4 mg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. The pharmacotoxicological tests proved the safety of the aqueous leaf infusion, which exhibit a moderate anti-inflammatory effect, with a significant inhibition of the oedema development equal to 44.7% compared to 59.3% for the reference product diclofenac sodium. Methanolic extracts of the leaf and flower buds showed varied contents of polyphenols, flavonoids, and hydrolysable tannins; which were 228.4±11.4 mg GAE/g, 34.2±0.6 mg QE/g, and 36.9±2.6 mg TAE/g of the dry weight for leaves; and 241.1±5.4 mg GAE/g, 47.6±4.5 mg QE/g, and 22.0±1.3 mg TAE/g of the dry weight for flower buds, respectively. Analysis of the ethereal and butanolic leaf extracts using Reversed Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Method coupled with a Photodiode-Array Detector identified thirteen phenolic compounds, including ascorbic acid, vanillic acid, gallic acid, quercetin, and orientin. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.656150

Exploring the potential of a Ephedra alata leaf extract: Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant activity, antibacterial properties, and green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

Ephedra alata leaf extracts have therapeutic properties and contain various natural compounds known as phytochemicals. This study assessed the phytochemical content and antioxidant effects of a Ephedra alata leaf extract, as well as zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle production. The extract contained phenolic acids, including vanillic acid, chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, vanillin and rutin. Its total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were 48.7 ± 0.9 mg.g-1 and 1.7 ± 0.4 mg.g-1, respectively. The extract displayed a DPPH inhibition rate of 70.5%, total antioxidant activity of 49.5 ± 3.4 mg.g-1, and significant antimicrobial activity toward Gram-positive and negative bacteria. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles had spherical shape, crystallite size of 25 nm, particle size between 5 and 30 nm, and bandgap energy of 3.3 eV. In specific conditions (90 min contact time, pH 7, and 25°C), these nanoparticles efficiently photodegraded 87% of methylene blue, suggesting potential applications for sustainable water treatment and pollution control

Algerian Bee Pollen Classification by Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) Combined with Chemometrics Analysis

Bee pollen is prepared themselves by pollens collecting from plants and has nutritive and therapeutic properties that make it attractive for human health. It has a typical composition related to the botanical origin and geographical location. This study aims to distinguish and identify bee pollen belonging to different Algerian regions and different plants. A methodology for the identification of pollen was developed based on Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. This method is simple and fast where samples are not destroyed, also unsupervised statistical methods principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) are performed. Seventy-two pollen samples were collected and the ATR-FTIR spectra were recorded without processing the samples. ATR-FTIR spectra analysis allowed a reliable determination of the components present in the different samples. Further, PCA and HCA were utilized to evaluate the differences and similarities between the collected samples. Indeed, the PCA score plot and HCA based on ATR-FTIR revealed the same discriminatory trend, where the samples were divided into three main classes based on their total bee pollen. As a result, the PCA along with the HCA was a good and consistent model for identifying and distinguishing pollen grains.</p

Editorial Introduction to the First Issue of Algerian Journal of Engineering and Technology

On behalf of the editorial team and reviewers, the editor in chief, has great pleasure to present this first issue of the Algerian Journal of Engineering and Technology (AJET), for the worldwide research community, especially those who looking to publish their works and those want to keep up with the latest research.&nbsp;&nbsp; In our journal, we provide opportunities for all the scholars around the world to publish their scientific work without any publication fee &nbsp;&nbsp; AJET journal was created in order to cover the remarkable shortage of the Algerian journals, and so, provide a chance to the Algerian and worldwide researchers to publish their scientific works, after reviewing them through a carefully selected researches from&nbsp; decent university and institution over the world; we promise that our peer review process for every paper submitted to AJET journal will be fast, reliable and looking forward the high quality of the succeed international worldwide journals. Moreover, we are committed to reply to all papers submitted in AJET journal by six weeks with an acceptance or rejection answers. &nbsp; In addition, the journal provides an experienced and knowledgeable editorial board and reviewers in different fields of engineering, science and technology, who give valuable constructive comments and remarks to authors for improving their papers and possible publications in AJET. &nbsp; The journal will achieve success through the commitment of its editorial board members, reviewers and the authors. Also, I hope through the high quality manuscripts published on the first issue of AJET journal, that we will provide the appropriate space for authors and motivate them to submit their work in AJET journal.&nbsp; &nbsp; Finally, I am grateful to all the editorial board members and reviewers who they invested great team efforts in order to improve the quality of our journal

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

Nutritional Content and Antioxidant Capacity of the Seed and the Epicarp in Different Ecotypes of Pistacia atlantica Desf. Subsp. atlantica

Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites that occur naturally in all plants. Seeds are among the richest organs of plants in phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals. These compounds and their biological activities are of great importance for human health. This study aimed to analyze the phenolic composition and their antioxidant activity in the seeds and epicarps of six Algerian populations of Pistacia atlantica Desf. subsp. atlantica growing along an aridity gradient from semi-arid to Saharan environmental conditions. Higher phenolic contents were observed in epicarp compared to seeds whatever the ecotype. The highest phenolic content of seeds and epicarps was observed in ecotype of Djelfa and the lowest values in Tiaret (T-Z). Phenolic composition, measured by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), showed that quercetin in epicarp, gallic and chlorogenic acids in seeds were the most present in all ecotypes. Large differences were observed between ecotypes for nutritional values. Seeds were rich in flavonoids, proteins, carbohydrates and essential elements such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus and iron. These results highlighted the potential importance of Atlas pistachio fruits as a source of essential compounds that contribute to human health. Moreover, this underused species may serve a potential source for antioxidant components for alimentation and cosmetics purposes

Total phenol and flavonoid content, antioxidant and cytotoxicity assessment of Algerian Launaea glomerata (Cass.) Hook.f. extracts

El-Oued province (southeast Algeria), is located in a medicinal plant-rich area; Launaea glomerata (Cass.) Hook. f. is one among them which is a perennial herb spread widely in the arid regions of the Mediterranean Sea. The selection of the studied plant corresponds perfectly to the scientific needs due two reasons, firstly because these samples are used by the Algerian population as herbal remedies for primary health care, secondly, for the lack of published data on it. The aim of this investigation is to provide new data on quantities of phenols, which were estimated at 25.81 mg GAE/g extract and flavonoids (49.13 mg RE/g extract), and the determination of antioxidant activities by three ways (DPPH, CAT, ABTS), the results of IC50 equals to 98.07 mg TE/g extract for DPPH• and 286.5 mg eq. AG/g for ABTS assays, noted that the best inhibition was by the ABTS root. We also conducted a test for the inhibitory ability of extract against cancer cells tested on both human hepatocellular carcinoma (HePG2) and colon cells (HCT116), the results were negative. The data obtained in this work can be useful for the pharmaceutical industry, also used in the Algerian medicinal herbs database.  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.442970