Acute Toxicity of Opuntia Ficus Indica and Pistacia Lentiscus Seed Oils in Mice

Opuntia ficus indica and Pistacia lentiscus L. seeds are used in traditional medicine. The objective of this study was to investigate the toxicity of the fixed oil of Opuntia ficus indica and Pistacia lentiscus L. seeds in mice through determination of LD50 values, and also the physicochemical characteristics of the fixed oil of these oils. The acute toxicity of their fixed oil were also investigated in mice using the method of Kabba and Berhens. The fixed oil of Pistacia lentiscus and Opuntia ficus indica seeds were extracted and analyzed for its chemical and physical properties such as acid value, free fatty acid percentage (% FFA), iodine index, and saponification value as well as refractive index and density. LD50 values obtained by single doses, orally and intraperitoneally administered in mice, were respectively 43 ± 0,8 ;[40.7- 45.4 ] ml/kg body wt. p.o. and 2.72 ± 0,1 ;[2.52–2.92] ml/kg body wt. i.p. for Opuntia ficus indica; and 37 ± 1 ;[34.4 – 39.8 ] ml/kg body wt. p.o. and 2.52 ± 0,2 ;[2.22 – 2.81 ] ml/kg body wt. i.p. for Pistacia lentiscus respectively. The yields of seed oil were respectively calculated as 20.25% and 10.41%. The acid and free fatty acid values indicated that the oil has a low acidity

Antioxidant, anticholinesterase, and antibacterial activities of essential oils and methanol extract of Carduncellus pinnatus (Desf.)DC. growing in Algeria

The essential oil was obtained by separate hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Carduncellus pinnatus (Desf.) DC. (Asteraceae) and was analyzed by means of gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Hundred and four compounds were detected, accounting for 95.29 % of the total oil, which is characterized by a high content of non-terpene derivatives (33.39%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (32.03%). The main constituents of the essential oil from the aerial parts were caryophyllene oxide (23.12%), (E)-2-hexenal (8.35%), (E)-β-ionone (6.01%), (E)-geranylacetone (2.96%), and nonanal (2.65%). Additionally, β-Carotene-linoleic acid test system, DPPH free radical scavenging assay and ABTS cation radical scavenging assay were tested for the study of antioxidant activity of plant methanol extract and essential oil. The MeOH extract of aerial parts exhibited a strong antioxidant activity evidenced by the ABTS cation radical scavenging assay, with IC50 values of 44.509 ± 1.149 μg/ml. In the DPPH test the IC50 values were 61.147 ± 0.924μg/ml, while in β-carotene-linoleic acid test system, the IC50 values were 153.744 ± 3.39μg/ml. Essential oil extract of aerial parts showed 81.80 c/o inhibition against butyrylcholinesterase at 200 μg/mL. The highest antibacterial activity was evidenced for the aerial parts MeOH extracts, with inhibition zone medium diameters of 18.66±1.00 mm against Escherichiacoli ATCC25922 at 16 mg/ml and of and 18.00±1.15mm against Micrococcus luteus ATCC533 at 16 mg/ml. This is the first report about the potential for food and pharmaceutical industry due to the composition and the biological activities of Carduncellus pinnatus essential oils growing in Algeria

Effect of Virgin Fatty Oil of Pistacia Lentiscus on Experimental Burn Wound's Healing in Rabbits

This study aimed to assess the efficiency of the virgin fatty oil of Pistacia lentiscus (PLVFO) for burn wounds healing. It was carried out on 6 adult male New Zealand rabbits. Four burn wounds of deep third degree were made on the back of each animal. The first was not treated and served as control (CRL group); the others were covered immediately after burning procedure by 0.5g of one of the following products: Vaseline gel (VAS group), Madecassol® cream 1% (MAD group) or 1ml of PLVFO (PLVFO group). The treatments were repeated once daily until complete healing. For four days post burns, the percentage of wound contraction was assessed. Also, the different healing times were noted. The results showed that both PLVFO and Madecassol® significantly accelerated wound healing activity compared to wounds dressed with Vaseline and the untreated wounds. However, the level of wound contraction was significantly higher and the healing time was faster in PLVFO group than those of the MAD group, VAS group and CRL group. The different epithelization periods obtained in days were respectively: 30±3.94 (PLVFO group), 33.5±3.78 (MAD group), 34.66±3.88 (VAS group) and 37.16±3.54 (CRL group). We conclude that Pistacia lentiscus virgin fatty oil promotes significantly (p< 0.05) wound contraction and reduces epithelization period in rabbit model

Evaluation of Pistacia Lentiscus Fatty Oil Effects on Glycemic Index, Liver Functions and Kidney Functions of New Zealand Rabbits

Pistacia lentiscus fatty oil (PLFO) is a well known natural remedy in eastern Algeria folk medicine. It is widely used in the treatment of respiratory disorders and dermal burns. The present study has been carried out to investigate effects of this oil on fasting glucose and some functional parameters of the liver and kidney in white male New Zealand rabbits (Initial mean weight 1.95 Kg). PLFO was applied to tested rabbits (PLFO group) via rectal route, once daily 5-day per week, for six consecutive weeks at the dose of 1ml/Kg body weight. The same number of animals (n=6) was not treated and served as control (CRL group). The results showed that PLFO was tolerated by rectal route. No significant differences were observed in body weights of the two groups. Biochemical analysis showed that aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were significantly decreased in blood plasma at (P< 0.05) and (P< 0.01) respectively in PLFO group (Mann-Whitney test). On the other hand, the fasting glucose level (GLU) was significantly increased (Mann-Whitney test, P< 0.05), while the rest of the tested parameters (Albumin, total proteins, creatinine, urea) was not significantly affected. However, these variations have not biologic signification toxicity. The study concludes that PLFO is tolerable via rectal route; it is safe with no adverse effect on liver functions and renal functions with possible anti-glycogenesis activity

Evaluation Of Pistacia Lentiscus Fatty Oil Effects On Glycemic Index, Liver Functions And Kidney Functions Of New Zealand Rabbits

Pistacia lentiscus fatty oil (PLFO) is a well known natural remedy in eastern Algeria folk medicine. It is widely used in the treatment of respiratory disorders and dermal burns. The present study has been carried out to investigate effects of this oil on fasting glucose and some functional parameters of the liver and kidney in white male New Zealand rabbits (Initial mean weight 1.95 Kg). PLFO was applied to tested rabbits (PLFO group) via rectal route, once daily 5-day per week, for six consecutive weeks at the dose of 1ml/Kg body weight. The same number of animals (n=6) was not treated and served as control (CRL group). The results showed that PLFO was tolerated by rectal route. No significant differences were observed in body weights of the two groups. Biochemical analysis showed that aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were significantly decreased in blood plasma at (P< 0.05) and (P< 0.01) respectively in PLFO group (Mann-Whitney test). On the other hand, the fasting glucose level (GLU) was significantly increased (Mann-Whitney test, P< 0.05), while the rest of the tested parameters (Albumin, total proteins, creatinine, urea) was not significantly affected. However, these variations have not biologic signification toxicity. The study concludes that PLFO is tolerable via rectal route; it is safe with no adverse effect on liver functions and renal functions with possible anti-glycogenesis activity

Physicochemical Analysis and Wound Healing Activity of <i>Azadirachta indica</i> (A. Juss) Fruits

(1) Background: The neem tree, Azadirachta indica (A. Juss), is a well-known species used in traditional medicine for the treatment of skin conditions such as irritation, eczema, burns, and wounds. The objective of the current study was to investigate the physicochemical and wound-healing properties of A. indica fruits. (2) Methods: Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to determine the content of fatty acids and phytosterols, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the tocopherol content. The wound-healing activity was observed on the backs of six adult male rabbits. (3) Results: The results showed that the plant contained fatty acids, as well as oleic (46.05%), palmitic (23.94%), linoleic (11.39%), and stearic (7.87%) acids. The phytosterols were three major compounds; in decreasing order of importance, they were β-sitosterol (97.26 mg/100 g), campesterol (18.94 mg/100 g), and stigmasterol (12.05 mg/100 g). There were also traces of cholesterol. The neem was a moderate source of vitamin E (α-tocopherol, 14.86 mg/100 g). The hexane extracts showed no acute toxicity and low eye and skin irritability and had reasonable safety and important wound-healing activity. (4) Conclusions: The results confirmed that A. indica is a valuable source of fatty acids, phytosterols, and vitamin E and is efficient in the process of wound healing