Physico-Chemical Characteristics and antioxidant Activity of Phenolic Compounds and oil of Citrus aurantium Seeds from Northwest Algeria

Sour orange (Citrus aurantium) is a tree of the family of Rutaceae. It is cultivated today in many parts of the world; the fruit, leaves, twigs and flowers have numerous applications in food and perfumery. Citrus aurantium used in this study originate from Tlemcen in North East of Algeria.Our study focused firstly on the physicochemical analysis of seed oil of sour orange namely the determination of indices, fatty acids, vitamin E and polyphenols.Secondly we evaluated total phenols, flavonoids, condensed tannins of Citrus aurantium seeds and their antioxidant activity of using in vitro methods: ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and β-carotene bleaching test.The seeds oil contents is 38.21%, their fatty major acids were palmitic (26.85 %) and linoleic acid (38.29%). The physicochemical analysis of oil showed index values of density, acid value, ester value, saponification value and refractive index estimated respectively: 0926; 1.212, 190.39, 191.52, 1467.The quantitative estimation of Citrus aurantium seeds showed that content of polyphenol is 2.12 mg GA /g DW which the predominant part is represented by tannins (0.3 mg CE /g DW) followed by the flavonoids (0.076 mg CE /g DW). Our results demonstrate that all extracts have antioxidant capacity. Among these extracts, the ethyl acetate fraction of flavonoids showed the highest value of antioxidant activities for seed which might constitute an important source of natural antioxidants

Physico-Chemical Characteristics and antioxidant Activity of Phenolic Compounds and oil of Citrus aurantium Seeds from Northwest Algeria

Sour orange (Citrus aurantium) is a tree of the family of Rutaceae. It is cultivated today in many parts of the world; the fruit, leaves, twigs and flowers have numerous applications in food and perfumery. Citrus aurantium used in this study originate from Tlemcen in North East of Algeria.Our study focused firstly on the physicochemical analysis of seed oil of sour orange namely the determination of indices, fatty acids, vitamin E and polyphenols.Secondly we evaluated total phenols, flavonoids, condensed tannins of Citrus aurantium seeds and their antioxidant activity of using in vitro methods: ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and β-carotene bleaching test.The seeds oil contents is 38.21%, their fatty major acids were palmitic (26.85 %) and linoleic acid (38.29%). The physicochemical analysis of oil showed index values of density, acid value, ester value, saponification value and refractive index estimated respectively: 0926; 1.212, 190.39, 191.52, 1467.The quantitative estimation of Citrus aurantium seeds showed that content of polyphenol is 2.12 mg GA /g DW which the predominant part is represented by tannins (0.3 mg CE /g DW) followed by the flavonoids (0.076 mg CE /g DW). Our results demonstrate that all extracts have antioxidant capacity. Among these extracts, the ethyl acetate fraction of flavonoids showed the highest value of antioxidant activities for seed which might constitute an important source of natural antioxidants

Investigation of Hammada scoparia antidiabetic activity and toxicity in rat

Abstract Objective To investigate Hammada scoparia claimed antidiabetic effect, and to search for potential nontoxic active principles. Methods Aqueous and methanol extracts were prepared from H. scoparia areal parts, and their phytochemical constitution was defined. Then they were subjected to three procedures to check their antidiabetic effect. The first (acute effect on fasting glycemia) and the second (oral glucose tolerance test, OGTT) were carried out in normal rats, while the third procedure (7 days treatment) was carried out in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Methanol extract was also subjected to further studies; sub-chronic oral toxicity test (21days), effect on postprandial glycemia in normal rats and effect on intra-tissue glycogen concentrations. Finally methanol extract was fractionated on chromatography column; each fraction was thoroughly analysis using phytochemical tests and subjected to OGTT in normal rats. Results Using the three procedures, only the methanol extract (containing flavonoids, alkaloids and saponins) showed an antidiabetic effect similar to glibenclamide effect, and this was only when hyperglycemia was induced by oral glucose charge. On the other hand methanol extract had no toxicity in rats; it had no effect on postprandial glycemia or on intra-tissue glycogen concentrations. Four fractions were obtained using chromatography column, FA (containing flavonoids), FB (alkaloids, saponins), FC (alkaloids), and FD (saponins). Unlike the antihyperglycemic effect observed with methanol extract in normal rats, none of these fractions were effective. Conclusion Hammada scoparia could be a promising source of new antidiabetic agents, further studies are necessary to find its active principles and to understand its mechanism of action