Argania spinosa Leaves and Branches: Antiaggregant, Anticoagulant, Antioxidant Activities and Bioactive Compounds Quantification

Thrombocytes, also known as platelets, are crucial in maintaining the balance between blood clotting. Platelet hyperactivity and oxidative stress are the primary factors contributing to cardiovascular complications. Antithrombotic therapy remains one of the most effective treatments, but various potential side effects hinder its effectiveness, including the risk of haemorrhage. Intense research has been conducted on medicinal plants to discover the natural antithrombotic compounds. Argania spinosa, commonly known as the argan tree or argan oil tree, is a native species of southwestern Morocco. This study evaluated the primary and secondary hemostasis and antioxidant activity of leaf and branch aqueous extracts of A. spinosa and also assessed the phytochemical composition of these extracts. Platelet aggregation assay was performed using washed platelets stimulated with thrombin. For plasmatic coagulation, activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time were measured using the poor plasma method. Bleeding time was evaluated by inducing bleeding at the tip of a mouse tail. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was determined through the DPPH, β-carotene, and FRAP methods. The presence or absence of the secondary metabolites was carried out with the help of specific reagents, and the quantitative analysis was carried out using spectrophotometric and colorimetric methods. The study results revealed the presence of phenols, total flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, tannins, and coumarins type of secondary metabolites in both types of aqueous extracts and a higher concentration of these was recorded in the leaves extracts. Both aqueous extracts significantly reduced in vitro thrombin-induced platelet aggregation, extended tail bleeding time, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin and prothrombin time and exhibited remarkable antioxidant activity. The leaf extract of A. spinosa exerts significant effects against thrombotic manifestations and could be a promising source of new antithrombotic compounds

Chemical characterization of oils produced by some native and introduced genotypes of argan tree in eastern Morocco using HPLC-DAD/GC-MS, and the evaluation of their physicochemical parameters

The argan tree is an endemic plant of Morocco that plays a great socio-economical and ecological impact in the south of the country. This plant is well known for the oil extracted from the almond, characterized by high nutritional value and its large spectrum of uses. This study aims to evaluate the chemical composition and the physicochemical parameters of fixed oils produced by the argan trees introduced in Oujda City and to compare them with other oils produced by the same trees in their natural biotope in the northeast and southwest of Morocco. The obtained results indicated that the oil yield varies between 57.65% and 47.60%. The investigation of the chemical composition using HPLC-DAD showed the presence of three types of tocopherols: α-tocopherols (9.7%), δ-tocopherols (6.6%), and γ-tocopherols (83.6%), the total content of tocopherols vary between 323.86 and 553.12 mg/kg. While, the methyl esters analysis using GC-MS showed the presence of 4 main fatty acids: oleic acid (55.40–41.14%), linoleic acid (36.92–26.75%), palmitic acid (18.69–9.97%) and stearic acid (12.09–3.68). The physicochemical parameters (the free acidity, the peroxide value, and the specific extinction) indicated that the different tested oils are characterized by a good oil quality according to the Moroccan standard concerning argan oil (NM 08.5.090). The obtained results indicated that the introduced argan in Oujda City showed a quality and a chemical composition that was comparable to that produced in the natural area of the argan tree, which shows the plasticity the plant under different climatic and edaphic conditions. These results emphasize the encouragement of the introduction of this species at a high level in eastern Morocco

Molecular Composition and Antibacterial Effect of Five Essential Oils Extracted from Nigella sativa L. Seeds against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria: A Comparative Study

Nigella sativa L. (NS) and its volatile compounds are well known for their broad spectrum of effects. This study aimed to investigate the variability of the chemical composition and the in vitro antibacterial activity of five essential oils (Eos) originated from Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Syria, India, and France. These five samples were grown under different edaphic and climatic conditions. The agar diffusion method and microdilution method in 96-well plates were used to test the sensitivity of multidrug-resistant strains clinically isolated from patients (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii), for the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration and bactericidal concentration. Among all the investigated Eos, the monoterpenes were highly present in the chemical composition. Moroccan, Saudi Arabian, and Syrian seeds were characterized by the presence α-phellandrene (20.03–30.54%), β-cymene (12.31–23.82 %), and 4−caranol (9.77–14.27%). The Indian seeds were rich with 4-caranol (18.81%), β-cymene (14.22%), α-phellandrene (10.58%), and β-chamigrene (9.54%), while France NS was rich with estragole (20.22%) and D-limonene (14.63%). The minimum inhibitory (MIC) and bactericidal concentration (MBC) obtained for the four Eos (with the exception of France because of the low yield) tested were ranging from 3 to 40 μl/ml. Gram-positive (+) bacteria were slightly sensitive to the Eos tested than the Gram-negative (−) bacteria. The results of this study showed that the Eos of NS seeds show interesting antibacterial activity which could be associated to the existence of different bioactive compounds. Indeed, these compounds can be used for preventive or curative purposes in the face of the noncontrolled emergence of resistance to antibiotics

Evaluation of Acute and Subacute Toxicity and LC-MS/MS Compositional Alkaloid Determination of the Hydroethanolic Extract of <i>Dysphania ambrosioides</i> (L.) Mosyakin and Clemants Flowers

Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin and Clemants is a medicinal plant that has traditionally been used to cure a range of diseases. There has been no thorough investigation of the potential toxicity of this plant. The objective of this study is to assess the acute and subacute toxicity of D. ambrosioides hydroethanolic extract (DAHE), as well as it alkaloids composition, utilizing LC-MS/MS analysis. An in silico approach was applied to determine pharmacokinetic parameters and to predict the toxicity of D. ambrosioides identified alkaloids. A 14-day treatment with a single oral dose of 1–7 g/kg was carried out to investigate acute toxicity. DAHE was given orally at dosages of 5, 50, and 500 mg/kg for 15 days in the subacute toxicity investigation, and body weight and biochemical parameters were evaluated. Livers, kidneys, lungs, and heart were examined histologically. Chromatographic investigation revealed the existence of nine alkaloids, with N-formylnorgalanthamine being the most prevalent. The oral LD50 value of DAHE was found to be 5000 mg/kg in an acute toxicity study. No variations were observed with respect to food intake, water consumption, mortality, or body and organ weight in the subacute toxicity study. On the other hand, DAHE (500 mg/kg) significantly enhanced alanineaminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and urea. Liver and kidney histological examinations revealed modest infiltration of hepatocyte trabeculae by inflammatory cells in the liver and slight alteration in the kidney histoarchitecture. According to our findings, DAHE exhibits low to moderate toxicity

Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity of <i>Dysphania ambrosioides</i> (L.) Mosyakin and Clemants Essential Oils: Experimental and Computational Approaches

Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin and Clemants, also known as Mexican tea, and locally known as Mkhinza, is a polymorphic annual and perennial herb, and it is widely used in folk medicine to treat a broad range of illnesses in Morocco. The aim of this study was to determine the phytochemical content and the antioxidant and the antibacterial properties of essential oils isolated from D. ambrosioides aerial components, growing in Eastern Morocco (Figuig). Hydrodistillation was used to separate D. ambrosioides essential oils, and the abundance of each phytocompound was determined by using Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). In vitro 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and inhibition of β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching assays were used to determine D. ambrosioides essential oils’ antioxidant activity. The findings revealed relative antioxidative power and modest radical scavenging. The antibacterial activity of the essential oils was broad-spectrum, with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis as the most susceptible strains tested. To elucidate the physicochemical nature, drug-likeness, and the antioxidant and antibacterial action of the identified phytocomponents, computational techniques, such as ADMET analysis, and molecular docking were used

Loaded n-Hydroxyapatite/SSG 3D Scaffolds as a Drug Delivery System of <i>Nigella sativa</i> Fractions for the Management of Local Antibacterial Infections

As a result of their close similarities to the inorganic mineral components of human bone, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (n-HAp) are widely used in biomedical applications and for the elaboration of biocompatible scaffold drug delivery systems for bone tissue engineering. In this context, a new efficient and economic procedure was used for the consolidation of n-HAp in the presence of various Nigella sativa (NS) fractions at a near-room temperature. The research conducted in the present study focuses on the physicochemical properties of loaded n-HAp 3D scaffolds by NS fractions and the in vitro antibacterial activity against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 27853), and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 700603) bacteria. In order to better understand the effect of the inserted fractions on the HAp molecular structure, the elaborated samples were subject to Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopic analyses. In addition, the morphological investigation by scanning electron microscope (SEM) of the loaded n-HAp 3D scaffolds demonstrated the presence of a porous structure, which is generally required in stimulating bone regeneration. Furthermore, the fabricated 3D composites exhibited significant antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria. Indeed, MIC values ranging from 5 mg/mL to 20 mg/mL were found for the HAp-Ethanol fraction (HAp-Et) and HAp-Hexane fraction (HAp-Hex), while the HAp-Aqueous fraction (HAp-Aq) and HAp-Methanol fraction (HAp-Me) showed values between 20 mg/mL and 30 mg/mL on the different strains. These results suggest that the HAp-NS scaffolds were effective as a drug delivery system and have very promising applications in bone tissue engineering

Phytochemical Analysis, Antispasmodic, Myorelaxant, and Antioxidant Effect of Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin and Clemants Flower Hydroethanolic Extracts and Its Chloroform and Ethyl Acetate Fractions

Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin and Clemants is an annual or ephemeral perennial herb used traditionally in the Mediterranean region in folk medicine to treat various illnesses, including those related to the digestive system. This study aims to assess the antispasmodic, myorelaxant, and antioxidant effects of D. ambrosioides flower hydroethanolic extract and its chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions in a comparative study to evaluate the result of the extraction type on the potential activity of the extract. Both rat and rabbit jejunum were used to evaluate the antispasmodic and myorelaxant effect, while the antioxidant effect was evaluated using DPPH, a ferric reducing power assay, and a beta-carotene bleaching test. LC/MS-MS analysis was carried out to reveal the composition of the different types of extract. Following the results, the hydroethanolic extract showed a significant myorelaxant effect (IC50 = 0.39 &plusmn; 0.01 mg/mL). Moreover, it was shown that the hydroethanolic extract demonstrated the best antispasmodic activity (IC50 = 0.51 &plusmn; 0.05 mg/mL), followed by the ethyl acetate (IC50 = 4.05 &plusmn; 0.32 mg/mL) and chloroform (IC50 = 4.34 &plusmn; 0.45 mg/mL) fractions. The antioxidant tests showed that the hydroethanolic extract demonstrated high antioxidant activity, followed by the ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions. The LC/MS-MS analysis indicates that the plant extract was rich in flavonoids, to which the extract activity has been attributed. This study supports the traditional use of this plant to treat digestive problems, especially those with spasms

Assessment of the Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potential of <i>Ptychotis verticillata</i> Duby Essential Oil from Eastern Morocco: An In Vitro and In Silico Analysis

Ptychotis verticillata Duby, referred to as Nûnkha in the local language, is a medicinal plant that is native to Morocco. This particular plant is a member of the Apiaceae family and has a longstanding history in traditional medicine and has been utilized for therapeutic purposes by practitioners for generations. The goal of this research is to uncover the phytochemical makeup of the essential oil extracted from P. verticillata, which is indigenous to the Touissite region in Eastern Morocco. The extraction of the essential oil of P. verticillata (PVEO) was accomplished through the use of hydro-distillation via a Clevenger apparatus. The chemical profile of the essential oil was then determined through analysis utilizing gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The study findings indicated that the essential oil of P. verticillata is composed primarily of Carvacrol (37.05%), D-Limonene (22.97%), γ-Terpinene (15.97%), m-Cymene (12.14%) and Thymol (8.49%). The in vitro antioxidant potential of PVEO was evaluated using two methods: the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical trapping assay and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method. The data demonstrated considerable radical scavenging and relative antioxidative power. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria innocua, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most susceptible bacterial strains tested, while Geotrichum candidum, Candida albicans, and Rhodotorula glutinis were the most resilient fungi strains. PVEO had broad-spectrum antifungal and antibacterial properties. To elucidate the antioxidative and antibacterial characteristics of the identified molecules, we applied the methodology of molecular docking, a computational approach that forecasts the binding of a small molecule to a protein. Additionally, we utilized the Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances (PASS) algorithm; Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME); and Pro-Tox II (to predict the toxicity in silico) tests to demonstrate PVEO’s identified compounds’ drug-likeness, pharmacokinetic properties, the anticipated safety features after ingestion, and the potential pharmacological activity. Finally, our findings scientifically confirm the ethnomedicinal usage and usefulness of this plant, which may be a promising source for future pharmaceutical development