Antioxidant, anti-cholinesterase, anti-α-glucosidase and prebiotic properties of beta-glucan extracted from Algerian barley

Beta-glucan, such as barley-derived beta-glucan (BBG), are homopolysaccharides that have attracted attention by their nutritional and therapeutic properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant power of BBG extracted from local Algerian variety of barley (SAIDA 183), and its acetylcholinesterase, alpha glucosidase inhibitory activity as well as its prebiotic potential by fermentation with lactic acid bacteria isolated from camel’s milk, namely lactococcuslactisssplactis (Lc.l.l) and leuconostocmesenteroidesspmesenteroides (Ln.m.m). The results revealed that BBG exhibited low activity against DPPH and ferric-reducing power (IC50 4018.61 ± 656.69 and A0.5 at 359.88 ±63.64 µg/mL respectively), in contrast to other antioxidant tests (ABTS, Beta-carotene and CUPRAC) where BBG demonstrated a moderate activity (IC50 529.91 ±26.37, IC50 161.013±13.322, A0.5 529.79 ± 48.65 µg/mL). The scavenging ability of hydroxyl radical and superoxide radical by BBG with an IC50 at 2268.38±101.57 µg/mL and IC50 345.26± 62.32 µg/mL, respectively, while enzymatic inhibition by  BBG exhibited for AChE at IC50 859.164 ±64.46 μg/mL , BChE at IC50 at 725.470 ±30.95 , α-Amylase inhibitory activity at IC50 2986.785 ± 37.046  . The bacterial growth of the two strains used in this study is favorably affected by the use of BBG as the only carbon source, in comparison with glucose as a control. In light of these findings, it can be concluded that BBG have shown moderate antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities and can be used as a prebiotic by acting synergistically with probiotics in functional food matrices

Detection of Brucella spp. in milk from seronegative cows by real-time polymerase chain reaction in the region of Batna, Algeria

Aim: The aim of this study was to detect Brucella spp. DNA in milk samples collected from seronegative cows using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for diagnosis of brucellosis in seronegative dairy cows to prevent transmission of disease to humans and to reduce economic losses in animal production. Materials and Methods: In this study, 65 milk samples were investigated for the detection of Brucella spp. The detection of the IS711 gene in all samples was done by real-time PCR assay by comparative cycle threshold method. Results: The results show that of the 65 DNA samples tested, 2 (3.08%) were positive for Brucella infection. The mean cyclic threshold values of IS711 real-time PCR test were 37.97 and 40.48, indicating a positive reaction. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that the real-time PCR appears to offer several advantages over serological tests. For this reason, the real-time PCR should be validated on representative numbers of Brucella-infected and free samples before being implemented in routine diagnosis in human and animal brucellosis for controlling this disease

Effects of Controlled Culture Conditions on Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activities of Mentha rotundifolia Essential Oils

The study objectives were the determination of Mentha rotundifolia essential oils composition using GC/MS analysis and the evaluation of their antimicrobial activities. In addition, the determination of the relationships between plants acclimatization conditions, essential oils composition and antimicrobial activities. Essential oils extracted via hydrodistillation method from wild plants and acclimatized plants in different culture conditions of Mentha rotundifolia. Five selected pathogenic microbial strains were used to evaluate EOs in vitro antimicrobial activities. Essential oils GC/MS analysis revealed the dominance of the oxygenated monoterpene (piperitenone oxide). A significant effect of plant culture conditions in acclimatization room on essential oils composition compared to the control was observed. We also noted that antimicrobial activities of extracted essential oils from acclimatized plants were higher than those from field-grown M. rotundifolia plants. Content of Piperitenone Oxide in acclimatized plantlets is 93.07% for plantlets cultured at 16°C and a photoperiod of 16 hours light / 8 hours dark, statistically higher than wild plants where it is around 78%. We also noted the presence of Limonene (5.7%) in plantlets grown at 35°C which is significantly different than that of the wild plants (1.55 %). Essential oils antimicrobial activities showed that the plantlets grown at 16 °C or in total darkness were more active towards the tested strains. While, the EO of plantlets cultured at 35 °C were the least active