Assessment of acute and sub-acute toxicity of olive pomace in female Wistar rats

Objective: Olive Pomace (OP) is considered to be a rich source of phenolic compounds. Recently many researches showed a broad biological activity of this by-product of the olive oil production process in addition to their emergence as value-added materials with potential applications in the pharmaceutical, food, and nutraceutical industries. The present study is aimed to evaluate in vivo toxicological activities of OP. Materials and Methods: The qualitative phytochemical analysis aims to determine the key phytoconstituents found in OP. For the in vivo study, two types of tests are performed: acute and 28-day repeated oral toxicity studies in Wistar rats for evaluation of hematological, biochemical, and histological parameters. Results: The qualitative phytochemical analysis has revealed the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, quinones, anthraquinones, terpenoids, and compounds reduced in our methanol extract of OP. In acute oral toxicity, no treatment-related death or toxic signs are observed in female rats for 14 days in 200, 2000, 3000, and 5000 mg/kg doses, besides LD50 value is found to be up to 2000 mg/kg bodyweight. As for the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. 28-days sub-acute toxicity study is carried in female rats at four dose levels (3.12, 31.25, 125 and 500 mg/kg), no changes in observation related death and toxic signs when compared with control. The hematological and biochemical investigation shows a significant change (p>0.05) in the high-level doses (500 mg/kg). Conclusions: According to the findings of this study, OP extract has the potential to be used to generate new anti-cancer and antioxidant additives for pharmaceutical and food manufacturing. Long-term in vivo toxicological tests should also be conducted to determine a safe dosage of OP extract

GC/MS analysis, and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of alkaloids extracted by polar and apolar solvents from the stems of Anabasis articulata

Anabasis articulata is a plant widely used in popular medicine to treat several pathologies in Algerian Sahara, such as diabetes. It is also associated with two other plants to cure certain types of cancer. Few research studies have been conducted on phytochemical analysis and in vivo biological activities of this species. However, no report is available on chemical elucidation of alkaloids and their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. This study aims to characterise alkaloids in A. articulata stems and to evaluate their antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. Alkaloids extraction was carried out using polar (E1; E2.1; E2.2) and apolar solvents (E3), while chemical characterisation was performed by GC/MS. In vitro antioxidant activity was assessed by tree tests: total antioxidant capacity (TAC), DPPH scavenging assay and β-carotene–linoleate inhibition. For antimicrobial activity, eight different microorganisms were tested. The results suggest that E2.2 extract had the highest TAC value (14.742 ± 0.224 mg AAE/g DM), but E3 extract presented the highest DPPH scavenging activity (EC50 = 1.242 ± 0.168 mg/mL) and a strong β-carotene–linoleate inhibition (EC50 = 0.943 ± 0.027 mg/mL). In addition, E3 extract had the strongest inhibitory effects against all tested microorganisms and produced inhibition zones ranging between 9 and 20 mm, while the MICs of this extract ranged from 0.781 to >100 mg/mL and the MBCs ranged between 1.562 and >100 mg/mL. Forty-nine compounds belonging to 16 families, namely cyclopeptide alkaloids, steroid alkaloids, quinoline alkaloids, camptothecin alkaloids, quinazoline alkaloids, quinazoline alkaloids, isoquinoline alkaloids, isoquinolone alkaloids, indole alkaloids, terpene indole alkaloids, pyridine/pyrrolidine alkaloids, piperidine alkaloids, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, purine alkaloids, acridone alkaloids, benzazonine alkaloids and homolycorine-type Amaryllidaceae alkaloids were identified. Therefore, A. articulata can be considered as a source of antioxidant and antimicrobial agents

Influence of plant and environment parameters on phytochemical composition and biological properties of Pistacia atlantica Desf

The aim of the current study is to analyze the phytochemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of 34 extracts prepared from Pistacia atlantica Desf. subsp. atlantica, according to gender, organ type (roots, buds and fruits), geographical location and stage of ripening. Bud extracts exhibited the highest phenolic content (565.74 ± 9.84 mg GAE/g DM), followed by fruit and root extracts. TFC and TTC ranged from 0.38 ± 0.03 to 1.92 ± 0.11 mg CE/g DM and from 0.37 ± 0.03 to 16.54 ± 0.94 mg CE/g DM, respectively. For DPPH and TAC assays, the values varied from 0.038 ± 0.000 to 1.331 ± 0.114 mg/mL and 1.58 ± 0.06 to 43.64 ± 2.58 mg AAE/g DM, respectively. Besides, bud extracts showed the highest bioactivity against pathogenic bacteria and a slight antifungal effect. Additionally, HPLC-DAD analysis revealed that the caffeic acid and the dimethyl-allyl caffeic acid characterized the bud extract, while the rutin and the hydroxytyrosol were abundant in the red fruit extract. The present evidence suggests that P. atlantica may be considered as a potential source of new additives for therapeutic, food and cosmetic products

Fatty acid composition and antioxidant activity of Pistacia lentiscus L. fruit fatty oil from Algeria

The current study was carried out to investigate the chemical composition of Pistacia lentiscus fruit fatty oil by HPLC–DAD and GC analysis. The quantification of phenolic content and DPPH radical scavenging capacity of this oil were furthermore evaluated. The results showed that the oil has the highest phenolic content (810 mg GAE/kg oil). The capacity to scavenge DPPH radical was admissible (EC50 = 20.619 ± 0.312 mg/mL), compared to the butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) (0.012 ± 0.0001 mg/mL). The main fatty acids where oleic, palmitic, linoleic, palmitoleic and stearic acids which have specific carbon number and their values in percentage are C18:1 n-9 (50.02 ± 0.55%), C16:0 (24.83 ± 1.25%), C18:2 n-6 (17.24 ± 0.10%), C16:1 n-7(1.55 ± 0.09%) and C18:0 (1.08 ± 0.02%), respectively. The analyses showed concentrations of approximately 26% of saturated fatty acids, 52% of monounsaturated and 18% of polyunsaturated

Leaf-buds of Pistacia atlantica: a novel source of bioactive molecules with high anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase and antimicrobial properties

In this study, for the first time, the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase and antimicrobial property of P. atlantica Desf. subsp. atlantica leaf-bud extract have been investigated. The anti-inflammatory activity was determined in vivo by reducing carrageenan-induced hind paw edema in mice, while the antiradical function was evaluated using DPPH, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reduction power assays. The extract induced a significant reduction of the edema, from 1 to 6 h in a dose-dependent manner (150, 200 and 300 mg/kg). Histological observations of the inflamed tissues also confirmed this. An effective antioxidant activity of the plant samples was demonstrated, showing an EC50 = 0.183 ± 0.005 mg/mL for the DPPH test, a value of 28.776 ± 2.541 mg AAE/g for the TAC and an EC50 = 0.136 ± 0.003 mg/mL for reducing power. The leaf-bud extract also revealed a good antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and L. monocytogenes (mean diameter of inhibition zones of 13.2 and 17.0 mm, respectively), while a slight antifungal effect was observed. The plant preparation was then documented to inhibit tyrosinase activity, with an EC50 value of 0.098 ± 0.00 mg/mL in a dose-dependent manner. HPLC–DAD analysis revealed that dimethyl-allyl caffeic acid and rutin were the most abundant molecules. The current data documented that P. atlantica leaf-bud extract has strong biological properties and constitutes a potential source of pharmacological molecules

Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of three halophyte plants from Algeria and detection of some biomolecules by HPLC-DAD

Antimicrobial activity of hydroalcoholic extracts (30/70) from leaves and stems of three halophytes (Tamarix africana, Arthrocnemum macrostachyum and Suaeda fruticose) was investigated. In vivo toxicological study and anti-inflammatory activity of leaf extract of T. africana were tested on carrageenan-induced inflammatory paw edema. T. africana possessed significant anti-inflammatory activity at 150 and 300 mg/kg confirmed by histological study of inflamed tissues. Six phenolic acids and 10 flavonoids where identified by HPLC–DAD. Gallic acid, Rutin and Kaempferol-3-O-glucoside were the major compounds. For the antibiotic assays, S. fruticosa leaf extract exhibited strong bactericidal power against S. aureus with MBC of 1.25 mg/mL whereas T. africana leaf and stem samples exhibited a significant bactericidal activity against S. aureus and B. subtilis compared to the negative control (Ampicillin and Chloramphenicol). Crude leaf and stem extracts from T. africana and stem extract from S. fruticosa exhibited a strong antifungal effect against C. albicans

Valorization of Algerian Saffron: Stigmas and Flowers as Source of Bioactive Compounds

Purpose: Saffron is widely used for its medicinal and culinary properties. Its stigmas are the most expensive part comparing with the flowers that are discarded during production. For that, the objective of this work was to determine the phytocomplex of stigma and flower material (except stigma) of saffron from Algeria. Crocin, picrocrocin and safranal contents were quantified to classify its quality according to ISO/TS 3632 standards. The antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of extracts were also investigated. Methods: Crocins, total phenolic content, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and anthocyanins were detected and quantified by HPLC-DAD and spectrophotometric analyses. The antioxidant potential was evaluated by 4 in vitro assays. The antimicrobial activity against seven bacteria and two strains of Candida albicans was also evaluated. Results: The results revealed that the chromatographic analysis showed the presence of 20 phenolic acids and flavonoids in the plant samples, with the highest concentrations in stigmas. Crocin derivatives were found only in stigmas, except that trans-crocetin (β-D-gentiobiosyl) which was present also in flower material. The highest total phenolic, total flavonoid and total flavonol contents were observed in stigmas and the highest level of anthocyanins and hydrolysable and condensed tannins in flowers. This extract showed a stronger protection effect from β-carotene bleaching and a higher TAC. The both extracts had some antimicrobial effect. Conclusions: These results point out that flower material could be considered as natural bioresource of polyphenolic compounds, with higher biological activities which remain to be exploited. Graphic Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.