Volatile compounds and biological activities of aerial parts of Pituranthos scoparius (Coss and Dur) Schinz (Apiaceae) from Hoggar, southern Algeria

Purpose: To determine the chemical composition as well as in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the Pituranthos scoparius essential oil.Methods: The chemical composition of a hydro-distilled essential oil of P.scoparius was analyzed by GC and GC/MS systems. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-carotene-linoleic acid assays while antimicrobial activity was screened using the disk diffusion method against a panel of six bacterial (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebseilla pneumonia, Agrobacterium tumefaciens) and four fungal strains (Candida albicans, Mucor sp, Aspergillus flavus, Penicilium expansum).Results: A total of 46 constituents were identified, representing 85.6 % of the oil; limonene (46.9 %) and 1,8-cineole (7.6 %) were the main components. The free radical scavenging activity of the oil was moderate with IC50 of 11.21 mg/mL. The oil showed weak to strong antimicrobial activity against all the microorganisms strains tested with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 2.000 to 0.019 mg/mL.Conclusion: These findings indicate that the essential oil of P.scoparius has a potential for use as a preservative and flavorant in processed foods.Keywords: Pituranthos scoparius, Essential oil, Antioxidant activity, Antimicrobial activity, Flavoran

Antifungal activity of menthol, eugenol and their combination against Aspergillus ochraceus and Aspergillus niger in vitro and in stored cereals

Aspergillus ochraceus and Aspergillus niger are spoilage and mycotoxin-producing fungi that can contaminate agricultural commodities and derived products. In the present study, menthol, eugenol, and their combination (mix 1:1) were tested to determine their contact and fumigation toxicity against the two fungi. Menthol, eugenol, and their mixture significantly reduced mycelial growth and spore germination at concentrations from 300 to 600 µg/mL, and the inhibitory effects showed clear dose dependence. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against A. ochraceus were 500 µg/mL (menthol), 400 µg/mL (eugenol), and 300 µg/mL (mix 1:1), while the MIC values for A. niger were 500 µg/mL (menthol), 600 µg/mL (eugenol), and 400 µg/mL (mix 1:1). Additionally, the analyzed compounds exhibited more than 50% protection against A. ochraceus and A. niger by fumigation of stored cereal grains (maize, barley, and rice) in sealed containers. The binary mixture of menthol and eugenol showed synergistic effects against both fungi in both in vitro direct contact and stored grain fumigation trials. The results of the present study provide a scientific basis for the application of a combination of natural antifungals in food preservation

Female agency in Egyptian cinema 1990s - 2023

This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University LondonThis research aimed to investigate female agency in Egyptian cinema in front of and behind the camera circa 1990s - 2023; it has been positioned within a framework which covers Islamism, nationalism, social media (Instagram), female authorship, and the female gaze. The 1990s represented a time period when women’s role in Egyptian society and their agency were challenged, leading to long-lasting impact. Due to a rise in Egyptian Islamism and nationalism as opposing ideologies, womanhood was co-opted by both the state and the Islamists during this period. In cinema this manifested in, firstly, the state-sponsored anti Islamist film genre, which utilised female characters as a tool to showcase the ignorance and misogyny of the male Islamist, and secondly, in the emergence of a desexualised cinematic genre (clean cinema) and the veiling of numerous female actors. Despite these conditions, women have always played an important factor in Egyptian cinema as pioneers, actors, filmmakers, and more. Accordingly, this thesis was moulded around these distinctive circumstances. It first examined female roles in anti Islamist films and the veil on the screen/in the industry as potential sites for female agency. In the second part of the thesis, Instagram and women’s filmmaking were analysed as possible devices through which women in Egyptian cinema may have been and are able to assert their agency. The research findings reveal that female agency in Egyptian cinema is a complex matter which has been impacted by a variety of societal changes in the past few decades. However its discovery in certain points during this research, such as in the documented lived experiences of veiled actresses and in some films made by female filmmakers, provides us with a unique understanding into its applicability in cinema, connections to the female gaze, and potential implications in women’s film authorship in Egypt

Chemical analysis of phenolic compounds and determination of anti-oxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of organic extracts of Pinus coulteri

New bioactive natural products, the phenolic composition and the biological activities of organic extracts from the needles of the Algerian Pinus coulteri were investigated. The analysis by HPLC-DAD of crude extract revealed the presence of 10 phenolic acids and nine flavonoids. In vitro anti-oxidant activities were performed using four different tests. The greatest antiradical activity was found in the ethyl acetate fraction (IC50 = 3.2 ± 0.3 µg/mL), whereas the diethyl ether fraction had the higher contents of total phenolics and flavonoids and exhibited a highest activity in reducing power and β-carotene–linoleic acid tests with EC50= 67.1 ± 0.4 μg/mL and 71.5 ± 0.2% of inhibition, respectively. Furthermore, a low to moderate antimicrobial activity according to all extracts was revealed against eight bacteria tested. The MIC value of chloroform fraction showed a strong degree of antibacterial activity (<0.09 mg/mL). The crude extract was found toxic with LC50 value of 15.2 μg/mL by brine shrimp toxicity assay. The needle extract of P. coulteri is rich in valuable biologically active compounds and could represent a new resource of anti-oxidant agents for the treatment of diseases. Video Clip of Methodology: Disc diffusion test: 6 min 41 sec   Full Screen   Alternat

Molecular prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in goats’ milk and seroprevalence in Northwest Tunisia

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis with high impact on human and animal health. Consumption of unpasteurized milk is a risk factor of human toxoplasmosis. The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence and molecular prevalence of T. gondii in goats’ milk in Northwest of Tunisia (Jendouba Governorate). A total number of 77 blood samples were collected from six herds were screened with a commercial ELISA kit for T. gondii antibodies. For the same goats’ samples, a nested PCR was performed to detect T. gondii DNA in milk. The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 31.2% (±0.05) while the molecular prevalence of this parasite in milk was estimated to 7.8% (±0.03). A very low value of kappa showed that there is not agreement between seroprevalence and parasite prevalence in milk. These results suggest that the consumption of raw milk from naturally infected goats is a potential source of human infection. An extension programme should be implemented to decrease related to goats’ raw milk consumption

Antifungal effects of selected menthol and eugenol in vapors on green coffee beans during long-term storage

Nowadays, coffee (Coffea Arabica L.) is among the most significant agricultural products of the world and drinking coffee has become one of the most popular habits in the world. The main contamination of stored coffee beans is related with the mycotoxin produced by the toxigenic fungi belonging the genus Aspergillus. Fungal infection followed by mycotoxin biosynthesis in coffee results in notable financial losses. subsequent mycotoxin biosynthesis in coffee leads to major economic losses. Complications ranging from mild to severe can be caused by the mycotoxins produced by this genus. The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect of menthol and eugenol on Aspergillus parasiticus (CBS 100926T) growth, spore germination, and their potential use as green coffee beans preservative during long-term storage (12 months). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) values of the menthol and eugenol were recorded to completely inhibit the growth of A. parasiticus in 400 μg/ml and 300 μg/ml, respectively. Both reduced spore germination by 9.33% and 5.66% at 300 μg/ml and 200 μg/ml, respectively. They showed efficacy in fumigated green coffee beans sample during the storage for up to 12 months providing an increase in the protection level of 62.5% for menthol and 73.21% for eugenol against the A. parasiticus contamination. This suggests that menthol and eugenol could be used as good alternatives for decreasing the deteriorations due to the fungal infections in green coffee beans during long-term storage