In vitro Assessment of Two Species of the Genus Pinus Growing in Algeria for their Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity

A comparative study of the hydrodistilled oils of Pinus pinea L. and Pinus pinaster Aiton by GC and GC-MS was conducted. The combined essential oil of P. pinea was rich in limonene (56.5%), followed by α-pinene (6.5%) and β-phellandrene (6.2%). The major compounds from the combined essential oil of P. pinaster were: α-pinene (36.4%), β-pinene (12.3%) and (E)-β-caryophyllene (7.1%). The results showed that the oils have a great potential as antibiotics against some microorganisms: Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans. The maximum zone of inhibition of P. pinea was obtained against Candida albicans (23 mm). Antioxidant capacity was assessed by in vitro testing using 2,2-diphenyl- 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and significant activity was found for the various oils. These results suggested that essential oils of P. pinea and P. pinaster possess antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, and could, therefore, present potential source of active ingredients for food and pharmaceutical industry

Mercury pollution in beachrocks from the Arzew gulf (West of Algeria) Pollution mercurielle des grès formés sur les plages du golf d'Arzew (Ouest Algérien)

Abstract. The gulf or Arzew extends between the towns of Stidia and Mostaganem on the west coast of Algeria. The gulf receives the discharge of many industries. Mercury contamination level of beachrocks has been assessed through the determination of mercury concentration (Hg) in sandstones formed on the beach. The sandstone samples were collected along the coast, dried, ground and digested in order to be analyzed by atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The analyses showed the presence of mercury in beachrocks with an average geochemical index of 4.1 and high mercury concentrations up to 5.0 µg.g -1 , well above average in the Earth's crust. The geo-accumulation index revealed severe and intense mercury pollution due to anthropogenic activities. The high Hg concentration in beachrocks suggests that mercury accumulated and circulated freely in the gulf before lithification and cementation of beach sediment. This contamination may affect the coastal ecosystem and even human health via the food chain. Keywords : Pollution, mercury, beachrock, geo-accumulation, Gulf of Arzew, Algeria. Résumé. Le golfe d'Arzew s'étend entre les villes de Stidia et Mostaganem sur la côte ouest algérienne. Il reçoit la décharge de nombreuses industries. La présente étude démontre la détermination de la concentration en mercure (Hg) dans les grès formés sur la plage. Les échantillons de grès ont été prélevés dans 5 stations échelonnées sur une distance de 25 km environ le long de la côte. Séchés et broyés, ces échantillons sont analysés par spectrométrie de fluorescence atomique. Le mercure est piégé dans ces roches sédimentaires avec un indice géochimique moyen de 4,1 et des concentrations voisines de 5,0 μg.g -1 . Les valeurs dépassent largement la moyenne signalée dans la croûte terrestre. L'indice géo-accumulation révèle une pollution sévère et intense par le mercure due aux activités anthropiques. La forte concentration de mercure dans les "Beachrocks" admet que cet élément toxique s'accumule et circule librement dans le Golfe d'Arzew avant la lithification et la cimentation de sédiments de la plage. Cette contamination pourrait affecter les composantes biologiques de l'écosystème côtier et même la santé humaine via la chaîne alimentaire

Analysis of trace-elements and toxic heavy metals in honeys from Tlemcen Province, north-western

Eighteen honeys collected from various botanical and geographical sources in Tlemcen Province (north-western Algeria) were studied to determine the presence of the following fifteen trace elements and heavy metals: K, Na, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Fe, Zn, V,  Cr,  Co, As,   Cd, Pb and W. Element determination was performed by inductively  coupled  plasma- mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), after digestion, by concentrated nitric acid using microwave mineralizer. The most abundant minerals were K, Ca, Mg and Na ranging within 153-989 mg/kg, 33.1-377 mg/kg, 69.1-162 mg/kg and 13.3-146 mg/kg, respectively. Fe was the most abundant heavy metal followed by Mn, Zn and Cu while Cr, Co, V, W, As, Cd and Pb were the lowest trace elements detected at level < 1 mg/kg in the honey samples surveyed. The variation in the mineral content in the honey samples studied is probably due to geochemical and geographical differences. Multivariate methods were used in order to classify honey samples according to their mineral content. The present study revealed that honeys collected from the various beekeepers apiaries of Tlemcen Province were not contaminated with toxic trace elements and therefore poses no threat to consumers

Identification of Compounds from Nigella Sativa as New Potential Inhibitors of 2019 Novel Coronasvirus (Covid-19): Molecular Docking Study.

The spread of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the lack of specific treatment and the urgent situation requires use of all resources to remedy this scourge. In the present study, using molecular docking, we identify new probable inhibitors of COVID-19 by molecules from Nigella sativa L, which is highly reputed healing herb in North African societies and both Islamic and Christian traditions. The discovery of the Mpro protease structure in COVID-19 provides a great opportunity to identify potential drug candidates for treatment. Focusing on the main proteases in CoVs (3CLpro/Mpro) (PDB ID 6LU7 and 2GTB); docking of compounds from Nigella Sativa and drugs under clinical test was performed using Molecular Operating Environment software (MOE). Nigelledine docked into 6LU7 active site gives energy complex about -6.29734373 Kcal/mol which is close to the energy score given by chloroquine (-6.2930522 Kcal/mol) and better than energy score given by hydroxychloroquine (-5.57386112 Kcal/mol) and favipiravir (-4.23310471 kcal/mol). Docking into 2GTB active site showed that α- Hederin gives energy score about-6.50204802 kcal/mol whcih is better energy score given by chloroquine (-6.20844936 kcal/mol), hydroxychloroquine (-5.51465893 kcal/mol)) and favipiravir (-4.12183571kcal/mol). Nigellidine and α- Hederin appeared to have the best potential to act as COVID-19 treatment. Further, researches are necessary to testify medicinal use of identified and to encourage preventive use of Nigella Sativa against coronavirus infection.</p

Global nucleophilicity as electronic property for the study of Hydrogen storage materials capacities

Our aim in the present work is to perform a theoretical study of the efficiency on hydrogen storage of a series of metal functionalized systems by means of global reactivity indices derived from density functional theory, and put in evidence the ability of the nucleophilicity whitch is a simple global index to explain material hydrogen storage. In the present paper theoretical calculations were carried out at the M05-6/6-311+G(d) level of the theory by means of Gaussian 09 software. All systems geometries were optimised at the same level and the global indices were then evaluated using the optimised structures.&nbsp; The studied systems were divided into two series where the first series contained 12 systems MX each (M=Li, Na, K; X=H, AlH4, BH4, NH2) and the second one contained 8 systems MX2each (M=Mg, Ca). The obtained results and after comparison with experimental data, showed that nucleophilicity index is directly related to the predicted storage capacities by inversed trends. Considering the obtained results, it can concluded that Density Functional Theory (DFT) derived indices namely nucleophilicity is&nbsp; an important parameter which can be used for modelling and designing a potential new hydrogen storage material. Cite as: Ghomri A, Bouchentouf S. Global nucleophilicity as electronic property for the study of Hydrogen storage materials capacities. Alg. J. Eng. Tech. 2020; 3: 058-063.&nbsp; http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4404700 References&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Schumacher K. Public acceptance of renewable energies–an empirical investigation across countries and technologies. KIT Scientific Publishing; 2019. https://doi.org/10.5445/KSP/1000097148. Kan S, Chen B, Chen G. Worldwide energy use across global supply chains: Decoupled from economic growth?. Applied Energy. 2019;250:1235-1245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.05.104. Fontes CH, Freires FG. 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Analysis of trace-elements and toxic heavy metals in honeys from Tlemcen Province, north-western

Eighteen honeys collected from various botanical and geographical sources in Tlemcen Province (north-western Algeria) were studied to determine the presence of the following fifteen trace elements and heavy metals: K, Na, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Fe, Zn, V,  Cr,  Co, As,   Cd, Pb and W. Element determination was performed by inductively  coupled  plasma- mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), after digestion, by concentrated nitric acid using microwave mineralizer. The most abundant minerals were K, Ca, Mg and Na ranging within 153-989 mg/kg, 33.1-377 mg/kg, 69.1-162 mg/kg and 13.3-146 mg/kg, respectively. Fe was the most abundant heavy metal followed by Mn, Zn and Cu while Cr, Co, V, W, As, Cd and Pb were the lowest trace elements detected at level < 1 mg/kg in the honey samples surveyed. The variation in the mineral content in the honey samples studied is probably due to geochemical and geographical differences. Multivariate methods were used in order to classify honey samples according to their mineral content. The present study revealed that honeys collected from the various beekeepers apiaries of Tlemcen Province were not contaminated with toxic trace elements and therefore poses no threat to consumers

Chemical profiling, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory and in silico modeling of Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Artemisia herba alba Asso. essential oils from Algeria

In the current study, the chemical composition, antioxidant, alpha-glucosidase, alpha-amylase and cholinesterase inhibitory activities of wormwood and rosemary essential oils were investigated. In order to explain the interaction of chemical constituents with the enzymes, molecular docking tools were used. GC/MS analyses revealed that the main compounds of rosemary oil were eucalyptol (37.97%), followed by camphor (11.84%). Whereas beta-copaene (16.22%), limonene (14.56%), eucalyptol (14.49%) and camphor (13.74%) represent the main compounds of wormwood oil. Moreover, antioxidant abilities assessed by DPPH radical scavenging, beta-carotene bleaching inhibitory and ion chelating test showed that rosemary oil was more efficient than wormwood. Furthermore, rosemary oil exhibited even better results against cholinesterase inhibitory. However, wormwood oil was more effective for antidiabetic inhibitory enzymes. The theoretical verification by molecular modeling revealed that linalool, terpinen-4-ol, eugenol methyl ether and tau-cadinol have the best binding affinity with studied enzymes. In conclusion, docking verification has shown a good affinity of some chemical compounds from rosemary more than wormwood with studied enzymes explaining the assessed biological activities. Rosemary and wormwood exhibited interesting biological activities that explain the traditional uses of these plants that could be further explored for food and pharmaceutical industries