Halimium halimifolium: From the Chemical and Functional Characterization to a Nutraceutical Ingredient Design.

Halimium halimifolium (Hh) is a shrub used in Algerian folk medicine to treat gastrointestinal pain. An UHPLC-PDA-ESI/MSn method was developed to identify the metabolic profile of the traditionally used infusion (Hh-A) from the aerial parts. The structures of flavanols were confirmed by NMR analysis after the isolation procedure from a hydrohalcolic extract (Hh-B) that also allowed for the identification of phenolic acids, an aryl butanol glucoside, and different derivatives of quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol. Tiliroside isomers were the chemical markers of Hh-A and Hh-B (54.33 and 36.00 mg/g, respectively). Hh-A showed a significant scavenging activity both against the radicals 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (EC50 = 10.49 µg/mL and TEAC value = 1.98 mM Trolox/mg infusion) and the lipopolysaccharide-induced reactive oxygen species release in A375 and HeLa cells. Moreover, the antihyperglycemic properties, by inhibiting the α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes (IC50 = 0.82 mg/mL and 25.01 µg/mL, respectively), were demonstrated. To upgrade the therapeutic effect, a microencapsulation process is proposed as a strategy to optimize stability, handling, and delivery of bioactive components, avoiding the degradation and loss of the biological efficacy after oral intake. Hh-loaded microparticles were designed using cellulose acetate phthalate as the enteric coating material and spray drying as a production process. The results showed a satisfactory process yield (67.9%), encapsulation efficiency (96.7%), and micrometric characteristics of microparticles (laser-scattering, fluorescent, and scanning electron microscopy). In vitro dissolution studies (USPII-pH change method) showed that Hh-loaded microparticles are able to prevent the release and degradation of the bioactive components in the gastric tract, releasing them into the intestinal environment.

Qualitative and Quantitative Phytochemical Analysis of Different Extracts from Thymus algeriensis Aerial Parts.

This study was performed to evaluate the metabolite recovery from different extraction methods applied to Thymusalgeriensis aerial parts. A high-performance liquid chromatographic method using photodiode array detector with gradient elution has been developed and validated for the simultaneous estimation of different phenolic compounds in the extracts and in their corresponding purified fractions. The experimental results show that microwave-assisted aqueous extraction for 15 min at 100 °C gave the most phenolics-enriched extract, reducing extraction time without degradation effects on bioactives. Sixteen compounds were identified in this extract, 11 phenolic compounds and five flavonoids, all known for their biological activities. Color analysis and determination of chlorophylls and carotenoids implemented the knowledge of the chemical profile of this plant.

Atriplex mollis Desf. Aerial Parts: Extraction Procedures, Secondary Metabolites and Color Analysis.

A method using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector was proposed for the rapid characterization of different phenolic constituents from the extracts of Atriplex mollis aerial parts. Atriplex species are known for their multiple biological activities, but no information is available in the literature about A. mollis. With the aim to firstly characterize the main secondary metabolites of this plant, so as to orient better the biological evaluation, we applied three different extraction procedures and compared the chromatographic results. Microwave-assisted extraction gave the best yield and recovery of important compounds such as gallic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, p-OH benzoic acid, rutin, sinapinic acid, t-ferulic acid, naringenin and benzoic acid. These constituents belong to three important chemical classes: phenolic acids, flavonoids and monoterpenes. Color evaluation and analysis of chlorophylls (a and b) and carotenoids complete the preliminary profile of this plant. From these analyses, Atriplex mollis is a source of bioactive compounds (especially rutin, t-ferulic acid and gallic acid) and could be recommended as a plant of phyto-pharmaceutical relevance, opening new perspectives on this salt-tolerant plant.

New sesquiterpenes from Asteriscus graveolens.

Asteriscus graveolens (Forsk) Less. is a Saharan medicinal plant of Asteraceae family. A new acyclic sesquiterpene [7,12-dihydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5,(6) E-dehydronerolidol (3)] and sesquiterpene germacranolide lactone derivatives [9ß-hydroxy-11ß,13-dihydroparthenolide-9-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (7) and 9α-hydroxy-11ß,13-dihydroparthenolide-9-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (8)] along with eight known compounds were isolated from polar extracts of aerial parts. Their structures were established by the analysis of 1 D- 2 D-NMR and high-resolution mass spectrometry data. A. graveolens extracts and compounds showed a significant (P < 0.05) and concentration dependent inhibitory effect on the growth of Human Colon Carcinoma (HCT116) and Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma (DLD1) cells with IC50 in a concentration range from 89.4 to 296.0 µg/mL for extracts and from 32.6 to 728.1 µg/mL for compounds. No cytotoxic effects was evidenced in normal Primary Human Dermal Fibroblast (HDFa) up to 0.050 mg/mL for extracts and 1.0 mg/mL for pure compounds.

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of a polar extract of Thymelaea microphylla Coss. et Dur.

Thymelaea microphylla Coss. et Dur. (Thymelaeaceae) is a rare medicinal plant endemic to Algeria. In order to continue our studies on this species, herein we report the isolation and characterisation of 20 compounds from a hydroalcoholic extract (EtOH-H2O 7:3) of the aerial parts. They include monoterpene glucosides (1-3), phenolic acid derivatives (4, 8 and 9), phenylpropanoid glucosides (5 and 6), flavonoids (7, 10 and 11), a benzyl alcohol glucoside (12), ionol glucosides (13-16), lignans (17-19) and a bis-coumarin (20). All the structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR experiments, as well as ESI-MS analysis. Moreover, the extract of T. microphylla showed a significant and concentration-dependent free radical-scavenging activity in vitro, correlated to the presence of phenolic and chlorogenic acid derivatives (8, 9 and 4).