Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities and Acute Toxicity of Cedrus atlantica, Chenopodium ambrosioides and Eucalyptus camaldulensis Essential Oils.

The essential oils yield of Cedrus atlantica, Chenopodium ambrosioides and Eucalyptus camaldulensis was different. C. ambrosioides gave a relatively higher yield (2.1 ± 0.1%), while that of C. atlantica was low (1.0 ± 0.1%) and that of E. camaldulensis was lower (0.75 ± 0.1% of dry matter). The active ingredients of the essential oils and some of their biological effects were also determined. The characterization of their chemical compositions showed that the three essences have different chemical profiles: C. atlantica was richer in sesquiterpenes (ß-Himachalene (54.21%) and γ -Himachalene (15.54%)), C. ambrosioides was very rich in monoterpene peroxides and monoterpenes (α-Terpinene (53.4%), ascaridole (17.7%) and ρ-Cymene (12.1%)) and E. camaldulensis was very rich in monoterpene compounds and monoterpenols (p-cymene (35.11%), γ-Eudesmol (11.9%), L-linalool (11.51%) and piperitone (10.28%)). The in vitro measurement of antioxidant activity by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) reduction assay showed a significant performance of the eucalyptus oil and average performance of the other two (C. atlantica and C. ambrosioides). The in vitro bio-test for their antimicrobial effects showed that the antibacterial activity differed depending on the essential oil and the concentration used, and that their bactericidal efficacy was similar or superior to that of synthetic antibiotics. The toxicity test on rats revealed that the LD50 of the three essential oils was 500 mg/kg body weight, which classifies them as category four cytotoxic natural products at high doses.

Evaluation of the Acute and Subacute Toxicity of Aqueous Extract of Coriandrum sativum L. Seeds in Wistar Rats.

BACKGROUND: In traditional herbal medicine, the Coriandrum sativum (CS) seeds are widely used to prevent and/or treat several diseases. Despite this, research into studying their toxicity is very limited. OBJECTIVE: This study aims at studying the acute and subacute toxicity of aqueous extract of coriander seeds (AECS) in Wistar rats. METHODS: For acute toxicity, five dose levels (500, 1000, 2000, 3000, and 5000 mgkg-1bw) were tested per single oral administration. Subacute toxicity for 28 days was achieved by daily oral administration of AECS at doses of 1000, 2000, and 3000 mgkg-1bw. RESULTS: No deaths or signs were recorded or observed in rats in the five groups and the control group was after 14 days of acute toxicity study. The results of subacute toxicity revealed that the administration of AECS caused a significant difference in the body weight of rats at doses of 2000 and 3000mgkg-1bw, and in the development of movement disturbances, hypoactivity, drowsiness, weakness, and diarrhea, while histopathological examination showed vascular congestion and inflammation of the kidneys as well as hepatic necrosis. The haematological profile showed a significant increase in the number of red and white blood cells, haemoglobin, haematocrit, and a nonsignificant decrease is noticed in neutrophils at a dose of 3000 mgkg-1bw. CONCLUSION: AECS should be used with caution as it has caused some signs of toxicity and may affect the liver and kidneys if doses are repeated. However, further studies are needed to verify and clarify the toxic aspect of Coriandrum sativum L. seeds.

Medicinal plants used in the traditional treatment of diabetes in Ksar Elkebir Region (North-Western Morocco).

Introduction: the number of people with diabetes continues to increase worldwide. In Morocco, two million adults are estimated to be diabetic in 2018. The Moroccan population is known for the use of medicinal plants and natural recipes for the treatment of chronic diseases including diabetes. The present study aimed to make an inventory of plant species used in folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus by diabetic patients in Ksar Elkebir City (North-west, Morocco). Methods: an ethnobotanical study was carried out among 250 diabetic patients by means of a semi-structured questionnaire by direct interviews. Results: a total of 29 species of plants belonging to 23 families were identified. The most represented families were Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, Asteraceae, fabaceae, and Lauraceae. While the most frequently cited plant species were Olea europaea l, Trigonella foenum graecum l, Origanum compactum benth l and salvia officinalis l. Leaves were the most used part of plants and the decoction was the most cited mode of preparation used by the population included in the study. Conclusion: people with diabetes in Ksar Elkebir Region use a variety of herbal remedies in several ways to treat diabetes. This result can be an important database for the following studies to confirm the efficiency of these plants in vitro and in vivo.

Silica-coated calcium pectinate formulations for controlling carbendazim release: water and soil release studies.

This study aims to encapsulate the fungicide carbendazim using a biodegradable polymer (pectin). First, we have obtained calcium pectinate beads (CPG-Carb) by ionotropic gelation using calcium ions as a crosslinking agent. These beads were then coated with silica starting from tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), by a sol-gel process to form hybrid beads (CPG-Carb-SG). The morphology, composition and structure of both beads were characterized and the controlled release assays of the fungicide were studied in both water and soil columns. The encapsulation efficiency for CPG-Carb was slightly higher (75%) compared to CPG-Carb-SG (67%) due to carbendazim loss during the impregnation and condensation steps. The release rate in water and soil columns was about 4 times lower for CPG-Carb-SG than CPG-Carb demonstrating the efficiency of the silica coating to delay the release of carbendazim. Moreover, the release of CPG-Carb-SG is due to the erosion of the silica layer during the first two weeks. After this period, the silica layer was degraded, and the release is then controlled by the swelling of the organic part of the bead as observed for CPG-Carb. Finally, the biodegradability of the pectin, and the release profile make such systems promising candidates for sustained and economical pesticide delivery systems.

Argan oil supplementation attenuates voluntary ethanol consumption and withdrawal syndrome promoted by adolescent intermittent ethanol in rat.

The present study investigates the potential neuroprotective effect of argan oil (AO), a natural vegetable oil, commonly used in folk Moroccan medicines, on adolescent intermittent ethanol intoxication (IEI), induced voluntary ethanol consumption, and withdrawal syndrome in rats. Animals were treated with ethanol (intraperitoneally [i.p.], 3 g/kg body weight [bw]) in intermittent doses (2 days on; 2 days off, from postnatal day 30-43), with/without oral AO pre-treatment (10 mL/kg/day bw, from postnatal day 21-121). A 2-bottle free access test was performed over 10 weeks to assess 10% ethanol consumption. Behavioral signs of withdrawal were observed after 2, 6, 24, 48, and 72 h after ethanol removal. Anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated plus maze and the light/dark box tests were also evaluated at 72 h of withdrawal. We found that AO pre-treatment significantly decreased the voluntary ethanol consumption induced by adolescent IEI. In addition, by establishing low ethanol consumption, AO pre-treatment counteracts negative effects of ethanol withdrawal and anxiety-like behaviors in ethanol-treated rats after 72 h of abstinence. Following behavioral assays, oxidative stress markers were evaluated and histologic analysis of neurodegeneration was also performed. The results showed that the low ethanol drinking in the AO-supplemented rats was associated with inhibition of oxidative stress and neurodegeneration in the rats' brains. These findings provide evidence for the promising neuroprotective effect of AO supplementation in voluntary ethanol consumption and withdrawal syndrome, at least in part through counteracting oxidative stress markers and neurodegeneration.