Ilham Touiss

The combined use of Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Citrus limon (lemon) has long been valued in traditional medicine for their significant therapeutic properties, particularly in supporting cardiovascular health. However, their synergistic effects on hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress, both critical risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, remain underexplored. This study employed a multidisciplinary approach including in vivo (mice model with triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia), in vitro (antioxidant assays such as DPPH and ABTS), and in silico (molecular docking targeting HMG-CoA reductase) to evaluate the hypolipidemic and antioxidant potential of ginger and lemon juices. Phytochemical analysis identified high concentrations of bioactive compounds, with ginger juice containing 6-gingerol (15.54% peak area) and lemon juice featuring hesperidin (13.85% peak area) and rutin (5.57% peak area). These compounds were instrumental in the observed pharmacological effects. The combined formulation significantly improved lipid profiles, reducing total cholesterol by 54.3%, triglycerides by 49.8%, and LDL by 58.1% while increasing HDL by 47.6% compared to hyperlipidemic controls (p < 0.05). Antioxidant assays revealed high free radical scavenging activity, with IC ₅₀ values of 30.92 ± 2.00 µg/mL for ABTS and 44.94 ± 1.02 µg/mL for DPPH in the combined formulation. Molecular docking confirmed strong binding affinities, with hesperidin and 6-gingerol showing binding energies of -10.4 kcal/mol and -9.6 kcal/mol, respectively, against HMG-CoA reductase. In conclusion, combining Zingiber officinale and Citrus limon juices demonstrates robust hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects, significantly outperforming the individual juices. These results support their potential as natural therapeutic agents for managing hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress. Further clinical studies are recommended to validate these promising findings and explore their application in nutraceutical development.

The use of basil and carob in traditional medicine to address inflammation and oxidative stress reflects a long-standing practice rooted in folk medicine. This study was conducted to demonstrate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of a rosmarinic acid-rich extract of Ocimum basilicum (RAE) combined with a carob aqueous extract (CAE). Paw edema in rats and vascular permeability in mice were measured to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect. The assessment of lipoprotein oxidation was carried out by measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive substances as well as determining the scavenging activity towards lipoperoxyl radicals and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The combination (200 mg/kg) significantly decreased carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and vascular permeability in mice (p50= 160 ± 11 μg/ml) and DPPH (IC₅₀= 80 ± 4 μg/ml) radicals. The present study indicates the potential nutraceutical benefits of combining Basil and Carob in the treatment of inflammatory and oxidative stress-related diseases, which is correlated with the high contents of rosmarinic acid, phenolic acids, and fibres.

Zingiber officinale Roscoe and Citrus limon L. are well known for their multi-use and for their pharmacological effect in the treatment of many illnesses. This study aims to investigate the chemical composition of the ginger and lemon juice extracts and in addition, to evaluate their antioxidant properties and their hepatoprotective effect against the liver damage of Wistar rats induced by the injection of CCl₄ to treated animals. The obtained effects were completed by a histological study for better confirmation of the registered pharmacological effects. The ginger juice extract was found to be rich in 4-gingerol, 6-gingediol, and 6-gingerol, while the lemon juice extract chemical composition was highlighted by the presence of eriodyctiol, rutin, hesperidin, and isorhamnetin. Concerning the antioxidant activity, the ginger, lemon juice extracts, and their formulation showed an important antioxidant potential using TAC (total antioxidant capacity), an antiradical activity against the radical DPPH• (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil), and a ferric reducing power. Finally, the ginger, lemon, and their formulation at different doses were able to prevent CCl₄ induced liver damage. Indeed, these different bioactive compounds could be used as alternative agents for the treatment of chronic liver diseases.

Exposure to carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induces acute and chronic liver injuries as well as oxidative stress in rats. The present study was designed to evaluate the in vivo toxicity of rosmarinic acid-rich extract from Ocimum basilicum (RAE). The acute and subchronic oral toxicity of RAE was evaluated in Albinos mice. Hepatotoxicity was induced by the administration of CCl₄-induced hepatic injury in rats. The hepatoprotective effect of RAE on aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, bilirubin, total protein, albumin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, plasmatic glucose, urea, creatinine, and malondialdehyde was determined in CCl₄-intoxicated rat. The extract did not produce treatment-related signs of toxicity or mortality in any of the animals tested during acute as well as subchronic toxicity studies. The administration of CCl₄ resulted in marked increase in plasma hepatic enzymes and significant decrease of total protein and albumin when compared to normal. The RAE at 200 mg/kg body weight lowered significantly plasma enzyme activities of liver, which is designation of hepatoprotective action of extract. The phenolic extract exerts a significant increase in total protein , and albumin , accompanied with a marked reduction in the levels of malondialdehyde , as compared to CCl₄-treated group. Our study suggests that RAE may be used as a hepatoprotective agent against toxic effects caused by CCl₄ and other chemical agents in the liver.