Hachemi Benhassaini

Pistacia atlantica Desf. (Atlas pistachio) is one of the most widely distributed wild species of the genus. It is an Irano–Touranian species with a large geographic area that extends from the Canary Islands to Pamir Mountains. Since ancient times, atlas pistachio gum-like resin and fruits, very rich in essential oils (EOs) and fixed oils (FOs), respectively, were used in traditional medicine and included in different traditional cosmetics and health and beauty products. Since then, Atlas pistachio fixed oil is incorporated into several soaps, creams and shampoos to benefit from its medicinal properties. Atlas pistachio fixed oils, resin and leaf essential oils are constituted by several bioactive compounds such as monoterpenes with α-pinene and β-pinene in the resin, terpinen-4-ol, elemol, sesquiterpenes with D-germacrene and E-caryophyllene in the leaves and oxygenated monoterpenes (bornyl acetate) in the fruits. The unsaturated fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, palmitic and stearic acid), sterols (β-sitostero) and tocopherols represented the principal compounds in fatty oil fruits. All these compounds exhibit great therapeutic and cosmetic virtues. Unlike lentisk oil uses in cosmetology, the cosmetic potentials of Atlas pistachio oils remain less valued. In the current review, we seek to highlight the characteristics and properties of Atlas pistachio oils in the prospects of the development of new and different cosmetic formulations as well as an innovative valuation of active ingredients and products inspired by indigenous knowledge and practices.

Khedim, R., Maatoug, M., Benhassaini, H. & Ait Hammou, M. 2018. Macrolichens new to Algeria and other interesting species from Theniet-el-Had National Park. – Herzogia 31: 252–267. This work is the first inventory of the macrolichens of Theniet-el-Had National Park in western Algeria, the oldest in Algeria with beautiful forest and ancient cedar stands. Seventy macrolichens were observed. Lichenomphalia umbellifera and Umbilicaria nylanderiana are new to North Africa; Hypocenomyce scalaris, Hypogymnia tubulosa, Melanohalea elegantula, Melanohalea laciniatula, Parmelina pastillifera, Ramalina capitata (var. capitata, digitellata and protecta), and Protoparmeliopsis muralis var. diffracta are new to Algeria. Many lichen species, which are usually sterile or whose apothecia are very rarely observed in the literature, are fertile in this study area, e.g. Parmelina tiliacea, Physcia adscendens, Phaeophyscia orbicularis, Platismatia glauca and Pseudevernia furfuracea. Zusammenfassung: Khedim, R., Maatoug, M., Benhassaini, H. & Ait Hammou, M. 2018. Neue Großflechten für Algerien und andere interessante Arten vom Nationalpark Theniet-el-Had. – Herzogia 31: 252–267. Diese Arbeit stellt die erste Zusammenstellung der Großflechten des Theniet-el-Had Nationalparks im westlichen Algerien, des ältesten Nationalparks in Algerien mit schönen Wäldern und uralten Zedernbeständen, dar. 70 Großflechten wurden beobachtet. Lichenomphalia umbellifera und Umbilicaria nylanderiana sind neu für Nordafrika; Hypocenomyce scalaris, Hypogymnia tubulosa, Melanohalea elegantula, Melanohalea laciniatula, Parmelina pastillifera, Ramalina capitata (var. capitata, digitellata und protecta) und Protoparmeliopsis muralis var. diffracta sind neu für Algerien. Viele Flechtenarten, die in der Regel steril bleiben oder deren Apothecien nach Literaturangaben sehr selten beobachtet werden, treten in diesem Untersuchungsgebiet mit Apothecien auf, etwa Parmelina tiliacea, Physcia adscendens, Phaeophyscia orb...

Techniques Sciences Méthode, La revue mensuelle des spécialistes de l environnement

Leaf essential oils of 11 samples from Ruta montana, Ruta chalepensis subsp. latifolia and Ruta chalepensis subsp. angustifolia collected from two sites have been studied by GC/MS that allowed to identify 22, 25 and 12 components, respectively. The variability in the composition of essential oils among species and seasons was very high, and hence the existence of different chemotypes has been inferred. The major components were 2-undecanone, (E) caryophyllene, 2-nonanone and 2-methyloctyl acetate. Multivariate analysis of the 11 samples suggest that the main factors capable to influence the chemical composition of leaf essential oils was both the collection period and the geographical origin. 2-Undecanone seems to be the chemotaxonomic marker of Ruta genus. Furthermore, the formation of distinct clusters and sub-clusters at high distance also supports that the patterns of distribution of chemical constituents among seasons can be used in delimiting species and infraspecific taxa within the species complexes.

In order to contribute to the development of the Algerian flora and to identify new substances potentially interesting in the biological and therapeutic plans, we studied the phytochemical screening of Tetraclinis articulata leaves essential oil from the north-western region of Algeria. The study by GC-MS and GC-ID of the T. articulata essential oil leaves had identified forty compounds, representing 89.7 % of the total chemical composition of this oil. Camphor (19.6 %), bornyl acetate (18.7 %), germacrene D (7.6 %) and borneol (6.3 %) were the major constituents. Others were made present but in small quantities. And the phytochemical screening allowed us to report the presence of two chemicals families that are respectively: hydrocarbons terpenes represent 23.6 % of the essential oil and oxygenated terpenes representing 28.3 % of the essential oil.

Leaf samples from sixteen natural populations of Pistacia atlantica Desf. subsp. atlantica were harvested in Northwest Algeria aiming to investigate the intraspecific chemical variability of the essential oil. The essential oils were isolated by hydrodistillation, in yields ranging from 0.10% to 0.42% (v/d.w.) and compositions were further investigated by GC and GC/MS. Terpinen-4-ol (34.7–16.1%), α-pinene (64.8–15.4%), germacrene D (24.5–-19.0%) and E-caryophyllene (23.1%) were found the major components. The two last compounds were never mentioned as main constituents of this subspecies. Multivariate cluster analysis of compositional data evidenced significant differences concerning the compositions of essential oils from leaves of male and female trees and different types of essential oil considering the predominant constituents: (1) terpinen-4-ol; (2) α-pinene/camphene; (3) α-pinene/germacrene D. This chemical diversity should be considered as promising source of specific components and could open up more opportunities for the valorization of this species.