Saida Sissi

For the first time, the chemical profile and biological activities of Moroccan Equisetum ramosissimum essential oil (EO) were investigated, alongside comparative antioxidant and antimicrobial evaluation of a previously characterized butanolic extract (BE) and molecular docking of selected constituents. Hydrodistillation yielded 0.067% (v/w, dry weight) EO, characterized by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) and gas chromatography–flame ionization detection (GC–FID) and dominated by oxygenated monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, with (+)‐pulegone, γ‐eudesmol, cyperotundone, viridiflorol, and carvone as major constituents. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), reducing power, and β‐carotene bleaching assays. The EO exhibited an effective concentration producing an absorbance of 0.5 (EC ₅₀ ) of 50.0 µg/mL in the reducing power assay, whereas the BE showed lower IC ₅₀ (50% inhibitory concentration) values than the EO in the DPPH and β‐carotene bleaching assays. Antimicrobial testing against 15 microbial strains revealed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 0.19–12.5 mg/mL, with the lowest values against Candida albicans and Candida glabrata . Molecular docking provided complementary insights into potential interactions of selected major compounds with microbial targets. Overall, these in vitro and in silico findings support further investigation of Moroccan E. ramosissimum through toxicological and in vivo studies.

This study aimed to evaluate the in vivo antidiabetic activity of the ethyl acetate fraction of Anacyclus maroccanus in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, along with its acute and subchronic toxicity profile. Diabetic mice received the ethyl acetate fraction at 150, 250, and 500 mg/kg. Blood glucose levels were monitored to assess antidiabetic effects. Acute and subchronic toxicity were evaluated through behavioral observations, body weight monitoring, and key biochemical parameters (ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, creatinine, urea, bilirubin). Histopathological analyses were performed on liver, kidney, and pancreas to detect tissue alterations. The fraction induced a dose-dependent decrease in blood glucose, with significant effects observed from day 2. Toxicity tests showed no significant adverse effects, with an LD₅₀ > 5000 mg/kg. Most biochemical markers remained within normal ranges, with only a slight increase in LDH at higher doses. Histopathology revealed mild hepatic alterations at 500 mg/kg but no severe tissue damage. The ethyl acetate fraction of A. maroccanus demonstrates promising antidiabetic activity and a favorable safety profile. Further studies are warranted to elucidate its mechanisms of action, particularly its protective and potential regenerative effects on pancreatic β-cells, supporting its therapeutic potential in diabetes management.

Objective: The present study aimed to characterize the phytochemical composition, the antioxidant and antimicrobial potencies of two essential oils obtained from the Moroccan ecotypes A. maroccanus and A. radiatus. Methods: The chemical composition of EOs was analysed by means of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy analysis (GC-MS); moreover, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and reducing power assays ware made to evaluate the antioxidant activity. In addition, disk diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were employed to evaluate the antimicrobial activities against some resistant and pathogenic microorganism strains. Results: Results showed that the Anacyclus maroccanus and Anacyclus radiatus EOs were characterized by high amounts of oxygenated monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, along with radical scavenging and reducing properties. Furthermore, EOs exhibited marked antimicrobial effects against all the tested bacterial and fungal strains. Conclusion: The current findings suggest that EOs from Anacyclus maroccanus and Anacyclus radiatus Moroccan ecotypes are a promising source of natural antioxidants that could be used in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly against drug-resistant microbial strains.

Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) holds a prominent place in Moroccan folk medicine due to its therapeutic attributes. Despite its widespread use, instances of inadvertent intoxication linked to its consumption have been reported. This study aims to evaluate the potential cytogenotoxic effects of D. ambrosioides leaf aqueous extract (DAAE) and explore the prospective protective role of vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid) through the micronucleus test conducted on (1) Vicia faba root-tip meristem and (2) mouse bone marrow cells. In addition, antioxidant enzyme activities, specifically superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), were evaluated in V. faba treated with DAAE. After a 7-day daily administration of DAAE to mice, serum biochemical parameters (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, and uric acid) were measured, and histological examination of liver and kidney tissues was performed. The results indicated that DAAE had dose-dependent cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on both biological models. Furthermore, V. faba treated with DAAE showed significant increases in the activities of SOD and CAT enzymes. Mice treated with DAAE exhibited significant elevations in serum biochemical parameters compared to the control group. Histological examination of liver and kidney tissues revealed hepatic degeneration, glomerular shrinkage, and distinct vacuolated tubular epithelial cells. The cotreatment with vitamin C demonstrated a significant protective effect against DAAE-induced cytogenotoxicity. These findings underscore the importance of vitamin C as a protective agent against oxidative stress and cytogenotoxicity induced by DAAE and recommend its use in any DAAE-based preparation.

Background: Equisetum ramosissimum is a pteridophyte plant used in Moroccan traditional medicine for its diuretic and antidiabetic properties. The species is known to reduce blood cholesterol levels and is given in cases of gonorrhea. Objective: The present work aims to explore the potential use of the crude butanolic (BE) and methanolic (ME) extracts of E. ramosissimum in the management of pain, inflammation and oxidative stress, and their chemical characterization. Methods: The phytochemical investigation of E. ramosissimum was initially done by colorimetric methods, followed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectroscopy (HPLC-MS). Its antioxidant activity was evaluated using radical scavenging activity in 2,2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), reducing power and β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching assays. The analgesic activity was evaluated by acetic acid in mice and hot-plate-test in rat models. Rate paw edema and ear edema were used as anti-inflammatory models. Results: The chemical quantification revealed appreciable levels of phenolic compounds. The results of HPLC-UV and HPLC-MS highlighted the presence of kaempferol3-O-sophoroside7-Oglucoside, kaempferol3,7-O-diglucoside, vanillin, ferulic acid and tannic acid. The maximum IC50 was obtained for BE by DPPH test (0.064±0.0004mg/mL). BE exhibited an interesting antinociceptive effect; inhibition of writhes, 3.83±0.48 at 600mg/kg, increased the latency period on the hotplate- test, i.e., 14.98S±0.57S at 400mg/kg after 120min. Furthermore, the results reported a significant inhibition of rate-paw edema and ear edema for both extracts at a dose of 400mg/kg. Conclusion: BE and ME of E. ramosissimum were found to contain a significant amount of flavonoids, especially derivatives of kaempferol, which can explain the interesting effectiveness properties. Possible applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries are suggested.

In this study, chemical profile, antioxidant potential and antimicrobial interactions with conventional antimicrobials of essential oil (EO) isolated from Cladanthus scariosus aerial parts were investigated. The EO was analyzed by GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry). Forty-three components representing 98.7% of the oil were identified. The main components were o-cymene, caryophyllene oxide, γ-terpinene and α-sabinene. Furthermore, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities against ten bacteria and two Candida strains were assessed. The results showed an interesting antioxidant effect with IC₅₀ of 1.04 ± 0.04 mg/mL, 0.55 ± 0.01 mg/mL and 0.36 ± 0.14 mg/mL, respectively, for DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl), FRAP (Ferric-Reducing-Ability-Power), and ABTS (2-2’azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) methods. The EO exhibited a strong antimicrobial activity, especially against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Candida glabrata. In combination with antimicrobials, the studied EO revealed a high synergism effect in reducing gentamicin MICs of bacterial strains by 128- to 256-fold and by 2- to 8-fold Fluconazole MICs against Candida strains.

The present study aimed to investigate Senecio anteuphorbium, an endemic plant growing in West Morocco and widely used in local folk medicine. The essential oil (EO) extracted from the aerial parts was analyzed by gas chromatography and tested for allelopathic activity. The quantitation of the volatiles was carried out by means of GC-FID with response factors, which were validated through reliable calibration procedures, based on external and internal standardization. This analytical approach allowed to define the real concentration of each constituent (weight%, g/100 g) alongside the conventional relative percent. On the other hand, the identification process was supported by a dual matching based on both mass spectra and retention indices. The essential oil resulted in being rich in sesquiterpenes, with the predominant constituents being bicyclogermacrene (22.75 g/100 g), spathulenol (25.26 g/100 g), epi-γ-eudesmol (6.8 g/100 g), and selina-4,11-diene (5.08 g/100 g). The allelopathic effect was evaluated by studying the inhibition of the germination and growth of Lactuca sativa seeds. A potent allelopathic effect was recorded by the essential oil at a dose of 0.281 mg/mL, with almost a total inhibition of germination.

In the present study, the phytochemical composition and bioactivities of A. maroccanus (AM) and A. radiatus (AR), two ecotypes collected in the Demnate road and Essaouira regions, respectively, were studied to highlight a pharmacological interest and to enable possible pharmaceutical development. To this end, methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts were prepared for each ecotype by fractionation; next, their phytochemical composition was evaluated by spectrophotometric and chromatographic analysis. Moreover, in line with the available evidence for Anacyclus spp. and their traditional use, a screening of bioactivities, including antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antiglycative, chelating, and antibacterial activities, was performed. The extracts were characterized by high amounts of polyphenols, tannins, and flavonoids, especially in the methanolic extracts; these samples were also enriched in carotenoids despite a lower chlorophyll content. Chlorogenic acid and rutin were the major identified compounds. The extracts also showed interesting hypoglycemic, antiglycative, and antibacterial properties, although with differences in efficacy and potency. Present results provide more scientific basis to the ethnopharmacological uses of Anacyclus spp. and suggest a further interest in AM and AR ecotypes as natural sources of bioactive compounds and/or phytocomplexes for possible pharmaceutical and nutraceutical developments.