Houda ElYacoubi

Introduction: Antibiotic resistance is a major public health problem, prompting the exploration of medicinal plants as potential alternatives. Among these, Cannabis sativa is known for its various pharmacological properties. This study aimed to assess the antimicrobial activity, chemical profile, acute toxicity, and in silico properties of C. sativa leaf extracts from Ain Louh Mezraoua Commune, Sahel Boutahar sector, Taounate Province, Morocco. Methods: The antimicrobial activity of C. sativa leaf extracts from the Taounate region (Morocco) was evaluated against a variety of microbial strains, including Staphylococcus haemolyticus, a species that has received limited attention in research investigating the antimicrobial activity of Cannabis extracts. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was performed on the most active extract. Acute toxicity was evaluated at a dose of 2000 mg/kg, followed by an in silico study. Results: The methanolic extract showed the highest antimicrobial effect, with moderate activity particularly against Staphylococcus haemolyticus (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)= 125μg/ml), Staphylococcus aureus (MIC= 250μg/ml), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC= 250μg/ml). GC-MS analysis tentatively identified neophytadiene (52.38%), phytol (22.46%), and pseudosarsasapogenin (14.47%) as the major components. Acute toxicity evaluation showed no mortality or signs of toxicity, with a median lethal dose (LD50) greater than 2000 mg/kg and no significant hematological, hepatic, or renal biochemical changes. Decreased blood glucose and triglyceride levels were recorded. Pseudosarsasapogenin exhibited the highest binding affinity towards the selected bacteria. Discussion: The major components present in the methanolic extract may contribute to the observed antimicrobial activity. The strong binding affinity of pseudosarsasapogenin toward the selected bacterial targets, as determined by molecular docking, supports its possible involvement in the observed antimicrobial effects. In addition, the absence of mortality or signs of acute toxicity, along with the absence of significant changes in hepatic and renal biochemical parameters, suggests low acute toxicity under the tested conditions. Conclusion: The results suggest that the methanolic extract of C. sativa may have antimicrobial activity and low acute toxicity. These findings highlight the need for further investigation of pseudosarsasapogenin and its potential therapeutic applications.

Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of grey mold in grapevine, remains one of the most economically important pathogens in viticulture and a key target for sustainable biocontrol strategies. This study evaluated the antagonistic potential of seven Trichoderma isolates (T1–T7), collected from the rhizosphere of grapevine in Morocco, using a combination of in vitro and in planta assays designed to capture multiple direct and indirect modes of action. The isolates exhibited variable levels of antagonism through competition, volatile organic compounds, extracellular metabolites, and elicitation responses. Preliminary in planta assays on detached grape berries further demonstrated that all selected isolates reduced lesion development, with preventive applications yielding the strongest protection. Overall, the study highlights the complementary and strain-specific mechanisms underlying Trichoderma & B. cinerea interactions and underscores the importance of isolate selection and application timing for the development of effective and environmentally friendly grey mold management strategies. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for the future evaluation of promising isolates under vineyard conditions.

Tuberaria guttata, an herbaceous plant belonging to the Cistaceae family, occupies the Maamora forest bare spaces. It plays an important role in promoting fruiting of desert truffles, soil fertility, and also preventing erosion and desertification. This plant produces two categories of seeds that...

Despite the widespread use of wild edible medicinal plants (WEMPs) in Morocco, information on their nutritional value, bioactive composition, and safety aspects is limited. Thus, the present study was aimed at evaluating the nutritional value (proximate and mineral contents), phytochemical properties, and acute toxicity of Dysphania ambrosioides , Ziziphus lotus , and Origanum vulgare collected from central Morocco. Nutritional composition was determined using standard food analysis methods, while total phenolic and flavonoid contents were quantified colorimetrically. Antioxidant activities were assessed by DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. The acute safety profile of the plant extracts was evaluated through acute toxicity testing in rats. Results revealed that the studied WEMPs contained valuable nutrients in the respective ranges of moisture (6.25%–10.23%), ash (4.81%–14.85%), protein (6.98%–20.43%), fat (2.26%–2.88%), carbohydrates (63.75%–85.33%), and energy (345.45–395.16 kcal·100 g ⁻¹ ). They were also rich in essential minerals, particularly magnesium (46.76–95.77 mg·100 g ⁻¹ ), iron (1.73–4.31 mg·100 g ⁻¹ ), and manganese (1.65–2.02 mg·100 g ⁻¹ ). The total phenolic and flavonoid contents ranged from 64.45 to 207.30 mg GAE·g ⁻¹ extract and from 18.84 to 117.18 mg QE·g ⁻¹ extract, respectively. Antioxidant assays showed strong correlations with phenolic and flavonoid contents. Acute toxicity results indicated that all extracts were well tolerated, with LD50 values higher than 5000 mg·kg ⁻¹ body weight, suggesting the absence of acute toxicity under the experimental conditions. Overall, the findings demonstrate that these WEMPs represent valuable sources of nutrients and bioactive compounds with antioxidant potential and could serve as natural dietary antioxidants to help mitigate oxidative stress.

Background: During famine periods in Morocco, Arisarum vulgare O. Targ. Tozz was traditionally consumed in rural areas and contributed to population survival. Despite its historical importance, limited research exists on its nutritional composition, bioactive properties and safety. Objective: The current study aimed to evaluate the proximate and mineral compositions, phytochemical profile and acute toxicity of A. vulgare tubers. Material and Methods: Nutritional composition was determined using standard food analysis methods, whereas polyphenol and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity were assessed using colorimetric assays. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods, and safety was assessed by performing acute toxicity. Results: The finding revealed that this plant is rich in carbohydrates but low in protein and fat, while mineral and phenolic contents were at moderate levels. Biological evaluation of the extracts showed remarkable antioxidant activity and wide antibacterial and antifungal effects. The aqueous extract obtained by traditional decoction showed no acute toxicity with LD50 higher than 5000 mg/kg, which suggests that the traditional preparation method plays an important role in reducing the toxicity of A. vulgare. Conclusions: The results highlight the nutritional value of A. vulgare tubers and their content in bioactive compounds showing antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.

Burnout is a growing concern among healthcare trainees, particularly nursing students who face intense academic and clinical pressures. This study investigates the prevalence and predictors of burnout among nursing students in the Rabat-Kénitra region of Morocco, aiming to identify psychological risk factors and inform preventive strategies.A cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study was conducted over six months at the Higher Institutes of Nursing and Health Techniques. A total of 249 students from various health disciplines participated (mean age: 22.5 years). Burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), which evaluates emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Stress levels were measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Internal consistency of the instruments was confirmed (MBI: α = 0.89 for emotional exhaustion, α = 0.76 for depersonalization and personal accomplishment; PSS: α = 0.75).Findings revealed high levels of psychological distress among participants: 43% exhibited pathological emotional exhaustion; 40% showed pathological depersonalization and 44% reported high stress levels. Correlational analysis showed: positive associations between emotional exhaustion and perceived stress (r = 0.204), and depersonalization (r = 0.728); negative correlations between personal accomplishment and emotional exhaustion (r = -0.473), and stress (r = -0.158). Regression models identified sleep disorders and lack of physical activity as significant predictors of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Poor sleep was also linked to reduced personal accomplishment.Burnout and stress are prevalent among nursing students in Morocco, with sleep quality and physical activity emerging as key modifiable factors. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions to promote mental well-being and resilience in nursing education.

Context: The present ethnobotanical study was carried out in the province of Taza, Northeast of Morocco, between January 2021 and January 2023 to evaluate the potential of this region for medicinal and aromatic plants and their therapeutic uses. Aims: To evaluate ethnobotanically the potential of the Taza region for medicinal and aromatic plants. Methods: A semi-structured questionnaire and open-ended interviews were used to collect information from 300 respondents (57% females and 43% males) aged 17 to 60 years old and over, and quantitative ethnobotanical indices were calculated. Results: About 44% of informants were illiterate, married (54%), and unemployed (58%). Floristic analysis of the data collected identified 106 species belonging to 50 botanical families. Thus, Lamiaceae (FIV = 0.115), Apiaceae (FIV = 0.051), and Fabaceae (FIV = 0.046) were the most represented families. The most used species were Origanum compactum Benth (RFC = 0.383), Rosmarinus officinalis L. (RFC = 0.313), and Artemisia herba alba Asso (RFC = 0.237). Moreover, the local population reported that they use frequently leaves, infusion as a method of preparation, and oral route as a mod of administration. Medicinal and aromatic plants are used in our study area to heal mostly respiratory, digestive, and osteoarticular disorders. Conclusions: The ethnobotanical study revealed that Taza province contains a rich and diverse medicinal plant flora, it reveals also the abundance of information available on the use of medicinal plants for health and emphasizes the crucial role that the Taza people have had in the traditional usage of plants to treat a variety of ailments.

Because of its recurrence and the durability of its effects, drought in Morocco has become a structural component of the Moroccan climate. It is a real threat to the agricultural sector, which represents nearly 20% of the Moroccan economy. The spatiotemporal variability of this phenomenon makes drought risk management more complex. The current study seeks to map the structural vulnerability to drought in Morocco by using remote sensing techniques to characterize its sensitivity to drought. In this premise, we utilized a weighted combination of soil classes, land cover and socio-economic data with seasonal drought monitoring through a composite index generated monthly over the past twenty years. The generated map shows dominance of areas with high and very high vulnerability risk to drought over respectively 38.5% and 14.4% of the country and this concerns both agricultural and non-agricultural zones. The map also indicates that 36.5% of Morocco presents a medium vulnerability to drought and only 10.6% of the national territory is considered non-vulnerable to drought. This map can be used as a planning tool to support natural resources management and mitigate drought impacts.

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 (β-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.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the membrane integrity and some physiological responses of rootstock citrus calli under exposure to different concentrations of NaCl. Selected salt-tolerant cell lines were compared with salt-sensitive calli of Troyer’s citrange (Citrus sinensis [L.] x Citrus trifoliata [L.] Raf.) (TC) with respect to growth, water content, Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl⁻ ion content as well as cell membrane stability under exposure to different NaCl concentrations. The results show that the stressed sensitive lines have a consistently high ion efflux. The values recorded for these sensitive calli are 3 to 6 times higher than those of the tolerant calli. Thus, only selected halotolerant calli were able to maintain the integrity of their membranes under salt stress conditions. In the sensitive calli, NaCl always induces a slowing down of growth even from 4 g L^−1, and the reduction in the relative growth rate is higher than 50% and reaches more than 90% for the three culture durations at 8 g L⁻¹ NaCl. For the salt-tolerant selected lines, the relative growth rate seems to be slightly slowed down until the second month of culture but becomes equal to that of the control at the third month, whether at 4 or 8 g L⁻¹ NaCl. At the end of the third month, the relative growth rate of the selected calli is 100% at 8 g L⁻¹ NaCl. The water content is twice as high in the selected tolerant calli as in the sensitive ones after three months of salt treatment at 8 g L⁻¹ NaCl. After long-term culture, the halotolerant calli absorbed similar or even higher amounts of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ than the salt-sensitive lines. However, by the 3rd month, the recorded accumulation rate dropped in the unselected but continued to increase in the tolerant calli (4-fold higher at 12 g L⁻¹ NaCl than the control). Furthermore, exposure of both types of calli (salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant) to equal concentrations of NaCl resulted in greater loss of K⁺ by the NaCl-sensitive lines. However, for tolerant lines, K⁺ uptake is not affected at 4 g L⁻¹ NaCl and the decrease in tissue content is less than 25% at 8 g L⁻¹ NaCl. From this observation, it can be concluded that growth and the ability to retain high levels of internal K⁺ are correlated.