Nezar Cherrada

Background: This study evaluated the insecticidal effectiveness of aqueous extracts from Cynanchum acutum L. (climbing vine swallowworts), Sonchus maritimus L. (Sow Thistle) and their 1:1 mixture against aphids collected in El Oued Province. Methods: Plant materials were prepared using standard extraction techniques and bioassays were conducted on adult and larval aphids at five different concentrations, with mortality noted after 24 and 48 hours. Result: Probit analysis showed significant, dose- and time-dependent mortality for all extracts, with larvae generally more vulnerable than adults. The mixture was the most effective, showing the lowest LC50 values: from 0.73 mg/mL (adults, 24 h) to 0.56 mg/mL (adults, 48 h) and from 0.49 mg/mL to 0.12 mg/mL for larvae. Sonchus maritimus L. alone exhibited potent activity against larvae (LC50 = 0.025 mg/ml at 48 h), while Cynanchum acutum L. was less powerful. Nearly complete larval mortality was observed at concentrations above 0.666 mg/ml for all extracts. These findings suggest that mixed botanical extracts have great potential as sustainable, potent agents for aphid control, justifying further field testing and safety evaluations.

Neurological complications of diabetes require investigation of botanical therapeutic alternatives for management. This study investigated the protective effects of methanolic extract from Brassica oleracea var . italica (broccoli) florets (MEBr) against metabolic dysfunction and neuroendocrine oxidative stress in a cafeteria diet-induced T2DM rodent model. The therapeutic efficacy of MEBr was evaluated through biochemical parameters including blood glucose, lipid profiles, malondialdehyde, and glutathione levels in hypothalamic-pituitary tissues. Male Wistar rats underwent random assignment to four experimental cohorts ( n = 12): Control, Control + MEBr, cafeteria diet (CAF), and CAF + MEBr. Groups receiving MEBr treatment were administered 200 mg/kg orally during the concluding 6 weeks of the 6-month protocol. Cafeteria feeding effectively established diabetic phenotype through elevated glycemia, abnormal lipid profiles, and glucose intolerance development. MEBr supplementation significantly attenuated cafeteria diet-induced weight gain, normalized glycemic control, and restored lipid profiles. Notably, MEBr protected the hypothalamo-hypophyseal axis by reducing lipid peroxidation and enhancing endogenous antioxidant defenses. Phytochemical analysis identified gallic acid, rutin, and syringic acid as major bioactive compounds contributing to the observed effects. These findings suggest that MEBr offers multifaceted protection against T2DM complications through modulation of oxidative stress and metabolic pathways.

The following subject provides an in‐depth look into the significance of rodents in the Souf region concerning agriculture and ecology. The article points out that rodents, as mammals, play a critical role in various ecosystems, with many mammalian species being rodents. They contribute to agriculture, sanitation, food, medicine, ecology and religion. Rodents play a vital role in vegetation dynamics by spreading plant seeds and influencing predator distribution. However, preying on crops can also cause losses in different ways, depending on the plant type and biotope. The study focuses on eight research stations in the Souf region, describing their characteristics and vegetation. The methods used for rodent inventory include fingerprinting, burrow counting and random trapping using different techniques. Statistical methods are then applied to analyse the collected data. The study identifies ten rodent species in the Souf region, belonging to two families, three subfamilies and five genera. The sex distribution varies among species. The study results reveal variations in rodent abundance across different stations and months, with Rattus rattus and Mus musculus being the most common species in certain stations. The diversity and equitability values indicate a relatively balanced distribution among recorded species in the sample period. The study provides comprehensive insights into rodent ecology, behaviour and distribution in the Souf region, emphasizing their importance and potential impacts on agriculture and ecosystems.

Peptic ulcer disease remains a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder worldwide. Current treatments often have limitations, sparking interest in alternative therapies from medicinal plants. This review examines the gastroprotective potential of 54 North African medicinal plants against peptic ulcers. An extensive literature search was conducted, focusing on plants with preclinical and clinical evidence of anti‐ulcer efficacy and documented use in North African traditional medicine. The review identified several promising plant species, such as licorice ( Glycyrrhiza glabra ), chamomile ( Matricaria chamomilla ), olive ( Olea europaea ), pomegranate ( Punica granatum ), Aloe vera, and black seed ( Nigella sativa ), along with their bioactive constituents, including flavonoids, tannins, and terpenoids. These compounds exhibit gastroprotective properties through multiple mechanisms, such as enhancing the gastric mucosal barrier, inhibiting acid secretion, displaying antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory effects, promoting ulcer healing, and combating Helicobacter pylori infection. The evidence presented includes in vitro assays, animal models, and some clinical studies. While many of the 53 plants reviewed demonstrated significant anti‐ulcer effects compared to standard drugs, further clinical research is needed to establish efficacy and safety in humans. The synergistic actions of phytochemical mixtures in medicinal plant extracts likely contribute to their therapeutic potential. This review highlights the role these North African medicinal plants may play in the prevention and treatment of peptic ulcers and identifies promising candidates for further research and development of evidence‐based botanical therapies.

Current study verifies the biological efficiency of Bassia muricata (Chenopodiaceae vent), a wild plant in the Algerian desert. MeOH extract (70%) of the aerial parts of B. muricata was tested for antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. In addition to determining the value of the SPF and its effectiveness as hypoglycemia through a glucose uptake assay by yeast cells. Its phenolic content was also verified by quantitative estimations and RP-HPLC-UV analysis. MeOH extract of B. muricata exhibited antioxidant effects, where it showed good to moderate free radical inhibition activity towards both DPPH• and OH•, and this corresponded with excellent anti-hemolytic activity. As well as being a Fe2+ and molybdate reducing agent, the extract showed moderate photoprotective activity with SPFSpectrophootometric=18.89±0.005. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and enhances glucose uptake. MeOH extract of B. muricata showed remarkable antibacterial activity against B. subtilis, L. innocua, S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa. It did not give efficacy against S. typhimurium. Its phenolic content on the other hand was verified by quantitative estimations and RP-HPLC-UV analysis, which revealed the presence of chlorogenic acid, p-coumarin acid, gallic acid as a major phenolic compounds. These results showed that B. muricata could be useful as source of bioactive compounds for food, the pharmaceutical industry and the manufacture of cosmetics.