Introduction:: Daucus crinitus essential oil (EO) is traditionally used for its medicinal properties, yet its biological potential remains poorly explored. This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of D. crinitus EO and its phenylpropanoid-enriched fraction (Fr4) and to evaluate their in-vitro anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and hemolytic activities, including their interactions with standard drugs. Methods:: The EO was obtained by hydrodistillation and fractionated on silica gel. Chemical constituents were identified by GC-MS. Biological activities were assessed using the BSA denaturation, α-amylase inhibition, and erythrocyte hemolysis assays. Combination studies were performed with diclofenac and acarbose as reference drugs. Results:: GC-MS analysis revealed 38 compounds, mainly phenylpropanoid esters such as isochavicol isobutyrate and isochavicol 2-methylbutyrate, which were highly concentrated in Fr4. Both EO and Fr4 showed dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effects (IC50 = 0.60 mg/mL and 0.95 mg/mL, respectively), with a statistically significant difference between the two samples (p < 0.05). Fr4 exhibited strong α-amylase inhibition (IC50 = 34.09 μg/mL), comparable to acarbose (IC50 = 37.34 μg/mL; p > 0.05), indicating no significant difference between the two inhibitors. The EO/diclofenac mixture displayed a mild synergistic effect (p < 0.05), while the Fr4/acarbose combination showed a marked potentiation (p < 0.01) compared to the individual treatments. Both samples exhibited low hemolytic activity (< 5%), with no significant difference between EO and Fr4 (p > 0.05), confirming acceptable in-vitro biocompatibility. Discussion:: The enriched fraction showed enhanced activity, likely due to its phenylpropanoid content. These results support the therapeutic potential of D. crinitus. However, only in vitro assays were conducted, and the mechanisms of action remain unknown. Conclusion:: D. crinitus EO and its phenylpropanoid-enriched fraction exhibit promising in-vitro anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic potential with minimal cytotoxicity, supporting their interest as natural candidates for therapeutic development.

Plumbago europaea, commonly known as European Dentellary, has been traditionally used across various cultures to treat numerous ailments. This study aims to explore the therapeutic potential of this plant, focusing on its chemical composition and biomedical applications. The objective of this study was to characterize the chemical composition of the hexane extract from the roots of Plumbago europaea and evaluate its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and hemolytic activities. The chemical profile of the hexane root extract of Plumbago europaea was analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Antimicrobial activity was assessed using the disc diffusion and micro-well dilution methods. The anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated through the egg albumin denaturation assay. Hemolytic activity was measured by assessing erythrocyte lysis in human blood samples. Chemical analysis of the hexane extract identified nine compounds, with plumbagin (58.4%) being the most abundant, followed by nonanal (16.6%). The antimicrobial assay demonstrated significant growth inhibition against several bacterial strains, including Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and the yeast Candida albicans. The anti-inflammatory tests indicated that the hexane extract exhibited potent activity, with an IC50 of 12.3 μg/mL, surpassing diclofenac (IC50: 35.2 μg/mL). Hemolysis tests revealed minimal erythrocyte damage, with a hemolytic rate of only 12.86%, even at higher concentrations. The hexane extract from Plumbago europaea roots demonstrates promising antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities with minimal toxicity to human erythrocytes. However, further studies are needed to validate these findings and explore the plant's potential for pharmaceutical development.

Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) is a culinary and medicinal herb traditionally used across diverse cultural systems for its cognitive-enhancing and neuroprotective effects. In light of its historical use in herbal teas, dietary supplements, and functional foods, this study investigates the bioactive potential of Melissa officinalis subsp. altissima, a wild subspecies of growing interest in the food and nutraceutical sectors. Wild specimens collected in Corsica (France) were investigated through an integrated metabolomic approach, combining a comprehensive phytochemical characterization of different extractive fractions and essential oils with a targeted biological evaluation performed on a hydroalcoholic extract selected as a representative model of the whole phytocomplex relevant to functional nutrition. Phytochemical profiling using high-resolution NMR spectroscopy identified a range of metabolites, including rosmarinic, chlorogenic, caffeic, and caftaric acids. GC-MS analyses were performed in parallel on the hydrodistilled essential oils and the volatiles obtained via HS-SPME, revealing a rich profile of bioactive volatile compounds such as germacrene-D, α,τ-cadinol, β-caryophyllene, and β-ocimene, which are known for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Biological assays of the hydroalcoholic extracts demonstrated significant antioxidant capacity against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in rat hypothalamic cells, as well as anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in ex vivo murine assays. Notably, the extracts modulated the gene expression of key mediators such as TNF-α, NOS-2, IL-6, BDNF, and AChE suggesting a potential role in supporting brain health. These findings reinforce the potential of this lemon balm subspecies as a valuable natural ingredient for the formulation of functional foods and nutraceuticals with antioxidant, neuroprotective, and preservative properties. Moreover, the study underscores the broader significance of native aromatic plants as sustainable resources for health-oriented food innovation.

Background: In recent years, chemical and biological studies have explored medicinal plants to develop new treatments for oxidative stress, inflammation, and diabetes. Objective: This study aims to characterize for the first time the chemical composition of the hexane extract from the roots of Salvia argentea using GC and GC/MS techniques. We also isolated its major compound and evaluated its biological activities, including its antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antidiabetic, and hemolytic effects, as well as the combination of this major compound with reference drugs. Methods: Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH, β-carotene, and phosphomolybdenic tests. The anti-inflammatory effect was measured by the egg albumin denaturation method and protein denaturation inhibition. The antidiabetic activity was determined by evaluating the inhibition of α-amylase, with acarbose as a positive reference. The combined effect of aethiopinone with standards was also studied to reduce the minimum effective dose and minimize side effects. Results: The hexane extract of Salvia argentea is mainly composed of aethiopinone (53.3%) and ferruginol (20.5%). aethiopinone was isolated and identified using spectroscopic methods, including 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and IR. The biological activity assessment showed that hexane extract and aethiopinone had promising antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties. In addition, synergistic effects were observed when aethiopinone was combined with positive references, resulting in a significant reduction of the required minimum inhibitory concentrations. The human erythrocyte toxicity assessment showed that hexane extract and aethiopinone induced very low hemolysis levels, reaching 24.18% and 31.13%, respectively, at high concentrations of 2000 μg/mL. Conclusion: Further research is needed to confirm their therapeutic effects and assess their potential for use in the pharmaceutical industry.

Eryngium triquetrum, a plant of the Apiaceae family, is traditionally used for its diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. However, its biological activities, including its anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and hemolytic properties, remain poorly explored. Falcarinol, a major bioactive compound in this plant, is gaining increasing interest for its therapeutic potential. This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of the essential oil extracted from the aerial parts of Eryngium triquetrum and evaluate its anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and hemolytic properties, along with those of its falcarinol-rich fraction (FRF). Additionally, the synergistic effects of these compounds in combination with reference drugs were also examined. GC/MS analysis was carried out for chemical characterization. The anti-inflammatory activity of essential oil extracted from Eryngium triquetrum was assessed using the albumin denaturation inhibition assay, and its antidiabetic activity was evaluated through α-amylase inhibition, while hemolytic activity was tested on human erythrocytes. Additionally, the synergistic effects of the essential oil and its falcarinol-rich fraction were examined in combination with diclofenac (antiinflammatory) and acarbose (α-amylase inhibitor). GC/MS analysis identified falcarinol as the major compound in both essential oils (28.9%) and FRF (89.3%). FRF exhibited stronger anti-inflammatory activity (IC50 = 48.1 μg/mL) than the essential oil, with a notable improvement when combined with diclofenac (IC50 = 17.1 μg/mL). Similarly, FRF showed greater antidiabetic activity (IC50 = 23.37 μg/mL) than the essential oil, and its combination with acarbose further enhanced its effects (IC50 = 16.7 μg/mL). Both essential oil and FRF displayed minimal hemolytic activity, causing negligible red blood cell damage at lower concentrations. E. triquetrum represents a promising source of bioactive compounds for alternative therapeutic approaches to inflammation and type 2 diabetes. However, further clinical trials are needed to validate these findings.

Background/Objectives: Essential oils are increasingly recognized for their therapeutic potential, yet Ammoides verticillata essential oil (AVEO) remains relatively unexplored, particularly for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. This study aimed to profile AVEO’s chemical composition and evaluate its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects, with a focus on its novel pharmacological actions. Methods: The chemical composition of AVEO was determined using GC-MS analysis, and antioxidant capacity was assessed through in vitro assays. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory potential was investigated using a carrageenan-induced paw edema model in rats, complemented by the inhibition assays of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes. The analgesic effects were evaluated through acetic acid-induced writhing and tail immersion tests. Additionally, a computational study was performed to explore the binding affinity of AVEO’s major constituents to COX-2. Results: GC-MS analysis revealed a rich monoterpene profile dominated by carvacrol (32.51%). It was found that AVEO exhibited significant antioxidant activity. Similarly, in vivo, AVEO showed significant anti-inflammatory effects, achieving a percentage inhibition of 52.23% at 200 mg/kg, comparable to diclofenac, along with potent COX-2 inhibition observed (IC50 = 1.51 ± 0.20, SI = 5.56). Moreover, analgesic tests demonstrated dose-dependent pain relief, in which the dose of 200 mg/kg significantly prolonged tail latency to 14.00 ± 1.45 s and markedly reduced abdominal constriction to 21.17 ± 1.62. Computational analysis further corroborated the high binding affinity of carvacrol and thymol with COX-2 (−7.381 and −6.939 Kcal/mol, respectively). Conclusions: These findings underscore AVEO’s potential as a promising therapeutic agent for managing inflammation and pain.

Background: Essential oils are widely recognized for their antioxidant properties, including their ability to neutralize free radicals and protect cells from oxidative stress, a key factor in cell death associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the chemical composition of essential oil extracted from the leaves and flowers of Xanthium italicum and to evaluate its antioxidant activity using the DPPH test and the Ferric Antioxidant Power Reduction Test (FRAP), as well as its hemolytic properties. Methods: Leaf and fruit chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antioxidant properties were evaluated using DPPH and FRAP methods. A suspension of human blood erythrocytes was used to determine the hemolytic effect of essential oils. Results: Thirty-five compounds were identified in the essential oil extracted from the leaves of Xanthium italicum. The main compounds were limonene (41.5%) and germacrene D (14.2%). For fruit essential oil, twenty-five compounds were identified, with α-bisabolol (62.2%), α-humulene (8.1%), and limonene (5.2%) as the main constituents. In-vitro antioxidant activity tests showed that the essential oil of Xanthium italicum fruits is a powerful antioxidant (0.038 mg/mL), surpassing even ascorbic acid (0.048 mg/mL). Human erythrocyte toxicity tests showed that the essential oil of Xanthium italicum leaves and fruits have a relatively low hemolytic effect, with hemolysis rates of 15.3% and 8.1%, respectively, even at high concentrations of 1000 μg/mL. Conclusion: The essential oils of Xanthium italicum show a strong antioxidant activity, especially in fruits, and a low hemolytic effect on human erythrocytes. This could be a safe and effective natural antioxidant.

IntroductionBryophytes are non-vascular plants that appeared on Earth before vascular plants. More than 24,000 species are reported worldwide, and only a small proportion have been studied. However, part of their biosynthetic potential has been unveiled and more than 1,600 terpenoids have been detected and identified. The study of bryophytes faces challenges due to their small size, and sociology, making it difficult to collect large amounts of uncontaminated samples. Additionally, their chemical specificity and the scarcity of chemical data specific to this branch further complicate their study. Traditionally, research on bryophytes has focused only on specific species or classes of compounds. MethodsIn contrast, our work proposes the first untargeted metabolite profiling investigation of a large collection of bryophytes (63 species) mainly issued from Corsican biodiversity. Metabolite profiling was performed by UHPLC-HRMS/MS and the data was extensively annotated using computational tools and molecular networking. This allowed us to describe in detail the chemical space covered by our collection and to establish comparisons between all the moss and liverwort species available. To validate some of the structural annotations, 3 liverworts (Frullania tamarisci, Pellia epiphylla, Plagiochila porelloides) and 2 mosses (Antitrichia curtipendula and Dicranum scoparium), available in larger quantities were fractionated using high-resolution semi-preparative HPLC, yielding 20 pure compounds. Five of them were newly discovered.Results and discussionThis study highlights the main compositional differences between mosses and liverworts at the chemical class level. By analyzing given molecular network clusters, specific biosynthetic features or compounds that are characteristic of certain species are highlighted and discussed in detail.

The volatile metabolites of the Corsican liverwort Porella arboris-vitae and their allelopathic implication were studied for the first time. Volatile compounds of the essential oil, hydrosol, and ether extract were investigated using gas chromatography (GC), GC-mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance. Drimane and pinguisane derivatives were dominant in the plant. The study highlights an analytical strategy involving metabolite enrichment by column chromatography and comprehensive analytical experiments to identify compounds with incomplete spectral data from the literature. Among them, the drime-7-en-11-acid methyl ester hitherto described as a synthetic intermediate was described here for the first time in its natural state and a sesquiterpene alcohol was newly discovered. The allelopathic effect of P. arboris-vitae volatile metabolites was evaluated on two monocotyledonous species, rice and leek, and two dicotyledonous species, radish and watercress. Essential oils, hydrosols, and ether extracts inhibited the germination and seedling growth, highlighting the potential of bryophyte for developing novel herbicides.

Background: Cynara cardunculus is frequently used in Mediterranean cuisine and is known for its possible medicinal properties. These properties are usually related to the presence of specific bioactive compounds present in the leaves of the artichoke. On the other hand, the root parts of the artichoke have not been subjected to extensive studies so far. Objective: The main objective of this study was to conduct a chemical analysis of the root part of the hexane extract of Cynara cardunculus subsp. cardunculus and Cynara cardunculus subsp. sylvestris, while exploring their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hemolytic effects. Methods: The chemical composition of the extracts of both species was analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). The antioxidant properties were evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging method. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated through the protein denaturation method using diclofenac as a positive control. The hemolytic effect was examined on a suspension of erythrocytes in human blood. Results: The main constituents of the hexane extract of C. cardunculus and C. sylvestris were aplotaxene (70.5% and 56.3%, respectively) and hexadecanoic acid (10.2% and 13.2%, respectively). The hexane extracts of C. sylvestris and C. cardunculus showed positive antioxidant activity with the DPPH test by comparing them with the BHT control. However, it should be noted that the extract of C. cardunculus showed the best performance, with an IC50 of 4.3 μg/mL, while the extract of C. sylvestris presented an IC50 of 5.6 μg/mL. The hexane extracts of C. cardunclus and C. sylvastris showed good anti-inflammatory activity with IC50s of 17.3 μg/mL and 23.8 μg/mL compared to diclofenac (IC50= 13.3 μg/mL), respectively. The toxicity assessment on human erythrocytes shows that both extracts of roots of C. cardunculus and C. sylvestris have a very low hemolysis rate (1.4% and 11.1%, respectively), even at high concentrations (2000 μg/mL). Conclusion: The extracts obtained from hexane from the plants C. cardunculus and C. sylvestris, during the tests, revealed particularly promising antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hemolytic properties. These results offer an interesting perspective for the creation and development of new antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry.

Background: Hospital-acquired infections, also known as nosocomial infections, affect thousands of patients worldwide. In Algeria, these infections raise significant concerns and give rise to numerous questions due to hygiene deficits and non-compliance with preventive measures. Objective: The main objective of this study was to investigate the antibacterial and antifungal properties of Origanum vulgare, Lavandula officinalis, and Syzygium aromaticum, as well as their combinations, to discover new antibacterial and antifungal agents to combat nosocomial infections related to hospital and medical care environments. Materials and Methods: Essential oils were obtained by a Clevenger-type apparatus and analyzed using GC and GC/MS. The antimicrobial and antifungal activity was tested against several bacteria responsible for nosocomial infections in in-vitro tests using the gas contact method in sealed containers. Results: The essential oil extracted from S. aromaticum buds was primarily composed of eugenol (59.4%), E-β-caryophyllene (16.5%), and eugenyl acetate (10.5%). The analysis of the chemical composition of L. officinalis essential oil identified 1,8-cineole (22.8%), β-pinene (12.4%), and linalool (8.5%) as the main compounds. As for O. vulgare essential oil, its major components were carvacrol (72.6%) and thymol (10.5%). The results revealed that the essential oils of L. officinalis, O. vulgare and S. aromaticum, as well as their combinations, used at a concentration of 1/10, had a remarkable effect on the E. coli, P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae strains. In contrast, they had a limited effect on the Gram-positive strain, S. aureus. The antifungal effectiveness of the essential oil of O. vulgare, as well as the combination of O. vulgare and S. aromaticum, has been remarkable against the C. albicans species, leading to a complete inhibition of yeast growth Conclusion: Our results indicate that our essential oils have a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, which makes them particularly useful as disinfectants in health facilities and could be used as a valuable medicine to control nosocomial infections and avoid infections acquired during a stay in a health facility such as respiratory tract infections and urinary tract infections.

The plant Atriplex halimus was the subject of the investigation. 99 volatile compounds were found in the essential oil after being analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The majority of these were E-anethole (13.9%), phytone (9.5%), carvone (6.0%), carvacrol (4.2%) and geranylacetone (3.0%). To assess the antioxidant potential of the essential oil, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (1,1-DPPH) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) tests were performed. The results showed that Atriplex halimus essential oil has significant antioxidant potential as well as the ability to reduce iron, as indicated by absorbance (A). At a concentration of 3 mg/ml, the essential oil reduces the DPPH radical by a maximum of 51.12%. The concentration needed to reduce the DPPH radical by 50%, was determined to be 28.20 mg/ml. The essential oil did, exhibit stronger antioxidant activity at lower concentrations than ascorbic acid, but not at higher concentrations. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) dilution method was used to test the antibacterial effects of Atriplex halimus essential oils against nine different bacterial strains. With an MIC range of 2.6 to 10.41 mg/ml and higher activity compared to gentamicin against some bacterial strains, the results demonstrated that the oils have significant antibacterial activity.

The chemical compositions of Thymusmunbyanus subsp. coloratusessential oils, an endemic plant in north Africa, were investigated using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activity of the studied essential oils was evaluated through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,20-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) free-radical scavenging assays. Disc diffusion method and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination were applied to investigate the antimicrobial activity of Thymusmunbyanus subsp. coloratus essential oil against ten bacterial and fungus strains. Fifty-one compounds were identified accounting for 90.3-95.9% of the total amount. Camphor (04.09-25.92%) was the major component in the essential oils obtained from five localities, followed by myrcene (00.66-17.11%) in four stations, then borneol (07.37-38.96%) in the essential oil obtained from three samples. The chemical variability of Thymusmunbyanus subsp. coloratus essential oils was studied using statistical analysis, in which we found a direct relationship between geo climatic conditions and their chemical compositions. Thymusmunbyanussubsp. coloratus essential oils exhibited a good radical-scavenging activity with IC(50 )values up to 0.250 +/- 0.51 and 0.596 +/- 0.15 (mg/mL) in reductive potential of ABTS and DPPH free radicals, respectively, and a significant antimicrobial activity against Gram positive bacteria and fungal species with MIC up to 0.66 +/- 0.28 (mg/mL) against Aspergillus flavus.

This study describes the use of infrared spectroscopy and physicochemical parameters combined with chemometric tools to unveil adulteration of honey by glucose (G), fructose (F) and sucrose (S). 39 samples of Algerian honey in different geographical locations and 108 adulterated samples of honey with different percentages of sugars (5 to 50

The Corsican sheep is one of the three main dairy sheep breeds in France, but few studies have focused on the composition of its milk. The aim of this study was to investigate the phenotypic variability in the physicochemical composition of its milk and to ascertain the influence of individual and environmental factors on this variability. Milk from 206 ewes on eight farms belonging to the nucleus flock was sampled monthly between December 2021 and June 2022. We analyzed the relationship between milk yield (MY) and the composition of fat, protein, lactose, urea, total casein, somatic cell count and fatty acids (FA) in relation to individual and breeding factors. This was achieved through the use of a mixed modeling procedure. Random effects were important: the ewe in the permanent environment of its farm, which represents almost 44% of the total phenotypic variance. As for fixed effects, most of the variability in MY and composition could be explained by environmental factors, with seasonal effects, access time to pasture, and diet provided by the farmers predominating. Dairy traits were not affected by milking frequency. Ewes with a diet higher in PDI/UFL (110-130 g PDI/UFL), reflecting the protein and energy parts of the diet respectively, had higher MY and urea content at the expense of fat and protein content (P < 0.05), suggesting an unbalanced diet formulation. Higher PDI/UFL supply also favors an enrichment of milk in saturated fatty acids (SFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (P < 0.05). The seasonal effect, studied through two periods—winter and spring—must be interpreted by considering the change in the ewe’s physiological state and the transition to a pasture-based diet, with grass regrowth in the spring. The MY and fat content decreased from winter to spring, while protein increased (P < 0.05). The season had no significant effect on PUFA, but SFA and de novo fatty acids increased in spring, while monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) decreased (P < 0.05). A positive energy balance in ewes, which contributes to de novo FA production, could explain the shift in the FA profile through the lactation period. The influence of individual factors is less significant; the animal’s age and MY have the greatest influence on milk composition. A "high" MY level results in a "dilution" effect on milk composition with lower fat and protein contents (P < 0.05). This can be related to the aim of Corsican ewe breeding programs, which is focused exclusively on increasing MY. The animal’s age significantly influences numerous milk traits. Young ewes (parity 2) produce milk rich in MUFA and PUFA, while older ewes (parities 6,7) produce milk rich in SFA and a higher SCS rate than the other groups (P < 0.05).

Volatiles metabolites from the liverwort Plagiochila porelloides harvested in Corsica were investigated by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. In addition to already reported constituents, three new compounds were isolated by preparative chromatography and their structures were elucidated by mass spectrometry (MS) and NMR experiments. Hence, an atypic aliphatic compound, named 1,2-dihydro-4,5-dehydronerolidol and two isomers, (E) and (Z), possessing an unusual humbertiane skeleton (called p-menth-1-en-3-[2-methylbut-1-enyl]-8-ol) are newly reported and fully characterized in this work. The in vitro antiprotozoal activity of essential oil and extract of P. porelloides against Trypanosoma brucei brucei and Leishmania mexicana mexicana and cytotoxicity were determined. Essential oil and Et2O extract showed a moderate activity against T. brucei with IC50 values: 2.03 and 5.18 μg/mL, respectively. It is noteworthy that only the essential oil showed a high selectivity (SI = 11.7). Diethyl oxide extract exhibited moderate anticancer (cancerous macrophage-like murine cells) activity and also cytotoxicity (human normal fibroblast) with IC50 values: 1.25 and 2.96 μg/mL, respectively.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a pathogenic and nosocomial bacterium responsible for serious healthcare-associated infections mainly for its resistance to antibiotics. Against this problem researches for new active substances must be continued to overcome nosocomial infections caused by P. aeruginosa. Essential oils extracted from medicinal plants are a good alternative thanks to their proved antimicrobial activities. This study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity of five essential oils obtained from plants that grow naturally in western Algeria against antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa strains. The studied essential oils, obtained by hydrodistillation, were analysed for the determination of their composition using GC-MS. The antibacterial activity of the studied essential oils was evaluated by disk diffusion and broth microdilution methods against fourteen P. aeruginosa strains, of which thirteen have been isolated from clinical sources and one reference strain. The obtained results show that Cistus munbyi and Thymus lanceolatus essential oils possess a good activity against antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa strains. While Origanum glandulosum, Ammoides verticillata, and Thymbra capitata were less active respectively. Thus, C. munbyi and T. lanceolatus essential oils can be considered as good alternatives treatment against nosocomial infections caused by P. aeruginosa.

Objectives: This study investigated the in vitro effect of Origanum glandulosum, Ammoides verticillata, and Sacco -calyx satureioides essential oils against planktonic cells and biofilms formed by single and mixed species of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata oral isolates. The effect of the essential oils in combination with amphotericin B on planktonic cells was also studied.Design: The antifungal susceptibility of planktonic cells was evaluated by disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Resazurin assay and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to determine the antibiofilm activity. The combinatory effect was evaluated by the checkerboard method. Essential oils were characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) of the studied essential oils were ranged between 250 and 2000 mu g/mL. Biofilms were inhibited and eradicated by the essential oils at sub-inhibitory concentrations of 500 and 1000 mu g/mL, respectively. SEM studies revealed a reduction in the preformed biofilm as a result of Origanum glandulosum essential oil treatment for single and mixed biofilms. Synergistic activity was found when Origanum glandulosum essential oil was combined with amphotericin B against Candida albicans. GC-MS analysis revealed that thymol was the major compound in Origanum glandulosum (38.36 %) and Ammoides verticillata (48.99 %) essential oils, while Saccocalyx satureioides essential oil was dominated by borneol (27.36 %).Conclusions: The studied essential oils showed significant antifungal and antibiofilm activities, which support their effectiveness as promising candidates for the management of oral Candida infections.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE:Synthetic antioxidants and anti-inflammatories are widely used by the food and pharmaceutical industries. Like any synthetic product, these are toxic and represent a significant health risk. The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition of Anacyclus valentinus essential oil and its oxygenated fraction, as well as their in-vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.METHODS:The essential oil was hydrodistilled using a Clevenger-type device and the oxygenated fraction was obtained by column chromatography using diethyl ether. The essential oil and its oxygenated fraction were analysed by GC and GC/MS. The antioxidant activities were performed using three different methods Radical scavenging activity (DPPH), β-carotene bleaching test, and the Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), using BHT as a positive control. The activity of antiinflammatory of essential oil and its oxygenated fraction was assessed by the protein denaturation method using the diclofenac sodium as a positive control.RESULTS:The essential oil of Anacyclus valentinus was represented mainly by oxygenated sesquiterpene compounds (37.7%), hydrocarbon sesquiterpenes (14.7%), oxygenated monoterpenes (18.4%) and non-terpenic compounds (15.6%). The oxygenated fraction was composed mainly of oxygenated sesquiterpenes (40.6%), oxygenated monoterpenes (38.5%), and non-terpene compounds (19.4%). Essential oil and oxygenated fraction showed antioxidant activity. The most potent activity was observed by the oxygenated fraction in the DPPH (IC50 = 8.2 mL/L) and β - carotene bleaching (IC50 = 5.6 mL/L) tests. While the essential oil of A. valentinus showed very good anti-inflammatory activity with an IC50 of 0.3 g/L higher than that of diclofenac (IC50= 0.53 g/L).CONCLUSION:The results showed that the essential oil and the oxygenated fraction of A. valentinus are rich in sesquiterpene compounds and possess interesting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, other studies are necessary to be able to offer these extracts to the pharmaceutical and food industries.