As a legume, the seeds of Argyrolobium uniflorum Decne. (Fabaceae) are known for their high content of phenolics, minerals, and storage proteins. Our knowledge of long-term storage effects in legumes is largely based on very limited data, with most studies focusing on short storage durations. The aim of the research was thus to outline the changes in phytochemical, mineral and protein profiles in the seeds that stored for up to 29 years, to provide novel perspectives on the long-term conservation potential of this underexplored species. Analysis of the phytochemical content in seeds stored for 8, 15, and 29 years shows that long-term storage affects polyphenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins differently, though these changes are not statistically significant. Total antioxidant capacity and reducing power increased during storage, while DPPH radical scavenging activity declined. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry analysis identified 16 phenolic compounds, with six phenolic acids and ten flavonoids. Some compounds showed minimal change during storage, while others, like protocatechuic acid and trans-ferulic acid, decreased. Flavonoids, including luteolin-7-O-glucoside, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, and kaempferol, increased with seed age, indicating their accumulation. Storage protein analysis shows that albumins gradually increase with storage while globulins and prolamins remain stable, indicating resilience to storage effects. The mineral contents of Na, K, Ca, Mg, and Fe decreased over time. The phenolics, minerals, and proteins in A. uniflorum seeds were differently impacted by long-term storage. These findings offer insights into the resilience of stored seeds and highlight their continued value as sources of natural antioxidants, proteins, and minerals.

Polygonum equisetiforme is a perennial herbaceous plant thriving in the arid regions of Tunisia and widely used in health care and self-medication. The objective of the current study was to investigate the distribution of minerals, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant potentials in various plant parts including the fruit, stem, leaf, and root. The mineral composition was determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The phenolic content of the samples was investigated using colorimetric assays and identified and quantified using HPLC-ESI/MS. The study found that the different parts of P. equisetiforme contain significant amounts of essential minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, and iron. The leaf and root extracts had high amounts of polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins. Through LC-ESI-MS analysis, eleven flavonoids and eight phenolic acids were characterized. The most abundant compounds were gallic acid, quinic acid, catechin (+), and hyperoside. The findings suggest that different parts of P. equisetiforme are valuable sources of essential minerals and phenolic compounds, which can have potential health benefits.

Purpose Currently, the problem of increasing water stress is growingly perceived as a worldwide systemic risk. Effective and sustainable use of biostimulants/biofertilizers based on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and compost would be necessary to minimize losses and maintain crop productivity in arid and semi-arid areas. In this study, we evaluated the performance of the AMF consortium (Mc) in combination with composts [green waste 5% (GW5) and 10% (GW10)] and horse manure [(HM5) and (HM10)] compared to the pure strain (Ms) applied separately and/or in combination with the same biofertilizers. Methods Two groups of quinoa plants were installed: 1) plants grown under well-watered [WW: 75% field capacity (FC)] and 2) plants cultivated under water stress (WS: 25% FC) during four months. At harvest, mycorrhization parameters, growth, physiological, biochemical, and soil characteristics were evaluated. Results The McHM10-application increased the stomatal conductance and seeds’ yield by 20% and 277%, respectively, compared to the control under WS. However, GW10 showed an improvement of chlorophyll a and b by 132% and 206%, respectively, compared to the control under WS. McGW10-plants recorded an increase in sugar contents by 139% in seeds compared to the control-plants under WS. Moreover, the AMF application alone or combined with GW5 or HM5 improved the peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity in the leaves and seeds of quinoa. Furthermore, the GW10 or HM10 enhanced the carbon and total organic matter compared to the control soil. Conclusions Overall, the results indicate that the application of AMF, more specifically Mc, in combination with composts can boost a better tolerance of the quinoa crop by improving the physiological and biochemical traits against oxidative damage during the drought stress period.

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is constantly subjected to abiotic stresses. Hence, the application of biostimulants, such as the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and organic amendments hold tremendous potential to significantly improve the growth and yield of date palm. The strengthening of biostimulants’ main common modes of action is exerted through five main functions: biostimulation (essentially), biofertilization, bioprotection, biological control, and the role of bio-effector. Moreover, synergistic and complementary effects manifest through biochemical and nutritional benefits, in addition to molecular modulation. In this regard, the present concise review focuses on highlighting the beneficial impact of AMF and PGPR, as well as the organic amendments, in boosting the health status and productivity of date palm plants subjected to abiotic stresses. Furthermore, mechanisms reinforcing date palm plants’ resilience to abiotic stresses, powered by biostimulants, are particularly emphasized. Based on this review, we could conclude that the overall findings corroborate the beneficial effects of AMF–PGPR and/or compost and manure application in terms of boosting date palm’s growth traits, development, yielding, as well as soil properties under extreme environmental factors, such as those of drought, salinity, and excessive heavy metal(oid)s. Thus, biostimulants can confer resilience to date palm plants against abiotic stresses.

Abstract Polygonum aviculare and Polygonum maritimum, commonly known as knotgrass and sea knotgrass, have been widely used for several purposes. Leaves, stems, and roots of these species were evaluated for mineral composition, phytochemical contents, and antioxidant properties. The minerals were characterized by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The polyphenolics were investigated colorimetrically and by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization – mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS). The antioxidant potential was evaluated by total antioxidant capacity (TAC), DPPH-radical scavenging activity, and reducing power (RPA). The mineral contents differed remarkably between and within species. For P. maritimum, the leaves showed the highest sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium contents while the roots accumulated the highest iron. The stems of P. aviculare contained higher Na, K, Ca and Fe compared to roots and leaves. P. maritimum extracts contained higher phytochemical contents compared to P. aviculare. The stems and leaves of P. maritimum were the richest in polyphenols and flavonoids while the roots possessed the highest condensed tannins. For P. aviculare, the stems contained the highest phenolics. HPLC-ESI-MS determined 20 phenolics including quinic acid, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, (+)-catechin, quercetin-3-O-galactoside, and cirsiliol. P. maritimum extracts contained more antioxidants than P. aviculare. The results suggest that the selected species may be important sources of bioactive molecules.

Despite the interest of legumes for food and feed purposes, the phytochemicals of Astragalus armatus (AA), A. caprinus (AC), and A. gombiformis (AG) have not been reported in-depth yet. Thus, the lipid contents, fatty acids composition, proteins, and bioactive compounds in the seeds of these species were investigated. Total lipids were ranged from 12.2 (AG) to 36.5 g 100 g DW (AC) and consisted of oleic acid, linoleic acid, a-linolenic acid, and palmitic acid. The crude protein contents were in the range from 52.2 (AG) to 54.7 g 100 g(-1) DW (AA). Globulin and albumin were the predominant soluble protein fractions. The seeds consisted significantly of different contents of total polyphenols (3.4-6.5 mg GAEg(-1) DW), total flavonoids (1.24-5.15 mg QEg(-1) DW), and total condensed tannins (12-23.2 mg CEg(-1) DW). The extracts mainly consisted of quinic acid, p-coumaric acid, and cirsiliol. All these findings can be assets for functional foods and/or food ingredients.

Lotus creticus L. (Fabaceae) is largely grown in the Mediterranean zone and considered as a socioeconomic and ecologically valuable species in the rural and arid Tunisian regions. In the present work, we focused on the unexploited seeds of four ecotypes of this plant regarding their storage proteins, phytochemicals, and antioxidant potential. Both colorimetric assays and electrophoretic analysis revealed that L. creticus seeds are promising sources of protein and their total contents were in the range of 197.55-248.27 mg/g DW. Albumins constituted the major fraction and formed about 45.08% of total proteins, followed by globulins (27.32%), and glutelins (19.38%). The prolamin fraction presented only 8.22%. The methanolic extracts of the seeds were rich in phenolics. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were found to be in the range from 7.05 to 8.11 mg GAE/ g DW and 11.83 to 14 mg QE/g DW, respectively, whereas the condensed tannin amounts ranged between 1.78 to 2.19 mg CTE/g DW. Moreover, the studied seeds extracts possessed high antioxidant potential as evidenced by their total antioxidant capacity (6.74-8.11 GAE/g DW), free radical DPPH scavenger activity (IC50 = 15.67-22.17 mg/mL), and reducing power (EC50 = 6.90-9.07 mg/mL) which were mainly due to the presence of several phenolics in the extracts. A total of 21 phenolics were identified and quantified using LC-ESI/MS method including 8 phenolic acids (31.81-33.83 mu g/g DW) and 13 flavonoids (108.10-120.02 mu g/g DW). Quinic acid, protocatechuic acid, epicatechin, hyperoside, and quercetin-3-0-rhamnoside were identified as the predominant compounds. Results so far have been very encouraging and proved that L. creticus seeds are an effective source of phenolics and proteins which could potentially be used for several industrial purposes.

Phytochemicals from Calicotome villosa seeds were evaluated during long-term storage. Total phenols were affected during storage, ranging from 34.6 (5-years-aged seeds) to 45.1 mg GAE/g DW (16-years-aged seeds). Flavonoids increased with the storage period varying from 21.4 (seeds collected at 2013) to 34.1 mg QRE/g DW (seeds collected at 2002). The total condensed tannins were low for all storage periods and the highest value was registered for 16-years-aged seeds (0.15 +/- 0.01CTE/g DW). LC-ESI/MS analysis showed five phenolic acids and 11 flavonoids, which remained steady during the long-term storage. High-maintained storage protein content (50.2% DW) occurred in C. villosa seeds even under long-term storage (up to 16 years). Globulins were the major proteins (47.6% of total proteins). All these findings made C. villosa a source of natural antioxidants with high industrial value and could be used as a potential food source. Practical applications In this research paper, we have evaluated and discussed the effect of long storage duration (5, 10, 13, and 16 years) on phenolic contents, antioxidant potential, and protein profiles of C. villosa seeds. The total phenolic content determined was not affected by storage duration, while the values of flavonoid content were enhanced. The storage length significantly increased the total condensed tannin content. However, the phenolic acids and flavonoid compounds remained stable. Moreover, high-maintained storage protein content (globulins, albumins, glutelins, and globulin) occurs in C. villosa seeds even under long-term storage. The obtained results showed that the quality of the seeds was not negatively affected by long storage duration. C. villosa seeds show the prospective potential applications in the food industry.

Polygonum is the largest genus of Polygonaceae and 5 species are reported in Tunisia. In order to characterized flower, seed, and fruit development in Polygonum, flower and fruit of Polygonium equisetiforme (var. graecum and peyerinhoffi), P. aviculare and P. maritimum, collected from Tunisia, were examined. Flowers are composed of five oblong tepals. P. equisetiforme and P. aviculare have whitish-pink distylous flowers with dimorphism of style, filament and anther height, pollen diameter and stigma size. In contrast, P. maritimum shows white homostylous flowers. The floral vasculature showed that the tepals are inserted in one whorl and their traces arise independently in 3+2 manner. The eight stamens are arranged in a 5+3 manner and the staminal bundles arise independently in the two whorls. The epidermis and endothecium cells width were higher in P. maritimum and the lowest endothecium width was observed in P. aviculare. Polygonum aviculare and P. equisetiforme showed circular pollen with shallow colpi and trilobite pollen shape with deep colpi, while P. maritimum rarely showed shallow colpi. The ovule is anatropous with basal placentation in P. equisetiforme and P. aviculare and apical placentation in P. maritimum. The young seed coat was formed by an endotesta with thick-walled cells, a mesotesta and exotesta with thin-walled cells and a tegmen composed of radially elongated cells. The fruits of the studied species are trigonous with ovate-lanceolate shape. In P. aviculare, the exocarp is thicker compared to the two other species, in P. equisetiforme, the mature exocarp consists of smaller rectangular cells with narrow cavities, and in P. maritimum showed a thinner exocarpIn conclusion, P. equisetiforme and P. aviculare are a typically distylous species from the morphological point of view and we discussed the significance of heterostyly in Polygonaceae. From this first morpho-anatomical study of Polygonum species in North Africa, we can conclude mainly that there is no significant difference between P. equisetiforme var. graecum and var. peyerinhoffi supporting a taxonomic grouping of these two varieties.

Recently, plant seeds that have not been enough explored and exploited are cheap sources of a lot of natural molecules for industrial applications. The aim of the present study was to evaluate for the first time the composition of fatty acids and triacylglycerols (TAG) of mature unexploited seeds of some Acacia species (Acacia cyclops, Acacia ligulata and Acacia salicina) harvested in Tunisia in order to reveal their potential for human consumption. Results showed that, Acacia seed oils were mainly unsaturated (more than 71%). The polyunsaturated fatty acids were the major fractions (52-68%) with the linoleic acid as the major fatty acid (more than 52%), followed by oleic acid (15-27%) as monounsaturated fatty acid. The TAG composition was significantly different among the three Acacia species. PLL, PLO, LnLO, OLL, OOL, and OOO were the major forms. Acacia seed oil could be used as potential source of oil with high industrial value; nevertheless in vivo tests are essential to confirm its safety before use. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.

The phenolic compound content and the beneficial effects of Capparis spinosa seed extracts (CSSE) against the toxicity induced using cisplatin and CCl4 treatment were studied. The amounts of total phenolics, flavonoids and condensed tannins were 83 mg gallic acid equivalents, similar to 92 mg rutin equivalents, and 1 mg tannic acid equivalents/g d.w., respectively. Results showed that CSSE pretreatment restored the higher content of serum creatinine, urea and uric acid, and increased activities of aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase induced by cisplatin and CCl4 treatment. Furthermore, CSSE pretreatment decreased the protein carbonyls and malondialdehyde, and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Histopathological studies confirmed that CSSE decreased the degree of tissues fibrosis. The results obtained confirmed the potential nutritional and medicinal benefits of C. spinosa and highlighted the potential use of the seeds as a source of bioantioxidants for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Sabkhas are home to many xero-halophytes that could be considered renewable resources for various fiber industries. Lignocellulosic fibers of these plants are proposed as raw material for bioenergy production. Nowadays, ethanol is the major biofuel in use. In this paper, fiber composition of 21 xero-halophytic species from Tunisian sabkhas was evaluated using Ankom 200 Fiber Analyzer and compared with that obtained by other studies. The lignocellulosic biomass of xero-halophytes can be considered as an attractive raw material for the future application for the production of bioethanol, paper of good quality, and reinforcement polymers. Two perennial species are considered an important source of bioethanol production which are Sarcocornia fruticosa and Aristida pungens. Suaeda fruticosa from Tunisia can be used in the production of high-quality lightweight paper.

In the recent years, there has been a growing interest in eco-friendly composites, based on natural fiber reinforcements. In this work, Alfa fibers were obtained from Alfa grass ( Stipa tenacissima ) through an intensive cooking with sodium hydroxide and anthraquinone. These fibers, with contents ranging from 20 to 50 wt%, were used to reinforce a high density polyethylene. The composites were prepared in a kinetic mixer and later on tensile tested under standard conditions. The results showed that the tensile strength of the composites increased with the amount of fiber in the composite. Aditionally, a morphology and chemical composition analysis of the fibers surface were carried on, in order to further discuss the micromechanics analysis results. The average orientation factor and intrinsic tensile strength of the fibers were also determined during the micromechanics analysis.

The antioxidant capacities of 11 populations of P. equisetiforme collected from the Saharan, arid, and semi-arid bioclimatic zones in Tunisia were investigated. Total phenolic content varied from 31 +/- 5 to 113 +/- 4 mg GAE/g dw. Flavonoid content varied from 29 +/- 2 to 130 +/- 10 mg QRE/g dw and condensed tannins ranged between 8 +/- 1 and 33 +/- 2 mg CTE/g dw. P. equisetiforme showed a high antioxidant potential, with the total antioxidant capacity varying from 10 +/- 2 to 71 +/- 3 mg GAE/g dw. The DPPH scavenging activity ranged from 12 +/- 1 to 51 +/- 6 mM TRE/g dw and the EC50 of reducing power ranged between 68 +/- 5 and 210 +/- 20 mu g/mL. Plants collected from the Saharan climate showed the highest phytochemical and antioxidant activity. LC-ESI-MS analysis allowed identification of 19 compounds, of which quinic acid, gallic acid, (+)-catechin, epicatechin, quercetin-3-O-galactoside, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, and cirsiliol were identified as major compounds. High quantitative and qualitative variability in the phenolic acid and flavonoid fractions between the studied populations were observed. Overall, P. equisetiforme could be considered as a prospective source of useful natural antioxidants.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of location on both the protein, oil and phenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity of Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi and Schinus molle L. fruits. Significant variability was detected. Schinus terebinthifolius fruits contained high levels of protein (17.5-26.2%), oil (13.88-14.08%) and phenolic compounds (32.39-35.23 mg GAE/g DW). Schinus molle samples had high antioxidant activity. Unsaturated fatty acids were the major fatty acids (63.52-69.07%). An HPLC analysis revealed noticeable differences between regions and species. This study highlights the value of S. terebinthifolius and S. molle fruits as an attractive source of bioantioxidants and may be used to improve the consistent index for estimating fruit richness in biomolecules for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries.

The goal of the present work was a phytochemical screening together with the study of a possible hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Periploca laevigata seeds extract. Soxhlet extraction revealed that the oil content was ca. 5.5% DW and Kjeldhal method revealed that the protein level was ca. 22% DW. Phenolic compounds, flavonoids and condensed tannin contents were 21.2 mg GAE/g DW, 1.65 mg QE/g DW and 0.58 mg CE/g DW, respectively. LC-ESI-MS analysis revealed the presence of eighteen identified molecules and the most dominant compounds were quinic acid (ca. 3700 µg/g DW) and gallic acid (ca. 3050 µg/g DW). Pretreatment with P. laevigata extract ameliorated levels of serum parameters for liver together with oxidative stress indicators and antioxidant enzymes activities. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic studies showed that P. laevigata extract reduced carrageenan-induced oedema and acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, and increased latency in hot plate test.

BACKGROUND:Eryngium maritimum L., also known as 'sea holly', is a typical dune plant species belonging to the Apiaceae family and commonly used in Tunisia for therapeutic purposes in folk medicine. In the present study, the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the volatile fraction extracted from air-dried fruits of five Tunisian E. maritimum ecotypes were determined.RESULTS:The total volatile amount ranged from 0.31% to 0.93% (w d.w.-1 ). Sixty-six volatile components were identified by means of GC-MS and accounted for 77.05-86.65% of the total extracted volatile oil. The majority of the identified metabolites were hydrocarbon sesquiterpenes and oxygenated sesquiterpenes, amounting on average to 46.69% and 30.01% of total volatiles, respectively. The principal individual components were germacrene D (13.62-31.71%), 15-hydroxy-α-muurolene (12.04-18.58%), and germacrene B (6.77-15.04%). Significant differences were noticed among E. maritimum populations. The volatile profile of E. maritimum fruits was consistently different from those of the aerial parts and roots of plants of the same species reported in previous investigations. Average radical scavenging capacity of the volatile fraction, as determined by DPPH and ABTS tests, was twice higher than that of the Trolox control.CONCLUSION:This study characterised for the first time the fruits of E. maritimum for the composition and radical-scavenging capacity of their volatile fraction. The growth location confirmed as a pivotal factor in influencing the volatile profile of the fruits. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Seeds of Polygonum equisetiforme collected from 10 different Tunisian locations were evaluated for their crude protein content, oil content, fatty acid composition, phytochemical content, and antioxidant potential to enhance their industrial uses. The Kjeldahl method revealed that proteins (Nx6.25) varied from 10.20% to 13.50% on a dry weight basis. Oil contents, ranging from 2.6% to 5% on a dry weight basis, were characterized by a consistent fatty acid profile. Gas chromatography revealed the presence of mainly unsaturated fatty acids (ca. 80%). Oleic acid (ca. 38%), linoleic acid (ca. 30%), palmitic acid (ca. 15%), and a-linolenic acid (ca. 3.8%) were the major fatty acids. Total phenol content was measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and ranged from 13.36 to 33.85 mg GAE/g DW. The flavonoid content of the seed extracts was determined using the aluminium chloride method varied from 16.20 to 44.67 mg CTE/g DW. The total condensed tannin content detected using vanillin assay varied from 1.92 to 10.98 CTE/g DW. The assessment of the seed antioxidant potential was performed using the phosphomolybdenum assay and DPPH scavenging activity. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) varied from 21.17 to 46.02 mg GAE/g DW. Indeed, the studied seed extracts were strong DPPH scavengers (14.33-35.37 mM TRE/g DW). Moreover, LC-ESI/MS analysis of P. equisetiforme extracts also showed the presence of nine phenolic acids and 12 flavonoids. Gallic acid, quinic acid, protocatechuic acid, (+)-catechin, and quercetin-3-O-galactoside were the main phenolic compounds. The present work highlighted the important nutritive value of the unexploitable P. equisetiforme seeds as natural antioxidants and a safe source of proteins, fatty acids, and phenolic compounds. P. equisetiforme can be considered a prospective source of useful natural bioactive molecules that could be used in functional food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.

Capparis spinosa, Capparidaceae, is largely distributed all over the Mediterranean Basin and is traditionally used to treat many illnesses, such as liver and kidney diseases. The aim of the current study was to explore the antioxidant, nephroprotective and hepatoprotective effects of methanolic extract of Capparis spinosa leaves (MECS) associated with its phytochemical content. The levels of total phenolics, flavonoids and condensed tannins were 23.37mgGAE/g, 9.05mgQE/g and 9.35mgTAE/g, respectively. HPLC analysis revealed nine compounds, namely rutin, resveratrol, coumarin, epicatechin, luteolin, catechin, kaempferol, vanillic acid and gallic acid. The MECS showed interesting antioxidant capacity. The MECS-treatment significantly reduced the increased plasma levels of creatinine, urea and uric acid, reduced the elevated MDA levels, significantly reduced the antioxidant enzyme activities and restored the kidney damage, provoked by cisplatin-treatment. Furthermore, MECS-treatment significantly prevented the increase in serum ALT, AST and LDH levels in acute liver damage induced by CCl4, decreased the amount of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and elevated the activities of SOD, CAT and GPx, and restored liver injury. This study supports the traditionally use of C. spinosa to cure kidney and liver diseases. The obtained results highlighted the possible use of C. spinosa as a source of phytochemical with important biological advantages.

Fatty acid, triacylglycerol, phospholipid, tocol and sterol compositions of E. maritimum seeds collected from plants grown in ten different Tunisian littoral locations were determined. Constitutes from different locations are significantly different. Seeds presented high oil content, ranging from ca. 22% to 34% on a dry weight basis, and were characterized by a constant fatty acid profile among the growing locations. Gas chromatographic analysis revealed an important level of unsaturated fatty acids (ca. 90% of total fatty acid content), with a prevalence of oleic (ca. 63%) and linoleic (ca. 25%) acids. Results obtained by GC-FID showed that the carbon number (CN) values of the TAGs in all samples were 50 (1.5%), 52 (25.6%) and 54 (73%). Phosphatidylcholine was the most common phospholipid, accounting for more than 60% of the total content, followed by phosphatidic acid (about 30%). Different tocols concentration was reported in seeds with β-tocotrienol as the most abundant one in all samples. Stigmasterol was the most abundant sterol in all seeds, representing nearly 70% of the total content, followed by β-sitosterol and Δ7-sitosterol. In all, the findings of this work highlight the valuable levels of minor constituents from Eryngium maritimum storage lipids which can be therefore a prospective source of useful natural bioactive molecules that may replace synthetic antioxidants.