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This study provides a definition and description of Cyperus eragrostisas a new alien species to Algeria and North African flora. This hemicryptophyte, native to the tropical parts of South America, is recorded for the first time in Jijel eco-complex wetlands in North-East Algeria. Applying the standard phytosociological method we studied the stands in which this alien species grows together with other hygrophilous and ruderal species. The present study improves the knowledge of the Algerian flora and completes the information about the distribution of C. eragrostisreported by the available international literature and public herbaria.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant properties and total phenolic content of a dairy product (yogurt) supplemented with Thymus willdenowii(synonym: Thymus hirtus)essential oil. The evaluation of the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the oil against food spoilage bacteria and lactic acid strains was also assessed. The chemical composition of the oil was obtained by GC/MS. The evaluation of the antioxidant activity of a fortified yogurt with this oil was assessed by Oxygen radical absorbance capacity test (ORAC). The main component of the oil was Linalool (89.55%). DPPH, and Ferric reducing power revealed a weak antioxidant activity (IC50> 1600 µg/mL, > 800 µg/mL respectively) while a moderate activity was obtained with ABTS and CUPRAC tests (38.06 ± 0.30, 56.15 ± 1.07 µg/mL respectively). A high concentration of the oil is needed to delay the inhibition of the β-carotene (> 800 µg/mL). Thus, a strong antibacterial activity was observed against the pathogenic strains with the high inhibition diameter for B.cereusATCC10876 (31.75 ± 1.50 mm) while a weak effect was observed against lactic acid bacteria. A significant decrease in the antioxidant potential of non-supplemented yogurt was observed from day 1 to 21 while there was no significant difference in ORAC of supplemented yogurt with the oil. The maximum of total phenolic content was observed in day 21 of cold storage (252.92 ± 3.01 µg GAE/mL of yogurt). The essential oil studied could be an effective natural additive to yogurt avoiding the use of synthetic preservatives.

AbstractThe ethnopharmacological study was conducted during 2009 and dealt with the traditionaluse of the native species Calamintha hispidulaknown as "Touret" in the traditional folk medicine throughoutthe region of Jijel. The essential oil of the whole plant collected in El-Milia and dried in the shade, wasanalyzed by GC-MS. The results show that the oil consists mainly of menthone (33.59 %), piperitone oxide(24.72 %), pulegone (12.75 %) and cyclohexanone, 2-(1-methylethylidene) (9.77 %).