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Euphorbia dracunculoides Lam. possesses significant biological potential due to its rich bioactive compounds. To enhance this potential, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were synthesized using the methanolic extract of E. dracunculoides, exploiting ZnO NPs’ superior physiochemical properties and bioavailability. The synthesis of ZnO NPs was confirmed through UV–Vis spectroscopy (with an absorption maximum at 368 nm), X-ray diffraction (crystalline nature), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (functional groups involved in Zn²⁺ reduction), scanning electron microscopy (rod-shaped and triangular morphologies, average size 79 nm), and EDX (presence of Zn and O). The ED-ZnO NPs exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity against U87 cells (IC50: 229.51 µg·mL−1) and anti-leishmanial activity against Leishmania tropica promastigotes (IC50: 9.11 µg·mL−1). Additionally, in vivo studies demonstrated significant antihyperlipidemic effects, with decreased cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein levels, and increased high-density lipoprotein levels. ED-ZnO NPs also normalized alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, total bilirubin, creatinine, urea, and glucose levels compared to controls. Overall, ED-ZnO NPs effectively enhance the bioactive compounds’ efficacy in treating various disorders.

This study investigates the osmotic dehydration process of watermelon rind using a solution composed of honey and sucrose. The impact of the ratio of rind-to-solution and temperature on the process is illustrated. Pre-treatments such as blanching, microwaves, and ultrasonication were utilized. Ultrasonication reduces the time needed for osmosis in a sample, resulting in increased fluid loss and solute uptake; therefore, it was selected as the method to investigate the kinetics and modelling of mass transfer. The effective diffusivities for water loss (ranging from 3.02 × 10−5 to 4.21 × 10−4 m2 s−1) and solid gain (ranging from 1.94 × 10−6 to 3.21 × 10−6 m2 s−1) were shown to increase with process variables such as temperature and the rind-to-solution ratio. The activation energy decreased as the process temperature increased, ranging from 3.723 to 0.928 kJ mol−1 for water loss and from 1.733 to 0.903 kJ mol−1 for solid gain, respectively. The sample treated with microwaves exhibited the maximum dehydration coefficient, rendering it appropriate for producing dehydrated products. Five empirical models were utilized, with the power law model (R 2 = 0.983) and the Magee model (R 2 = 0.950) being the most suitable for water loss data and solid gain, respectively.

The genus Pistacia, with its species having notable ecological, economic, and medicinal implications, demonstrates remarkable environmental adaptability. The central objective of the study is to analyze interspecific variations between Pistacia atlantica subsp. atlantica and Pistacia terebinthus across three distinct bioclimatic zones in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco. The methodology includes collecting dendrometric measurements and conducting macromorphological examinations on these two taxa, with a detailed analysis of 27 qualitative and quantitative variables. A micro-morphological analysis of leaves, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), is employed to explore specific features such as size and stomatal density, as well as qualitative aspects like epidermal cell shape and trichomes. Dendrometric measurements have revealed that the canopy surface and the number of trunks per tree can serve as distinctive features between the two species. Regarding the sex ratio of Pistacia atlantica subsp. atlantica, 59% of the examined trees are males, primarily associated with the jujube tree in arid zones and the dwarf palm in humid areas. In contrast, female Pistacia terebinthus exhibit a similar percentage, predominantly associated with oak groves and cade juniper in their distribution areas. Principal component analysis of biometric measurements emphasized a significant disparity between the two species, representing 60.25% of the total variance. The use of SEM unveiled new features facilitating the identification of the two species. By leveraging the macromorphological and micromorphological variability of pistachio trees, we can qualify those best suited to diverse bioclimates. In this regard, we suggest incorporating them into reforestation and rehabilitation programs aimed at restoring our declining ecosystems.

Microbial diseases remain a leading cause of death worldwide, and the emergence of new infections underscores the need for innovative treatments. Plant-based sources for antimicrobial drugs are gaining popularity due to their fewer side effects compared to synthetic drugs. Corn silk (CS), an ancient medicinal plant, has been used for thousands of years to treat ailments such as edema and cystitis. It is a rich source of vitamins and minerals and acts as an anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic, anti-cancerous, antioxidant, and antimicrobial agent. Its bioactive components, which include phenolic acids, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, terpenes, and saponins, are responsible for these therapeutic benefits. Numerous studies have examined the antibacterial effectiveness of diverse CS extracts, unveiling several methods by which CS demonstrates its antimicrobial properties. These mechanisms include the inhibition of energy production within microbial cells, interference with DNA and protein synthesis, prevention of biofilm formation, disruption of cell wall synthesis, and direct disruption of the cell wall structure. CS effectively blocks microbial growth and multiplication by focusing on these vital processes. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of the different bioactive compounds found in CS, as well as their mechanisms of action against microbes. Understanding these mechanisms highlights CS’s potential as a potent source for developing new antimicrobial medications and supplements, offering a natural and effective alternative in the fight against infectious diseases.

The corrosion of metals poses a threat to the economy, the environment, and human health due to undesirable reactions and contaminated products. Corrosion inhibitors, including natural products, can play a key role in protecting metallic materials, especially under challenging conditions. In this study, the roots of the Inula viscosa plant were examined for their ability to act as corrosion inhibitors in a 1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution. Different extracts of the plant were evaluated for their corrosion inhibition capacity in a 1 M HCl solution. The effectiveness of different plant extracts was assessed, including an aqueous extract, an ethanolic extract, and a combined water–ethanol extract. Compounds present in the roots of Inula viscosa were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography. The electrochemical properties of the extracts were studied using various techniques such as open circuit potential, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and potentiodynamic polarization. Additionally, surface analysis after immersion was performed using scanning electron microscopy. Electrochemical data revealed that Inula viscosa root (IVR) extracts acted as mixed-type corrosion inhibitors with pronounced cathodic characteristics. The inhibitory efficiency was closely related to the concentration of Inula viscosa (I. viscosa), showing a significant increase with higher concentrations. This resulted in a decrease in corrosion current and an increase in polarization resistance. Notably, inhibitory efficiency reached high levels, up to 97.7% in mixed extract which represents a mixture between water and ethanol. In our study, it was observed that the mixed extract (water + ethanol) allowed for a greater corrosion inhibition compared to the other solvents studied, 97.7%. Surface analyses confirmed the formation of an organic film layer on the steel surface, attributed to the bonding of functional groups and heteroatoms in I. viscosa components. Therefore, this study paves the way for the potential integration of I. viscosa as a promising corrosion inhibition material, offering durable protection against steel corrosion and opening avenues for various related applications.

Chenopodium ambrosioides aerial parts have been historically employed in traditional medicine for addressing various ailments such as headaches, abdominal discomfort, joint issues, and respiratory disorders, alongside treatments for lice and warts. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive phytochemical analysis of C. ambrosioides and assess the acute and subacute toxicity of oral treatments using fractions in preclinical trials. Spectrophotometric analysis via LC–MS/MS was used to characterize the plant’s chemical composition. Acute toxicity evaluation followed Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development code 42 guidelines, conducted on adult male and female Wistar strain mice. Subsequently, Swiss mice were divided into six groups for the subacute toxicity study, receiving oral doses of 200 mg/kg extracts and fractions for 28 days. Daily observations and biochemical analyses were performed, with LC–MS/MS revealing a diverse array of compounds including organic acids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, rutin, hesperidin, nicotiflorine, and fumaric acid. Results indicated no lethality or alterations in body weight in treated groups, though some organ weight changes were noted. Biochemical analyses demonstrated values within the normal range for all groups, suggesting that the treatments did not induce adverse effects. Acute and subacute treatments with fractions did not result in lethality or toxic alterations at therapeutic doses, implying the safety of the product at appropriate levels. This study underscores the potential of C. ambrosioides as a safe therapeutic option warranting further exploration.

Salinity accumulation poses a threat to the production and productivity of economically important crops such as tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Currently, salt tolerance breeding programs have been limited by insufficient genetic and physiological knowledge of tolerance-related traits and a lack of an efficient selection domain. For that purpose, we aimed to determine the ability of tomato cultivars to tolerate salt based on seed traits by multiple biochemical pathways. First, we tested three tomato cultivars according to their response to different sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations (0, 6.3, 9.8, 13.0, and 15.8 dS m−1) and then we analysed their amino acids, organic acids, and phytohormones. Considering the results of germination traits, it is possible to conclude that cultivar H-2274 was more tolerant to salt stress than others. As a result, multivariate discriminant analysis including principal component analysis and two-way hierarchical clustering analyses were constructed and demonstrated that tomato cultivars were separated from each other by the amino acid, organic acid, and phytohormone contents. Considering germination traits of tomato seeds, cv. ‘H-2274’ was more tolerant to salinity than others depending on high proline (29 pmol µl−1) and citric acid (568 ng µl−1) assays. Biochemical variability offers a valuable tool for investigating salt tolerance mechanisms in tomatoes, and it will be appreciated to find high-tolerant tomato cultivar(s) to saline conditions. Also, the findings of this study have significant potential for practical applications in agriculture, particularly in developing salt-tolerant tomato cultivars to enhance productivity in saline environments and address socio-economic challenges.

The almond tree, following the olive tree, holds the distinction of being the fruit species occupying the largest area in Morocco, spanning 128,000 ha and hosting 16 million trees. This sector holds immense socio-economic significance both nationally and globally. Despite its prominence, the almond tree faces severe phytosanitary challenges, prominently among them, the False tiger bug of the almond tree, Monosteira unicostata (Mulsant & Rey [Hemiptera: Tingidae]). This polyphagous, sedentary, and gregarious hemipteran, boasting five larval instars and typically generating four generations annually, exhibits a life cycle duration ranging from 2 to 3 months contingent on the season. This pest inflicts notable harm on almond tree leaves by extracting their chlorophyll content through its piercing mouthparts and depositing excrement, impeding respiratory function and adversely impacting fruit development, maturation, and overall production. Diverse control strategies have been implemented to tackle this issue, commencing with prophylaxis involving resistant varieties and sound agricultural practices. Subsequently, biological control methods leveraging natural enemies such as Piocoris luridus and species from families including Coccinellidae, Anthocoridae, Lygaeidae, Miridae, and Nabidae have been employed. Plant-based biopesticides such as azadirachtin (Azadirachta indica), thyme oil (Thymus zygis), Jatropha oil (Jatropha curcas), and concentrated extracts of Artemisia absinthium, as well as mineral-based approaches involving treated kaolin sprays through particle film technology, contribute to the arsenal of control measures. In cases of severe infestations, synthetic active ingredients such as organophosphates, pyrethroids, carbamates, abamectin, and deltamethrin, among others, have proven efficacy in managing this pest.

This study focuses on the comprehensive exploration of Swat soapstone, employing a range of analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. XRD was used to identify the phase and lattice parameters of the soapstone. SEM further scrutinizes the dispersed soapstone particles, revealing different structural characteristics such as a slightly elongated, cubic-like structure, a straight rod-like formation, and a rough, textured surface. EDX spectroscopy was utilized for studying the elemental composition of the soapstone. The analysis identifies talc as the primary mineral in Swat soapstone, with iron, an element, also contributing notably to its composition. This underscores the complexity of Swat soapstone’s internal structure. XRF analysis further contributes to the elemental characterization, revealing a dominant composition of silicon (Si) at 48.567 wt% and a notable contribution from iron (Fe) at 16.108 wt%. FTIR analysis confirmed the absorption of infrared radiation at the non-bridging oxygen (Si–O–) within the silicate network and the Si–O–Si bending vibration. This work investigates the chemical and morphological details of the Swat soapstone.

In recent years, there has been a surge in the popularity of minor millets, also called ancient grains. As a result, there has been a growing interest in the potential health benefits and unique dietary properties that these foods offer. Once considered a forgotten crop, millet has gained popularity as part of efforts to achieve sustainable development goals. With a growing population, there is a need to explore sustainable methods to provide food and nutritional security to people, and millets offer a promising solution to this objective. This literature review aims to provide a thorough and all-encompassing overview of the geographical distribution of minor millets, as well as the challenges and opportunities associated with their production. Additionally, this review will investigate the nutritional benefits of minor millets and their potential for use in the development of value-added products.

In the current work, bis-thiourea derivatives have been synthesized through condensation reaction between isothiocynates and diamines in dry acetone to form SK1 (1,2-bis(N-benzoylthioureido) benzene), SK2 (1,3-bis(N-benzoylthioureido) benzene), and SK3 (1,4-bis(N-benzoylthioureido) benzene). The structures of new synthesized derivatives were confirmed through melting point and spectroscopic technique such as 1HNMR only. The synthesized compounds were assessed for acute toxicity test and are proved free of toxicity. The derivatives were further tested as anti-inflammatory agents by in vitro lipoxygenase enzyme inhibition studies, molecular docking, and in vivo carrageenan-induced paw edema assay, and histamine-induced edema test. The overall observations presented that compounds SK1 and SK3 possess promising anti-inflammatory potential, while compound SK2 is found to be a good anti-inflammatory agent.

The olive trituration activity is one of the most important industrial activities in Fez, Morocco. These effluents are highly loaded with organic, inorganic, and phenolic compounds without any preliminary treatment that affects water quality. In this sense, the waters of Oued Fez are deteriorating due to the discharge of wastewater from oil mills and the excessive proliferation of Pistia stratiotes L., an invasive macrophyte that represents a significant stress to the aquatic ecosystem, eutrophication, and a reduction in biodiversity. This ecological situation has prompted us to carry out phytotoxicity bioassays based on the detection of the lethal concentration of P. stratiotes in the wastewater from the olive oil mill to evaluate the sensitivity and tolerance of macrophytes to the different concentrations of total polyphenols (TPP) present in the olive mill wastewater. To estimate their impact on the environment. Fresh whole plants of P. stratiotes were exposed to varying concentrations of olive oil mill wastewater with a series of TPP concentrations (0–30 mg/l) for 1 week in the natural environment. The results also show that P. stratiotes is able to grow rapidly in culture with 20 mg/l of TPP; the highest growth of wet weight of P. stratiotes occurred at 20 mg/l treatment with an average of 13 g wet weight increase. At 0 mg/l, treatment is known to cause very slow growth with an average of 2 g. Olive oil mill wastewater was toxic to the plant at concentrations higher than 30 mg/l, and the phytotoxic effect was manifested by retardation of growth, detachment of roots, wilting, and chlorosis of leaves. This indicates that polyphenols have great potential to inhibit the proliferation of P. stratiotes in aquatic environments.

Considering it contains a variety of physiologically active compounds, including flavonoids, common phenols, and essential oils (EOs), St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) is a common plant in Bulgaria that is predominantly used in folk medicine to cure various disorders. Determining the chemical makeup of St. John’s wort inflorescences that were gathered from northern Bulgaria was the purpose of this investigation. The antioxidant activity of H. perforatum L. extracts was assessed using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrilhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) tests on methanol extract. The amount of EO obtained by water distillation was 0.08%, with its main components (over 3%) being n-nonane (27.46%), β-sesquiphellandrene (11.17%), heptanal dimethyl acetal (5.94%), ethyl hexyl ketone (5.93%), undecane (3.75%), sabinene (3.3%), and tridecyl alcohol (3.1%). Methanol extracts were obtained from the inflorescences, with the total flavonoid content determined as 8.66 mg quercetin equivalents (QE)/mg and total phenolic content as 271.33 mg Gallic acid equivalent/g. The FRAP assay yielded 493.07 µmol/L of antioxidant activity, while the TEAC assay yielded 106.39 µmol/L, respectively. Our findings enable a comprehensive characterization of H. perforatum from Bulgaria and an assessment of its oil suitability for potential industrial applications. Additionally, the results could guide the selection of specimens for future targeted breeding efforts.

The apple is an important part of the human diet and is one of the most popular fruits in Morocco, with varieties that are now suitable for human consumption. This study aims to clarify several aspects of apples, such as their physical and chemical compositions and nutrient profiles. Total polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, and anthocyanins were determined using spectrophotometer and organic acid compounds were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet. The results show a significant difference between the several varieties under study in terms of their physico-chemical and phyto-chemical characteristics. In general, the studied apples are juiciness, with a percentage ranging from 60 to 71%. The pH values demonstrate how acidic the apples are. The Brix parameter denotes values greater than 13°Brix. Total polyphenols and condensed tannins (1154.65 ± 13.54 µg EAG/g and 514.09 ± 32.40 µg EAT/g, respectively) are more present in the Ahjjani variety than they are in other varieties. This demonstrates their good nutritional quality while not being consumable. However, the Story variety has a predominance of flavonoids (75.074 ± 2.309 µg QE/g) and flavones (45.074 ± 2.09 µg QE/g). The detection of organic acids has shown that the acid succinic is the most abundant in all the varieties of studied apple fruits. These results allow us to infer that non-consumable varieties are also important dietary sources of bioactive molecules, notably for polyphenols. The fact that these kinds can be used to produce other byproducts is therefore highly intriguing.

Natural substances extracted from plants have been increasingly studied and recognized, recently. Essential oils (EOs), for example, possess antioxidant and antibacterial properties, enabling their application across different sectors like agro-food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. In Morocco, exceptional plant diversity, mirroring the diversity of ecosystems, has not yet revealed all its secrets. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the chemical composition and evaluate the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of EOs from Thymus zygis L. ssp. gracilis and Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. collected in the El Hoceima and Mamora regions, respectively. The EOs were extracted by hydrodistillation employing a Clevenger-type apparatus. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analyses identified 54 constituents representing 92.65% of the total for T. zygis and 55 components representing 99.60% for E. camaldulensis. The primary components found in the EO of T. zygis are δ-terpineol (27.64%), followed by δ-3-carene (15.7%), thymol (14.17%), and dehydrolinalool (4.99%). The main compounds in E. camaldulensis EO are 1,8-cineole (43.61%), γ-terpinene (11.71%), α-terpineol (10.58%), and p-cymene (4.93%). The antioxidant properties of these oils were investigated by utilization of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl method and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) test. The antibacterial activity was assessed against two Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and two Gram-negative bacteria (Micrococcus luteus and Escherichia coli). Both EOs showed significant antioxidant activity but were less effective than reference antioxidants quercetin and catechin. Antibacterial studies demonstrated strong activity of T. zygis and E. camaldulensis EOs against the studied bacteria, as well as good inhibitory properties (minimum inhibitory concentration).

Artemisia herba-alba Asso is an endemic plant from North-East Morocco offering a diverse range of pharmacological, cosmetic, and agro-ecological uses. However, Artemisia herba-alba has not been well exploited in the field of plant protection (post-harvest diseases). This is why the main objective of the present study is to evaluate the antifungal and antioxidant activities of extracts or the essential oil of this plant. Antifungal activity was assessed against Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium expansum, and Penicillium digitatum using the agar dilution method for the aqueous extracts and fumigation for the essential oil. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH scavenging test and the FRAP ferric ion reduction capacity. The chemical composition of the extracts was determined by HPLC and that of the essential oil by GC-MS/MS. In addition, the polyphenol, flavonoid, and tannin content was determined using colorimetric methods. The results of this study showed that the total content of polyphenols (217.60 mg GAE/g E), flavonoids (43.59 mg QE/g E), and tannins (32.58 mg GAE/g E) was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) in the ethanolic extract than in the aqueous and hexanoic extracts. Moreover, the HPLC analysis of the aqueous extract revealed the presence of six compounds, namely, catechin, gallic acid, hydroxybenzoic acid, syringic acid, caffeic acid, and rutin. In addition, the ethanolic extract was found to contain seven phenolic compounds. On the one hand, 35 compounds were identified in the essential oil of Artemisia herba-alba, representing 99.7% of the total. According to this study, the dominant compounds in the essential oil of Artemisia herba-alba Asso are camphor (46.57%), endo-borneol (5.65%), eucalyptol (5.64%), and thymol (3.85%). Furthermore, the biological evaluation showed that the extracts and essential oil of Artemisia herba-alba have significant antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The findings show that Artemisia herba-alba is a plant that can be used as a source of antifungal chemicals to prevent putrefaction of foodstuffs and, more specifically, postharvest diseases.

In the present work, several new glycoconjugates (8a–e) were generated from glycopyranosyl-α-trichloroacetimidates (sugar-OTCA) as glycosyl donors and dimethyl-l-tartrate as an aglycone acceptor in good to excellent yields. In the synthetic protocol, various monosaccharides were transformed into pentaacetylated derivatives and then into glycopyranosyl-α-trichloroacetimidates. Afterward, the sugar-OTCA was reacted with dimethyl-l-tartrate using Schmidt’s trichloroacetimidate protocol to give the desired products. The newly synthesized glycoconjugates were characterized by FT-IR, 1H, and 13C-NMR spectroscopic analytical methods. All the target compounds (8a–e) were tested in vitro against various strains of bacteria and fungi at different concentrations. The results revealed that the target compounds had encouraging antibacterial and antifungal potential. The antileishmanial activity of the target compounds against Leishmania tropica promastigotes was also investigated. The in vitro results were further supported by the in silico docking study that indicated minimum values of the docking scores and binding energies for the resulting complexes obtained by the favorable interactions between the target compounds (8a–e) and the selected strains of bacteria and fungi. The docking results proposed promising antibacterial and antifungal activities of the target compounds (8a–e) against the selected bacterial and fungal species.

Herein, capsaicin nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by two different methods, namely, evaporative precipitation of nanosuspension (EPN) and anti-solvent precipitation with a syringe pump (APSP). The nanoparticles of the necessary sizes were obtained after optimizing experimental parameters such as the solvent-to-anti-solvent ratio and stirring speed. They had spherical shapes and an average diameter of 171.29 ± 1.94 and 78.91 ± 0.54 nm when prepared using the EPN and APSP methods, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry and an X-ray diffractometer showed that the capsaicin crystallinity decreased. FTIR results showed that the NPs were produced with their original configuration and did not result in the synthesis of any additional structures. The NP formulation had a desirable drug content. They surpassed the unprocessed drug in solubility and displayed the desired stability. Capsaicin NP cream showed many folds of enhanced analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects compared to unprocessed capsaicin.

Chenopodium ambrosioides, a member of the Chenopodiaceae family, is renowned for its toxic properties. Despite its toxicity, it has been traditionally utilized in various communities, particularly in pediatric contexts, for its vermifuge, antispasmodic, and antipyretic attributes. This study aims to unravel the phytochemical composition present in organic fractions and aqueous extracts obtained from the aerial components of C. ambrosioides. Furthermore, our objective is to evaluate the antioxidant activity of these extracts and fractions, coupled with a comprehensive examination of their toxicological effects. Polyphenols were quantified using the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent, flavonoids via the aluminum trichloride reagent AlCl3, and tannins using the vanillin method. Identification of bioactive compounds within the plant specimen was accomplished through GC-MS spectrophotometric analysis. The assessment of antioxidant activity employed DPPH, ferric (Fe3+) ion antioxidant reducing power (FRAP), ABTS, and TAC methods, with quercetin, catechin, and ascorbic acid serving as standards. Dermoprotective activity was studied using the ultraviolet absorption test. The GC-MS analysis conducted on the aqueous extracts (EAI and EAM) and assorted fractions (FCH, FE, FB, and FA) revealed the presence of diverse chemical families encompassing alcohols, acids, terpenes, steroids, and phenolic compounds. The components identified in the investigated samples, including trans-ascaridol glycol, palmitic acid, phenol, octadecadienoic acid, isoascaridol, eicosanoic acid, 2-methoxy-4-vinyl phenol, mexiletine, and thymol, are postulated as potential contributors to the observed antioxidant activity inherent in the plant extracts and fractions. Our findings highlight the remarkable antioxidant potential of Chenopodium ambrosioides, with the ethyl acetate fraction exhibiting the highest activity (IC50 = 0.54 mg/ml) in the DPPH test. In the FRAP and ABTS tests, the n-butanolic and ethyl acetate fractions demonstrated superior activity (IC50 = 4.43 mg/ml, 12.9 mg/ml and IC50 = 1.6 mg/ml, 4.54 mg/ml, respectively). Conversely, the TAC test revealed that the macerated aqueous extract displayed the highest activity (316.33 mg Eq AG/g), followed closely by the n-butanolic fraction (250.67 mg Eq AG/g). These outcomes can be attributed to the abundant presence of phenolic compounds in the n-butanolic and ethyl acetate fractions, as well as the macerated aqueous extract, playing a pivotal role in the observed antioxidant activity. Additionally, our investigation of the dermoprotective activity demonstrated robust efficacy in the ethyl acetate fraction (FE) and the n-butanolic fraction (FB) compared to the standard agents employed (ZnO and methyl salicylate). Overall, our comprehensive studies affirm that the extracts and fractions derived from C. ambrosioides manifest moderate antioxidant activities alongside significant dermoprotective potential, elucidated by the presence of phenolic compounds in moderate quantities within the plant.

This research is dedicated to investigating the antioxidant potential and phytochemical composition of three distinct extracts derived from Vitex agnus-castus L. These extracts, prepared through aqueous (EXA), ethanolic (EXE), and methanolic (EXM) maceration, were chosen based on prior assessments of total polyphenol content in extracts obtained from five solvents with differing polarities: water, methanol, ethanol, acetone, and butanol. The study initiated with a comprehensive phytochemical analysis focusing on the determination of total polyphenols and flavonoids. The quantification of total polyphenols was carried out using the Folin–Ciocalteu method, while the AlCl3 method was employed to assess flavonoids. In evaluating the in vitro antioxidant activity, we employed two well-established methods, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The preliminary tests, gauging the efficacy of solvents, demonstrated that the order of optimal solvent selection was as follows: aqueous, methanolic, ethanolic, butanolic, and acetone. Consequently, the first three solvents were chosen for the preparation of the extracts. The phytochemical analysis unveiled that EXA exhibited the highest total polyphenol content, with an impressive value of 126.84 ± 1.24 mg EAG/g extract, whereas EXE exhibited the lowest concentration of total polyphenols, measuring at 117.26 ± 0.18 mg EAG/g extract. In contrast, EXM showcased a notably high flavonoid content, registering at 33.65 ± 1.04 mg EQ/g extract, while EXA displayed a comparatively lower flavonoid content at 14.93 ± 0.14 mg EQ/g extract. When assessing antioxidant properties, EXA emerged as the most potent against both DPPH and FRAP, recording values of 78.94 ± 1.84 and 203.27 ± 0.17 μg/ml, respectively. In contrast, the ethanolic extract exhibited relatively lower antioxidant activity, with values of 204.16 ± 1.87 μg/ml for DPPH and 307.10 ± 1.15 μg/ml for FRAP.

Melanin is an almost ubiquitous pigment of brown to dark black color synthesized by living organisms. It has excellent potential for application in several fields, especially in pharmaceuticals. Yeasts are known for their ability to synthesize pigments, including melanin. These yeasts are considered black yeasts. However, there is little information on the synthesis of melanin by these yeasts. This work was designed to study the ability of black yeast to produce a diffusible dark pigment on agar. Two strains of black yeast, SN1 and SN2, were isolated from hydrocarbon-polluted soils. Based on morphological, physiological, and molecular analyses, the two strains SN1 and SN2 were identified as new species of the Exophiala phaeomuriformis strain. After pigment extraction, melanin was characterized using UV and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. We found that melanin synthesis is strongly affected by light and optimal parameters such as temperature 30°C, salinity between 10 and 30 ppt, and basic pH. Both melanin extracts also showed inhibitory activity against pathogenic germs, and activities were observed on E. coli (33.33 ± 2.88 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (29.33 ± 4.61 mm), and Staphylococcus aureus (24.3 ± 7.65 mm). It was concluded that the melanin of the E. phaeomuriformis strain isolated from oil-polluted soils had high antibacterial activity. This high antibacterial activity could be a suitable source of new antibacterial natural products.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is known to be one of the current crops with wide adaptability and the potential to grow in various agroecological zones. It has been titled as “queen of cereals” group owing to its high genetic yield capability and abundance among the cereal crop. This study highlights the nutritive composition, phytochemical composition, pharmaceutical properties, and the unconventional use (like ethanol production) of maize plant parts such as the husk, silk, and cob, along with their utilisation in the food sector and pharmaceutical industries. Apart from the kernels, bulk of the harvest, if not used as manure, is majorly treated as waste and is usually discarded. Maize can be incorporated and utilised in the waste management of crop residues. The industrial significance of the maize crop is unmatched when compared to other cereal crops and it is used as a raw material for over 3,000 products in various sectors namely, sweeteners, cosmetics, textiles, gum, alcoholic beverages, films, package, and paper industries. Each part of the maize plant is rich in macronutrients (carbohydrates and proteins) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) along with other phytochemical constituents due to which it has an immense scope to be used in value-added products providing various pharmacological properties.

Orevactaene yellow pigment was produced by solid-state fermentation of broken rice using Epicoccum nigrum. The pigment was extracted using water as a solvent and subjected to stability studies at different temperatures (30, 40, 60, and 80°C), pH (4, 6, and 8), sterilization, and sunlight exposure treatment. The observed data were fitted in the first-order kinetic model. Yellow pigment stability was found to vary at different temperatures studied. At 30°C, only a 4% decrease in color intensity was observed after 2 h; at 40°C, an 8% decrease was observed, and at 80°C and pH 6.0, 17% of color intensity was lost. These results showed that the orevactaene pigment produced by E. nigrum is heat-sensitive and changes in color intensity should be expected in heat-processed products. After 180 min at 80°C, yellow pigments maintained 82 and 76% of the initial color at pH 6 and 8, while a 65% decrease in color intensity was observed at 80°C, pH 4. Autoclaving resulted in 69% decay and exposure of pigment to sunlight for 2 h showed 1% decay. The half-life period of the pigment at different temperatures varied from 82.5 to 5.25 h. The decimal reduction time decreased from 275 to 17.5 h with an increase in the temperature. Thermodynamic parameters for pigment decay at pH 6.0 were represented in terms of enthalpy ∆H, activation energy E a, free energy ∆G, and entropy ∆S. The values observed were 44.52–44.93, 48.48, 96.60–105.18 kJ/mol, and −170.50 to −171.85 J/mol/K, respectively. All these parameters help in predicting the quality changes in terms of appearance during thermal processing and optimizing the process.

In this study, we use a dual technique that combines the Laplace residual power series method (LRPSM) and the new iteration method, both of which are combined with the Caputo operator. Our primary goal is to solve two unique but difficult partial differential equations: the foam drainage equation and the nonlinear time-fractional Fisher’s equation. These equations, which are crucial in modeling complex processes, confront analytical complications, owing to their fractional derivatives and nonlinear behavior. We develop exact and efficient solutions by merging these unique methodologies, which are supported by thorough figures and tables that demonstrate the precision and trustworthiness of our methodology. We not only shed light on the solutions to these equations, but also demonstrate the prowess of the LRPSM and the new iteration method as powerful tools for grappling with complex mathematical and physical models, significantly contributing to advancements in various scientific domains.

Herein, a link has been established between cold acclimation and Cd uptake in Spirogyra aequinoctialis. The water samples supplemented with cadmium (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/L) were used for plant growth at two different temperatures. Cold-acclimated plants accumulated high concentrations (0.40 ± 0.02 µg/dry biomass) of Cd as compared to non-acclimated plants (0.30 ± 0.08 µg/dry biomass). The negative effects of Cd on the biomass, carotenoids, and chlorophyll contents in non-acclimated plants were more pronounced in non-acclimated plants as compared to the cold-acclimated plants. High concentrations of free proline and total phenolics in cold-acclimated plants were observed as compared to the non-acclimated plants. About 13 different phenolic compounds were identified using high-pressure liquid chromatography. Cold acclimation as well as the presence of Cd in water highly increased the concentrations of polyphenolics, while synergistic increase was recorded with the combination of cold acclimation and Cd treatments. The highest increase in the concentration of polyphenolics was recorded for syringic acid. Significant positive correlations of total phenolics were noted with dry biomass (R 2 = 0.51) and Cd accumulation (R 2 = 0.59) in plant tissues. Free proline concentration also showed positive correlations with dry biomass, Cd accumulation, and chlorophyll contents (R 2 = 0.80).

Biotic stress caused by pests on citrus trees has become a major problem for ecologists around the world, hence the need to develop ecological approaches to surmount this stress. To evaluate the effectiveness of diverse control methods on the pest Panonychus citri and its predators, Euseius stipulatus, Phytoseiulus persimilis, and Typhlodromus sp. Different treatments were applied in orchards planted by Citrus clementina in the Gharb area of Morocco (T0 = treated by water only, T1 = spirodiclofen (the molecular formula is C21H24Cl2O4). 0.5 L/ha, T2 = 5% black soap 125 L/ha, Its ingredients are: argan oil, olive oil, black olive, salt, water, vegetable potash, without chemicals. T3 = mixture of two detergents; Oni product is composed of the following ingredients (sodium C12-13 parenth sulfate, and sodium C14-17 alkyl sec sulfonate) and Tide product with the following ingredients (sodium C10-16 alkylbenzene sulfonate, propylene glycol and sodium borate). Results obtained during the follow-up period showed that the black soap, spirodiclofen, and two detergent treatments provided a decrease in the P. citri population in comparison with plot treated by water during the whole monitoring period. We found 5,044 mobile forms of P. citri in the plot treated by water only, 1,544 forms in the plot treated with spirodiclofen, 3,002 forms in the plot treated with black soap, and 1,567 mobile forms in the plot treated with two detergents. This study demonstrated that all three treatments had a negative effect on the predators that survived in comparison to the control (T0), while the negative impact of spirodiclofen on beneficial phytoseiid mites was greater than that of black soap and detergents. However, the increase in temperature according to the follow-up weeks showed a significant effect on the evolution of the density of the studied mites. Unfortunately, the chemical products like spirodiclofen used against various citrus pests are considered toxic to phytoseiids and to the agro-ecosystem in general. This comparison aims to detect the effectiveness of black soap and mixtures of two detergents on P. citri and their impacts on its predators: E. stipulatus, P. persimilis, and Typhlodromus sp. to replace the use of pesticides by these alternative methods, which remain effective and environmentally friendly.

An automated, qualitative and semi-quantitative micro-assay for the detection of plant lectins also known as phyto-agglutinins (glycoproteins; have exciting applications in medicines) is described as an alternative to conventional assays. The method developed in this work is based on hemagglutination (HA) assay that can simultaneously detect the presence and concentration (titer) of lectins in as many as 96 different samples without the aid of an expert eye. We used rice (Oryza sativa L.) seeds for making clarified lectin extracts and Arabic gum as positive control in phosphate buffer saline; the method is applicable to all kinds and parts of the plants. Rabbit red blood cells were used in order to carry out the HA assay in a miniaturized experiment using U-welled microplates (MPs). 25 µL of plant extract is sufficient to carry out HA micro-assay at incubation temperature of 38°C for 20 min. The method was standardized with an expert eye and automated by using MP reader. Moreover, a standard curve for the direct interpretation of lectin concentration is also developed by conversion of absorbance values into titer. The method described will save time, material, labor, and simplify the rapid semi-quantification of plant lectins.

Carvacrol is a major component of many essential oils of the genus Thymus, Satureja, and Origanum, determining their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and other properties. The aim of the present study was to investigate some physicochemical and biological properties of pure carvacrol. The surface tension and density were measured at six different temperatures (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80°C). The surface tension values were between 53.11 and 60.38 mN/m, while density varied from 0.978 to 0.99 kg/m3. The antibacterial activity against seven pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic bacteria was investigated. The diameter of the inhibition zones was determined in the range of 3.9–4.9 mm. The antioxidant activity was determined by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (1687.0 µmol TE/mL) method.

In the current research work, an attempt was made to synthesize silver nanoparticles (MA-AgNPs) utilizing the ripened fruit extract of Melia azedarach. Various characterization techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopic analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to confirm the AgNPs synthesis. The bioreduction and color changes were tracked by UV-visible spectroscopy while SEM confirmed AgNPs of size 2–60 nm. TGA revealed the stability of the synthesized AgNPs. The antibacterial potential of the M. azedarach-based AgNPs and the fruit extract was assessed in terms of zone of inhibition (ZI), minimum bactericidal concentration, and minimum inhibitory concentration against tested bacterial strains where higher activity was noted for NPs (P. aeruginosa ZI = 22). The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and (2,2-azinobis-[3-ethylbenzthiazoline]-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays revealed that NPs have significant antioxidant activities. The IC50 values recorded for extract was 340 and 350 μg·mL−1 against DPPH and ABTS whereas the corresponding values obtained for AgNPs were 40 and 58 μg·mL−1, respectively. The study suggests that the engineered NPs have promising biological activities compared to the parental extract, and thus could be used in drug designing as antibacterial and antioxidant agents; however, there should be further in vivo exploration in this regard before extending their uses to biological systems.

Morus nigra, black mulberry, is the most attractive among mulberry species. The study aimed to determine human health-promoting content and antifungal activity in fruits of seven black mulberry genotypes grown in the Tortum district of Turkey. The genotypes exhibited significant differences in most of the human health-promoting content. Among individual sugars and organic acids, glucose (6.98–8.03 g/100 g fresh weight base) and malic acid (6.33–10.45 g/100 g fresh weight base) were predominant. The ascorbic acid content of genotypes was found between 18.13 and 26.77 mg/100 g fresh weight base, indicating that black mulberry fruits had moderate ascorbic acid content. Total phenolic content, total antioxidant capacity, and total anthocyanin contents in fruit extracts of seven black mulberry genotypes were also investigated. The results showed that the levels of the aforementioned parameters changed depending on genotypes. The total phenolic and total anthocyanin contents were in the range of 1,656–2,348 μg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g and 623–804 μg C3GE (cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalent)/g, respectively. The genotypes had antioxidant capacity between 17.41 and 3.86 μg/mL and between 10.08 and 14.11 μmol TE/g measured by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, respectively. Some of the genotypes (TOR-1 and TOR-2) had high antifungal activity particularly against C. albicans. It was determined that the people living in the region traditionally use mulberries as blood enhancer, immune system booster, and mouth lesion treatments to protect themselves against different types of cancers and against inflammation. The present results confirm that attractive fruits of black mulberry are a rich natural source of phenolic antioxidants and can contribute to the dietary intake of antioxidants, depending on genotypes.

Berberis hispanica Boiss. & Reut (B. hispanica) belongs to the family Berberidaceae, which is currently used in traditional medicines. This article aimed to study the phytochemical composition and acute and subacute toxicity of B. hispanica extract in rats. The phytochemical composition of B. hispanica extract was characterized using GC-MS. The acute toxicity was investigated in vivo via the oral administration of single doses including 400, 800, 1,000, 1,200, and 1,400 mg/kg for 14 days. The subchronic toxicity was studied through oral administration of 400 mg/kg for 60 days. The findings of the phytochemical analysis of B. hispanica extract showed the presence of various phytochemical compounds. Acute toxicity results revealed serious clinical symptoms and mortalities in rats treated with 800 mg/kg up to a maximum of 1,400 mg/kg. With acute toxicity, subchronic toxicity results showed also serious signs of toxicity including biochemical and histological alterations in animals treated with 1,400 mg/kg. B. hispanica extract revealed to be toxic in rats orally treated under both subacute (>400 mg/kg) and subchronic toxicity conditions (400 mg/kg). The outcome of this study serves the society as it provides toxicological evidence of B. hispanica used in alternative medicines

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) emerged as a unique type of pneumonia outbreak in the Wuhan city of China in 2019 and spread to all its provinces in a matter of days and then to every continent of the world except Antarctica within 3–4 month. This paper aims to comprehensively consolidate the available information about COVID-19 and present all the possible information about this disease in form of a single paper to readers. Unparalleled research and exhaustive studies of everything about the disease and its causative virus, i.e., severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), are underway since its emergence. The genome sequence of the virus was made available within a record short time by China, making possible immediate study of its structure and characteristics. The routes of transmission of the disease, signs and symptoms, incubation period, pathogenesis, and pathophysiology have been extensively studied and presented in an organized way in this review paper. The number of confirmed cases and case fatality and mortality rates are updated regularly. The different diagnostic mechanisms have been characterized. Testing and management criteria and protocols have been adopted. Extensive efforts are underway for finding a treatment of the disease and developing a vaccine against it. A number of vaccines are available even in markets in different countries. More and more ways of personal protection, prevention, and mitigation of the disease are being explored and shared. While the outbreak has been declared as pandemic, the response of scientists was timely and enormous; thousands of publications about various aspects and impact of the diseases and its causative virus are there on the World Health Organization database and many more studies are underway. The purpose of writing this review article is to provide a comprehensive summary of the major aspects and important scientific findings so far, about COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2, in a single article for ready reference.

Autoimmune diseases are pathological conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues. This study evaluates the performance of two techniques, which are identifiers of autoantibody specifics: immunoblot and immunodot. This study was conducted in 300 patients of whom 62 were tested positive for antinuclear antibodies. The patients were initially screened for antinuclear antibodies using indirect immunofluorescence. Then, the identification of specific autoantibodies such as anti-extractable nuclear antigens (ENAs) was carried out using the immunoblot and immunodot techniques. The results showed that immunoblot and immunodot did not present a significant difference in their sensitivity against anti-SSA/52, SSB, CENP-B, PCNA, U1-snRNP, Jo-1, Pm-scl, and Mi-2 (p > 0.05). However, the two techniques showed a significant difference in their sensitivity toward autoantibodies anti-DNAn, anti-histone, anti-SmD1, and anti-ds-DNA (p < 0.05). The immunoblot data were in complete accordance with the immunodot data (100%) regarding the detection of autoantibodies such as anti SSA/52, SSB, CENP-B, PCNA, U1-snRP, Jo-1, Pm-scl, and Mi-2, 80% regarding SmD1, and 75% concerning ds-DNA. We should certainly pay closer attention to the efficiency of the techniques used in the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases.

The current study was designed to investigate the potential of Euphorbia wallichii shoot extract for reducting Au3+ and stabilizing gold nanoparticles. UV-visible spectra of gold nanoparticles showed obvious surface plasmon resonance peak at 548 nm. Microscopy (SEM and TEM) showed spherical dimensions, and the energy dispersive X-ray spectra displayed the strongest optical absorption peak for gold (Au) at 2.1 keV. Dynamic light scattering spectra represent polydispersed mixture with particulate diameter of 2.5–103.2 nm. The IR spectra confirm the potential functional groups of shoot extract responsible for the reduction of Au3+ to gold nanoparticles which exhibit tremendous antibacterial potential of 76.31%, 68.47%, 79.85%, 48.10%, and 65.53% against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus pumilus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively. Gold nanoparticles showed markedly elevated fungicidal potency compared to the shoot extract alone against the tested fungal strains. IC50 for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging was 31.52, 18.29, and 15.32 µg/mL at 30, 60, and 90 min of reaction time, respectively. Both shoot extract and nanoparticles revealed 71% mortality at 100 µg/mL, with LD90 values of 310.56 µg/mL. Experimental mice acquired dose-dependent analgesia of 54.21%, 82.60%, and 86.53% when treated with gold nanoparticles at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg bw. Inhibition of gastrointestinal muscular contraction was 21.16%, 30.49%, and 40.19% in mice feed with 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg bw, respectively.

Barbary fig called prickly pear is a plant belonging to family Cactaceae growing under hard climate conditions. A spiny variety of prickly pear named “Drbana” (Opuntia megacantha) and two non-spiny varieties named “Akria” and “Mlez” (Opuntia ficus-indica) growing in the Rhamna region (Morocco) were studied in terms of physicochemical characteristics. The physicochemical characterization (humidity, water activity, pH, total titratable acidity, Brix, and ash content) and the biochemical characterization (total carotenoid content, betalain content, total polyphenolic content, and ascorbic acid content) of the fruit pulp of prickly pear were performed according to the previously reported methods. The finding of physicochemical characterization of all studied varieties showed that the fruit pulp also contained an interesting bioactive compound classes in humidity, water activity, pH, total titratable acidity, Brix, and ash content. Regarding the biochemical characterization, the obtained finding showed the fruit pulp also contained an interesting bioactive compound classes particularly the total betalains, polyphenols, carotenoids, and ascorbic acids. Based on the obtained results in the current research work, we can affirm that the fruits of all studied varieties meet the requirement for being exploited in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.

The medicinal plant Haloxylon salicornicum is utilized for therapeutic purposes. We previously reported the antioxidant potential of hexane fraction and methanol extracts of the same species. However, since these solvents could be clinically toxic, the current findings investigated the pharmacological effects of the water fraction. The pain relieving, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic potential of H. salicornicum water extract (HEW) were studied at two concentrations (250 and 500 mg/kg) in rodents. The carrageenan stimulated rat paw edema assay was exercised to assess anti inflammatory potential in rats; yeast-stimulated hyperthermia was utilized to test antipyretic activity in mice; analgesic properties were assessed based on acetic acid-induced writhing, tail flicking, and hot-plate test; and antioxidant potential was examined with the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay. We found that 500 mg/kg HEW inhibited edema by 44.03%. Yeast-induced hyperthermia in mice was reduced by 250 and 500 mg/kg HEW after 30, 60, and 120 min with significant level of (P < 0.001) compared to rectal temperature of yeast administered group. The high dose of HEW (500 mg/kg) improved the reaction time of mice in the hot-plate test from 6.66 ± 0.33 to 11.33 ± 0.49 s after 120 min. In the acetic acid-stimulated writhing test, 250 and 500 mg/kg HEW decreased writhing by 32.71% and 51.40%, respectively, after 20 min. HEW also showed antioxidant effects. These results demonstrate that HEW is bioactive and has therapeutic potential for treating a variety of ailments.

Cystic Echinococossis is a serious zoonotic parasitic infection caused by Echinococcus granulosus species complex. The current study was designed to evaluate the in-vitro antiprotoscolices effect of alcoholic extracts of three selected medicinal plants including Buxus Wallichiana, Berberis vulgaris and Euphorbia heliscopia against Echinococcus granulosus. Fertile hydatid cysts were collected from livestock and viability of the protoscolices was confirmed by 0.1% eosin red stain method. Protoscolices were subjected to three different concentrations of alcoholic extracts (10mg/ml, 30mg/ ml and 50mg/ml) for 10, 20 and 30 min. The highest efficacy was shown by B. vulgaris (97.92%) followed by B. wallichiana (65.98%) and E. heliscopia (61.22%) respectively, after exposure of 30 minutes at 50mg/ml concentration, that lead to the significant reduction in the viability of protoscolices. Alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and saponnins were identified qualitatively and weighted quantitatively, that might help in the identification of bioactive compounds involved in selective action on the tegument layer of protoscolices. Alcoholic extracts of all the three selected medicinal plants showed toxic activities against protoscolices of Echinococcus granulosus. These findings suggest that all the selected medicinal plants could be a promising source of potent antiprotoscolices effect. However, the mechanism by which plant extracts killed protoscolices and also their safety for living cells are unclear and need to be investigated further.

The detoxification, metabolism, and excretion of various endogenous and exogenous materials occur mainly in the liver. Liver diseases are a global concern, and classified as chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatosis. The development of safe hepatoprotective agents remains an unmet need. Therefore, we investigated the antioxidant effects of methanolic and n-hexane fractions of Zilla spinosa (ZSM and ZSH, respectively) and Hammada elegans (HEM and HEH, respectively) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver toxicity in rats. Antioxidant activity was studied by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The rats were divided into 11 groups (n=6)–group, 1 (control), group 2 (CCl4 only), group 3 (CCl4+silymarin 10 mg/kg), group 4 (CCl4+HEM 250 mg/kg), group 5 (CC14+HEM 500 mg/kg), group 6 (CCl4+HEH 250 mg/kg), group, 7 (CCl4+HEH 500 mg/kg), group, 8 (CCl4+ZSM 250 mg/kg), group 9 (CCl4+ZSM 500 mg/kg), group 10 (CCl4+ZSH 250 mg/kg), and group 11 (CCl4+ZSH 500 mg/kg). Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, and total bilirubin were measured. The extent of hepatic injury was histopathologically assessed. Treatment with ZSM and ZSH at 250 and 500 mg/kg did not significantly affect biochemical results compared with the CCl4 only group. However, treatment with both HEM and HEH at 250 and 500 mg/kg provided significant (p

A time cartogram visualizes travelling-times between locations. It replaces the geographic distance by time distance and distorts the underlyingmap accordingly. By distorting themap, time cartogramsmay give a more intuitive and clear picture of travelling-times. The distortion of the map, however, can make time cartograms harder to recognize and use. Although cartograms are becoming widespread in use, very little is known about their usability. This study focuses on the usability of centered time cartograms: time cartograms that visualize travellingtimes from a fixed starting location to other destinations in a region. We created several centered time cartograms to answer spatio-temporal questions related to the Dutch railway network. Two experiments were performed: a laboratory test and an online survey. In the laboratory test, we used eye-tracking, thinking aloud, and video-recording to compare four different designs of centered time cartograms to find out which one (or combination) of these performs better in answering spatiotemporal questions and thus, to establish a favorable design strategy for these cartograms. In the online survey, centered time cartograms were evaluated against a geographic and schematic map for accuracy, response time, and preference. The first experiment suggested that among various designs, the centered time cartogram with emphasized railroads is the most preferred design and the centered time cartogram without railroads is the least preferred. The second experiment indicated that overall, centered time cartograms perform better than the two other solutions in performing spatio-temporal tasks, particularly when the task has a dominant time-related component.