Search

The qualitative and quantitative analysis aims to identify secondary metabolites, including phenolic compounds, alkaloids, terpenes, and other substances commonly referred to as phytochemicals. Qualitative phytochemical screening relies on color and precipitation tests that indicate the presence or absence of a metabolite, while quantitative analysis accounts for the quantity or concentration of the bioactive compounds contained within the extracts. During the quantitative determination of the total content of phenolics and flavonoids present in the extracts, we used the conventional soxhlet extraction (SE) method with solvents of different polarities. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the impact of solvents with varying polarity on both the extraction yield and phytochemical composition of A. unedo leaves. The findings indicate that yield and polyphenol content vary from one extract to another. Thus, the ethanol extract (EEAU) showed the highest percentage extraction yield (15.23%) and the highest total phenolic content (TPC) with 122.82 ± 5.42 mg GAE/gext. In contrast, the dichloromethane extract (EDAU) had the lowest extraction yield (1.76%), while the methanol extract (EMAU) showed the highest total flavonoid content (TFC) with 45.8 ± 1.3 mg QE/gext. Generally, these data provide information into the phytochemical content of various extracts of the plant growing in the Ait Ammart region. These extracts contain several bioactive substances that will be useful in the formulation of pharmaceutical products for a variety of diseases and may have applications in the food industry.

In recent decades, the global environmental balance has been disrupted due to new environmental conditions and increasing anthropogenic pressure. In this context, the increase in frequency and magnitude of jellyfish proliferation in the Mediterranean Sea can be examined as an indicator closely associated with potential impacts of global changes. Despite their importance in ecosystem function and services, current knowledge of jellyfish diversity and phenology is largely lacking in the southern Mediterranean Sea, particularly along the Moroccan Mediterranean coast. Rhizostoma pulmo is a large scyphozoan jellyfish endemic to the Mediterranean. It is the second dominant scyphozoan species in the jellyfish community of Al Hoceima Bay. In this article, we explore the seasonal dynamics of the jellyfish R. pulmo between the estuaries of Oued Ghis and Nekkour at Souani Beach. Due to the disparity between the visual abundance of jellyfish and their rare beaching along the shores of Al Hoceima Bay, we implemented a specific method for collecting R. pulmo. This approach involves the use of a coastal trawl, a fishing net 200 meters long with a mesh size of 5 cm, deployed 80 meters from the shore and pulled from both sides by fishermen. Sampling missions conducted throughout the year 2022 revealed that R. pulmo reaches its maximum abundance in summer. The results indicate a maximum abundance of 0.28 ind/m2 in July 2022, with a maximum umbrella diameter reaching 26 cm in August 2022. Under the jellyfish umbrellas, fry of two fish species and one crustacean species were observed, adding an ecological dimension to this study.