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Actinobacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of plants are of interest as they produce a diverse range of molecules, such as antibiotics and enzymes. This study investigates the antibacterial activity, plant growth-promoting (PGP) abilities as well as the production of extracellular enzymes by the actinobacterial strain BTS40. This strain was isolated from the rhizospheric soil of the medicinal plant Artemisia herba-alba Asso that was naturally grown in a semi-arid environment. Morphological characteristics showed that the strain BTS40 belongs to the genus Streptomyces. Analysis of BTS40's 16S rRNA gene sequence showed 99.45% similarity to Streptomyces alboniger NRRL B-1832T, in the EzTaxon database. This actinobacterium showed only antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. The strain also showed potential multiple traits for plant growth promotion and hydrolysis of enzymes. Hence, this study reveals that strain BTS40 has multiple PGP traits and produces many extracellular hydrolytic enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The codling moth Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a destructive pest of apples and pears worldwide. Due to the phytotoxic effect of chemical fumigant on postharvest apple, botanical insecticides are an interesting alternative to synthetic chemical insecticides regarding their low environmental impact. Hence, in the present study, we investigated the chemical composition and fumigant toxicity of Artemisia herba-alba essential oil against the fifth-instar codling moth, under laboratory conditions. In total, 49 compounds were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The major constituents determined were dextro-camphor (30.60%), 2,6-dimethyl-1,3,6-heptatriene (26.71%), safranal (7.04%), borneol (3.94%) and eucalyptol (3.47%). A. herba-alba essential oil showed strong larvicidal activity, with minimum lethal concentration LC50 values of 13.49 and 04.45 μl L-1 air at 24 h and 48 h, respectively. The LT50 values at the lowest (1.81 μl L-1 air) and highest oil concentrations (18.18 μl L-1 air) were, in turn, 59.35 to 19.52 h. The obtained results indicated that essential oil of A. herba-alba may have a potential to be developed as a botanical fumigant against the fifth-instar codling moth. • The essential oil of Artemisia herba-alba from Algeria was analyzed by GC-MS. • Hydrocarbon and oxygenated monoterpenes were the predominant class of the total A. herba-alba EO. • A. herba-alba essential oil may be a source of new botanical fumigants against the fifth-instar codling moth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Centaurium erythraea Rafn (CE), Artemisia herba-alba Asso (AHA) and Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (TFG) are traditionally used to treat type 2 diabetes in Algeria, previous studies have found that extracts of these plants were effective to treat or prevent experimental diabetes induced by high-fat diet (HFD). Aim of the study Describe the additional effects of these extracts on lipid tissue deposition in HFD. Materials and methods Male C57BL/6J mice were fed with HFD to induce type 2 Diabetes. Groups of mice were given plant extracts orally at 2 g/kg/bodyweight daily for 20 weeks during establishment of diabetes, or for 18 weeks after confirmation of diabetes at the 17th week. Liver and other tissue samples were stained with Oil Red O. Results Liver steatosis was confirmed with HFD. CE, AHA and TFG extracts improved liver steatosis by the end of the preventive (20 weeks) and curative periods (35 weeks). This was most marked for CE extract ( p <0.05), less so with TFG and AHA. No steatosis was found in other tissues. Conclusion CE extract had a clear hepatoprotective effect in this mouse model of diet-induced type 2 diabetes. AHA and TFG had a minimal or no significant effect on steatosis. Beyond its effect as an antidiabetic agent, CE may also be promising to prevent or treat non-alcoholic liver steatosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) derivatives, 5- O-caffeoylquinic acid ( 1), 3,5-di- O-caffeoylquinic acid ( 3), 4,5-di- O-caffeoylquinic acid ( 4), and 3,4,5-tri- O-caffeoylquinic acid ( 5), have been isolated from Artemisia herba-alba growing wild in Algeria, using the on-line HPLCDADDPPH radical-scavenging detection technique as guidance. In the course of the purification work, the non-frequent ( E)-2-( β- D-glucopyranosyloxy)-4-methoxycinnamic acid ( 2) has also been isolated. The CQAs showed fair-to-good antioxidant activities determined by the DPPH. scavenging assay. The structures of the five isolated compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods. The on-line HPLCDADDPPH technique allowed for a rapid pinpointing of antioxidants in the studied plant, accomplishing the facile guided isolation of the target molecules. Algerian A. herba-alba could be an interesting source of natural antioxidants that deserve further work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim of the study: Hydro-alcoholic extracts of Centaurium erythraea Rafn (CE), Gentianaceae and Artemisia herba-alba Asso (AHA), Asteraceae, medicinal plants used in traditional treatment of diabetes in north-eastern Algeria, were tested in established type 2 diabetes induced with a standardized high fat diet (HFD) in mice. Materials and methods: After confirmation of diabetes (17th week), plant extracts were administered orally by gavage at a dose of 2g/kg daily for 18 weeks to male C57BL/6J mice fed HFD. Animals were weighed, food intake and plasma glucose measured weekly, insulin and lipid profile at study end. Results: At 35 weeks, groups treated with AHA or CE vs. HFD control had a significant reduction in mean (±SD) fasting blood glucose concentrations (143.8±23.9 and 139.5±14.2 vs. 229.0±20.8mg/dL, p <0.05, respectively), triglyceride (18.9±11.1 and 16.0±6.5 vs. 62.8±18.3mg/dL, p <0.05), total cholesterol (1.2±0.1 and 1.2±0.3 vs. 1.8±1.1g/L, p <0.05) and serum insulin concentrations (1.7±0.7 and 0.9±0.7 vs. 3.3±14.3ng/mL, p <0.05). Plant extracts also markedly reduced insulin resistance as compared to HFD controls (AHA: 15.6±9.1, CE: 9.0±7.7 vs. HFD control 38.5±30.3, p <0.05). The plant extracts decreased calorie intake and had little effect on body weight or HDL-cholesterol. Conclusion: AHA has already been shown to have a antihyperglycaemic and antihyperlipidemic effect but this is the first demonstration of an effect of AHA and CE on established HFD-induced diabetes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]