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Anthemis parlatoreana was collected in the north west coast of Sicily. Fresh and dried aerial parts were subjected to distillation procedure for the extraction and isolation of essential oils. In both fresh and dried samples, the most abundant chemical classes were ketones and esters, represented to a greater extent by β-thujone and β-artemisia acetate, respectively. In dried vegetable material, a high content of α-pinene and δ3-carene was also registered. Aqueous, methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of aerial parts were also investigated in terms of polyphenolic content and antioxidant potential. All the extracts tested showed a quite different quali-quantitative profile and in terms of chemical classes, most of compounds belonged to the hydroxycinnamic class (15 compounds) followed by flavonoid one (11 compounds); the rest was comprised of 2 sequiterpenoids, 2 organic acids and 1 hydroxybenzoic acid derivative. Further, the dried methanolic followed by the dried aqueous extracts revealed the best quenching ability, whereas concerning iron chelating capacity, although all of them showed a marked capacity to disrupt or inhibit the formation of iron (II)-Ferrozine complex, a slight difference was observed between the dried and the fresh ones, since the former have a slightly higher chelating power than the latter.

As part of a project aimed at investigating the specific and intraspecific taxa of Matthiola which grow spontaneously in Sicily (Italy), in this work our research has been focused on Matthiola tricuspidata and Matthiola sinuata. The phenolic and volatile compounds of the hydroalcoholic extracts from the aerial parts of the selected species have been characterized by HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS and SPME-GC/MS analyses. Moreover, the antioxidant capacity in vitro (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH), reducing power and Fe2+ chelating activity assays) and the toxicity (Artemia salina lethality bioassay) of the extracts were investigated. The phytochemical analyses highlighted quite different phenolic and volatile profiles in the two species. Concerning the antioxidant properties, M. tricuspidata extract resulted the most active both in the DPPH and in the reducing power tests (IC50 = 1.20 ± 0.01 mg/mL and ASE/mL = 11.25 ± 0.97), whereas M. sinuata extract showed better secondary antioxidant properties (IC50 = 1.32±0.02mg/mL). The extracts resulted non-toxic in the Artemia salina lethality bioassay. Our findings indicate that both M. tricuspidata and M. sinuata represent new safe sources of bioactive compounds with antioxidant potential.

Olive oil quality has received much attention during the last 2 decades. However, in some countries e.g. Morocco data reported so far are still deficient and incomplete since only a few researchers have so far addressed the impact of pedoclimatic factors on its quality. For this purpose, thirty-eight Moroccan extra virgin olive oils from the “Picholine Marocaine” variety were collected over two successive crop years (2018 and 2019) and nineteen soil samples were sampled during the first agricultural campaign considering the appropriate sampling equipment recommended. Twenty-three polar phenolic compounds and five Vitamin E isomers (α, β, γ, δ tocopherol and α-tocotrienol) were detected, using HPLC–PDA-ESI–MS and NP-HPLC-FLD, respectively. The most abundant phenolic class was represented by secoiridoids and derivates with an average amount of 1112.3 mg kg−1, whereas among Vitamin E homologs, α-tocopherol was the most abundant, accounting for 91% of total vitamin E. The correlation test and the Principal Components Analysis revealed the significant influence of the pedoclimatic factors on some classes of phenolic compounds (phenolic acids, flavonoids, and secoiridoids); nevertheless, no correlation was detected between phenolic alcohols and other variables under study. Furthermore, the dendrogram cluster allowed to classify the studied areas into five zones, indicating the discrimination of olive oil quality in terms of geographical origin. Besides, phenolic compounds and tocopherols showed significant dependence on the crop year of production. Further, the harvest time turned out to be another factor that can influence the antioxidant fraction quantitatively.

The antifungal drugs currently available and mostly used for the treatment of candidiasis exhibit the phenomena of toxicity and increasing resistance. In this context, plant materials might represent promising sources of antifungal agents. The aim of this study is to evaluate for the first time the chemical content of the volatile fractions (VFs) along with the antifungal and anti-biofilm of

Rosa damascena is referred to as the queen of roses due to its ornamental, flavoring, and perfuming uses, along with its recognized use in therapy. This study aimed to investigate the total phenols and flavonoids contents, the phenolic compounds, and study the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the hydroethanolic extract from Rosa damascena flowers, collected from the Middle Atlas of Morocco (Khenifra). The total phenols and flavonoids were assessed using gallic acid and quercetin as standards, and the phenolic compounds were characterized using HPLC-PDA-ESI/MS. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by two methods, namely ferric reducing assay power and total antioxidant capacity. The broth microdilution method was employed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of extract against four bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes). Up to 16 phenolic compounds belonging to tannins and flavonoids were positively identified in the Rosa damascena extract. The latter displayed high antioxidant activity and exhibited a bacteriostatic effect against Escherichia coli and a bactericidal effect against Salmonella typhimuriumn, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes. As a result, the flowers of Rosa damascena might be employed as natural agents in the pharmaceutical field.

This paper investigates the problem of controlling half-vehicle semi-active suspension system involving a magnetorheological (MR) damper. This features a hysteretic behavior that is presently captured through the nonlinear Bouc-Wen model. The control objective is to regulate well the heave and the pitch motions of the chassis despite the road irregularities. The difficulty of the control problem lies in the nonlinearity of the system model, the uncertainty of some of its parameters, and the inaccessibility to measurements of the hysteresis internal state variables. Using Lyapunov control design tools, we design two observers to get online estimates of the hysteresis internal states and a stabilizing adaptive state-feedback regulator. The whole adaptive controller is formally shown to meet the desired control objectives. This theoretical result is confirmed by several simulations demonstrating the supremacy of the latter compared to the skyhook control and passive suspension.

In continuation of research conducted on species of the spontaneous flora of Sicily (Italy) belonging to the Brassicaceae family

As part of a project aimed at investigating the Matthiola taxa endemic to Sicily (Italy), this study focused on Matthiola incana, an edible species used in the traditional medicine of various countries. Herein, the characterization of phenolic and volatile compounds, the antioxidant capacity in vitro (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH), reducing power and Fe2+ chelating activity assays) and the toxicity test (Artemia salina lethality bioassay) of the hydroalcoholic extracts from the aerial parts of M. incana subsp. rupestris from Mt. Pellegrino (Palermo) and Mt. Erice (Trapani), and of M. incana subsp. pulchella are reported. The results are compared with those previously shown for M. incana subsp. incana, to achieve a comprehensive overview of the three subspecies. The HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS and SPME-GC/MS analyses led to the identification of 13 phenolics and 54 volatile compounds. Differences in the qualitative-quantitative profile of these phytochemicals have been highlighted between the M. incana subspecies. The antioxidant tests showed different activity for the extracts, which were found to possess better chelating properties. At last, none of the tested extracts displayed toxicity against brine shrimp larvae. These findings enrich the knowledge on the Matthiola taxa growing wild in Sicily, both from the strictly systematic point of view and for the possible applications as sources bioactive compounds that can be used in the nutraceutical field.

Thymus zygis subsp. gracilis, Mentha suaveolens and Sideritis incana (Lamiaceae family) are well recognized for their medicinal, pharmaceutical and aromatic properties. The present study aimed to investigate for the first time the phenolic composition, the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the extracts obtained from the aerial parts of these species collected from the Ifrane region of Morocco. The phenolic compounds were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-PDA-ESI/MS). The antioxidant activity was investigated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, reducing power and ferrous ion chelating assays. The antibacterial activity was evaluated against three Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhimurium) and three Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Listeria monocytogenes). A total of thirty-three, sixteen and thirteen phenolic compounds were positively identified and characterized in T. zygis subsp. gracilis, M. suaveolens and S. incana extracts, respectively. Among the extracts, M. suaveolens exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, followed by S. incana and T. zygis subsp. gracilis in both DPPH and reducing power assays; all extracts showed the lowest activity in the chelating assay. In addition, all extracts demonstrated a bactericidal effect against Gram-positive bacteria and bacteriostatic effect against Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, the aerial parts of Moroccan T. zygis subsp. gracilis, M. suaveolens and S. incana might be considered as a valuable source of natural antioxidant and antibacterial agents with potential application in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Sukuk (Islamic bonds) emerged as a revolutionary financial instrument over the last years and is considered as the flagship capital market instrument of the Islamic finance industry. However, the understanding of it is still limited compared to conventional bonds. This study aims to investigate whether the announcements of Sukuk issuance that carry any new information can create impact on the market’s reactions using 42 Sukuk announcements over the period of 2010 to 2019 in four Gulf financial markets. It is revealed the absenteeism of significant abnormal returns across asymmetric and symmetric event windows for periods before and after the announcement date, concluding no wealth effect. Within the equity marketplace, these results will be of practical relevance to corporations, practitioners and decision-makers. Keywords: Islamic finance, Sukuk, Event study, GCC.

L'objectiu d'aquest projecte és veure com afecten les diferents condicions de brunyit en una peça quan se sotmet a un test de fatiga amb moment flector i, d'aquesta manera triar els paràmetres que més optimitzen aquest procés de brunyit. Els paràmetres que variaran en cada condició de brunyit són la força, el nombre de passades i l'assistència de vibracions. Per a això es duran a terme diferents assajos per a anar mesurant la possible millora que pot haver-hi de diferents factors com la rugositat superficial, la duresa i la resistència a fatiga. Una vegada duts a terme els assajos esmentats, s'ha trobat que el paràmetre més influent a l'hora de millorar la resistència a fatiga és el nombre de passades, amb 5 passades de brunyit la millora és molt notable, en canvi, en brunyir amb una força de 180 N, la resistència a fatiga és molt de menor que en altres casos. Per tant, els paràmetres òptims de brunyit són amb una força de brunyit de 90 N o 270 N, 5 passades i assistència de vibracions. El objetivo de este proyecto es ver cómo afectan las diferentes condiciones de bruñido en una pieza cuando se somete a un test de fatiga con momento flector y, de esta manera escoger los parámetros que más optimizan este proceso de bruñido. Los parámetros que variarán en cada condición de bruñido son la fuerza, el número de pasadas y la asistencia de vibraciones. Para ello se llevarán a cabo diferentes ensayos para ir midiendo la posible mejora que puede haber de diferentes factores como la rugosidad superficial, la dureza y la resistencia a fatiga. Una vez llevados a cabo los ensayos mencionados, se ha encontrado que el parámetro más influyente a la hora de mejorar la resistencia a fatiga es el número de pasadas, con 5 pasadas de bruñido la mejora es muy notable, en cambio, al bruñir con una fuerza de 180 N, la resistencia a fatiga es mucho menor que en otros casos. Por lo tanto, los parámetros óptimos de bruñido son con una fuerza de bruñido de 90 N o 270 N, 5 pasadas y con asistencia de vibraciones. The objective of this project is to see how different burnishing conditions affect a part when it is subjected to a fatigue test with bending momentum and, in this way, to choose the parameters that most optimize this burnishing process. The parameters that will vary in each burnishing condition are strength, number of passes and vibration assistance. For this, different tests will be carried out to measure the possible improvement that there may be of different factors such as surface roughness, hardness and resistance to fatigue. Once the aforementioned tests have been carried out, it has been found that the most influential parameter when it comes to improving fatigue resistance is the number of passes, with 5 burnishing passes the improvement is very notable, on the other hand, when burnishing with a 180N force, the fatigue resistance is much lower than other cases. Therefore, the optimal burnishing parameters are with a burnishing force of 90 N or 270 N, 5 passes and vibration assistance.

Objectives High‐frequency spinal cord stimulation (HF‐SCS) at 10 kHz has proven to be efficacious in the treatment of chronic back and leg pain in a randomized, controlled, trial (SENZA‐RCT). However, large observational studies have yet to be published. Therefore, we performed a real‐world, multicenter, retrospective, review of therapy efficacy in 1660 patients with chronic trunk and/or limb pain. Methods Data were collected in a real‐world environment and retrospectively sourced from a global database. Included patients were trialed and/or permanently implanted with HF‐SCS at 10 kHz between April 2014 and January 2018. We evaluated responder rates at 3, 6, and 12 months post‐implantation. Response was defined as ≥50% pain relief from baseline. A last visit analysis included responder rate along with overall change in function, sleep, quality of life, and medication intake versus baseline. Results Eighty‐four percent of our HF‐SCS‐treated patients had both chronic back and leg pain. At least 70% of patients reported response to therapy throughout 12 months of follow‐up. This sustained responder rate was corroborated by the last visit value (74.1%). Most patients reported concomitant improvements in function (72.3%), sleep (68.0%), and quality of life (90.3%) at their last visit versus baseline. Thirty‐two percent of patients reported decreased medication intake at their last visit. Interpretation Sustained and effective pain relief was experienced by >70% of our HF‐SCS‐treated patients, consistent with the findings of a previously published randomized, controlled, trial. Our review provides complementary evidence to support the treatment of chronic back and leg pain with this therapy.

As part of a project aimed at investigating the Matthiola taxa endemic to Sicily (Italy), this study focused on Matthiola incana, an edible species used in the traditional medicine of various countries. Herein, the characterization of phenolic and volatile compounds, the antioxidant capacity in vitro (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH), reducing power and Fe2+ chelating activity assays) and the toxicity test (Artemia salina lethality bioassay) of the hydroalcoholic extracts from the aerial parts of M. incana subsp. rupestris from Mt. Pellegrino (Palermo) and Mt. Erice (Trapani), and of M. incana subsp. pulchella are reported. The results are compared with those previously shown for M. incana subsp. incana, to achieve a comprehensive overview of the three subspecies. The HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS and SPME-GC/MS analyses led to the identification of 13 phenolics and 54 volatile compounds. Differences in the qualitative-quantitative profile of these phytochemicals have been highlighted between the M. incana subspecies. The antioxidant tests showed different activity for the extracts, which were found to possess better chelating properties. At last, none of the tested extracts displayed toxicity against brine shrimp larvae. These findings enrich the knowledge on the Matthiola taxa growing wild in Sicily, both from the strictly systematic point of view and for the possible applications as sources bioactive compounds that can be used in the nutraceutical field.

This paper presents the development of two degrees of freedom vehicle dynamics model driven by an In-Wheel BLDC (Brushless Direct Current) Motor. Appropriate linear control is proposed to test and validate the model of the vehicle equipped with the In-Wheel BLDC motor. The driving wheel is subjected to a non-linear load torque resulting from the interaction produced between the tire and the road surface. The road state effects are modeled by the Pacejka model. The objectives of this paper are based on two points: the first objective is to present a model dealing with the vehicle dynamics while considering the effect of the road during acceleration and deceleration mode in the longitudinal direction. In the second objective, a linear control strategy of the vehicle In-Wheel BLDC motor is developed dealing with the longitudinal dynamics of the vehicle to test and validate the model thus developed. For security, the vehicle speed must be regulated, both in acceleration and deceleration modes, despite unpredictable changes in the road state. To this end, a linear controller is formally shown to meet its objectives i.e. perfect chassis and In-Wheel BLDC motor speeds regulation.

In a project designed to investigate the specific and infraspecific taxa of Matthiola endemic to Sicily (Italy) as new potential sources of bioactive compounds in this work, the infraspecific taxa of Matthiola fruticulosa were studied, namely, subsp. fruticulosa and subsp. coronopifolia. HPLC–PDA/ESI–MS and SPME–GC/MS analyses of hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from the aerial parts of the two subspecies led to the detection of 51 phenolics and 61 volatile components, highlighting a quite different qualitative–quantitative profile. The antioxidant properties of the extracts were explored through in vitro methods: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), reducing power and Fe2+ chelating activity assays. The results of the antioxidant tests showed that the extracts possess a different antioxidant ability: particularly, the extract of M. fruticulosa subsp. fruticulosa exhibited higher radical scavenging activity than that of subsp. coronopifolia (IC50 = 1.25 ± 0.02 mg/mL and 2.86 ± 0.05 mg/mL), which in turn displayed better chelating properties (IC50 = 1.49 ± 0.01 mg/mL and 0.63 ± 0.01 mg/mL). Lastly, Artemia salina lethality bioassay was performed for toxicity assessment. The results of the bioassay showed lack of toxicity against brine shrimp larvae for both extracts. The data presented indicate the infraspecific taxa of M. fruticulosa as new and safe sources of antioxidant compounds.

In this case report, the authors describe the first case of a glioependymal cyst of the brainstem managed by robot-assisted, stereotactic, cysto-ventricular shunting. Glioependymal cysts are rare congenital cystic lesions that are thought to form by displacement of ependymal cells during the embryonal period. Glioependymal cysts have been reported in a variety of different locations within the central nervous system. However, glioependymal cysts of the brainstem have only been described once before. Here, we report the case of a 53-year-old man who was referred to our department due to hemiparesis, hemihypesthesia, and hemidysesthesia, as well as facial and abducens nerve palsy. A large pontine glioependymal cyst was confirmed via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The cyst was subsequently decompressed by connecting the cyst with the fourth ventricle via robot-assisted stereotactic shunt placement. In the postoperative course, the patient made a quick recovery and did not report any permanent neurologic deficits.

Medicinal plants offer imperative sources of innovative chemical substances with important potential therapeutic effects. Among them, the members of the genus Inula have been widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of several diseases. The present study investigated the antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays) and the in vitro anti-hyperglycemic potential of aerial parts of Inula viscosa (L.) Aiton (I. viscosa) extracts through the inhibition of digestive enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase), responsible of the digestion of poly and oligosaccharides. The polyphenolic profile of the Inula viscosa (L.) Aiton EtOAc extract was also investigated using HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS analysis, whereas the volatile composition was elucidated by GC-MS. The chemical analysis resulted in the detection of twenty-one polyphenolic compounds, whereas the volatile profile highlighted the occurrence of forty-eight different compounds. Inula viscosa (L.) Aiton presented values as high as 87.2 ± 0.50 mg GAE/g and 78.6 ± 0.55mg CE/g, for gallic acid and catechin, respectively. The EtOAc extract exhibited the higher antioxidant activity compared to methanol and chloroform extracts in different tests with (IC50 = 0.6 ± 0.03 µg/mL, IC50 = 8.6 ± 0.08 µg/mL, 634.8 mg ± 1.45 AAE/g extract) in DPPH, ABTS and FRAP tests. Moreover, Inula viscosa (L.) Aiton leaves did show an important inhibitory effect against α-amylase and α-glucosidase. On the basis of the results achieved, such a species represents a promising traditional medicine, thanks to its remarkable content of functional bioactive compounds, thus opening new prospects for research and innovative phytopharmaceuticals developments.

The aim of this study was to characterize the phytochemical content as well as the antioxidant ability of the Moroccan species Chamaerops humilis L. Besides crude ethanolic extract, two extracts obtained by sonication using two solvents with increased polarity, namely ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and methanol-water (MeOH-H2O) 80:20 (v/v), were investigated by both spectroscopy and chromatography methods. Between the two extracts, the MeOH-H2O one showed the highest total polyphenolic content equal to 32.7 ± 0.1 mg GAE/g DM with respect to the EtOAc extract (3.6 ± 0.5 mg GAE/g DM). Concerning the antioxidant activity of the two extracts, the EtOAc one yielded the highest value (1.9 ± 0.1 mg/mL) with respect to MeOH-H2O (0.4 ± 0.1 mg/mL). The C. humilisn-hexane fraction, analyzed by GC–MS, exhibited 69 compounds belonging to different chemical classes, with n-Hexadecanoic acid as a major compound (21.75%), whereas the polyphenolic profile, elucidated by HPLC–PDA/MS, led to the identification of a total of sixteen and thirteen different compounds in both EtOAc (major component: ferulic acid: 104.7 ± 2.52 µg/g) and MeOH-H2O extracts (major component: chlorogenic acid: 45.4 ± 1.59 µg/g), respectively. The attained results clearly highlight the potential of C. humilis as an important source of bioactive components, making it a valuable candidate to be advantageously added to the daily diet. Furthermore, this study provides the scientific basis for the exploitation of the Doum in the food, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries.

The Moroccan flora is rich in medicinal plants that are commonly used in folk medicine for the treatment of various diseases. The present study was designed to investigate the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as the antioxidant properties of leaves extracts from Globularia alypum L. colected from the Taza region in northeast Morocco. Additionally, the individual phenolics and volatiles of the extracts were also evaluated. The organic extracts of this plant were obtained by Soxhlet extraction using two different solvents, namely ethyl acetate and chloroform. The antioxidant capacity of leaves extracts was measured using DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays, the phenolic profile was determined by HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS analysis, whereas the volatile composition was elucidated by GC-MS. The ethyl acetate extract analysis showed a total of 20 phenolic compounds and the determination of phenolic contents showed a significant value of 56.5 ± 0.61 µg GAE/mg of extract in comparison with the chloroform extract (18.9 ± 0.48 µg GAE/mg of extract). Also, the determination of the flavonoid contents revealed that the ethyl acetate extract contained the highest value (30.2 ± 0.55 µg CE/mg of extract) in comparison with the chloroform extract (18.0 ± 0.36 µg CE/mg of extract). Concerning the antioxidant properties, interesting values were attained for the ethyl acetate extract which exhibited higher antioxidant activity, namely IC50 = 12.3 ± 3.83 µg/mL and IC50 = 37.0 ± 2.45 µg/mL for the DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively, whereas a value of 531.1 ± 17.08 (mg AAE/g DW) was obtained for the FRAP assay. Concerning the volatile profile, a total of 73 compounds were positively detected and among them n-hexadecanoic acid (13.5%) was the most abundant one. The results achieved confirm the important role of this plant as a source of natural antioxidants.

The Moroccan flora is rich in medicinal plants that are commonly used in folk medicine for the treatment of various diseases. The present study was designed to investigate the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as the antioxidant properties of leaves extracts from Globularia alypum L. colected from the Taza region in northeast Morocco. Additionally, the individual phenolics and volatiles of the extracts were also evaluated. The organic extracts of this plant were obtained by Soxhlet extraction using two different solvents, namely ethyl acetate and chloroform. The antioxidant capacity of leaves extracts was measured using DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays; the phenolic profile was determined by HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS analysis, whereas the volatile composition was elucidated by GC-MS. The ethyl acetate extract analysis showed a total of 20 phenolic compounds and the determination of phenolic contents showed a significant value of 56.5 ± 0.61 µg GAE/mg of extract in comparison with the chloroform extract (18.9 ± 0.48 µg GAE/mg of extract). Also, the determination of the flavonoid contents revealed that the ethyl acetate extract contained the highest value (30.2 ± 0.55 µg CE/mg of extract) in comparison with the chloroform extract (18.0 ± 0.36 µg CE/mg of extract). Concerning the antioxidant properties, interesting values were attained for the ethyl acetate extract which exhibited higher antioxidant activity, namely IC50 = 12.3 ± 3.83 µg/mL and IC50 = 37.0 ± 2.45 µg/mL for the DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively, whereas a value of 531.1 ± 17.08 (mg AAE/g DW) was obtained for the FRAP assay. Concerning the volatile profile, a total of 73 compounds were positively detected and among them n-hexadecanoic acid (13.5%) was the most abundant one. The results achieved confirm the important role of this plant as a source of natural antioxidants.

Rubus fruticosus L. is a widespread shrub species which has recently attracted a great attention due a plethora of different pharmacological activities. A comparative study of the volatile profile and polyphenols along with the antioxidant activity of 27 blackberries collected in 3 different locations of the Tangier–Tetouan–Al Hoceima region in Northern Morocco, between June and August 2018, is reported. In terms of antioxidant activity, the highest IC50 values were attained for the Rubus fruticosus EtOAc extract coming from Beni Messaouar (2.5 mg/mL ± 0.01). Concerning the volatile content of the Rubus fruticosus n-hexane extract belonging to Beni Messaouar, a total of 42 compounds were detected and oleic acid turned out to be the most abundant one (14.49%), whereas among the 29 polyphenols detected in the Rubus fruticosus EtOAc extract, coming from the same location, quercetin-3-O-glucoside occurred in major concentration (364.58 mg/kg). This is the first report on the physico-chemical and phytochemical properties of Moroccan Rubus fruticosus highlighting how these fruits do have a great potential as natural source of antioxidant compounds to be used as a nutraceuticals or functional foods.

Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (H.s.) is a polyphenolic-rich plant commonly consumed either as a beverage or spice. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro digestibility of H.s. polyphenols using an in vitro model of digestion which simulates the human stomach and small intestine. The bioaccessible polyphenols released in the digested samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array and mass spectrometry detection. H.s. anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-O-sambubioside and delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside) content drastically dropped during the digestion process from 2.91 ± 0.03 µg g−1 and 8.53 ± 0.08 µg g−1 (w/w) CG (Cyanidin-glucoside) in the raw extract, respectively, to 0.12 ± 0.01 µg g−1 0.12 ± 0.01 µg g−1 (w/w) CG at the end of duodenal digestion. Total polyphenols also have shown a decrease from 1192.65 ± 30.37 µg g−1 (w/w) in the raw extract to 282.24 ± 7.21 µg g−1 (w/w) by the end of gastric digestion, in contrast to their increase by the end of duodenal digestion 372.91 ± 3.97 µg g−1 (w/w). On the other hand, the decrease in certain compounds (e.g., caffeoylquinicandcoumaroylquinic acids) was observed during gastric digestion resulting in an increase of quinic acid in the duodenal aliquots, thus suggesting that this compound was derived from the degradation of the more complex hydroxycinnamic acids. H.s. extract also exhibited a bacteriostatic effect against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 (MIC of 2.5 mg mL−1) and a bactericidal effect against a food isolate of Listeria monocytogenes (MBC of 2.5 mg mL−1). The undigested polyphenols of H.s. in the upper gastrointestinal tract enters the colon, where they are metabolized by the gut microbiota. The present study results showed that resistance of H.s. polyphenols during gastrointestinal digestion might affect their uptake, resulting in a decrease in their digestibility.